Get OUT of DEBT in 2012!

First Christian To Offer Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University

The First Christian Church of Berryville will present Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University beginning with a free informational meeting on Tuesday, January 17 at 6:00PM. Most people struggle to make ends meet. They just have too much month left at the end of the money. If you have made mistakes and feel like your money vanishes each month, you are not alone. In fact, 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, regardless of income.

Financial Peace University is designed to teach you and your family how to get out of debt, stay out of debt, and build wealth. You'll meet with your class each week to watch video lessons and participate in discussion and accountability groups that will change your whole attitude about money!

Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, popular national radio personality and best-selling New York Times author. Ramsey knows first-hand what financial peace means in his own life, having lived a true rags-to-riches-to-rags-to riches story. Dave breaks through the common financial jargon and explains how money really works in a simple, easy-to-understand style. You'll actually have fun as you learn about saving, budgeting, investing, insurance and more! During this life-changing class, you will learn how to get control of your money, stop struggling to make ends meet, tell your money what to do and change your family's future.

This year, give yourself, or someone you care about, the gift of financial peace. First Christian Church is located at 306 E. Church Street, Berryville. For additional information, contact Loretta Tanner at 870-423-3495.

Advent is Coming!

Advent* (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday.

 The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday from November 27 to December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ's return.

The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas. With the view of directing the thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Jesus Christ as savior and to his second coming as judge, special readings are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent.

The usual liturgical color in Western Christianity for Advent is purple or blue. The purple color is often used for hangings around the church, on the vestments of the clergy, and often also the tabernacle. On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, rose may be used instead, referencing the rose used on Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent. In some Christian denominations, blue, a color representing hopefulness, is an alternative liturgical color for Advent, a custom traced to the usage of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and the medieval Sarum Rite in England. In addition, the color blue is also used in the Mozarabic Rite (Catholic and Anglican), which dates to the eighth century. This color is often referred to as "Sarum blue". The Lutheran Book of Worship lists blue as the preferred color for Advent while the Methodist Book of Worship identifies purple or blue as being appropriate for Advent. There has been an increasing trend to supplant purple with blue during Advent as it is an hopeful season of preparation that anticipates both Bethlehem and the consummation of history in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Proponents of this new liturgical trend argue that purple is traditionally associated with solemnity and somberness, which is fitting to the repentant character of Lent. During the Nativity Fast, red is used among the denominations of Eastern Christianity, although gold is an alternative color.

In Advent, the Advent Prose, an antiphonal plainsong, may be sung. The "Late Advent Weekdays", December 17–24, mark the singing of the Great Advent 'O antiphons'. These are the antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers, or Evening Prayer (in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches) and Evensong in Anglican churches each day and mark the forthcoming birth of the Messiah. They form the basis for each verse of the popular Advent hymn, "O come, O come, Emmanuel".

*To read more about Advent go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent.

Morning Has Broken

The music sung in today's service was especially moving for one of our Community Gardeners. He often sings while weeding or picking; this may account for the absence of pests since his dear wife says that his voice is  poisonous. No matter, he sings anyway and he often sings the hymn "Morning Has Broken."

"Morning Has Broken" is a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and is set to a traditional Gaelic tune known as "Bunessan" (it shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas Carol "Child in the Manger"). It is often sung in children's services. English pop musician and folk singer Cat Stevens included a version on his 1971 album Teaser and the Firecat. The song became identified with Stevens when it reached number six on the US pop chart.

The hymn originally appeared in the second edition of Songs of Praise (published in 1931), to the tune "Bunessan", composed in the Scottish Highlands. In Songs of Praise Discussed, the editor, Percy Dearmer explains that as there was need for a hymn to give thanks for each day, English poet and children's author Eleanor Farjeon had been "asked to make a poem to fit the lovely Scottish tune". A slight variation on the original hymn, also written by Eleanor Farjeon, can be found in the form of a poem contributed to the anthology Children's Bells, under Farjeon's new title, "A Morning Song (For the First Day of Spring)", published by Oxford University Press in 1957.

