Continue reading »]]> Gardening at The Vine

One reason I enjoy gardening is that it provides practical lessons for life that even I can understand.

My garden is doing well. I didn’t realize how well until I came home after being away for a week. The bean stalks have climbed as far as my poles will let them and are reaching for the sky. Corn stalks are well past knee-high. My planter box is filled with bushy plants.

A garden needs tending. The closed leaves of the tomato plants are telling me they need more water. The corn needs better protection from gophers. Something is nibbling on the tips of my snow pea plants. The grape vine needs something to support the growing tendrils. My neglect shows. I’ll be tending the garden this weekend.

It reminds me of our church and our growth as disciples of Jesus Christ. We need tending to grow well. We encourage and support each other in the face of threats, like worry, fear and distrust.  We remind one another of God’s faithfulness and strengthen one another when we resist temptation to choose selfish impulses over God-directed interests. Like the tendrils of a grape vine, we look heavenward in worship of our great God.

It’s rewarding to see the growth of a garden. I love seeing things grow from tender plant to robust stalk. But the big pay-off is yet to come. That’s when I sit down for a home-grown dinner of juicy carrots, fresh snap peas and, I hope, a full ear of corn. That day hasn’t come for this garden. But that vision led me to cultivate the soil, plant seeds, water the plants. The yellow blooms of the tomato plants remind me that tomatoes will soon be here.

The same is true of the Vine Church. We may not be realizing all the fruit we imagined when we began, but there are blooms of promise. Let’s continue to plant seeds, cultivate the soil and tend the garden of our souls.

Keep praying. Keep coming back. Keep sharing your faith and inviting friends. Keep giving and serving. The day is coming.

“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” -Jesus in John 4:35

Continue reading »]]> You can listen online to audio sermons of The Vine, a new Petaluma church.

Here is our sermon player. Choose the message you want to hear and click the Play button. This player uses Adobe Flash. Get Flash Player.

You can also see our sermons in a different format HERE (still Flash)

Podcast? Access our sermon podcast in iTunes HERE.
MOBILE DEVICES? Most mobile phones do not support Flash. But you can still listen online using your iPhone or other smartphone through iTunes. Access our sermon podcast in iTunes HERE or HERE.

Want to hear more? Go to your iTunes Store and search for Petaluma church sermons.

Image credit: logos / 123RF Stock Photo

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Pope Francis

We had a good Sunday, celebrating Pentecost along with Christians throughout the world.  The new Pope, Pope Francis, gave what I thought was a good homily at the Vatican which emphasized (1) the Newness the Holy Spirit brings, (2) the unity the Holy Spirit brings, and (3) how the Holy Spirit operates as the soul of the Christian mission.

On the unity the Holy Spirit brings, the Pope spoke about how it often appears to us that the Holy Spirit brings disorder, since He  brings different charisms and gifts.  We tend to want to counter this by building unity through standardization to achieve uniformity.  Or we tend to push for diversity and end up creating division.  In contrast, says the Pope, “Only the Spirit can awaken diversity, plurality and multiplicity, while at the same time building unity.”

This homily gives me hope that this Pope will seek unity with all Christians as led through the movements of the Holy Spirit rather than by more leaning on a reliance of human efforts by means of large organizational efforts.

You can read his entire homily (it’s short) at this link.

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Mother Church
Barberini Exultet Roll
Monte Casini – 1087

An old and deep tradition in the Church teaches us to view the Church as mother.  As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, a worthy celebration that has unfortunately become overly commercialized, it may help to reflect on this tradition.

An early church father, Cyprian (bishop of Carthage from 249 till 258), wrote, He can no longer have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother; . . . (De unitate ecclesiae - On The Unity of The Church)  Many other church fathers agreed with this view, including St. Augustine.

John Calvin, one of the leading Reformers, explained this tradition in his Institutes as follows, For there is no other way to enter into life unless this mother concieves us in her womb, gives us birth, norishes us at her breast, and lastly, unless she keep us under her care and guidance, until, putting off mortal flesh, we become like the angels.  Our weakness does not allow us to be dismissed from her school until we have been pupils all our lives. (Book IV, Ch. 1, Sect. 4)  Other Reformers agreed with this view of the church as mother, including Martin Luther, who wrote, The Christian church is your mother, who gives birth to you  and bears you through the Word. (Luther Works, Vol. 51, p. 166.)

