Les Beaux Arts Gallery at Round Hill Community Church inaugurates its new season with a celebration of life and hope. "Dancing Leaves,”an exhibition of black & white photographs by the artist photographer Thomas Berntsen, will open on Sunday, September 7th and will run through October 7th.

     Since the first of the year, we have lost electricity at least five different times, with storms, equipment failure, or accidents being the reasons for such power outages. Now, generally speaking, I have to confess that when these power failures have happened, I have not been a very happy camper, especially when I have seen 4-5 paragraphs of a sermon suddenly disappearing, lost forever in the netherland of cyberspace.

    Eboo Patel is the name of a man of whom I had never heard before going to Chautauqua this summer. He is the founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit dedicated to building the interfaith youth movement. Just in his early 30s, Patel is recognized today as one of the most influential American Muslims of our age, a highly-sought speaker and lecturer, and the author of a book entitled Acts of Faith ... an extraordinary book I commend to all of you.

     Back in June, I went to a personal growth and leadership seminar in Detroit. The leader said, “If you want to be successful, it’s not about doing the right things, it’s about being the right person.”  In other words, according to him, you can do all of the right actions but if you’re still programmed with resentments and guilt and negative patterns from the present or from your past, you’re going to miss the opportunities right in front of you and you won’t be able to hold onto any success you have found or will find in the future.  The point the speaker continued to make is that we must all continue to grow in every way throughout our lifetimes…breaking free from our comfort zones and letting go of those things that keep us blocked in order to be successful, and live fulfilled lives.

(Or "Discoveries at Ghost Ranch: Leonard or Lenore?")

Sometime ago at an elementary school party and dance involving parents and children of all ages, I observed a mother who was trying to lure her little boy onto the dance floor. She invited him to dance to a slow song, and then tried again when a fast song was played. She winked and cajoled and smiled. She feigned sadness and disappointment as she danced alone. She pretended she was dancing while he stood on her feet. But it was all to no avail, for that little boy simply would not leave his safe place in the corner of the room and dance.

     This is the last of our series “Hallmarks of the Christian Life” based on the book of Philippians.  For the last three weeks we have been following this letter from Paul to the church in Philippi. Let’s remember that the overarching theme of Paul's letter is “joy…  Joy being the echo of the presence of God inside us as believers.” Paul writes to those in Philippi while he is in prison and encourages them to live their lives worthy of the calling they have received.  Paul does this with love and honor and respect, because has seen them in action, and received their hospitality over a period of time.

     We continue with our summer sermon series, “Hallmarks of the Christian Life” based on the book of Philippians. Over these 4 weeks, we are focusing on celebrating of our lives of faith. 

       We are continuing with our four weeks of celebration this morning in a series called “Hallmarks of the Christian Life,” based on the book of Philippians.  Last week we talked about the first aspect…Giving thanks and receiving joy.  The second hallmark is…humility. Humility??? Some of you may be thinking of tuning out about now…but hang in there with me.  This is one that is worth celebrating.

A few weeks ago as I sat with the Womens’ Bible study group and asked them what they would like me to preach on for the four weeks while Bob is away, they responded unanimously… “We want celebration!” Celebration, I thought.  Sure…it’s summer and it’s time to celebrate for all that we are and all that we have been given and all that we bring to life.  And so, for the next four weeks…we will be celebrating…celebrating our lives and our faith.  And what better book to ground it all in but Philippians, known by many as the most joyful book of the scriptures.