tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64371075319121223642024-03-06T00:35:35.196-08:00Capitol Hill Christian Church DisciplesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-74946188251755506622019-12-01T17:45:00.000-08:002018-12-29T11:30:35.601-08:00Pastor Candice K. Brown's Newsletter Messages<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8s7e37Ze74oLSkOe3ZNgyUyiN_zIuxzVgHFd3ceB3Ye8xVCpymCaz5mTapE8ygr0qwSC3qS8J6qciCVMK05CC0SzYaE_6GxAQFDN0MuE2GfjJ9BEtQv0FClDBaMsMkzb9IU8u1lbLNTU/s1600/Pastor.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608191184610955138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8s7e37Ze74oLSkOe3ZNgyUyiN_zIuxzVgHFd3ceB3Ye8xVCpymCaz5mTapE8ygr0qwSC3qS8J6qciCVMK05CC0SzYaE_6GxAQFDN0MuE2GfjJ9BEtQv0FClDBaMsMkzb9IU8u1lbLNTU/s320/Pastor.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 192px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 141px;" /></a>Welcome to the Capitol Hill Christian Church blogspot!<br />
Here you will find past and present Newsletter Messages<br />
written by Pastor Candice K. Brown. The messages are<br />
appropriately titled <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"Candice's Comments."</span> Enjoy!<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/4092/785779728016616/1600/Photo%20of%20Church.jpg"></a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-58475152298393447302019-06-29T20:23:00.003-07:002019-06-29T20:23:30.879-07:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">What do I write to convey my feelings as I conclude my pastoral ministry with you and look toward retirement? How do I tell you how blessed I have felt to serve you as your pastor, teacher, servant, and friend? What do I say to thank you for welcoming me into your homes and hearts and lives? How do I say how blessed I have been to walk with you through the stages of your lives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">We have laughed and cried together. We have prayed and studied together. We have worshiped and sung and feasted at the Lord’s Table together. We have worked side by side on mission trips and stood in the baptismal waters together. We have discussed <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">issues passionately together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Through it all, I trust that we faithfully served the God we love. I trust that we have been faithful to the ministry to which we have been called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">You were very courageous to call me as your pastor in 1998, the first Disciples of Christ woman senior pastor in the greater Des Moines area. Thank you for giving me the chance to serve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The words to this song we sang at my Installation Service in March 1999, says it well:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Sister, let me be your servant,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Brother, let me walk with you;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">We are pilgrims on a journey,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Fellow trav’lers on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">I will weep when you are weeping, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">When you laugh I’ll laugh with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey thro’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">When we sing to God in heaven, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">We shall find such harmony,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Born of all we’ve known together of great love and agony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Brother, let me be your servant,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Sister, let me walk with you;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #201F1E; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessings and Love Always,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"> <i><span style="font-size: large;">Pastor Candice</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-59795012313797633802019-06-01T20:31:00.000-07:002019-06-29T20:34:23.112-07:00Candice's Comments<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I journey toward retirement on August 6, Bill and I are in process of moving out of the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">parsonage. And what a process! So many things to sort through…so many memories…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have purchased a house nearby that is much smaller than the parsonage so we are</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">making many choices about what to take, what to give away, what to donate to Goodwill,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">what to sell, etc. It won’t all fit so we are forced to relinquish some of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where did all this “stuff!” come from?!?!? It is amazing what is accumulated over the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I sort through boxes of “stuff” I have kept over the years, I have shed tears of joy and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tears of sadness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shed joyful tears as I read notes from teachers Luci and William had in elementary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">school, held honor certificates they received in high school, and laughed at birthday</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cards from family members.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tears of sadness ran down my cheeks as I found funeral leaflets, letters and notes from</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">former congregational members wishing us well as we moved to a new state (Indiana,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Missouri, or Iowa), or handwritten letters from family and friends who are now deceased.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This “stuff” will forever remain in my heart and memories, even though there is no longer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">room for it in a drawer or on a shelf. Love and kindness is always remembered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much of the “stuff” will not move with us, but the memories, the experiences, and the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">love will forever be with us. Thank you for being a part of the “stuff” we will move in our hearts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Blessings,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pastor Candice</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-12714462936717481382019-05-01T20:36:00.000-07:002019-06-29T20:37:11.098-07:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">My husband Bill has spent many hours in recent weeks, cleaning the flower beds at the church and parsonage. Much has built up over the winter: leaves, tree fragments, pine needles, and other debris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">One day I drove by him as he worked and asked, “Are you the gardener?” I was thinking of the Easter scripture of John 20:1-18 where Mary Magdalene does not recognize the risen Jesus. She thinks he is the gardener. Then he calls her name and she recognizes him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Where do we not recognize Jesus is our lives? Is it the next door neighbor out painting her fence or the guy who holds the door for us at the convenience store or the child that smiles at us perched on the grocery cart seat? Where is Jesus and we don’t even realize it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Mary didn’t expect to: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; margin-left: -5.9999pt; mso-level-font-family: Symbol; mso-level-indent: 10.8pt; mso-level-number-format: bullet; mso-level-size: 