Collingwood Weekly Wonders

2012-02-29T16:34:00.002-08:00

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering at Collingwood Presbyterian

Now is the time to begin to save for your One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. Since 1949 our Presbyterian Church (USA) has cooperated with hundreds of other congregations and church organizations to bring food supplies, agricultural and water technology, economic opportunity, and disaster relief to people around the globe. Special envelopes will be available for your gifts on Palm Sunday, April 1 (No fooling!). See the video for some inspiration from God's people around the globe:

A Lenten Thought from Thomas Keating

2012-02-28T06:39:00.003-08:00

The Biggest Obstacle
Thomas Keating

The innate tendency to hang on, to possess, is the biggest obstacle to union with God. The reason we are possessive is that we feel separated from God. The feeling of separation is our ordinary psychological experience of the human condition. This misapprehension is the cause of our efforts to look for happiness down every path that we can possibly envision, when actually it is right under our noses. We just don't know how to perceive it.
Source: Open Mind, Open Heart

Enter the Bible as your Story....

2012-02-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

Who is your enemy? Are you ready for God's reconciling love?

2012-02-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

The stress of strained relationships is pretty common in our 21st Century culture.... watch this video of General Dan Cherry, VietNam era fighter pilot and his surprise discovery.... What is God saying to me?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/12/assignment_america/main5084780.shtml

Getting a Grip

2012-02-11T06:01:00.000-08:00

Prayer and Snow Tires.....

... We woke up the a few inches of snow this morning - icy snow. Adding plastic ties to your car's tires like the ones on this bike tire won't help today! Actually, on a bike, these aren't so bad... I used to ride my mountain bike through mountains of Central Pennsylvania even in the snow... I thought the ties were a brilliant idea. They did help me get a grip..

And that is what prayer can do... I watch our members at worship pray together... in the Garden service, the community, verbal style is at times very moving as we pray... because we begin to "get a grip" on the life situations that otherwise befuddle us.

The wonders of God at Collingwood is partly discovered in the power of prayer - Let's pray today and on Sunday. See you there!

Bob Anderson

Presbyterians and Black History Month

2012-01-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

One of the wonders I see in the church is the desire to be welcoming and open to all people, regardless of ethnic origin, race, economic status, sexual identity and a host of other "labels". We don't always know how to do that well but our Presbyterian legacy gives us some direction. Presbyterians were among the politically persecuted Scottish faithful in England in the 1600s and beyond. Many of today's Scottish customs and dance emerged from a period of oppression, hunger, and a royal decree that cut off any ties with their heritage and customs. This political oppression in Scotland (and Ireland) was no where near the enforced slavery of the African population and I don't want to dare to "compare". However, our faith ancestors were marginalized and fought for their civil rights. The Presbyterian church in the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries was formed by those seeking to escape that oppression. Presbyterians were therefore willing leaders in the War for Independence from England in the 1770s. My ancestors left Scotland for northern Ireland to escape the tyranny and then to America in the 1790s as indentured servants.

As we remember the Black History Month we must recall that Christian faith calls us to address the issues of justice. It is in our faith "DNA" to stand in solidarity with those who still struggle with the vestiges of slavery even today. As an urban congregation, Collingwood is beginning to demonstrate Christ's love of all people - regardless. We have a lot to learn. Here's a video of some of our African American Presbyterian sisters and brothers who had to fight even for the right to be included in the Presbyterian Church decades ago. This is part of a video series you can watch in its entirety on YouTube: http://youtu.be/13oPALTpvFo?t=2s

Celebrating Wonders yet in the making!
Rev. Bob Anderson

My Bad...

2012-01-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

I began this blog because I saw so many wonders in the people of our Collingwood Presbyterian congregation in Toledo. Those wonders continued even though I got busy, neglected the craft of writing, and forgot to practice the spiritual discipline of proclaiming the Good News through "testimony."

Wonders never cease and some may think that a pastor's public apology may be one of those "wonders." So be it! Here it is - I stopped one way of sharing good news and I ask your forbearance and forgiveness. I ask that of God, also. Come to think of it, that is one of the wonders of our congregation - forbearance and forgiveness. This is a congregation where mistakes and goofs occur and when they do, grace abounds. I believe that this reality is related to a basic value our church holds - God is at work through our humanity and our limitations, our failures, and our goofs are actually demonstrations of God's wonder's at work pushing the boundaries of growth and possibility.

So, for our good, I give you my apology, "my bad".

Thanks!

Bob Anderson

The Spirit of Baptism

2011-01-10T04:52:00.000-08:00

Ashlee, Justin, Caleb

The Spirit of Baptism descended on us with the baptism of Caleb Lee Kuhlman on Sunday..... he is part of a long line of saints, he has a new name in Christ - Christian and the Spirit of Baptism is preparing him with the power he needs to be sent forth with Good News to the World!

