Wednesday, December 31, 2008

the glow year glasses...


Some of you may or may not know this but my Dad [Richard Sclafani Sr.] and his best buddy [Peter Cicero] are the original inventors of the glow year glasses.

Here is one of many great articles on the story...this one from the Seattle Times. Click here to read. They will be interviewed by almost all the major television stations including Dick Clark's New Years Eve Celebration, David Letterman, and others. Sadly this will be the last year that they produce them. So make sure as you celebrate the new year that you keep an eye out for these amazing little novelties that have been around a long time putting smiles on millions of faces!

Oh, and if you are wondering what they are up to now you can go to Brainstorm Novelties to get any kind of novelty you can think of. OR if you like good Italian food with great Italian Music than you should look up my Dad and Pete's band The Tarantellas.

Here's to you Dad and Pete! You two are awesome!

love you both,

r

note: yes that is my wife in the glow year glasses advertisement! she is famous!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

what if we loved all...

here is some kingdom imagination...

Friday, December 26, 2008

love all...sunday's sermon

i'm working on my sermon for sunday on "LOVE ALL" and I'd love your thoughts...

Here are some questions I have for you...feel free to answer some or all!

* What comes to mind when you first here the phrase "love all"
* What makes loving easy or difficult
* How has love effected your life
* Share a story of in which love moved you
* What scriptures, quotes, songs, etc. that come to mind when you think of "love all"
* What does loving all really look like
* Does the Bible really tell us to "love all"

Here are some biblical texts that I have been playing around with...

[Love all] TEXT…[various]

John 1v1-14 [nlt]
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Luke 2v10-12 [msg]
The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

Philippians 2v1-11 [msg]
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

I John 3v16-19 [nlt]
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

Matthew 22v37-39 [nlt]
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Revelation 2:1-5
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.'"

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

merry Christmas from Coldplay...

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

I hope you are well. I woke up early again with Gladys to find that it is dumping snow again. We already have about 3 inches on our foot or so from the last dump. It is beautiful!

I then checked my email and got this wonderful message from one of my favorite bands: Coldplay. I thought how appropriate for this season that is quite cold and full of play that I would get this. So I pass on to you all what has been passed on to me...

I free download of a funky remix version of Viva La Vida and a little video rendition of Jingle Bells from a recent concert in London.

I hope you all enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

r

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Ideas for engaging in Advent from home...

For all those who will not be attending church today due to the snow...

Here are some ways to engage in the season in the comfort of your own home.

As a family or on your own...

* read the Christmas story found in the beginning of Matthew and Luke or listen to sermons online. CC Sermons can be found here
* watch a Christmas movie together...ex. The Charlie Brown Christmas
* light the 3rd candle of advent together and use the CC devotional with it
* listen to and sing some Christmas songs [click here for a free downloadable album] or click here for another free downloadable album
* invite others to join you! your neighbors are probably stuck at home as well!
* rest
* enjoy a good meal
* make something together
* pray
* read a book
* PLAY!

Here is a video that I totally love... it helps me reflect on the real meaning of Christmas in light of our present day cultures version of it. Hope you all have a wonderful, restful, and safe Sunday! Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

love all...

so my next sermon at CC is coming down the pike. on the 28th of december i will be closing our advent conspiracy conversations that have been going other throughout this advent season. the conversation will be on these two words...LOVE ALL.

I'm finding that much like my last sermon on WORSHIP FULLY that there are so many angles and directions one could go with these two words. so i'd love to hear from you all that pops into your mind when you hear these two words ring in your ear. what scriptures, what songs, quotes, visuals, stories, testimonies, etc. well up within you?

thanks for sharing your ponderings with me!

the song lyric that has been running through my mind since I first thought about this sermon is from a u2 song called "window in the sky" and the chorus has this phrase echo throughout it...

"oh can't you see what love has done"

and it leads me to wonder how one might answer the question...

can you see the results of God's love revealed, shared, accepted, experienced, held, etc. in your life and if so how?

i know...deep thoughts by rich sclafani!

thanks for taking time to share your thoughts!

lovage!

Sunday, December 07, 2008

a child dies every 15 seconds due to a lack of clean water...

more from advent conspiracy!

i am so loving this advent season!



i found this to be very powerful!

Monday, December 01, 2008

Check out (RED)WIRE...great music can change lives!

so this year i have been thinking a lot about Christmas, consumerism, and our economy. CC, my church is doing something called Advent.Conspiracy which is a movement that challenges people to re.think how they participate in this advent season. As a result I have been thinking about how we spend during this time and looking for ways to give gifts with meaning that also bless others. And today I found this and thought I'd share it with you!

You've hopefully already heard of (RED)products, well they are launching a new digital music magazine, (RED)WIRE. It looks great and I think this would make a great gift for the holidays especially for those you know who are music lovers like me. Not only is it a great price for terrific exclusive music, but you also can help care for those infected with AIDS in Africa. Basically each week you'll receive exclusive music from the world's greatest artists, and people living with HIV in Africa will get the medicine they need to stay alive from a good portion of the cost of the subscription. Anyways, check it out if you are interested!

To learn more and sign up now and get two free issues click here (RED)WIRE

here is a sample of the world premiere's available this one is U2


Thursday, November 20, 2008

what to you think about this...

this sunday at CC we will begin our advent journey. i will be kicking of the sermon series with a conversation on what it means to [worship fully]. i'd love your thoughts on a couple of questions and what comes to your mind when you watch this clip.

Here are some of the questions...
* What is worship? How would you define it?
* How do you worship? What does it look like?
* When do you worship?

And below is the video... UPDATE: [please note in showing this video i'm not implying that i think what is says is right or wrong, or that this is what i'm going to teach. i simply want to know what comes to mind when you see it. thanks all]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and engaging in all of this!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

hope | sojourn music | advent

just in case you didn't know the advent season is close at hand. being a music lover i'm always interested in some new tunes to help me focus. friends at Church of the Beloved have a new album that you can get for free and it is awesome - click here for more details.

i came across sojourn.music the other day and have been really enjoying there stuff. you can get last years advent album for free|pay what you want and it's worth it. they have a bunch of other albums that i have enjoyed as well and they provide sheet|chords for them as well! double bonus in my book.

check out the tunes below...

Monday, November 17, 2008

remembering the joy...

so i had the privilege of working at a church that is now over 100 years old. one of the best parts about this church community was a group called the "JOY FELLOWSHIP" they were a group of the seniors 60+ in age and some were really old. in fact, the first time i preached to the adult congregation there was a couple celebrating there 75th wedding anniversary! the thing that I loved about them most was that they were still on there faith journey. they had not learned it all and they were true servants. they engaged our culture with there history and faith, and man could they pray! anyways, the church I currently serve at is much younger and sometimes i find myself really missing this group.

this video below is NOT the joy fellowship crew and they probably wouldn't actually do this, but it brought a wonderful smile to my face and made me laugh.

think hip hop meets old school church choir...

enjoy!

Friday, November 14, 2008

advent.conspiracy.2008

this year my faith community [CC] is going to go about the christmas season differently. we are going to be apart of an advent conspiracy and i'm very excited about it. the video below is just one of many that are out there to help you learn about this project. i'd like to encourage you to check it out. so watch the video and if you are interested in learning more click here --> AC



Tuesday, November 11, 2008

it's about time...

hi all,

many have asked me to post some new pictures so here you go.

life at the sclafani house is good and we feel blessed!

enjoy the pictures!

 
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

the day i suddenly knew kung fu...

do you ever wake up in the morning and feel like something is different about you? that you suddenly have an incredible ability that you never had before? i often wake up with a wish that i could unleash my inner kung fu. i often joke about it at tg. i even have some nice sound effects to go along with my moves. for many reasons i have needed some reasons to laugh lately and this was something that provided me a moment of joy. here is a video that just cracks me up and hits at the heart of my longings! enjoy!

Friday, October 17, 2008

acts 11v1-18

so i'm preaching again this Sunday on Acts 11v1-18...which in my opinion is one of the most pivotal sections in all of acts. the bottom line is something that i think is pretty easy for us to say and acknowledge, but not too easy to truly show in life as it happens. it is something that has great potential and yet can be easily and unknowingly squelched. anyways, i'd love your thoughts as you read this text. what stands out and what hits you and how does it look today?

