From a Rookie Caucus-Goer

January 2, 2008

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

     ‘Twas the night before Caucus, and the stage had been set,
    As Iowans were saying, “Ain’t this thing over yet?”

It is Caucus Eve, and all eyes throughout the political universe are watching the Hawkeye State.  Little old us.  A state with a population that is roughly 1/100th the population of the entire country, in which only 6 percent of us are actually expected to caucus, holds in its hands the fate of the next leader of the free world.  Even with a good turnout, only about 130,000 Iowans are expected to culminate a two-year courtship that saw about a dozen suitors woo us with handshakes, campaign promises and a seemingly endless barrage of television ads.  Even as I write this, my phone has just rung with yet another recorded message from a campaign begging for my support.  

As a fresh Iowa transplant and first-time caucus-goer, my intrigue has been largely procedural.  How does one caucus, and what can one expect?  I am much more used to private voting booths, in my own little self-enclosed, touch-screen world.  Standing in a large room to make one’s support public sounds bold, chaotic, and wildly unpredictable.  But I do know something about messy elections.  Remember, I come from a state in which in which the simple matter of voting gets screwed up.  Mention the words “butterfly” and “ballot” in the same sentence to a Floridian and he is likely to cower in shame.  So compared to what I’m used to, caucusing should be a breeze.

If you decide to caucus tomorrow, I pray God’s wisdom on your decision, and that your support may be shaped both by your concerns as a citizen and your conscience as a Christian.  We are richly privileged with the opportunity to dictate the course of this election and, ultimately, the country and the world.  

NEW YEAR – NEW YOU!

This Sunday we observe Epiphany Sunday, marking the magi’s visit of the baby Jesus.  While not technically a part of the birth narrative, the arrival of the magi is an important piece of the proclamation that God’s new light has entered the world.  Against the fear, paranoia, and violence of King Herod, Jesus offered peace, hope, and love.  And the magi were caught in the middle.  Would they return in allegiance to their master, or become followers of this new way, this new King?  

This service is the first in a new series called, “New Year – New You!” and offers answers to some of our deepest questions about life, purpose, and meaning.  There is certain to be an upcoming service that addresses the longings of your heart, so I encourage you to join us for this journey.  And there is sure to be someone you know that is asking tough questions about their life, so please invite them to come along.  Here is the ad and the copy for the new series, distributed on Christmas Eve:


  

Once Christmas is over, we begin the task of looking ahead to the new year, leaving behind the highs and lows of 2007 and moving into a new                                                 future of hope and promise.  What kind of life do you hope to live in the coming year?  And might this Christ child, born once again in your heart, make a difference in how you will live?
 
Join us for a special sermon series called “New Year – New You!”, designed to help us usher in a new season of joy, strength, and real life.  You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see how God can help you live the life you were created to live!
 
January 6                  A New Start:  Where Can I Find Real Life?                   Matthew 2:1-12
January 13                A New You:  What Is My Life Worth?                             Matthew 3:13-17
January 20                A New Strength:  How Do I Deal With Temptation?       Matthew 4:1-11
January 27                A New Purpose:  Can I Make a Difference?                  Matthew 5:1-15
February 3                A New Life:  Will I Make Jesus Lord?                             Matthew 17:1-9


See you on Sunday!  Happy New Year, and Happy Caucusing!

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

Up-Down, Down-Up

December 18, 2007

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Ah, the joys of church maintenance.

Our elevator broke on Sunday.  After church, as people were taking the elevator down to the fellowship hall, the doors froze shut, trapping them inside.  And to make matters worse, when they pressed the “up” button, the elevator went down.  And when they pressed the “down” button, the elevator went up.  Fortunately, nobody panicked, and after just a short while, they were able to exit unharmed, albeit bewildered and relieved that their church campus roller coaster ride had come to a safe and complete stop.

The elevator repair company came this morning to give us the verdict.  A small piece of candy had fallen into the door sill and jammed the doors.  All of that fuss, all the disruption, and all the trauma of an elevator literally turned upside-down — caused by an innocent piece of spearmint hard candy.  

Sometimes the smallest, most unsuspecting events can cause the most turbulent of upheavals.

