Mission Project for 2008 Annual Conference: VIM healthcare kits.
This is a project that we have participated in in the past and will do again this year.
See http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/ for more information.
Items needed include: gallon sized plastic bags, hand towels (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels), washcloths, large, sturdy combs (not pocket-sized), nail files or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers), bath-size bars of soap (3 oz. and up), toothbrushes (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes), adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages, $ to purchase toothpaste (in $1 increments, they no longer accept toothpaste and ask for $1 per kit to purchase in bulk).
There will be a sign up sheet starting on Game Night and we will collect items throughout April.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Prayer time
Please pray these prayers:
* Melissa - perseverance and focus in her studies during the last two weeks of her first (accelerated) nursing class.
* Sarah (Michelle's friend) - wisdom for all concerned (Drs, nurses, family, patient, etc) in healing Sarah's mother not only of the blood clot in her arm, but of her digestive problems as well. Pray that Sarah can hold it together and be strong through this difficult time of uncertainty.
* Donald (Shannon's Dad) - wisdom and understanding and faith as he makes the decision about whether or not to undergo bypass surgery.
* Ellen - that she will have a rewarding visit with her sister who is visiting
* Steven (Rebecca's sister's fiancee) - guidance for his son who has run away (again) and for hope and knowledge of the son's well being for Steven and his family.
* Heidi (Rebecca's acquaintance) - healing and strength to attend to her medical needs after finding cancer during a hysterectomy.
* David's aunt - health, comfort, peace and joy and that she will continue to be an awesome lady.
* Raymond (Kelli's friend) - comfort and peace after losing his grandfather who raised him
Praise God for:
* Tati (Shannon's aunt) - who has finally received hearing aids after almost 2 years of trying.
* Steve (Shanon's brother) - whose job hours have changed from shift work (nights) to consistent 4 days per week.
* Ellen whose sister is visiting
* Melissa - perseverance and focus in her studies during the last two weeks of her first (accelerated) nursing class.
* Sarah (Michelle's friend) - wisdom for all concerned (Drs, nurses, family, patient, etc) in healing Sarah's mother not only of the blood clot in her arm, but of her digestive problems as well. Pray that Sarah can hold it together and be strong through this difficult time of uncertainty.
* Donald (Shannon's Dad) - wisdom and understanding and faith as he makes the decision about whether or not to undergo bypass surgery.
* Ellen - that she will have a rewarding visit with her sister who is visiting
* Steven (Rebecca's sister's fiancee) - guidance for his son who has run away (again) and for hope and knowledge of the son's well being for Steven and his family.
* Heidi (Rebecca's acquaintance) - healing and strength to attend to her medical needs after finding cancer during a hysterectomy.
* David's aunt - health, comfort, peace and joy and that she will continue to be an awesome lady.
* Raymond (Kelli's friend) - comfort and peace after losing his grandfather who raised him
Praise God for:
* Tati (Shannon's aunt) - who has finally received hearing aids after almost 2 years of trying.
* Steve (Shanon's brother) - whose job hours have changed from shift work (nights) to consistent 4 days per week.
* Ellen whose sister is visiting
Paul's Advice
It was a great turnout on March 22nd for our Habitat for Humanity build (paint) day. Especially with the short notice. We had 9 people show up and were able to carpool in 2 vans. Rachel brought a (delicious!) lunch for all including the habitat people and some people who had signed up as single participants.
Easter was celebrated with a potluck at Sarah's house following church with another great turn out. Many people were able to attend that we have been missing on Wednesday nights.
We completed Paul's first letter to Timothy this past Wednesday with the facilitation of David. We discussed what our (individual and as a church) role is in helping others (specifically widows and family). How to serve God even when enslaved. And "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".
It is important to understand some of how people lived and what was going on at the time that this letter was written and that it is an actual letter from one person to another when discussing how this effects us today.
Alex will be leading the Bridge in April on the subject of Christian meditation.
Please send Alex (or a bLT member) any questions that you may have about meditation or thoughts about what you would like to learn about Christian meditation. He will use these suggestions to tailor our time together over the course of the month.
Easter was celebrated with a potluck at Sarah's house following church with another great turn out. Many people were able to attend that we have been missing on Wednesday nights.
