| PASTOR'S MESSAGE |
| MAY 2008 |
| To read a previous month's message, click on the month of your choice below |
Dear Friends,
In recent months, we as a Church have had the wind knocked out of us. Some forces want us to back away from any change.
Some voices challenge that we haven't moved forward fast enough. Financial struggles continue to challenge us. We are tired,
confused, "out of breath". What better time than Pentecost, when we celebrate the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit, for the breath
of God to fill us once again?
In Hebrew, the word for breath, wind and spirit is one word, Ru'ah. The Ru'ah somehow miraculously unites the sorrowful, the
joyful, the frightened, the self-assured, the slave and the free into one body. We breathe in the life and exhale the death. We breathe
in forgiveness and exhale despair. We can do this because it is not just our breath but Ru'ah, the breath, wind and the Spirit of God.
Let me ask you a few questions - are we poor struggling humans truly able to carry on the mission of Jesus in this lonely world? Do
you believe that grace can still overcome sin even when the amount of sin takes our breath away? I have to say, YES, though it is in
faith and through the holy Spirit that I can say it. YES, the body of Christ is still loving and breathing.
We may be breathless and discouraged, but we must also be breathless in anticipation. God, who breathed life into Adam and Eve and
all creation and who keeps breathing the Spirit into all of us, will not abandon us. Sometimes softly, sometimes loudly, Ru'ah will lift
us up and support us. Remember, God is never out of breath.
CONFIRMING FAITH
Confirmation invites full membership into the faith life of our Church.. Myself, along with their parents, prepare our candidates for
Confirmation with a combination of classroom lessons and service opportunities that teach our students about the fits and fruits of the
Holy Spirit. They are active in our Church community by preparing and serving at numerous dinners and breakfasts. They raise
money through Car washes (May 4th at ?Bank of America), they acolyte and crucifier and more. Our Confirmands learn a clear
simple message: God's love invites and requests a response of love. Take a moment and ask any confirmation student what a
downward arrow means.
Please welcome Zachary Nguyen into full membership of Rosemont Church after worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 11th.
Next years candidates included, Megan morrisey, Nathan Morrisey, and Roberta Machin.
May God continue to bless us, His Church.
Pastor Steltzer
In recent months, we as a Church have had the wind knocked out of us. Some forces want us to back away from any change.
Some voices challenge that we haven't moved forward fast enough. Financial struggles continue to challenge us. We are tired,
confused, "out of breath". What better time than Pentecost, when we celebrate the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit, for the breath
of God to fill us once again?
In Hebrew, the word for breath, wind and spirit is one word, Ru'ah. The Ru'ah somehow miraculously unites the sorrowful, the
joyful, the frightened, the self-assured, the slave and the free into one body. We breathe in the life and exhale the death. We breathe
in forgiveness and exhale despair. We can do this because it is not just our breath but Ru'ah, the breath, wind and the Spirit of God.
Let me ask you a few questions - are we poor struggling humans truly able to carry on the mission of Jesus in this lonely world? Do
you believe that grace can still overcome sin even when the amount of sin takes our breath away? I have to say, YES, though it is in
faith and through the holy Spirit that I can say it. YES, the body of Christ is still loving and breathing.
We may be breathless and discouraged, but we must also be breathless in anticipation. God, who breathed life into Adam and Eve and
all creation and who keeps breathing the Spirit into all of us, will not abandon us. Sometimes softly, sometimes loudly, Ru'ah will lift
us up and support us. Remember, God is never out of breath.
CONFIRMING FAITH
Confirmation invites full membership into the faith life of our Church.. Myself, along with their parents, prepare our candidates for
Confirmation with a combination of classroom lessons and service opportunities that teach our students about the fits and fruits of the
Holy Spirit. They are active in our Church community by preparing and serving at numerous dinners and breakfasts. They raise
money through Car washes (May 4th at ?Bank of America), they acolyte and crucifier and more. Our Confirmands learn a clear
simple message: God's love invites and requests a response of love. Take a moment and ask any confirmation student what a
downward arrow means.
Please welcome Zachary Nguyen into full membership of Rosemont Church after worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 11th.
Next years candidates included, Megan morrisey, Nathan Morrisey, and Roberta Machin.
May God continue to bless us, His Church.
Pastor Steltzer