At St. John’s church we have been spending Advent challenging ourselves to “take” Christmas back. Back from crass commercialism. Back from the notion that the local mall is our reality, that spending lots of money on presents is our reality, that over-indulging is our reality. We have tried to focus our reality on the gift of Jesus, and how Jesus calls us to be about G-od, P-eople, C-alling, and J-oy.
I have praying about how God is calling St. John’s to be a simple church in 2008. I believe God is calling us to focus on loving God, loving people and serving the world. Over the next year I will be presenting you with opportunities to reflect on this concept and invite you to help us decide where we will make new ministry inroads in the coming year. One of the possibilities that intrigue me is participating in the Advent Conspiracy. It calls us to focus back on Christ, to take Advent and Christmas back in a radical way. It represents what I hope St. John’s will become more intimately engaged in as a called people of God. Check it out:
Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption. It has its own web site: http://www.adventconspiracy.org/ . I just signed our church up. This year, Christmas isn't about credit cards. It's about: - Worshipping Christ more meaningfully.- Refusing our culture's hunger for consumerism.- Giving relationally to our friends and family.- Loving all by giving to those most in need.
START CONSPIRING:
1. Sign Up-I have already done this.
Register your organization to join the Advent Conspiracy or start getting the newsletter.
2. Invite your friends to this group.
3. Communicate the Vision
Worship More, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.
4. Educate Yourself
Read a little more about materialism, the local and global needs and what the meaning of Christmas is all about. Then, start talking about it.
5. Get CreativeDiscover together how to live in a more relational and meaningful way.
6. Identify who you will LoveChoose the key people groups and clean water projects that you will assist.
7. Celebrate the Birth of ChristTake an offering that will go to the groups you have identified.
8. Share your StoryTell us what God did, so we can learn and grow and share it with others.
Let me know what you think. Do you think we should be involved in conspiracies like this? I will be praying for each of you this Friday. How can I pray for you?
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Atheist Sunday School?
The December 3rd issue of Time contains a story that caught my attention. It is located the religion section and titled “Sunday School for Atheists”. The article begins by outlining some perceived advantages for non believing people on Sunday morning, writing about how they were making brunch, shuttling around kids to soccer games, running errands, or the ultimate, sleeping in! It then asked the question, without religion, is there a need for church?
The answer seems to be maybe. Some nonbelievers are beginning to think they might need something for their children. The article reveals how Atheist parents are beginning to realize that co-workers or friends have church groups to help teach their children values as well as provide support. Slowly, groups are forming and meeting on a regular basis for atheist Sunday school. A profiled Sunday family program in Palo Alto, California, uses music, art and discussion to encourage personal expression, intellectual curiosity and collaboration. Rather than a Bible story, the group read Stone Soup, a book about a traveler who feeds a village by making a stew using one ingredient from each home. Older children gather around a conversation centered on the role persuasion plays in decision-making.
Time reports, “it is estimated that 14% of Americans profess to have no religion, and among 18-to-25 year olds the percentage increases to 20%. Atheist parents want an environment where their children can learn that it is ok to not believe in God and gives parents a place to reinforce the morals and values they want their children to have.” Yet, interestingly, they are using a format modeled by the Christian church to accomplish this.
We are embarking on some great Solomon’s Porch type discussions in our community about faith, life and how faith and life connect in places outside our worship spaces. In this instance, how does God call us, as people of faith, to respond to groups like this one being formed in our communities? Would God want us to condemn them for meeting in a perceived Christian way and calling it something else? Would God want us to applaud the teaching of ethics and values, whether or not they are labeled Christian? Would God want us to shun them if we saw them meeting? Would God be in favor of one good “We told you so”? As Christians, should we be determined, or some would say arrogant enough in our faith to dismiss the thought that God is present in meetings such as the one described, without limitation? Or, would God, who sees all people as His children, call us to be in conversation with people who are nonbelievers? Would God call us to have honest dialogue, respecting each others beliefs, yet pointing out what we have in common and acknowledging what separates us? Would God want us to be on a journey together, challenging each other and discovering though these discussions ways to strengthen our faith as we explain it to others? Let me know what do you think? This topic will be the basis of our next Solomon’s Porch coffee house meeting at First Cup this Thursday from 7-8 pm.
I pray for each of the readers of this blog on Friday mornings. How can I pray for you this week?
PB
Attention I-pod users:
Our weekly message podcast is now available on I-tunes. Open your I-tunes, search St. John’s Lutheran Church Blogcast and sign up. It is free! If you sign up, each week our podcast will download directly into your I-pod when you sink it to your PC.
Green Tip of the week from Ideal Bite:Ready to hang your holiday lights? Aren't you just dying to know how to be more green this Christmas season? Easy: LED holiday lights. LED stands for light-emitting diode - a heavenly little bit of technology that lights things up using very little energy.
The Benefits
· Watching energy bills flatline. LED bulbs use 90% less electricity than traditional holiday bulbs.
· Killing off holiday hassle. With their 20-year lifetimes, you don't have to replace LED light-strings as often as conventional ones.
· More cash on the other side. Burning 10 strands of lights with 100 lights per strand, eight hours per day for a month costs $175 for incandescent bulbs vs. about $1 for LED mini-bulbs.
· Seeing the light, not heating it. Incandescent lights give off as much as 90% of their energy as heat, leading to fire concerns. LEDs barely warm up.
Prayer Points
-for all those who do not believe in God, that we could find a way to be in productive dialogue.
-for all those who suffer from depression
-for those who serve in our local police, fire and rescue stations
Date Book
Thursday, November 29th Solomon’s Porch Discussions at First Cup Coffee House 7-8 pm
Sunday, December 2nd Faith in Film Night featuring The Nativity Story followed by the short film Resisting the Occupation. 6-8:30 pm
Tuesday, December 11th at St. John’s “Little Christmas” concert and Silent Auction beginning at 6:30 pm.
The answer seems to be maybe. Some nonbelievers are beginning to think they might need something for their children. The article reveals how Atheist parents are beginning to realize that co-workers or friends have church groups to help teach their children values as well as provide support. Slowly, groups are forming and meeting on a regular basis for atheist Sunday school. A profiled Sunday family program in Palo Alto, California, uses music, art and discussion to encourage personal expression, intellectual curiosity and collaboration. Rather than a Bible story, the group read Stone Soup, a book about a traveler who feeds a village by making a stew using one ingredient from each home. Older children gather around a conversation centered on the role persuasion plays in decision-making.
Time reports, “it is estimated that 14% of Americans profess to have no religion, and among 18-to-25 year olds the percentage increases to 20%. Atheist parents want an environment where their children can learn that it is ok to not believe in God and gives parents a place to reinforce the morals and values they want their children to have.” Yet, interestingly, they are using a format modeled by the Christian church to accomplish this.