We completed Paul's first letter to Timothy this past Wednesday with the facilitation of David. We discussed what our (individual and as a church) role is in helping others (specifically widows and family). How to serve God even when enslaved. And "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".
It is important to understand some of how people lived and what was going on at the time that this letter was written and that it is an actual letter from one person to another when discussing how this effects us today.
Alex will be leading the Bridge in April on the subject of Christian meditation.
Please send Alex (or a bLT member) any questions that you may have about meditation or thoughts about what you would like to learn about Christian meditation. He will use these suggestions to tailor our time together over the course of the month.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Overseers and Deacons
1 Timothy chapter 3 dealt with qualifications for people running the church. High ideals are expected of these people.
They should: be self controlled, be hospitable, be able to teach, not be violent but gentle, not be quarrelsome, not be a lover of money, not be a recent convert, have a good reputation with outsiders, not be overbearing, not be quick-tempered, love what is good, be upright and holy, be disciplined, be above reproach, have only one spouse, be temperate, be respectable, not be given to drunkenness, manage ones family well, see that ones children obey him, not pursue dishonest gain, keep hold of the deep truths, and be sincere.
We had a long discussion about these ideals and how things differ between the time Paul wrote this letter to Timothy and now. We aslo discussed whether or not women were allowed to be deacons.
Chapter 4 reiterated several points that we had discussed in chapter 1 and gives Timothy more ideas of how to run the church.
Because of our long discussion we were unable to get to chapter 5. Next week will cover chapters 5-6.
They should: be self controlled, be hospitable, be able to teach, not be violent but gentle, not be quarrelsome, not be a lover of money, not be a recent convert, have a good reputation with outsiders, not be overbearing, not be quick-tempered, love what is good, be upright and holy, be disciplined, be above reproach, have only one spouse, be temperate, be respectable, not be given to drunkenness, manage ones family well, see that ones children obey him, not pursue dishonest gain, keep hold of the deep truths, and be sincere.
We had a long discussion about these ideals and how things differ between the time Paul wrote this letter to Timothy and now. We aslo discussed whether or not women were allowed to be deacons.
Chapter 4 reiterated several points that we had discussed in chapter 1 and gives Timothy more ideas of how to run the church.
Because of our long discussion we were unable to get to chapter 5. Next week will cover chapters 5-6.
Please pray these prayers:
Please pray these prayers:
Eunice and Luis - Pray for strength and acceptance for our missionaries in Guatamala whose son passed away suddenly at the age of 21.
Nicole and family (Rebecca's sister) - Pray for guidance and strength.
August - (Rebecca's friend) Pray for strength and healing of her breast cancer and that she will be well for her wedding in October.
Brad - Pray for healing and strength him and his family in dealing with his mother's stroke.
Sarah - Pray for her to do well on her work presentation tomorrow (3-20)
Don (Shannon's Dad) - Pray for the doctors expertise and knowledge in diagnosing and calibrating his CPAP following his sleep study to help him sleep safely so that his sleep apnea will not aggravate his other health problems.
David - Pray for sanity and rest in his busy schedule.
Chris - Pray that her mammogram on March 31 will come out clean.
Chris - Pray for confidence in her new duties at work.
Our bridge members who are unable to come on Wednesday nights and are missing us - Please pray that they are able to participate in and enjoy opportunities with the bridge on other days.
Praises:
David - LOVES his new internship.
Eunice and Luis - Pray for strength and acceptance for our missionaries in Guatamala whose son passed away suddenly at the age of 21.
Nicole and family (Rebecca's sister) - Pray for guidance and strength.
August - (Rebecca's friend) Pray for strength and healing of her breast cancer and that she will be well for her wedding in October.
Brad - Pray for healing and strength him and his family in dealing with his mother's stroke.
Sarah - Pray for her to do well on her work presentation tomorrow (3-20)
Don (Shannon's Dad) - Pray for the doctors expertise and knowledge in diagnosing and calibrating his CPAP following his sleep study to help him sleep safely so that his sleep apnea will not aggravate his other health problems.
David - Pray for sanity and rest in his busy schedule.
