Be a YAV

I just had a wonderful visit with Linda Carter, who is the Mission Engagement Advisor with YAV.  What is YAV? Young Adult Volunteer Program, which is our PCUSA way of doing something similar to Americorp and Peace Corp, funded by federal dollars.  This is a program for young folks between the ages of 19-30 who are antsy to do some volunteer work in the name of Jesus, working with others here or abroad.

The website for this great organization within the church? www.pcusa.org/yav.

Contact me if you'd like to know more!

Pax!  Pastor B

Being a Pilgrim People: Pilgrimage and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Ecclesio.com

To no one's surprise here at St. Andrew's, I approach ministry in particular and life in general as a pilgrimage. Writing on pilgrimage over the years, in 1999 I went on my first pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayo in northern NM, and nothing has been the same ever since.

For this past week, I've been blogging about pilgrimage on Ecclesio.com.

The entries are as follows:

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-whats-a-pilgrimage-by-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-companions-and-community-on-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-saints-and-memory-on-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-hospitality-on-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

http://www.ecclesio.com/2015/04/being-gods-pilgrim-people-the-contemplative-life-of-christian-pilgrimage-brett-webb-mitchell/

In re-reading these, I'm surprised (not) at the influence of Chimayo and the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

One more tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Pax, Pastor B

First Tuesday of Easter

How time flies when we are having fun, right?

This is the first Tuesday of Easter.  I am overwhelmed by the reverberation of worship on Easter Sunday.

The question is always this: what happens after the feelings ebb and the tide is low in the area of faith?

Spiritual writer Henri Nouwen writes: "Trees that grow tall have deep roots.  Great height without great depth is dangerous.  The great leaders of this world, like St. Francis and MLK, Mr., were all people who could live with public notoriety, incluence and power in a humble way because of their deep spiritual rootedness."

Feeling for my roots today.

Blessings!

Pastor B

Maundy Thursday

Where does the word "Maundy" come from, and what does it mean?

Maundy comes from the old French "mande" from Latin "mandatum" as in "mandate." And the mandate was Jesus telling his disciples after washing their feet: "I give you a new commandment (or mandate) that you should love one another" (John 13:34).

Maundy Thursday at St. Andrew's will be commemorated tonight in  Calvin Hall at 6:30-7:30 p.m., with a simple meal of beans and rice that flows into Holy Communion.

Maundy Thursday blessings!

Pastor Brett & Pastor Jeremy

Holy Week Readings

For Passion or Holy Week, here are some readings after Palm or Passion Sunday:

Monday:
Is. 42:1-9
 Ps. 36: 5-11
Heb. 9:11-15
John 12:1-11

Tues:
Is. 49:1-7
Ps. 71:1-14
1 Cor. 1:18-31
John 12:20-36

Wed.:
Is. 50:4-9a
Ps. 70
Heb. 12:1-3
John 13: 21-32

Thursday
Ex. 12:1-4, 11-14
Ps. 116
1 Cor. 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday
Is. 52:13-53:12
Ps. 22
Hebr. 4:14-16, 5:7-9
John 18:-19:42

Blessings,

B