FAMILY MATTERS
Family matters. It matters that we know who each other are and get to know each other. It’s so easy to come into church, smile and say “hi” to the people around us and then be seated. It’s easy to do this for months and years and not to know any more about each other. But family hopes for closer relationships. So during Advent I posted ‘Family Groups’. With some help I grouped us into gatherings of about 12 adults. I did not mix the services. For this time, my hope is that we get to know the people who sit around us. I did not go thru the membership list. People are in our gatherings that are not church members. These are people we sit around. I asked one person on each list to call a gathering 4 times during the upcoming year. Once every 3 months I am asking the groups to get together to laugh, eat, play, and get to know each other better. This is not a serious group. I have not asked us to pray…though we can. Families gather. Families share stories. Families know each other…atleast by name. So when you are approached or called and someone says that they are the head of your family group, rejoice! I know that some of the groups have already met. Some are getting ready to meet. Some are still working on it. But I hope that you will enjoy this opportunity. Most of the groups have some new people. I know we will all welcome each other.
Thanks so for trying this. This is only for this year. If next year you want to try this again but in groups that mix the two worship services, we can do this. This year, we get to know our neighbors. And again, thanks.
SHORT AND SWEET
Mark is the shortest gospel in the New Testament. It is also believed to be the oldest. In February and March, I am offering a 6 week Bible study on the Gospel of Mark. I’ll have one session at 10am on Wednesday mornings. The other session will be offered at 7:30pm on Tuesday nights. The evening sessions will begin on February 21st. This is Shrove Tuesday. After the congregation gathers for dinner, we will move to a Sunday school room and begin. The morning session will begin the next day at 10am.
I have asked everyone to try to read the Gospels this year. I want to help make this easier and hopefully more meaningful. So I hope that one of these schedules fit your schedule. Even if you’ve ready Mark before, come join us for the fellowship and sharing. Thanks
If it’s hard to focus….
At the beginning of Lent we are borrowing the Conference’s labyrinth. A labyrinth is a type of maze. Only it is a maze that has one beginning and one end. In the Middle Ages, Christians were called to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Some people could do this. Most people could not. Cathedrals started building labyrinths into the floors of their sanctuary. Then people who wanted to grow in their prayer life could come to the cathedral and pray.
Some people are not good at sitting and being still. Silent pray times are long and restless. This isn’t a sign of spiritual weakness. Some people just aren’t good at sitting. In acceptance and awareness, labyrinths are designed to let people walk their energy out. Because there is only one entrance and one exit, one can’t get lost. As a person’s body walks the labyrinth, their spirit is freed to focus on and with God.
During the first of Lent, we will have the Conferences’s labyrinth on the floor of our sanctuary. It is copied off the floor of Chartes’ Cathedral in France. The center of the sanctuary will be cleared and the canvas pattern will be laid on the floor. To walk it all you need is a pair of white cotton socks and some time. The youth are helping me lay the labyrinth on Sunday night. You can come then or anytime during the week.
“Whenever you do it for the least of these, you do it for me.”
During Lent, we are going to be trying a couple different things. Richmond has several shelters for people who are trying to get back on their feet. The Daily Planet organizes several of these shelters. One of them is called “Safe Havens.” It is located at 29th Street and Hull. This shelter helps people who have emotional issues (like bi-polar) to get back on their feet. The program runs about 18 months. In this time people are helped to get back on their meds, find a job, and save some money. While in the shelter, the people are responsible for house chores and responsible to be growing in healthy life choices.
On February 27th and March 26th, we have the opportunity to serve them dinner. The shelter houses 21 people. That’s all. So I will come up with a menu and ask people to help supply a cake or rolls or whatever. Then we’ll take the dinner down there. We will leave the church about 4:45pm (yes, I know that that will not work for many working people…if you want we can get a weekend date) we serve dinner at 5:30. The people are very friendly. They like to help bring things in and to chat. Then when we are finished serving dinner, we pack up are things and are finished. They are responsible for cleaning up after supper.
So if you have an idea for a great menu, please let me know. If you are interested in going down to serve with me, let me know. It only takes about 4 people. In the meantime, I will be getting a menu and volunteer list together. I know that you will be blessed by these people. I hope that you will take the time to meet them.
