I have not preached for three months so I read a book on preaching the other day — or I thought about reading a book about preaching - or I should have thought about reading a book about preaching — BUT — I did not so prayers are needed. The scriptures for this Sunday are: Psalm 139: 1-12, Jeremiah 18:1-11 and the entire book — you heard it (read it) right — the entire book of Philemon. The message is entitled: “Dying to Live” kind of catchy isn’t it.

We will have Communion together (please remember the Deacons’ Offering as well as a donation of soup or meals or cereal to the food shelf).

Looking forward to this Sunday with you

In Faith,

Gary

Seasoned Ones today @ 11:00AM

Community Meal @ Middlebury UCC - 3:30PM - 6:30PM

Sunday Worship - Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Luke 13:10-17

What do Jeremiah, the bent-over woman, Jesus, Charles S Howard, Tom Smith, Red Pollard and Seabiscuit have in common?

“Yes.Yes I Can!”…..Can you?

Have a great weekend and see you on Sunday.

Peace,
John

Sunday, 9:30AM - Isaiah 1:10-20 and Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 - What is your understanding of faith - your faith? How does your faith tie into your life and your expectations and how is your faith sustained by this faith community? What happens when your faith is not sustained by any community?

After worship service, Lama Tenzin will be here for the meditation time (approx 10:45). The public has been invited and so are you. Come and join us.

The weather should be a little cooler, so enjoy.

Peace,

John

Sunday in Communion Sunday in Fellowship Hall under the musical guidance of Mary Jane Washburn. We will read Hosea 11:1-11 and Luke 12:13-21 and see how forgetting God leads to our attention focused elsewhere - which is not always good nor profitable.

If you were going to fill a barn with all the important things in your life, how big of a barn would you need and how quickly could you fill it up?

“The best things in life…aren’t things”

Peace,

John

Sunday @ 9:30 in Fellowship Hall we will talk about “Language of the Heart” as taught by Jesus in Luke 11:1-13 where he addresses God as “Abba (Daddy)” and partake of a converation between Abraham and God (Genesis 18:20-32) - Is God so personable that God talks to us? And, of course, the age-old question - “Whose your daddy?”

And from Donna (Christian Ed) - An invitation for volunteers to help with children’s activities on Sundays; all Sundays are open. Donna would like to take Aug. 8 off if she can get coverage. Also a reminder that Wed is last VBS and all children ages 3- 5th grade are invited. Thank you, Donna.

“Seasoned Ones” is today at 11:00 AM

Have a safe weekend; see you on Sunday.

Peace,

John

Communion Sunday - 9:30 - IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

“Encountering Others” - 1 Corinthians 11:17-32 and Matthew 25:31-40

There are four words from our Words of Institution that stand out for me: Take, Bless, Break, Give. These words bring us into relationship with Jesus and with each other and, maybe more importantly, with people outside of this church.  “”The supreme religious challenge,” says Rabbi Sacks, “is to see God’s image in one who is not in our image,” for only then can we see past our own reflections in the mirror to the God we did not make up.” (Barbara Bown Taylor, “An Altar in the World”, page 100)

So please come and partake of the meal which Jesus has given to us.

Peace,

John

It is nice to see the sun and feel its warmth…you know, what a gift of creation!

Sunday’s Scripture: Genesis 2:1-3, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and Mark 2:23-28. Sometimes it is a struggle to get rest, find rest…just to be at rest. Humans seem to go against nature and Jesus…both of whom knew the importance of rest. Shabbot candles and a beautiful flower will tell the story.

Enjoy the sunshine and the peace of Jesus Christ.

Peace,

John

It is official, Gary’s computer is toast…a memorial service will be held on the 12th of Never. Cards and flowers are not appropriate nor are they welcomed. CIS has another machine for us and they can transfer stuff off the old drive on to the new drive. Gary will have to wear a helmet when he uses the new (old) machine as it is much faster than the going-going-gone machine.

Sunday is in two days…Worship Service at 9:30AM.

Genesis 1:3-4a, 10, 12, 17-18, 21, 25, 31 and Genesis 28:10-18. What do you think is a ‘sacred place’? You might be surprised! Jacob found a ‘sacred place’ in the middle of nowhere! We assume that church is a ‘sacred place’ but the Bible is full of stories when God and humans interact and very few of those happen in ‘church’. Can your garden, your car, your cellar, your walk in the woods be a ‘sacred place’?

Chessy Kelly will be here to have a meditation workshop after our fellowship time. Please join in - you do not have to attend all six, but try them on for size.

Peace,

John