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