|
|
|
Epiclesis... An Ancient-Future Faith Community |
|
Epiphany, 2012-13 |
Monday, January 13 |
|
Meeting Us in Our Humanity | |
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
During what was a very powerful service of worship on Sunday (the Baptism of Christ Sunday) I shared a work from a favorite artist, Georges Rouault. The French artist Rouault (pronounced "roo-OH") had a distinctive style and his subject matter at first glance, well, is odd: He tended to paint clowns, prostitutes, and Christ.
It sounds off-putting, I suppose, but there's an important theological truth there. Jesus was to be found among the odd and outcast during His earthly ministry. But there's an even deeper truth in there, especially as you look carefully at Rouault's works: The same basic facial characteristics can be seen in all his figures. In other words, it's sometimes hard to tell who's who in Rouault's art.
That's powerful: Jesus can be seen in the faces of others. And Jesus identifies with us in our humanity.
And so last Sunday, after looking at Luke's account of Jesus' baptism, and noting that Jesus was to be found in a large crowd of humanity there at the Jordan, we spent time sharing about our individual needs, prayer needs, for places where we especially want Jesus to identify with us in our humanity. It was very powerful indeed. Do you have a need as well? Write me a little confidential email and we'll pray over it as a community of faith.
Meanwhile, one passage of Scripture that surfaced on Sunday that I'm asking our community of faith to carefully meditate on this week was Isaiah 43:1-5. Won't you join us?
Thanking Jesus that He identifies with us,
Pastor Chris
PS: Jim Kleker shared the beautiful blog of his sister-in-law, a woman who has been especially clinging to the truth that Jesus identifies with us in our humanity. She lost her son last March and writes a moving account of her journey to choose to praise. I recommend it to you.
PPS: If you haven't already, get a copy of our Sunday Scripture devotional for the weeks of Epiphany. Check it out, or download it, by clicking here.
Image above: Christ and the Disciples: Georges Rouault, c. 1925. |
|
|
|
|
|
In This eNewsletter Issue |
|
|
Sunday Worship...
10:30 AM
The Carmichael Chapel (on the campus of the Carmichael Seventh Day Adventist Church) 4600 Winding Way Sacramento, CA 95841
General Information Line: (916) 572-9113 
Epiclesis is a Constant Contact 2011 All Star Award Winner |
|
|
 |
Discipleship this Winter Where'd We Get the Bible starts This Wednesday!
We're planning for two fun and practical mini-discipleship studies: One about the Bible, and one that tells the Epiclesis story.
 Mark your calendars for THIS Wednesday, January 16, and the following Wednesday, January 23, both at 7 PM.
Only two sessions in length, this mini series will cover the basics on where we got the Bible and how to choose a translation that's just right for you. We love and cherish Scriptures as believers, but we don't really know as much about where they came from as we should. And what about translations: These days there are so many to choose from.
About the Location: We'll do these two sessions in a large group setting located in the Fireside Room of the Carmichael Seventh Day Church (our regular Sunday morning worship location). The Fireside Room is on the South end of the Carmichael church campus and is accessible via Pasadena Ave.
+++
 Next, we're working on a series for the winter as a kind of follow-up to "Epiclesis 101": It's been about two years since we put that introductory class together, but our hope for this new mini series of three sessions is to go beyond the basics of who we are and tell the bigger story: How did Epiclesis come to be? What does it mean to be "Ancient-Future?" We want to share the Epiclesis story, talk about what makes our community of faith truly unique, and also take the time to focus on how the structure and leadership works at Epiclesis.
So, this 3-session small group series will be the perfect time to ask questions, learn our story, ponder and pray for our future, and (most important of all) grow closer together with other members of Epiclesis. Stay tuned! We'll have more information about the start date in this space soon. (It will probably launch the last week of January or the first week of February).
One more thing: We'll do this mini-series in small groups, so if you don't already have a regular group, we'll be happy to give you some choices. The series is also open to folks who don't normally worship with Epiclesis.
|
|
|
An Ancient-Future Quote to Note
 Tested by Fire!
Refiners throw pieces of gold into the furnace to be tested and purified by the fire. In the same way, God allows human souls to be tested by troubles until they become pure, transparent, and have profited greatly from the process. Therefore, this is the greatest advantage we have. So then, we shouldn't be disturbed or discouraged when trials happen to us. For if refiners know how long to leave a piece of gold in the furnace, and when to draw it out, if they don't allow it to remain in the fire until it is burnt up and destroyed, how much better does God understand this process! When He sees that we have become purer, He frees us from our trials so that we won't be crushed and defeated by them. Therefore, we shouldn't retreat or lose heart when unexpected things happen to us. Instead, we should submit to the One who knows best and who will test our hearts by fire as long as He likes. He does this for a reason and for the good of those who are tried.
-Chrysostom
For a daily verse of Scripture, a word from the Church Fathers, some sacred art, or for brief bio sketches of the Fathers, visit The Chapel of the Ancient-Future Faith Network.
|
 |
Epiclesis Website Tip of the Week:
We've posted the new Epiphany devotional booklet for 2013 on the website. Want to see or download it? Just click right here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