Faithful Friends - From The Wisdom Of Solomon in Proverbs

2010-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent; do not go to the house of your kindred on the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbour who is nearby than kindred who are far away. Proverbs 27:9-11

Faithful friends are gift from God - at our Garden Worship (9:17am) and Sanctuary Service (10:45 am ) we will look at the Bible for some clues as to how we can be a faithful friend to others and how we can nurture those who faithful friends for us.

Thinking of Mothers, Families, and Children

2010-05-05T09:24:00.001-07:00

Holy Week Thursday 6pm, Friday, Noon and 6pm Collingwood Presbyterian, Toledo, OH

2010-03-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday in some traditions) is our day to remember our call to service. Maundy is derived from the Latin for "mandatum" or command. In this case it is the command to love one another. Worshipers would sometimes bring their gifts for the poor and the service of footwashing demonstrates the loving service that Jesus taught.

At Collingwood Presbyterian we will join our ministry partners, Central United Methodist, for a meal in our dining area at Collingwood Presbyterian. At 7 we will worship in Long Hall. Pastor Andy Machin will lead our worship. Dr. Bob Anderson will lead in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Good Friday services will be at noon in the Chapel and at 6 in The Garden. Both will focus on the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross. In ancient Rome the act of crucifixion was common. Those who experienced this excruciating torture often screamed with pain and cursings. In fact the swearing was so awful at times that Roman soldiers were know to cut out the victim's tongue. With that background, imagine what Jesus was experiencing as he managed to speak words of love, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do". The noon chapel service will be contemplative and tradition. The Garden service at 6 pm will be led by Dr. Anderson and Colin Smith with the worship team. This will be a participative and moving service ending with our journey to the cross.

Palm Sunday - Jesus Wept for the City

2010-03-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Our Palm Sunday text will be from Luke 19. We will recall Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as the crowds lauded him,
"Blessed is he who comes,
      the king in God's name!
   All's well in heaven!
      Glory in the high places!
³⁹Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"
⁴⁰But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."
^41-44When the city came into view, he wept over it".
The painting on the right is Rembrandt's "Face of Christ". Rembrandt was a master of the face and the way the face can carry varied emotions all in one look. If you look closely, and cover one of Jesus eyes you will see a faint smile or twinkle of the eye. Cover that eye and the other appears to be ready to shed a tear - Jesus wept over the city.

Do we care enough to weep over our city? Can we walk down desolate streets, boarded homes, empty lots littered with empty whiskey bottles, the small overhang that houses a homeless man? What resurrection might occur if Collingwood Presbyterian wept for our city of Toledo?

Just wondering.

Holy Week Blessings,
Bob Anderson

March 21 - Church 101.5 When? “Our Place in God’s Vision for the Future”

2010-03-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

Looking at the global perspective of the church in the future, a new book (March 1) by Fritz Kling, Meeting of the Waters, 7 Global Currents is a fascinating overview of the challenges to our thinking about how we can prepare our children and grandchildren for the church of the future. I say grandchildren because it is already too late to prepare the current generation (in my humble opinion). Check out the summaries on the blog http://themeetingofthewaters.com/7-global-currents/

Watch Fritz give his own passionate overview - How do these currents effect how Collingwood Presbyterian will approach the future?

Ecclesiology And Models Of The Church

2010-02-24T11:44:00.001-08:00

Church 101 - what is the church? Various images will come to mind. Ultimately, the church is "us". Ephesians 1 teaches us that we are together bound to Christ as the "Body of Christ". The church is both an organization with structure, fixed and solid, and with specific ways of operating. At the same time, the church is "us" and that makes in an "organism", something alive and vital. Ephesians 1 tells us that those called out by God (ekklesia) are formed by the Holy Spirit as the "Body of Christ" - a vital, vibrant organism. This will be our theme for Sunday, February 28. To give some overview look at the models of the church from Bishop Avery Dulles. This is a well known model and will still show up in seminary studies!
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Ecclesiology And Models Of The Church

View more presentations from deporresd.

Wonders Abound!

2010-02-23T05:13:00.001-08:00

Wonders abounded in The Garden on Sunday morning – we held our first live recorded worship! Colin Smith led the worship team in a masterful mix of songs that closed with a awesome and worshipful solo by Heather Jade Pase. The Garden tables were filled to capacity and we all felt God's loving presence. Thanks Colin, Heather, Daryl, Anne, Mark, and Ray. Next Sunday, February 28 will be the second and final live recording. We plan to create a music CD that will bless all of us with great music at home, in the car, or iPod. We will also use the CD to distribute to friends we want to invite to The Garden.

