RAMBLING WITH RUSS

OCTOBER 2011

     Social isolation and anonymity are two factors that made the terrorist raids on September 11, 2001 possible according to Captain Miguel Rosario SDPD when he spoke to us on September 11^th.   He pointed out that those who carried out the raids had lived among us for years yet no one picked up the phone or raised a question that might have alerted Law Enforcement authorities to the possible threat.

     In other words no one was paying attention to their neighbor.  What do the scriptures and Jesus tell us about our neighbor?  Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31 and others say we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  “But who is my neighbor?”  If we look at Jesus’ goal statement as found in Luke when he started his ministry in Nazareth we see that our neighbors include the poor, the hungry, the sick, the blind, the prisoner, and that we have chosen to identify with this Jesus and his ministry.  During the black-out on September 8^th I heard radio announcers repeatedly suggesting that we check on our neighbors who may be elderly or alone, ill or vulnerable in any way.  What a good suggestion!  Maybe we should be acting on this advice more often.  We would all be less isolated, less anonymous, and less vulnerable to disaster, tragedy and even crime.

     Community membership is free and yet the more we relate to one another and to the God who has given us life the more we will hear the call toward our neighbors who need our loving graceful mercy.  On October 23^rd following our shared community worship we will gather around our community tables and learn about the ministry of your church family.  Then we will gather for a sharing of your food gifts and learn about the work and vision for the future of our servants of Christ.  That by the way is you, you are Christ’s servant in this community, where you live, work and play.

     We will have a concert this month, “DRUMS!” we will have celebrate the Saints of the Christian movement on Oct. 30^th and we will be a blessing to one another as we discover the call to join the Christ in mission.

Blessings,

Russ

Fall greetings, NUMC family!

                I have been thinking a lot lately about 2 of my favorite movies: “Field of Dreams,” and “Music of the Heart.” (If you haven’t seen either, I highly recommend you do!).  “Music of the Heart” is based on an inspiring true story about a strings teacher who pioneered a very successful, though challenging, violin program in the public schools of Harlem, NY. She has successfully taught hundreds (if not thousands) of under-privileged students the discipline and joy of playing music.  In “Field of Dreams” a struggling farmer in Iowa is urged by an inner voice to tear down part of his corn field and build a baseball field in its place.  Despite the nay-sayers (who think he’s loosing his marbles!), he stays the course and gambles on the promise, “If you build it, they will come.”

                My meditations over the last few months have led me to question whether or not I have the courage, stamina and faith (like the violin teacher found in herself) to help make CCFA succeed. Likewise, the phrase that has been echoing in the back of  my mind for the last year is:  “If we build CCFA at Nestor Church, will they come?”

                I am ecstatic to report to you that they are coming!!!  Our goal for this fall enrollment was 75 students.  At this time, we have enrolled 107 students in our classes!!! (Some of those have even enrolled for multiple classes, bringing our total to 134).  Our teachers who so graciously stayed with us during the slim first months with 2-3 students per class are being rewarded with class sizes bursting with 12-20 students!  How blessed we have been - and are being!

                Our next concert will feature the Bousso African Dance & Drum Ensemble on Sunday, October 16 at 3:00 PM (If you were able to attend the summer camp performance last August you will remember Ben Swearingen who is a member of this group).  At 4:00 everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the drumming expo during which the drums and dancing will be open for all to try! We hope you come and bring a friend to this exciting event.

                Many thanks - Tina sayers                               

The next UMW meeting will be Saturday October 15^th at 9:45.

Mark your calendars for November 12^th 2-7pm.  This will be our annual UMW Bazaar.  Multiple types of merchandise will be for sale.  Our quilters will have their usual booth.  We are also working on plans for involving kids so mom can shop while kids enjoy face painting and other activities.  We will be asking for extra help from our church attenders.  Lists will be in upcoming bulletins. Our dinner will be catered by our neighborhood Mexican restaurant.

Doris Wienk