How does one gauge the quality of another's sacrifice? Certainly children in
healthy relationships with their parents will come to appreciate the sacrifices
their parents make for them, particularly when those children grow to have
children of their own. Friends might talk about the faithfulness of other
friends who give of themselves is support of each other, willingly making
sacrifices in the name of friendship. But what of those we will never meet,
those men and women whose service to their country secures the freedom we so
often taken for granted? How does one evaluate such sacrifice?
Thomas
Paine, 18th century writer and American revolutionary, said, "Those who expect to
reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it". You
and I are fortunate today because many have been willing to undergo the fatigue
of supporting the cause of freedom. Memorial Day weekend gives us pause to
stop in the busyness of our lives and remember the sacrifices of others, many
whose names and stories we will never know. The inscription on the tomb of the
unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery reads, "Here rests in
honored glory an American soldier known only to God." We cannot know the names
of so many whose sacrifices are part of the fabric of our nation, but we can,
particularly on this weekend, give thanks for those who have given so much. Let
us be faithful to honor such sacrifice.
If you have guests visiting on this holiday weekend, bring them
with you to worship this Sunday. In the spirit of the holiday weekend, dress
more casually for Sunday, perhaps wearing the colors of our nation as we
remember the significance of sacrifice and service. Cindy and Olga will be
playing duets on piano and organ, Pat and Dina will be sharing special music,
you will have an opportunity to express appreciation for the sacrifice and
service of others, and I will bring a message entitled, "A Soldier Under
Authority," based on Luke 7:1-10. I look forward to seeing you as we gather to
honor the Lord this Sunday.
Jim
P.S. You may still join us
tomorrow at Quantico National Cemetery at 9 a.m. to help clean and prepare the
cemetery for Memorial Day events...just one way to honor and give thanks for
the sacrifice and service of others.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Happy Birthday to You!
In his 1959 children's book, "Happy Birthday to You," Theodore Seuss
Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, weaves a wonderful tale of celebration as
the main character, the Birthday Bird, takes the reader on a fantastical
journey. The book assumes that the reader is the one with the birthday and he
or she is treated to a colorful array of gifts, food, and activities meant to
celebrate his or her special day. In his inimitable style, Dr. Seuss offers
profound truth in the midst of this whimsical tale as he writes, "Today you
are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than
you!"
Birthdays have a way of calling attention to the uniqueness of each person. The details of one's birth often highlight this uniqueness, from the date, time, and place of birth, to one's doctor, parents, siblings, and on and on we could go. One's birthday is a special moment that calls one to embrace the Birthday Bird's words; "There is no one alive who is you-er than you!"
Friday, May 20, one of our oldest members turns 94, and that bears remembering! Helen Hill will celebrate her birthday on Friday and be honored as a unique child of God. Helen is a great story teller whose narrative often centers around her family, her faith, her church, and her many years as a military wife. I always enjoy Helen's stories and the twinkle in her eye that often accompanies her humor and candor. She is a treasure to her family, friends, and church and is a shining example of the wonderful way the Creator fashions each one of us. And so, Helen, "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you." Amen, and God bless you on this special day.
It also bears noting that Wallace and Phyllis Brinkley are celebrating 65 years of marriage this week. Their love and faithfulness to each other is a blessing to our community of faith. Congratulations Wallace and Phyllis! May God's loving hands continue to guide your steps.
Join us Sunday morning as we give thanks for the ministry of Andre Towner. A reception will be held for Andre and Shondelyn from 9:15-10 in the narthex and then we will be recognizing them in a special way during our morning worship service. We have been blessed by the Towner's over the last three and one-half years. Come and share your appreciation with them.
Whether you are 4, 34, 64, or 94, give thanks to God for the uniqueness of creation at work in you, and whenever your special day occurs..."Happy Birthday to You!"
Jim Abernathy
Birthdays have a way of calling attention to the uniqueness of each person. The details of one's birth often highlight this uniqueness, from the date, time, and place of birth, to one's doctor, parents, siblings, and on and on we could go. One's birthday is a special moment that calls one to embrace the Birthday Bird's words; "There is no one alive who is you-er than you!"
Friday, May 20, one of our oldest members turns 94, and that bears remembering! Helen Hill will celebrate her birthday on Friday and be honored as a unique child of God. Helen is a great story teller whose narrative often centers around her family, her faith, her church, and her many years as a military wife. I always enjoy Helen's stories and the twinkle in her eye that often accompanies her humor and candor. She is a treasure to her family, friends, and church and is a shining example of the wonderful way the Creator fashions each one of us. And so, Helen, "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you." Amen, and God bless you on this special day.
It also bears noting that Wallace and Phyllis Brinkley are celebrating 65 years of marriage this week. Their love and faithfulness to each other is a blessing to our community of faith. Congratulations Wallace and Phyllis! May God's loving hands continue to guide your steps.
Join us Sunday morning as we give thanks for the ministry of Andre Towner. A reception will be held for Andre and Shondelyn from 9:15-10 in the narthex and then we will be recognizing them in a special way during our morning worship service. We have been blessed by the Towner's over the last three and one-half years. Come and share your appreciation with them.
Whether you are 4, 34, 64, or 94, give thanks to God for the uniqueness of creation at work in you, and whenever your special day occurs..."Happy Birthday to You!"
Jim Abernathy
Friday, May 13, 2016
Baggage
The scene was enough to make any airline executive's heart skip a beat yesterday
as video surfaced of thousands of suitcases and other travel bags lined up in a
parking lot at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. A computer glitch in the TSA
system caused the unprecedented backlog of bags...by some estimates, more than
3000! That's a lot of baggage! One man, asked to assess his experience in the
midst of the confusion, said, "I've heard every swear word known to man in
the last fifteen minutes." Anger and frustration is understandable in such
a circumstance. We are righty concerned about how our baggage is handled.
Baggage is often defined as the container which holds clothing, books, or a variety of personal possessions one takes along, usually when traveling. The word baggage can also be used metaphorically to define other things we carry within our hearts and minds that speak to experiences of life that are often difficult, sometimes traumatic, and at times, unresolved. We often want to keep such "baggage" close, not wishing others to have access to that which we carefully guard. Like suitcases strewn across an airport parking lot, lost somewhere in transit in an eighteen wheeler, or packed onto another plane whose destination cannot easily be tracked, (all things the lost bags of Sky Harbor were subjected to) we struggle to hold onto and claim our own baggage and all that accompanies it.
I Peter 5:7 gives us sound advice in the midst of the burdens we hold close and those that seem just out of our reach. "Cast your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (NRSV) British pastor and scholar, J.B. Philiips, translates this verse, "You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are HIs personal concern." Sometimes this baggage we carry and struggle to control is quite heavy. 3000+ lost bags is a lot of baggage to carry. I would guess there were several TSA and airport personnel with sore backs in Phoenix this morning. Peter reminds us that our weariness can give way to God's comfort and peace as we let God help carry the burdens and heartaches of life that often seem so difficult to bear. Considering the baggage we each carry and seek to manage, learning to throw the whole weight of our anxieties upon God is a practice of faith we would do well to observe.
Sunday morning, we will celebrate Pentecost, remembering the Holy Spirit's presence at work in the early church that changed lives and gave evidence to the power of God at work in those who faithfully followed Jesus, the Christ. The color red is often associated with Pentecost so I encourage you to wear something red on Sunday as reminder to us all of the presence of God at work in and around us. Remember also that we continue to receive a love offering for Andre Towner whose last Sunday with us will be May 22. A reception will precede Sunday School on the 22nd from 9:15-10 a.m. in the narthex, so plan to come and let the Towner's know of your appreciation of and best wishes for them.
Finally, our 5th Sunday project for this month has been finalized. In recognition of Memorial Day and in honor of so many who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation, we will be working with the National Cemetery at Quantico to help prepare the grounds for Memorial Day Celebrations. We will join others on Saturday, May 28 at 9 a.m. to clean and prepare trails, place flags, and other tasks that will prepare this hallowed ground for Memorial Day remembrances. Please sign up at the welcome center so we can have an idea of how many would like to participate and for transportation needs.
I like the last phrase of J.B. Phillips' translation of I Peter 5:7; "...you are God's personal concern." Keep that in mind with the image of all that baggage strewn across the parking lot at Sky Harbor, and as you think about your own baggage strewn across the landscape of your life.
I look forward to seeing you in Red on Sunday.
Jim Abernathy
Baggage is often defined as the container which holds clothing, books, or a variety of personal possessions one takes along, usually when traveling. The word baggage can also be used metaphorically to define other things we carry within our hearts and minds that speak to experiences of life that are often difficult, sometimes traumatic, and at times, unresolved. We often want to keep such "baggage" close, not wishing others to have access to that which we carefully guard. Like suitcases strewn across an airport parking lot, lost somewhere in transit in an eighteen wheeler, or packed onto another plane whose destination cannot easily be tracked, (all things the lost bags of Sky Harbor were subjected to) we struggle to hold onto and claim our own baggage and all that accompanies it.
I Peter 5:7 gives us sound advice in the midst of the burdens we hold close and those that seem just out of our reach. "Cast your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (NRSV) British pastor and scholar, J.B. Philiips, translates this verse, "You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are HIs personal concern." Sometimes this baggage we carry and struggle to control is quite heavy. 3000+ lost bags is a lot of baggage to carry. I would guess there were several TSA and airport personnel with sore backs in Phoenix this morning. Peter reminds us that our weariness can give way to God's comfort and peace as we let God help carry the burdens and heartaches of life that often seem so difficult to bear. Considering the baggage we each carry and seek to manage, learning to throw the whole weight of our anxieties upon God is a practice of faith we would do well to observe.
Sunday morning, we will celebrate Pentecost, remembering the Holy Spirit's presence at work in the early church that changed lives and gave evidence to the power of God at work in those who faithfully followed Jesus, the Christ. The color red is often associated with Pentecost so I encourage you to wear something red on Sunday as reminder to us all of the presence of God at work in and around us. Remember also that we continue to receive a love offering for Andre Towner whose last Sunday with us will be May 22. A reception will precede Sunday School on the 22nd from 9:15-10 a.m. in the narthex, so plan to come and let the Towner's know of your appreciation of and best wishes for them.
Finally, our 5th Sunday project for this month has been finalized. In recognition of Memorial Day and in honor of so many who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation, we will be working with the National Cemetery at Quantico to help prepare the grounds for Memorial Day Celebrations. We will join others on Saturday, May 28 at 9 a.m. to clean and prepare trails, place flags, and other tasks that will prepare this hallowed ground for Memorial Day remembrances. Please sign up at the welcome center so we can have an idea of how many would like to participate and for transportation needs.
I like the last phrase of J.B. Phillips' translation of I Peter 5:7; "...you are God's personal concern." Keep that in mind with the image of all that baggage strewn across the parking lot at Sky Harbor, and as you think about your own baggage strewn across the landscape of your life.
I look forward to seeing you in Red on Sunday.
Jim Abernathy
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