We are embarking on some great Solomon’s Porch type discussions in our community about faith, life and how faith and life connect in places outside our worship spaces. In this instance, how does God call us, as people of faith, to respond to groups like this one being formed in our communities? Would God want us to condemn them for meeting in a perceived Christian way and calling it something else? Would God want us to applaud the teaching of ethics and values, whether or not they are labeled Christian? Would God want us to shun them if we saw them meeting? Would God be in favor of one good “We told you so”? As Christians, should we be determined, or some would say arrogant enough in our faith to dismiss the thought that God is present in meetings such as the one described, without limitation? Or, would God, who sees all people as His children, call us to be in conversation with people who are nonbelievers? Would God call us to have honest dialogue, respecting each others beliefs, yet pointing out what we have in common and acknowledging what separates us? Would God want us to be on a journey together, challenging each other and discovering though these discussions ways to strengthen our faith as we explain it to others? Let me know what do you think? This topic will be the basis of our next Solomon’s Porch coffee house meeting at First Cup this Thursday from 7-8 pm.
I pray for each of the readers of this blog on Friday mornings. How can I pray for you this week?
PB
Attention I-pod users:
Our weekly message podcast is now available on I-tunes. Open your I-tunes, search St. John’s Lutheran Church Blogcast and sign up. It is free! If you sign up, each week our podcast will download directly into your I-pod when you sink it to your PC.
Green Tip of the week from Ideal Bite:Ready to hang your holiday lights? Aren't you just dying to know how to be more green this Christmas season? Easy: LED holiday lights. LED stands for light-emitting diode - a heavenly little bit of technology that lights things up using very little energy.
The Benefits
· Watching energy bills flatline. LED bulbs use 90% less electricity than traditional holiday bulbs.
· Killing off holiday hassle. With their 20-year lifetimes, you don't have to replace LED light-strings as often as conventional ones.
· More cash on the other side. Burning 10 strands of lights with 100 lights per strand, eight hours per day for a month costs $175 for incandescent bulbs vs. about $1 for LED mini-bulbs.
· Seeing the light, not heating it. Incandescent lights give off as much as 90% of their energy as heat, leading to fire concerns. LEDs barely warm up.
Prayer Points
-for all those who do not believe in God, that we could find a way to be in productive dialogue.
-for all those who suffer from depression
-for those who serve in our local police, fire and rescue stations
Date Book
Thursday, November 29th Solomon’s Porch Discussions at First Cup Coffee House 7-8 pm
Sunday, December 2nd Faith in Film Night featuring The Nativity Story followed by the short film Resisting the Occupation. 6-8:30 pm
Tuesday, December 11th at St. John’s “Little Christmas” concert and Silent Auction beginning at 6:30 pm.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Christian/Muslim Dialogue
From the New York Times Sunday, November 18, 2007:
Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word Between Us and You
On October 13, 2007, on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, 138 Muslim scholars and clerics sent an open letter to “leaders of Christian churches, everywhere.” The signatories of that letter, titled A Common Word Between Us and You, include top leaders from around the world representing every major school of Islamic thought. The text of A Common Word Between Us and You appears at www.acommonword.com.
A response was drafted by scholars at Yale Divinity School’s Center for Faith and Culture. It was issued and endorsed by almost 300 Christian theologians and leaders. To promote constructive engagement between these major religious communities, planning is underway for a series of major conferences and workshops involving many of the signatories to A Common Word Between Us and You and to the Yale response, as well as other international Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders. Events will be posted at www.yale.edu/faith, where readers can view the list of signatories as well as add there names to the list.
I believe this is exactly the type of open dialogue God is calling the world to be engaged in. Please take the time over the next few days and read both letters. If you have any questions, email me. My goal is that we can hold a forum soon at St. John’s to discuss both letters, as well as discern where we, as representatives of the local church, are called to respond.
Worthy addition to your Christmas card list: When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307
Help St. John’s financially as you search the web: A few months back I told you about www.goodsearch.com , a web search engine from Yahoo! Unfortunately, it had a few kinks, making it difficult to sign up. Those initial problems seem to have been fixed. You can now add Goodsearch to your tool bar very easily and begin raising money for St. John’s with every search. Here is the process:
-Go to www.goodsearch.com
-Under “who do you search for” put: St Johns Lutheran Church (Redford, MI)
-Confirm that we are the agency you want credited with your searches
-Click on Add Goodsearch to your IE, Firefox, or Mac toolbar
-Start searching
St. John’s will receive one cent for every search you do using this search engine.
Thank you in advance for doing this to help support our missional endeavors.
Solomon’s Porch update: In the last few weeks we have seen impressive showings for our Faith in Film and Family Film Nights. We also had a very successful first coffee house meeting last Thursday, taking up a whole table at First Cup Organic Coffee House in Redford!
Green Reminder of the week: Household waste increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. In the United States, trash from wrapping paper and shopping bags totaled four million tons last year. Think of creative ways to handle all your holiday waste this year. If you have addressed this holiday issue in the past and want to let others know, e-mail me and I will get the word out in future issues of this e-newsletter.
Help me reach my goal: My goal for the end of 2007 is for this newsletter to have 100 readers. I am currently at 82. Is there anyone in your life who you think would benefit from receiving this e-newsletter each week? Send me their email and I will add them to the list!
Prayer Points:
-for the Chrisitan/Muslim dialogue generated by the two documents presented above
-for traveling mercies for all this Thanksgiving weekend.
-for all those struggling with addiction
I pray for the readers of this blog every Friday. How can I pray for you? Let me know at bicyclepastor@yahoo.com
Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word Between Us and You
On October 13, 2007, on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, 138 Muslim scholars and clerics sent an open letter to “leaders of Christian churches, everywhere.” The signatories of that letter, titled A Common Word Between Us and You, include top leaders from around the world representing every major school of Islamic thought. The text of A Common Word Between Us and You appears at www.acommonword.com.
A response was drafted by scholars at Yale Divinity School’s Center for Faith and Culture. It was issued and endorsed by almost 300 Christian theologians and leaders. To promote constructive engagement between these major religious communities, planning is underway for a series of major conferences and workshops involving many of the signatories to A Common Word Between Us and You and to the Yale response, as well as other international Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders. Events will be posted at www.yale.edu/faith, where readers can view the list of signatories as well as add there names to the list.
I believe this is exactly the type of open dialogue God is calling the world to be engaged in. Please take the time over the next few days and read both letters. If you have any questions, email me. My goal is that we can hold a forum soon at St. John’s to discuss both letters, as well as discern where we, as representatives of the local church, are called to respond.
Worthy addition to your Christmas card list: When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307
Help St. John’s financially as you search the web: A few months back I told you about www.goodsearch.com , a web search engine from Yahoo! Unfortunately, it had a few kinks, making it difficult to sign up. Those initial problems seem to have been fixed. You can now add Goodsearch to your tool bar very easily and begin raising money for St. John’s with every search. Here is the process:
-Go to www.goodsearch.com
-Under “who do you search for” put: St Johns Lutheran Church (Redford, MI)
-Confirm that we are the agency you want credited with your searches
-Click on Add Goodsearch to your IE, Firefox, or Mac toolbar
-Start searching
St. John’s will receive one cent for every search you do using this search engine.
Thank you in advance for doing this to help support our missional endeavors.
Solomon’s Porch update: In the last few weeks we have seen impressive showings for our Faith in Film and Family Film Nights. We also had a very successful first coffee house meeting last Thursday, taking up a whole table at First Cup Organic Coffee House in Redford!
