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Pastor's Weekly Message

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come .....and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance." Song of Solomon 2:12a &13b
 
The number of dafodils up and down I-5 is pretty astounding.  There are huge bunches of them in the median and they certainly brighten what can be an otherwise boring drive.  Not sure if they have yet caused me to sing out loud, but they sure do help a sometimes surly early morning attitude, and have caused me to smile upon more than one occasion.  A simple, beautiful, bright reminder of the presence of the creator at 65 (and sometimes more) miles per hour.  Proof that even when we may be in a hurry God still tries to get our attention.
 
No matter how much we may know the truth of the beauty and its constance reminders are still necessary.  What a patient teacher and generous care taker.  And that is exactly what I was in need of when working outside again the other day.  Mowing, mowing and more mowing.  Looking more at my watch than anything else.  The hip feeling especially sore trying to duck under and around some bushes and vines.  Feeling morose for no other reason than it seemed I wanted to, hurrying purposefully.  And then I passed under a flowering plum (I believe) and there was perfume in the air, and a fluff of pink and white.  Time to stop and take a deep breath, recognize the richness, change the attitude, and give thanks.
 
The reminder will be needed again and again, we all know that, and the Creator continues creating with that reality seemingly in mind.  Thanks for the beauty and the moments appreciation.  The adventure continues.
 
In the peace and power of the cross,
Pastor Randy
 
"Lord, catch us off guard today.  Surprise us with some moment of beauty or pain so that for at least a moment we may be startled into seeing that you are with us here in all your splendor, always and everywhere, barely hidden, beneath, beyond, within this life we breathe.  Amen."  Frederick Buechner
 
Happening this week:
 
Wednesday March 3rd
Soup/Supper at 5:45 pm
Vesper service at 6:30 pm
Adult choir practice at 7:00pm
 
Thursday March 4th
Men's night at Ken Plinke's at 6:30 pm
 
Friday March 5th
Rummage Sale planning luncheon 12:00 pm
Confirmation Retreat at SOV 6:00 pm
 
Saturday March 6th
New to You outing meet at SOV 10:00 am

Pastor's Weekly Message

"....yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant."      Job 14:9

It was the day off and there was a chance to begin the trimming that I didn't think I would be doing again.  But such things cannot be put off and so the work began.  It was a beautiful day and the grapes were the first to be cut back.  Some of these vines have been around for a while and they still produce bountifully, and from the buds I saw they will again.  Then it was on to an apple, pear and plum tree.  The sun felt warm on my back, and there was a lot of chattering and movement from the birds.  There were robins, towhee, starling, doves, various sparrows, quail and more.  There was singing and grousing.  There were flowers blooming as well.  Daffodils I know, a Lenten bush (is that the right name?) and others I would not hazard a guess at.  So much beauty and life.
 
Which brings us to those words from Job quoted above.  They are about a tree being cut down that will "sprout again".  That made me think of the life that continues on even when I get done with my inept hacking.  In the words of scripture that follow things are not nearly so hopeful about humanity.  I understand the meaning, but at the same time the resurrection that I see going on all around me fills part of me too.  All of creation seems to share it's very life with us. 
 
There is even that "scent of water".  The very next day, after the cutting and pruning, there was at first a hint of moisture in the air, and then a gentle rain.  After a few dry days it smelled grand and clean, and on taking it in there the reminder that it is not only the vegetation that "put forth branches like a young plant."  It waters us all.
 
Thanks for the beauty and the gifts Lord, may they lift us all to a sense of hope and the promise of grand things to come.
 
In the peace and power of the Christ,
Pastor Randy
 
"Lord of creation and God of grace, we thank you for the yearly miracle of the spring, as the earth awakes from its winter sleep and is arrayed again in the glory of resurrection life. Send into our hearts the Spirit of the living Christ, to raise us to newness of life and to clothe us with the beauty of his holiness, for your honour and glory." Frank Colquhoun
 
Lenten Soup/Bread supper this evening 5:45 pm
Vesper Service (following soup supper) 6:30 pm
 
Remember in prayer;
Darlene

Pastor's Weekly Message

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21
 
Today is Ash Wednesday and with it begins the season of Lent.  The verse above is part of a section of the gospel according to St. Matthew that is about not making a big deal of what it is that we do, but to just go about our business doing good and sacrificing of ourselves. 
 
The idea of giving up something for Lent is a long standing tradition in the church, though it isn't thought of so much anymore.  The idea was to give up doing something we would actually miss, but then with the words from Matthew reminding us not to make a big deal of it.  There isn't a need to let everyone know how much we might be suffering for our faith.  Rather we might be surprised , even enriched, by what we  can live without. 
 
