INTRODUCTION

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dear family,

Thank you for your attention on Sunday as we began a new series “Here’s Hoping!” It would seem that “hope” is a relevant subject in the times in which we live. Woody Allen commented: “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to utter despair and hopelessness. The other to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly!” Hopelessness is the order of the day for so many. O wonder Paul said that hope is something we “should teach” (Tit.2:13-15). By definition, teaching on this subject is pastoral with huge implications for daily life, for personal, familial and generational life, but it is also relevantly prophetic as it addresses the needs that are national and global. Matthew (12:21) quotes Isaiah 42:4 to make the point: “In his name the nations will put their hope.” Remember the words of Haggai: “I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come.” (Hag.2:7) Now is the time to know the reasons for our hope and to proclaim the hope of the gospel and to believe what we have in fact been born into – a living hope. This hope is the very key to our needed boldness to witness. “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Cor.3:12)

Hope is a synonym for Christian belief. It captures in a nutshell the summary of what we believe and who we are. Hope is not a subject for an elective study; it is not merely an interesting aid to discipleship; it is not one of many helpful topics. It is at the heart and core of what everything we believe in is about. The NT talks of “Hope in the gospel…hope of salvation…the hope that we have…the hope of eternal life…the confession of our hope…the one hope to which we were called…” (Cols.1:23; 1 Thess.5:8; 1 Pet.3:15; Tit.1:2; Hebr.10:23; Eph.4:4) Peter describes our conversion thus: “He has given us new birth into a living hope” (1 Pet.1:3). An early euphemism for being a Christian was simply “to hope in Christ” (Eph.1:12)

Over the course of this series I’m going to further develop some of the points that I alluded to in the introduction but I’m also going to look specifically at some of the following:

• Ps.147:11 says “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” This is the perfect place to start our study. The particular characteristic of God that is highlighted here is his unfailing love, and I will make some comments about that, but of course, there are other consequent manifestations of God’s love and character that are vital to our experience and expectations of hope, particularly his grace and his mercy. The basic point is that the grounds of our hope, the goals of our hope are utterly founded on and in the God of our hope. The nature of our hope is totally determined by the nature of God. All theology begins with who God is by his nature, not in who we are by our nature, or we are in our need. Our theology of hope begins with the God of our hope. Your hope is only as good as what you put it in. Hope can only be confident if the grounds of that hope are assured. Though this verse highlights the love of God, I want to begin by using it as an illustration of the foundational truth for our study and focus on the God in whom we hope (“God of hope”); the Christ in whom we hope (“Christ in you the hope of glory.”); the Holy Spirit of hope (“overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”)

• I will do a session on the relationship between hope and the Word of God. Ps. 119:74 “I have put my hope in your word” In the NT we read in Roms. 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through the endurance and the encourage-ment of the scriptures we might have hope.”

• We will look at key passages like Hebrews 6 that talks of hope as “an anchor of the soul.” This is a seminal text in understanding hope, and if its truths can be implanted in your heart it will totally re-order your life and your prospects.

• When we study about hope, we don’t only have to look at the goals of our hope, or the grounds of our hope. We have to consider the realities of the context in which this hoping takes place. Not surprisingly, words used for hope carry the idea of waiting, which is hardly good news at first for all of us. Isaiah 40 is one of the chapters we will study together on this subject, the process of hope and hoping. In that chapter, verse 31 can be translated equally as either: “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” or “those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” The idea is both waiting hopefully and hopeful waiting. Scripture is utterly realistic about this process and actually relates it to “the pangs of childbirth.” (Roms. 8:18-23) In other words, there is sometimes pain in the process. Paul seems less than pastorally sensitive when he tells us to rejoice in such sufferings, but interestingly enough, he immediately goes on to tell us why: “because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces…. hope”! (Roms. 5:3-4) Most likely we will spend a whole message just in those first few verses of Romans 5. What emerges is the fact that it is not just about waiting for what we hope for, but about the hopes that God has for us that he wants to work into us during the waiting. Someone has put it like this: “Waiting is not just the thing we have to do until we get what we hope for. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what we hope for.” But why wait unless there is something worth waiting for? Ah! Precisely and therein lies another story. So what are we waiting for according to scripture?

• We’re already developing quite a curriculum.
  • So many questions: How can we be sure of what we hope for and certain about what we do not see? How can hope survive the hurt? Is there hope after what I’ve done? How can I stand on the promises for then, when I’ve fallen in my faith now?
  • So many aspects of the subject: hope and the persons of the Trinity, the grounds of hope, the goals of hope, the defining characteristics of biblical hope, what the Bible says about false hopes, hope and healing, hope and suffering, hope and warfare, hope and scripture, hope and remembrance, hope and holiness, hope and salvation, hope’s outcomes and fruit, hope’s rewards, hope’s enemies, hope and waiting. And talking of waiting Paul writes to Titus about waiting “for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...these are the things you should teach.” (Tit.2:13 -15) So simply because the majority of references to hope in the New Testament relate to this “blessed hope” I will do a message that deals with “hope for my going” (my death) and “hope for his coming” (the parousia).

• As I’ve prepared for this series it has struck me how pertinent it is that it should follow my last series on asking. Hope and asking are very closely related. Any subversion of hope will by definition collapse your praying. Hopeless people do not generally engage intercession. The frightening thing about hopelessness is that it tends to silence us. It is hope that fuels our pleading and our interceding – our asking. So let’s ask for a strengthening of our hope in the hope that it will in turn strengthen our asking!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Roms.15:13)

Here’s hoping,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

MEN’S BREAKFAST: Men, please join us for our monthly breakfast, a time of fellowship and encouragement. This month’s breakfast is on Oct. 30, 9-10:30am. Jessie Webb will be leading our discussion and childcare will be provided.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY: If you are not on the coscwomen's yahoo group, email coscwomen-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe. The yahoo group is our general way of sending out announcements on women's ministry events to the women in our church, or to share other interesting ideas with each other.

SAMSON MEN’S MEETING: Men, you are invited to join other men for a weekly Tuesday evening gathering from 7:30 -8:30 at COSC. E-mail matthew.tropiano@navy.mil for more information.

C.S. LEWIS INSTITUTE: hosting two seminars in November with Michael Ramsden:

• Nov. 12—“Apologetic Evangelism Program: Faith, Fact or Fantasy?”

• Nov. 13—“Affluenza: The Effects of Affluence”

For more details, visit www.cslewisinstitute.org.

STOP MODERN SLAVERY WALK: On Sat. Oct. 23, there will be a walk to raise money and awareness for the issue of modern day slavery, especially regarding sex-trafficking. To participate and support organizations like International Justice Mission and Restoration Ministries, visit http://sms.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp? ievent=425974

LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Jacqui Veloz and Andy Newens will be leading a group lunch after Church this Sunday at La Plaza, 629 Penn Ave SE. Look for Chris and Emily outside in front of the church or meet them at the restaurant.

For general questions or building use inquiries,
send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.
To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/ or the church bulletin,
send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org.
The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Mid-Jan 2011, 1 BR in 4 BR apt. with 2 shared baths in Arlington, 2 blocks from Rosslyn Metro. We are 3 youngh professional women/grad students (& 2 cats) looking for a 4th female roommate. Easy access to I-395 and I-66. Garage parking available (for a fee). $960/mo. + cable. Contact Jamira, jhamira@gmail.com.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: 4 fun, friendly people in their early 30s, looking for CF for a room on Capitol Hill, near 7th and MD, NE. One block from Stanton Park, 10 min walk to Union Station or Eastern Market. $650/mo + util. Looking to fill room by Nov. 1. Contact Molly, mollyjmalone@yahoo.com.

CAMPING ITEMS AVAILABLE: The Colvins have cleaned out their basement and have some camping stuff to give away: dining Canopy, collapsible fire grate, 6x8 heavy duty utility tarp, single mantle propane trail lantern. We will deliver to church for pickup. If interested, call 202-966-7562.

VOLUNTEER: FOCUS (www.infocus.org), an evangelical ministry dedicated to presenting the Gospel and mentoring students in private schools, in in particular need for male volunteers. If interested, contact Area Director Allison clause, aclausen@infocus.org, or Jane Heath, jheath123@verizon.net.

VOLUNTEER: After school Boys house, called the 859 House, has (4) four computers that need updating and checking for virus. The house is located at 19th and I Street NE. If interested, please contact Dorothy Logans, 206 683 3326 or dorothy.logans@gmail.com.

TOLERANCE

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dearest family,

As we come to the end of our Summer series dealing with issues important to understanding the interface between faith and culture, I want to thank all those who taught from Sunday to Sunday, for the time and hard work (and teaching is hard work!) that were expended on your behalf. I believe it was a worthwhile investment in our Christian learning. I also want to thank you, the church community, for your encouragements and responses and your amazing attentiveness. On Sunday, I dealt with the last of our topics, but Bo is going to present a final session of “wrap-up” next week, before we set our sights on the teaching content of the new church year. I am very excited about the new series that will be taught.

No doubt, every speaker has struggled to come up with a satisfactory summary of their material for the pastoral letter. As always, the best thing to do is get the CD. My main point was to emphasize how important it is for Christians to understand the meaning of tolerance, to have intellectual clarity about it in a way that promotes their personal and spiritual confidence in the public square. However, it is a subject, that has been aggressively co-opted by the prevailing ideology of our nation, secular liberalism, with its philosophical foundation of relativism, the belief system of many of our elected leaders, whose adherents have redefined the meaning of “tolerance” and refashioned it to become their weapon for the trumping and trouncing, for the subjugating and subverting of any point of view, any matter of belief, that conflicts with their secular liberal dogma – and I deliberately use the word dogma, because by and large, its premises and religiously adhered to tenets are no longer open to question or scrutiny, without running the risk of being branded an enemy of the state. If this sounds like we are closer, at least philosophically, to a disguised totalitarianism, then feel free to at least look into that possibility. (Though even in the editorials of the Washington Post this morning, the notion that the USA is in any kind of serious “values” trouble was being ridiculed.) I could argue the case that one reason clearthinking Christians in particular are such threats to monolithic secular liberalism, is precisely our commitment to argue for the preservation and maintenance of an open public square that allows the continuance of disagreement and dissent, of rational argument, of reasonable persuasion, and that, with a commitment to the practice of dialogue and debate, will dare to challenge the presuppositions of those who are so contemptuous and scurrilous in their attacks on the presuppositions of faith, and are fiercely closed to intellectual inspection and argumentation. We have to make some urgent and serious choices about how we are going to live with our differences, about what it will take for the motto “E Pluribus Unum” to still retain any meaning in our republic. As Christian-Americans, we have a vested interest, by virtue of our gospel convictions, to defend, preserve and help to strengthen the public square of our nation, which makes for our continuing expression and experience of our legitimate freedoms of conscience and conviction and speech, our rightful presence and place in the due processes of community and national life. Please read his book, “The Case for Civility” in which Os argues for a cosmopolitan and civil public square.

