@ 3rd & Mound

Simple Gifts

2010-08-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

“I need to steal you away. We are about to be serenaded.”

Those were Dale’s words to me when the program was about to begin at the farewell dinner held at the Maennerchor on August 3rd. I broke away from one of many cherished conversations that night, I took Dale’s arm, and we stood together as Kathryn Hart Teixeira sang Simple Gifts.

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free. ‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be; and when we find ourselves in the place just right, ‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to be bend we shan’t be ashamed; to turn, turn will be our delight, till by turning, turning we come out right.

The tears came immediately. This was the song I selected for my processional when I married Dale in St. John’s sanctuary. Then, I had felt as though the words poignantly captured the delight brought to my life by our relationship and the growth I had experienced. Listening to these lyrics immediately brought to mind the fondness of that special day we celebrated with you. However, more so, I found myself listening to the song through the lens of my experience at St. John’s.

‘Tis the gift to be gentle, ‘tis the gift to be fair,’tis the gift to wake and breathe the morning air; and everyday to walk in the path we choose, ‘tis the gift we pray we may ne’er come to lose.

‘Tis the gift to be loving, ‘tis the best gift of all, Like a quiet rain, it blesses where it falls; and if we have the gift, we will truly believe ‘tis better to give than it is to receive.

When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to be bend we shan’t be ashamed; to turn, turn will be our delight, till by turning, turning we come out right.

With every turn over the past nine years, I have grown. You have helped me become a better pastor and a better person. I could write books about all we have done and experienced together, but it is really quite simple: we have loved one another. To love you, and to have been loved by you has been one of the great blessings of my life.

Yesterday I finished packing up my office. I left my keys on Bonnie’s desk and took a last stroll through the building. It was difficult to see things that needed to be done and know that I wouldn’t be the one sending emails or making calls to attend to them, nor would I be coming back to attend to other inevitable lose ends.

As I climbed the stairs to the Jack Davies lobby where I punched in my security code for the last time, the tears began to flow. Dale and Courtney were waiting for me in the parking lot, and we stood there holding one another and crying together for quite some time. I know you have rarely seen me shed a tear, but it feels important for me to let you know that there were plenty of them as I departed this place as your pastor.

The tears are tears of grief, but they are also tears of gratitude for each of you and all we have shared. Even more, they are tears that form a prayer. My prayer is that with every turn, you, too, are able to discover God’s most simple gifts, and help others do the same.

God be with you.

What a Week!

2010-07-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

When I came in to the office this past Tuesday, the Tuesday Morning Team (headed up by Suzanne Kull) was quickly finishing their preparations for Wednesday’s Largest Table. The timing could not have been better because as they were finishing their work the sewer had just begun to back flow into the kitchen. Little did we know then what a challenge would ensue.

Bonnie quickly called Rescue Rooter and they were able to get a team out to help us about 4:00 p.m. Rescue Rooter called it a night about 10:00 p.m. and came back first thing the next morning, along with the company, PureClean, who we called in to clean and sanitize the kitchen. After both companies had worked for a couple of hours on Wednesday morning it became clear that we would not be able to serve the luncheon in Fellowship Hall that day. The clean up job had become massive and we still had not determined the exact source of the problem.

That Wednesday morning I experienced The Largest Table as I have never experienced it before. Not once did I hear words of frustration or irritation. “Let’s move it outside” one person said. “How great that we planned to have picnic food!” said another. The PureClean team sanitized a path through the kitchen so that we could cart out the food. The work table in the office was set up to prepare our usual dessert smorgasbord. Tables were taken outside and everyone seemed to take delight in the new set up. Two guests took me aside to express their gratitude for the meal taking place in spite of the challenges and uncertainty we were facing. I appreciated their kind remarks, but even as they said them I knew our volunteers had never even considered canceling.

By the end of Wednesday, we realized that we were facing much more than a stopped up drain. By then, Gary Baas, Mike Rangel and David Wolfe were all on board with their own questions, concerns, and expertise. Together, with Dallas from Rescue Rooter, Mike and Gary sought to determine the extent of the problem and the appropriate course of action. It was pretty much a non-stop investigation through Friday morning! As of this writing, we are still waiting on all of the bids but we know that the work is going to be extensive.

This past week’s lectionary reading was the story of Mary and Martha found in the gospel of Luke. Jesus criticizes Martha, who was hard at work in the kitchen, for being “distracted by many things.” Often this story is interpreted to suggest that Mary’s listening and attentiveness were “better” than Martha’s hard work. As I thought about this text and my experience of the people of St. John’s this week, I realized it was not Martha’s actions that Jesus was so concerned about, but rather her being so distracted.

I am especially grateful for the many people at St. John’s who when faced with a challenge are able to set aside differences, focus on the matter at hand, and get to work. Thanks for all you do!

When you don't know what to say ....

2010-05-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

It is not often when I am at a loss for words.

However, I was at a loss for words this past Monday night after sharing with the Consistory my resignation as pastor of St. John's. What does one say at a time that is mixed with so many different emotions? As I scanned the room and looked into the eyes of so many different people I will miss, words escaped me.

I think that is why I haven't been blogging much these past few months - because I have been living with the possibility of a new position and all that entails, as well as the reality of the loss I will feel when I leave. Not only has it been a mix of feelings, but it has felt somewhat ingenuous to be blogging about my perceptions of ministry at St. John's without being forthright about where I am in regard to everything. I hope now that the news is out I can use this blog as a vehicle for sharing some of the things for which I am truly grateful @ 3rd & Mound.

Our Consistory meeting on Monday evening ended the way it always does. Our president invited us to stand, hold hands, and pray The Lord's Prayer. I thought about the many times I had prayed that very same prayer. Some times hastily, some times - like Monday - with a lump in my throat. When we don't know what to say, Jesus gives us the words ... "Our Father, who art in heaven ... "

What Tomorrow's Church Requires

2010-03-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

This time last week the leadership of St. John's was meeting with David Schoen, Minister and Team Leader for the United Church of Christ. David spent time with us exploring what tomorrow's church will require. To help us get a sense of some of the cultural shifts that have been happening, he shared this video Did You Know? I have been thinking about these rapid cultural shifts as well as his presentation all week. We talked about the need for the church to be missional in purpose, relational in outreach, and conversational in witness.

