10-29-17

Whether a first-time guest, returning seasonal resident, or regular worshiper, welcome to Kirkin’ O’ th’ Tartans!  Today is a day where we appreciate our heritage and also look to the future with hope.  The Hebrews used to “tell time” by looking backwards and recounting God’s faithfulness and then looking ahead reassured that God’s love, grace and provision would be with them in the future.

 

Likewise, we have much to rejoice about today.  We inherit a rich tradition of faith at Eastminster, and we are open and excited about the new things God calls us to do.  God is alive here, and based on past faithfulness and grace from above, we go forward with the fruit of faithfulness, knowing God will inspire and guide. 

 

Please plan on staying a bit after the service and enjoying shortbread and a beverage out on the breezeway.  One of the hallmarks of Eastminster is that there are incredibly interesting people here to get to know and with whom to share.  Or you can speak with me… just joking, I hope!

 

Hope to see you next Sunday as we welcome confirmands and remember those “saints” that died this year. By all means plan to attend Eastminster’s Annual Celebration Luncheon on November 12 at 11 a.m. 

 

May we all “Live by the Spirit” this week!  May we be gifted, inspired and open to love those God puts in our paths!

 

 Blessings,               

Pastor Tim

10-15-17

Today we start a new Sermon Series, “Let Your Light Shine!”  It is based on Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:14-15:

 

 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

 

When I first read these verses, I thought they leaned toward “works righteousness.” I focused on “Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works.  Yet are we called to let our “light” … that which is brightest and best in our souls and our works … shine so others might praise us and say what good people and what a good church we are?  Tempting perhaps, but not true.

 

Jesus calls us to live for God and in so doing, “Let your light shine” so that others are led to praise God and give God glory.

 

Has anyone ever called you God’s angel when you showed them love?  Chances are they saw your light shine.  Has anyone broken down in tears of joy for assistance received and said, “Thank you Jesus!”  Chances are they saw your light shine.  Has anyone benefitted by an anonymous gift or deed and given glory to God.  Chances are your light shined.

 

We are created to shine God’s love.  It’s a good feeling and a challenge at the same time.  Over the next several weeks we will explore how Christians “Let Your Light Shine” and how Eastminster might be a “Lighthouse” in the community and world.

 

Today we start with the Old Testament book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 58:10-11 we read:

If you offer your food to the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your needs in parched places,
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters never fail.

As you hear testimony of what is going on through Eastminster at Daily Bread, praise God for shining Light through Godly members and friends.  Then pray:

 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  Use me today and each day to shine your Light and to bring you glory.  Amen

 

In what ways are you called to shine?

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

10-01-17

Tim’s Tidings

The feeding of the 5000… was it a miracle of God, a miracle of sharing… or both?

In some ways, the worst of Hurricane Irma brought out the best in us.

At a recent meeting of our spiritual and administrative board, the Session, elders shared some “bright spots” they encountered recently.  Believe me there were many!  The story I shared happened as Julie and I came back from evacuating to her parents’ home and it is a story of kindness that lead to a feast.

 

 As we were coming back, her stepfather gave us a 6-gallon gas can.  It turned out we needed some of that gas to make it because of the shortages and lack of power.  Once home, I started cleaning up and cleaned my neighbor’s yard too (we live in a condo so no big deal).  The neighbor came over and said thanks.  He asked if we would like to plug our refrigerator into his generator.  That meant food!  We were very grateful and gave our neighbor the rest of our gas.  Later, the neighbor came over and said he had some steak and hamburger but no grill and asked if I could cook it.  Soon thereafter, several neighbors came together bringing their “loaves and fishes,” and we had a feast.  Grilled steak, burgers, chicken, and seafood… pasta, sides, and even cheesecake for dessert materialized.  We sat together between homes where there was a cool (for Florida in September), gentle breeze grateful and full.

 

Who could have imagined this? 

 

Likewise, who could have imagined Jesus taking 5 loaves and 2 fish and feeding the multitudes?  Somewhere I suspect, was someone who was generous and offered the Lord what he had.  Scripture hints that it was a small child.  The rest is a multiplication miracle of epic proportions—5,000 men fed, plus women and children!  I believe that God had a big part in this miracle, but I have a hunch people responded to generosity in a way that begat more generosity, just like happened in my neighborhood after Irma.

