Thursday's Thoughts 10/22/09

October 22nd, 2009 | posted by Admin

Thursday’s Thoughts

Fairview Community Church

Worshiping God and Welcoming All Every Sunday at 10am

Hello Fairview!

What a lovely send-off we had for our dear Martha Blake this past Sunday. We’re not really saying goodbye –just “see ya later!” as she moves to Oregon to a beautiful spot where she’ll be surrounded by nature and lots of opportunities to focus on her photography! With Martha’s move on my mind I can’t help but think about change, about goodbyes (or see-ya-laters), and also about the impact these changes can have in our lives and in the life of our church. The difficult reality about life is that everything changes. We’re constantly in flux, but we’re likewise constantly trying to gain stability and minimize change. Sometimes we don’t notice change, because it is small and seemingly insignificant. Those types of changes can be easier to accept –but are not always the best or healthiest kinds of changes. Big changes can be completely disruptive in our lives, after all they’re so big how can we not notice them? Sometimes they are welcome changes like the birth of a baby, or a wedding, or winning the lotto! But other big changes like discovery of an illness, death, or a job loss are unwelcome and undesired. Changes such as a move like Martha’s can sort of fluctuate between positive and negative feelings as we receive the change from different places of emotion. Every time we change we say a little or sometimes big goodbye to the way things were. Sometimes, it’s a “don’t let the door hit ya on the way out!” –like when we say goodbye to cancer, or debt, or weight we’ve finally lost. But other times we struggle to say goodbye to the change –we don’t want to let go, we’re scared of what might come when we do, and we end up in a teary farewell –like when we lose a parent, or when we are forced to deal with a change in our lifestyle or income, or when things didn’t go the way we wanted them to go or the way we thought they were heading. And then there are the “Bon Voyage” kind of changes –those are the goodbyes we say when we cheerfully embrace change –the weddings, the job promotions, even the change of scenery in a vacation.

Any way you cut it –change is difficult –whether it is small or big, welcome or unwelcome, noticed or unnoticed –change has an impact. So I suppose as I think about change as saying goodbye to one part of my life to say hello to another, I become ever so much more away of the changes that I am constantly experiencing –change in temperature, seasons, food choice. Managing change is not always something I do consciously –but the more we are aware of what is changing the more capable we are of accepting the big changes and learning how to say those “goodbyes” to the old and “hellos” to the new –whether its exactly what we desired or not.

It’s hard to say goodbye to Martha Blake –it’s hard any time someone leaves the church. Sometimes it is extremely painful. Certainly, in this situation, I know that Martha is beginning this change in her life empowered by her decision and excited about the changes her move will bring. She says goodbye to us, with the satisfaction of knowing she contributed to our ministry, by managing our SCRIP program, serving on our church council, leading women’s group, and giving of herself. Since we embrace Martha’s change with her, we will probably not experience too much discomfort upon this change –except the ache to see her and laugh with her –we’ll probably all respond to the change of her not being here in different ways.

I wonder how do we as a church embrace other types of change? In so many ways it can be exhilarating to change and in other ways it can be debilitating. I suppose Martha could have gone either way when faced with changes in her life, and she chose to be proactive and embrace change –what if we tilted our heads a little, squinted just a bit, and began to see change from a different perspective as well? We too, might learn a little something about ourselves as we pay more attention to change in our lives.

Bon Voyage Martha! We’ll miss you! As you venture into this big change in your life, we embrace that Spirit of Change in ours as well!

Hope you’ll join us this Sunday at Fairview Community Church where we’ll be celebrating God’s Creation. This weekend there is an International observation of Climate Action and we’re going to join hundreds of other faith communities and secular organizations in observing this day of action. There are activities happening all over the county from a 5k walk to hikes at Irvine park, to all sorts of fun ways to get out in Creation and act for its care. Check it out at www.ocice.org --we’ll be intentional about raising consciousness here on Sunday morning! Hope to see you at Irvine Park!

*********

The Wide, Wide World of Theology!

“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the

tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind: and God saw that it was

good” (Genesis 1:12)

Please take a moment to read through the prayers of our community,

the prayers that matter to us, and lift them up in your hearts this moment.

If you have an a prayer request you would like to add to our list, please email or call the office 714 545-4610.

PRAYER MATTERS

Veda Atchley who will have knee surgery on October 23. Prayers for her as she prepares mentally, physically and spiritually for her surgery. She would like to thank everyone for all the get well cards and appreciates all the prayers.

Kyle Cathey, still experiencing excruciating health difficulties. Prayers for his improvement.

Gina Notrica’s mother Alice Neibarger who had a terrible fall, cracking her head open, and ended up with numerous bruises. Prayers that the neurological tests come back with more information on why she is falling so frequently.

Vicki Pedrin’s co-worker Shay suffered from a stroke and cannot speak. We pray for her as she struggles to regain her strength and especially pray for her daughter Mackenzie during this difficult time.

Jane Philipp, who continues to struggle with back problems and other health issues and is contending with the economic need to sell her home.

Our new friend Michelle Pittman's mother Kathy Krech, dealing with liver cancer, and Michelle's stepfather Paul Krech, trying to recover from a disabling stroke.

Frenacee Schuck, who is challenged with caring for her ill father, and continues to recover from her foot surgery and an infection that followed.

Roxanne Smith’s mother Ann Boddie, who is now at Manor Care Rehabilitation Center where she is struggling with the effects of her brain tumor. Prayers for their entire family.

Carol Thicksten’s nephew who is recovering from a tragic car accident. Continued prayers for all involved.

Those seeking new employment, in this time of severe job losses and economic hardship.

Our Troops, as they perform their duties, wherever they are in the world.

All who feel the burdens of life that the burden might be lifted and God’s grace felt and accepted.

Announcements

Fairview Community Church is in the News:

Check out our pastor’s comments this week in the Daily Pilot:

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/10/16/religion/dpt-intheory101709.txt

and also featured this week in the Pilot:

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/10/15/education/dpt-milk101609.txt

and we made new in the Orange County Register this week as well!

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/coronado-blackwood-others-2615645-comments-milk