Chris - Pray that her mammogram on March 31 will come out clean.
Chris - Pray for confidence in her new duties at work.
Our bridge members who are unable to come on Wednesday nights and are missing us - Please pray that they are able to participate in and enjoy opportunities with the bridge on other days.
Praises:
David - LOVES his new internship.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
1 Timothy 1-2
Background information. 1 Timothy was written by the apostle, Paul shortly after his release from prison in Rome (circa A.D. 65). This letter gives advice on how to better lead the chrch at Ephesus to deal with "false teachers" who threatened to undermine Paul's work.
We looked at information in Acts to try and understand what kind of man Paul had been previously and why God wanted him as a representative of His church.
If you missed last Wednesday, you may want to read 1 TImothy chapters 1-2. If you want to read ahead, we will cover chapters 3-5 this coming Wednesday and chapter 6 on the last Wednesday of the month.
Thank you, David, for facilitating this study.
We looked at information in Acts to try and understand what kind of man Paul had been previously and why God wanted him as a representative of His church.
If you missed last Wednesday, you may want to read 1 TImothy chapters 1-2. If you want to read ahead, we will cover chapters 3-5 this coming Wednesday and chapter 6 on the last Wednesday of the month.
Thank you, David, for facilitating this study.
Please pray these prayers:
Kelli - pray for good health and for finding a new roommate that is nice and responsible
Anna (Sarah's roommate) - Daisy/Hooper, the bunny, has had a recurrance of the tumor and Anna has made the decision (on the vet's advice) that he will have to be put to sleep when his quality of life begins to suffer (project 1-2 months)
Whitney's brother - Pray that things will work in his best interests in his dealings with his Navy unit.
Alex's family
Whitney - pray that her new supervisor will be a good fit for her and her company
Peter (Sarah's friend) - who is leading a mission trip to Russia.
Nicole and family (Rebecca's sister) - Pray for guidance and strength in her marriage to bring them closer together
Praises:
Alex - networking efforts have paid off to help Upward Bound House
David - has started his internship and it is "awesome" (he thanks everyone for their prayers)
Kelli - has passed her 6 month review with flying colors
Anna (Sarah's roommate) - Daisy/Hooper, the bunny, has had a recurrance of the tumor and Anna has made the decision (on the vet's advice) that he will have to be put to sleep when his quality of life begins to suffer (project 1-2 months)
Whitney's brother - Pray that things will work in his best interests in his dealings with his Navy unit.
Alex's family
Whitney - pray that her new supervisor will be a good fit for her and her company
Peter (Sarah's friend) - who is leading a mission trip to Russia.
Nicole and family (Rebecca's sister) - Pray for guidance and strength in her marriage to bring them closer together
Praises:
Alex - networking efforts have paid off to help Upward Bound House
David - has started his internship and it is "awesome" (he thanks everyone for their prayers)
Kelli - has passed her 6 month review with flying colors
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Roadrunner on horseback vs. a mummy with a rubber chicken...
If the subject line didn't make you smile, you must have missed last weeks Game Night with the bridge! We had a great time and welcomed 2 new people into our group. Remember, the first Wednesday of every month is Game Night.
Thanks Paul for the wonderful discussion on vocation and calling during the month of February. You gave us a lot to think about.
We look forward to a Bible study facilitated by David this month.
Keep your calendars clear for May 3-4. Big Sunday! All over town, all weekend long.
More info to come regarding our Spring Retreat in May.
Things are kind of quiet on the calendar this month. The bridge Leadership Team will be meeting Monday, March 10 to make decisions for the next few months. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments please let a bLT member know, reply to this e-mail, or leave a note in the box in the bridge room 'where Jesus used to be'.
We are specifically looking at service during this meeting and would love any suggestions that you may have regarding service projects that you would like to do with the bridge.
Please pray these prayers:
* Pray for peace for David in his roommate situation
* Pray for Simon and his family after the passing of Simon's step-mother
* Pray for Cristina who will have a medical screening on the 30th of this month. Pray for her to not worry during this period of waiting, that if something is found it will be cured quickly, but mostly that everything will turn out to be fine and no further procedures will be needed
* Pray for Grace and Trent for happiness and stability in their lives
* Sarah gives praise for the fabulous wedding in Seattle
Thanks Paul for the wonderful discussion on vocation and calling during the month of February. You gave us a lot to think about.
