Another Reason It is Important for Us to Claim Our Christian Identity

If you were to go back and read my sermons, you would discover most, if not all, speak, in some way, to the importance of living our faith publicly.  I have always believed that if we could show others the difference our faith makes in the quality of our lives, then we just might encourage them to follow Christ for themselves.  In other words, the more the claims we make about our faith are reflected in our lives and our life together, the more effective our witness will be.  People listen to people who have integrity.  Not everyone agrees with the theology or politics of Peter Marshal, Martin Luther King Jr. or Mother Theresa; however, people listen to their teachings because they are people of integrity.  Though each had their sins and shortcomings, they strove to be the people God had called them to be.  Each of us can name countless others, as well, who, though they did not share the fame of saints such as these, were no less influential in their witness because their lives and their faith had integrity.  They were on Monday, the people they claimed to be on Sunday.

As I read this week about the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Westboro Baptist Church http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41868004/ns/politics-more_politics/?gt1=43001, the sense of urgency I have for this issue of reclaiming our public voice, as liberal protestants, only grew.  It is important to note, when I use the term liberal, I am speaking classically.  When I use the term liberal, it means magnanimous.  Therefore you can have liberal protestants who are on the left or right of any issue.  You can have magnanimous Republicans as well as magnanimous Democrats.  To be a liberal protestant in my world is to bring a magnanimous worldview and a magnanimous theological perspective to the table.  In other words, as I am using the word liberal, the counterpart would not be conservative.  The counterpart would be partisan.  Historically and theologically, Presbyterians would be numbered among the liberal protestants because we were, more often than not, magnanimous Christians.

We were among those who worked tirelessly to be ecumenical and interfaith.  We were among those who, more often than not, sought to build bridges rather than walls between ourselves and those with whom we disagree.  We recognize the baptisms of all Christian denominations.  Any baptized person is welcome at our celebration of the Lord's Supper.  We were at the forefront of most social justice movements, including child welfare, women's suffrage, temperance and civil rights.  From our theological perspective, you don't have to be a Christian to be loved by God.  Therefore, you don't have to be a Christian to be loved by us.  We are a magnanimous people and the world needs to hear from us more than ever.  Why?

Our sisters and brothers at the Westboro Baptist Church have a Christian witness, which tests my capacity to be magnanimous.  The truth be told, I find their witness abhorrent.  While there is room for good people of faith to disagree on consequential social issues, their method of Christian witness, though apparently protected by the constitution (which I would question), is neither Christlike nor Biblical.  As people of faith, while we must love our sisters and brothers at the Westboro Baptist Church, chopping their wood and carrying their water if we were so called upon, we must also show the world there is an alternative.  If liberal protestants or, better, magnanimous Christians, remain silent on who we believe Jesus Christ is and how he calls us to live our lives, if we continue to live as if our faith is a private matter, then the world will only see Christ through the lives of our less magnanimous sisters and brothers.  Is this the world in which we want to live?  Where good people of faith keep silent?

People of faith, may the God who gave his only begotten son to save us, and the world in which we live, bless us, reprove us and redeem us that, through our lives and our faith, we may show the world how truly magnanimous God is.

See you in church!

Pastor Myers

revhaggis1@hotmail.com

"No Strings Attached" 

Psalm 139:1-14

Mark 14:3-9 

Beedle/Crucifer:

   Abby Brown & Megan        

Ushers:

Heather & Korey Fisher, Shari Glasgow,  

Martha Whiteman, Nancy Dowell
Greeters: 

Linda & Mary Baker and Shirley Armstrong and Dixie Wells       

Nursery: 

    Cindy Erickson & Cori Sargent       

Children's Church: 

    Kristie Murdock     

  Coffee Hour:   

    Potluck    

Sunday school for PreK - 6th meet up stairs and Jr. & Sr. Highs meet in the Youth Wing at 9:15 a.m.

Sunday Morning Bible Study Class - The adult Bible study class will meet on Sunday mornings in the Bride's Room (across from the chapel) at 9:15 a.m. beginning March 13.  This 3 month series of lessons will focus on New Testament understanding of worship.  Whom do we worship?  How  do we worship?  Why do we worship?  Through study and discussion, we will try to understand the early Christians struggle to decide what worship should be and how to do it.  Then, we can look at our worship practices more objectively.  All adults are welcome to attend this class.  Lesson Materials for March 13th will be available in the classroom cabinet one week earlier.  

Faith & Life Class - 9:15 Sunday morning in the social hall.   

March 6 -  "What Have We Been Reading?"  Pastor Myers will try to answer questions that we might have regarding our readings of the Bible up to this point.  All are welcome whether ornot you have been participating in "An Invitation to Read the Bible".   The topic will be Genesis - 2 Samuel 10. 

