Feb. 5 Mainstreeter Online

 

February 5, 2018

Words from the Pastor

A Prayer of St. Clare of Assisi

Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!

Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!

Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance!

And transform your whole being into the image of the Godhead

itself through contemplation!

So that you too may feel what His friends feel

as they taste the hidden sweetness

which God Himself reserved from the beginning

for those who love him.

St. Clare was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi and herself founded a Benediction order for women known as the Order of Poor Ladies (now known as the Poor Clares).  Although St. Clare may not have had the events of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in mind when she wrote this prayer, it nevertheless expresses well the meaning behind this powerful and light-filled story. Just as Jesus' inner circle of disciples experienced the glory of God in the face of Jesus, so too we can be transformed through our contemplation of the "divine substance.

I invite you to experience the "brilliance of God's glory" as we reflect together in worship next Sunday on this very meaningful story of light, presence, and divine fellowship. We too can "taste the hidden sweetness" that God offers to all who dare to go up the mountain with Jesus. Perhaps we too will never be the same!

Worship Ahead in February

2/11  The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Scripture: Second Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9

Theme:  Encircled in the Light of the Glory of God

When the disciples joined Jesus on the mountain, they experienced the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Such experiences are not just a thing of the past but a present reality when we live our lives attentively to God's presence in the here and now.

Announcements  

Calendar  for the Week of February 4

Ash Wednesday Service at Arlington Street UMC

This year we will join our sister church, the Arlington Street UMC for our Ash Wednesday Service, which they will host. The service will be held on Wednesday, February 14th at 7:00pm and will include music by a joint choir and preaching by Pastor Rich. The disposition of ashes will be available for all who would like to receive them.

Building Update

Well folks, the connector is in the final phase of construction. The interior of the connector has been painted, which means all electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling work is complete. In addition, all cut-throughs between the church and the Wesley building are complete, making access between the two buildings seamless. Work in the sanctuary is well underway. The sprinkler system is complete and will be pressure tested by January 26 and may be loaded with water next week!

Painting in the sanctuary will also be completed within the next week. After the new A/V and sound system are installed, the sanctuary can have its final cleaning and make things ready for the staging to be removed, which will allow work on the A/C installation to begin. While the staging is available, there will be some maintenance work completed on the organ as well as cleaning the lights and replacing bulbs which no longer work.

This week the Building Committee reviewed all entry doors and is working on a keying strategy to enable NorthpointCM to order and install locks with new keys for the entire complex. NorthpointCM and Stanley continue to work out details on elevator installation issues, and although we are a week behind schedule on this one item, overall the project is on schedule as presented back in September. We are looking forward to reopening the sanctuary for use in just a few short weeks!

-submitted by Ted Luszey and Dave Svenson

Printed February Mainstreeter Available

Available at both entrances to the church. Be sure to pick one up!