A note from Pastor Bill: Vine Time has been a helpful conduit for assisting our younger (30’s – 50’s) leaders along on their spiritual journeys. It is, however, a small group of 10 or so and when half or more are out of town and/or are obligated elsewhere we have to reschedule. In our transition from Saturday to Wednesday we have run into that scenario. So we are cancelling our meeting on Wednesday, May 13, and rescheduling. Stay tuned for more details… Bill
Vine Time Fellowship
…is a group of ordinary Christians practicing the spiritual life together. We call ourselves a Christian covenant discipleship group because we believe in God and we believe in each other. We’re exploring a deeper level of personal sharing, discovering ways of loving neighbor, and participating in God’s transformation of the world. Our purpose as a small group within Parkrose United Methodist Church includes building bridges within our diverse, changing world. And we would love to have you join us.
And we’re moving from Saturdays to Wednesdays. Our first Wednesday gathering will be on May 13. In transition we will NOT meet this Saturday, May 9.
Wednesdays 6:30 – 8 p.m. Child Care Provided. (As soon as the weather clears up – surely it will – we plan to head outdoors and will spend our summer sessions at Knott Park, NE 117th between Sacramento and Knotts Street).
HOMEWORK
- Yes, you heard right! Because we’re not meeting this Saturday I would ask for a short response to the following request. Simply register, log-in and (click on Vine Time Fellowship on the panel at right) and weigh in. We’ll reflect on answers when we meet on May 13th. HOMEWORK due by the end of this week! Have some fun.
Here it is: We’re all on a faith journey. Some just starting out. Some well on their way. I once heard a pastor talking about the faith journey as a river, and her faithful sojourners at different places along the river. She used these categories to point to those places along The River of Faith:
- Checking out the scene
- Dipping your toes in
- Wading in the water
- Quiet waters
- Running the rapids
- Going deeper
Note: Although the River of Faith is a fun image to spur some sharing and conversation it is obviously not linear. There’s always lots of looping back and restarts in this faith jouney. Makes it interesting and hopeful.
Homework question: Where are you along the River of Faith? How would you describe where you are?
Comment away. Come check us out on May 13. Thanks.
Peace, Bill
5 responses so far ↓
1 Shannon // May 29, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Wading. So much to learn. Huge amounts of growing yet to do.
2 Pastor Bill // May 8, 2009 at 8:01 am
Robin writes this:
Beyond wading.
My comfort zone is the quiet waters but that they can become stagnant if I do not push myself to enter the rapids from time to time.
Shalom,
Robin
3 Pastor Bill // May 6, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Claire writes this:
Going Deeper.
Transformational, rich, overflowing with joy, celebrating, sharing, continuous opening of the heart and mind, seeing through & embracing fear with love more quickly and effortlessly, seeing more of the beauty of God in others, more grateful for the smallest of things, experiencing God’s grace more often, seeking opportunities to demonstrate God’s love and faith where my gifts can be of the greatest impact and use, designing my schooling and life by incorporating my spiritual life all together.
Paz,
Claire
4 Linda James // May 6, 2009 at 7:47 am
Wading. . . and fishing – I know there’s more out there. Am I brave enough to jump in and swim toward it? It feels safer to throw out a line with a hook; you know, bring the people to church. Vine Time is trying to get the church to go to the people – SWIM – there is a lifeguard on duty!
5 Pastor Bill // May 5, 2009 at 11:33 am
Wading in the water.
I find myself in new waters with our multi-cultural connections – excited and humbled.
Pastor Bill
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