Frederick Buechner writes, "In many cultures there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of each year's income to some holy use.  For Christians, to observe the forty days of Lent is to do the same thing with roughly a tenth of each year's days.  After being baptized by John in the river Jordan, Jesus went off alone into the wilderness where he spent forty days asking himself the question what it meant to be Jesus.  During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means to be themselves."
 
What means the most to us?  What might we give up?  Or even, what we might add on, making a commitment to do something we know we need to do but don't?  Give up, or add to, make this Lenten season a time to enrich our lives, as Christians, quietly.
 
In the peace and power of the cross,
Pastor Randy
 
"Gracious God, out of your love and mercy your breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors.  Call forth our prayers and acts of kindness, and strengthen us to face our mortality with confidence in the mercy of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever. Amen.
 
Ash Wednesday Service this evening at 6:30 pm
Soup/Bread suppers begin Wednesday February 24 @ 5:45 pm
followed by Evening worship at 6:30 pm
 
Congregational Meeting/Quarterly Town Hall Meeting at 12:00 pm, Sunday 2/21
 
Remember in prayer:
Darlene, Larry, Helen, Jessica

Feb 21 Congregational Mtg

Just a reminder that we have scheduled a Congregational Quarterly Town Hall meeting for this Sunday, February 21st - right after second service.  Please plan to attend. Child care will be provided and, because it is the lunch hour, there will be a snack available downstairs for the kids who are staying. After service ends, we will give folks about five minutes to use the restroom and get a beverage. Then we will start the meeting. We will address the budget first; secondly updates on other issues; and then concerns from the congregation.

Our GOAL will be to keep the meeting to ONE HOUR. We plan to record the meeting for those who must be absent (in addition to our written record). The agenda will be finalized at our Council meeting on Thursday. Feel free to send questions or requests in advance.

A Winning Souper Bowl!

A fantastic job and congrats to the confirmation class on a successful Souper Bowl Sunday.  A total of $348 and 296 cans of food were collected, handily beating the goal of $300 and 75 cans of food for Shepherd's Storehouse.

Also congratulations to Mark who won the Sweetheart Lasagna Dinner, and Christine, winner of the Super Bowl Basket!

Pastor's Weekly Message

"Love one another with mutual affection; out do one another in showing honor."             Romans 12:10
 
One tradition says that in 270 A.D.l a Christian priest named Valentine was imprisoned and executed in Rome for performing marriages.  According to Claudius II, marriages were a threat to national security, because they made soldiers less willing to fight.
 
On the eve of Valentine's execution he wrote a note of thanks to the jailer's daughter, who had shown him kindness during his imprisonment, and signed it "Your Valentine".  That is credited for originating the custom of showing affection on Valentine's Day with a card or a note.
 
That has escalated a bit.  Now there are lots of advertisements, in the paper, on radio and TV, all about Valentine's Day.  It is not like the idea behind it all is a bad one.  I intend on getting a little something for the ones I hold dearest to my heart.  Though it does seem a bit sad to have one day set aside to express love, and there are all kinds of experts quoted and interviewed about how best to express that love. 
 
Do we really need that kind of coaching?  Probably, yes.  But we can keep trying none the less, and not just in the romantic sense that has come to dominate Valentine's Day. (Because in that respect maybe Valentine's Day has become too limiting.)  That is where those words of Paul from his letter to the church in Rome really come in to play, "mutual affection and showing honor".  Take a moment to think of the folks who are a blessing in our lives, give thanks, let them know of their importance.  Chances are it might take more than one day to do such a thing justice.
 
Thanks for the love Lord, and may we indeed love as you first loved us.
 
In the peace and power of the cross,
Pastor Randy
 
"O God of love, who has given us a new commandment through your only begotten Son, that we should love one another even as You have loved us, the unworthy and the wandering:  We pray that you will give us, your servants, all our life on this earth, a mind forgetful of past injuries, a pure conscience and a heart of love for our brothers and sisters; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."
 
Wednesday evening worship at 6:30 pm
 
Thursday, 11:00 am Fundraising Meeting, everyone invited
 
Wednesday February 17th; Ash Wednesday Service 6:30 pm
 
Sunday February 21, Congregational/Town Hall Meeting 12:00 pm
2010 Budget copies available in the Narthex for your review.
 
Prayers of Healing for Helen, Larry, and Darlene