Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Coming Up This Weekend

We have two worship services this weekend, as we begin our celebration of Advent.  On Saturday evening, at 5:00, we will have our annual Service of Remembrance.  This is a time of song, prayer, and candles lit in memory of loved ones who have passed away.  It is also a way to honor the sadness that many feel during the otherwise joyous holiday season.

The next morning, we'll gather for worship on the first Sunday of Advent.  There will be plenty of music, fitting into our Advent theme of "Songs of Promise."  And the morning's sermon will touch on how music can flesh out the deeper emotional meanings and yearnings of words, including the words of prophecy.  It will explore a link between Micah 4 and two songs, one religious, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," and one religious, "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Prayer for Mission in Swaziland

This week we pray for Diana and Terry Hutter, our missionaries to Swaziland, who serve as coordinators of development programs for the Khukhan'Okusha Zion Church in Swaziland.

You can read more about the mission to Swaziland here, including a glimpse of the economics of supporting the educations of orphans in a nation ravaged by HIV/AIDS.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

November 17 Worship: "There Is No Emoticon for Thanks"

There's something in the autumn air that seems to brighten our worship.  We were a talkative and happy bunch on Sunday morning.  We honored our Sunday School teachers and those who serve in the nursery, which inspired a humorous offering meditation from Jan Whitesell.  We were also encouraged to support special offerings supporting Disciples' higher-education institutions and the Week of Compassion response in the Philippines.

In the sermon, many of us learned what emoticons are -- little faces that show emotions in emails and other places.  But, "There Is No Emoticon for Thanks," which may not simply be an oversight of the younger generation, but may be due to the fact that we are not quite as grateful as we think we are.  The 100th Psalm suggests that thankfulness is an emotion, like joy, but I challenged us about how often we feel blessed -- a good question as we approach Thanksgiving.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to Sunday's communion meditation and the benediction.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Prayer for Mission in Costa Rica

This week we pray for Rebecca and Scott Hardin-Nieri, our missionaries to Costa Rica, who serve as volunteers with el Centro Educacion de Creativa

You can read more about the mission to Costa Rica here, including a lesson for first graders about loss and healing through planting trees.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Using Architecture to Tell Stories of History and Faith

During this week of Veteran's Day, when we honor the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the military uniforms of this country, I was struck by this story of an English cathedral destroyed during World War II.  Religion and Ethics Newsweekly explores how the rebuilding of the Coventry Cathedral included a significant new ministry to promote peace.

The new cathedral is architecturally unorthodox, but it is a fascinating attempt to honor the heritage of the centuries old cathedral, including the wartime destruction.  It also is an attempt to use the visual nature of architecture to offer a spiritual lesson about God's transforming power through Jesus Christ.  I think it is well-worth 6 minutes to watch.

Click here to watch the recent story on Coventry Cathedral.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Assembly of the World Council of Churches

Recently, the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches was held in Busan, Korea.  Among the delegates was Rev. Sharon Watkins, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Rev. Nathan Wilson, a Disciples pastor, attended the assembly and provided written dispatches for Disciples News Service.  They offer insight into thousands of representatives from over 350 denominations and communions coming together for worship, learning, and discussion.

You can read Rev. Day's articles below:

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Prayer for Mission in Fiji

This week we pray for the mission to Fiji, and for Aaron Wiggins, who recently concluded a term of service with the Pacific Council of Churches.

You can read more about the mission to Fiji here, including challenges to Christian unity at the outset of the World Council of Churches General Assembly.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

November 3 Worship - "Come and See: The Sign of Resurrection"

Having "fallen back" with the end of Daylight Savings Time, those at Eastgate were wide awake for worship on Sunday morning (and in a pretty talkative mood, it seemed).  In addition to normal songs and prayers, we learned about the women's service project to buy sheep through Project Heifer (they are collecting money through November for this project).  And two people came forward to join Eastgate, which brightened the day even more.

The sermon was the concluding part of this fall's look at the Gospel of John, focusing on the "come and see" passages.  This week, we considered the resurrection of Jesus, where "seeing" the risen Christ occurs in different ways for the different disciples -- most famously, here, for Thomas.  Most importantly, I think, this part of the Gospel seeks to invite those who came after the first disciples -- including us -- to "see" the risen Christ too, and then, having seen and recognized Christ, to go back and read the Gospel again with new eyes.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Prayer for Mission in Mexico

This week we pray for Scott Nicholson, our missionary to Mexico, who serves a community center in Nogales, Sonora.

You can read more about the mission to Mexico here, including how this community center is trying to eliminate the underlying causes that drive many to attempt to illegally immigrate into the United States.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.