 

Today is World Communion Sunday.  It is a day that hundreds of millions of Christians will break bread and share it because God gave what God had… God’s Son Jesus Christ.  Just think of the chain reaction of “bright spots” circling the globe that is happening right now.  Bread and cup are shared, and in that sharing, Christians gain strength to let our lights shine with generosity as well.  And the miracle in this is that it is in giving, we receive!

May the Circle be Unbroken,

Pastor Tim

 

09-24-17

Tim’s Tidings

Can Good come from Bad?  That is the hope as we clean up and make sense of the destruction of Harvey and Irma, as we adjust to life changing circumstances such as job loss, changes of location, recovery from illness and even grief.

Can Good come from Bad?

Today we look at the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50.  Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob who was specially loved by his father and specially gifted by God.  He had the ability to dream and interpret dreams.  His father made him a special “coat of many colors” which caused the jealousy of his brothers to mount and they plotted to kill him.  Instead they sold him into slavery, drenched his coat in animal blood and told Jacob that he was killed by a wild beast.  Joseph meanwhile rose to a high position in Egypt because of his ability to interpret dreams and his administrative skill.  He prepared the country successfully for a famine.  The famine brought his brother begging for food.  Joseph withheld his identity until he could no longer contain himself.  When the brothers found out that they, who plotted evil against him were at his mercy they were terrified.  But Joseph said, “do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…. So then it was not you who sent me here but God.”

Can Good come from Bad?

Think of a time in which a disappointment or setback in your life lead to something greater in the end? Share your story with a friend or two this week.

How might God be using the events that have happened in your life lately to benefit others?

What might you do to bring God glory this week?

Spend some time in silent prayer listening for God’s voice and direction.  God pieces us together in a puzzle where we are important to others.

Dear God,

Thank you for the grace to go on amid the storms of life.  Grant me to wisdom to discern your hand and to act according to your will in what I do and in what I don’t do this week.  May I have vision to see beyond the present to how “all things work for the glory of God in Christ Jesus.”

Be with those who suffer today from mental, spiritual, emotional or physical distress.  Use me to be an anchor during the storms of others until we experience the fair skies of your divine design.  Make me an instrument of your peace and understanding.  Amen.

May God use, guide and bless you to be a blessing,

 

Tim

08-27-17

Today we are encountering what I consider one of the most beautiful and challenging Scriptures in the New Testament, Romans 12:9-21.  After calling for us to submit our will and our lives as an offering to God’s pleasure, and after emphasizing that every person is given gifts to use for the good of Christ’s body, Paul says to practice “genuine love”:

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

These verses are exhortations, commandments made in love for us all.  They call us to be thoughtful, discerning, connected, genuinely loving Christians.  And they tell us how:

1.       Know the difference between good and evil.

2.       Love and honor one another, thinking more of others than ourselves.

3.       Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

4.       Practice “radical” generosity and hospitality.

5.       Bless those who attack you, don’t belittle or condemn them.

6.       Be empathetic, understand the feelings of others and emotionally journey with them.

7.       Practice humility and honor all people.

8.       Take the “high road” in disputes.

9.       Value peaceful relations.

10.   Let God deal with resentments and “payback.”

11.   Be kind, even to enemies.

12.   Overcome evil with good.

This is a tall order for living!  If we focus on these exhortations, we have little time to point fingers at others because it is a full time job to live up to Christ’s call to discipleship.  God is calling us to “be the love” the world needs, living as examples of God’s Word.  Far from denying the evil in the world or ignoring it, we are called to practice genuine love.

May we grow together as we love God and others in worship, word and deed!

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

 

08-20-17

One of the hallmarks of the Presbyterian Church is that the congregation elects its leaders.  Everyone who is a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church votes for those who serve as pastors and elders.

 

This spring members of Eastminster elected five elders to serve as part the spiritual and administrative leadership team of the church, the Session.  Over the summer they engaged in training culminating in an officer staff retreat, where they were examined and approved to serve.  This weekend five elders-elect will be introduced, ordained, and/or installed to serve.

