This Week at Westminster -- Feb. 16 - 22

Hopefully, next week we will have a new page on our webpage titled "This Week at Westminster."  On the page, will have all our church activities listed, maybe with a little commentary. Be sure to look for this.

Wanting to get a jump start, I hope every has the notice that members are being asked to come to the church this Saturday (Feb. 8) to help prepare flowerbeds for our columbarium garden.  We need backs, shovels, and minds as we install two short decorative retaining walls, install edging, turn the sod in the beds under, and shovel in all the mulch.  We will continue work on successive Saturdays until the beds are ready for planting.  Of course the work will not stop, for we have to do some planting.

This Sunday (Feb. 9) is our annual Sunday School Food Drive.  This was started five years ago by the Parlor Class when Mike Stump was leading the discussions.  Our goal is one ton of food.  Please bring non-perishable food items  to church during the Sunday school hour, enjoy a light breakfast, then we will head to the sanctuary for worship.  Following worship we will load the trucks and take the food to Project HOPE.

The official start for  our new "This Week at Westminster" page will be February 16.  Here is a sneak  peak at what is coming up.

Sunday, February 16

                VALENTINE BINGO AND CHILI SUPPER – Don’t miss the social event of the year at Westminster.  What better way to treat your Valentine then winning a few white elephant gifts and enjoying a steaming bowl of chili.  Dinner will begin at 5:30 PM followed with B-I-N-G-O.   So B-4 you come give some thought to what while elephant gift you will bring.

                Oh, by the way we had 47 participants at our Bowling and Pizza Party hosted by our Mission Committee.  Our Building and Grounds Committee (our Bingo / Chili host) hope  to win the friendly competition with Mission by having more than 47 attend the party. 

Monday, February 17

                Our office will be closed in honor of our Presidents.

Tuesday, February 18

                BELL CHOIR PRACTICE at 5:30 pm

 Wednesday, February 19

                PASTOR’S CLASS – “The Church in the Middle Ages.”  Class begins at 6:30 in the church parlor

                CHOIR PRACTICE at 7:30 pm

Saturdays, February 22, March 1 and March 8 (all at 9 am)

                WORK DAYS IN THE GARDEN – Yes, we need backs, shovels, and minds as we prepare the gardens for our new columbarium.  We will be: stacking decorative bricks for two (short) retaining walls, installing edging for the flowerbeds, turning the sod under in the beds, and piling on the mulch.  Once everything is in place, we will plant the bushes.   Thanks to Barb Stump and her landscape expert Joann Carter for their expertise. 

 

See the church calendar for other events!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 

 

    Jesus healed a blind man then taught, "I am the light of the world."  He fed 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish, then taught, "I am the bread of life"  He raised Lazarus from the tomb, proclaiming, "I am the resurrection and the life."  
      The signs which John records, all point us to a truth about Jesus; however, Jesus not only told us about himself, he told us who we are.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth. . . ."  Then he said, "You are the light of the world."
       We can say with certainty that we could all let out lights shine brighter.  And of course, here at Westminster we could be a little "saltier and brighter," but I rejoice at the light we shared during this past year. 
        In 2013 several of our members served on various boards and agencies of local charities such as: Love INC, Health Horizons of East Texas, and Community Rx.  We have not only supported the work of New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children (NOROC), but our ministry with NOROC has inspired the Stephen F. Austin State University  Freshman Leadership Academy to get involved with NOROC.  This group will be sending six SFA students along with our own Dr. Peck to work in the NOROC program for two weeks following graduation.  The group also hosts fund raisers  to support the NOROC ministry.
      Two of our members traveled to Belize on a medical mission trip, and one traveled to Ghana.  When the weather warms, several of our members will join with supporters of Health Horizons of East Texas to construct a much needed privacy fence for their new building. 
      When it comes to mission giving, we accomplished our goal of offering 20% of our operating income on mission projects.  This amount combined with other giving added up to about $90,000 in support for Christian missions.  Not bad for a church our size.
       Our light could be brighter, but I give thanks for a job well done.

Steve
        

O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

            I have given up on the forty verse song, “The Forty Days of Lent.”  Maybe someone else can use the idea to make their millions, but if you do, I hope you will tithe on the income.

            However, on this fourth day of Lent, we can consider the a theme on the “Songs of Lent.”   One of the “old hymns” comes to us from the pen of Thomas a Kempis.  Or, should I say it is attributed to Thomas.  The hymn “O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High,” is one that we often sing during Lent.  The hymn in the Latin text has twenty-three stanzas; so much for the Presbyterian idea that we should sing every verse of every hymn. 
            Thomas was born around 1380 in Kempen (thus the name Kempis), which is close to Dusseldorf.  His family was poor. John, his father was a blacksmith and his mother Gertude was a school-mistress. Maybe it was due to their mother working for a school that Thomas and his brother Jan were allowed the privilege to study Latin and both ended up in the monetary at St. Agnes where Jan served as prior. 
            Thomas lived the quiet and contemplative life of a copyist.  He copied the Bible no fewer than four times; one of these is preserved at Darmstadt, Germany.  Thomas’ greatest work was The Imitation of Christ, which is one of the best known books of devotions in history. 
            Take a little time to consider some of his quotes:
            “If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and seek not at any time the fame of being learned.”
            “At the day of judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.”
            “Love flies, runs, and rejoices; it is free and nothing can hold it back.”
            “Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.”
            “Remember that lost time does not return.”

            As we journey through Lent, remember the words he wrote in that old hymn:

            O love, how deep, how broad, how high,

            How passing thought and fantasy,
            That God, the Son of God should take
            Our mortal form for mortals’ sake.

