ALPLAUS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
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Ash Wednesday Info
        As previously mentioned, this year Ash Wednesday is 2/17.  This is the day we start our Lenten journey.  We usually begin with an afternoon/evening service that includes the imposition of Ashes.  Last year we had a series of stations set up in the sanctuary for personal devotions at your leisure, ending with Ashes.
        What is the deal with Ashes on this day?  Have you ever wondered why we do this?  We can see when someone has been to a service and started their Lenten journey because the Ashes are visible on their face.  But in our worship, we specifically read in Matthew 6 about NOT making a show of our faith with outward signs…  It seems like a contradiction and it is a bit confusing.  Back in the day [Bible times] people who were repenting for a transgression or a significant change in attitude would adopt a manner that would involve humility and public display of repentance - wearing sackcloth and covering oneself with ashes.  This behavior of repentance would be very public and draw attention to a person’s devotion and faith.  Sometimes, it would be a bit of a show and occasionally more show than actual change.  This led to the teaching that repentance should be more private and less of a “production.”
        So why, then, do we have such a visible sign of repentance at the beginning of our Lenten season with the imposition of ashes?  Not for their visibility but as a reminder.  Primarily, the ashes are used to remind us that our life is finite.  We are born and we die as children of God.  Marking the beginning of our Lenten journey - as we dedicate ourselves to journey with Jesus to Jerusalem - we are remembering our own mortality and our fleeting opportunities to mend relationships, with God and with one another.  Traditionally, the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday - now crisp and dry, are burnt to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday [“Sunday’s Palms are Wednesday’s Ashes - as another Lent begins…” TFWS #2138].  We use these ashes to remember that the adoration of the crowds as Jesus entered into Jerusalem quickly turned to the crowd’s cry of “Crucify!”
        Can we enter Lent without Ashes on Feb 17?  Absolutely!  Look to Facebook and the website for worship elements and look for a little devotional booklet to come to you in the next couple of weeks.


Pastoral Message

8/6/2018

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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
 

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