Rev. Roberta Corson tells about a family with a small girl who visited her church. During the service, Rev. Corson invited all the children to come forward to hear a story. When Corson finished the story, she instructed the children to return to sit with their parents. The visiting child “remained in the front, standing alone in the chancel area facing the stained glass window, oblivious to other people and activity. She simply stood in silence, having caught a glimpse of something the rest of us had failed to see. Was it light coming through the stained glass? Was it the high vaulted ceiling? Was it the holy mystery of God? After a long time, she quietly turned and went back to be with her parents.”
Carson writes, “I never came to know that child, but I also have never forgotten her. She is you and me, our children, and the children of our neighborhood and world. She is every child, open to the holy. She has not yet been conditioned to miss it.”
At Central we want to be a community that is open to the holy! We want to listen to and be led by the holy stories of God. In this booklet you will be able to read over fifty holy stories from members of Central. I encourage you take a few minutes each day and reflect on one of the stories. Consider doing five things:
1. Find a quiet place, sit down and begin with Samuel’s prayer; “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
2. Read the designated scripture verse(s)
3. Read and reflect on the story
4. Join your Central family and pray the prepared prayer.
5. Pray specifically for the person who shared their story. You might want to use your Pictorial Directory as you pray for the person.
THANK YOU to all those who have shared their stories! It is my prayer that these stories will define and shape who we are and what we do as we are MAKING JESUS KNOWN!
Paul Johansson
Senior Pastor
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