Posts by tablemanna (Page 32)

2 1/2 years ago I walked into a Crossfit gym. The place was like no workout I’d experienced before. It reminded me of two-a-days from high school football, only on steroids. That first day a coach walked me through the philosophy and methodologies underpinning Crossfit. He talked about various ways to measure fitness and tried to convert me on Crossfit’s commitment to high intensity, constantly varied, and functional movements.  We were expected to set SMART goals which were Specific, Measurable,…

We are in the midst of three “stand alone” worship gatherings. Linda’s message yesterday invited reflection on Knitting Faith.  This week we turn to Crossfit & Church.   Take a moment to recall the way fitness was a part of your childhood.   How do you relate to fitness today? Crossfit is a rapidly growing fitness program started by Greg & Lauren Glassman in 2000. Over 3,400 Crossfit gyms have opened in the last twelve years across the county.  In…

Join us in worship today as we consider together what people of faith might learn from knitters…

The notion of knitters as grandmotherly and traditional women originated when knitting was a necessity, required to save money on clothing and, sometimes, to supply wartime needs for soldiers’ garments….(Today there is demand for knitted face masks to be worn underneath helmets for soldiers)  The memory of those times haunted women, who, in the 60’s and 70’s, took on new roles within the family.  2nd  wave feminists documented the changing attitude toward domestic work.  Women with paying jobs had less…

“I saw a scarf just like that at Walmart!”  lady at park. I think to myself:   “Actually no, you didn’t.  This scarf may look like it came from Walmart but actually it was made by hand.  My hands.  And it took approximately 180 hours.  It is handcrafted, stitch by stitch, and it exists because I put blood sweat and tears into this scarf and ripped it out over and over again until I got the pattern just right.  I…

“Sometimes I wonder about modern patterns.  I wonder whether, back when knitters devised their own, they didn’t learn more about knitting.  Truly, to knit a sock without a pattern you need a really, really good understanding of how knitting works.  It seems to me that having all the information handed to us at every turn means we don’t really  need to think too much.” (from Meditations For Women Who Knit Too Much by Stephanie Pearl McPhee) There is a ”…

  In her book Knitting Without Tears, mother of knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman writes:  “Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.  When I say properly practiced, I mean executed in a relaxed manner, without anxiety, strain, or tension, but with confidence, inventiveness, pleasure, and ultimate pride.” The same might be said of prayer. “Properly practiced, praying soothes the troubled spirit and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.  When I say properly practiced,…

  In the coming weeks we will have 3 stand along worship celebrations. The first of these will center on Knitting and faith. Our Scripture this week is from the book of Psalms and is meant to inspire and to set the tone for our worship.  In Psalm 139: 13-15  God is portrayed  as a knitter. 13 For it was you who formed my inward parts;    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am…

Olympic memories.  Many of us hold them.  This piece shows us that Olympics athletes themselves also look back on special moments.  Memory new memories.  Consider the memories that you hold dear.  What actions have you taken to fulfill your dreams? Click here to view a wonderful piece on Olympic Memories.

The writer of the Gospel of John uses “bread” and “truth” and “light”, all symbols from the common fund of religious experience and life of those ancient times.  Jesus claims these symbols as an alternative to the titles people would have expected such as “king’”.  Why does John put these words together for Jesus?  Might it be important that the reader understand the significance of ones own experience as a path to believing in Jesus? There have been many moments…

We wrap up our three-week worship series, Olympic Faith, this Sunday as we look at Olympic Memories. July 29:  Olympic Messes August 5:  Olympic Medals August 12:  Olympic Memories Our scripture  for Sunday is John 6:35, 41-51   John 6.50-51 reads:  “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I…

Opportunities for reaching in love are often missed because we have a schedule to meet, or a deadline to pursue.  Sometimes we just get bogged down in the mess of words and opinions and can forget that God’s call to “love our neighbor” can be a simple meal around a table.  This week Matt and Eleanor shared God’s love on behalf of all of us at The Table.  See the story here:  Reaching in love.