Glimpses of a Year Gone By St. Croix Vineyard, Peter Fitch Sunday, December 29, 2013

The Playfulness of God Understanding “thin place” in a new way... Who gets to play? (Learning to Interpret Toward Love, p. 54) Add John 4:23 and 14:23

Spiral Cake!

Ideas from prayer Beehive... (many tasks by different people; some in, some out) Not quite ready for prime-time... (rope holding ship to dock, brake on dog sled) Baseball... (hit a homerun in kindness, in welcoming people, in welcoming God, and in explaining to others what we do, and God will be pleased)

Ideas from peter & walter Four stage theory of Christian growth – Not-caring – Rules-based – Breaking-out – Embracing mystery

Problems with this model – Arrogance – Elitism – No sure place to stand

Better Way Perhaps these do correspond with our developmental phases, but really they represent needs that all of us have at all stages of life – Belonging – Commitment & guidance – Space for questions & doubt – Opportunities for contemplation and growth in healthy forms of mystical experience

Ideas from isaiah 62:10-12 (Message) Walk out of the gates. Get going! Get the road ready for the people. Build the highway. Get at it! Clear the debris, hoist high a flag, a signal to all peoples! Yes! God has broadcast to all the world: “Tell daughter Zion, ‘Look! Your Savior comes, Ready to do what he said he’d do, prepared to complete what he promised.’” Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God-Redeemed, Sought-Out, City-Not- Forsaken.

Every 500 Years Roman Empire (Greek influence, growing influence of Christianity) Dark time, chaos, with a backbone of monasticism (spread of education) Growth of artistic influence in Renaissance Reformation and printing press (growth of science and industrialization) Internet, globalization (growth of justice?)

2 Things to be Skeptical Of Church Leaving Church behind Need to figure out how to do church in each new period Perhaps this is SCV’s role, part of an advance guard heading into the future Both new books seem to be part of this

As we transition... Respect for past, courage for future Remember to honour God above all else Remember to make room for Him in your life Remember to love people as people, each as important as you are