Our theme for this year, 2010-2011, is “Guide My Feet.” You will recognize this theme form the hymn we sing often at Oakhurst, “Guide My Feet, While I Run this Race.” This year’s theme is the name of the titles for the 2 books written about the church.
We are also launching the project funded by the Fund for Theological Education which we received as one of 6 churches chosen in the United States. We are continuing our steps of faith journey with a focus on discovering our call as Christians for our lives, our home, church and community. There is a place for all seekers who want to continue their journey of faith in small groups or as guides. We are also collecting stories of faith from our distinguished members. Who does not like to hear or tell a great story!!! Even Jesus knew that to tell a story puts words into pictures that everyone can understand. This Fall we are all studying some of the Parables that Jesus tells in the Gospels. Just like in Jesus’ time, telling and hearing a great story is one of the best teaching tools for envisioning how faith and the practice of faith intersect for each of us as we seek to be disciples of the living Christ. Even 2000 years later we enter into these stories of faith that continue to inform and challenge us to see who we are and, best of all, how we can respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The word “parable” comes from a Greek term (parabole) used to describe an illustrative story that creates a vibrant contrast or image for the listener. Parables can give guidance and offer an object lesson, even using humor, that makes the story easy to listen to but gives the listener much to think about.
Jesus uses these stories to illustrate a difficult teaching. For example: the lawyer asks “who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds by first asking a question in return and then tells everyone around him a story that we call “The Good Samaritan.” These stories are like a layer cake: there are many layers of meaning that emerge over our lifetime — “taste and see” as Jesus shows us how we are to live together as neighbors.
So, welcome to our year together. We are grateful that to those who are answering the call to be storytellers for this coming year. We hope everyone will come on Sundays to read and hear again these wonderful stories of faith.
Do you remember where you first heard these parables? Where do you see yourself entering the story today? How do these stories continue to inform your faith?
The best stories deserve to be told again and again — put on your new ears and eyes to see what God is doing in our day.
“Oh, Lord Guide My Feet, While I Run this Race!