"Bunessan" had been found in L. McBean's Songs and Hymns of the Gael, published in 1900. Before Farjeon's words, the tune was used as a Christmas carol, which began "Child in the manger, Infant of Mary", translated from the Scottish Gaelic lyrics written by Mary MacDonald. The English-language Roman Catholic hymnal also uses the tune for the Charles Stanford, hymns "Christ Be Beside Me" and "This Day God Gives Me", both of which were adapted from the traditional Irish hymn St. Patrick's Breastplate.

We're Putting on Our Winter Clothes

 Treads, or pathways between growing beds, have been cleaned out.

 Old plant materials--vines, stalks, and so on--have been removed.

 Oats have been planted as a cover crop.

Cover crops add nitrogen to the soil and crowd out weeds.

2011 Garden Outcomes

We've had three positive Community Garden outcomes this year. First, important infrastructure has been added: a water line, raised beds, and tons of mulch were laid down to assure long range soil and water integrity. Second, a children's garden was added which provided recreational and learning activities for our "Little Sprouts" and which enhanced the beauty and value of church property. Third, 3 community garden activist groups from Springfield, Kansas City, and Harrison toured the garden to learn how to plan and start their own organizational gardens.

One negative outcome this year was terrible production: with the exception of an early potato crop and leeks and onions, hardly anything we planted was successful. This was due to extremely poor growing conditions--an exceedingly wet spring and an exceptionally dry summer--and bad planting decisions: next year we'll have to be more thoughtful about what we plant, and when.

Current Activities

We have nearly finished cleaning out the pathways (treads) between the growing beds and will, over the next few weeks, begin to fill them with wood chip mulch. Be sure to watch as the big pile of chips in the back yard begins to diminish. We have planted oats as our cover crop. Oats planted in our two raised beds have jumped up and look pretty; the oats planted in the main garden beds may or may not do much jumping. It is expected to get down into the low 20s tonight (October 19th) and the soil will have to get consistently warmer to produce. Keep your fingers crossed. In any case, our fall clean-up is mostly done except for picking the last (green) tomatoes, and some stray okra, beans, and peppers.

Planned Activities

Leaves will be falling soon. These leaves will be raked into piles and carried on tarps over to the garden and used as mulch. If you are able to rake leaves we will be glad to have your help.

We are also considering adding a greenhouse to the small shed on our back lot. This will allow us to start growing plants from seeds and will also provide another dimension of learning for the Little Sprouts. If we go ahead with this it will begin sometime after Christmas.

Last year we added a 10'x25' bed adjacent to and north of the Children's Garden and grew (successfully) crook necked squash on it. We will probably add another same-sized bed to this area if we can stretch our mulch far enough.

We have been working on a small prayer garden and will finish it over the winter. 

What We Need

We ask for your continued prayers for the garden and for your gardeners, especially for those shepherding our Little Spouts. We will be grateful for the donation of bales of straw. Straw can be found at Wal-Mart for about $4.89 a bale; we will be glad to pick them up if you prefer to simply donate the money needed for this purpose. We will be very glad to receive donations of used lumber suitable for building picket fences: 4x4s, 2x4s, and 1' material that can be milled into pickets are especially needed. If someone wants to donate a picnic table we will be very grateful.

Thank You!

We are so grateful to our church leaders for supporting our community and children's garden efforts and thank them! We are grateful to the entirety of our Church Family for your support! And, we are especially grateful to the Stice and Hudspeth families for their faithful and on-going labor "in the vineyard." To everyone, thank you so much!

The 7 Principles of Reverent Gardening

Mrs. Hudspeth's Zinnias

The good garden news this week is that we have hundreds of fairly nice looking but very green tomatoes growing. If we get warm (hot) weather over the next three weeks they should ripen nicely. We are pretty excited about it all. Feel free to stop by and look and--pick some okra, beans, and herbs.

While noodling about the internet we ran across this wonderful collection of principles that closely summarize much of what your community gardeners feel. Here they are:

All of Earth is a Garden

Conscientious stewardship of a garden is a means to practice the Reverent
Gardener's ethic of service: To enhance the well-being and ecology of Earth,
nature and humanity by gardening with gratefulness to God, respect, courtesy, gratitude, and reverence.

Nature is a vast web of interdependent lives and events of which humans are only part.

By becoming a student of nature's complex system (microorganisms, insects,
plants, animals, minerals, soil, natural forces such as wind, rain, sun, etc.),
we can perceive and understand nature's subtle and dramatic workings in our
garden. Consequently, we can garden to restore, regenerate, and sustain
nature's integrity.

The value of Nature is as much for itself as for humans.

We should be grateful for the opportunity to co-create daily with nature,
and to know when to simply be a witness of nature at work and play in our
garden. In the spirit of cooperation rather than domination, not every human
intervention may be appropriate.

Gardening is an opportunity to engage in honorable effort and right livelihood.

In partnership with nature, we can be a noble steward — for a moment, an
hour, a season, and a lifetime. We can learn to be patient, observant and
curious, having faith in the mystery of nature. Above all, we can learn to
evoke in our efforts awe and wonder, and wisdom.

The process of gardening is as desirable as the end product of our efforts.

Gardening allows us to learn about nature and ourselves. We should strive
for a balanced philosophy and practice that embraces the wise and creative use
of intuition as well as an honorable and intelligent use of science and
technology. Such gardening “tools” should cause the least harm to all
without sacrificing the garden or nature's overall integrity.

A garden should be beautiful as well as nutritious.

We should strive to create a peaceful refuge that nourishes and nurtures, giving optimally nutritious food for the body and replenishing food for the soul. The highest compliment to a garden is to perceive it as an inspiring sanctuary.

Give back to Nature and your garden more than you take.
Live like you won't be here tomorrow; have reverence and compassion for
Earth as if you will be here forever. Therefore, sustain and regenerate your
garden's soil, recycle waste, and conserve water. Encourage diversity of
plants, native vegetation, and desirable wildlife, large and minute. Foster the
use of heirloom seeds and seed-saving. Use the least toxic inputs for both soil
and plant. Grow only as much as you need and can share with others while
offering a portion to the garden's wildlife. Finally, do what you can to
educate others on how to be an Earth-friendly, reverent gardener.

Fall Hopes Spring Eternal: Community Garden Update

Cock-e-leekie Soup Anyone?

An old teacher described every horrible event as a "learning experience." We've learned plenty this summer, about gardening, about the weather, and about how blessed we are to have farmers who operate, day in, day out, no matter what. Thank you, Lord, for the people who grow our food. May they be blessed a thousand fold!

Yes, first the rain, then the drought, and now millions of predator bugs have plagued us. Hardly anything grew as expected. Still, we've had some successes. Our early potatoes grew well and, before the bugs arrived we managed to harvest lots of squash of many varieties. Then, there is the Little Sprouts Garden which was a success at almost every level. Dawson Stice dropped off a watermelon yesterday (literally) and we enjoyed its sweetness a whole bunch after last night's supper.

We also have a pretty good bed of leeks, and you are welcome to go and pick some. If you don't know what to do with them, Google cock-e-leekie soup and you'll find a fine chicken and leek soup recipe to try out.

Maybe there will be tomatoes...maybe not...?

It has been difficult to resist tearing our pathetic tomato vines out of the earth and consigning them to the burn pile (it has been too hot for them to set fruit), but experienced gardeners have counseled patience. As you can see from the photo above it is possible that we may yet get some. If we get some please free to go into the garden and pick any that become available.

Apple trees rebound!

One bright spot has been our apple trees. The drought nearly killed the poor things--which hadn't been doing all that well to begin with. Consequently, we vigorously cut them back (at exactly the wrong time of the year) and lo and behold, they rebounded and look better than ever. Next year will be year three for these dwarfs: maybe we'll see some apples.