10.0pt; mso-level-text: ·; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">find Jesus standing next to her in that garden, speaking her name; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The message of Christ risen is one that invites us all to be witnesses like Mary. We are invited to listen to the voices around us…to look up in hopeful joy to recognize the risen one with us all along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">As we enter into this 50 day season of Easter, we will meet many witnesses who testify to the risen Christ. They will show us God’s new way to be in relationship with the world. Will our eyes be open to see? Will our ears be open to hear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-6007984367544612152019-02-22T06:21:00.005-08:002019-02-22T06:21:59.923-08:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lent is a “truth-telling” season. It is a season when we spend time looking <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">realistically at our own lives, and the reality of the world in which we live, in a deep way. Doing this will help us to listen to the concerns of our heart and the concerns in the hearts of others, feel compassion for those who suffer, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and connect to the spirit of love that flows through all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The season of Lent can be a time of transformation and growth. In our busy world, there are few opportunities to slow down and rest in God’s love. Lent can provide the opportunity to catch our breath and be still in God’s presence. It is a deepening time when we reflect on our relationship with God and the awareness of our hope in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lent is a season of unfolding honesty and truth-telling about our lives and our world. It begins with Ash Wednesday (March 6) and the humble recognition that we are all human beings with finite lives. No one is exempt from the dust from which we are formed or the ashes to which we return. We are all equal in those ashes, from those with the greatest wealth and power to those who have little or nothing at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We live in a time when truth is questioned, yet the need for the truth-telling of Lent remains greater than ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We will begin the Lenten journey together on Ash Wednesday, March 6, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">with a 6:30 p.m. worship service of scripture, music, prayer and ashes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">I look forward to joining you on this journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pastor Candice</b></span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-85823534574425710312018-12-31T11:26:00.000-08:002018-12-29T11:29:56.977-08:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The time has come...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Jesus is born and our lives are changed forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The time has come...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> The angels sing and alert the shepherds to proclaim the birth of a savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> The wise ones from the east have followed a star in the sky and have come to </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">worship the newborn king.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One of my favorite actors of all time was Lucille Ball. How ironic that we share a birth date (just 40 years apart!). I still enjoy and laugh at the reruns of the "I Love Lucy" shows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I particularly remember the show when her son was born. Husband Ricky and neighbors </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">Fred and Ethel each had a part to play when Lucy told them it was time for the baby to be born. One called the doctor, one got her suitcase, one got Lucy and her coat.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Over and over they practiced their roles. Ricky would say, "</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The time has come" </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">and they would each calmly and efficiently carry out their task. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">But as you might guess, when the actual time came for the baby to be born, they did not act calmly and efficiently but bumped into one another and all tried to do the same task. Eventually they left for the hospital without Lucy, who was left standing in the middle of the living room saying, "Hey, wait for me!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">As we move into the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, the time has come for us to </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">respond to the birth of our Savior. What is our task? Will we carry it out well or mess it up? What difference will it make in our lives that this baby was born? </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The time has come...</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">to celebrate the birth and follow this infant into adulthood. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">On the journey we will witness miracles and healings, teachings and preachings. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-indent: 0pt;">The time has come...</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">to follow Jesus to the cross...and beyond.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pastor Candice</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-7333586757676590972018-12-01T11:53:00.000-08:002018-12-29T11:55:55.180-08:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">On December 6, I will celebrate my 20</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.3259pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup>th</sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> year of pastoring with you at Capitol Hill Christian Church. Thank you to all who had a part in the wonderful reception held on November 11 to acknowledge this anniversary. It was great to have colleagues, family, congregation, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">and neighborhood folks be welcomed with such hospitality.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Special thanks to the Community and Care Committee, Pastoral Relations Committee, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Diaconate, and Elders for their leadership in pulling it all together. Many hands and hearts working together made for a beautiful event!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Thanks also for the many gifts and cards. With your cash donations, I look forward to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">purchasing a brick at the entrance to Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO, where my </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">favorite baseball team, The Kansas City Royals, play ball. And I understand there is a DVD coming with more kind words and pictures. Thank you to all who participated! I am so blessed to serve Christ and this congregation!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">As I anticipate the coming Advent and Christmas seasons, I am aware that not all are </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">welcomed so kindly and so hospitably. Mary and Joseph were not welcomed so warmly when it was time for Jesus to be born. They did not receive a cookie and hot cider </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">reception. They did not receive gifts wrapped with bows and glitter. They did not receive love and acceptance and warm embraces.