tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47407223399756550242024-02-07T15:34:18.731-05:00From PC's PC - Reflections from Pastor Charlie WoodwardSenior Pastor - Epiphany Lutheran Church in Centerville, OhioUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-89760396966719560352015-09-28T17:52:00.003-04:002015-09-28T17:52:51.848-04:00In Giving, We Receive<span style="font-family: inherit;">This past Sunday, we heard these words from Jesus: "W<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">hoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward." (Mark 9:41 - NRSV) Jesus tells his disciples that there are more on Jesus' team than just the disciples. That message rings true for us as well - it's not just the pastors and the staff, but the whole people of God who make up the church. The church is made up of people who are invited and encouraged to use their gifts in sharing God's love. Some do that by singing, some by reading, some by greeting, some by serving on church council, some by teaching. Millie served by baking.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Millie was a member of my previous church. She made the best, and I mean BEST sticky buns and pecan rolls I have ever had. She used to make them for Bible Study classes and Pot Luck dinners. One of the Bible Study regulars told her every single week, "Millie, you almost got it right. Keep trying!" He was just hoping she wouldn't stop trying! Another member said Millie is the one who caused him to start drinking coffee because the rolls taste so much better with coffee!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, the phone would ring at our house. Millie made two or three pans of rolls each holiday for our family and brought them over for us. She would call ahead to let us know she wanted to stop by and drop off something for us. We knew what it was going to be! When the phone rang that time of year, the kids would ask, "Is that Millie?" We were blessed by her gift.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">I recall at a Bible Study asking the question, "If your house was on fire, what is the one thing (besides people and animals) would you make sure you grabbed as you ran out of the house?" Millie's answer? Her cheese cloth she used for baking.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Millie passed away last week at the age of 91. I have been thinking about her the past few days. She never was one to speak up at a meeting, or want to read or sing or preach or teach. She did what she loved to do. She loved to bake. She loved to share her gift with others. And because of it, we were blessed and weigh a couple pounds more!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">I have a feeling there may be some of those rolls at God's banquet feast. I encourage you to try some when you get there. And I imagine God is saying, "Millie, you got it just right!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Peace,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Pastor Charlie</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-65222179979330296792015-09-14T10:45:00.001-04:002015-09-14T10:45:09.514-04:00The CrossEvery now and then, when surfing through channels (you see, I am a male!), I come across the Antique Road Show. A wonderful show that takes a group of antiques experts from town to town, welcoming people with their heirlooms, trinkets, or bazaar items (appropriately named, because the picked it up at some church bazaar). The people place their items before the experts, who seems to know way too much about the item, where and when it was made, and then they take a stab at a possible value of the item.<br />
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I have learned in watching the show that some of the ugliest things can be of greatest value. It is wonderful to watch the expressions on the owner’s face when they find out that the piece of junk they inherited from Aunt Henrietta is worth thousands of dollars.<br />
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And I have noticed on this show, there one thing that seems to increase the value of the item being scrutinized is the signature or mark of the maker on the item. This always impresses the experts, who rant and rave over the signed item.<br />
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I guess you could say that in some ways, the church is like a People of God Road Show. We come here with different baggage. Some of us look a bit more worn than others. We have, in many ways, inherited things from our relatives - traits, names, traditions. <br />
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We come to stand in the presence of God, who knows us better than we ourselves. God looks intently at us, the bumps, the scars, the imperfections, and all. But no matter the lack of perfection, God stares at our forehead, and sees something only God’s eye can see. An invisible sign. It is a cross - placed there at the font. Invisible to the untrained eye, it is there. The value of that mark, the mark of our maker - priceless. <br />
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At the youth gathering, we saw a short video of Davey and Goliath - remember them? The boy, Davey, and his dog, Goliath. Davey was staring in the mirror, looking for that cross, and wondering what the pastor was talking about when he said we all have the mark of the cross on our forehead. Davey couldn’t see it! He thought he had been tricked.<br />
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Goliath’s only response was, “I don’t know about that, Davey. But I do know that I am Goliath, and I belong to Davey. And Davey loves me very much.” Then, Davey got it - “I am Davey. I belong to God. God loves me very much.” That Goliath is one smart dog!<br />
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The truth is this - you are a child of God. You belong to God. God claims you as his own. You are of GREAT value. The cross on your forehead is God’s seal - never to be taken away.<br />
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The cross changes everything. Death is no longer the final word, no - now it is life. Despair is no longer the final word, no - now it is hope. Brokenness and bondage are no longer the final word, no - now it is forgiveness. <br />
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The cross, seen as a symbol for death now is a symbol for victory over death. For Jesus wins the battle.<br />
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The cross doesn’t just change the past, it changes our present, and shapes our future. For the cross is that which ultimately defines us. It is not our possessions, our status, our good name, our works, our jobs. They may mean everything to the world, but what matters to God is knowing who we are, and whose we are. <br />
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Epiphany Lutheran Church is filled with crosses, even crosses built into the brick walls. These all are constant reminders of the gift of God given to us through Jesus Christ.</div>
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During some of our worship services, a processional cross leads us in to worship, followed by the choir and worship leaders, and leads us out into the world following worship. I encourage you to consider facing the cross when it enters and exits. Some will even bow as it passes, not that we "worship" this symbol, but that we remember what Christ has done for us. We face the cross as it is a reminder of God with us, and the gifts we receive through the cross. Placed near the pulpit, we are reminded that Jesus is the Word of God. Placed near the altar, we remember Jesus words - this is my body, this is my blood, given and shed for you. Carried out before us as we exit, we remember Jesus call to go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus leads us out to serve. </div>
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Thank you God, for the gift of the cross.</div>
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-19301232683265255062015-08-31T14:42:00.001-04:002015-11-30T09:10:08.643-05:00I Wonder<div class="s4" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s5">This summer, Pastor Jay and I have been offering Children's Sermons on the spot </span><span class="s5">with the Bag of Wonders! At the 9 a</span><span class="s5">.</span><span class="s5">m</span><span class="s5">.</span><span class="s5"> service at Far Hills Campus and the 10:30 a</span><span class="s5">.</span><span class="s5">m</span><span class="s5">.</span><span class="s5"> service at the Austin Campus, a child of the congregation is given the bag at the end of each week's Children's Sermon. That child gets to pick some</span><span class="s5"> </span><span class="s5">things from home and is asked to bring it back the following Sunday. It has been a fun activity, and I have heard from members of the congregation that they look forward to seeing what is in the bag each week. Believe me, Pastor Jay and I do</span><span class="s5">,</span><span class="s5"> too!</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">This past week at the Far Hills campus, I invited the children forward for a message and the Bag of Wonders! The kids came up, but the bag did not! The bag was nowhere to be found! I wondered where the Bag of Wonders might be. I later did find out where the bag ended up (more about that further down in the blog). So I had to come up with a message without an item. Quick thinking is key when it comes to this - what might I talk about? How about Jesus! (Good answer, Pastor.) I said </span><span class="s5">to</span><span class="s5"> </span><span class="s5">the</span><span class="s5"> kids something to this </span><span class="s5">e</span><span class="s5">ffect:</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">"So do you remember the story of Easter? On that first Easter Sunday, the women, Mary Magdalene and the others made their way to the tomb. They had to wait until the Sabbath was over because you do no work on the Sabbath, so they came to prepare the body for burial. </span><span class="s5">So when they went to the tomb, they expected to find something there, but it was missing.</span><span class="s5"> What were they expecting to find in the tomb?"</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">A little girl said, "THE BAG OF WONDERS!"</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">What a great answer! I felt sorry for her when we all laughed, and I did tell her that maybe that would have been a good place to look. But what they were looking for was Jesus. And then we talked about the good news that Jesus rose from the dead. We talked about how much God loves us, and that the promise God gives us is that we are never missing. God knows who we are, where we are. And God loves us no matter what.</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">The empty tomb is a wonder, isn't it? What a gift of life given for you and for me. In some ways I am glad the bag didn't show up. It helped us remember that sometimes things NOT there are good or even better than things that are!</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">So, what happened to the Bag of Wonders? It showed up at the Austin Campus. Imagine Pastor Jay's surprise when he had TWO bags with items for a Children's Sermon. It could have been like Monty Hall and "Let's Make A Deal" - "Do you want the item in this bag, or would you like to try your luck with the bag Carol Merrill is holding?" If you don't understand, ask your parents! What I believe is pretty cool is that the family that had received the bag at the Far Hills Campus on one week were at worship at the Austin Campus the following week. I am excited to see people feel like both places are places of worship that feel like home to them. We see that more and more.</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">To top off the day, we celebrated Marilynn</span><span class="s5">'s</span><span class="s5"> baptism. Any day we do a baptism is a great day! Marilynn's big brother, James was baptized a couple years ago. He is a boy with energy, and through his sister's baptism</span><span class="s5">, he</span><span class="s5"> kept waving to us from his regulated spot in the pews with Grandma and Grandpa. Later in the service, I stood in the pulpit and started the Gospel reading, "The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 7th chapter." From the back of the church, James exclaimed in a loud voice, "Yay!" Amen to that. I couldn't help but respond with a "Yay!" myself. Better than </span><span class="s5">a rote</span><span class="s5"> "Thanks be to God</span><span class="s5">,</span><span class="s5">" James' exclamation said it all.</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">Sometimes things don't go the way we expect, but sometimes it is</span><span class="s5"> in</span><span class="s5"> the interruptions and unexpected events and interactions that we meet God, and messengers of God! </span><span class="s5">Hebrews</span><span class="s5"> </span><span class="s5">13:2 “</span><span class="s5">Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Angels are messengers of God, yes? I think I may have encountered a couple this past Sunday... you never know. I wonder...</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">Peace</span><span class="s5">,</span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5"><br /></span><span class="s5">Pastor Charlie</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-9613812143091953082015-08-18T09:18:00.001-04:002015-08-18T09:18:03.443-04:00Natalie Rose PearceNatalie Rose Pearce was born on August 1, 2015 at 9:04 am. She weighed in at 6 pounds, 15.9 ounces (the doctor said let's just call it 7 pounds) and 19 inches long. She is beautiful! I am terribly biased being Natalie is our first grandchild, and we are loving every minute of it. Some rambling thoughts for you today.<br />
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Over the past few months, I have been told by many grandparents that there is nothing quite like being a grandparent. The love and joy you experience is beyond belief. I could not agree with them more. All of the joys of a newborn without all the responsibilities of parenthood are wrapped up in this bundle of joy.<br />
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My wife shared with my daughter about a week before Natalie was born these words: "You will finally understand how much I love you when you hold your own child in your arms." When we pray, Jesus tells us to begin by saying the words, "Abba, Father." Daddy. We are held in the arms of our Father, and the love God has for us is of that of a loving parent.<br />
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The miracle of birth and the gift of life are amazing and powerful. How can one not believe in God the creator when one holds a newborn and counts the fingers and toes, sees the arms stretch and hear the voice cry. What an incredible gift. What an amazing miracle. And yet, it happens thousands of times each and every day. In fact, in the hospital Natalie was born, they have about 500 births a month!<br />