Green Reminder of the week: Household waste increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. In the United States, trash from wrapping paper and shopping bags totaled four million tons last year. Think of creative ways to handle all your holiday waste this year. If you have addressed this holiday issue in the past and want to let others know, e-mail me and I will get the word out in future issues of this e-newsletter.
Help me reach my goal: My goal for the end of 2007 is for this newsletter to have 100 readers. I am currently at 82. Is there anyone in your life who you think would benefit from receiving this e-newsletter each week? Send me their email and I will add them to the list!
Prayer Points:
-for the Chrisitan/Muslim dialogue generated by the two documents presented above
-for traveling mercies for all this Thanksgiving weekend.
-for all those struggling with addiction
I pray for the readers of this blog every Friday. How can I pray for you? Let me know at bicyclepastor@yahoo.com
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Update
Greetings to all:
Another great week for updates on all the cool things happening at St. John’s :
Faith in Film: Last Sunday, we had an excellent turn out and discussion for our most recent feature, Sicko. It was good to share thoughts about how we, as people of faith, are called to engage in the discussion of equitable health care for all of God’s children. Some of you were asking what the Lutheran church may be doing about this. Check out the Lutheran Office of Government Affairs site for more information about how the larger church is addressing this issue. E-mail my good friend Drew Genzler, director of LOGA in Washington , DC , and tell him I told you he has all the answers! Next month we will host a double feature with the Nativity Story followed by a recent short documentary about current housing/land struggles in the Holy Land . Plan on another insightful, challenging discussion as we discern how God is calling us to action with regard to the ongoing situation in the Middle East .
Solomon’s Porch First Cup conversations: This Thursday is our inaugural First Cup conversation at Redford’s new organic coffee house, First Cup, located on the Southeast corner of Inkster and Five Mile. Join the conversation from 7-8 pm as we discuss the Hollywood writers strike, fair labor practices, responsibilities of workers and management, and how the Bible can provide some insight into the discussion of how as people of faith we are called to engage in this issue. Join us this first week and I will take care of your beverage for you. If you want to be thinking ahead, click on the attached file for some background information leading up to our discussion.
Joke of the week: From my daughter, who asks, “What did one snowman say to another?” Check the end of this message for the answer.
Book Club News: This Friday at 10 am we start our new book, The Gospel According to Starbucks, by Len Sweet. Join us for great discussion about how some of Starbucks principals may relate to our mission as people of God.
Silent Auction Update: St. John's will be holding it first silent auction on Tuesday, December 11th, the night of our annual Little Christmas concert. We are in need of additional items to auction off that night. If you can help out, please contact me ASAP. All proceeds from this event will benefit the missional efforts of St. John's.
Family Film Night: Release date delays caused us to show Happy Feet last month instead of Ratatouille, our scheduled feature. Ratatouille has since been released and we will be shown this Saturday night starting at 5 pm. Pizza, popcorn and liquid refreshments will be available. Last month we had 36 people in attendance, so show up early if you want a place on one of our comfortable couches or bring blankets and pillows to create your own comfortable space.
Green Update: Never say yes to paper or plastic again! We are taking orders for our new environmentally friendly cloth bags. Check them out at attachment 2 above. Use them and be a witness not only to St. John’s and our commitment to be “green”, but discover a great way to tell people about our church. It is as easy as saying no to paper or plastic and watching the conversation flow! The bags should be about $8 each.
Joke of the week answer: I smell carrots!
Have a great week. Remember, I pray for the readers of this blog Friday morning. How can I pray for you? E-mail me at bicyclepastor@yahoo.com
Another great week for updates on all the cool things happening at St. John’s :
Faith in Film: Last Sunday, we had an excellent turn out and discussion for our most recent feature, Sicko. It was good to share thoughts about how we, as people of faith, are called to engage in the discussion of equitable health care for all of God’s children. Some of you were asking what the Lutheran church may be doing about this. Check out the Lutheran Office of Government Affairs site for more information about how the larger church is addressing this issue. E-mail my good friend Drew Genzler, director of LOGA in Washington , DC , and tell him I told you he has all the answers! Next month we will host a double feature with the Nativity Story followed by a recent short documentary about current housing/land struggles in the Holy Land . Plan on another insightful, challenging discussion as we discern how God is calling us to action with regard to the ongoing situation in the Middle East .
Solomon’s Porch First Cup conversations: This Thursday is our inaugural First Cup conversation at Redford’s new organic coffee house, First Cup, located on the Southeast corner of Inkster and Five Mile. Join the conversation from 7-8 pm as we discuss the Hollywood writers strike, fair labor practices, responsibilities of workers and management, and how the Bible can provide some insight into the discussion of how as people of faith we are called to engage in this issue. Join us this first week and I will take care of your beverage for you. If you want to be thinking ahead, click on the attached file for some background information leading up to our discussion.
Joke of the week: From my daughter, who asks, “What did one snowman say to another?” Check the end of this message for the answer.
Book Club News: This Friday at 10 am we start our new book, The Gospel According to Starbucks, by Len Sweet. Join us for great discussion about how some of Starbucks principals may relate to our mission as people of God.
Silent Auction Update: St. John's will be holding it first silent auction on Tuesday, December 11th, the night of our annual Little Christmas concert. We are in need of additional items to auction off that night. If you can help out, please contact me ASAP. All proceeds from this event will benefit the missional efforts of St. John's.
Family Film Night: Release date delays caused us to show Happy Feet last month instead of Ratatouille, our scheduled feature. Ratatouille has since been released and we will be shown this Saturday night starting at 5 pm. Pizza, popcorn and liquid refreshments will be available. Last month we had 36 people in attendance, so show up early if you want a place on one of our comfortable couches or bring blankets and pillows to create your own comfortable space.
Green Update: Never say yes to paper or plastic again! We are taking orders for our new environmentally friendly cloth bags. Check them out at attachment 2 above. Use them and be a witness not only to St. John’s and our commitment to be “green”, but discover a great way to tell people about our church. It is as easy as saying no to paper or plastic and watching the conversation flow! The bags should be about $8 each.
Joke of the week answer: I smell carrots!
Have a great week. Remember, I pray for the readers of this blog Friday morning. How can I pray for you? E-mail me at bicyclepastor@yahoo.com
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Jonah and his message of hope!
Friends:
As I write to you this week I am listening to the band Jonah 33. For those of you who don’t have the Bible memorized, Jonah 3:3 says, “This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large it took three days to see it all” (NLT). Jonah is one of my favorite books in the Old Testament, especially chapter 3. It begins with God coming to Jonah a second time and commanding him to go to Nineveh, a city of the lost. The first time God commands him to go there, Jonah runs away. The second time he obeys and goes among the lost to proclaim God’s message to the masses, who in turn repent. It is a great story of how our God is a God of second chances, that despite past mistakes we may have made, we are continually given the chance to participate in spreading God’s message of hope, salvation, grace and love to those who feel lost, helpless, hopeless and alone. Jonah’s brings an unpopular message that challenges the community of Nineveh to turn away from the false idols that are ruling their lives and turn to God. It is a great message showing the God’s word is for everyone. Despite the wickedness of the Ninevite people, they were open to God’s message and repented immediately. If we simply proclaim God’s message of salvation, we may be surprised at how many people will listen.