Wait! We have more music wonders! This Sunday evening, February 28, we will enjoy a special concert with Jeff and Lydia Horvath. Jeff and Lydia have been providing excellent musical talent in our choir as well as throughout the Toledo area. An offering will be received that will become the start of a fund to begin repairing our aging organ. A full repair will cost several hundred thousand dollars. Our strategy is to fund the repair sections one at a time, We will hear those trumpets again!

I heard banging and hammering as I walked past the church on Saturday. What now? The wonder that greeted me was a team people remodeling the third floor choir room into a youth room! No more risers. Put that pool table front and center! Sinks and frig are waiting for someone to donate them. This will be a place for fun, food, worship, games, movies and community as teenagers gather and grow in faith.

Don't go yet – I just heard more! It seems we are having an influx of Sunday School age youngsters. Watching them run around the dining area and chase each other in the hallway reminds me of many a church where I've served. These children are the "church forming". Soooo, in the desire to have some expanded Sunday School space that is close to worship areas, we are going to have a summer mission project to rehab parts of the basement area under the sanctuary. Some of you may have attended Sunday School down there once upon a time. What goes 'round, comes around, as the saying goes. Now, if we can just find a spot to put our marvelous library – we will!

During this Lenten season, keep all these activities and plans in your prayers. God's Spirit is quietly at work among us.

Peace, Joy, Love,

Bob Anderson

Interim Minister

Work and Vocation – some spiritual practices

2010-02-01T06:39:00.001-08:00

During the sermon on Sunday, I shared some spiritual practices you may use to help re-create your "job" or "retirement" into a ministry. I noted that we are called to glorify God in all of our work, we do so by reflecting God's character and nature in the everyday...
Here are some ideas:
1. Weave prayer through all you do... prayers for another, for ourselves, the world, for issues like poverty, homelessness, needs you see as you pass by while driving. Who are the needy, the lame, halt, the oppressed? Use a simple and quiet prayer asking God to heal, help, provide, etc.
2. Celebrate. Give praise and thanksgiving for all things about us. Gratitude opens the world to God's abundance.

3. Complete... Finish things.. God brings all things to completion and we reflect God's character when we complete tasks. Consider less "multi-tasking" in favor of "multi completion",

4. Faithfulness... keep your promises

5. Speak honestly and clearly … let you yes be yes and your no be no.

6. Love and Forgive

7. Share your gifts, give them away.. teach others.

8. Create – we are made in God's image and thus we are called to create.

9. Nurture life - people, animals, growing things, all of creation.

Bob Anderson

Your Work Matters!

2010-01-26T05:26:00.001-08:00

Keeping Life in Balance - Your Work Matters...

Our workplace is also our place of ministry. Our work matters because in our Christian baptism we are called to follow Jesus in all of our life. He is the Lord and Savior of all of life. Sometimes we get the idea that Jesus is the savior of our soul from eternal punishment. Rather, Jesus is the savior of our soul from meaningless existence apart from God – now and in eternity. One way to life this abundant life that Jesus offers is in our work, our "job".

Our baptism is a call to the Lordship of Jesus over all our life – our work, our daily grind, or, in some cases, our life passion, can be transformed to our vocation. Author, Frederick Buechner, writes about our work matters because it is our "call". The word vocation " comes from the Latin vocare, to call, and means the work one is called to by God. There are all different kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of Society, say, or the Super-ego, or Self-Interest. By and large a good rule for finding out is this. The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. …The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. (Wishful Thinking, A Theological ABC, New York: Harper and Row, 1973. P. 95).

Our Reformation theology reminds that the Christian's life is one of daily dying and rising with Christ in the waters of baptism. As you go to your assembly line, your office, your checkout counter, your home office today, remember your baptism!

To read more about your work as a call or vocation go to our Presbyterian Church (USA) web site for some great articles about vocation www.pcusa.org/christianvocation/whatischristianvocation.htm

Bob Anderson

Keeping Life in Balance Sermon Series - Keeping Up Appearances

2010-01-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

One of the great "balance busters" is when we fall into the trap of "looking good" rather than being authentic. This will be the theme of this week's worship service - January 24. The Garden - 9:17, Sanctuary Worship at 10:45.

It seems that most of Jesus words in the four Gospels in the New Testament are pointed at the hypocritical religious leaders. They, like me at times, work hard at keeping up appearances that cover the weakness inside. In the Susan Howatch novel, "Glittering Image", the story unfolds that reveals how often we live a "shadow life", skulking around unseen behind a fragile shell of glitter and gloss. Each moment is consumed with fear lest someone bump us so roundly that we shatter. All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Nor can all the resources of the world put me back together again. The Good News is that Jesus offers to love that person inside us, to redeem that "shadow" and bring wholeness, integrity and abundant life.

Speaking of Looking Good, check out the video with Ms. Bucket!

