On Sunday March 28 at 6:30pm we will be showing the award winning documentary Food, Inc as a part of our Last Sundays Film and Discussion Series. Following the film there will be a time of discussion and response. We will have directly traded coffee from Green Plow Coffee Roasters in Bend, OR (another Friends Church ministry). And as always there will be tasty movie treats available. This event is open to the public so invite anyone you think might be interested in the film. Wess has reviewed the movie on his blog, here.

The event is free but donations are welcome to help cover the licensing fee.

Here’s the trailer:

Psalms 126:0–6
“A Song of Ascents.
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.”

John 12:1–8
“Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

Queries:

• Do you see any connections between these two passages?
• Have you experienced a time when God turned tears of sorrow into shouts of joy? How did you respond to this experience? How did others respond?
• What do you think is significant about Mary’s act?
• Have you ever felt (or responded) like Judas does in this passage? Why do you think he was so upset? What do you think the significance is of the way Jesus responds to Judas about Mary?

last-sunda.pdf

Here’s a couple announcements for this week:

• Tomorrow is our Voluntary Simplicity class, which is still open for new people to join. We also have childcare available. If the price of the book ($20) is a deterrent come anyways, we’ll work something out.
• This Sunday is our business meeting at 6pm. Committees are meeting at 4pm.

The Tale of the Two Sons

“Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”” (Luke 15:11–32)

Queries:

• What are the similarities and differences between these two brothers?
• What can this text teach us about being awake?
• Have you ever had an experience that was similar to one of the three characters in this story?

I am reminded again this week of the fragility of life and that, as we said on Ash Wednesday, we are dust and to dust we shall return. May we be awake to see and hear the light of Christ in both the high times as well as those times when we are in the darkness of the desert.

Isaiah 55:1–9
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 63:1-8

“O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Queries:

• What is one way you have been sustained during the dark times of your life?
• When was a time when you felt least connected to God? What was that experience like? If you were able to, how did you come out of it? If you weren’t, what do you think holds you back?
• What is one thing in your life that really gives you energy and sustains your well being?

Activity:

Blessings,
Wess

“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”” (Luke 13:31–35)

And:

“Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.” (Philippians 3:17–4:1)

Queries:
1. When have you experienced someone around you imitating Christ?
2. When you think of alternative ways of living as the body of Christ (in Paul’s words our “citizenship is in heaven”), what makes you most excited?

Announcements:

For those of you looking for some guidance in reading during Lent I handed out a Lenten Reader put together by the Evergreen Community in Portland. You can download it here or pick up a copy that we’ve printed out for you on Sunday.

This sunday we will be doing our Last Sunday Discussion Series with Minda Coombs and Meredith Distante who will be talking with us about Eating Well and Being Well.

Finally, don’t forget that our Voluntary Simplicity class begins next Thursday March 4th. Please let the office know if you’re planning to come so we can have enough copies of the book for everyone. The books at $20 and the course is free. We have some books available for loan as well.

Here’s the link to download the .pdf http://www.box.net/shared/ecrs5736lx

• Learn how our bodies react and adapt to stress, hormones and inflammation.
• Understand how consuming the correct ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fats effect our health.
• Find out how balanced eating nourishes and protects our health.

The discussion starts at 6:30pm, the event is free and there will be coffee, tea and snacks provided.

For more information visit our Last Sunday’s page:

Minda Coombs can be found at Eat Well Be Well and blogs at http://armindacoombs.blogspot.com/

We are just about to enter Lent, next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which begins the season leading up to Easter. During Lent we will be following along with the liturgical calendar, focusing on being prepared, being fully awake, to not miss what happens on Resurrection Sunday. We will start things off this Sunday with the transfiguration.

The Transfiguration / Luke 9:28-36

28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

Supplemental reading:

The Shining Face of Moses / Exodus 34:29-35

29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant* in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. 32 Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; 34 but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Queries:

1. What do you notice about the similarities and differences in these two passages?
2. What significance do you think the transfiguration had for Christ’s disciples?
3. When was a time when you felt most awake? Most fully at peace? Most connected to God?

Activity:

• Consider one practice you can participate in during the Lenten season to help grow in the discipline of being fully awake, being prepared for Christ?

Here is information on the course we’ll be doing from the Northwest Earth Institute site:

Voluntary Simplicity is a five-session course for the workplace, community or faith center, or home.  This course addresses the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and our environment.

Discussion Course Goals:

• To understand the meaning of voluntary simplicity.
• To explore the material and psychological distractions that prevent us from caring for the earth.
• To acknowledge the connection between our lifestyle choices and the condition of the earth.

Topics Covered:

1. The Meaning of Simplicity: The concept of simplicity, as a religious practice or philosophy of life, has a long history. Both inner simplicity and outer simplicity are involved. What are some common misconceptions about a simple life?
2. Living More with Less: Accumulating material possessions is part of the American Dream. For some, the dream has become a nightmare. When do material possessions add meaning to our lives and when do they detract?
3. Making a Living: A growing number of people wish to resolve the conflict between the desire to make and spend money and the desire for a simple life. Why is that so difficult in our culture?
4. Do You Have the Time?: In modern society, our minds are focused on the “busyness” of the day, our current problems, and our future challenges. Are there alternatives to the fast pace of our mainstream culture?
5. Living Simply and Sustainably: There are countless practical benefits in moving toward simplicity and sustainability. What steps can be taken to move toward a life simple in means, rich in ends?
6. *This course contains an optional sixth Celebration session where participants can explore follow up actions.
   

Download the flyer here.

Resource Video: The Story of Stuff.

Visit the Northwest Earth Institute’s Website.