If you think you may have an interest in such a small group, please let me know. Spiritual direction, also known as spiritual companionship, is both an ancient and a contemporary practice, rooted in the understanding that exploring one’s spiritual life may be undertaken as an intentional practice—not just prayer, or church participation—but a contemplative work developed in partnership with one who has been trained in helping others to discern and notice the presence of the divine in their daily lives. I became interested in this kind of experiential training (which was not offered when I was in seminary!) because it seemed to me that these practices are more useful than ever, as we work to be a spiritual community equipping its members to “reflect the path of Christ” not just in their religious lives, but, most importantly, in your lives in the world of work, school, family, culture, and community.

It is easy to see how crisis or catastrophe challenges one’s sense of the presence of the divine in daily life; more and more, I think, the hardships of daily life are in similar ways challenging and attenuating our ability to sense the holy and carry it with us as we work and live. The time immersing myself in this discipline of spiritual companionship has enlightened my work as a pastor, and deepened my ability to perceive the presence of the holy in hard times.

I have noticed and been deeply grateful for this richness of experience as I worked my way, pastorally, through the liturgical and spiritual terrain of Holy Week and Easter this year, so soon after the death of my mother. As many of you already have experienced in your own lives, the death of a parent challenges and changes our experience of our faith and of our ordinary life perspectives. Working through the stories of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection were challenging for me this year: trying to engage the practices I was taught in my Spiritual direction work, I was especially appreciative of the witness of Mark’s gospel this year: how the proclamation of resurrection may not be loud, joyful and certain in all times. The women of Mark saw their experience begin first in a recognition of emptiness; second in a willingness to watch and pay attention, and finally, in embracing a sense of awe at the mystery of the holy—so much that we cannot perceive nor understand. Resurrection joy came to them so slowly—as they left the emptiness of the tomb behind, left the old ways in the past, and went forward (“to Galilee”) to seek the presence of the Risen Christ. It has been, as a friend of mine observed, a Mark kind of Easter.

Like Mark, I am grateful for the witness of patience, steady love and companionship I have received from all of you during this season of loss. As ever, I see the risen Christ most clearly when I seek him in the community of the faithful here at Riviera. In our baptisms, adoptions, new member gatherings, confirmation classes, worship and play together, as well as in our times of standing with each other in challenge or loss. The ancient tradition of the Church says that Easter is such an important festival for our re-creation as God’s people that, like the first week of Creation, it requires a full “week” of Sundays for us to begin to live into the Easter experience. So we have seven weeks of Easter—each Sunday, a day in the week of God’s new creation, as we ponder, play, and pray our way into resurrection life. May this season of Easter—all seven weeks of it!—be a time for you each, as well, of appreciating the open and even empty places in your own lives, and gratefully making way for experiences of awe, a pondering of life’s mysteries, and the tentative growth of the newness of life of resurrection.

–Laurie

Please join us for the next Clergy Dialog on December 8th at Temple Judea at 10:30 am.

Our program will focus on the multifaceted work of our community’s chaplains and how their work enhances our faith community.

Special guests:
Rev. Patricia Wilson , Director of Pastoral Care and CPE Supervisor at Jackson Memorial and Chaplain, US Reserves

Rabbi Frederick Klein, Director of Jewish Chaplaincy, Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Rev. Diane Hudder, Bereavement Services Managaer and Chaplain, VItas Innovative Hospice, Inc.

Rev. Ronald G. Perkins, Chaplain for Seafarers House, Port Everglades

With blessings,

Rev. Laurie Kraus
Rabbi Judith Siegal
CoChairs, ClergyDialog
PS TO VIEW THE FILM CLIPS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL 9/11 COMMEMORATION, GO TO MCCJ’S HOME PAGE: www.miamiccj.org

During the summer season, vacations and other activities may take you away from our regular worship at RPC.  Please remember that our ministry and mission never take a vacation.  There are a few ways you can make your Faith Commitment if you are away fromRiviera during the summer months.

1. Write a check and mail it to Riviera Presbyterian Church, 5275 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143.  Please label it “Offering or Pledge”
2. Electronic Bill Pay – setup a payment using the “electronic bill pay” feature of your bank’s online service.  The church will be in receipt of a paper check by mail if you are unable to attend Sunday service.

Please bring contributions for the food pantry, every Sunday someone will come through the congregation during the offering collecting contributions (food and/or money) for the food pantry.

2011 – 2012 Planning Calendars are now available.  $7 each.  Please call the church office to reserve your copy or pick up a form on the back table in the sanctuary.  We only have 1 copy left.  First Come First Served.

Volunteers are needed for Nursery duty for the month of July and August.  We need two persons per Sunday.  Sign up sheets are on the back table.

If you would like to hear your favorite hymn during a worship service this summer, please send us an email atrivierachurch@bellsouth.net or sign up on the clipboard in the sanctuary.

Please note that there will not be any Wednesday Bible Study during the month of July.

While Laurie is in Kenya pastoral care will be provided by Stephen Sapp, Jacqueline Rhoades and Deacons.  Please contact church office for phone numbers if needed.

New Date for Cabaret: Mark your calendars, update your Smart Phone – Cabaret has a new date: Sunday, September 25 and 6:00p.m.

Lectionary for Sunday, July 17: Genesis 2 and 3 selected texts; Romans 5:12-21

Sunday July 17th Sermon Title: “Lessons from Genesis 1:  The Ruined Garden” by Rev. Dr. Stephen Sapp  - Response by Tracey Schoenblatt

What are a few of your favorite things? Sunday, August 14th at 5:00 p.m. we will be having a Sound of Music sing-a-long in the sanctuary.  Please bring snacks and finger food to share. Suggested donation $5 per person or $15 per family group.  Come in costume if you wish and be prepared to sing – a- long with Maria and the Von Trapp children.

Along with our continued mission needs ­food for the food pantry, socks for the homeless, toiletries for the family and single food bags ­we also have to pay our liability, workers compensation and windstorm insurances. As in all our activities, lives will change because of the summer, so as your life may slow a bit over the summer months, please remember that our ministry and mission never take a vacation.

There are several ways you can make your Faith Commitment if you are away from Riviera during the summer months: Mail us your offering. Please make checks payable to Riviera Presbyterian Church.

Electronic bill pay ­Set up a payment using the “electronic bill pay” feature of your bank’s online service. The church will be in receipt of a paper check by mail if you are unable to attend Sunday services.

Please remember that we are still collecting electronics for the recycling program. You may de­posit the electronics in the recycling bin outside the Fellowship Hall on the south side.

We are also collecting ­used toner cartridges, canceled stamps, Food for Education labels, cell phones, hotel toiletries, white cotton socks please bring these items to the church office or leave them in a bag labeled ­”For Church Office” ­in the sanctuary on Sunday.

–Barbara Prieto

Please remember that Per Capita is due by June 30th. Per Capita is $31.30 per church member. If your teen has been confirmed at RPC he/ she are members. Any questions, please contact me.