Prayer for Reformation Day

God of Life: may your light shine on your people today, as it shone in each moment of history. May the light of your presence inspire this celebration, and inspire our lives, to praise you and recognize you, as source of all creation, as strength that sustains, as sap that nurtures, as wisdom that foresees, as clarity that discovers, as love that understands, as mercy that forgives... May the light of your presence, eternal and extinguishable, shine on us now and forever till the dawn of your Kingdom, present in each day.  Amen.

— from Renewing the Church: Resources for Celebrating Reformation Sunday, published by World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Happy Halloween!

Wesley McFluff Pictures

Sweet "Wesley McFluff" in His Toy!

In His "Cat Tunnel!"

A sleepy kitten in his "cat tunnel!"

Happy birthday, Belinda!

Today marks the anniversary of the arrival of  Glynis Belinda (Hammitt) in Beford, Bedforshire, UK.  Happy birthday, Belinda!

To celebrate, Charles and Belinda enjoyed a wonderful meal at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant! 

Our Sunday morning

We woke bright and early today, ready for a special morning in worship.  We drove first to Northwest Hills UMC (where we visited yesterday during their fall festival).  It was a very friendly church and the music was really good.

A short drive away was the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection where Reformation Sunday was celebrated in style!

A Pumpkin Prayer

NW Hills UMC pumpkin patch

Pumpkin Prayer (on the gift bags at the NW Hills UMC Fall Festival):

As I carve my pumpkin, help me pray this prayer: Open my mind so I can learn about you; Take all my sin and forrgive the wrong that I do. Open my eyes so your love I will see; I'm sorry for times I've turned up my nose at what you've given to me. Open my ears so your Word I will hear; Open my mouth to tell others you're near. Let your light shine in all I say and do!   Amen.

A Thought for Reformation Sunday

"The responsibility of the church is to declare to each generation what is the faith. . .  This is always a fresh task in every generation. . .  No verbal statement can be produced which relieves the Church of the responsibility continually to re-think and re-state its message.

No appeal to creeds and confessions can alter the fact that the Church has to state in every new generation how it interprets the historic faith, and how it relates it to the new thought and experience of its time. . . 

Nothing can remove from the Church the responsibility for stating now what is the faith. It belongs to the essence of a living church that it should be able and willing to do so."

—Lesslie Newbigin, The Reunion of the Church (London: SCM Press, 1948), pp.137-138. Leslie Newbigin (1909-1998) served for thirty-five years as a missionary in India; his theological writings are greatly respected around the world.

A whoosh on Saturday!

Bethany UMC Community-wide rummage sale

NW Hills UMC

Belinda returned from her visiting her mother in San Angelo this afternoon and we set out straight away to visit some church fall festivals.

We drove to Bethany UMC on San Antonio's east side and had fun browsing through the community yard sale!  Then it was back across town to check out the event being held at Northwest Hills UMC.  There sure were a lot of children, of all ages, having fun at both events!

Hello from Wesley

Wesley has been holding down the fort this week at the Alkula abode on Toscana Isle.  He is doing his job quite well, don't you think?

Election Day Communion

Choose Wisely.

 

On November 6, 2012, Election Day, we will exercise our right to choose.

 

Some of us will choose to vote for Barack Obama.

Some of us will choose to vote for Mitt Romney.

Some of us will choose to vote for another candidate.

Some of us will choose not to vote.

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During the day of November 6, 2012, we will make different choices for different reasons, hoping for different results. But that evening while our nation turns its attention to the outcome of the presidential election, let’s again choose differently. But this time, let’s do it together.

Let’s meet at the same table, with the same host, to remember the same things.

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We’ll remember that real power in this world — the power to save, to transform, to change — ultimately rests not in political parties or presidents or protests but in the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus.

We’ll remember that, through the Holy Spirit, this power dwells within otherwise ordinary people who as one body continue the mission of Jesus: preaching good news to the poor, freeing the captives, giving sight to the blind, releasing the oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:16-21).

We’ll remember that freedom — true freedom — is given by God and is indeed not free. It comes with a cost and it looks like a cross.

