Lenten Readings ….

A brief explanation of Ash Wednesday and Lent …

Waiting for God ….

“How do we wait for God? We wait with patience. But patience does not mean passivity. Waiting patiently is not like waiting for the bus to come, the rain to stop, or the sun to rise. It is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.

“The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior, which means to ‘suffer.’ Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants. Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes and seeing there the first rays of God’s glorious coming.”

~~Henri J. M. Nouwen

Good is the Lord to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; it is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26

Happy Thanksgiving!

Statement of Faith …

I believe in the one holy God of Israel who created heaven and earth and all of its inhabitants to live in community with the Triune God and with each other. Through our sin, both personal and corporate, we are separated from God and unable to bring ourselves back into communion. When the words of the prophets went unheard and unheeded because of our inherent rebellion, God in loving kindness and steadfast mercy sent Jesus Christ into the world so that we might be restored to a right relationship through the sacrifice made on our behalf.

Knowing that we continually struggle in all of our relationships, the Holy Spirit draws us near to God through admonition and encouragement. Through the scriptures of both Old and New Testaments, we see testimony to the steadfast faithfulness of God and are given instruction to guide us. Scripture is divinely given and an infallible witness to God's saving grace through Jesus Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are softened to hear the gospel message of salvation and our minds and souls are strengthened for the Kingdom work to which we are each called.

Although God saves each of us individually, there is a communal nature to our worship. We are meant to gather as the beloved children of God to form the body of Christ. On earth, the Kingdom of God is made visible through the local church. The church then is called to worship and action through the proclamation of the Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper. Our baptisms remind us that God knew us before we were formed in our mother's wombs and that each of us is called to be in relationship with God through Christ. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a symbol that we are united as one body and nourished by the food which Christ provides. Both sacraments are visible signs of the promises and blessings of God's covenant agreement with all those who believe.

As believers, we are equipped by the Holy Spirit with gifts suitable for work in the Kingdom of God. We are called to be faithful and cheerful givers of our time, talents, and gifts so that others might be lifted up out of the oppression of physical, mental, and spiritual bondage. No longer are we to remain isolated from creation. Instead, we are called to full participation in God's mission. The saints of the church are to be set apart - marked for radical discipleship - as the Holy Spirit continually sanctifies us and teaches us the heart and mind of Christ.

When we realize the fathomless depths of God's love, we can't help but bow our knees before the throne, and cry "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty." As we bow, God enlarges our hearts and our minds to reach out to others and transforms us from lonely and selfish individuals into joyful people of faith who stand in the intersection of the sacred and the ordinary.

May it be so in our hearts and lives today so that we are faithful until the day when Christ returns to redeem all of creation.

Friday Five: Decisions, Decisions

 

I am pinch hitting today, my first time, as your Friday Five RevGal. Like the song "The Macarena" was for Los Del Rio, this could very well be a one-hit wonder, so thanks for playing!
Today we play off of one of my favorite and most memorable Friday Fives to blog from: Decisions, Decisions posted by Songbird last July 23. I went back to that post to make sure I had new choices for you to make. I found out -- again -- that she was then, as I have been recently, in the midst of a discernment process and thinking about what goes into decision making.

A decision from history: There is a chair that still sits in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall). Legend has it that it was George Washington's chair, the back carved with a half sun. Benjamin Franklin would look at it and wonder whether it was a rising or a setting sun. Eventually Franklin decided it was the hopeful symbol of the rising sun, a sign of the future of our new republic.

How do you decide? Check out the following pairs and tell which one of each appeals to you most:

1) Sunrise or Sunset – Sunset

2) To the Mountains or To the Beach – to the beach

3) Coffee or Tea – Definitely tea, particularly since spending time in Malawi where tea time is a time of slowing down and giving thanks in the midst of the busy schedule. Tea time speaks of slowing down for gratitude, friendship and fellowship while coffee seems to be a frantic attempt to enable us to do more.

4) Advent or Lent – This was a tough call because I think both are important. However, Advent speaks of new beginnings and reminds me that God’s mercies are new every morning.

5) "Raindrops on Roses" or "Whiskers on Kittens" – absolutely no preference here ….

BONUS: Tell more about one of the pairs. Why did you choose it? Difficult or easy choice? A story from your own experience?

Drop your Dread .. Dare to Hope

 

In every season, we have two choices, to fear and dread…or to hope and believe. Dreading the future (or any event, change, or situation) robs us of peace and joy in the present. Hoping and trusting frees us to enjoy every season and to stay grounded in the present. It keeps worry and anxiety at bay.

Perhaps you are looking ahead to the fall – and your upcoming responsibilities – with dread. Or your mind might be racing with disturbing questions:

Will we have the resources and people we need? Will families return this year? Will I be able to keep up with the demands of family, ministry, and my own personal needs? Will leadership be more supportive and helpful this year?

The answer is found in Psalms 43:

“Why are you downcast oh my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Put your hope in God and wait expectantly for him, for I shall yet praise him, my help and my God…” (AMP)

I pray that you, too, will lay down any circumstances or challenges you are dreading – even those that seem impossible – and encourage your soul to “Hope in God!” Choose to have positive expectations about the upcoming year and trust him to provide everything you need to serve him joyfully!

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Easter Express …

Get on board

the Easter Express…

Gladden UP

755 Millers Run Road

March 29, April 5, 12, 19th

6 to 8 p.m.

Event includes: Craft, meal, Bible story and games

for children in grades preschool to Grade 5

with opportunities for older youth

to participate as leader assistants

Please help us be good stewards of resources

and pre-register

by calling

412-221-5594 by Mar. 25