This week's author is Cecile Gilson, Assistant to the Conference Minister for the Connecticut Conference, UCC.
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they
themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When
they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when
did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are
looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of
the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that
endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on
him that God the Father has set his seal."
Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus
answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has
sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so
that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our
ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them
bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell
you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my
Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is
that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to
him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread
of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in
me will never be thirsty."
I spent last weekend holding my brand new granddaughter and celebrating her
presence with family. During our back yard barbecue we marveled at her
fingers and toes and how much her almost 4-year-old brother loves her. Over
a meal we began the process of creating bonds with this new family member
and being reminded of the joy discovered in time spent together. Everyone
left that day feeling renewed and loved. Otis, the almost 4 year old,
couldn't understand why the party was over.
Jesus reminds us in this story that he is the bread of life. This is not
just about being sustained with physical nourishment. When we share a meal,
we build relationships. It is why we as parents have a meal with our
children each day no matter how busy we might be. It is why we celebrate
special occasions with special meals. It is why friends get together over
coffee or tea (or wine). It is why we share bread and wine (or grape juice)
in church during communion.
Many of the stories of Jesus include a meal. Jesus dines at the home of
Zacchaeus. Jesus feeds the five thousand. Jesus shares a meal with Mary and
Martha. Jesus built relationships, and we celebrate the reminder of those
relationships each time we "eat this bread and drink this cup."
Whether it be a get together for a cup of coffee, or a family reunion with
burgers and salad, let us be mindful of each other and of Jesus in our
midst.
Creator God, we celebrate relationships: family, friends, co-workers, and
the presence of Jesus in them. Help us be mindful and vigilant in
maintaining our connections to one another. Amen.
Please remember:
the friends and family of the Rev. Richard R. Rangoon, retired minister of this conference whose ministry included the local church, housing services, and hospice chaplaincy, on his death on July 24;
the friends and family of newsman Walter Cronkite, and the nation which trusted him, on his death July 17;
the family of the Rev. Rosemary Dawson, interim pastor at the North Canaan Congregational Church, UCC, whose mother Mary Simao is declining in health;
the family of Davida Foy Crabtree, Conference Minister, wrestling with health concerns in the family;
the Rev. M. J. Hinchliff, pastor of First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC of East Haddam, who is being treated for breast cancer;
the people of Honduras, and our ecumenical partners there, in the wake of a coup against their government;
the people of Iran, as they struggle to find a voice in their government;
the leaders of this nation, that they may meet the challenges of the day with insight, wisdom, and compassion;
those suffering due to the ongoing financial woes of the nation, be they struggling to meet an unaffordable mortgage, confronting the loss of a job, or working to find just resolutions to the crisis; and
those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and the Sudan.
To be added to the prayer list, please send an email to your Regional Minister or to webmaster@ctucc.org.
Westbrook
First Cong'l Church
P The Rev. John W. Wilson
PE The Rev. Robert G. Van Gorder
CE Ms. Jill Wenker
Weston
Norfield Cong'l Church Society
P The Rev. Bernard R. Wilson
AP The Rev. Diane M. Carter
CE Ms. Penny Anderson
Westport
Cong'l Ch of Green's Farms
P The Rev. Jeffrey P. Rider
AP Ms. Amy M. Forte
AP The Rev. Daniel B. England
AP The Rev. John D. Twiname
Westport
Saugatuck Cong'l Ch of Westport, Inc.
P The Rev. John H. Danner
PE The Rev. Theodore G. Hoskins
CE Ms. Abby Peterson
Willimantic
First Cong'l Ch of Willimantic
IN The Rev. David W. Minnick
To read previous editions of the Spirit Calendar, visit:
http://www.ctucc.org/fido/spiritcalendar/
To learn more about or subscribe to the Spirit Calendar, visit:
http://www.ctucc.org/fido/
The Spirit Calendar: July 27, 2009 by Cecile Gilson, Assistant to the Conference Minister