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">So as the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas approach, I wonder:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; language: x-none; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Who might need the nourishment of a cookie or a loaf of bread or a warm drink?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">I pray that we will look at the needs around us and respond with generosity, both now </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">and always. May we extend God’s grace to all!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-2259154956607514932018-11-01T11:44:00.000-07:002018-12-29T11:44:43.241-08:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Although one day each year is set aside to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s important to realize that thanks-giving is something we can (and need!) to do every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">So…I have a challenge for you. During the 30 days of November, I challenge you to write down 30 things (one each day!) for which you feel abundant gratitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Each Sunday I will ask you to name the 7 things you wrote down that week for which to give thanks. (November 4 you will have only 4 things on your list!) Let us be especially mindful of the many blessings of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Here is a Thanksgiving prayer to start us thinking of our blessings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Hot showers in the morning,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and cool breezes in the evening;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">work that provides for our families,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and abundance that makes us generous;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">funny jokes told by third graders,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and the silent tears of a grandmother lost in her childhood forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Teachers who patiently help us with our math,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and mentors who keep us on the right path;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">friends who clear off sidewalks before we waken,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and employees whose hearts are greater than their profits;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">piano teachers who smile at our repeated mistakes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">coaches who teach us (one more time)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">how to hold a baseball bat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Dogs who bounce us awake early in the day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and cats who lullaby us to sleep at night;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">grandfathers who teach us how to whittle <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">and sisters who give up a date to baby sit;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">little boys who always remember to say “thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">All these blessings are ours, God in Community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">May thanksgiving be in every word we speak. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-40102474539624176332018-10-01T11:42:00.000-07:002018-12-29T11:32:01.215-08:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bruce Barkhauer’s words in his book </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Community of Prayer</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> offer insights as we embark on our annual Stewardship Campaign in October:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At various times in the cycle of days we call the church year, we spend some <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>extra moments in reflection and preparation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To welcome the Christ child, we have the four weeks of Advent. We sit quietly, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">not rushing too fast toward the stable, lest we run past the babe cradled in </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">straw and miss the meaning of what “God with us” is all about.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With the hope of Easter, and the meaning of both new and everlasting life </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">on the horizon, we observe a period of reflection about the condition of our </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">souls and of our world and our deep need for a word assuring us that nothing, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">not even death, can separate us from the love of God.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This work is directed toward an event that also requires preparation: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">The making of a financial commitment to the work and ministry of the church. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">If we want to be a full partner in the unfolding Realm of God around us, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">we cannot come to the moment of commitment with our best without </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">being grounded in an understanding of stewardship.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Stewardship is not fundraising – it is a spiritual discipline. It is about </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">responding with </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">our whole being</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;"> to the generosity of God. Stewardship </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">impacts every </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">aspect of life. How unfortunate for us that we have reduced </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">this rich biblical concept to being simply about money. Perhaps the greatest </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">sin of all is that we have made it about budgets and board reports instead of </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">about a life-giving adventure and an invitation to discover deeper joy </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">in discipleship.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">During the Sundays in October, we will explore:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Creation as a blue print for generosity</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Self-Care and the Gospel as building blocks for Stewardship</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Understanding our relationship with Money</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Generosity as an Agent of Transformation and Pathway to Joy</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This will lead us to respond to “God’s Great Generosity” on Sunday, October 28 on </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0pt;">Celebration Commitment Sunday. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px;"><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Pastor Candice</b></span></i></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-56878132412897892842018-09-04T12:12:00.000-07:002018-09-19T12:13:37.974-07:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Where did the summer go? Already we are heading into fall. The State Fair has concluded, summer vacations are over, and students and teachers are back in school. We celebrate a fresh new opportunity to examine our lives. With prayerful discernment we look at our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">This is a wonderful time of year to re-evaluate how we spend our time, our talents, and our financial resources. It is healthy to do this from time to time. I do this on a regular basis to make sure I am engaged in faithful ministry. I want to be sure my days are spent honoring the things that are important to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">For example, I have become much more intentional about spending time with those I love. It is important not to relegate them to the “leftover” minutes in my week, but to make time with them a priority. I have recently been blessed to spend quality time with my five grandchildren. (See pictures below!) What a blessing! What an opportunity to build memories!