Later in the week I had a couple of different conversations, each with individuals who question the role of the church in their lives and struggle with the strict dogma of the churches they grew up in. Their memory of the experience in their youth is a constant filter for how they interpret what the church is today. They are torn because while there are some things they feel as though they must reject, they are drawn to the community, to the mystery, and to the concrete acts of service of the church. I found myself saying, "I don't believe in the God you don't believe in either" and longing to be able to bear witness to all that I find is good and right and beautiful with the particular community of faith to which I serve and belong. And I thought again about how accurate David was in the challenges he raised for us.

On one level, meeting the needs of many generations in a rapidly changing society is overwhelming. We certainly cannot continue doing all of the same old things we have always been doing and expect that it will be satisfying, sufficient, or even faithful.

But it is also a hopeful time. Phyllis Tickle suggests that the church goes through a "rummage sale" every 500 years when it is able to keep what is helpful and get rid of what is not. We are certainly living through that time right now. On Thursday I began reading a new book by my colleague and friend, Phil Snyder. The book, Toward a Hopeful Future: Why the Emergent Church is Good News for Mainline Congregations is a breath of fresh air and I can't wait to keep reading.

Perhaps if there are enough us who are willing to stay with this "rummage sale" we will be able to be what the church requires for the future.

Samson

2010-03-02T05:39:00.001-08:00

Today I am referring to my dog, not the Biblical character. Samson has been my companion for nearly thirteen years; however, when Dale and I were married seven years ago -Dale won Samson's heart as quickly as he won mine. When Dale is here, he tends to Samson's every need - which has been growing steadily over the past couple of years. As Samson has joined the senior ranks, his age is showing. His hearing is all but gone. His eyesight is obviously strained. His assortment of meds have become an important daily ritual. He barks more and more .. we wonder if it is because he can't hear himself!

When I have a day at home, it rarely passes without my taking a quick "refresher" nap. It used to be that Samson could anticipate my napping; he would race in front of me, and leap up on our bed to join me. Sometimes, if he wasn't paying attention, I would say, "Samson, come on! It's our favorite time of the day!" It has been nearly a year since he has been able to leap up on our bed, and so his interest in our "favorite time of the day" seems to have been waning.

This past weekend our home was unusually quiet; it was just Samson and me. I found myself paying more attention to his barking, and to the needs that were behind it. For several days in a row Samson started barking each time I laid down. This was after our walk. And after getting a treat, or two. Tired and ready to sleep, I was frustrated. We got up to go out again. There was more barking. I gave him yet another treat. There was more barking. Finally, it dawned on me: Samson wanted up on the bed! With a gentle scoop, I placed Samson on the end of the bed and he was perfectly content. The gentle scoop has become our new nighttime ritual.

I keep thinking about how often we must pacify those around us with "treats" because we fail to understand someones real need and desire. As humans, we have the advantage of speech but we often resort to our own forms of barking - irritability, unnecessary comments, withdrawal. Samson has inspired me to try to listen more closely to those who seem to be barking, and to try to articulate my needs more clearly to those I love.

Waking Up

2010-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

I must confess I have conflicted feelings about my blackberry. Well, no, I actually like my blackberry very much, but I have become increasingly sensitive to how my blackberry (or, rather my looking at it and using it) can be a distraction to personal relationships. A friend and I were out with our two sons this past week and we (my friend and I) both reached for our blackberries at some point in the conversation to google the topic of conversation. Our boys immediately picked up on the fact that their mothers were using their phones during dinner! I was embarrassed. My husband is great about leaving his phone at home when we go out for a date, but I can’t do that. I protest that I can’t leave it behind .. someone might need me, but then I have been quick to pick up for something that I know is not an emergency. It is hard for me to just let the phone ring or press “ignore.”

I will continue to struggle with appropriate blackberry etiquette, but I have discovered one wonderful thing about the blackberry: I can wake up and reach over to receive some daily inspiration before I ever get out of bed in the morning. After I have pressed the snooze once or twice, my groggy hands reach out for my phone and I fumble at the keys to read three emails that are sent in the very early morning hours every day. I only have to have my eyes open to enter this spiritual discipline. It is a great way to wake up in the morning … I think of it as simmering time – those moments when I am awake but not at full boil: a perfect time to reflect and ponder.

Here are the sites that shoot me a morning email:

http://www.gratefulness.org/

http://i.ucc.org/FeedYourSpirit/Subscribe/tabid/101/Default.aspx

http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/getconnected/subscribe.php

Made Whole

2010-01-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

What if we weren’t alone after all?

What if you were really a fragment of a

Great and glorious mind

Like an individual wave

Is part of the magnificent ocean?

Then anything would be possible.

This poem, by Joan Borysenko, captured my feeling as I left our Service for Healing of Body, Mind and Spirit yesterday. During the service everyone had the opportunity to write prayer concerns that were then shared during an intercessory prayer at the end of the service. The mounting of concerns – Haiti, cancer, marital difficulties, financial concerns, and more – could have been overwhelming to some, but I experienced it differently. As I watched person after person bring forward their concerns, and I had the honor of giving them voice, I was reminded of how every single person faces challenges. Every single person present had something weighing on his or her heart. Often we bear these burdens silently, but yesterday we named them out loud, and I felt us pulling together. Through this process, I felt a deeper connection with all who were present. I also felt a sense of hopefulness that God will help bring us through our personal and collective trials and make us stronger.

As I prepared for this healing service I was very aware that there were some people in our midst who were praying for cures so that they might be made well. I share in their hope and prayer, but I also have found myself reflecting on what it means to be well, what it means to be “made whole.” As I looked out on the congregation I saw persons who are filled with vitality, creativity, and a love for life who happen to have a disability. I saw persons who move a little more slowly and need to have some things repeated every so often because they are losing their hearing, but whose very lives embody love and wisdom. I saw persons who live with cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s who exude an inner peace and a reverence for life that bears witness to the living Christ within them.