            For us baptized, for us He bore

            His holy fast and hungered sore;
            For us temptations sharp he knew,
            For us the tempter overthrew.

            For us to evil power betrayed,

            Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
            He bore the shameful cross and death,
            For us he gave his dying breath.

Doing Something for Lent

       

             Today is the third day of Lent, and like a resolution one makes when the New Year begins, there are Lenten resolutions. The problem with New Year resolutions is that by the third day of the year, the resolutions are forgotten. I wonder if anyone has the same problem with Lent. I think I know the answer.

 

            I guess these Lenten resolutions, at least in general, are more of a religious nature, and usually come in the form of giving up something. My personal favorite is the person who will give up chocolate or cokes for Lent. Giving up some of those items that comfort our palate is certainly beneficial to our health, but a fast that would honor Jesus Christ would be one that benefits others. Maybe, one could estimate what they would spend on the cokes and chocolate they have given up, and spend the money on caring for a person in need.

            Another way to consider Lent is not so much what you are willing to give up, but take on a new project for Lent. If you feel you should give up cokes or chocolate for Lent, maybe you ought to give these up (period). Maybe a holy Lent would be to volunteer to build a wheel chair ramp for someone coming home from hip surgery. How about planting a tree for Lent or some other environmentally green activity?

            “What does the Lord require, but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.” -- Micah 6:8.

            As Thomas a Kempis wrote, "At the Day of Judgment we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done."

            How about doing something for Lent?

Lent and Valentine's Day

          If I were to write a song for the forty days of Lent, today would be a good day as we combine Valentine’s Day and Lent.  I guess it would go something like, “On the second day of Le-ent my true love gave to me a card filled with candy and mints.”  The problem with this song is that Lent is only syllable, where Christmas has two.  The meter is all wrong, thus the le-ent.

          Going to Wikipedia, I found out that Valentine’s Day has a long history that may reach back as far as A. D. 268-270.  One of the legends that surrounds Valentine’s Day, is that when Claudius II (268-270) was emperor of Rome he determined that single men were better and more committed soldiers.  I guess they would stay on the field rather than badger their superiors for leave to go home to be with their families.  Believing that single men with undivided interest were more committed to being soldiers, Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men.  I guess another reason, is that this left Rome with many young single women from whom he could choose and not compete with the young men. 

          St. Valentine recognized the injustice of this decree, and defying Claudius he continued to perform secret marriages for young lovers.  When Valentine was discovered, Claudius had Valentine put to death. 
          Such stories make me wonder about what lengths we will go to in order to stand against injustice.  Hummmm, maybe there is a correlation between Valentine’s Day and Lent. 
          Take away from me the noise of your songs;
                I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
               But let justice roll down like waters,
                and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.  Amos 5:23-24

          "He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory." – Matthew 12:20

Forty Days of Lent

        I thought about writing a new song, The Forty Days of Lent, sung to the tune The Twelve Days of Christmas.  The obvious problem, besides my lack of talent in song writing, is the song would be too long.  It may not be as long as One Hundred Bottles of Beer, but it would be a better song to sing while driving down the highway, trying to keep awake.   

        The good news is that we can find a wealth of Lenten songs in our hymnbook.  Actually, there are twelve hymns in the Presbyterian Hymnbook listed under the heading of Lent.

        This afternoon, during our Ash Wednesday Service, we sang the hymn Kind Maker of the World.  If you are one who likes the “old hymns,” this one is for you.  The text is attributed to Gregory the Great who lived in the sixth century (c.540-604).  The tune, A LA VENUE DE NOEL, was first printed in 1535.  My guess is this is not what you had in mind when it comes to the “old hymns.”

        Gregory was member of the Roman senate and became perfect of Rome; however after his father’s death, he gave up his power to become a Benedictine monk and established six monasteries on family land.  In 590 he rose to the office of Pope.  His interest in spreading the gospel, moved the church all the way to England.   And this of course is the Gregory we remember when we think of the Gregorian chant.

        What I am impressed with are the words of his Lenten hymn, Kind Maker of the World. 

        Kind Maker of the world, O hear

        The fervent prayer, with many a tear
        Poured forth by all the penitent
        Who keep this holy fast of Lent!

        Grant, O Thou blessed Trinity,

        Grant, O unchanging Unity,
        That this our fast of forty days
        MAY WORK OUR PROFIT AND THY PRAISE!

        Lord, as we move toward your passion, may we learn the discipline of service – our profit, and may our lives declare your praise as we do the merciful work of Christ.  Amen.

It's Good Friday.  Most of the day will seem like any other day.  Most of us went to work.  Some are out ont he golf course. There is activity all around.  But, I hope everyone will remember during the busyness of the day, the significance of this day. 

Early in the morning as the sun rose, Jesus was taken to Pilate.  He had already suffered much, but Pilate who knew Jesus was innocent still had him flogged to appease the religious leaders, but it was not enough.  The leaders still demanded that Jesus be crucified.  The Scriptures seems to indicate that Jesus was handed over to the leaders to be crucified, but it was a soldier who placed a crown of thorns on his head.  The Romans beat Jesus, and all this took place before nine o'clock that morning. 

Mark tells us that it was the third hour (9 AM) when Jesus was crucified.  He was marched to Golgotha and the spikes were nailed.  At noon, darkness covered the land until the ninth hour (3 PM) when Jesus gave up his spirit and breathed his last.

Remember what he said:
"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
"Truly, I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise."
"Women, behold your son.  Son, behold your mother."
"My God, My God why have you forsaken me?"
"I thirst."
"It is finished."
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

It was all done for us.  Kind of puts a new perspective on the priorities of the day. 

See you tonight in church -- 7:30 PM

Yours in Christ,
Steve