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Are you doing what is “whole and holy” for you as a child of God? If yes, great and keep it up! If no, today is the perfect day to start! So get going!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Pastor Candice</span></i></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-49716546437715623892018-07-02T12:02:00.000-07:002018-09-19T12:03:19.912-07:00Caandice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Hamilton: An American Musical</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is coming to Des Moines!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Using hip-hop, rhythm and blues, pop music, soul music, traditional-style show tunes, and color-conscious casting of non-white actors as the Founding Fathers and other </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">historical figures, this musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">My 15-year old granddaughter Elizabeth studied Alexander Hamilton in school and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">became excited about the musical. She, her mom, and I have tickets to see it at the Civic Center early next month.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">In the reading I have done in preparation for this, I renewed my knowledge of what the Revolutionary War was all about and Alexander Hamilton’s role in it. He believed in a strong central government and was willing to sacrifice much to achieve it. He believed the individual colonies should work together rather than as separate entities. He believed they were a stronger force when united in their efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">How true that is for the church as well! We are stronger together when we . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; language: x-none; unicode-bidi: embed;">¨</span><span style="width: 11.25pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">work for equity for all God’s people to have living wage employment, comprehensive health care, and adequate housing;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; language: x-none; unicode-bidi: embed;">¨</span><span style="width: 11.25pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">feed the hungry, whether for food or companionship or care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">We are the church, called to love and embrace all who are created in the divine image of God. And all means ALL. We cannot pick and choose whom we will love and whom we will not love. It’s not our choice. God loves all, and calls us to do the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">It comes down to a matter of </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">justice</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">. What is the just way to treat others?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The last words we say when we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America are: “…with liberty and </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">justice</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"> for all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Alexander Hamilton said, “I think the first duty of society is </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">justice</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Together, let us stand up, speak out and act for </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">justice</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"> for all God’s children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Practicing justice for all with you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor Candice</span></i></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-36639335082310427702018-06-01T11:55:00.000-07:002018-09-19T12:09:03.495-07:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We enter the season of Pentecost and celebrate the birthing of the church, the community of God’s people, the body of Christ. John Clement Pfitzner speaks of the church so powerfully in his writing below. May its words be lived out in us and through us at Capitol Hill Christian Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">You don’t need to negotiate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">an obstacle course to get here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">There are no fences to climb over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">The world is welcome here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Nothing human is excluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Laughter is not unusual;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">tears are not seen as being out of place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">The wisdom of everyday experience<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">is listened to and honored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">The real and authentic are at home here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Stillness allows the soul to breathe and listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Poems and paintings preach eloquent sermons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Musicians fill our spirits with song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Buried gifts are unearthed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">and the community is enriched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">We drink from the Mystery and are refreshed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">feast on acceptance and are strengthened,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">bathe in hope and are renewed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Our mind is kept fit, given a good workout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">New territories are opened up for exploration;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">exciting discoveries are made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">We are set free to soar, like pelicans taking to the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Joys are celebrated, concerns are shared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">The unheard and uncared for are given a voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">Pierced by love, burdened with blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">we are readied to face and embrace the world.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Happy Birthday Church!<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Pastor Candice</b></span></i></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-81545583174949644932018-05-01T18:52:00.000-07:002018-09-19T12:07:04.292-07:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">English is the only language I know. It was the only language class required at my high school so I didn’t sign up to take Spanish or French,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>which were also offered. I thought English was the only language I would ever need. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">Was I ever wrong!