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I give thanks to God for the gifts of so many at the hospital who were at Natalie's side, and there with her parents throughout the birth and days that followed. I give thanks for the opportunity to be there too. God is good.<br />
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Here is a slideshow I put together of her first week.<br />
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Music - "Perfect Day" by Holley Maher and "Baby Mine" by Alison Krauss<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/135982566">Natalie Rose Pearce Week 1</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user19551365">Charlie Woodward</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Peace,<br />
Pastor Charlie<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-37049908819600097362015-07-20T16:45:00.001-04:002015-07-22T11:52:28.690-04:00National Youth Gathering - The Future is in God's HandsThis week's entry will be brief, with a few links for you to check out. This past week, 30,000 youth and adults of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America made their way to Detroit, Michigan for the National Youth Gathering. Every three years, this event happens. Back in 1961, a predecessor Lutheran youth gathering happened in Detroit, and Martin Luther King was one of the speakers at that event.<br />
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The past few gatherings have focused not just on worship and fun events and study, but service as well. Each day, a third of the group - 10,000 of them - made their way into the city for service projects. The presence and impact was powerful. Not just for the city, but the participants as well.<br />
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Social media provided opportunities for us to follow along with all that was going on. I wanted to post some of these items to share with you. My hope and prayer is that you that the church of tomorrow is active and alive today, and that the future is in good hands - God's hands.<br />
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Highlights from the Gathering<br />
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THURSDAY<br />
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FRIDAY<br />
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CLOSING SONG FRIDAY NIGHT<br />
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SATURDAY<br />
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SUNDAY<br />
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A WORD FROM THE BISHOP<br />
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<a href="http://deadlinedetroit.com/articles/12759/detroiters_thank_lutheran_teens_for_your_job_well-done_spiffing_up_neighborhoods#.Va1aP6RVikp">Thank you to the youth (Click here)</a><br />
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The youth and adults from Epiphany who attended the Gathering will be sharing with us in the coming weeks - don't miss it!<br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor Charlie<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-14380258746840862862015-07-06T13:40:00.004-04:002015-07-06T13:40:22.617-04:00Chosen ChildA staff meeting is held each Tuesday at 11 am at Epiphany Lutheran Church. We begin with devotions, which we take turns leading. A month or so ago, Natalie Heimann, our Administrative Assistant, shared this devotion with us.<br />
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1 John 3:1–2<br />
<i>See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.</i><br />
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<b>Chosen Child </b></div>
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<b>Natalie Heimann</b></div>
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Earlier this month I celebrated my adoption birthday. I was one week old when I was adopted, and my big brother got the best birthday gift EVER (at least that’s what he said at the time – I think he has rescinded that statement in the years since). Though I was blessed to be adopted into the best family I could have ever hoped for, I also realize that I was already a loved and chosen child of God and that there are some amazing parallels of being adopted into a human family and being adopted into God’s family:<br />
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Before I even existed, my family was thinking about me and preparing for me to join them. They loved me even before they knew me. According to the story my daddy told me from before I can even remember, Mommy and Daddy had two awesome boys, but they wanted to be able to raise a baby girl, too, and after having 12 and 10-pound children, my mom wasn’t supposed to have any more children. As my dad’s story goes, “We contacted Mrs. Ward (the adoption case manager) and told her we wanted a blonde hair, blue eyed baby girl who was 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 18 inches long. And so Mrs. Ward looked high and she looked low, she looked East and looked West and then she found you!”<br />
Prior to me even being born though, to be accepted as adoptive parents, Mom and Dad had to go through weekly home visits, their financial records were combed through, the whole family (including my local grandparents and 5 & 7-year-old big brothers) had to be interviewed to make sure they were an acceptable family. Once they were accepted as potential parents, they put my room together – pink and bows, of course. And then they waited for this baby they loved already.<br />
That’s a lot like God, isn’t it? The Bible says God knew us when we were being formed in our mother’s womb. He loved us before we knew anything about Him. He has prepared a place for us and it is in Him. He is willing to go to great lengths to get us, and He has paid a great price to make us His own.<br />
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Part of the adoption process was giving me a new name. About 15 years ago, I inadvertently “found” my birth mom (and subsequently my birth father as well), and we are friends now. Well, I found out that she had “named” me Carleen (a combination of her and my birth father’s middle names of Collen and Carlisle. How ironic how closely that sounds like Carlin, my husband’s name, right?) In my adoption records, it shows that the hospital staff called my Mandy. And originally my parents really like the name Julie, but decided I looked like a Natalie instead. (My younger sister ended up as Julie five years later.) Legally, their family name became my last name – their home my home. And then a few months later, I was baptized. I became a Christian, one of God’s chosen children, before I legally became Natalie Dawn Christian. As is the case for all of us, as we live in God and God lives in us, we begin to look more and more like God. God’s ways become our ways. We are set free from our old identity and our past and we walk in newness of life.<br />
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When they saw me that first day at the adoption agency when I was seven days old, I smelled differently than they did – I smelled like the hospital, not like the Johnsons & Johnsons baby powder they had waiting with my baby bath at home. I was dressed in the clothes the agency provided, not the cute, frilly dress my Daddy picked up for me. Our heavenly father does the same thing for us. When God first finds us, we usually smell like the world. God wraps us in His love, washes us in the blood of Jesus, fills our hearts and minds with the Word, and floods us with the Holy Spirit. We begin to smell and look like we belong to God.<br />
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Finally, when I was a year old, we went to court and before a judge, Mom and Dad and Bruce and Chris declared their intention and desire to make me a legal, permanent part of their family. My brothers even had to say how they felt about me becoming their sister – evidently they told the judge I already was their sister and they weren’t going to share. As a side note, my mom, who was a strict rule-follower said that entire year she was ready to bolt to Canada if there was any indication I would be taken away from her! The judge’s finalization and approval meant that I was now a legal heir – I would never cease being their child. Later in our lives when we would get into arguments, I would tell my siblings that I knew my parents wanted me – they had to take what they got with them. Plus, I would remind them that they could be disinherited but legally, I couldn’t. With our entire extended family, I was NEVER treated any differently than my siblings or cousins – we were all equally spoiled!<br />
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You know, it’s that way with God. When we become His children we inherit all that is God’s – and it’s forever. God doesn’t have favorites – just like my parents, God cares for all of His children, and there is enough of God’s love for everyone.<br />
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Dear God, thank you for making us your chosen children and calling us as your own – for loving us before we are formed, before we are born. Thank you for letting us know that we will be your children forever, no matter what. We ask that you be with us today and everyday as we do the work of your kingdom and that, as your children, we act and look like you in all our dealings with others. We ask all these things in your holy and heavenly name. Amen.<br />
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Thanks for sharing, Natalie!<br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor Charlie<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-4231587659227582682015-06-21T11:53:00.002-04:002015-06-24T16:11:46.203-04:00Stilling the Storm<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my sermon from Sunday (Father's Day). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Grace, peace and mercy be multiplied to you from God our Father,
and the Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
Amen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A mother was out walking with her
4 year old daughter. The child picked up something off the ground and started
to put it into her mouth. The mother took it away and said “Don’t do that!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Why not?” asked the child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Because it’s on the ground,”
said her mother. “You don’t know where it’s been. It’s dirty, and it’s probably
loaded with germs that could make you sick.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The child looked at her mother
with total admiration and said, “Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You’re
so smart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The mother said, “All Moms know
this stuff. It’s on the Mom’s Test. You have to know it or they don’t let you
be a Mom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There was silence for a minute or
so as the child thought this through. “Oh, I get it,” she said at last. “And if
you don’t pass the test you have to be the Daddy?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I vaguely remember my Mother once
saying, “Your Father knows everything, but Mom knows more!” Happy Father’s Day. All kidding aside, I wish
all Fathers a blessed day! I will remember my dad today as the one who taught
me to treat others with respect, honor and dignity. For that I am forever
grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our Gospel lesson, the
disciples come to know more about who Jesus is, and so do we! We meet up with Jesus
and his disciples after a seaside teaching session. The group gets in the boat
and heads across the sea. So, why did Jesus and the disciples cross the
Sea? To get to the other side!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 4:35-41</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." </span><sup style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px;">36</sup><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. </span><sup style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px;">37</sup><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. </span><sup style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px;">38</sup><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" </span><sup style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px;">39</sup><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. </span><sup style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px;">40</sup><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" </span><sup style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px;">41</sup><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A storm arises. There is very
little that is more terrifying to most people than a storm at sea. And many of
the disciples were professional fishermen. They knew how easily even a good
boat could capsize or be swamped by the waves. They knew what happened to those
on board a boat in this predicament. There would be no way to swim out of the
situation, in the dark, in the waves, in the storm. You get swamped in a storm,
you drown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What was Jesus doing? In the middle
of the storm with the wind and the waves roaring and the disciples panicking,
Jesus was calmly sleeping on a cushion. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The panic stricken disciples
shouted to Jesus above the roar of the wind the sound of the waves crashing
over the sides of their boat. <i>"Lord, don’t you care that we are about
to drown?"</i> In other words, Hey
Jesus, we’re dyin’ here!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus stands up. Without
answering their question about whether Jesus cared for them in their time of
deep trouble, he demonstrates how much he cares and speaks a word to the wind
and the sea: <i>"Be quiet! Be still!"</i> It's calm. Jesus brings
peace and calm to the terrified and panic-stricken disciple. Yes, maybe that
command was meant for them too! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Notice that Jesus never gets out
of the boat. He does abandon his disciples. Notice, too,
that the disciples don’t ask for help, just compassion. They don’t realize what
Jesus can do. They didn't expect the Jesus they had. He had done healings,
sure. He had cured the lame, healed, even on the Sabbath. He had cast out
unclean spirits. But such things are nothing compared to a storm, at least not
a storm that might disturb a lake crossing at night. I wonder what they would
have done had they known what Jesus could do? I wonder what they would have
asked him? Could they muster the faith to trust God as Jesus did? We may never
know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What we do know is that when
Jesus did what he did, they are taken by awe and wonder, amazement and fear.
