THINK GLOBALLY - ACT LOCALLY

Some may remember this bumper sticker from a couple of decades ago. In it's own way, it sparked a revolution - Eat Locally - Support Local Businesses - Block Parties - Neighborhood Yard Sales - Even Carpooling. All of these things make a difference from building community to helping the environment and lots of things in between.

Christ Church, like many churches, has a broad and amazing array of opportunities for Outreach. We undertake an annual Mission Trip to some place away from here and our Youth participate in an annual Spring Clean-Up to help our seniors get their yards ready for summer. We give to the Community Cupboard and the Clothing Bank and we provide meals for two programs in Lancaster. We contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing, disaster relief, water projects, local agencies, denominational ministries and more. We are truly generous and we do consider the whole world as we seek to serve.

Sometimes, however, we miss some of the needs of our local neighbors - right here in Elizabethtown: a child who needs safety goggles to take a shop class; someone who needs the fee to take a GED test, someone who needs a sofa or a refrigerator or clothing for a 9-year old. Thanks to Churches That Care, we learn about these local needs that are referred by our school social workers and our local pastors. AND, we at Christ Church have developed a way for each of us to help:  we receive emails detailing the need and we post them on the white banner with the red hearts on it (thanks to Tana Parrett!). 

Whenever you are at the church, check the banner, there may be something you can do - like give away the refrigerator that is sitting in your garage. There may be something that you care passionately about - like helping people get their GED's. Or, you may just want to help out a neighbor. Anyway, you can just take the tag and follow-up as directed. And, like the recycling and the carpooling and the highway trash picking up, you can make a big difference in the lives of your neighbors! 

Blessings, Laura Lee

RE-JOICE

We church folks often urge people to ‘Rejoice!’ especially during Advent, Christmas and Easter. Anne Lamotte* wonders why we do this, when most of us haven’t even been ‘joiced’ in the first place! Her wisdom is worth taking to heart. Too often we walk around burdened by the awfulness in the world. Too often we take everything, including ourselves, too seriously. Too often we see the glass as half-empty and fall into whining and complaining. In short – we act like we never have been truly, deeply ‘joiced’!

The past few weeks at Christ Church have been a time of visioning and planning and discernment. – and maybe, just maybe – a time of ‘joicing’. You have shared your particular love for Christ Church and your hopes and dreams and prayers for the future. MANY people have been a part of this work – the Transition Team, the Leadership Needs Committee, the Consistory and all of the people who attended a focus group, filled out a survey and/or participated in our Day of Discernment on July 14^th.

I have watched and listened intently as you have worked to name those things that are meaningful and life-giving for you personally. I have experienced your stepping back to think about the whole congregation and to prayerfully consider where God might be leading you. In church circles, we call this ‘discernment’ – doing the impossible – trying to know the mind of God.

What I have learned is that when we deeply listen to each other and intently listen for God’s calling, we are ‘joiced.’ The Spirit moves among us and we find new energy and new commitment and new joy that comes with being part of this part of the Body of Christ. So, as we continue this sacred work, I invite you all to get ‘joiced’. And when Advent comes….The Rejoicing will abound!

Share your comments on the blog site – let others know what ‘joices’ you at Christ Church!

Blessings – Laura Lee

*Anne Lamott is a popular writer and author of Traveling Mercies, Plan B, Grace Eventually  and many other books.