When I came into my office today I took a few minutes to read as I try to start most mornings with a little jump start for the brain. Today since it is St. Patricks day I pulled a wonderful book of Irish folk Lore from my shelf. The story of St Patrick is one that not many people in our area know but it is an amazing story. I would try to retell it here but I don’t think I could do it justice. There is one part that I love and will go into for a minute but make a point to check out the whole story some time.
One of the many incredible pieces of the story comes at a time when at a young age he was kidnapped and sold as a slave. He spent many years in servitude and grew to understand much of the culture he was intrenched in. After much time he began to see that their lives were missing an important port and that his was as well, he had forgotten his faith. At that point he made it a point to pray as much as he could. He would pray night and day as he labor for his master. Some of the stories say he prayed without ever stopping. Some say he prayed hundreds of times a day for everything big and small he did. No matter how the story is told it’s very clear that opening up this channel of conversation with God changed his life in a huge way.
Later in life through many years and many adventures he came to serve God as a Bishop in England. From there God put on his heart to return to the Irish people with the word of God and he established the first Christian community there in Ireland. St. Patrick’s story is one of a normal person who made prayer the center of his life and through that Changed much of the world he knew.
So this St. Patrick’s day as you take time to put on a little Green or perhaps sit down for some cornbeef and cabbage remember St. Patrick’s commitment to prayer and maybe, just maybe it’s time to make a commitment of your own.
Pastor Andrew
When I came into my office today I took a few minutes to read as I try to start most mornings with a little jump start for the brain. Today since it is St. Patricks day I pulled a wonderful book of Irish folk Lore from my shelf. The story of St Patrick is one that not many people in our area know but it is an amazing story. I would try to retell it here but I don’t think I could do it justice. There is one part that I love and will go into for a minute but make a point to check out the whole story some time.
One of the many incredible pieces of the story comes at a time when at a young age he was kidnapped and sold as a slave. He spent many years in servitude and grew to understand much of the culture he was intrenched in. After much time he began to see that their lives were missing an important port and that his was as well, he had forgotten his faith. At that point he made it a point to pray as much as he could. He would pray night and day as he labor for his master. Some of the stories say he prayed without ever stopping. Some say he prayed hundreds of times a day for everything big and small he did. No matter how the story is told it’s very clear that opening up this channel of conversation with God changed his life in a huge way.
Later in life through many years and many adventures he came to serve God as a Bishop in England. From there God put on his heart to return to the Irish people with the word of God and he established the first Christian community there in Ireland. St. Patrick’s story is one of a normal person who made prayer the center of his life and through that Changed much of the world he knew.
So this St. Patrick’s day as you take time to put on a little Green or perhaps sit down for some cornbeef and cabbage remember St. Patrick’s commitment to prayer and maybe, just maybe it’s time to make a commitment of your own.
Pastor Andrew
Make sure to be at Oxygen this Sunday night as we will be having a guest speaker. Well kind of a guest speaker, it’s Thomas Hugo. Thomas Hugo drums in the Band at Oxygen most weeks and is friend to most who attend. He also worked here at Shoreline for several years in our student ministries department with the high school and college groups. Now Thomas works here in the Monterey area doing network consulting, repair, and maintenance. Thomas may spend his days with computers but his knowledge of scripture and philosophy lead his mind to interesting places. It’s been about 6 months since last time Thomas shared with us at Oxygen and we look forward to what he is bringing for us this week.
So come out this Sunday Night @ 7pm for Oxygen here @ Shoreline
Make sure to be at Oxygen this Sunday night as we will be having a guest speaker. Well kind of a guest speaker, it’s Thomas Hugo. Thomas Hugo drums in the Band at Oxygen most weeks and is friend to most who attend. He also worked here at Shoreline for several years in our student ministries department with the high school and college groups. Now Thomas works here in the Monterey area doing network consulting, repair, and maintenance. Thomas may spend his days with computers but his knowledge of scripture and philosophy lead his mind to interesting places. It’s been about 6 months since last time Thomas shared with us at Oxygen and we look forward to what he is bringing for us this week.
So come out this Sunday Night @ 7pm for Oxygen here @ Shoreline
Last night several of us went at to Otter Christian Fellowship at C.S.U.M.B. Otter Christian Fellowship, other wise known as O.C.F., is the christian club out out our local state college. We had a great time with John Ryan and Arizona leading us in several songs making sure to toss is a couple Christmas tunes. Keith shared about the importance and need for reading the bible. His focus was on the way that the bible helps lead us in our daily lives and gives us wisdom to plan for our future. This ended their semester long study on the basics of the Christian faith. It’s always great to join together with O.C.F. for an evening or two now and then.
