For next Sunday, to go with the ideas of Nehemiah and praise for the Law:
*COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Ezra read out the Law to the people,
and they wept at hearing it.
We too gather to hear the Scriptures read and discussed,
not that we should weep but to help us plot our path through life.
Go now as those who have heard, as those who have learned.
We go to apply the Word to our lives from day to day.
And go knowing that God: the Speaker, the Spoken, and the Spirit goes with you, always offering words of guidance and hope.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
LAw as Gift
I am starting to work up next Sunday. The focus passage is Nehemiah 8:1-10 (omitting verses 4 and 7 out of kindness to the reader). And it challenges us about how we think of the Law in the Scriptures.
Over and over again we are reminded that the Way of Jesus is not meant to be a legalistic path. Grace has, we are told by Paul, superseded the Law. But then again Jesus is supposed to have said "I come to fulfil the law, not to abolish it". And in this passage we are told that the people wept and celebrated upon hearing the reading (with interpretation) of the Law.
Psalm 19 (also being read this Sunday) says "7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes". This hardly describes something onerous or something that has been imposed.
Jewish Tradition sees Law as God's gift, indeed one of God's greatest gifts. Christian tradition tends to denigrate the Law all the while creating a whole new legalistic structure about who is "right" with God and what is allowed. What would it take for us to see the Law as a gift? How would that change our approach to life?
Over and over again we are reminded that the Way of Jesus is not meant to be a legalistic path. Grace has, we are told by Paul, superseded the Law. But then again Jesus is supposed to have said "I come to fulfil the law, not to abolish it". And in this passage we are told that the people wept and celebrated upon hearing the reading (with interpretation) of the Law.
Psalm 19 (also being read this Sunday) says "7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes". This hardly describes something onerous or something that has been imposed.
Jewish Tradition sees Law as God's gift, indeed one of God's greatest gifts. Christian tradition tends to denigrate the Law all the while creating a whole new legalistic structure about who is "right" with God and what is allowed. What would it take for us to see the Law as a gift? How would that change our approach to life?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Procrastinators Unite!
Now this will drive you NUTS!!!!
When all the numbered red squares are visible, try to get rid of them as fast as you can, in numerical order.
You don't have to click them... just touch them with the cursor - your score is given in seconds.
http://flash.abunawaf.com/2005/12/game33.swf
I got 49 seconds on my 2nd try...
When all the numbered red squares are visible, try to get rid of them as fast as you can, in numerical order.
You don't have to click them... just touch them with the cursor - your score is given in seconds.
http://flash.abunawaf.com/2005/12/game33.swf
I got 49 seconds on my 2nd try...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
New TOy!
Just got a laptop today! Mindyou we need a wireless router (which when we get may go to the church for use anyway) so I have unplugged the desktop network cable to try out the new toy.
Yeah, OK...Whatever
Your results:
You are Superman
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
Found out about this one on WonderCafe
You are Superman
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  |
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
Found out about this one on WonderCafe
Monday, January 08, 2007
Words Wanted (Addendum)
In reference to the last post, here is what I have come up with. I am not sure I want to use it though...
DEDICATION OF NEW SOUND SYSTEM EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION
PRAYER
Here in this place of worship we gather in the name of God the Creator, the Redeemer and Sustainer.
Here we dedicate this sound system equipment to the service of God.
Let us pray:
Creating and Re-Creating God, we give thanks for the gifts of all who have gone before us. We give thanks for all who are here now. We give thanks for the promise of gifts that have yet to be shared. Today we pause to remember all those who have given gifts in memory of loved ones now gone. Today we give thanks that because of those memorials we can enrich the life of this faith community. May this equipment help to offer all who are a part of this faith community a fuller worship experience. And may we be encouraged to raise voices in praise in response to hearing God’s promise, God’s hope, and God’s love. Amen.
DEDICATION OF NEW SOUND SYSTEM EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION
PRAYER
Here in this place of worship we gather in the name of God the Creator, the Redeemer and Sustainer.
Here we dedicate this sound system equipment to the service of God.
Let us pray:
Creating and Re-Creating God, we give thanks for the gifts of all who have gone before us. We give thanks for all who are here now. We give thanks for the promise of gifts that have yet to be shared. Today we pause to remember all those who have given gifts in memory of loved ones now gone. Today we give thanks that because of those memorials we can enrich the life of this faith community. May this equipment help to offer all who are a part of this faith community a fuller worship experience. And may we be encouraged to raise voices in praise in response to hearing God’s promise, God’s hope, and God’s love. Amen.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Words Wanted
I am having trouble finding words/liturgy.
This fall/winter the congregation bought a new amplifier/mixer, a new headset mic, a CD/cassette player, and a digital voice recorder.
At the last Board meeting it was suggested that since these purchases were made from the memorial fund we should have a dedication for them, as a way of marking the use of gifts given in memory (it is a general fund, the purchases were not bought in memory of Mrs Smith etc.). I think this is a fine idea (in part because it allows the announcing of what we bought--all people can see is the microphone - and in part because it allows naming that services are available on CD now) and am planning on including this in next Sunday's service.
But how to do it?? The suggested liturgy in Celebrate God's Presence is far more ornate than I feel is needed in this circumstance. I am thinking a brief word or two of introduction followed by a short responsive prayer. But what prayers do you say about a sound system?
This fall/winter the congregation bought a new amplifier/mixer, a new headset mic, a CD/cassette player, and a digital voice recorder.
