House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church April 2016
There is only one truth
I once heard Bishop Martin Lehman say he believed there was only one ultimate truth, but that none of us has the ability to fully perceive it, define it, to see it all as it truly is. He compares it to our inability to accurately describe the make-up of a mountain in the far distance toward which we are moving. The closer we get to this "mountain" the more details we may comprehend, but we will never see it as it really is until we finally arrive. And even then, it would require an eternity of exploration to truly know all there is to know about something so majestic and vast as God's ultimate truth.
Our human tendency is to think that as soon as we receive some new revelation of God we tend to halt our journey, codify the insight we've gained and build institutions and write creeds to perpetrate it. Like the disciples who had an epiphany of a transfigured Jesus, we want to build three tabernacles to celebrate our latest insight.
How much better to be humble and realistic about how little we fully know, and to recognize that in this life we can only "know in part and prophesy in part" and "see through a glass darkly"? How much better to acknowledge that it will not be until the next life that we will finally see "face to face" and "know as we are known"?
Interestingly, these phrases come from the so-called "love chapter" in the New Testament, one that that tells us that greatest "truth" of all is the knowledge and practice of a love that is never boastful or proud, but is always about being forbearing and patiently persevering in all of our relationships with others. The chapter ends with the words, "Now abide faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love."
That's the kind of truth I most want to remember.
Notes, prayers and praises
“MY SISTER LOVINA YODER, 89, passed away on March 4 at her home near Rustburg after having suffered a series of strokes. I was blessed to spend some time with her the evening before she died and before going to Costa Rica to see my brother and family. Thanks for your prayers and expressions of concern.” Harvey and Alma Jean
APRIL BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Bertha Swarr 4/13, Cathy Atwell 4/19, and Randy May 4/21!
THE TABLE FELLOWSHIP is inviting us to meet with them on the third Sunday of every other month beginning in May, which would be May 15, July 17, Sept 18 and Nov 20 for the rest of 2016.
PRAY FOR LOIS WENGER’s daughter Lorna, husband Greg and their four children as they begin their new mission venture in Uganda. Lois is moving back to her more spacious apartment this month at her son Scott’s at 204 Holmes Lane, Staunton, VA 24401.
April Lectionary readings
3 Acts 5:27-32 Psalm 118:14-29 Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31
10 Acts 9:1-20) Psalm 30 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19
17 Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30
24 Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35
April services worship at 4, meal at 6
3 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
10 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave. 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Guy Vlasits
Bible Study: Elly Nelson Finger Foods Meal
17 Location: Joyce Ulrich 1029 Shenandoah St Apt 1 246-1013
Worship and Sharing: Lois Wenger
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
24 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Drive, 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
