Now the Story

by Thomas Kleinert

The little boat has served us faithfully. We got on board in the spring of last year, and the Spirit of God blew across the sails – gently sometimes, forcefully occasionally, always pulling us forward.

We gathered in groups of various sizes, heard presentations and shared comments, and then we met in groups of three for one hundred days. How surprised we were to find this portion of the journey to be the single most rewarding!

All the insights and discoveries, all the thoughts, hopes and dreams were harvested – no, not to be stored in a pretty barn. Like grapes become wine and wheat becomes bread, the harvest of our conversations and prayers has become a story. Are you curious?

On Sunday, April 26, during our Spring Luncheon, we will present “Vine Street 2019,” our future story. This is not only a premier you don’t want to miss; it is a sacramental moment: it is the embodiment of our work and prayer of an entire year, it is the call we have heard.

THE COURAGE TO FIND A LOVE SUPREME

Wednesday, April 29 from 7:30 to 8:30

by Steve Mason, Ministerial Intern

Come experience worship and music in a way that you never have before.

Our time together will center on a full listening of John Coltrane’s masterpiece “A Love Supreme” while partaking of experiential worship stations that will allow you to explore the various ways that you can reflect on and respond to this tour de force of jazz. 

Each movement of the piece is balanced with corresponding worship stations that will give you various ways to think about the music and get involved in the process of liturgical reflection. 

Participate in a worship service that gives you creative license to name the ways you encounter the Divine with reading, writing, drawing, painting, moving and sharing in the experience. 

For those of you who love church camp experiences and figure those kind of worship experiences could never happen within the walls of a church, this is for you.  Bring the kids, the adults, those who love jazz and those who are theologians to the core—all are welcome to this unique experience!                    

The lens for our worship will be modern theologian Paul Tillich who encouraged a fluid interaction between culture and the religious sphere while fundamentally challenging such language. 

Bringing together these two 20th Century titans that shaped our thinking and living should result in a wonderful moment for all involved.