I am not an original thinker! I am indebted to the work and argumentation of others over centuries. I think our range of recognition on Sunday went from God (really early contributor!) through Moses to Jesus, to Socrates and Aristotle, through George Washington, to more recent moral philosophers and Christian commentators, all the way to last week’s Washington Post. (From God to the Washington Post! I don’t know if that’s a good connection!) I am particularly grateful for the gift of wisdom and tuition that comes to the Christian community through the “prophetic” ministry of Christian theologians, historians, philosophers, sociologists, who have alerted us and equipped us to discern the times. We are also beholden to a host of contributors who, though not necessarily evangelical Christians, have taught us to think about and evaluate our culture with penetrating intellectual analysis, combined with genuine personal emotional concern for our people and their future. (Bloom and D’Souza really provoked the discussion about the aftereffects of what the latter called an “illiberal education”.) Two people I quoted significantly, who helped put shape to some of my own convictions and communications were Os Guinness, Brad Stetson and Joseph Conti. I am indebted to their contribution to my understanding and to the current discussion about faith and culture.

Below is an outline of what I covered, so although I do not have the space to rehash the details, you can at least use it as a construct to arrange your own thoughts on the matter, and hopefully be reminded about some of the things shared.

THEN and NOW: We sought to establish what the terminology “tolerance” actually means. What did it mean, might be one way to look at it, and then what does it seem to mean now?

HOW and WHY: Why has the meaning changed and why do we need to be aware of how and why it is being used? It is important that we are neither duped nor intimidated by the way that appeals for tolerance or charges of intolerance are currently made by secular liberal media and political elites.

WHERE from HERE: What should we as Christians understand tolerance is, as a specifically Christian virtue, and how should we practice it? What does it require of us, but equally, what does it not require of us? I had to rush this a bit but you do your own Bible Study on this and revisit the relevant scriptures that help us determine our Christian posture (humility, grace, patience, courage, compassion) in the face of charges of intolerance, our understanding of the principles of tolerance, our practice in the face of intellectual persecution, and the needs for characteristics like perseverance and endurance.

We noted that a sad manifestation of our humanity is our capacity for inhumanity, much of which is directly attributable to the inabilities, incapacities, unwillingness to settle differences or heal divisions, or live with dissent. However, we observed that the long history of such inhumanity has been matched by a history of the concept and virtue of tolerance, founded and fed in the West by both religious faith as well as secular moral philosophy. I stressed the nonnegotiable significance and contribution of the Judeo-Christian tradition, because Christians need to be emboldened by this, and not shouted down by those secularists who think that tolerance is a recent discovery by those who have at last broken the chains of Christian bigotry. We looked at what tolerance means, what it has always meant. The English word “tolerance” comes from the Latin “tolerare” which means to “bear”. Basic to the idea is the notion of putting up with, of forbearance. Why is this important? Because basic to the meaning is the idea that the reason for such forbearance, why such bearing something is needed, is because something is being presented or faced that in itself is actually unbearable, possibly to conscience or to preference. This means that the reality of something that is disagreeable, the fact of a disagreement, is built into the notion of tolerance and its function. If you agree with something then obviously there is no need for tolerance. It is only needed where there is disagreement, where there is divergence of opinion, where there is a division in belief. What follows from this? Intolerance cannot be the same as disagreement. To express disagreement or dissent in itself cannot be immoral or anti-civic or anti-religious or anti-person or antiauthority. None of those parties may like it, or want to hear it, or want others to be influenced by it, but it is not a violation by virtue of simply saying it. It can only be so if it is enacted or expressed in an immoral way. It is not the act of dissent itself that is immoral. Moral quality of dissent and opposition is determined by the manner of its expression but also possibly by the content of the expression, if for example it relies on misleading, wrong or fraudulent claims and information. This is crucial. To quote one modern moral philosopher: “Tolerating a religious belief…does not involve a half-hearted acceptance or endurance of the belief in itself but rather it involves acceptance or endurance of someone’s holding that belief…” We next looked at how the meaning of tolerance has been changed from the old version to a new perversion, and I illustrated that by deconstructing a definition of tolerance off a random “tolerance” site on the internet. True tolerance that recognizes the other’s right to have their viewpoint is now perverted into the demand and expectation to respect the viewpoint itself. What began as a position of abiding but not accepting something that was objectionable or disagreeable, has morphed into the requirement to appreciate, accept, and affirm, but not satisfied with that, we are now required to approve and even applaud. And of course, if we don’t, we are by definition intolerant and have hurt or victimized the other party and maybe in for a lawsuit if we’re not careful. To disagree is to mistreat someone.

I have no more space but let me close with a conversation between Calvin and Hobbes. (Thank you Bill Watterson!)

Hobbes: How are you doing on your new year’s resolutions?
Calvin: I didn’t make any. See, in order to improve oneself, one must have some idea of what’s ‘good’. That implies certain values. But as we all know, values are relative. Every system of belief is equally valid and we need to tolerate diversity. Virtue isn’t ‘better’ than vice. It’s just ‘different’.
Hobbes: I don’t know if I can tolerate that much tolerance.
Calvin: I refuse to be victimized by notions of virtuous behavior.

Pastorally yours,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

FAMILY RETREAT: Mark your calendars for our annual family retreat, October 2-3! This is always a special time of fellowship and encouragement for those who are able to attend. Registration will begin in September.

SAMSON MEN’S MEETING: Men, you are invited to join other men for a weekly Tuesday evening gathering from 7:30 -8:30 at COSC. E-mail Matthew.tropiano@navy.mil for more information.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY: Ladies, you are invited to join us for our kick-off Saturday Supper of the year! We'll be gathering on Saturday, September 18th at Kim Patierno's house from 6-8 pm. Saturday Suppers are the women's monthly gathering for food and fellowship and in this first one of the year we will share about the women's ministry vision for the year. Plan to bring an Asian take out dish to share.

GENERATION TO GENERATION WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Weekly, beginning on Thursday, Sep. 9, at COSC at 10am. This fall we will be studying "Cultivating Contentment". Childcare available. Call Elizabeth McBurney for more information, 703-518-5066.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB: Women, join us for our first Book Club meeting of the year, Monday, Sep. 13, 7pm. We will choose the 8 books that we will be reading and discussing and we want your input! RSVP to melsunuk@gmail.com and plan to bring and appetizer/dessert/drink.

CAPITOL HILL PREGNANCY CENTER WALKATHON: On September 25th at 10:00am, CHPC is having a walkathon furdraiser at the National Arboretum. For more details and to download a registration form, go to: www.capitolhillpregnancycenter.org/events.htm

NO NIGHT OF PRAYER IN SEPTEMBER: Thank you to those of you who have attended our nights of prayer in the past, but we will not be meeting this next month

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Nice, spacious, quiet room available in Dupont Circle townhome for $1350/mo + util. House is located less than 5 min from Dupont Cir metro and 8-10 min from Foggy Bottom. No pets, guys only. Contact kwdoley@gmail.com.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Oct. 1st. 1 BR English Basement Apt. in SE Cap Hill near Potomac Ave. Metro (blue and orange lines), Harris Teeter, Highways 295 and 395 . Christian homeowner looking for a single or couple with a desire to build Christian community. Large BR with double closets, dining space, LR, and 1 BATH. New appliances including stove, fridge, W/D. $1300/mo + util. 1 offstreet parking space available. If interested, Contact emiliekao@yahoo.com.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: I recently renovated the basement of my home in SE DC. My house in located on a quiet street, less than 15 minutes from Capital Hill. It’s a great renovation with a full bath and complete kitchen. Over 600 sq. ft. with a private entrance, shared laundrey room, street parking. $750 + split utilities. Contact me, Cynthia at cryabbafather@yahoo.com or 703-371-3392.

DESK AVAILABLE: If you are interested in a free tall desk (with shelves above) and an accompanying tall bookshelf, contact Bill Shobe at 202-492-4204.

FREE FUTON: Ffull size with adjustable frame in great condition. Contact awnewens@gmail.com.

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/ or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

INTRODUCTION

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dear family,

I guess that our church summer began this past Sunday with the introduction to our new summer teaching series. At 9:50a.m. I was beginning to wonder if anyone was in town, and why I hadn’t gone to the beach too, but in the end it was great to have so many in the service. Thank you for your faithfulness to come, even if it is not before 10:00a.m.! You defy all the prognostications that determine whether people will go to church or not, parking availability being one of them in this culture. From the time that one wife sat in front of me this Sunday to the arrival of her husband who had to park, nearly ten minutes had elapsed! Thank you for coming to a church with no parking! Of course, if you left home a little earlier parking might be a bit easier! Just a thought!

