Posted on 02 May 2011
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Reflections by Rev. Nancy Muth
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me” Matthew 25:35-36
As many of you know for almost half of my ministry I have worked with congregations in the area of financial stewardship. The first art of the conversation I would have with church leaders was not about money but the purpose or mission of the church. What a wonderful question for all congregations: What is the purpose or mission of the church?
In his Great Commission Jesus taught us hat the first thing we must do is to “Go out!” We are to look beyond ourselves to others. Jesus also tells us that we are “to love your neighbor as yourself.”
Throughout the Gospels and also in the Old Testament we find references about how important it is that we care or the other. And so it is that for Christian congregations the ministry of mission and outreach is so important. We are not fulfilling out Christian mandate unless we are reaching out beyond ourselves to others… to those who would otherwise be ignored and forgotten.
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Posted on 25 Apr 2011
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This Wednesday at 7:00pm
First Pres is the location of the theEight District City Council Candidate Debate on April 27th .
This event is hosted by Germantown Community Connection (GCC), the collaborative organization of the many Germantown neighborhood associations and other individual and institutional stakeholders in the community and Newsworks. This candidates’ debate and forum is for the City Council’s Eighth District seat being vacated by Donna Reed Miller. There are at least nine candidates running for the position. For more information on Germantown Community Connection, and the Candidate Debate please contact Rev.Kevin Porter.
Fresh Grocer Supermarket Closing
GCC also sponsored a community forum on Thursday, March 10, regarding the closure of the Fresh Grocer supermarket and the plans for development of the site. Over 100 citizens packed Longstreth Auditorium to voice their opinions.
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Posted on 22 Apr 2011
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O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to death on the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection has delivered us from the power of our enemy.
Grant that we who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit.
Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, empowered and transformed by your grace in and among us.
O Lord, so stir up in your church, indeed in each of us, that Spirit of adoption and reconciliation that is made possible by your grace revealed in Jesus the Christ, that we being renewed in both body and mind, may worship and serve you in sincerity and truth.
We pray this in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Posted on 18 Apr 2011
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This Tuesday, April 19th at 3:45pm
As our Lenten series on Gun Violence comes to a close and we prepare for Holy week, we invite you to join us this Tuesday at our weekly rally at Delia’s Gun Shop on Torresdale Avenue on Tuesday, April 19 at 3:45pm.
Stand with us as we join other congregations in peaceful, prayerful protest of the owner’s refusal to sign a code of conduct designed to reduce illegal gun sales.
The protests have been organized by “Northwest Partners to End Gun Violence”, a local group affiliated with the national organization Heeding God’s Call.
Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), highlighted Heeding God’s Call as an example of effective Christian witness in public policy to stem gun violence in its report “Gun Violence, Gospel Values,” which was unanimously approved at the 219th
General Assembly.
Posted on 04 Apr 2011
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Dear Friends,
We are in the midst of the holiest season of our Christian faith as we have been walking our Lenten journey, soon to enter Holy Week, following our Lord to the cross and then to the empty tomb as we rejoice and praise God for Christ’s glorious resurrection.
It is important for us during these days of Lent to take time to:
+ reflect on our lifestyles
+ reflect on our priorities
+ reflect on our faith in Jesus Christ
+ and reflect on how we are living out our faith.
Can someone tell that you are a Christian from the way you live your life? Some people find it helpful to give something up for Lent. I’m not sure if they do it as a discipline or as an excuse to temporarily suspend a bad habit or for both reasons. I am not someone who follows this practice as I don’t find it helpful in bringing me closer to God. However, the positive aspect I find when people give something up for the Lenten season is that they realize that Lent is a time to live life differently.
A more meaningful Lenten practice that I recommend is to carve out some time during the day when you can spend time with a Bible in your hand and maybe even a devotional.
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