Dear Caldwell,
On Sunday we begin a four-week season to consider our many blessings and how we can return thanks to God with who we are, what we can do and what we can give back. In this centenniel year, when we have taken stock of this church’s rich history and unexpected resurrection, our theme for the 2012 Discipleship season is “Abundant Joy, Overflowing Generosity.” Joy and generosity – those words describe what so many of you experience here with your church family and what you show in return.
This theme comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8:1-7), where he describes the remarkable response one community of believers has to God’s grace and love. In some ways, as we will learn, they were not all that different from us. They weren’t wealthy or powerful, at least in material ways – yet they considered themselves rich in other ways. Out of joy, they gave generously of their time and resources in service to the God they knew in Jesus Christ.
With all things, however, we should begin with prayer. So, this Sunday, Rev. Veronica Rogers and others will kick off our Discipleship season by centering on our call to give God our day in prayer and devotion. Throughout our Discipleship season, church members will help lead worship and you will be invited to practice some spiritual disciplines that can shape our understanding of where God is in our lives.
Also, on Sunday breakfast with Caldwell House is at 8:30 (prep begins at 7 a.m). The Adult Sunday School was packed last week for the new study of the Phoenix Affirmations and I bet it will be again, as the lesson looks at our responsibilities as God’s children to care for God’s creation and environment.
We give thanks for the marriage this weekend of Alec Mcleod and Michael Williamson, a day of celebration for our entire church. We are also holding in prayer Michael’s mother, Claire,who’s just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Virginia, Kimberly Shumaker’s mother, is having cataract surgery this week. Susan Johnson, sister-in-law of Beth Johnson, is now under hospice care. Betty Ferguson, aunt of Susan Poel, is out of intensive care. Finally, we mourn with the family of longtime Caldwell member and leader Toby Herring, whose funeral was Monday. We give thanks for all the ways she supported this part of the body of Christ. We wish safe travels to Maggie Devries, who is traveling to Cuba.
Along with a few others, I will be away attending the wedding this weekend. I leave you in wonderful hands and will miss the chance to worship with you, as Veronica points our way down the path of Discipleship.
Yours in Christ,
John