This Sunday is our annual spring picnic. This year we will be using the Rowland Hall fields right behind the cafeteria. Come to the service dressed for an afternoon outside. Please bring a grill-able item and a dish for 8 to share. Sunday School is at 9 AM and worship begins at 10 AM.
This fall I'm planning a series called "Help My Unbelief: obstacles to faith" that will explore common issues that stand in our way of fully engaging a life of following God. I would like to get your ideas and suggestions for topics at my blog www.dailyecall.blogspot.com Would you please follow the link and add your suggestions?
Grace and Peace,
Sam
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Ideas for series
This August I'm beginning a series titled "Help My Unbelief: obstacles to faith." I'm wanting to explore the key barriers people face when considering God. What issues would you like to talk about? What kind of things did you face (and continue to face) when thinking about your faith?
Speak up -- help me out :) Thanks.
Speak up -- help me out :) Thanks.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
E-call for Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sabbath is the word God uses to describe something important for His people. But this important thing is not a 'to do' rather, sabbath means 'to cease.' For one day out of seven God commands us to cease -- stop working, striving, doing and to experience something that those activities cannot provide. By ceasing we enter into the same state God Himself inhabits on the seventh day of creation; rest.
The rest of God is not empty, but full of peace and praise. In Genesis 2:1-3 (http://tiny.cc/vrcjs) God rests, blesses and makes the time holy. In Exodus 16 (http://tiny.cc/uygme) God calls Israel to do likewise.
Stephen Geller in his article "Manna and Sabbath: A Literary-Theological Reading of Exodus 16" observes that sabbath is analogous "to the mathematical discovery of zero. [therefore sabbath means] not just 'to stop, cease' in general, but specifically 'to make a complete stop,' 'to cease an activity that is not resumed.' ...The Sabbath is holy because, as a negative act, a religious zero, it makes a whole of the period of time that preceded it."
Without a sabbath, time loses its meaning. Without a ceasing; doing drags everything into an endless cycle of drudgery. Are you weary? Are you inexplicably tired? Perhaps, it is because you need to come to a stop where what has gone before is ceased and before you take up what lies ahead, you pause and rest.
The Christian Sabbath is Sunday (the day of Christ's resurrection). Join us at New Song this Sunday for sabbath rest where in our worship we will hear God's blessing over us and His call to make our lives holy and whole. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9 AM and our service of worship begins at 10 AM.
Grace and Peace,
Sam
The rest of God is not empty, but full of peace and praise. In Genesis 2:1-3 (http://tiny.cc/vrcjs) God rests, blesses and makes the time holy. In Exodus 16 (http://tiny.cc/uygme) God calls Israel to do likewise.
Stephen Geller in his article "Manna and Sabbath: A Literary-Theological Reading of Exodus 16" observes that sabbath is analogous "to the mathematical discovery of zero. [therefore sabbath means] not just 'to stop, cease' in general, but specifically 'to make a complete stop,' 'to cease an activity that is not resumed.' ...The Sabbath is holy because, as a negative act, a religious zero, it makes a whole of the period of time that preceded it."
Without a sabbath, time loses its meaning. Without a ceasing; doing drags everything into an endless cycle of drudgery. Are you weary? Are you inexplicably tired? Perhaps, it is because you need to come to a stop where what has gone before is ceased and before you take up what lies ahead, you pause and rest.
The Christian Sabbath is Sunday (the day of Christ's resurrection). Join us at New Song this Sunday for sabbath rest where in our worship we will hear God's blessing over us and His call to make our lives holy and whole. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9 AM and our service of worship begins at 10 AM.
Grace and Peace,
Sam
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
PCA Strategic Plan
New Song Presbyterian is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America; a denomination founded in 1973. The PCA has been known for active church planting (i.e. beginning new churches) and evangelism. However, over the past few years our growth has significantly slowed (http://www.pcaac.org/Statistics.htm). In response to that trend key leaders of our denomination have developed a strategic plan for how to move beyond our present malaise (http://www.pcaac.org/2010StrategicPlanDocuments/2010StrategicPlan.htm). I think this is a good step for our denomination and say so here on the denomination's website (http://www.pcaac.org/2010StrategicPlanDocuments/StrategicPlanEndorsements.htm). Take a few moments and look over the links above; I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Sam
Sam
Friday, May 14, 2010
E-call for Sunday, May 16, 2010
The book of Exodus is extremely honest about how humans relate to God and to one another. Immediately after the deliverance from Egypt's army, the people of God sing an incredible song of faith and devotion, then mere days later they are grumbling, "If only we had died in Egypt" (Exodus 16:3).
Where does this rush to regret come from? The source is a warped belief that God is there for the big stuff (plagues, crossing seas, pillars of fire), but for everyday issues (food, water, clothing) He can't be bothered. For that kind of stuff we are on our own.
God answers that grumbling with grace. He sends bread from heaven every morning for them to gather and eat. This bread (manna, which means "what is it") is enough for the day and no more. God will provide for grand and the small because He cares for HIs people.
Join us this Sunday as we worship a gracious God who provides for our every need and who calls us to a life of grace toward one another. Worship begins at 10 AM at the Rowland Hall Chapel on 720 Guardsman Way (http://tiny.cc/5kbn6). Sunday School for all ages begins at 9 AM.
Grace and Peace,
Sam
Where does this rush to regret come from? The source is a warped belief that God is there for the big stuff (plagues, crossing seas, pillars of fire), but for everyday issues (food, water, clothing) He can't be bothered. For that kind of stuff we are on our own.
God answers that grumbling with grace. He sends bread from heaven every morning for them to gather and eat. This bread (manna, which means "what is it") is enough for the day and no more. God will provide for grand and the small because He cares for HIs people.
Join us this Sunday as we worship a gracious God who provides for our every need and who calls us to a life of grace toward one another. Worship begins at 10 AM at the Rowland Hall Chapel on 720 Guardsman Way (http://tiny.cc/5kbn6). Sunday School for all ages begins at 9 AM.
Grace and Peace,
Sam
Why call E-call?
"E-call" comes from the subject line of my weekly email that goes out to the congregation and friends of New Song Presbyterian Church www.newsong.org where I am the pastor. This email is a short reflection on the upcoming passage to be read and spoken about on Sunday.
Early on, I realized that a mid-week reminder was good to get people thinking and good for me to focus on the implications of the passage for us.
This blog is an extension of that idea with the goal of fostering a two-way dialogue.
Early on, I realized that a mid-week reminder was good to get people thinking and good for me to focus on the implications of the passage for us.
This blog is an extension of that idea with the goal of fostering a two-way dialogue.
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