The Lord God has given me

     the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain

     the weary with a word.   Isaiah 50:4

The first reading from Isaiah tells of a certain calling to listen, learn and help others. That is not a bad way to sum up the Christian life. We listen to God’s word, learn a strange and counter-cultural way of life, and apply the lessons we have learned in service to others.

Think of all the things you can choose to learn today. You can learn something that will help you in your job. If you are in school you have assigned readings and material to learn. You can learn about your hobby. You can learn a cooking technique or how to repair an engine.

In the church we learn about a spiritual kingdom that belongs to us. We are citizens of it through our baptism. There are characters, events, dramas, ideas, principles, promises, proclamations; it’s a whole big world. When we step into it, and take time to absorb it, our lives are enriched, we are more like human beings are meant to be.

Secular society denies that there is a spiritual dimension of human existence!  It’s important, not just to you, but to the world you live in, that you find time to sit and listen to the ancient witness of Isaiah who calls you into a marvelous kingdom of God.

Sunday morning Rowena Jimenez will tell us about the work she has done for many years to promote literacy in the Philippines. A book-packing event follows the service.

We’re getting ready for a new year of faith formation for our children!  Sunday school teachers meet with Kim Canning Sunday at 11 am.

The council meets Monday, September 14 at 7:30 pm. Council members, if you cannot attend, please let me know. We will continue our memorial gift policy discussion.

Choir breakfast at 8:15 am

First choir rehearsal  at 8:45 am

Installation of the council during the service

Pot luck lunch  Bring a dish to share. We’ll grill hamburgers  Grill masters needed!

Rally Day activities and intergenerational activity. Each individual/household/family will decorate a representative fabric square. The squares will be sewn together into a banner, as our individual lives are joined in a congregation.

Rejoicing Spirits at 4 pm