UPDATE:

Today, (August 23rd) we planted our FALL GARDEN. This included carrots, bush beans, lettuce, spinach, onions, kale, and chard. We're not exactly sure what chard is: one of our gardeners picked up a packet of chard seeds while in Zimbabwe where they apparently eat the stuff. If it grows I guess we'll eat it here too. See: always something to look forward to.

Finally, the potatoes we planted three weeks ago are now officially AWOL. If you see them hanging around town tell them to get back on the job. In the mean time: Thank you, Lord, for teaching us about how things grow, about how everything fits together, and for the steps big, and small, that we take in our walk toward You.

Pulling the Plug

The drought has gone on so long this season that our plants have not been able to set and production is almost nil. It is the nature of gardening--no pun intended--to cope with and ultimately triumph over adversity; but this year, nature is winning and we've decided to stop watering the Community Garden because what is being produced isn't worth the water we're using. So: after a good long soak yesterday (July 27th) we won't water again until a cover crop (probably oats) is planted in September.

It is possible that with some cooler weather and regular rain we could get some tomatoes; the verdict is still out on the potatoes we planted two weeks ago. And, despite an incredible number of Japanese beetles munching on them, our blackberries look pretty good and should bear fruit next season.

The good news is that The Little Sprouts Garden has been doing great. Hats off to Jill, Jennifer, and all the Little Sprouts for a fantastic first year!

Potato? Pahtahtoe?

We've had good luck with spuds this year.

It has been an odd gardening year. We've had plenty of everything we need--sun and rain--but they came at the wrong times and in unexpectedly big doses. Now, it has been about 100 degrees all week and we're feeling a bit wilty.

Last year we had plenty of tomatoes. This year we're not doing so well. It has been either too wet or too hot for the blossoms to set and consequently fruit has been slow to form. We initially took this problem personally--surely we did something wrong!--but we're hearing the same story from lots of folks, some of whom are experienced gardeners. Long story short: it will be late August before we see too many decent 'maters.

Our squash situation is different this year as well. Because we lost almost ALL of our squash last year to squash borers we over planted this year and now have squash coming out of our ears. We keep waiting for the bugs to show up, but so far we've been lucky. Anyway, be prepared for piles of crook necked squash this month.

Flowers have been a success. Mrs. Hudspeth has produced what look like State Fair winners in the Sunflower category and the zinnias are beautiful. One of the blessings of working in the garden is to walk past these flowers and seeing thousands of bees and butterflies going about their business so efficiently and perfectly.

We had good luck with potatoes, especially since we planted them in the least productive beds in the garden. Consequently, and against the advice of nearly everyone, we replanted potatoes this week in hopes of a fall crop. We did that for three reasons:

1. potatoes are easy to plant and produce satisfying foliage
2. everyone in the congregation seems to like potatoes and they all get eaten
3. Jim Long, the famous Ozark Gardener, said that we could get a fall crop--so we'll see.

We also have some beans growing and next month we'll plant some more spinach and lettuce for fall. Since this year was mostly a future building year--building up the soil and adding infrastructure--we planted fewer plants and have produced less stuff. Next year, year 4 in the history of the garden, we'll really ramp up and have already started planning. Hope and faith, as you can see, are the main products of the garden.

Lost in the Details

Sometimes we get so busy and "lost in the details" of what we're doing that we fail to notice the small and large things that other people are doing. Light bulbs get changed, grass gets cut, the hungry are fed, and social contracts are formed and nurtured, often without notice. Frequently, these are things that we just take for granted.

At First Christian Church we know there are many ways to serve the Body of Christ, and many ways and traditions to express and celebrate that service. We thank all of our members, and all of our Ministry Leaders and volunteers, for the many ways in which we are sustained as a Church Family through your efforts, large and small, seen and unseen.

You are not taken for granted!

Wedding Bells?

If you are planning a wedding this Summer or Fall, and are interested in an affordable, tasteful, and traditional setting in which to have it, contact First Christian Church in Berryville for information about how we can help.