We look forward to a Bible study facilitated by David this month.
Keep your calendars clear for May 3-4. Big Sunday! All over town, all weekend long.
More info to come regarding our Spring Retreat in May.
Things are kind of quiet on the calendar this month. The bridge Leadership Team will be meeting Monday, March 10 to make decisions for the next few months. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments please let a bLT member know, reply to this e-mail, or leave a note in the box in the bridge room 'where Jesus used to be'.
We are specifically looking at service during this meeting and would love any suggestions that you may have regarding service projects that you would like to do with the bridge.
Please pray these prayers:
* Pray for peace for David in his roommate situation
* Pray for Simon and his family after the passing of Simon's step-mother
* Pray for Cristina who will have a medical screening on the 30th of this month. Pray for her to not worry during this period of waiting, that if something is found it will be cured quickly, but mostly that everything will turn out to be fine and no further procedures will be needed
* Pray for Grace and Trent for happiness and stability in their lives
* Sarah gives praise for the fabulous wedding in Seattle
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Habitat project
This Sunday afternoon, March 2, at 4:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church (1220 2nd St, Santa Monica) there will be a classical music concert that is a fundraiser for the Habitat project we've been talking about at the bridge over the last few months. The tickets are $25 per person and the program will include Faure's Requiem and Zeisl's Hebrew Requiem
Vocation week 2
I. What is Vocation-
a. Our thoughts, definitions. It is larger than and separate from a career or job. A job can be included in our calling but not necessarily.
b. Classical Christian understandings. Vocation comes from the Latin vocatio which simply means a summons or an invitation. Vocation is simply the call from God.
i. Martin Luther, responding to the high monasticism of the Catholic Church came up with a dual understanding of vocation: the spiritual and the external vocation. The spiritual vocation was what comes to all Christians through the proclamation of the gospel. External vocation is God’s call to serve God and humanity in the world. The external vocation comes to a person through his or her station in life or profession.
ii. The reality that Luther was dealing with was the 16th century. There was no such thing as upward mobility or the middle class. This understanding of vocation did not make room for multiple professions or provide a good understanding of alienation or mindless work. The Lutheran understanding of vocation compartmentalized life into two separate realms: the spiritual and the external.
iii. Volf’s understanding is more holistic and stems from Luther’s understanding yet differs from it significantly. Volf agrees with Luther in that all Christians are called. Where the difference comes is in that Volf believes there is one calling that encompasses all of one’s life. The call is to the gospel and to enter the kingdom of God. Part of how that call is realized is through the living out of our calling, bearing the fruits of the Spirit as given to each individual.
iv. Holistic understanding. Read Psalm 24:1-2. Everything is under the dominion of the Lord. The entire world and all those who live in it. The call of God on our lives is not limited to what we do to “make a living.”
v. Our lives, every aspect of our lives, is the response to the call and becomes the substance of our vocation as we continue in conversation with God. Vocation encompasses all that we are.
II. The Last Things and its impact on the significance on human work and activity. There are two broad understandings of the last things that we must consider. To gain an appreciation for human activity and culture.
a. Apocalyptic. If we believe that all of this will pass away—that God is going to start over, or transport us all to some other place, what value do our actions have?
b. Transformative If we believe that creation will be transformed, that the new creation has its roots in the current creation then work and all human activity takes on a greater, even ultimate significance from a theological perspective. Look at the time between Gen 2 and Gen 3. Here we have the beginnings of culture. Where to eat. Where to sleep. Where to put our garbage. What to do in our leisure time, etc. All of these activities fall under the mandate that God gave to humanity in Gen 1. The human activities and accomplishments along with the way we interact with one another are part of the cultural mandate. Yes some aspects of this are fallen, but through the power of the Cross we can access God in right relationship and carry out our divinely appointed role in a divinely appointed manner. (Rev 21:1-5)
c. Read Romans 8:18-23. This tells us that creation is groaning in anticipation of renewal. Humanity is also groaning in this anticipation. Jesus’ talk about the kingdom of God being at hand and coming to the present earth is also indicative of a transformational understanding. (Luke 17:20-21)The mission of the UMC is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This also bears witness to a transformational understanding or at the very least about positive contributions to the present world. A resurrected physical body makes sense only in the context of a restored earthly environment to exist in.