They did not have answers, just a question; "Who, then, is this, that even
the wind and waves obey him?" Who Indeed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not
the first time God’s people didn’t comprehend God’s power. The children of God were
in the wilderness for 40 years. For 40 years, God provided for them bread from
heaven – manna it was called. When they entered into the promised land, the
manna was no longer there – now they were to farm the land. They hadn’t farmed
in 40 years, so they asked their neighbors, who told them about the gods they </span>worshiped<span style="font-family: inherit;">. The children of Israel started to worship these other gods, which
made God (Yahweh) very upset – I AM the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And we hear
that in the lesson from Job (38:1-11) – Job complains to God with all that has
fallen upon him. God’s response? “Gird
up your loins like a man and let me ask YOU – where were you when I was
creating?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How about
us? Do we NOT turn to God because we feel it is outside of His realm of understanding,
power, control? When storms arise, it is best to turn to God. Dr Luke Bouman of Valparaiso
University writes these words:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We experience storms in our lives. And even in these storms, Jesus
enters and shatters the illusions which give those storms power. Jesus did not
sit in judgment over us when the buildings fell on September 11, 2001, instead
he suffered with all those who suffered loss. Jesus did not use Katrina to
punish New Orleans, but rather entered and died with those who perished there,
leading them to new life through muddy baptismal waters.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would add that Jesus does not turn
his back on the racial tension we have seen rise over the past year, heightened
by an appalling act of hatred in the church in Charleston a few days ago, but
walks with us in the brokenness of the community, offering a word of peace in
the midst of the chaos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The tragic hateful event in
Charleston is heartbreaking and painful. It hits close to home as two of those
killed were graduates of one of our Lutheran seminaries. And the young man who
killed the nine at a prayer service in at that church is a member of an ELCA
congregation – the same church body to which we belong. What do we say about
such things? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We denounce the violence and the hatred
and the racism. But what more can we do? We hear cries for gun control and
guards at the doors of churches or even allowing people to be armed in the church
to protect us from such violence. I do not agree this is the answer, and I say
that knowing that part of the reason I feel this way is because of how I was
raised. I also do not believe this is the heart of the matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe what we must do is
begin with what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. The message of the cross
is that God is with us, in the midst of the chaos, in the heart of the storms
in our lives, our community, our world and offers peace that surpasses
understanding, hope that does not disappoint us, and love that bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things – a love that
never ends. This was evident at the courthouse in South Carolina where family
members spoke to the one who killed their loved ones and offered a word of
forgiveness. Wow, isn’t that powerful? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, Luke Bouman writes: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“All of our storms are linked forever to the cross of Christ. All
of our storms are less about God using his power to force resolution and more
about God forsaking his power to end forever the hold of sin and death on all
sides of any debate. And we, for our part, can only shake our heads in awe and
wonder at how completely we are loved and grasped by a patient and committed
God. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For there will always be storms that rage; some of them rage
around us and some of them rage because of us. And Jesus, the risen Lord,
forever calmly walks into the midst of the storm to declare its power null in
the wake of his resurrection. Humbled, we are encouraged to stop our circling
and posturing and join him in death and resurrection, the only true end to our
storms.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">But we have one thing that the disciples on the lake did not have.
We do not wonder who it is that stills our storms with death and resurrection.
We know that it is Jesus, and we know that Jesus is the living presence of God
in our midst. Just so, we experience him in worship, stilling our raging lives
with the calming waters of baptism, gently encouraging us to trust through his
word, spoken and remembered, and sending us as calm healers by feeding us at his
table. The more we experience Jesus in this way, the more we become the body of
Christ, and participate in the death and resurrection ourselves as healing
agents in this world. (Rev. Dr. Luke Bouman - Valparaiso University)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear this - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">• God does care that we are
perishing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Storms still arise <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">• God is present – it is always good
to have Jesus in your boat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In response to what God has
promised us in Jesus Christ, hear again a question that is asked of parents
when their children are baptized and when our youth are confirmed – “Do you promise to
work for justice and peace as a disciple of Jesus?” Our response – “I do and I
ask God to help and guide me!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing that God is with us, in the
midst of the storm, and God’s peace is upon us, what are we to do? Two words – the first from our Presiding Bishop
Elizabeth Eaton: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I urge all of us to spend a day in repentance and mourning.
And then we need to get to work. Each of us and all of us need to examine
ourselves, our church and our communities. We need to be honest about the reality
of racism within us and around us. We need to talk and we need to listen, but
we also need to act. No stereotype or racial slur is justified. Speak out
against inequity. Look with newly opened eyes at the many subtle and overt ways
that we and our communities see people of color as being of less worth. Above
all pray – for insight, for forgiveness, for courage." <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The full text of Bishop Eaton's letter can be found <a href="http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/long_season_of_disquiet_letter.pdf">HERE</a><br /></span></i><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And from St.
Paul’s letter to the church in Rome: Romans 12 from Eugene Peterson’s
transliteration, “The Message:”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><sup>14-16 </sup></i></b><i>Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your
happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with
each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great
somebody.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><sup>17-19 </sup></i></b><i>Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in
you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you
to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><sup>20-21 </sup></i></b><i>Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy
that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will
surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of
evil by doing good.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As your
Pastor, you have my word that here at Epiphany, we WILL seek ways to talk and
to listen, and to pray. We also will strive to overcome evil with good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The gift of
Jesus this day is this – PEACE. Receive the gift. As God’s people let us do all
we can to share the gift. The peace of
the Lord be with you always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A song from Steven Curtis Chapman in response to the Charleston can be found <a href="http://youtu.be/qnFmHKVyRGg">HERE</a> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-26871151603162704052015-06-09T10:52:00.001-04:002015-06-10T08:04:07.600-04:00Dignity<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura Hillenbrand (author of the book "Sea Biscuit") has written an incredible book about the life of Louis Zamperini entitled "Unbroken : a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption." I am about half way through the book and am enthralled. The book has been made into a movie - maybe you have seen it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the book, Hillenbrand shares the story of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and World War II soldier. In the middle of the war, Zamperini's plane, the Green Hornet, crashed in the Pacific. Together with a fellow soldier, he survived for 46 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean. When they finally make it to land, they found themselves on an island called Kwajalein that was occupied by the Japanese and the two are taken into captivity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hillenbrand writes of their experience there: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The crash of Green Hornet had left Louie and Phil in the most
desperate physical extremity, without food, water, or shelter. But on
Kwajalein, the guards sought to deprive them of something that
had sustained them even as all else had been lost: dignity. This self-
respect and sense of self- worth, the innermost armament of the soul, lies at
the heart of humanness; to be deprived of it is to be dehumanized, to be
cleaved from, and cast below, mankind. Men subjected to dehumanizing treatment
experience profound wretchedness and loneliness and find that hope is almost
impossible to retain. Without dignity, identity is erased. In its absence, men
are defined not by themselves, but by their captors and the circumstances in
which they are forced to live. One American airman, shot down and relentlessly
debased by his Japanese captors, described the state of mind that his captivity
created: “I was literally becoming a lesser human being.” </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Few societies
treasured dignity, and feared humiliation, as did the Japanese, for whom a loss
of honor could merit suicide. This is likely one of the reasons why Japanese
soldiers in World War II debased their prisoners with such zeal, seeking to
take from them that which was most painful and destructive to lose. On Kwajalein,
Louie and Phil learned a dark truth known to the doomed in Hitler’s death
camps, the slaves of the American South, and a hundred other generations of
betrayed people. Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and
oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical
hardship, can hold a man’s soul in his body long past the point at which the
body should have surrendered it. The loss of it can carry a man off as surely
as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty. In
places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet. (Pages 182-183)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dignity. As I have had opportunity to reflect on 25 years of ministry the past couple of weeks (I was ordained on June 3, 1990), this word seems to be foundational. Dignity.</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">First and foremost, I believe that what God offers to us through Jesus Christ is dignity. We are washed clean of that which causes us to be seen as less than dignified in our relationship with God, others, and even ourselves. The ministry of Jesus focused on raising the up the lowly, feeding the hungry, restoring the outcast to society - in short, offering dignity. </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We as the church are called to do the same. We are called to see in those around us the image of God in which all are created. With our outreach ministries, we hope to offer dignity and respect. We open our doors and welcome all (at the very least I hope we do) and offer a place where the word of God is proclaimed and the love of God is shared. </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through the church's youth ministry and participation in outdoor ministry and other offerings, we offer a place where children of God hear that they are of great value in the eyes of God. I remember a conversation I had with one of my youth from my first church while we were at camp. This little boy had had a tough life. He came from a broken home. His brother died in a house fire because this boy lit the couch on fire with a lighter his parents left on the floor. He had trouble in school and more trouble at home. His grandmother was concerned about him, and she thought camp would be a good experience for him. She made sure he would go to camp and paid his way. That young boy came up to me one day at camp with a big smile on his face and said, "Pastor, you know what? My counselor told me that I am special." The words of the counselor spoke the word of God to this child. Dignity.</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I visit members in the hospital or care facilities, I am ever mindful of the need for dignity. When all is stripped away, literally and figuratively, and one finds himself or herself in a hospital bed with tubes and monitors and gowns that cover less than anyone would like, there is a need for respect and dignity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been at the bedside when saints have passed away. I have been called to homes when a child of God has breathed his or her last breath. I am thankful for the Hospice workers, nursing staff, policemen and paramedics who have treated the situation with honor and respect and dignity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our dealing with social issues, and especially in the past few years in dealing with issues about sexuality and same sex unions - at the heart of it all is that one word - dignity. How do we treat one another with dignity? How do we offer respect?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I count it a blessing that my parents instilled in me the importance of treating others with respect and dignity. It is at the foundation of what we are called to do and to be as children of God and as the church. It is the gift we receive. It is a gift we can offer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wow - pretty heavy stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Allow me an opportunity to offer a lighter take on respect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This video made my day today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All I am asking for is a little respect!</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y9vto-eWPaY" width="853"></iframe>
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-56346821540277883522015-05-25T11:16:00.002-04:002015-05-25T11:26:57.533-04:00Prayer is a Power Thing<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple of Sundays ago, I preached on the power of prayer. Here are some excerpts from that sermon.<br />
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Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered she had certain instructions for her son: "Now you're not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don't even ask."<br />