My favorite communion chalice is a cup that appears as though it was broken and put back together again. For me, it resembles not only what happened with Jesus but happens with all of us. God welcomes and loves us, however it is that we are; God takes all of the broken pieces, nurturing and shaping us into something that is perfectly whole and all the more beautiful. Today, I am giving thanks for all of the people who make up this community of faith, who through sharing their brokenness as well as their strengths, make a beautiful whole.

Resolutions?

2010-01-05T03:45:00.001-08:00

Here is an interesting approach to new year's resolutions. Mary Yost, in her blog, suggests that we have the whole thing backwards. She writes,

By making resolutions at the beginning of the year, it's like we slap our worst flaws on a neon sign and then announce to the world what we are likely to fail at in the coming year.

If you are really committed to doing whatever it is that you "resolve" to do in the new year, wouldn't you have done it already? And if something really is a resolution, doesn't that word mean a problem has already been fixed?

Instead, as one year winds down and we plow toward the next, we continue the bad behaviors and problem habits that we swear we're going to address as we flip the calendar over.

My New Year's Day thoughts played with this notion yesterday. What if we instead celebrate the fresh new calendar by acknowledging our successes of the previous year? Wouldn't that give us extra momentum to deal with our shortcomings throughout the year so that we really will have new victories to hail with the new year?

I love this idea! What successes are you celebrating that you can build on? What do you see at St. John's that can give us extra momentum as we move forward in 2010? What other strategies help you stay focused on what is most important?

The light shines in the darkness

2009-12-22T06:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas is upon us. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, I am aware that there are many around me who are grieving sudden and difficult losses. Today I am holding these people in prayer, praying that as they show up to places where they likely don't feel like going, they will experience the peace of Christ and the love of God in ways that bring them comfort and strength, even joy.

One of the great blessings of my work is that I must "show up" even when I don't feel like it. I need to read and reflect on scripture every week. I need to come to worship. And when I simply show up and pay attention I am nearly always blessed by the people around me, by the scripture I read, and by the Spirit which is so evident to me in this place. Woody Allen said "80% of life is just showing up."

It may take everything some people have this week to get out of bed, to attend a funeral service, to wish someone "Merry Christmas," or enter our church doors for our Christmas Eve service. I am praying that God gives each of these people the strength to "simply show up." And the blessing will follow.

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not be overcome." John 1:5

Women in the Church

2009-10-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

As I was pouring a cup of coffee yesterday morning, I heard Matt Lauer announce that Maria Shriver's special report on A Woman's Nation would look at women in church and religious institutions. My ears perked up and I sat down eager to see who would be highlighted.

Immediately, several possibilities came to mind. Would it be The Right Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, or The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Disciples of Christ? Perhaps it would be The Rev. Dr. Barbara Lundbland, a professor of preaching at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and a pastor of an ELCA church in New York. Or, if focusing on local congregations, perhaps The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brill, Senior Minister of Avon Lake UCC, or Rev. Amy Miracle, Senior Minister of Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio. There are countless other women who could have been chosen for this segment who are highly effective and respected leaders of the Church. As I continued to listen, I was astounded and disappointed to see who was featured.

Follow this link to see the video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33247001/vp/33411440#33411440

While there is clearly meaningful ministry being done by the women who were featured in this segment (Victoria Osteen, Taffi Dollar, and Lisa Young), Taffi Dollar is the only woman who is technically listed as a pastor of her church; she is a co-pastor with her husband. If this had been a segment on "pastors’ spouses," my response would be entirely different. Pastors’ spouses (female and male) are important, and often provide an important ministry component to the church. However, this was to be a segment on "prominent women in churches and religious institutions."

While it may be newsworthy to demonstrate that women are beginning to have influence on the stages of mega-churches, I think it was a significant omission in a piece that was to feature "prominent women in churches and religious institutions" to not highlight that over 50% of people enrolled in seminary are women and that there are many highly credentialed and very effective women who hold significant church posts throughout our country.

I am not one who has felt as though gender has been a large barrier to my ministry nor am I one who often feels a need to be in dialogue about gender issues. However, listening to this segment made me feel as though our society had reverted back 30 years or more! There are many mainline churches today that are much more progressive about women than this segment portrayed. I am grateful to be serving one of them.

Loving One Another into Wholeness

2009-10-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of people had suggested we consider having an Animal Blessing Service. I had heard about these services but had never attended one nor could I really imagine what to expect, but I was glad to try to create a service that would honor and bless our animal companions. Nearly 100 people, with their animal companions, came to the Animal Blessing held in Schiller Park on Saturday, October 17th. Some people came with their cats in crates or their dogs on leashes. Others brought photos from home, or some hair from the tail of a horse to receive a blessing. One by one, I had the privilege of blessing these creatures and I left that evening feeling as though I was the one who received the blessing. Never before have I had such intimate contact with so many animals. Never before had I experienced the wide array of personalities in animals! I heard stories of animals who had been abused or abandoned and then welcomed into a home. I heard stories of companionship. I heard stories of animals who were struggling with cancer, bone decay, or diabetes. I witnessed people who are loving their animal companions into wholeness and animals who are loving their human companions into wholeness. A blessing indeed!

I am thankful to everyone who helped create such a wonderful experience. Brenda Burris and Susan Olson passed out lots of flyers in German Village. Karen Corcoran designed a poster we used for publicity. The choir, as always, provided leadership through song. Laura Kuntz accompanied the choir on All Things Bright and Beautiful with her guitar, and lots of people played bells to All Creatures of Our God and King. Earl Wurdlow provided us with a sound system. Ralph Quellhorst, Walt Adams, Mike and Diana Rangel helped with the set up, greeting, and refreshments. Drew Klamar made tasty homemade dog and cats treats in the shape of crosses for the animals. Sara Cosgill, Walt Adams, Meredith Reece, and Earl Wurdlow all served as readers. Bonnie Vallette created the wonderful program and certificates. Diana Rangel even arrived with complimentary “poop kits” for those who might have forgotten to bring along supplies!

