What’s Going on at the Church
“Weighing Truth and Life”
We may remember the episode in John’s gospel when Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”, three times. Each time Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, I love you!” Jesus answered, “Feed and tend my sheep.” This reveals an essential pattern in the spiritual life. The purpose of the spiritual life is not simply to connect us more deeply to God; it also must connect us more deeply to our neighbor. When we declare our love for God, we will inevitably hear the call to join God in mission. Here are some thoughts on this pattern from Brian McClaren.
“The formation we experience through spiritual practices prepares us for mission. The other gospels begin with Jesus saying “Follow me”, but the fourth gospel fascinatingly ends with this invitation. When the heart is healthy and awake, when we listen like a child listening into a seashell, we will hear God’s voice calling us into adventure and life. “Follow me, imitate me, learn from me, dance with me, work with me, join me.“ Then we realize this is what life is, joining the Life in being alive. This is what holiness and love are: joining the Holy and joining Love in being holy and loving. This is what joy and sorrow and regret are: joining the living God in response to life’s diverse experiences.
Episcopal priest Robert Capon has said that the biblical story starts with a breakup and ends with a wedding, and so the history of God’s movement in between is most truly a romance. From time to time, we will feel God’s Spirit making proposals to us, saying “Yes, I love you. Yes, I want you in my mission. Yes, I forgive you. Yes, I accept you as you are.” But then God will ask, “Do you love me? Do you want to follow me, to join me in my work of healing, feeding, caring, and self-giving? Are you with me, as I am always with you?“
God offers us life, grace, love, hope, purpose, mission, mercy, and meaning, and we can receive them as we inhale our next breaths. And as we exhale, we reciprocate, yes, yes, yes, yes, offering our lives to God, joining God in God’s compassionate mission, joining our full presence with God’s presence in the world. Yes.”
Blessing and Peace, Ed
Looking to donate to our thrift sales?
If you have any furniture to donate, please take a photo of what you have and send the photos to office@1stpresrahway.org. At this time, we’re not accepting clothes or shoes.
Members usually work on Wednesday’s for our sales from 10:30 am -1:30 pm. If that’s not a convenient time for you to drop off donations, other arrangements can be made. Please email the church office and your request will be forwarded to the “sales crew” so they can respond to your inquiry.
As always, thank you to all who donate. Our sales have been a great success this year because of you!
Important Message from the USRC Board of Directors:
Please read these guidelines about Squier Hall and the formation of the USRC Board of Directors, who will be overseeing the groups meeting in Squier.
As part of the guidelines, please use this form if you have any concerns so that they can be addressed.
Interested in Getting Involved?
We have a lot of different ways for you to get involved – short-term projects, one-time opportunities, working with our livestream technology on Sundays, plus much more. Click on the button below to see what we have on our ‘volunteer wish list’. As more opportunities become available, we will be sure to update our listings.