December 21st at 7:00 pm

For many of us, Christmas is a bittersweet time for remembering people who are now gone or times in our lives that are now so changed.

Yet God offers us comfort and hope even when we feel so out of sync with ‘the Season.’

Please join us for this special service of music, scripture, stories, silent reflection and healing prayer. Invite someone. Take the time to let our heart be comforted, your spirit strengthened and your hope renewed.

…from the Susanna Wesley Circle to all of you who contributed to the success of our Annual Chili Supper and Auction. All of who you helped plan, set up, clean up, cooked, donated items, ate, spent money—thank you so much. It had to be one of the largest crowds we have ever had. The tally for the night was $2700.

We are well on our way to a refurbished kitchen! It may take another year or two, but we’re getting there.

“O Holy Night” Shiloh Choir Christmas Cantata

Sunday, December 19th at 11:00 am Worship

Don’t miss our annual Choir Christmas offering as part of our worship service the Sunday before Christmas. Dress rehearsal is at Friendship Manor Dec 15th at 7:00 where our Youth will also be joining in fellowship with the residents. Join us there!

Annual Chili Supper and Auction,

sponsored by the Susanna Wesley Circle,

is scheduled for Saturday November 13,

starting at 5:00PM.

A number of chili recipes will be offered, as well as wonderful desserts. Then the fun begins.

We never know what treasures will be offered for auction, but we always have a good time!

We are looking for donations of auction items and also items for the bazaar table. If you paint, embroider, crochet, knit, bake, can, craft, quilt—we are looking for you!

Proceeds are being saved toward a kitchen renovation in the future.

Justin Martyr, one of the early church leaders, wrote that in the century after Jesus’ death, people in Galilee would still point out plows and yokes they farmed with that Jesus had made. After all, Jesus had at least 15 years to make yokes of wood before He fashioned one with his life and death. Ever since I read Justin’s account I’ve been in love with the image of Jesus’ plows being passed down in Galilean families. Some knew who made what they owned, but probably not all. Yet all had received a tangible and useful tool made by the One through whom all was made.

We can be tempted to think this yoke Jesus calls us to take on is an impractical, other-worldly, not suitable for prime time set off beliefs and behaviors. But I believe that in just the same way Jesus knew how to make a wooden yoke, He also knew how to fashion a spiritual yoke for us. Even for us 2000 years later.

We end this summer having spent our time pondering the breadth and depth of what the body of Christ believes about the major tenets of our faith: creation, atonement, repentance, social and political life, the end times. Now it’s time this fall to spend four weeks looking at the concrete aspects of our lives and see how the yoke of Jesus fits. We are all called to make significant, possible life-changing decisions, usually on too short notice, and with what feels like little specific guidance. Using Andy Stanley’s book “Your Move: four questions to ask when you don’t know what to do”, we will take a practical look at steps we can take to assist us in making the best decisions.

It has been said that people do not decide their future; they decide their habits and their habits decide their future. Join us for the next four Sundays in both small group Sunday School time beginning at 10am and then at worship. The coffee is good, the baked goods fresh and the Spirit present. Come even if ‘Sunday School is not for me” and even if the idea of changing your habits is less than thrilling. It might change your future.

Pastor Susan

Hello. My name is Clark.” (The people gathered in the room respond, “Hi, Clark.”)

“I am a…” (Group says, “You can say it. It’s okay.”)

“I’m a…criticism avoider.” (Applause all around.)

“It started when I was a kid…” (”Come on now. Tell it.”)

“…and my mom would praise me for everything. She’d say, ‘Can you say Momma?’ I’d say it, and she would gush about what a smart kid I was.” (”We know, man. We know.”)

I would take the trash out when she asked, and she’d make a big deal over that too.”(”We feel your pain, man.”)

“And those good grades in school…” (”Oh, tell me about it. You’re not alone.”)

“So with me thinking I had to be the perfect kid and all that…” (”Yes, you can do it. C’mon. Pour it out, man.”)

“…I learned not to say anything that would result in…” (”Just say the word. It’s not that hard.”)

“…that would result in…criticism.” (More applause.)

“Then, when I expressed my opinion in class, and a couple of the older kids taunted me…” (”Let it out, man.”)

“…I decided I would just go along to get along, even if it meant not telling the truth about what I believe or how I feel.” (Lots of applause and cheers.)

The group leader rises, pats the CAA rookie on the back, and says to the group, “And now, let’s all repeat the CAA Six Steps.” (They rise to their feet, taking off their caps.)

Step one, I will admit that I’m not perfect.”

“Step two, I will accept the fact that conflict will always exist.”

“Step three, I will not avoid conflict, but rather will speak truth, even when others disagree.”

“Step four, I will blend truth with tact and timing, so as not to blow others away.”

“Step five, I will seek courage from other truth tellers.”

“Step six, when I slip and fall back into criticism avoidance, I will attend another CAA meeting and admit my mistake, take responsibility for my own actions, and gain strength to go out there and tell the truth, boldly and with compassion.”

The group leader places his hand over his heart and says, “And now the CAA prayer.”

“God, grant me the courage to speak the truth, the love to speak it compassionately, and the wisdom to know when to keep my mouth shut and when to open it.”

A CAA veteran walks over to the rookie and says, “Hey, you wanna head back to my place, where my wife can show you photo albums from our last 36 summer vacations?”

“Uh,” the rookie stammers, “you know, I really appreciate it, but I’ll take a rain check. The last time I looked at someone else’s photo albums I fell asleep on their couch and didn’t get home until 4 a.m. Boy, was my wife ticked!”

The rest of the group bursts into applause. “That was a test. The photo album thing? That was the initiation question. You passed with flying colors. Welcome aboard.”