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I certainly wish I could speak Spanish today! </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">What a benefit and blessing it would be in communicating</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> with the Efecios 2:20 </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">congregation that nests in our building. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">Members of the Efecios congregation have </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">been so patient with me!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And so many times my communication was limited on the Texas mission trips </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">because I didn’t know Spanish. I have to rely on others to speak for me.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It is difficult for me to communicate with people who speak any language but English. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">But sometimes language is not the barrier. Sometimes even though we speak the same language, it is difficult to communicate with people who live across the street or sit at the dinner table with us.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">On May 20, we will celebrate Pentecost, a very special day in the life of the church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">You are encouraged to wear red.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Long ago, there were people from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem. People came from different countries and spoke different languages. More than anything, people noticed the differences among them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">But then, something special happened. Like a strong wind, like a breath of fresh air, they noticed that they all had one thing in common: God’s Spirit was with them – with each of them. They knew that, because they were followers of Jesus, this was more important than any of the things that might have kept them apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We all belong in the church, every one of us. No matter who we are, we belong. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">God’s Spirit is in each and every one of us. It helps us to try to understand each other, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">to accept each other, and to love each other. Our differences make us </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">special. God’s Spirit makes us one church</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Pentecost Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-59670814551746472952018-03-30T18:56:00.000-07:002018-04-19T19:00:03.671-07:00Candice's Comments<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We come to the end of Holy Week. Hopes and dreams are crushed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus suffers, bleeds, dies on a cross. Jesus cried out, “Abba, forgive.”</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary Magdalene gathers her memories together and heads for the tomb where Jesus is buried. It is very early and so dark. And yet she sees that the stone was moved away from the entrance. How can that be? What’s happened? Where is he? Who has taken him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The linen cloths covering Jesus’ body were still there. The cloth used to cover his face was there, neatly folded and placed to one side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary begins to cry. As she cried she turns and sees Jesus standing there, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">but she didn’t recognize him.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why do you weep? Who are you looking for?” he asks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Where have you put him?” she asks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mary,” is the response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And Mary knew it was Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He said, “Go tell my friends that I am alive!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus called her by name! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hopes and dreams are alive again! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is living, loving and active in life! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is a time for joyous celebration! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The impossible has happened! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ is alive in a new way and calls us into marvelous joy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hallelujah! Jesus is alive! Nothing will ever be the same again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thanks be to God!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="en-US" style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Pastor Candice</b></i></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-73056912032979195982018-02-27T10:34:00.003-08:002018-02-27T10:34:54.507-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We are halfway through Lent and moving toward Holy Week. Before our journey takes us to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Easter and Resurrection Sunday, we journey with Jesus through the trails and challenges of <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Holy Week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We will begin Holy Week by gathering in the narthex on </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Palm Sunday, March 25</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">, to hear Mark’s version of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before we enter the sanctuary, waving palm branches and singing hosannas to the one who comes in the name of the Lord. During worship we will hear the complete Passion Narrative, as recorded in Mark’s gospel, as the story comes to life for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">On </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Maundy Thursday, March 29</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">, we will gather at 6:00 p.m. for a light meal (provided) and Communion Service as we remember and observe the last earthly meal Jesus shared with his disciples in an upper room. It is a time of close community for Jesus and his followers. Jesus </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">introduces powerful new symbolism into the meal with the sharing of the bread and the cup.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">According to John’s gospel, Maundy Thursday also includes Jesus’ washing the feet of the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">disciples. Jesus acts as a servant to his followers, expressing gratitude and witness. Jesus voices a new commandment in John13:34-35:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Love each other. Just as I have loved you, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">so you also must love each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">when you love each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Good Friday</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> (or God’s Friday) on </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">March 30</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> invites us to do individual (or family) readings in our own homes, workplaces, or wherever we are at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. We will not be together physically in one place but our hearts will be joined as one as we read the Good Friday scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus was crucified at 9:00 a.m. (the third hour in Jewish time).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><i><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Pastor Candice</b></span></i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-50799387935332490242018-02-01T11:21:00.000-08:002018-02-01T11:21:57.392-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">As we prepare to begin the Season of Lent (February 14—March 31), </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">we turn to the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi and the painting of Suzanne L. Vinson:</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-51031237820285839112018-01-01T11:09:00.000-08:002018-02-01T11:11:06.823-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">As the season of Christmas (December 25 – January 5) flows into the beginning of the season of Epiphany (January 6), we are challenged by the poem “Now the Work of Christmas Begins.” It was composed by Howard Thurman, an African-American theologian, educator, and civil rights leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "berlin sans fb"; font-size: 11pt;">Now the Work of Christmas Begins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "berlin sans fb"; font-size: 11pt;">When the song of the angels is stilled,<br />
