Text Box: Whitmanews March 2010 Text Box: Pastor Rob Bell shares the following from his book, Repainting the Velvet Elvis: “I was having breakfast with my younger son and my father at the Real Food Café in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As we were finishing our meal, I noticed that the waitress brought our check and then took it away, and then brought it back again. She placed it on the table, smiled, and said, “Somebody in the restaurant paid for your meal. You’re all set.” She then walked away. I had the strangest feeling sitting there. The feeling was helplessness. There was nothing I could do. I had been taken care of. To insist on paying would have been pointless. All I could do was trust that what the waitress said was actually true and then live in that – which meant getting up and leaving the restaurant. My acceptance of what she Text Box: said gave me a choice: to live as if it were true or to create my own reality in which the bill was unpaid.” I would suggest that this is the central message of the cross of Jesus – my bill and yours has been paid, We’re all set! During the season of Lent, we hear words such as “redemption, atonement and propitiation” which at the end of the day mean, “Our bill is paid; we are all set!” It is hearing, knowing and accepting the truth that the bill owed to God due to our sin has been paid in full by Jesus Christ. This also means that you and I are left with a choice: “…to trust that we don’t owe anything or to trust something already has been done…and that grace pays the bill” [Rob Bell] As you and I continue the 50 Day Spiritual Adventure at MWPC and the Lenten Season’s journey to the Cross and Easter, each of us has the opportunity to reflect and to choose, “to live like we trust that what is proclaimed in God’s Text Box: word and by the cross of Christ is true or to create our own reality wherein our bill is unpaid”. What’s it going to be – “your bill is paid in full - you’re all set!” or the alternative – you still have an unpaid bill? I hope we make the right choice in this season of God’s demonstrated grace, mercy and love, and that we then live lives that demonstrate this truth in us as God’s people. Peace, Pastor Rob Text Box: # Text Box: Caudillo’s Corner

Have you paid your Per capita yet?

Every member of a Presbyterian church is asked to pay $40.40  this year to support the administration of Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. 

Without this support pastors and educators would not be trained,  missions would be cut, and small churches would not receive support.   

TABLE TALKS

 March  7th

Gather round after worship and speak your piece about the direction Marcus Whitman is taking.

Everyone welcome!