Dear Fellow Travelers,
This has been such a busy summer! We did two concerts in the yard and two outdoor worship services. We have another free concert with Gina’s Jazz Trio at 7PM on Wed, September 9th in the yard weather permitting or in the sanctuary. We also have new flooring in the preschool rooms. And we are saying goodbye to our beloved pianist Daniel, who has found an organist job at a much larger church. Gina and Laurel will fill in most Sundays until the end of the year. Opportunity, some sadness, and an abundance of hope all together.
We have new website: edmondspresbyterian.com. It is amazing. Please check it out!
Our Bible Study starts up again on the week of September 6th with Galatians. We are using Scot McKnight’s James and Galatians book. If you have one already, please use it for the second half. If not, we have several copies at church. Pick one up or request it to be mailed to you. Bible Study is at 11:30 AM on Sundays in the Library and on Zoom (request the zoom links from us). It is also at 10 AM on Tuesdays on Zoom only.
Women’s association will resume on September 9 at 11:30 AM at the church. The men’s group meets every Saturday at 9 AM. We have so many interesting discussions about scripture and current events, and a great time of prayer.
This is what I am planning for worship in September.
Sunday, September 6th. “The Danger of Being Right – Romans 14” Romans 14 is the punchline of Romans. It quietly puts into practice the key theme of mutuality and love in the church. Paul demonstrates what it means for the churches with a wide variety of people to bond together. How can Jews and gentiles find common ground? By upholding their dignity together. I discuss who Karl Barth was and why he was a key figure in reforming the Presbyterian church.
Sunday, September 13th. “Welcomed by Christ – Romans 15” Paul’s graciousness continues. He speaks about the power and responsibility. Rather than an advantage, having power means that you should be welcoming as Jesus was rather than lording over others or being exclusive. Grace is not only a theological term but about giving wide margins of grace to those who are less powerful. It means more than charity. It is the attitude of including and supporting others.
Sunday, September 20th. “Phoebe is Paul’s Trusted Colleague – Romans 16” Paul often gets unfairly typecast as a misogynist, because of few verses in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy that have been used over the centuries to keep women out of leadership, even though they are not about women in general. Instead, Romans 16 celebrates a wide range of people, men and women in all sorts of roles who helped Paul and were allied with Paul. You simply can’t read Romans 16 to say that women shouldn’t fully participate in all aspects of ministry.
Sunday, September 27th. “Encouragement in Christ” Life is a huge journey filled with joy and pain. Reward and punishment. Gathering and loss. None of us escapes this cycle. Some more gently than others, but it’s the same for all in the end. By the end of life, we will have to give up everything, willingly or not. Jesus gave up all, emptying himself, losing everything at the cross. This Jesus is the Jesus we love, the one who lost himself for our sake, so that we might live.
It is a joy to serve God with you! I look forward to worshipping with you in September!
Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob