"...and not a stranger"
Yesterday was the memorial service for Jeff Glenn. As expected it was not a somber occasion but a celebration of both Jeff's life on earth and his new life where he experiences God's presence in a way that we can't fully imagine. It was a very special time. Steve Brummer led the congregation in two worship songs that seemed a bit out of place in a funeral service. However, they fit Jeff's service perfectly as they were songs of loudest praise to God.
There is no doubt that Jeff is in heaven. We can try to glimpse it in our minds but ultimately we have to rely upon Scripture to give us an adequate sense of what it will be like. The following is an excerpt from the
Book of Common Prayer and it puts the truth about the joy of our passing into beautiful words.
"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.
After my awaking, he will raise me up;
and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him
who is my friend and not a stranger."Not a stranger indeed.
Scripture for Sept 30
We are going to continue our discussion from last week about the Lord's Prayer. So, re-read the passage from last week and ponder these questions as we proceed:
1) How often are we to pray the Lord's Prayer and in what context?
2) Is this prayer a "model" for us to follow as we create our own "original" prayers? Or, is it a prayer we are to pray verbatim rather than relying upon our own words?The Psalm for the week:
146:4-9The Scripture for our teaching time:
Matthew 6:5-15
Eeechkk!!!...I need your help
Many of you know that I am an avid Mac user. This is not because I understand how computers work and have a means of judging the difference between PC and Mac. The bottom line is that I just think Mac's are cool. (cooler?)
Anyway, while adding new e-mail addresses to my address book something happened. The swirling rainbow wheel popped up (For those of you who use Mac's you know what I am talking about. For PC users, this is the closest thing to the PC "blue screen of death". It means that the program is not responding.) I did a force quit and re-started the program. It came back on with only one address in it, mine.
I already know my address!!!So, you see where this is going? If you read this would you please send me your e-mail address so I can replace it in our e-mail list. Fortunately, I do have a hard copy of most of our addresses. But, if you have only recently given us your address or, if your address has changed or you want to add a new one, please send it my way.
As always, my address is:
paul@wheatlandmission.comThanks for indulging me in my MacRant.
New Address
The post office box that we have used for the last several months will be going away soon. For those of you who want to continue mailing your contributions to the Wheatland Mission you can send them to our office address below. Please keep in mind that the time it takes to get your checks deposited, when mailed, is a bit longer than when brought to our Saturday night gathering. Thanks.
The Wheatland Mission
322 S. Mosley, Suite 14
Wichita, KS 67202don't forget our e-mail address:
paul@wheatlandmission.com
Treasure of the Broken Land
I had promised in my last post to provide you with the information regarding a college fund that is being established for Jeff Glenn's children, Gaston and Jama. If you would like to contribute you can do so through Intrust Bank here in Wichita. Jeff's memorial service is going to be Wednesday at 3:00 PM in the sanctuary of Central Christian Church.
Whenever someone I know or love has died I always think of the singer/songwriter Mark Heard who himself died in 1992. He never enjoyed a great deal of popularity but his songs were recorded by many different artists as diverse as Rich Mullins ("How To Grow Up Big and Strong") to Olivia Newton John. Mark Heard died young much like Jeff. He left behind his wife and young children much like Jeff. His positive impact on the world is still being felt, some 14 years after his loss, and I honestly believe the same will be true of Jeff too. God works in unique ways through all of us but his handiwork in these two lives will always be with us, even as works of art.
TREASURE OF THE BROKEN LANDI see you now and then in dreams
Your voice sounds just like it used to
I know you better than I knew you then
All I can say is I love you
I thought our days were commonplace
Thought they would number in millions
Now there's only the aftertaste
Of circumstance that can't pass this way again
Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth, give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bones
I saw the city at its tortured worst
And you were outside the walls there
You were relieved of a lifelong thirst
I was dry at the fountain
I knew that you could see my shame
But you were eyeless and sparing
I awoke when you called my name
I felt the curtain tearing
Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bones
I can melt the clock hands down
But only in my memory
Nobody gets the second chance to be the friend they meant to be
I see you now and then in dreams
Your voice sounds just like it used to
I believe I will hear it again
Oh, how I love you
Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bonesYou can purchase this song on iTunes recorded by Chagall Gueverra. I couldn't find Mark's version.
Jeff
Dear Wheatland friends,
Many of you know Jeff and Claudette Glenn and many more of you have been praying for him as he deals with the final stages of pancreatic cancer. I am sad to announce that Jeff did succomb to the cancer that was discovered just a month ago. You can send words of encouragement by visiting Jeff's care page site at carepages.com. (You'll have to log in and create an account. It is very easy and can be done in just a minutes.)
There is a fund being put together to help the Glenn children with college funds. When I have the appropriate information I will pass it on to the Wheatland crowd in case any of you would like to contribute.
Needless to say, pray for Claudette, Gaston and Jama. Rejoice for Jeff. While we mourn we do well to remember that Jeff has received his reward.