“All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all”

Sit Down and Shut Up!

2009-10-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

As this week began I was concerned that there were so many things scheduled that I wouldn't have much time to think or reflect or prepare for any of them, but then a scratchy throat quickly gave way to strep and my concerns immediately changed. Instead of figuring out how to fit it all in, I kept calling one person after another canceling my commitments. I found myself with nowhere to go and plenty of time to think and reflect. My physician has told me that strep has "colonized" in me, meaning that whenever my immune system is down strep is the first thing to appear. With no voice, I am quickly put in my place. I have decided it is some divine way to tell me to "sit down and shut up."

I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped me this week, picking up pieces I could not handle. I am grateful, too, for the perennial lesson I need to be reminded of: none of us, for the tasks we do, are indispensable. All of us, for the people we are, are irreplaceable. We all need time to be still and quiet if only to remember these truths. I know I do. Perhaps if I took more time to be still and quiet on a daily basis, nature would not need to force it upon me.

Tonight is our first TAIZE service of the season (first Thursdays from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.). There are few ways I like to be still and quiet more than when I am surrounded by candlelight and beautiful music in our sanctuary. Even though I am feeling better, I am still planning to sit still and be quiet tonight. I hope you will join me there.

Runners Feeding Others

2009-09-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

The Largest Table has been selected as the fund-raising recipient of a newly organized UCC effort, Runners Feeding Others for the Nationwide Columbus Marathon, October 18, 2009. If you are participating with the race, please consider linking up with RFO to make your marathon (or half-marathon or 5K race) about more than just exercise.

Runners Feeding Others is the creation of Steve Wylie, a running member of First Grace United Church of Christ in Akron. He dreamed up the concept before competing in the Cleveland half marathon in May, and came home with donations for 2,500 pounds of food for the First Grace food pantry. Conference Minister, Bob Molsberry, thought that was a pretty good idea, so he's bringing it to the Nationwide Columbus Marathon (where he finished second last year). Rev. Leslie Carole Taylor, pastor of Trinity UCC in Thornville, is bringing a team from her church and designing T-shirts to commemorate the event. Want to get involved? Here's how:

Share this initiative with others who might be participating in the Columbus Marathon races October 18.
Contact Bob Molsberry (bobm@ocucc.org) to sign up for the very loose "team" that is being created. No worries about pre-existing conditions, dues, qualifying pace standards, or income levels. No meetings to attend. Just sign up, solicit donations for The Largest Table, run your race, and send your money in.
Send checks on behalf of your favorite runner to The Largest Table, St. John's United Church of Christ, 59 East Mound Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215. (If you didn't have a favorite runner, you do now. Bob Molsberry will be glad to forward your donations to St. John's.)

Technical T-shirts will be available before the race. Price and design will be forthcoming. You must pay in advance (checks to Ohio Conference UCC, 6161 Busch Blvd. #95, Columbus, OH 43229).

The Old Wooden Doors

2009-09-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

We had the doors on the East side of the building varnished last week. They are old, heavy, wooden doors; and the ones on the East side get battered by the wind, rain, sun, and snow so they need to be varnished frequently. Every time we do this I think of Howard Nicklaus.

Howard Nicklaus was the first person I met at St. John's after meeting with the search committee and going through the search process. From the moment I met him I knew he cared deeply about St. John's. He was involved in many ways - as an usher, the chair of the Personnel Committee, the maintenance team, and more. He would occasionally meet me on a Sunday morning with a friendly suggestion about something we could do to make things better, or he gently coached me on traditions of the church. I valued his guidance and support.

What I remember most, though, was how Howard would varnish the doors. As far as I could tell no one had asked him to do it; he took the doors on as a project he could do that would be helpful. Even when he faced physical limitations and some health challenges, he would still show up every couple of months with varnish and his paint brush and spend the good part of the day freshening up the beautiful doors. When he no longer could do it, I knew he was concerned about how it would get done. His quiet faithfulness continues to inspire me every time I smell the new varnish and walk through our doors.

Many, many people have walked through those doors. Some of those people, like Howard, have passed on to the saints of light. Some have been here for generations, and through their faithfulness and shared wisdom continue to inspire those of us who have not been here as long. This year we are beginning what I hope will become a new tradition, Heritage Sunday. On September 27 we will honor all of the people who have been members of St. John's for 50 years or more and thank them for their faithfulness to God and to St. John's.

The Breakfast Table

2009-09-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning my husband and I lingered on our porch over a wonderful breakfast of french toast made with walnut raisin bread, crisp peppered bacon, perfectly ripe cantaloupe, and strong Italian roast coffee. As we were cleaning up I found myself wondering why we didn't do this more often. A good breakfast with someone you love is a great way to start the day; it is also one of the primary ideas behind a new ministry at St. John's called The Breakfast Table: Awakening Your Mind, Body, and Soul (TBT).

Do any of the following describe you?

You love to spend Sunday mornings with the people you love, often over a good home-cooked breakfast.

You are a visual person and make connections more easily when you are able to "see" an idea come to life.

You are a "hands on" person and want to DO something because of your faith, not just talk about it.

If church is going to be meaningful for you it needs to connect with your everyday life in relevant ways.

If any of these resonate with you, I think might enjoy The Breakfast Table!

The first TBT is this Sunday, September 13 at 9:00 a.m. We have six Sundays slotted throughout the year for TBT and are in the process of forming a "feeding team" and a "creating team" for each day. TBT will include elements of every day life: feeding ... eating .. thinking ... doing. Our hope is that this experience designed for people of all ages will deepen our faith experience, and stretch our minds and hearts. TBT will seek to make our faith more relevant, more engaging, and more integrated with our every day lives.

