This Sunday ... about the Pharisees (Mark 7 : 1-8, 14-15, and 21-23) and how while they were well respected, spiritual people, they focused too much on the rules and regulations, and not on the spiritual. This was also the subject of the UCC's Daily Devotional this week (Sept 2) ; as Kenneth L. Samuel wrote "The real consequence of majoring in conventions and missing the commandments is that while we uphold religious protocol, people suffer and even die through neglect of the essential commandments of God." (under the title Majoring in Minors and Missing the Majors).
So, who do you close yourself off from - people who are not clean or smell? people of a different political background? or economic strata? or zip code? or intelligence level? people who are unemployed? If you do this, but go through the motions of being religious, you're missing the point.
And I liked in the prayer today - when tired, ask for strength ; when anxious, ask for peace. And, I learned that Eucharist means "good grace" in Greek.
Last Sunday ... Ephesians 6 : 10-20. What are you battling? Battles are not 'out there' (in the world), but they are inside you. For any battle, you should wear the Armour of God : "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth...the breastplate of righteousness...the gospel of peace....the shield of faith....the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit....
And, a reminder from several Sundays ago... Life should NOT be about the pursuit of happiness, but rather finding the source of it. So .. .what did you pursue this week thinking it would bring you happiness, only to find you felt just as empty as when you started?
On a less spiritual note, but applicable nonetheless ...
--is it so wrong that immediately after the passing of the peace, before I touched anything, I got out my disinfectant gel and used it?
--why does it seem EVERYTHING in the announcements, messages in the sermons, goals, etc. are aimed toward families and children? This just alienates me as a member of the church. Yes, I recognize that younger generations are the future and that we must nuture them. However, there are many of us without children, who are not parents, and constantly hearing focused messages to those who are is annoying.
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