Mission TODAY
Mission TODAY Stories from the community of faith to inspire all to: Invite all into God’s family, Grow as Followers of jesus,
February 2018
And Serve in his name
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we begin the solemn season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, we begin a more reflective and penitential time. In these weeks of focusing on how we follow Jesus, we have choices of how we will allow this season to shape us. Ever since I realized that Ash Wednesday 2018 was to be on Valentine’s Day, my thoughts have centered on the love we know in the ashes of Ash Wednesday. At the Ash Wednesday worship service, Pastor Walters and I will place ashes on the foreheads of those who attend and come forward for the purpose of reminding us all of our mortality. The ashes are gritty and grimy and dirty and remind of the fleeting nature of our lives. As such, these ashes can lead us down a path of despair – they have the potential to shape us into hopeless people, rather than conjure any images of love. However, these ashes of Ash Wednesday are not simply dust; they are not just smudged upon our foreheads. But rather, the ashes are deliberately and purposely placed in the shape of a cross. Just as Jesus’ death upon a cross changes our understanding of death forever, these ashes in the shape of a cross are transformed from a symbol of the bleak inevitability of death to a sign of God’s love. ...all of which leads me to Ash Wednesday on Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day is often a day marked by chocolates and flowers, special “date nights” and time with loved ones. Even for those who search for love, parties of friends have marked the day as one of joy and celebration. But this year, Valentine’s Day can be marked by true love. Gathered as a community founded and centered on the greatest love, the love of God we know so profoundly in Jesus Christ, we get to remember that we are merely dust, ash if you will, but dust that is shaped and enlivened by love. We will remember that even as temporal and grimy as we are, Jesus loves us still. As we gather on Valentine’s Day/Ash Wednesday, we will remember our power as Jesus’ followers to not only receive love, but to give it as well. Love, not ash, becomes our guide. So on Ash Wednesday/Valentine’s Day 2018, as ashes are placed upon your forehead and you hear the words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return,” I pray your thoughts move from your dusty beginning and ending to all the love that is in between. For Ash Wednesday is a day of ashes, but even more, one of love...even more love than that of Valentine’s Day! Thanks be to God! See you in worship, Pastor Amy O. Aimonette
2
MISSION TODAY
Women’s Retreat Ministry by Heather Harrington Last year, I had read about the Women’s Retreat in the weekly bulletin at church and had taken an interest, but wasn’t exactly sure what it entailed. When Amanda Dudgeon personally talked to me more about it, I gained excitement about joining in on the evening’s events and seeing what the night was all about. When I arrived that night, I was nervous not knowing what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised as the night went on. Everyone was extremely welcoming and of course, the food was delicious! Surrounded by the women of Holy Cross as well as some of their family and friends, I watched as a multitude of generations came together for a night of empowerment, prayer and devotion. Joining in on the table discussions made me realize how different and interesting those around me were, but how enlightening it was that we had all come together that night for a deeper meaning and lesson. I right away knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I already knew I loved my Holy Cross family, but it was in the moments that night where I felt friendships started and my faith grew deeper that I knew I wanted to help spread that excitement to others in the future. I left that night feeling more connected to those who I had already known and grateful for those who I just met. There was a peaceful feeling in the entire room that night. I was so thankful as I drove home that I had the courage to go and try something new. When Kaylee Jordan invited me to be a part of the planning team this year, I was all in without hesitation knowing that I wanted to help make it a great night for others, just like I experienced last year. Not only am I excited to help plan this year, but I am looking forward to another evening of watching a fantastic group of women come together as one for uplifting night. If I can help make it meaningful to even just one other woman, I know I have truly made a difference. I hope all will come out this year and see for themselves what a truly special event this is. I am looking forward to seeing everyone there!