Some shy away from this tradition because there is no direct Scripture that simply states, “the church is your mother.”  However, many traditions are based on indirect Scriptural support (such as the Trinity).  Though its supporters cite many Scriptures to elucidate this tradition, they most often refer to Galatians 4:26 & 31,
26: But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
31: Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the         free woman.
Tradition frequently considers and interprets Jerusalem as a reference to the Church.

Unfortunately, this tradition seems to have been largely lost in many Protestant traditions, as faith tends to be viewed more individualistically, especially after John Wesley’s emphasis on personal salvation (often described as a personal relationship).  Certainly, salvation needs to be appropriated on an individual basis.  However, an over-emphasis on this aspect of salvation tends to lose sight of the important role the Church plays in our salvation and in God’s plan for the ages.

The Roman Catholic Church has preserved this tradition of the Church as mother. Section 2040 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states,  Thus a true filial spirit toward the Church can develop among Christians. It is the normal flowering of the baptismal grace which has begotten us in the womb of the Church and made us members of the Body of Christ. In her motherly care, the Church grants us the mercy of God which prevails over all our sins and is especially at work in the sacrament of reconciliation. With a mother’s foresight, she also lavishes on us day after day in her liturgy the nourishment of the Word and Eucharist of the Lord.  Perhaps the Protestant downplaying of this tradition is an overreaction to the Catholic emphasis of it.

So I think it may be healthy for my Protestant brothers and sisters to restore the tradition of Church as mother, and perhaps to look to or borrow from the Catholic tradition for assistance in this endeavor.  At the same time, I think it may be healthy for my Catholic brothers and sisters to gain insight from the Evangelical emphasis on personal salvation.

Continue reading »]]> On Friday (April 19th) at 7 p.m., [1129 Industrial Ave., Suite 208, Petaluma] we will have a movie night and watch the film, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” from the Narnia Chronicles.  Walden Media made this film adaption of the book in 2005 with Andrew Adamson as the director.

Any film adaption of a book makes changes from the book since a book is one art medium and a film is a different art medium.  Enthusiasts of the book usually do not like any changes, but no film maker can entirely reproduce an entire book on the film screen.  Still, it can be interesting to note certain key differences.  Those differences can tell us much about the filmmaker himself (or herself).

In the book, written by C.S. Lewis in 1950, Aslan, a lion, who is the King of Narnia, is the son of the Emperor across the sea, a very important aspect of the story.  The magic of Narnia, sometimes called the Deep Magic, which Aslan calls the Emperor’s Magic, is central.  The Emperor’s deeper Magic allows Aslan to sacrifice his life for Edmund, who is guilty as a rebel, and allows Aslan to come back to life because he never did wrong.  When Edmund rejoins with his brother and sisters, he immediately apologizes.

In contrast, the film omits all references to the Emperor.  Moreover, Aslan talks about the Deep Magic almost like The Force in Star Wars, something impersonal he is subject to (instead of something of his Father).  Edmund is portrayed as someone misguided instead of someone guilty of rebellion.  It leaves a problem of why the Witch has power over someone who was simply misguided, or why Aslan sacrificing himself sorts out the problem of a basically misguided person (though the word “traitor” is used), or why someone who “committed no treachery” would have such a profound effect.  Edmund does not apologize to his brother and sisters.

Andrew Anderson

In an interview, Adamson said for him the story was about the challenge the four children confronted in the London Blitz and having to leave home for the safety of the county.  To him, Narnia was a fantasy world where they learned to cope with the evil there in order to learn how to cope with the parallel evil in their real world.  From that perspective, Aslan was more of a guide (possibly on the order of a spirit guide) than a Savior.  And from that perspective, it makes sense that the Emperor is irrelevant and thus deleted.  The sacrifice at the stone table had less to do with redemption and more about sacrificing for friends.  Edmund is more misguided than a traitor and therefore does not need to apologize (instead his siblings apologize to him).

Though Lewis was a Christian, Adamson is not.  However, Lewis did not write Narnia just for Christians, and many non-Christians have a different understanding of the story than Christians do.  It is valid for Adamson, as a non-Christian, to express his understanding of this story in his film, and yet, many Christian elements still come through because of the original story.  I can only hope it spurs a Christian to someday make a film which expresses a Christian view closer to the view that Lewis held.

If you haven’t read the book, I encourage you to do so.  If you have, I encourage you to read it again.  I also hope you will join us to watch this film adaptation of it.

