Musings from the Pastor
While traveling back from last week, I was straining my eyes as I looked at the countryside. I was straining for green. I almost had myself convinced I had seen green shoots on the trees lining the Truckee River. We can usually convince ourselves of anything; I must confess all the eye straining in the world was not going to bring about green shoots on trees. (heavy sigh). I begin yearning for Spring about the time Lent begins; it is with yearning that I begin my journey toward Easter. Perhaps you will join me.
Historically, Lent was a time for new believers to prepare for their Baptisms; a time for beleivers to review their lives and renew their commitment to Jesus Christ; a time for restoring our faith in God.
Prepare by reviewing/reflecting on how we are living into our faith so that we might renew our commitment to Christ and experience faith restored in us. Sounds like a tall order for 40 days. (We don't count Sundays during Lent--those are "little" Easters.)
This time of year lends itself to this Lenten journey. The high desert, beautiful with its snow capped mountains sometimes looks dreary, grey, brown, dry on the lower levels, yet we have hints of what is to come; hints that something grand awaits us, if only we have patience. the creek on the lower end of Water Canyon is barely muddy, but on the higher end one can actually hear the water flowing over the rocks. Soon, as the snow melts the streams will move down from the canyon, for a while anyway.
Our spiritual Journey this Lent might also have hints of what is yet to come. Certainly Easter, and in the meantime, any number of spiritual practices--prayer, daily/weekley Bible study, attending Sunday School, weekly visits to Harmony Manoror with elderly folk living at home, fasting, self-denial--may light the way, cultivating rich territory where light shines through. We can get glimpes of the grand light that awaits us in the Resurrection. We can rise with Christ on Easter Morning.
It just takes a little preperation, review and reflection. A restored faith in God awaits us!
Care to join me?
Pastor Gayle
Our younger Sunday School Class discusses prayer.
A contemplative moment from our older Sunday School kids.
The Flip Side
The Lutheran (ELCA) Perspective on Grace:
* Grace is how God receives us, forgiving our sins and justifying us freely through Christ. Therefore, grace freely grants us the faith which alone justifies us.
*Grace is never earned by us. In fact, Martin Luther considered the attempt to earn grace to be a sin. Grace was earned for us by Christ. any attempt to earn grace on our part minimizes what Christ did for us.
*Spiritual gifts and service to others are the fruits of this justifying grace.
*Grace is universal. Christ offers His righteousness to all so that all who believe in Him receive it.
(adapted from: Plass, Ewald M. What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louise, MO. 1959.)
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Grace--from the United Methodist Website
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--not the result of works, so that no one may boast" is what we read in Paul's letter to the Ephesians.
United Methodists define grace as "the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it." It is not earned. For Wesley, God's grace was three fold:
Prevenient Grace--God's active presence in our lives, helping us to choose between good and bad; Justifying Grace--points to reconciliation, pardon and restoration, the pardoning of our sins bringing us into relationship with God, and ; Sanctifying Grace--through which we grow to be more Christ-like and move towards perfection---being made perfect in our love of God and each other and of removing our desire to sin.
A note on justification: The process of salvation involves a change in us called conversion--turning around, leaving on orientation for another. This point in the process of salvation is called justification, a time when we accept our need for reconciliation, pardon and restoration rather than spend time trying to convince God we are just because of our religious and moral practices. It's the experience of justifying grace and the new peace and joy and love it brings us.
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From the Education Committee
Dear Friends,
Many of you may have attended the Education Committee's "New Year Party" this past November and were a part of the productive discussion we had together in regards to the future of Christian education here at Winnemucca United Methodist Church. We all agreed that we have been blessed with wonderful volunteers through the years and have experienced several different Sunday School curricula as well. We are currently using the Workshop Rotation Model for Sunday and while there is much about using this model we still love, we felt it was time to explore ways of expanding on it because we are seeing an increase in Sunday School attendance! What a wonderful problem to have! One program that many in attendance seemed interested in learning more about is "Godly Play". Godly Play is a Christian education program that is the product of a lifetime of research and practice by theologian, author, and educator, Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman. Godly Play uses a Montessori approach to teach God's lessons and stories through manipulative play sets, specific language, silence and liturgical action. It invites children and adults into God's stories by asking.... "I wonder?"
The training is required to become fluent in the "art of Godly Play." As typical in our somewhat isolated high desert town, we need to travel far and wide to attend Godly Play Workshops and training seminars. the expense would also limit us to only one or two eople from our congregation who could have the Godly Play experience. That is why it is with great excitement that we are bringing Godly Play to YOU, by way of certified Godly Play Story Teller, Sheryl Bousu.
Mark your calandar!!
Friday, Feb. 19th, 7pm at the parsonage: Meet and Greet with Sheryl! Come and learn about what Godly Play is and how it might fit the needs our our congregation.
Saturday, Feb. 20th, 9:30am at the church: 2 hour Godly Play Workshop where we will experience a Godly Play story and all that goes with it....and more!
12 noon--lunch will be provided
1:00pm--Godly Play discussion: Ways to use Godly Play and is it the right time for Godly Play to be a part of WUMC?
Sunday, Feb. 21st, 10:00am, worship service.....come see Godly Play at work in worship too.
Godly Play is not just for children's education. It is a program that works wonderfully in conjunction with retreats, youth gatherings, nursing homes, visitations, and more! Please take a look at http://www.godlyplay.org/ for more information.
We invite ALL to join us fo this wonderful learning opportunity!
