Simplicity Blog

During Lent, Salem Presbyterian Church will immerse itself in seven spiritual practices.  We will focus on the disciplines of Prayer, Hospitality, Worship, Simplicity, Fasting, Forgiveness, and Dying Well.  Different people in the congregation have been asked to lead a Sunday School class focusing on the spiritual practice of the week.  From the pulpit, Will and I will preach on that spiritual practice.

Chip Donahue has agreed to lead the class on Simplicity.  It has spurred him to create a blog as he prepares for this class.  So far, it looks great and is inspiring.  I encouarge you to check it out! 
http://30simpledays.blogspot.com/. 

Also, please come to Sunday School at Salem Presbyterian Church from 9:30-10:30 to soak in some learning, some conversation, and some challenge that will add meaning to this upcoming season of Lent.

Blessings,
Janet

This I Believe (Day 4)

We are in the midst of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In Salem, 12 churches of different denominations have agreed to host a half hour prayer service at either noon or in the evening. I have not been able to attend all of them, but I have made it to several. It is wonderful to worship and pray with people of many denominations. So, I've been thinking a lot about prayer. The essay today is from Sister Helen Prejean, a nun and spiritual advisor to death row inmates. I hope her words help you to think about what you believe! For her, what she believes has to do with what she does. http://thisibelieve.org/essay/38707/

~Janet

This I Believe (Day 3)

RoundTable, our mid-week program for children and youth, has a fun theme each night.  Tonight was "Firehouse."  We ate chili and then we got to meet firefighters, climb through the firetruck, and play with Sparky the fire dog.  It was a great night! 

It was the activities with the children and youth that prompted me to look up a "This I Believe" story about firefighters.  There were many, but I chose to share this one:  http://thisibelieve.org/essay/964/.  What do you believe?

~Janet

"This I Believe" (Day 2)

It is important to reflect on what we believe.  Our beliefs may change as we mature or encounter new ideas.  I invite you to reflect some on what you believe.  Start making a list.  Dare to share that list!  There are some stories on NPR (www.thisibelieve.org) that might start you thinking.  Here's one for today that was written in 1951.  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5070736.  It's amazing how much life DOESN'T change!

~Janet

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

For those of you who were together for Sunday School class yesterday, thank you for your input, your conversation, and your willingness to think a little!  For those of you who were not there, you still have two weeks left to think with us on "This I Believe."

Our time on Sunday was mostly filled with discussion about The Apostles' Creed.  However, I was hoping to time things right to be able to share some essays from the NPR "This I Believe" program.
I encourage you to skim through the different topics and essays this week and find some of your favorites.  www.thisibelieve.org.  I'm going to try to send you one a day all this week.

The one I picked out today is a reflection spurred on by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:  http://thisibelieve.org/essay/26538/
Enjoy!

Janet