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THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, January 14, 2010
Co m m u n i t y Ch u r C h me d i t a t i o n s
methodiSt chURch,
WeiRS-1889
fo c u s i n g
by rev victoria
the wires that were strung changers out of the Temple people, making changes
wood Parrish
congregations, but also in
Contributing Writer
over the road and across because they made people in the world through God’s friendships, classrooms,
the view. focus on the imperfection love shared with others. jobs, and marriages. We
During the first months I For years, every time I of their sacrifices rather Too often we focus on the can lose the good in rela-
lived in the Lakes Region, passed the same spot, I than on their covenant distractions rather than tionships because we let
I spent times just driving thought “Isn’t that just too with God. the beauty. I can’t say small irritants grow too
around, trying to learn bad, how those wires spoil He allowed Mary to study how many times people large. Instead of focusing
about what was in the the wonderful view.” with him rather than be have told me “I don’t go to on the good, we focus on
area and how to get there. Last week, I crested distracted by the respon- church because there are the small things of less
It seemed that, no mat- the same hill and started sibilities of being a hostess too many people faking it importance.
ter which direction I went down the other side, saw as her sister Martha was. there – too many hypo- We will change our lives
when I left my driveway, I the Lake, and thought He called disciples away crites.” Ok, so you will for the better, when we
would always find my way once again about its beau- from mundane jobs to a forgo the beauty of music, focus on the good rather
home –eventually, even ty. Then it struck me – I new role in the Kingdom the communal laughter, than the small stuff.
without any turns, so I hadn’t even noticed the of God. the challenge of a good It’s a new year – that
figured that all roads went wires. All I saw was the He, himself, would leave sermon, the chance to sounds like a good resolu-
in a circle. That has proved beauty. the pressures of the world know that you aren’t the tion!
untrue, so I have no idea It struck me that I would behind to go on retreat in only one with issues –
how I always returned have saved myself some the wilderness or in a lone- just because someone else Rev. Victoria Wood Par-
home after an excursion. internal aggression if I had ly garden so he could focus doesn’t live up to your rish is the pastor of the First
However, it wasn’t long changed my focus years on what he was going to do standards? They are look- United Methodist Church
before I found the best (in ago and hadn’t let myself without the voices of those ing at the distractions, not in Gilford, NH, located on
my opinion) view of the be bothered by the wires – who would try to control the beauty. Route 11-A. It is a congre-
Lake. the distractions. him. Or how many times gation of open hearts, open
I was driving south on I think that is much of Jesus told us to look people have said, “I just minds, and open doors.
RT. 3 from Meredith to what Jesus was doing beyond what we see here don’t agree with…(what- We invite you to worship
Weirs Beach, when I crest- when he was teaching. He to see possibilities – of life ever it is.) So I don’t go to with us on Sundays 10:30
ed a hill and started down was focusing us on what beyond death, of second church.” So you will give AM. Children’s activities
the other side. There in was really important and chances, of forgiveness, of up being with those who and nursery are available
front of me was the lake, trying to get us away from healing, of peace. do agree with you in the during morning worship.
framed by hills. It took my the distractions. While he warned his peo- group, just to avoid being We also invite you to the
breath away – except for He cleared the money ple that their lives would with those who are dif- United Methodist Church
also contain hard choices, ferent – and sometimes in the Weirs, 35 Tower St.,
losses and pain, he never give up friendships over which worships at 10:00
AUDIOLOGY
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told them to focus on that. an issue of disagreement? AM. There are also many
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when they trusted God and the beauty. worship.
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