Sing a New Song to Creation

Dear Friends,

I’ve been putting my sermon together over the last few days while my thoughts have been flooded with political commercials, debate, and commentaries. I finally came up with a less than original working theme: “politics and living out our faith.” I wish I could say that my words would be provocative enough to do more than make you let out a huge sigh. Jesus spoke directly to the issue of politics and faith almost 2,000 years ago. We are invited, along with all of our sisters and brothers in Christ, to hear once again his answer about God and government. (Gospel of Matthew 22:15-22: "Render unto Caesar ...")

As we look deeper at the question that is delivered by the disciples of the Pharisees and Herodians who, by the way, have been sent to trick or entrap Jesus in vs 15, the question isn’t really about whether or not you should pay your taxes or to whom you should pay your taxes. The question is: Who has the authority? 

This question about authority immediately makes us tilt our heads a bit and say, "Wait! What about separation of church and state?" To this, we can smile together and say, "Ah! When I say, 'the Lord is my Savior,' I am making my political statement." This does not give us the right to throw out the name of Jesus as an assault or insult to anyone else. Instead, we humbly and faithfully stand with a heart of mercy and compassion for the hungry, naked, mistreated, disrespected, abused, and abuser. We stand as well with all of our sisters and brothers in witness to God’s gift of creation. We do so out of love.

We hear in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 this message of hope that, as children of God, we have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to be imitators of the Lord making God known to everyone, serving only God and sharing the Good News that it is Jesus who rescues us from death. May this Good News be our new song in a hurting world for all to hear this day.

Psalm 96

O sing to the Lord a new song;

    sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

    tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

    his marvelous works among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

    he is to be revered above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

    but the Lord made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before him;

    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

    bring an offering, and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in holy splendor;

    tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!

    The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

    He will judge the peoples with equity.”

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

    let the field exult, and everything in it.

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

    before the Lord; for he is coming,

    for he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

    and the peoples with his truth.

Believing it strongly,

Pastor Katie

Rejoice! Again I Say Rejoice!

The Visioning Council and staff have been attempting to make the best decisions we can regarding gathering for worship while at the same time balancing staff responsibilities in multiple ministry areas. After much discussion and deliberation, here is our plan for the month:

• This Sunday, Oct 11, is predicted to be a beautiful day and will mark our LAST outdoor service of the fall. While our canopies are down, there should be plentiful radiant heat in which to bask. In-vehicle worship is still an option if you’d rather be in the shade. We’ll share Holy Communion and continue our focus on the current “Upside Down” sermon series. We truly hope that you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to join us one way or the other at 9:00 a.m.!

• Our pre-recorded worship will still be available on-demand via the website on Sunday morning. We’ll still be live-streaming the 9:00 a.m. outdoor service on Facebook Live if you’d feel that is the best way for you to participate this week.

The good news – we’re making major headway on equipping our facility for streaming services in future weeks from indoors. You can once again experience the familiarity of the sanctuary, even if virtually. The bad news – it’s going to take additional willing volunteers to be present each week to make that streaming all that we need it to be – both during Covid restrictions and beyond.

If you are at ALL interested in helping to operate a video camera, learn the production process, staff the sound board, advance worship slides, or simply monitor the Facebook feed, we will be NEEDING you in coming weeks. Watch for a new Sign-up genius link on our website and in future E-blasts. Meanwhile, shoot me an e-mail expressing your interest or curiosity in any of these vital roles. Church looks and feels different right now, but we want to make our worship life together as rich as it can be – both for us and for those well beyond our congregation who are in need of a word of hope and encouragement!

Hope that you can be present with us this weekend in whatever way you can! 

Pastor Tim

Philippians 3 - Building Community

Dear Friends,

My heart soars after an evening of youth ministry! After many years of Wednesday Night Ministry, I can truly say, I love being a pastor!

Last night, we started with the evening with Club 56 students. It is the first time we really focused a ministry on the kids who are in between elementary and Confirmation ministry. We want them to experience small group ministry and be ready to jump in when they start Confirmation. Club 56 students closed the evening by making a bonfire with Pastor Tim for High School Students. We had almost 20 High School Students standing around outside sharing their joys and challenges. All the while, I was hosting Confirmation Ministry via Zoom with another 20+ students!

The energy, the fellowship, the awkwardness infused with the authentic and sincere compassion for one another is holy ground. These students as they gather together – they are the church.

But it isn’t only the youth who are being community together. On Tuesday Mornings, a new small group called, Agape, is now gathering via Zoom or as a very small group in the sanctuary for prayer, fellowship, and study. Everyone is welcome to join in. If you have been holding back to join in because of technology, we can walk with you and make you feel at ease!

There are so many groups that are meeting in a variety of ways. Maybe it is crafting together in the garage, or connecting on the driveway, patios, screened back porches, on zoom, on Facetime, or one of many ways via social media. We are being the church! It is the individuals who serve donated baked items, lend a helping hand at the food pantries, help clear debris and clean up after the storms up north, donate blood, pray for a friend or stranger. This is you and I. This is us being the church.

But it takes intentionality. It takes creating a space in your day or week when you give God and your neighbor your undivided attention. It takes consistent effort and engagement with all of your brothers and sisters in Christ that you know and the ones you have yet to meet.

Where am I going with this? Well, in a world of chaos – some good and some downright ugly, there is this place, this community, this group of people. We are the imperfect, but faithful, church. In a world of changes, how can we continue to lift up the message of hope that Jesus loves you and me? How can you and I intentionally be the church, God’s Church in the here and now?

In a world where we long for what was church, we are seeing the church find new ways to do what we were created to do for thousands upon thousands of years: to be in relationship with God and to be in relationship with one another.

If you are longing to be in community, check out the newsletter article by Pastor Tim and Pastor Katie regarding Community Groups. Or contact Pastor Katie about joining a group. Or reach out right now with a text, a call, or a card with someone who longs to know that they belong to this community called Church.

Pastor Katie