February 15, 2023 Antoinette Richardson
Using the Follow Me curriculum during the Education Hour on Sunday mornings (9:15-10:15 AM), we welcome you to join us by Zoom.
The following is a brief description: We forgive because God first forgives us. When we forgive one another, we participate in God’s way of being in the world. At its root, the word forgiveness draws on a Greek word meaning “to let go.” When we forgive one another, we let go of anger over wrong; we let go of a desire for getting even; we let go of the burdens of shame and guilt. To forgive is not to forget; it is an active decision to not live in the past and to build toward a future. Forgiveness does not deny the realities of sin: betrayal, violence, anger, and jealousy. It ensures that wrongs do not have the last word. The final word in forgiveness is God’s grace, available to those who seek to forgive and to move beyond separation and brokenness toward restored relationships with God and one another.
There is an Adult Reflection guide available for pick up in the office. The cost is $9.00 for those who want to contribute to its cost.
A second option for a Lenten study is the class titled -Discovering the Beloved Community in the Gospel of Matthew. This class is already in progress by Zoom on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15. Each session is an independent exploration. It is not too late to join. The class would be glad to have you join it.
If you wish to join, please register here: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/448ccd.
February 15, 2023 Antoinette Richardson
There is so much noise in the world, so many competing voices and so much division. How we long for the space and time to rest in the quiet, to move our bodies in gentle ways, to meditate on a passage from scripture, to join with others in a holy space.
This Lenten Season, Ying and I invite you to join us for a season of restoration and repair of our inner being.
Wednesday, February 22 (Ash Wednesday) 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Through sacrament, prayer, music and ashes we will enter the season of Lent, the 40 days before Easter.
Wednesday, March 1, 15 and 29, 7:00 p.m. Join us in the Chapel for 30 minutes, or so, of contemplative worship, gentle bodily movement, scripture and song as we create space for God’s spirit to clear and clean as we seek a new heart for the living of these days.
A light supper will be served (Deanne Lentz and Morag Keefe will be providing the meals) before each of these gatherings at 6:00 p.m. as we celebrate the sacramental gift of breaking bread together.
All are welcome to join us when you can. In order to have enough food we would appreciate that you register here https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/c82a0c. But know that there will be a place for you at the table.
~John and Ying
August 12, 2018 Peg Weissbrod
A year ago this weekend the country was transfixed by the protests that rocked the town of Charlottesville, VA. The deadly violence there lifted the national consciousness and brought into focus in a broader way the nation’s struggle with white fragility and privilege. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, anthropologist, community, compassion, Desmond Tutu, divisiveness, Front Porch, I am because we are and we are because I am, King David, Montreat, Psalm 150, Scripture interprets scripture, Shirley Guthrie, Ubunto, United VoicesJuly 29, 2018 Peg Weissbrod
Robin Craig, a member of this Presbytery who was ordained out of Forest Hill Church, recently reignited my practice of gratitude with a little exercise she’s been doing on Facebook called “5 Great Things About Today.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24, abundance, balance, community, Diana Butler Bass, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, grateful, gratitude, gratitude muscle, John 6: 5-14, resilience, scarcityJuly 8, 2018 Peg Weissbrod
Susan was afraid to go to her boss and tell him that his suggestive humor was offensive. John didn’t like the way that the leader of the committee always interrupted and put people down. Barb was hurt because in the ministry meeting she never seemed to be listened to. But Susan, John and Barb didn’t say anything. They didn’t confront. They didn’t want to rock the boat, or cause trouble. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 6 steps to get over conflict avoidance, Amy Morin, community, conflict, confrontation, exegete, Matthew 18:15-20, Psychology Today, reconciliation, relationships, speaking truth in loveJuly 1, 2018 Peg Weissbrod
One evening last week Lisa Vahey told this story at the meeting of those who volunteer their time to be with Leonor, Adan and Louis Mario as they live with us in Sanctuary. She shared with us that often she takes Adan (who is four) to the Stone Oven on Lee for a cookie. So Adan and Lisa enter Stone Oven and apparently there are two tables filled with Forest Hill members and Adan goes right up and says hello, starts working the crowd as only he can. He knows people that Lisa doesn’t. And as she completed this story she became choked up and said: “Adan feels at home in this world, he feels welcomed!” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3: 16-17, anchor, biblical justification, biblical truths, borders, children, community, compassion, divine intention, Dr. Martin Luther King, due process, hope, imagination, Immigration Task Force, Isaiah, justice, oppression, reconciliation, separation, shore, status quo, the alien, the marginalized, the oppressed, the outcast, the poor, welcomeMay 6, 2018 Peg Weissbrod
Several times, when Deanne and I lived in Scotland, we were invited to “Bide a wee.” Stay a little longer – have a wee dram before returning to the city. It was an expression of warm friendship and hospitality. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: beloved, Bide a wee, communion, community, friends, friendship, John 15: 7-17, prayer, trustDecember 10, 2017 Peg Weissbrod
There was once a young preacher who was given this advice: If, in the middle of your sermon, you forget your train of thought, just step back, pound the podium, and repeat the title of the sermon – and that will get you back on track! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: acting, action, advent, beloved, Christmas, comfort, community, dis-ease, discomfort, ease, fear, hope, Isaiah 40:1-11, love, Mark 1:1-8, Right in Your Lap, tension, waitingDecember 3, 2017 Peg Weissbrod
Happy New Year! I bet you didn’t see that coming, did you? But you know today’s the first day of the new worship year. Indeed, the church calendar begins in Advent and runs through the year until Christ the King Sunday, or the celebration of the rule of Christ which we marked last week. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: advent, Advent 1, communion, community, faith community, First Sunday in Advent, Happy New Year, hope, liturgical year, Mark 13: 24-37, Parker Palmer, Stay Awake, suffering, support, tensionOctober 9, 2016 Peg Weissbrod
I’ve been thinking a lot about deep benches of late. As our Cleveland Indians give their all to advance in the playoffs, I’m hoping our roster of players stays strong, although we’re already dealing with a few injuries that could come back to haunt us. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1 Kings 19, community, gifts, guidance, Hebrews 12, transformation, witnessing
RSS