Just ask the gospels.  Over 2,000 years ago, the world was flipped on its ear.  A reversal of seismic proportions shook humanity at its core, and its after shocks continue to this day.  Up became down, and down became up:
    
     “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
    “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
    “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

All of this change was caused by a tiny baby, candy-wrapped in swaddling clothes.  This baby is still turning our world upside-down, proclaiming a message of peace in a world addicted to violence, self-sacrifice in a culture compelled by its self-interests, forgiveness for relationships bruised by revenge, and powerless love amidst people who love power.

In “The Disarming Child,” Jurgen Moltmann wrote:

     “For to us a child is born.  To us a son is given.  The government is upon his shoulders.”  The liberator becomes a pleading child in our world, armed to the teeth as it is.  And this child will become the liberator for the new world of peace.  That is why his rule means life, not death; peace, not war; freedom, not oppression.  This sovereignty lies on the defenseless, innocent and hopeful shoulders of this child.  This makes our fresh start into the future meaningful and possible.  The oppressed will be free from oppression.  And they will also be free from the dreams of darkness, the visions of revenge. They stand up and rejoice, and their rejoicing frees their masters too from their brutal armaments.  The oppressors with their cudgels, their iron shoes and their bloody coats will be freed from their grim machinations and will leave the poor in peace.  For the new human being has been born, and a new humanity will be possible, a humanity which no longer knows either masters or slaves, either oppressed or oppressors.  This is God’s initiative on behalf of his betrayed and tormented humanity.  “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”’ It is the zeal of his ardent love.

This Sunday, we make our penultimate stop on our road to Bethlehem.  Join us as we “Experience the Wonder” of Christ’s arrival with a sermon titled “The Wonder of Peace.”  And be sure to come by early for our Advent Festival from 9-10am.  Children, families, and people of all ages are invited to this special time of  Christmas crafts, songs, stories, and an old-fashioned taffy pull.  And, of course, be sure to join us on Christmas Eve at the 5:00 or 6:30 service, featuring candle lighting, carols, and the coming of Christ once again into our world.

Grace, Hope, and Peace,

Magrey


The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org

Matthew 1:18-25
18  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
20  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23  "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
24  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
25  but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Be the Gift

December 11, 2007

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

One of my persistent pet peeves with most churches is that the secular world seems to do a better job marketing commercial messages than we seem to do with the Good News.  A great example is the Master Card “priceless” commercials, that have the consistently poignant punchline, “There are some things that money can’t buy.  For everything else, there’s Master Card.”  If only we were as effective making the same pitch for the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ!

Nevertheless, this is the time of year that many equate the purchase value of a gift with the sentiment expressed by it.  Every year, it seems this season of giving gifts becomes more stressful and more hectic than the one before.  The shopping lists get longer, the mall crowds get crazier, and the debts sink deeper.  And then, come December 26, the real rest begins.  

But the gospels make the case that the very first Christmas happened despite chaos and anxiety, not because of it.   Over and against the hustle and bustle of a government census, the fear and paranoia of political systems, and the constant oppression of a community under siege, God gave a priceless gift.  It wasn’t a gift that God shopped for, gift-wrapped, and sent special delivery.  Instead, the gift was God’s very own self.  The present was the Presence.  God became the gift.  

And what a gift it was.  Listen to how the words of Isaiah capture the experience of wonder of God’s self-giving act:   

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:4-6)

Here’s some good news.  If you’re looking for the perfect gift to give someone, try shopping at your local mirror.  You have the image of that very same self-giving God within you, and that might be exactly what someone else might need.  Your joyful spirit of service, sacrifice, and loving presence, with no strings or gift receipts attached, might be the perfect gift that money can’t buy.

It was no less than the gift of Jesus himself, given to us.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey deVega


The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org


Isaiah 35:1-10

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The 20/20 Vision Team

December 4, 2007

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

We have entered a season of expectation and hope, looking ahead to God’s presence born anew in our world.  As we anticipate all that God will do both in us as individuals and through us as a congregation, we hear God’s word to the exiles and claim its promise for ourselves”

Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19)  

This is a simple formula:  God acts, then we notice and respond.  When God does something new, it is our job to perceive it.  For nearly 150 years, the people of St. Paul’s have responded faithfully to the call of God to minister to the people around us, to build the kingdom of God, and to ensure the transmission of the faith for the people that will follow us.  With our sesquicentennial celebration next year, the imminent pay-off of $750,000 in renovation debt, and new energy and momentum building with each passing week, it is our time to ask the question, “What’s next?” and listen perceptively for the answer that God provides.  

