Friends,

On a web site I mark as a "Favorite" I found a poem that is particularly apt as we work through Philippians on Sunday mornings.

The letter to the church at Philippi stresses among other things the unity of the church and the shared fellowship of the followers of Jesus.

In that vein comes this poem "Alone" by Maya Angelou. Enjoy!



"Alone"

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

(Maya Angelou, born 1928)



Peace

Pastor Bill

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This Sunday is Memorial Day-- a day that began as an observance of the fallen soldiers fof the Civil War; it has come to take on an expanded meaning. My daughter Claire teaches English at a middle school and she solicited reflections from service people, retired and active duty. Nathan, who is at Ft. Benning, GA, noted that our freedom is something that no one has to work work for because it is given to us and protected by those who serve.


True enough. I would add we also protect our freedom by participating in our society and communities, by voting, paying taxes and serving others less fortunate and able than we are. We protect our freedoms when we remind the government it is straying from our founding principles. We pray for our national, state, and local leaders pretty much every Sunday--they need our prayers. We pray for active duty service men and women and we pray with gratitude or those who have served.



The act of memory is the basis of all praise. Praise is a response to what God has done or will do or who God is. Praise recalls the previous acts of God , it recalls the promises of God. "Do this in remembrance of me" Jesus says and so we remember with joy and praise.



May the Lord bless you on this holiday weekend and may the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living be yours now and always.



For Sunday read Philippians 2:20-3:1



Peace

Pastor Bill

As you begin the day and the week, here is a prayer I came across; thought oyu might like it.
Have a great start to the week.
Pastor Bill

Prayer for the Morning Heavenly Lord, you have brought me to the beginning of a new day.

As the world is renewed fresh and clean, so I ask you to renew my heart with your strength and purpose.

Forgive me the errors of yesterday and bless me to walk closer in your way today.

This is the day I begin my life anew; shine through me so that every person I meet may feel your presence in my soul.

Take my hand, precious Lord, for I cannot make it by myself.

Through Christ I pray and live,

Amen.

In light of the annual meeting this Sunday, a gathering during which wevcelebrate the past and seek guidance for the future and open ourselves to the renwing power of the Spirit I share with you this prayer in the spirit of personal renewal. May you find it helpful in your personal journey.



Prayer for Renewal

Lord, I am one of your people, the sheep of your flock.

I pray for you to heal those who are wounded;

touch those who are in pain; clean those who are soiled;

warm those who are cold;

help me to know the Father's love

through Jesus the shepherd, and through the Spirit.

Help me to lift up that love, and show it all over this land.

Help me to build love on justice and justice on love.

Help me to believe mightily, hope joyfully, and love divinely.

me that I may help renew the face of the earth.

Amen.

Friends,

For this Sunday read Philippians 2:1-11. Our Annual Meeting Sunday hlds a "Shepherding Sunday" emphasis around the tables during the after worship pot luck.
I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday and trust your days are filled with love and goodness. May you greet each day with hope , live each day in peace and end each day mindful of God's love and mercy.

Pastor Bill

Friends,
For this next Sunday read Philippians 1:12-30; I'll be preaching from selected verses.
Paul's letter continues to sound forth with the notes of joy and fellowship among other things. In his letters Paul continually emphasizes the unity of the church. We need to remember that the early church was a small church phenomenon. Disagreements in smaller settings are not only disruptive to the mission of the church but destructive of the church itself. The shared experience of Christ in mission and worship unifies the body. The church is threatened by conflict and coming from outside (note 3:2) and from within (note 4:2-3). Paul while in prison has received a gift from the Philippian church to assist him. (1:7; 4:15-19).

How do we bear one another's burdens? How do I share in the need of another? What can I do that i am not presently doing that matches actions with words?

Periods of self-reflection cast in prayer can bring "a closer walk with Thee."

Finally i ran across this and share it with you since it speaks of the church:

What Church is...

Church is a space in which the Spirit works to form Christlike people,

and it is the space in which human beings, formed in Christlike love,

cooperate with the Spirit and one another to express that love in word and deed, art and action.

Brian McLaren

Blessings

Pastor Bill

Friends,

Here is a prayer I came across. Let me know what you think

Be blessed.

Pastor BIll


Prayer for the Morning (written by Metropolitan Philaret) Lord, give me the strength to greet the coming day in peace.

Help me in all things to rely on Your holy will.

Reveal Your will to me every hour of the day. Bless my dealings with all people.

Teach me to treat all people who come to me throughout the day with peace of soul

and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.

In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.

In unexpected events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.

Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.

Give me the physical strength to bear the labors of this day.

Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray in me.

Amen.

There is a subtle difference between a mission and a promise.A mission is something you strive to accomplish - a promise is something you are compelled to keep.One is individual, the other is shared.When a mission and a promise are one and the same ... that's when mountains are moved and races are won.



Hala Moddelmog

Starbucks 'The Way I See It'

Sounds like a time for prayer.Peace

Pastor Bill

Friends,

Here is a prayer I came across. Let me know what you think

Be blessed.

Pastor BIll


Prayer for the Morning (written by Metropolitan Philaret) Lord, give me the strength to greet the coming day in peace.

Help me in all things to rely on Your holy will.

Reveal Your will to me every hour of the day. Bless my dealings with all people.

Teach me to treat all people who come to me throughout the day with peace of soul

and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.

In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.

In unexpected events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.

Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.

Give me the physical strength to bear the labors of this day.

Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray in me.

Amen.

Friends,

Our sister in Christ, Jane Neil, passed on last night; Jane was a faithful member of the choir and a life long Lutheran; in fact, a Lutheran minister will officiate and as soon as I have details I will pass them along.


This coming Sunday is Mother's Day. I will begin a series from Philippians; please read Philippians 1.



Phil. 1:6 "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."

This prayer of trust and hope must be the perpetual prayer of all parents, especially mothers. To trust God will bring to completion what God has begun is a great comfort. In this "silent conspiracy of grace we call life" we do not always see clearly or know with certainty. But we trust God is working with and through us.



What has God begun in your life? Where is it taking you? How do you co-operate with God in the ongoing work of creation?

Finally, where do you need "to let go and let God."



Finally, one of the ironies of the death of Osama bin Laden is how much the death of this terrorist united this country. especially the young people who went to Ground Zero, the white House and other places, chanting, "USA! USA!" To my mind bin Laden has always been around, a fixture we take for granted, forget about and then and remembered on occasion. it is almost as if a large weight has been lifted of the national consciousness. Let's pray the spirit of unity continues, that it will become contagious in the political parties. That truly would be something for God to bring to completion sooner rather than later!



I look forward t worshiping with you this Sunday. Invite someone to church with you.



Peace Pastor Bill