16 February 2008

The Vine

 I am the vine, you are the branches.

Those who abide in me and I in them

bear much fruit,

because apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

 

In the Gospel of John (15:1-10), Jesus is spoken of as the “true vine,” the Father as the vine grower and we as branches of the vine.  Jesus does not say that he is part—perhaps the most important part—of the plant but that he is the vine as a whole, the vine of which we too are part.  It is obvious that the same sap, the same life force, runs in every branch of the same plant.  In Jesus and in us, then, there is the same life, which is the life of God given to us as a gift, which we call “grace.”  Its presence in us is essential in order to be alive in communion with God; it is just as necessary as sap is for the life of plants and blood is for bodily life.

 

The necessity for the Christian to remain united with Christ is stressed by the frequent repetition of the word “remain” or “abide” (Greek: meno), which occurs ten times in ten verses.  For the best understanding of the vocabulary, see John 6:56, where the one who “remains” or “abides” in Jesus is the one who eats his flesh and drinks his blood.  “Remaining” in Jesus leads, therefore, to a communion of life…

 

The life that the Christian receives by remaining united to Jesus is manifested in “fruit,” that is, in the actions being done for the glory of the Father, the vine grower, who does all the caring for the vine.  It is impossible for the branch to bear fruit if it is cut off from the Plant: “without me you can do nothing.”  This doctrine is found already in 1 Corinthians 12:1ff.  Paul speaks of the different tasks each one of us has in the church, although the animating source is the same God who works in all.  Each of us, as a member of the church, has his or her own particular function, as in the human body, one organism endowed with one life, each part has its own task.  This establishes a solidarity among the members through which the action of one has repercussions on the others (v. 26)…

 

We do not save ourselves.  There is no salvation without God or without our brothers and sisters, because more than saving individuals, God wants to establish a kingdom, that is, a community, in which the good of one is the good of all and the evil of one is the evil of all.  As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to the salvation of others (as we eagerly wait for) the moment of parousia, (the end of time) when “God will be all in all.”

 

from Sofia Cavalletti’s Living Liturgy

 

Around Beloved…Our Lenten study begins this week!  This year Pastor Sally Brower will be sharing the book Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer.  Three options are available:  Mondays from 7-8:30pm @ Beloved Garden on February 18, 25 & March 3 (click here to register) or Sundays from 11:30am-1pm @ Community House Middle School on February 17, March 2 & 16 (click here to register).  There is also an online Blog that will enable you to participate in continuing discussions even if you can’t participate in person (join here).  The Easter life is based on finding our true identity in God and in responding to the call God has given to each of us.  Call engages us in such questions as “Who am I?”  “What does God want me to do with my life?” “How can I make a difference in the world?”

 

 

Sunday Christian Formation is on break this week for the Presidents’ Day weekend.  It will resume next Sunday, including a new Sunday formation beehive begins this week for teens 15-18 years of age, led by Dan Hood and assisted by Robb Burgie.

 

 

FaithQuest, the midweek Christian Formation experience for those who are 3 (potty trained) to 14 years of age, offered at Beloved Garden, has a rolling admission for the Spring Term, which began this week.  There is desire for an offering on Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 6pm for those ages 3-9; five children are needed to offer FaithQuest on this day.  For more specific information, go here.  Registration forms will be mailed to your home, if you click here.

 

 

Lent is an appropriate time in the cycle of the Church to participate in the sacrament now known as the Reconciliation of the Penitent (and in older days, Confession).  This day, or any day following during the 40-day season of Lent—up to and including Good Friday, is an appropriate time for those who desire it to review the choices and decisions made (or “left undone”), acknowledge their consequences (even if unintended), ask forgiveness of God and be absolved by the priest.  To make an appointment with Fr. Derek, click here.  To make an appointment with Pastor Sally, click here.

 

 

I publish the Banns of Marriage between Brian Capers McCarthy of Charlotte and Steffanie Augustine Widener of Charlotte.  If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it.  This is the first time of asking.  Derek Harbin+

 

 

Thanks to Shari Wynn, Martha Stone, Lauren Heckmann (with Owen and Ben), Jennifer Sanders and Janie Wooten for volunteering to prepare the pretzels for Sunday Hospitality time during Lent, when as a community we give up the doughnut holes.

 

 

Beloved eNews normally publishes each Thursday.  News and calendar information should be submitted via email by Monday.

 

February 3…Attendance: 122; Worship Offering: $1,950.  Income needed for ministry each week: $5,500 (fully funded) à $4,400 (requiring other funding sources i.e. fundraising events).  The financial goal of Church of the Beloved is to reach self-sufficiency (i.e. pay all expenses without income from outside sources) by 12/31/2008.

 

 

Scripture Readings for February 17…Genesis 12:1-4a & John 3:1-17

 

Serving at God’s Altar on February 17…Complete setup/complete teardown: Angel Army Team #3; Acolytes: Jackson Widener, Lauren Widener; Offering Basket Passers: Joseph Duty, Gabi Leinenkugel, Jack Sanniota, Katie Sanniota; Offering Tellers: Liz Wilson & Bud Moore; Presenters: Lucy Bockweg & Roey Southard; Altar Bread Baker: Kris Leinenkugel; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Brian McCarthy & Penny Crawford; PowerPoint: Elizabeth Nichols; Reader: Cecilia Atwood.

 

 

In our Prayers…click here

 

Upcoming Calendar…click here