III. Charisms Read 1 Cor 12:1-7. Ask how does God do this with us? How does our vocation or our calling from God manifest itself? This is where Palmer comes in handy. His Let your Life Speak is instrumental in this. God has placed the Spirit within us all. Our capacities to be co-creators with God are in us all. The calling is not primarily a call of obedience but a call to be equipped and a conduit of the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 31:1-6, Ephesians 4:4-16).
Next week: Summary of where we are and a look at practical ways to discern our gifts and utilize them.
Paul
a. Our thoughts, definitions. It is larger than and separate from a career or job. A job can be included in our calling but not necessarily.
b. Classical Christian understandings. Vocation comes from the Latin vocatio which simply means a summons or an invitation. Vocation is simply the call from God.
i. Martin Luther, responding to the high monasticism of the Catholic Church came up with a dual understanding of vocation: the spiritual and the external vocation. The spiritual vocation was what comes to all Christians through the proclamation of the gospel. External vocation is God’s call to serve God and humanity in the world. The external vocation comes to a person through his or her station in life or profession.
ii. The reality that Luther was dealing with was the 16th century. There was no such thing as upward mobility or the middle class. This understanding of vocation did not make room for multiple professions or provide a good understanding of alienation or mindless work. The Lutheran understanding of vocation compartmentalized life into two separate realms: the spiritual and the external.
iii. Volf’s understanding is more holistic and stems from Luther’s understanding yet differs from it significantly. Volf agrees with Luther in that all Christians are called. Where the difference comes is in that Volf believes there is one calling that encompasses all of one’s life. The call is to the gospel and to enter the kingdom of God. Part of how that call is realized is through the living out of our calling, bearing the fruits of the Spirit as given to each individual.
iv. Holistic understanding. Read Psalm 24:1-2. Everything is under the dominion of the Lord. The entire world and all those who live in it. The call of God on our lives is not limited to what we do to “make a living.”
v. Our lives, every aspect of our lives, is the response to the call and becomes the substance of our vocation as we continue in conversation with God. Vocation encompasses all that we are.
II. The Last Things and its impact on the significance on human work and activity. There are two broad understandings of the last things that we must consider. To gain an appreciation for human activity and culture.
a. Apocalyptic. If we believe that all of this will pass away—that God is going to start over, or transport us all to some other place, what value do our actions have?
b. Transformative If we believe that creation will be transformed, that the new creation has its roots in the current creation then work and all human activity takes on a greater, even ultimate significance from a theological perspective. Look at the time between Gen 2 and Gen 3. Here we have the beginnings of culture. Where to eat. Where to sleep. Where to put our garbage. What to do in our leisure time, etc. All of these activities fall under the mandate that God gave to humanity in Gen 1. The human activities and accomplishments along with the way we interact with one another are part of the cultural mandate. Yes some aspects of this are fallen, but through the power of the Cross we can access God in right relationship and carry out our divinely appointed role in a divinely appointed manner. (Rev 21:1-5)
c. Read Romans 8:18-23. This tells us that creation is groaning in anticipation of renewal. Humanity is also groaning in this anticipation. Jesus’ talk about the kingdom of God being at hand and coming to the present earth is also indicative of a transformational understanding. (Luke 17:20-21)The mission of the UMC is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This also bears witness to a transformational understanding or at the very least about positive contributions to the present world. A resurrected physical body makes sense only in the context of a restored earthly environment to exist in.
III. Charisms Read 1 Cor 12:1-7. Ask how does God do this with us? How does our vocation or our calling from God manifest itself? This is where Palmer comes in handy. His Let your Life Speak is instrumental in this. God has placed the Spirit within us all. Our capacities to be co-creators with God are in us all. The calling is not primarily a call of obedience but a call to be equipped and a conduit of the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 31:1-6, Ephesians 4:4-16).
Next week: Summary of where we are and a look at practical ways to discern our gifts and utilize them.
Paul
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