Issue #5 - September 2006

Minister's Message

I am writing this as I sit on the porch of my cabin at Craig Springs Camp. I have been given a reprieve from all 68 kids at the moment ... thanks to my fellow counselors. It is a beautiful day here. The katydids (that is what I have always heard them called) are hollering in the background while the sun beats down. It is supposed to be the hottest day of all this week. I heard it would be 104 in New York ... nearly 100 here. But, every day has been hot. So, there are a lot of box fans joining the katydids in this camp symphony. Everything seems to be in harmony. Even the screams from the pool are perfectly pitched and timed.

I couldn't help but sit down and write. Inspiration can come when you least expect it. And it often brings a good dose of humility along with it. Such has been the case today.

There are kids from a lot of different places in Virginia here ... Norfolk, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Richmond, and Madison Flats. There are more girls than boys. I have found that some of the kids are very personable and friendly, while others are still cliquish and maybe even borderline mean. Some of these kids have been in church all of their lives, while some don't know what the word "worship" means. There are redheads, blonds, brunettes, shaved heads, and the whole range here. One girl loves horses ... in fact, everyone just calls her "Horse Girl." There are two boys who do everything together: get the same haircut, play the same sports, and change clothes A LOT (people jokingly call them the "Change-A-Lot Twins").

Despite all of these differences that I have found in these kids, I have found one thing to be constantly the same: sin. Well, not sin in the way us adults often fashion it. These kids do not abuse alcohol, steal money, beat people up, or the other things us adults are prone to do. But, they have their own share of sins. I wish I had a dollar for every time I had to yell, "Be Quiet!" They take off without asking permission, have food in their room when it is prohibited, call each other names, spit on each other, break the screen doors, push people in at the pool, throw their trash on the ground, and much more.

I was particularly struck by the actions of one kid. One of his roommates came to tell me that he had kicked someone in the head. I made him leave the room and sit outside with me. I asked him why he kicked this person. The answer was honest and simple, "He made me mad." I explained to him that I understood ... we all get mad. But, kicking someone upside their noodle was not the appropriate response and that when he got mad he should take a walk and think before he responds. I thought it was all better. A few hours later I was back in the room for an attempted punch on another roommate. Sitting back on the same steps, I had to ask again, "Why? Why were you trying to punch this other kid?" Being a man of consistency he said, "I guess he just made me mad." I was dumbfounded. Didn't I just tell him a few hours ago that violence was not the right response, especially at a camp where the theme was "Peace?"

At 10 that same night we had a pool party where the kids could swim in the dark. What could go wrong? The lifeguard had made the rules very clear: No running or you will not get in the pool. She even made all of the kids repeat the rule ... they all yelled, "No running at the pool!" To err on the side of caution, the lifeguard even told them as they were walking in the gate, "Remember, don't run!" I couldn't believe what I saw. Two seconds after this final warning, the same kid that thought he was Rocky Balboa took off running. His pool privileges were gone.

I have to confess that at that moment I thought, "What is wrong with this kid?" He just doesn't seem to get it. He makes his own life hard because he won't listen.

As I read the scriptures from the lectionary from this week that good dose of humility that I was telling you about came to visit me. Suddenly, I began to recall many of the mistakes I have made in my life ... and continue to make.

There is a song that starts out like this: "When I counted up my demons, I found that there was one for every day." It is true, I have made so many mistakes. I get angry in traffic. When people jump in front of me at the grocery store I am not thinking gentle thoughts. And I still find that I have a selfish streak at times.

I am not sure why that kid kept on getting in trouble at camp, but I suspect it is the same reason that I keep messing up in my own life. It's probably the same reason that we all still make mistakes. We are a sinful bunch of folks. There is no doubt about it. Even when we know what is best for ourselves, we often do the wrong thing. As it turned out, his mistakes were just more visible than mine. He and I were brothers in sin all along.

In the 51st Psalm, the Psalmist clearly identifies with this sinful nature that we possess. This Psalm is a wonderful example of a contrite heart ... someone who is just trying to get back on the right track in life. I have never said it so eloquently, but this is basically the prayer that I say when I feel the guilt of my sins. All I want is to know that God still loves me and will help me to make a few less mistakes.

Luckily, God is bent towards forgiveness. Nobody knows the creation better than the Creator. God knows our faults, quirks, and sins. This same God continues to forgive us, regardless of how hard-headed we can be.

This morning at breakfast I was sitting at a table with the kid who had done the punching, kicking, and running yesterday. I was surprised. He slid down two chairs to sit beside me. I think that he just wanted to know that I still liked him. I think that he wanted me to know that he would try to listen to my directions a little better in the future. I couldn't help but smile. He seemed to understand the most important line in the scripture for today: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Sustain in me a willing spirit." Amen.

~ Matthew

Light a Candle for Children

Light a Candle for Children is an advocacy and prayer vigil project that invites congregations to join in Forty Days of Prayer for Children. It begins forty days prior to the observance of the National Children's Sabbaths (sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, Washington, D.C.).

During these Sabbath celebrations, held annually on the third weekend of October, thousands of congregations unite simultaneously in witness for children through prayer, education, and worship.

Once again, our congregation will be observing the Light a Candle for Children service that so many other congregations are taking part in. However, this year we will observe this occasion for all forty days on each Sunday from September 10 to October 22. During this time, make a special effort to pray for the children of our church, in Louisa, and everywhere else.

Schedules

Acolytes

September: Amber and Corey
October: David and Abbie
November: Fairlyte and Shawn
December: No one as of now

Nursery

September Adult:
Steff Throckmorton 17th
Need help - 3d, 10th, & 24th

September Youth:
Emily T. 14th & 21st
Need help

October Adult:
Steff Throckmorton 22nd & 29th
Need help - 1st, 8th, & 15th

October Youth:
Need help

A Great Joke

Dentist's Hymn: "Crown Him with Many Crowns"
Contractor's Hymn: "The Church's One Foundation"
Weatherman's Hymn: "There Shall Be Showers of Blessing"
Optometrist's Hymn: "Open My Eyes That I May See"
Tailor's Hymn: "Holy, Holy, Holy"
IRS's Hymn: "All to Thee"
Shopper's Hymn: "By and By"

Lectionary

September 3, 2006
Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 or Psalm 72
James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

September 10, 2006
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125 or Psalm 124
James 2:1-10, 11-13, 14-17; Mark 7:24-37

September 17, 2006
Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19
James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

September 24, 2006
Proverbs 31:10-31; Psalm 1
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37

Take a moment and read these scriptures each week!

Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Youth Activities

Worship

Sunday School every Sunday at 10 AM
Worship Service following at 11 AM
Prayer Service each Wednesday at noon

Every Wednesday we offer a Bible Study at 10:30 AM and 6:30 PM
Community Youth Night every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:15 PM

Louisa Christian Church
P.O. Box 1344
104 Elm Avenue
Louisa, VA 23093

www.louisachristianchurch.org

Rev. Burnette: 540-967-4884
Email

Rev. Ricks: 804-683-3537
Email

Newsletters