I am excited that at the Charge Conference gathering last Wednesday evening, the church unanimously approved a process that will lead us to discerning God’s vision for the future and developing a plan to get us there.  It approved the formation of a group called the 2020 Vision Team, which will listen to the people of this church, the needs and trends of the surrounding community, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit through prayer and study to develop a comprehensive plan that will answer the question, “What is God calling this church to look like by the year 2020?

The following is the document presented to and adopted by the Charge Conference as the framework of the 2020 Vision Team:

The 2020 Vision Team
Planning for the Future of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

The Purpose of this team:

The purpose of this team is to develop a comprehensive long-term strategic plan for the church, to be presented to the 2008 Charge Conference for adoption.  This plan will include recommendations in areas including, but not limited to, programs, facilities, personnel, and resources.

The work of this team will include:
   
Where we are now:
•    Comprehensive assessments of programs, facilities, personnel, and resources
•    Current patterns in membership, worship attendance, and Christian education
•    General spiritual vitality of the congregation and level of commitment to Christ
•    An assessment of the needs of the city of Cherokee and the wider community
•    A study of the demographics and population trends of our surrounding area

Where God is calling us:
•    Develop a clear mission and vision statement that will shape our corporate life and prioritize our actions.
•    Envision what this church will look like if we were fulfilling God’s purposes for this church and this community.
    
How we will get from here to there:
•    Maintain open, regular communication with the congregation at every step of the process.
•    Work in partnership with committees in the areas of Finance, Staff-Parish, Trustees, Worship, and Administrative Board in developing a plan.
•    Produce a plan of recommended action steps, including timeline and budget implications in time for 2008 Charge Conference.

Limits of this team:
•    Not an implementation team.  This team will be responsible only for producing the recommendations.  Administrative Board, Charge Conference, and the whole congregation will be responsible for implementation.

Again, by unanimous vote, the Charge Conference approved this framework, and the following people to serve on this team:

Linda Appleby
Linda Christensen
John Cook
Bruce Dagel
Sue Parker
Joyce Pyle
Keith Willis

Throughout the year, this team will turn to you for help in the discernment process.  I suspect that we will be asking you to participate in church-wide surveys and small group feedback sessions.  And we will rely on your prayers for clarity for this team we listen for God’s voice.  Along the way, this team will faithfully keep you informed as to its progress and its discoveries.

As we journey into another season of hope and promise, we wait for the advent of God’s new work in our life together.  These are truly exciting days to be the church!

Hope and Peace,

Magrey

Experience the Wonder

November 27, 2007

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

If only God still spoke through burning bushes.  

One of the great challenges in our spiritual lives is hearing God in the silence, when God’s voice and face seem most concealed.  To be sure, God can be very audible to us, and we have known those moments when God has seemed real, active, and connected to our experience.  Those encounters are overwhelming, and they are easy.  We are like Peter on the mountain with Jesus:  “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”

But the challenge comes in those “in-between” moments:  
•    What did Moses do for forty years in the wilderness as a wandering fugitive, before the burning bush?
•    What did Jesus do between the ages of thirteen and thirty-three?
•    How did the disciples feel for those fifty days – after Jesus’ ascension and before Pentecost?
•    What did the Israelites do for four hundred years, prior to Christ’s birth?
•    What do we do in between revelations?  How do we sense God’s presence in those moments that we most sense God’s absence?

No other liturgical season observes the watchful, silent periods of our faith quite like Advent.  Once again, we are the people of God, waiting for a Savior, waiting for an in-breaking of God’s voice to speak to us with power, vigor, and drama.  We wait for the good news.

The temptation, of course, is to skip right to the manger.  To fast forward to Christmas Day and all the hope that it holds.  But to do so would be to undermine the gift that God gives us in this season:

A chance to cherish the journey, not just the destination.  
A chance to hone our listening skills, and raise our Godward antenna just a tad higher.  
A chance to stretch atrophied prayer muscles and exercise a stronger sense of patience.  

May you hear the good news of this Christmas with fresh ears, and a revitalized spirit.  And may you learn to hear God, even when God seems most silent.

Joy in the Journey,

Magrey   


The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org


Isaiah 2:1-5
2:1  The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2  In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
3  Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4  He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5  O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!





