Posts from February 2015
Fear and love
Those who would save their life will lose it. Those who will lose their life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. —Mark 8.35 If you fear your life is your flesh you will die. If you trust your life is love you will be given life. Life small enough to cling to is vanishingly small. Life given away in love is infinite. To be truly alive is to love. All else is death. Why even…
What would you die for?
Archbishop Oscar Romero died in 1980 but was officially declared a martyr by Pope Francis just a few weeks ago. His death was public – in the middle of a worship celebration. He died preaching freedom and liberation for the people of San Salvador. This song is created from his own words “let my blood be the seed of freedom”. What would you die for? If you were to die for something or someone, what freedom would your death unleash? What…
Toward Sunday
We continue this week in our Lenten worship series, Hope in Dying, by turning to Mark 8.31-38. This reading is at the center of Mark’s Gospel. It marks a transition from Jesus’ ministry on behalf of the oppressed to the beginning of Jesus’ journey to the cross. We will consider Jesus’ call to “lose” our lives in worship this week. Fred Craddock, in Speaking of Dying: Recovering the Church’s Voice in the Face of Death, writes, If we as the church are to carry out…
Who speaks of death?
“The Christian church has always been cognizant of the need to prepare believers to face dying in a manner fitting to their essential nature as creatures of God – as being already dead, buried, and raised to new life in Christ through baptism, and sustained in that new physical existence by the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper) until called by their creator to the life of the resurrection. That commitment to provide for a good dying has taken different forms throughout history,…
Ash Wednesday
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the day many Christians mark as the first day of Lent. Lent is the time of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday. In churches all over the world ashes are dispensed and often communion is shared. The ashes are usually made by burning the palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday, and the clergy use them to make the sign of the cross on a person’s forehead. As we “impose” or “dispense” the ashes…
Toward Sunday
We will gather this Wednesday morning at 7:00 am for Ash Wednesday worship. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent; a time of preparation for the mystery and hope of Easter. Ash Wednesday emphasizes both the ways in which we are prone to wander from God’s love and our human mortality. Join us at The Table Wednesday morning for worship that will weave music, prayer, readings, reflection, ashes, & communion. We plan to finish worship by 7:45…
Blessed is this life!
We have enjoyed singing “Blessed” in worship. Here is an acoustic version of Brett Dennen singing his song from some years ago. A simple and beautiful reminder for us today. May we all live in generosity and love. Happy Friday! Happy Life!
Toward Sunday
We are in the third and final week of our worship series called Practicing Generosity. We hope this series helps us to explore how faith shapes hearts of gratitude & generosity. Please note that Ash Wednesday is quickly approaching. We will gather in the Sanctuary at 7:00 am on the MORNING of Ash Wednesday, February 18. Worship will include both imposition of ashes & communion. We anticipate the worship service will take about 45 minutes and we hope this will allow time…
Generosity or Scarcity?
“Do you want an economy of grace based on generosity, or an economy of scarcity based on acquisition?” –Wendell Berry, from an interview with Rose Marie Berger
Toward Sunday
We’re grateful for the many people who worked diligently to expand our teams for Godly Play, Nursery, Counting, and Hospitality this week! We welcomed 234 people to worship at The Table on Sunday. Thank you for your generous spirits and for all the ways you are making more room for folks to find a place at The Table. We are in the second week of our worship series called Practicing Generosity. We hope this series will help us to explore how faith shapes…