March 2015 Psalm 8 Divine Majesty and Human Dignity Psalm 8: 1-5 To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals * that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, * and crowned them with glory and honor. I have little or no problem with verse four of the eighth Psalm. More than once I have asked about why God would be mindful of humanity and all of our weaknesses, cruelty and sometimes the fear of truth. When I look at the vastness of the universe and hatred I see in the news and in my own life I wonder if God did not make a mistake. WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 125 WEST ONTARIO, PO BOX 237, ROGERS CITY, MI 49779 - PHONE: 989.734.3929 - EMAIL: [email protected]Website: rcwpc.org
Transcript
March 2015
Psalm 8 Divine Majesty and Human Dignity
Psalm 8: 1-5 To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals* that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God,* and crowned them with glory and honor. I have little or no problem with verse four of the eighth Psalm. More than once I have asked about why God would be mindful of humanity and all of our weaknesses, cruelty and sometimes the fear of truth. When I look at the vastness of the universe and hatred I see in the news and in my own life I wonder if God did not make a mistake.
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 125 WEST ONTARIO, PO BOX 237, ROGERS CITY, MI 49779 - PHONE: 989.734.3929 - EMAIL: [email protected]
Then the next verse comes in and shakes everything up. It is hard for me to think of this troubled humanity being made just a little lower than God. Anyone who knows me knows that I am forgetful and absent minded and that was proved yesterday. Tuesday evening my car was parked behind my son's Joe's car and he wanted to make a quick run out to pick something up and asked if he could take the Acadia. I, of course, said yes but hoped he was not going far because I was almost out of gas. Joe assured me he was only going to the store to pick up a few items. He was back within the hour and I thought nothing of it. That was my mistake I thought nothing of it. Wednesday, the next morning, I got up and was getting ready and thinking about the ten o'clock Bible study. I packed up my mind, that is my briefcase full of books and my computer, checked to make sure I had my iPad and feeling content I'd remembered everything went to Grand Lake Community Chapel. I was almost there when I heard a dinging sound and looked at my dash and there my gas gage was sitting below the "e". Then, and only then, I got this sinking feeling about whether I had enough gas to make it there and back to a gas station on 23. Now, this has happened to me before and I always made it to get some fuel. (I think you now know where this story is heading.) Well, I made it to the Chapel and had the Bible study and called Judith and mentioned my predicament. I could hear at the other end of the line Judy thinking; "Here we go again, if it isn't the keys or the iPad or something else it is not looking at the gas gage". I mentioned that she did not have to come and bring gas because I had always made it before. Well, when it was well after three I decided that I should get some gas and as you know there isn't a gas station near the Chapel. So, I called her to say I was leaving. She said she would start coming toward me with some gas. No, says I that will not be necessary. Making a short story short, I made the turn by the township offices and drove about twenty percent of the way to 23 and, as you most likely already know, my car started to slow down and, guess what, no matter how hard I pressed the pedal the car just kept slowing down. I pulled over to the side of the road and called Judy and ate humble pie. Now, she had not gone out and added gas to the can so I could hear this sigh at the other end and something like, "I'll be there as soon as I can." She was not as chipper as I have heard her in the past. There I sat on the side of the road like road kill waiting for more than a half an hour for Judith. :-) Cars and a school bus came up behind me and passed as I kind of looked down at a book hoping they wouldn't stop and I'd have to explain I ran out of gas. The same with cars coming toward me. Luckily only one parishioner coming toward me stopped and I gave a thumbs up sign and breathed a sigh of relief when she gave me the sign back and drove off. There I sat feeling stupid and saying to myself; "Self, when will you ever learn to pay attention." Paul Tillich, a great 20th century theologian, said that one of the most difficult things
we do is to accept our own acceptance. I've always thought he was spot on with that comment. It is easier to believe that God has accepted someone else than it is that He has accepted you. Most likely because if we are honest we know of all the hidden failures and weaknesses that are part of our life's journey. As we walk this Lenten journey together we realize how imperfect we are and that there are times when all of us feel weak, numb, saddened, can I say even ignorant. (I would say stupid, but this is a church newsletter.) When we look at God's glory and the mighty wonder of God's creation sometimes we can feel very much alone sitting on the side of the road waiting for rescue. One of the many meanings of the cross is Jesus' cry of dereliction "My God my God why have You forsaken me." But, in that moment we also know that God has not forsaken us and as exasperated as Judy was with her absent minded husband she would come once again and rescue me. If Judy can do that, how much more does God want to stop by our roadside and give us hope, comfort and strength to continue the journey? There can be no resurrection without the cross. As the prayer says "Come Lord Jesus Come"! Yet you have made them (humans) a little lower than God,* and crowned them with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5 Yes God has accepted you just as you are, rejoice and be glad. Rev. Bob Case Interim Pastor
Dear Friends,
We want all our friends in Rogers City to know how much we appreciate the continued interest
in and concern for us. We’ve received numerous cards at thanksgiving and Christmas as well as
at other times. We’re convinced that the prayers are helping us to stay afloat. Anna is
receiving treatment with a new chemo drug. The previous one has worked well for two years
insofar as the cancer is concerned, but she was beginning to develop neuropathy in her feet.
We thank you for your care and concern.
Love, joy and peace,
Anna & Sam
Meet Your “Neighbor”…a new addition in the On Course
Let’s meet a neighbor……
Mary Rodewald has been a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1994 when she moved here after her husband's death to be near her daughter, Mary Ann Heidemann. Mary bought the little house at the corner of Woodward and Calcite because of the water views, and became Don McLennan's next door neighbor for more than 10 years. Mary was born and raised in South Carolina, where her dad had a farm and her grandfather was in business. She recalls riding to school on horseback, and also helping her brother on his milk delivery route. A bright student, Mom won the county scholarship to attend college. She graduated from Winthrop, a teacher's college, at that time the only college in the state accepting women. Her field was business education, but instead of teaching she first went into business herself, working at an insurance firm in an era with few women in the work force. Later, she changed jobs and went to work for Southern Railway, where she met my dad, then a railway passenger agent. After World War II, Dad was transferred up North, working in Cleveland, where my sister was born, and then Detroit, where my brother and I were born. Mom dropped out of the work force to raise us, but took courses at Wayne State University when she decided to work again; this time in elementary education. The steady school paycheck helped when my dad started his own business as a travel agent, and summers off meant she could travel with him on occasion. Though she once wanted to be a poet, and to write copy for ad agencies, she took on the job of educating first graders for 16 years, teaching hundreds of children how to read. I still remember the cards, letters and calls from grateful parents. When Mom and Dad retired, they moved to Brevard North Carolina, near one of my mom's cousins, in an area of the Smokies where dad had led travel tours. They enjoyed their Southern phase for more than a decade before dad passed away and mom once again came north. After living by Lake Huron for a decade, mom spent a few years at Independence Village in Petoskey. Currently, Mary is a resident of Tendercare in Rogers City. Mom will turn 100 on April 22. At this year's Tendercare Valentine's Day party, mom was voted Valentine Queen. I have included a photo of her coronation. She is indeed our sweetheart. How fun to learn something new about our neighbors! Thank you Mary Ann for letting us get to know your mother better.
We hope all of you will answer the following questions and return to the church secretary or mail to 125 W. Ontario, PO Box 237, Rogers City, MI 49779.
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR
1. How did you come to be in Rogers City or at Westminster?
2. Name 3 things people may not know about you.
A Minute for Mission
The Mission Committee is asking for your assistance in providing for the Food Pantry
