~ by the Pastor and guest writers ~
|
From Lent to Easter (January 23, 2004) In the last few months, thanks to some special friends in this congregation, I have rediscovered the beauty and value of poetry. There are times when we find that the best-loved Gospel stories become so familiar that we can no longer respond to them. In the words of Peggy Rosenthal, “Poetry’s special art is to cast a fresh eye on the too familiar. Poets are contemplatives, for whom the word is the vehicle of the soul’s awakening” (Praying the Gospels through Poetry). This year our church will be taking a different journey through Lent. We will be using Peggy Rosenthal’s small book as a guide from Lent to Easter. Praying the Gospels through Poetry presents one poem for each Gospel reading from the lectionary and reflects on the poem so as to bring it into dialogue with the Gospel and to invite the reader into the exchange. I do hope this way of entering Lent will offer poetry as a fresh way to reflect on the Gospels and pray with them more fully. Here is how it will work this year. We need at least eight or more members from our congregation to host a group in their homes on four consecutive Thursdays in March. The dates are March 4, 11, 18, and 25. I envision each group consisting of 8-10 people. That means we could have 80-100 people participating in this Lenten study. We will be reading the same book each week with a leader leading the discussion. If you are willing to host a group you can set the time you will meet. Perhaps beginning at 7:00 or 7:30 pm on each Thursday evening may work. You can decide. You may want to meet for an hour or longer and NO MEAL is to be served. Each week a chapter is presented for the study. There is a reading from a Gospel, a poem that assists the reader to take a look at the reading, comments on the selected poem by Peggy Rosenthal, and “wonderings” to assist with engaging the poem and Gospel. The last meeting of the month will be Wednesday, March 31. This will be a Lenten supper and all of the groups will gather at 6:00 pm in the fellowship hall. It will be a nice way to conclude our journey. Here is where we need your assistance. Think and pray about serving as a host for one of the groups. When we get the volunteer homes we will ask members of our congregation to select and sign up with the group of their choice. Think and pray about your participation. More information will be forthcoming in the days and weeks ahead. Pray for our journey together from Lent to Easter.
 Pastoral Greetings (January 8, 2004) Greetings to each and all as we begin a new year in the life of our church. Many of St. Paul’s letters begin with a note of encouragement and serve as appropriate models. So, trying to follow in his footsteps I first want to give thanks to God for God’s grace and love for each of us. My second thanksgiving is for the church. It has often been said the church is a crutch. Of course it is a crutch! What makes any of us think we don’t limp? I truly believe St. Paul would be amused to find those who follow Christ yet in their discipleship have little or no use for the church. Of course, if we don’t limp, then we don’t need the crutch! Just as a vegetarian is not the person to go to when you want an opinion on a piece of meat, by logical extension someone who is not active in the life of the church is not the person to go to when you want an opinion about the church. Let me encourage all of you to begin this year with a commitment to discipleship and serving in our church. Opportunities abound if you want to be an active member. Here are reminders of what’s going on in the next few weeks:
My prayer is that you will find the peace of Christ in your life in service to Christ and the church. I am grateful for God’s gift of life. For the compassions that fail not, I find myself saying daily to my loving maker, I can no other answer make than “thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.”
|
| The Church |
|
Calendar | News | Reflections | Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Photos | Leadership | Youth | Missions | Links |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