Keeping Life in Balance Sermon Series - Balancing Act

2010-01-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday was our first in the series, Keeping our Life in Balance. It was my experience that my entire week and Sunday itself, was one "imbalance". Pretty much everything I did or touched spun out of control - life is like that sometimes. What keeps me in balance is that God's call on my life is at my center. God is not my co-pilot but my gyroscope. The Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us that we are "created for the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying God forever". When live otherwise, we are out of balance.

It might be fun for you to explore how to expand your spiritual orientation and move toward spiritual practices that will keep your life in balance. Explorefaith.org is one of my favorite sites and it has an interesting spiritual "profile"... check it out at:

www.explorefaith.org/tools/my_spiritual_profile/index.php

Each week we are introducing a "spiritual practice". This week was the "practice of sabbath". I took grammatical liberty and called it "sabbathing". The practice of sabbath is one where we create a holy rhythm through the day of work, rest, prayer. For some great articles about sabbathing follow this link:
www.practicingourfaith.org/prct_keeping.html Be sure to use the tabs at the top for articles and resources.

Have a great week staying in balance. Next week is about authenticity and our tendency to "keep up appearances".

Bob Anderson

Wonder Full Saints of God

2010-01-07T06:25:00.001-08:00

The season of Epiphany dawned upon yesterday, January 6, 2010. This is the season we remember the light of revelation shines upon this world, guiding us to new paths of possibility and wonder. That light glitters on Collingwood as we remember to wonder filled Saints of God who have finished their course on earth and now rejoice face to face with the Savior they professed.

A few days before Christmas, Dr. Willis Zimmerman suffered a major heart attack and finally went home to be with his Lord on January 1, 2010. Dr. Zimmerman was widely known among several generations as a physician and healer, church leader, community leader, scientist, educator and family leader for the Zimmerman clan. His Memorial Service will be at Collingwood Presbyterian this Saturday, January 9, at 10:30am. Be in prayer for Janys and family as they mourn this loving and gracious man.

During Christmas week, Geneva Beekman, living at Swan Creek, entered eternal rest as she slept during the night. Geneva was well know to our longer term members as woman of faith and courage. Her faith withstood the rigors of working at the Pentagon during WW2 serving General McArthur as a statistician and systems analyst. She broke ground as a single mother raising children courageously during the 1950's. Her stalwart but graceful manner made her a unique female leader who was ahead of her time.

In the context of Epiphany, the light of God's grace gave Collingwood Presbyterian a "culture" that birthed leaders for the church and the community. That is a "wonder" that never ceases to amaze me. I ponder this Epiphany season how we might continue to live into the vision of "growing leaders" for our church and the City of Toledo/ Lucas County, the world? We know how to do this. I'm "wonder full" today as I think about it!

Bob Anderson

Transition Ministry Specialist

Congregational Spiritual Vitality is Key for Ministry

2010-01-05T05:37:00.001-08:00

My morning lectionary today took me to Joshua 1:1-9. Verses 8-9 conclude the section with this challenge to Joshua as Israel entered the new land following the death of Moses:

This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. ⁹I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Living in the dead of a Toledo winter's deep freeze, this may be our time to warm our hearts with scripture. In reading scripture we open ourselves to the whispers of the Spirit who sustains and directs us in faithful discipleship. Reading scripture (you have my permission to skip over any "begats" – at least for the moment!) feeds and nourishes our soul. When Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread he answered the tempter that his bread was the word of God. The words of scripture become living words that make us strong.

Our congregation's spiritual vitality will be a major, foundational building block as God breathes renewed life into Collingwood Presbyterian Church. God is making us fit for the future. Regular scripture reading is one of three spiritually vital practices listed among others in our Constitution (Book of Order, chapter 5):

A faithful member accepts Christ's call to be involved responsibly in the ministry of his Church. Such involvement includes

a. proclaiming the good news,

b. taking part in the common life and worship of a particular church,

c. praying and studying Scripture and the faith of the Christian Church

A daily lectionary of readings is available as an email sent to you daily. The texts are printed out and you can read them there. There will be texts for morning and evening. You may subscribe to these as an RSS feed to your home page or link to an on line site. Here's the link for you to try! www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/

New Year Blessings,

Bob Anderson

Why Would Laypeople Want Theological Education, Anyway?

2009-12-31T05:58:00.000-08:00

On January 3, 2010 the Collingwood Presbyterian members will welcome Elder Roberta Thornton as our Commissioned Lay Pastor intern. Bert, as she likes to be called, is completing one more part of her theological education for the Presbytery of Maumee as she practices ministry in our midst during 2010.

As I pondered this new chapter of our lives together, Alban Institute sent me an email with an article stressing the interest in, and value of, theological education for adults. I want to invite you to follow the link below and read the short article for your own theological reflection.

