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EL PASO, TX
May 2013
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Growing up in Minnesota, living in Austin TX, living in New Orleans, and living in Maryland, I have come to know some pretty strong winds. I remember one vacation our family was taking over in Wisconsin brought about some particular excitement. We, my family on my moms sideall eight of her brothers and sisters and grandma and grandpaand our family were fishing for a week. It was a kind of family tradition to rent out a resort for the whole week, see the sights around wherever we were, go fishing and see what we caught, and then have a big fish fry at the end of the week to celebrate our time together and look forward to the next time we would all be together. It was my sister Bridget and Is turn to go out in the boat with Mom and Dad, we took turns every night after dinner, and Bridget and I wanted to go and try fishing out by this island in the lake. We were out on the lake for about an hour. The whole time we were out there Bridget and I noticed this huge black cloud hanging over the tree line just to our right. It was odd to see a cloud that black, but everything seemed fine where we were, that is, until we saw this boat come speeding around the lake, the driver screaming and pointing towards the black cloud, tornado, tornado, tornado! Then it was like the Indy 500 as all the boats raced for the shore line not bothering to stop at the dock, just running the boats up onto the shore. We scrambled to the basement of the lodge, where we would have to ride it out and pray for the best. Along those same lines, but a different time altogether, I have seen trees snapped in half by straight line winds, homes blown to the ground by these same winds, communities strewn from here to kingdom come by the power of the wind, but it wasnt until we lived in El Paso that I think I have ever heard a sound like the blowing of a violent wind. I was in bed one night sleeping, a noise startled me, and I awoke to this whooshing sound swirling about our house. Of course I didnt really know what it was, and so that I could be sure it wasnt an intruder, I went and walked through the interior of the house. The noise filled the rooms, consumed the rooms even, with this whooshing sound. My ears rattled with this noise, my thoughts were being drowned out, and perhaps even swept away. It was like nothing I had heard before, or since, at least until this spring. Lukes account of the coming of the Holy Spirit is as contrary to Johns as could be. In Acts, Luke writes about this noise like a violent wind filling the room, flaming tongues resting on heads, and people talking in different languages as the Spirit gave them ability. John, on the other hand, simply has Jesus appearing to the disciples in the upper room and saying, Receive the Holy Spirit. There is a little more to the story, the point though, is that Johns story is quite picturesque and Lukes is filled with action, adventure, in(Continued on next page)
Passing the
Are We There Yet? Thoughts Along the Way by PJ
trigue, and noise. However the Spirit came, it came, and we have been marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit forever. The Spirit blows where it will and we are gifted to be blown by it. Like a kite on the wind we are dipping and diving, blowing and chasing, crashing and getting back up again: whythe Spirit leads us. And, I would like to believe that sometimes, God does, blow in our hearts, in our ears, like the sound of a violent wind, while at other times, perhaps, God whispers as peacefully as receive the Holy Spirit. One thing is for sure, though, we are gifted by the Holy Spirit to act. The disciples in Luke began speaking to folks in their native tongues, the disciples in John were told that if they retained the sins of any, they are retained, and if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. The Holy Spirit was given, and the people acted. So, what is it that God is asking you to do? Peace, Pr. Jon
The Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly was May 2-4th in Loveland CO. This is a note to pique your interest and let you know there will be reflections on the Assembly coming in the next newsletter.
Volume 2 Issue 5
In the Meantime
Hopefully you enjoy this. It is from a devotional entitled In the Meantime I love the audacity of John Donnes poem taking on death itself, unmasking it for what it is, challenging it in light of the resurrection. He gains his courage, I think, from the Apostle Paul, who invites Donne and all of us to see death along with all the other realities of this life in light of the resurrection. Which helps orient us to the centrality of Easter to the Christian faith. Resurrection is Gods new creation, Gods response to the realities of this world, Gods answer to all that would oppress or terrify us. Not that these things illness, disappointment, heartbreak, loneliness, and of course death arent hard. They are. But they are not the last word. And Donne knows that. My prayer for each of us during these seven weeks of Easter is not that we are spared all the heartaches of life because that is, of course, part of what makes us appreciate the good and beautiful as well but that we are not daunted by them, not discouraged to think they are the only reality, not cowed into shaping our lives to avoid what is difficult but rather are emboldened to look death in all of its many forms in the eye and say with Paul, with Donne, and ultimately with Christ, Death, be not proud.
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou thinkst thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and souls delivery. Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swellst thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally
Congratulations Alex!
