Ah .. the joys of congregationalism

Dear Church,

There is a song by Noel Coward from 1931 that goes  ”Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.”  Well he left out one important category – it seams that Irish clergymen also join the company of dogs and English gentlemen in the sun.  Myself and the staff went to lunch together on Thursday as a gesture of thanks and farewell to Brent.  It was a beautiful sunny day, if a bit windy, and we sat outside with the ocean breezes and sounds.  The sun liked me a little too much that day, so I am a bit red faced now. Irish skin + Swampscott sun, is not a great combination,  but I was happy that the weather had turned for the better after lots of grey wet days.   So if I seem to act a little odder that usual in the weeks ahead, you can nod sagely and comment to yourselves: ”he’s had a bit too much sun, don’t ya know.”

Sunday is an important day for the church for many reasons.  First, we will celebrate and give thanks for Brent’s ministry among us.  He will preach and share in a rite of release and sending.  We don’t know what is in store for him and us in the years ahead, but we know that God is with him, his family and us as we journey towards our futures, with God’s help.  Please come to wish them well and perhaps bring some yummy food to share for our collation after church.  There will be cake!

Second, we will bring our Commitment Cards to church and put them in the offering plate.   The cards should have arrived in your mail this week.  Your pledge of support to the mission of the church is an important step in our process as we work towards Annual Meeting.  Oh the joys of being a congregationalist!  No, really, I do mean joy!   Ask me about it.  Though, I admit, there are times when it would be nice to be able to pass the buck (of some problem or another) up the chain to a bishop … if we had a bishop.  But, no! We are in this together you and I.  We are the Body of Christ.

We had a wonderful start to our current bible study series this past week, and we will continue over the next three weeks.  You are welcome to join in at any time.  Tuesdays has the added bonus of a communion service beforehand.  If you want to think about what we are doing, but cannot join us, we are working with a weekly devotional using Philippians 2:1-13closePhilippians 2:1-13 Christ's Example of Humility 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Lights in the World 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV) closePhilippians 2:1-13closePhilippians 2:1-13 Christ's Example of Humility 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Lights in the World 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV) Christ's Example of Humility 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Lights in the World 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV) and then with Matthew 6:7-14closeMatthew 6:7-14 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (ESV) closeMatthew 6:7-14closeMatthew 6:7-14 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (ESV) 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (ESV) .  There are some handy resources for self-study at http://www.enterthebible.org/newtestament.aspx?m=3641  if you want to explore and learn about these a passages (and more.)   This site is published by Luther Seminary.  (Love those Lutherans…. but they have bishops… hmmm)

So my beloved congregationalists … hardcore, historic, New England Congregationalists …. see you soon … and in the meantime…

May God send a blessing upon your household, and grant you mercy, love and peace,

God help us all