Friday, July 30, 2004

Tell Me A Story

I love to tell stories, and I enjoy hearing the stories of others.

Our children recently returned from a week at a church conference, and the first thing I wanted to hear was their stories. (At least some of them!) Our stories guide us to a new place and open the door for us to experience the fullness of God in each other.

Right now, a mission team from Woodlawn Chapel is experiencing the story of another. One of our "Mission Possible" small groups is gathering furniture and household items for a woman in a domestic violence shelter. She doesn't have much, but she does have a story. And soon she'll have the story of God's love for her, demonstrated through the work of our church. Mission Possible makes the story of God's love visible through the loving actions of this church. These groups are sponsored by our Deacons and open to anyone. The intent is that families, singles, younger families and older families would be brought together for service and fellowship. Call us at the church office if you'd like to participate in a future "Mission Possible" group.

It's a great way for you or your kids to learn some new stories, and to remember that "old, old story." For, as Henri Nouwen writes, "As long as we have stories to tell to each other, there is hope."

What stories do you like to tell?

CWK


Friday, July 23, 2004

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I'm interested in gardening.  Not very good at it, especially in the heat of summer, but still interested.
 
My experience with gardening is that it is very much a work in progress.  I plod ahead, trying new things, trusting old ways, getting rid of things that don't work. Take a look at my garage and you'd also see that I hold on to outdated resources much too long.
 
The same is true with our spiritual gardens.  We keep on trying, sometimes experiencing a rich harvest and sometimes struggling with weeds.  This is a very personal area for many people, but I'd like to know: how does your garden grow? What do you do that is successful for your spiritual growth (and here I'm interpreting "spiritual" fairly broadly). What doesn't work? What hopes do you have?  Leave your posts for a continuing conversation.
 
Peace,
 
Chris

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Finding Our Voices

Anyone can talk.  But it takes practice to find your voice.

This is particularly true during this season of politics, when the air is filled with thunderous rhetoric and nonstop sound bytes. 
 
I often think that one of the things we can do in church is to help people find their voice.  Our youth can learn that they do not need to speak in the commonly heard words of hate or fear, consumerism or greed. It is one of the things I hope they learn at this week's Presbyterian Church Youth Triennium. Our children can use their voices to speak words of encouragement rather than hatred.  We can tell stories of hope and life amidst a culture of defeat.  And each of us can learn to speak of God. 
 
This week I stumbled across a familiar passage from Hebrews, chapter 10 that may help us find our voices:

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (read: find our voices). Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another... (Heb. 10:24)
 
In that light, remember that Woodlawn Chapel's music director will be holding free voice lessons on Wednesday, July 28th at 7:00 p.m. These classes are open to the public.

Some others are finding their voice through our excellent ADULT BIBLE STUDY on Tuesday evenings.  This is a wonderful group open to anyone (male/female, couples, singles) and it meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. A light supper is included. Come and join them.

Still others at Woodlawn can find our voices by coming together this fall for study and growth. I'm planning two exciting opportunities.  One will be a Men's Group that will meet for a meal and a discussion of an incredible film by National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones.  Jones' insights into creativity and breaking through the threshold of change will be an asset to your personal life, and to your professional career.  Look for more information.  Another opportunity will be "Wheels and Hormones," a parenting class for parents of teens and pre-teens (youth ages 9-18).  That will meet on Sunday evenings this fall in conjunction with our youth ministry events.  The title is shamelessly stolen from a series by Jim Fay of the Love and Logic Institute.

One way we can help each other find our voices is by companioning persons through grief.  Excellent resources for those who are grieving or helping to companion someone through grief can be found at the web site of the Center for Loss & Life Transition. Click here to learn more about that excellent resource.


Find your voice.  Encourage each other, and speak often of God's presence in your life. 

Peace, 

Chris
 



Sunday, July 18, 2004

Summertime Peculiarities

Rodney Clapp's book Peculiar People  describes some of the "peculiarities" of Christ's people. We're peculiar, Clapp argues, not in the sense of being strange or weird (Ok, some of us are slightly daffy) but because of our language and our practices. We use, for example, words like hospitality, and mission to describe what we do in church.   When we say we engage in practices of hospitality, what we do goes far beyond serving lemonade and donuts.  Hospitality is a way of mirroring the  sort of kingdom Jesus envisioned.  When we pray for those who are sick, when we support causes which the world may see as unpopular, when we reach out to those who are hurting, it is all because we are practicing our peculiar brand of hospitality.  
 
As an act of hospitality and mission, Woodlawn Chapel is collecting school supplies for the children at Presbyterian Children's Services Farmington manor. Click here for details about PCS and the good work they do. 

