I will be away next week--Chris and I will be in Mexico for a week at the beach.

The. Rev. Dr. Billie Beverly will be preaching next Sunday morning 6/26..

Continue to keep our church family in your prayers.



In the Celtic prayer tradition, from a version of "I Arise Today" comes a blessing/petition I find meanignful.

May it bless you as well as you begin your days.



May the whisper
of the Father
be the one that wakens you;
the open hand
of the Son
be the one that raises you;
the prompting
of the Spirit
be the one that sends you,
this morning
and all mornings,
and leads you safely home.

Pastor Bill

I came across this piece and found it thought provoking-the last sentence in particular. What do you think?



Pivotal Moments
When I reflect back on my life so far, many of the most pivotal moments have occurred around tabernacle-like events: a surprising conversation that changed the course of my life, a chance encounter with a person who would became a lifelong friend, or a memorable moment when my imagination was stirred by a divine whisper that would sustain me through dark times ahead.

It's no accident that these...experiences so often occur when we are far from home and in the company of strangers. We are generally more open to the movement of the Spirit when we are uncertain of our place.

Mark Scandrette


Peace

Pastor Billl

Friends,

The Wednesday morning Bible study is beginning a study in Proverbs. One might call this collection of wisdom sayings:

"Heavenly Horse-Sense". A key verse of the book is 1:6: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." One might also look at 3:5-8.



The "fear of the Lord" means real fear, real dread but it is broader than a cowering fear. The word communicates more the sense of "awe, reverence, obedience," etc. It is, in my mind, akin to the sign that hangs on transformer station fences: "Danger! High Voltage!" The electrical power can be beneficial for living but without proper respect for its inherent power electricity can be harmful to life.



We live in the age of "Information Technology." It is said , "Information is power." But is it wisdom? To spur your thinking read this poem by T.S. Eliot and let me know what you think. Is there an endless cycle of learning or is it one of "'un-learning'"? Are we just spinning our wheels, mistaking information and knowledge for wisdom? Do you see a difference between "knowledge" and "wisdom"? Where do you see our society mistaking "information" for wisdom"?



The endless cycleThe endless cycle of idea and action,

Endless invention, endless experiment,

Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;

Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;

Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.

All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,

All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,

But nearness to death no nearer to God.

Where is the Life we have lost in living?

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

The cycles of Heaven in twenty centuries

Bring us farther from God and nearer to dust.

T.S. Eliot



May the Lord bless you all.

Pastor Bill

For Sunday morning read Philippians 3:1-11; in the service we will dedicate church officers and chair people and we will break. around the Table of our Lord.
For your awareness: The phone system at church is experiencing problems that have negated the use of the phone tree; it will be a few days before repairs can be made. Please take this time to contact members and friends and let them know.
June begins our "One Great Hour of Sharing" offering. This is timely because this mission offering is used to assist folks who are affected by a variety of events, not least of which is weather related events. The American baptist Churches/USA have already released some funds for relief of the suffering caused by the tornado that came through Joplin, Missouri. The ABC/USA also assisted in Japan and other areas as need arises.
As a member congregation of the ABC/USA our love and compassion can be expanded through the shared ministry of all ABC congregations.
When burdens are shared they are reduced just as joy, when shared is multiplied. As the poet John Donne, wrote, "No man is an island..." We are all connected.
As we gather around the Lord's Table we are reminded there is one loaf and one cup. "Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the same loaf."
Peace

Pastor Bill

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

This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

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