An Early Spring

Well it has been about 4 weeks since I wrote anything on this blog. I have been crazy busy on Sundays which is when I usually write. It feels like Spring is upon us, yesterday it got as high as 14 and it was only the 10th of March. Wouldn't it be nice if the winter was at an end and we could just look forward to nice weather, warming up and enjoying the outside.

It is Wednesday just before Bible study and I am writing. We have had lots go on in our church in the past month and there is a lot more coming. This Thursday the United Church has the responsibility for the Lenten Lunch. These lunches are all hosted by the Full Gospel Church this year but each week a different church does the lunch and the service. Well tomorrow is our day. So I am speaking on the scripture Ephesians 2: 1-10. Not an easy scripture to read or to listen to or even to write about. It is talking about some hard issues. It is talking about being compassionate, loving, forgiving and a justice seeking person even if you don't feel the person you are looking at deserves. This was written at a time for the Jews and the Gentiles, each of whom thought the other was not worth the time of day. So, how do we forgive, be compassionate to, love and and seek justice to someone who we deem as unworthy. And is it our job to chose who is worthy or not. So, the cost of being a disciple according to the writer of Ephesus is a very heavy one. Can we do it?

On Sunday we will have the gospel reading from John 3: 14-21 and a reading from the collection of stories in the book of Numbers 21: 4-9 as well as Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22. Our Bible Study this morning will be exploring all these scriptures as well as the one from Ephesians and seeing what they mean to us in today's society. Our resource from Seasons of the Spirit that we use for Bible study suggests that we are invited to face our fears and anxieties remembering that we don't have to face them alone. That we are surrounded by all the help we may need in our living and although we may travel through the desolate and deserted places of our life, we can continue to have hope. Where do we get our support, how do we know we are not alone when life seems to be just way too hard for us to handle. These may be a few of the questions that we will ponder in bible study today.

Eston is a very busy little town. We enjoyed the Winter Carnival this past Sunday and all the young people who were part of the skating club put on an Around the World themed program for us. It was great? From the 3 year olds to the teens, they did a great job.

So, have a great week this week, and remember "Don't let the things you want make you forget the things you already have".

Barb