At the last Board meeting it was suggested that since these purchases were made from the memorial fund we should have a dedication for them, as a way of marking the use of gifts given in memory (it is a general fund, the purchases were not bought in memory of Mrs Smith etc.). I think this is a fine idea (in part because it allows the announcing of what we bought--all people can see is the microphone - and in part because it allows naming that services are available on CD now) and am planning on including this in next Sunday's service.
But how to do it?? The suggested liturgy in Celebrate God's Presence is far more ornate than I feel is needed in this circumstance. I am thinking a brief word or two of introduction followed by a short responsive prayer. But what prayers do you say about a sound system?
Friday, January 05, 2007
A Birthday-ish Friday Five
From RGBP:
1. "It's my party and I'll [blank] if I want to..."Favorite way to celebrate your birthday (dinner with family? party with friends? a day in solitude?) Quietly with family and friends I'd say. Although I went to the bar to flirt with the waitress on my 30th--that was less than productive...
2. "You say it's your birthday... it's my birthday too, yeah..." Do you share your birthday with someone famous? (Click here to find out!) A number of the famous and infamous. Kim Campbell (former Canadian Prime Minister--for about 30 seconds), Osama Bin Laden, Prince Edward, Carrie Underwood...
3. "Lordy Lordy look who's forty..."Milestone birthdays:
a) just like any other birthday--they're just numbers, people
b) a good opportunity to look back/take stock
c) enjoy the black balloons--I'll be hiding under a pile of coats until the day is over
d) some combination of the above, or something else entirely.
4. "Happy birthday, dear... Customer..."Have you ever been sung to in a restaurant? Fun or cringe-worthy? A couple times. Sort of fun. One time we were at a dinner theatre and during one of the intermissions we got called up on stage and everything--that was fun.
5. "Take my birthday--please"Tell me one advantage and one disadvantage about your particular birthday (e.g. birthday in the summer--never had to go to school; birthday near Christmas--the dreaded joint presents) This could also simply be something you like/dislike about your birthday (e.g. I like sharing a birthday with my best friend, etc.). With a March birthday the weather was never predictable. It meant that birthday parties when I was growing up could rarely be planned to be an outdoor event--it could be freezing and a foot of snow or warm and a foot of water/mud/slush. But that is hardly a real disadvantage. And I can't see any real advantage to where mine falls. Then again, birthdays can easily be made too big a deal once you are past about 12 (even milestones).
1. "It's my party and I'll [blank] if I want to..."Favorite way to celebrate your birthday (dinner with family? party with friends? a day in solitude?) Quietly with family and friends I'd say. Although I went to the bar to flirt with the waitress on my 30th--that was less than productive...
2. "You say it's your birthday... it's my birthday too, yeah..." Do you share your birthday with someone famous? (Click here to find out!) A number of the famous and infamous. Kim Campbell (former Canadian Prime Minister--for about 30 seconds), Osama Bin Laden, Prince Edward, Carrie Underwood...
3. "Lordy Lordy look who's forty..."Milestone birthdays:
a) just like any other birthday--they're just numbers, people
b) a good opportunity to look back/take stock
c) enjoy the black balloons--I'll be hiding under a pile of coats until the day is over
d) some combination of the above, or something else entirely.
4. "Happy birthday, dear... Customer..."Have you ever been sung to in a restaurant? Fun or cringe-worthy? A couple times. Sort of fun. One time we were at a dinner theatre and during one of the intermissions we got called up on stage and everything--that was fun.
5. "Take my birthday--please"Tell me one advantage and one disadvantage about your particular birthday (e.g. birthday in the summer--never had to go to school; birthday near Christmas--the dreaded joint presents) This could also simply be something you like/dislike about your birthday (e.g. I like sharing a birthday with my best friend, etc.). With a March birthday the weather was never predictable. It meant that birthday parties when I was growing up could rarely be planned to be an outdoor event--it could be freezing and a foot of snow or warm and a foot of water/mud/slush. But that is hardly a real disadvantage. And I can't see any real advantage to where mine falls. Then again, birthdays can easily be made too big a deal once you are past about 12 (even milestones).
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Guess I'm in the right place
According to the Belief-O-Matic that is.
1. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (97%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (90%)
4. Orthodox Quaker (85%)
5. New Age (73%)
6. Neo-Pagan (71%)
7. Mahayana Buddhism (69%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (62%)
9. Reform Judaism (62%)
10. Taoism (61%)
11. Hinduism (59%)
12. Secular Humanism (58%)
13. Bahá'à Faith (55%)
14. Seventh Day Adventist (52%)
15. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (50%)
16. New Thought (50%)
17. Sikhism (48%)
18. Scientology (46%)
19. Jainism (46%)
20. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (40%)
21. Eastern Orthodox (38%)
22. Roman Catholic (38%)
23. Orthodox Judaism (30%)
24. Nontheist (29%)
25. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (27%)
26. Islam (25%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (14%)
1. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (97%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (90%)
4. Orthodox Quaker (85%)
5. New Age (73%)
6. Neo-Pagan (71%)
7. Mahayana Buddhism (69%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (62%)
9. Reform Judaism (62%)
10. Taoism (61%)
11. Hinduism (59%)
12. Secular Humanism (58%)
13. Bahá'à Faith (55%)
14. Seventh Day Adventist (52%)
15. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (50%)
16. New Thought (50%)
17. Sikhism (48%)
18. Scientology (46%)
19. Jainism (46%)
20. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (40%)
21. Eastern Orthodox (38%)
22. Roman Catholic (38%)
23. Orthodox Judaism (30%)
24. Nontheist (29%)
25. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (27%)
26. Islam (25%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (14%)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)