Midweek Moment

We are two weeks into our series entitled, Ashes to Fire. The first week we looked at Jesus’ time in the wilderness and how God poured his power into Jesus through Christ’s observance of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation, and solitude.

Last week in worship we talked about how Jesus lamented over the city of Jerusalem and how he grieved and mourned over their current relationship with God. We also looked to the Gospel of Matthew to get a glimpse of what might have caused this type of reaction and we saw how important issues of justice, mercy, and faith are to Jesus.

This week we received an email from the local chapter of the World Day of Prayer International Committee. As I was reading through it, already surmising prayer was a foundational component, I read the following line, “Each year a different country serves as the writer of the World Day of Prayer worship service, interpreting the Bible in their own context, and lifting up issues of mission, justice, and peace that are important to them.” This brought both of the themes from the last two weeks of worship together!

The actual World Day of Prayer is March 1st and at 9:30 a.m, at the First Congregational Church on Highway 200, women will gather for a worship service to lift up those issues of mission, justice, and peace.

I want to invite you, in your way, to prayerfully lift up this gathering and its causes. Too many times we get wrapped up in life and those issues do not always get the focus we should give them. One way you can lift this endeavor up is to come and pray in our Sanctuary. Every Wednesday, during the season of Lent, your Sanctuary will be open from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. for you to come and have a quiet space to pray. You can sit in the pews and read Scripture, you can also sit in quiet solitude, and you can come to the rail and pray. I encourage you to take advantage of this time as often as you can. But whatever you do, or wherever you go, pray.

Prayer is our line of communication with God and a means of incredible power. This Lenten season I hope you will find that daily time and place, where you can leave the outside world behind, focus on God, and commune with our Creator. I know of no better way to be transformed, than to become as close to God as we can through prayer!

 Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Jerusalem, Jerusalem!Philippians 3:17-4:1 and Luke 13:31-35

Bible Challenge 02/24 - 03/02

Greetings All!

This week we finish up the book of Hebrews, and read 7 short books (James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude) and begin the LAST book of the Bible - Revelation.

Here is a bit of background information to help you in your reading:

James - Most believe the author of this letter to be James the brother of Jesus. Many people wrestle with this letter because it appears to contradict Paul's stance on justification by faith alone. James emphasizes works, but not in the sense of justifying oneself before God; rather in the sense that works are evidence of a person's inward faith.

I and II Peter - Attributed by its title to the Apostle Peter, this letter and its counterpart II Peter are some of the latest writings to be included in the New Testament. The first letter is the only one scholars really attribute to Peter; probably written while Peter was the bishop of the church in Rome. In this letter addressed to believers dispersed through five different provinces in Asia Minor (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia) is a word of encouragement to those undergoing religious persecution. The authorship of II Peter is largely in question and was probably not the Apostle Peter - because it quotes a later letter extensively (Jude). But the main purpose of this letter is to identify Jesus with God and to correct a growing heresy since Jesus had not yet returned.

I John, II John and III John - These letters are attributed to the disciple John who also wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation. The first two letters were probably written in Ephesus between 95-110 AD to counter the heresies that Jesus did not come in the flesh but only as a spirit. The first letter is a general one and lifts up how Christians are to discern true teachers: by their ethics, their proclamation of Jesus and by their love. The second letter is a private one written to "an elect lady" and much speculation exists as to who this person is. The final letter is another private one addressed to Gaius to commend a party of Christians who had gone on a mission to preach the Gospel, to encourage him and to warn him of a group of other believers who are not cooperating.

Jude - This book is often attributed to one of Jesus' brothers. This 25 verse letter was composed as an encyclical letter - not directed at any one church but rather intended to be circulated and read in all churches. Addressed to Christians in general it warns about the doctrine of certain errant teachers. Many examples of evildoers and warnings about their fates are given in some of the most strongly worded language in the New Testament. The letter concludes with a doxology (short hymn of praise) one of the highest in quality in the Bible.

