Have you ever tried to play a game without rules?

Have you ever played a game and hated the rules?

This Sunday at Stone Soup we'll look at our freedom as human beings, what it means for us and what happens when we turn it over for something greater. Can we actually do that?
John Wesley's General Rules were simple:
Do No Harm
Do Good
Stay in Love with God

What rules do you live by? Where did you get them? Do you live by some rules you wish you didn't?

Let's work on this together Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Wesley Cottage.

For Supper together, let's do salad bar. I'll bring lettuce, you bring whatever else you want on your salad or to go alongside your salad. No Rules Salad Bar! or Salad Bar Rules!

Anyway, here's Wesley's Rules in a positive poetic form...

Stone Soup is on Friday this Week!

(Spend Sunday Evening on your Mothers' Day Festivities)
We'll meet May 10 Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Wesley Cottage. From there, we'll carpool down to Roger's Park in Tryon where we'll get a chance to help with the Medicinal Music Concert.  This is a benefit concert put on by SAGA (Student Action for Global Awareness a Polk County High School club) and it supports Doctors Without Borders. As an occasion for service, we'll get to help out and get to hear some wonderful music. Aaron Burdett is headlining the night.
Then the Affirmation Class will head back to Rob's house for the "Affirmation Campout!" We'll do some bonfire stuff, S'mores and sleep in the tree house. After brunch, the kids will be back at the Wesley Cottage by noon on Saturday. We'll work on the first four chapters of the book of John.
So to recap:
Everyone is invited to the Medicinal Music concert 8-10 p.m. Friday Roger's Park.
Then the affirmation class camps out at Rob's house (bring a sleeping bag, change of clothes etc. We'll go rain or shine (we can always sneak into the house if it rains.)) They will all be back at the Wesley Cottage by noon Saturday.

“How Then Should We Live”

Stone Soup/Affirmation Class 5/5/13

We’ll meet Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Wesley Cottage and we’ll work on “How Should We Live”. Sonya’s bringing roasted chicken, you bring what would go well with it.

Consider the lilies of the field...

Jesus Ways Jesus Says

(...well it rhymes visually if not audibly)

This Sunday at Stone Soup 4/28/13 we'll meet at four and trek around town a bit to find occasions for the teachings of Jesus. This will be our way of fleshing out these stories of Jesus that can be so strong in our lives if we just let them live. One story we'll look at is that of Nicodemus (John 3:1-15). We'll look at other stories to see how they may come alive in our lives today.
I'll bring spaghetti and sauce you bring what you want to go with it.
See you at 4 p.m.!

Stone Soup for 4/21 at 11:30 a.m.

Changing from Joyce Kilmer Forest to Graveyard Fields

It was too far for our short time to get to Joyce Kilmer and nobody besides our Affirmation Class was going to make it. So, we're switching to Graveyard Fields.
Stone Soup will be at 11:30 a.m. at Graveyard Fields in Pisgah Forest. (you could meet us at 10:30 at Lake Junaluska but that would be out of most people's way). Weather report looks clear but not very warm, so dress accordingly for a nice hike around. If you are interested in coming, please call Rob 828-606-3452 so we don't miss anyone at the trail head. Bring a Picnic Lunch. We'll be discussing the history and development of the church.

Stone Soup for April 14 and 21

The Power of the Story

We will look at some of the foundational stories of our culture and our faith and then look at our own stories. We want to explore how these stories of faith become our stories. This is part of our Affirmation Class' journey of faith together.
Come be informed, surprised and inspired.
Our intro scripture will be Luke 24:13-35
Here's a TED video on the Power of Story:

April 14 Breakfast for Dinner
I'll bring 2 dozen eggs and pancake mix. You bring what you want to go with it.

April 21 Next week the Affirmation Class will be on retreat at Lake Junaluska from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. We'll meet at 4:30 on Friday and will be staying in retreat center housing and eating in the dining hall.
We'll be through at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and will head to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest before returning to Saluda.
Stone Soup next week will meet at Lake Junaluska at 10:30 a.m. and proceed to see some of the biggest old growth trees in the East--400 yr old poplars that are 100 feet tall and 20 feet in circumference.
More info to come next week. This is to help you plan accordingly.

George Washington Carver (born into slavery, he showed southerners how and why to plant peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes rather than just cotton) was asked, "How is it you understand these plants so well?" He replied, "If you love it enough, anything will talk to you." 
So our question is how do we increase and hone our sensitivity to Love, Mystery, Justice, Neighbor...God?
Here is  a biblical example:

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God! ’Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’  John 20:15-29

This Sunday 4/7, we'll begin the work of a community of faith, hope and love as we strive to teach (and learn with) our Affirmation Class (youth 7th grade and up). We try to teach our children everything and yet often neglect/forget/avoid teaching the most important issues of faith, hope, loving God, loving neighbor and more! So we'll gather as a community to share this task together. We'll begin with our sensitivity to God.


 I also imagine, the adults will learn and grow on the way too.
We'll meet at 4 p.m. at the Wesley Cottage. Dress casually for activity. We'll comune together over a meal of burritos. Katrina will bring the ground meat. Rob will bring the tortillas. You bring whatever you think needs to go with or on the burritos.