Spirit of Grace. October Inside this issue: A Lutheran-Methodist Cooperative Church. Fall is here! Change is here!

Transcription

1 Spirit of Grace A Lutheran-Methodist Cooperative Church October 2018 Inside this issue: Pastor David 2 Spiritual Growth 3-4 Birthdays & Anniversaries 5 Calendar 6 About Spirit of Grace 7 Fall is here! Change is here! Leaves are changing color and falling to the ground. There is some coolness to the wind that blows now. The FISH- Spirit of Grace Garden is slowing down for the season. And our church! I took these photos a couple of weeks ago but even now the outside is different. You wait and wait for contractors, and then a lot happens at once! There is excitement. There is work: how did we accumulate all this stuff and where will we store it? How much mess will there be? I am grateful and excited about the new offices that are being built. Before I know it, Pastor David, Linda, and I will be at home in our new offices. That will be good! Last night I went to my first Nordic Ski Team meeting of the season. We are planning races. We are planning fundraising. Soon there will be more snow on the mountains. Change. It s always part of us. 1

2 OUR Dear Friends, On Sunday, September 9th, we unveiled our theme for this program year: Effervescent Faith. I m trying to use it as a point of focus as I plan and study, and I hope you will too. The Effervescent Faith theme is based on Jesus s words in John 4:14. He tells the Samaritan woman at the well, Whoever drinks from the water that I give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life. Jesus promises us a refreshing fountain of water to enliven and nourish our souls. It means a few different things to me. First, an effervescent faith is open to joy. Joy is, of course, one of the Fruits of the Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For me, though, joy is one of the harder one s to remember. Sometimes I get stuck on the patience, faithfulness, and self-control, and I forget about the joy. But we are meant to be joyful in our faith. We are meant to take delight in life. We are meant to enjoy all of the blessings that God gives us: family, friends, food, shelter, study, meaningful work, the marvels of God s creation. An effervescent faith finds joy in small blessings. Second, an effervescent faith is active. It s always being stirred up by the Holy Spirit. It moves, it gets out in the world and does something. It does not lay stagnant, but is constantly being renewed and refreshed. Finally, an effervescent faith is a source of strength in troubling times. Like a spring that bubbles up life-giving water in the midst of a desert, an effervescent faith offers us life even in the midst of death, hope even in the midst of despair. Through our relationship with Jesus, and through the practices of prayer and worship, we are connected to a life-source that does not fail. It is always there, bubbling up inside us. I hope you will take some time to reflect on this image, both individually and in the various small groups of the church. May we all think to ask of Jesus, like the Samaritan woman, Lord, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty. Your servant in Christ, +Pastor David 2 Weekly Reflections Oct 7th Mark 10:15 Can you remember a time when something a child said or did effected your faith? Oct 14th Hebrews 4:16 What keeps you from confidently coming into God s presence? Oct 21st Hebrews 5:2 Is there a wound or weakness in your past that gives you special insight into the hurt and struggle of others? Oct 28th Job 42:5 When was a circumstance when God felt especially present to you, not just something you had heard or read about?

3 How is it with your spirit today? How do you find joy and celebrate the blessings in your life? How do you practice spiritual self-care? A Report from Donna Fitch One of the workshops I attended last summer at UMC Annual Conference was filled with ideas and resources for spiritual formation. Here s a list of some of those recommended: A Grace-Full Life: God s All-Reaching, Soul-Saving, Character-Shaping, Never-Ending Love by Jorge Acevedo and Wes Olds Compassion in Practice by Frank Rogers, Jr. Secrets of the Generous Life by Gordon MacDonald Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective for Covenantal Living by Jessica Stonecypher Receiving God s Love: The Practice of Radical Hospitality by Robert Schnase (part of The Fruitful Living Series) Listening with Your Heart: Lessons from Native America by Wayne Peate The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict by the Arbinger Institute (this book was the basis of several lectures and small group sessions at this year s Annual Conference) When Spiritual But Not Religious Is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church by Lillian Daniel Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamott Leading Causes of Life: Five Fundamentals to Change the Way You Live Your Life by Gary Gunderson and Larry Pray Thankful: Practicing the Grace of Gratitude by Karen Moore Engaging Your Community: A Guide to Seeing All the People and Developing an Intentional Discipleship System: A Guide for Congregations by Justus B. Dixon The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World s Largest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to be Christian by Brian McLaren When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living by Rueben P. Job A Book of Uncommon Prayer: 100 Celebrations of the Miracle and Muddle of the Ordinary by Brian Doyle (the late author of Martin Marten and Mink River) The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmund Tutu with Douglas Abrams Just This by Richard Rohr I ll end the list with three of my own favorites: Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris, The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster and Joan Chittister s The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully. 3 Continued...

4 Our presenter also shared the following simple ideas for spiritual growth: For the next week (or month), try to keep a gratitude journal and write at least one entry each day. It may be that this will become a new habit, one that will greatly strengthen your own spiritual health. (Buy yourself a beautiful new journal!) * * * * From Questions for Reflection: Spiritual Self-Care (adapted from the Wespath Center for Health): 1. How fulfilling is my devotional and prayer life? 2. What spiritual practice or practices are a part of my daily life? 3. How does my devotional and prayer life connect me to God? 4. Do I have a spiritual leader or advisor? Who is my spiritual leader or advisor? 5. How do I find spiritual nourishment in my worship community? * * * * Essentials to Spiritual Growth Connect with God. Read and reflect on the Bible. Pray. Join a Bible study or prayer group. Find other ways you can connect with God and practice those. Connect with Other Christ Followers Attend church services regularly. Get a spiritual coach. Be part of a small group. Serve others. Live it. Our relationship with God is not just about doing. It is also about letting God change us and allowing God to be a part of every corner of our lives. Finally, remember the church library, located (for now at least) in the office building. It s filled with wisdom and fun and tales of believers through the years. Perhaps we could even organize a book exchange day to share some of our favorites. Remember, God is never finished forming our spirits! Thanks~ Donna Fitch 4

5 There will be a training for all current ushers and anyone interested in becoming an usher on Sunday, October 21, immediately following the service. We will also have an acolyte training session at the same time for any upper elementary and middle school kids interested in ringing the bell and lighting the candles on Sunday mornings. From Diane & Dean Kleinsmith: Our daughter in law, Kirsten, passed away on Wednesday Sept 19 th at home with her husband, friends and family by her side. She will be remembered for her strength and determination as she battled leukemia and the side effects of treatment. All are invited to a Memorial Mass of the Resurrection Service 4:00 p.m., Friday, October 16, 2018 at St. Mary s Catholic Church (1501 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031). {A Celebration of Kirsten s Life will be in the Spring of Details will be announced later.}. The date and time of service has been updated to the above. Visit to leave a note of condolence for the family. Marlene Lahti 7 Nathan Boris 10 Robert Godard 17 Cory Saenz-Hart 22 George Bentz 24 Jana & John Jacobson 26 Jean & Craig Sheppard 30 Requests can be sent to Carol Kyger cckyger@gmail.com or Backup for Carol is Donna Fitch fitcheshr@gmail.com

6 October 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT am Quilting am Women s Spirituality 7 9am Education 10 Traditional 11 Fellowship 6pm Youth Grp pm Worship Planning am Education 10 Traditional 11 Fellowship 6pm Youth Grp am Quilting 18 5pm Worship Practice am Education 10 Celebration 11 Fellowship 6pm Youth Grp pm Women s Bible Study pm Worship Practice Food on the 4th 9am Education 10 Celebration 11 Fellowship 6pm Youth Grp am Service Worship Duties October Communion Communion Pat Pettit Myrin Bentz Shelley Oates Pat Pettit Pat & Bill Crompton Margaret & Bob Godard Shelley Oates & Gwen Richards Donna & Scott Fitch Sally Havig Kathy Terry Sally Havig Kathy Terry 6

7 Board of Directors Spirit of Grace 1140 Tucker Road Hood River, Oregon Phone: Web site: hoodriverchurch.org Sunday Worship Times Worship Service 10:00am Fellowship 11:00am Education Times 9:00am Sunday Education for Adults & Children Women s Bible Study 4th Tuesday, 2-4:00pm Office Hours Pastor Mon-Wed 9-Noon. Or by Appt. Staff Mon, Wed, Thurs 9am-2:00pm Tuesdays 9am-1:00pm Pastor Rev. David D.M. King Staff Jennifer Fowler Office Manager & Financial Secretary Linda Boris Pastoral Assistant Pastor David King, ex officio Pat Pettit (2018) Michele Sibley (2019) Bob White (2019) Shelley Oates (2020) Finance Committee Pastor David King Jim Siekkinen (2018) Vicki Wartalski (2019) Muriel Ishizaka Treasurer Jennifer Fowler Fin. Secretary Tom Hart Payroll Celebration Worship Traditional Worship Children & Youth Men s Ministry Women s Ministry Outreach Prayer Chain Reception Building Organist/Piano Choir Ministry Team Leaders Linda Boris Dottie Gilbertson Melissa Mimier King Marv Turner Kris White Debby Chenoweth Carol Kyger Jill McBee & Pat Crompton Rick McBee Music Ministry Dottie Gilbertson & Audrey Bentz Audrey Bentz & Sharon Poynter Staff Parish Relations George Bentz, Chair (2018) Cindy Murahashi (2018) Rose Miller (2019) Rick McBee Board Liaison Happy Hands Mondays 9am to 11am Women s Craft & Fellowship Group in Fellowship Hall Quilting 1st and 3rd Wednesdays Quilts for Lutheran World Relief in Fellowship Hall 7 Men s Group Tuesday at 10am at Rosauer s Coffee Corner Women s Bible Study 4th Tuesday of the month 2-4pm at church Women s Spirituality 1st Saturday of the month Study and fellowship

8 A Lutheran-Methodist Cooperative Church Spirit of Grace Pastor David King 1140 Tucker Road Hood River, Oregon Phone: hoodriverchurch.org 8