All posts by Keith Earle

Mar 22 2019
0

Wired Word

By | Adult Ministries | No Comments

We hope you all had a blessed spring break!

We are resuming the Wired Word discussions and class this week. Please come and join us for Tacos and conversations as we dig into our next discussion. A few reminders: class starts at 10 a.m. and is finished by 10:30.

As a church we are in the midst of our Lenten season and one of my favorite community gatherings, Lenten Lunches, are taking place. Last name H-L, it’s your turn to bring the soup to share after the 10:45 a.m. service.

This Sunday is also Recovery Sunday and is sure to be a treat as we enjoy a few special guests and hear a great message.

All of this along with our Fun and the Son, Children’s Chapel,  Kids for Christ, and Youth Confirmation/Tacos with Taylor classes make for a full and exciting Sunday! Hope to have you join us for the excitement.  Have a blessed rest of your week and see you soon!

Blessings,
Keith

Mar 21 2019
0

Coffee & Conversation

By | Adult Ministries | No Comments

Last Sunday we read and discussed the last two questions on Chapter 2 and the first two questions on Chapter 3 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” Interestingly, the Meditation at the end of Chapter 2 was the Prayer of Saint Patrick, and last Sunday was St. Patrick’s s Day.

Much of the discussion centered around Max’s pointing out the difference between guilt that comes from the thought “I did [something] bad,” and guilt from the thought “I am bad.” Some parents echoed this theme by pointing out that they love their children for who they are, not just for what they do.

Several teachers in the class related this thought to how they handled misbehaving students. They punish the behavior, not the person. One member pointed out that a punishment, although possibly severe, was over once administered, and that they did not hold the previous behavior against the student later on. Another member summarized this thought by saying that there are no bad kids.

Continuing this discussion, yet another teacher stated that when a student says (for example), “I can’t read,” the teacher says, “You can read, just not as well as you would like to be able to read.” Thus the focus is on improvement not on inability.

This Sunday, 3/21/19, we will start by reconsidering Question 2 on page 164, for which we didn’t have time for a complete “conversation.” Max asks us to read Genesis Chapter 3, then to consider how Adam and Eve might have confronted their negative thinking following their fall from grace in the Garden of Eden.

Hope to see you in class Sunday, normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center.

In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster

Mar 21 2019
0

Beta Club Treat Sale

By | Charitable Giving, Community, Youth | No Comments

The Beta Club will host a special Treat Sale on Wednesday, April 17, during all lunches. We will be set up in the Gathering Area. Proceeds will benefit the Chain of Love campaign. Because most items are priced well under $1, there is no need to send large amounts of money with your child. Please encourage your child to eat his/her full lunch before purchasing at the Treat Sale.

Thank you to the Beta Club for supporting Chain of Love!

Mar 11 2019
0

Invitation to Lent

By | A Lenten Journey | No Comments

In an email Fr. Ram sent last week, he said,

We have arrived yet again at the doorstep to the season of Lent.  Generations of Christ followers have used this 40-day season to reset their faith in Christ’s Love, to renew their commitment to their Baptismal vows, and to recommit to serving God and God’s people in their daily lives and work.

The words of invitation to observe a holy Lent give us clues to finding our way spiritually through Lent to a glorious Easter Morning.

Here’s a way to help us find our way . . .

Join the Wednesday Bible Study, Coffee and Conversation, Understanding the Gospel, or the Wired Word classes in order to read and discuss God’s Word.

Mar 06 2019
0

Coffee & Conversation

By | Adult Ministries | No Comments

Last Sunday the class read and discussed Questions 1 through 4 at the end of Chapter 2 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” The chapter is titled “Rejoice in the Lord’s Sovereignty.”

Question 3 asks us to consider, among other things, the statement, “Belief always precedes behavior.” Some felt that this describes their life outlook. Others opined that sometimes carrying out certain behaviors molds and reinforces their belief system.

