Last Sunday the class read and discussed Questions 1 through 4 at the end of Chapter 2 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” The chapter is titled “Rejoice in the Lord’s Sovereignty.”
Question 3 asks us to consider, among other things, the statement, “Belief always precedes behavior.” Some felt that this describes their life outlook. Others opined that sometimes carrying out certain behaviors molds and reinforces their belief system.
Question 4 asked us to read 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 and Philippians 1:12-13. From these readings, Max asked us specific questions:
- In what circumstances do you struggle to trust God’s purposes?
- Do you feel that God is fair in asking for a pure response like [Saint] Paul’s? Why or why not?
- What keeps you from fully believing that God is a good Father who cares for every detail of your life?
- Take time to bring these obstacles before the Lord and pray, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,” as written in Mark 9:24.
Next Sunday, 3/10/19, the class will start with Question 5, in the middle of page 161. The gist of the question is how actions of our leaders influence our way of life. The springboard for discussion is Hebrews 13:7-8.
Hope you can make it to class, normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center. Molly Miller has graciously agreed to facilitate the class while we are still in Baltimore for Paul’s participation in an international math teachers meeting.
In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster
On each Sunday in Lent, beginning March 10, St. George will be holding a Lenten Lunch at 12:00 PM in the Parish Hall/Cafeteria. All members of the St. George Family are invited to break bread over crockpots of homemade soup and warm bread and share in conversation about our Lenten journey. Come one Sunday or enjoy them all!
Soon, every member of the St. George Parish will be receiving a phone call from a fellow parishioner to sign up to bring a crock pot of soup on ONE of the Sundays during Lent. It can be homemade or store bought, and we hope that all parishioners consider participating.
March 17 …….. D-G
March 6 — Ash Wednesday @ 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 7:00 PM
April 14 — Palm Sunday
April 18 — Maundy Thursday @ 7:00 PM
April 19 — Good Friday @12:00 PM
April 21 — Easter Sunday
“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”
Book of Common Prayer, pg. 265, Liturgy for Ash Wednesday.
Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have arrived yet again at the doorstep to the season of Lent. Generations of Christ followers have used this 40-day season to reset their faith in Christ’s Love, to renew their commitment to their Baptismal vows, and to recommit to serving God and God’s people in their daily lives and work.
The words of invitation to observe a holy Lent give us clues to finding our way spiritually through Lent to a glorious Easter Morning. Here are some regular offerings that you can utilize during Lent:
- Our Sunday liturgies will provide opportunities for self-examination and repentance as offered in the Book of Common Prayer.
- Joining the Wednesday Bible Study, Coffee and Conversation, Understanding the Gospel, or the Wired Word classes in order to read and discuss God’s Word.
- Recommit to (or finally start) reading The Path Bible in order to understand the full story of Scripture.
- Walk the Stations of the Cross (indoor or outdoor).
- Attend our Lenten Soup Lunches and meet others who are on the spiritual journey here.
- Prepare soup when it is your turn and discover the joy in serving others.
- “Try on” a ministry during Lent by examining how your time priorities.
- Plan now to attend Holy Week worship (April 14-20). Opportunities for daily worship will be available to all.
Lent at St. George is a time for all of us to come together in prayer and service to discover the riches of God’s grace.
I look forward to sharing this Lenten Journey with you and your loved ones!
Peace,
Fr. Ram+
Last Sunday the class finished discussing the questions at the end of Chapter 1 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” Question 7 involved analyzing the promises God makes us in various verses of scripture.
Psalm 55, Verse 22 is quoted as saying, “Cast your burden on the Lord and he shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Some of us wondered about the exact interpretation of “never being moved.” One class member thought the statement might mean “… moved from their righteous path.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 states, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting your care upon him, for he cares for you. Another class member pointed out that “care” in this verse has two appropriate meanings. One is that He is concerned about you. The other is that He takes care of you.
In the last question Max refers back to the acronym C.A.R.E., standing for “Celebrate God’s goodness,” “Ask God for help,” “Leave your concerns with him,” and “Meditate on good things. Great “conversation” about these items!
This Sunday, 3/3/19, we will start with the questions for Chapter 2 that begin on page 160. The title of that chapter is “Rejoice in the Lord’s Sovereignty.” Hope you can join us, normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center.
In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster
p.s.: The following Sunday, we (P & P) will be in Baltimore where Paul will be presenting a session at an international conference for mathematics teachers. We are looking for someone to facilitate the class that Sunday.
We are looking forward to class this weekend! We didn’t have the number expected for last week’s class so we again enjoyed a fellowship time, which is still very fulfilling. Hopefully, we will be able to resume the next chapter in the book “Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans this week. This book has been such a great conversation starter. Hope to see you there!!
Reminder: this will be our last class ’til March 24 as we line up with “Tacos with Taylor” and “Fun and the Son” youth and children’s formation classes, and they’re not holding class the two weekends of spring break. We have found that it is has been the most productive use of our resources to not have class during 3-day weekends and holiday weeks due to the dip in attendance amongst families.
We always have the gathering area “coffee hour” and nursery care during the 9:30-10:30 hour as you come to worship. This is a great time of fellowship before worship and there is always food and goodies to feed those who come.
Join us for Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday, March 5. We will celebrate “St. George style” with pancakes, pancakes, and even more pancakes at our Annual Pancake Supper from 5:30-7:00 PM!
Along with the pancakes, we will be serving sausage and fruit. Don’t forget to stick around for the pancake races! Donations are accepted and will go to benefit the St. George Church Camp Scholarship Fund. Click here to learn more about the different camps and conferences that this fund helps provide to members in our community.
Last Sunday the class read and “conversed” about three of the Bible verses in Question 7 for Chapter 1 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” Max prompts us to note the promises in these verses:
- Proverbs 3:5-6. ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”
- Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
- John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Some discussion centered on how the “yoke” (of oxen, for example) would perhaps have had more meaning to the people of 2000 years ago at the time the Gospels were written. One class member interpreted the Matthew passage as meaning our part of the burden will be lighter when we are yoked with God who will take part of our load. Another commented that we might be less burdened if we are yoked to Christ rather than to a worldly load. Yet another speculated that this passage might have changed meaning through mistranslations over 2000 years.
There was more lively discussion that this letter is too short to elaborate on. Hope as many of you who are able can join us in class this Sunday, 2/24/19 (normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center), as we encounter more of Max Lucado’s questions relating to relief of anxiety.
In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster