Practicing Sacred Rhythms

Waiting for God ….

2011-12-08T17:28:00.001-05:00

“How do we wait for God? We wait with patience. But patience does not mean passivity. Waiting patiently is not like waiting for the bus to come, the rain to stop, or the sun to rise. It is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.

“The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior, which means to ‘suffer.’ Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants. Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes and seeing there the first rays of God’s glorious coming.”

~~Henri J. M. Nouwen

Good is the Lord to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; it is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T20:39:00.001-05:00

Statement of Faith …

2011-08-20T07:18:00.001-04:00

I believe in the one holy God of Israel who created heaven and earth and all of its inhabitants to live in community with the Triune God and with each other. Through our sin, both personal and corporate, we are separated from God and unable to bring ourselves back into communion. When the words of the prophets went unheard and unheeded because of our inherent rebellion, God in loving kindness and steadfast mercy sent Jesus Christ into the world so that we might be restored to a right relationship through the sacrifice made on our behalf.

Knowing that we continually struggle in all of our relationships, the Holy Spirit draws us near to God through admonition and encouragement. Through the scriptures of both Old and New Testaments, we see testimony to the steadfast faithfulness of God and are given instruction to guide us. Scripture is divinely given and an infallible witness to God's saving grace through Jesus Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are softened to hear the gospel message of salvation and our minds and souls are strengthened for the Kingdom work to which we are each called.

Although God saves each of us individually, there is a communal nature to our worship. We are meant to gather as the beloved children of God to form the body of Christ. On earth, the Kingdom of God is made visible through the local church. The church then is called to worship and action through the proclamation of the Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper. Our baptisms remind us that God knew us before we were formed in our mother's wombs and that each of us is called to be in relationship with God through Christ. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a symbol that we are united as one body and nourished by the food which Christ provides. Both sacraments are visible signs of the promises and blessings of God's covenant agreement with all those who believe.

As believers, we are equipped by the Holy Spirit with gifts suitable for work in the Kingdom of God. We are called to be faithful and cheerful givers of our time, talents, and gifts so that others might be lifted up out of the oppression of physical, mental, and spiritual bondage. No longer are we to remain isolated from creation. Instead, we are called to full participation in God's mission. The saints of the church are to be set apart - marked for radical discipleship - as the Holy Spirit continually sanctifies us and teaches us the heart and mind of Christ.

When we realize the fathomless depths of God's love, we can't help but bow our knees before the throne, and cry "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty." As we bow, God enlarges our hearts and our minds to reach out to others and transforms us from lonely and selfish individuals into joyful people of faith who stand in the intersection of the sacred and the ordinary.

May it be so in our hearts and lives today so that we are faithful until the day when Christ returns to redeem all of creation.

Friday Five: Decisions, Decisions

2011-07-29T04:08:00.001-04:00

I am pinch hitting today, my first time, as your Friday Five RevGal. Like the song "The Macarena" was for Los Del Rio, this could very well be a one-hit wonder, so thanks for playing!
Today we play off of one of my favorite and most memorable Friday Fives to blog from: Decisions, Decisions posted by Songbird last July 23. I went back to that post to make sure I had new choices for you to make. I found out -- again -- that she was then, as I have been recently, in the midst of a discernment process and thinking about what goes into decision making.

A decision from history: There is a chair that still sits in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall). Legend has it that it was George Washington's chair, the back carved with a half sun. Benjamin Franklin would look at it and wonder whether it was a rising or a setting sun. Eventually Franklin decided it was the hopeful symbol of the rising sun, a sign of the future of our new republic.

How do you decide? Check out the following pairs and tell which one of each appeals to you most:

1) Sunrise or Sunset – Sunset

2) To the Mountains or To the Beach – to the beach

3) Coffee or Tea – Definitely tea, particularly since spending time in Malawi where tea time is a time of slowing down and giving thanks in the midst of the busy schedule. Tea time speaks of slowing down for gratitude, friendship and fellowship while coffee seems to be a frantic attempt to enable us to do more.

4) Advent or Lent – This was a tough call because I think both are important. However, Advent speaks of new beginnings and reminds me that God’s mercies are new every morning.

5) "Raindrops on Roses" or "Whiskers on Kittens" – absolutely no preference here ….

BONUS: Tell more about one of the pairs. Why did you choose it? Difficult or easy choice? A story from your own experience?

Drop your Dread .. Dare to Hope

2011-07-22T07:11:00.001-04:00

In every season, we have two choices, to fear and dread…or to hope and believe. Dreading the future (or any event, change, or situation) robs us of peace and joy in the present. Hoping and trusting frees us to enjoy every season and to stay grounded in the present. It keeps worry and anxiety at bay.

Perhaps you are looking ahead to the fall – and your upcoming responsibilities – with dread. Or your mind might be racing with disturbing questions:

Will we have the resources and people we need? Will families return this year? Will I be able to keep up with the demands of family, ministry, and my own personal needs? Will leadership be more supportive and helpful this year?

The answer is found in Psalms 43:

“Why are you downcast oh my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Put your hope in God and wait expectantly for him, for I shall yet praise him, my help and my God…” (AMP)

I pray that you, too, will lay down any circumstances or challenges you are dreading – even those that seem impossible – and encourage your soul to “Hope in God!” Choose to have positive expectations about the upcoming year and trust him to provide everything you need to serve him joyfully!

Permalink: http://www.churchvolunteerdaily.com/?p=2757

Easter Express …

2011-03-20T18:46:00.001-04:00

Get on board

the Easter Express…

Gladden UP

755 Millers Run Road

March 29, April 5, 12, 19th

6 to 8 p.m.

Event includes: Craft, meal, Bible story and games

for children in grades preschool to Grade 5

with opportunities for older youth

to participate as leader assistants

Please help us be good stewards of resources

and pre-register

by calling

412-221-5594 by Mar. 25

“Seraphim in Disguise” by Ted Loder

2011-03-07T09:03:00.001-05:00

A friend sent this to me this weekend, and I thought it was worth keeping and sharing:

O God,

everywhere present, but nowhere obvious, here I am where I always seem to be; betwixt cold fronts and crocuses, dreams and disappointments, failures and summons, flaws and gifts, growing up and growing old; betwixt isolation and intimacy, despair and hope, confidence and fear, life and death.

O God,

you must know how hard it is

to be in this between

where nothing is certain,

everything's in flux,

this relentless churning

from something I can't quite grasp

to something I can't quite see,

and it's all up for grabs,

and - please,God –

for grace.

Mercy out of me

this tumorous sense of fault,

this dead-weight of doubt

that I am not two-sparrows' worth,

and no concern of yours.

Deepen into me

the liberating assurance

that I am where you are with me,

stretched between the kingdom in our midst and the slow fullness of its coming.

Muster my courage

to let go of the clutch of grievances

that keep rendering me vaguely the same, to become vulnerable to surprise - by being one – taking some outrageous, specific dare of love.

Strengthen my trust

that you are in the turbulence

to intensify my struggles,

and to render me, as well,

sociable to joy, subject to your grace.

Keen my awareness

that uncertainty is my dance with you,

crises, seraphim in disguise,

rumpling the air with choice and change, tonging the coals of another chance, proclaiming betwixt as holy, cleansing my soul for gratitude, freeing me, when sent, to go for you, a little less afraid, a little more at ease.

Friday Five: Five Perks of Ministry

2011-02-04T20:34:00.001-05:00

1. Undoubted one of the greatest perks is the privilege of sharing in the congregation’s greatest joys and sorrows. Being in ministry means I am part of the family of God … an extended family which nurtures and cares for one another… and for the most part that has been true.

2. The flexible schedule afforded by ministry is a blessing. I may work longer hours but it is possible to juggle my responsibilities as a wife and mother.

3. I get paid to read – what a concept. I can curl up with a good book and honestly call it work.

4. Excellent health benefits – with a husband on disability and a daughter prone to accidents – this perk has been a tremendous blessing.

5. The opportunity for continuing education and travel experiences including travel to our sister congregation in Blantyre, Malawi, Africa.