Question 4 asked us to read 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 and Philippians 1:12-13. From these readings, Max asked us specific questions:

  • In what circumstances do you struggle to trust God’s purposes?
  • Do you feel that God is fair in asking for a pure response like [Saint] Paul’s? Why or why not?
  • What keeps you from fully believing that God is a good Father who cares for every detail of your life?
  • Take time to bring these obstacles before the Lord and pray, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,” as written in Mark 9:24.

Next Sunday, 3/10/19, the class will start with Question 5, in the middle of page 161. The gist of the question is how actions of our leaders influence our way of life. The springboard for discussion is Hebrews 13:7-8.

Hope you can make it to class, normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center. Molly Miller has graciously agreed to facilitate the class while we are still in Baltimore for Paul’s participation in an international math teachers meeting.

In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster

Mar 06 2019
0

Lenten Lunches

By | A Lenten Journey | No Comments

On each Sunday in Lent, beginning March 10, St. George will be holding a Lenten Lunch at 12:00 PM in the Parish Hall/Cafeteria. All members of the St. George Family are invited to break bread over crockpots of homemade soup and warm bread and share in conversation about our Lenten journey. Come one Sunday or enjoy them all!

Soon, every member of the St. George Parish will be receiving a phone call from a fellow parishioner to sign up to bring a crock pot of soup on ONE of the Sundays during Lent. It can be homemade or store bought, and we hope that all parishioners consider participating.

March 10 …….. A-C
March 17 …….. D-G
March 24 …….. H-L
March 31 …….. M-R
April 7 ………… S-Z
Mar 02 2019
0

Invitation to Lent

By | A Lenten Journey | No Comments

“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”
Book of Common Prayer, pg. 265, Liturgy for Ash Wednesday.

Dear Friends in Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have arrived yet again at the doorstep to the season of Lent. Generations of Christ followers have used this 40-day season to reset their faith in Christ’s Love, to renew their commitment to their Baptismal vows, and to recommit to serving God and God’s people in their daily lives and work.

The words of invitation to observe a holy Lent give us clues to finding our way spiritually through Lent to a glorious Easter Morning. Here are some regular offerings that you can utilize during Lent:

  • Our Sunday liturgies will provide opportunities for self-examination and repentance as offered in the Book of Common Prayer.
  • Joining the Wednesday Bible Study, Coffee and Conversation, Understanding the Gospel, or the Wired Word classes in order to read and discuss God’s Word.
  • Recommit to (or finally start) reading The Path Bible in order to understand the full story of Scripture.
  • Walk the Stations of the Cross (indoor or outdoor).
  • Attend our Lenten Soup Lunches and meet others who are on the spiritual journey here.
  • Prepare soup when it is your turn and discover the joy in serving others.
  • “Try on” a ministry during Lent by examining how your time priorities.
  • Plan now to attend Holy Week worship (April 14-20). Opportunities for daily worship will be available to all.

Lent at St. George is a time for all of us to come together in prayer and service to discover the riches of God’s grace.

I look forward to sharing this Lenten Journey with you and your loved ones!

Peace,
Fr. Ram+

Mar 01 2019
0

Coffee and Conversation

By | Adult Ministries | No Comments

Last Sunday the class finished discussing the questions at the end of Chapter 1 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” Question 7 involved analyzing the promises God makes us in various verses of scripture.

Psalm 55, Verse 22 is quoted as saying, “Cast your burden on the Lord and he shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Some of us wondered about the exact interpretation of “never being moved.” One class member thought the statement might mean “… moved from their righteous path.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 states, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting your care upon him, for he cares for you. Another class member pointed out that “care” in this verse has two appropriate meanings. One is that He is concerned about you. The other is that He takes care of you.

In the last question Max refers back to the acronym C.A.R.E., standing for “Celebrate God’s goodness,” “Ask God for help,” “Leave your concerns with him,” and “Meditate on good things. Great “conversation” about these items!

This Sunday, 3/3/19, we will start with the questions for Chapter 2 that begin on page 160. The title of that chapter is “Rejoice in the Lord’s Sovereignty.” Hope you can join us, normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center.

In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster

p.s.: The following Sunday, we (P & P) will be in Baltimore where Paul will be presenting a session at an international conference for mathematics teachers. We are looking for someone to facilitate the class that Sunday.