Continue reading »]]> If there was any doubt that Petaluma is an irreligious city, survey results recently released by the Gallup Organization confirm it. The survey, interpreted by The Atlantic – Cities website, shows the Petaluma – Santa Rosa area at the bottom of the list of most religious cities.

Petaluma – Least Religious City?

We are the fifth least religious city. We’re less religious even than the San Francisco-Oakland metro area.

For those of us who live and work in Petaluma, we know. Especially for those of us who do ministry in Petaluma, we know that people in this area don’t just shy away from organized religion. They run. It’s not that people in the North Bay area are not spiritual. They just don’t feel that church is helpful in their spirituality. As one man, who considers himself a Christian recently told me, “the church brought me shame.” He has found other ways to fellowship with like-minded believers rather than attend church.

So, why are we starting a church in the fifth least religious city in America?

Every church has a unique identity and can attract and enfold people that other churches cannot. We are a church for those who are more interested in Jesus Christ than in an institution, denomination or a building. We are a church for those who want to be “spiritual, but not necessarily religious.” We are a church designed especially for those who are hurting and seeking answers to life’s difficult questions – people facing trials, tension or transition.

More on that question, HERE – FAQ

Read More:

Spiritual Vs. Religious

Our Worship Services

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photo by Dave Bartruff. Used by permission.

One way to scare people away from attending a Maundy Thursday service is to let them know we’ll be washing one another’s feet.

Some were reluctant to come to the service. Some who came were reluctant to have their feet washed. And those who allowed their feet to be washed felt awkward. A few only allowed one foot to be washed. At least they were willing to “dip their toe in the water.”

It was awkward, touching one another’s feet. We kept touch to a minimum by pouring water over our partner’s feet and then drying them with a towel. No skin-to-skin touch.

We shouldn’t be surprised at the reluctance. The first foot-washee at the Last Supper with Jesus was also reluctant. In fact, Peter adamantly refused Jesus’ offer. Only when Jesus insisted that it was a requirement if Peter wanted to be a disciple, Peter sat and submitted to it.

I’m guessing that from then on, when the first century followers of Jesus advertised a foot-washing service, people came with their feet clean and manicured. Like when you go to the doctor, make sure you’re wearing clean underwear. When hanging around Jesus, make sure your feet aren’t disgusting.

Having submitted myself to foot washing last night, I feel sympathy for Peter. It’s awkward to kneel and wash another guy’s feet. But, it was harder to allow my foot-washing partner to wash my feet. I can imagine what it might have been like to sit before Jesus, my Messiah, as he knelt before me offering to wash my feet.

What would be difficult would be allowing Jesus to serve me. I want to serve Jesus. I would kneel before Jesus. I’d want to wash Jesus’ feet. But, to allow Jesus, God’s Son, to serve me by washing my feet would be hard.

I understand why Peter vehemently refused. It’s an insult to my pride, for one thing. My feet aren’t that dirty. There’s also the embarrassment of transparency – making my feet naked before Christ. He might withdraw his offer when he smells my feet and sees my toe fungus.

Foot-washing is an appropriate symbol for Jesus’ offer of salvation. Do we really need to be served in such a way? Are our character defects really that bad? If Jesus knew our most disgusting secrets, would he follow through on his offer to reconcile us to the Father and adopt us into his family? I understand why so many refuse when invited to follow Christ.

But it’s a requirement. Not having our feet washed, but having our souls cleansed by Jesus. There’s no other way than to allow Jesus to kneel before us and perform the soul-work that will make us clean. We have to allow Jesus, the Son of God, to serve us.

I hope we do foot-washing again in our next Maundy Thursday service. I won’t expect a crowd. But for those who are willing, it will be enlightening. More importantly, receiving the soul-cleansing that foot- ashing represents is transforming.

written March 29. Posted Apr. 5. 

To see more pictures by Dave Bartruff, go to Jerusalem Walk to Easter: In the Footsteps of Jesus

Continue reading »]]> If you haven’t notice before, the date of Easter moves around every year.  You may have wondered why is that?  Why not settle on a date, or why not say the first Sunday of April, or something like that.

