Matthew 23:13 Living the Message: Daily Reflections with Eugene Peterson HarpersCollins 1996

Transcription

1 HENSON VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH ( Disciples of Christ ) 1900 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD MAY 2015 UPDATE DEVOTIONAL Hypocrites The Christian has more to fear from hypocrisy than anything else. Nothing stirred Jesus to hotter indignation. Jesus unfailingly approached the everyday sort of sinners who robbed, broke the Sabbath, engaged in prostitution, and even murdered, with inviting compassion. Hypocrites got nothing but [His] denunciation. The fiery passage in Matthew 23 seethes with anger as Jesus lets loose a string of woes against those who practice none of it [compassion], who spend enormous amounts of time tidying up the externals and ignore all the internal realities that count with God. [Jesus said,] I ve had it with you! You re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Fraud! Your lives are roadblocks of God s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won t let anyone else in either. Matthew 23:13 Living the Message: Daily Reflections with Eugene Peterson HarpersCollins 1996 FOR YOUR INFORMATION, PRAYERFUL REFLECTION, FATIHFUL ACTION Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation Update Representing HVCC at the Accessibility Summit on April 2015, with Pastor Martha, were Bessie Bradford and Lorna Larson. The Summit was held at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, VA. In addition to the plenary sessions, the four (4) workshops HVCC attended were: Starting a Disability Ministry; Ministering to Families Affected by Disability; Radical Welcome: Sunday Worship; and Impacting Your Community through Disability Ministries. Appreciation is extended to Bessie and Lorna for committing to a Friday evening and all day on Saturday to be part of this learning experience

2 Some of the key points from the sessions are: Focus on building relationships and let the programs and activities serve as means of supporting and nurturing the relationships Attended to the needs of the both the persons with the disability and the family members who are affected by the disability (parents, siblings, and spouses all serve in some way as caregivers and are impacted by the associated stress of caregiving) Celebrate ALL the gifts of ALL of God s people and participate in the radical inclusion of persons with disabilities in the same way as did Jesus (radical inclusion emphasizes empowerment not charity) Partner with community organizations because no one has all the information or all the resources; ask what can we do to be a blessing to the community? Materials from the Summit have been posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. The invitation is extended to review these as well as the rotating event notices that are being provided by the HVCC partners in this ministry. Much of what was shared at the Summit supports the direction HVCC is moving in preparing to launch our ministry with persons with disabilities and their families. We have a theology that is supported by the biblical imperative to imitate Jesus, we are working with community partners, and we are focusing on young adults with disabilities who are transitioning out of structured programs. None of this is at the expense of any other persons or group of persons, whether they are already part of the congregation or may become part of the congregation. Content for the new church website, has been proposed and submitted to the website designer. The Leadership Team has also reviewed format options and made a selection. There is a great need for photographs of the exterior and interior of the building as well as photographs of activities in which the congregation is engaged. Please support the development of the website by taking as many pictures as possible and sending the files to Pastor Martha at marthabrown@verizon.net. The news media is replete with information that suggests there is plenty going on in our homes, our communities, this nation, and the world that is worthy of the prayers and intercessions of God s people. And while a number of the individual news items are mentioned in worship services, few of them receive the corporate attention of this community of faith outside the formal structures of worship. What would happen if

3 these newsworthy events were discussed by people of faith with the intent to understand the social, political, and theological implications of the events? Would the meaning we ascribe to the matters like the relationship between the United States and Israel, human trafficking within the borders of the U.S. and elsewhere, legislation addressing religious freedoms, domestic and foreign terrorist activities, and the perceived inequities within the judicial system lead us to pray differently. Would it lead us to some action beyond prayer? There are some who may think conversations addressing these topics, and others like them, are not appropriate within the local congregation and the question would be Why not? There are some who may think it is quite appropriate to have these conversations within the local congregation and the question would be Why is it not occurring? The members of the Henson Valley Christian Church Leadership Team are: Carolyn Holland, Bessie Bradford, Marilyn Miles, Rev. Mel Larson, Ellen Azu, and Pastor Martha. The Principles of Identity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord's Table as God has welcomed us. 1. We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world, requiring nothing more - and nothing less - as a basis of our life together. 2. We hold the centrality of scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom - and the responsibility - to study God's Word within the community of the church. 3. We practice the baptism of believers, which emphasizes that God's grace demands a response of faith and discipleship, while also recognizing the baptism performed in other churches. 4. We gather for the Lord's Supper, as often as possible, experiencing at this table the gracious, forgiving presence of Jesus Christ. 5. We structure our community around the biblical idea of covenant, emphasizing not obedience to human authority but accountability to one another because of our shared obedience to Christ. 6. We participate in God's mission for the world, working with partners to heal the brokenness of creation and bring justice and peace to the whole human family. 7. We hear a special calling to make visible the unity of all Christians, proclaiming that in our diversity we belong to one another because we commonly belong to Christ. 8. We witness to the Gospel of God's saving love for the world in Jesus Christ, while continuing to struggle with how God's love may be known to others in different ways. 9. We affirm the priesthood of all believers, rejoicing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit - which include the gift of leadership - that God has given for the common good. 10. We celebrate the diversity of our common life, affirming our different histories, styles of worship, and forms of service.

