The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.  John 14:26The Christian church is meant by God the Father to be a place of positive energy and good works in the world. The Christian church offers an ethical framework for living. It is a place of  social interaction between the generations, a place to discuss important issues and to meet other members of the community at large. The church is  a gathering community in which the mystery of life is cherished through ritual actions (that’s worship), and more. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is the way Christian teachings have taken up the positive nature of the church’s reason for being in the world. We are to do good things, to be helpful and to provide useful services. I’m happy to be a part of a spirit-driven community. I hope you are too.

Sunday we will remember, and give thanks for, fifteen years of Little Dove Early Childhood Center. Marisa Lutz, chair of the Little Dove Board, will speak, and a brief service for the closing of the school will be held in the Little Dove rooms.

This week Kathryn Welter was honored by her high school for her achievements in the area of music and the arts. Congratulations to Kathryn. This spring our congregation will honor Kathryn for her faithful music leadership within our church. We are fortunate to have Kathryn as the lead musician in a musically talented congregation.

The Sunday school is in session this week. If you haven’t been here in awhile, make a plan to come back this Sunday. The Little Dove farewell open house is scheduled for 11 am until 1 pm.

A forum discussion on uses of the building and a revised welcome statement for our congregation, as we look forward to beginning our 50th year of ministry, will take place in the sanctuary during the education hour.

Tomorrow: property work day on the first Saturday of the month. If you have time to spend, some to church for an hour or so, and help with the care of the property and grounds.

Through the month of May the confirmation students will work through a study entitled Toward Affirmation. There are four chapters, each of which focuses on a “big” question related to the confirmation program and to their lives:  Why am I here?  Where am I going? Who’s going with me? What will it be like?  The confirmation program of our church is the responsibility of all the members. Find a way to support these middle school children as they go through their two-year program of “trying on” the Christian faith. I will try to keep you informed about the content of their study so that 1. you may support them and 2. you may continue to grow into deeper and more mature Christian faith and life.