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THE FORECASTA u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8
Our Staff Rev. Dr. Jay Hogewood Senior Pastor [email protected] Rev. Marissa Teauseau Associate Pastor [email protected] Allison Bunnell Director of Children’s Music Shaun Darnall Administrative Assistant Natalie Derham Children’s Ministries Nancy Hopkins Lay Servant Marcus St. Julien Organist Michelle Pyne Krueger Mission Development Michelle and Scott Krueger Youth Directors Ernest Lumpkins Business Manager Teresa Magee Rayne Early Childhood Program C. Leonard Raybon Director of Music Jane Stennett Senior Ministries Carol Thiele Secretary Marcus Thompson Building Maintenance Susie VanderKuy Secretary
This is the title of a recent devotional thought by spiritual guide, Mark Nepo. Dump your pockets, advises Nepo. “When my pockets are empty, and I’ve dumped all I know, I often end up shrugging, admitting my ignorance of what to do. Then, the real work of love begins,” he says and the conviction is real; conviction like that of James in his ancient epistle, which is the message of doing love. Which is to say James more than any other writer in the Christian scriptures relentlessly pounds out faith-expressed-in-action. Since James is our focal point the next several weeks, I feel compelled to offer a few disclaimers and a confession too. First, the confession: God’s love for us offers wholeness and reckons our true hope for completion. And I am so often incomplete, fractured. How about you? Being whole in Christ’s love means we embrace a life where faith and action go together. I confess I too often fail in that. I mean I love saying I love the Lord and I love others – those whom I know and those I don’t. Alas, if you know me, I’m pretty sure you know I don’t always do that so well. And you? I’m certainly all for the sentimental; it’s just that sometimes expressions of love like saccharine are tasty but empty – when saying love substitutes for showing love; when such sweetness costs me little if anything. Saying “I love you in the name of Jesus” is one thing. Doing that love is another, is it not? Plus, part of the challenge is moving beyond charity into a more virtuous action plan: to show love means to share life – from charity to solidarity. Identifying and empathizing with those who are suffering demonstrates the depth of love, like the love Jesus demonstrates to you, to me, and to the world. Recently in a sermon, I mentioned how we, as a faith community, are particularly gifted to practice the healing arts. Healing the hurts around us entails day to day efforts of sharing love by sharing our gifts and graces. This happens through encouraging touch and a listening ear, through good nutrition and paying attention, through mental health advocacy and physical health support too. The thought of dumping our pockets to focus on healing our community lights me up, probably because we are called to these tasks, equipped to this work. In what way might God be tugging at your heart to do more than say love, but to share it, to act upon it? How is the Holy Spirit guiding us to practice the healing arts together? Let the healing begin, even as suffering shapes us all, Jay
Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church
3900 Saint Charles Ave New Orleans LA 70115 // 504.899.3431 // www.raynenola.org
"Dump Your Pockets”
Welcome!
NEW MEMBERSWelcome to the Wisner Family!
Elizabeth and Daniel, along with their son Thomas became members of Rayne
Sunday, August 26th!
LECTIONARY
Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 or Psalm 72; James 1:17-27;
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125 or Psalm 124;
James 2:1-10(11-13), 14-17; Mark 7:24-37
September 9
September 2A weekly set of Scripture readings.
UPCOMING STUDIES
What's this United Methodist thing all about anyway?
Ever wanted to know what makes
theology practical? Ever had a sense that there's more to being holy than just joining in worship? Ever felt the need to embrace a deeper meaning of grace? And have you ever had the desire to share yourself with others
who want to share themselves?
Then we have the perfect opportunity for you!
Sundays September 9, 16, & 23
10a, in the Epiphany House
Methodism 101
Compassion Cultivation Training, an 8-week course with William
Thiele, PhD on Wednesdays, 5:30- 7:30p at the Epiphany House
beginning September 5th, and Sundays, 1-3p at the Epiphany
House, beginning September 9th.
Suggested donation: $350 (partial scholarships available).
RSVP: [email protected]
The School of Contemplative Learning
Jesus for Atheists: Why He Still Matters in Our Secular World
Author Amy-Jill Levine examines Jesus' most famous teachings from a
fresh perspective, exploring how they have continued to shape ethics and civilization in the West for two
millennia.
Sundays (beginning in September 9) 10a in the Epiphany House
FaithWorks ClassPRIMETIMERSPrimeTimers, we've missed you this
summer but never fear fall is coming near! If you're a senior in the NOLA area, be on
alert that the next PrimeTimers get together is September 26th. Lydia
Blackmore, from The New Orleans Historic Collection, will be presenting on "Caring
for your Collection."
A WEEK AT RAYNE 5-6:30p Women’s Covenant Group* 11a-1p Food Pantry 1p Staff Meeting 6p Ministry Meetings 6:30p Rayne 20/30 for Young Adults 6:30p AA Meeting 12p Women's Covenant Group 1p Intercessory Prayer Group 3p Good Samaritan (at Mt. Zion UMC) 5:30p Luke’s House Medical Clinic 6:30p Covenant Group (off-site) 5:30p Centering Prayer* 6p Children’s Choir (seasonal) 6p Wednesday Classes (seasonal) 7p Chancel Choir Rehearsal 7:30p Overeaters Anonymous 9:30a Sacred Yoga* 12p Gamblers Anonymous Meeting 4-6p Food Pantry 5:30p Luke’s House Medical Clinic 7p Al-Anon/AA Meetings *Notes activities at the Epiphany House
UPCOMINGEVENTS
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Saturday, September 1 7a @ Fellowship Hall
CRESCENT CITY CAFE1
Wednesday, September 5 6p @ Room 108
WEDNESDAY NIGHTACTIVITIES BEGIN5
Sunday, September 15 7a @ Fellowship Hall
15 CRESCENT CITY CAFE
Monday, September 17 6p @ Pastor's Office
17 TRUSTEES MEETING
FINANCE MEETING
Monday, September 24 6p @ Pastor's Office
24
4 SPR MEETINGTuesday, September 4 6p @ Pastor's Office
8 UNITED METHODISTMEN RESUME STUDY
Saturday, September 8 9a @ Epiphany House
10 MISSION ANDWORSHIP MEETING
Monday, September 10 6p @ The Library (Mission)
& Pastors Office (Worship)
9 METHODISM 101
Sunday , September 9 10a @ The Epiphany House