Acts 11v1-18[msg] - God Has Broken Through
1-3The news traveled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it—heard that the non-Jewish "outsiders" were now "in." When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: "What do you think you're doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?" 4-6So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: "Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in. 7-10"Then I heard a voice: 'Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.' I said, 'Oh, no, Master. I've never so much as tasted food that wasn't kosher.' The voice spoke again: 'If God says it's okay, it's okay.' This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.11-14"Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me. He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, 'Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. He'll tell you something that will save your life—in fact, you and everyone you care for.'15-17"So I started in, talking. Before I'd spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. I remembered Jesus' words: 'John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?" 18Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. "It's really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!"


and i may even dare to show this as an illustration, but won't go into sharing my thoughts about it. i will just leave you with the pondering of the possibilities.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

plumbing or buried treasure?

so my very old house has been having some serious plumbing problems and as a result I have been working on digging a six foot deep hole with about a 4 foot diameter. lets just say that i'm sore. but what is even worse is that i was supposed to find these two pipes that were meant to be connected, but that had collapsed. instead you can see what i found. it is not one but two gigantic solid cement slabs that are about a foot thick. and it looks like since my house was built in 1928 and the sewer system on our street didn't come till 1948 that I am now the proud owner of a crazy old speptic tank that is literally full of CRAP! am i the only one who seems to find that all the house projects that seem to be quick fixes tend to be HUGE! so all that to say pray that all of the stuff that needs to happen for our plumbing to get fixed would happen quick and in a not to expensive manner! yeah right!

enjoy the pictures of my archeological find below!
 

 

 

 
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Tuesday, October 07, 2008

request for review...

hi all,

I am humbly writing a request to you all. As you know I have been doing weddings, counseling, and pastoral work for quite some time. I was just informed that I am in the running for a reward on one of the websites I advertise on called www.weddingwire.com This potential reward is based on the amount of reviews that I have had in the last 6 months, along with the number of clients that I have been able to connect with, and “clicks.” Basically I have been getting a lot of attention on there site and for it they will reward me if I end up having the most at the end of the month. The reward would be a write up in a number of different websites including Martha Stewart, they would cover the cost for me to be on there site for another year and would keep me first on the list of there preferred providers.

As you know I love working with people be it counseling, weddings, or pastoral work in its many forms. If you feel like you could write a short review about me in this regards that would be fantastic along with simply being incredibly kind. I don’t spend a lot of money to advertise, in fact almost 90% of what I do is through referrals and word of mouth. So if you feel like you could help me in this it would be much appreciated.

It is very simple…all you do is follow this link RE.VIEW.RICH and click on “write a review” – it will only take a few moments and will go a long way!

Thanks for taking the time to consider this and for your partnership in helping me share my gifts, abilities, and talents with others!

Grace and peace!

rich

PS: make sure to bookmark my new wedding site i'm working on... SEATTLE WEDDING PASTOR

perfect symmetry...

well it has been a while, it is new music tuesday, and the sun is out so why not check out some good new tunes? the new soon to be released album by KEANE is really good. i thought you might like a listen! enjoy...

click here to stream it KEANE.PERFECT.SYMMETRY

Friday, September 26, 2008

re.telling a story...

as a pastor who is teaching every week i find myself always looking for creative ways of re.telling the biblical narrative in ways that help people "get it." i'm trying to find ways to help people connect the biblical text with life and the here and now...

here is a cool re.telling of the woman at the well...

Monday, September 22, 2008

totally random...

here is the new worship song i'm hoping to do at CC, tell me what you think! be warned, it rocks and you won't be able to stop dancing!



jk...

Monday, August 18, 2008

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Introducing Jack Pasquale Sclafani

Born Saturday August 16, 2008 at 9:07pm

6lbs 13.5oz and 19inches long

Mommy and baby are doing wonderfully!

We can't wait for you all to meet him! Thanks for all of your prayers and support and we will try to keep the pictures coming! Love you all!

 

 

 
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