Kingdom of Heaven

Pastor Jim writes:
I found the following quote in researching my sermon for 11/23 - it's from Take This Bread by Sara Miles, a wonderful book about her conversion to Christianity and subsequent call to start a food pantry in her church in the S.F. Bay area:

Some Christians thought the kingdom was about an afterlife, but I believed it was this world… The kingdom was the same old earth, populated by the same clueless humans, transformed wherever you could glimpse God shining through it.

Some thought it was about judgment, but I believed that in the kingdom, there was no separation of sinners from saved, righteous from damned. The pantry looked like the kingdom to me precisely because we were all thrown in together – a makeshift community so much bigger and more contradictory than any of us would have chosen. But each of us had come just as we were to this Table, drawn, without planning, to the shores of some lake where we'd heard miracles might happen. And we found the kind of abundance described in parables: food for five thousand, money multiplying like manna; oil pouring out profligately and the lamps burning wildly all night long, blazing through the darkness of our lives. (p. 222-223)

That’s a nice way to lead into Advent, where we welcome the light in the darkness. Join us for worship on Nov. 30th for the first Sunday of Advent.

Shawl Ministry - meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month

The Shawl Ministry met in the lounge today for their monthly gathering, to knit and share stories, to pray and support one another as spiritual companions. What wonderful projects they have undertaken! These shawls are given away to young and old, men and women, sick and well, to support the recipients. We bless each with prayers as they go out to bless others.

Suzy shows pictures of sponsored children/youth at an Indian Reservation in South Dakota!

The center courtyard today.

Veterans Day Prayer - Tuesday, Nov. 11th

A prayer for the veterans. We offered this in worship on Sunday, 11/9:

Leader: For the men and women who serve in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
People: We ask your blessing.
L: For the family members who have made great sacrifices in order to make it possible for their service members to be on watch at home or around the world or to go into harm's way,
P: We ask your blessing.
L: For the families who grieve the death of a member who went in harm's way, never to return,
P: We ask your blessing.
L: Jesus taught that no one has greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. For all those veterans who have been willing to lay down their lives,
P: We ask your blessing.
L: For the veterans of past wars who bear scars in their bodies and spirits,
P: We ask your blessing.
L: For veterans who came home but couldn't "fit in" with their families or communities anymore,
P: We ask your blessing.
L: Lord, keep all our veterans in your care. As we honor them, we also pray for peace. We pray all these things in the name of your son, our savior, Jesus Christ.
P: Amen.

Note: This was led by Tom C, a vet, and founder of our local Veterans for Peace chapter. His son Joe has enlisted in the National Guard; they plan to be deployed to Iraq next year.

Worship on Nov. 9th, 2008

Stewardship Sunday today, with a baptism and music from two youth choirs and additional guests. We had a lovely lunch after worship to celebrate Hannah's baptism.

Sounds of Joy Children's Choir (younger group)

Youth Praise Team led by Carra-Lyn Edson

Hannah's relatives sing after her baptism.

Inner Beauty

This was the inside courtyard this past week, taken from Julia's office. Amazing colors.