Claimed, gathered and sent

The New England Synod of the Women of the ELCA now has its own website!. There you will find links to events that you missed, current happenings, as well as up coming events. Check My del.icio.us list on the sidebar. The url is http://www.nesynod.org/Women/women.htm. It's a very user friendly and informative site. Please check it out.

This is a very interesting post located at http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2007/cln71231.html. Powered by ScribeFire .

I was just reading this post on the "Gifted for Leadership" blog, "Create a Culture of Mentorship." http://blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/2008/01/create_a_culture_of_mentorship.html#more In this area, how are we doing as a church? It seems that this is part of our call. If we are to "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19), isn't mentoring a large part of making disciples and helping those disciples to grow? What do/don't your churches do in this area? Thursday evening our Christian Education Committee will be working on a mentoring program for our confirmands. Any suggestions? Powered by ScribeFire .

Our Christmas celebration in Rochester was wonderful. Gracie is growing so much. When I finish my current roll of film, I'll post some pictures. We attended church with them Sunday. Sarah and Grace belong to an amazingly warm, wonderful community of faith. Here is the url to the church's website: http://www.messiahlutheranchurch.net/. If you ever find yourself in Greece, NY, that's the church to visit. The new senior pastor, Pastor Eileen, remembered our names after just a brief chat before the service. She communed us by name. Even Sarah was amazed. On a different train of thought, but not really, are we theologians of glory or theologians of the cross? Read this article by Jill Briscoe at Gifted for Leadership. You'll find it at: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/. It's a reminder we all need as God's people, no matter our vocation. Peace! Powered by ScribeFire .

Things will be quiet for the next few days until we return from Rochester. Have a blessed Christmas! Powered by ScribeFire .

Today's texts are so rich. It was difficult to decide what to meditate on. Here is the link to today's readings: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=64520793. I was really torn, but did lectio divina with Ezekiel 47:12, " On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” I meditated on the underlined portion, which brought many thoughts to mind, such as Psalm 1:3, " T hey are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper," refering to the godly in Psalm 1. So if we are being refreshed by God through Word and Sacrament, daily in his presence in prayer and the scriptures, receiving God's watering, we too can have fruitful lives th...

Michael Spencer, the infamous Internet Monk or Imonk once again is cutting right to the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Please read "No Big Thing" at his blog. The url is http://www.internetmonk.com/ . You will not regret it. Powered by ScribeFire .