Join us this December for a time of hope, peace, and joy as we experience the wonder of Christmas.  
Share in the coming of this One who comes to bring light once again into our lives and in the world.
 
All Sunday services are at 10:10am, with child care provided. Sunday school for all ages at 9:00.
 
December 2      “The Wonder of Hope”
                 Isaiah 2:1-5
                  New Four-part Advent Study in Church Library
                  During Sunday school hour, based on the book Rejoicing in Hope

December 9      “The Symbols of Christmas”  
                  Musical featuring Children’s Choir
                  Soup and Salad Luncheon following service  
               (free will offering)
 
December 16      “One Small Child”
                 Christmas Cantata featuring Chancel Choir
                  Christmas Cookie Sale following service  

December 23      “The Wonder of Peace”
                 Matthew 1:18-25
               Children’s Advent Festival,  9-10 a.m.
                 Children’s crafts, songs, stories, and taffy pull (free)
                  Old Fashioned Christmas Caroling for All
                 Meet at the Church at 5:00 p.m. -- Ministry to area shut-ins      

Christmas Eve, December 24           “The Wonder of Joy”
                                                                     Luke 2:1-20
5:00pm            Candlelight and Carols Christmas Celebration
6:30pm            Candlelight and Carols Christmas Celebration


STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

There is wonderful news to celebrate!  With about 70 percent of the expected number of pledges turned in, we have nearly matched the total dollar amount pledged for all of 2007!  36 pledges reflect an increase over last year, and 16 people turned in a pledge card who did not pledge last year.  Thank you, and praise God!  We currently stand at 60 percent of our budget pledged, so if you are among those who have not yet turned in a pledge card, it is not too late to do so!  They are available in the church office during the week or in the sanctuary on Sunday morning.  Be part of the exciting work that God is doing in and through this church.

REFERENDUM ON CASINO GAMBLING

You are likely aware that next Tuesday the county will be voting on a referendum to allow casino gambling here in Cherokee.  Check out the article from The Chronicle for the latest news.  (http://www.chronicletimes.com/story/1281927.html).  If you would like to have your vote and your conscience shaped by the United Methodist Social Principles’ stance on gambling, visit the denomination’s website:  (http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1743).

Happy New Year?

November 20, 2007

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Try this on Thursday.

When you are gathered around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends, catching up on old times and sharing poignant stories, wait for a pause in the conversation.  Then, look everyone in the eye and say with great gusto:

“Happy New Year, everyone!”

Then watch their faces.  You’ll probably get some worried looks from folks wondering if you’ve eaten too much turkey.  There will be those who think you’ve slipped into your tryptophan-induced nap a little early.  But none of them will realize that you’re actually observing a very timely moment in the calendar.

Not the secular calendar, mind you, but the Christian one.  The church’s liturgical year ends this Sunday, a religious “December 31st,” if you will.  The long journey that started last December, moved through Lent and Easter, burst into the fire and passion of Pentecost, and ambled through the summer days of Ordinary Time now ends on November 25, with an end-of-the-year celebration known as “Christ the King Sunday.”

Just like our New Year’s Eve, Christ the King Sunday is a transitional time.  It is a time of remembering the year we leave behind, to celebrate its joys, name its pain and sadness, and remember a God who, as it turns out, was with us all along.  It is also a time to look ahead, with hope and promise, toward a year that will unfold with its own share of triumphs and sorrows, all under the watchful eye of this Jesus who rules and reigns over all creation.


LIFE IN THE IN-BETWEEN

This Sunday, we will hear the story of a man who experienced just that kind of transitional moment.  The lectionary offers us the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.  After emerging from a nine-month sentence of silence from the angel due to his unbelief, he sang a song of great hope for his new son and the dawning arrival of God’s kingdom on earth.  His song is both a reminiscing of God’s saving actions, and a claiming of God’s future promise.  I hope you will join us for this special Christ the King Sunday celebration, with a sermon titled, “Life in the In-Between.”

And, I would add that it’s not too early to think about what your New (Church) Year’s resolution might be.  May it be more than the typical stuff about weighing less, saving more, and cleaning out your closet.  Try addressing the deeper, substantive matters of life, faith, and love.  You may resolve to be more patient in your dealing with others.  You may wish to patch up that broken relationship with a dose of humility and forgiveness.  You may decide to be more consistent with your spiritual disciplines of daily prayer and scripture study.  You might simply try to make next year more about God and less about you.  