Revelation - Also attributed to John the disciple and probably written during John's exile at Patmos, this book is the piece of apocalyptic literature in the New Testament, a genre that relies eavily on visions and symbolism (like Daniel in the Old Testament).

Here is the schedule:

24, Sunday: Hebrews 13 - James 3

25, Monday: James 4 - I Peter 2

26, Tuesday: I Peter 3 – II Peter 1

27, Wednesday: II Peter 2 - I John 2

28, Thursday: I John 3 - II John

01, Friday: III John - Revelation 2

02, Saturday: Revelation 3-6

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we will be doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. This Sunday we will look at Jesus' very sorrowful reaction towards Israel, based upon Luke 13:31-35 and Philippians 3:17-4:1. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Easter Tableau - It’s time to start thinking about the Easter Tableau, which will be on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29. There will be sign-up sheets on the Connection Station beginning about the middle of February. Your help will be needed in the scenes and also making refreshments to help defray the kitchen costs. Each scene needs to have a coordinator, so if you would like to volunteer to be a coordinator for one of the scenes, please let us know. If you would like to assist in any of the various areas; such as scene set-up, costumes, make-up, sound, lighting, etc., please let us know. Please be in prayer for a successful 2013 Easter Tableau. If you have any questions, please contact Eunice Reid. Thank You!





3. Bible Study - This week we began our Lenten Bible Study, 24 Hours That Changed the World. We will continue this class for the next four weeks as we look to the last day of Christ here on Earth and the events that surrounded that very important day. Next week we will spend our time looking at the experience of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We meet each Thursday at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M., and you can pick either class to attend. There is a companion book available for $13, if you would like it. It is never to late join, all you need to do is show up. I hope to see you there!









4. Bread Ministry - We here at Druid Hills have a wonderful welcome ministry. From the bags prepared and given out by Bob Greene, to the way each of you extend the hand of hospitality to all who enter, corporately we have this gift. Marianne Bingham has offered us an idea to enhance this gift of ours, bread. We are beginning a bread ministry, where each Sunday one volunteer will sign up to bake several small loaves of bread for us to give to any that visit our church. I would ask that you each consider signing up for a few weeks. There is a sign up sheet at the Connection Station and there are recipes we can provide you that are quick and easy. This is such an easy thing that will go such a long way. I hope you each will give God the opportunity to use you in this way to bless another.





5. Passover Seder - There is wonderful opportunity I want to tell you about! We have invited the group, Jews for Jesus, to come to Druid Hills to deliver their presentation, Christ in the Passover. During this wonderfully moving experience, missionary Ron McDevitt, will explain to us the Jewish background of Holy Communion and how all of this points to Jesus Christ as the Messiah. We will listen as Missionary McDevitt describes the ancient and modern Jewish customs with an emphasis on the redemption accomplished by Christ through His death and resurrection. This will take place on Wednesday, March 13th, at 7pm. The presentation will last about 45 minutes and will take place in the Sanctuary. We will also collect a love offering at the conclusion of the presentation. This is an exciting opportunity that I think you all will want to see! Invite a friend and I hope to see you all there!


Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Last week in worship we talked about the tools Jesus used to survive his forty days in the wilderness. He did not have a pack, shelter, food, water, or extra clothes. But he did have something much more valuable, the spiritual disciples of fasting, prayer, meditation, and solitude.

Right now we are at the beginning of our 40 day Lenten journey. Ash Wednesday was one week ago today and the first Sunday in Lent was three days ago. As you spend this season examining your relationship with God, I encourage you to use those same disciplines Christ did.

These disciplines of fasting, prayer, meditation, and solitude allow us to escape the distractions of this world and focus our attention and energy on God. They allow us to peel away the layers of distraction that keep us from quality time in the presence of our Savior, creating an opening that can truly be transformative.

This Lent, I invite you to be intentional about finding those times and those locations where you engage in these disciples. Make a time where you can be in solitude, where you can frequently practice the discipline of meditation as you commune with God, and the reading of Scripture is a wonderful way to enter in to those sacred times. There is a practice of reading Scripture that you may have heard of called Lectio Divina. The intent of this technique is not to gain information but to establish a connection with God. You read a passage of Scripture focusing on just a few words or phrases. You read these few words over and over again, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak and direct you to other passages in the process. You will be amazed at what speaks to you as you engage in this endeavor.

