Saturday, March 08, 2003
Thursday, March 06, 2003
Last night was our first Ash Wednesday service at Solomon’s Porch. It was really great. This was not only our first one, but also the first that I have every participated in. Jim Barnhill and I did the imposition of ashes. It was a very profound experience. The evening started wit the walking of a labyrinth in the kitchen, which look created. Then we proceeded upstairs and sat in silence, head sections from the Bible, sang repetitive lyrics that Ben wrote, made public confession of sin, placed written sin at a Cross made by Chris Dorn, and then the ashes.
It was such an awesome thing to say to each person, “As a sign of your sin, forgiven in Grace, the mark of the cross in ashes.
By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.”
Earlier in the evening Colleen and I went to visit a women who was at church for the first time on Sunday who has four little girls, 6,5,3, and 1 year old. Her husband is in prison. Jill had noticed her and her girls walking around her house and gave her a new stroller. When the mom told Jill where she lived, it turned out to be one block from our church space, Jill invited her to come, and she did.
When Colleen and I went to her house the girls were all getting dressed and planning to come to the Ash Wednesday meeting. We brought the girls over early so mom could have some time to herself. Then after the service we gave her the church van to use for the winter months. It was such a great night to be marked by our sin and forgiveness, and then be able to help in share in burden of Melanie’s life.
It is good to be finished with the conventioning and to get back to the real life places of ministry.
It was such an awesome thing to say to each person, “As a sign of your sin, forgiven in Grace, the mark of the cross in ashes.
By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.”
Earlier in the evening Colleen and I went to visit a women who was at church for the first time on Sunday who has four little girls, 6,5,3, and 1 year old. Her husband is in prison. Jill had noticed her and her girls walking around her house and gave her a new stroller. When the mom told Jill where she lived, it turned out to be one block from our church space, Jill invited her to come, and she did.
When Colleen and I went to her house the girls were all getting dressed and planning to come to the Ash Wednesday meeting. We brought the girls over early so mom could have some time to herself. Then after the service we gave her the church van to use for the winter months. It was such a great night to be marked by our sin and forgiveness, and then be able to help in share in burden of Melanie’s life.
It is good to be finished with the conventioning and to get back to the real life places of ministry.
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
It is march 4, I returned from the Emergent Convention two days ago and still have not caught up.
I am so tired I could hardly think straight today. I could not remember the name Usama Bin Laden in a conversation, not with him, but about him.
I do not like living my life this tired.
I will write more about the convention when I get back to myself.
At this point all I can say is thanks to all the wonderful people who encourage me, and I would love to go to an event where I come back more rested and energized then when I left.
I am so tired I could hardly think straight today. I could not remember the name Usama Bin Laden in a conversation, not with him, but about him.
I do not like living my life this tired.
I will write more about the convention when I get back to myself.
At this point all I can say is thanks to all the wonderful people who encourage me, and I would love to go to an event where I come back more rested and energized then when I left.
