Saturday, December 6^th

Psalm 1

Happy are those
 who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
 and on his law they meditate day and night.

They are like trees
 planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Reflection…on the topic of church as spiritual community….

Mike Witham, one of our church members, recounts the following story when asked about his connection to our church, “I remember bringing my friend’s daughter to church a few years ago and all of a sudden, the old saying came to mind, ‘Don’t just bring your children to church. Go to church with them.’ I heeded the wisdom of the saying and have been coming to church ever since.

I had been homeless for the last year and a half and when I came into the church, I realized that I had a feeling of being at home. I had not had that feeling of being ‘at home’ for a long time.

I love to come to church and especially appreciate passing the peace. That experience is so powerful for me. We walk around and greet one another and I really experience peace. I am a walker and like to walk around town and ponder. While I walk, my mind often wanders to Psalm 1. That psalm is one that I memorized when I was a young person and I say phrases from it every day of my life.”