We’ll remember our sin and our need to repent.

We’ll remember that the only Christian nation in this world is the Church, a holy nation that crosses all human-made boundaries and borders.

We’ll remember that our passions are best placed within the passion of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

We’ll remember that we do not conform to the patterns of this world, but we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

We’ll remember that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

And we’ll re-member the body of Christ as the body of Christ, confessing the ways in which partisan politics has separated us from one another and from God.

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   On Tuesday evening, November 6, make a choice to remember.  Let’s meet at the Lord’s Table.
Let’s remember together.

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(www.electiondaycommunion.org)

Sunday at Church

Zion Lutheran Church - Helotes Hills

Zion Lutheran Church

Forest Hills Presbyterian Church

Forest Hills Presbyterian Church - Helotes Hills

Helotes Hills UMC pumpkin patch has something for everyone!

With Belinda still in Kerrville at the clergy spouse retreat (at Mount Wesley) Charles was busy this morning attending two worship services.

The first was at Zion Lutheran Church (ELCA).  We had attended there once before but had forgotten the camera!  So, with camera in hand Charles went early and really enjoyed the grounds.  This congregation has had three buildings over the years, the two earlier editions are still being used. Charles also really liked their prayer garden complete with a small labrynth. 

After Zion it was a quick drive to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, a lovely group of people!  Next door was the United Methodist Church Charles had preached in back in August.  Charles took a stroll through their pumpkin patch, what fun!

Saturday in San Antonio - Mariachi Fest

 

At the front of the Cathedral there was a high school mariachi contest.  The camera battery died, so that was the only picture taken.  There are some really talented kids on hand and the future of mariachi music is in good hands!

Saturday in San Antonio - San Fernando Cathedral

 

After the Governors Palace visit, there was time for a brief visit at the Cathedral of San Fernando.  The Saturday evening mass has a Mariachi choir which was really fun to listen to!

Saturday in San Antonio - Spanish Governor's Palace

After spending time at the Founders Day events, it was time to visit the Spanish Governor's Palace, located to the rear of the San Fernado Cathedral.  While not an actual "Palace," it was still an interesting place to visit!

Saturday in San Antonio - Founders Day

Today was designated at "Founders Day" here in San Antonio and Charles joined many local residents in marking the occasion, when, in 1731,San Antonio was chartered by the Spanish Viceroy, Juan de Acuna Marques de Casafuerte on October 24, 1731.

 

The event took place in the plaza in front of the Alamo and in the beautiful gardens to the rear of the mission. 

 

Among the groups performing this afternoon were a Caribbean dance troop, a family gospel choir, a German polka group and many more.  He just missed the Irish step dancers, some Native American drummers.

Saturday in San Antonio - Downtown



St. Joseph's Catholic Church





The O. Henry House

On the San Antonio River

Making his way downtown, Charles stopped for a visit to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, a historic church in the heart of downtown.  With so much going on this weekend in San Antonio it was nice to be able to enjoy the quiet sanctuary for a spell.

Among the sights to be enjoyed downtown are the River Walk, the Hemisphere Park and the O. Henry house.

Saturday in San Antonio: BBQ & Church Bazaar

Belinda took off yesterday for a retreat at Mount Wesley (in Kerrville) with spouses of clergy from across the Southwest Texas Conference.  Such a beautiful weekend to be in the Texas Hill Country!  In the meanwhile, Charles took advantage of some of the culture available here in San Anotonio with a very full day!

First up, lunch at St. Mark's UMC where a fundraising bbq was available in support of Kairos Outdoor.  It was a fantastic meal!  It was also nice to see the church pumpkin patch busy with local residents enjoying the weekend weather.

Following lunch, Charles visited another church's pumpkin patch & fall bazaar at Windcrest UMC on San Antonio's eastside.  There were so many tempting choices - a silent auction, bake sale, craft vendors, and of course, pumpkins!  A special treat for Charles was the discovery of a room dedicated to a book sale.  Great restraint was shown with only three used books purchased!