May your new year be blessed with God's love.

http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=8798

Bob Anderson

Christmas Stress

2009-12-12T10:12:00.001-08:00

This Sunday's sermon is from Philippians 4 and we are encouraged to "rejoice always" – even in the midst of Christmas stress and anxiety. The Message version of the New Testament puts the scripture this way, Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7

Our Advent season is a call to us, as
God's people, to let the world know that the Lord is at hand. One way we do that is to live fully for today in the joy and peace of God.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

+ A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.

+ An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

+ A loss of interest in judging other people.

+ A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

+ A loss of interest in conflict.

+ A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)

+ Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

+ Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

+ Frequent attacks of smiling.

+ An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

+ An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Advent Joy

Bob Anderson on the Third Sunday of Advent, 2009

Advent Wonders

2009-11-23T08:39:00.001-08:00

The church liturgical year provides a cycle of scriptural themes that help us worship (and preachers, preach) in a way that holistically presents the Gospel. The season following Thanksgiving until Christmas is known as "Advent". Rooted in the Latin, the term "advent" simply means "coming" or "arrival". It is in this season that that we anticipate and prepare for the "arrival" of Jesus. In the time of the year when we experience a deficit of light because of the "short" days, we are called to look for the "light" of the world to come in Jesus, the Messiah (the Christ).

Advent is a reminder that are "in between times". The advent texts you will hear proclaimed this year at worship will remind us that we are to be alert and ready for two advents. The first advent – coming – was in Bethlehem. In this schema, Advent is our Christian season to prepare our hearts to make room for Jesus in our lives. Each Sunday we sing songs that are mostly in the minor key. These are not always my favorite hymns, but their composition creates a feeling of mystery, a sense of awe, an environment of thoughtful reflection. In the midst of Christmas shopping stress, commercialization, consumer debt, holiday parties and guests, God's people in "advent" are called to quiet their hearts, clear the clutter of our life, and look around for where we might see Jesus arrive in our lives as the one who is always present with us through our sacraments and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

At the same time, however, the biblical texts of our Advent season will remind us that Jesus promised a "second advent." There is a clear expectation in scripture and tradition that we need to be alert and awake to the return of Christ that will usher in a new heaven and a new earth. This will be the ending of the world as we know it and the beginning of a world that we can only begin to imagine. It sounds a bit fearful to think of "the end of the world" and yet we live daily as Christians anticipating the breaking through of God's reign each day. The cumulative sightings of the reign of God will one day be full and complete. Our hope is in the reality that we belong to Christ and need not fear – now or then- the full promises of eternity absorbing our "time bound" world.

This Advent season is our opportunity to live "in between" – in fact, that is the title of the sermon for December 8, the Second Sunday of Advent! Each Sunday this Advent will be special and unique – see you there!

Hope, Peace, Joy, Love,

Bob Anderson

Interim Minister

Advent – Interim time is like Advent theme… the new has come but is not yet completed…

Advent is about God coming into the world and God breaking forth in our world in a new way

The new way is:

Love as the core of the Gospel that give us a

The model for a new way of living - Jesus the way of living

Therefore we are gathered as the church to demonstrate the Way

We are sent out into the world to live the way… be the church..

Our purpose is discipleship…

What we begin to see of God's way of living is because God empowers God's church/people to live it…

Advent 1

Advent Festival in the afternoon…

PC(USA) - Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study - Podcast

2009-11-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

There are a lots of wonders here at Collingwood Presbyterian this week - I'm more than "wonder-filled"!

You may have noticed that most weeks in the bulletin we have a short section of prayer focus for our Presbyterian Church (USA) mission. This prayer focus is condensed from the Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study of the PCUSA. Wonderfully, I discovered today that the Mission Yearbook is now available as a podcast - here is the link: www.pcusa.org/missionyearbook/podcast.htm

During this week I was introduced to Family Promise as Collingwood provided hospitality for families in need of housing. I had dinner with our families one evening and then had breakfast with the local Family Promise leaders and church host pastors. Wow - did I learn a lot! A major piece was that Collingwood Presbyterian provided key leadership in the founding of this hospitality network where those in need can stay in churches overnight. The churches rotate their availability through the year. I was in "wonder" heaven.

I also met some of the members of the staff at Crossroads Community Church just across the border in Michigan near Sylvania. Crossroads is a partner congregation with Collingwood and help staff a week of Family Promise here in Toledo at Collingwood Presbyterian. The Session is in conversation with Crossroads about other ways we can be in partnership in mission and ministry projects with Crossroads. This direction is one of the newest and most effective means of congregations sharing gifts and expertise for the glory of God.

I also attended a fund raising event for Toledo Area Ministries (TAM). TAM has it's offices here at Collingwood. They keep a low profile so you may not have noticed them but their offices are on either side of the entrance on Floyd Street. TAM is is wondrous resource for the needy and homeless in the Toledo area - their avenues of caring in Christ's name are too numerous to note here but I encourage you to keep them in your prayers.

