What would we do...
how would we live...
if it isn't ours...
by Pastor Ben Cieslik
“No sweetheart, that’s his, you need to let him play with
it.” “Buddy, that’s her toy, why don’t you play with this?”
“No, you can’t just take it away from him. Yes I know it’s
yours but he was playing with it first.”
Evenings at our house are spent mediating toy disputes. In general I have two
very gracious and kind children, but inevitably both of them seem to prefer the
toy with which the other is playing. Curiously the older of my two children has
experienced a resurgence of affection for old toys that have sat idly in a box for
three years, now that her brother has expressed interest in them.
“But Daddy, these are mine!”
She’s right. They are hers. Her mother and I gave them to her, so did Grandmas
and Grandpas, aunts and uncles, dear family friends. All of her things were given
to her as gifts. We who love her gave them to her so that she could enjoy them,
so that she could grow and learn, so that we could take delight in her interaction
with these gifts.
The transition from gift to possession is a fascinating one. Sometimes it happens
instantaneously. The newness and delight we find in the gift sometimes can
mean we want to keep it all for ourselves. Other times, we find a measure of joy
in seeing others discover the wonder of the thing you’ve been given.
Is what you have a gift? Or is it a possession? Have you been entrusted with
something for your own edification and that of others? Or is it yours to do with
as you see fit?
This month we’re inviting you to wrestle with some of these questions or others
like them. They’re hard. They’re uncomfortable. They show us something about
how we see the world around us, our God, and our neighbor. Unfortunately they
don’t have clear cut answers.
The traditional mandate to just share doesn’t really work. It’s more complex than
that. Instead we think together, what would we do, how would we live, if it isn’t
ours…
Thanksgiving Eve Worship & Pie Fest
November 23, 7:00 pm at both campuses
On Wednesday Nov. 23 the Bethlehem community gathers
to give thanks to God in worship and community—all are
welcome here. After worship we come together for pie. It’s
a wonderful time that happens because of your generosity.
We need many people to bring pie for our Pie Fest, but also for the Marie Sandvik
Center which serves up to 500 people from the community on Thanksgiving.
They count on our donated pies for their meal. Bring pies, homemade or storebought, when you come to worship or any time on Wednesday, the 23rd. Please
label your pie plate if you would like it returned.
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ON THE COVER:
November Sermon Series
What If It's Not Yours?
At first you handle it with a bit of
awe, bordering on reverence. After all
someone else has entrusted you with
it. They’ve given it to you to use for
awhile, so you’re extra careful. You
don’t want it to get smudged, chipped,
or ruined. But the longer you have it,
the more cavalier you become. You
start to act like it’s yours. Pretty soon
you start to believe it’s yours. And
then…
God stakes a claim on each one of us.
The whole of our lives belong to God.
This is an incredible promise but it’s
one that invites some hard work on
our part and wrestling with some hard
questions. How do you use the money
you have? What are your goals and
your dreams? What about the time
you've been given on this earth? What
if it isn’t yours?
November 6: All Saints Sunday
We'll give thanks for the saints who
have gone before us. During worship,
we'll read the names of those from
the congregation who have died in the
last year. You will also have a chance
to light a candle to honor the memory
or celebrate the blessing of someone
whose life has touched your heart.
November 13: Luke 20:45-21:4
November 20: John 12:20-26
November 27: Advent begins
Connecting people with God,
each other and their mission
in the world.
Next CONNECT deadline:
November 10, 2016
[email protected]
CONNECT newsletter online
bethlehem-church.org