I quoted from Richard Lovelace’s book, “The Dynamics of Spiritual Renewal” in which the author, then a professor of church history at Gordon-Conwell seminary, focuses mainly on the necessary constituent elements of renewal and reformation in the church, in order for her to be an effective transformational agent in society, to engage what he describes as the “satanic power structures in American culture.” “The mind’s natural darkness concerning itself, the world and God is so extensive that it cannot be remedied by a short summary of essential truth. It demands ‘the whole counsel of God’ (Acts 20:27); the whole of God’s written revelation constantly searched out for its current implications concerning the church and the world in order that ‘the man and woman of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.’ ”

As a church, we are committed, as best as we are able, to the pursuit and the proclamation of the whole counsel of God and to the non-negotiable necessities of biblical study with the consequent application of its implications, in corporate settings of public services, in our home-groups in the neighborhoods, as well as in the private place of devotional study and meditation and prayer. We are committed to both personal and corporate biblical problem-solving, recognizing that a spiritual comprehension and apprehension of holy doctrine is foundational to the fulfillment of holy duty; that the personal and practical out-workings of faith in our discipleship are rooted in the propositional articulations of faith – in the truth of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that we need to continuously expound and experience, whether from Old or New Testament text. We want to mature in the example of Jesus who opened the scriptures to reveal things supremely about himself. Referring to this same scripture (Luke 24:27) Lovelace writes: “This grounding of the redemptive core of truth in the whole context of biblical revelation was probably the content of the apostles’ teaching in the newborn Christian community described in Acts 2. The content of this infant theology must have been fairly rudimentary, judging from the problems and responses in the early church, so it is obvious that a fully articulated theology is not essential to the flourishing inner life and expanding outward witness of a new Christian community. But the church needed such theology in order to handle the questions which would confront it during the wider expansion of its missionary witness, and this was provided in the gift of a theologian through the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.”

Unquestionably, Paul was brilliantly empowered to relate revealed truth, not only to the internal situations of new church life, but also, and crucially, to the external cultural contexts in which these churches found themselves. He was able to model two necessary things:

1. An understanding of gentile culture that enabled him to engage it and its intellectual spokespersons;

2. An understanding of the differences between the non-Christian thought world and the biblical world view, that gave him “intellectual traction in resisting any dilution of the Christian outlook through fusion with anti-Christian thinking.” (Lovelace) Thus Paul’s warnings about the folly of the world’s wisdom and his warnings against the empty deceits of human philosophy and tradition, or anything that is not “according to Christ.” (1 Cors.3:19; Cols.2:8)

Similarly, in our time and culture, we need the capacities, spiritual and intellectual, to both influence culture without being influenced wrongly by it. We need to be able to be rightly and appropriately pro-active in our engagement with culture, at the same time that we are rightly and appropriately protective of the church. The effective defense of the gospel in the public square is not at odds with an alert defensiveness of the traditions of the faith and the fathers. Defending the faith and defending the faithful are equally important.

We do not pursue our faith in a vacuum or in a hermetically sealed controlled environment. We live in a particular cultural context, with particular traits and values, characteristics and ideologies, mores and presuppositions, contradictions and confusions, troubles and temptations, fears and fantasies, oppositions and opportunities, challenges and blessings. And of course, when we use the word culture, we are in fact talking about a system of thought and practice, belief and behavior that is significantly multicultural. Indeed we are in the world. What world? As those who are “in Christ” what are we facing in this world, not only personally in terms of our individual encounters and experiences with our culture, but what are we dealing with collectively, corporately, communally, nationally, at this period of our American history? It is not our intention to be exhaustive on any one subject area, or even cover all the main issues begging discussion (we will only have about a 45-50 minute presentation on each topic, over about 6-8 weeks, so clearly it will be very limited) but we do at least want to open up, kick-start and stir the necessary thinking, appropriate deliberation and even debate, about some significant areas that inform our understanding of the relationship between Christian faith and culture. Among the things that we want to cover over the summer are discussions and examinations of the following subjects: understanding the nature and necessity of truth in a postmodernist context; a discussion about the nature and practice of tolerance amidst diversity of cultural convictions; a discussion about how we respond to cultural sexual mores; treatment of consumerism and its relationship to postmodernism – its impact on the church by way of designer faith and religion; a look at how we deal with certain prevailing cultural characteristics like anger or contempt; a discussion about the possibilities or impossibilities of Christian influence in public policy; what about the issues we are dealing with when it comes to religious liberty in our culture.

We have a couple of al fresco services thrown into the summer mix, when we will not be having any teaching, and that will challenge our coverage, but I hope this gives you some idea of what we will be about, and furthermore, I hope it strikes a chord, meets a need, elicits your blessing. I really appreciate the many of you who spoke to me after the service on Sunday expressing your positive responses and support and interest in what we are seeking to present. Thank you. And when all else fails: THINK, BABY, THINK! Next Sunday: A TIME FOR TRUTH

Thoughtfully yours,
Stuart

We are featuring some of the writings of Dr. Os Guinness throughout this series and here is a list of some titles that you should consider reading during the summer:

• Fit Bodies Fat Minds (Why evangelicals don’t think and what to do about it)

• Dining with the Devil (The mega-church movement flirts with modernity)

• Time for Truth (Living Free in a world of lies, hype and spin)

• God in the Dark (The assurance of faith beyond a shadow of a doubt)

• Unspeakable (Facing up to the challenge of evil)

• The Case For Civility (and why our future depends on it)

• Long Journey Home (A guide to your search for the meaning of life)

• The Call (Finding and fulfilling the central purpose of your life)

• Character Counts (Leadership qualities in Washington, Wilberforce, Lincoln and Solzhenitsyn)

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

SUMMER BARBECUES: This Sunday Care Company will be hosting a barbecue after church to raise funds for Urban Hands Scholarships. Bring your appetites and help us support this wonderful ministry.

CHURCH PICNICS: July 4 and August 1, we will be having special church gatherings to replace our regular Sunday service:

• July 4, 11:00am, Church service in Garfield Park followed by a picnic

• August 1, 11:00am, Church service in Burke Lake Park followed by picnic.

Congregants are invited to camp at the park on the preceding night. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burkelake/ for details on camping.

PARENTING DISCUSSION GROUP: There will be a parenting discussion group meeting on 3 more Saturdays this summer (7/17, 8/21, 9/18), for parents, or parents in waiting. The group will meet from 6:30- 8pm at COSC with childcare provided. Contact Luke Goodrich if you are interested, lukewgoodrich@gmail.com.

NO MEN’S BREAKFAST THIS MONTH: Contact Matthew Tropiano for information on other men’s ministry activities, matthew.tropiano@navy.mil.

ROMANS BIBLE STUDY: Men, if you are interested in a summer-long study on the book of Romans, contact Brian Slusarz, bslusarz@worldvision.org or 847-971-1172.

JOIN US FOR URBAN HANDS PRAYER AND FASTING DAYS: Tuesday (22nd) I AM the Bread of Life (Speaker TBD); Thursday (24th) I AM the Light of the World (Speaker: Matt Tropiano). Other prayer focus: Holy Spirit filled and freed worship! We will be providing more space for intercessional worship during our evening sessions. Please prayer that these times of worship and prayer are powerful and transformative for all present. Please also pray for Ben Doggett, Lindsey Kiser, Ozzie Johnson, Craig Montgomery, and Monique Sommer, who will be preparing to lead worship each evening.

SOFTBALL: Come out and cheer on the COSC Softball team—The Flock, Monday at 7:00pm, Field 4, West Potomac Park. If you have any questions, e-mail Anne Hall, anne.hall16@gmail.com.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR URBAN HANDS: July 11-17th—anytime, any day! Copy/paste this URL into a web-browser to sign up: Here

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/ or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Furnished bedroom and bathroom available starting Aug. 1 for CF at 10th & E St. NE. 15 min walk to Union Station and Eastern Market Metro. Shared kitchen and laundry plus internet access and ample storage. Must appreciate young children. $750/mo or $1000 split between two renters (includes utilities) plus $100 security deposit. If interested, Contact melsunuk@gmail.com.

MATH TUTOR NEEDED: The Southeast White House, a non-profit organization in SE DC, is looking for a summer math tutor to match with one of the girls in their program. This would entail 1-2 hours a week. If interested, contact Karen Tuttle at sekids@gmail.com or 202-575-3337.

MATH TEACHER WANTED: Rivendell School in Arlington, VA, is committed to “helping children explore God’s world and discover their place in it.” If this mission exites you and you are a math teacher, we’d love to hear from you! We are looking for a part-time math teacher to begin work Aug. 2010. Please find application materials at rivendellschool.net, or call the school office, 703-532-1200.

EVENING OF HEALING PRAYER
The Evening of Healing Prayer will be held on Tuesday, June29th at 7:30 PM. This prayer service is open to all those currently attending a COSC homegroup. If you would like to schedule a 30 minute prayer appointment, or attend the service for a time of silent prayer, please e-mail or call Deborah at the church office by Friday, June 25th: deborah@christourshepherd.org / 202-544-9599.

HEAVEN

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dearest family,

Just in time for our new Summer Teaching Series starting next week, “LIVING ON THE VINE”, I concluded “THE LAST WORDS OF JESUS” series on Sunday with a message that explained why Revelation chapters 4 and 5 are the very necessary conclusion to Jesus’ correspondence with the seven churches. The last message to Laodicea ended with Jesus, the Lord of the church, standing at the door and knocking. If the book of Revelation ended there, then the door would be the entrance for Jesus to come in to our space and place, to enter into the environs of our heart, to kindly and conveniently, come to where we are. And that is true and necessary. Don’t get me wrong! However, it is in fact only half the story. Regardless of how you get to that door, the thing is to get there, because the moment it begins to swing on its hinges, something is revealed that not all the effects of Hollywood’s best special effects could ever capture, given what explodes in on you in a nano-second! So awesome, so massive, so brilliant is it that no one is thinking anymore about what was behind your door, behind your shades, in your little space. The paintings of Jesus, standing outside the door, looking somewhat lost and forlorn, with a bleak and drear landscape behind him, as if he is homeless and desperate for a place to hang-out, couldn’t be further from the truth.

Chapters 4 and 5 show us what is on the other side of the door; show us what we close our lives to when we resist the call of Christ. When we think we’ve got a handle on what is really going on, this tells us what is really going on. The messages to the churches that we have studied are thus sandwiched between two incredible visions of the risen, glorified Christ, in control and on patrol among the churches, and in control and on the throne in the heavenly realms. In both instances there is a common message. You can only understand eaaarth, your life, and unfolding history from heaven’s vantage point. Without an understanding of this, you will fail in your perception of your circumstances, and in your conclusions about what is happening. You will believe that it is the world that overcomes and you will be skeptical at best about the promises to the overcomers in these letters. When these churches met they were overcome, not overcoming, and subverted and pressured and oppressed and challenged and tempted by all sorts of things. They were fragmented and some of them had even experienced some of their members being scattered through backsliding or persecution. But suddenly, a door is opened and in a blinding moment, they, and we, are given a searingly coherent vision of what is really going on, not just in heaven, but among us whenever we gather to worship in Jesus’ name.