Food for thought: How is God calling you to be like Jonah? Where are the Ninevite communities in your life? Do you know someone who is lost and could use the message that God gives us today, one that says our God is a God of second chances? Can you remind one person this week that God loves them?
Reminder: Don’t forget our faith in film series continues Sunday night with the showing of Sicko. The film starts at 6 pm and is followed by a discussion of how God calls us to be engaged in the process of equitable health care for all God’s Children.
Reminder, part 2: Next Thursday, November 15th from 7-8 pm we will hold our first Solomon’s Porch coffee house discussion at Redford’s new organic coffee house at Five Mile and Inkster, First Cup. Join us as we talk about faith, life and how faith and life connect using real issues in the news.
Green Tip of the week: Wondering what to do with all those greeting cards laying around your house or sitting in your attic? Reuse your greeting cards as gift tags. Call us psychic, but we're betting you're not planning to reread every single card you receive this holiday. Instead of stashing them in the attic to collect dust, grab some scissors and get crafty.
The Benefits
· Save trees. Our crystal balls (and industry stats) predict that about 90% of all US households will buy greeting cards, but few will be recycled.
· One-of-a-kind gift tags are a great personal touch when you're giving presents.
· Save money - you'll never buy another gift tag again, boxes of which go for $2-$15.
· An artful lesson in reusing for the kids. Just grab some pinking shears and give the kiddos a right brain workout.
-courtesy of Ideal Bite online resource
I will be praying for those who read this blog every Friday morning. Let me know how I can pray for you at bicyclepastor@yahoo.com ?
Have a great week
PB
Web: www.sjlcredford.org
Blog: www.missionarywheels.blogspot.com
Prayer Points:
For all those who feel lost, that they may know that our God is a God of second chances
For those who do not have access to quality health care
For our Sunday school as it continues to grow
For discernment with our brothers and sisters at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
As I write to you this week I am listening to the band Jonah 33. For those of you who don’t have the Bible memorized, Jonah 3:3 says, “This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large it took three days to see it all” (NLT). Jonah is one of my favorite books in the Old Testament, especially chapter 3. It begins with God coming to Jonah a second time and commanding him to go to Nineveh, a city of the lost. The first time God commands him to go there, Jonah runs away. The second time he obeys and goes among the lost to proclaim God’s message to the masses, who in turn repent. It is a great story of how our God is a God of second chances, that despite past mistakes we may have made, we are continually given the chance to participate in spreading God’s message of hope, salvation, grace and love to those who feel lost, helpless, hopeless and alone. Jonah’s brings an unpopular message that challenges the community of Nineveh to turn away from the false idols that are ruling their lives and turn to God. It is a great message showing the God’s word is for everyone. Despite the wickedness of the Ninevite people, they were open to God’s message and repented immediately. If we simply proclaim God’s message of salvation, we may be surprised at how many people will listen.
Food for thought: How is God calling you to be like Jonah? Where are the Ninevite communities in your life? Do you know someone who is lost and could use the message that God gives us today, one that says our God is a God of second chances? Can you remind one person this week that God loves them?
Reminder: Don’t forget our faith in film series continues Sunday night with the showing of Sicko. The film starts at 6 pm and is followed by a discussion of how God calls us to be engaged in the process of equitable health care for all God’s Children.
Reminder, part 2: Next Thursday, November 15th from 7-8 pm we will hold our first Solomon’s Porch coffee house discussion at Redford’s new organic coffee house at Five Mile and Inkster, First Cup. Join us as we talk about faith, life and how faith and life connect using real issues in the news.
Green Tip of the week: Wondering what to do with all those greeting cards laying around your house or sitting in your attic? Reuse your greeting cards as gift tags. Call us psychic, but we're betting you're not planning to reread every single card you receive this holiday. Instead of stashing them in the attic to collect dust, grab some scissors and get crafty.
The Benefits
· Save trees. Our crystal balls (and industry stats) predict that about 90% of all US households will buy greeting cards, but few will be recycled.
· One-of-a-kind gift tags are a great personal touch when you're giving presents.
· Save money - you'll never buy another gift tag again, boxes of which go for $2-$15.
· An artful lesson in reusing for the kids. Just grab some pinking shears and give the kiddos a right brain workout.
-courtesy of Ideal Bite online resource
I will be praying for those who read this blog every Friday morning. Let me know how I can pray for you at bicyclepastor@yahoo.com ?
Have a great week
PB
Web: www.sjlcredford.org
Blog: www.missionarywheels.blogspot.com
Prayer Points:
For all those who feel lost, that they may know that our God is a God of second chances
For those who do not have access to quality health care
For our Sunday school as it continues to grow
For discernment with our brothers and sisters at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Updates
Friends:
Lots of good news to report this week:
Worship Update:
Our sermon podcast is up and running. I am so glad we have this new ministry off the ground. I have already heard from a few folks who appreciate the ability to listen to our weekly message if they are not able to make it to church. Some also commented on how they may listen to it a second or third time after they hear it on Sunday. More talk about forwarding it to friends so they can learn more about our church! What a great, easy and fast way to connect someone to our church.
Last Sunday we were blessed to welcome two new members to our church. God is continuing to provide us with new faces.
Sunday School Update:
Operation Christmas Child is one way you can make a difference in a young person’s life. This year the children in our Sunday School class have decided to do this project as a way they can give to others around the world. Please support our Sunday School kids and children around the world by packing a shoebox filled with school supplies, toys, and personal items. The shoeboxes go to millions of boys and girls around the world who live in difficult circumstances and are in desperate need of hope. Shoeboxes will be collected on Sunday, November 17. A donation of $7 per shoebox is required to help cover shipping and other project costs.
Outreach Update:
Last Saturday five of us volunteered at Thrivent’s Habitat for Humanity project in Pontiac. Thrivent has done a magnificent job of sponsoring new homes for families in need. Two of us ended our day passing out food left over from the day to the homeless in downtown Pontiac.
The Redford Connection gifted us with a half page full of advertising space promoting our family and faith in film movie nights. That means that around 30,000 homes in Redford got the information about our movie nights-I guess we better make some more popcorn for Sicko on the 11th and Ratatouille on the 17th.
Solomon’s Porch Thursday night conversations at Redford’s new organic coffee house First Cup begin on Thursday, November 15th from 7-8pm. This is a great opportunity to gather and talk about faith and life while enjoying a good cup of coffee or tea. This is also a great way to introduce someone to St. John’s. As an added incentive, I will take care of buying the beverage of anyone you invite to the conversation.
Green Committee Update:
We have begun to collect cans for recycling and hope to have containers out for cans and other recyclable trash available soon. In the meantime, I will begin to post weekly “green” tips in this newsletter and on my blog.
Also, we will be offering cloth bags for sale to use in place of paper or plastic bags when shopping. Look forward to seeing them in the next few weeks.
Green tip for the week: Save paper by reducing the amount of junk mail you receive. Go to the following sites to have your name removed from junk mail and credit card offer lists.