The Call Comes to You in the Midst of Life

2011-01-22T13:29:00.001-05:00

The Call comes to you in the midst of life

The Call comes to you in the midst of life

The Call comes to you in the midst of life

The presence of the Holy Spirit

2011-01-11T21:49:00.001-05:00

I’m starting 2011 as sick as I’ve been in many years … probably since high school when I landed in the hospital sick as a dog for some undiagnosed reason … Whatever the symptoms, the real culprit is definitely stress – it was then and it is now.

This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions … in my personal life, in corporate worship, and in my family. And I’ve been begging to get off the ride.

Two things have made me face reality: a trip to Disney with a friend over New Year’s Eve which found me facing my fears and going on rides … which I found oddly not nearly as frightening as I anticipated because I was facing them with a friend… and preaching about the baptism of Jesus and realizing that even Jesus didn’t get to escape the roller coaster of life … in one pericope he’s hearing, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased,” and in the very next pericope he’s in the wilderness facing temptation and loneliness. And the presence of the Holy Spirit is found in both places.

I really wanted to hear that I had spent my year on the roller coaster ride and would be allowed to jump off in 2011. But if anything, the heights seem much higher and the drops seem much steeper.

May the Holy Spirit be present and may I continually claim the calm assurance that Jesus still speaks, “Peace, be still.”

Come …..

2011-01-06T16:34:00.001-05:00

We ask for all
In trouble
Not knowing where to turn
We ask for a miracle
Come break through
Come dawn
Breath
Deep peace
Love diving
Grace unbound
Relieve your children's
Burden and pain
Come fill us
Center us in
Prayer
Silence
Companionship
Shared space

by
Annette Joseph
Strong, Maine

Joseph, Annette. "Come." Lifting Women's Voices: Prayers to Change the World. Ed. Margaret Rose, Jenny Te Paa, Jeanne Person, Abagail Nelson. NY: Morehouse Publishing, 2009. 264.

Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T09:37:00.001-05:00

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

Contemporary Mother and Child

2010-12-22T08:35:00.001-05:00

Several contemporary images of Mary and the baby Jesus have surfaced on the web recently …this is one of them.

Letting the mud settle …..

2010-12-07T08:34:00.001-05:00

Artist Melanie Weidner says of this painting that it is "Based on a quote from the Tao Te Ching: "Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving until the right action arises by itself?" (By the way, if you havent been to her site yet, check out Melanie's other beautiful work here.)

Question: Do you “do Thanksgiving” or really give thanks?

2010-11-25T11:18:00.001-05:00

Prayer For My Family Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled,
We thank thee for this place in which we dwell,
For the love that unites us,
For the peace accorded to us this day,
For the hope with which we expect the morrow,
For the health, the work, the food,
And the bright skies that make our lives delightful,
For our friends in all parts of the earth,
And our friendly helpers everywhere.

Give us courage, joy, and the quiet mind.
Spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies.
Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavors;
If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come.

May we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation,
Temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune,
Down to the gates of death, loyal and loving to one another.

As the clay to the potter, as the windmill to the wind,
As children of their sire, we beseech of thee this help. Amen.

Friday Five: Winter’s On the Way

2010-11-12T15:05:00.001-05:00

This week we were asked to think about the upcoming winter weather. Praying fervently that we don’t have a repeat of the scene above – 26” in two days.

Hard exercise to do since it is 65 degrees here today … still, we know it’s coming …

1. What is your favorite movie for watching when curled up under a wooly blanket?

Holiday Inn – I know it’s really a Christmas movie but it’s still a winter favorite.

2. Likewise, what book? – No particular book that I reread but a good mystery is always a good thing on a cold day.

3. What foods do you tend to cook/eat when it gets cold? Chili definitely ranks high on the list as does a roast, potatoes and carrot menu or cranberry pork roast cooked in the crock pot. I also love potato soup on a cold winter day.

4. What do you like to do if you get a "snow day" (or if you don't get snow days, what if you did)?

Snow days are definitely meant for hunkering down and just having a good excuse not to do anything except enjoy the day …. sometimes that means a PJ day – staying in them all day without a hint of guilt.

5. Do you like winter sports or outdoor activities, or are you more likely to be inside playing a board game? Do you have a favorite (indoors or out)?

Can’t say that I like winter sports – although a day of sled riding around a fire is a treat. More likely to find me inside around a board game if there’s someone available to join me. If not, computer Scrabble is fine.

Friday Five: The Perfect Blendship

2010-10-22T14:31:00.001-04:00

If you're ever in a jam, here I am.
If you're ever in a mess, S.O.S.
If you're so happy, you land in jail. I'm your bail.
It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships are soon forgot, ours will still be hot.

I'm thinking a lot about friends these days, the ones who rush to you in times of trouble, with a casserole or a socket wrench or an invitation for coffee or lunch or a trip to the foot sanctuary. We meet friends in school or on the playground or at church or in the workplace and even on the Internet. Even as blogging has experienced some decline, the community here has been strong.
For today's Friday Five, some questions about friendship.

1) Who is the first friend you remember from childhood?

Lilly Dean Sutton – pastor’s daughter – and Terri Lawver – another friend from church. We have pictures of us dressed as angels. Lilly moved to Nebraska and we made a trip to visit. After that, we haven’t seen each or again.

2) Have you ever received an unexpected gift from a friend?

Many times. I have the best of friends! The most recent friendship is with my clerk of session who continually finds ways to rejuvenate my spirits – often with tickets to the Pittsburgh Pops or the River City Brass Band.

3) Is there an old friend you wish you could find again? Or have you found one via social media or the Internet?

Facebook has definitely made staying in touch easier…. too many to name but I have particularly enjoyed staying in touch with Denise and Joyce… friends from the past who it always seems easy to fall right back into our conversations.

4) Do you like to get your good friends together in a group, or do you prefer your friends one on one?

I think I prefer one on one with an occasional group outing.

5) Does the idea of Jesus as a friend resonate with you?

I suppose friendship with Jesus is a piece of the relationship but that designation seems to fall way to short of explaining the steadfast faithfulness of the Triune God.

Friday Five: Connecting

2010-10-17T20:05:00.001-04:00

Jan at Rev Gal Blog Pals writes:

I am currently reading Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam, where he explores the changes in community in the USA in the 20th Century. He explains how communities, people, and especially children function better when they live where there is high social capital. Basically, it means that "relationships matter."
We all know this because Christianity (and other religions) emphasize the Golden Rule:

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:1

So here are some questions to ponder for this Friday Five about connecting with:

1. Self: Who was your hero/heroine when you were about ten years old?

No one person particularly stands out at this age although there have been many mentors and Sunday School teachers over the years who helped mold and shape me.

2. Family: Who are you most like? Who is most like you?

Having just attended the funeral for an uncle on my mother’s side, I am constantly amazed at how much my cousins and I have in common – even though we’ve shared precious little time together over the years. We seem to have inherited a gene for singing and a love for music and a host of mannerisms and a constant faith in God. We are truly blessed.

3. Friends: How do you stay in touch?

Facebook has definitely helped with communication. My constant companion in seminary use the time spent on road trips making catch-up calls. This year we were able to spend a few days together – although it was as usual, interrupted by drama. This time a surprise wedding and the realization that my Father would be going to his eternal rest in only a short time.

4. Neighborhood, community: What are ways you like to be involved?

Football games seem to be a place where everyone gathers – although for most of my friends, it’s the band that is the big attraction.

5. Job/church: Do you see a need that will help in developing connections?

We were the recipients of a community memorial gift this summer – a pavilion in memory of Susan McAndrew. Susan knew what it meant to love God and your neighbor. It is our hope that we will spend more time together as a result.

Bonus: A link or anything else about connecting.

And remember today is BLOG ACTION DAY!

Refrain from trampling the Sabbath …

2010-10-11T09:31:00.001-04:00

Isaiah 58:9-14

If you remove the yoke from among you,

the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness

and your gloom be like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you continually,

and satisfy your needs in parched places,

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters never fail.

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to live in.

