Let Us Adventure Together

We just watched the “Julie and Julia” movie last night.  It was all about Julie making a recipe a day from Julia Child’s cookbook and then blogging about how it turned out (and other extraneous thoughts).  Sharing, I guess, is the real reason for having a blog.  Maybe I’ll get the hang of it.  However, I don’t have a theme yet to hang my thoughts on.  (Never end a sentence a preposition with.)

I’ve been reading a wonderful book, “A Larger Hope: Opening the Heart to God” by R. Scott Colglazier.  It is provoking new thought patterns regarding the meaning of being a Christian, and what kind of a Christian I am.  He says, “My personal search is for a faith that is intellectually coherent and spiritually passionate, a faith that rings true within my everyday experience.”  It is inspiring me to search my heart more deeply, stretch my spiritual nerves, explore my faith, and open my heart to a larger hope.  I will also be journaling some of my adventure here.  Please feel free to comment.

We celebrated World Communion Sunday this morning with emphasis on the ecumenical nature of the day.  It is good to remember and consider other expressions of our faith in God, even to include them in our worship.  The choir sang an offertory anthem, “He Is Mine (Ni Wangu)” by Hal Hopson.  The words are in Swahili.  He is mine, forever and ever, Jesus is mine.  The hymns were also about the community of Christ, which is the church.  

I don’t know how anyone survives who does not gather with other believers on a regular basis.  It is such an exhilarating, informative hour in a busy, sometimes hectic week.  Drawing close with people, praising our awesome God, sharing our triumphs and sorrows, rejoicing or empathizing in our circumstances, lifting each other up or calming us down, singing or crying – in other words, bringing the essence of Christ into the everyday-ness of living.

Come, let us adventure together!

Pat

From Florida, With Love

Sorry, I haven't posted recently because I can't seem to find the keyboard inbetween bouts of coughing fits.  My Fall Bronchitis has visited me again.  I am trying to battle it out, but it might just get the better of me yet!  Tonight is my first night back as Minister of Worship and Music at our church.  I have choir rehearsal after our Praise and Worship service.  Pray that people won't get too uncomfortable with my hacking and my raspy voice.  We have an exciting season planned, beginning with World Communion Sunday on October 3.  And, we will be starting on our Christmas Cantata/Musical next week.  I have a wonderful, dedicated group of people - the best church choir in Deltona!  My old high school principal used to say, "There might be some just as good, but there's none better..."  My sentiments exactly for our choir.  I'll keep you posted.

9/11 Thoughts

Nine years have gone by, and not much is different.  That's a lot of what I heard today.  I watched parts of the ceremonies held at the three venues.  There were lots of tears, floods of memories, accusations, placating words, celebrities, etc.  Names of victims were read in solemn tones.  And I got to thinking about how God was left out of all the opportunities to speak today.  With all the debates about the Ground Zero mosque, rhetoric regarding good Muslims and bad terrorists, strategies for success in the upcoming elections, lack of tolerance, failure of our economic system, etc. - things are far from being as they should.  I pray we can get back to what has made America such a good country - faith in God, hope for a good life for ourselves and our families, and love and goodwill toward our neighbors.  May it be so.

The Golden Egg

This is my first ever blog post, and it will surely be profound!  My patiently attending daughter-in-law, Laura, is holding my hand while I learn how to do each step.  I'm not sure where this will lead, but am looking forward to the discovery.  Vacation is a good time to investigate something new.  Thanks for coming on the adventure with me.