From the Pastor:
I
am a little late writing this thought,
so I have already seen the paper from April 1st, and I know that
this month is National Poetry Month. I
have always liked poetry, probably because poems are shorter than novels, and reading
was never easy for me. I like poetry
because it can be so very packed with beauty and feeling. Some of the time I have no idea what the
author is talking about, that’s when I am happiest that poems are so short,
because I don't feel I have wasted too much time. But mostly I like poetry because it makes me stop and think, or
better, stop and feel…by myself…with others:
"Sensing every minute, in my flesh, by
my touch, I tame misfortune and do not ask God to avert it, for why should He
avert it from me if He does not avert it from others?" Czeslaw
Milosz "A Poetic State"
While poetry puts me in touch with
the deep feelings of another, it does not mandate that my feelings be the same…
Although, there have been some English teachers in my past who would have liked
to tell me how to feel about a poem, poetry is art and its appreciation is
subjective… Not everyone will see or
feel the same way about the same poem.
For some people that freedom in
interpretation is a problem. So, many
today prefer fact… history… law because they believe them to be more
universally understood, but those forms too are conditioned by the experience
of both writers and readers. More
importantly those forms do not move people the way poems do… the words of songs,
hymns, psalms. The words "The Lord is my shepherd" are not factual… God is
not a shepherd, still the words give special meaning to later phrases like "I shall not want;" or "I
will fear no evil."
Poetry puts some demands on our far
too busy schedules:
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three dimensioned life;
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.
Wendell Berry "How To Be a Poet"
It's April, spring,
try to stop and smell the roses or gather your roses while ye may. Take some time this month to appreciate the
parallelism of Hebrew Poetry or just read some poems from the old books lying
around your house.
Wednesday Evening Programs as usual.
April 3rd
Daylight
Savings time begins.
Set
your clocks forward
Communion,
April 8-10th
Spring Retreat at Skycroft: We will be talking about the earth as God’s
creation and us as its steward. If you
haven’t signed up but would still like to take part call Ruth Kulkarni
301-829-8539 or Susan Edwards
410-377-8586 by April 5th.
April 10th Coffee Hour immediately following Worship Service
April 11th
6:00 p.m. Needles
& News
are celebrating Spring with an evening out at Rigatonis at 204 E. Joppa
Rd. Please join us. Phone Church Office
on or before April 7th if
you are able to attend.
410-825-3360.
April 13th
8:00
p.m. Board of Deacons meeting.
April 15th 4:00-7:00 p.m. Shelter Meal
April 17th
12 Noon Anne Judson Circle beginning at Edenwald’s Garden Court for lunch, followed by meeting. Visitors are welcome.
April 18th
12 Noon – Annie Armstrong Circle meeting, at the home of Eleanor Bondurant, 1041 Kenilworth Dr. 410-823-1556. Please bring a sandwich.
April 24th Teachers Appreciation Sunday.
Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday, May 1.
April 25th
9:00 – 5:00 Sarah’s Hope come when
you can to help.
April 29-May 3 ABCOTS Annual Session,
meeting in Baltimore at
Wyndham Hotel.
Tues. 9:00am– 4:00pm Ministers Council
Wed. 8:15 pm Opening Worship
Rev. Fredrick Davis
Thur. 8:30 am Bible Study
Dr. G. G. Campbell
9:30 am Business Session
8:00 Evening Worship
Rev. Frederick D. Haynes
Fri. 8: 30 am Bible Study
Dr. G. G. Campbell
7:45 pm Evening Worship
New Shiloh Baptist Church
Rev. Frederick D. Haynes
See the schedule on the bulletin board for other meetings, and speak with the pastor if you would like to attend any of the events. Arrangements will need to be made to make you a delegate or visitor.
MIGRANT WORKER KITS
The Annie Armstrong Circle is collecting items for the migrant worker kits through the end of May. There is a revised list of the most needed items.
Bath towel Wash cloth
Soap Shampoo
Comb Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Used Clothing- children and adult for summer or winter
Household items –sheets, blankets, tablecloths, etc.
We are accepting money if you would prefer that we make the purchases. Thank you for all of your contributions.