March 23, 2009

Read Psalm 89:1-18

I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;
With my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.—Psalm 89:1-2

When I was younger, I remember hearing a bible story about a man proclaiming all the good deeds he had done in God's name. My teacher told me that the important point was to do the good deeds, but to also do it with no hope of ever being recognized for it. As a kid, I thought that was ridiculous. No one did something for nothing, until one day I noticed some trash that a driver had thrown from his car. Without even thinking about it I picked it up and threw it away. No one ever said thank you, but I felt 10 feet tall. I had helped and was part of a special team. I imagine singing God's steadfast love forever with deeds that are loud, but with proclamations untold. Visualize a world where everyone acts daily in small ways to make the world a better place just for the pure joy of it.

Dear God, may I be presented with a small opportunity to make the world a better place and may that magnify into a chain of events with unimaginable results. Amen.

Becky Foster is the Director of Children’s Ministry at the Gathering.

March 22, 2009

Read Luke 15:11b-32

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.—Luke 15: 20

A wastefully extravagant consumer. A quick Google search told me that was the definition of prodigal. A further search of several dictionaries confirmed it and the words “wasteful” and “extravagant” were common throughout. Wait. What? I thought I knew this story! I’d colored countless Sunday school activity sheets and listened to numerous sermons. I knew the story. A son runs away, makes bad choices, eats with pigs, and returns home. But adding those three words to the description, adds a new layer to the story for me.

Once again, Jesus tells a story 200 years ago that we still need to hear today. In our world of wastefully extravagant consumerism, it is easy to lose focus. We like gadgets and toys. We always want more. We have more in common with the son in our scripture than we think.

But like the prodigal son, our Father is waiting, with compassion, for us with open arms.

During this season of Lent, help us to regain our focus on you, Lord. Amen

Jan Nelson is a 10-year transplant in St. Louis from Lima, Ohio. During worship you are most likely to find her in the balcony operating the laptop for the projector.

March 21, 2009

Read Romans 6:12-23.

Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom.-Romans 6:15-16 (The Message)

Four years ago, Leon’s father’s growing dementia and worsening medical condition forced us to make a choice between maintaining our own agendas and lifestyle or taking responsibility for his care. With many misgivings, we moved Dad Waxer to Missouri. The ensuing chaotic months brought late-night phone calls from the nursing home concerning anything from needs for foot powder to exploding toilets, the unmasking of decades-old family tensions, and significant disruptions to carefully-laid work and school plans. We also discovered a grandfather who delighted in our newborn son, an artist who enjoyed sketching portraits of new friends, and a free spirit who would discuss his latest political theories with anyone who would listen. Had we held onto our old freedoms, we would have missed a transformation from family as a source of burden and obligation to family as a formidable source of strength, grace, and love.

Suscipe (St. Ignatius of Loyola) Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will. All I have and call my own, you have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.

The Waxer-Nagasakos (Leon, Elna, and Ethan) enjoy visiting coffee shops, having playdates with friends, and keeping their cat Spot happy and fat.

March 20, 2009

Read Romans 6: 1-11

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life…The death he died, he died to sin, once and for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.—Romans 6:3-4, 10-11

When I think of baptism, my mind races back to my childhood and seeing church members being dunked or immersed in a tank of water. This immersion reminded me of one being lowered into a grave. This death, however, was of the person’s sin. What was ironic was the juxtaposition of this death of sin with water. Water that represents Creation. Water that represents human nature. Water that washes and resurrects the individual to new life.

While we don’t always immerse people in the Methodist church, the Sacrament of baptism still links God to our individual lives and into the life of the community. When we are taken into the community, it is still both a death and the creation of new life. By choosing and accepting Christ, we in essence accept death along with him. For me, that meant changing from a corporate career to public service. It meant moving five hundred miles from family and friends to serve in a church. It means having a home that does not belong to me with rusty 1980s fixtures. But at the same time, by gathering and witnessing an infant being baptized, we believe God enters our midst and creates newness. By repenting and accepting, we acknowledge that we can have new life through him and in him. For me, that means creating a community of learners where everyone feels a connection. It means moving again and knowing that new friends await me. It means knowing God and community will provide and it is more than good enough.

