Thursday, May 23, 2024

Celebrating 35 Years of Ministry: 1989 - 2024

As we prepare to celebrate Trinity Sunday, I’ve been thinking about Welton. From the stories you’ve shared with me, Welton was honest about not necessarily understanding the Trinity but as D.H. said this week in our staff meeting, “That didn’t stop him from trying to explain it!” That’s the most any preacher can do, though the truth is the Trinity is more than a little mysterious. How can an entity be one and three at the same time? How can we worship Parent, Friend, and Advocate and claim not to worship three gods? Like Welton, I can’t explain the Trinity. My best attempt is to say that God comes to us in three forms so that no matter where we are in our life we’re not alone. 

Trinity Sunday also begins the Sundays after Pentecost or “Ordinary Time” in the liturgical calendar. This isn’t ordinary as in “normal” or “regular” but from the word “ordinal,” meaning a specific order. This is the longest season of the year and is a chance to grow with Christ. As writer Jan Richardson says, Ordinary time is about moving from “the times and seasons that have been so marked by a sense of story and meaning—Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost—into the long season of the year that bids us celebrate the commonplace and to seek the God who dwells within the daily.” 

Richardson also asks what sort of blessing might be needed in this celebration of the commonplace. “What words or gestures of sacrament and grace do you need to sustain you as you enter into this part of the year? How do you look for the presence of the God who lingers amid the ordinary and seemingly mundane? What rhythms of living do you yearn for as you stretch into the season that awaits you?” In response, she offers the following blessing. May it ring in your ears this Trinity Sunday and throughout the coming Ordinary Time. 

Blessing the Ordinary

Let these words

lay themselves

like a blessing

upon your head,

your shoulders

as if,

like hands,

they could pass on

to you

what you most need

for this day

as if they could

anoint you

not merely for

the path ahead

but for this

ordinary moment

that opens itself

to you—

opens itself

like another hand

that unfurls itself,

that reaches out

to gather up

these words

in the bowl

of its palm.

You may think

this blessing

lives within

these words

but I tell you

it lives

in the opening

and in the reaching;

it lives

in the ache

where this blessing

begins;

it lives

in the hollow

made by the place

where the hands

of this blessing

meet.

Jillian

Opening Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy This hymn by Reginald Heber was published in a book of hymns for Bambury Parish Church in England. Nicaea, one of nearly 300 tunes by John B. Dykes, was named for the famous council that defined the doctrine of the Trinity.

The Prayer Response: Spirit of the Living God from the tune IVERSON.

Middle Hymn: The Trinity of Love by Darrell Cluck, written for Trinity Sunday, 2012 and dedicated to Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy. Set to the tune, ST. ANNE

Anthem: O Love, How Deep by Everett Titcomb from Latin 15th century, translated by Benjamin Webb.

The Communion Anthem: Holy, Holy, Holy by Franz Schubert from Impromptu No. 3 and Mass in G. Arranged by D.H. Clark.

Closing Hymn: Come Now, Almighty God This anonymous English hymn to the Trinity was first published in George Whitefield's Collection, 1757. This tune was composed especially for this text by Giardini, who was a brilliant violinist.

We Celebrate with...

Mark Clark (26th)

Korley Adkerson (Kane family) (26th)

Whitney King (27th)

Debbie O'Neal (28th)

Kay Southern (28th)

Laura Duke (30th)

as they celebrates their birthdays

Youth Group Meals

Our youth meet every Sunday at 5:00. We would like to offer them a light meal. If you would like to help provide a meal click the link to sign up. They love easy meals. Some suggestions are tacos, spaghetti, chili, sandwiches and pizza! Please review the available slots by clicking on the button to sign up. Dates will be added as planning continues. Thank you! We typically have between 10-15 youth and adults. Please call or text Jennifer Kimble-Keen (318-307-6716) with any questions! 

 YOUTH MEALS SIGNUP

FAMILY MINISTRIES SURVEY

The Family Ministries Commission has compiled a survey to determine what activities and volunteer opportunities the church family would be interested in. The survey link can be found here:

FAMILY MINISTRIES SURVEY

PUB THEOLOGY

Thursday, June 20 at 7pm at The Fat Pelican!

BOOK CLUB

Our next book is Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant. We will meet for potluck and discussion on Thursday, June 13 at 6pm in the home of Marilyn Decker 711 Oakhurst Dr., Bastrop. LA.

MAY MISSION EMPHASIS:

MEDCAMPS OF LOUISIANA

Our May Mission is MedCamps of Louisiana.  MedCamps’ Mission is to improve the health and wellness of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities through unique recreational and educational camping experiences.  They believe that all people, regardless of medical or special needs, deserve to experience life to the fullest and that camping is an American tradition which epitomizes normalcy and provides participants with a sense of well-being, belonging, accomplishment and self-worth.  MedCamps has never charged a fee to attend camp.  

NEEDS: Gift Cards (Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, Academy), Sharpie Markers, Batteries (A, AA, AAA), Lysol, Lysol cleaning wipes, Baby Wipes, Air Fresheners. Cleaning supplies: Simple Green Cleaner, Duct tape, Paper towels, Toilet paper, , First aid kits, Light bulbs, Mosquito spray, Wasp and hornet spray, Latex Free Gloves, All laundry detergent: sensitive free.

Other: Acrylic Paint, Paint Brushes, Foam Brushes, Board Games/Card Games, Paintballs, Friendship Bracelet Kits, Costumes (for skits ETC)

In addition, they have an Amazon Wishlist located at https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/FX22QLB21E96

Arranged by Robert Crawford

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT MAY 24 FROM 6-9PM IN BASTROP

Directions: US 165N to Bastrop. Travel past the courthouse to its corner then turn left on to US 425N. Travel through 4 red lights. At the 5th red light on the right is the Boiling Point.