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She put him in the child's seat and off they went up and down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. Seeing the chocolate chip cookies he said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you not even to ask. You're not going to get any at all." They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items she had to back track and they ended up in the cookie aisle again. "Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you that you can't have any. Now sit down and be quiet."<br />
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Finally, they arrived at the checkout. The little boy sensed that the end was in sight, that this might be his last chance. He stood up on the seat and shouted in his loudest voice, "In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?" Everyone in the checkout lanes laughed and applauded. Do you think the little boy got his cookies? You bet! The other shoppers moved by his daring pooled their resources. The little boy and his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies. (1)<br />
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Prayer sometimes can be like asking for a box of chocolate chip cookies.<br />
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I believe one of the dangers we fall in to in our prayer life is that we lose sight of who God created us to be. Prayer is seen by many as a private thing – between me and God – which in many ways it is… it is a one-on-one communication with God. But in praying, it is sometimes easy for our prayers to become nothing more than a selfish listing of what I want, what I need, and what I am about, and totally ignores the others around us. <br />
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As I have said before, God created us to be a part of community. God created us as a people – and calls us to live our lives as a part of the Body of Christ. Sin breaks in when our focus turns to self and ignores the neighbor. Notice in Jesus’ prayer that his prayer is for the community, for the world, for unity for ALL.<br />
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Dr Anna Madsen (a wonderful Lutheran theologian I got to hear a couple weeks ago) writes this:<br />
The Hebrew word that we translate in Scripture as righteous also can be translated as properly aligned. Prayer is a moment to become properly aligned, rightly oriented, to the thing that defines who we are.<br />
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This is why it is so key to identify who our God is, or what we understand God to be. Prayer provides us the opportunity to become aligned again, to remind ourselves that we are not alone, that we live in community. (2)<br />
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Prayer is more than asking for a box of cookies. But it is ALSO about asking for a box of cookies. Since we ARE in relationship with God, and prayer allows us to be continually connected to God, it is important to share with God what is on our hearts, our minds, our hopes and fears.<br />
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Prayer invites us to live our lives as God’s children. And if we truly look at prayer as that, our prayers focus not simply on what I want, but what God is calling me to do and be as a child of God.<br />
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Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray what he told them? When you pray, pray this way – “Our Father.” Not MY Father. OUR. It begins with community!<br />
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I came across the following in my daily devotions a few years ago – it is called “A few thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer.”<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "OUR", if my faith has no room for others and their need.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN", if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME", if I am not striving, with
God's help, to be holy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME", if I am unwilling or resentful of
having it in my life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN", unless I am truly ready
to give myself to God's service here and now.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD", without expending
honest effort for it, or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread that I
receive.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS
AGAINST US", if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION", if I deliberately choose
to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL", if I am not prepared to fight
evil with my life and my prayer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM", if I am unwilling to obey God.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY", if I am seeking
power for myself and my own glory first.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "FOR EVER AND EVER", if I am too anxious about each
day's affairs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot pray "AMEN", unless I honestly say ..."Cost what it
may, this is my prayer. (3)</span></li>
</ul>
Prayer – it is more than asking for a box of cookies. It is about being one with God, and letting God lead the way.<br />
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Prayer – it’s a powerful thing.<br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor Charlie<br />
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A video addition - Blessings by Laura Story<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1CSVqHcdhXQ" width="640"></iframe>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-stories-faith-60321.asp</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dr. Anna Madsen - http://omgcenter.com/blog/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.christianstudy.com/data/illu/sie0003.html</span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-30647614712359833762015-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:002015-05-18T12:28:10.756-04:00God's Got a Grip On Me<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Saturday, we gathered at Epiphany for the funeral of Susan Krueckeberg. I thought I would share some of my message for this week's blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear
again the word of the Lord - Lamentations 3, a modern translation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll
never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison
I’ve swallowed.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s
loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">They’re
created new every morning. How great
your faithfulness!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m
sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">...Why?
Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are
immense.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(selected
verses from Lamentations 3 – The Message)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Sunday, May 10th - Mother's Day - the Gospel lesson was from the 15<sup>th</sup> chapter of John. In that
lesson, we hear Jesus tell his disciples a couple of important things before he
leaves them:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;">#1. </span><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Love one
another. Just as I have loved you. #2. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Remember, I
chose you, not the other way <span style="background-color: white;">around. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">After
preaching on this text, I stopped in the office to check messages. Norm had called.
I could hear in his voice that things were not good. Sue was back in the
hospital and in ICU. I made my way over to Kettering and met with Norm and
Scott and Stacie and Sue, and heard that things were worse than not good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">After
three and a half months of good days and not so good days, hopes and fears,
steps forward and backward, there was nothing more that could be done. We
prayed together, cried together, and started to make plans for this day. The
grip on hope seemed to be slipping. How difficult it is to have hope when there
seems to be no sign of hope anywhere!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">BUT
- I believe that is where God meets us. For when we have no hope, the only
thing that remains is God’s promises. I love you. I chose you. You are mine.
Forever. For long ago in the waters of baptism,
God made a promise to Sue. God said, this one belongs to me. And while our grip
may be slipping, God’s grasp of grace will never let go. It is HOPE in this, as
Paul reminds the church in Rome, hope that does not disappoint us. (Romans 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; layout-grid-mode: line; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">You see, Jesus came to help us see that it is God’s grip
on us that is so much stronger than our grip on to God. A grip so strong that
nothing, not even death can release God’s embrace. For this reason, we gather
in this place, and remember God’s promises, and place our hopes and fears in
God, and in God alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The sermon hymn that followed was "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 19.7119998931885px;">When my way grows drear</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">When the darkness appears</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Precious Lord, take my hand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Lead me on, let me stand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #252525; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">I am tired, I am weak, </span><span style="color: #252525; line-height: 19.7119998931885px;">I am worn</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px;">Through the storm, through the night</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px;">Lead me on to the light</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px;">Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 19.7119998931885px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Precious Lord linger near</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">When my life is almost gone</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Hear my cry, hear my call</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Hold my hand lest I fall</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">And the night draws near</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">And the day is past and gone</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">At the river I stand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Guide my feet, hold my hand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: left;">Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor Charlie</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-84940715441628188802015-05-11T13:17:00.004-04:002015-05-11T17:23:48.969-04:00The Guy with the SignEvery Monday Morning, at the corner of Alex Bell Road and Far Hills Avenue, you will find a man standing on the corner with a large sign. It is a message of hope and encouragement, and it changes every week. Today the sign read on one side, "You Are Loved" and on the other, "There is Always Hope." The man standing at the corner waves and smiles at everyone he can. Every Monday I that I see him, he makes my day.<br>
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A couple months ago, the Dayton Daily News ran an article about this man. I commend it to you to learn about this man and his reason for doing what he does.<br>
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<a href="http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/lifestyles/mans-signs-lift-moods/nkbdK/">Man’s signs lift moods | Dayton, OH</a><br>
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Today (I am writing this on Monday), I decided I would watch the people's reactions to the guy with the sign instead of focusing on him. What fun! The smiles, the waves, the woman taking a picture of the guy with the sign with her phone as she drove by. What a great way to start a Monday!<br>
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What I appreciate about the guy with the sign is that there is no ulterior motive, no negative statement, no strings attached - it is a grace-full message. It is for you. It is a gift.<br>
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Hmmm. This sounds somewhat familiar, doesn't it? A grace-full message - no strings attached. A message of hope and love. I hope and pray that is what we share each week in worship, as well as in our welcome and sharing in all we do as a church.<br>
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God loves you! A lot! So much so God gave Jesus to us to show us how to live, how to love, how to forgive. Jesus loved the unlovable, touched the untouchable, and forgave the unforgivable. Jesus emptied himself of all the trappings of heaven and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. On the cross he took our sin upon himself. This one who knew no sin became sin, so that we might be made right and clean and whole in the presence of God. On the cross he died. But death could not contain Him. The tomb is empty and life wins. All this is yours as a gift.<br>
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If that doesn't make your day, I don't know what will.<br>
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What is the message you would share?<br>
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What kind of reaction do you think you would get?<br>
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Peace,<br>
<br>
Pastor Charlie<br>
<br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-2283917405530915872015-05-05T08:40:00.002-04:002015-05-05T08:40:38.792-04:00Walkout songsLast week, I had the chance to go to a Cincinnati Reds game, and enjoy the surrounds, sights and sounds of the ballpark. Even though the home team lost, it was still a good time. Sitting in the upper deck on a sunny day, I got a bit of a sunburn, but have received no sympathy from anyone about that.<br />
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Times have changed at the ballpark (not just the prices!). Back in the day, it used to be that a batter would walk up to the plate to the sounds of an announcer saying his name and maybe, if you were lucky, his position. It was all so formal, almost solemn. "Now batting… third baseman…Aurelio... Rodriguez."<br />
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Things are different nowadays. On the big screen in Left Field is all the the information in the world about the player coming to bat - more than one person can comprehend in the time that person is at bat. And now, when the batter comes to the plate, the baseball players get their own walkout or walk-up songs - the song that is played when they come to bat.<br />
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What song would you have as your walkout song? What song would you have played when you step to the plate for your first major league at bat? Oh the choices are endless, aren't they? <br />
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And what walkout songs would Jesus have used for his ministry? There are definitely different songs for the different aspects of his ministry, and many of our hymns focus on that and would fit the bill.<br />
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I encourage you to think of what songs are the songs that would define you and your faith journey.<br />
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Care to share what those songs might be?<br />
<br />
Peace,<br />
<br />
Pastor Charlie<br />