There is also the discipline of prayer that is available to you. Prayer is that direct connection with God whereby we have the chance to speak and God has the chance to be heard. It is important that when you pray you have a place where you can concentrate. A place where your mind will not be divided by outside distractions. As your church, we are opening our Sanctuary every Wednesday during Lent from 12 P.M. to 1 P.M. for you to come and have that quiet place to pray.

I pray you all will find the ways that work best for you to engage in a few of these disciplines. When you open yourself up the power they contain, God can and will do wondrous acts through you and in you.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

A Wilderness Survial GuideRomans 10:8-13 and Luke 4:1-13

The recording did pick up a bit of static at the beginning, but gets better shortly into the message.

Bible Challenge 02/17 - 02/23

Greetings All!

This week we finish up II Thessalonians, and read through I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon and halfway through the book of Hebrews.

I and II Timothy - Paul found Timothy during one of his visits to Lystra where Timothy is mentioned as a disciple. From the Scriptures it seems his mother and grandmother were Jews who had become believers; the only thing mentioned about his father was that he was Greek. Timothy becomes Paul's traveling companion going to Phyrgia, Galatia, Mysia, Troad, Philippi, Veria and Corinth. Eventually around 65AD, Paul installs Timothy as the bishop of the church at Ephesus, a post he would hold for at least the next fifteen years. Timothy was eventually stoned to death when he took a stand against a pagan procession of idols, ceremonies and songs. The first letter from Paul to Timothy seems to deal mainly with forms of worship, organization of the church, the responsibilities of the bishops and deacons as well as keeping faithful amid surrounding errors. The second letter seems to be more of a personal goodbye as Paul is nearing the end of his life.

Titus - Titus is mentioned in Galatians as one of Paul's traveling companions to Jerusalem. He was then dispatched to Corinth and later went to Crete as the bishop there. This letter mainly deals with the requirements for bishops and elders in the church.

Philemon - Philemon was a wealthy Christian and leader (possibly bishop) of the church in Colosse. This is the shortest of all Paul's letters and deals mainly with the topic of forgiveness.

Hebrews - The author of this letter is not known or identified although many associate it with Paul or suppose it to be written in his style by one of his followers. The book provides a unique look at Jesus as both exalted Son of God and high priest of the people. Most believe the title to be a reference to its original audience: Jewish Christians of the second century who are apparently being tempted to avoid severe persecution by "shrinking back" in their faith. It is a letter written with hope and perseverance in mind.

I pray these backgrounds enlighten your reading and draw you closer to our Triune God. Here is the schedule for this week.

17, Sunday: II Thessalonians 2 - I Timothy 2

18, Monday: I Timothy 3-6

19, Tuesday: II Timothy 1-4

20, Wednesday: Titus 1 - Philemon

21, Thursday: Hebrews 1-4

22, Friday: Hebrews 6-8

23, Saturday: Hebrews 7-11

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are beginning a new preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we will be doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. This Sunday we will look at a Wilderness Survival Guide, based upon Luke 4:1-13 and Romans 10:8-13. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Easter Tableau - It’s time to start thinking about the Easter Tableau, which will be on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29. There will be sign-up sheets on the Connection Station beginning about the middle of February. Your help will be needed in the scenes and also making refreshments to help defray the kitchen costs. Each scene needs to have a coordinator, so if you would like to volunteer to be a coordinator for one of the scenes, please let us know. If you would like to assist in any of the various areas; such as scene set-up, costumes, make-up, sound, lighting, etc., please let us know. Please be in prayer for a successful 2013 Easter Tableau. If you have any questions, please contact Eunice Reid. Thank You!





3. Interfaith Ministry - Each year we partner with Interfaith Ministries to provide a meal for the residents of their living facility. We get the chance to break bread with these people and share a wonderful time together. With that in mind, we need volunteers. The 2013 sign-up sheet is posted on the Connection Station. We are scheduled to provide the evening meal the second Friday of each month. It is a great idea to consider asking a friend or two to help you provide the meal. We need volunteers for April through December. If you have any questions, please contact Libby Orbison. This is a wonderful opportunity to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus Christ to another. I pray you will have the chance to be involved with this ministry this year.





4. Bread Ministry - We here at Druid Hills have a wonderful welcome ministry. From the bags prepared and given out by Bob Greene, to the way each of you extend the hand of hospitality to all who enter, corporately we have this gift. Marianne Bingham has offered us an idea to enhance this gift of ours, bread. We are beginning a bread ministry, where each Sunday one volunteer will sign up to bake several small loaves of bread for us to give to any that visit our church. I would ask that you each consider signing up for a few weeks. There is a sign up sheet at the Connection Station and there are recipes we can provide you that are quick and easy. This is such an easy thing that will go such a long way. I hope you each will give God the opportunity to use you in this way to bless another.





5. Passover Seder - There is wonderful opportunity I want to tell you about! We have invited the group, Jews for Jesus, to come to Druid Hills to deliver their presentation, Christ in the Passover. During this wonderfully moving experience, missionary Ron McDevitt, will explain to us the Jewish background of Holy Communion and how all of this points to Jesus Christ as the Messiah. We will listen as Missionary McDevitt describes the ancient and modern Jewish customs with an emphasis on the redemption accomplished by Christ through His death and resurrection. This will take place on Wednesday, March 13th, at 7pm. The presentation will last about 45 minutes and will take place in the Sanctuary. We will also collect a love offering at the conclusion of the presentation. This is an exciting opportunity that I think you all will want to see! Invite a friend and I hope to see you all there!


Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Today is a very special day. Today is Ash Wednesday. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. There is also a tradition that some people observe, where they give up some activity or vice for these 40 days. The idea behind this act is that by denying themselves this treasured item, they are aligning themselves with the suffering of Christ during his 40 days of temptation in the desert.

This day is also often marked with times of worship. During some Ash Wednesday services, the pastor will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

To help mark this very important day, you will have two opportunities to gather for a time of prayer and worship on Ash Wednesday. First from 12 PM – 1 PM today, the Sanctuary will be open for you to come and observe a quiet time and space. You can come and sit in a pew or kneel at the altar rail. You can read Scripture, pray, or meditate. It will be your time to do that which helps you draw closer to God. I will be there to pray with you, if you desire, as well as to place ashes on your forehead when you are ready to leave. Then later this evening, we will also have a service at 6 P.M. in the Sanctuary. During this service, we will read Scripture and I will deliver a meditation entitled, “Who’s the Good Guy?” I encourage you to take advantage of these worship opportunities and to come be in the presence of God with your community of faith.

I want to leave you with an Ash Wednesday prayer found in the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I pray that this Lenten season speaks to you in new ways, deeper ways, and that you feel the presence of our Triune God like never before.

Blessings,

Three Simple Rules: Stay in Love with GodJohn 21:15-17 and Colossians 2:6-7

This Sunday was also our Annual Scout Sunday! What a wonderful job done by all of these young men! We were so happy to have you with us!

Bible Challenge 02/10 - 02/16

Greetings All!

This week we finish up II Corinthians, and read through Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians and dip into the first chapter of II Thessalonians.

Galatians - The book of Galatians is thought to be Paul's earliest letter, corresponding with the events of Acts 11:30. Here he addresses a group of churches in a Roman province known as Galatia, now in modern-day Turkey. This letter mainly addresses the question of whether the Mosaic law is binding on Gentiles.

Ephesians - Here Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus (now Selcuk, Turkey) while he is imprisoned in Rome (about 62AD) to address the unity of the church between its many Jewish and Gentile believers. Ephesus was the second largest city in the Roman empire in Paul's day and home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world (temple of Artemis). Paul started the church in Ephesus as recorded in Acts 18 and eventually he would send his young protege Timothy to serve as their pastor. One of my favorite passages is Paul's admonition in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God.