If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,

from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;

if you call the sabbath a delight

and the holy day of the LORD honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

then you shall take delight in the LORD,

and I will make you ride upon the heights of

the earth;

I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Friday Five: Fall Word Association

2010-10-08T22:38:00.001-04:00

Singing Owl at Rev Gal Blog Pals writes:

The Canadian geese are excited, forming up and practicing, encouraging each other with honking, the Wisconsin fall color is at peak where I am, and in Kohl's Dept. Store the Christmas decorations are up. Yep, Fall is here. It's my turn to do the Rev Gal Blog Pals Friday Five. It has been a while since we did one of these word association Friday Fives, so here goes, with an autumnal theme. I know, fall is one way on this side of the world and different in other places, but please bear with me as I post words that say FALL--at least where I am.
Give us the the first word that comes to mind (you know how that works, right?) and then add a little something about why, or how or what.
1. Pumpkins – Jack o' Lanterns – with a light shining through its face.

2. Campfire – Singing around the campfire in LOTS of places – Girl Scout Camp, church camp, family outings and now in this place of service as we gather around the fire each fall for an evening of relaxation and fellowship.

3. Apples – Cider made fresh in the cider press. One of my favorite childhood memories is making cider with my Dad at home.

4. Color – Trees with their leaves turning red and yellow – but particularly the reds – unfortunately the extreme hot weather this summer seems to have flattened the colors this fall here in Pittsburgh.

5. Halloween – one of my favorite holidays – but I sure had a had time explaining this holiday to our visitors from Malawi this past week. The leaves are simply dropping to the ground.

And since it is REV Gals and their Pals, here is the bonus question, sort of a serious one:

What does the following passage from Daniel 2 make you think about?
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
Wisdom and power are his...
He changes times and seasons

A reminder that wherever he leads, it is safe to follow. I have seen the time and seasons of my life change seemingly overnight but have always found that God knows the plans he has for me … even when I have failed … he is faithful!

Seeking beauty …

2010-09-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

To Seek Beauty: Introduction
What we do not nourish
within ourselves
cannot exist in the world around us
because we are its microcosm.
We cannot moan the loss
of quality in our world
and not ourselves
seed the beautiful in our wake.
We cannot decry the loss of the spiritual
and continue ourselves to function
only on the level of the vulgar.
We cannot hope for fullness of life
without nurturing fullness of soul.
We must seek beauty, study beauty
surround ourselves with beauty.
To be contemplative
we must remove the clutter of our lives,
surround ourselves with beauty,
and consciously, relentlessly,
persistently give it away
until the tiny world
for which we are responsible
begins to reflect
the raw beauty that is God.
–from Illuminated Life by Joan Chittister (Orbis)

Friday Five: De-Cluttering

2010-08-21T07:10:00.001-04:00

Jan at RevGalBlog Pals writes: Since posting about de-cluttering, I am still muttering about the need for it in my house. How about you?

Yes, I am feeling the need to de-clutter. We (I) definitely have too much stuff … too many clothes, too much of everything. My husband says I am becoming a hoarder, and while I argue, I am feeling very overwhelmed by stuff and the need to take care of the stuff – organize it, clean it, remember where it’s stored.

1. What things do you like to hang on to? I love dishes!

2. What is hard to let go of? This week it’s been tough sorting through my daughter’s collection of stuff. She graduated from college in May, married in July and is moving to San Diego in August. Not much is going with her … just 15 boxes shipped UPS and what could fit in her Kia Forte. She needs the money from stuff we sell to buy new stuff for her new life. It’s another bittersweet moment in our journey through life.

3. What is easy to give away? Things that will brighten someone else’s life … I tend to not mind giving stuff away but when I go to sell it – I always think “gee, you don’t get anything for it – might as well hang on to it.”

4. Is there any kind of stumbling block connected with cleaning out? After moving more times than I can count and nearly ridding myself of everything that wouldn’t fit in a U-Haul trailer or a pickup truck, never thought I would accumulate so much stuff. However, two five-year stents in one place led me to realize I like the stuff – it’s a sign of putting down roots and a desire to stay in one place. If I have too much to move, maybe I’ll stay put. I also am very hesitant to unpack the last box since every time I get to that point, it’s time to move again … this time I’ve left several things in the boxes …

5. What do you like to collect, hoard, or admire? Books, music, dishes, teapots.

Bonus: Tell us about recycling or whatever you can think of that goes along with this muttering about cluttering.

Truthfully, I’m not very good at recycling. However, this past year our church has been part of the Abitibi Recycling program. I find myself disposing of at least a box of paper every week. It feels good, and it’s encouraged me to think of recycling other items.

I’m also a fan of yard sales – which is a form of recycling – but also contributes to my tendency to collect stuff.

Suscipe Prayer Saint Ignatius of Loyola - Loyola Press

2010-07-10T18:01:00.000-04:00

Suscipe Prayer Saint Ignatius of Loyola - Loyola Press

Book Review: The Prophecy Answer Book by David Jeremiah

2010-06-08T08:59:00.001-04:00

I would argue that scripture is deliberately vague about the end of time and clearly tells us that only God will know the day when Christ will return. David Jeremiah writes as though he has the answers – all set in simple little paragraphs for us to swallow easily. His ability to translate current events into the biblical writings seems just a little too glib and marked with a certainty that is troubling.

I recently signed on with Book Sneeze at Thomas Nelson to review new books and the first one I received was The Prophecy Answer Book by David Jeremiah. Having learned the importance of knowing an author’s theological background, I knew before the book arrived that David Jeremiah is labeled as a conservative, evangelical Christian. And, I tend to label myself loosely with those adjectives so I was looking forward to reading his research.

My first impression was negative. I did not like the small, coffee table book format for a topic that has such a diversity of opinion and many who disagree with dispensational theology. Yet it does cover a great deal of information about this understanding of end times. It clearly addresses the following terms and their implications: the rapture, tribulation, antichrist, second coming of Christ, millennium, and the new heaven and the new earth. He includes a great deal of scripture and research.

However, the biggest negative for me is his conclusion that this theory of the rapture, tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ should “provide a compelling motivation for living the Christian life.” I would argue that we are to live life joyfully and bring glory to God’s name, not because we are fearful, but because we are grateful for the work of Christ in our lives. We are to reach out to the world because we are compassionate and want to share the Good News of the Gospel – which includes salvation and redemption not just from the bowels of hell but also from the things here on earth which cause us pain and destroy our ability to praise and worship an Almighty God.

One positive was his list of 10 ways to connect our daily lives with the promise of Christ’s return: refrain from judging others, remember the Lord’s Table, respond to life spiritually, relate to one another in love, restore the bereaved, recommit ourselves to the ministry, refuse to neglect church, remain steadfast, renounce sin in our lives, and reach the lost.

This book was provided by Booksneeze.com as a complimentary review copy, and all opinions contained in this review are mine and mine alone.

Who do we worship?

2010-05-27T07:34:00.001-04:00

Sally shares a poem, Christ in Majesty...who, in fact, do we worship? and what does it mean?

robbed of voice,

and power,

this untouching,

unseeing Christ,

is safe,

enthroned, (entombed)

in stone,

he receives our worship,

and we unchanged,

and unchallenged

leave,

for we have done our duty...

We have done our duty... I am asking myself tonight how many churches this headless handless stone Christ represents, and I don't like the answer.

Thanks again to Dave Perry for the image and the thoughts.

Friends …

2010-04-30T17:08:00.001-04:00

1) Do you remember your first best friend? What did you do together? Are they still in your life?

My first best friend was probably Lilly Dean Sutton – the pastor’s daughter. We stayed in touch for a year after they moved to Nebraska and even made a visit, but I have no idea where she is now. One of my best memories was that visit – made while taking my sister to stewardess school – no, they weren’t flight attendants then so I’m showing my age a bit. While we were visiting there was a MAJOR snowstorm and we were snowed in longer than anticipated. My step-mother and I came home on a bus. It was pretty exciting.

2) Did you ever have to move away or have your best friend move away from you?

I had both happen. The case mentioned above, and then twice I moved between towns growing up. Both times it was painful and I left good friends.

I’ve had several good friends as adults who have moved and I’ve also moved. We try to stay in touch but it’s hard. The funny thing is when we do get together it’s as though we just pick up on the last conversation.

3) Are there people in your life now that you can call 'friend'?