First Christian Church has a wedding planner on staff who would love to help you in many ways, from simply arranging space to complete plans.

For more information contact Susan Krotz at 870 654 2107.

The Lord Giveth...

Deader than Lincoln's mother.

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" Job says (1:21). He wasn't thinking specifically about our Community Garden's tomato plants but his general principle has held true. Fourteen fairly mature plants bit the dust this week from a combination of a whitefly infestation and a home remedy gotten from a local organic farmer who--well--maybe got his recipe mixed up.

This afternoon we'll pull the old plants out and pop in some new ones. Sadly, the new plants won't be from local seeds but time is, as so often in gardening, of the essence. If we want 'maters in a few weeks we'd better hustle.

We'll also do some weeding. One of the Community Gardeners finds weeding an excellent form of meditation on his sins and character flaws. Each weed represents a malefaction past and, regrettably, not so past, and each successful weed pull a repatriation of a sort. Lots of weeds; lots of pulling.

On a happy note the plants in the Little Sprouts Garden are healthy, robust, and as lively as the children; it is great fun to see that garden sprout produce...and angels.

Onward & Upward in the Garden

A load of mulch is delivered by Carroll Electric

Folks are probably wondering why in the world we got another load of mulch, but no-till gardening and farming means you can't have too much. Lots of mulch keeps the weeds down and the water close to the surface where plants need it. The end results include less stooping and pulling and lower water bills. What happens to the mulch next:

There is a squash bed directly adjacent and north of the Little sprouts garden. At the moment it is covered with black plastic and the plastic is held down by some recycled lumber. We will:

1. take the lumber off the plastic and stack it (neatly) on a pile by the white storage shed.
2. take the garden fork and poke LOTS of holes in the black plastic.
3. apply mulch about 12 inches deep over the plastic being careful not to disturb the squash plants.

Next year, the we'll have this area fenced for watermelon and as a chicken run for the 4 chickens we plan to raise.

Zucchini squash about fruit.

If all goes well we'll dodge the evil squash borer and have plenty of zucchini, crook necked, and acorn squash. Sadly, mulch does not deter bugs from their appointed rounds so--it is nip and tuck time.

Many thanks to Bill Hudspeth for causing the mulch to arrive!

Community Development Ministry May Update

Snow peas are reaching their peak--and will be gone in a couple of weeks.

The Community Development Ministry's activities during the month of may have focused on three main areas: 1) preparing the community gardens for planting; 2) planning events of mutual interest with the Carroll County Literacy Council, and; 3) volunteering at Loaves and Fishes.

Community Gardens: The Community Garden and Little Sprouts garden have been fully planted and are to produce spring vegetables in abundance. If you want onions or lettuce please help yourself. These are located in the bed just left of the snow pea trellis--which are also available for picking. Again--just help yourself: the community garden is YOUR garden.

Tomato plants are about to flower--as are squash and bean plants; it will be several weeks before we see any fruit but so far...so good. Our apple trees tipped over in the heavy rain of 10 days ago and have been staked up--but the leaves are covered with apple rust and we'll have to do some spraying. The blueberry shrubs look pathetic despite heroic and expensive medical and pharmaceutical interventions. If they don't turn around by fall we'll take them out and replant them somewhere else.

You are invited to weed--lucky you--and if you have an interest in gardening we're happy to help you fulfill that ambition. But in the mean time, and without an obligation of any kind, please visit the garden and pick of the fruit.

Literacy Center staff provides computer training for local farmers.

Community Education: The Carroll County Literacy Council has expressed a strong interest in collaborating with FCC on a number of initiatives including providing tutoring for our youth, sharing human and other resources for financial literacy training, and providing computer skills training and refresher courses for older adults who are stalled on the information highway. Contact Susan for more information.

Queen Ann's Lace in a sunny spot near His House

Loaves & Fishes: More and more Carroll County families are needing to rely on the food shelves to meet basic needs. Consequently, volunteers are really busy and have been pushed to the limits. Our volunteers are cheerful, loyal, reliable, and resolute--but they could use some help. If you have a couple of hours a week or a month to help out, please contact Elaine for more information.

