The Future of the Church

Hebrew Scripture Reading—2 Kings 2: 1-12

I would like to begin this morning with a question: upon whom does the future of the church depend?  I want to see a show of hands as I give you the possible answers.  I am only going to give the answers once, and you can only raise your hands once, so as soon as you hear an answer you think sounds right raise your hands.  How many would say that the future of the church depends upon our children and youth?  How many would say our young adults?  How about those in the 40 to 60 year range?  What about all of those over the age of 60?  Thank you.

(more…)

 

The Link 02.24.09

the-link-02-24-09

 

Returning Home: A Special Ash Wednesday Service

Dear Church Family and Friends,

I confess that Ash Wednesday is a day on the church calendar with which I have often had trouble coming to terms.  While many of us have found deep personal meaning in having a cross placed upon our foreheads with ashes, my mind often stumbles over some of the history of this rite.  An early reference to Ash Wednesday tells us that the inspiration for using ashes came from a public act of penitence in ancient times whereby those who wanted to repent their sins “bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth.”  I personally have a hard time believing that a loving God would want any of us to publicly humiliate ourselves in this way.
(more…)

 

Our story continues…

When Cupid fell in love with Psyche, romantic love did not yet exist among humans, and among the gods it had not yet developed the familiar signs we so easily recognize today.  In fact, Cupid was the first to ever demonstrate his love in ways that are now quite common.  Cupid, for instance, began visiting Psyche every night with roses and boxes of chocolates.  Everyone else since then has been a copycat.  As a result of Cupid’s new and unique expressions of love, Psyche was swept off her feet.
(more…)

 
© 2010 Vancouver 1st Congregational UCC