During Lent, repent and return to God. Try to find forgiveness and seek the ever-present grace. Remember your baptism and recognize the risen Christ as present and your Savior.

Living God, we are still trying to be the people you would have us to be. Bless our community and our individual lives this Lent. Help us to remember our baptism and allow us to live into new life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tammy Berneking is a PW raising a 2 ½ yr old PK. No wonder she enjoys (needs) a Tanq & Tonic from time to time.

March 19, 2009

Read: Psalm 42

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him my Savior and my God—Psalm 42:11

The word “hope” has become common these days, popular even. There is a great need for hope in the uncertain times in which we are currently living, so it is not difficult to see why the word, the concept, the meaning is being used and explored so much. Being a follower of Christ does not make us immune to the troubles of this world, and sometimes brings even more stress, discomfort or even persecution.

But it does give us insight into the word “hope” that others don’t have. Our lives and our futures are God’s and in His hands. I know it’s easier said than done to grasp that Hope, for as I write this, I am sick, over-busy and worried about those I care about being jobless. However, we have to place our eternal hope in Him and not the things of this world. As the psalmist discovered, one way to attempt this is to praise Him: for who He is, what He has already done for us, and what He will do.

Pray: God, help me to find Hope in you alone and to remember your sacrifice, your promises, and your love when the world strives to have me forget. I praise you for who you are and what you have done for me! Amen.

Meagan Sinn loves to travel, and is an avid baseball fan who heads to spring training about this time every year!

March 18, 2009

Read John 8:12-20

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’—John 8:12

Remember the song we learned as kids? “This little light of mine...I’m gonna let it shine...” As followers of Christ we are called to let our light shine. Is your light shining? Do the people around you see the light of Jesus in you? What can you do to shine Christ’s light on your family/friends/neighbors?

You might want to start small, perhaps by performing a random act of kindness or a small favor for a friend. Take a sincere interest in someone’s life. It only takes a spark to light a fire. As your relationships grow, maybe mention a great sermon you heard last weekend at church. Be bold and share your life story or faith journey with them. Once a spark has been lit, you might consider inviting them to church with you or to serve food with you at Centenary Cares. Imagine how bright our city could be!

Sharing our faith with others can be difficult. This passage reminds us Jesus is the source of our light. We only have light because we are walking with Him. Cling to Him and His Word, and our light will shine brighter. Let’s not “hide it under a bushel! No!”

Pray: Dear Lord, Shine your light through me so that others may find their way out of darkness and into the light of life. Amen.

Rebecca Bergson, a native of McLean, Virginia, tries to shine her light at home with her husband, Mac; at work at St. Louis Children’s Hospital; and at school as a part-time graduate student at Washington University.

March 17, 2009

Read Psalm 78:1-39

I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from old-
What we have heard and known,
What our fathers have told us.—Psalm 78:2-3

I want to tell you a story. I love those seven words. Every time I hear them, my attention perks up. I want to tell you a story… as we listen to this “once upon a time” tale from the Psalms, this parable of ‘hidden things of old, of what we have heard and known, things our fathers once told,’ we listen to the storyteller unfold his tale and slowly we realize the story is talking and teaching about God, the Keeper of the Story of us all.

This is God’s story unfolding in our lives. We must not hide these stories from our children but proclaim God’s story loud and clear to the next generation. Tell the story of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, stories of His power, and the wonders He has done.

Tell the story.

Pray: Father, creator of the stories of our lives and weaver of the stories of the world, help us share your story with the everyone we see. Help us to see your presence in all things. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen

Doug and Beth Russell are new to the Gathering. We feel privileged to be a part of this joy-full faith community as we share the story.