REFLECTIONS – Finding the Picture

In truth, I am a library-dweller. Passing through this door, for me, has the comforts of being home. There is a familiar place to park my coat. To check the mail or listen for call backs, I move to the new book section, or thumb through the magazines. This is good, this is where I belong.

When surveying the new book section, I cover all the categories, for surprises may be lurking everywhere. Recently, I picked up “The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions”. It lived up to this promo line – “optical illusions that will dazzle your eyes and boggle your mind.”

This book brought to mind the game my wife and I play when gifted with a puffy cloud day; what figures or animals lie hidden in the clouds? While studying “The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions”, not every image appeared quickly [if at all]. Sometimes, I found it necessary to tilt, or tip the page, in hopes that the image would appear. Tilting or tipping my perspective was often needed when playing with clouds.

We are approaching the season of Lent, starting on Ash Wednesday, February 17^th.  This is a tilting and tipping time. Here we head towards those really tough words; deception, betrayal, denial and death.

To tip what is happening for us in this season of honest examination, our services of worship will provide a focus on confession. To tilt what is happening, and could happen instead, our worship will center in on a responsive prayer of intercession and thanksgiving. A visual symbol will remind us of the central theme of our service, and our lives: wilderness [2/21]; water [2/28]; cross [3/7]; light [3/14]; wheat [3/21]. Each Sunday, there will be a take-home sheet for daily reflection and prayer.

Come to Lent, and let us tilt and tip, so that we join with each other in God’s company in finding and making real the lines of life’s pictures.

Len Rowell  

...........................................................................................................................

Our Mission:                                   
The mission of the Richmond Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is to encourage the spiritual growth, personal peace, and well being of all who seek relationship with God through the Christian faith by providing a safe, open, non-judgmental and nurturing atmosphere. We will provide community and mutual support through Christian fellowship and be instruments of peace and justice by reaching out to those in need and by being good stewards of the world through action and example.

 If you would like a visit from the pastor, or to receive the church newsletter, please call the church office at 434-2053 or e-mail us at church@rccucc.org  (see "contact us" link above)