Direct Mail
Opt Out
Lots to celebrate this fall.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Our podcast is up and running!
Check out our new sermon podcast here. I am excited at the possibilities this type of ministry tool brings to our church. Tell your family and friends to check it out. We should be up and available at I-Tunes in the next week or so. In addition, the message will be available each week on our website.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Green, Green, Green
God is calling us to becoming a “Green” church with “Green” households by the end of 2008. Here are some cold, hard facts about how not being “Green” in America is affecting God’s world.
Facts:
-Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour!
- A single quart of motor oil, if disposed of improperly, can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water.
- Paper products make up 40% of all trash. That can all be recycled!
- Only about 30% of paper, trash, and food waste is recycled.
- Americans throw away 25 trillion Styrofoam cups that cannot decomposed or be recycled
- All soda cans are made from aluminum. Each American uses about 400 cans a year. If aluminum is recycled, 95% less energy is used than if it were made from scratch
-About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material!
-The highest point in Ohio is a literally a garbage dump that is now called Mount Rumpke
-reprinted from http://www.dosomething.org/
Our “Green” Committee will be working hard over the next few months to help us understand how we can recycle and help God’s planet. I hope all of you are open to ways we can help this beautiful world God has given us dominion over. Please let me know the ways that you are currenlty recycling so that we can all learn from each other.
Stay tuned for: practical ways to recycle
Facts:
-Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour!
- A single quart of motor oil, if disposed of improperly, can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water.
- Paper products make up 40% of all trash. That can all be recycled!
- Only about 30% of paper, trash, and food waste is recycled.
- Americans throw away 25 trillion Styrofoam cups that cannot decomposed or be recycled
- All soda cans are made from aluminum. Each American uses about 400 cans a year. If aluminum is recycled, 95% less energy is used than if it were made from scratch
-About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material!
-The highest point in Ohio is a literally a garbage dump that is now called Mount Rumpke
-reprinted from http://www.dosomething.org/
Our “Green” Committee will be working hard over the next few months to help us understand how we can recycle and help God’s planet. I hope all of you are open to ways we can help this beautiful world God has given us dominion over. Please let me know the ways that you are currenlty recycling so that we can all learn from each other.
Stay tuned for: practical ways to recycle
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
First Cup Coffee House in Redford!
I am so excited that we now have a cool, organic coffee house in Redford Township. It will be a great place for us to meet to discuss faith and life in a "Solomon's Porch" kind of way. More to follow.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Things to celebrate!
We had an awesome weekend at St. John's. First, we had 36 people come out Saturday night for our first Family Movie Night . Then our Sunday school got off to a great start with nine children in attendance! Third, we have eight people signed up to go to the Thrivent Habitiat Build this Saturday. I am so excited about what God is doing in and through our church.
Bible vs. Cell Phone
This is something to make you go…hmmm….where is my Bible?
One of the blog’s I listen to is by author Len Sweet. It is called Napkin Scribbles. Each week he takes a different topic and spends a few minutes talking about it. This week he really spoke to me. It compared carrying a Cell Phone (which most of us do) to carrying a Bible. He wonders out loud what it would be like if we treated our Bible like our cell phone.
Sweet asks:
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
Did you feel as convicted as I did?
One of the blog’s I listen to is by author Len Sweet. It is called Napkin Scribbles. Each week he takes a different topic and spends a few minutes talking about it. This week he really spoke to me. It compared carrying a Cell Phone (which most of us do) to carrying a Bible. He wonders out loud what it would be like if we treated our Bible like our cell phone.
Sweet asks:
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
Did you feel as convicted as I did?
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Nobel Prize for Al Gore
Al Gore and his documentary on global warming have been awarded the Nobel Prize. Do you think our showing An Inconvenient Truth at church last Sunday night sealed this recognition:)?
How would Jesus address critical issues of today?
I am reading Brian McLaren's new book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crisis, and a Revolution of Hope. In it he invites us to journey with him as he imagines what would happen:
- if people of faith moved beyond political polarization and a few hot-button issues to the deeper questions nobody is asking.
- if the world's leading nations spent less on weapons and more on peace-making, poverty-alleviation, and creation-care.
- if a renewed understanding of Jesus and his message sparked a profound spiritual awakening in a global movement of faith, hope, and love.
- if we believed that God's will really could be done on earth and not just in heaven.
McLaren sets forth a new agenda for being a person of faith. One is left to wonder if the vision that he believes Jesus is directing us to engage in the issues really possible? Are we ready to move past old disagreements theologically or politically and look at deeper, more difficult questions? How can we move toward peace and engagement in tough social issues facing us? What will be the catalyst toward the spiritual awakening he writes about? What do you think about all this? Are books like this necessary? More about this book to come in future posts.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
I'm back
Friends:
I am back in the Motor City after a refreshing week at the Glorieta Retreat Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico praying, playing and engaging in conversations about the Emergent Church . I’m finding myself drawn into the Emergent Church movement more and more and look forward to discovering how we can incorporate some of the basics into the life of St. John’s as we continue to discover and figure out how God is leading us.
We had an excellent turnout for our first Faith in Film series last Sunday night. We watched An Inconvenient Truth and followed it with an inspiring group discussion about how God is calling us to react to the issue of global warming. The most valuable lesson was the acknowledgment that we are all play a role in the crisis and all have the opportunity to make changes and become part of the solution. A small committee agreed to begin meeting to address how St. John’s can become more “green”.
I am excited to announce the re-start of Sunday school on October 21st at 10:30 am. We look forward to building this program over time and sharing God’s message of love and hope during our normal worship time to children in a unique way. If you are planning on joining us that day or know anyone who could receive a special invitation please let me know ASAP.
Last Sunday we began to take a look at how God may be calling us to engage in a new way of thinking about our faith lives using the GPCJ philosophy. For those of you who could not make it last week the philosophy encourages us in the following ways.
By the end of 2008 we will focus on these four areas as we live out our faith walk-
G-God-we will concentrate on worshiping together, learning of God’s love for us and sharing with others that God’s love includes them as well.
P-People-we will make efforts to remain connected to those closest to us and take risks engaging in those relationships may have become strained or lost.
C-Calling-we will be open to how God may be calling us to acting on our faith in new and different ways.
J-Joy-we will identify the things in our life that bring us joy and be intentional about making time in our lives for them.
I am back in the Motor City after a refreshing week at the Glorieta Retreat Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico praying, playing and engaging in conversations about the Emergent Church . I’m finding myself drawn into the Emergent Church movement more and more and look forward to discovering how we can incorporate some of the basics into the life of St. John’s as we continue to discover and figure out how God is leading us.
We had an excellent turnout for our first Faith in Film series last Sunday night. We watched An Inconvenient Truth and followed it with an inspiring group discussion about how God is calling us to react to the issue of global warming. The most valuable lesson was the acknowledgment that we are all play a role in the crisis and all have the opportunity to make changes and become part of the solution. A small committee agreed to begin meeting to address how St. John’s can become more “green”.