when the star in the sky is gone,<br />
when the kings and princes are home,<br />
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,<br />
the work of Christmas begins:<br />
to find the lost,<br />
to heal the broken,<br />
to feed the hungry,<br />
to release the prisoner,<br />
to rebuild the nations,<br />
to bring peace among the people,<br />
to make music in the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">This poem lays out the ministry we are called to do in the new year. We have <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">celebrated with carols and cookies, gifts and trees, candles and devotions, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">family and friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">Now the work of Christmas begins…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">I am blessed to share this ministry and mission with you in the new year as God births a new energy in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">Let us celebrate the gift of God in one another and begin the work of Christmas…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;"> New Year Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue;">Pastor Candice</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-73346605794216394392017-12-01T11:01:00.000-08:002018-02-01T11:05:31.612-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">How do we celebrate the season of Advent?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">In anticipation of Advent, we resolve to create an atmosphere of peace, hope, joy, and love in our hearts, our homes, and our relationships. We resolve to disengage from the commercial hype and reconnect to the “real meaning of Christmas.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">And somewhere around December 15 we can find ourselves doing exactly the sort of thing we resolved not to do: buying a frivolous gift for someone who already has everything; agreeing to attend another party when we’d rather stay home listening to quiet music; rushing out for more decorations or delicacies with no thought for the impact on the planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">This Advent’s readings from Isaiah are spoken to a community who were also longing for their lives to reflect God’s ways of peace and justice. The psalmist <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">With the angel’s announcement to Mary in the gospel of Luke, we catch a vision of how completely lives can be changed by “the power of the Most High.” There is tension between now and what lies ahead in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">We have “Advent anxiety,” wondering what is to come. Our intentions are good but sometimes our actions are a bit slow. The gap between our intentions and our </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">actions affirms that the Spirit is with us.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Presents or gifts of presence . . . crowds or solitude . . . feasting or simplicity… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">God is here. Hallelujah!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"> Advent Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-60627595277396075332017-11-01T10:56:00.000-07:002018-02-01T11:03:00.122-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every day is a day to give thanks to God! Every day is a day to be grateful for our blessings! Every day is a day to show and tell those around us that we love and </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">appreciate them! And we especially seem to feel called to do this in November.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are blessed in so many ways as a congregation:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blessings can be planned or they can come unexpectedly. Many times I look at my day’s schedule and think I know what is going to happen that day. I think I know where I will be when and what I will be doing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But God sometimes interrupts those plans with blessings that I could not even <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">imagine…an opportunity to sit with a bereaved family and hear the stories of their loved one . . . or a call to ride in the front seat with a parishioner as she learns to drive . . . or a call to accompany a child to a Scout meeting when the parents are otherwise <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">occupied . . . or a host of other serendipities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what’s on your list of blessings this day, this month, this year, this lifetime? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every day is a day to give thanks to God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every day is a day to be grateful for our blessings!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every day is a day to show and tell those around us that we love and appreciate them!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-34868594049428665342017-10-01T10:50:00.000-07:002018-02-01T10:51:23.704-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAtxraZbQMJPlt6qjKc2gWjRq9go3P_eR2Hhf8uIfFg60jz8cP4UmncVTAXCC31q0JsMFs94TvJoqCBdu1-_s93tNJG57sLYkWfhzc_Kv52oWIRQPZKN8N1h6KZk5P6nndyPNqnNC8_Xe/s1600/BeBoldBeChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="500" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAtxraZbQMJPlt6qjKc2gWjRq9go3P_eR2Hhf8uIfFg60jz8cP4UmncVTAXCC31q0JsMFs94TvJoqCBdu1-_s93tNJG57sLYkWfhzc_Kv52oWIRQPZKN8N1h6KZk5P6nndyPNqnNC8_Xe/s320/BeBoldBeChurch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration-line: underline;">A Prophetic Word from the Regional Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Our Regional Minister, Bill Spangler-Dunning <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">wrote powerful words of challenge for us as church <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">in the recent Disciples Together regional newsletter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: #50661f; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #50661F; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Be Bold</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: white; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #50661f; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #50661F; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">CHURCH</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: white; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">We Disciples come from many directions and hold different beliefs on so many things, but on the issue of Racism and Hate we must be clear. It is wrong and is a sin against God the creator of all!