It is with great pride and gratitude that Louise and Alex Bergdahl announce Alex's graduation from University of Arizona on May 9, 10, and 11. Alex is getting his 2 degrees in Chemical Engineering and Engineering Management. A huge thank you to everyone at our Peace Family who surrounded Alex with prayers, love and positive words of encouragement over all these years. You all have made such a positive impact on his life and we are ever so grateful for that. Thank you, Louise and Alex Bergdahl
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Passing the
Reflection
Luke 24:12 (Reflection by David Lose) I thought this something worthy of being passed on. I hope you enjoy it. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Sometimes I think that faith, at heart, is simply the capacity to wonder. There are, I think, two ways to approach this world: with knowledge the certainty of things that are and wonder the possibility of what things may be. Peter starts with the same knowledge the women started with the knowledge that dead is dead, that dead people arent raised, that the tomb is the last stop for all of us. And so he, along with the rest of the apostles, dismisses their testimony as nonsense. But there must have been something about what they said he couldnt let go of, something that kept pricking his memory and imagination. Because, all of a sudden and despite his sure knowledge about the finality of death, he goes running off to the tomb anyway to see what they saw. Luke doesnt tell us what he found there, but he does tell us that Peter leaves amazed at what happened. And its that quality the ability to
by David Lose
be amazed, to question assumptions, to be open to the new and different that is the mark, I think, of genuine faith. In fact, sometimes I think that Peter is the leader of the disciples simply because he has the capacity to wonder and to be amazed. Hes willing, that is, to ask the central question of faith: What if? Yes, we know death is the end, but what if. Sure, no one has ever been raised, but what if. I understand, our Lord and friend was crucified a criminal, but what if. From this point of view, What if, may just be the central question of faith. May we never stop asking it.
DEAR GOD, KEEP SURPRISING US WITH YOUR ACTION IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE WORLD, THAT WE MAY ALWAYS GREET THE GIFTS OF LIFE AND FAITH WITH WONDER AND GRATITUDE. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
Prayer Shawls are made by members of Peace to be given to anyone who is in need of prayer as a reminder that Gods love and power covers them in the midst of all things. This is an ongoing project. They are located in the basket in front of the altar in the sanctuary. Crocheting and knitting baby hats is a new project and also an ongoing project for Peace members and friends.
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i Bean
Ba s for
bies
We would like to continue to provide beanies to the Childrens Hospital. There will be a collection basket in the entryway they may be placed in. Patterns will be available. If you would like to learn how to make these darling little baby hats or prayer shawls, please contact the church office and if there is enough interest a class can be formed or you will be put in touch with someone to help you.
Volume 2 Issue 5
Organizational Change
I want to first say, Thank you, to Cleveland! She has been a joy to work with and a wealth of wisdom as I have been getting acclimated to Peace and the ministry we are doing together. I will miss you in the office, but am happy to know we will partner in ministry different ways as you continue to answer Gods calling in your life. Now, I would like to take a moment and introduce you to Hannah Drewes! Hannah will be taking over in the office and working with our youth starting in August. Please pray for her as she finishes her time with Border Servant Corps and begins her ministry with Peace. --PJ
to summer camps to mentoring and I have come to really enjoy working with youth of all ages. Their energy, joy, and questions give me a lot of hope. I was blessed with a next-to-perfect opportunity to join BSC and live in El Paso, where I have been able to continue doing youth ministry in a very multi-cultural environment. After a year and a half here, I have come to love this border community, with all its complexities and its unique feel, and I look forward to continuing my journey in this city. I love church, and I have hope that the whole Church will more fully grasp the Lifeover-death message of Christ and incarnate it in ways that are relevant and needed in our world and our society. I think youth can inspire change in their own lives and in the world and I am always grateful for opportunities to walk alongside
youth in their journeys of discovering who they are and who God is, and I am excited to see what this looks like at Peace. I am so grateful for an opportunity to work with Peace and offer my gifts to this community (gifts which also happen to include being a very organized person who loves office supplies and office work!). I am confident that God is calling me to stay in El Paso, and I am hopeful that Peace is where God will continue leading me in my own discernment journey of exploring a call to ministry, as well as being the place where God will continue using me to build bridges, form relationships, inspire change, and make the Gospel known. I thank you for this opportunity, and I am really looking forward to working together and becoming a part of the Peace community!
ONE OF MY MANY PASSIONS IS YOUTH MINISTRY, AND I HAVE HAD MANY EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH YOUTH IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS
Volume 2 Issue 5
Celebration of Christianity for the Rest of Us
May 12 will be our first large group meeting for all of us participating in the discussion of the book, Christianity for the Rest of Us. There will be no adult or new members classes that day as all will be invited to participate and celebrate what we have been talking about in our small groups. This will be a fun way for us to learn about what all of us are talking about in our small groups. Please plan to be in worship on May 12 and then stay for the discussion and celebration of the conversations we have been having! See you there!
MayJune Events
May 5th the Middle School and High School Youth will be climbing Mt. Cristo Rey. We will have lunch together after Sunday School and then travel to Mt. Cristo Rey to meet up with our friends from around the city, and then ascend to the top of mountain. Please where comfortable clothes and sunscreen and remember a water bottle!
Please also remember to let me know if you are able to help lead a station or be a guide, someone who leads the children from activity to activity, for Vacation Bible School. We will volunteer our time in the morning and then go out as a group in the afternoons to celebrate the work we have been doing! You wont want to miss it!
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You are Cordially Invited to Worship with us at Peace Worship Service every Sunday at 9am Children & Adult classes immediately following worship