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News from
Pastor Denis Eucalyptus
December 2009
A Season of Advent "Open Before Christmas
A Pastoral Note
The season of Advent encourages a heightened
sense of expectation, not unlike pregnancy, something
wonderful is coming! God is going to set things right.
I suppose that just waiting for it to come,
looking for it to come, praying for it to come and looking
forward with open hands is not a bad stance to take. But
their passive approach is not Jesus’ approach, and it is not
his teaching for those who would follow him. Jesus invites
us into a new kind of life, gifted by God’s loving presence,
the Holy Spirit. We are challenged to open these gifts and
to use them now, while we are waiting with expectation.
Hence, our advent theme: “Open Before Christmas”.
There is a tradition that certain Christmas
gifts are to be opened before Christmas because these gifts
are meant to enhance these holy days. Likewise, during these
four weeks of Advent we will look upon four gifts meant to
be opened now: Kindness, Hospitality, Service and Love.
How seriously you take this en-courage-ment
is up to you. I know it does take courage to resolutely take
up new ways of being in this world, and to let go of our
fears, anxiety, habitual reactions, defensiveness,
negativity and old wounds. But it is possible, very
possible, by just inviting the Christ Spirit to abide in us
daily, and by opening and using the Spirit’s gifts.
So come on, open them up, Merry Advent will
then truly lead to a Merry Christmas and it
will create a love centered fellowship here
at Galilee.
Your Interim Pastor Denis
August 23, 2009 A Pastor Note August
Dear Friends,
I felt inadequate on Sunday as I
tried to talk about what it means to be part of a
congregation. I have worshiped with you seven times
now and I am only beginning to learn who has made close
ties to Galilee.
This is an important issue.
Being a great church has little to do with its size, or
the breadth of its programs; what matters most is the love
individuals have built with each other-- a love marked by
compassionate caring, tolerance, hospitality, and speaking
the truth with respect and gentleness -- and not only with
a few, especially including those on the margins of the
congregation. This describes a great church, a
church under the influence of the Holy Spirit of Christ,
and a church that is ready to be a life-changing force in
its community.
Building these kind of ties together
takes a little risk, a little time, and it takes
intentionality: one must set it as their goal and
move towards it, step by step. During this inbetween
time when you do not have a "called pastor", I challenge
you to intentionally take up this work of love anew, for
God's sake... and for the joy it will add to your life.
Sometimes it is too easy to make a close connection to the
pastor at the expense of this more important connection
with the congregation. Now is the season: Pastor
Lynn has left, and I am just your interim pastor for about
a year. Let's put aside any "pushing and pulling"
for the sake of love. Let's put behind us any old
baggage from conflicts past. Now is the perfect time
and opportunity to become a great congregation that will
call a great pastor.
God's Peace,
Pastor Denis
August
9, 2009 August is history month
at Galilee Lutheran
History Month
August is history month at Galilee Lutheran. In our
interim time between called pastors it will be very
helpful for us as a congregation to have a clear picture
of who we have been, where we have traveled in our
ministry of Christ's love, and what we have gone through
to get to this place and time. So
we suggest that you begin thinking about and recalling
personal and congregational milestones: when you
first began attending Galilee and special times for you
here like baptisms, confirmations, weddings and memorial
services. Also highlights of the programs of the church
or church events. We may also recall some of the
difficult times we have gone through together - losses or
conflicts or unmet needs that nudged us to grow.
Sunday August 9th we will hang a time line in our worship space
and mark it with these recollections. And we will
celebrate God's continuing presence and grace.
Pastor Denis
August 1, 2009
Ice Cream Social at Pastor Denis Home
You
are Invited by Pastor Denis
- Ice Cream Social
An informal time to get aquainted
- At Pastor Denis' Home
13001 Anderson Road (Jago Bay)
- Saturday August 1,
around 6:30pm
Kind of a drop-in affair until 8:30pm
- Advisory
There are 31 steps to his front door
parking limited, carpool if possible
- Directions
Take Point Lakeview Dr.
This road runs from Hwy 29 (just a mile or two north of
Lower Lake) to Soda Bay Rd. ( just a few blocks from
the Riviera Market)
Turn on Anderson Rd. (Jago Bay Area)
and drive about 1/3 mile. The house is on the
right side where Anderson forks with Cliff St.
Look for the sign; Raven's Rapture
- Lost? Home
phone 707-994-8109
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July 15,
2009
A few words about our relationship
From Your Interim
Pastor
7/15/09
Dear Friends;
A few words about our relationship.
- I am glad to be working with
you. There are wonderful people in this congregation
and I sense this is going to be a rich time.
- I am your "Interim Pastor", and
from a Lutheran point of view this doesn't mean I am just
a "fill in" pastor. Rather, I am here to help you
take advantage of this interim time- this special,
God-given time, a rare time for your church's growth and
development, a time for needed changes, and for clarity
about your unique ministry and mission.
- Yes, I am called to be your
spiritual leader for now, but also to be your partner and
consultant in how to take advantage of this in between
time so your church can vitally move into its future.
- Your denominational leaders have
strongly advised me to take the Interim Pastor Training
offered 7/19-24. I will be leaving Sunday after
church. So for now thank you for your warm welcome
these past few Sundays, and when I return I will have more
to share.
Peace,
Pastor Denis Eucalyptus |