</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: white; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">I learned this growing up in my home church and at church camp and I have taught my son those same lessons of how Jesus constantly reached out to the OTHER and went across the sea and pushed through the human barriers that allow us to hate or treat others as if we were not created by the same God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">We Disciples must make it clear with every breath we take that we mean it when we say that ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE TABLE.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: white; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Be bold CHURCH and let the world see us at our best - the Church Jesus called us to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">I call upon all clergy and laity to make it clear in sermons, on church signs, in our front yards, and on our social media presence that RACISM and HATRED is wrong and against GOD.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: white; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">We can disagree about many things but on this we must be united!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-82138442087591578272017-09-01T16:47:00.000-07:002018-02-01T10:52:14.805-08:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Where did the summer go? Perhaps like me you are asking that question. There is a constant movement, a constant motion, as the seasons move from one to the next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And what a summer of movement this has been: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">From Charlottesville to Barcelona, tragedy and violence reared its ugliness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">From the inspiration of General Assembly in Indianapolis to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, God’s presence is made known in people and in nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="direction: ltr; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">From the death of my sister-in-law Kathie to the wedding of my niece Jordan, the circle of death and new life continues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Life is full of movement. And we are constantly evolving, participating in this flow of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Seasons in the church year change too. We prepare to experience the Season of Creation during September, celebrating the forest, land, wilderness and river. As we focus on God’s created world, we look for ways to heal rather than exploit our planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We also welcome the season of a new school, the season of excited students and teachers, the season of crisp apples, the season of cooling temperatures and colorful leaves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">God is alive in our world. Look around and see all that God has done and is! Pray! Sing! Dance! Breathe in the big beautiful world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">As I put on my solar glasses to watch the August 21</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7.3259pt;"><sup>st</sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> eclipse, I was reminded just how much is out there in God’s glorious world that I never see, that I never notice. It calls me to be more attentive and aware of what is around me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">There is so much to see! Let’s open our eyes and hearts to receive and take in the good things God offers, if we will but look. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Let’s open our eyes and hearts to speak <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> words of peace and joy and hope, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> words of encouragement and welcome and compassion, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> words of comfort and friendship and faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-56986500115472675362017-07-01T11:00:00.000-07:002017-08-30T16:49:12.268-07:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(July and August Church Newsletter)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus was a teacher. Sometimes his classes were small – maybe only two, or three, or 12 in the case of the disciples. Other times, Jesus would teach huge crowds of people packed into homes or gathered on a hillside. The lessons were not always easy to hear and sometimes led the disciples and others to ask more questions. We might still have questions about Jesus’ teachings today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">We remember that Jesus’ teachings were recorded after his death – at a time when the early Christians were trying to figure out what it would mean to be “church.” At times, there was </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">division and disagreement among the first believers. They struggled with how to live out </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus’ teachings in unsettling times.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus’ message in the midst of the division and disrupted peace is, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">“Do not fear. God is always with you. God knows the number of hairs on your head. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">And when others turn against you, God is there.”</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">And how do we live as Jesus’ disciples? Jesus emphasizes one word in Matthew 10:40-42 -</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Welcome!</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;"> It’s a word that we use when guests come to our homes, our businesses, </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">our schools, our churches. We welcome with a smile, a hug, a handshake. We welcome with food and drink. We welcome by extending hospitality and kindnesses.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus wants his disciples to be welcoming to </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">all </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">people, just as God has welcomed us. </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">By receiving and giving God’s loving welcome to all God’s people – especially those </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">marginalized by society today – we are welcoming the presence of God into our lives.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;">How blessed we are to have the constant presence of God in our lives. God has welcomed and received us, no matter where we are in our faith journey. May we live the life of welcome that Jesus taught his disciples. As we learn and grow in our own faith, may we be a sign to those around us of God's presence and welcoming ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 12pt;"> With Welcome Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"> <span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-19075945288890217742017-05-01T09:00:00.000-07:002017-08-30T16:42:44.079-07:00Candice's Comments <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(May and June Church Newsletter)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">A Pentecost Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">The disciples gathered in one place,</span><span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-CA; mso-ansi-language: en-CA; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">uncertain of the next moment.