APPANOOSE COUNTY —
We cannot live meaningful lives in isolation. Meaning is always communal...with God, with others and with creation.
Recently I had the privilege of seeing the movie “The Miracle.” It took me back to my days when I lived in Alaska. The setting was Barrow, Alaska and having visited there I was somewhat familiar with the community. What stood out for me was the coming together of people with different understandings, different cultures, different gifts, different resources, government and non-government workers, Democrats and Republicans, Russians and Americans all working together, willing to risk their lives for the sake of saving a part of God’s creation — a family of whales trapped in the Artic ice fields. A favorite comment of mine in the movie was from the Green Peace activist and the CEO of the Oil Co., while meeting each other face-to-face, out on the ice, in sub-zero temperatures: “It is really hard for me to hate you seeing how much you care!”
How easy it is for us to hate that which we do not understand. But Jesus called us to a different way — the way of love. Not simply to love your neighbor as yourself, but even more to love as Jesus first loved us. Jesus died for us and in dying, he also revealed what he was willing to live for — us! In 1 Peter 3:18 we are told, Jesus died in order to bring us to God that we might know God’s love for us. I think of how deeply God desires for us to know God’s love for us and for all God’s creation...are we listening? How will we respond? St. Francis Prayer says it all:
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
Religion
March 6, 2012
Coming together as a community can transcend differences
Faith Notes
- Religion
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- Appanoose County Weekly Meals Everyone is invited to enjoy a free meal and fellowship every Monday at Faith United Methodist Church on Highway 5 South near John Deere. Meals are available from 5-6 p.m. Rides are no longer being offered at the present time. The menu for Monday wil
- They will know we are Christians by our love This Sunday is Pentecost in the Christian community. Some churches celebrate this day a great deal, others almost ignore it completely. When I turn the key to start my car, I don't think much about it. I just expect the car to start and have the powe
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Ordination to be celebrated Sunday
It is time to celebrate once again at the Fairview Church of the Brethren as we invite you and the surrounding communities to Diane Mason's ordination service at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday. May 19. There will be a carry-in-dinner, no desserts required, aft
- What is God going to do? I've been a member of the Appanoose County Ministerial Association since I came to Centerville almost five years ago. During that time, we've done good ministry together. We've supported The Lord's Cupboard (food bank), Reaching All People Together (
- Baccalaureate to be held May 12 A Baccalaureate Ceremony will be held Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. in Simon Estes Auditorium. The public is invited to attend a Baccalaureate Ceremony to celebrate the graduation of the Centerville High School Class of 2013. Lt. Jeremy Quigley will be of
- Appanoose County Weekly Meals Everyone is invited to enjoy a free meal and fellowship every Monday at Faith United Methodist Church on Highway 5 South near John Deere. Meals are available from 5-6 p.m. Rides are no longer being offered at the present time. The menu for Monday
- Appanoose County Weekly Meals Everyone is invited to enjoy a free meal and fellowship every Monday at Faith United Methodist Church on Highway 5 South near John Deere. Meals are available from 5-6 p.m. Rides are no longer being offered at the present time. The menu for Monday wil
- Who's Light Some 40 plus years ago I was shopping at Town East Mall in Wichita, Kansas. By the time I was ready to leave it was dark outside. I noticed there were so many lights in the parking areas and even down Kellogg Street it looked like it was still daylig
- Appanoose County Weekly Meals Everyone is invited to enjoy a free meal and fellowship every Monday at Faith United Methodist Church on Highway 5 South near John Deere. Meals are available from 5-6 p.m. Rides are no longer being offered at the present time. The menu for Monday wi
- Gospel jam planned for May 5 An open gospel jam will be held Saturday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at Brushy Community Church. Everyone is invited to enjoy an afternoon of gospel music and fellowship. It is open to all entertainers who would like to play and sing. A free will offering with
- May breakfast to be held First United Methodist Women will hold a May breakfast on Tuesday, May 7 at 9 a.m. with program by Judy Lawson, "Hats Through the Ages." Tickets will be $5 and are available at the church office at 401 N. Main St. in Centerville or from First United
- Unique ministry coming to Centerville Chalk artist and Bible teacher Randy Davis will present an inspirational, powerful and unique presentation of the Gospel through his unique ministry, "Drawing Closer Ministries" at Centerville Church of the Nazarene at 415 E. Bank St. in Centerville
- New pastor arrives in Centerville The Solid Rock Church of God congregation welcomes a new pastor and his wife to the Centerville area. Pastor Tony Angran and his wife, Diana, have been chosen to pastor the church located at 1220 Rock Valley Road in Centerville. Pastor Angran, who is
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First Communion retreat held
On Saturday, April 13 a first communion retreat was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church. During the retreat the children made Shepherd's Bread, each child was able to participate in making the bread with the assistance of Joyce Moore. While they waite
- Jesus prayed for you Do you know Jesus prayed for you? He did. Look at the 17th chapter of the book of John. He is praying for his disciples, the ones God gave Him to mentor, then verse 26 states, I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever b
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