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Bishop's Blog: 'The Call to Be a Community of Trust'
In her blog this week, Bishop Margaret G. Payne reflects on the Conference of Bishops Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in Chicago. "Bishop (Mark) Hanson set the tone, speaking to us about the call to be a community of trust, with a culture that can be a true incubator for growth. The following quotation from (of all people) the State Demographer of Minnesota communicates a reality that is in the air for our church as well as our culture -- hard to hear, hard to process and even harder to accomplish, but true:
'The people who put their energy into getting back to how things were are lost. The people who look to the future to see what might be possible are the people to whom the future belongs.'
"As people who understand the future as a place that is already in God's hands, in forms as yet unimagined, this is not a statement of judgment, but hope," writes Payne. Click here to read more. Her blog also is available under "Quick Links" below. |
Mission Investment Fund Offers Great Opportunity
The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to offer good investment opportunities for a great purpose. A one-year, fixed rate term deposit is currently offering a 1.29 percent rate of return. The minimum investment is $100. Money invested with MIF will be used to fund new mission starts and to create mortgages and new ministries. Existing congregations also may apply for loans to renovate their building or refinance an existing debt. For more information about investments and loans or to seek the services of an ELCA building consultant, contact Pr. Mark Wimmer: 267-203-1137 or mark.wimmer@elca.org. |
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God's Purpose for the New England Synod
to go where love leads
to serve where love calls
The Guiding Principles for the New England Synod
pray always
give of ourselves
stand with others
embrace change and diversity
make room for joy
"Doing What Matters" Devotions
Session 10: Do What Matters -- Discover
Bible Passage
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Then the LORD said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."
But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations." (Exodus 3:1-15)
Let's Pray -- Centering Prayer
- Choose a word that matches your image of God. Who is God to you? This will be your sacred word during this prayer.
- Sit comfortably. Ask the living presence of Christ to be real to you during this time of prayer.
- Say your sacred word to yourself silently. Slowly keep repeating it. Let it be the only thought in your mind. Gently return to this word each time another thought comes into your head.
- After 10 minutes, end the centering prayer by thanking God for the gift of silence and presence. Silently say any other words that you may wish to say to God.
Closing Prayer
God of our ancestors, we thank you for your ongoing presence in our lives. You are the 'I AM', the one who saves us and leads us into life. Show us the way to lead others into your freedom. We pray in the strong name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
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