9. To follow Christ is to suffer (and that's OK).  I have spent my entire Christian life thinking that if I just tried to do everything right, then God would grant me a suffering-free life. Even when I saw others go through tragedies and knew that my life would not be free from such, I still kept up this lie that to be Christian is to attain some rose-colored perfection. The problem with this is that it simply can't happen. We cannot avoid suffering. To think otherwise only creates guilt-ridden Christianity because we will fail daily. Instead, this trip (actually the whole last year) has showed me that to really be a Christian, suffering is integral. Christ more than anyone understood suffering and that's what makes the Cross the most fascinating paradox. With suffering comes grace, so instead of resisting suffering, or manipulating life in order not to suffer (which is a form of suffering), I feel more called than ever to lean into it and learn from it. Again, this is another truth on which I'll be meditating forever.

It has come to my attention from observation during my life that I can foresee suffering when it is coming to, or happening for myself and others.

I also know that I can find many ways to avoid or bypass the difficulties suffering brings with it. On many occasions I have avoided difficult situations that cause suffering and I have also helped others who I care about to get out of difficulties which they faced. Especially in the case of my children, I have saved them from certain hardships that they should have faced and solved themselves.  (That is like not allowing your children to ever be sick.  Then they grow up with no immune system.)

The most interesting thing I have learned about this is that each hardship is there to teach you a lesson. If you do not face the difficulty or if you do not learn your lesson then it will come back later and you will be forced to deal with it again. Each lesson you fail to learn causes your difficulty level to go up the next time it returns until you finally have no choice but to solve the problem and learn your lesson. The corollary is you can not go on to the next lesson in the series if you fail to learn this one.

The end results are:  

Difficulties and suffering are not just something to endure; they serve a purpose in your life.

Do not try to avoid them; they will be easier the first time.  Face them and learn your lesson.

If you find yourself in a really terrible situation (at least from your point of view) then you have probably been avoiding something for way too long.

Do not protect yourself or your "children" too much (short of keeping them from severe accident or death)  

We all need to take advantage of the opportunities we are given.

We're setting a place for you...

Mark your calendars!  

Sunday, October 18th is the date for this year's 

Consecration Sunday. 

Please plan to attend two important events:  Sunday morning worship at 10:00 a.m. and the Celebration Luncheon immediately following worship that same day -- a meal from a very special caterer in Harris County.

We hope that you will attend worship on Consecration Sunday and consider your financial commitment in the church sanctuary as an act of worship.

In  Christ,

St. Nicholas Stewardship Committee

 

The Outreach Committee is busy planning more activities to support the project, BackPack Snacks. Along with three other Harris County Churches, St. Nicholas will be providing nutritional, easy to prepare meals for school children whose meal times are uncertain on the weekends. We will be packing six meals into back packs for four children chosen for the program by the counselor at Park Elementary School.  The Vestry has voted to give $300 seed money for this program, but your donations are needed to make it a success.

 

Before the planned October 25 fund raiser, more donations are needed to provide meals for four back packs seven times. Donations can be made monetarily by checks made out to St. Nicholas with the notation Back Pack Snacks on the memo line. Food articles can be brought to the church and will be collected and distributed. More breakfast foods are currently needed. Suggestions are small bags or boxes of cereal, individual packets of macaroni and cheese, individual small cans of fruit, granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, pop tarts, individual flavored rice and beef sticks.

 

There are many lay ministry opportunities at

St. Nicholas. Each person has unique talents to share. Think about your place to joyfully plug into 

St Nicholas.     

A few ideas are:  Flower Guild, Greeter, Ushers,  Teacher,  Special  Event Volunteer,  Grounds, Choir, Lay Eucharistic Minister........ 

More opportunities will be listed next week.  But begin to think about it.  Tailor your lay ministry to your time.

Most of all do remember to worship at St Nicholas.

Lectionary Readings 

If you would like to see the readings for Sunday, 

Click here to view the Lectionary page.