January 25, 2015

What a blessing it is to have the Rev. Juliann Whipple in the pulpit this weekend! Juliann is truly an inspired and inspiring human being. Juliann perseveres through many tough situations, and she is blessed by many encounters with God. She has a message God gave her for us to hear! Hopefully, she will tell you a little about her recent trip to Switzerland as well. Next Sunday at 11:00 a.m. we will hold our Annual Congregational Meeting. This will be a time to celebrate what God has done in the last year—which has been considerable, even amazing! We will also look forward to 2015, elect members to the Nominating Committee, present the 2015 budget, and perhaps have a “world premiere.” On Sunday February 8 there will be a “Discover Eastminster” gathering beginning in the Fellowship Hall at 8:45 a.m. with a light breakfast. Discover Eastminster is a time to meet key staff and leaders, tour the church facilities, learn about our programs and missions, worship together, explore what it means to be Presbyterian, and ask questions. It is an opportunity to enhance your experience here that I hope you will take up. Discover Eastminster is very valuable for seasonal residents as well as year round residents. I hope to see you Sunday morning. Call or shoot me an email for more info. Finally, thanks to all who served so well at the Praise and Pizza event! It was great to get to reach out to neighbors and to share the good news of Jesus through music! Looking ahead: Feb: 11 Mardi Gras Potluck 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 Ash Wednesday Service 7 p.m. Feb. 22 Spaghetti Dinner 11 a.m. Feb. 24 How might I remember the church through planned giving? 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. sessions with Robert Hay of the Presbyterian Foundation Feb. 25 Wednesday Lenten Luncheon Series Starts March 1 New Sermon Series Begins: “Masterpieces of the Gospel: Viewing the Last Days of Jesus through Scripture and Fine Art” I look forward to times of growth, fellowship and joy in serving the Lord! Blessings, Tim

January 18, 2015

Today we continue the sermon series, “Practicing the Presence of God.” Hopefully you have had an opportunity to read the book of James or will be able to do so this week. It is a highly practical book, whose authorship is commonly attributed to James, the brother of Jesus. In this view, James would have been written earlier than the gospels, a point that is substantiated by the early form of the sayings of Jesus alluded to therein. James is also a highly ethical book of wisdom by which to live a Godly life. Last week we explored how James encourages us to practice the presence of God in the inevitable trials of live which affect Christians and non Christians alike. James encourages us to have endurance and to approach trials with faith and courage rather than doubt. In such a position, with a focus on God rather than our trials, we will persevere. As we begin chapter 2 today, we will be skipping over a few verses that I want to mention… because I need to hear them over and over. James 1:19-25 states: You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. These verses remind me of Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builder which concludes the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-27: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!" The bottom line: We are saved by grace… yet called to be hearers and doers of the word. When we hear Jesus’ words and act on them, we build our house (read lives, church) on a rock where the rain, floods and winds of life will not prevail against us. May we truly be “quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,” even as we build on the foundation of Christ. Blessings, Tim

January 11, 2015

As we begin 2015, we celebrate endings and new beginnings… even as we continue to grow as followers of Jesus. Today we bid farewell to Mrs. Tangela Copeland who resigned as church secretary and wedding coordinator effective January 16. Tangela has served well at Eastminster Presbyterian Church for eight years. She has a glowing countenance and disposition that brighten the days of many. Tangela is a key staff person in the many transitions the church has encountered over the last several years. As I look out over the river, I relate it to her ministry. She has been a steady force in stormy waters and calm. For who Tangela is and what Tangela has accomplished we are grateful! We will recognize Tangela at the end of worship and send her out with the prayers of the church as she pursues other opportunities. There will be time during our fellowship following worship to bid her farewell personally. Plans are being made for a smooth transition of duties, even as we bid Tangela farewell. In terms of new beginnings, today we begin a six-week sermon series entitled, “Practicing the Presence of God.” The title of this series comes from a book written by Brother Lawrence, a simple layman who desired to be a monk. Because he started out with little education, Brother Lawrence worked in the kitchens and cobbler shops of the monastery, becoming well known for his humble, prayerful and Spirit-filled approach to life. Such an approach to life, inviting God into every aspect of our existences, is appealing to many in the fast paced and complex world in which we live. Yet it is not unique. The book of James in the New Testament contains highly practical guidance for being “doers of the Word and not hearers only”—i.e. for practicing the presence of God. Over the next six weeks, we will look at the book of James and consider spiritual principles that help keep us in closer contact with God. This series will be instructive to those who are just starting their spiritual journeys and to those who are “down the road” a bit. Invite a friend. Sermon manuscripts will be available on the Information Station and on the website if you need to miss a week. I’m looking forward to “practicing the presence of God” together this year! See you in church, Tim