|
February 12, 2010 |
PDF |
| Print | |
E-mail |
|
Written by The Rev. Charlie Vensel+
|
Dear All Saints,
Greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are fast approaching Lent; a 40-day time of preparation for Easter that kicks off on Ash Wednesday, 2/17/10.
I thought I would use this blog post to talk a little about this upcoming season and answer some questions, like: What is Ash Wednesday? What is Lent? Why do we follow such a schedule? How do I participate? What should I expect in this season?
Well, let’s start with Ash Wednesday…Ash Wednesday is a day of atonement, fasting, and penitence that marks the beginning of Lent. The name Ash Wednesday derives from the traditional rite in which the celebrant makes the sign of the cross in ashes on the foreheads of worshippers; the practice has its roots in the Old Testament, where sackcloth and ashes are a sign of mourning and repentance.
In the early church, public sinners who had been excommunicated from the church (I’m amazed at how well they practiced church discipline) began a forty-day period of penitential discipline on this day so that they could be readmitted to communion on Easter Day; this custom is at the root of congregational Lenten observance today.
The modern service is a simple one; there is no music, but there is opportunity for Communion. Much of the service has a penitential and reflective tone. While the service was originally for the excommunicated, it has evolved into a time for congregants to prepare for Easter, reflecting on life, repenting, and coming back to the Lord. In other words, it is for all Christians, and we are grateful for the liturgical calendar for calling us into such seasons as a corporate body.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
January 30, 2010 |
PDF |
| Print | |
E-mail |
|
Written by The Rev. Charlie Vensel+
|
Dear All Saints Family,
Greetings in the name of the Lord! Nowell, Laurie, Rusty, and I had a wonderful time at the Winter Conference this week in Greensboro. Thank you so very much for sending us!
In spite of us having to come home a day early because of the weather, all of us come back encouraged by an experience of God, have some fresh ideas, a sense of renewal, and some clarity in direction for the future. I had planned to give you an update in Sunday’s service before we had to cancel it and do hope you will all come to TNT this Thursday (where we will offer the Eucharist), but I wanted to share some of what I came away with before then while it is still fresh in my spirit.
First, many people from around the Mission, and in our local network, came to me to share how excited they were for us, especially how far we’ve come in such a short period of time. I was amazed to learn how many other churches and individuals were praying for us, and further, how they believe their prayers for us are being answered.
I’ve always been a churchman, keenly aware that the Church is much bigger than our local congregation, but was exceedingly humbled to learn how much others care for us. I found myself grateful, in a new way, to be part of something so much bigger. Let us remember we are not alone in our journey.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
January 20, 2010 |
PDF |
| Print | |
E-mail |
|
Written by The Rev. Charlie Vensel+
|
Dear All Saints Family,
Epiphany greetings to you this month! Epiphany is the time we celebrate the revealing of the Christ Child to the magi; it is the beginning of the New Testament witness to the Gentiles or, as the Angel said of Christ's birth, "[it is the time of] good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10 ESV)
It is, of course, no accident we've embarked on a six-week study of evangelism. It is my hope that we are coming to know who Christ is more fully each week, and in so doing, our joyous marveling will begin to spill over into the world around us; provoking questions, creating desire, and in turn, making Christ known more fully.
As I continue to preach through this series, I'd like to make sure we keep a few things ever before us:
First, evangelism is not a task. It is not something we go and do that is a separate enterprise individually or corporately. Yes, we have a name for it so that we can talk about it, but it is meant to be part of everything we do. It is a natural out-flowing of what's happening inside of us. It should come naturally. It should come without us even having to think about it. The Lord spoke the Great Commission, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV) Yes, it is a command, and yes it is a task, but linguistically speaking, we would do better to reflect the original language so that it reads, "As you go…" As you go about living your life; going to work, school, or the grocery story…as you go on doing the routine, even the monotonous, seemingly insignificant stuff we do day in and day out. So, evangelism is not about adding another thing to do in the long list of things that compete for your time and attention. It is, however, coming to see the Lord for who he is and bringing all of our life under his submission. It is reprioritizing Christ in our lives, moment by moment. The peace that comes from that stands in sharp contrast to a chaotic world. It will provoke people!
|
|
Read more...
|
|
December 2, 2009 |
PDF |
| Print | |
E-mail |
|
Written by The Rev. Charlie Vensel+
|
|
Dear All Saints Family,
Advent greetings to you this month! It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Christmas and the New Year are right around the corner. I must say I love this time of year, the Advent Season. There is always an excitement in the air. A festive spirit begins around Thanksgiving and builds week by week until Christmas. The child in me comes alive with anticipation…I love the smell of fresh trees and wreaths, the sound of the familiar music almost everywhere you go, the sight of the lights that dress up the houses and yards, the delicious treats, the busyness on the street and in the stores, and even the Christmas shopping itself. I always take great comfort that family will be together. It is an exciting time, and in my childlike naiveté this time of year, it is a safe time, where all seems well in the world.
While I love the Advent Season, I also find it to be one of the most hectic and stressful times of the year. Today, I am reminded that Advent is not supposed to be a daily pursuit of checking things off of the to-do lists, so that on Christmas Day, at long last, we can put our feet up, relax, and exhale. In my being shamelessly caught up in the very things I love about Advent, it is very easy for me to forget that this holy season is less about holiday cheer and more about the Holy One, who came once, and will come again in great power and glory. Beware the inadvertent tendency to miss the meaning of Christmas in the rush of Advent busyness!
I heard one of my former priests echo a similar sentiment one time, his tendency to be drawn away from the central story behind the Advent Season in all of the busyness and excitement. He offered to us, in the manner of David Letterman, “A Top Ten List of Things Not to Do During Advent this Year.” It is one I have tried to live by since, some years better than others. I thought I would share it with everyone today that we too might not succumb to the same temptation. In descending order:
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|