Philippians - Philippians has a different tone than many of Paul's letters - it is written about 62AD to the church in Philippi (now Filippoi, Greece) which was one of the first church's that Paul ever started. From the tone of his letter, Philippi is often called Paul's "sweetheart" church. This also contains a verse of incredible hope: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).

Colossians - Colossians is directed to the church at Colosse (now Honaz, Turkey) and was probably written during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome. Apparently, the church had been incorporating pagan elements into their practice including the worship of elemental spirits and Paul's letter declares Christ's supremacy over the entire created universe and reminds the believers to live godly lives.

I and II Thessalonians - The last two books this week are directed at the church of Thessalonica (which still exists today in Greece) and are written probably only months apart around 52AD. Paul only stayed with this church for a few weeks after beginning it and seems to be writing the first letter to encourage them in their faith and remind them of some important doctrines of the faith. Apparently there was some misunderstanding regarding the return of Christ and the second shorter letter appears to deal solely with correcting that understanding.

Here is the schedule:

10, Sunday: II Corinthians 12 - Galatians 2

11, Monday: Galatians 3-6

12, Tuesday: Ephesians 1-4

13, Wednesday: Ephesians 5 - Philippians 2

14, Thursday: Philippians 3 - Colossians 2

15, Friday: Colossians 3 - I Thessalonians 2

16, Saturday: I Thessalonians 3 - II Thessalonians 1

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - As followers of the The Way, of Jesus Christ, we seek to live a life directed by the will of God, the example of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, at times we fall short. We allow emotions, hurtful words, and/or a lack of grace to take us to a place we do not want to go, to a place where we do not wish to dwell. But there is a way out. Based upon Scripture, and fleshed out in the life, works, and teaching of John Wesley we are presented with Three Simple Rules; Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God.

Join us this week as we conclude this series and seek to better understand the rule of Stay in Love with God. These are rules simple in word but complex in application. I pray you will make plans to worship with us, and invite a friend, as we seek to change this world through the way we interact within it.






2. Interfaith Ministry - Each year we partner with Interfaith Ministries to provide a meal for the residents of their living facility. We get the chance to break bread with these people and share a wonderful time together. With that in mind, we need volunteers. The 2013 sign-up sheet is posted on the Connection Station. We are scheduled to provide the evening meal the second Friday of each month. It is a great idea to consider asking a friend or two to help you provide the meal. We need volunteers for April through December. If you have any questions, please contact Libby Orbison. This is a wonderful opportunity to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus Christ to another. I pray you will have the chance to be involved with this ministry this year.






3. Bread Ministry - We here at Druid Hills have a wonderful welcome ministry. From the bags prepared and given out by Bob Greene, to the way each of you extend the hand of hospitality to all who enter, corporately we have this gift. Marianne Bingham has offered us an idea to enhance this gift of ours, bread. We are beginning a bread ministry, where each Sunday one volunteer will sign up to bake several small loaves of bread for us to give to any that visit our church. I would ask that you each consider signing up for a few weeks. There is a sign up sheet at the Connection Station and there are recipes we can provide you that are quick and easy. This is such an easy thing that will go such a long way. I hope you each will give God the opportunity to use you in this way to bless another.






4. Ash Wednesday - As many of you know, Easter comes early this year, March 31st to be exact. That means our season of Lent will begin earlier as well. In order to help us enter into this season representing the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan, you will have two opportunities to gather for a time of prayer and worship on the first day of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, February 13th, from 12 PM – 1 PM, the Sanctuary will be open for you to come and observe a quiet time and space. You can come and sit in a pew or kneel at the altar rail. You can read Scripture, pray, or meditate. It will be your time to do that which helps you draw closer to God. I will be there to pray with you, if you desire, as well as to place ashes on your forehead when you are ready to leave. I hope you will make plans to take advantage of this opportunity. We will also have a service that evening at 6 P.M. in the Sanctuary. During this service, we will read Scripture and I will deliver a message entitled, “Who’s the Good Guy?” Invite a friend and I hope to see you all there.






