As I write this, preparing for July 22, I am struck that our scripture reading this week skips over a couple of major happenings.  We will completely skip over The gospel of Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water. I’m not complaining, we know these stories and address them at other points in the lectionary.  I mention this because in my “skipping over” them as I prepare for Sunday - I can’t help but actually read them, because they are right there in the Bible - Mark 6:35-52. And as I read them, I was thinking about our Congregation, our community and how it is we are plugging along in some ways and thriving in other ways.

When I read the feeding of the 5000, I can’t help but think about the children’s story of stone soup:  how though times are tough and food is scarce, when each person contributes the little that they can - the meal becomes more than enough to meet everyone’s need.  The willingness to share starts with the one who brings the stone and affirms each person’s worth and ability to offer their contributions. Now, obviously, Jesus is more than a kind traveler offering us a stone for food.  We, as the Alplaus congregation, have met and been changed by the invitation to come and find our place at the Table where Jesus is the Host.

We are a small congregation that is aware of our needs.  Each person contributes to make a vital gift towards how it is we feast on and share together the abundant goodness and limitless grace of God.  We are well fed on the living scripture and filled each week by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Nourished, we accomplish good ministry. We have never run out of kindness to share.  Our baskets overflow with the outpouring of living faith!
The moral of my writing here is: Do not be fooled by modest appearance - we are rich in our love of God and our community spirit.  We share all this freely, knowing that Source is unlimited! Come on in, we share these gifts freely!
 
Blessings, Pastor Kristi
 

A few matters of business to start off:

• July 1 is a Sunday!  This is the day for the Community Worship Service at the Firehouse.  Invite all your friends and neighbors! Service starts at 10:30.
• SUMMER WORSHIP - begins July 8: 9:30am and every Sunday through and including Labor Day Weekend.

 
Compass Continues to find new opportunities for serving here in Alplaus.  Below is a list of projects begun or in process:

• Website and social media presence (alplausumc.org)
• Alplaus Amblers (Tuesdays at 9am)
• Handrails to ease accessibility (front and back stairs)
• Prayer Chain update (including text version)
• Thursday Morning Prayer Group - this is still forming, please consider joining us.  We are trying to meet every other Thursday at 10:30am.  Our focus is foundational - we are praying daily for the efforts of the Compass Project, for God’s will for the congregation, for the community, for the people of the community, for the future of the church, locally and globally.  If you would like to join us in person or in spirit, please let me know, as our schedule is still forming.

I welcome both the refurbishment of our prayer chain and this Thursday Morning Prayer Group.  Recently I entered into a prayer covenant.  One day I made a call on the phone and found a prayer partner.  The two of us agreed to experiment for a week.  We made a schedule - identifying an hour each day when we would in each of our actions and decisions contemplate how we feel God would weigh in on our choices.  During this week, I was mindful that I had initiated this experiment and that I should stick with it.  We also scheduled “check-in” calls.  However I am not so very structured in my day and my watch actually broke during this week and I have yet to replace it.  The effect of the experiment for me was to fully center my day and my heart on God.  Because I was always forgetting the schedule and what time it was, I found that in everything, every choice and all moments, I was focusing on how God could direct my life.  Now remember, I started the experiment out of a real need.  I recognized that my prayer life was lacking. For me the experiment felt like God was using the experiment to remind me of constant Holy Presence, Peace and Strength.  God is sneaky and effective like that!

In the midst of busyness, prayer time can seem like a luxury.  In reality, I find that my life seems less whole and less fulfilling and more chaotic when I am “too busy” for prayer time.  When I tuck aside time to pray - while driving, doing dishes, mowing the lawn and even, (gasp) in a chair while I do NOTHING else but be mindful of the presence and glory of God - my life feels more peaceful and complete and I feel like I am able to notice the hand of God at work in my midst and even through my simple actions.  Prayer can be both simple and powerful.  If you are looking for a prayer partner or want to try this prayer experiment, just let me know, I highly recommend it!
 
Blessings, Pastor Kristi