Of course, for a detailed review of the message you’ll have to get the tape or CD or download. But let me remind you that what I was showing you was that this incredible vision of the throne, by telling us what the throne communicates, also tells us what takes place, what is effected, what transactions are settled when we gather to worship, regardless of how feeble or overcome or generally discombobulated we are. For the seven churches that were tempted to be dominated, not only by Caesar’s throne but by all the other contrary influences to overcoming faith, this was an invitation to get a heavenly perspective on things, to understand things from a heavenly vantage point, when they couldn’t see past the end of their noses that were out of joint. Given that 7 was the number that represented reality and completeness, we noted 7 observations about what this throne does, and therefore what worship does for us when we gather as a community of faith.

1. IT RULES: Our God reigns. Are you connected to this throne and are you submitted to trusting his rule for your life? Do you understand why our worship never tires to declare that our God reigns? In worship we recover the reign of God over our lives and realize it afresh in the affairs of men. Does he reign over you?

2. IT REALIGNS: The throne is central therefore as Petersen writes, “Worship is centering. It realigns our waywardness, it recovers our direction and our position. Are you connected to this throne and is your life aligned with the will of God and not with the constellations of false hope, false ideas, false premises, false promises. Do you understand why our worship draws us back to what is most nonnegotiable in our relationship with God, and in our alignment with his truth? Are you in the center of his embrace or are you off-center on another trajectory? Is your life realigned with his will and his affections for you?

3. IT RELATES: Needless to say, if the throne is the place of centering, then by definition, it is a phenomenal context for gathering. We are immediately given a description of all the beings and creatures that are there together.” Are you connected to this throne and relating to the body of Christ? Do you understand why our worship relates us and binds us together, our differences becoming the very evidences of our experience of the reconciling and relating power of this throne?

4. IT REVIVES: There is a poignant moment in 5:4: John says, “I wept and wept because no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll.” The tears speak of a longing for change, a desperation for revival, a cry for deliverance. They speak of the fear of being excluded, and of hopes unfulfilled. They speak of the frustration at not being able to do anything about the presence of evil. But the throne is the place where the revelation of the Lion of Judah is given. “Do not weep! See, the Lion… has triumphed.” Adoration dispels abandonment. Are you connected to this throne? Do you understand why our worship revives us, because it revives the memory of the one who is worthy to open the scroll and thus give us an explanation, an understanding of God’s purposes in our histories and circumstances? As for what we do not and cannot know, it is sufficient that the scroll in his hands.

5. IT REVEALS: The throne is the place where the scroll is opened, where there is revelation about the actions and purposes of God. It becomes a place of great assurance. The seven seals indicate that this is a testament, of the will of the Father no less. It is at the throne that Jesus is able to break the seals and reveal the will of God, showing Himself alone to be the one who is worthy to be trusted. When we know that the Lord is in control, when we understand he can be trusted to execute the Father’s will on our behalf rightly, then tears are indeed dried and the spirit is revived. Are you connected to the throne where not only your flagging faith and spirit are revived but where you get a fresh, faith-restoring, faith-quickening revelation that the scroll is written unusually on both sides, meaning He has so much to show you? Do you understand why worship settles our fears about the will of God, and always counts us back in where we have excluded ourselves through our doubts or ignorance, and always brings a revelation of the father’s love and compassion and mercy and grace toward us?

6. IT REJOICES: It’s good to state the obvious. The throne is the place where joy pulsates, cascades, avalanches, so unself-conscious about volume or length. Heaven is crammed with songs. Are you connected to the throne so your joy can indeed be full, so the joy of your salvation can be restored and continually renewed. Do you understand why worship is essential for both the expectation and experience of joy as well as for its expression? And by the way, they worshiped loudly!

7. IT RESOLVES: I love what Petersen says about this: “At the throne of God we are immersed in God’s Yes, a yes that silences all our noes and calls forth an answering yes in us.” The throne is the place of settlement. There are no loose ends here. The closing word is simply a loud “Amen!” which of course means “Yes!” or “Let it be!” It is a massive and hearty agreement with God, a mighty affirmation of who God is, an affirmation of his Word to us, his requirements of us, his desires for us. “Amen!” Why do we say it so quietly? It is big and bold, prophetic anticipatory. In the throne room there is no place for stuttering “uh-huh’s” or uncommitted “maybe’s” or doubting “um’s” or procrastinating “er’s) Our lives get littered and jammed with any number of “no’s” many of them which began as little yes’s but were really rejections of the will and ways of God in our actions, our attitudes and our affections. Are you connected to the throne where we recover the truth of God’s huge Yes to us in Christ, his acceptance of us, and where in return, we recover our agreement with his will. Paul wrote, “All the promises of God find their Yes in Christ.” And all the people said a really loud “AMEN!”

Together with you around the throne
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

Come to a farewell party for the Wyrtzen family at the McBurney’s on Saturday June 20, 11:30am— 2:30pm. Bring your own meat to BBQ and RSVP to Melanie Sunukujian with a potluck dish. melsunuk@gmail.com.

Men's Breakfast, Saturday 27 June, 9:00 AM Leading into Discussion: Johann Ducharme Childcare will be provided.

“An Introductory Course to the Christian Faith” beginning on June 25. Contact Kelly Doley (kwdoley@gmail.com) or Brandon Prichard (brandonprichard@gmail.com) if you’re interested in attending or bringing friends or if you have any questions.

*MADE IN AMERICA* Come celebrate the newest Kamon (due date July 25) at a red, white and blue Baby Shower, Saturday, July 11th, 11:00 a.m. at Nancy Merritt's home, 512 11th Street SE, DC. Bring a scripture to pray over the baby! Group gift: Call Maria Keffler, 703-971-3818. Please respond to Nancy, 202-546-0120

BBQ cookout after church Sunday, June 28. Proceeds to benefit Ashasthan Home in Mumbai, India (this is where Alys McAlpine spent the last 4 months).

Come see the COSC Flock softball team play Monday, 15 June, West Potomac Field 3 at 7PM. If you have questions, email Matthew at matthew.tropiano@navy.mil or Anne Hall at anne.hall16@gmail.com

You are invited to a Baby Shower to welcome Julian to the Chenoweth family and the COSC family on Saturday, June 27 at 10am at the Temenaks’ home. Call Carla Temenak at 301-434-5232 to RSVP and for information about a group gift.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.

HOUSING: Sept 1 – Room Avail - Looking for a CF to share a Kingstone, Alexandria, Va,4 BR/3.5 BA townhouse with three Christian, female 30-somethings.Rent - $584/mo. + shared utilities. The available room is upstairs, sharing a full bath with one roommate. Shared living space includes the entire main floor with a living room, dining room, and kitchen, basement living room, upstairs attic space for storage, and laundry room with washer/dryer. Free gym membership. O/D pool open during the summer.

HOUSING: Looking for Christian female subletter in Chinatown (DC), Aug-Sept. Furnished sunroom. Apartment features shared bathroom with washer & dryer; A/C; high-speed wireless internet and cable tv; and two wonderful roommates, both working in international development. We're looking for a Christian female in her 20's or 30's who's neat and friendly. $750/mo + utils (approx $65/mo). Website http://www.galleryapts.com – Chesapeake Floorplan. Garage parking available for additional cost. Dawn, dancerdawn05@yahoo.com

HOUSING: Ben Doggett, Jim Song and Johann Ducharme are looking to rent at 2 - 4 bedroom house on Capital Hill, ideally walking distance from COSC and metro accessible. Their target move-in date is July 1. If you have a place to rent or are aware of one, please e-mail Ben at bdoggett@gmail.com.

HOUSING: unfurnished bedroom with private bath for rent in SFH for single woman in Cape Code SFH 3.5 blocks from East Falls Church metro. The 3 others are single professional women in their 20s, one of whom is also in grad school. Rent $765/ mo + utils ($60-100/mo). Parking available. Available July 1. Christina, christina.m.watts@gmail.com or Jessica, espngirl@gmail.com

CONCLUSION

MOTHER'S HOSPITALITY

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dearest family,

I trust that if you were in church on Sunday you managed to have a good discussion about “hospitality” over lunch, unless of course you were dining your mother, or a mother being dined, in which case the conversation will have been totally and rightly dominated by the extolling of maternal virtues! Space does not allow me to cover the range of points that I made on Sunday but suffice it to remind you of these that relate hospitality to the foundations of Christian life and community.

Hospitality is the basis for communion and community with Jesus and the Father and a non-negotiable manifestation of the gospel. “We will make our home with him…” (Jn. 14:23) Regardless of our self-worth, Father and Son seem to come! To the outcast Zaccheus Jesus said, “I must stay at your house today!” He was known as the “guest of a sinner.” He still is. Hospitality is the image of salvation no less. The essential basis of Christian community is first our community with father, son and spirit when our hearts become the place of hospitality to their visitation and as Jesus said, “We make our home” with you. Is Christ in your heart-house, at home with you and does he have the complete run of the house, complete access with no offlimits? Are you practicing inhospitability to Jesus I any area of your life? Which side of the door is he? He said that if you invite him he will indeed sup with you, and here’s the thrill, and “he with me.” (Rev.3:20) Having described us as hosts we are also presented as guests of course. Were we not originally alienated and are we not now in Paul’s word to the Ephesians “no longer foreigners and aliens... but… members of God’s household.” He took us into his house. The gospel is all about God’s hospitality.

