The Local Church -- A House of Prayer Where Abundant Life is Lived!

Once again, our friend and leader David Feltman strikes a pure chord with this note:
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As I observed the General Assembly at work, I thought – the heart of the church is still the local
parish. It is important to be connected, there are things we do together we cannot do alone but
the heart of the church is the local parish.

I have on my book shelf Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic by Reinhold Niebuhr.
Written in 1929, the young Niebuhr, right out of seminary, shares his “notes” about his first
years in a church in Detroit. A cynic of the church converted by the day in and day out ministry
of the local parish.

"It is the local church where:
- Love grows,- forgiveness is offered,- loneliness finds fellowship,
 the dying have someone to hold their hand,- the squirming confirmand hears a bit of the truth,
- hope is rebirthed each Sunday, and life is lived.
Never lose sight of the important. The local church is worthy of your time, energy and dollars.
And, it is in giving you will receive."


Thanks to General Presbyter Dave for that wonderful thought!