WE S E
SAVE T
RVE
HE DA
TES *Regis t beginn er for minist ry pro ing Su je nday, 2018 Februa cts ry 4, *We S e March rve begins S unday 4, 201 , 8
MISSION TODAY 3
The Navajo Rug and the Joys of Imperfection by Bob Minix
I had the opportunity to lead the devotion at the start of a recent church council meeting. In searching for a topic, I recalled an intriguing observation made by Father Richard Rohr in one of his 2017 daily meditations. The broad topic was perfection and Father Rohr commented that the weaver of a Navajo rug typically places an imperfection into a corner. Why? David Anderson, in his essay “Deliberate Mistakes” (June 18, 2012), writes:
Navajo weaving Artist unknown Wool on cotton warp Arizona, c. 1970 Warner collection, UMMAA 2008-17-32 © 2016-2017 Regents of the University of Michigan
That perfection-in-imperfection reminds me of the Navajo rug. I’m told there is always an imperfection deliberately woven into the corner of the rug. It looks perfect—then there’s this “mistake.” Except it’s intentionally put there. The Navajo say it’s “where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug.” That’s hard for us to understand. God’s Spirit moves in and out of imperfection? A “mistake”? We’ve spent our whole life trying to get rid of all imperfection. If we’re not there yet, surely God is! God cannot weave in and out of our lives when we have them all buttoned up tight, sleek, polished to cold perfection. There’s no room for God – no need!
“The Joys of Imperfection” is an essay authored by Linda Leinen (January 10, 2011). She relates three stories of a perfectionist knitter not being satisfied with a blemish-free sweater; a completed picture puzzle with a missing piece and another pet-chewed piece: and a painting with bright dash of color, actually a blemish long misinterpreted. She comments: Imperfect creatures though we are, we long for perfection. Much of the melancholy swirling through our New Year’s celebrations comes from looking back and seeing past imperfections all too clearly – every dropped stitch, missing piece and smudge that we’d prefer to forget. Looking forward, we can be tempted into believing that this year we’ll “get it right”, even as we choose to ignore our own limitations, the contingencies of history and the truth that life is, by its very nature, imperfect. In the coming year, bits and pieces of life will go missing, get chewed up, or simply become worn with overuse. Plans will unravel. Friends will drop us as easily as a stitch. There will be errors and omissions, miscalculations, simple forgetfulness and the dropping of accidental words whose stain never will be erased. When these imperfections appear, it will be equally tempting to grow petulant, to give up on life, to disparage our efforts and declare our resolutions irrelevant. But before we stash the sweater in the closet, sweep away the puzzle or hide the painting, it may be worth reminding ourselves that there are stories in the mistakes, beauty in the flaws, and compelling mystery in the smudges of time and history wiped across the canvas of our lives. Perfection is one thing. The joys of an imperfect yet cherished life can be quite another.
4
MISSION TODAY
Lenten Ministries here at Holy Cross! Check out what’s coming up in the Lenten Season
Breaking Bread A new discipleship ministry for Lent Wednesday, 2/21 – 3/21 This year, we will gather together for food, worship, and small group conversations as we start a new ministry called, “Breaking Bread.” Beginning at 6:30 p.m., we will come together over a simple meal in the Gathering Place. Then, after a brief time of worship beginning at 7:00 p.m., we will use Andy Stanley’s, Time of Your Life: Making the Most of It to spur small group conversation. We are asking people to sign up and commit to this five-week study by adding your name to the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Students and children are invited to dine with us, and then can use the What’s Up Room for homework, reading, or downtime for the final hour of this ministry (the What’s Up Room will not be supervised by Holy Cross staff.) Add this opportunity to your prayers and consideration, and sign up today!
Lenten Sermon Series February 14 (Ash Wednesday) through March 18 The day-to-day walk of life certainly includes moments of great joys and delights. But, the monotony of life, of work, school, and even faithful practices, can bring on a feeling of being in a daze. The days even begin flow together and look the same. How might we break free from the daze of life to see the beauty, joy, and fullness of our days? We turn to Christ. We turn toward God’s word to hear how the gospel message changes our life. Join us for our Lenten sermon series, Daze to Days, as we approach our Gospel texts with a renewed search for the fullness of life that we find in Christ. For, in the haze of our daze, Jesus guides us to the fullness of our days.
