You are Witnesses

In the Gospel reading tonight for the Eucharist with healing prayers, Jesus tells his follows that they are witnesses to "all these things." (Luke 24:44-48) Those things were the events that changed lives because of all that God had done and was doing to connect with people and give them freedom and fullness of life.

We who follow Jesus today are also witnesses to the power of God in lives and in our communities. Those who attend St. Paul's on-the-Hill are witnesses to our work in feeding the hungry, the way we respect and nurture our children, the way we care for our older and sick members, the welcome that we offer to all, the joy that we share...the list goes on. We are witnesses to these ways that the power of God is active among us.

By sharing who we are as a Christian community, we are able to open up the faith to those who have no idea what we are about or what God is about. So many have negative ideas about church and even about God because of a lack of information about churches like ours, or too much information about churches that are not so welcoming. Do people know that we are about the work of God in the world, the work that we pray communicates the grace of God to all?

Share what you know about God and Christian community in ways that people can understand...people who are not yet in the church. Use words and images that relate to the world we live in today. Tell your story of life with God - not what you think someone else would say or what the priest would say - but what you know to be true about the grace of God, known through the church and in other ways.

We are witnesses. May we be inspired by God to share what we know in ways that will connect with people who do not yet know who we really are as followers of Jesus, who do not yet know God's great love for them.

Following Jesus

This Sunday at 10:00am Bishop Martin Townsend will be presiding and preaching. He is with us to confirm, receive, and reaffirm six adults. We will also be having our Saturday 5pm and Sunday 8am services, and I will be preaching for those services. My focus will be on "Following Jesus." The Gospel reading this week, Mark 10:17-31, has people asking Jesus how they can follow him and what it means to follow him. The man with many possessions was told that he would have to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor. We hear that the man was upset because he had many things and did not want to part with them. Then Peter makes the statement that he and the other disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus - what would that mean for them? Jesus says that they will gain more than they could ever imagine.

The adults who will be making a mature affirmation of their faith are, by their action, stating that they want to follow Jesus. Confirmation is a sacrament: the outward sign is the laying on of hands by a bishop and the inward grace received is strength for the journey from the Holy Spirit.

Jesus wants us all to follow him. What does that mean to you? What might we have to give up or reorder so that such a journey is possible? What does God want you to have that is more valuable than any material possession?

Looking to Job for Spiritual Direction

This weekend's sermon is on the Book of Job. Job was a very good and faithful man, and he was a successful man. But one of the heavenly court of God, Satan, the Accuser, states that Job is only faithful to God because his life is good. What would Job be like if his life fell apart - would he still love the Lord?

Job is a great model for us in that he does question God as to why he appears to be crused - Job loses everything and becomes ill. It is in the truth of his emotions and feelings that God and Job have a really heart to heart conversation. God does answer Job - not in the way Job expected, but that ends up not mattering. What does matter is that Job experiences God, that God does come to him, and that gives Job the hope and peace he needs to handle the ups and downs of life.

You Can Come to Church Tonight!

We have our mid-week service tonight at 7:00 p.m. It is a communion service with prayers for healing. It lasts about 30 minutes and children are welcome, as at all of our services. Many Episcopalians like to have communion during the week, and if one missed church on Sat or Sunday, it is a great way to connect with God through our faith community this week!

Worshipping God in Everyday Life

This weekend I'm preaching on the Book of Esther. This book of the Bible was controversial; there was debate about whether or not to include it in the Bible. God is not mentioned in the book, and there is not much traditional Jewish piety to be found. But really the Book of Esther gives is a great gift in showing us that God is at work all the time in every situation whether mentioned or not. God works through our hero Esther and she is able to save the Jewish people living under the rule of the Persian King Ahasuerus.

God works through all of us. When we are aware of God and giving thanks to God for all that God has done and does do for us, we are worshipping God in everyday life. And as is said in the letter to the Ephesians: "Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

Imagine what God is doing in your life and through your life.

The Blog from the Hill Lives On

Hi everyone, those who wondered if I would ever blog again are now in shock.

I'm about to leave for church to lead the 7:00pm Eucharist with prayers for healing. This is one of my favorite services. It is small but powerful. We pray for everyone and anyone in need, those who care for them, and all who love them. If desired I also offer the laying on of heads for healing. This is also a communion service; through the sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood we also receive healing and are strengthened to deal with any problem, illness, or stress.

After the Eucharist, there will be a Stewardship Committee meeting. Stewardship is all about being aware that God has entrusted us with many gifts and resources to be used for the good of all. The Stewardship Committee works to communicate the joy of being a steward and the call to be stewards that we all have from God.

A Place for Your Children to Grow in Faith and Love

Come to St Paul ’s for three fun-filled nights -- Praying and Playing in Community -- for families with young children from infants up to age 10! People with older children –or with no children—are welcome to join in and help with the program.

Dates and Time: Tues, July 28-Thurs, July 30, 2009

6:30 to 8PM



Our goal is to build Christian community, both at church and at home.

Each evening will begin with a simple meal, followed by time for children to play together, a short program for adults, followed by a group activity with parents and children, ending with a brief closing worship.

We will be considering some ways that parents can pray with and for their children, we will travel together along the Christian way by learning about labyrinths and walking and playing on a labyrinth, and we will celebrate the fact that we who are many, are one body in Christ , by making bread together.

Everyone at St Paul ’s is invited to participate. Volunteers can help prepare, set up and clean up the simple evening meal each night. Volunteers can also help lead games for children for a thirty minute time period each night.

Please sign up if you plan to attend on any of these evenings, at church or by email office@spoth.org. Please email if you have questions or give us a call 540-667-8110. You can also sign up to volunteer.