I have more friends now than I had ever had which has been a REAL blessing in the life of ministry. We hang tough for each other – cry and laugh – encourage each other many times. Still, there are always those special few.

4) What are some of your favorite things to do with your friends?

Laugh. Listen. Love. Learn. Pray. Cry. Read. Talk. Serve. Worship. Walk. Eat. Find my center.

I loved Deb’s answer, and I’m keeping it.

5) What is a gift friendship has given you?

The gift of encouragement and the ability to be myself – no pretense.

Friday Five: Happy Project

2010-04-23T08:51:00.001-04:00

With the end of RevGalBlogPals' third annual Big Event, I am wondering who went and what it was like. There must be a lot of smiling from the Big Event! Hopefully, the rest of us are not frowning either.

So let us know how your past week was for you.

Write five different aspects of the week
OR answer the following questions:

1. When were you smiling lately?

Although I didn’t get to attend the BE, I did get to spend two days at our houseboat. It was put in the water on Friday. It’s an older boat but is sporting a brand new roof – no leaks to clean up and an open deck on the rear of the boat to sit in the sun and read or fish. Great place to escape the insanity which is life at times.

2. What happened unexpectedly to you this past week?

Much of my week was unexpected but it was one of the better weeks in a long while!

3. How was a catastrophe averted (or not)?

Found that my cell phone screen was cracked on Sunday but fortunately I received my new phone on Tuesday and it’s a better phone than the old one.

4. What was the most delicious thing you ate?

Ham Loaf dinner at Dick’s Place in my hometown. It was a great meal and I saw people I haven’t seen in years.

Also shared a meal with my son at Chile’s on Tuesday.

Enjoyed a great fruit and chicken salad at Bob Evans last night – a sign that summer is truly coming!

5. Did you see any good movies or read any books or articles?

Had a great week of entertainment. Watched “Date Night” with my husband last Friday and had date night with my clerk of session last night at the Pittsburgh Pops concert featuring Cirque De La Symphonie … it was VERY good.

Friday Five … Pack Your Bags

2010-04-16T22:07:00.001-04:00

1) Some fold, some roll and some simply fling into the bag. What's your technique for packing clothes?

A combination of both with every nook and cranny filled… including the inside of my shoes.

2) The tight regulations about carrying liquids on planes makes packing complicated. What might we find in your quart-size bag? Toothbrush and paste, hand cream, shampoo, deoderant

Ever lose a liquid that was too big?

3) What's something you can't imagine leaving at home? My glasses and/or contacts

4) Do you have a bag with wheels? Is there any other kind?

5) What's your favorite reading material for a non-driving trip (plane, train, bus, ship)? Something that grabs my interest and makes the time go quicker – these days it will be on my Kindle or Zune

Great Easter Reflections

2010-03-31T23:06:00.001-04:00

The women approaching the empty tomb….

Breaking of the bread …

Easter at Emmaus …. Ketchikan Presbyterian Church

The artist: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heqigallery.com%2F&h=23d18a6b3f31500f2aeb1fae2f582b10

Pierogies Available

2010-03-13T13:09:00.001-05:00

My Desk …

2010-03-11T21:24:00.001-05:00

Someone once said that a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind … but up until the last three years, it was my nightly ritual to completely clear my desk before leaving work or my home office. Somewhere that sense of control and decluttering – for better or worse – has escaped me. My desk is officially out of control and looks eerily like this cartoon picture.

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Friday Five: Staving Off the Gloom

2010-02-05T20:39:00.001-05:00

Sally at Rev Gal Blog Pals writes:

Candlemass is past, and Christmas is well and truly over, here in the UK February looks set to be its usual grey and cold self. Signs of spring are yet to emerge; if like me you long for them perhaps you need ways to get through these long dark days. So lets share a few tips for a cold and rainy/ snowy day....

1. Exercise, what do you do if you can't face getting out into the cold and damp?

I joined a fitness center but to be honest I haven’t taken advantage of the membership often.

2. Food; time to comfort eat, or time to prepare your body for the coming spring/summer?

Typically at this point I’m thinking of swim suits at the lake and cutting back on portions, watching the carbs and getting some exercise. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to make a dent in my trouble spots.

3. Brainpower; do you like me need to stave off depression, if so how do you do it?

Winter is always way too long, and this year has been particularly daunting with lots of snow, bitter cold temperatures and a host of chaotic events in the church and in my family.

Typically, I don’t struggle with depression often but have found that this year I really have to get out with friends and find activities which lift my spirits.

4. How about a story that lifts your spirits, is there a book or film that you return to to stave off the gloom?

Nothing in particular really stands out. The thing that keeps me going in the winter are the dogs – they are bored and constantly begging me to interact with them. Nothing better than a dancing dog, a wagging tail and a dog kiss to pick up your spirits.

5. Looking forward, do you have a favourite spring flower/ is there something that says spring is here more than anything else?

When I start to see the crocus, daffodils and johnny jump ups, it’s time to take out the rake and start the outdoor gardening chores.

Bonus; post a poem/ piece of music that points to the coming spring......

I typed in “The Coming of Spring” and found this CD of dulcimer music and it made a connection to my Appalachian heritage and my Irish ancestry.

As we spring forward into summer time, here's a bright and cheerful album of traditional Irish dance music and Carolan pieces played on hammered dulcimer by Cliff Moses, on his first solo album. Not only is 'The coming of Spring' the title of one of the tracks, but it also reflects the bright and light sound of the dulcimer.

The hammered dulcimer is an unusual instrument in Irish music; it's nearest cousin would be the harp, though the strings are hit rather than plucked. Wire strings are used, and there is no damping, giving it a more bell-like tone, like the older style of Irish harp.

Every pastor needs a laugh …

2010-02-01T19:48:00.003-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyNyHLCppMA – Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be pastors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4khRpG8O8 – Before He Speaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNWEqrduEZE - YHWH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y6DriQLdZ0 just has the lyrics printed out on the screen for the video link above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4 – Baby Got Book

Every pastor needs a laugh ….

2010-02-01T19:48:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyNyHLCppMA – Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be pastors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4khRpG8O8 – Before He Speaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNWEqrduEZE - YHWH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y6DriQLdZ0 just has the lyrics printed out on the screen for the video link above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4 – Baby Got Book

Friday Five …. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

2010-01-22T12:43:00.001-05:00

Songbird at Rev Gal Blog Pals invites us on a journey …

By the time you're reading this, I'll be en route to a Great Big City to see my son in a play. I'll go by car and bus and train and no doubt cab and maybe even subway. Thus, our Friday Five.

1) What was the mode of transit for your last trip? Car and bicycle. We traveled to the Outer Banks by car and then used our bikes to motor around the area.

2) Have you ever traveled by train? Just a short scenic route. My husband took the train from Pittsburgh to Long Island last year – and hated every second. Would not travel home by train and instead purchased a one-way plane ticket. Earlier in the month, my daughter traveled by train to Paoli, PA. She did not like it either, but at least she made the complete trip. For her, it was simply too noisy and too crowded.

3) Do you live in a place with public transit, and if so, do you use it? We have a bus stop right outside our front door, but I’ve never used it for transportation since I’m always afraid I won’t be able to get back home.

We have used the trolley – cable car – to make visits to downtown Pittsburgh, and I highly recommend that mode of transportation.

4) What's the most unusual vehicle in which you've ever traveled? Definitely the “Ducky” tour bus here in Pittsburgh. It travels on the road for a scenic tour and then turns into an amphibious vehicle and carries you down the rivers for another great tour of the city.

5) What's the next trip you're planning to take? My husband and I are planning a visit to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival in April – right after Easter.

A response to Pat Robertson …

2010-01-20T20:45:00.001-05:00

RELEVANT Magazine - Don Miller Responds to Pat Robertson

The author of Blue Jazz points us in the right direction …

Cute conversation ….

2010-01-20T20:33:00.001-05:00

Call to abandon a way of life ….