Peace to you,
Paul
Prayer: In Our Own Words
Scripture for this week: Matthew 5:5-15Do you ever enter a time of prayer only to discover that you don't really have much to say to God? Maybe it is the fact that you are a bit overwhelmed by your life or perhaps you are trying to resolve some questions that you have and just can't bring yourself to say what you need to. Sometimes we are angry at God, or at least at the circumstances in our life, and just can't bring ourselves to spit out what is going on inside of us.
What do you do when you don't have the words? This weekend we'll talk a bit about this and discuss some of Jesus' ideas about prayer. Feel free to share some of the things you have done or experienced in your prayer life in the comment section below.
Faces of Jesus...Christ by Rublev
Due to technical difficulties or operator inability (that operator would be Paul) I was unable to display this image during our teaching time this weekend. Here it is for your enjoyment. One thing Rublev tried to display when creating this icon is the fact that Jesus was truly human. As Christians we acknowledge Jesus is both God and man but we sometimes take his humanity for granted. We don't take his limitations seriously nor the struggles, normal aches and pains of everyday life, that Jesus undoubtedly confronted.
When we are confronted with what seem to be the unbearable limits of our humanity we can take comfort that Jesus, the human being, dealt with the same thing.
Local and Ordinary
"The way of Jesus is always local and ordinary." - Eugene PetersonIf you want to get really "local" and really "ordinary" come join us tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 to set up chairs at the new Wheatland Mission worship gathering space. (It is still called the Foundry and it meets at 11801 E. Lincoln.
Wheatland Mission's New Location!
The Wheatland Mission is worshipping in a new place this weekend! We will continue leasing space from the Foundry who have moved to their new location at: 11801 E Lincoln St., Wichita, KS 67207.
Directions to Wheatland's new worship space: From Kellogg and Greenwich go south to Lincoln and turn east. Go one/half mile until you see signs for "The Foundry". Enter parking lot from the north. From K-96 and Kellogg go West to Greenwich and turn south (left) proceed to Lincoln and go east.
You Want To Help Tonight! (Wednesday)
If you are available to help move the Foundry and the Wheatland Mission meet at the old Foundry location - 1845 S. Rock Road - at 6:30. If you can't come till later call me at 992-1540 to discover where the group is (old or new location). Thanks...
Let's Help Tomorrow Night
Hello Fellow Wheatland Missionaries!
The work party for helping out the Foundry with the move will begin at 6:30pm. Please meet at the South Rock Road facility. There will be two activities we will be helping with: begin moving items from the old facility to the new one near Lincoln and Greenwich; and pulling all existing sound and video wires from the old facility in preparation for re-installation to the new facility.
The Foundry is supplying a truck and trailer for moving items. Please come prepared to assist with one of these two activities.
As there is most likely more work to do than one evening will allow, so please consider helping another evening this week in preparation for our first worship service at the new facility on Saturday!
Thank you very much and we will see you tomorrow evening!
God Bless!
Dinner and Promotion
This Saturday night we will be having our community wide meal. This is a great time to get to one another more, enjoy each other's company and celebrate together. Our Friday night house church will be hosting but we need each family to bring a dessert to share with one another.
Also, we will have a special promotion time for our elementary kids who are moving up to middle school. You won't want to miss this special time of prayer and encouragement for these young folks.
This Weekend...
Believe it or not this coming Saturday will be the last night we gather for worship at the facility on S. Rock Rd. Starting September 16 we will begin meeting, at the same time, at the Foundry's new facility on East Lincoln. I will be send more specific directions, including a map soon.
Also, this coming weekend we will have a meal together hosted by our Friday night house church. We will begin eating at 5:00 and have dessert after our worship time. Also, this weekend is our family gathering too.
Calana, the kids and I are all now living in the new house. Thanks to all of you who have helped us move by bringing meals, cleaning, painting and (of course) lifting heavy items. Your help was a great encouragement to us. Also, thanks for the house warming gifts and the great party last Saturday.
My e-mail availability will be a bit sporadic until we get wireless up and running at our house next week. If you do want to e-mail me you can do so at the regular Wheatland address or you can e-mail my phone at paullynnhill@tmo.blackberry.net.
Community Dinner Next Sat @ 5:00 PM!
I trust you are all having a great holiday weekend. For those of you who are traveling, be safe and have fun. For those of you sticking around this weekend do the same, and, if you are dying to move some heavy furniture you can come to our home in Bel Aire Monday to help us move. :]
More importantly, however, I want to invite and/or remind you of our community dinner next Saturday night. Our meal is being hosted by our Friday night house church and we will begin eating by 5:00. Our actual worship time will start later, about 5:45 and we will end our evening with dessert around 6:45. This will be a great time of fellowship and a great opportunity to get to know one another better. Many of you know folks who are interested in the Wheatland Mission and this might be a great opportunity for your to introduce them to our church family.
We will meat and eat at our current location on S. Rock Rd. Our first worship service in the new facility will be September 16.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you tomorrow. Peace to you....
