Balance

We've been putting the September newsletter together today--and it has reminded me all the wonderful programs we have here at the church. It has also reminded me that we need to find the right balance between the busyness of all that life has to offer and time spent in quiet comtemplation. I love to be on the go--but if I don't devote a good amount of time in Sabbath rest and meditation--I find myself stressed out--burnt out--bummed out. My guess is that happens to you as well.

Remember--in the midst of all the stuff there is to do--there is need to simply be present to God--to yourself--to those who love you.

Who is this Jesus?

What's your favorite picture of Jesus? Is it Sallman's Head of Jesus that can be found in most Christian churches? Perhaps it's one of Jesus being depicted as the Good Shepherd or the one of Jesus knocking on the door. My favorite is called "Jesus Laughing" by Ralph Kozak. It reminds me that one of the things God wants for us is to find joy in living. However we view Jesus at any particular moment--we tend to think of him as gentle, kind, laughing and reconciling.

BUT THEN we read scripture such as the one we will be reading this coming Sunday (Luke 12:49-56) that has Jesus telling the crowds "I came to bring fire to earth and how I wish it was already kindled! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" This is no sweet baby Jesus come to set all things right in the world...or is it? What was it about the way they believed--the way they acted--the way they lived out our faith--that has this Jesus so worked up he actually calls the religious folk of his time "hypocrites"?

Is there anything about the way we believe--the way we act--the way we live out our faith--that could get him to the point of calling us the very same thing? How do we measure our faithfulness? Does this scripture still have something to say to us?

In the quiet moments

Over the summer we have been introducing different styles of music & times for worship by offering a Wedesday night rather than Sunday morning once a month. Reception to the time has been good--some folks are even advocating for every Wednesday night for next summer. The musical styles have been appreciated and this coming week we will be offering a very different style of worship based on the Taize community worship in France.

This service is very contemplative in nature and includes moments of silence throughout the service. Silence is hard for us in our culture. We like our audio space to be filled with sounds--even if it is just soft background music or (heaven help us) elevator music. But in the quiet moments--when we have settled in to the rythym of our breathing--we can often hear the still small voice of God calling us into deeper relationship.

Whether you are able to join us for this worship or not, I invite you to spend some time this coming week in silence contemplation--listening for the still small voice of God calling you beloved.