Items needed by August 8:

  • Hand held calculators (inexpensive, solar powered)
  • Loose leaf notebook paper
  • Composition theme books (black & white marbeled cover used for journaling)
  • 2 pocket folders NO METAL brads or pieces
  • Ink pens
  • Construction Paper

The following items are not needed now: spiral notebooks, glue, pencils.

The hope is that by engaging in this peculiar act of discipleship, we can be an offering of love and hope to kids who have seen the worst life can offer.  It's an act of hospitality--we're inviting them to feel at bit more "at home" in themselves.
 
Coming up in August, we'll engage in another summer ritual at Woodlawn Chapel.  "Faith and Films," our annual movie series will include a selection of films, both fun and provocative, that illustrate significant aspects of faith.  Look for a list later this week.
 
That sound peculiar? To some, perhaps, but to  others -- it's just the way we do what we do!

Peace, Chris

 


 

 


Friday, July 16, 2004

http://www.myvbs.com/wcpc2004/photos/thumb-20040714190746.jpg
 
CLICK here for photos from our Vacation Bible School!

News This Week

YOUTH ROOM PAINTING COMPLETE!
If you get a chance, stop by and see the freshly painted youth room! It was a long process but it is finally complete!! We still have a few things to hang up but the room is back in order and back in use! Many thanks to all who helped to make this a successful project!
 
College and High School Special Event
At our last college fellowship gathering we started on a theological discussion and never got to see Bruce Almighty. The theological discussion was particularly enhanced by the batch of warm brownies we polished off while we talked! So, the College Fellowship folks decided they would like to do a joint college and high school fellowship on Sunday, August 15th. We really will watch Bruce Almighty that night so come and join us. We will meet at the church at 6:00 p.m.. Bring $5 for pizza (that will keep our mouths full so we can't talk until the movie is over). After the pizza and movie we will explore the theological themes in the movie. Mark your calendars now and bring a friend!! If you have questions, give Ed a call.

Triennium Bound

The 2004 Presbyterian Youth Triennium begins Tuesday! Click here for a link to this awesome event's web site.  A delegation of 45 from our presbytery will join approximately 7000 people at Purdue University for worship, study and recreation. Please hold in your prayers this week all who will attend from around the world and especially those from Woodlawn Chapel. Seven youth from Woodlawn Chapel will be attending.

Youth Fellowship
The youth committee has continued working all summer on the youth program here at Woodlawn Chapel and is excited about the fall! Two important dates to add to your calendar for now. First, there will be a middle and high school parents' meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 22. We will look at the fall schedule and discuss the direction of our ministry to youth including ways in which you can support your child's faith development.
The second important date is August 29 which is the start of middle school fellowship at 4:00 and high school fellowship at 6:00. More details to follow in upcoming weeks. If you have questions, about the youth ministry at Woodlawn Chapel, please feel free to give Ed at the church.

Learning To Celebrate


Welcome To the Woodlawn Chapel Weblog ("blog").  We'll use this as a tool to keep you informed about church events, to share prayer requests, devotions, thoughts for spiritual growth--even comments and feedback about classes and sermons.  I hope it will be useful to the church, and to any other interested folks.
 
Woodlawn Chapel is a growing congregation in the Presbyterian Church (USA).   To find out more about our congregation's history,  staff and programs, and to visit our calendar, click here.  Our web site also has a link to a virtual bookstore where you can order books, music, and CDs. 
 
Today is the last day of Vacation Bible School.  It's been a fun week at "Son Games 2004."  The kids have been busy learning Bible stories, songs, and having a good time.   Each year, they teach me something new.  This year, they've reminded me of the importance of celebration.  I've had a difficult week -- a good friend passed away much too young, and then a dear member of the church also died.  Attending and conducting the funerals and end of life celebrations this week captured most of my energy.  On the way to lead the church member's memorial service in Chicago, my daughter and I nearly got caught in a F4 tornado near Roanoke, IL.  Thankfully, we arrived safely. 
 
Compared to an F4 tornado, VBS is a cake walk! I've been trying to put these different events into some sort of perspective.  In the midst of death and sadness, the joy of children singing and playing has been a real lift.  They're joy reminds me of the lesson my Calvinist/Reformed heritage taught me year's ago in the words of the Westminster Shorter Cathechism: 
Question: "What is the chief end (purpose) of humanity?"
Answer:    "Our chief end is the glorify God, and to enjoy God forever."
 
 How good it is to learn from the children the real basics of life -- team up, get strong, celebrate God!  Enjoy God. Celebrate God's blessings...every day.  Peace, Chris