I don’t shop a lot, but every once in awhile I will go into an antique shop to browse. Several years ago I started seeing items I remembered from my childhood labeled as “antiques” in these stores. Likewise, when my husband and I first moved to the area, we took my parents to visit the Marshall County Historical Museum. And again, I saw items from my childhood—a Girl Scout uniform, toys, a record player, and cassette tape player—in a history museum. It made me feel old. Dated. Tired. I feel the same way when I hear a song I loved to listen to or dance to when I was young playing on a classics or “oldies” station. Or when it’s playing in the supermarket. Or when it’s on a laxative commercial! What I like about antique shops is that I see younger people shopping in them for items that they will use in their homes or offices today. Perhaps more as decorations than what they were originally made to do—I can’t imagine giving up a washing machine for a washboard or wringer washer! But these old items will be used and cherished by another generation. These old items may be repurposed and used rather than sitting in an attic somewhere covered in dust. Our fall worship series is called “Keeping Company with Jesus.” It’s inspired by the North District Spiritual Disciplines workshop Jeff and I attended recently. Spiritual disciplines are based in ancient practices—at least as ancient as the Christian church is. Yet over time, practices that help us to “keep company with Jesus” have evolved to provide what Christians need in light of the challenges our ever-changing cultures give us. In her book, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us, Adele Calhoun writes, Throughout the centuries the disciplines of prayer, confession, worship, stewardship, fellowship, service, attending to Scripture and the Lord’s Supper have remained constant channels and disciplines of grace. These time-resilient disciplines give the church in every age and culture ways to keep company with Jesus. In Christ’s presence, temptations, weaknesses, sin, and life’s desires and desperations are addressed. It is not spiritual disciplines per se that transform us into the likeness of Christ. Without the work of God’s Spirit within, practices guarantee nothing. I hope you’ll join us in the sanctuary or online for the messages—and consider exploring how to use each week’s spiritual discipline more deeply in a class meeting at 10:10 each Sunday morning and at home during the week. My vision for the coming months is that as individuals and as a church we will grow Deeper in faith, Closer in community, and Bolder in sharing the gospel.
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Pastor CathyPastor Cathy has been appointed to Tyner UMC since July 2019; she also is a part-time writing instructor at Bethel University in Mishawaka. Archives
July 2022
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