April 7, 2015

Post Easter Greetings to All,
I was out of the office on Monday for a little after Easter rest and to help orchestrate our family’s annual celebration of the A’s Opening Day. The rain held off and we were able to enjoy both a great tailgate and an impressive victory, the first Opening Day victory for the A’s in ten years. Could this be the year?
Our own Dale Edmondson will be the preacher on April 12. His title is “Sarx Egeneto!” Sarx is the Greek word for flesh and Egeneto is the Greek Word for made or became. I know you will want to be here to hear Dale interpret the life changing significance of the central Christian belief of incarnation.
After the Coffee Hour there are several excellent Christian Formation offerings. The Adult Bible Class will meet in the Library, the Grief and Loss Ministry will convene in Church Office building and Victor Vanloo, the Director of Development at ABSW, will lead the final installment of our “Living Well, Dying Well” series. He will talk about the stewardship of our financial resources in light of our mortality.
On Saturday Forever Young will gather in the Family Room at 12:30 for a luncheon and program. All are invited. Please let George Lee know if you will be attending.
On Easter Sunday one of the great preachers of all time, The Reverend Dr. Gardner Taylor, Pastor Emeritus of the Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, passed away. He influenced generations of preachers. I have several volumes of his sermons on my book shelves. One of my favorite quotes of his is from a sermon delivered October 19, 1969.  Giant fists and midget hearts, university graduates in things physical, kindergarten failures in things spiritual. Thus might we well describe our day and generation. There have been ages and eras in which people desired to bless the world but lacked the physical equipment. Ours is an age in which we have the physical equipment in abundance but lack the spiritual conviction to truly serve the cause of  a world “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Prayers for you all as we move into the Easter Season. May each of you know the presence of the Risen One in your hearts, minds and souls as well as in your heads, hands and feet.
Pastor Jim
P.S. Thank you to all who led and participated in the many Easter Week ministries of our congregation. Your many gifts are amazing.