"Free Concert: Heatherlyn & Local Artists" Reverend Brent Ross of The Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 4 February 2016

 "Free Concert: Heatherlyn & Local Artists" Reverend Brent Ross of The Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 4 February 2016


Heatherlyn is a singer song artist with a Soul ~ Roots ~ Rock vibe from Minneapolis MN, awarded twice the Midwest “People’s Choice” of NPR’s Mountain Stage NewSong Performance Contest. Her soulful, honest voice resonates with people from many various walks of life. In Concert, Heatherlyn leads participants on a refreshing journey of connection – from whimsical laughter together to deeper thoughtfulness about life and love, considering how we each are conduits of peace and hope in our world.
Heatherlyn has been sharing her music with us these last two weeks. This Friday, we’ll be hosting a free concert including Heatherlyn and several other local singers / songwriters! This is a great opportunity to support the artists in our community. The concert starts at7pm and doesn't cost a thing, although donations are accepted. Don’t miss it for the world!
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4650 Mansfield Street

San Diego, California 92116, United States
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 "This Week in Worship: The Body is a Book" Reverend Brent Ross of The Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 4 February 2016


It remains one of the most beautiful and truthful photographs I've ever seen - a picture taken by my sister years ago...
Click here to continue to Brent's Blog"The Body is a Book" by Rev Brent Ross

It remains one of the most beautiful and truthful photographs I’ve ever seen-a picture taken by my sister years ago.*
On the surface, it’s a simple picture of an old woman’s hands in mid-flight as she plays her piano. Taken in black & white, the contrast in the picture draws out her dark veins (which lie close to the surface of her skin) while underneath showing how her muscles and tendons are working in concert as they have for more than 70 years. There is strength there. But also, we see how her skin depresses slightly on the fingers as they make contact with the familiar keys and we see that not only is there strength, but also a softness.
The hands of an elderly piano player are a beautiful thing, because her hands are a book. A book that shows us how she has loved music for a long time. Her hands are a book that tell a larger story and sing an older song. Music has happened through them…voices lifted and harmony found. Those years of practice and playing are all words written into the flesh of her hands. We see her hands and this whole story is told of how she loved music enough to give her hands to it.
This week in our Scripture passage from Exodus, we hear how Moses also becomes a book that tells of a glory beyond him. Moses has just met with God on a mountaintop, but as he descends the mountain there is something clearly different about him. His face shines. He has met with God and seen the depth to which God wishes to be involved in the life of his people. The Israelites down below the mountain see his face and this glory and desire of God is told to them by what they see on Moses’ face. His body has become a book that tells the glory of God to everyone who sees him.
The story for this week raised questions for me in my preparation for Sunday. If we are books, what is the story we are telling? Are we reflectors of God’s glory and grace beyond us? When people see us do they see a story of how we loved God enough to give ourselves to Christ and his work? Do we tell a story of not our own glory and desires, but instead the grace of Christ?
On Sunday we will talk about what it is to show Christ beyond us…we’ll see you here.[* The picture listed above is by David Putzier, Oregon Country Fair 2011. It is not the photograph I’m writing about, but similar. The original picture has sadly been lost to time.]
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Scripture Text: Exodus 34:29 When Moshe came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, he didn’t realize that the skin of his face was sending out rays of light as a result of his talking with [Adonai]. 30 When Aharon and the people of Isra’el saw Moshe, the skin of his face was shining; and they were afraid to approach him. 31 But Moshe called to them; then Aharon and all the community leaders came back to him, and Moshe spoke to them. 32 Afterwards, all the people of Isra’el came near; and he passed on to them all the orders that Adonai had told him on Mount Sinai.

(Maftir) 33 Once Moshe had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when he went in before Adonai for him to speak, he would take the veil off until he came out; then, when he came out, he would tell the people of Isra’el what he had been ordered. 35 But when the people of Isra’el saw Moshe’s face, that the skin of Moshe’s face shone, he would put the veil back over his face until he went in again to speak with [Adonai].

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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Exodus 34:29-35

Verse 29

[29] And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

The skin of his face shone - This time of his being in the mount he heard only the same he had heard before. But he saw more of the glory of God, which having with open face beheld, he was in some measure changed into the same image. This was a great honour done to Moses, that the people might never again question his mission, or think or speak slightly of him. He carried his credentials in his very countenance, some think as long as he lived, he retained some remainders of this glory, which perhaps contributed to the vigour of his old age; that eye could not wax dim which had seen God, nor that face wrinkle which had shone with his glory.

Verse 30

[30] And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

And Aaron and the children of Israel saw it, and were afraid — It not only dazzled their eyes, but struck such an awe upon them as obliged them to retire. Probably they doubted whether it was a token of God's favour, or of his displeasure.

Verse 33

[33] And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

And Moses put a veil upon his face — This veil signified the darkness of that dispensation; the ceremonial institutions had in them much of Christ and the gospel, but a veil was drawn over it, so that the children of Israel could not distinctly and steadfastly see those good things to come which the law had a shadow of. It was beauty veiled, gold in the mine, a pearl in the shell; but thanks be to God, by the gospel, the veil is taken away from off the old testament; yet still it remains upon the hearts of those who shut their eyes against the light.

Verse 34

[34] But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.

When he went before the Lord, he put off the veil - Every veil must be thrown aside when we go to present ourselves unto the Lord. This signified also, as it is explained, 2 Corinthians 3:16, that when a soul turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away, that with open face it may behold his glory.

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If you contributed to the church in 2015 (thank you!), your giving reports are now available. In order to save on postage, we will have these available in sealed envelopes at the entry table to the sanctuary for the next two weeks, and will mail out the remainders the following week. If you would like yours mailed in advance, please feel free to email the church office at office@nhunited.org and thank you so much for your generosity this past year!

TONYA DOUCE JOINS THE CHURCH STAFF!
We are really excited to announce that Rev. Tonya Douce, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and regular part of our church, will be joining the staff here at NHUMC! Tonya will be joining us part-time in the role of “Community Connector”, which means that she will be helping us to increase and deepen our relationships/connections with each other as a growing church. Tonya has years of experience in ministry and we are so fortunate to have her bring her wisdom, energy and education into this more formal role. Beginning immediately, she will be helping us think through how we are connecting as a church, and exploring what our shared community life will look like as we continue to grow. We are so grateful to have Tonya, her husband Nathan Solomon, and their kids Elijah and Maggie here and we are energized by this new ministry!









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Email Pastor Brent
Our mailing address is:

Normal Heights United Methodist Church
4650 Mansfield Street

San Diego, California 92116, United States
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