If you are a student at C.S.U.M.B. and have interest in O.C.F. contact Pastor Andrew to get the latest information on when and where they meet. Next Monday night @ 8pm is there Christmas party in building 98 at C.S.U.M.B.
Last night several of us went at to Otter Christian Fellowship at C.S.U.M.B. Otter Christian Fellowship, other wise known as O.C.F., is the christian club out out our local state college. We had a great time with John Ryan and Arizona leading us in several songs making sure to toss is a couple Christmas tunes. Keith shared about the importance and need for reading the bible. His focus was on the way that the bible helps lead us in our daily lives and gives us wisdom to plan for our future. This ended their semester long study on the basics of the Christian faith. It’s always great to join together with O.C.F. for an evening or two now and then.
If you are a student at C.S.U.M.B. and have interest in O.C.F. contact Pastor Andrew to get the latest information on when and where they meet. Next Monday night @ 8pm is there Christmas party in building 98 at C.S.U.M.B.
This last Sunday night we started the lighting of the advent wreath at Oxygen. It’s wonderful to explore some of the older church traditions together. Several weeks ago I was asked what we were planning on doing for the Christmas season at Oxygen. It got me thinking about all kinds of great traditions I have been exposed to throughout my life and advent has by far had the greatest meaning.
My earliest memories of Advent come from time spent at my Grand Parents country church in Washington. I can remember singing songs and the pastor reading some scripture those were all the normal things we did each week at church. After a few more songs an older couple stood up from the front row and read a poem about hope followed by a prayer asking God to help us be a people and thanking Him for the hope he gave in the birth of his son the Christ. So being a little boy anytime there was fire involved my interest was sparked. The ride home in my Grandpa’s old farm truck was full of question from me about the candles and the lighting and the wreath. I was very concerned that they had forgotten to put out the candle, but once those fears were squelched my Grandpa began explaining. He told me about the three purple candles. The first standing for Hope then Love and Peace. Then the pink candle to represent the Joy brought through Christ. The center candle being a white candle showing Christ as the center. All of the candles as part of an evergreen wreath to stand for the unchanging nature of God. It was allot for a little guy to take in but even then it I greatly enjoyed the Advent tradition.
Looking back at my own love of Advent it was an easy choice as a way for us at Oxygen to experience this Christmas season together. I hope that if your reading this and have not been part of the advent tradition in the past that perhaps you will explore this for yourself. It’s an easy tradition to learn about with a quick Google or two. Or if you are part of the Oxygen group or you are in college or college aged (18 – 26) then come by this coming Sunday night @ 7pm in the youth room here at Shoreline and join us for this celebration of Advent.
Pastor Andrew
Here’s a little special Christmas treat for you! Click the link!
This last Sunday night we started the lighting of the advent wreath at Oxygen. It’s wonderful to explore some of the older church traditions together. Several weeks ago I was asked what we were planning on doing for the Christmas season at Oxygen. It got me thinking about all kinds of great traditions I have been exposed to throughout my life and advent has by far had the greatest meaning.
My earliest memories of Advent come from time spent at my Grand Parents country church in Washington. I can remember singing songs and the pastor reading some scripture those were all the normal things we did each week at church. After a few more songs an older couple stood up from the front row and read a poem about hope followed by a prayer asking God to help us be a people and thanking Him for the hope he gave in the birth of his son the Christ. So being a little boy anytime there was fire involved my interest was sparked. The ride home in my Grandpa’s old farm truck was full of question from me about the candles and the lighting and the wreath. I was very concerned that they had forgotten to put out the candle, but once those fears were squelched my Grandpa began explaining. He told me about the three purple candles. The first standing for Hope then Love and Peace. Then the pink candle to represent the Joy brought through Christ. The center candle being a white candle showing Christ as the center. All of the candles as part of an evergreen wreath to stand for the unchanging nature of God. It was allot for a little guy to take in but even then it I greatly enjoyed the Advent tradition.
Looking back at my own love of Advent it was an easy choice as a way for us at Oxygen to experience this Christmas season together. I hope that if your reading this and have not been part of the advent tradition in the past that perhaps you will explore this for yourself. It’s an easy tradition to learn about with a quick Google or two. Or if you are part of the Oxygen group or you are in college or college aged (18 – 26) then come by this coming Sunday night @ 7pm in the youth room here at Shoreline and join us for this celebration of Advent.
Pastor Andrew
Here’s a little special Christmas treat for you! Click the link!
