120 Telephone: 410-825-3360
From the Pastor:
As this new year begins, and
probably as every new year… or new day begins, I think the passage of scripture
which can be most helpful for us, as Christians, are the words Paul wrote in
Philippians 3: 13-14: “I do not consider that I have made it my
own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward
to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly
call of God in Christ Jesus.”
While I quote that passage to you, I don’t want you to think that history, or what is behind, isn’t important. There are too many people involved with religion who act as if history is not significant. History is important to us all, corporately because it provides us with a record of human attempts, successes and failures, and it gives to the wise a sense of direction and an understanding of the likelihood of outcomes. History is important for us personally because it is where we have come from and what has contributed to and shaped our being. It is also important to us because it gives us an opportunity to reflect on what our activity or inactivity has led to. Going back over our history can help us see what we have done wrong or to wrong others, and what we might do to make things right. I would never suggest that we should move on into the future without attempting to set right those things that we have between ourselves and others, the things which lie within our power to correct or for which we can ask forgiveness.
However, for too often, and for too many, the past can be a chain around our necks. It can
keep us from attempting something new… It can defeat us before we ever begin.
When Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, opened his book The Concept of Dread he began by writing about how sin, particularly the concept of ‘Original Sin’, can create in us a sense of hopelessness. It makes us feel that historically we are not free. Some might call this fate or in a negative sense dread—that nothing can be changed. Kierkegaard dislikes this negative concept of dread and instead proposed the dread is a positive reality: “whereas dread is freedom’s reality as possibility for possibility.” Dread is that exhilaration that is the blank page before us—or the new day or year before us. So we need to, as the author of Hebrews reminds us: “lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” or we should as Paul said: “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.” This year may others be blessed by God’s presence in us.
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
Wednesday Evening Programs as usual.
January 6th
Communion.
January 9th
8:00 p.m. Board of Deacons meeting
January 13th
Coffee Hour immediately following Church Service.
January 14th
12 Noon –
meeting at the Church, Mary Frantz as
hostess. Call Leah Holland for
information and transportation.
410-823-2042.
January 21st
7:30 p.m. Needles & News.
meeting in the home
of Ann Ray,
For information,
call her at 410-321-0202.
January 27th
12:00 Noon – Congregational Business Meeting following Church Service.
Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday.
January 28th
Sarah’s Hope 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Come when you can.
SANCTUARY
FLOWERS
Mary Lou Doty will
take care of your flowers at Church for dedication, or in honor of birthdays
and anniversaries. Please phone Mary Lou
at 410-252-1862.
Youth Skiing Trip: We will go and spend the night on Friday February 8th at
Skycroft, and on Saturday we will go skiing at White Tail Ski Area. Attempts
will be made to keep
the cost around $62 per person. If you
are interested in going as a skier or chaperone speak with Doug Thomas
(410-825-1460), or the Church Office (410-825-3360), sign-up on the back of an attendance
card. Friends are welcome. If you need financial help in going, talk to
the pastor.
I have been in conversation with Tom McDaniel about coming
on February
17th at 3:00p.m. Tom
would like to talk about an insight he had on title used for Jesus “Son of Man”
and another Hebrew title “the Son of the Man”.
I have also asked Dr. McDaniel to consider addressing the subject of holiness
and the Holiness Code.
Please pick-up your Church Offering Envelopes
from the back vestibule.
Dear
Friends,
Gary, Lauren and I enjoyed being
with you on Sunday. It ahs been said
that you can’t go home again, but that is never true when we return to
God bless you and give you his
blessings throughout the New Year.
Sincerely,
Lynn Gill
We at
Sincerely,
Zachary Pierez, Assist.
Adm.