904 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
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Do you ever feel like the movie title to your life is… Ready or Not!
Yes, that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. More likely, I have come to accept that the life I am living, called to live, and, sometimes avoiding, is a cosmic game of ready or not between myself, God, and others. I really do believe that the vast majority of us are trying to live our lives, faithfully, with intention, and a commitment to do so with love, grace, and kindness. Again, I don’t know about you, but there are these moments when I find myself trying to catch my breath when it feels like schedules, to-do lists, and expectations (my own and others) are collapsing on top of me and I have no idea how I’m going to dig myself out. Does any of that sound and/or feel familiar to you?
If it does, I’d love to know, to hear, how you cope and deal with those moments. What practices do engage with to dig yourself out? Is it just something you do on your own, or is it a tag-team approach between you and God or perhaps you have a trusted someone or someone’s who serve as a helping hand? Maybe those are the kind of conversations we should be having as a faith community, whether in small groups and/or a once a month, relaxed setting on a Saturday morning?
I’ll start…when I’m in the midst of the rubble of ready or not (mostly, not), I try to make time to catch my breath and do the following:
A simple prayer: “O God, in your mercy…hear my prayer…help!”
Now, to be clear, God has never swooped in right after that prayer and fixed what I was feeling and experiencing and/or facing. But God’s Spirit does seem to comfort me, calm me, and whisper, softly, very softly, “breathe.” We got you.
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:12—14 (The Message)
I love this passage! In fact, I would add verses 15 thru 17 as well, but verses 12-14, above, are my core understanding of what I am called to be, as a follower, disciple and apprentice of Christ. This is how I would answer the question of “what does it mean to live a holy, Christ-centered life?” Sorry, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole there…
When I’m in the midst of the rubble of ready or not, reading this passage from the Message, reminds me, clarifies for me, what I’m to be about, even when I feel like I’m buried up to my neck in the weeds of ready or not living. That means, I need to wear love, God’s Agape Love, even if I don’t feel it in that moment. And that, gives me something specific to focus on, to be about, and, to actually attempt to do. It can, slowly dig me out of feeling overwhelmed, or feeling sorry for myself, and/or looking for a scapegoat to pin those feelings on when I’m stressed out.
Again, it doesn’t happen instantaneously, but there is a shift, even if it’s only a very slight one, that gives me the perseverance to move forward.
How about you?
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With October upon us, we are entering that time of year where we are praying, looking at and preparing our church budget for the coming year, 2027. As your Pastor, I want to reiterate what our Leadership and Stewardship Ministry Teams believe and want to convey to all of you: Thank you!
The Church of Jesus Christ, the church we call Oly First, on the corner of 9th and Washington, is the people. Not buildings. Not programs. Not structures or institutions, new or ancient. Nope. Christ’s Church is you. A church built upon relationship, faith, and acts of service, charity, and love. So, thank you!
Thank you for your faithful giving of time, talent, and yes, your financial treasure!
We believe in generosity over duty or guilt. We believe that when we give to the church we do so because we recognize the generosity of God and have been on the receiving end of that generosity. We give in response to the generosity we have received from God. We give because of our relationship with God and God’s desire to build relationship with others. In this way, we become relationship partners with God in building God’s Kingdom. Your, our, giving of tithes and offerings, as generously as we are able, is one way, we express our gratitude and thankfulness for what Christ has done, is doing, and will continue to do, in the future. We start, with thank you. Next month, we will explore the challenges we are facing and how we are planning on moving forward as we build a sustainable future into that unknown future. Ready or not…
Blessings and Joy!
Pastor Mark (Rev)
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