That is, after all, what the whole church year is about.  It is a 12-month journey with Jesus, from his birth in a lowly Bethlehem manger, to a transformative witness of his teaching and example, into the power of his self-giving sacrifice, through the triumph and glory of his resurrection, and into the ongoing witness to his reign through the Holy Spirit.  This is God’s time, and we are invited along for the ride.

I’m glad to share this journey with you!

Grace and Peace,

Magrey   



Luke 1:68-79

68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69  He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,
70  as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71  that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72  Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
73  the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
74  that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75  in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77  to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78  By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79  to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."



REMEMBER!  REJOICE!  RESPOND!

What a great day we had last Sunday!  We had a wonderful turnout to celebrate the conclusion of our stewardship series, as many people made their financial commitments for 2008.  We will be eager to share the results of the campaign as they become available.  In the meantime, if you have not yet turned in your pledge card, it is not too late to do so.  Pledge cards are available in the office throughout the week or in the sanctuary this Sunday and can be dropped off or mailed to the church office.  Thank you for your faithful stewardship and commitment to God’s ministries through this church!

And a special thank you to Sherry Held and the whole team of people who provided our Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner.  The fellowship hall was packed to overflowing, and the meal was simply delicious.  Thanks!

CD PLAYERS FOR SHUT-INS

Thank you for the great response to purchase CD players for our shut-ins.  Twelve of you responded, so we are no longer in need of donors.  The equipment will be delivered this Wednesday, along with the first batch of CD’s from last Sunday’s service.  The recording quality is outstanding, and this will be a great improvement in our ministry to these wonderful folks.

NEW ADVENT STUDY

Starting Sunday, December 2, we will begin a new Advent study based on the book Rejoicing in Hope by Rev. James A. Harnish, Magrey’s former senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, FL.  It is a four-week study focusing on characters from Luke’s gospel who experienced hope in anticipation of the Messiah.  The study takes place on Sundays at 9am in the church library.  Books ($6.50) can be purchased at the first class.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SALE

We have leftover Christmas ornaments from previous years that would make great stocking stuffers.  They are available at a discounted price of $12.  If you would like to purchase an ornament, contact Linzi in the church office.  

Harry Potter and the Gift of Contentment

November 6, 2007
 
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
 
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book in the celebrated children’s series, a young Harry shares a conversation with headmaster Albus Dumbledore about an extraordinary magical artifact called the Mirror of Erised.  When Harry looked at its reflection, he saw an image of his deceased parents at his side.  When his friend Ron looked at it, he saw himself holding a championship trophy.
 
Intrigued by the powers of the mirror, Harry listened as Dumbledore explained,
 
   “Now, can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?”
   Harry shook his head.
   “Let me explain.  The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is.  Does that help?”
   Harry thought.  Then he said slowly, “It shows us what we want…whatever we want….”
   “Yes and no,” said Dumbledore quietly.  “It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.”

It invites us to pause and think about what we would see in the mirror if we looked into it.  Would we see ourselves as we already are?  Or would we see a longing for  something more?  In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul posed a mirror to his soul and discovered within himself a priceless treasure:

I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.  Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  (4:10-12)
 
We live in a culture in which contentment is a rarity.  We accumulate more stuff, push for greater achievement, and stir with a restless anticipation for a future that always seems a tad out of reach.  In the meantime, we fail to see grace in the present moment.  
 
The frame of the Mirror of Erised (“desire” in reverse) bears the words erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi, which when reversed reads “I show not your face but your heart's desire.”  
 
Have you discovered the treasure of contentment?
 
REMEMBER!  REJOICE!  RESPOND!

This Sunday we come to the pivotal moment in our stewardship series. We will further explore this powerful passage from Philippians with a sermon titled “Rejoice!  Hearts Filled with Gratitude.”  And, we will hear powerful testimony from a member of our church who has lived both the tragedy and freedom of this passage:  
 
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

At the end of the service, you will receive a packet containing the proposal for the 2008 Budget, and your financial commitment pledge card.  Please join us for this inspiring, transformative worship service.  
 
It’s still great to be the church!
 
Grace and Peace,
 
Magrey