09-23-18

Do you know the Ten Commandments? Last weekend your elders went on retreat.  Our retreat leader started off by having us name the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17.  I am happy to say that the group achieved this task, even as the leader’s point is well taken-- it is hard to remember the Ten Commandments much less live them well. 

 

The truth is we need God’s help and each other to live our best.  That is how we are made!

 

Jesus came to us in our “neighborhood” here on earth as “God in flesh,” to “get under our skin” in love, grace and mercy, and teach us clearly.  In the Gospels, Jesus illuminates what is called “The Greatest Commandment.”  We will look at it this weekend and next, as it is tied to the Parable of the Good Neighbor.

 

The “Greatest Commandment” is actually a conflation of two Old Testament scriptures and is stated as such:

 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27).

 

The weekend we will look at what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.  This is a tall order and something we achieve in only our best moments.  Yet Scripture says we can do no better.  Loving God is vital to loving neighbor and self.  It is to be our priority.  Like any loving relationship it takes work, but the rewards are life changing and life giving!

 

Join me in prayer as we prepare to encounter the holiness and awesomeness of a loving God through worship.  Remember that we love because God first loved us.  Pray that God is present in our midst as a community of faith and in our lives as we take that love into all places in the world.

 

If we get the “main thing” in life down well (total devotion to God), all the other parts of life fit into place.  Invite a friend, relative or neighbor to church with you.  This is an important time in our history, and loving God and each other together will make a difference!

 

See you in Church!

 

Blessings,

 

Pastor Tim

09-09-18

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for the opportunity for Julie and me to renew and refresh through taking a Sabbatical. It was truly the greatest experience of our lives! Through the generosity of the Lilly Foundation, Eastminster was able to “send us off” and have special programming at the church each month this summer under the theme “Living Water.” We were able to travel to Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali, Madagascar and the Western United States, and I spent some time at a monastery as well. We have lots of stories, insights and pictures that we will be relating in the coming days, even as we catch up and enjoy hearing with what’s going on in your lives.

It’s great to be back at Eastminster! Sometimes one must go away to see the fullness of the beauty and meaning of the friendships and environment that is “home.” It is truly wonderful to be “home” with you!

Coming back Tuesday was like starting the first day of school. The staff pranked my office and we laughed and had fun catching up. Pastors’ Kristy and Ron, Michelle and Melissa in the office, Trevor Garvey, Teresa and David Fleenor in the music ministry, Eleni our Preschool Director, Jill McCall in outreach, Bruce Lucas and Lynn Miller in property and kitchen kept things running smoothly. They really care about Eastminster and gave 110% this summer.

Tuesday night the elders and committees of the church met and are all moving forward in a steady and consistent direction. At one point I walked into the “wrong” meeting like a kid just finding his way around. What a blessing to see the progress being made by that team as they ensure the beauty, security and good stewardship of this beautiful facility and grounds. Eastminster is blessed with faithful, competent members who follow Jesus together, and it was joyous to share what has happened and what is being planned by all our ministry teams for the coming year!

This weekend we begin a worship series on “Neighbors.” This series will look at what it means to be a neighbor from a Biblical perspective. The theme germinated as I was on retreat at the monastery and grew as I saw the recently released Mr. Rogers documentary. It developed further as I reflect on the communities Julie and I experienced around the world. Each week will bring new facets of being a good neighbor and culminate with the celebration of Communion on October 6-7. This is a great time to invite a neighbor or two to worship with you at Eastminster!

This weekend, plan to be in church so we can worship God together and continue to focus on Jesus’ grace, teachings and desires for our lives together. At 11 a.m. Sunday there will be a brunch where we can spend some time catching up, celebrating the end of the summer, and the beginning of the next leg of our journey together in our “neighborhood.” Hope to see you!

Blessings,

Pastor Tim