The date for Easter (Pascha) moves because it is linked to the Jewish Passover (as I discussed in Part 1).  Passover itself is based on the Hebrew calendar,  In Leviticus (23), Passover starts on the 15th day of the first month.  In the Bible, the first month is called Aviv, which means when the barley is ripe – which indicates spring.  (After the Babylonian exile, this month was given the Babylonian name of Nissan.)  By tradition, the first month could not begin until the barley was ripe.  If it was not ripe, they added an extra (lunar) month.  (Since the 4th Cent., the date has been set mathematically.)  It falls on the night of a full moon (since the month begins with a new moon) after the vernal (spring) equinox.  The date for Passover thus moves from year to year.  (2011 – April 19; 2012 – April 7; 2013 – March 26; 2014 – April 15; 2015 – April 4.)

At the First Council of Nicea (in 325), loosely following the Passover, Christians set the date for Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon (called the Pascal full moon) following the vernal (spring) equinox.  However, for church purposes, they decided that the equinox would always occur on March 21st, regardless of the actual astronomical date.  So Easter falls the Sunday following the first full moon after March 21st.  At that time, Christianity followed the Julian calendar.  Today, the Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar, while Eastern Orthodox churches still follow the Julian calendar (for church purposes).  This means there are usually two different days in the same year when Easter (Pascha) is observed, depending on whether you are in a Western church or an Eastern orthodox church.  (Some Oriental Orthodox churches have  moved from the Julian to the Gregorian calendars.)

So this year (2013), Western churches observe Easter on March 31st, while Eastern Orthodox churches observe it on May 5th.  Occasionally, almost by accident, they observe Easter on the same date.  This occurred in 2010 when both churches observed Easter on April 4th.  It will occur again in 2014 when both churches will observe it on April 20th.  While there have been recommendations to reform the date of Easter, either to the 2nd Sunday in April, or for a uniform date based on actual astronomical observation, none of those reforms have been implemented.

While some focus on this difference, I prefer to focus on the great unity in the churches in celebrating Christ as our Passover, and in His Resurrection, which gives us hope for eternal life.  I hope this post has given you some understanding about the date of Easter and why we celebrate it.

Please join us to celebrate Easter.

Back to Part 1.

Back to Part 2.

Continue reading »]]> Celebrate hope and rebirth with Petaluma’s newest church

Flowers are blooming

Trees are budding

The grass is greener

The hope of new life fills the air

And spirituality is alive with Petaluma’s newest church. We invite you to join us for our Easter celebration

Celebrate Easter in Sonoma County

Sunday, March 31

9:30 AM – Easter Brunch
10:00 AM – Easter Worship

The Vine Church of Petaluma
1129 Industrial Ave (near auto row)
Suite 208
Petaluma, CA 94952

707-256-8463 (256-VINE)

Holy Week and Easter in Sonoma County

Palm Sunday Worship, March 24, 10 AM at the Vine

Maundy Thursday Communion Service, March 28, 7:00 PM at the Vine. Communion and Foot-washing.

Celebrate Easter in Sonoma County with the Vine, March 31 at the Vine. Come early for Easter Brunch – 9:30 AM. Worship at 10 AM

More on The Vine’s Sunday Worship

More About The Vine’s Approach: Spirituality vs. Religion

Judge Much? Avoiding a Judgmental Attitude

Image credit: Krisdog / 123RF Stock Photo

Continue reading »]]> How do Christian observe Easter (Pascha)?  For many liturgical traditions, it begins on the eve of Holy Saturday with lighting of the Pascha Candle, which represents the Easter fire – the Risen Christ.  In some traditions, this white candle is lighted outdoors from an Easter fire.  The candle is brought into a completely dark church, as the Easter Vigil begins in almost complete dark.

In various traditions, the Exultant (Easter Proclamation), a hymn of praise, is sung or chanted.  This is often followed by readings from the Old Testament which culminate in the prophecies of the Messiah – followed by the proclamation of the gospel of the Resurrection of Christ.

Some traditions consider Easter an ideal time to baptize new converts.  Those traditions, typically conduct an adult baptismal service as part of their Easter celebration, and offer the rest of the congregation the opportunity to renew their baptismal vows.  The newly baptized believers are also offered their First Communion as well as Confirmation.

Some traditions hold a sunrise service.  The first such service was held by Moravian Christians in 1732.  It has spread around the world since then.

Churches typically decorate their sanctuaries festively for Easter and play festive music as well.  It is considered the high point in the Christian calendar for the year.

Join us to celebrate Easter (Pascha),

Back to Part 1.

On to Part 3.