Reflections on Faith and Community
Dear friends,
On this page, you will find weekly reflections on life and faith. My hope is that, in some way, they will prove helpful to you in your daily living. You can also find them on the church's YouTube Channel in the "Weekly Word" playlist. May God bless you on the spiritual journey.
Andrew S. Odom
Pastor
03/13/2017
6:30 PM
Community Matters
03/13/2017
6:30 PM
03/13/2017
6:30 PM
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
On Sunday we continued our series on healing. One of the things we talked about was how community can counter the hopelessness we often feel around the problems in our lives: weight, disease, crises of faith, relationships. Dr. Scott Morris, founder of Church Health in Memphis, speaks of the benefits of community, "One of the things we know about health is that community matters. People do not generally become healthier in isolation. Community, however, removes hopelessness [around those] aspects of life that get in the way of positive choices. True health is not just the absence of disease. It is embracing the goodness of the life God gives." The passage above from Psalm 63 like the feeling of isolation to being in a dry and weary land where there is no water. We don't do well in isolation. Community matters.
I would like to point you to some opportunities that are right around the corner to experience and benefit from deeper community. One thing I always hear from those who finally decide to do what it takes to attend one of these retreats is they wish they had done it sooner. Give some thought to deepening your faith in Christ and being part of community.Women's Retreat (March 24-26, 2017) - a restful weekend at Mt. Lebanon Retreat Center with women of all ages from CCPC. Make new friends, walk in nature, and share in the "Stories that Heal."
Pilgrimage Weekend (March 30 - April 2, 2017) - a three day weekend retreat filled with short talks, music, fellowship, small group discussion and joyful experiences. Pilgrimage is about living the Christian life every day, no matter where you are. It is not just about a weekend - it is intended to last a lifetime.
Holy Heroes and Wholeness (April 8, 2017, 9am-3pm) - A mini-retreat at Spring Hill Retreat Center in Richardson, where we will learn our personality and those of major biblical figures (archetypes), and our journey towards wholeness. Led by spiritual director Troy Caldwell and storyteller Gwen Caldwell.
Men's Conference (May 5-7, 2017) - a God-filled weekend in the Texas Hill Country at Mo-Ranch when men from all ages and many churches gather together for fellowship and spiritual renewal. This year's speaker is The Rev. Dr. Blair Monie, Professor in The Louis H. and Katherine S. Zbinden Distinguished Chair of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership at Austin Seminary and former senior pastor of Preston Hollow Presbyterian in Dallas.
Published on 03/13/2017 @ 6:30 PM CDT