I am excited to announce the re-start of Sunday school on October 21st at 10:30 am. We look forward to building this program over time and sharing God’s message of love and hope during our normal worship time to children in a unique way. If you are planning on joining us that day or know anyone who could receive a special invitation please let me know ASAP.
Last Sunday we began to take a look at how God may be calling us to engage in a new way of thinking about our faith lives using the GPCJ philosophy. For those of you who could not make it last week the philosophy encourages us in the following ways.
By the end of 2008 we will focus on these four areas as we live out our faith walk-
G-God-we will concentrate on worshiping together, learning of God’s love for us and sharing with others that God’s love includes them as well.
P-People-we will make efforts to remain connected to those closest to us and take risks engaging in those relationships may have become strained or lost.
C-Calling-we will be open to how God may be calling us to acting on our faith in new and different ways.
J-Joy-we will identify the things in our life that bring us joy and be intentional about making time in our lives for them.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
View from the foothills of the Rockies
I am spending a few days at the Emergent Village Gathering in Glorieta, New Mexico, just outside of Santa Fe. It has been a beautiful place to relax, connect and try new things. The past two mornings I participated in a yoga class and I am sore! Yoga feels so good and I hope to continue it after I return to Detroit tomorrow.
I have learned a great deal about the Emergent Church movement these last few days through presentations, conversations and group discussions. I cannot wait to unpack what this learning will mean in the months and years to come at St. John's-stay tuned.
I have learned a great deal about the Emergent Church movement these last few days through presentations, conversations and group discussions. I cannot wait to unpack what this learning will mean in the months and years to come at St. John's-stay tuned.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Volunteer for St. John's Habitat day
Have you ever thought about volunteering but did not know exactly what you wanted to do? Do you like to participate in events that make a difference? Are you someone who can commit to things if and only if they make it into your calendar? I am pleased to announce that we just confirmed our first day to work at the Thrivent Habitat House in Pontiac, Michigan. On Saturday, October 27th we will be on site making a difference from 8am to 4pm. If you have never volunteered at Habitat before I encourage you to consider joining us that day. If you have previous Habitat experience you know the great things they do revitalizing communities one home and family at a time. You can volunteer online at Habitat or call St. John's at 313-538-2660. There are plenty of jobs at the site or you may want to help us prepare and serve lunch on site that day for 25-30 people. Let me know how you can make a difference that day ASAP.
Good News!
We just hammered out the details to launch an education hour for children starting Sunday, October 21st. The curriculum is awesome and I am excited about being able to offer something for children again. Check out the information at our web site here. This is an exciting time in the redevelopment of our church.
Friday, September 28, 2007
It ain't easy being "green"
I have spent a significant amount of time lately in prayer asking God where He is calling St. John’s to venture in 2008. A recurring theme of these prayers center on God’s call for us to be more environmentally friendly. I am not sure the correlation between these prayers and our upcoming viewing/discussion of An Inconvenient Truth, but I am sure it has something to do with it. I find myself captivated by the notion of caring for our environment in a healthier way. In today’s language we refer to the concept as being "green". As I pray, asking God what it means for St. John’s to be more “green”, a few things come to mind:
-I am going to need some help. I know just enough about being “green” to get myself in trouble. I don’t even know how to put the recycle bin out in a way that the truck will pick our stuff up. At St. John’s, we need some folks who can put their heads together and get us on the right track.
-I know this is a lesson I need to teach/model to/for my daughter. Her generation is going to need to be more “green” than any other since the Industrial Revolution.
-All small things CAN and DO make a difference.
-I am going to jump start this movement by creating a bottle/can Sunday the last Sunday of each month. It will be an opportunity for individuals who desire to contribute to our "green" campaign, clean out their garages, and help fund the missional efforts of St. John’s all at the same time.
I hope to expand on these thoughts in the coming weeks and months. Will it be easy being "green"? I don't know. What I do know is-
God will provide direction.
-I am going to need some help. I know just enough about being “green” to get myself in trouble. I don’t even know how to put the recycle bin out in a way that the truck will pick our stuff up. At St. John’s, we need some folks who can put their heads together and get us on the right track.
-I know this is a lesson I need to teach/model to/for my daughter. Her generation is going to need to be more “green” than any other since the Industrial Revolution.
-All small things CAN and DO make a difference.
-I am going to jump start this movement by creating a bottle/can Sunday the last Sunday of each month. It will be an opportunity for individuals who desire to contribute to our "green" campaign, clean out their garages, and help fund the missional efforts of St. John’s all at the same time.
I hope to expand on these thoughts in the coming weeks and months. Will it be easy being "green"? I don't know. What I do know is-
God will provide direction.
Monday, September 24, 2007
"Faith in Film" series
I am really excited.
On October 7th we begin “Faith in Film” at St. John's starting at 6 pm. We are showing An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s movie about global warming. No matter where you fall on the issue I encourage you to join the dialogue. The showing of the movie will be followed by a discussion and we will finish up by 9 pm. I am really hoping we have people with different view points as it always makes for a better discussion. Good, healthy dialogue about this world God has given us management over is part of what we are called to engage in as God’s children. We will start and end each discussion with the acknowledgment that we are first and foremost God’s children. Differences in opinion will not change that understanding and it will serve as the background for our dialogue. Before the discussion begins we will make a covenant with each other to respect each others opinions and learn from each other. I hope to see many of you there.
I am really excited.
On October 7th we begin “Faith in Film” at St. John's starting at 6 pm. We are showing An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s movie about global warming. No matter where you fall on the issue I encourage you to join the dialogue. The showing of the movie will be followed by a discussion and we will finish up by 9 pm. I am really hoping we have people with different view points as it always makes for a better discussion. Good, healthy dialogue about this world God has given us management over is part of what we are called to engage in as God’s children. We will start and end each discussion with the acknowledgment that we are first and foremost God’s children. Differences in opinion will not change that understanding and it will serve as the background for our dialogue. Before the discussion begins we will make a covenant with each other to respect each others opinions and learn from each other. I hope to see many of you there.
I am really excited.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Ready to clean house?
I want to write to you today about clutter. Right, the stuff that is all around your house, car, office and life. The stuff that you swear you are going to deal with if you only had the time. Yes, you got it, the stuff that drives you crazy and makes you unable to relax even in your own house. You know, clutter.
One of the books I am currently reading is John Ortberg’s latest, When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box. Great book so far. Ortberg is one of my favorite authors because he explains things in a way I understand and challenges me at the same time. I just read his chapter about clutter. About the stuff we save and hold onto, the stuff we cannot do without. Ortberg talks about it being the stuff that gets in the way. He explains, “There are now more than 30,000 self-storage facilities in the country offering over a billion square feet for people to store their stuff. In the 1960’s, this industry did not exist. We now spend $12 billion a year just to pay someone to store our extra stuff! It’s larger than the music industry.” (Orberg 83) He further goes on to talk about how it is only stuff, it is not eternal, and that if we spent as much time, finances and energy investing in things that are eternal by nurturing our Spiritual lives and living the life of a disciple who knows what sort of impact we could make in the world God has entrusted us with managing. What kind of change agents for God could we be if we began with a 12 billion dollar budget each year?
