5/1 Goode Thoughts - Paying Attention to God's Working

Good morning friends! There was so much happening at RJC on Thursday! It was our day hosting the 513 Relief Bus and we had people everywhere in the building. People were sharing, receiving, learning, helping, serving, and so much more. So many different groups and organizations were here to provide resources for people and the energy and spirit was so wonderful. Scout, the church dog, was also here providing some good dog therapy support. So many people were a part of making it happen, but notably I want to thank Doris Haubner for heading it up and making it all come together.

I will share one notable moment for me - There was a woman who, after picking up her resources, asked if someone could pray with her. I met with her for about 30 minutes and talked through some circumstances in her life and then I gave her one of my photo notecards and prayed for her to receive the fullness of Jesus' promised peace in what she is facing in her life. I gave her the card as a way to continue to hold to the prayer that we shared. I am going to continue that prayer for her and I invite you to do the same.

All of this...this is why we do what we do.

This past Sunday, we held a special congregational meeting to elect those who will be serving as Deacons and as Ruling Elders here at RJC! These are who we elected on Sunday (and there's one more person who has reached out asking if she could be a Deacon as well - she's not listed here but we will update once Session calls a special meeting to elect her). Note that the varied terms are because we need to stagger terms as these are our first "official" Deacons and Session.

Deacons
Tena Sparks (1 year term)
Susan Stoepel (2 year term)
Sharon Stratman (2 year term)
Margaret Hillman (2 year term)
Dianne Holtzapple (3 year term)
Sue Judis (3 year term)
Terre Ries (3 year term)

Session
Lee Sanders (1 year term)
Barb Furkin (1 year term)
Doris Nell (1 year term)
Cari Wynne (2 year term)
Donna Hadley (2 year term)
Lynn Bradley (2 year term)
Ryan Hamilton (3 year term)
Kimberly Cornett (3 year term)
Lori McDonough (3 year term)

Thanks to each who said yes to the prayerful call to serve and we invite you to be praying for each of these servant-leaders for how God will be at work in and through them for our common ministry!

The above is not my finest photo but it isn't about the quality of the photo but instead what's in the photo! About a week or so ago, I noticed that this patch near the entrance of RJC was getting rather weedy including one REALLY BIG pokey week right up toward the front. I noted to myself to bring some gloves on a future day and at least yank that one. But before I could do it, I saw that someone(s) had come and done even more than just pulled one big ugly weed but had cleaned the whole thing out and planted these beautiful flowers! I also noticed that similar flowers had been planted around the base of CharaJoy, our church tree! I later learned that it was Barb F and Sue J who did this. So, THANK YOU! Your work is seen and it makes a difference!

Sunday May 24 is going to be quite a Sunday here at RJC! It is not only the end of the Easter season with the celebration of Pentecost but it is also the last Sunday that our friends from Pillar of Truth will be sharing the building with us. To bless them in their next season of ministry, we are going to be sharing a combined worship service and then a shared potluck meal afterward. We'll send details about the potluck as we get a bit closer but please plan to be here for what will be a really beautiful, unique, and Spirit-filled morning!

We are a part of the Presbytery of Cincinnati and are connected in ministry to our fellow PCUSA congregations in the city of Cincinnati but also a bit west into Indiana, south into Northern Kentucky, and a good ways east of Cincinnati as well. Each week, the Presbytery sends out two newsletters - one called Currents that shares about the activities and the goings-on in the Presbytery and the other called Still Waters that is a collection of resources for spiritual growth, discipleship, and reflection. Here are the two most recent issues:

Currents - Monday, April 27 
Still Waters - Thursday, April 30

This Sunday, we will be focusing on the above stained glass for our service and during the service we will have our first baptism at RJC! It is going to be a wonderful morning! I hope to see you there!

By the time you receive this on Friday, the storage POD in the parking lot will be gone (or will be gone later in the day). The POD has been emptied out by the hard work of a BUNCH of people and it is ready to go back to the company. What this will enable us to do is resurface and re-stripe the parking lot, which is so desperately needed. So be sure to notice and celebrate that it is gone!

Scout is a mix of a bluetick hound and a beagle which means that her nose is always on at full-power and when she smells something she moves into her "hunting dog" mode even though she's never been hunting. The above photo is from Glenwood Gardens a few mornings ago. I don't know what she smelled, heard, or simply felt, but she was locked in an paying attention!

So I'll leave y'all with this...how are you paying attention in your life today? To God? To the movement of the Spirit? To those that God has put into your life?

Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed