Our church is currently seeking a registered nurse to work 12 hours per week as a Community Parish Nurse. The Community Parish Nurse would visit people in their homes and other settings to consult with them about their medical needs; refer people to appropriate healthcare providers and community services; and address people's mental, emotional and spiritual needs. The Community Parish Nurse will also work with a Health Ministry Team at the church to offer a variety of events that would promote whole person health and wellness of members of the church and community. Applicants may e-mail a resume (with three references) to Dr. Bowen at craftonup@yahoo.com, or send it to him at 80 Bradford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.
This is an exciting opportunity for our church to extend the healing and loving presence of Christ into our church and into the community. If you know a registered nurse who might be interested in working with us, please have him or her contact us as soon as possible.
Ed Bowen
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tell Me About Your Church
If you were talking with someone at the store or on the sidewalk and at some point in the conversation the person said, “Tell me about your church,” how would you respond? If you had thirty seconds or so to tell about our church, what would you say?
When I recently met with our church staff, we discussed that very question. Because the truth is that quite often opportunities to talk with other people about our church or about our faith come up suddenly, and so it’s wise for us to consider what we would say when those circumstances arise. After all, there is an old joke: “What do you get when you cross a Presbyterian with a Jehovah’s Witness? The answer: someone who rings your doorbell, but who has absolutely no idea what to say.” But instead of being speechless when we have opportunities to share something about our church or our faith, I believe God wants us to be prepared to share some good news with people.
When people ask me about the church, the basic message I am communicating these days is this: God is doing exciting and amazing things through Crafton United Presbyterian Church to make a positive impact on the community. And to back up those words I would point to the 50 or more children who gather each week for Youth Club and Adventure Group and the way that young lives are being changed for the better. I would point to the dozens of older adults from across the community who gather regularly for our CAMP senior citizen program, and how much they enjoy and appreciate the fellowship and activities. I would point to the way that our church supports the community food pantry ministry, and assists many families each month who are going through difficult times. And those are just a few of the many examples of the great things that God is doing through our congregation to make a positive impact on the community.
As you interact with friends and neighbors, what message are you communicating about our church and about your faith? Think about it. Consider what you’ll say. Because God gives all of us opportunities to be bearers of the Good News.
Ed Bowen
When I recently met with our church staff, we discussed that very question. Because the truth is that quite often opportunities to talk with other people about our church or about our faith come up suddenly, and so it’s wise for us to consider what we would say when those circumstances arise. After all, there is an old joke: “What do you get when you cross a Presbyterian with a Jehovah’s Witness? The answer: someone who rings your doorbell, but who has absolutely no idea what to say.” But instead of being speechless when we have opportunities to share something about our church or our faith, I believe God wants us to be prepared to share some good news with people.
When people ask me about the church, the basic message I am communicating these days is this: God is doing exciting and amazing things through Crafton United Presbyterian Church to make a positive impact on the community. And to back up those words I would point to the 50 or more children who gather each week for Youth Club and Adventure Group and the way that young lives are being changed for the better. I would point to the dozens of older adults from across the community who gather regularly for our CAMP senior citizen program, and how much they enjoy and appreciate the fellowship and activities. I would point to the way that our church supports the community food pantry ministry, and assists many families each month who are going through difficult times. And those are just a few of the many examples of the great things that God is doing through our congregation to make a positive impact on the community.
As you interact with friends and neighbors, what message are you communicating about our church and about your faith? Think about it. Consider what you’ll say. Because God gives all of us opportunities to be bearers of the Good News.
Ed Bowen
Friday, March 13, 2009
A Challenge and an Opportunity
Chances are you heard about the survey that was recently released concerning religion in America. Among the study's more shocking findings is that the percentage of people in the United States who claim to have no religion at all has nearly doubled in the past twenty years. Currently 15% of all Americans say they have no religion.
Reverend Kendall Harmon, a theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, says a couple once walked into his office carrying a yellow pad full of questions their teenage son had provided. Among them: "What is that guy doing hanging up there on the plus sign?"
So often Christian churches make the assumption that nearly everyone in our communities are already Christians, and that our mission is simply to "remind" people about what they already know and believe. But as this study shows us, the challenge in front of us is much greater than that. The challenge is that we live in a nation where an ever-increasing number of people have no knowledge of the Bible and no understanding of the Christian faith.
That, however, also presents the church with an opportunity - an opportunity to be involved in mission work right in our own neighborhoods. Who do you know that doesn't have an active, vibrant relationship with Jesus? Who do you know that doesn't have a meaningful involvement with a church? Is there some family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker that you know that you could be reaching out to?
It's true: not everyone you invite to come with you to worship is going to accept that invitation. But there are people out there who will accept that invitation, but they're not going to until that invitation is extended to them. Pray for the people you know who don't currently have a meaningful life of faith. And pray for yourself that God might work through you to invite and welcome those people into a relationship with Jesus and with his church.
Ed Bowen
Reverend Kendall Harmon, a theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, says a couple once walked into his office carrying a yellow pad full of questions their teenage son had provided. Among them: "What is that guy doing hanging up there on the plus sign?"
So often Christian churches make the assumption that nearly everyone in our communities are already Christians, and that our mission is simply to "remind" people about what they already know and believe. But as this study shows us, the challenge in front of us is much greater than that. The challenge is that we live in a nation where an ever-increasing number of people have no knowledge of the Bible and no understanding of the Christian faith.
That, however, also presents the church with an opportunity - an opportunity to be involved in mission work right in our own neighborhoods. Who do you know that doesn't have an active, vibrant relationship with Jesus? Who do you know that doesn't have a meaningful involvement with a church? Is there some family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker that you know that you could be reaching out to?
It's true: not everyone you invite to come with you to worship is going to accept that invitation. But there are people out there who will accept that invitation, but they're not going to until that invitation is extended to them. Pray for the people you know who don't currently have a meaningful life of faith. And pray for yourself that God might work through you to invite and welcome those people into a relationship with Jesus and with his church.
Ed Bowen
Friday, March 6, 2009
Where Have You Seen God Today?
Where have you seen God today? That's an important question that we all should be asking ourselves on a regular basis.
At the conclusion of our worship service each Sunday we say that we believe that "we go nowhere by accident. Wherever we are, God has a purpose in our being there."
Whether we realize it or not, God is present and at work in our lives every moment. Yet amid the busy-ness of our lives we often overlook what God is up to. So especially during this season of Lent, try to take some time each day to reflect on the happenings in your life - the big and the small events - and consider what God is saying to you. Consider what God is trying to teach you. Consider what God is trying to lead you to do.
Where have you seen God today?
Ed Bowen
At the conclusion of our worship service each Sunday we say that we believe that "we go nowhere by accident. Wherever we are, God has a purpose in our being there."
Whether we realize it or not, God is present and at work in our lives every moment. Yet amid the busy-ness of our lives we often overlook what God is up to. So especially during this season of Lent, try to take some time each day to reflect on the happenings in your life - the big and the small events - and consider what God is saying to you. Consider what God is trying to teach you. Consider what God is trying to lead you to do.
Where have you seen God today?
Ed Bowen
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