(short blog today - at a Continuing Ed event this week)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-42073691055333230572015-04-27T10:07:00.003-04:002015-04-27T10:10:39.443-04:00One BaptismLast Sunday after church, a couple of people stopped me to ask about Baptism. Let me tell you - one of the great joys I have as a pastor is when I am asked a theological question (especially the ones I can answer!). Both of the questions had to do with the line from the Nicene Creed - "We believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins." The question both of the people who approached me asked had to do with conversations they have had with friends or family members who attend other churches that require the new members to be re-baptized, or baptism by full-immersion (all the way under the water). How do we respond to someone who tells us we haven't been properly baptized, or the baptisms we received are somehow not complete or up to the standards required to join a certain church?<br />
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The simple answer I offer is this - Baptism is a gift of Grace - God's gift to us. This is God's doing, and not ours. God is the one who acts. The water, together with God's Word is all we need. The pastor, the parents and the one being baptized are all instruments in making this happen, but God is the one who acts.<br />
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So if we are told that we need to be baptized again, does that mean that God didn't do it right the first time? I am confident God doesn't make mistakes! A woman in a previous church I served used to say there is one word that is NOT in God's vocabulary - that word is "Oops!" Again, Baptism is God's doing, and God is capable of doing what God has told us God will do!<br />
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Back in 1997, the Evangelical Lutheran Church adopted for guidance and practice a document called "The Use of the Means of Grace." In it, we read these words:<br />
<i>Baptism is Once for All. A person is baptized once. Because of the unfailing nature of God’s promise, and because of God’s once-for-all action in Christ, Baptism is not repeated. In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther expounds on this: Baptism is a sign and testimony of God’s grace, awakening and creating faith. The faith of the one being baptized “does not constitute Baptism but receives it….” “Everything depends upon the Word and commandment of God….”(The Large Catechism, Baptism, 53.)</i><br />
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<i>Re-baptism” is to be avoided since it causes doubt, focusing attention on the always-failing adequacy of our action or our faith. Baptized persons who come to new depth of conviction in faith are invited to an Affirmation of Baptism in the life of the congregation. (The Large Catechism, Baptism, 47-63.)</i><br />
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I have heard people say that Baptism isn't very meaningful to them because they were baptized as an infant, and I would like to be baptized again so they can remember it. My response to that is it is okay to affirm the baptism. I would even be willing to go down the river (once it warms up - or maybe we could go to the beach this summer!) and join you in the water and we can affirm your baptism - remembering what God has already done for you.<br />
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The Confirmation Service we celebrate each year is an Affirmation of Baptism service. It is an event in which the young men and women who have been in Confirmation classes for over two years stand before the church and claim the promises their parents and sponsors made at the baptismal font their own. They affirm their baptism.<br />
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So what happens if someone is not sure if he or she has been baptized? This happens more often than you might think. Again, from the Use of the Means of Grace:<br />
<i>There may be occasions when people are uncertain about whether or not they have been baptized. Pastors, after supportive conversation and pastoral discernment, may choose to proceed with the baptism. The practice of this church and its congregations needs to incorporate the person into the community and its ongoing catechesis and to proclaim the sure grace of God in Christ, avoiding any sense of Baptism being repeated.</i><br />
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In these occasions, I have invited these men and women to the font and I baptized them. What if they were already baptized? God understands. There is grace in that as well, isn't there? </div>
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One Baptism is all we need. God acts, and we are forgiven.<br />
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If you are interested in reading more about Baptism, as well as other means of Grace, you can download the ELCA document using this link:</div>
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http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/The_Use_Of_The_Means_Of_Grace.pdf</div>
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-24554271321012558582015-04-21T14:51:00.002-04:002015-04-21T14:53:05.849-04:00RainWe have had some rainy days lately, haven't we? A few nights ago, it was warm enough to have the windows open, and even though it was raining, there was no wind, so we could keep the windows open through the night. The sound of the rain and the smell of the wet grass and fresh air brought back memories of rainy nights.<br />
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I remember rainy nights when I was growing up, watching the shadows of the trees outlined on the shades when the lightning flashed. I remember rainy nights in a canvas tent, wondering if we would be wetter inside or outside. I remember rainy nights as a camp counselor, wondering if the rain would stop before it was time to make our way to the dining hall for breakfast the next day.<br />
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We often curse the rain when it means a our outdoor event is postponed, or grilling outside is not possible or the grass we thought we could mow is now going to be a foot taller before it is dry enough to tackle. My first summer as a camp counselor, we had 11 days straight of rain. 11 days! At first, it was frustrating. But over time, we came to accept it for what it was. In those 11 days, we learned how to be creative in moving outdoor activities inside, including camp fires and cookouts, and we also learned it was okay to be outside in the rain (as long as there was no lightning!). We told the kids that "rain is the essence of life." I am not sure they understood that, but it was a good line. We also made sure it was an opportunity to remember that we are baptized children of God.<br />
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We don't always appreciate the rain, but I have a feeling that come August, when the lawn is brown and the flowers are wilting, we are going to wish for rain to come. We may even wish for some cold winter days, but here in April, I don't think we are ready to do that just yet! We only need to look at our neighbors in California who are experiencing mandatory water restrictions to understand how precious the rain can be.<br />
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Rain is one of those things we can appreciate or we can allow it to irritate us. The truth of the matter is, we cannot control it. What I am saying is that we can decide how the rain can control us, and our attitude. And if I take that a step further, that could be said about a number of things of which I have no control. How do I permit (give permission?) these things to control me?<br />
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From The Message (Eugene Peterson), these words from Matthew 6:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25-26 </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Jesus said, "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-6-27-Matt-6-29" id="en-MSG-9958" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27-29 </span>“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-6-30-Matt-6-33" id="en-MSG-9959" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30-33 </span>“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">getting, </span>so you can respond to God’s <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">giving</span>. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-6-34" id="en-MSG-9960" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">34 </span>“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."</i></span></span><br />
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Baptized children of God - let it rain! It is the essence of life! Rain or shine, God is good. All the time. All the time, God is good!</div>
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-25927855388505734662015-04-14T16:19:00.002-04:002015-04-14T16:19:45.072-04:00Signs of New LifeIsn't it incredible<span style="font-family: inherit;"> how quickly it seems winter turned into spring? Just last month, I was wondering if I would ever be warm again. But the past few days, beginning Easter weekend, spring is sprung! The daffodils, the budding trees and flowers and green grass - such a beautiful, deep color! It is absolutely wonderful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After Easter services were done, we headed home, got changed and went out for dinner - what a treat that was after a fantastic day of worship, and a powerful (and exhausting) week of services. How wonderful to celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. How appropriate it is to celebrate Easter in the spring. New life and new LIFE! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We headed home and got to spend time on the back porch for the first time of the year. My daughter took a picture of me with my dog, Maggie, and her dog, Schroeder, on the porch couch at the end of the day. The caption read, "Christ is Risen. My Dad is not!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The good news is that even when we are down, and feel like spring will never come, forever in the darkness of uncertainty, gloom and despair, the new day dawns. New life is ours. Today is a new day, and God reigns. Celebrate the victory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A poem I have used at several funerals during this season.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter
Says<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter
says that day will follow night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However
dark and merciless the gloom,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
morning comes, the eastern skies are bright,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
daylight floods each corner of my room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter
says that spring will follow winter,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That
chill and bareness last for just a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
iris blooms; the life-flow soon will enter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
maple trees; the greening world will smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter
says that joy will follow sorrow;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For
grief walks with us sometimes as we go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
tears are for the night; joy comes tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
seems the brighter for the pain we know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter
says that life will follow death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus
broke the grip of death! He is alive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
certain as the cemetery path,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because
Jesus lives, my spirit shall survive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Lois
Blanchard Eades)</span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Bright', serif; font-size: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor Charlie</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-67606167184793158052015-04-07T10:40:00.002-04:002015-04-07T10:40:57.592-04:00It is ALL about Jesus ChristHoly Week and Easter were moving, powerful and wonderful days here at Epiphany. I hope you had an opportunity to join us for one or more of the seventeen services we had from Palm Sunday weekend through Easter Sunday. In and through them all, my hope and prayer was that everyone who came to worship heard about Jesus Christ, and the gift of his life, death and resurrection for each and everyone present. A huge THANK YOU to all who made these services so very special.<br />
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In the recent issue of the Lutheran Magazine, presiding bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton, focuses on the importance of Jesus Christ as the center and foundation of who we are as the church today.<br />
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Here are her words:<br />
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<b><u>Coming to terms with the times - </u></b>Creating programs, chasing youth trail telling love of God<br />
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When I’m out and about in the church, I’m often asked what I plan to do to save small congregations, reverse the decline in membership, bring young adults back to church, increase mission support, make the ELCA truly multicultural, boost our relevance in the culture and fix Congress (well, not that last one). I have no plan to do any of that by myself, but I wonder if there is a deeper concern in those questions that requires a deeper answer from all of us.<br />
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The world has changed and is changing. Residents of my mother’s retirement community who waited weeks to receive letters from loved ones serving overseas during World War II are now on Facebook and regularly use Skype or FaceTime to visit with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Air travel that was once glamorous and rare for most of us is now, both in frequency and ambiance, a lot like taking the bus. It’s not unusual, even in small-town America, to have Jewish, Muslim and Hindu neighbors or those with no religious affiliation at all. We are in a strange new world and don’t really know how all this will shake out.<br />
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We might be tempted to overdo our efforts, to work harder and harder developing innovative programming, reading every manual on church growth, jazzing up our websites, being present on every possible social media platform. Maybe we should discover our congregation’s niche: young adults, theology on tap, justice and advocacy, care of creation, ethnic specific ministry, pet blessing liturgies, urban church, rural church, big church, small church, virtual church, home church. We have done some version of all of this somewhere across the ELCA. And good for us. We need to be brave and daring. God can use our best imagination and innovation.<br />
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Or we might be tempted to circle the wagons and hold ever more tightly to what we have left. There is much that is beautiful about our traditions and buildings and heritage. What will happen to all of that if our particular congregation ceases to exist? Who will bury our parents or us? Who will take care of the parish cemetery? This is when congregations begin eyeing visitors for their value as replacement parts.<br />
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My daughter and her significant other, who was running for county commissioner, attended a church pancake breakfast where they were swarmed by parishioners who didn’t realize he was a candidate. All they saw were young adults! Potential members! It was an uncomfortable experience.<br />
