Shenandoah District Connection
Wind of the Spirit,
What Does This Mean?
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"Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
(Rom. 12:2, NIV).
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From the Desk of District Executive Minister John Jantzi
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WIND OF THE SPIRIT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This meditation is another in the series of reflections leading up to Pentecost Sunday. The theme is taken from
Acts 2:12,
where the question was asked, “what does this mean,” by those who observed the coming of the Holy Spirit. The coming reflections will include a variety of folk throughout the District.
Brethren Woods made an announcement last Friday about the camping programs this summer.
Click here
to view the statement.
Please note the additional links and resources below developed for the reopening of churches in a time of pandemic. If you have any questions about these items, please contact Shenandoah District Executive Minister
John Jantzi
.
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3) Northern Plains District Executive
Tim-Button-Harrison provided this
Guide to Faithful Discernment
, which was produced by Presbyterians in Iowa.
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L: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
P: Holy and pleasing to God—
L: This is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
P: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
L: Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
P: His good, pleasing and perfect will.
A: AMEN.
Romans 12:1-2
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During this extended time of being at home, socially apart from many of our friends and family, my husband and I were busy cutting fabric for face masks my sister-in-law was making. On one of our last trips to pick up fabric from her, she gave us a new pattern to use. We had had several pattern changes prior to this, so when we got home, we marked the new pattern to make certain we used the correct one for this cutting.
As I worked and thought about patterns, the words of a hymn came to mind:
Sweet are the promises,
kind is the word,
Dearer far than any message man ever heard;
Pure was the mind of Christ,
sinless was He,
He the great example is and pattern for me.
I was reminded of how wonderful it is to have a pattern outlined in the scriptures, one that does not change. We always know what our pattern looks like for Christian living, through the writings of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. Chapter 12, verse 2 of Romans warns of another pattern, that of the world: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Through this time of social distancing, we've been given the opportunity to look at and examine the pattern we are following. Are we following the pattern of the world, or are we spending time renewing our minds to more closely follow the perfect pattern given us through the life and teaching of Jesus? The second verse in this hymn encourages us in those moments when we falter and use the wrong pattern:
Sweet is the tender love
Jesus hath shown,
Sweeter far than any love that mortals have known;
Kind to the erring one,
Faithful is He;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.
Someone recently raised the
question
, "Have we just pressed the 'pause' button with the hopes of restarting right where we left off, or should we push the 'reset' button and rethink our former priorities and move in a more Christlike pattern?" The answer may lie in the chorus of the
hymn
:
Where He leads I'll follow,
follow all the way;
Where He leads I'll follow;
Follow Jesus every day.
In the same way my husband and I
marked the new pattern to make certain we used the correct one for cutting facemasks, may we all examine and choose the best pattern for our lives after reopening. "Where He leads I'll follow...Follow Jesus every day," l
et this be our response!
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"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality" (Romans 12:8-13).
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We remember the family of Mt. Zion-Linville Pastor Jonathan Prater and his wife, Jess, as they grieve the loss of Jess' father, Frank Feher.
We continue to pray for Tim Sites during his continued hospitalization. Tim is interim pastor at Leake’s Chapel.
Prayers also continue for Jack Haddock, pastor of Trinity, as he recovers at home from a recent hospitalization.
Prayers are requested for Dot Mellott as she is hospitalized at Martha Jefferson. Dot is interim pastor at Waynesboro Church of the Brethren.
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Attributions
Today's Meditation
submitted by:
Karen Shiflet
Member, Mt. Bethel Church of the Brethren
Member, Standing Committee
Call to Worship and Benediction submitted by:
Brenda Sanford Diehl
Member, Calvary Church of the Brethren
Director of Communications
Shenandoah District
Sources:
Today's photo courtesy of Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren Disaster Auction, 2019; quilt by Mt. Zion Luray.
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If you have questions about the Daily Connection, contact:
Director of Communications
Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren
P.O. Box 67
Weyers Cave, Va. 24486
(540) 234-8555
www.shencob.org
(Graphics courtesy of pixabay.com, unless otherwise stated)
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