So I’ve been thinking about Rally Day. This really shouldn't be any kind of surprise, because Rally Day has been mentioned in many of the conversations in and around the office and in the various meetings that I’ve been a part of in recent weeks. Rally Day is this Sunday and there has been a lot of planning behind each of its various components in the hopes that they will go smoothly and accomplish the purpose for which we intend them.
And right there lies, for me, the interesting question. We can pick apart the purpose of each individual element of Rally Day, but what is the purpose of Rally Day as a whole? For what will we be gathering and celebrating on Sunday?
The simple answer is that Rally Day is a party to mark the beginning of our Sunday School year, and that all the extra blessings in worship and all the fun between services are there to mark the beginning of our Sunday School programming...but that answer doesn’t quite feel complete enough for me.
Rally Day is more than just Sunday School kickoff. Rally Day is a Rally. The kickoff to Sunday School is a part of that, of course, but it is a part of a bigger picture. This begs the questions, what is the bigger picture? What is Rally Day, if Sunday School kickoff is a part of a larger whole? Why are we rallying?
So I went to the dictionary, because I thought: “Well, maybe there’s something in the word "rally" that will help with how to think about Rally day, and I found this: “Rally: to come together again to renew an effort," and it all clicked for me.
We’ve spent this summer running off to our various adventures and events. We’ve traveled and we’ve been busy, but now the summer is ending, our various other commitments (like school for our children) means that we’ll have less freedom to travel and will be around a little more. So we are marking one day to say that: now we are coming back together. We are intentionally gathering again as one community, and at that gathering, we are renewing.
It is that renewal that makes this Rally Day such a great day, and a day that is so much more than just a kickoff. It is a day that is dedicated to the renewal of our mission, a renewal of our dedication to our calling as a Christian community of disciples. It is absolutely fitting that Sunday School would kickoff with Rally Day, and that our other programming would as well, because it is this day that we come together as a community to remember and remind each other that we are a people united in the proclamation of the Gospel.
This is a day to remember our unity and our connectedness, to each other and to our neighbors. It is a day to rally around our joy in the good news that we celebrate every Sunday, and it is a day to remember that we are called to live a life of loving as we have been loved, and giving grace as we have received grace.
I look forward to rallying with you! PEACE.
Contact Info:
To reach Pastor Valerie - 805-776-3377 or
pastor.valerie.carlson@gmail.com
To reach Pastor Dan - 805-776-3707 or
pastor.dcarlson@gmail.com
Last Week's Bulletin Art Submissions!
Here at Mt. Carmel we’re about to kick off another amazing school year of fun, fellowship, and learning about God’s word and creation!
This Sunday, September 18 you are all invited to RALLY DAY! We will start off the year with our party in the park at 10 a.m. We will have the bounce house set up, popsicles, and kids can meet their teachers.
Remember to bring your backpack for a blessing of the backpacks during worship and get a special pin for it.
We want to encourage families to talk to your children about the Food Bank and bring a food item, if you wish, because we will be talking about the Food Bank during worship.
This Sunday, the annual youth kick-off for grades 6-12 and their families will start at 4 p.m. at Port San Luis.
Regular Sunday School starts the next Sunday the 25th at 10 a.m. We are looking for help with things like taking attendance or coordinating snack sign-ups. If you are willing to pitch in, please contact John Keisler!
Looking ahead: There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on October 2 because we are having a combined worship service at 10 a.m. The service will include a blessing of the pets, so bring your pets or a photo of them to be blessed! Stuffed pets are welcome too!
60 prayer rocks, with all of Mt. Carmel Children and Teen's names, will be available this Sunday after 1st and 2nd services on tables in the shaded breezeway! Please take a rock and be a prayer partner for one of our youth! You can be a parent, grandparent, friend or not even know the youth. If you don't know them, it is fun to find out who they are by looking them up in the new church directory or meeting them and their parents at church! Put the rocks in a prominent place, kitchen, office, living room etc. to remind you to pray for their health, safety, families and christian faith journey.
This Sunday our adult members will hold their own Adult Rally Sunday with a celebration of the many improvements to our church facilities accomplished during the past year—painting of the church, new roofs, new carpeting and windows in the Sanctuary, improvements to the sound system, and landscaping changes to name a few.
Come to Adult Forum in Quist Hall at 10am for a review of the improvement plans and actions then take a walk-around the church to see the results in action.
Next Sunday, September 25th, our guest at Adult Forum will be Dr. Hisham Assal, Cal Poly Professor and member of Mosque of Nasreen, to continue our discussion on Islam and bring his own perspective on living as a Muslim in America.
“Hello Mt. Carmel, I’m Hannah, your new nursery care attendant! I am a third year Cal Poly - English major from Oakland, California and I am absolutely thrilled to be serving you all at your beautiful church. I am a big fan of working with children, social justice advocacy, and a nicely brewed espresso! Please come stop by to say hello, I’d love to meet you!”
One Weekend, Two Retreats!
October 14-16th
4 more openings for the Women's Retreat! Invite your friends for an amazing weekend! Registration will continue after each Sunday service.
The theme this year is, “Treasured Hearts.” Hear the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we engage in what it means to treasure the amazing promises of God in our hearts. Our speaker will be Pastor Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun, Associate and Campus Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church, Glendale. It will be held at La Casa de Maria, Oct. 14 – 16.
Total cost; $240, includes lodging, meals and program. $80 deposit due at registration, with second payment, $160, due 8-14-16. Cancellation – $100 penalty.
*For those of you who haven’t paid the balance of your Retreat weekend, there will be a table on the patio after each service to take your final payment.
Questions? Nancy Priddy, 459-9249
This Years Men's Advance theme is "The Masculine Journey" featuring Rev. Greg Ronning, Mission Developer and Pastor at "The Table," and former Campus Pastor at Texas Lutheran University.
Through individual reflection on the stories of Jacob, Paul and Jesus, pastor Ronning will be our guide seeking what it means to be men of faith.
Cost: $150 per person; includes 5 meals, 2 socials and a powerful time of personal growth through bible study, music, fellowship and recreational activities at El Camino Pines Lutheran Camp.
For further information www.mens-advance.org or contact John Keisler, 805 543-4259, rebjohn50@hotmail.com
"Martin Luther and the Reformation Tour"
June 19-30, 2017
Join Bishop Guy Erwin and Pastor Russ Gordon for a 12-Day tour of Germany and the sites associated with Martin Luther in the 500th anniversary year of the Reformation. Visit Wittenberg, Erfurt, Wartburg Castle and much more. Consider adding the 5-Day optional Post-Tour of beautiful Bavaria.
*Brochures are in the narthex or call Pastor Russ at 544-3502 for more information.
Our new Mt. Carmel photo directory is ready and beautiful! (a HUGE thank you to Monica Holman, Karen Petersen, and Sheryl Huffaker)!
If you would like a PDF version of the directory that you can print yourself, please email the office at info@mtcarmelslo.org and Erin, our Parish Administrator, will send it to you. If you would like a printed and bound copy, please sign up to order one on the patio after services on Sunday. Since we don’t have a budget for the printing, we are asking for a donation of $10 (or more if you would be willing to cover the cost for somebody else).