Hospitality is the key to relating to fellow believers and to reaching your neighbors and the world. My heart and my home become the building blocks of the church. It is hospitality and not the building fund that accommodates the work of the church. How accessible is your home. Can people come in? Are people invited in? The privatization of the home has deformed the life of the church. The location of your home is no spiritual accident. Do you have a theology of place? “He determined the exact places where they should live…” (Acts 17:26) Have you read Jn. 1:4 recently? “The word became flesh and moved in to the neighborhood.” Is your home an open door to neighbors? Do you see anything strategic in your geographic placement? Is your home available for the work of God? Are you open to host others, reach out to others, have them at your table? What would your definition of a hospitable person be? Do you meet your definition? Someone has said: “Hospitality formed the foundation of the Christian movement.” How can we underestimate the earthquake of salvationdeliverance that rocked the world when Gentiles showed hospitality to Jews who ended up eating hot-dogs and the shrimps from the barbie. Enjoying the hospitality in Joppa, Peter went for an afternoon prayer and sunbathe. It says he got hungry and wanted something to eat. Guess who acted as the waiter and chef? God dropped a sheet full of meat. Peter had no idea that the next experience of hospitality he would receive would usher in a brand new transnational community of faith that would see the dividing racial barriers of centuries broken and destroyed as the Holy Spirit fell on the gathering at Cornelius’ home. Again, the church was born in hospitality. It says that Peter stayed with them for “a few days.” He then walked straight into a storm of criticism with the circumcised believers. Why. “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Would to God there was more of that kind of fraternizing in church members lives. Talking of world-shaking breakthroughs that began with hospitality. It was in the home of Philemon that reconciliation was effected when a slave became a brother. I’ve preached on Philemon before and you know that this was the crack that was going to bring down empires of injustice. It started with hospitality. It was there too that Paul could write with confidence, “Prepare a guest room for me.” John writes in his epistle “we ought to show hospitality”. He is writing to Gaius who has already been referred to in Romans 16:23 “Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy…” It’s really interesting that one of John’s charges against Diotrophes “who loves to be first” is that he refused to welcome the brothers. His failure in the area of hospitality is related to his selfabsorption, his selfish life-style and the result was disastrous for the church. That was Paul’s grief: “Everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” (Phils. 2:21) Paul’s thinking is clearly presented in Roms. 12:13 “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Immediately before this he had written, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” This is not just about having those we want but those who have need. What needs does hospitality meet other than food? Company, encouragement, acceptance, touch, talk, rest, safety, relationship, friendship, community. Let’s not forget the example of Jesus. The gospels are littered with the evidences of hospitality: Jesus’ meals with tax-collectors and sinners (sounds like this was the way Jesus did his work – also it was the way he was able to identify with those who were aliens and strangers), and let’s not forget the post-resurrection meals. No wonder the agape meal that included the bread and wine, became the bread and butter of Christian community, the main means for intimacy and unity and caring. This kind of hospitality though, becomes a really serious business in the parable of the sheep and goats: “I was a stranger and you invited me in” where “me” is “the least of these brothers of mine.” Suddenly Jesus makes it very personal. The invitee list has one name on it regardless of who we are inviting – Jesus. Our table has one missing guest, regardless of who we are not inviting – Jesus.

Hospitality is a non-negotiable expression of our faith working through our love for both believer and non-believer. Let me at least mention a couple of the other key passages. “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers. For by so doing some have entertained angels. (Hebrs. 13:1-2) Hospitality is presented as having heavenly possibilities. It certainly has huge consequences. One thinks of Abraham entertaining three strangers. Did not Sarah get a word about a child? Lot entertained strangers which resulted in him being delivered from the destruction of Sodom. Jethro showed Moses hospitality which resulted in Moses finding a wife and a key to his future leadership of Israel, since it was Jethro’s wisdom that introduced the system of eldership to assist Moses’ pasturing of the nation. And did Lydia have any idea of the consequences when she invited Paul to her house? A church was born in that home that became the spring- board for missions in Europe. That simple offer of hospitality produced a huge ROI. What rewards for friendship, for the kingdom of God! “The end of all things is near…Love each other deeply…Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Pet.4:9) Note again the link between brotherly affection and showing hospitality. The issue is not “ do you have the food?” but do you have the feelings? It’s about affections, both for those who do know the Lord and those who don’t. Our hospitableness is a barometer of our love. Maybe the lack of it speaks of our love for self. In this context, Peter is describing some extreme things. First, the times are extreme and demanding. Peter is being realistic about what it takes to live, to get by with all the attendant pressures. The word he uses translated “deeply” carries the idea of being stretched, being extended. There is a cost to hospitality, a sacrifice. It requires generosity. Why does he say “without grumbling?” Because it is seldom what we want. It is bothersome, intrusive. Remember the parable of the friend at midnight when the guy comes with his need. “The door is already locked. Don’t bother me.” Yes, it is stretching. In other words, we are not offering hospitality out of a place of leisure or relaxation all the time, or even abundant provision, or out of convenience. In a lonely culture, people need the home more than a church service. Taking both the Romans 12 and Petrine text together let’s make the point. Hospitality is a non-negotiable expression of our faith working through love.

Perhaps most telling are the words of Jesus. “When you have a dinner…do not invite your friends….invite the poor.” (Lk. 14:12-14) How much more reconciliation, how many more conversions would there have been if we were hospitable. Again, how extremely discomforting are the words of Jesus’ parable in the words of the judging King I’ve already quoted: “I was a stranger and you did not invite me in.” Hospitality is a sign of kingdom ministry which attracts the blessing of God. Its absence attracts words of judgment. God takes our lack of response to others personally – it is a failure to welcome him, befriend him, bless him, invite him.

If our heart and our home was the norm for the community, what would be the health of the community? If the church had no building and just your home, would it grow if your home was typical? If not, why not? I’m suggesting that it is no good just talking about community as if it only has to do with what happens in the building we call the church; if it is only about what the church corporate does to foster, develop and nurture relationships. It is fundamentally about your heart and its response to the Trinity, and your home and its response to others, especially the household of faith.

There are hindrances that we all have to deal with but I need you to see that they are not just running interference with the way we build our personal relationships for our reasons and pleasure, but the way they hinder the community of the church. Can you think of some of these hindrances? What would be on your list? Can’t be bothered? (Lack of motivation, effort, energy, time, money?) Too much work, trouble, other demands? Laziness, selfishness, slovenliness? Shame ?(Place a mess, circumstances awry?) Lack of self-confidence, insecurity, feelings of incompetence? Past bad experiences: personal, familial? Bondage of temperament (shy, unassured, fearful)? Hospitality is a conscious decision because it involves a conscious obedience. We should begin by asking for: a prepared heart for Christ’s concerns and affections and perceptions for others’ needs, and for prepared home – for others not just oneself. We should be asking not only those we want, but those who need us for any number of reasons.

Of course, our personal living spaces are so important for private succor and refreshment; for sustenance and security; for relationships and rest. But hospitality prevents these places from becoming self-serving, encouraging us to invite people into our private space and into our personal lives with its tastes and styles, its photos and keep-sakes, and all those expressions of our personality that invite relationship. The point is, we are invited to co-host the church and the world together with the supping and serving Christ. May his grace as a guest and his generosity as a host, be our example as we cultivate and preserve our obedience to scripture. “Practice hospitality.” And by the way, while you are doing that, He is also still in the hospitality business. “I go to prepare a place for you…In my father’s house are many mansions…” It never ends… He will not be outdone!

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Melissa Wallace and Matthew Tropiano will be leading a group lunch after Church this Sunday at Hunan Dynasty, 215 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Look for Matthew and Melissa outside in front of the church or meet them at the restaurant.

CARE COMPANY THANK YOU: Thank you to all those who so generously contributed to the Mustard Seed Matching Grant. This will be a continued need throughout the year. If you would still like to make a contribution please make checks out to “Care Company” and write “MSF Grant” on the memo line. Send any checks to Care Company / 801 N. Carolina Ave. SE / Washington, DC 20003.

MEN’S MINISTRY:

• We will be having a Men’s Golf Outing on Saturday, June 5th. Contact Luke Sunukjian if you are interested, luke.sunukjian@biola.edu.

• The next Men’s Breakfast will be on May 22, 9:00—10:30am. Don Lacquement will be leading us into discussion and childcare will be provided.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY: the May Saturday Supper will be postponed until June. Stay tuned for more details!

SUMMER BARBEQUES: We are interested in having barbecues after church during the summer months, and want to make this an opportunity for individuals in the congregation to raise money for an organization or cause that they are interested in supporting. Contact the church office if you would like to run one of these barbeques.

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/ or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Room for rent—4 miles NE of church in Mount Rainier, MD. Looking for a male. Beautiful, clean and spacious 14x20 ft. private, upstairs room in renovated historic home. W/D, A/C, $500/mo. + 1/4 utilities. Near bus line. Contact trobry@msn.com.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: One Bedroom English Basement Apartment for rent on the Hill starting June 1. Includes laundry and a backyard patio. Great landlord. $1,100/mo. Contact Amy Herbert, amyherbert@verizon.net for more information. It has served us well for over two years!

HOUSING WANTED FOR MONGOLIAN INTERN: My name is Javkhaa Ganbaatar, and I am a Mongolian graduate student at Regent. Before coming to America, I served my home church in various roles. I will be interning with a Congressman between May 15-June 30 and am looking for a free or inexpensive room to stay in for maximum 4-6 weeks on Capitol Hill or Downtown. Please let me know if you need more information or have any questions, javkhlantugs.ganbaatar@cbn.org.

MATH TEACHER WANTED: Rivendell School in Arlington, VA, is committed to “helping children explore God’s world and discover their place in it.” If this mission exites you and you are a math teacher, we’d love to hear from you! We are looking for a part-time math teacher to begin work Aug. 2010. Please find application materials on our website, rivendellschool.net, or call the school office, 703-532-1200.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT WANTED: The Christian Legal Society is seeking an EA to support the Executive Director and serve as a liaison to other staff. The position begins on June 1st and the salary range will be between $35,00 to $40,000 plus benefits. Potential candidates will be interviewed the week of May 17. Submit cover letter and CV to fpotter@clsnet.org. To learn more about CLS, visit their website: www.clsnet.org.

Worship Team
The worship team meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7:30—9:30pm to grow and encourage each other in the area of worship, and to rehearse for our Sunday Services. Even if you are not sure you if want to be a part of the team, we welcome your attendance and would love to get to know you. Our next meeting is tonight on May 11.

