Each day, visions and dreams are created in the hearts of many in the United Church of  Christ. Through the Strengthen the Church offering, these visions and dreams can become a reality.

We were so pleased, last Sunday, to welcome new members into our fellowship faith community at Zion.

They look pleased too!  From left to right: Matt, Janine, Greg, Lorna, Sharon, Sandra, Pam, Emily, and Alicia.

"And day by day the Lord added to their number" Acts 2:47

       February . . . . . . . . .   93

       March . . . . . . . . . . . 123

       April . . . . . . . . . . . .   99

 

Language is a great and wonderful gift.  Language facilitates communication between persons and groups.  But even though we speak the same language we might not speak the same language. Huh? What did he say?  The figure of speech "they don't speak the same language" can refer to many of life's situations and relationships. The father and son didn't speak the same language when it came to politics.  Parents and teenagers don't speak the same language.  The popular book Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus provides the reader with meaningful insights into generalized differences between men and women. They don't "speak the same language".

Most of us speak the same English language but the divided nature of our communities and nation suggest we might not all "be on the same page", "singing from the same page of the hymnal" or "speaking the same language".  Two of our texts for this week use language as a central motif.  From Genesis we read the familiar story of Babel where it is suggested that humankind all spoke one language until God came to them "to confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another's speech" Genesis 11:7 NRSV  God was not pleased that their efforts were directed toward personal achievement and making a name for themselves and not toward glorifying God.  "Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth". 11:9

How different is our text from the New Testament!  Here, even though those gathered were speaking in many different languages, observers were able to understand them. "How is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?"  Acts 2:8 NRSV

There are important lessons here for us to learn from and to remember.  If our own spoken language is not enough to unite us into one undivided community, maybe we're speaking the wrong language;  maybe we need Spirit Language.  That will be the focus of our time together on Sunday.  I look forward to being with you at that time.  Don't forget to wear your best Red outfit!  Come, come Holy Spirit!

  

The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Whitney Prose and Robert Bruno tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

  

  

ALL are WELCOME!