2010-01-20T13:30:00.001-05:00

“Ian, have you fallen into the hands of some sect?” his father asked.
“No, I haven’t,” he said. “I have merely discovered a church that makes sense to me, the same as Dober Street Presbyterian makes sense to you and Mom.”
“Dober Street didn’t ask us to abandon our educations,” his mother told him. “Of course we have nothing against religion; we raised all you children to be Christians. But our church never asked us to abandon our entire way of life.”
“Well, maybe it should have,” Ian said.
—Ann Tyler, Saint Maybe

In general the churches, visited by me too often on weekdays – when the custodian was moving about the communion table like a packing case, and sweeping up the chewing gum wrappers that insolently spangled the sacrosanct reaches of the choir – bore for me the same relation to God that billboards did to Coca-Cola: they promoted thirst without quenching it.
—John Updike, A Month of Sundays

Friday Five: If

2010-01-15T11:27:00.001-05:00

In EFM this week, our question was, "If you were a color, what would you be?" So that's where this Friday Five comes from, at least its jumping off place.
1. If you were a color, what would you be? – Cobalt Blue – There is a richness to this color that speaks of a life lived fully with both a touch of vibrancy and life and the darkness of chaos. I would hope that my life would reflect the beauty of Christ in much the same way light shines through cobalt blue glass.

2. If you were a flower (or plant), what would you be? – Wisteria – this plant takes awhile to root itself and produce the flowers but once rooted is nearly impossible to remove completely.

3. If you were an animal, what kind would you be? – Giraffe – nuff said – long legs, long neck …

4. If you were a shoe, what type would you be? – a mule – easy to slip-on and slip-off – a blessing and a curse.

5. If you were a typeface, which font would you be? Comic Sans – a blend of many traits.

Bonus: Anything connected with metaphors that you'd like to contribute.

I’m too busy to do this so I’ll leave this open to comments.

Friday Five …. dreams

2010-01-15T09:57:00.001-05:00

Sophia at Rev Gal Blog Pals writes:

With the beginning of my college teaching semester I have been having some unusually intense and memorable dreams lately--especially related to my Women and Religion class. With the beginning of a new calendar year many of us are engaging with dreams of another kind: planning, brainstorming, setting intentions or resolutions, etc. And many churches will celebrate the baptism of Jesus this Sunday, reading the Gospel account of his vision of the Holy Spirit as a dove and the "beloved child" words of Godde that set him off on his mission sharing Godde's dream for the world. So let's take a few minutes on this (where I am at least) lovely snow-blanketed Friday morning and share about the many different dreams and visions in our lives.

Well, this is a week late ….

1. Do you tend to daydream? Sometimes … particularly in meetings – may not be the best time to daydream but sometimes they are just interminably long and boring and frankly, pointless.

2. Do you usually remember your night dreams? Do you find them symbolic and meaningful or just quirky? My dreams usually are quirky twists on things going on in life.

3. Have you ever had a life changing dream which you'll never forget? I can’t say that I have.

4. Share a long term dream for one or more aspects of your life and work.

I really would love to serve as a mission co-worker in Malawi.

5. Share a dream for 2010....How can we support you in prayer on both the short and long term dreams?

Our church has an opportunity to provide facilities and partnership to an innovate day care – one that would touch the lives of those with autism. My hope and dream is that this facility is open by September. The name – With Open Arms – a perfectly wonderful image of God’s love for all of us.

Bonus: a poem, song, artwork, etc. that deals with dreams in general or one of your dreams.

Friday Five: Fresh Starts and Covenants Edition

2010-01-04T08:54:00.001-05:00

Friday, January 01, 2010

Friday Five: Fresh Starts and Covenants Edition

Sally of RevGalBlogPals writes:

As I prepare this post I am aware that it will be posted on New Years Day. We stand at the beginning of 2010 looking not only at a New Year, but at a new decade full of promise and possibilities. For some of us this will be exciting, but others will approach it with trepidation and probably most of us stand on this threshold with a mix of emotions and reactions. It is at this time of year that many (British) Methodist Churches celebrate their Annual Covenant Service, a service that will include this prayer:

I am no longer my own but Yours,

Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for You, or laid aside for You,
exalted for You, or brought low for You;
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.
And now glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am Yours.
May it be so forever.
Let this covenant now made on earth be fulfilled in heaven.
AMEN

This prayer is said every year, and offers every member an opportunity to renew their covenant with God. This is no soft or easy prayer, it states in the company of others our willingness to worship God come what may, not that we should become doormats, but that we place God above all else. (And every year if we are honest we have to acknowledge that we fail.) With this prayer in mind I bring you this Friday Five:

1. What will you gladly leave behind in 2009? The trauma of my husband’s health issues and subsequent heart problems and the reality that my 96-year-old father needs to live in a care facility. It’s hard watching your oak tree of a father cry because he’s leaving his home.

2. What is the biggest challenge of 2010 for you? Finding time to complete year two of my D. Min. degree. The reading load is bad enough but looking at the calendar, it is going to be nearly impossible to block out a period of time to write the post-seminar papers.

3. Is there anything that you simply need to hand to God and say "all will be well, for you are with me"? My husband’s health … not only is it frightening to realize how fragile he is but watching him come to terms with that reality is heartbreaking.

4. If you could only achieve one thing in 2010 what would it be? The obvious answer is building better relationships with family. The ministry part of that is finding alternative income options for the church I serve.

5. Post a picture, poem or song that sums up your prayer for the year ahead....

I love this picture! My prayer is to share an intimate relationship in my personal life.

Ministry to me is all about grace so “Grace Alone” is my song of the year.

Every promise we can make
Every prayer ant step of faith
Every difference we can make
Is only by his grace
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by his grace

(chorus)
Grace alone
Which god supplies
Strength unknown
He will provide
Christ in us
Our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone

Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share his peace
Is only by his grace
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by his grace

Scripture snippets tell the story …

2009-12-31T15:17:00.001-05:00

The Wee Kirk newsletter arrived and in it was the suggestion that we utilize the following “speaking points” of scripture as jumping off points to the narrative story of the Old and New Testaments … Not a bad place to start for some reflection and perhaps even some memorization …

God saw everything he had made; ...it was very good (Genesis 1:31a)
"You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)
...I will fear no evil for you are with me; (Psalm 23:4)
...his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)
...and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
...if you hear [God's] voice, do not harden your hearts... (Psalm 95:7)
But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; (Psalm 141:8)
"...I have called you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

He has showed you, O man, what is good... (Micah 6:8)
...I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:18)
"I am with you...to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... (John 1:14)
"No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come" (Acts 1:8)
...but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
...so in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
...do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus... (Colossians 3:17)
...fan into flame the gift of God which is in you... (2 Timothy 1:6)
...but now you are God's people...you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)
"Surely I am coming soon." Amen, come Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

Christmas Can Can

2009-12-30T10:27:00.001-05:00

I have been reflecting on the discussions going around Christian circles concerning the use of Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

Here is a link to the Christmas Can Can – a very comedic presentation which ends in the realization that while Christians celebrate Christmas other traditions celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa during the the same period of time.

Yes, Christmas is about CHRIST – but the December season also includes other celebrations – including the Christmas celebrations by Christians that are sadly lacking in any spiritual value. I am much more distressed with the reality of how Christians celebrate Christmas than I am about the phrase “Happy Holidays”. I am curious when Happy Holidays became a non-Christian greeting since we’ve been saying this for many years – as in Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s = Happy Holidays.

And yes, I think Christmas trees are Christmas trees and nativity scenes should be allowed in public squares, etc. etc. in case you are curious about my Christianity … not that these things make me a Christian. Maybe it’s time to quit pretending everyone who lives in America is a Christian and set an example that attracts others to the true life of discipleship. Then Merry Christmas will have true meaning and not just be a phrase we fight over in a time when the angels announced, “Peace on Earth.”

REALLY!

Reflections on the Best of 2009

2009-12-29T12:15:00.001-05:00

It would be easier to reflect on the worst of 2009, but the best way to feel thankful is to give thanks ….

1. Camp Crestfield activities and retreats throughout the year.

2. Leadership retreats at Antiochian Village and Camp Crestfield.

3. Discovery of the D. Min. program at the University of Dubuque and completion of the first year seminar.

4. Visit to St. Paul’s, our sister church in Blantyre, Malawi

5. Installation Service at Gladden UP

6. Ordination service of my seminary “wifey” – yes, that would be best friend.

7. Vacation Bible School

8. Participation in the 50th anniversary celebration of my aunt and uncle in Pinehurst, North Carolina – complete with choral works.