IN JESUS' NAME

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dear family,

On Sunday, as we continued our “ASK” series, I only had time to take a brief look at the contexts in which Jesus used the phrase: “ask in my name.” There are six occasions in the upper room discourse when Jesus speaks of asking in his name. The context is important for our understanding of their meaning. Jesus is celebrating the first communion as it were; he is about to walk to the cross and finish the work the Father gave him to do. The entire backdrop to the asking that Jesus is talking about is the work of redemption that he is going to complete through his death, resurrection, ascension and glorification. We should not be surprised to discover then that this asking has perhaps got something to do with asking for what Jesus died for. The recorded references are as follows:

John 14: 13-14 : 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 15:16 : You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 16:23, 24, 26 : 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.

Jesus makes it quite clear to the disciples that he is going away but that when they see him again, (after the resurrection) an entirely new era will have begun which will bring them into a totally new experience of prayer. Up till now, they had been asking things of Jesus, they had been praying their Jewish prayers. But after the resurrection, an entirely new way of asking would be inaugurated. Post-resurrection they go from doubting questions to bold asking. Jesus will be physically absent, but by asking in his name they will continue to experience the presence of God. This is an extraordinary revelation. Asking is a sign of his presence. Asking becomes a vital link with Jesus. It’s almost as if asking replaces sight. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe. But we know from Jesus’ words that those who believe ask. Post-resurrection asking is about to go heavenly, go holily ballistic. “Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also asking for us.” (Roms. 8:34) “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to ask for them.” (Hebrs.7:24-25) What is it that will be the brilliant new revelation, the new key to prayer? Simply, they will now ask in Jesus’ name. And did they ever! Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in asking…” What was it that Jesus said he would ask the Father for in the upper room? He was going to ask for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The story of the church begins with them asking the Father in Jesus’ name in an upper room for the same thing Jesus asked for – and the answer was the day of Pentecost!

“In Jesus’ name.” What does this mean? This is not complicated or difficult to understand. Why would it be if God is so eager to get us to ask of Him? He is not planting landmines on the way to the throne. On the contrary, there is a new access and we have a new confidence to approach. “Therefore since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens…let us approach the throne of grace with confidence…” (Hebrs.4: 14-16) “Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrs.10:19-22) If the enemy can challenge the grounds of assurance, we will lose confidence to approach, not avail ourselves of access and consequently cease to ask in Jesus’ name.

Simply and briefly, what are some of the things we need to understand about that phrase “in my name”? You can ask confidently in someone’s name if that someone has a claim on the one being asked. We have no claims on God. We cannot argue our desserts and merits. But when we ask on the grounds of Jesus’ claims of the Father, not least, claiming us as his inheritance through his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross; his claim and right to access to the Father; his claim of relationship with the Father; his claim upon the will of the Father because he only does what the Father wills… when I ask in the name of the one who has the claims on the one being asked… when I ask in the name of Jesus of the Father… when I am allowed as it were to sign my asking with his signature, then I am heard and my asking is acknowledged, received and responded to. Jesus gives us the right to use his name to access the resources of the Father and make our claim. So this means that we can never ask anything in Jesus’ name without being worshipfully conscious of the fact that Jesus is our mediator. We can never forget that eucharist was the context for Jesus’ teaching about asking. Here is a wonderful quote from a great evangelical theologian, Donald Bloesch (also quoted by Richard Foster in his book on prayer): “To pray in the name of Christ means to pray in the awareness that our prayers have no worthiness or efficacy apart from his atoning sacrifice and redemptive mediation” It is only through Jesus, it is only because of the price that he paid, that I can ask. All asking in Jesus’ name is grounded on the finished work of Christ. In the upper room, Jesus knew that once he fulfilled the will of the Father, once he had drunk of that cup, then the floodgates of asking would be opened for all. “In Jesus’ name” is therefore no cheap slogan. And it cannot be a rubber stamp on just anything we want to ask. Does the “whatsoever” we ask for pass the test of what Jesus died for, died to obtain for us?4

But what does asking in Jesus’ name say about us? This is where it gets amazingly awesome. In a sense, we are Jesus’ representatives, we are his ambassadors. He has given us a passport with his name and insignia on it that gives us total spiritual diplomatic access to the heavenly throne. When we ask in the name of Jesus, it is, as it were, as if we are asking in his place, in his stead, on his part. It’s as if he made the prayer. He makes our prayer his prayer. All of who he is, all of his titles, all of his character and nature, all of his personhood, all of his works, all of his words are applied to what is being asked for. In a theology of prayer, one writer put it that to pray in Jesus’ name was “to ask a thing of God the Father on the foundation of the revelation which Jesus has given us of himself and his work.” It’s a perfect triple A! We have been accepted by him, we have been appointed as his representative to ask the Father and we have been fully authorized by being given all the rights of access and claim that he has. No wonder we can be bold and confident! But to be his representative, to be able to ask personally for ourselves in is name, it means that we can only ask what is concordant with his will. We will ask for what he wants. We can only ask what he himself would ask for – “his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Roms. 12:2) Foster puts it like this: “It means that we are making the kinds of intercessions he would make if he were among us in the flesh.” It’s like saying that it’s what Jesus would ask for at the night of prayer! When Jesus says, “Ask what you will” it is already founded on the assumption that your will, like his will, is only to do the will of the Father. Asking out of our own willfulness does not carry the promise of being answered. Summarizing what I have said, praying in Jesus’ name is about: having a full assurance of his saving work for us, and being in full accord with his will for us.

This means that “whatsoever”, “anything” and “what you will” is in fact conditioned by whatsoever is within the scope of his work, by anything that is his desire for us, by whatever we will of his will for us. Basic to understanding Jesus’ words about asking “in his name” in the upper room is the fact that they are predicated on the conditions he mentions: intimacy (Jn.14:2); abiding (Jn.15:7); indwelling word (Jn.15:7); believing (Jn.14:12); loving and obeying (Jn.15: 9-10); being solely motivated for the glory of God as the outcome (Jn. 14:13-14). Our asking is not primarily determined by how well we know ourselves, and our needs. It is primarily determined, if it is going to be in Jesus’ name, by simply how well we know Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus links this asking to doing his “works” and to our bearing “fruit”. These two things are inextricably linked. The “actings” of God (the works) are related to the “askings” of the disciples (ask in my name). The continuity of Jesus’ work is going to be through effective asking. Period. It is not our wants here that are fueling the asking but his works! If you have a desire to do Jesus’ works, to be fruitful you will ask in Jesus’ name. “He will do…I will do…ask” (Jn. 14:12- 13). So what can we assume dominates our asking? Asking for what we need to do the work of Jesus! Asking for the work of Jesus to be manifest! Asking for what we need to bear fruit, fruit that will last! Is this what dominates our asking or do we never get out into God’s world out of the garage of our own private world. Asking in his name is the fuel for working in his name. “Whoever wants to do the work of Jesus must ask in his name.” (Murray)

The difference between mature and immature asking is the knowledge of Jesus. The difference between godly and fleshly asking is intimacy with Jesus. Before Jesus told the disciples that they could ask in his name, he called them friends. Why? Because everything he learned from the Father he had made known to them. It is intimacy that is the context for learning the heart and will of the beloved, which means we know what to ask for. I have already emphasized in this series the fact that asking is all about relating. Thus it is a committed and intentional and deep relationship with Jesus that will inevitably be long on asking in his name. Intimacy expresses itself in intercession. Abiding overflows in asking. Love for others fuels our asking. Friendship with God tutors us in “the master’s business” (to use Jesus’ phrase) which informs us of his will which feeds our asking. By the way, so much is asking a delight of intimacy that Jesus says to ask so that your joy may be full. That’s joy in the asking, not conditional on the answers! By the way, all the conditions for asking “in Jesus’ name” produce joy. When Jesus laid down the pre-conditions of loving and obeying for asking he said: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (Jn. 15:11) You see, to pray in his name, is essentially to be in union with him, to be so identified with him, and he with us, that we share the name. His name becomes our name for the purposes of accessing, approaching and asking. His ID is ours and it is not identity fraud!

Pastorally yours,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

MEN’S BREAKFAST: Men, you are invited to our monthly men’s breakfast, April 24th from 9-10:30. Join us for a time of fellowship and hearing the word. Our theme this year is “Overcoming.”

WOMEN’S MINISTRY:

• Sunday, April 24th is the very last week to register for our annual women's retreat! The dates are May 1-2 and we'd love to have you join us. Our theme is “An Anchor for the Soul: Rediscovering our Living Hope.” Cost is $80 but scholarships are available. See us at the table in the lobby after church to register and contact Trudy Sharp if you have any questions - trudyrsharp@gmail.com.

• Our Friday night Bible study this month will be this coming Friday (April 23rd), from 7-9 pm. Tritia Yuen hosts us for dinner and study. and we're looking at the book of Colossians. We look forward to you joining us - let Tritia know if you are planning to come, tritiayuen@gmail.com.

EVENING OF HEALING PRAYER: The Evening of Healing Prayer will be held on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:30 PM. This prayer service is open to all those currently attending a COSC homegroup. If you would like to schedule a 30 minute prayer appointment, or attend the service for a time of silent prayer, please call the church office by the end of this week, 202-544-9599.

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

GROUP LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Nancy Chan and Andy Newens will be leading a Group Lunch After Church at COSI, 3rd & Pennsylvania SE. Look for Andy and Nancy outside in front of the church or meet at the restaurant.

HEALING PRAYER CONFERENCE: Judith MacNutt, of Christian Healing Ministries, will be leading a healing prayer conference at the Falls Church on May 5-6. For more information, visit www.thefallschurch.org/ healing.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Looking for CF in Chinatown, beginning May 15. Sunroom-option to purchase furniture for room at discount. 2 blocks from metro, shops, grocery, restaurants Shared bathroom, W/D, A/C, 24-hour gym, high-speed wireless internet and cable, Shared with 2 roommates. We're looking for a CF in her 20's or 30's who's neat and friendly. $775/mo + utils (approx $65/mo) + small signing fee. Contact Erin, ehespe@gmail.com or Krystel, krystelp@gmail.com if interested.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Room for rent—4 miles NE of church in Mount Rainier, MD. Looking for a male. Beautiful, clean and spacious 14x20 ft. private, upstairs room in renovated historic home. W/D, A/C, $500/mo. + 1/4 utilities. Near bus line. Contact trobry@msn.com.