But first, you have to get rid of your clutter. Get rid of all that stuff that is getting in the way. The stuff that is preventing you from doing the things you are called to do. If you took an inventory of your clutter today, what would you find? Is the clutter in your life making you feel better? Is it nourishing your soul? What if you spent your time that you manage (or mismanage) your clutter and dedicated it to God? It is time to clean house and channel all that clutter energy toward God. Care to join me?
One of the books I am currently reading is John Ortberg’s latest, When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box. Great book so far. Ortberg is one of my favorite authors because he explains things in a way I understand and challenges me at the same time. I just read his chapter about clutter. About the stuff we save and hold onto, the stuff we cannot do without. Ortberg talks about it being the stuff that gets in the way. He explains, “There are now more than 30,000 self-storage facilities in the country offering over a billion square feet for people to store their stuff. In the 1960’s, this industry did not exist. We now spend $12 billion a year just to pay someone to store our extra stuff! It’s larger than the music industry.” (Orberg 83) He further goes on to talk about how it is only stuff, it is not eternal, and that if we spent as much time, finances and energy investing in things that are eternal by nurturing our Spiritual lives and living the life of a disciple who knows what sort of impact we could make in the world God has entrusted us with managing. What kind of change agents for God could we be if we began with a 12 billion dollar budget each year?
But first, you have to get rid of your clutter. Get rid of all that stuff that is getting in the way. The stuff that is preventing you from doing the things you are called to do. If you took an inventory of your clutter today, what would you find? Is the clutter in your life making you feel better? Is it nourishing your soul? What if you spent your time that you manage (or mismanage) your clutter and dedicated it to God? It is time to clean house and channel all that clutter energy toward God. Care to join me?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Let go and let God!
Over the past few weeks I have been involved in a couple of discussions about forgiveness. The topic has been on my mind so much that I even preached about the forgiveness offered in Philemon a few weeks ago. It seem as though forgiveness is tough for most people. Actually, the forgiveness part is easy for many as long as they can add, "but I won't forget". Yet this is counter to what God calls us to, to be people who forgive and re-establish relationships with those we forgive and start with a clean slate, no reminders of how we will "not forget". I am not saying that we should become doormats or anything, that we should let ourselves be abused by another, I am simply suggesting that when we forgive, forget and engage in relationship again we have done our part. If the one we forgive cannot handle that type of forgiveness we have to let go with the knowledge that we did what we are called to do, and then we have to give it up to God. What I am learning through these conversations is the power of being made free when we truly forgive and let go of the baggage that goes along with "but I will not forget". It is almost as if we say, "this issue or hurt will not rule my life". After many of these conversations, I wonder if anyone who ever carried around that saying about someone close to them really ever felt better because of "not forgetting"?
Monday, September 17, 2007
A new way to worship?
Lately I have been thinking about what it would look like to create a worship service that one could participate in without having to read from a book or bulletin, without knowing how to sing or read music . I am thinking of a service where you are free just to worship without worrying what comes next or hoping you do not lose your place. I have decided to challenge myself-and maybe stretch our community in the process-with such a worship during Advent this year. I am thinking we will have mid week Advent services and the worship will all be shaped in this new way. Stay tuned and see how it develops!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Sharing the gifts!
This morning I delivered about 75 of our back to school packets to one of our local elementary schools. After some deliberation we decided to donate some of the packets to benefit students in need at one of our closest elementary schools. It felt good to find homes for the packets that were left after our event on August 25th (remember the rain). I hope and pray that these packets will be supportive to the families that receive them. The real question that I was left with after I dropped them off, feeling good, was one that I often challenge our church with, "why, if it feels so good to do things like this, do I not make more time to do them?".
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Unique way to help the hungry
Labor Day blessings to each of you in the name of the one who cannot fail, Jesus the Christ!
I am choosing the end of summer to re-commit myself to eating healthier meals. Usually I eat reasonably healthy but the summer brings way too much ice cream, BBQ, french fries and beer while grilling out. It is time to curb my appetite for those indulgences, and as I do I would invite you to join me in a new way to help the hungry and poor in our community and beyond. This idea comes from a colleague in ministry as a aid in addressing hunger. It is called "fast" day, and this is how it will work at St. John's and for those who wish to participate across our e-mail list:
-Wednesday will be "fast day. On that day commit to skip a meal, or a dessert, or a cup of coffee(Starbucks addicts take note), and use the fast to pray for those who are hungry.
-At the end of each month donate what you would have spent on the meal, ect. to Redford Interfaith Relief, www.redford.pantrynet.org or your favorite hunger charity.
-No sign up is necessary. Simply decide what you will fast and go for it.
-Advice for when the cravings hit-use that as a reminder to pray for the poor, oppressed and hungry.
-Bicycle Pastor
I am choosing the end of summer to re-commit myself to eating healthier meals. Usually I eat reasonably healthy but the summer brings way too much ice cream, BBQ, french fries and beer while grilling out. It is time to curb my appetite for those indulgences, and as I do I would invite you to join me in a new way to help the hungry and poor in our community and beyond. This idea comes from a colleague in ministry as a aid in addressing hunger. It is called "fast" day, and this is how it will work at St. John's and for those who wish to participate across our e-mail list:
-Wednesday will be "fast day. On that day commit to skip a meal, or a dessert, or a cup of coffee(Starbucks addicts take note), and use the fast to pray for those who are hungry.
-At the end of each month donate what you would have spent on the meal, ect. to Redford Interfaith Relief, www.redford.pantrynet.org or your favorite hunger charity.
-No sign up is necessary. Simply decide what you will fast and go for it.
-Advice for when the cravings hit-use that as a reminder to pray for the poor, oppressed and hungry.
-Bicycle Pastor
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Thanks to the faithful!
Thanks to everyone who helped make our first "Back to School Supplies" give-away a great success. Despite some weather issues we were able to give out over 80 packets to our local children. It was great to see many at St. John's come out and support this event. Look for more events like this one in the future.
-Bicycle Pastor
-Bicycle Pastor
Friday, August 24, 2007
A great weekend for the "church"
Today was a good day. At eleven o'clock this morning nine people gathered to pack the supplies for our "Back to School" give-away. Six people were from St. John's and three were from the community, all coming together to make our event tomorrow happen. As supplies were stuffed into 2 gallon bags I could not help but smile. People coming together, responding to a need in our community and reacting in a way that will benefit hundreds of children and their families as they return to school in a couple of weeks. Today was a good day.
Tomorrow is looking even better. Tomorrow we will open the grounds of our church to the community, sharing a day of family centered fun. There will be plenty of food, bouncers, crafts and good will spread throughout the day. Our volunteers will come from our church and beyond, sharing a vision of service for a community we have been called to engage in. It will give our church a chance to be a real presence in the lives of those we are called to serve, to address in a small way how God calls us to share the gifts we have with those around us. Tomorrow will represent the culmination of eight weeks of work preparing and empowering people and businesses in our community to partner with us in support of our families in these trying economic times. I cannot wait. This is what the church is called to be.
Today was a good day.
