Mary’s Corner

Peace and love to you in the name of the Risen Christ, 

It is so good to be Easter People! During this time of grieving, I am deeply comforted by the knowledge that the grave never wins. I know all of you have experienced the loss of someone who was part of the details of your daily life. Your experience brings me comfort and the love surrounding my family is palpable even when I am not in the church with you. I know also that even though you may not be able to speak each other’s names easily, your hearts are connected in a sacred place. Being loved the way God loves us makes it easy for us to love each other so fiercely. God spared nothing to regain relationship with God’s created and I can feel that kind of commitment in our congregation. We are all moving forward (at various speeds) to fully accepting that we are loved AND forgiven and that God wants nothing more than to be part of our lives. 

It is an election year and with this election, there is more fear and anxiety than I have ever noticed before. Our two candidates for president leave something to be desired and the impact of this election will be devastating for some in our country no matter who wins. In the middle of this drama, I know two things are true. First, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Second, the world needs to WITNESS the love of God from people like us. People who know the truth of the Gospel and live it with their hands and feet. A third thing I know is that we must each VOTE and PRAY for God to create a new heart in this nation. Not a political heart, not a capitalistic heart, not an oppressive, oligarchical heart, but a heart where we all begin to care for our neighbors living next to us and living around the world. Lord hear our prayers!

I found out on Sunday morning that Shannon and Julian will be performing “A Night on Broadway” for our delayed concert series. The program will be at the church, on August 10th. Doors open at 5:30 and the music will begin at 6:00 pm sharp. We will have light snacks afterward and a time of fellowship. There are 3 rules for this concert: 1. Bring a friend(s). 2. Bring a “light snack” for our fellowship afterward. Please sign up on the bulletin board to let everyone know what is being provided. 3. You have to be at church on Sunday morning! A Saturday night concert is not an excuse to skip Sunday church. I am so excited!!! Love to all, Mary

Kids’ News

In our story today we learned that God created different languages and cultures. We learned that after the flood, all the people on earth were the “clans of Noah’s sons.”

They decided that they wanted to stay together and make a name for themselves, so they built a tower so tall that its top was in the sky. They built it for their glory to keep from being separated. They also built a city around the tower so they could all live together and stay together. But God wants the people to learn that they belong together even if they speak different languages and have different cultures and religions.

God mixed up their languages and sent them to all areas of earth, in hopes they would accept one another in all their differences. People tell of the mighty works of God in many different languages.

We are exploring belonging through spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are for building up the whole body of Christ. God gave each of us different spiritual gifts.

As we were painting “sun catchers,” we could hear you singing. Our sweet little 3 yr. old said “That is grandma singing. I know it is my grandma.”

Singing is a spiritual gift that can make others as happy as our little girl. What is your spiritual gift? The story of Babel teaches us that differences are good and God-given. We can use our differences for the benefit of the body of Christ, and our church!

See you Sunday!

Keeping Bad Company

We are in trouble as a nation because many Christians have such a strange idea of the Gospel.

Clearly, they don’t seem to know the Gospel I know and preach.

Which I think of as the Gospel of mainstream Christianity.

Consider this:

One of the guys on that debate stage last week is supported by Christians, racial hate groups, and Neo-Nazis.

Strange combination.

Why would Christians be with racists and Nazis?

Paul tells us to be careful about the company we keep. I would call Nazis bad company.

Yet there they are, Christians with bad guys.

But this is a different kind of Christianity.

It has nothing to do with the Christianity I know.

Let me say something that may sound a bit radical here: All who use the name “Christian” do not worship the same God.

Someone wrote to me recently, “You went so far as to say that God is only a God of love.”

He said that’s not true, then he listed some really mean things he says God did. He wants me to know God is a rough customer.

Another said to me, “God does not love all people. God loves only the people who keep his commandments.”

Here are two Christians who do not believe in grace, God’s unconditional love for all humankind.

Their idea of “God” is so different from my idea of “God” that I don’t think we share the same religion.

Yet, we are all called “Christians.”

But some Christians see God as love. Some see God as stern and exclusive.

And the meaner your God is, the more likely it is you will find yourself marching in lockstep with racists and Nazis.