Hiya Fairview and Friends! I write you this morning perched upon a bar-stool seat attached to what appears to be the only plug in all of John Wayne airport! There are three of us hovering around it, trying to plug into our life-lines and get our computers up and running so we can stay connected to the world! This strikes me as comical having just read my message to you last week in which I anticipated the wonder of nature in what we would experience at our church retreat –the clear skies, the crisp air, the tall trees! And here I sit looking out onto giant pterodactyls lifting off, and gliding in, and waiting for people like me to politely queue up and file in, thinking that though so different than the simple grandeur of the mountains here too I find an emanation of God’s creative power, in inspiration to the human mind. I’m about to get on a plane and fly! When you think about it, it really is amazing! In just a few hours I’ll be in Seattle preparing for our Evergreen Association Regional meeting, and in this moment, I’m hundreds of miles away. When you think about it, it’s as mind blowing as the trees that I have existed for hundreds of years and almost as majestic as mountains!
The retreat last weekend was truly wonderful! I am sorry for you that missed it, because I’ve got to tell you that we had a good time! I had the opportunity to practice patience and open eyed meditation as I slowly made my way out of Orange County , imagining the freeway as a river that I was gently moving down. It worked for a little while… but I’m only so disciplined – by the time I finally stepped out of my car I couldn’t have been happier to see our church family and get out of that confined space and into the vast openness of nature! Once there, we immediately began the process of relaxing, connecting, and filling up with fresh air! It was chilly –but it was fun! Between Gina’s rocking band and our dancing, intense puzzle playing, porch sitting, and a rousing game of whiffle ball we definitely made our mark on Thousand Pines! I wish that our entire church family could have joined us. It was wonderful and I hope you all come next year!
As I mentioned, I’m on my way to Seattle for our annual conference, and so I will not be there this Sunday. However, I am so excited about the preacher I’ve got for you! The dynamic, fun-filled, spirited and spunky Rev. Anne Cohen will be preaching at Fairview Community Church this Sunday morning! I’ve actually known Anne since I was a little kid (though I don’t know if she remembers that or not!) when she used to sing and play her guitar at Pilgrim Pines camp. She was cool then, and she’s cool now! Anne serves as an interim minister, and has recently completed a term of interim ministry at the San Marino United Church of Christ. Perhaps the most exciting thing about Anne is that she’s just begun a brand new career as mother! The entire UCC was holding our breath as Anne and awaited the adoption of her first child! Finally, it has come! I hope you enjoy the church service this week –I only wish I were going to be there! To make it even more exciting the music this week will be brought to us by our own Roxanne Smith and will be a rendition of James Taylor’s spirit filled music. I’ll certainly miss you on Sunday!
Sunday afternoon is the CROP WALK! Join Marge Salmassy and crew and represent Fairview Community Church as we walk to end hunger! The walk is fun and fairly easy around the back bay area beginning at St Mark Presbyterian Church. You can still sign up! Contact Marge now or Sunday morning! And if you can’t walk –why not help our team and donate? Last year we raised over $600 --I’m sure we can do better this year!
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The Wide, Wide World of Theology!
This is a story my colleague and friend, Rev. Dr. Randy Leisey shared with his congregation last week.
I think it gives us hope, meaning and assurance about our life’s work, goals, and purpose.
May we find strength in it to continue to the journey, but peace in knowing that we are not responsible for moving mountains on our own!
This is a story of a man named John. John was a faithful person but he had one problem.
He wanted in the worst way to do his part to be a peacemaker in this world, but no matter what he did, (he wrote letters to the newspapers and to his congresspersons, he organized demonstrations, he made speeches to local groups, he did the children’s conversation at church) he never seemed to be able to get any good results.
The world still wasn’t a peaceful place.
He prayed fervently and daily, asking God that he be able to see some results for all of his peacemaking efforts.
One day, Jesus appeared to John in a vision.
He told John of a huge boulder lying in a forest near where John lived.
Jesus told John to go to the boulder and push it with all his might.
When the vision ended, John did exactly what he was told.
He went into the forest, found the boulder just as he had been shown.
And John leaned his weight against it and pushed with all his might. But nothing happened.
The boulder didn’t even budge. And John was disappointed.
It was late, so he decided to go home and try again the next day.
The next day, he went to the boulder again and pushed, and he pushed, and he pushed. But still nothing happened.
After many days of pushing the boulder and not moving it, John brought this matter to prayer.
“Why, Jesus?” he asked. “Why can’t I move that boulder?”
Jesus appeared to John again in another vision and Jesus said,
“I never asked you to move the boulder. All I asked of you is that you push it with all your might.”
John finally understood.
It was not so important for John to get the results he desired, but it was important that John made the effort.
Whether he succeeded or not was not important. What was important was that he tried.
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God of All,
You emanate from the warm earth, the ground of our being.
You shine down, watching over us.
You are as light as a cloud, veiled in presence among us.
You are as heavy as the tear that trickles down our faces.
You are the inspiration of a poem,
The answer that solves the equation,
The puzzle with the pieces strewn across our lives.
God of All,
You come in such mysterious ways, and yet you make perfect sense.
Baffling us in one moment, grounding us in the next.
May we open our eyes to your mystical nature, and use your minds to question.
Be with us in all that we do, and let us be with you –willing and aware, desiring your presence.
Amen.
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Announcements
Missed a Sermon? Listen online at http://fairviewcc.mypodcast.com/
THIS SUNDAY! STILL TIME TO SIGN UP AND/OR DONATE!
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 from Marge or in the office!
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 THE BARMORE HOME
Oct 17th and 24th at Barmore Home – 1823 Hummingbird Drive Costa Mesa
Please join us for a cozier setting ---See you then!
There will be no Bible Study on Oct 31st
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.
A PUMPKIN PARTY
Join us on Saturday, afternoon on October 26th at our church for a PUMPKIN PARTY!
Let’s celebrate Halloween together and celebrate Autumn!
Children of All Ages –Come dressed Up! There will be prizes!
(Please no Super-Spooky costumes – we don’t want to frighten anyone!)
Contact Dave Eastman for details!
Soaring,
Sarah
PS –just landed in Seattle –finishing this up at the baggage claim! What a wonder technology is! Landing in Seattle was beautiful! I hope I get to see more of this incredibly breathtaking place!