That's it for May. We look forward to a busy and rewarding June. And lest we forget: THANK YOU for everything you do.

Putting on Some Peace Paint

Spring cleaning and a bit of paint.

Older members of the congregation might remember using the phrase "she's putting on her war paint" to describe their wife's make-up preparation for a social outing. This week we've been putting on some "peace paint" and otherwise cleaning up the entrance to the church.

Please excuse the mess--which is short lived--and use the back entrance to the church until further notice.

Baby Monarch Butterfly. Really.

Mr. Magoo was in the Little Sprouts garden this morning building something when he happened upon a whole gaggle of disgusting creatures eating a plant. They were really eating it: nothing was left but the stalk.

Mr. Magoo, who as you know is deaf, blind but sadly not dumb--dumb is an old word for describing someone who can't talk--killed six of the wormy yucks by squeezing their tiny little heads between the grippers on a pair of pliers. He was so happy!

"Oh, no!" shouted two Little Sprouts. "Those are baby Monarch Butterflies!"

Mr. Magoo, who is deaf and blind but can still talk, denied that the ugly worms were baby butterflies. But they were! Isn't it terrible that Mr. Magoo can talk?

The moral of the story is: Mr. Magoo should only build things! He does not know ANYTHING about butterflies! Don't listen to him!

Wedding Open House 9-12 PM Saturday

The First Christian Church Berryville--on Church Ave across from Nelson's Funeral Home--is having an Open House this Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12 PM for prospective brides and families planning a wedding this summer or fall. Stop by the Open House and talk with our wedding planners about holding your wedding at our historic and elegant small church.

Community Garden Update

Garlic, planted in March, begins to develop sturdy shoulders.

One hundred percent (100%) of the Community Garden is now planted and, despite the rain, we're hopeful that everything will go forward and do what they are supposed to do: be fruitful and multiply.

Our potatoes and onions are in good shape and the blueberry bushes, after a very rocky 2010 when they were planted, have perked up a bit and may survive this year: we are not yet convinced that they will thrive, sad to say. Our tomatoes are in the ground--a bit wet but green and inching upward, and cucumbers, bush beans, and snow peas are behaving as expected. All the lettuce, spinach, and salad greens--which we had in such abundance last year--washed out this spring and so, and alas, no salad until we plant again in the fall.

Blackberry cane

One of the beds on the east side of the garden gets too much shade to grow much so we're experimenting with blackberries. So far, 9 of ten canes have popped out of the ground and are looking okay (just). We hope planting these space intensive fruits pays off because we LOVE blackberries.

Squash was planted just north and adjacent to the Little Sprout's Garden. They got beat up during planting (Mr. Magoo dragged a hose over them), but four of the eight hills look like they'll make it--and we'll replant the others pretty quick.

If you have time, stop by the garden. It will put you in mind of God's goodness to us. And: THANK YOU for making the garden possible.

Administrative Update

Update from the Office

We've cleaned; we've organized; we've tossed materials which were several years old. We now have processes in place for handling the mail, filing, supply management, copying the Sunday Bulletin and answering the phone. We have implemented programs to enhance, not only internal relationships, but also those within our community: Prayer Acknowledgment and Ongoing Concerns; Birthday Recognition, Visitor Welcome and timely distribution of the newsletter.

An electronic master calendar has been created which facilitates the establishment of a yearlong schedule of key meetings: the Elders, the Board and the Ministry Council, plus all other activities which utilize our facilities. Electronic reminders will be sent and this information has been transferred to a large, wall mounted calendar in the office for easy viewing by any member seeking to schedule church facilities for an event. This will also facilitate the timely posting of announcements in the weekly bulletin.

How you can help?

