WOODLAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 ECHOES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE Woodland Christian Church is an open and affirming, dynamic community of faith. We are inspired by Jesus to practice radical hospitality and unconditional love. As children of God, we strive to care for the earth as we serve others. We respect each individual s journey as we grow together in faith WOODLAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH 530 EAST HIGH STREET LEXINGTON, KY PHONE: E-ADDRESS: office@woodlandchristianlex.org WEBSITE: program to be informative, challenging, fun and uplifting. SEPTEMBER 10 POTLUCK BREAKFAST 9:30 AM On September 10 Choir, Sunday school, Worship & Wonder resume! We will begin with a potluck breakfast on September 10 at 9:30 am. Laura Sebastian (see page 5) our new Director for Children, Youth and Families will be present for a short meet and greet for the first part of breakfast. During the second half, the kids will join her upstairs in their Sunday school room to get better acquainted. To add to this day of celebration, the Woodland Foundation will present a check to the congregation! The Foundation is a Permanent Fund. Each yea, based upon investment performance, the Board of the Foundation decides an amount to gift the church while preserving the original amount. BLUE THEOLOGY Lunch & Learn, September 17 In 2007, Pacific Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) began a ministry, Blue Theology, providing learning and serving experiences in ocean stewardship. Hands on projects include beach clean-ups, sand dune restoration, and scientific data collection. Church youth groups and multigenerational pilgrimage groups have found the Scott Ackerman and Jaime Carpenter became familiar with the Blue Theology Mission Station a few years ago when they traveled to Monterey, California and were married at Pacific Grove Christian Church. Both Jaime and Scott have helped staff the Blue Theology booth at the Exhibits during the last two Disciples General Assemblies. On September 17, come and learn about Blue Theology and explore the possibility of an intergenerational mission trip. (Lunch provided.) September 24 3:00 PM Sunday, September 24, will be Lexington s 30 th anniversary of Church World Service s CROP (Community Response to Overcome Poverty) Walk. Since this is the 30 th year, the organizers of the walk have decided to have a 3 theme. The overall goal is to have 300 walkers and raise $30,000. In 2016, the walk raised $24,800 (25% of the funds raised stay here and 75% is sent to countries that are in dire need of clean water supply and education Page 1 of 6

2 to teach how to raise crops for proper nutrition). Keeping with the 3 momentum, Jimmy Owens and Janet Brumfield, Woodland s Team recruiters, have set their own goals to have 30 plus walkers and raise a total of $3,000. Each walker will be asked to raise $100 each. We feel very optimistic that we will reach both goals because Woodland loves to come together where there is opportunity to serve our community. If you cannot walk with the team, please support a walker or the team financially by going to to donate. Remember to wear your Wooodland T- shirt if you plan to walk. The 3-mile walk begins at Second Presbyterian Church, 460 East Main, Lexington. Registration is at 3:00 pm. The Walk begins at 3:30 pm. Looking forward to a GREAT 3-mile walk and doing good for God s children. - Jimmy Owens WORSHIP NOTES September 3 - Scripture: Isaiah 1: Sermon: Our VOOM! Power - Rev. Dalene Vasbinder preaching September 10 Fall Kick-off - Scripture: John 17:20-21a - Sermon: One - Rev. Dalene Vasbinder preaching Bless to Me Fall Worship series September 17 October 15 It s one of those Christian words, isn t it? What exactly do we mean when we say that we re blessed? Does God favor us? Do we interchange it with lucky? In Beth Richardson s book, Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me: Celtic Blessings she writes about the expanded understanding of blessing of the Celts (those who have inhabited the islands of Ireland and Britain since prehistoric times): Celtic Christians acknowledged God s presence in every aspect of living from waking to sleeping, from birth to death, from mundane chores to momentous celebrations. They perceived God s creation as a holy gift. So blessings can be understood as the very stuff of life, not something necessarily favored, good, special or extraordinary but all of life as a gift. Inspired by Richardson s book and using resources from Marcia McFee s Worship Design Studio, for five weeks this fall we will explore the gift of blessings. September 17 - The Blessings of God s Presence in Each Moment - Scriptures: Psalm 113, Psalm 139, Matthew 6:11 September 24 - Celebrating the Blessings of the Gifts of Life - Scripture: Luke 12:22-31 A NOTE FROM DALENE Are you prayed up? In order to do the work we re called to do, we need to make sure we re prayed up. These words came to me from a colleague of mine at a Disciples clergy gathering a couple of years ago. Although I thought I knew what he meant, I had never heard the phrase prayed up before. So I asked for clarification. Prayed up, used more often in congregations with an African-American majority, involves not only speaking prayers, reading prayers, saying our prayers. It involves making space for a sense of connection with the Holy in our lives. It involves letting go of our wants and wishes and just standing before God and listening. In involves having a deep enough connection that trusting in thy will instead of my will comes more naturally. This question, Are you prayed up? came back to me as I began reading Ruth Fletcher s book, Thrive: Spiritual Habits of Transforming Congregations. Page 2 of 6