9. Watching the development of our worship committee as they work to make a difference.

10. A year of weddings, baptisms, new members and God’s faithfulness through all of our lives – even to the grave!

11. The faithfulness of our choir members who struggle against great odds to make a “joyful noise on to the Lord” each Sunday – bless them!

12. The friendship and active encouragement given to me by our clerk of session. She has kept me sane this year with trips to the symphony and many encouraging notes and chuckles.

New Year’s Resolutions for Volunteer Ministry

2009-12-29T08:31:00.001-05:00

by Brian Proffit

The beginning of a new year is traditionally a time for examining the past and resolving to make improvements in the coming year. Here's what I resolve to do in 2010:

I will be more of an equipper and less of a doer. Ephesians 4:11-12 says that the purpose of leaders in the church is to equip the people to do the ministry of the church--not for the leaders to be the ministers themselves. So I will spend more time consciously empowering others in ministry. I will make it clear to my staff that I won't measure their performance by how much they do, but how many they equip.

I will stop treating Christian service as optional. Jesus called his followers to complete life changes. In fact, he went out of his way to make sure people understood how much he demanded before they became his followers. Jesus made it clear that he expected people to be actively serving him. For Christ-followers, giving time to ministry is not optional.

I will be a cheerleader. In a world full of negative attitudes and criticism, I will demonstrate Christ's love by celebrating the accomplishments of others. I will give personal, meaningful affirmation. If someone fails to show up, my first reaction won't be anger that he or she let me down; it will be concern that something might be wrong. I will take more pleasure from their successes than my own. I will praise them publicly.

I will call people boldly. Rather than recruiting people timidly, hoping not to offend them, I will boldly invite them to contribute their time to the most significant cause in the universe. In John 6, Jesus called people to such radical commitment that many turned back and no longer followed him. If Jesus' focus was on the level of commitment people were willing to make, rather than the number of people who followed, then I will not be shy in asking people to give more of themselves.

I will devote resources to developing others. Equipping people for ministry is more than just giving encouragement. I will give them constructive feedback. I will pay their way to appropriate training events. I will purchase the tools needed for them to flourish.

I will forgive myself for last year. Because we take our ministry so seriously, it is easy to pile on guilt for the things we failed to do or did wrong. But God chose to do this ministry through me, knowing that I'm a broken vessel. I will spend time now consciously determining what I need to learn from my mistakes, and then I will join God in casting them into the Sea of Forgetfulness.

I will remember the one thing. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus reminded Martha that while all her attempts to serve him were good, the one thing most important was developing a growing relationship with Jesus. I will remember that ultimately it is not about my ministry or my church. It is about me and all those around me developing a growing relationship with Jesus.

And perhaps I should add one more: I will keep these resolutions longer than the one about dieting and exercise.

Friday Five – Christmas Traditions

2009-12-18T19:20:00.001-05:00

Jan at RevGalBlogPals writes:

Christmas traditions vary from family to family and from regions afar. I've been pleased that my oldest son's wife AA loves to be with our family for Christmas, though I don't think we do anything out of the ordinary. It helps that DC has one brother and two sisters to liven up our home.
Since I finally decorated the Christmas tree and have started baking Christmas cookies, I am thinking of Christmas only being one week away.
So for this Friday Five, tell us five things about the traditions in your family. Think of

traditions you always do – since we’ve been pastors, we’ve always hosted an annual open house at the manse. Our families live in other states, and the open house gives us the comfort of a “family” celebration which we seldom get to enjoy because of Christmas Eve services.]
traditions you always cook or eat - For at least 25 years, my son and daughter and sometimes a friend or two show up to bake cut-out sugar cookies which are then iced and decorated with a variety of toppings. These are nice thick cookies that always stay soft – IF you know the secret to the recipe.
traditions you would like to start – attending a midnight Christmas Eve service where I have no leadership responsibilities.
traditions you would like to discard – Sending Christmas cards to people I see every week. I still like to get the notes from friends I seldom see and I really enjoy the newsy letters that are included – even if we find they are usually either full of only the good stuff or only the year’s complaints.
anything about your family Christmases – We were always permitted to open a present of our choosing on Christmas Eve.

A Storm Stirring in Two Women’s Hearts

2009-12-16T11:06:00.001-05:00

Janet McKenzie’s work has surfaced in a number of places, leading me to share some links to her work.

A Storm Stirring in Two Women's Hearts
Janet McKenzie’s The Visitation haunted me for days. There was simply lurking in it behind the obvious, more, I thought, than the common awareness of the binding female power of pregnancy.
The fact that women share a common life-giving experience in the very chemistry of their bodies—whether they themselves ever experience pregnancy or not — is commonplace. The very word “woman” rings of “wombness” for many. But the haunting look on the faces of The Visitation says more. Much more.
The faces of Mary and Elizabeth, dark and somber, thoughtful and aware, in McKenzie’s Visitation say something far beyond either the exultation of pregnancy or the creative power of it. This is not a picture about the delirium of motherhood. There is a storm stirring in the hearts of these women — deep and different than most at such a moment as this, something epochal and eruptive. The facts of this pregnancy are clearly different than the simple, natural dimensions of it.
This pregnancy, The Visitation implies, says that these two particular pregnancies are changing life in ways no pregnancy before them ever implied. These women, the picture is clear, are bound together in ways far beyond the physical. This pregnancy says that both the older woman — for whom pregnancy means a need for more vigorous energy than her years would commonly allow — and the younger woman — for whom a first pregnancy means new stature in the human community — are bound by something far more impacting than gestation.
The picture captures a moment in time — full of awareness, heavy with universal meaning. These two women know that what they are about to go through is not really two separate moments of life at all. The very act of pregnancy binds them together, yes, but it binds them to all of life differently, as well. It has not only changed them but it is about to change the history of the world. It is of them, of course, and it is far outside and beyond them at the same time.
This is life beyond their own small lives that they are facing now. This is life layers above the physical, oceans below the conscious.
–from The Art of Janet McKenzie: Empowering Holiness, “The Visitation” by Joan Chittister (Orbis 2009). Click here to order.

Christmas can be frightening …

2009-12-08T08:31:00.001-05:00

I’m been reading Bonhoeffer and it has me thinking …

"It is very remarkable that we face the thought that God is coming, so calmly, whereas previously peoples trembled at the day of God . . . . We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God's coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God's coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience.

Only when we have felt the terror of the matter, can we recognize the incomparable kindness. God comes into the very midst of evil and of death, and judges the evil in us and in the world. And by judging us, God cleanses and sanctifies us, comes to us with grace and love."

The ups and downs of ministry

2009-12-06T18:29:00.001-05:00

OK … this morning was by all standards a wonderful worship experience … no major snafus in the liturgy, wonderfully prepared music which coordinated perfectly with the text from Mark … a voice cries out, prepare ye the way of the Lord. The sermon was a take on the importance of each voice preparing the way of the Lord in our lives, families and in the community. The sermon was complete with its own unexpected sermon illustration as a newborn voice erupted and interrupted our perfectly planned worship service thus illustrating that it is possible for ONE VOICE to make a difference.

All in all, about as good as it gets in a small congregation.

Left the church feeling pretty good about things here in my neck of the woods.

Lots of warm fuzzies following at the annual church luncheon, including a surprise present from a local funeral director and his wife, who is also our toddler room coordinator.

But, by 4 p.m., the voices started sounding distinctly less supportive beginning with a phone call from someone who hadn’t attended church services, but telling me that she was looking for a PREACHER. You know someone who doesn’t preach so closely to scripture … you know someone who sounds like the preachers of my youth … hmmm….. do you really mean you’d like a preacher like those preachers who made your grandmother uncomfortable attending because she was divorced so she sent your mother alone to church … that’s what you said … yes, I realize you are medicated. I PREACH every Sunday, but no, I don’t preach those sermons. Sorry! I also don’t preach television evangelist sermons – sorry again!

Then a random email in response to one I had written earlier … note to self … people really don’t want any advice they just seek affirmation of the decisions they’ve already made. GOT IT!

