Andy's Blog: A Personal Word

March 2009 Archive

March 31, 2009

Mar. 31, 2009

It all comes to this – a cross. Jesus lived among us, taught us, healed us, ate with us, blessed us. He reached out to children, women, outcasts and untouchables. He inspired us with simple, yet profound parables. He invited the uninvited and welcomed the left outs, but none of this was enough.

Surely we are teachable, we can learn. Give us a book or instruction manual and we will master the task. Education means progress, and yet the nation that gave us Beethoven and the great philosophers also gave us Hitler.  If we are sick, just give us a pill and all will be well. But there is no pill for the sin sick soul.

In his life among us, Jesus offered us wisdom, healing and comfort. But it was not enough. Somehow in those years he lived among us, it was not enough.
“I must go to Jerusalem, where I will be rejected, suffer and die,” he told his disciples.

We have no problem with Jesus as a teacher. We love to sing “what a friend we have in Jesus.” But this is not enough. What Jesus knew, and what we have a hard time accepting, is that we need a Savior.

There is in us a sickness unto death which good education cannot erase and a pill cannot cure. The wholeness that God wants for us will not be achieved by us. Something else had to be done, and Jesus did it for us. The cross. It all comes down to this.

Beginning this Palm Sunday, Bishop Will Willimon will be with us sharing the theme “Cross Talk.” He will preach each day at noon (lunch following) Monday through Wednesday, and will lead in our Maundy Thursday service. This is a unique opportunity to hear one of best preachers/thinkers of our time address this central event of our faith. 

I encourage you to make a special effort to join in the journey of Holy Week. 

March 17, 2009

Mar. 17, 2009

One of the customs of Lent is to “give up” something of importance and value as a way of calling to mind the giving to us. This giving up doesn’t buy us anything, grace is already ours, freely given. But the giving up is a way of building up our own spiritual lives, opening ourselves to that grace. Remembering through our small sacrifice the full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice of Christ. I gave up sweets for Lent – which is also a healthy thing to do!

Equally important as “giving up” is “taking on” something in this season. Our faith is not about what we don’t do, but it is about what we do. That is why we stress the disciplines of worship, prayer and holy communion in this season. If these are not already a regular part of your practice, then it is a good time to take them on.

In addition, we are stressing taking on an act of service. This can be an individual act on your part – doing something for an elderly neighbor or tutoring a child. Or there are several opportunities through the church, like participating in the Habitat House build in the Rosedale community. Our Lenten offering is a major source of our funding for ministries beyond our own walls. Through it, we help to house the homeless, feed the poor, reach out to children and students, and serve the elderly. In addition, this year, there will be a GREAT DAY OF SERVICE on Saturday, April 4. We will gather at the church for breakfast together and then scatter to numerous locations throughout the Birmingham area for the morning. Please see the information on page 3 which lists all the projects and contact persons. You and your Sunday School Class, you and a group of friends, or just you as an individual, are invited to join in one of these projects. For families of young children, there are things to do right here. We will be making and delivering Easter baskets to shut-ins and making care packages. 

Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him. This is one small way we can all put those words into action.

March 10, 2009

Mar. 10, 2009

It was one of those weekends when the reach of Trinity’s ministry was so apparent. A couple of years ago, Trinity built the first Habitat house in Homewood. This year, we have partnered with other congregations as part of a Faith Build in the same Rosedale community. On Saturday morning, a group of 20 Trinity volunteers did framing and put up the roof trusses for this house. It is our 5th or 6th Habitat House.

Saturday evening, I was a part of the prayer service for our middle high students on their Discovery Weekend. This was our largest group of students to participate ever, some 80 mid highs, another 30 senior highs who led, and dozens of adult volunteers.  Many of these students are from the community. Our student ministry is reaching far beyond our own membership and impacting the lives of youth for Christ. 

On Sunday morning, we held what we call Membership 101. This class is designed to help persons understand the meaning of being a part of this community of faith – the covenant we make to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service, and our witness. These meetings have become larger and larger in recent months.

On Sunday evening, I attended the M-Power concert in which our Sanctuary Choir participated. This ministry provides a free medical clinic, literacy training and an after school program in our inner city. Many Trinity members, from doctors to teachers to retired persons, volunteer in this ministry. Our choir was the largest one there, and they did great!

Just a snapshot of a weekend that tells so much about who we are as a church. It’s an active, happy picture! 

As we move through Lent, may we be faithful in our prayers, worship, and service.

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