Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter | | Message from Pastor Mori
Dear RFUMC Family
At last week's sunday worship, we talk about the love and kind of love languages. Love is God's main character, and not only Christianity, love is common theme for universal religion.
According to Buddhism, there are four elementary of true love. Not only one, but there are also four elements of true love.
The first elements is "MAITRI" which can be translated; "Loving-Kindness" / "Benevolence"
It is desire to make someone happy and bring joy to be loved person. Thich Naht Hanh said in his book "True Love" "it is the ability to bring joy and happiness to the person you love, because even of your intention is to love this person, your love might make the person suffer."
I think this is primary element of love. Because for reach to the Loving-Kindness, we need to understand the person first. Also, Thich Naht Hanh explains that the understanding possible by practice deep looking the person.
Second element of true love is compassion, "KARUNA" this is not only the desire to east eh pain of another person but the ability to do so. The concept is KARUNA is Buddhist term but in the Bible, we observe a lot from Jesus's healing ministry. God's love toward us that wants us free from our Sin. God know us fully, God knows our mind form bottom, and when we have scarves in there, God want to heal us from our hurt.
Third element of true love is joy – "Mudita". Thich Naht Hanh emphasize that if there is no joy love, it is not true love. If you are suffering all the time, if you cry all the time and if you make the person, you love cry, this is not really love – it is even the opposite.
The third element think about our ministry. If we says "We love our neighbor" and we put a lot of effort and time to the ministry but actually it cause no joy at all, even makes everyone feel hard and tired then how we can call that we doing ministry in love?
The fourth element is "UPEKSHA" can be translate to equanimity or freedom. In true love we attain freedom. When you love, you bring freedom to the person you love. If there are no freedom, then it could not be called "Love" I think fourth element is very important to us who live Pandemic life. If we could not give enough space to our dear one how we could not have enough space for ourselves?
As we celebrate Valentin's day, I want to share wisdom of Love with you.
Soon, Lenten season is coming, for me Lenten season is remembering God's love and grace, Jesus Christ who one love us so much so willing to give everything for us.
Love is being there.
I will see you all.
With love- Mori
| | Community Info & Links Lenten Daily Prayer  Ravenswood Fellowship Forum Day
Sunday Feb 27, 2022  please send your questions by Feb 20 Sunday. rfumcpastormori@gmail.com Join the NIC Book Club this Lent  What kind of experience do you have in your prayer life? Is it full of joy or does it fall flat? Gary Neal Hansen, author of the Discipleship Task Force's first selection for the NIC Book Club, suggests if your experience is the latter, conceivably you haven't found a prayer method that you really connect with. In his book, " Kneeling with Giants," Hansen offers a wide range of approaches to prayer that are all classics. What better time than Lent to search out a deeper relationship with the God who so loved the world…? Join the Discipleship Task Force in dropping to our knees by joining a group this Lenten Season. If you're interested, visit umcnic.org/Discipleship/NICBookClub to sign up.
Night Ministry and Ravenswood Fellowship UMC March 6 Sunday 
Our next date to serve with the Night Ministry is Sunday March 6th. Please stay, if you are able, after worship service and help prepare sandwich suppers to be served with the Night Ministry. If you have any free time prior to that Sunday and would like to assist with shopping for food or packaging items, please let the church office know. We appreciate all volunteers!
Ash Wednesday Worship
Wednesday March 02 7:00 PM
The season of Lent begins with a call to repent, which means to "turn around." This year, we will turn from our apathy, turn from simply "going through the motions" of our life and worship. Instead' we will pray to be active instruments of peace, agents of change in the world. We begin the journey toward renewing our baptismal identity as the hands and feet of Christ by "re-cognizing"–tuning our minds and hearts toward the world and its peoples.
Please join us on Ash Wednesday (March 2, 2022) for an online worship service beginning at 7:00 pm. Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87092959082
Wespath Offers First Aid for Mental Health Training First Aid for Mental Health erases the stigma surrounding mental health and emphasizes that it's OK, not to be OK. It also teaches attendees how to accept their own mental health struggles without embarrassment or shame. The online training is being held on March 10 and 24 and is open to all UMC clergy and their spouses, church leaders, staff and congregation members, at no cost. Click here for details and to register.
Spaghetti Dinner  Save the Date
Saturday March 26th. Spaghetti Dinner
We will be offering curb-side pick-up only. $15/meal or $50 for a family meal (feeds 4). Vegetarian option available. We will take pre-orders only! To place an order online, please click here. If you are able to volunteer to help with the Spaghetti dinner, please contact the church office. We appreciate any and all assistance.
80th Year After EO9066
Email from NJAUMC Chair Rev. Karen Yokota Love
On February 19, 2022, it's been 80 Years since Executive Order 9066 was issued -- the order that gave way to the forced removal and mass incarceration of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry. May we never forget and may we continue to be reminded of the impact the incarceration experience has had on our families, our community and our country. May we take these opportunities to educate others on the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis, and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all. May we speak prophetically and seek justice, walk humbly and love our neighbor as ourselves.
Submit Tree Planting Requests
 This year the Chicago Bureau of Forestry has unprecedented funds for planting trees and is seeking additional locations to plant trees in the 47th ward. You can place a request by calling 311 or filling out the form bit.ly/trees47. Upcoming Meetings
Ravenswood Fellowship UMC Forum Day
Sunday February 27 following worship service
Sermon by Phone service
 If you do not have computer access or cannot access our Sunday worship service through a smart phone, we now have a sermon by phone service, which is available at any time! The phone number is (773) 219-0861. You can listen to a recent version of Pastor Mori's Sunday sermon and it's free!
RFUMC Building Ministry  Ravenswood Fellowship UMC February 2022 Calendar click Here
Church Room Reservation Form (to request use of the common areas of the church) Click Here
After Covid-19 Updates.
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced Illinois' first known COVID-19 case caused by the Omicron COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529), identified in a Chicago resident and known contact of a confirmed Omicron case from another state who visited the city.. Read the full news release here.
Links for Worship  - Join Zoom worship by going to this link at 10:30 AM on Sunday: https://zoom.us/j/806489040. Or call in at 1-312-626-6799 (Meeting ID: 806 489 040).
- Let's boost our worship! Please sign-up for Worship service Bible reader Sign-Up here. March and April Scriptures and sermon titles are here
- Young People's Bible Study. Ages 12-18 are invited to join the Zoom discussion of Jesus stories at 9 AM on Sunday mornings. Join the Zoom call here (Meeting ID: 828 2305 3546, One-tap mobile+13126266799)
- Want prayer? During our Prayers of the People, we will read your prayer requests. Submit your prayer requests here.
- Download. Get your bulletin here.
- Having trouble? Try logging off and logging back on to Zoom during the video. Or simply log off and call in.
- Missed last week? Check out the Facebook Live video on our page here.
| | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment