Hello Fairview and Friends! Happy May Day! I have childhood memories of making flower baskets out of strawberry containers and creeping up to my neighbor’s doorsteps, ringing the doorbell, and running away! My brothers and I would try and peek around the corner and see if we could catch a glimpse of our neighbor’s opening up their door to a surprise – a little bundle of spring! I cannot begin the month of May without that memory, or the desire to leave flowers on doorsteps!
May Day celebrations actually began as a pre-Christian Celtic religious holiday. The Maypole celebrations have roots in Germany and have been observed in England and Scandinavia. I never wrapped ribbons around a may pole, but I always dreamed of dancing around one (as a Gen Xer I envisioned a tetherball pole) with ribbons to decorate a pole! Today, and throughout history people celebrate May Day as a day of international labor, or worker recognition. The Gospels portray Jesus as a voice for the workers as he speaks out for the impoverished. Much of the news last night centered around last year’s demonstration at MacArthur Park, and it surprises me that its been a whole year since that catastrophe. Let us pray for workers around the world and in our own community this day.
This Sunday is Stewardship Sunday. Your Fairview leadership has sent many of you letters asking you to consider your pledge for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The council will then have an idea of how much money we can count on in order to budget for the upcoming year. It’s important for each of us to consider what we give to our church community. Many of us give $4 a day to Starbucks for our morning coffee, or spend $12 a day at lunch. All of us spend our money on things we value, but we usually don’t think of church that way. Church is not a product. We like to think of ourselves as existing outside of the consumer world. Yet, the reality is, we do need all of our contributions to continue to do the work of the church. Please consider how you will contribute to the church –not just financially, but with your time and talents as well. Let us give with a happy heart!
See you on Sunday!
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The Wide, Wide World of Theology!
Giving for the Family of God
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression,
you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.
Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.
4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride.
5For all must carry their own loads.
6Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.
7Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh;
but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.
10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all,
and especially for those of the family of faith.
Galatians 6:1-10
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Creator God,
Life is your gift to me.
Through Baptism,
you invite me to share the gift of my life
in service to others.
Be with me
as I choose each day
to show your Presence in our world.
Give me the courage and generosity
to respond to your love, to your call.
I pray especially for those
who serve you in ministry
in our church and beyond.
May we bring the Good News
to those in need.
Keep us close to you.
Open the minds and hearts
of many others
-- men, women, and young people --
that they may accept your challenge
to build the Kingdom in our church and in our world.
We ask this prayer through Christ
our Lord.
Amen.
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Announcements
Missed a Sunday? Catch up on your sermons by listening at home! Just click here to listen or download now:
http://www.ocfairviewchurch.org/podcast/sermons or http://fairviewcc.mypodcast.com/
Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday, May 3rd at the Chicken Coop
Join Wayne and the Men of Fairview at 8am on Sat for a discussion on “The Challenge of Forgiveness”
Hope you’ll take this opportunity to fellowship with your friends!
Interested in Becoming a Member? Wonder what it means to Join the Church?
Join us this Sunday at 9am in the Pastor’s Office to learn more about Membership!
Being a member of the church is easy!
All you have to do is come to a membership class and learn more about the church,
Our church is run by its members –so why not become one and learn about how your voice and vote can have an impact.
See you this Sunday at 9am in my office!
So… think you can sing? Afraid you can’t?
If you answered yes to either of these questions… Sean wants to meet you!
He’ll take the singers and help them shine, and he’ll take the non-singers and teach them to sing!
Come out to the sanctuary tonight and every Thursday at 7:30pm and sing!
Divine on the Vine: Word and Wine on Wednesdays!
Wednesday, May 7th at 7:00pm
Join us for Wine, Juice, Cheese and Goodies!
We love to study, question, discuss and grow.
Join our AIDS WALK team! Walk with us on May 10th or Sponsor us by clicking online: http://my.e2rm.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=58903&LangPref=en-CA
It’s that easy! Hope you’ll help Fairview meet our goal of $850 to raise for this important cause!
Women’s Group this Month is on Tuesday, May 13th!
Join the women of Fairview as they engage in a fun topic:
“Pampering Yourself”
See you at Trae Diede’s home at 7pm!
Next Month’s Book Club will be reading The Road to Cana by Ann Rice
Get your copy now, and start reading for May!
Join us on Tuesday May 20th at Rebecca and Libby’s home to discuss!
Seeking to Give,
Sarah
Reverend Sarah Halverson
Fairview Community Church
2525 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-4610
http://www.ocfairviewchurch.org
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!