We have two great teams in place for our first experiment with this new venture. The "creating team" includes Diane Powell, Gary Reiss, Dixie Lauer, John Yakscoe, and Pattie Budd. They are meeting with me to design what exactly we will do after breakfast. Tom Yost and Rick Yost are the "feeding team." I don't know whether they will be making french toast, flipping pancakes or dishing up strata, but I do know it will be delicious and you won't need to cook it yourself that morning. Just come and enjoy! It will be a great way to start the day.

Manna from Heaven!

2009-08-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

One person called it, "manna from heaven!" She was referring to the amazing generosity of so many people over the past several weeks to The Largest Table. Jerry, a new member who worked at The Ohio State Fair, coordinated getting us all of the leftovers from the Ohio Poultry Association - we're talking hundreds of pounds of mashed potatoes, chicken, and turkey and other wonderful food! Suzanne, a friend a St. John's, linked up with the Leave A Mark Church who has planted an incredible community garden this year. For the past several Tuesdays Suzanne has been harvesting fresh vegetables from the garden, bringing them to St. John's, and cleaning them all so that they are ready for our Wednesday crew to prepare the next day. To see photos of the "first harvest" go to the Leave A Mark web site, click-on the “What We Do” link and then “Community Garden.” This is easy to navigate but for some reason I was unable to connect the link here.

On Wednesday, as I sat with guests at The Largest Table, I heard comment after comment about how great it was to have fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and of course a regular favorite - Nancy Dietz' taco salad. A couple of people mentioned that is so rare for them to eat fresh vegetables ... and these were so fresh you could smell that they were picked the previous day!

Amidst all of these generous gifts of food, we have lost some of our regular volunteers. A couple of people have left because of illness, and several other summer volunteers are heading back to school next week. As our guest list continues to increase, we are in need of some more volunteers. I am hoping they might fall from heaven, too - a few to help serve on Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and a few more saints who can help clean from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Floating Hope

2009-08-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

Every morning I wake up to find a "quote of the day" from http://www.gratefulness.org/ in my inbox. I look forward to these short quotes that always help me put things in a positive perspective, but usually the quote is quickly discarded. Several days ago, though, one particular quote caught my attention and it has been in my inbox ever since.

When hope is not pinned wriggling onto a shiny image or expectation, it sometimes floats forth and opens like one of those fluted Japanese blossoms, flimsy and spastic, bright and warm. This almost always seems to happen in community.

Anne Lamott "The Impossible Will Take a Little While," Plan B

I love this image! Returning home from vacation and re-entering the community of St. John's, I am filled with all sorts of hopes for this coming year. Hopes and goals are helpful; they give us vision and purpose. And yet, as I am listening both to the hopes and the concerns of others I recognize that several things will not unfold as I had first envisioned. My family will tell you that once I get an idea in my head: watch out! I get pretty determined to make it a reality. It is an on-going challenge for me to let go of "shiny expectations."

However, knowing this community as I do, I know that the outcome of a community effort is always better than a single effort. I have seen such great blossoming in this community so often, I have come to trust it. And I am looking forward to seeing what will be blossoming this fall.

p.s. I really don't know what a fluted Japanese blossom is; the above is my best guess from a little searching on google and my own imagination.

Needs versus Wants

2009-08-05T05:02:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from my annual trek to Crystal Lake in northern Michigan. I had thought I would post a few blog entries while away, but instead almost completely “unplugged.” I did not compulsively check email. I did not call the office to check in. I simply let myself be. I can’t remember the last time I have “unplugged” so fully; it has been more than a decade.

I slept until I woke up, and then smiled as I curled up with a book later in the afternoon knowing that it would lead to a nap. I enjoyed walking for hours on end with no regard for what I might need to do next. I sat on the beach and strolled through art fairs and street sales and farmers markets. I spent a couple of hours at a time waiting and watching for the sun to set. I painted rocks with my niece and drunk lots of coffee with my husband. Delightfully, I was able to spend each day doing whatever I wanted.

My husband and I frequented a coffee spot that had the sign: We no longer serve breakfast before 10 a.m. We chuckled every time we saw it and speculated that the owner of this popular spot must not like to wake up early, or perhaps he or she goes kayaking or running every morning as the sun rises. Maybe he or she reserves the first hours of the morning to have coffee with his or her spouse! Whatever the reason, it doesn’t seem that it would be because it financially makes sense – it is what he or she must want to do.

On my first day back, as I caught myself saying, “I need to …” and then filling in a growing list, I stopped and inserted “want” instead. “I want to check in with the Tuesday Team so that I am not left to do all the work myself. I want to review resumes so we can hire an intern.” It made a world of difference in my attitude. I may not be able to wait until 10 a.m. to start my day, but I can be intentional about why I do what I do, and why I want to do it.

Cilantro, Heavy Lifting, and Sales Receipts

2009-07-08T03:12:00.000-07:00

The "Tuesday Team" was back at it yesterday; we prepared Mexican Chili for today's lunch at The Largest Table. I woke up this morning looking forward to lunch - the smells were great as we were leaving last night! The chili will be served with a dollop of sour cream and a few snips of fresh cilantro from the children's garden. There was something really thrilling about being able to harvest a huge amount of fresh cilantro from right outside our doors and know that it was the children of the church who planted it. I am sure not everyone will opt for the cilantro garnish today, but I think it is what will make this soup.

I also have a renewed appreciation for Joan and Mary, and our core "Wednesday Team." Between all of the cans of tomatoes, beef broth and black beans that were opened to make chili for 300 last night, I think Latsi was opening cans for more than an hour straight! I am sure she will be able to feel the workout on her arms this morning. And then there was Stephanie who was able to lift our largest pots FULL of browned ground beef, onions, and peppers to drain them and return it the pan. But that is not at all unusual. Our volunteers often need to open that many cans. We always have full and heavy pots. The quantities of food we are preparing now are really quite amazing. I wish I had taken a photo of all of the empty cans - maybe I can get one later today and post it here. Think multiple cases that filled the entire back of my car! So, I have renewed appreciation for the physical labor that our volunteers engage in week after week.

