vacation

I'm going on vacation July 22-31, so I probably won't blog until August, unless I see something really interesting I want to pass along

Recipe for South African meatloaf - bobotie

Here is the recipe I followed, although there are many on the interwebs.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6640685_make-african-bobotie.html

Anghaarad Teague-Dees' prayer for the Gulf

This is the prayer a group of ministers prayed at Pensacola Beach this week. I encourage you to pray it when you can.


O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number creatures both small and great. As we hear the waves crash against the shore we are reminded of the mighty works of your hand and we humbly ask that you step in with works of restoration.

The fragile balance of the Gulf waters is tainted and yearns for healing. We come to you today with heavy and humbled hearts asking for healing, comfort, strength and wisdom as we face this unfolding tragedy.

We confess that we demand more energy for our homes, autos, farms, and industries
We demand more plastic things that begin from oil; things big and small; things expensive, things ordinary, things cheap. Our demand for more has degraded and destroyed the earth’s bounty. We have taken for granted the beauty and grandeur of this amazing creation. Like Adam and Eve, in our desire to taste the good life, we overstep the boundaries you have placed on your creation. We are sorry.

We seek mercy, we seek vision and we seek the courage we will need as we work to help the victims of the sins of human greed.

We pray for workers injured, missing & presumed dead from the explosion on the rig and for their families and friends.

We pray for the engineers, laborers and individuals working tirelessly to contain the spill & protect the fragile ecosystems and communities from its toxic impacts.

We pray for all who grieve and mourn for this situation. For our children who worry about the impact it will have on their futures. Give us the words of comfort and hope that they seek.

We pray for all of those who live off the sea, the fishermen and women, those who live off tourism, vacationers, and those of us who do not know how to live without the sea. Be with those whose jobs are affected in an already tough economy, May they receive your provision.

What a shame that your creatures should suffer! We pray for the smallest sea creature to the birds of the air. For dolphins and pelicans, grouper and shrimp, algae and scallops…Lord, please protect and heal them. What a shame that your creation should be damaged!

This is wrong, Lord. This will be wrong for a long time to come. Strengthen us to bravely face the days ahead.

We turn to you the Creator whose restoring power is stronger than any human folly.

Eternal God, who brought order out of chaos accept the prayers of your people. Guide and strengthen us by your spirit that we may give ourselves in love & service to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Trinity Sermon word cloud

Word Cloud for Trinity Sunday (Click it to got to a bigger image on their page)
from wordle.com (thanks guys)

New Funeral Policy

Below is the new Northminster funeral policy. 

If anyone knows how to truncate this post and only show the first paragraph, then link to the whole post, please let me know.  I see it done on other blogs, but don't know how to do it here.

Northminster Presbyterian Church

Funeral Guidelines and Policy

These guidelines are written for members to plan their funerals, and to help families of members who have died.  Over the past few decades the church has gotten away from ancient Christian practices.  This policy hopes to bring back time-tested Christian tradition and practice at funerals.  We encourage a pre-planning conversation with the pastor.

At time of death the pastor should be contacted.  Telephone numbers are below.  The pastor may go with the family to the Funeral home, or should be contacted immediately by the Funeral Director to check the church calendar.

Funerals are for the deceased.  This is the time the church gathers and journeys together to burial.  Therefore, whenever possible, the body of the member who has died should be present in the sanctuary for the funeral service.  One picture of the deceased may be placed on an easel or small table in the sanctuary, a large table for pictures and mementos may be placed in the narthex.  Pictures and mementos are never placed on the communion table.  We cannot accommodate video displays.

Visitation may take place before or after the Funeral.  The church’s Congregational Care Committee has a policy that encourages receptions after the funeral.  The casket may be open before and/or during the Funeral service, but normally it is closed for the service.

 There is no charge for services at Northminster, nor is there a fee for the officiant.  The organist or accompanist should be paid a minimum of $75, and $100 if he/she rehearses with a soloist. Soloists or ensembles from the Northminster choir may sing.  The congregation should sing at least one hymn. This is a Christian worship service; the Bible should be read, prayers offered, and words of hope shared. The font, table, and pulpit will always be present. The minister may allow up to two short speeches about the deceased member.

Normally, a funeral pall will be placed on the casket or urn as it enters the sanctuary. The American flag may cover the casket of a veteran. 

Normally the burial rites of clubs and fraternal organizations are conducted at graveside after the minister concludes the burial service.  Rites may also be conducted at the lodge, clubhouse, union hall, etc. Upon request of both the family and fraternal organization, the Session will consider allowing rites to be performed at Northminster after the funeral.  

When there is a question about this policy the pastor and/or Session will clarify it.  If the pastor is unavailable at time of death the Director of Christian Education and Music, Mr. Randolph should be contacted, or the Elder in charge of Congregational Care.

Adopted by Session

May 18, 2010

Pentecost Offering Information

Plan to wear red no Northminster on Pentecost, May 23, 2010. [I may wear a white shirt and RED tie. You get the picture. Red scarves and ties are fine.]

We'll have a guest preacher, Susan Sampson from Thornwell Home and School. We'll receive the Pentecost Offering. 40% of the offering will go to Thornwell. 60% is used for youth leadership training and children's ministry of our denomination.

Remember there is a congregational meeting following the service to talk about pausing sanctuary building process.

Here's a video about the offering.

Letting Go of Instutional Nostalgia

Outgoing Moderator of our General Assembly Bruce Reyes-Chow blogged about changes in the church and challenged us to let go of institutional nostalgia. His blog is here.

I'm not sure I know how to let go of those structures -- although we often disagree with them, they do the biblical work mandated by the Bible.

I was going to repost his whole blog, but think I'll just let you go to the link above. What do you think of that?

Pics of our children's event and Youth Sunday practice

Above, the men of the Brotherhood small group pose with the children after making birdhouses together. Thanks guys!

Here Nancy and some youth practice for the GRACE children's sermon.

notes and sources for April 25 sermon

The Belhar Confession from the PC(USA) web page. Wait, here is a better text of Belhar from the RCA web page.

Wikipedia on the Belhar Confession.

The Uniting Presbyterian Church of South Africa's page.

Mowbray Presbyterian Church's page.

Treasure hunt at church

Many thanks to all who made the picnic and treasure hunt a big success.