3 Spiritual habit #1 is praying. Now it may seem like prayer is a given for a congregation. After all, we pray all of the time. In worship we have an opening prayer, a pastoral prayer, a prayer of giving, a prayer of thanksgiving. We have a Facebook page that asks for prayers when members or friends have a request. pay attention, then patch a few words together and don t try to make them elaborate, this isn t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. The prayer that Fletcher writes about has to do with the more, a deeper sense or connection. Instead of prayer looked at as something we do, prayer becomes that which undergirds, which supports ALL that we do. We set aside time in silence to listen. Listening involves quieting our mind from our agendas and making time and space to hear/sense how the Spirit, the power of God at work in your life, is leading you. From Thrive : In transforming congregations a high percentage of individuals take time each day to engage in the ancient Christian practice of listening prayer. Listening prayer connects them with the empowering and enlivening Spirit. This is an anxious time. This summer has uncovered hate groups, one of the worst natural disasters in our country in years is happening in Texas. We have policies from our government that seem to exclude and threaten our environment. In these times, especially in these times, we need to make sure we have a sense of God s presence in our lives. We need to be prayed up. We as a church have a lot going on. We will welcome a new member to our staff and begin a new Sunday school year. We continue to live into and tweak our new structure. The Board is busy with administrative tasks, the Elders are now working to support and empower ministries. We have a lunch and learn, we have 37 people (to date!) walking in the CROP. We will come together in worship. In all of what we are and do, prayer is not one more activity but what supports all that we do. I leave you with one of my favorite poems from Mary Oliver: Woodland s Sunday School year begins September 10 with a potluck breakfast at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Join us each Sunday morning at 9:45 am as we come together for fellowship, study, and discussion of our faith. Worship follows at 10:45 am in the Sanctuary. On Wednesday, September 6, at 2:00 pm, we will meet in the Committee Room at church for our monthly fellowship and study. Our current Bible study is almost complete and has two more topics related to scripture about slavery and freedom as it applied in ancient times and today. This month s lesson is from the letter to the Corinthians from Paul. We will talk about travel to various cultures of today and then. We will also discusss how we can understand Paul s comments to the Corinthians and how that might apply today. All are welcome! - Jackie Diachun Praying It doesn t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just Page 3 of 6

4 Woodland Arts Festival Here are some pictures of the 2017 Arts Festival taken the weekend of August 19 and 20. On August 9, 2017, the JOY Group went to Jim s Seafood in Frankfort, Kentucky for lunch and fellowship. Another fun and JOYful outing is planned for Wednesday, September 13. We have heard there have been some changes at Shaker Village which has been a favorite spot for us, so we are going to check it out. Meet at church by 10:30 am on Wednesday, September 13, and we will head there. There will be some time to look around and visit the gift shop for those interested. We will take another route home to see more. JOYn us! We will return by 4:00 pm. Contact Jackie Diachun or David Dattilo with questions or to say you will be going! - Jackie Diachun Each Wednesday evening we come together for dinner and fellowship. Join us on September 6 at 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We close the dinner hour with the breaking of bread and prayer. Dinner is $4.00 per person OR $10.00 per family of three or more. To help with meal preparation, please R.S.V.P. to the church office by calling or via at office@woodlandchristianlex.org. We look forward to having you! Page 4 of 6