I also have a renewed appreciation for their thriftiness. I am not sure how Joan does it. Routinely, she is able to shop for a meal to serve 200-300 people for less than $200. That is less than $1 per serving for a home cooked meal with all of the food groups. Repeat: I am not sure how Joan does it. I think of myself as a pretty good shopper, but I wasn't quite able to work her magic. I think she has the in with the loaves and fishes guy.

Why Bother? Part Two

2009-07-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I blogged about why I "bother" to go to the General Synod, and likened it to why I bother to the read the news, or enter into dialogue about issues that have no apparent resolution. There is another reason I "bother" to go; and it is the same reason I "bother" with worship. Worship - long before I was a pastor - was a central and essential part of my life.

At its best, worship reminds me of my highest aspirations and connects me to God as well as to the larger community. When I am struggling, I realize there are others who are struggling also. When I am too proud or too focused on myself, worship pulls me out of my self-centeredness and focuses me on a larger picture.

At Synod, we had some inspiring worship experiences with marvelous preaching, and wonderful singing. I only knew a handful of people but I felt connected through our common bond in Christ. Today I am looking forward to being in my home congregation where I know and am known by nearly everyone. It's not a bother; it's a blessing!

Why Bother?

2009-07-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

With every new members class I find myself talking about how the autonomy (or the freedom) each congregation in the United Church of Christ has is both a blessing and burden. This freedom is certainly a blessing because we are free to govern ourselves and make our own decisions; we can live as fully into God's call for us as we are attentive, inspired, and willing to do. Yet, it is also a burden for these very same reasons. Within our denomination there is no one who will mandate what our position should be on an issue, or whether we should restructure ourselves, or change hymnals, or perform commitment ceremonies. That sounds great until we realize that in order to bring about change we must risk initiating those changes. We must risk being the one to take a stand or initiate dialogue. There is no larger structure to hide behind with the excuse that "they are making us do this!"

Upon returning from the General Synod, I have had a couple of people ask me (essentially), "Why Bother?" Why bother going to the national meeting when there is nothing that really happens with any authority? Why bother going through the whole resolution process and sitting through discussions and plenarys when all that ends up happening is that the national church gives us some recommendations?

On this Independence Day, I woke up and realized that my answer to "Why Bother?" is much the same as to why I listen to the news, why I read different perspectives, why being a part of a community is so important to me. If I live in my own little world (as comfortable as that can be), I can't possibly live responsibly. If I am not aware of different problems and perspectives, how can I respond to them?

At the Synod we spent much time talking about the challenges we still face with racism. We didn't solve the problems, but I became more sensitive to them, as well as more hopeful for the future because I know there are many who care. I felt stretched by things I have heard and found myself reflecting more deeply on the intersections of race and poverty, race and our criminal justice system, race and education. I am not sure where that is leading yet, but I know I was helped by the discussion.

I came upon this photograph titled Freedom is the Possibility of Isolation. It is titled after a quote from "The Book of Disquiet" by Fernando Pessoa. I am one who loves the beautiful sand and sky and times of isolation; yet on this Independence Day, I am saying a prayer of thanks for the community that pulls me into relationship and responsibility.

Immersed in Worship Ideas

2009-06-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I have been watching closely here at Synod are the many ways worship participants have been pulled into the experience through all of their senses. Yesterday I learned of the team that met last November to plan how they might bring to life the theme, "Immerse Yourself" in Grand Rapids. From the evocative stage and energetic dancers to the varied music and litanies, we have been wading deep into this theme that draws from the gift of water.

The Rev. Alexandra Childs, a pastor at Alameda (California) First Congregational Church coordinated the physical set. It took Childs and a dozen other volunteers five days to create the handpainted 25 x 42 foot canvas that serves as a backdrop, (the floor actually) for the worship participants. It has whirls and wisps of blues and greens that evokes a vivid interpretation of sky, mountain, lakes, and rivers. There is also an 8 by 8 foot immersion pool at centerstage and 200 gallons of water that recycled itself over 3 levels creating a beautiful waterfall that is not only lovely to look at but wonderful and peaceful to hear. Framing these falls were plants and fieldstone. At the back wall there are two "rain panels" made out of multi-blue hued LED lighting and soft fabric.

In addition there is a jumbo screen and then many video panels throughout the hall so everyone can see everything that is happening. The images on the screens have been so thoughtfully selected that they enhance rather than distract my worship experience. Within every worship service there is a variety of musical styles and instrumentation. There is dancing. There are different languages spoken. There are many, many ways to engage each participant.

Part of my keen interest in these worship elements this year is because I have been thinking about and praying about how we might more effectively use a variety of experiences in our worship service. The space in our sanctuary is entirely different from a convention hall but the need to be attentive to all the ways people experience and learn has inspired me to try to expand what we are doing now.

Is there anyone who wants to dream about this with me?

Do Not Lose Hope!

2009-06-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

Two great men were honored at Synod today; they are both men who have continually helped me move forward in hope.

The first man honored was Ralph Quellhorst, our current Consistory president, who is retiring from his work with the Pension Board. At a surprise reception for him, one by one, different people from all over the country came forward to share a memory of Ralph. I noted how a recurring theme was mentoring and encouragement. I wonder just how many people have been nurtured in their call from Ralph; I realized I am just one among many! What a gift he has brought not only to these individual lives, but to the denomination and the greater Church through his constant encouragement.

Tonight the Synod also celebrated the work of our General Minister and President for the past ten years, John Thomas. John has been leading the UCC for just about as long as I have been ordained. I have always been impressed with John's pastoral, theological, intelligent, and prophetic leadership. Tonight his address to those gathered moved me a great deal. Every time I am with him I sense his authenticity, and tonight was no exception. I appreciated the way he was able to talk about his honest assessment of the past ten years - the disappointments as well as those things we can celebrate. As one person said, "He is able to tell us everything that is wrong and we are still inspired!"