This week I also joined our bell choir, the Tintabulators, at Swan Creek for the Vespers Service. It was a meaningful time as we sang hymns, read scripture, heard the bell choir play, and preached learned about the value of "thinking about thanks".

It is my hope that we will have a mission focus day this spring so that we can learn more about these exciting Christian outreach ministries here in Toledo.

Bob Anderson
Interim Minister

Theolog: Don't give up meeting together

2009-11-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

William Willimon was for many years the Dean of the Chapel at Duke University and is now a Bishop. In this week's Theolog Blog, he makes a case for church attendance - his district is out to increase attendance by 4%. Read his thoughts using the link below...

Theolog: Don't give up meeting together

Wonders of Celebration

2009-11-09T09:22:00.001-08:00

There are lots of celebrations around Collingwood Presbyterian this week…..

We are in the midst of our Financial Stewardship Emphasis time. With this emphasis will come regular monthly reporting to the congregation about our goals as well as some hearty "thanksgiving" for faithfulness to God as we support the ministry of Collingwood Presbyterian.
We hosted a Halloween "Boo Cruise" and party. Over 120 people participated and many of them were neighbors from the community. That's to the wonder-filled work of Christine Palmer and her team!
Our Heritage Sunday event was a success and our special Heritage Offering was a little over $540.00 – thanks!
Our new web page is underway and developing – www.collingwoodpc.net
Sunday School is organized and staffed with teachers – thanks for your leadership!
A youth group is forming and will be attending a Christian concert at the Peristyle in the Art Museum on November 13.
CPC is hosting with Maumee Presbytery a pre-advent day of spiritual preparation for the pastors of the presbytery at Collingwood Presbyterian.
Look forward to some very special worship moments during Advent and Christmas!

Bob Anderson
Interim Minister

Fearless Giving in Fearful Times Stewardship Program

2009-11-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

"We have not been given a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7... These words are as powerful for us today as they were for Timothy in the first century. He and his little church of first century believers faced economic issues, prejudice, oppression, and the constant threat of persecution. Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul challenges them to stand up to fear using the spiritual resources available to them - love, the power of the spirit, and the intellect God gave us.

As we plan our gifts to the church for this coming year, do so in the same spirit. One thing our economic downturn has taught us in that God is the only one we can trust -And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 8:7).

To explore generous giving and read some inspiring testimony go to www.generousgiving.org

If you are feeling pinched financially, you will begin to celebrate your wealth after you visit some other nations in the world. Find out how rich you really are compared to the rest of the world at www.globalrichlist.com

Finally, if you want to compute your giving using percentages you can use the giving calculator at the web site of the National Church Business Administrators web site http://nacba.net/tithe.htm

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).

Bob Anderson

Heritage Wonderings

2009-11-03T16:30:00.000-08:00

Heritage Sunday was a wonder filled event for me. I met a number of new friends of the congregation - new to me but not new to the church. The "homecoming" was very deeply moving as old friends connected again. Our talented musicians did a wondrous job of leading us in worship. Sara and Jeff Sankavich gathered volunteers to put together a delicious soup and breads lunch. There were a lot of "do you remember when.." stories around the lunch tables.

I learned a lot about our congregational story as I looked at pictures, read articles and reports about the church from years back. Collingwood is a church that was built for its time and thought that time is behind us, the "DNA" of relevancy is with us still. It will be a critical element for the new life cycle in front of us.

God is faithful to all generations including ours!

Bob Anderson
Interim Minister

Wonders of Heritage

2009-10-20T05:57:00.001-07:00

Heritage Sunday at Collingwood Presbyterian on October 25 will celebrate our history and the wonders of God's faithfulness over the years. Our Presbyterian heritage has deep roots in the concept of God's faithfulness to all generations. Our baptism font is our key symbol and sacrament that reflects this spiritual reality. And because God is faithful to all generations, we are able to keep our dreams alive –God's faithfulness teaches us that God is not done with us yet… that God will be faithful in working out divine glory and divine purposes in our world despite the context in our time.

Our heritage is seen in the building – every stone, every piece of woodwork, the elevator, the stairs, chancel furniture, organ, and more is a testament to the loving commitment to a faith that endures.

Buildings sometimes outlast the generations. When Israel entered the promised land after years in the wilderness, God told him to build monuments – stone pillars – to commemorate the crossing. Some call them "standing stones". A famous hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, calls them "Ebenezers" after the Hebrew word combination of "help" and "stone", literally a stone of help. The Bible says that God told Joshua that he was to build the pillars so that the future generations would ask the meaning of the pillars and the people could witness to God's faithful help and deliverance (Joshua4:1-9). Our building is a kind of Ebenezer.

The story for which the building was built, was the story of Jesus, God's "word" of love that embraced all humanity. Not many people ask about the stones today. In fact there are stone piles on every corner of Collingwood Blvd. They bear witness to a movement of God in a generation past.