1. If you wish to schedule an event, contact Susan Krotz, to ensure the date(s) you request are available

2. If you hold a leadership position in the church, please check that mail slot in the office. The mail, which may include bank statements or bills, is piling up and needs your attention. These positions include, pastor, Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer, Women's Group, Youth Director, Choir Director, Finance Committee, Memorial Fund, among others

3. Get ready to act: We have received requests to update our current Membership Directory and will be seeking information about any changes in your household. Stay tuned for how you can quickly ensure your contact information is up to date.

4. As a cost saving measure, because we so rarely have needed to make full color copies, that function on the copy machine has been password protected. If you need to make color copies for church events or programming, please contact David Bell or Susan Krotz .

5. Volunteer Opportunity: Office Staff. Duties include: phone answering, filing, supply management, some copying. Training provided. Benefits: Stewardship – giving of one’s time and talent for the strength of our church. Contact Susan Krotz for more information.

That I Might Know Him and the Power of His Resurrection

Sermon for Morning Worship, First Christian Church, Berryville

April 24, 2011

Job 19:23-27; Luke 24:1-12; Philippians 3:7-14

In writing to the Philippians, Paul said, 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Just a little enrichment of that text: back in verse 10, "may share his sufferings" could also be translated, "may know the sharing in his sufferings," "may know the participation in his sufferings," "may know the fellowship of his sufferings," or "may know the community of his sufferings." The key Greek root word is koinonia, and as Paul uses it, it has to do with what we do in solidarity with our fellow believers.

I have preached on this text several times in the past three years, sometimes emphasizing the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, sometimes emphasizing the righteousness that comes by faith. Today, I have a different emphasis. Why have I chosen this text again on Easter Sunday? Because it is one thing to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and it is another thing to experience the power of his resurrection. Paul wants to experience the power of Christ's resurrection. He wants his first readers to experience the power of Christ's resurrection. He wants us to experience the power of Christ's resurrection. Easter people should experience the power of Christ's resurrection. So today we are exploring what the power of Christ's resurrection is and how we might experience it.

Paul wants us to know in personal experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection. I wish to suggest that knowing in our personal experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection is a good goal for us to set for ourselves on Resurrection Sunday 2011.

Paul, having been called by Christ to be his own, is pressing on toward the fulfillment of this calling. He sees it as a two-step process, a dying and a rising.

In writing to the Romans, Paul had said that, when we are baptized, we are baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, dying with Christ to sin and coming alive with Christ to the living God. Now writing to the Philippians, he is talking about how he views the dying and rising in his own life.

Paul has accepted that his journey as a Christ-follower may not have an easy road in this world. Of the New Testament figures you would consider the greatest apostles, which of them would you say had an easy road of it? Peter? Andrew? James the fisherman? John? James the brother of Jesus? Paul? No, not one! In fact, Paul’s goal is to be so like Jesus as to “share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” This does not mean that Paul was seeking to become a martyr, but that he was seeking to devote himself so fully to Christ that he would not turn back no matter the cost. As he said earlier in his letter to the Philippians, he took the attitude that to live is Christ and to die is gain, and that he was ready to be faithful either way. At that time, he expected that he would live a little longer for the sake of the churches he was leading. A few years later, writing his Second Letter to Timothy, he expected correctly that his time on earth was drawing to a close, but he still sought to live every bit of it for Christ. His goal at the end, was to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He did not expect to stop living until he died, and, because of the power of the resurrection, he did not expect to stop living even then. It is only people who are prepared to experience the cross who experience the power of the resurrection.

Paul is not a masochist who enjoys suffering. He does not glorify suffering for its own sake. He is not seeking to suffer. Suffering is significant only as it comes in the course of sharing and living out Christ’s self-giving love, only as it involves dying to ourselves so that we might live for God. Wherever there is godly dying, we ought to expect to see the glory of the resurrection in some way coming on its heels.

