Revival

Beginning this Sunday we are having a very special time in the life of our church. I don't know what comes to your mind when you think of the word 'revival', but I want to invite you to see for yourself at Tabernacle.

This is something we all need as part of our faith journey. Services begin on Sunday Morning, February 27th at 10:15 am.

Evening Services Sunday through Wednesday are at 7 p.m. A children's program is provided.

Join us.

Spring Training

Even though it is still Winter... Spring Training is upon us. For the past several years the Philadelphia Phillies have been at the top of the discussion board about their potential for another winning season. This year the expectations are high with the acquisition of Cliff Lee. It is again, 'World Series or Bust' time for the Phillies.

At Tabernacle, we have some similarities. Our expectations are high, and we are also winning. We are on the path to winning and this is an exciting trip to be on. I encourage you to join us as we discover the winning elements of our ministry.

District Day of Learning

I mailed off my final project for a class I took in January and it is such a relief to be finished!

One of the other areas of focus on my vacation is to prep for two seminar classes I am teaching at the District Day of Learning on February 13th in Ocean City, NJ.

One class is called - "An Administrative Council that WINS" and the other is, "Listening to Outsiders". One of the joys about the preparation process is team teaching with a friend, Sarah Lee. I have discovered that you need to find areas of your life where you gain energy while giving energy. Teaching is one of them for me. Teaching on these particular topics also brings me such joy that I feel strengthened after each class.

If you are interested in attending the District Day of Learning on February 13th, please contact Cheryl in the Church office. 884.3574

Hope all is well with you!

See you soon.

The King's Speech

There has been ALOT of buzz around the new movie, 'The King's Speech', starring Colin Firth. Being at the top of the Oscar nominations, I wanted to go see for myself.

Here is a little known fact about me: I am the BEST at picking the winners for the Oscars. Every year, challengers step up only to get beat down by my prediction prowess. So here is a little piece on insider information about the upcoming Oscars.

While the King's Speech is a GREAT movie and I highly recommend it, it will not win best picture. But, Colin Firth will win best actor. If for some reason he does not, then the Academy got it wrong.

One of the subtle but beautiful parts of the movie is the look at the character of leadership and the ability to lead through words. Words have tremendous power and they can either harm or heal. I don't want to spoil or ruin any parts for you, but I encourage you to check it out.

I am enjoying my vacation and hope all is well with you. See you soon.

Take care,

Vacation update

I went to see True Grit. Great movie! Here are some highlights...

The movie begins with Proverbs 28:1... The wicked flee when no man pursueth:

The movie also has a musical variation and theme from the hymn, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms". It is throughout the entire movie, and you have to stay during the credits to hear the sung version. Enjoy!

forgiveness.

This week at Tabernacle: Forgiveness.

"If you think that I could be forgiven - I wish you would." Counting Crows.

Below is a quote from Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. He says,

“It is unfortunate that sometimes Christianity is associated with guilt. To many people, we’re known for preaching guilt – but a Christianity obsessed with guilt is no Christianity. We must understand and be clear about our sin. If we are not aware of our sin we go on hurting others, living self-absorbed little lives. But the purpose of preaching about sin is to bring healing. People don’t study medicine so they can tell people that they are sick! Doctors study medicine so that they can heal those who are sick. But they can’t offer healing until the patient understands they are sick.
So it is with Christianity – we speak about the human struggle with sin in an attempt to diagnose the spiritual malady that afflicts us all. But the goal is not to tell you that you are sick, but to offer you the medicine that makes you well. It is not to simply ask the question, but to lead you to the answer! Yes, we’re all sinners and this is a serious issue. But God is a God of grace and mercy!”

A long december.

Beginning on January 2nd.

I invite you to join me at Tabernacle as we begin 2011 with hope. Please have a safe and happy New Year's Eve tonight! The next few weeks are based off of the song 'a long december' by the Counting Crows. Below are the full lyrics to the song. We will be using some of these allusions as we see how the Gospel brings Hope for a new Year.

This week - living hope.

January 9 - passing moments.

January 16 - forgiveness.

January 23 - a new day.

A long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
Oh the days go by so fast

And it's one more day up in the canyons
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think that I could be forgiven
I wish you would
(Na na na, etc. yeah)

The smell of hospitals in winter
And the feeling that it's all a lot of oysters, but no pearls
All at once you look across a crowded room
To see the way that light attaches to a girl

And it's one more day up in the canyons
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think you might come to California
I think you should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)

Drove up to Hillside Manor sometime after 2 a.m.
And talked a little while about the year
I guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower
Makes you talk a little lower about the things you could not show her

And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass

And it's one more day up in the canyon
And it's one more night in Hollywood
It's been so long since I've seen the ocean
I guess I should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)