As part of our preparation for resuming a second contemporary service, I'm answering frequently asked questions about this service that resumes on April 14th, when we'll offer our traditional service at 9:15 a.m. and our contemporary service at 11:11 a.m.
John Gibson
Sunday, March 10th, we began our Lenten sermon series on the Lord’s Prayer. In preparing for this series, I was impressed by biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan’s claim that it is humanity’s greatest prayer. Although considered THE Christian prayer, Christ is never mentioned. The prayer, in fact, is deeply rooted in Judaism. All its elements can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures or ancient Jewish literature.
The opening words “Our Father” reveal that God loves everyone on this earth like a loving and caring father. And each person is our brother or sister, because God is the Father of us all.
Years ago, a colleague gave me two tickets to a Friday night performance of the North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh. Someone had given the person better seats. After a long week, Cindy and I were too tired to go. The next week my colleague angrily chewed me out, saying that those tickets had cost a lot of money.
That incident started me thinking how gifts often come with strings. I was expected to attend the symphony. It didn’t matter that we were exhausted. Our need for rest was secondary. The giver’s desire was more important.
Everything but the kitchen sink? No way! We included it, too! New kitchen countertops, stove AND kitchen sink have been installed!! These renovations are part of our five-year long effort to upgrade the interior of our building!
Many new people tell me that the inside feels inviting. I’m excited to hear that because that was our hope! We never sought to create anything luxurious. You won’t find marble or quartz! You will find a bright, clean and warm space.
Years ago, when my family rented a beach front house on Emerald Isle, I loved watching the sunrise. As I sat on the weathered, wooden deck with a mug of coffee, the still, early, summer morning felt like a gentle hug. Lulling waves gently crashed against the sand. Occasionally, a distant dog bark or bird cry punctuated the quiet air. A person or two walked or jogged on the beach below. Above, the sky gradually became streaked and splashed with red, orange, purple, and pink as night gave way to day.
The four-week season of Advent that begins this Sunday reminds us that the birth of Christ is not about what we do but what God does. Instead of getting sucked into a swirl of incessant activity, Advent encourages us to take a step back, to let go of some of the to-do’s and to experience the quiet expectation of waiting for the birth of Jesus. If we do, Advent will reveal the hued beauty of God’s love as the world’s darkness gives way to the light of Christ.
Water ruined almost everything she owned. People are now assessing whether to gut the New Bern home of my sister-in-law’s mother. My sister-in-law and brother were luckier. Florence ripped off part of their Emerald Isle home’s roof, drenching the inside but apparently not totaling it.
While, thankfully, we in Johnston and Wake Counties were spared the brunt of Florence, our sisters and brothers to the east felt its punishing power for days. The worst is yet to come for many, too, as the flood waters continue to rise.
Last week Cindy and I had two dead trees removed. While the men were working, one of our neighbors left a long voicemail complaining that they weren’t using a crane. If anything fell on her fence, we would have to pay.
Later that same morning she came over to tell me that debris from other trees on our property were falling on her deck. She wanted them removed, too.