Tomorrow is looking even better. Tomorrow we will open the grounds of our church to the community, sharing a day of family centered fun. There will be plenty of food, bouncers, crafts and good will spread throughout the day. Our volunteers will come from our church and beyond, sharing a vision of service for a community we have been called to engage in. It will give our church a chance to be a real presence in the lives of those we are called to serve, to address in a small way how God calls us to share the gifts we have with those around us. Tomorrow will represent the culmination of eight weeks of work preparing and empowering people and businesses in our community to partner with us in support of our families in these trying economic times. I cannot wait. This is what the church is called to be.
Today was a good day.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
What does the word "church" mean today?
I spent the morning surfing around different sites/blogs focusing on faith and the church. One of the sites asked an intriguing question that deserves some thought. The central idea to this particular post was to examine exactly what the term "church" means to people today. As I begin to ponder how I would respond to this question I am reminded that responses from society today would be varied (as in any generation I would imagine) . There certainly would not be a universal answer to this question. It seems for many the term "church" has grown to mean an institution that houses worship and a church community and is an exclusive place for the righteous or at least for those who sin as we do. Hearing or reading the term may also bring sour tastes in the mouths of individuals who have experienced negative interaction with the "church" and "church" people or fear in light of the recent stories of neglect and abuse by church officials. All this can serve to sadden those who love the church. Yet in the midst of that sadness comes empowerment as children of God to change the way that term is viewed by being the radical, grace filled body that brings real faith to real life. The church that I want to be a part of wades out into the abyss of messy lives and situations and brings God's message of forgiveness, hope, love and grace without beating up an already beaten world. The church that I want to be a part of expects brokenness, doubt and struggle as well as joy, spiritual engagement and the notion that we are put here in this place to live in community loving and serving one another as God loved us. Power lies in the thought that the church can be a welcoming place to figure it all out in good company, with a bunch of confused, empty, sinful people faithfully looking for hope in a world that can seem hopeless.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Excitement abounds!
This past Sunday we were blessed with great worship at St. John's. Our soloist sang a beautiful arrangement of "El Shaddai", which literally translates from the Hebrew as "God Almighty", and our lesson from Isaiah was a good reminder of how God calls us to be witnesses to others and not just serve ourselves. This Sundays blessings included two new families in our midst to check us out. It is always awesome to see new people sharing worship with us. I am thankful for all the ways that our community of faith welcomes these new faces. As always, my hope and dream for these new folks is that they find a place where they feel fed by the Spirit and after some discernment find themselves called to become rooted in the life and ministry of our church as we journey together to where God is leading us.
New people in worship also helps us learn about the things we are not doing so well. For instance, we do not have a good system in place to gather information about our visitors and let them know about our church. We need to develop a system to better track those who visit our church so that we can be in better contact with those who desire contact after they share worship with us. I hope in the coming weeks and months to develop a system that better addresses this issue. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
-Bicycle Pastor
New people in worship also helps us learn about the things we are not doing so well. For instance, we do not have a good system in place to gather information about our visitors and let them know about our church. We need to develop a system to better track those who visit our church so that we can be in better contact with those who desire contact after they share worship with us. I hope in the coming weeks and months to develop a system that better addresses this issue. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
-Bicycle Pastor
Friday, August 10, 2007
Lots of appendages to the misson tree
I continue to be overwhelmed with the response to our "Back to School Supplies" give-away. It serves as a good reminder of why seed planting is so important. As word gets out about this event more and more agencies are coming forward to help. Yesterday, our local school agreed to make our flyer part of the welcome packet for their new student registration next week. Our local Costco called to say they would like to donate bottled water for our family fun day. Meijer, the store we are purchasing the supplies from, informed us today they would be donating two additional gift cards to cover any other items we may need for our event. I hope and pray that this event, as well as others like it planned for fall, will serve as the catalyst we need to increase our presence in the community and welcome people into a relationship with Jesus. It seems hard to believe that life for this event was birthed after we decided not to go ahead with Vacation Bible School this year due to low enrollment. I remain convinced that when we continue to move forward in faith God opens new pathways for connection if we are willing to step out grounded in that same faith. It is humbling to realize how God provides opportunities for us to be blessings to others if we are open to it and follow where God leads us.
-Bicycle Pastor
-Bicycle Pastor
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Planting the seed
I often need reminders of how God calls us to be missional people. I sometimes forget that God's people are hungry for mission but are not exposed to a vehicle to fulfil that hunger. We decided to do an outreach event before the start of school to give away supplies to our local children. In the process of getting the word out two groups stepped forward to help our cause, allowing us to purchase many more supply bags than we originally planned. Their generosity, as well as sweat equity, is allowing our small church to make a big impact on our community.
By the way, both groups are from our community, not our church. Isn't God awesome!
Bicycle pastor
By the way, both groups are from our community, not our church. Isn't God awesome!
Bicycle pastor
Friday, August 3, 2007
Taking my own advice
I have been re-reading my last post and I realized that I need to start practicing my own advice if I am going to rant about it. This afternoon I am going to a local park for an overnight camping trip with my family. Connecting with nature and those I love might just be the best getaway there is.
Today we start a new book series at church using Mark Atteberry's latest titled "free refill-coming back for more of Jesus". I have been amazed that these latest book selections have all been home runs in terms of helping us figure out how God is calling us along the discipleship pathway.
-Bicycle Pastor
Today we start a new book series at church using Mark Atteberry's latest titled "free refill-coming back for more of Jesus". I have been amazed that these latest book selections have all been home runs in terms of helping us figure out how God is calling us along the discipleship pathway.
-Bicycle Pastor
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Living the toxic life
Have you noticed lately how many of those around you-maybe even yourself-seem caught up in a toxic mix of overwork, stress, keeping up with the jones' type mentalities that so often leads to neglecting those closest to us? Our society today does not often speak to the need for cleansing/nurturing relationships with those closest to us on a regular basis. It does not seem long before one gets caught up not in life but in the things that get in the way of life. We seem so determined to live life and accomplish great things that we often forget that the best accomplishments are the relationships we engage in and the legacy that leaves behind. I often wonder why we replace genuine relationship with reaching that next great milestone or plunge ourselves deep into activities or projects that leave us to neglect those closest to us. I cannot believe that this type of lifestyle is one that God desires for us. It seems our society has moved away from an emphasis rooted in relationship with each other toward one that leaves many feeling emotionally and spiritually empty. Can you relate? Over the next few days I hope to explore this "movement" on a deeper level.
-Bicycle Pastor
-Bicycle Pastor
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Power of life
I just found out that one of the strongest men in the United States collapsed last night and died at the ripe old age of 27. I am sitting here thinking about how life can be so short sometimes. It serves as a good reminder to live each day to the fullest and let all those people who mean something to you know how you feel about them. Six weeks ago this young man was celebrating the birth of a new daughter. Too sad.
-Bicycle Pastor
-Bicycle Pastor
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
New Beginnings
Hello to all:
This is my first attempt at blogging. I look forward to this journey of discovery as we see what is around the next bend in life's road as I wheel across Southeast Michigan and beyond.
Peace
Bicycle Pastor
This is my first attempt at blogging. I look forward to this journey of discovery as we see what is around the next bend in life's road as I wheel across Southeast Michigan and beyond.
Peace
Bicycle Pastor
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