March 2, 2011
ALL EQUAL
My daughter recently came home from school upset about a historical story she’d learned. She told me all about a time when people could not ride buses if they had dark skin. And she told of how one woman was not going to do this anymore and refused to move from the front of the bus. And then she told of how they put that lady in jail because of this. She was shocked! “Who even notices skin color?” she proclaimed. It was the first time she had EVER encountered the reality of racism in her sweet, innocent life.
I was proud that she had grown up in an environment where she had never seen traces of this. So we used this dark episode from the past to have a wonderful talk about equality, and God’s creation. It was a powerful moment.
One of her quotes was, “Didn’t those people know that God made everyone of us the same?” I wonder how often we remember that. Every single person on the face of this earth was made in God’s image. All of us are his beloved creature. I wonder if we viewed every person this way, would anything change in our lives? Would anyone we encounter be treated differently?
I believe this is God’s calling on His church in modern times! All around us HIS creations are suffering. Some of them are homeless. Others are living a hopeless life of addiction. Some suffer deep below the poverty line. Others battle AIDS given to them without a choice. The list goes on and on.
Our challenge as a body is to recognize everyone we encounter as a precious creation made in God’s image. Just like my daughter we’re called to remember that “we are the same.” When we do this, we are spreading God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
There are many opportunities to get involved at West Main in efforts to support these ideas. Each one is exciting and challenging. May we all find a way to make a difference in God’s creation this year.
– Pannell
A Love Worth Imitating
Flavius Claudius Julianus (331-363 C.E.), is the Roman Emperor later to be re-named by the Christian Church, Julian the Apostate. Though taught in the Christian traditions, Julian came to power and sought to displace Christianity within the ruling elite with a revival of paganism. Even though Christianity was the “official” state religion of Rome, Christianity was still at that time in the minority. For reasons too involved for a bulletin article, suffice it to say that Julian’s campaign to “downgrade” Christianity and resurrect the old pagan religions of Rome failed.
During Julian’s efforts, he wrote a letter to Arsacius, the high priest of a pagan religion in the province of Galatia, the following observations and directives concerning pagan priests:
“Make these men good by shaming them, persuade them to become so or fire them . . . Secondly, exhort the priests neither to approach a theater nor to drink in a tavern, nor to profess any base or infamous trade. Honor those who obey and expel those who disobey . . . . For it is disgraceful when no Jew is a beggar and the impious Galileans (i.e., the Christians) support our poor in addition to their own; everyone is able to see that our coreligionists are in want of aid from us.”
Julian’s observation concerning how Jews take care of themselves, and Christians take care of their own as well as the pagan poor, is a backhanded compliment. Julian recognized that the service of love offered by Christians was a powerfully attractive force: “. . . observe how the kindness of Christians to strangers, their care for the burial of their dead, and the sobriety of their lifestyle has done the most to advance their cause?”
What Julian perhaps failed to appreciate was the fact that Christian charity and service was motivated by an imitation of Jesus Christ, and not simply for the advancement of a particular religion. Recall how prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, he took off his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the disciples feet, even the feet of Judas whom he knew was about to betray him (John 13:1ff). Jesus then spoke these marvelous words:
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:14-16).
Now can you imagine what would have happened if the high priest of Galatia, Arsacius, wrote back to Julian and said something like, “Our religion will also gain popularity if his Excellency would visit, strip off his royal robes, wrap a towel around his waist and wash the feet of even his enemies”? Apparently God in the flesh can wash feet, but Roman Emperors? I think not.
The “secret of our success” as God’s people will not rest in our programs, but in the person of Jesus Christ. We ought not to be motivated by being popular or doing the sensational act to garner attention. If we are not motivated by a love worth imitating—Jesus Christ—then we are no better than any other pagan religion. Question: What is motivating you?
– Terry
WHO WANTS TO BE LIKE JESUS?
This Saturday evening, March 5, an explanation of the trait-picture will be given. Then, for the four Wednesday evenings in March (9, 16, 23 and 30) growth plans will be studied for each of the traits being examined. The Saturday session will start at 6:30 p.m. and the Wednesday sessions will start at 7:00 p.m. Each session will last one and a half hours. Children’s classes will be available.
**Contact Truman Scott or Terry Christopher if you were unable to sign up for the class and would like to participate.
Our Sympathy is Extended to the family of Don Sweet on the passing of his mother, Rose, this past week. Memorial services for Rose will be held at the building on this Sunday, March 6th, at 2:00 p.m. A dessert reception will follow the services. Please keep Don and Alice and their children and grandchildren in your prayers.
Prayer Requests . . .
Merlin and Mary Ragsdill, Harvey Martin and Terrie Becker have not been feeling well this week. Please pray for quick healing ... Nanette Murphy requests prayers for her Aunt Jeri who will be starting chemotherapy soon ... Vicki Pearman - for solutions to her health problems. She will be seeing doctors at OSHU to try to find a solution ... For the family of Matt DeYoung who was killed in Afghanistan ... Patsy Brophy asks prayers for a friend, Flo, who has pneumonia ... Cooper Albright will have a chemotherapy treatment this week ... For the mother of Linda Anderson, Wanda Ginley, who has terminal cancer and is on hospice care. She is living with Gary and Linda ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
2011 Church Directory Updates
*Photos – Sandra Cummings is now taking pictures for our directory of all our new members or families that have had babies this past year. Please contact Sandra to set up your appointment.
* Listings – Please proof your directory listing posted in the hallway by the stairs. Make any necessary changes or initial if all is correct. If you would like your cell phone number or email address to be printed, please add them. *If your name is not on the printout, there is a sheet next to the listings for you to write down your information.
*Prayer Chain – For those who would like to be added to or removed from the prayer chain, please check the listing posted by the directory.
Mexico Trip Forms: If you have not turned in your forms for your trip to San Felipe during Spring Break, please do so this Sunday. You may turn your forms into Grant or Valda Newton, Russ Gann or to the church office.
It’s Not Too Early to start thinking about camp. Please save the dates July 10-16 to join us at camp at Box R Ranch.
Keeping Our Carpet Clean: Please, if you spill a drink or some food, please clean it up ASAP. We need everyone’s help in keeping our building looking nice. Thank You!
Coffee Servers Needed for the months of April and June. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board by the stairs. Thanks!
Thank You Note . . . My thanks for all the cards, calls and flowers. You are good people!! Bill loved to come to church. Erma Breeden
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 3-5: Camp Yamhill Men’s Retreat
March 9, 16, 23, 30: 7:00 p.m. - “Who Wants to be Like Jesus?”
Seminar Sessions
March 19-26: Spring Break - Mexico Mission Trip
April 2: Daughters of the King