4 11. We give thanks that each congregation, where Christ is present through faith, is truly the church, affirming as well that God's church and God's mission stretch from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth. 12. We anticipate God's coming reign, seeking to serve the God - Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer - whose loving dominion has no end. What Disciples Believe 1. The Oneness of the Church All Christians are called to be one in Christ and to seek opportunities for common witness and service. 2. Open Communion The Lord s Supper, or Communion, is celebrated in weekly worship and it is open to all at the invitation of Jesus Christ. 3. The Ministry of Believers Both, ministers and lay persons, lead in worship, service, and spiritual growth. Men, Women, and Youth are encouraged to serve in all facets of congregational life. 4. Baptism by Immersion In baptism, the old self-centered life is set aside, washed away, and a new life of trust in God begins. Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored. 5. The Bible God s Word of love and reconciliation, equipping the Church with direction in mission and spiritual food for each person s growth and maturity in the Christian faith. 6. Freedom of Belief As disciples, we are called together around two essentials of faith: a belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and that Christians are free to follow their conscious guided by Bible study, the Holy Spirit, and prayer. Therefore, we seek to extend both that belief and that very same freedom to others. OUT-AND-ABOUT IN THE REGION (The Christian Church Capital Area) ITEM #1 The Grand Opening of the new Campbell Hall at the Christian Church Conference Center at Bethany Beach, Delaware Saturday, 11 April 2015 Tours of the new building and a ceremony of dedication were part of this gala event. The new building features accessible sleeping quarters, an elevator, conference and meeting spaces, air conditioning, solar paneling, and enhanced lighting that brightens all the living and meeting spaces. This new building is much more than an upgrade of the old one. It is truly a new building that is warm and welcoming. The Conference Center is host to several Regional camping programs and can also be rented by other groups, including those that are not associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Henson Valley is urged to consider visiting the Conference Center, which is only one block from the Atlantic Ocean, for either a single or multi-day congregation retreat.

5 OUT-AND-ABOUT IN THE REGION (The Christian Church Capital Area) ITEM #2 Rev. Allen V. Harris is expected to begin his ministry as Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in mid-june Please keep him in prayer as he closes his ministry with Franklin Circle Christian Church in Cleveland, Ohio. OUT-AND-ABOUT IN THE REGION (The Christian Church Capital Area) ITEM #3 It is not too early to save these dates for upcoming Regional events Saturday, 17 October 2015 Salt and Light Conference to be held at National City Christian Church Henson Valley Christian Church is represented on the Planning Task Force for the Salt and Light Conference by Ellen Azu and Bessie Bradford. We give thanks for their participation in the work of the church at the Regional level and for sharing their gifts and talents beyond the local congregation. Please keep them and the work of the Planning Task Force in your prayers. REMINDERS FROM THE GENERAL CHURCH (The Christian Church Disciples of Christ in the United States and Canada) Pentecost Offerings that support New Church development will be received on Sundays, 17 May and 24 May. Pentecost Day is the celebration of the birth of the Church. After waiting together in prayerful unity, Jesus followers were given the gifts of power by the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Church began and thus it continues. Resource materials on the following topics can be accessed on the General Church s website: Examples of resource materials include Juneteenth celebration (Disciples Home Missions) Discover the Disciples ( Who are We identity page) Ideas to include on publicity materials and websites (Identity pages) Crisis Communication materials (how to handle unexpected events in your congregation) Human Trafficking - Breaking the Chains: Link by Link ( The 2015 General Assembly will be held in Columbus, Ohio July. The theme is SOAR and there will be workshops and worship designed to help us do just that! Registration is open and can be completed online. Visit to register and learn more about the General Assembly.

6 IN THE LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION Upcoming Events and Programs May 3 Fifth Sunday of Easter May 5 10:00 a.m. at Oxon Hill Library May 6 & Choir 8:00 p.m. Choir May 10 Mother s Day Sixth Sunday of Easter May 12 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. at HVCC May 13 & Choir 8:00 p.m. Choir May 14 May 17 Life Line Screening Event at HVCC Seventh Sunday of Easter Pentecost Special Offering 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. May 19 10:00 am. at Children s Farm

7 May 20 & Choir 8:00 p.m. Choir May 24 Pentecost Sunday Pentecost Special Offering May 25 Memorial Day Church Office Closed! May 26 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. at HVCC May 27 & Choir 8:00 p.m. Choir May 31 Trinity Sunday