The stones remind us that the story cannot be told by stones alone. The real is story is in contained in the people who are the "living stones" (I Peter 2:5). This is these are the stories that will change the world. You and I are the "ebenezers" whom God is raising to tell the story of love – and to tell it before a generation to come is one that never heard the word of the Lord.

King Josiah began his reign at 8 years of age. Unbelievable. He walked faithfully in the ways of God. But all he knew was the vague fragments of tradition left in a ruined Temple. Josiah ordered the temple to be rebuilt. In the course of re-construction, workers found the scripture scrolls hidden away. Josiah devoured the words and the nation was restored in faith. The stones – even restored – were not enough without the word of the Lord in scripture – a story that Josiah could tell again.

Our heritage is one full of divine wonder. Our 21^st Century mission is to tell the story again by reclaiming the scripture for our lives and our church. A generation is waiting with hungry hearts.

Bob Anderson

Interim Minister

Collingwood Presbyterian, Toledo, OH

Commitment

2009-10-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

My mom was a paragon of commitment. Especially when it came to faith and church. I had Sunday School attendance pins hanging on my jacket from shoulder to waist as a result! I recall her tenacity when she and I trudged to church (we walked in those days) during a major snow storm. I was about 9 years old and I remember that snow seemed to be hip deep on my little frame. We made it to the church - cold, wet, and determined (at least Mom was!). Well, nothing kept us from church that day - except the fact that the pastor canceled the service and we didn't know. I didn't get to the service, but I did get a huge lesson in commitment, to perseverance, and to faith.

I think about this as I wander through the Collingwood Church building. It too commitment to put money, time, and energy aside to organize a church and build the first building - and the addition. What vision and possibilities must have been in the hearts and a gym and a theater was planned and built. In those days the church was the locus of family life and activity. Even Boy Scouts nested in our congregations. Their commitment arose from a belief that Christian faith was our norm for living and it needed to pervade all of life.

That is the same persistent, dogged faith, that my mom had. I see it written all over the halls of our building. And I have a feeling that this same persistent commitment is with us still, even though the shape of our ministry and outreach will be much different because the world is much different. The 21st century generation slogs through the deep "snows" of anxiety, terror, poverty, and social chaos looking for direction and meaning. My prayer is that they will find that no one canceled church while they were on the way.

Bob Anderson
Interim Minister
Collingwood Presbyterian Church
Toledo, OH

Practicing our Faith Bible Study

2009-09-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join me in a "Practicing our Faith Bible Study" starting this month. This will be a book reading circle using the book, "Unbinding the Gospel" by Martha Grace Reese. This is a book about evangelism - yep - evangelism. And it is a book about our faith, the scriptures, and how we can create a vocabulary for the faith that we have deep within us but often find difficult to articulate.
You will find a short review and an interview at the link below. Her research was funded my the Lily endowment and her ideas are being used by thousands of congregations just like ours....

If you are interested in a "wonder filled" opportunity, let me know by emailing using the email link on the blog page. Now - click below and find out more!

Church Executive Magazine :: Brought to you by Power Trade Media

Bob Anderson
Interim Pastor
Collingwood Presbyterian Church

inToledo Magazine

2009-09-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

inToledo Magazine

Collingwood Presbyterian is a wonder-filled congregation of remarkable people. On my Facebook page appeared an inspiring article from Toledo Magazine about Cecilia Johnson. You can follow the link above. I'm still becoming acquainted with our members and I got to know Cecilia a little better when I stopped in for CYMBAL (City Youth Motivated By Arts Learning) which meets at Collingwood. Cecilia's enthusiasm for life is contagious and the community youth are not immune!

Let's be thankful for the way in which our Collingwood members live into faithful visions in their communities, vocations, and families.....

Bob Anderson

The Community Garden at Collingwood

2009-09-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

As we prepare for our Peacemaking Offering and World Communion Sunday on October 4, 2009, I want to point out the abundant garden that graces the green space beyond the church parking lot. Sponsored by "Food, not Bombs", this little garden helped feed the hungry each week at the old bus station downtown. Some of the produce went to the community food bank as well. And five our neighbors near the church were invited to have their own small plot - this is thinking local! Thanks to Mike and John, Ameri-Corp volunteers who helped to weed and mulch the garden!

Wonders Abundant,

Bob Anderson,

Interim Pastor at Collingwood Presbyterian Church, Toledo, OH

Walking Down Another Street at inward/outward

2009-08-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

Thinking About Money

The Church of Our Savior has a long history of urban ministry on the streets of Washington, D.C. As I look at urban ministry with a community that has many who live paycheck to paycheck or no paycheck at all, the outreach model for the Church of Our Savior is unique.