</span><span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-CA; mso-ansi-language: en-CA; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Suddenly, something beyond description, a moment when time stood still,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">wind, and fire, and new life burst in upon them:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">your Spirit, O God, blowing through them anew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">As they spoke, they found they could understand one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">As they gazed in wonder, they found new truths<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">shared in voices they had not heard before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">As the Spirit came upon the disciples then, O God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">send it to be upon us now:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">on young and old, women and men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Help us to dream dreams, and see visions,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">and in all this know that you are our God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">and we are your people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Nourish us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">strengthen us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">renew us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">and send us forth into the world to do your work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Be present for us again, living Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Infuse us again with your Spirit of new life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">What an amazing thing happened in Jerusalem on that first </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pentecost! Many from the community of Jesus’s followers were </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">together in a room, praying and remembering how Jesus promised his spirit would always be on Earth. Suddenly, a wind began to blow. The followers felt the Spirit was like a burning fire, creating heat all around them. Filled with the Spirit of Jesus, the community spread the good news of Jesus beyond the room. Many people understood the message of God’s love as if for the first time.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Our Pentecost celebration will be on Sunday, June 4. </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: red; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Wear red!</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-85455347215518922002017-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:002017-08-30T16:37:33.030-07:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We are halfway through Lent and moving toward Holy Week. Before our journey takes us to Easter and Resurrection Sunday, we must journey with Jesus through the trails and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">challenges of Holy Week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We will begin Holy Week by gathering in the narthex on </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Palm/Passion Sunday, April 9</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">, to hear Matthew’s version of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before we enter the sanctuary, waving palm branches and singing hosannas to the one who comes in the name of the Lord. During worship we will hear the complete Passion Narrative, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, as a variety of voices bring the story to life for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">On </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Maundy Thursday, April 13</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">, we will gather at 6:00 p.m. for a light meal (food provided) and Communion Service as we remember and observe the last earthly meal Jesus shared with his disciples in an upper room. It is a time of close community for Jesus and his followers. Jesus introduces powerful new symbolism into the meal with the sharing of the bread and the cup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">According to John’s gospel, Maundy Thursday also includes Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples. Jesus acts as a servant to his followers, expressing gratitude and witness. Jesus voices a new commandment in John13:34-35:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Love each other. Just as I have loved you, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">so you also must love each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">when you love each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Good Friday</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> (or God’s Friday) on </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">April 14</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> invites us to do individual (or family) readings in our own homes, workplaces, or wherever we are at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. We will not be together physically in one place but our hearts will be joined as one as we read the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Good Friday scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus was crucified at 9:00 a.m. (the third hour in Jewish time.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">At 9:00 a.m., you are invited to pause and read John 18:28 – 19:16a.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">At 3:00 p.m., you are invited to pause and read John 19:16-42, the ninth hour when Jesus is thought to have breathed his last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We journey with Jesus through the passion of Holy Week and receive the resurrection which comes on </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Easter Sunday, April 16</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Blessings on the Journey,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437107531912122364.post-4308086956834391262017-03-01T09:00:00.000-08:002017-08-30T16:34:57.317-07:00Candice's Comments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Many people are used to a tradition of “giving something up for Lent.” This tradition has been around for many years, and there is nothing wrong with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">In a similar way, for many there is a sense that in the Season of Lent we have a sense of pending darkness and gloom. This not only reinforces the stereotype that darkness = bad or negative things, but also does not always fit with the scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The lectionary scriptures during Lent, rather than encouraging giving something up or moving toward darkness, tend to promote growing and expanding light, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">newness, and hope. It is only in the specific context of the Passion story that we </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">realize the light was dimmed by our actions.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">As we worship during Lent, we will be exploring the image of light growing until it is diminished on Palm/Passion Sunday as we move toward the enclosed tomb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">As we explore scriptures from Matthew and John during Lent, we see the amazing life that God gives, how God is repeatedly expanding the boundaries and opening doors to us and other outsiders. We celebrate the light that seems to grow as we observe God’s activity in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">And yet, on Palm/Passion Sunday, we recognize our participation in enclosing </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus in the darkness of the tomb, as if we, too, like the Roman powers two </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">millennia ago, believe we can somehow extinguish the powerful message </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">that Jesus brought.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">It is an astonishing indictment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> Blessings as we move toward the Light of Lent,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pastor Candice</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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