The refrain tonight was, "Do not lose hope; let your light shine; treasure your call in Christ Jesus!" These men have been people who have helped me do just that.

God's Punctuation

2009-06-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the UCC General Synod #GS27!

I arrived in Grand Rapids earlier today for the UCC General Synod. Grand Rapids has rolled out the red carpet for what is shaping up to be the largest convention to ever be held in this city. I get a thrill of seeing so many different people together in one place, bound together by our commitment to Christ. However, the highlight of the day for me was this evening's worship service that featured the choirs and the Rev. Otis Moss, III, from Trinity UCC in Chicago.

Any day I get to hear Rev. Moss preach is a good day! He is so skilled, and smart, and filled with the Spirit! Tonight Moss preached on Revelation 1:1-8 and talked about "God's punctuation;" he brought the Still Speaking comma into a whole new perspective. I won't share the whole sermon here, only one thought that emerged as Moss was just getting started that has stayed with me. Moss says that since God is the "Alpha and the Omega," and the "Beginning and the End," only God can really use a period. Too often, we are quick to put a period after things. We consider lives, or circumstances, projects or dreams to be "said and done." When we don't think that there is any use to keep exploring, working, or dreaming, we attempt to finish it off with a period. Moss put this into context most clearly for me when he spoke about children.

No child should ever enter this world with a period behind his or her name. No child should ever enter this world or live in a world where people have his or her future figured out before he or she does. Every child should enter this world and be nurtured in this world with a question mark behind his or name - a question mark that signifies that whoever he or she is to become is something that will unfold with the grace of God, hard work, and the nurture of those around them.

It reminds me of Paul who will sometimes sing for us in church a song about how each of us is "full of possibility." How might we more fully cultivate this sense of possibility, this life with a big question mark for each of us?

Make Like a Potato

2009-06-18T07:19:00.001-07:00

On Monday, I began a fun read, Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously. As soon as I saw the preview of the film that will be out later this summer, I knew I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. In it, Julie Powell decides to cook her way through each of the 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, volume 1, in 365 days.

One of the first recipes she tries is a soup, Potage Parmentier (potato soup). There is nothing in the soup but leeks, potatoes, butter, water, pepper, and salt. It is a "simple soup," but it is not "easy" to make. I won't detail all of the peeling, ricing, simmering steps here, but let it suffice to say it is a process. The process got Julie thinking about the difference between "easy" and "simple," and as a result it has me thinking about it, too.

She wrote about it this way, "This life we had going for us felt like the opposite of Potage Parmentier. It was easy enough to keep on with the soul-sucking jobs; at least it saved having to make a choice. But how much longer could I take such an easy life? Quicksand was easy. Hell, death was easy....maybe I need to make like a potato, winnow myself down, be a part of something that was not easy, just simple."

It reminds me of the wonderful Quaker hymn, "'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free, 'tis a gift to come down where you ought to be ..."

God-Sized Hearts for Parents

2009-06-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Jesus welcomed children and taught adults. We welcome adults and teach children. Someone’s got this backwards, and I don’t think it was Jesus.

This quote, from Marian Plant’s book, Faith Formation in Vital Congregations, caught my eye, and I knew I needed to read the rest of the book. Plant does an excellent job of looking at the whole area of Christian Education, or perhaps more appropriately called “Christian Formation.” It is an area of ministry in the church that I have always cared very much about.

Reading Plant’s book helped me integrate what I know I have known, but haven’t known how to accommodate, respond, or adapt to: “we are not in Kansas any more.” No longer are the church and society woven together in the same ways they were when I was growing up as a child. No longer do the schools and community life support the life of the church. This is most dramatic with the sports schedules, but is apparent in many other ways, too – with an increasing commitment to pluralism of all kinds. This presents an opportunity to create new and distinctive forms of formation.

In addition, Plant highlighted for me how parents and families are both exhausted and spiritually hungry. I have understood the exhaustion. I have sensed the hunger. Plant has challenged me to hold both of these needs together and find new ways to meet them. Rather than try to figure out how to “fit in” programs or lure kids to Sunday School, I think we need to shift the questions we are asking. How can we have God-sized hearts for parents? How can we meet the needs of the PARENTS who are trying to do all they can for their kids, recognize they can’t, and have many of their own spiritual needs that are left unmet?

I am most interested in hearing your thoughts and ideas about this.

Speak The Truth

2009-06-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

I love the wording on this house, "Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes."

One of our confirmands echoed this statement in her statement of faith that she shared with the congregation on May 31st, "I believe in accepting. I believe I can accept others opinions without arguing with them to try to change their minds. I accept what others believe because I think it’s very brave to tell others your religious beliefs when you don’t know what someone may do or say in response to those beliefs."

I find that I keep thinking about her statement and what a great foundation it provides for her, and for all of us. If each of us could listen to one another with such openness, more of us might have the courage to speak the truth as we see it.

President Obama reflected on the importance of speaking the truth in love during his speech in Cairo, June 4th, when he addressed the ongoing tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth."

The Swing of Summer

2009-06-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

I love summer. I love warm weather and sunshine. I love having the kids home. I love the ever changing gardens outside, and being able to cut fresh flowers for my home. I love cooking on the grill and using fresh produce that comes right from the ground. I love having a schedule that is a little less crowded with meetings so there is more room for reading, planning, and creativity to emerge. I love the longer days and the spontaneity of getting together with family or friends that seems to happen more readily in the summer. I love sitting on the porch, or by the water, and simply enjoying the day. I love sitting in our sanctuary feeling a breeze and hearing the sounds of the city right outside our door.

With the new season comes a new schedule. This year my husband is teaching for several weeks in India, and so my early morning hours have been spent communicating via web cam with him. My late night hours have been spent connecting with the kids. I wouldn’t trade those hours; I cherish them. However, I recognize that these were the times I had typically been blogging - first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I want to get back to regular blog updates and I know I can do it. Like most things that are important to us, it is a matter of making it a priority and balancing it with everything else. Now that I recognize the need, I will carve out other time. I see it all as part of getting into the swing of summer! I will be in the swing of summer before the calendar officially tells us we are there.

