As I was looking through my files
for something inspiring to offer you this month, I came across an interesting
Franciscan Benediction that was sent to me by my friend and colleague in
ministry, Rev. Anne Durboraw. I
agree with her reflection on this benediction when she said that so often we
want to be blessed with joy and we want to be blessed with prosperity. We want
our children, regardless of their age, to behave perfectly. We want our
families to be the perfect reflection of what a traditional American family
should be. We expect that no one in our lives will ever disappoint us and if
they do, we make the decision that we will never get past the disappointment.
Taking that idea one step further, we expect the church we
attend to be perfect too. We want it to be filled with loving and perfect
people when it reality it should be a hospital for sinners – including us!
After all, we are not always so loving and we
certainly don’t handle life or relationships as graciously as we could. And
even though we know this to be true, how often are we still tempted to think
that “if” we love God, “then” God will never let us suffer pain, or
frustration, or any kind of loss!
Thankfully, the Lord has blessed us with all that we truly
need, especially the grace of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is our greatest
blessing. And we are challenged to take that blessing
to all the world. I agree that it is tempting to take
our “want list” to God. It is tempting to complain about the frustrations and
struggles that fill our lives from time to time.
But instead of looking at these things
negatively, we are challenged to “put on the glasses” of faith as we look at
them. We are challenged to become blessings to others
who cannot see any good in their lives.
So, I leave you with this thought-
provoking benediction. May it help you to see your life in a new and faithful way.
May God bless you with discomfort…at easy answers, half
truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger…at injustice, oppression, and
exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears…to shed for those who suffer
from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough
foolishness… to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that
you can do in God’s holy name, what others claim cannot be done.
Blessings to you in September,
Wanda
Teaching the
Word...
SEPTEMBER LECTIONARY TEXTS
Here are the
Lectionary texts for the month of September. Rev. Mello’s
preaching texts are in Bold print.
You are invited to read the texts ahead of each Sunday
service as you prepare to hear God’s word.
September 7, 2008
Psalm 149
Ezekiel 33:7-11
Matthew 20:1-16
WORSHIP
READERS NEEDED…
We are in need of our worship readers for the months of September and October. If you are interested in serving as a worship reader please sign up on the sheets in the Social Hall or speak to Rev. Mello. May you be blessed as you read God’s word in worship.
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
We will return for
Bible Study this month after our summer break by changing our meeting times to Friday mornings at 9:30 AM. We will begin our new schedule on Friday,
September 5, 2008. Everyone is invited to attend.
Touching the World...
Any or all of
the items on the list that follows will be welcome additions to our food
pantry. Your gifts to replenish the food pantry are greatly
appreciated. Please remember, if you can’t get
out to purchase any of the things on the list, cash donations are also accepted
so that the necessary items may be purchased. Please DO NOT bring
PREVIOUSLY OPENED SPICES OR FOOD ITEMS! We cannot give those out to people as we don’t know their safety.
Thanks!
Rice
Canned Meat
Canned Tomato Sauce
Spaghetti Sauce
Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinners
You are invited to give a gift for mission to our Assistance
Fund. Thanks so much for your continued support of this fund! Your gifts to
this fund do indeed help those in our community who are in need!
SPECIAL NEEDS
FOR JOEZER HOME
We have received word that there are some special needs for
the Joezer Home for pregnant teens. At the moment there is a great need for all kinds of
cleaning products. This includes window cleaners, floor cleaners, bathroom
cleaners, etc. If you would like to donate some new, unopened cleaners, please
place them in the big box in the Narthex.
Also the girls must have at least 10
servings of fruit daily, so there is a great need for fruit of all kinds. If
you wish to donate fruit, please speak to Kathy Brand.
Monetary gifts are always appreciated
if you do not wish to shop for fruit or cleaning products. Please mark any
checks, “Joezer Home”. Thanks!
Our next monthly Church Cabinet meeting will be on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the lounge. All Cabinet members are urged to attend.
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP NEWS
The
Women’s Fellowship would like to remind you to continue to save
IN
HIS WAKES MINISTRIES EVENT
We
are happy to report that we experienced an excellent day of fun and faithfilled activities with 18 disadvantaged youth from the
Arvin and Lamont area at the In His Wakes Day to Remember
event held on July 28 at
The
young people overcame many fears of the water as they participated in many
water events from swimming to water skiing. And they also
had time to explore their relationship with God at a time of prayer,
reflection, and meditation.
We
thank the church for supporting this important life-changing event in the lives
of the young people and in the lives of their leaders.
REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND ALL OF
OUR NEWS ON OUR WEBSITE: www.arvinucc.org
Check it out!
Church Family
News…
As our world remains in a time of war, we ask that you
continue to remember in your prayers all of our young people serving our
country all over the world. Especially pray for Jason Brand, John & David Phillips,
Isaac Philips, and Tracey Farris.
Please keep our homebound, and
nursing home members in your thoughts and prayers. They are Mildred Holbert in the nursing home; and
Lucille Barkley at home.
Please keep the Mellos in your prayers as they still await the decision on
Rodger’s trial that ended June 5. It will take up to 100 days for the panel and
judge to make their final decision, so prayers are very welcome during this
time of waiting!
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Fred
Krauter recently sold his house here in Arvin and has
moved to
Fred Krauter
1301 New
661-837-8393
OUR CHURCH TO BE FEATURED
Our church will be featured on the Faith Page of the Saturday
“Bakersfield Californian” on one of the last Saturdays of September. (They couldn’t give us an exact date.) Rev. Mello was interviewed in August and was told that we would be
featured on one of the Saturdays toward the end of the month of September in
the Hometown Faith column. So pick up a newspaper on the Saturdays in September
and read about us!
SOME
THOUGHTS FOR YOU…
These thoughts of Erma Bombeck were sent to me recently.
She wrote them after being diagnosed with cancer. I thought they were worth passing on to you.
If I Had My Life to Live
Over…
By Erma Bombeck
- I would have gone to
bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding
pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
-
I would have burned the
pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
-
I would have talked less
and listened more.
-
I would have invited
friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
-
I would have eaten the popcorn
in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone
wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
-
I would have taken the
time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
-
I would have shared more
of the responsibility with my husband.
-
I would never have
insisted the care windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just
been teased and sprayed.
-
I would have sat on the
lawn with my grass stains.
-
I would have cried and
laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
- I would never have
bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t
show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize
every minute – look at it and really see it – live it and never give it back!
STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!