Are You Listening?

December, this year, marks the beginning of the Advent Season. Advent means “to come”. We wait in eager anticipation for the Christ child. It is a time for us to be reminded to wait on God. Waiting entails listening. I challenge each of us to listen well this month. Listening requires being still long enough to hear. This December listen for God. Recently, I participated in Lectio Divina, a method of reading Scripture and listening for God. Upon hearing a text read through twice, I had a break through. I heard a passage in a new way. I was still long enough to pay attention to what God would have me hear that day. It is a challenge to be still in December, as we all know. So, let’s do it together and do it in our homes. Then when we are reunited, we will be all the better for it. In December, we will gather during the week for lunch (provided) and an Advent devotional at noon. Please come, be still, and await Christ’s birth in community. Remember God’s word: Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew
their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be
weary, they shall walk and not faint.


Listen for God and be strengthened by God’s everlasting love.

Grace and peace,

Lucia

Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Any Way You Say It!

Here we are towards the end of 2007. I am readying to celebrate two years at this great spot on God's map of churches. It has been joy and blessing, and if I haven't said it enough: "THANK YOU!" Thank you for being a beacon of hope in a hurting world. Thank you for reaching out and reaching in to give care and a warm meal. Thank you for your enthusiasm and love and willingness to receive help when you have a need. As one popular country song says: "God is great, but sometimes life's not good."
Our task is to remember that God is great and has gifted us with one another to accompany us on this journey even when, especially when, it gets hard. Remember the beautiful Rogers and Hammerstein song, You'll Never Walk Alone:

When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain, Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,You'll never, ever walk alone.

We are never alone. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God gives us one another as a gift. That is very good news. Thank you for walking alongside in faith and hope. Never forget these words from Ephesians 1:16 "I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers."

I love you,
Lucia

A Word from the Pastor

CHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

As we witness to God’s miracle of Resurrection, we respond with praise, praise, and more praise. This last great Psalm speaks of how we can do just that:
Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

As we celebrate Easter, not just today, but everyday as new persons in Christ, we praise God for loving and forgiving us. Amid reports of violence and destruction, hope continues to rise from the rubble: a bud becomes a bloom, a phone call brightens our day, an unexpected visitor renews and refreshes, laughter happens, worship glorifies, and a prayer is answered.
The writer of Hebrews knew that Christ’s love is not simply for eternity’s sake, but for today:

Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb. 3:12-15; 13:8)
Amid the rubble, hope springs eternal! Praise God!
Happy Easter, everyday!
Love,
Lucia

Come one! Come all!

Easter Eggstravaganza will be held Easter morning beginning at 9:30 am.
Come join in the fun: Easter egg hunt, a visit from the rabbit, and...wonderful fellowship. Rejoice, "Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen indeed!"

See you here!
Lucia

You are invited!

Our Annual Ecumenical Maundy Thursday Service will be held on Thursday, April 5th at 6:30pm at First United Methodist Church followed by a light supper. Come and see what God is doing as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

Honor the Sabbath

This calendar year, one week in February, four weeks in March, and one week in April comprise the Lenten Season for Christians. Lent represents the journey to the cross and to Easter. The practice of Lenten observance began as a time of disciplined preparation for Baptism. Catechumens, those preparing to be baptized, took part in a year-long journey of study and prayer that culminated at Easter.

My prayer is that this year, as we make the important journey together towards Easter, we will practice Sabbath time, not leaving if for some other time of convenience. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time for change is now. Tomorrow isn’t soon enough.”

Each one of us must look within to find a time to grow in our faith and our love for God and neighbor. Sunday may be that time or you may need to set aside an additional time of Sabbath rest.

Whenever the time is, be intentional about what you do during that time. Set time aside each week to listen and reflect on God and God’s word. Open the Bible, let the Word come alive, pray, talk to God, listen to God, write down your thoughts (if you’d like), be still, and rest in God’s arms. Set aside that time just for you and God. Do whatever helps you draw near. It will be different for everyone.

As you set aside this time this month, know that you are following God’s command:

If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,

from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;

if you call the sabbath a delight

and the holy day of the LORD honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

then you shall take delight in the LORD,

and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;

I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 58:13-14

and you will be preparing yourself for Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Thank you for sharing the journey!

Grace and peace,

Lucia