Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I Witnessed Love!

I attended this week’s worship at the Downtown Rescue Mission. Faith generally leads the worship service the third Monday of the month. I’ve come to enjoy these services though I wasn’t really expecting anything special. Wow, was I wrong!



Frank started the service with the question, “How do we know that Jesus is with us? What evidence do we have?” Then Nancy woke us all up with a rousing praise song sung as both round and energizer. Jerry then led us in confession and a message of forgiveness. Then Bob provided the message. It was about the bread of life using two passages from John. The second passage was about Jesus predicting his betrayal by Judas; John 13:21-27. The message was a truly Spirit inspired interpretation of Jesus’ identifying Judas by serving him bread. Given Jesus’ complete understanding of the importance of earthly bread and the bread of life he offers, this act was interpreted as both the initiation of the events of his crucifixion but simultaneously also a forgiving of Judas for the role he was about to play. Then Jerry and I served the people croissants; an act of service unlike any I had ever experienced before. It was humbling at the same time as being uplifting.



That service took me from low expectations, to awakeness, to forgiveness, to awe for the gifts of the bread of life and the presence of the Spirit, to truly experiencing a humble act of service. What better proof of the power and presence of Jesus in my life could I want?



But, oh no, He wasn’t done yet! After the conclusion this young woman came over to thank us and bless us for the service with tears in her eyes. She then approached Jerry and gave him a hug; and in that hug melted. The burden was too much and the tears started flowing. Jerry sat with her to pray. I don’t know what was discussed or confessed and I have no need to know. The picture of this woman’s tear filled face, full of both agony and release, in the full fatherly hug of the love of Christ will be forever etched in my memory.



Truly evidence aplenty for those that will open their eyes and see. I witnessed love!



Agape,
Dave

Friday, September 18, 2009

Whitesburg Workday

Faith Presbyterian volunteers included 13 people last Saturday. This mixture of all ages also included two families bringing their children. The group descended upon the Whitesburg campus about 9:00 am. I perceived it as an example of our Faith Family in action in our neighborhood. We all improved in our pruning, weeding, and clean up skills as we attempted to transform the court yard flower beds, trim the shrubs in the front and other areas of the school campus. Along side us was the principal, not sitting in his office but along side of us as well as the PTA president. Both were with us the entire time working hard to improve the grounds. As we left the campus, I saw visible signs of our efforts- branches of bushes piled high along the street and in the back of a truck, tools in stacks, and a transformed, cleaner campus. It was a good experience, a venturing of the Faith family connecting with neighborhood needs in our midst. I look forward to the next experience to continue the relationship. Hope that others will want to join us for the next venture!!

Sarah Curtis

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Faith@School

The Faith@School ministry is very slowly taking on a shape of its own.

It was originally conceived as a way for Faith to reach out into the community and build strong ties of partnership with a single school. There was an effort to build on a successful reading buddy ministry at West Huntsville elementary school (WHES). The faintest inkling of partnership was budding when it was announced WHES would be merging with Morris elementary school. I say, faintest inkling, because establishing that partnership is a two-way street of trust and commitment, and that takes time to develop.

At the beginning of this school year Faith is trying to reform and restructure this ministry. In order to do that, a partnership of trust must be formed not only with the community but also within Faith Church itself. A luncheon meeting at Faith was held back in August with several school representatives, Second Mile Development, Youth Development Association and about a dozen or so Faith members. This was a very informative meeting highlighting the strong needs of the entire school system for community involvement. Particularly in these times of decreasing budgets, school restructuring, changing demographics, and anticipated rapid growth.

At a following Outreach Committee meeting the question of whether to focus on one school or several was discussed. Several individuals have been making inroads into relationships with several schools. Libba Nicholson is working with Morris Elementary, George Newell is working with Farley Elementary through a group from Redstone Village (not confirmed), and Sara Curtis is working with Whitesburg Elementary. While no formal decisions are being made, it appears this ministry effort is taking the form of multiple paths into involvement with Huntsville City Schools.

Given this direction that the Holy Spirit seems to be leading these folks and schools, the question that remains is what form of leadership and nurture does Faith Church pursue? The efforts of three individuals who happen to be Faith members does not make a Faith ministry and is likely not sustainable in the long run. However, their faithfulness offers Faith the opportunity to provide ministry to our community by ministering to these servants. How can Faith support them? How can Faith nurture more Faith members to engage in this multi-faceted school ministry to provide resources and more importantly a growing and sustainable source of ministry leaders to share the burdens and carry on the work in the long term? How can Faith bring these efforts together as a team rooted in God’s Word and Jesus’ example of servanthood? How can Faith bring them together to share successes and failures and strengthen one another? How does Faith strengthen these servants, and more, to spread out into the community?

Where will the Holy Spirit guide Faith Church in this ministry? What is the Spirit revealing to you? Share you thoughts, ideas, and prayers by commenting below.

Agape!

Lions & Pandas & Falcons, Oh My!

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Whitesburg LionMorris PandaFarley Falcon