Your weekly Scripture readings are:

Sunday (3/6) - 2 Samuel 7:1-10:19   

Monday - 2 Samuel 11:1-13:38  

Tuesday - 2 Samuel 13:39-15:37   

Wednesday - 2 Samuel 16:1-18:33   

Thursday - 2 Samuel 19:-21:22   

Friday - 2 Samuel 22:1-23:38   

Saturday - 2 Samuel 23:39-1 Kings 1:53   

Sunday (3/13) - 2 Samuel 2:1-4:17

Thai Circle will meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. on March 3rd.

As we begin the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 9,you are invited to join us for a soup supper at 5:30 p.m. in the social hall.  A free will donation will be received to cover the cost of the supper.  An Ash Wednesday Taize service of communion and imposition of ashes will follow the supper at 6:30.

Our Ash Wednesday service will be held on March 9, at 6:30 p.m.  This year the service of communion and ashes will include the music and order of a Taize service. 

Taize music comes from the ecumenical monastic community of Taize, France.  Founded in 1940 to work for reconciliation among the people of Europe, this community, which now numbers one hundred Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox brothers from dozens of countries, has become host to thousands - young people in particular - who visit Taize to discern their vocation; entering into the prayer and spirit of the community.  The music is contemplative, and sometimes repetitive so that you might absorb what you are praying into your very being.  You will find yourself singing some of the prayer/songs long after the service.  It is a very meaningful way of worshipping and a good way to start the Lenten season.

Our new Faith & Art Guild would like to ask our congregation to be the first exhibitors of art in our social hall.  During Lent (March 9-April 23), we would like to exhibit pictures taken by members and friends of Faith UPC.  Specifically, we would like you to look at the world around you and find examples of crosses mixed into our everyday lives.  Take a photo of the cross, have it made into at least an 8x10 and either frame it or put a matte around it.  Inexpensive mattes and frames may be purchased at Shopko, Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, ...  We are hoping you will not take pictures of actual crosses, but instead look for the cross in a tree branch, a window pane, a telephone pole...

This is meant to be a fun challenge and an eye opening experiment into how we are surrounded by the symbol of our salvation.  Reminders of God's love are everywhere.  If you have questions, please call the church office (734-5129) or talk with Margie.  Please bring your photographs to the church and ready to be displayed by March 9.   

Good Luck and God Bless your search.

The 36^th Annual Lenten Lay Breakfast series will begin Friday, March 11, 2011, and continue each Friday morning through Good Friday April 22, 2011.Strom Center will again be the host for the series.Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. with worship from 7:15-7:45 a.m. All are welcome.

The Ecumenical Lenten Lay Breakfasts, held on the first Fridays of Lent, are offered by churches participating in the Warren County Ministerial Association.Worship will be led by members of the following congregations.We look forward to seeing you as we begin this holy season.

March 11   Faith United Presbyterian

March 18   Fairview Center Methodist / Coldbrook Christian

March 25    Immaculate Conception

April 1       First United Methodist

April 8       Heritage Presbyterian

April 15     Immanuel Baptist / River Of Life

April 22     First Lutheran

Devotionals will be available in the Narthex or Under the Mirror at the Parking Lot door beginning March 9.  This years devotional is called "I have Heard the Cries of My People:  The Exodus for Lent."  While it is based on Old Testament scripture it is also still Christ centered. 

The 5th & 6th graders of WNL are starting a new mission project for kids in our community.  They would like to make Birthday boxes for families who can't afford to give their children the kind of party other kids have.  We hope to include in a box:

Cake mix

Frosting

Cupcake cups

Candles

Themed plates

Cups

Napkins

Table cloth

Plastic utensils

Cake decorations

Simple games

Goodie bags

Small toys and candy to go in goodie bags

If you have leftovers from your party or want to buy new please bring them to the church and place them in the birthday box around the corner from the parking lot door.

Kids love themed parties:  Batman, Princess, Cars, Barbie...  but, anything is welcome.   

Thank you for your help, our kids will have fun making the boxes and knowing their helping to make a child's birthday a special one.

Are you interested in being part of the Monmouth Community Easter Egg Hunt?  Our sisters and brothers at River of Life could use some assistance.  Cash Donations, crowd control, stuffing Easter Eggs with candy, are just a few ways you are able to be involved. They normally have about 1500-2000 kids and normally stuff 20,000 eggs. This is a great way to show our community that we are working together for the Kingdom of God.  If you are interested or have questions, contact Pastor Robb Duffie.

River of Life International Church
P. O. Box 258
1803 80th Street
Monmouth, IL 61462
www.rlichurch.com
(309)734-9998

1     Genevieve Ball

3     Deena Fisher

4     David Distin

5     Mary Baker

       Joyce Hagemann

       Elizabeth James

7     Rhett Willett

8     Sally McVey

9     Matt Lewis

10   Jessica Wilson

11   Kristie Murdock

       Ruth Carwile

       Julie Armstrong 

...happy birthday to you!