An Early Lent

Lent begins this year on February 10, as it always does, with Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is a day reminding us of our mortality, our sin, our penitence…but most importantly, of God’s forgiveness and grace.

This year, though, with Lent beginning so early, I am especially reminded of how dark and cold and alone the world can feel. Lent often begins with a reading or meditation on Jesus in the wilderness. 

Mark’s description of this is, like almost all of Mark, short and to the point. Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan by John.  And then: “the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.  He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts and the angels waited on him.” (Mark 1:12-13) When we teach this story to young children, we ask “wondering” questions about this: 
I wonder what it is like to be alone in the desert for such a long time….?
I wonder what Jesus and God talked about in the desert…?
I wonder if it was hard for Jesus to say “no” to the evil one…?

The children are not to answer out loud, rather they are to wonder about these things deep in their hearts, because the mystery of God in Christ is not a puzzle to be solved, but rather a grace to be received with gratitude.

I have some wonderings of my own:
When you feel most alone, how do you notice and remember God?
Have you ever had a time when you felt you were in a wilderness?
What was it like to be among both wild beasts and angels?

Lent is described as a journey of 40 days.  May we find our way through this journey of Lent to the joy of Easter.

Pastor Nancy

90 second sermon: Mark 6

90 second sermon Mark 6
Posted by Nancy Meehan Yao on Monday, January 25, 2016

Mission Study

"Without a vision, the people perish" says Scripture. (Proverbs 29:18)

A Mission Study must be completed before this church can begin to call your next pastor.  But a periodic Mission Study and review is a good idea and practice for any church.

The three questions all churches must ask themselves are:

• Who are we? (identity)
• Who is our neighbor? (mission)
• What is God calling us to be and do? (vision)

I am looking for people to help with the Mission Study throughout this interim time.  We will have small group conversations, reflect on a number of things, share with the congregation what we are finding, and document these findings in a report that will be submitted to the congregation and the Presbytery.

Although this might sound like a lot of work, it will be interesting, fun and spiritual—we will have an intentional time to reflect on where we experience God in and through this congregation, where we think God is calling us next, and how we might serve God and neighbors in this particular time and place. There will be meetings throughout the year, but the work will not be too difficult.

I hope you will join me as part of the Mission Study Team—I will be reaching out to you, and hope to have a diversity of voices and people to help on this journey of exploration, vision and discernment. If you are interested in joining in this work, please let me know!  I look forward to meeting with you.

Pastor Nancy

Local Missions: 2015 Update

With Session approval, the Mission Committee dispersed the remainder of our 2015 local mission money as follows:

• Christmas families
• Presbyterian World Mission
  (This funding is matched dollar for dollar so our gift doubles!)
• Schuyler Outreach
  (These monies are designated for fuel, prescriptions and personal care items.)
• Food Bank of the Southern Tier
• Haiti mission

Thank you for being a blessing, both here and abroad!

90 Second Sermon: Mark 2:1-22

A Prayer for Epiphany

On entering the house,
they saw the child with Mary his mother;
and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure chests,
they offered him gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
-  Matthew 2:11 

Lord God, Heavenly Parent, You have given us the light of your Holy Word, the guiding star that leads us to the Christ child.  Send, we pray, your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive this light and walk in your light.

May we, like the wise ones who were seeking the star, not be afraid because of any hardship or peril, but put all our trust in your Son, our savior.  May we devote ourselves and our gifts to the advancement of your kingdom, and in all things serve him in this coming year, and in all our lives. 
Amen.

Taken from Out of the Ordinary

© 2000 by Joyce Rupp

History and Heritage

We can’t know where we are going until we know where we have been.  The first task of an Interim time is to look at our heritage, and also to deepen our connections to one another and to God.

There are a number of small group opportunities coming up, to talk about the history of this church, YOUR history with it, and where you feel God is calling us next.

• Sunday, January 3
  9:45am at the Adult Sunday School (meets in the Allen Room)
   
• Wednesday, January 13
  6:00 pm at our first Soup & Study (meets in the Fellowship Hall)
   
• Friday, January 22
  10:00 am with coffee and conversation (meets in the Fellowship Hall)

If you are able to attend one of these times, please call the church office to let us know. I welcome other times and conversation. Please let me know if none of these times are convenient.

Blessings,
Pastor Nancy