I do not like roller coasters – not the mechanical ones or the emotional ones … I think I’ll be listening to my veteran pastor, husband’s advice – do not believe anything you hear before or after church on Sundays. If they remember it six weeks later, it was a good sermon. If it’s negative, it can wait to Monday – do not answer the phone or read emails on Sundays.

What I’m Not Doing for Christmas this Year …

2009-12-04T08:23:00.001-05:00

Rev Gal Blog Pals Friday Five is easy this week … Name five things you are not doing to prepare for Christmas this year ….

1. No outdoor lights are going up which is a shame because to me Christmas lights in the dark of night really speak the Christmas message. But, alas, no kids at home, and I have decided I don’t need to be crawling across the roof this year.

2. Cookie baking has been pared down to the bare minimum. The remainder of my cookies are coming from the American Cancer Society Cookie Walk at the South Fayette Fire Hall. I will be making the cutout sugar cookies with icing that have been my trademark of Christmas for 20 years.

3. Very little Christmas shopping being done in the stores this year. What shopping I’m doing has been done online.

4. I have a basement full of decorations and only my favorite ones are coming out this year.

5. Not stressing about the house being spotless for our annual Open House for the congregation. Hmm… I’ll let you know how that goes.

My favorite Advent song this year is a choral piece by Lloyd Larson. I don’t have an easy way to link you to it but this one takes you to a place to listen:

A Voice Cries Out by Lloyd Larson

Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T08:45:00.001-05:00

I am entering Thanksgiving week full of doubt and misgivings … it is so easy to be consumed by the things we do not have, the things that need to be changed, the frustrations of the parish, the day to day grind of keeping multiple plates spinning – and the ultimate reality that on occasion the plates will definitely break – we are human!

This morning I am listening and giving thanks!

Gratitude is a great antidote when you find yourself wanting more.

Are you grateful for what you have?

Thanksgiving Friday Five

2009-11-20T08:25:00.001-05:00

The Cure
Lying around all day
with some strange new deep blue
weekend funk, I'm not really asleep
when my sister calls
to say she's just hung up
from talking with Aunt Bertha
who is 89 and ill but managing
to take care of Uncle Frank
who is completely bed ridden.
Aunt Bert says
it's snowing there in Arkansas,
on Catfish Lane, and she hasn't been
able to walk out to their mailbox.
She's been suffering
from a bad case of the mulleygrubs.
The cure for the mulleygrubs,
she tells my sister,
is to get up and bake a cake.
If that doesn't do it, put on a red dress.
--Ginger Andrews (from Hurricane Sisters)

So this Friday before Thanksgiving, think about Aunt Bert and how she'll celebrate Thanksgiving! And how about YOU?

1. What is your cure for the "mulleygrubs"?

My deal with the mulleygrubs is I give them 24 hours – if I’m sad, I cry. If I’m mad, I rant. But, after 24 hours it’s time to get up and get moving – mentally and physically.

2. Where will you be for Thanksgiving?

In Newcomerstown OH at my sister’s home.

3. What foods will be served? Which are traditional for your family?

It varies from year to year, but always turkey – sometimes with an extra dish of beef and noodles or ham, homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, vegetables – usually beans or corn. My husband calls it “white food” Thanksgiving. The favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner for me used to be Wilma’s apple pie and homemade rolls and pickles that came off the shelves down in the cellar – but alas, those days are gone with the death of Mary Ross and Wilma Stonebrook.

4. How do you feel about Thanksgiving as a holiday?

It is really one of my favorite holidays since there’s no expectations of gifts. It’s just a time to enjoy family around the table, play games, watch a movie together.

5. In this season of Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for?

More and more, I am thankful for family.

Music that allows my heart and soul to soar above the commonplace moments of our lives.

Memories.

Here is our King

2009-11-17T09:42:00.001-05:00

One of the bloggers at Rev Gal Blog Pals gave us this link depicting pictures of Jesus’ life from birth to the cross set to the song Here Is Our King

Sermon title was taken from another website: The Servant King with Scars …. what does that mean for us?

In a reading from the Celtic Daily Prayer, there is this simple but profound question and answer:

"Question: What are the only human-made things in heaven?
Answer: The wounds in the hands, feet and side of Christ."

One of the most fascinating facts about the New Testament story of Jesus is that after his resurrection he is revealed with his scars.

When his disciples doubt who he is, he shows them the scars in his hands, side and feet.

Those scars are five signs of the most compelling love the world has ever known-complete, self-emptying, utter love for all of us.

In other words, God the Father chooses to reveal Jesus in a perfect, resurrected body with the healed, gruesome wounds from the crucifixion.

To this day, we still know Jesus by his scars.

(Words are not my own …)

Give Me Jesus

2009-11-16T11:37:00.001-05:00

This is one of the songs used in the tribute to Susan McAndrew. In her short life, she fought a tremendous battle which robbed her of almost everything – except her faith in Jesus Christ.

Here is the link: Fernando Ortega Performance of Give Me Jesus

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus
When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus
When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

The Advent Door

2009-11-13T09:37:00.001-05:00

Jan Richardson’s website The Advent Door is a great way to center yourself during the Advent Season.

http://theadventdoor.com/

Friday the 13th …

2009-11-13T08:59:00.001-05:00

Here are the Friday Five questions from RevGalBlogPals:

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, a word derived from the concatenation of the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή) (meaning Friday), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς) (meaning thirteen), attached to phobía (φοβία) (meaning fear). The term triskaidekaphobia derives from the Greek words "tris", meaning 'three', "kai", meaning 'and', and "deka", meaning 'ten'. the whole word means three and ten. The word was derived in 1911 and first appeared in a mainstream source in 1953. (Wikipedia)

With thanks to my dear spouse TechnoGuy for the great suggestion, it's a Friday the 13th Friday Five!

1. How is this Friday the 13th looking for you?

Typical day … lots going so I’ll be praying that Friday the 13th is JUST a superstition. I have guys reframing and wrapping the windows in the house (lots of ladder work), Jerry and I will be hitting the treadmill at the gym (plenty of potential for problems after Jerry’s heart incident two weeks ago at the gym) and setting up for the Salad Luncheon at the church this evening (lots of potential for broken dishes).

I’ll let you know …

2. Have you ever had anything unlucky happen on Friday the 13th? No

3. Did your family of origin embrace or scorn superstitions?

My family of origins never even talked about superstitions that I can remember.

4. Are there any unique or amusing ones from your family, region, or ethnic background?

There are several stories which have their basis in the local folklore of Newcomerstown OH which is my hometown.

Most prominent in recent history are Sasquatch sightings …

Sasquatch sightings have been prominent in Ohio since the 1960s, said Don Keating, manager of the Eastern Ohio Bigfoot Center in Newcomerstown, Ohio, and organizer of the Annual Bigfoot Conference ….

5. Do you love or hate horror movies like "Friday the 13th"?

My husband loves horror films so occasionally I watch them. I’m not particularly fond of deliberately causing my heart to race with fear.

Celebrate Life …

2009-11-09T17:04:00.001-05:00

Life is not meant to be a burden. Life is not a problem to be solved. It is a blessing to be celebrated.

Every dimension of life, its gains and its losses, are reason for celebration because each of them brings us closer to wisdom and fullness of understanding.

From each and every moment of life we learn something that makes us more alive because we are now more knowing than we were before. Loss and loneliness, darkness and depression all sear the soul and cleanse it of its sense of self-sufficiency. Suffering directs it to the God of life.

But so does bounty and beauty and abundance. These give us a foretaste of wholeness. These are the palpable manifestations of the goodness of God in our lives. Both of these things come unbidden. They are not signs of either our sin or our sin-less-ness. They are simply signs that the God of life is a living, loving God.

Learning to celebrate joy is one of the great practices of the spiritual life. It confirms our trust in God. It affirms the greatness of creation. It seals our dependence on God. It attests to the beauty of the present and asserts our confidence in the beauty of the future. It recognized the mercy and love of God.

Every year in celebrating our birthdays and the birthdays of those we love we are called to remember the gift of life itself. We take time out to ask ourselves what we have done with our lives. We see again the potential of every single life in the world.