 

The elders coming on Session include Grant Dearborn (Personnel and Administration), Mary Larson (Congregational Care), Jim Morris (Facilities), Barbara Ray (Children, Youth and Family), and Sunny Rudloff (Congregational Care).  They have already formed good rapport with the pastors, the Clerk of Session and each other and were welcomed to sit in on a session meeting last Tuesday.  The gifts and skills they bring to the leadership of Eastminster are immense!  Welcome to this important ministry!

 

Rotating off Session are Steve Adams, Gene Davis, Don Dawson, and Nancy Marshall.  They have served with heart, soul, mind and strength… and above all passion and love for God and others.  Steve is a mainstay of our Facilities Ministry.  He kept us cool, even when our air conditioning needed replacing.  He has kept us dry, even with the numerous leaks church roofs tend to attract. He has added to the safety and beauty and good functioning of our buildings and grounds, devoting countless hours to the cause.

 

Gene Davis came on board and has continued the fine work of the Personnel and Administration Committee.  Under Gene’s leadership the Personnel and Administration brought the Rev. Kristy Ray as Associate Pastor and Robert McBride as Director of Music Ministry and Organist, among other fine placements.  They sharpened our procedures and policies to increase the efficiency of operations the, safety of our facility, and the support Eastminster’s staff.

 

Don Dawson served as Outreach elder in a time this new committee was formed.  He is instrumental in the technological advances such as the upgrade of our audio-visual capabilities (and also serving as an technician), our outreach to visitors, the provision of special events, and the initiation of ministry endeavors such as Table Talk Theology and Eastminster’s designation as an Earthcare Congregation.  Don and his wife, the Rev. Darice Dawson, have also supported our youth and young adult ministry in meaningful ways.

 

Nancy Marshall served as the chair of Congregational Care Committee, a widespread ministry that provides nourishment for the body (fellowship, potlucks etc.), mind (adult discipleship, special educational events) and soul (spiritual formation and pastoral care).  Her leadership streamlined operations and produced many joyful, vital occasions for congregational health and growth.  Nancy is a leader of leaders and was able to have many strong members serve well under her care.

 

So welcome new elders and thank you Steve, Gene, Don and Nancy.  Well done good and faithful servants!  Please plan to add your welcome and thanks following the Saturday and Sunday night services as we have receptions both days in the Fellowship Hall in honor of these fine leaders.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

08-13-17

Tim’s Tidings

What a joy it was to welcome the children, families and the faculty of the Eastminster Presbyterian Church Preschool to a new year of school last week.  Many kids ran with joy to their teachers, others were shy and tentative.  In the end, there were smiles on all faces and a new year of learning, growth and wonder has begun!

 

Director Eleni Yiapis will present a Mission update on the Eastminster Preschool during both worship services this weekend.  I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures of kids who are nurtured lovingly so the seeds of faith and thought that God plants in them might grow as love is applied.

 

Please pray for our elders and staff as they go on retreat August 19.  This retreat will involve four classes of elders, who are the spiritual and administrative leaders of Eastminster.  We will be examining five elders who the congregation has elected to serve on Session and will say goodbye to four elders who have served with distinction.  Those who are coming on session by ordination and installation include Grant Dearborn, Mary Larson, Jim Morris, Barbara Ray, and Sunny Rudloff. Those who have served “with energy intelligence, imagination and love” include Steve Adams, Don Dawson, Gene Davis and Nancy Marshall.  Receptions to honor our elders will be held after both services next weekend.

 

On another front, I am saddened to report that our Kitchen Manager, Daphne Stacey, has had to resign.  Daphne was on a leave of absence for cancer treatments and hoped to be back later this month.  The doctors at Shands Hospital in Gainesville have revised her treatment schedule and extended her stay several months.  Please pray for health for Daphne.  She spread love and joy here as she helped a wonderful team of members continue to make our kitchen the “heart and soul” of the church. Her duties will temporarily be assumed by the Director of Church Operations and a great team of cookie bakers under the direction of Susan Vallette, so plan to continue to linger after worship for refreshments and relationships!

 

May these days be days of wonderful new beginnings as we “cruise into the new year.”

 

Blessings,
Pastor Tim