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October 2008 Prayer and Fellowship 1. We must keep ourselves grounded in scripture and in prayer. Psalm 21 asks the question, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth” If you are worried about the state of the world, remind yourself who’s world it is and who’s you are by memorizing Psalm 21. Our faith always calls us to look beyond ourselves and beyond our present circumstances to what God is doing in and through us. Our faith reminds us that even in the midst of hardship, God is creating a new thing. In times like these we need to be reminded of the presence of God and we need to remind others around us. 2. Don’t be alone. Jesus never said where one person is alone and isolated from the community there I am with them. He said, “where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” If television had already been invented during the time of Jesus he would not have built his ministry that way. Christian faith is about being with each other in conversation, in song, in prayer and in what Paul called the “mutual consolation of the saints”. We were made to be with each other. I have seen studies that show during times of crisis that those who are watching the crisis on television (especially now when coverage is nonstop) are distraught and anxious for a longer period of time than those who were in the crisis itself! It makes sense if you think about it. Those who were in the crisis were often in it with community, and they had each other to talk to and to pray, console and to grieve with. Please, when doubt and fear assail you, don’t be alone. 3. Do something productive. The first book in the New Testament, after the Gospels, is called “The Acts of the Apostles”. The first disciples of Jesus never neglected worship, prayer or being in a community, and they also moved forward with a plan. It is not surprising that they did this. Jesus had said to Philip, “ I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father.” (John 14 :12) Jesus never said, “Sit here, hopefully everything will go ok and you’ll have an easy life and then in the end, I’ll clean it up and take you home”. He said, “You folks are it”. “You are the ones to bring good news, you are the ones to call for righteousness, you are the ones to act for justice and you will be able to do it because I will be with you.” That sounds like a tall order but remember the promise, “I will be with you”. That’s a tall promise. In our congregation people have found lots of ways to be productive. There are a group of women now knitting prayer shawls for the sick. The men who come on Tuesday mornings don’t think of themselves as being all that “holy” but their service to their church and their comradary and good cheer with each other is the best kind of holiness in my book. Ask the members of the choir and they will tell you a person can be scared and lonely before and after singing but not while you’re doing it with others. And then there is the Core team. They along with many of us throughout the twin cities are making the audacious claim that at this time of financial crises and uncertainty, at this time of arguing and bickering about our future it is actually the “Time to Believe” that God is doing a new thing among us. You might not be able to sing with the choir or to swing a hammer with the guys, but here’s something we can all do. Let’s join our core team on October 12 at the Roy Wilkins auditorium, not just to watch and observe but to proclaim that for people of faith it is in fact time to believe! You don’t have to made your mind up on every jot and tittle of the program to be able to lend your voice that as a people of faith we want this world and its people to flourish. You don’t have to be a policy expert to know that as people of faith we want everyone to have good health care, decent safe transportation, and fair human treatment no matter who you are. Think of it. As people of faith, 4000 of us, gathered to say whether our economy is flush or failing, whether our short term outlook is bullish or bearish, God says the real “bottom line” is people. When the body of Christ stays clear on that we can bring the balm that the rest of the world is so hungry for. Remember to stay grounded in prayer and scripture, don’t be alone, and do something productive. God will see us through these times as God has seen us through all others. Peace to you. Music Ministry One of the beloved hymns sung at St. Matthew's and used in various musical arrangements is "It Is Well With My Soul." "It Is Well with My Soul" was penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford. It was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, followed by the great Chicago fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him a telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
October 12, 2008 St. Paul River Center Behold! I am doing a new thing. Choir Retreat The St. Matthew's Choir will have a choir workshop/retreat on Saturday, October 4 from 9:00-Noon in the Sanctuary. We are pleased to have a guest clinician, Dr. Robert Reid, with us that morning. Dr. Reid is Director of Music at Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Bloomington, where he has served for six years. He directs the Chancel Choir, Praise and Worship Team, Children’s Choir (grades K-6), adult handbell choir and middle-school-aged handbell choir. Rob sings Baritone in the National Lutheran Choir and recently attained the position of Chair-Elect for Area VII of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. Rob is a graduate of Macalester College, where he studied conducting with Dale Warland. He received the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Kansas, where he studied with Simon Carrington, formerly of the Kings Singers.
Vibe Happenings V-Value I-Invest B-Build E-Equip October 1– German American Band
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