5. Easter Tableau - It’s time to start thinking about the Easter Tableau, which will be on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29. There will be sign-up sheets on the Connection Station beginning about the middle of February. Your help will be needed in the scenes and also making refreshments to help defray the kitchen costs. Each scene needs to have a coordinator, so if you would like to volunteer to be a coordinator for one of the scenes, please let us know. If you would like to assist in any of the various areas; such as scene set-up, costumes, make-up, sound, lighting, etc., please let us know. Please be in prayer for a successful 2013 Easter Tableau. If you have any questions, please contact Eunice Reid. Thank You!






Bonus Five - This Sunday, 02/10, is our Annual Scout Sunday Celebration. We will have participants from the different Scouting Troops and Packs we sponsor, involved in worship, as we express our thankfulness for the way these programs and leaders mold these young minds.

Therefore, I am asking each of you to consider bringing something for the Fellowship Lunch after worship. We are expecting anywhere from 40-80 extra people, and we want to make sure we have enough food. Our hospitality is one of our greatest assets and we have a wonderful opportunity to share that this Sunday.



See you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

I am not a poetry aficionado by any stretch. But I do enjoy those pieces that speak to me. I can appreciate the beauty that comes from these written words that weave together a new understanding for me and help to uncover a new insight. I found one of those pieces recently. It is entitled “Fire” and is written by Judy Brown. As you can find a quiet time I invite you to read it.

Fire

What makes a fire burn
is space between the logs,
a breathing space.
Too much of a good thing,
too many logs
packed in too tight can squelch a fire,
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water can.

So building fires
requires tending in a special way,
attention to the wood
as well as to the spaces in between,
so fire can catch, can grow, can breathe,
can build its energy and warmth
which we so need in order
to survive the cold.

We need to practice
building open spaces
just as clearly as we learn
to pile on the logs.

It’s fuel, and absence of the fuel together,
that make fire possible,
lets it develop in the way
that’s possible when we lay logs
in just the way the fire wants to go.

Then we can watch it as it leaps and plays,
burns down and then flames up
in unexpected ways.

Then we only need to lay a log on it
from time to time.
Then it has life all its own,
a beauty that emerges
not where logs are
but where spaces can invite the flames
to burn, to form exquisite patterns of their own,
their beauty possible
simply because the space is there,
an opening in which the flame
that knows just how it wants
to burn can find its way.

We pack life in so tightly sometimes. Volunteer opportunities, church meetings, sporting events, social gatherings, scheduled in so tightly there is no quiet time. Quiet time is where we can find God. Quiet time is where we can sit and listen for God. If we are going all the time, packing our logs in to tightly, our flames will surely be doused.

I invite you to take some time this week and think about how you may be dousing your fire. Where do you have life packed in too tightly? What practices can you use to build open spaces in your life? What is at risk if you do not pack in the logs of life? What beauty is wanting to emerge from your fire, from your life?

Do not miss the beauty of life. Do not miss the creation of God, because there is no breathing space. God has created this world for you, to be with you, to talk with you, to simply sit with you. I invite you to find that time, build that space, so you and God can be together. You will not regret it.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Three Simple Rules: Do GoodJames 1:22-25 and Matthew 5:43-45

Bible Challenge 02/03 - 02/09

Greetings All!

This week we finish the final chapter of Romans, read all the way through I Corinthians and most of the way through II Corinthians.

I Corinthians was written from Ephesus (16:8), a city on the west coast of today's Turkey, about 180 miles by sea from Corinth. According to Acts of the Apostles, Paul founded the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17), then spent approximately three years in Ephesus. The letter was written during this time in Ephesus, which is usually dated as being in the range of 53 to 57 AD. Corinth was the meeting point of many nationalities because the main current of the trade between Asia and western Europe passed through its harbors. Paul's first visit lasted nearly two years and his converts were mainly Greeks. In the first epistle, he mainly concentrates on addressing some divisions in the church, some problems with immorality and teaching about marriage, Christian liberty, worship and resurrection.

