Last two weeks and mini-moot today...

[dreamflower]

The DH took last weekend off-- with his schedule, one weekend off gives him basically a two week vacation, so we enjoyed some time together and took some day-trips and put up our Halloween decorations, and I got dreadfully behind on my writing. I'm definitely going to be late with my October challenge story!

the_arc5 will be over to visit this afternoon! YAY mini-moot.!

And I enjoyed our church service today. Church thinky-thoughts behind the cut...

We had a guest speaker today, as our pastor was out after some minor surgery this week. And he made us a challenge I had not thought about before, about moving from being a disciple of Christ to being an apostle of Christ-- basically, to step up our game to action.

And the closing hymn was definitely a challenge:

You are salt for the earth, O people:
salt for the reign of God!
Share the flavor of life, O people:
life in the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
bring forth the City of God!

You are a light on the hill, O people:
light for the City of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
shine for the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
bring forth the City of God!

You are a seed of the Word, O people:
bring forth the reign of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice,
grow in the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
bring forth the City of God!

You are a blessed and a pilgrim people:
bound for the reign of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
love is the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
bring forth the City of God!

Mercy, peace and justice-- we shouldn't just be waiting around for that to happen on its own; so many Christians believe that since we can't achieve that until the world is remade that it's fruitless to try. It's important that we be reminded that just waiting around for Someone Else to solve the problem was never what we were told to do.

Anyhow, that's my thinky-thought on the subject. Now I have to figure out what my own part is to play.

Comments

[harrowcatliz.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite hymns. You are right when you say it is a challenge to live out what we blithely sing about!

[dreamflower]

It really is.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

That's definitely a challenge yes. There's a big difference between the two.

I'm glad you and the DH had some nice days together. :)

*hugs*

[dreamflower]

There is a difference, and it's good to think about how to put that into practice.

It's nice having some days off together now! ((hugs back))

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I've always believed that peace and light come from within us. *nods*

*hugs* I hope you have a great mini moot!

[dreamflower]

We had a blast! ((hugs back))

[aspenjules.livejournal.com]

I just love going to church. Church thinky-thoughts are A Good Thing.

We had what we call our Primary Program today during the main service. This is where the children ages 3-11 are the service. They sing songs, read scriptures and basically give a sermon broken up between them all. It is sweet and heartwarming and funny and precious. Some are clowns and some are so very serious and some are terrified.

We had a 6 year old girl sing a solo (and did amazingly well), a quartet of 3 girls and 1 somewhat tonedeaf but very enthusiastic 6-year old boy sing about families, and a group of 5 10-11 year-old boys sing about being missionaries. And yes.... I cried. LOL

[dreamflower]

It's nice to be able to attend regularly again, after months of having to work most Sundays!

I love it when the little kids have programs! They are so cute!

[aranellaurelote.livejournal.com]

I only know one hymn, Jerusalem. I don't think living out those words would do much good ;D though arrows of desire may be fun ;D

[dreamflower]

LOL!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I like church thinky thoughts. :)

so many Christians believe that since we can't achieve that until the world is remade that it's fruitless to try. It's important that we be reminded that just waiting around for Someone Else to solve the problem was never what we were told to do.

I agree wholeheartedly. We changed churches recently, in fact, partly because our former church wasn't *doing* anything except waiting for the world to end. The one we attend now has at its core fighting poverty, disease, illiteracy and spiritual emptiness and does a very good job organizing all its programs to do one of those four things. It's been a breath of fresh air. That hymn really does sum it up perfectly.

[dreamflower]

I really like being a Methodist. "Open hearts, open minds, open doors" is the Methodist motto.

Our new pastor is big on community service. We've recently joined with three other churches (of other denominations) in our town in providing a free meal once a month for people in town. With four churches taking part that means one meal a week!