HOUSING WANTED FOR MONGOLIAN INTERN: My name is Javkhaa Ganbaatar, and I am a Mongolian graduate student at Regent. Before coming to America, I served my home church in various roles. I will be interning with a Congressman between May 15-June 30 and am looking for a free or inexpensive room to stay in for maximum 4-6 weeks on Capitol Hill or Downtown. Please let me know if you need more information or have any questions, javkhlantugs.ganbaatar@cbn.org.

HOUSING WANTED FOR LEGAL AID INTERN: Christian Legal Aid of DC is searching for rooming for a male intern from Apr. 25—mid July. He is a single, 37 year old male, currently in the National Guard and in law school at Regent. Contact Brent McBurney ASAP if you have space available, brent.mcburney@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: The ‘859 House’ is an after school meeting facility for about 17 boys ages 8-17, a space used for fellowship and mentoring. They are looking for a Computerwise volunteer to help with computer maintenance. Youth frequently use their out-ofdate computers for homework and other activities. Contact Dorothy Logans if interested, dorothy.logans@gmail.com.

NONPROFIT SEMINAR: Nancy Chan will be teaching a 5-hour non-credit seminar on program evaluation for nonprofits through NYACK’s Community Development Program here in DC, Sat. May 8 from 9am-3pm. The course will provide and overview of essential elements for outcome-based program evaluation gear towards the use of nonprofits. Please email Nancy nhchan@gmail.com for more details, including cost and registration.

LAZARUS PT. 2

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dear Family,

As we continued our meditation in John 11 this Sunday, having looked at the first half of the story that focused on MAN’S ASKING, we looked at the second half about GOD’S ANSWERING. We considered the different responses to this situation from Mary and Martha, from the disciples and from the crowd. I think we could relate to them. You’ve done your asking, you’ve ceased your asking. It’s too dangerous to go back there, it will stir up too much trouble and pain. It’s too difficult anyway. It’s too disappointing, too distressing to think about other possibilities, especially when hope has taken a beating. It’s too embarrassing to be unanswered – I’m feeling shame in my situation and circumstances. The faith I once had is looking stupid right now. It’s too bad, too late, and any other good outcome is too good to be true. I know the doctrines, and like Martha, I do actually believe them but I’m having a hard time connecting with them right now, or should I say, they don’t seem to be connecting with my reality, anymore than Jesus’ mention of the resurrection connected with her dead brother.

But what about the responses of Jesus? Into this tangle of groans and moans, into this wreckage from the asking that hit the wall unanswered, into this ruin of remorse and regret comes Jesus. Allow me to note some of his responses. They are made up of two statements, three questions of his own, three commands and a very short asking prayer. Like surgical scissors, these cut through the Gordian knot of grief. I will summarize these under three headings:

1. A PROMISE: “Your brother will rise again.” (v23) His first response to what he sees and hears is simply a softly but firmly spoken promise. He had already said that this would not end in death. He must see something we don’t see, know something we don’t know, desire something we’ve long since given up on. Dear-heart, the promises of God, though seemingly un-cashable at the moment of deepest debt, unhelpful at the time of greatest need, remain non-negotiable and the sure basis that the one who saved us will give us all we need for life and godliness and will procure for us the needful provision for what His will has prepared for us to do and be. The promises of God remain foundational for our assurance and succor. He is a present help in time of trouble. He is present at the graveside of this buried hope. The promises were not about make-believe but make-better. He said whoever came to him he would not turn away – especially if they came in a coffin. He does not come to bury with empty promises.

2. A PRONOUNCEMENT: “I am the resurrection and the life.” The promise is followed by a pronouncement, a proclamation if ever there was one. This was not resurrection wrapped up in the wording of a doctrine, of a catechetical statement, of a line from a liturgical creed. This was not resurrection as a proposition but as a person. “I AM…” Suddenly the issue has less to do with what I know about my problems: my death, or my sin, or my prison, but about how much I know about who He is in relation to it: savior for my sin, deliverer for my prison, life for my death. Where the doctrine did not relate, where the theologizing failed, he insists on relating personally and presently.

3. A PROOF: “Where have you laid him?...Come and see Lord.” It’s an interesting feature of this entire story that Jesus is always engaging others in what needs to happen. He did some asking of his own. He asked the obvious. He still does. He seeks our confession, our admission, our invitation. His question and their answer cut right to the chase. Where is the problem? Where is the source of the grief, of the loss: loss of joy, loss of worth, loss of personhood, loss of integrity, loss of dignity, loss of hope, loss of direction, loss of calling, loss of love. Right here Lord. Maybe we could have argued that this was the time for Jesus to do one of his “say the word from a distance” kind of miracles. Civilized distance would be preferable – does he have to reveal the corpse, the source of sorrow and hopelessness, defeat and despair? Do we have to get our hands this dirty? Do we have to face the effects of this, the consequences, the realities that are better left where they are, out of sight all the time and out of mind some of the time? The text tells us that Jesus “came to the tomb.” (v38) He does not come to read the inscriptions or simply to leave flowers. His interest is not to beautify our gravesite – give us a veneer of respectability. This is such a wonderful picture, moving footage, of the way that Jesus insists on approaching the off-limits of our desolation. Then the unbelievable, impossible to anticipate instruction: “Take away the stone!” Notice again that there is no abracadabra here. No “Hey presto.” Human will, human choices to participate and co-operate with Him were necessary. At this point there is a delay of a different kind. This time it is Martha ironically doing the delaying, having once tacitly accused Jesus of being responsible for tardiness. Well might she step in between Jesus and the problem. “By this time there is a bad odor.” The consequences of our dead works and our dead sins do have an after-smell, an after-taste. We’ve commented on the divine YET. Here is its companion it would seem: the human “BUT LORD!” That root of bitterness, that chronic attitude, that secret sin, that intractable bondage, that unresolved anger, that withheld forgiveness – they should not be exposed to sunlight. Equally and eerily familiar are the interventions that block his healing progress, his delivering intent. And then there are still the wretched stones that have to be moved, that he insists on being moved simply because they obstruct and hinder his engagement. What are our stones? What deceit, what fear, what avoidance, what denial, what suppression, what hypocrisy, what delay? Maybe I can put it this way. As Martha stands with her arms outstretched barring Jesus’ way toward the tomb, she is defending life as it is. The truth is she is actually ending up defending death as it is. But thankfully and gloriously, there seems to be a simple principle at work here. If we do the rolling, he will do the resurrecting. Our confession, our invitation, our rolling of the stone surrenders access to Jesus. Others may be shocked by what is revealed; we may be surprised by the extent of the decay. The crowd may draw back but Jesus never flinched, never turned his face, never held his nose.

The communications that follow are rapid and concise, from “Take away the stone!” to “Take off the graveclothes!” Either get the CD to re-consider this sequence or do your own fresh meditation on these statements of deliverance. They present the proof of his promise and pronouncement. I hope that over these two messages, you have grasped something of both the directness of Christ’s answering work, but also the non-linear nature of our asking. There is no cookie-cutter here, but there are truths that are sure. He does love, he does hear, he does answer, he does act – in accordance with the greater outcome of the greatest glory.

The very next chapter records something of the follow-up to all this. How Jesus must have enjoyed that dinner party in Bethany! Well might Lazarus laugh as he reclined next to Jesus. And suddenly, from stage left, comes Mary, who some would strongly argue is one and the same as Mary Magdalene, that being once her escort name at the Roman Officer’s club. She breaks open a bottle of alabaster that was a year of good wages for a high-class prostitute. So intense was the relieved outpouring of her soul, of her love for and gratitude to Jesus, that in a moment of unself-conscious devotion and adoration, she broke not only the stingy rules of the thieving Judas, but also the conventions of social decorum, and loosed her hair, as only adulteresses were wont to do. It was the sign of fallen-ness. But in this case, the loose hair echoes the loose grave-clothes, as it is transformed in its flowing lines as a sign of freeing forgiveness. In a single moment again, we are reminded that there is room in Jesus’ inner circle for the one who was once dead. John records two breakings: of the seals of a tomb and of a perfume jar. Brokenness could not be avoided. But as unstoppable as was the stench, so unstoppable was the fragrance. This is what I want you to know above all else this Palm Sunday, as like the crowd you wave your palms, whether branches or hands. Because of what happened at Bethany, because of this extraordinary preview of what was about to happen to destroy the power of death once and for all, we know that his love is committed to still take us from the stench of our death to the fragrance of our recovered devotion. Where death said it’s over, the resurrection and the life said, Behold, I make all things new. “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Blessed is he who comes to my tomb, to my problem, to my house, to my family, to my marriage, to my city, to my church!

Pastorally yours,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

HOLY WEEK SPECIAL SERVICES:

• Maundy Thursday—April 1, 7:00pm—Service conducted by Church of the Resurrection

• Good Friday—April 2, 7:00pm—Joint service conducted by COSC and Church of the Resurrection. Child care for children 5 and under will be provided.

• Easter Sunday—April 4, 10:00am. Easter breakfast fellowship prior to service at 9:00am.

WOMEN’S RETREAT: Registration for the annual Women’s Retreat has begun! The dates are May 1-2 and the cost is $80. See us at the table in the lobby after service to register and contact Trudy Sharp at trudyrsharp@gmail.com if you have any questions.

LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Melissa Wallace and Chris Tynes will be leading a group lunch after Church this Sunday at Old Siam, 406 8th St. SE. Look for Melissa or Chris outside in front of the church or meet them at the restaurant.

NIGHT OF PRAYER: The next Night of Prayer will be on Apr. 10, from 7-9pm. Please join us as we pray for our church, city and nation.

RIGHTEOUS RENOVATIONS: Care Company and Gatepost Ministries are having their third demolition day to make space for a new Anacostia Café and job-training center for at risk teens, April 10 from 9-2pm. Contact Monique ASAP if you would like to participate, monique@carecompanydc.org.

PORCH FUNDRAISER: On April 7th, from 6:30- 8:30pm, at Washington Community Fellowship (Maryland Ave. & D St. NE), the Porch will be hosting a pancake dinner at to raise funds for the ministry. The suggested donation is $5.