5 LAURA SEBASTIAN Director for Children, Youth and Families Laura Sebastian comes to Woodland looking for a church home and a place to serve. She has been a teacher both in schools and churches and really misses working with youth! Whether working in schools or building teams as a manager, Laura loves sharing her time with people. She comes from a family of Christians that have served one another and the Church for many years. Laura is originally from North Carolina but has been in the Lexington area for most of her life. She attended the University of Kentucky earning degrees in Art Studio and Art Education with a minor in English. After working as a graphic artist for several years, she felt called to teach. This led her to a teaching certificate and a job that she loved! Boulder, Colorado. She has had various jobs such as horse trainer and worked at a computer company. In Lexington, she is the Administrator for the Graduate Program at UK Patterson School of Diplomacy. For her hobbies, she does painting and drawing and enjoys reading and movies. She likes anything to do with horses and, similar to this writer, is a cowgirl in spirit. Growing up she attended a small independent Christian Church. As an adult, she has explored various faiths and spiritual paths. While looking for a church home here, she found Woodland. Several things kept her coming back after her initial visit. From our statement of faith in the brochure, WCC seeks to engage both hearts and minds in a progressive faith that.... she found what she had been looking for. Also, our traditional worship format and progressive attitude plus our being very welcoming, kept her here. She has joined in to help with the gardens, the Wednesday night dinners and more recently with the Arts Festival. We are glad she has found us and that we can share our journey with her. Again, we say welcome! - Jackie Diachun Besides teaching, spending time with her family of people and dogs is what Laura enjoys! She recently adopted a Shih Tzu/Australian shepherd baby name Finn. When she is not chasing him around, she loves gardening or a great book! Welcome Laura as our newest staff member! WHO S IN THE PEWS Vicki Vaughn Vicki Vaughn has been in the pews for some time now and joined Woodland as a member in August. We already appreciate her interest and help. Welcome Vicki! Before coming to Lexington in 2004, Vicki lived in Illinois where she was born; South Florida, and Come and join us the first Sunday of each month to celebrate Birthdays with cupcakes and song! September Craig Locke, 9/2 Jessica Coon, 9/3 Becky Hudson, 9/7 Michael Wells, 9/8 Doug Price, 9/11 Barbara Blodgett, 9/12 Scotty Coon, 9/14 Page 5 of 6

6 Paul Ladd, Jr., 9/18 Missy Rawlings, 9/18 Nancy McKenney, 9/19 Vicky Ray, 9/25 Jackson Silence, 9/25 Ethan Ladd, 9/30 Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. The white roses were so big and pretty. Bob loved flower. He was a wonderful husband, father, & friend. I know he is in a better place but he will be deeply missed. God Bless, Denice (from the family of Kelley Cook) Disciples at Moondance event that was rained out in August has been rescheduled for Friday evening, September 29, 6:00-8:00 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, food and drinks. Kids and friends are welcome! Free Admission. This will be a chance to get together with other Disciples in the Lexington area for a time of fellowship FALL RETREATS Retreat #1: November 4-5, 2017 Barren River Lake Resort Park Lucas, Kentucky Silent Retreat #2: November 10-12, 2017 Knobs Haven Retreat House Loretto, Kentucky Click here for more information. Celebrating Margaret Ryle s 91 st birthday at the beginning of Prayer Group with the preschoolers joining in on the surprise on August 14, The Christian Church in Kentucky, the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, and Lexington United Interfaith Encounters have partnered to bring to Lexington the premier showing of The Sultan and the Saint, September 19, 2017, 7:00 pm, Kentucky Theater. This s a docudrama film about Muslim-Christian peacemaking. Page 6 of 6