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Letter from the Pastor - March 2010 |
Dear Christian Friends:
Greetings in Christ! Greetings in the abiding presence and peace of God!
“k”
“k” is the shorthand that folks use when they are ‘texting’ messages to each other. For example I may send you a text that asks, “R U going to Lent B S this Wed?“ and you receiving it might text me a “k”. For those who do not text - what I asked is ‘are you going to the Lenten Bible Study this Wednesday?’ And your response is ‘Okay’.
“K” is also the chemical symbol for Potassium. And that is important and relative because my “K” was not “k”. Because my Potassium level was low, I spent a couple of days in the hospital getting tests, making sure that the issues that I was having was not more serious than a “K” issue.
Now, let me tell you - sitting in the hospital for a few days undergoing tests and having cardiologists and neurologists wonder about what is going on, produces a bit of stress and soon things are not ‘k’.
But I had with me our Lenten Theme book – Max Lucado’s book, “Fearless”. Thanks be to God! What an excellent choice to take to the hospital. This book helped me and reminded me who was in control - It was not the doctors, the technicians nor was it I . Chapter after chapter, Lucado beautifully illustrated that God was in control. He talked about the many kinds of fears and anxieties that we all deal with from time to time. He spoke of scripture and how the disciples and others dealt with their fears and how Jesus brought the Peace of God. At this point I want to share a small portion of Lucado’s book and hopefully entice you to read it and to participate in our Wednesdays of Lent.
On page 80 Lucado writes, “What’s your worst fear? A fear of public failure, unemployment, or heights? The fear that you’ll never find the right spouse or enjoy good health? The fear of being trapped, abandoned, or forgotten? These are real fears, born out of legitimate concerns. Yet left unchecked, they metastasize into obsessions. The step between prudence and paranoia is short and steep. Prudence wears a seat belt. Paranoia avoids cars. Prudence washes with soap. Paranoia avoids human contact. Prudence saves for old age. Paranoia hoards even trash. Prudence prepares and plans. Paranoia panics. Prudence calculates the risk and takes the plunge. Paranoia never enters the water.”
Then he relates the story of 2 children in a hotel swimming pool with their father. One child was willing to jump in and splash around with her father and the other child stands at the edge of the pool watching and wanting to jump into the pool but is too afraid. Again Lucado writes. “A living parable. How many people spend life on the edge of the pool? Consulting caution. Ignoring faith. Never taking the plunge. Happy to experience life vicariously through others. Preferring to take no risk rather than any risk. For fear of the worst, they never enjoy life at its best.
By contrast, their sister jumps. Not with foolish abandon, but with belief in the goodness of a father’s heart and trust in a father’s arms. Such was the choice of Jesus. He did more than speak about fear. He faced it.”
Lucado then talks about Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane’s garden and how Jesus faced his fears with prayer.
When I was being wheeled down for these tests I was “k”. In fact I was at peace because I knew that my Heavenly Father was holding me regardless of what the doctors had to say. I had peace – and after four days and receiving some “K”,
I went home “k”, trusting in God’s goodness.
I call all of you to do the same. k?
In Christ Peace,
Pastor
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Lenten Schedule and "Fearless" Journey |
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Fearless – is the theme of our 2010 Lenten Journey. We will be reading and discussing Max Lucado’s new book “Fearless”. The book is on sale in the church office for $15.00 and there will be two opportunities on Wednesday to be part of this Lenten Encounter. We hope that you will grow and trust God through the fear and become a new creation that embraces life, love and God’s grace.
~~ Our Schedule ~~
Week Two - Wednesday March 3rd at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm -- Fear of Not Mattering
Week Three – Wednesday March 10th at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm – Fear of Disappointing God
Week Four – Wednesday March 17th at 12: 30pm and 7:00 pm - Fear of life’s final Moment
Week Five – Wednesday - March 24th at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm - Fear of Global Calamity
Week Six - Wednesday - March 31st at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm - Fear of God getting out of my box
HOLY THURSDAY - April 1 SEDAR MEAL - in Social Hall at 6:30 pm. Reservations Required. We will have dinner and a re-enactment of Jesus’ Last Supper.
GOOD FRIDAY – Community Service – 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Haverford Ministerium Worship Service from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.
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Ruth Goldner, Grant Nice, Dick Giesecke, Elsie Orner, Leonard Vander Werff, Bob Gdovin, Sara Hale, Jack Hamilton, Dottie Bazik, Pastor Ed Treichel, Susan Haines, Nancy Hartmire and the earthquake victims in Haiti. |
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March Confirmation Schedule |
March 1
March 8
March 12-14 - Harvey Cedars Youth Retreat
March 22
Confirmation will be held on May 23rd. Please invite your friends and family to share this special day with the Confirmands.
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Answers from February
Q. Who climbed a tree to see Jesus?
A. Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2-4)
Q. Who carried the doors of a city gate to the top of a hill?
A. Samson (Judges 16:3)
Questions for March
Q. Which richest and wisest of ancient kings had 4,000 stalls for horses
and chariots?
Q. Which ancient biblical king crippled his captured chariot horses, except for 100, which he kept for his own use? |
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We are called to serve, celebrate and proclaim Jesus to All people |
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