FREQUENT FLIER MILES: If you are someone who travels frequently and have frequent flier miles that you would be willing to make available to others in the church who have emergency travel needs, please contact the church office.

HEALING PRAYER CONFERENCE: Judith MacNutt, of Christian Healing Ministries, will be leading a healing prayer conference at the Falls Church on May 5-6. For more information, visit www.thefallschurch.org/healing.

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Room on Capitol Hill, looking for a CF for a group house with women in early 30’s. $650 + utilities. House is located a block from Stanton Park and in walking distance of Union Station and Eastern Market. Looking to fill room by April 1st. If interested, please email Laura at grazier_1@yahoo.com.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: The ‘859 House’ is an after school meeting facility for about 17 boys ages 8-17, a space used for fellowship and mentoring. They are looking for a Computer-wise volunteer to help with computer maintenance. Youth frequently use their out-of-date computers for homework and other activities. Contact Dorothy Logansif interested, dorothy.logans@gmail.com.

NONPROFIT SEMINAR: Nancy chan will be teaching a 5-hour non-credit seminar on program evaluation for nonprofits through NYACK’s Community Development Program here in DC, Sat. May 8 from 9am-3pm. The course will provide and overview of essential elements for outcome-based program evaluation gear towards the use of nonprofits. Please email Nancy nhchan@gmail.com for more details, including cost and registration

FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[a] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for[b] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”(ESV)

Luke 11:5-13

ASKING & ADVENT

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dearest family,

First of all, Celia and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a joyful, thankful and restful celebration of Christmas, praying that this advent season, you will experience the coming of Father, Son and Holy Spirit to your hearts and households. The context of our lives often appears no more manicured and managed than the outhouse of that inn happened to be two millennia ago. He still comes to us as He finds us. The key to a change in the environs of the heart seems to be less about the preparation (not that there is not a biblical place for that) but more about the transformation that comes simply by virtue of his presence. Were any of those who came to worship, whether sages or shepherds, conscious at all of any other sense, whether the smell of the place, the roughness of the ground they kneeled on, than the sense of the presence of Christ? This Christmas, in the words of the old chorus: Turn your eyes upon Jesus / Look full in His wonderful face/ And the things of earth will grow strangely dim/ In the light of his glory and grace.

On Sunday, I presented a very concentrated Advent message, suggesting ten significant areas of instruction and edification that are patently present in the birth narratives, the explosive text that launches the New Testament. As I’m sitting here writing this letter, I realize there is no way that I can attempt to summarize what I covered, but given the range of reference, and the focus of application, I encourage you to download the Mp3 as a Christmas gift to yourself as a provocation and encouragement to meditate in the text yourself. I began and ended with Zechariah, so I thought I’d do something different and bring you some thoughts about Elizabeth.

As at the beginning of the original Exodus story where we meet those midwives named Shiprah and Puah, where we meet Jochabed, Moses’ mother and Miriam, his sister, so in the story of our Exodus, our deliverance from captivity, equally we meet these incredible women, whose stability and serenity and poise under pressure is so re-assuring given the demands and pains of the situation. If Zechariah comes across as “dumb and dumber” then Elizabeth is certainly “sweet and sweeter”. There is something so alluringly and disarmingly gorgeous about this woman. Despite the crippling affliction of infertility, her womanhood does not seem to have missed a beat, the product of persevering prayer and holiness. Her barrenness was symbolic of the times. Despite every effort to do the right thing, whether characterized by the perfume of love-making in private or the incense of priestly prayer in public, nothing was happening. Seed was continually sown but there was no fertilization, whether in the womb or in the soil of messianic history. Not to have a child was anguish enough but what was unbearable was the public perception of such a state. If children were a blessing from the Lord, then it was assumed that barrenness was a judgment, a sign of shame, a consequence of sin. The whirling and eddying currents of gossip, of imputed shame, combined to weather the soul and erode peace. Elizabeth teaches us so much. The only relief is that when one cannot justify oneself, one can submit trustingly to the judgments of God and trust him to be the defender and the vindicator. After she is pregnant, as she touches her billowing and blossoming garments, there is such power in her almost understated testimony: “The Lord has done great things for me.” God’s loving-kindness had a location. It had earthed in Zechariah’s mouth and Elizabeth’s womb. How we need to know and honor this work of the Word of God – though the sound of it can bring intellectual comprehension, it is also a force that can fling a star into space for wise men and fuel a sperm, and change my life and circumstances too, why not!

God still comes to the last – to those that are on the edge or beyond the pale. It comes to those who believe that the last train has already left and they’re stuck in an interminable waiting room. Mind you, He is the God who seems to specialize in our last hour, in the last moment. When the last garment of selfrespect has been blown off our backs or stripped off us by another, his grace re-clothes us. And it is never an off-the-rack kind, but personally tailored and contoured to the unique shape of our out-of-joint life, with its particular “sloping-shoulder” and “irregular size” circumstances. When the last bit of emotional greenery has been uprooted from our hearts and we feel like a wilderness on the inside, his grace is still in the irrigation business, watering the desert of our barren lives. He still comes to the last and as He did for Elizabeth, He specializes in removing our shame and disgrace, in our own eyes, in others’ eyes, but above all, in His eyes. Is it really surprising that God entrusted Mary to Elizabeth for her spiritual nurture and care? The text says Elizabeth “remained five months in seclusion.” No reason is given. It certainly wasn’t, “I can’t go out till it’s really sure.” She shut herself in to the presence of God. The last, the most shamed, became the first one God thought of to disciple Mary, the mother of His son! The one who was last became the first recorded voice to recognize and identify the child that was conceived in Mary as the Lord and Savior of the world! And what’s interesting is that the shame of being last in the happiness stakes became transformed into an ability to willfully and willingly defer and take the last place joyfully, for did she not say, “Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” The place of hurtful shame had become the place of healing and humility. God still seeks and saves the lost, the last and the least and incorporates them in to his kingdom purposes for the salvation of the world.

May you know this for your life this advent, as Elizabeth did for hers, and like her, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit this Christmas. As she named the child “John” may you too accept and name your identity according to God’s definition of your life and not according to “the relatives,” to all those things of the past that have characterized and limited the generations before you. No more “dumb and dumber!” This Christmas, as for Elizabeth, let it truly be “sweet and sweeter!”

DO NOT FORGET THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE NEXT SUNDAY BECAUSE INSTEAD WE ARE MEETING ON SATURDAY EVENING AT 6:00 P.M. FOR OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE. ALSO, DO NOT FORGET TO BRING AN APPETIZER! SEE YOU THERE!

Pastorally yours,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

CHRISTMAS SERVICE: COSC will be holding it’s annual Candle Light Christmas Service at 6pm on Saturday, Dec. 19. There will be no service on Sunday morning, Dec. 20th. Please bring a plate of goodies, ready to serve, to share after the service (sweet or salty!)

MEN’S MINISTRY:

• Save the date for the COSC Men’s Retreat, January 30 -31.

• If you want to be added to the Men's Ministry Distribution list of men’s ministry activities and announcements email Matthew at matthew.tropiano@navy.mil.

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR WASHINGTON HOME: Please remember our friends at the Washington Home this Christmas, and share our Lord’s love with a Christmas card to brighten their day. See below for the names and room numbers of WH residents. Cards should be addressed to The Washington Home, 3720 Upton St. NW, 20016 (indicate name, room number and A or B sideas well) and can be given to Terry Colvin, Kathy Gosselin, or Dan McCullough for delivery. Contact Dan if you would be interested in personally visiting the Home as well: 301-762-4408.

NAME Room#

1ST FLOOR RESIDENTS: "A" side of building.

Paul Ethridge 104
Betty Ewing 113
Blanca (Andrea) Schwartz 114
Moya King 123
Myrtel Purnel 126
Walter Brown 135

2nd FLOOR RESIDENTS: "B" side of building

Sharon Carter 203
Jack Bishop 226
Ruth Henderson 248

3rd FLOOR RESIDENTS: "A" side of building

Joseph Lynch 302
Elizabeth (Corty) Andrews 303
Tressie Little 311
Florence Perry 315
Qi Lin 323
Ruby Hart 326
Dorothy Gibson 332
Marie Buckner 336
Lucy McArdle 337
Myung Han 345
Geraldine Gibson (GG) 353
Barbara Bryant 354
Donna Wilkes 356
Nurses fm Sierra Leone – Vintia, Margaret, Christina

HEALING PRAYER TRAINING: We will be conducting training for level 1 on Saturdays from 9:30 - 1:30 pm. on Jan. 9, 24 and Feb. 6. If interested, please contact Deborah in the office. We cannot accommodate walk-ins. Cost is $25 for materials, payable at the first session

Donations for 2009 must be received in the church office (or must be postmarked) on or before December 31 to qualify as a 2009 contribution. Contribution statements for 2009 will be mailed by January 30, 2010. End of year checks designated for Care Company must be made out to “Care Company,” not COSC.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Spacious, English basement apartment available for $1600/Mo including ALL utilities (and wi-fi) and private parking space. Newly finished, large 1 BD/1 BA basement apt. located at 10 & E NE beginning late Jan or early Feb. Apt includes full kitchen, full size W/D, natural light throughout, ample closet space, and private back entrance. Please contact Kristi Stofer at kpstofer@gmail.com if interested.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Two rooms available for women in a 4 BR home on Rt. 50, 1 mile South of Clarendon. 2 full Baths, full kitchen, living room, dining room, basement. Washer/ Dryer and storage unit. Upstairs master BR available Jan. 1; smaller downstairs BR available mid Dec. Very reasonable rent. If interested, please e-mail TheParsonageLadies@gmail.com.

For Rent in SE DC, 2BR, 1Bath Home for rent to either a couple/family or to singles wanting to house-share East of the Anacostia. Very cute colonial cottage on quiet one-way street. Partly furnished. Side porch, nice front yard. Friendly neighbors. Share laundry facilities in Basement. Owner lives in Basement. 1200.00 Available Jan 15, 2010. Interested? Please contact Cynthia: 703-371-3392, cryabbafather@yahoo.com.

Christian male looking for Efficiency or 1 BD apartment, preferably furnished, Eastern Market or other convenient location to the Red or Orange/Blue line, contact Alvin at alvinkleong@gmail.com.