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But why do we want people to join our church? What does church mean to us? When I have asked that question, people often spoke about church as community or family. People talked about the good and important work their congregations carried out to feed the hungry or shelter the homeless. Some said the best thing about their congregations wasn’t programs but people.<br />
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It was rare that anyone mentioned God or spoke about an encounter with the transcendent. I don’t believe our people lack faith or don’t know Jesus, but I wonder if we have lost the language to speak about the love of God that has been given to us in the crucified and risen Christ. Maybe we just assume Jesus. Maybe Jesus has become like wallpaper: we know it’s there and everyone can see it, but we don’t have to talk about it.<br />
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The best thing about the church, the thing that is uniquely the church, is not programs or people but Jesus. If we as a people, and as congregations, don’t get that right it doesn't matter how many programs we come up with.<br />
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In Christ through the Spirit, God has invited us into a deeply intimate and loving relationship with God and with each other. Being church is abiding in that love. We are God’s beloved people gathered around word and sacraments. That’s what gives us life. That’s what shapes us. That’s what sends us out into the world to do justice and to love kindness (Micah 6:8). And this must be the kind of community to which we invite others—not because we want to grow or pay for the boiler or attract young people, but because we have received this incredible life-changing gift and want everyone to be touched and claimed and transformed by it too.<br />
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Elizabeth A. Eaton<br />
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Amen! <br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor CharlieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-32239210964338260162015-03-30T15:06:00.001-04:002015-04-01T19:50:53.071-04:00The Youngest of FourBack in March, my wife and I made a trip to Iowa for a family wedding. Who gets married in the middle of March in Iowa? My nephew, that's who! His wife is an engineer, and she really wanted to get married on Pi Day (Pi is the number 3.1415..., and so March 14, 2015 was that day!). We were blessed with 70 degree weather, and we were thankful for safe travels and on-time planes and connections.<br />
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Family events like this are the only time I get to see my three big brothers. Yes, I am the baby, the spoiled one, the one who got away with everything. I tell everyone that Mom and Dad just kept having kids till they got the perfect one! I can say that, but the truth of the matter is that I was the unexpected child. When Dad heard another child was coming, he mixed himself a martini! And when they found out they were having a fourth child, I know they were hoping for a girl. When the doctor came out of the delivery room, he said, "Fred, it's a boy." My Dad responded, "Oh my - Pat is not going to be happy with you." The doctor said, "Ah Fred, I think Pat is not going to be happy with YOU."<br />
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My brothers teased me something awful growing up. Mom said that they wouldn't tease me if they didn't love me. I guess they loved me a LOT! One of their favorite things to tell me is that when they were younger, they were all girls. And when they reached a certain age, they all became boys. It always happened to be my upcoming birthday was going to be the year I became a girl. I guess it is now when I turn 54 that it's supposed to happen.<br />
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I love getting together with my brothers and their families. Mom and Dad have been gone for some time now, so this is where I am able to touch the past and remember. It is also a time for us to see each other as parents and grandparents. All of my brothers are grandfathers, and I love to see them in that role. The love and joy they pour out on those children is great to see. In them I can see my Dad's gentle nature and caring attributes.<br />
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I know that family members can sometimes drive us crazy, and sometimes the things that we do or leave undone cause rifts that can last a lifetime. But I believe there are blessings from God we receive through family. Support, nurture, love. These are the people who have seen us at our best and our worst, and still call us brother or sister. These are the ones who often are there when everyone else has left us, These are the ones with whom we learned life's lessons. And these are the ones who are often an influence in our children's lives too.<br />
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My brothers - I give thanks to God for them!<br />
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Pictures from 2011, 1979, 2012 and 2015 (we are in the opposite order in the last one!).<br />
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-3457463587280751972015-03-23T18:11:00.004-04:002015-03-23T18:14:40.724-04:00A Caring Community and a Loving God<span style="font-family: inherit;">The story is told of the famous
and saintly Mother Teresa of Calcutta who gave an interview during the last few
years of her life that illustrates the point well. The reporter noted that
religious orders in the west and many churches, for that matter, had been
losing numbers. But the reporter also noted that Mother Teresa's order was
growing by thousands, so she asks "Why?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mother Teresa
answered without hesitation, "I give them Jesus."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"Yes, I know,
but what strategies do you develop? How do you manage it?" asks the
reporter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"I give them
Jesus" is the reply.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"Yes, I know,
but can you be more specific?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"I give them
Jesus."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"Yes, we know
of your fine work, but there must be something else," says the exasperated
reporter.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I give them
Jesus. There is nothing else."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This holy
woman describes and defines the role, the purpose, and the mission of God's
church. To present the love of God in real ways, to present Jesus as a human
friend, companion, and guide. To do it in word, yes, but equally, if not more
so, to do it in action.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A prime example of this is Epiphany's incredible outreach ministry called Operation Prom Dress. This year, over 170 girls were served by over 80 volunteers who welcomed them, loved on them, helped them find a dress, did up their hair and make-up, took pictures of them, offered food and beverages, and made sure they all knew that they were the reason we were here. One mother said to me, "What I love about this ministry is that there is more than enough." It was a great day, and a great opportunity to share God's love not just in word but in action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Channel 2 - WDTN came out to do a story on the event. Pastor Jay and I stood behind the camera as they interviewed Tonya Johns, who is the coordinator of Operation Prom Dress. I had tears in my eyes when she told why we do what we do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://up.anv.bz/latest/anvload.html?key=eyJtIjoiTElOIiwicCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJ2IjoiNDYzNTA2IiwicGx1Z2lucyI6eyJkZnAiOnsiYWRUYWdVcmwiOiJodHRwOi8vcHViYWRzLmcuZG91YmxlY2xpY2submV0L2dhbXBhZC9hZHM%2Fc3o9MXgxMDAwJml1PS81Njc4L2xpbi5XRFROL25ld3MvbG9jYWwtbmV3cy9vcGVyYXRpb24tcHJvbS1kcmVzcy1icmluZ2luZy1vdXQtbW9yZS10aGFuLW91dGVyLWJlYXV0eS9kZXRhaWwmY2l1X3N6cz0zMDB4MjUwJmdkZnBfcmVxPTEmZW52PXZwJm91dHB1dD14bWxfdmFzdDImYWRfcnVsZT0xIn0sImFuYWx5dGljcyI6eyJwZGIiOiIyNjI2OTk1NCJ9LCJvbW5pdHVyZSI6eyJwcm9maWxlIjoiTElOIiwiYWNjb3VudCI6ImRwc2Rwc3dkdG4sZHBzZ2xvYmFsIiwidHJhY2tpbmdTZXJ2ZXIiOiJsaW50di4xMjIuMm83Lm5ldCJ9fX0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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A community that cares about them. A God who loves them.<br />
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That is what it means to be the church!<br />
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Peace,<br />
Pastor Charlie<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-32056677971136590322015-03-16T13:15:00.004-04:002015-03-16T13:15:51.572-04:00Saint PatrickTuesday was St. Patrick’s Day. While it is true that the Lutheran church does not hold the saints up in the same manner as the Roman Catholic Church, the saints can still be examples of faith for us, and we can benefit from their witness and example. Patrick was born in Britain near the end of the fourth century to wealthy parents. At the age of 16, however, Irish raiders attacked his family estate, captured the teenage Patrick, and transported him to Ireland. Like any person taken away from a loving family, however, Patrick was lonely and afraid. It is at this point in his life that he turned to God for comfort and guidance, becoming a devout Christian.<br />
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After six years as a slave, however, Patrick began to hear a voice which he believed was God's voice telling him it was time to leave Ireland. Considering he was a prisoner, this was no easy task. But God created a means of escape, and Patrick snuck away from the marauders, walked nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast, and sailed back to Britain.<br />
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Years later, though, he received a second revelation from God telling him to go back to Ireland as a missionary. He listened to the voice once again, and the rest, as they say, is history. His mission lasted nearly 30 years, up until he died on March 17, 461. <br />
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I came across this hymn/prayer attributed to St. Patrick entitled St. Patrick’s Breast Plate. These words are like the breastplate of righteousness that protects what is at the core of your being and what you hold to be true. These words emphasize the power of God with us and I find comfort and strength in them. I love these words.<br />
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If you are looking for a prayer to start your day, might I suggest this:<br />
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I arise today </div>
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Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism, </div>
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Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial, </div>
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Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, </div>
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I arise today </div>
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Through God's strength to pilot me: </div>
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God's might to uphold me, </div>
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God's wisdom to guide me, </div>
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God's eye to look before me, </div>
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God's ear to hear me, </div>
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God's word to speak for me, </div>
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God's hand to guard me, </div>
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God's way to lie before me, </div>
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God's shield to protect me, </div>
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God's host to save me.</div>
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From snares of devils, </div>
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From temptations of vices, </div>
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From everyone who shall wish me ill, </div>
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Afar and anear, </div>
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Alone and in multitude. </div>
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Christ to shield me today </div>
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So that there may come to me </div>
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abundance of reward. </div>
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Christ with me, </div>
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Christ before me, </div>
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Christ behind me, </div>
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Christ in me, </div>
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Christ beneath me, </div>
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Christ above me, </div>
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Christ on my right, </div>
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Christ on my left, </div>
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Christ when I lie down, </div>
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Christ when I sit down, </div>
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Christ when I arise, </div>
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Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, </div>
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Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, </div>
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Christ in every eye that sees me, </div>
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Christ in every ear that hears me. </div>
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I arise today </div>
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May the witness of the saints shine light on our journeys of faith.<br />
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Here's a short video about St. Patrick.</div>
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-71401319353887924622015-03-09T13:32:00.000-04:002015-03-09T13:33:06.087-04:00Subtle ShiftsGreeting to you today! We finally made it to the month of March, and there is hope that spring will soon be here! Humorist and fellow Lutheran Garrison Keillor wrote that every year in Minnesota (and we can relate that to our winter here in Ohio this year), nature makes a couple sincere attempts to kill you, and then we get the month of March, which God designed to show people who don't drink what a hangover is like! I will confess that I took a few days of rest and rejuvenation in a warm climate, and my wife and I have tried our best to bring the warmth and sun back with us.<br />
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This week, I want to share with you the following article from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Elizabeth Eaton. This appeared in the February issue of the magazine "The Lutheran."<br />
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We are in the middle of Lent — the season of spiritual warfare, or at least really good intentions. Many of us now engage in some form of Lenten discipline. We give up something: chocolate or coffee or FreeCell. Or we add something: Scripture reading, midweek worship or service projects. This seems normal and familiar to us just as the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday or crossing ourselves has become normal and familiar in many of our congregations.<br />
