Hello My Friends! I’ve got the mountains on my mind! Tomorrow afternoon Fairview heads for the hills! Our Church family retreat begins tomorrow evening and lasts through the entire weekend! I hope you’ll be there! I am looking forward to inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, tilting my head upwards beyond the trees and gazing into the dark night sky and a myriad of stars shining points of light back onto the earth! I cannot wait to smell the pines, to make crafts, and to hear Gina Notrica’s voice booming and her band jamming! One of my favorite images from last year was the children dancing with laughter abounding and everyone enjoying being present together. I look forward to that feeling of joy that comes when people love to be together and simply enjoy each other’s presence!
There is just something about being in nature that makes me really feel the Spirit. Of course, I recognize that the Spirit is everywhere. God is always among us, and always available to us. But somehow these concrete jungles or concrete plains don’t always emanate Spirit the way the earth does. When I see a tree over a hundred years old reaching its branches towards the sky, I can’t help but see God. When I look into the clear dark sky and see the moon watching down below, I can’t help but see God. When I take in that deep breath, closing my eyes, and really smelling the air, really feeling it deep in my chest, I can’t help but feel God. When I hear the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees, and the coyotes howling in the near distance, I cannot help but hear God’s voice. Of course, I know that God is in our Orange County sky, and our Orange County air, and maybe even the Orange County traffic (though that’s hard to imagine!), but there’s just something about nature that puts me in just the right mode to feel God, see God, and to open myself to God’s calling in my life. I hope you will have the opportunity to experience God this weekend at Thousand Pines, or be intentional about experiencing God right here in Orange County (even on those freeways) –or wherever you are!
So, if you aren’t already signed up to join us at Thousand Pines this weekend, consider coming up for our Sunday morning worship service because there will be NO SERVICE AT FAIRVIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH this weekend! Do not come to the sanctuary this Sunday, because we will be in nature’s sanctuary worshipping in the pines, amongst the birds and the squirrels, with the mountains as our only walls and the sky as our temple’s ceiling!
Don’t forget to sign up for the CROP Walk on October 14th! Contact Marge Salmassy to sign up: salmassymls@sbcglobal.net
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The Wide, Wide World of Theology!
Nature's Wonders
The wonders of nature bring into full bloom
It's colors and signs of seasonal bliss
It draws the heart toward it's vividful views
And unto the things that it should not miss
It's creatures that are drawn out from their dens
Bring warmful views to the earth once more
That they would grow and produce in a thriving state
In abundance of all it's galore
© By Min Kim
Mary C. Bishop
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Holy Spirit,
You are the essence of all things,
The spark that lights the fire,
The bubbles in the gurgling brook,
The sparkle in the baby’s eye,
The passion in a lover’s heart,
Spirit of the Pine Tree, Spirit of the Mountain, Spirit of the Dark Night,
Let us feel you and know you, even when we cannot see you or hear you.
God of all, We open ourselves to you now.
Amen.
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Announcements
Missed a Sermon? Listen online at http://fairviewcc.mypodcast.com/
Fairview Community Church Retreat! October 5-7th
This is just around the Corner! Sign Up Now!
All are Welcome and Encouraged to join us for our annual retreat at Thousand Pines Camp!
The SUNDAY SERVICE WILL BE AT THOUSAND PINES on OCT 7th – NO ONE WILL BE AT THE CHURCH OCT 7th!
So worship with up at camp! Come for the weekend or come for Sunday Morning!
Divine on the Vine
WORD AND WINE ON WEDNESDAYS!
Join us Wednesday at 6:30pm for wine and cheese and divine conversation!
DIVINE ON THE VINE WILL TAKE PLACE AT MARGE SALMASSY’S HOME
October 10th Salmassy Home – 2952 Java Road Costa Mesa
Please join us for a cozier setting ---See you then!
CROP WALK 2007! -- SUNDAY OCT 14th
The Crop Walk begins at 1:30pm (registration at 1pm) at St Mark Church in NB
Join the 19th Annual Interfaith Hunger Walk for Peace.
Register and/or donate online at www.hungerwalknewportbeach.org
Or pick up registration packets at church this Sunday!
Adult Christian Education Presents:
The Vein of Gold
Facilitated by Veda Atchley and Martha Blake
This is an 8 week growth group designed to open ourselves up to the Spirit.
Come and find your creative side, share, and grow with others!
You do not have to be at every session to participate in the group.
The session begins following the service and will go for about an hour.
Contact Veda Atchley, Martha Blake or hit reply to this email for more information.
Seeking Spirit in Creation,
Sarah
