Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church I pray the experiences of this week are enriching and encouraging for you. This Sunday we will reflect on the concept of 'neighbor'--the character and meaning of this designation. What images come to your mind whenever the word is presented? Today as I lunched with a good friend, I saw a young bird chirping passionately. Many persons in the picnic area were reaching out to help the distressed, immature birdlet. Yet the bird would not ingest the morsels which were offered. There was need, but of what kind? Maybe these were suspicious offers, not from a parent, not recognizable offerings. Maybe the bird was deceiving us, seeking to distract us, tapping into our sympathies. Maybe we were projecting our own need in some way onto the birdlet. These thoughts will compose the sermon, a first-person presentation which will attempt to get at the root of what Jesus understood 'neighbor' to mean. May it go well with you. Sincerely, Garland Robertson --- Garland Robertson --- lauralarue@xxxxxxxxxxxxx --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.