Thursday’s Thoughts
Fairview Community Church
Worshiping God and Welcoming All Every Sunday at 10am
Dear Friends,
I am nearing the end of my time in Chicago. It has been wonderful and it has been weary. I am exhausted and I am renewed. I am missing you and I am wishing I could stay in this place forever. This trip has been a paradox in many ways. I came here feeling completely inadequate, having not completed all of my work ahead of time, and yet I also felt completely accepted, returning to the embrace of my dear friends and colleagues. While here I am filled with such incredible joy, and yet as many of you already know, my aunt Diane died on Saturday and I am filled with deep sadness. I wanted to fly home and be with my family, yet in many ways I felt I was surrounded by family. There were times when I wished I could get out of class (8 hrs a day is a lot!) but there were times that I could never be so content. There were times when I thought the thesis would be cinch –and in the next breath I fear the next several months and if I can really get it done! There were moments I wept, and moments I could not stop laughing! It has been an incredible time –too long, and yet too short. I suppose my paradoxical trip is much like life…
On Saturday I will return home to celebrate my aunt’s life but to mourn her death. It has been extremely difficult to be away from my family during this time. I will be officiating her memorial service (perhaps a good thing, perhaps a bad thing). The preparation for this will be quite challenging given my current work-load at school, but I am grateful to be able to be with my family. Grief is always painful, but being with loved ones makes it at least somewhat palatable.
Because I was not with my family or with my aunt when she died, I will be grieving with them this weekend. Following the memorial service on Saturday evening we will gather together to continue grieving, remembering and yes, celebrating her life and love. This Sunday Rev Penelope Mann will lead our service sharing her gifts of preaching.
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The Wide, Wide World of Theology!
A Prayer:
God,
Send Grace
Amen.
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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 office714 545-4610.
PRAYER MATTERS
We are grateful for the well-being and many blessings among our church family. Yet keep in your prayers and heart . . .
Sandy Blakesley`s grandson Sean’s baseball teammate, Garret Ross, who is 7 and is in need of a second heart transplant.
Prayers of healing for Libby Cowan and Rebecca Chadwick’s friend Jennie, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
Debbie, a friend of Betsy Zafuto, who is recovering from a bad fall.
Pam Eastman, as she recovers from successful emergency gall bladder surgery.
Suzanne Gumpertz had surgery for breast cancer and is currently undergoing radiation.
Pastor Sarah and her family as they mourn the loss of her aunt, Diane Halverson, who died on July 3.
Flo Martin’s brother-in-law, Kevin, continues chemotherapy, however his cancer has spread to his remaining lung and lymph nodes. Pray for him and his wife Nikki as well as for their entire family.
Prayers of rejoicing for Jeanie Molinaro, wife of Wayne Rash’s former employer, who is cancer free.
Continue to hold Gina Notrica in your prayers. She has returned home and is discerning her next steps.
Carol Thicksten’s nephew who is still recovering from his tragic car accident. We continue to hold him in our prayers.
Thomas, a family member of a work colleague of Wayne Rash, who is in the grip of alcohol
dependency and resisting recovery.
All affected by the oil spill in the Gulf Coast and Mother Earth herself.
The people of the country of Niger in West Africa, where famine is looming due to a devastating drought.
Those seeking new employment, in this time of severe job losses and economic hardship.
Those suffering and recovering from deadly addictions and crippling obsession and those who help them.
Our Troops, as the perform their duties, wherever they are in the world.
Announcements
Missed a Sunday? Catch up on your sermons by listening at home!
Just click here to listen or download now:
Have you missed out on sermons? Listen to guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Terry LePage’s Sermon “A New Country, A New Christianity”
Why not listen now? Simply click here!
Interested in Becoming a Member? Wonder what it means to Join the Church?
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.
if you’re interested please contactJohn Schuster or Wayne Rashor hit reply.
Paradoxically yours,
Sarah
Reverend Sarah Halverson
Fairview Community Church
2525 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-4610
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!
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