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I remember a time when none of these practices would be considered Lutheran by large segments of our church. Too works righteous, too showy, too … Roman Catholic! We didn’t need to, nor could we make ourselves holy or righteous. That was the whole point of justification by grace through faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:21-28, Article IV of the Augsburg Confession).<br />
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We over-corrected. Fasting, prayer, Scripture study, acts of service, imposition of ashes and making the sign of the cross are classical spiritual disciplines that not only have an ancient history in Christian practice but also serve to engage our whole selves in devotion to God. These practices serve to draw us closer to and make us more aware of the love of God shown through Jesus’ death and resurrection that justifies sinners, but they aren’t what justifies us.<br />
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As scrupulous as we have been in proclaiming grace and eschewing works in our faith practices, I’ve noticed the not so subtle shift to works righteousness in the work we do as the church. This exists in all three expressions — congregations, synods and churchwide — and all across the cultural spectrum. Jesus’ invitation to repentance and discipleship have become a kind of transaction between us and God where we figure out what we have done wrong, promise to work really hard to be better people, and then God forgives us. What we see as the moral wrongs that must be repented depends largely on our place on the cultural spectrum. The cultural right is preoccupied with private mores and behavior and the cultural left is preoccupied with political rights and the activities of government and business institutions.<br />
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Here’s how that plays out. While driving through the Smoky Mountains on a family road trip, I saw a billboard that declared: “No smoking, drinking, card playing, dancing, movie going, swearing ... there is no sin within 7 miles of our church!” Wow. There must not have been any people within 7 miles of that church. That is the works righteousness of the right.<br />
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The works righteousness of the left plays out a little differently. If there are enough sit-ins or protests, or boycotts or enough petitions, we could inaugurate the kingdom of God. Then we could extricate ourselves from this bondage to sin. We could build a perfect world.<br />
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There is a purveyor of high-end, organic, locally sourced groceries that is the temple of this persuasion. You can buy veal there without guilt because its source of veal is the little calf that, after gamboling across the fields, turns itself in to the butcher and declares (quoting Charles Dickens): “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done.” No. Something has to die so we can live. We are complicit in the world’s brokenness.<br />
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We may work for justice or righteousness with the best intentions, and God knows there is plenty of work to do. But Jesus didn't die to change behaviors or political systems or institutions. Jesus died to end the fundamental brokenness and estrangement from God that is the result of human sin, our rebellion against God that infects every aspect of our lives.<br />
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Just as Jesus’ miracles in the Gospel of John are called signs that point to the new thing God is doing in Christ, so should our work for justice be signs that point to the new life we have in Christ. We’re pointing in the wrong direction if our work becomes the new life instead of a sign of the new life.<br />
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Lent can be a time to ponder this priceless gift. The death and resurrection of Christ has changed everything, a change no human effort could ever bring about.<br />
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<i><b>Subtle shift to works righteousness</b></i><br />
<i>by Bishop Elizabeth Eaton - </i><i>February Issue of <u>The Lutheran</u></i><br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor Charlie<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-63045504504213135742015-02-24T09:15:00.002-05:002015-02-24T09:15:38.435-05:00Peace Be Still<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ah - that is easier said than done, isn't it? There is so much going on, and so many distractions and things that fill our lives and our minds that it seems like trying to find time to be still and silent and at peace is just another thing to add to our daily agenda. I don't know about you, but I find those times of peace to be a blessing. I wish they would be more frequent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In this season of Lent, we offer this invitation: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (NRSV Joel 2:13) I believe prayer is the avenue by which we come to be present with God and learn of God's graciousness, mercy and love. And while it is not a requirement, I believe that peace and silence and stillness can greatly enhance our time of prayer. A quote from Mother Teresa: </span><br />
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fruit of silence is prayer </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fruit of prayer is faith </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fruit of faith is love </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fruit of love is service </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fruit of service is peace. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My wife and I worked for a year at Koinonia, a Lutheran Church camp in New York State before we headed to seminary. One of the disciplines we had there at the camp was Taize' Prayer every morning and evening. This form of prayer is centered around a good 15 - 20 minutes of silence. At first, this drove me crazy. There was so much to do, and so little time, and here we are spending time in prayer? And during the first few weeks, that time of silence was filled with going through all the things in my mind that needed to get done. It was frustrating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But over time, I came to appreciate that time. It became time for me to stop. Yes, there were many things on my mind, but that time became time to empty those things from my mind, place them before God and seek God's guidance for the day to come, and a sense of calm for a night of rest. </span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his book, "Learning to Pray Again," Bishop Michael Rinehart writes this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Silence is prayer. As a child, I often thought of prayer as talking with God. Even if we embrace this metaphor, if one is talking with another, shouldn't it be at least 50% listening? Furthermore, if the other with whom one is talking is God, shouldn't it be more like 60% or 70% listening? If you were getting golf coaching from Tiger Woods, would you spend most of your time talking or listening? </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his book On Becoming a Magical Mystical Bear, Matthew Fox points out that most of us learned to pray as children, in a formative stage of our lives when we were dependent on our parents for everything. For this reason our praying can turn into a litany of all the things that we want. We treat God like a celestial Santa Claus. Then, somewhere in adolescence we become arrested in our spiritual development. We never learned to pray as adults. What if we began renewing our prayer life with silence? </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let God speak. Listen. If you're stuck in your prayer life, then begin with silence. If listening is prayer, and if silence is prayer, then perhaps prayer is communion with God, not just talking. Go for a long walk. 30 minutes. Take no music or reading with you. Just walk. Notice your steps, your breathing. Look at the earth, the trees, the sky. Breathe it in. Let go. Let God be.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace. Be Still.</span></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 46:10 - Be Still, and know that I am God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace,</span></span></div>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor Charlie</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-74076902205181112712015-02-16T14:55:00.004-05:002015-02-16T14:55:35.285-05:00Lent Is In TroubleLent began yesterday - Ash Wednesday - with services to mark its beginning, and ashes to mark our brows. We are reminded that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. We enter into this season willingly, but why?<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">David Lose is the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">the president of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He is a gifted writer and theologian. My entry this week are his words on Lent.</span></span><br />
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<b>The Trouble (and Blessing) of Lent by David Lose</b></div>
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Let's face
it. Lent is in trouble.<span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me
explain. Most of us have favorite holiday seasons. For some it's Christmas,
with the family get-togethers and presents. For others it's the Fourth of July
and summer, filled by a sense of national pride and beach vacations to boot.
But each year at just about this time, it strikes me that very few of us would
pick Lent, a season that seems to most of us as grim as the weather that
usually attends it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Think about
it: crossing off days on the calendar until Ash Wednesday; leaving work just a
little early, saying "I've got to get my Lenten shopping done;"
advertisements on billboards and television reading "only 12 more days
'til the day of Ashes;" or little kids going to bed, asking their parents,
"How much longer 'till Lent is here?" It just doesn't happen.<span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The trouble
with Lent, I think, is fairly clear. It's buried right in the heart of the
primary reading for Ash Wednesday, from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:
"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they
disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell
you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head
and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your
Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward
you." (Sigh) Actually, you don't have to read the whole verse, as the
brunt of the problem of Lent is in the first four words, "And when you
fast...." <span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";"> </span>And
when you fast?! C'mon. Except for the occasional crash diet before summer
vacation, who fasts anymore?<o:p></o:p></div>
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And there it
is in a nutshell, you see, the trouble with Lent: it feels like this strange,
weirdly anachronistic holiday that celebrates things we don't value and
encourages attitudes we don't share. No wonder that each year fewer and fewer
churches observe this age-old (fourth century!) tradition -- it's too
old-fashioned, too "Roman," too medieval for many contemporary
Christians to handle.<span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So let's
face it. Lent is in trouble. I mean, even among those traditions that do honor
the season, rarely is there the same kind of enthusiasm or expectancy which
greets Advent. Notice we don't sponsor Lenten Adventures for our kids; we don't
have an Adult Lenten Dinner and Party. We don't pine to sing Lenten hymns ahead
of time. Lent is in trouble.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I don't
know, maybe it's that there are no presents at the end, and no fun and games
along the way. Or maybe it's that Lent asks us to give up things. I mean, my
word, haven't we had to sacrifice enough already to get our kids through college,
to save for retirement, to put that new roof on the house, thank you very much.
Why should we give up anything more for Lent?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or maybe
it's the themes of Lent that trouble us. Penitence. Sacrifice. Contemplation.
These are the words of Lent, and I, for one, have a hard time believing they
were popular even with the Puritans (you remember, the folks that actually held
competitions to see who could resist the greatest temptation or avoid the most
pleasure) let alone now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lent, I'm
telling ya, it's in trouble. And so each year, as I listen to my
non-Lent-observing friends knock it as "works theology" and my
Lent-observing friends complain about it as a pain in the @&!, the same
question inevitably demands loudly to be answered: Why Lent? I mean, who really
needs it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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But you know
what? Each year, whatever my feelings approaching Lent may be, the same answer
comes whispering back: I do. Just maybe, I need Lent. Just maybe I need a time
to focus, to get my mind off of my career, my social life, my next writing
project -- and a hundred other things to which I look for meaning -- and center
myself in Meaning itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just maybe I
need a time (is 40 days really enough?) to help clear my head of the
distractions which any involved life in this world will necessarily bring and
re-orient myself towards the Maker of all that was given for my pleasure and
which I have let become merely distracting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe I need
the opportunity (and perhaps deep down I crave the chance!) to clear my eyes of
the glaze of indifference and apathy which comes from situation after situation
where I feel nearly helpless so that I can fasten my eyes once more on the
almost unbearable revelation of the God who loves God's children enough to take
the form of a man hanging on a tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And maybe,
just maybe -- and this takes the greatest amount of imagination of them all --
just maybe Lent really isn't mine to do with whatever I please. Perhaps Lent
isn't even the Church's to insist upon or discard at will. Maybe Lent isn't any
of ours to scoff at or observe. Maybe Lent is God's. Maybe Lent is God's gift
to a people starved for meaning, for courage, for comfort, for life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If it is, if
we can imagine that Lent is not ours at all but is wholly God's, then maybe
we'll also begin to recall, at first vaguely but then more strongly, that we,
too, are not ours at all, but are wholly God's -- God's own possession and
treasure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seen this
way, Lent reminds us of whose we are. The "sacrifices," the
disciplines, these are not intended as good works offered by us to God; rather,
they are God's gifts to us to remind us who we are, God's adopted daughters and
sons, God's treasure, so priceless that God was willing to go to any length --
or, more appropriately, to any depth -- to tell us that we are loved, that we
have value, that we have purpose.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes. I need
Lent. I need an absence of gifts so that I might acknowledge the Gift. I need a
time to be quiet and still, a time to crane my neck and lift my head, straining
to hear again what was promised me at Baptism: "You are mine! I love you!
