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Dear Saints,
I once heard Tom Long tell a story about one of his fellow professors. This
professor would teach on the weekends for the junior high fellowship of his
local church. On a particular Sunday, one of the boys obviously did not want to
be there and as he squirmed in the end chair and looked out the window, it was
apparent he only came because his mother made him. The professor just decided to
ignore the boy and focus on the rest as they were working their way through the
book of Mark. He got to the story of Jesus' baptism. This professor of New
Testament, an expert biblical scholar, described to the youth with great passion
the meaning of the story. He especially brought out the fact that when Jesus was
baptized, the heavens were torn apart and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus.
The word in Greek is "schizo", as in schizophrenia, he explained, and then he
made a loud ripping sound and motion through the air. Because of Jesus, the
curtain between heaven and earth has been torn in two and now we can get to God.
At this point, the professor noticed that the squirming boy was sitting bolt
upright and wide-eyed. The boy said with a concerned look on his face, "I don't
think that's what it means." "Oh, really?" replied the professor, "And what do
you think it means?!" The boy seemed to be discomforted by his own revelation.
He exclaimed, "It doesn't mean that we can get to God. It means that God can get
to us!"
We are about to celebrate in our church what we call "Connection Sunday." The
name is a bit of a misnomer, as if every other Sunday of the year we aren't
connecting to each other and opportunities to minister and grow within our
church. However, as things start to gear back up after the summer, we as a
church also make plans for the fall and the coming year. There are many things
I've heard are in the works. ReFuel is starting up with multiple classes. Sunday
School. The choir is practicing again and Jake and I are already discussing
Advent and Christmas worship. The youth are already in full swing and their
leaders seem excited about upcoming events. There are upcoming trips to the
Calvary Refuge Center. The nominating committee is starting to make calls and
officer training will later take place. Several women are attending the training
at Columbia for this year's PW study. I'm sure I'm just at the tip of the
iceberg as far as the many ways that people will engage in their faith and the
life of this congregation in the weeks and months ahead.
As God's Word became flesh in Jesus, it is also important for the church to put
its word into flesh - by putting its faith into action. The same is true for
each of us as we consider the way we put our personal faith into concrete form.
How will each of us invest ourselves and be a part of Christ's ongoing presence
and ministry at Fayette Presbyterian Church and in the world? As we think about
that question, we may consider the junior high boy's revelation. Where is God
getting to you right now and how do you respond? We all come to church for
different reasons. Often we may not be expecting much. Often we are comfortable
in our routine. Yet the God we gather before is the Living God. This is a God
who can get to us. When we follow Jesus, there are no clear distinctions between
the kingdom of God and our lives. The curtain has been torn open. Does God get
to you? If not, why do you think that is? If so, how will you respond?
I encourage you to do three things:
1. Get into at least one thing that will help you grow spiritually
- Sunday School, Refuel, Small Group, Circle, Bible
Study, etc
2. Find at least one way of serving within the congregation - help
somewhere in the church
3. Find at least one way of serving God in the community and/or world
- See the mission committee for opportunities or find
one yourself
Yours in Christ,
Alex
amoses@fayettepcusa.org
Cell: 770/990-9578
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