Time flies

Doesn't seem possible March 12th was my last post. So what's been happening since then.....A lot! My duties as director of a 2-county Retired Senior Volunteer program began March 16th. Our church hosted A Seder meal, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Tenebrae services. We have moved forward with the first phase of a stained glass window restoration project, launched a Sunday School Heifer Project International effort and resumed restoration work in our church cemetery. My thanks to all of you who have supported, and continue to support, our busy schedule. I had the privilege and pleasure of spending three days at The Chautauqua Institute in late April to complete work on a course begun last fall through Auburn Theological. Part of the time was spent discussing the need for "keeping the Sabbath." It's something that hit very close to home when I realized how long it had been since I penned a new post for our blog. But this isn't just my blog......those of you more familiar with this technology than I am know this forum can be a dialogue. So, please, feel share your reflections on your faith journey. Tell us about your struggles to "keep the Sabbath." And feel free to drop by our little church any Sunday morning at 10 to worship with us.

Spring De-cluttering

My wife reminded me the other day it's almost time for our annual spring ritual. We have different names for it. She calls it spring cleaning. I call it de-cluttering. While she's pre-occupied with the vacuuming and dusting, I hoe out the winter accumulation of "stick-it-in-the-closets." That's what our youngest daughter long ago named our tendency to "bag, tag and stick in the closet" all the things that pile up on the dining room table over time. She'll insist everything's a "keeper." I'll point out the closet's full and we need to make room for the next cycle of "things we really don't need right now, but might someday come in handy." Maybe we should use the same ritual to "de-clutter" our lives. Perhaps it's time to sort out the anger, envy and desire for control that's taking up room in our spiritual closet. Spring, the season of Lent, may be the perfect time to make more room in our lives for God.

Surprise!

As Christians, we are constantly challenged to be open to God's presence in our daily lives. We are asked to be aware of ways in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives and faith to serve others. Sunday, our young people asked us to help them with a Heifer Project International endeavor. They hope to raise enough money to purchase animals to help a family pull itself out of poverty. They've asked the Heifer Project to send us more information about these projects. We'll be sharing that information with you in the coming weeks and hope you'll become excited about the effort as the young people are!

DEADLINES AMUSE Me

For a long time, a sign on my desk read "Deadlines Amuse Me!" I've always loved deadline---for everyone else. I'd run for president of the Procrastinator's Club of America, but I never get around to sending in the nomination form. Give me a deadline, and I'll drag my feet until the eleventh hour. But then, stand clear, cause that's when I dive headlong into whatever it is I've had weeks to do, but have put off until the last minute. I've thought and planned, but haven't taken action. Guess I'm no different than Lot, who hung around Sodom too long. Not that much different than the foolish virgins in Jesus' story about the wedding hall doors being locked. Mom and Dad always told me, "never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." How many of us handle our faith the same way, telling ourselves "there's always tomorrow?"

Much to Ponder

We are asked to be stewards, caretakers if you will, of this earth we share. There is much debate about natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and a process called "fracking." We need to learn all we can about the pros and cons of this process. The Mayor of Dish, Texas, recently visited the area, sharing his experiences in dealing with process. For more information on drilling in DISH, Texas, visit www.ogap.org or baddish.blogspot.com. For information from America’s Natural Gas Alliance, go to America’s Natural Gas Alliance go to www.netl.doe.gov.

A Different Take on Fasting

One of the readings at our Ash Wednesday service was Isaiah 58:1-12

The Lord says, Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins! They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me. The people ask, why should we fast if the Lord never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention? The Lord says to them, the truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that? The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things.
I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.

Hunger Close to home

Some folks find it hard to believe there are hungry people in Schuyler County. If you have any doubts, or if you have trouble putting a face on hunger in your own backyard, check out the website for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier (www.foodbankst.org). It includes a link to the Hunger in America Report: 2010 and a local summary.

Lenten Adult Study Group

The focus of our Lenten study group will be “Community of Promise” by Rev. Dr. Wayne Gustafson. The book is a short novel that offers a different story of Moses in the wilderness. The story raises many social, religious, theological, political, psychological, and economic issues.” We’ll use the book as a launch pad for discussions about those issues. If you’d like to learn more about Community of Promise, visit http://www.entospress.com. The books will be “hot off the press” March 1st. If you’d like to be part of the group, talk to Dick Evans.

Ash Wednesday Service

Among other things, the Lenten season is a time for preparation. We'll mark the start of Lent with an Ash Wednesday service February 17th at 7pm. During the service, folks will be encouraged to write down on a piece of paper those things they feel are separating them from God. When they come forward for Communion, they'll be invited to burn the piece of paper, symbolizing their desire to remove that which separates them from God. Everyone is welcome to join in this worship experience.

Joyful worship participation

Let’s start with this fact: I don’t think anyone should attend Sunday worship because they feel guilty about not going to church. It’s my hope and prayer that everyone who comes each Sunday does so ready to celebrate God’s grace. I hope people come to worship with joyful hearts, eager to learn more about God as Creator, Provider and Redeemer. I hope people come to pray and sing God’s praises.

Perhaps people who regularly attend Sunday worship haven’t found time in their busy schedules, they’ve made time to join the church community as it gathers for worship.

What’s the difference between finding time for church and making time? I think when you make time for church, you are taking the initiative. You are demonstrating an intention to place the worship of God as a top priority. Making time for church is an active decision that indicates you control your schedule. Finding time for worship suggests you may be more controlled by your schedule than you are the person in control.

Top reason for going to church

When you're not here, we really miss you!

Radical Hospitality

Author Robert Schnase says fruitful congregations share five practices. They include radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service and extravagant generosity. Want to learn more? You'll find a copy of Robert Schanse's book "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" in our church library.

Haiti

We give thanks that the PC(USA) mission personnel and mission groups in Haiti at the time of the earthquake are safe and accounted for. Join other Presbyterians in the ongoing response to this disaster as you give, act and pray.

Give – Financial support for relief efforts can be made online and designated to DR000064. Gifts can also be made by phone at (800) 872-3283 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST) and checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Act – Prepare for a special worship service in your congregation this Sunday using the hymn, bulletin inserts and other worship resource available from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). Congregations and individuals can also put together hygiene kits and baby kits to be distributed through Church World Service. For information, visit the PDA Web site.
Pray – Join with others in lifting up the people of Haiti and those seeking to provide aid in this critical time. As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer.

Churches that are healthy and growing don't focus on numbers. Rather, they minister to the needs of those in the community.

Thought for the Day

"Churches grow when they intentionally reach out to people instead of concentrating on their institutional needs. This is the basic Law of Congregational Life."
William Easum
The Church Growth Handbook

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