Weekday Email to Members and Friends – 2021-01-29
Friday, January 29th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
Dear Friends,
How would you describe our church?
Conservative?
Contemporary?
Justice-minded?
Inclusive?
Liberal?
White?
Predictable?
Moderate?
Interesting?
Black?
An active church?
A spectator church?
Vital?
Launch pad?
Crucible?
Dead?
A Sunday only church?
A seven-day-a-week church?
Haven?
Hopeful?
Jesus-centered?
Challenging?
Welcoming?
Engaged?
Loving?
Faithful?
Some of those titles or categories may be helpful, but others, decidedly, are not. But the words we use to describe our congregation are important, especially to the degree that our words create worlds. Be careful what you say.
“Being church” with you is an honor.
And, for me, Sunday worship is at the center of things. As a kid and teenager, I was dreadfully bored with morning worship, particularly the preaching, which I often didn’t understand and usually slept through. I loved the hymns, though, and singing next to my dad was comical because he was more or less tone deaf. But that didn’t stop him from singing loudly. I loved it. The prayers were powerful moments each week. The prayer of confession made me feel small within the larger grace of God’s firm grip. Communion, albeit perfunctory, was something way bigger than my brain could contain, and I felt connected to the cosmos in ways I could not understand. Still, the best word that describes the sacraments for me are “holy mystery.” At evening vespers after youth group, I was blown away. My faith smoldered all week long but caught fire on Sunday nights.
I’ve been in love with God’s church my whole life.
What does our church mean to you? What do you call it? Do you love the world through our church? Do you feel the brokenness of the world through our church? Are you warmed within its fellowship? Inspired?
One of the best words that describes my experience of church is a four letter word.
Home.
See you there on this Sunday.
FirstPres.Live.
PEACE and much love,
Matt Matthews
864.386.9138
matt@firstpres.church
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News:
From your Nurture Team — Judi Geistlinger was the first to recognize last week’s photo of Naomi Rempe (with many others close behind.)
Here’s this week’s photo.
Visit http://fb.com/groups/
Please join in the fun! We are running low on photos, so we would like you to select a photo from your younger years (grade school, high school or early adulthood). Photos need not be professional. Candid shots are welcome. Please send your photos to photos@
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This four-minute zoom movie from Jane Alsberg inspires…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Summertime… (I miss summer’s warm and light.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Marcus King…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