In between I and II Corinthians, Paul visited Corinth another time (a painful visit) and wrote at least one other letter that is now lost. It would seem that the situation in Corinth was still complicated and Paul felt attacked. He defends himself with some of his important teachings - forgiving others, God's new agreement that comes from the Spirit of the living God, the importance of being a person of Christ and giving generously to God's people in Jerusalem and finally ends with his own experience of how God changed his life.

Here is the schedule:

3, Sunday: Romans 16 - I Corinthians 3

4, Monday: I Corinthians 4-7

5, Tuesday: I Corinthians 8-11

6, Wednesday: I Corinthians 12-15

7, Thursday: I Corinthians 16 - II Corinthians 3

8, Friday: II Corinthians 4-7

9, Saturday: II Corinthians 8-11

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - As followers of the The Way, of Jesus Christ, we seek to live a life directed by the will of God, the example of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, at times we fall short. We allow emotions, hurtful words, and/or a lack of grace to take us to a place we do not want to go, to a place where we do not wish to dwell. But there is a way out. Based upon Scripture, and fleshed out in the life, works, and teaching of John Wesley we are presented with Three Simple Rules; Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God.

Join us this week as we seek to better understand the rule of Do Good. These are rules simple in word but complex in application. I pray you will make plans to worship with us, and invite a friend, as we seek to change this world through the way we interact within it.






2. Interfaith Ministry - Each year we partner with Interfaith Ministries to provide a meal for the residents of their living facility. We get the chance to break bread with these people and share a wonderful time together. With that in mind, we need volunteers. The 2013 sign-up sheet is posted on the Connection Station. We are scheduled to provide the evening meal the second Friday of each month. It is a great idea to consider asking a friend or two to help you provide the meal. We need volunteers for April through December. If you have any questions, please contact Libby Orbison. This is a wonderful opportunity to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus Christ to another. I pray you will have the chance to be involved with this ministry this year.






3. Bread Ministry - We here at Druid Hills have a wonderful welcome ministry. From the bags prepared and given out by Bob Greene, to the way each of you extend the hand of hospitality to all who enter, corporately we have this gift. Marianne Bingham has offered us an idea to enhance this gift of ours, bread. We are beginning a bread ministry, where each Sunday one volunteer will sign up to bake several small loaves of bread for us to give to any that visit our church. I would ask that you each consider signing up for a few weeks. There is a sign up sheet at the Connection Station and there are recipes we can provide you that are quick and easy. This is such an easy thing that will go such a long way. I hope you each will give God the opportunity to use you in this way to bless another.






4. Ash Wednesday - As many of you know, Easter comes early this year, March 31st to be exact. That means our season of Lent will begin earlier as well. In order to help us enter into this season representing the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan, you will have two opportunities to gather for a time of prayer and worship. On Ash Wednesday, February 13th, from 12 PM – 1 PM, the Sanctuary will be open for you to come and observe a quiet time and space. You can come and sit in a pew or kneel at the altar rail. You can read Scripture, pray, or meditate. It will be your time to do that which helps you draw closer to God. I will be there to pray with you, if you desire, as well as to place ashes on your forehead when you are ready to leave. I hope you will make plans to take advantage of this opportunity. We will also have a service that evening at 6 P.M. in the Sanctuary. During this service, we will read Scripture and I will deliver a message entitled, “Who’s the Good Guy?”Invite a friend and I hope to see you all there.






5. Easter Tableau - It’s time to start thinking about the Easter Tableau, which will be on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29. There will be sign-up sheets on the Connection Station beginning about the middle of February. Your help will be needed in the scenes and also making refreshments to help defray the kitchen costs. Each scene needs to have a coordinator, so if you would like to volunteer to be a coordinator for one of the scenes, please let us know. If you would like to assist in any of the various areas; such as scene set-up, costumes, make-up, sound, lighting, etc., please let us know. Please be in prayer for a successful 2013 Easter Tableau. If you have any questions, please contact Eunice Reid. Thank You!


See you Sunday!