One of the outreach programs is a daily email called "Inward/Outward". Today's edition was about our views of money. In it is a link to the "Self Help Credit Union"... check it out!

Walking Down Another Street at inward/outward

Bob Anderson
Interim Pastor
Collingwood Presbyterian Church
Toledo, OH

Annual Meeting Wonders

2009-07-26T16:13:00.001-07:00

The Collingwood Presbyterian congregation gathered for a combined service at 10 am this morning and our Annual Meeting.

We celebrated the Ordination and Installation of new officers. Marty Pritchard and JoAnne Phipps were both ordained as Elders and Christine Palmer was ordained as a Deacon.

We celebrated our committed staff, including our new Christian Education Director, Christine Palmer. In addition to staff, there are scores of members who volunteer each week - everything from helping with PowerPoint slides to setting up coffee and donuts on Sunday morning. We shared our thanks with them.

On the financial side, God has been good. Forward looking leaders developed the Collingwood Presbyterian Foundation years ago. Today it is contributing about 36% of our income. Members' gifts comprise another 32% of our income. Our members gifts have declined by over $50,000 over the last couple years. That is a rapid decline and we will be addressing that in positive ways this year.

On the leadership side, Gary Long, Clerk of Session confirmed a rumor that I would become the full time Interim Minister for Collingwood. We await the final approval and paperwork from our Presbytery Committee on Ministry. Thank you for the opportunity. For those of you who are still getting acquainted, my short bio is simple. I have been serving the Presbyterian Church (USA) for about 35 years and 22 of them have been as an interim transitional leader. A couple of those leadership roles have been as an interim presbytery executive. I've served churches from 75 members to over 2,000 members. I will be moving to Toledo from my townhouse in downtown Pittsburgh so that I can be present with you as we move to the future.

One of my passions is for coaching seminary students and ministers as a Life Coach. I call my coaching practice, "Opportunity Coaching." For those of you who listen to my sermons, that will be no surprise! I retired from ministry a couple years early so that I would be more flexible to develop the coaching practice, teach and write, and minister with congregations like Collingwood.
I teach interim ministry leadership at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and at other sites around the country. One of the themes I've developed in that program is about using our life story for personal and congregational study and growth. I've contributed a chapter to a book on that topic and Alban Institute will be publishing that soon. I'm awaiting my editors comments (pray for me!).

On the personal side, I have three adult children. My son and oldest daughter live in Baltimore, Maryland and my youngest is in Quakertown, PA. All are married and have given me 7 grandchildren.

Today was indeed "Wonder Full".

Bob Anderson

Spirituality & Practice: Spiritual Practice Feature: 25 Reasons Why Twitter Is Spiritual, by Frederic A. Brussat

2009-07-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Spirituality & Practice: Spiritual Practice Feature: 25 Reasons Why Twitter Is Spiritual, by Frederic A. Brussat

500th Anniversary of John Calivin's Birth

2009-07-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

John Calvin was the key Reformation theologian who influeces Presbyterians today. Calvin's influence came to Scottish Presbyterians through the famous Scot, John Knox, who studied with Calvin. Knox was originally a Roman Catholic priest in Scotland and was strongly influenced by the Reformation movement and Calvin's writing. Knox's fervor molded him to a force to be reckoned with in the Protestant - Catholic issues of the time. He influenced the Presbyterian movement in Scotland which in turn came to the American Colonies with the early Scots-Irish immigration. The video below gives some basic information from Joe Small, historian with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Louisville, Ky.

Celebrations

2009-07-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

I love to celebrate the abundance of God's creation. I love to celebrate the ways I discover God's Spirit at work in everyday life. Each day we can arise to celebrate the vast array of God's miracles in the world if we but take the time to look. I celebrate the life of Collingwood Presbyterian Church each day as well. Sometimes I have the privilege of seeing ministry at Collingwood that must be celebrated. I will use this blog to share those discoveries - weekly, more or less - with you. Join me in celebration!

One of the wonders I am discovering at Collingwood is the building. From the beautiful construction, the sanctuary communion table, the gymnasium and theatre, I am "wonder full".
You have kept the building in surprisingly good condition. You are also sharing the space with a view toward community mission and leadership. Kudos!

Another wonder is the music. I amazed by the fine choir - I didn't expect the gifts they bring with Barbara's fine leadership. The Garden worship team is the finest I've ever heard. Colin is doing a good job helping the group keep on target.

The staff is a wonder full team with whom to work. I'll have more to say about each of them in days to come. They deserve the "blessing" of your affirmation. The Session is a solid group of leaders. I look forward to working with our new officers to be elected this coming Sunday.

I celebrate a wondrous congregation. You are a loving, thoughtful and energetic group of sisters and brothers in Christ. My celebrations abound.

Wonder Filled,

Bob Anderson
Temporary Supply Pastor
Collingwood Presbyterian Church
Toledo, OH