When we celebrate the good things in life, we trace them to the Creator who gives without merit, openhandedly, out of the very goodness of community, love, and support that are by nature at the base of the human condition.

Joy gives us strength for the unknown. It leads us into the emptiness of life with hope in the God of surprise with a smile on our faces.

–from The Breath of the Soul: Reflections on Prayer

Sermon Preparation Advice:

2009-11-06T23:02:00.001-05:00

The Spirit has taught us in meditation to ponder its message, to put aside, if we will, the responsibility of preparing the message we've got to give. Just trust God for that. But first, meditate on it, quietly ponder it, let it sink deep into our souls. Have you not often been surprised and overcome with delight as Holy Scripture is opened up as if the gate of the Golden City have been set back for you to enter? A few minutes silent openness of soul before the Lord has brought us more treasure of truth than hours of learned research.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Friday Five: New Things You Love

2009-11-06T10:15:00.001-05:00

Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals writes:

There's a new baby on my street, a double PK whose Mom and Dad are Methodist pastors and church planters. I'm hoping to go over and meet her today. I love new babies, the way they smell and their sweet little fingers and toes. Little K has me thinking about all the new things that please us with their shiny freshness.

Please share with us five things you like *especially* when they are new

1. Babies almost definitely have to top the list. There is just something so innocent and pure about them as they trust us to care for them.

2. Baby animals – I think God made them so darned cute so that we couldn’t help but love them – even when they chew, chew, chew or pee, pee, pee all over your things – even your sermons!

3. New Car – there’s nothing like a the smell of a brand new car, shining and ready to go to work hauling kids, animals and all the other things we use them for.

4. New Books – I love new books – whether they are bound, purchased for the Kindle or hosted on my Zune. If I have an addiction, this is it.

5. Fresh fallen snow before it’s had any tracks.

Old Irish Blessing

2009-11-05T21:27:00.001-05:00

The Waters of Baptism

2009-11-05T15:06:00.001-05:00

When we were baptized, God gave each of us a gift. Perhaps we were too young to understand…too young to open the gift at the time, so it was put on a shelf. Over the years, some have unwrapped it, in Sunday School, or confirmation, or in conversation with mom and dad, and they found great promise and great blessing in the gift of baptism. But others, like me, took a long time to unwrap the gift and looking inside. When I finally did, I still wasn’t sure it was something I wanted or needed, but the gift was always mine. You see, that’s the great miracle in the gift of baptism; once it’s given, it always belongs to the receiver. We can ignore it, we can doubt it, and we can resist it, we can run from it, but the gift is always ours. The gift of baptism, of course, is grace, and it’s been given to you. It’s got your name on it, and it is yours forever. And that’s a promise. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Gather us in …

2009-11-05T12:58:00.001-05:00

Gather Us In Lyrics
Here in this place, new light is streaming
now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in the lost and forsaken
gather us in the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken
we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young – our lives are a mystery
we are the old – who yearns for your face.
we have been sung throughout all of history
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in the rich and the haughty
gather us in the proud and the strong
give us a heart so meek and so lowly
give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water
here we will take the bread of new birth
here you shall call your sons and your daughters
call us anew to be salt of the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion
give us to eat the bread that is you
nourish us well and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Draw near to God …

2009-11-05T11:24:00.001-05:00

Here is an interesting way to weave prayer into your life …

http://sacredspace.ie/

The more we call on God
the more we can feel God's presence.
Day by day we are drawn closer
to the loving heart of God.

He’s Always Been Faithful

2009-11-02T20:34:00.001-05:00

It’s been that kind of week …

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals

2009-10-30T17:31:00.001-04:00

1) Your lifesaving food/beverage.
Mountain Dew and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – a leftover from the newsroom early deadline need for adrenaline.

2) Your lifesaving article of clothing.
Long cotton skirts and sandals

3) Your lifesaving movie/book/tv show/music.
OK at the risk of seeming too liturgical – THE BIBLE. But mystery books are my lifesaver from reality – meaning I don’t need to remember a single thing once I finish it. Music in general and particularly piano music is the place where I can meet God and have my soul restored.

4) Your lifesaving friend.
Geez. Hard to choose. Good friends who listen to me rant and still love me… family who do the same….God who continually nurtured the thought that we do not have to be defined by our past….redemption is possible NOW.

5) Your lifesaving moment.

When an application for a Religion Newswriters scholarship crossed the desk of our newsroom editor. With a lot of help that scholarship was submitted overnight with prayer and trembling. As one of 10 journalists in the US, I was able to take my first seminary course, allowing me to FINALLY honor a call to ministry God placed on my life in high school.

A Sabbath Celebration

2009-10-25T23:06:00.001-04:00

Today was an unusual day at Gladden UP. By divine providence we were blessed with an visit by The Songsters (See earlier blog). The morning worship service was followed by a covered dish dinner organized by the Presbyterian Women. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with approximately half of the congregation participating.

By design, today was also our annual Around The Fire celebration of Reformation Sunday.

From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., there was a flurry of activity at the church.

Tonight as 47 people gathered around the fire, I was consumed with the image of Christ’s body gathered together in fellowship as the eclectic blend of people attended – young and old in age, young and old members, non-members from the community, a mix of denominational affiliations – with activities planned by a variety of people in the congregation and invitations extended by one of our members to the children who ride her school bus during the week. It was a delight to watch our teens plan and implement activities for the children which allowed me to share fellowship with the adults.

It truly was a day which made ministry seem worth while and was a true gift from God.

The day also brought news that the pavilion in memory of Susan McAndrew has the possibility of being a reality in the very near future. I couldn’t help but think of Susan as I reflected on the day’s events … it was the reality of a vision she held for the people of Gladden UP.

A nod to Martin Luther

2009-10-25T21:50:00.001-04:00

This morning we opened with a call to worship which was a tribute to Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” It was an unusual blend of a call to worship with the opening hymn which was published by the PC (USA) Office of Theology and Worship in celebration of Reformation Sunday.

On another website I found this Martin Luther quote: "I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people gay; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor."

It seemed only fitting that the gospel message was delivered by The Songsters, a gospel quartet hailing from Ohio.

One of their songs was “I’m Just a Sinner Saved By Grace,” and I couldn’t help but reflect that this might have been Martin Luther’s 21st century theme song.

We are so blessed that our righteousness is not dependent on the works we try to achieve but on the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ.

If God had Texted the 10 Commandments

2009-09-20T08:34:00.000-04:00

What if God texted the 10 commandments — courtesy of the PearlyGates newsletter:

1. no1 b4 me. srsly.

2. dnt wrshp pix/idols

3. no omg's

4. no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r)

5. pos ok - ur m&d r cool

6. dnt kill ppl

7. :-X only w/ m8

8. dnt steal

9. dnt lie re: bf

10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8. or ox. or dnkey.

myob.M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl.

ttyl, JHWH.

Compassionate Ministries

2009-09-18T13:28:00.004-04:00

This morning a group of women from the church and community gathered in the church kitchen to prepare and package homemade food for people in the community. Some are facing surgery, some are having hard times and others are facing the reality that they aren't as young as they once were. In all honesty, it was a little more complicated than I expected and a little more expensive. In the end, we had four types of soup, pork loin dinners, macaroni -n - cheese, Au Gratin potatoes, stuffed chicken shells, meat loaf and gravy, sweet sausage, pancakes, chocolate chip cookies and PTL - enough containers.

Also had a conversation with another minister (who is also an attorney) about end of life issues for those in the congregation who have no family - except for their church family.

We've made the decision to get involved. Inevitably, it will probably lead us into some messy situations. It will force us to make tough decisions, but with God's help, we are committed to sharing the good news of the gospel in whatever form it might take.

While I was reflecting on the morning, I received a phone call from a member of our congregation who is organizing a 5K Walk-Run in memory of her nephew. She called to tell me that it would be OK if I didn't attend the race on Oct. 10. She knew it was important for me to be with my family that day as we gathered to spend a day with my mother's brother who is ailing. It was a gracious and sincere offer of love and friendship.

Are we learning? Yes! God is teaching us the gift of friendship and hospitality! If it seems a little slow, it's because we aren't listening as close as we should.