Already in this life, by prioritizing faithfulness to Christ at all costs, Paul has died to his own achievements, and he has come alive to the spiritual journey into Christlikeness. Once Paul meets Christ, the question is no longer what Paul can make of himself, but what Paul will allow Christ through the Holy Spirit to make of him. Paul wants to be conformed to Christ in his dying and in his rising. For Paul, glory is no longer defined by what he has accomplished, but by the transformation he is experiencing through his faith in Jesus. He is moving on from one degree of glory to another as the risen Christ through the Holy Spirit works within him. This is the power of the resurrection at work in Paul. Paul wants the same for us. He wants us to know in personal experience the power of the resurrection.

What does it mean to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection? What is that power? Paul’s word for power is the Greek word dunamis from which comes the English word dynamite. Okay, dunamis does not mean dynamite. Dynamite had not been invented yet. Our subject is the power of the resurrection, the power of salvation, the power of miracles, the power that makes all things possible; the power that means that nothing that accords with the will and character of God will be impossible. The reason that most churches in our day do not have much impact is that they are simply not aware that they have power, dunamis. Too many of us Christians have been sleeping on spiritual dynamite without even knowing we have it. Say it with me: Dynamite! I am not sure that saying dynamite is very enlightening, but it is fun to say, and it keeps us on our toes, so we will keep saying it.

The power of Jesus’ resurrection is tied to the power that the risen and exalted Jesus exercises from his position of authority at the right hand of God. In his Letter to the Ephesians, written sometime near the time he wrote to the Philippians, Paul prayed that his readers might have the eyes of their hearts enlightened to know, among other things: … what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

That’s quite a mouthful, and it is only part of Paul’s long sentence. Let’s break it down: The power that is available in our experience is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the same power that exalted Jesus above all spiritual powers, and that means above all the forces of evil at work in our world. The power that raised Jesus from the dead put all things under his feet including the last enemy death. The same power made Jesus head over the ongoing mission and fellowship of the people of God, the church. Putting that another way, the power of the resurrection has given believers in Christ a friend in the very highest of places, and he will share his power and authority with his earthly body, the church. If we will let him, he will break the power of evil over us and free us to be filled with his power for good. Say it with me: Dynamite!

That’s extraordinary! To the degree that we are in Christ, we wield a mighty power for good in this world. A little later in his letter, Paul assures us that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we have yet dared ask or think or imagine, through the same power that is already at work within us, the power of the resurrection. Wow! Far more abundantly than we have dared dream! Say it with me: Dynamite!

How does the Lord fill us with this power? A few years earlier in his ministry, Paul had written to the Romans, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” God the Father, who by God the Holy Spirit raised God the Son from the dead, by that same Holy Spirit gives us our new birth as children of God. Paul continues, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” The power of the resurrection is the power of the Holy Spirit, which in turn is the power that transforms us into children of God in God’s image. Say it with me: Dynamite!

In the end of all history, God will bring about a new heaven and new earth, a perfected new creation where God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-- will reign fully and perfectly and where believers will reign with him. But already, now, God’s reign is breaking into this world with signs and wonders, transformations, and new possibilities of godly living. Over time, even through intense difficulties, faithful people learn to see that God reigns even now. Nothing that happens can separate us from his love and promises. No illness, no natural disaster, no world war, no financial collapse, no spiritually and morally wayward cultural climate, no family breakdown, no illness or affliction can separate those who persevere in faith from God’s perfect plans for us. Even in human upheaval, God reigns through and for his faithful children. Say it with me: Dynamite!

And since God reigns, death does not have the final word, nor does evil. The power of death and evil was broken when Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the tomb. However history appears, its true meaning since that first Resurrection Sunday, has been the conducting of a mopping up operation. The outcome is already decided. Only the details are still being worked out.

Long after World War 2 was over, an occasional story would appear about a Japanese soldier being found in an island jungle who did not yet know that the war was over. The majority of our world’s population is still in that unenviable position of not knowing that Jesus has already won the war by means of the power of the resurrection. They do not know it because the church has been sleeping on its dynamite, the power of the resurrection. It is high time for us to know the power of the resurrection, to know it in real life experience, and to get it out in the open where it can do some good. Let us study and pray and take actions toward that end. Say it with me: Dynamite!