I am with you!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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I need Lent,
finally, to remind me of who I am -- God's heir and Christ's co-heir -- so
that, come Easter, I can rejoice and celebrate with all the joy, all the
revelry, all the anticipation, of a true heir to the throne.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And so yes,
I need Lent. And to tell you the truth, I suspect that you do, too. You see, if
Lent is in trouble, it's only because we're in trouble, so busy trying to make
or keep or save our lives that we fail to notice that God has already saved us
and has already freed us to live with each other and for each other all the
rest of our days. And so we have Lent, a gift of the church, the season during
which God prepares us to behold God's own great sacrifice for us, with the hope
and prayer that, come Good Friday and Easter, we may be immersed once again
into God's mercy and perceive more fully God's great love for us and all the
world and in this way find the peace and hope and freedom that we so often
lack. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I would agree - I need Lent. I invite you to join in the journey these next forty days.</div>
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Peace,</div>
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Pastor Charlie</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-38847630913640773352015-02-09T11:55:00.005-05:002015-02-09T12:00:07.380-05:00Proclaim The GospelThis past Sunday, we heard Paul's message to the Corinthians, that he will do whatever it takes to proclaim the Gospel. In this translation, the term, "the Message" is used in place of "the Gospel." St. Paul writes:<br />
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<i>Still, I want it made clear that I’ve never gotten anything out of this for myself, and that I’m not writing now to get something. I’d rather die than give anyone ammunition to discredit me or impugn my motives. If I proclaim the Message, it’s not to get something out of it for myself. I’m compelled to do it, and doomed if I don’t! If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I’d expect some pay. But since it’s not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don’t even have to pay my expenses!</i><br />
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<i>Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! (1 Corinthians 9:15-23 - The Message)</i><br />
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Paul is dedicated to sharing the Message no matter the cost. Proclaiming the Gospel/Message is more than getting up and preaching every week. Paul suggests it is more than that. It is a way of life.<br />
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We are called to proclaim the Gospel - in what ways does that happen? A quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi is, "Preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words." I believe the Gospel/Message is proclaimed by our words and our actions as we live out our lives as children of God, reflecting God's great love and blessings to the world.<br />
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At our staff meeting last week, a member of the staff shared the following video clip. I am not doing this to endorse the movie (although I am interested in seeing it), but rather to share the message.<br />
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Powerful. I am not sure there is much more to say.<br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor Charlie<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-29192074652978134642015-02-02T10:13:00.001-05:002015-02-03T09:03:13.300-05:00Word of God Speak<span style="font-family: inherit;">This past Sunday, the Gospel text came from Mark 1:21-28. It tells of Jesus beginning his ministry in the small village of Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here is the text from The Message:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Mark-1-21-Mark-1-22" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.</span><span class="text Mark-1-23-Mark-1-24" id="en-MSG-10375" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you have come to destroy us!”</span><span class="text Mark-1-25-Mark-1-26" id="en-MSG-10376" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!” The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.</span><span class="text Mark-1-27-Mark-1-28" id="en-MSG-10377" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. “What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!” News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28, The Message)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i>Jesus speaks with authority. With all the voices that speak to us, that knock us down and tell us that we are not good enough, we unlovable and unworthy of God's attention, comfort and grace, we need to hear the word of God speak to us.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though we have heard the words of God's complete forgiveness and unconditional love over and over again, we often find ourselves still clinging to the thought that there must be a catch, and there should be more we have to do. We don't let the word of God have authority over us.<br />This struck me when I was doing my daily devotions last week. Here is the reading and prayer for the day:</span><br />
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<i>Reading - Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (NASB)</i><br />
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<i>Prayer - Lord, why do we make excuses for our sins when you have redeemed us with the cross? You died to give us your grace and a new life! We must truly believe that sin has no power over us! Thank you, gracious Lord! Amen.</i><br />
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How true this is. Through Jesus Christ, our sin is washed away. God has forgiven and let it go of our sin, but we often refuse to let go. The authoritative word is one we need to hear again and again, and eventually, it sinks in. I am forgiven. Let the word of God speak to you today.<br />
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Some items to share today - the first I used in my sermon Sunday comes from Pastor Vince Garhardy of Australia.<br />
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<ul>
<li>When evil whispers in your ear, “It’s no use, you can’t do it, give up!” we turn to the words of Scripture, and there we hear the words of St Paul thunder in our ears, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”(Phil 4:13).</li>
<li>When evil whispers the words, “You’re alone, there’s no one who cares for you, and no one who will stand by you”, Christ's word assures us, “I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Mathew 28:20).</li>
<li>When evil whispers the words, “You’re a failure, no one can possibly love a person like you”, the word of the Lord empowers us to carry on. “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20), we are told. “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (Isaiah 54:10).</li>
<li>When evil whispers the words, “There is no hope and no help or comfort in the face of sickness and grief, a word comes from Christ, </li>
<li>“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me.” “I will never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:15).</li>
<li>When evil whispers in your ear, “You’re going to die and that will be end of you" and terror strikes your heart, Jesus comes with a word, </li>
<li>“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust me. I have gone to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-4). “All those who live and believe in me will never die” (John 11:26). </li>
<li>When evil whispers in your ear, “There is no point in praying, don’t waste your time. You have better things to do”. The word of the Lord comes to us with authority, “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I will listen” (Jer 29:12).</li>
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Here is a helpful list a friend shared a few years ago on Facebook:<br />
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<ul>
<li>You say: "It's impossible" - God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27) </li>
<li>You say: "I'm too tired" - God says: I will give you rest (Mat.11:28-30) </li>
<li>You say: "Nobody really loves me" - God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34) </li>
<li>You say: "I can't go on" - God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15) </li>
<li>You say: "I can't figure things out" - God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6) </li>
<li>You say: "I can't do it" - God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13) </li>
<li>You say: "I'm not able" - God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8) </li>
<li>You say: "It's not worth it" - God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:2)</li>
<li>You say: "I can't forgive myself" - God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) </li>
<li>You say: "I can't manage" - God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19) </li>
<li>You say: "I'm afraid" - God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7) </li>
<li>You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" - God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7) </li>
<li>You say: "I don't have enough faith" - God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) </li>
<li>You say: "I'm not smart enough" - God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30) </li>
<li>You say: "I feel all alone" - God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) </li>
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Hear the Good News!<br />
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From the musical group Mercy Me, a beautiful song - "Word of God Speak"<br />
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Peace,<br />
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Pastor Charlie<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740722339975655024.post-73152835723917435172015-01-26T12:15:00.001-05:002015-01-26T12:15:24.152-05:00From My Point of ViewA blessing (one of many) of being a pastor is the point of view I have for every worship service at the altar, pulpit or up in front of the church for worship. I remember a member saying to me, "Pastor, you know we can see everything you are doing when you are up in front of the church." I responded, "And I can see everything YOU are doing when you are sitting in the congregation!" I have been at Epiphany for a little over two years now, and I am getting to learn where you sit, who it is you sit with, and who sits near you. We are creatures of habit, and that's okay. I think you would throw me off if you all decided to sit in a different place one week. (At my parent's church on April Fool's Day, the ushers asked everyone entering the church that day to sit on the opposite side they regularly occupied, wondering how the pastor would respond. Half way through the sermon, he realized something was not right!)<br />
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The more I get to know you the more I enjoy taking in the faces I see in church. I love seeing the new parents with the infants in their arms. I think it is great to see the choir and band members sit close to the choir loft or by the praise band or bells, and to see several of the choir members sitting with their loved ones until its time to sing. I am touched to see those who have recently lost a loved one coming to church, and being invited to sit with a friend so they are not alone. I am mindful of those who are hurting, and how the message of God's unfailing love is what they have come to hear. I see visitors and wonder how they are being welcomed (we had a least ONE visitor at each service this past weekend). I look to see how the sermon and service is being received. I can tell when I have lost you and when what I have said has touched you.<br />
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Or so I think. I remember one December in a previous church, I preached a sermon, and a man in the congregation whom I felt I could read pretty well by his expressions seemed to have a puzzled look on his face through the whole sermon. His head was cocked to one side and it seemed like what I was saying was not pleasing to his ear. I caught him after church and asked if there was something that I said had offended him or was puzzling him. He smiled and apologized and said, "I am sorry, Pastor, but I really wasn't paying much attention to you today. You see, after we put up the Christmas tree last week here in the sanctuary, I couldn't help but notice the angel I put on the top of the tree is crooked. I was trying to figure out how to correct it." At least he was honest!<br />
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From my point of view, what I see is the body of Christ gathered together to do what God created us to do - to love and worship God, and to be fed, strengthened, encouraged and empowered to go out and love and serve others. We gather to give thanks to God for all God has done for us. We gather to realign our lives with God's purpose for us, and to start a new week with a fresh start - forgiven, fed and focused on God.<br />
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From my point of view, worship is the foundation of our life together as a church. The church is here first and foremost as a place for worship. And I have found over the years that each Saturday/Sunday, for me (again, my point of view) brings me back to a solid focus of what it means to be the church. We can get bogged down by lots of details, programs, issues and discussions throughout the week, but when we come together, God present, and the good news proclaimed, the journey is so much more manageable - AND enjoyable.<br />
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That's my point of view!<br />
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Peace,<br />
Pastor Charlie<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0