Thursday, October 01, 2009
A Word from Your Pastor
REDO AND RENEW
As we make progress on our three phase construction project at the church: electrical, kitchen, and new rear entry, I am struck by the similarity to rebuilding our inner selves that we must do as Christians. It is a tenet of our faith that Christ makes all things new! (Rev. 21:5-7) This promise applies to God’s beloved children. We too are made new. But such newness requires our being intentional. Here are some tips as we redo and renew our spiritual lives:
1. Be willing to take a risk. The road less traveled often has the biggest potholes but the greatest reward.
2. Know that you are not alone. In fact, resist going it alone. No one is an island. Lean on others for support. Lean on your church for support.
3. Be willing to go deeper still. The possibilities are endless when we open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. As tempting as a surface relationship with God may be, it does not have the power of a deeper relationship. So go deeper still. What do I mean by this? Ask yourself: what do I personally need to do to get to know God better and produce fruit in my relationship with God? And then do that. It may be reading your Bible and making some decisions on better ways to live. It may be getting on your knees in prayer or getting back to church. It may be attending Sunday school or volunteering to help someone. Talk it over with someone if you want to. Sometimes, two heads are clearer than one.
Last week when flipping through a calendar/journal, I was blessed to run across a quote I had used in the yearbook when I graduated from high school in 1979. I never knew who said it, but now I do, and it rings truer than ever:
"I don’t want to merely possess a faith; I want a faith to possess me."
Charles Kingsley (1819-1875)
As we consider God’s plan for us to Redo and Renew, may we wholly rely on God’s power and love. Together, we are made new, one light bulb at a time!
Grace and Peace,
Lucia
As we make progress on our three phase construction project at the church: electrical, kitchen, and new rear entry, I am struck by the similarity to rebuilding our inner selves that we must do as Christians. It is a tenet of our faith that Christ makes all things new! (Rev. 21:5-7) This promise applies to God’s beloved children. We too are made new. But such newness requires our being intentional. Here are some tips as we redo and renew our spiritual lives:
1. Be willing to take a risk. The road less traveled often has the biggest potholes but the greatest reward.
2. Know that you are not alone. In fact, resist going it alone. No one is an island. Lean on others for support. Lean on your church for support.
3. Be willing to go deeper still. The possibilities are endless when we open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. As tempting as a surface relationship with God may be, it does not have the power of a deeper relationship. So go deeper still. What do I mean by this? Ask yourself: what do I personally need to do to get to know God better and produce fruit in my relationship with God? And then do that. It may be reading your Bible and making some decisions on better ways to live. It may be getting on your knees in prayer or getting back to church. It may be attending Sunday school or volunteering to help someone. Talk it over with someone if you want to. Sometimes, two heads are clearer than one.
Last week when flipping through a calendar/journal, I was blessed to run across a quote I had used in the yearbook when I graduated from high school in 1979. I never knew who said it, but now I do, and it rings truer than ever:
"I don’t want to merely possess a faith; I want a faith to possess me."
Charles Kingsley (1819-1875)
As we consider God’s plan for us to Redo and Renew, may we wholly rely on God’s power and love. Together, we are made new, one light bulb at a time!
Grace and Peace,
Lucia
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Word from Your Pastor
HOW THEN DO WE GRIEVE?
Grieving is universal. It is something each of us will face at some point, and many of us have had to face multiple times. One loss may trigger a grief response from prior losses. In other words, grief is cumulative. But that isn’t all bad. We can draw from prior experiences to help us through current ones. The following are some suggestions to keep in mind as you grieve past, current, and future losses. When we refer to David’s lament recorded in 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 after the loss of his best friend, Jonathan, and to many of the Psalms we see a pattern that can be helpful in our own walk through grief.
David lost his best friend. He wants to hear WHAT happened. It is helpful to work through in our own minds what happened in our particular loss.
Secondly, David takes action. We need to take appropriate action. This step is quite individual. What helps you? We need to mark our grief, our sorrow, even our anger. What rituals are helpful to you? Worship, prayer, reading the Psalms or the Book of Job, journaling or recording your thoughts. Ann Weems wrote a whole book of her own Psalms.
Thirdly, give yourself permission to grieve and as much time as you need. Grief doesn’t happen in a linear fashion. You will move back and forth from stages such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Fourthly, don’t try to go through your sorrow alone. Call on others for support. Seek a listening ear. Explain to others that you don’t need a lot of advice, just someone to be there (see Job and his “friends”!)
And always, ground yourself in your relationship with God. Jesus calls us friends; so lean on God to hear your cry and to heal your pain. Know that tomorrow will be a better day. The sun will shine again.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” This is for you!
Lucia
Grieving is universal. It is something each of us will face at some point, and many of us have had to face multiple times. One loss may trigger a grief response from prior losses. In other words, grief is cumulative. But that isn’t all bad. We can draw from prior experiences to help us through current ones. The following are some suggestions to keep in mind as you grieve past, current, and future losses. When we refer to David’s lament recorded in 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 after the loss of his best friend, Jonathan, and to many of the Psalms we see a pattern that can be helpful in our own walk through grief.
David lost his best friend. He wants to hear WHAT happened. It is helpful to work through in our own minds what happened in our particular loss.
Secondly, David takes action. We need to take appropriate action. This step is quite individual. What helps you? We need to mark our grief, our sorrow, even our anger. What rituals are helpful to you? Worship, prayer, reading the Psalms or the Book of Job, journaling or recording your thoughts. Ann Weems wrote a whole book of her own Psalms.
Thirdly, give yourself permission to grieve and as much time as you need. Grief doesn’t happen in a linear fashion. You will move back and forth from stages such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Fourthly, don’t try to go through your sorrow alone. Call on others for support. Seek a listening ear. Explain to others that you don’t need a lot of advice, just someone to be there (see Job and his “friends”!)
And always, ground yourself in your relationship with God. Jesus calls us friends; so lean on God to hear your cry and to heal your pain. Know that tomorrow will be a better day. The sun will shine again.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” This is for you!
Lucia
Saturday, May 30, 2009
A Word from Your Pastor: June and July Newsletter
We are the Church Together
2000 years ago, the early church was just forming. Believers mostly gathered in house churches to worship and have fellowship (including food of course!) Preachers would stand on the street corners and crowds would gather to hear a Word. The body of Christ is just that. We gather to hear a Word, we share a Word, and we recommit to be Christ’s witness in the world. And we do it together. As I begin a new adventure, embarking on a Doctor of Ministry Program in Preaching, I ask for your prayers and your support. Come to church. Support First Presbyterian and Diane Oswald, Ed Duris, and our guest Matt Curry. They are ready to bring the Word, and I know you are ready to be Christ’s witness in the world. So…what are we waiting for?
Soak in these words:
Ephesians 1:15 “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.” (Emphasis added)
All my love in Christ,
Lucia
2000 years ago, the early church was just forming. Believers mostly gathered in house churches to worship and have fellowship (including food of course!) Preachers would stand on the street corners and crowds would gather to hear a Word. The body of Christ is just that. We gather to hear a Word, we share a Word, and we recommit to be Christ’s witness in the world. And we do it together. As I begin a new adventure, embarking on a Doctor of Ministry Program in Preaching, I ask for your prayers and your support. Come to church. Support First Presbyterian and Diane Oswald, Ed Duris, and our guest Matt Curry. They are ready to bring the Word, and I know you are ready to be Christ’s witness in the world. So…what are we waiting for?
Soak in these words:
Ephesians 1:15 “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.” (Emphasis added)
All my love in Christ,
Lucia
