Grace Note

Pastor Alex Thornburg

about Reverend Thornburg

The session every year discusses a book as part of its work together. This year the session is reading together a book by Diana Butler Bass called Christianity for the Rest of Us. Bass provides a hopeful vision for the church as she describes the qualities of thriving mainline congregations.

Bass is the Project Director for a research study of spiritually vital mainline congregations from all over the country ranging from 35 members to over 2000. She identified a number of characteristics of these congregations such as:

Christian authenticity;

Able to express a coherent faith;

Offers members a way of living with passion and purpose;

Renewed sense of mission and identity;

Creative and traditional;

Risk taking and grounded;

Open and orthodox.

The underlying key component is a church that takes Christianity seriously as a way of life. A church that engages the ancient yet newly emerging spiritual practices of the church are experiencing vitality and stepping boldly into the future.

The session is wrestling with these questions as we think about the life of our congregation. How seriously do we take Christianity as a way of life? What spiritual practices does Westminster Presbyterian church engage that nourishes an authentic faith and renewed sense of mission? Do we share Christ’s love and grace with each other? These are questions we can ask of our community but also of ourselves as individuals as well. Does Christ make a difference in my life? Do I live my faith with passion and purpose? What practices of faith shape my spiritual practices? Am I willing to reach out to others in love and vulnerability?

It is especially important in this joyous Easter season to celebrate the resurrection through embracing the good news of God’s love in our personal and communal lives. To claim the Lord is risen is to say Christ makes a difference in our lives – in the ways we treat each other and those around us. We make the resurrection visible when we live out our pilgrimage of faith here at Westminster and in the world. Let us be a resurrection people making visible the risen Christ.

Alleluia!

The Lord is risen.

He is risen indeed.

Alleluia!

Marian's Musings

Marian Bauer

Director of Christian Education

about Marian Bauer

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another….Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one other with mutual affection, outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, extend hospitality to strangers.                                              Romans 12:4-5, 9-13

Paul’s book to the Romans is considered to be his most theological. The church to which he was writing was an older church and one to which he had not been. In Romans he wrote about visiting it on his way to Spain. But this did not happen, as Paul was sent to Rome for a trial, prison and eventually death.

Look at what he is saying to the people at Rome and to all Christians. Paul reminds us that we may not all have the same function or gift, but each is important to the ‘body of Christ.” Use that gift along with the gifts of others to build up the body as no one person can do it. Paul tells about a genuine love, the ‘agape’ (a-gaw-pay) love which puts the other person first. It is the love that God showed us by sending Jesus, who came to serve others. Paul uses words such as “not lag in zeal, be ardent, rejoice, persevere, contribute, extend hospitality.” What does this say to us?  Being a member of the ‘body of Christ’ is not something that is static. It takes a great deal of effort. We continue because each person is an important child of God. The celebration of Easter is over on the calendar for 2008. But our work continues on in appreciation for what Jesus has done for each one of us.

“Do not lag in zeal…serve the Lord” always!