Saturday, November 17, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. we distribute food to clients at AFAC. We need to know how many hands we'll have, so please let me know if you plan to serve that morning. (Also, Cheryl is out of town that weekend, so we won't be having brunch at the house.)

Sunday, November 18, 11:45 a.m., session meets.

Sunday, November 25, at 10:30 a.m., we will worship at the Church of the Covenant (2666 N Military Road) in a shared celebration of Christ the King Sunday.

To add a calendar item, contact Mary in the office via e-mail at ClarendonPresbyinfo@gmail.com 

 

As you know, Evelyn Woodson has moved to New York to be closer to her daughter's family. She asked that her new address be shared: Wynwood Kenmore #224, 2971 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14217.

 

We hold Mike Holloway in the light as he recovers from knee surgery. 

 

We hold Barbara Allen in the light, with prayers for a return to good health.  Barbara asks for prayers for Russ Heasty as he struggles with a broken neck and attendant health problems, and for the siblings who are his caretakers.

 

We hold Wes MacAdam in our prayers. Wes's mother died peacefully last month.

Election Day has come and gone, and no matter how you feel about the outcome, now is a time to come together as part of the same body politic, the same nation.

So it is, also, with the church. We life into and through times of decision on important matters before local congregations and before the whole church. We discern, decide and then we move forward as one body.

At least, that's what we do at our best. At our worst, we split into factions, retreat into our own camps in the company of the like-minded and the larger issues fester like so many wounds slowly destroying the body.

What is true for the nation and the church is also true in the other bodies of which we are but parts -- neighborhoods, schools, work places, families.

It is always ours to decide which path we choose. Do we discern, decide and move forward together or do we choose a lesser path?

Over the next several Sundays we're going to look specifically at the body of Christ and ask ourselves what the body is for? Worship will be filled with lively conversation, so come and see!

In preparation for worship, I invite you to read Paul's words on the various gifts that we bring to the body. We'll also look at what our Presbyterian constitution (Book of Order) says about what it means to be a member. You can check that out online here (the relevant text is on page 54, and I apologize for not being able to cut that single page and link it).

We will engage this conversation about being the body of Christ even as various members of our little outpost of that larger body share from their own experience about what it means to engage our mission and to support it.

We've made major decisions as a congregation during the past year, now is the time to live into those decisions together as the body of Christ in the world!

Come and worship!

peace,
David

Saturday, November 17, we have an opportunity to put our mission into action as we distribute food to our neighbors in need at the Arlington Food Assistance Center. We'll meet up at the center (2708 S. Nelson St.) at 8:30 a.m. to distribute food to clients.

This is the Saturday before Thanksgiving so the distribution includes turkeys! This is traditionally one of the busiest distribution days of the year for AFAC, so it is vitally important that we know how large our crew will be. If you have not already told me that you plan to participate, please send me a note today.

While the metro area was spared the brunt of Sandy this week, our neighbors up the coast were hit incredibly hard by the storm.

There are lots of ways to respond in support of the communities who have been so greatly damaged. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is coordinating response for Presbyterians in the aftermath. You can learn more about PDA's response here and about how you can contribute to it through their web site.