The Tuesday Team

2009-05-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the first night of what I hope will be many for "The Tuesday Team." Often people have told me about how they would love to help with The Largest Table but are working, or otherwise committed, on Wednesdays. Last week I sent out an invite for coming in on Tuesday evening and cheffing up everything for Wednesday. The response has been great! Amy Rettig, Stephanie Coplan, Martha Asseff, Courtney Klamar, and Marilyn Potts are helping tonight; and many more said they would like to participate on a future Tuesday but just couldn't make it tonight. I sensed genuine enthusiasm from many possible Tuesday Team members about the idea.

I know there will be equal enthusiasm coming from those who are our regular volunteers on Wednesdays. As The Largest Table continues to grow, so does the demand for volunteers. This extra help will make a big difference to those who come in early on Wednesday mornings. In addition to creating "The Tuesday Team," we would also like to create two different teams for Wednesdays: one for set up and serving and the other for clean-up. I am confident that with some creativity and extra team work we can face the challenges of growth!

Do you have other ideas for expanding our ability to staff The Largest Table and or to serve the city?

Celebrate!

2009-05-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was one of the best weekends of my life. I was in Chicago for my D. Min. graduation and I was surrounded by my closest friends and family. I know I will cherish the experiences I had for my lifetime! And there are several reasons why.

I will cherish the laughter, the uninhibited silliness, and the meaningful conversation. It is rare when so many of the people I love are all together in one place and are able to enjoy one another so fully. The intensive time together (7 hours up and back in a van and non-stop activity throughout the weekend) was special on its own.

I will cherish the brief connection I had with my classmates. Over the past three years I have developed some friendships with colleagues who are fantastic. Unfortunately, because there are many from my program graduating from different schools, we were not all together. However, just being with some of these friends and graduating with them, made the weekend more meaningful.

I will cherish the satisfaction of completing a goal. So much of what of I do involves embracing ambiguity and being content with things being in process. I was surprised by how satisfying it felt to be able to celebrate the completion of this work, even as I know that this will surely lead to something new.

I will cherish the graduation ceremony. I was surprised by how moved I was by the graduation ceremony itself. We processed to AfriCaribe drumming, heard beautiful music from a Korean Choir and from the Chicago Theological Seminary Choir, and an inspiring address from Jose Rosa, the pastor of Primera Iglesia Congregational Church.

The weekend was great, and it reminded me of how important it is to take time to stop and celebrate the small and big moments of our lives. One of my "take-aways" from this past weekend is a commitment to more celebrations!

Treasure Garden

2009-05-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

The east side of the church building has a new look to it. What used to be a green patch currently looks like a bunch of dirt, and with the right amount of TLC this space will soon be sprouting all sorts of vegetables!

The children of the church have planted what they are calling the "children's treasure garden" with the hopes that their produce will provide an abundance for The Largest Table and the food pantry. The kids did an awesome job of planting an assortment of great stuff. They seem pumped up about it - and they should be - this is a big endeavor and they are responsible for nearly every aspect of it. In addition, I am especially grateful for Jim Beaver who prepared the soil, and the Garretts, who helped nurture the plants from seed and who provide much needed guidance for this new project. Scott Schieber has been instrumental as well in not only getting this project going but also keeping "the farm" (as he calls it) watered during the first couple of weeks. We are learning many things as we go!

The next step is to create some sort of schedule for the garden's care. Perhaps in these early stages the kids could take turns being responsible for watering on a specific day of the week. Later, we will not only need to water but also weed and harvest. One of the things we are learning about is the constant care that is needed for steady growth.

Ephesians 4:28

2009-05-07T19:57:00.000-07:00
The challenge of the day started with 6 yards of compost mulch. Yesterday, this large amount of compost leaf mulch was dumped on the sidewalk in front of our glass doors, and in front of (as in blocking) the ramp that leads to our essential elevator door!

The mulch was delivered so that it can be tilled into the ground in preparation for this coming Sunday when the children of the church will be planting a garden to benefit The Largest Table. Weeks ago they planted many plants from seed, which the Garretts have been kind enough to tend over the past weeks, and now all of these plants are ready to go into the ground. Jim Beaver has graciously volunteered to prepare the ground. However, our garden experts determined that in order for anything to grow we would need to not only till the ground, but also add lots of good stuff to the earth. That is how we got the mulch!

We have so much going on at the church that this big pile of mulch has provided numerous challenges today. I won't go into all of the details, but I knew we needed at least a path from the drive to the elevator door by the time anyone would arrive tomorrow.

Just as I was contemplating how we might get this done, a guest of The Largest Table showed up looking for some extra work so that he could pay for an $8 prescription. I rarely engage in this type of exchange, but my eyes lit up at the prospect of getting some immediate assistance. I was amazed that his eyes lit up, too, when I showed him the daunting pile of mulch.

Todd told me, "This is great! I love landscaping! And, this is good work for me. Ephesians 4:28,'He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands' I spent enough time doing things that weren't useful. This is just the kind of work that I like to do!" I gave him a shovel and he got to work.

We were both thrilled. Todd has his prescription. We have a pathway. And, Todd told me he would check back in the morning to see if he can finish off the job - not for money, but simply because he likes doing something useful with his hands.

Early Morning Prayers

2009-05-03T02:03:00.001-07:00

On Sunday mornings I typically arise about 4 a.m. to engage in a routine that has come to serve me well as I prepare for preaching. This morning I thought I would sleep a little longer because today I am not the one who will be leading worship. Yet sure enough, I woke up as I typically do on Sundays - with my heart and mind full of what the day will bring. It sounded like birds and it felt like a cool Spring breeze, but I believe it was the Spirit rousing me to life well before my alarm was set to go off.

Today is Youth Sunday at St. John's. The three youth in our confirmation class have prepared every aspect of this morning's service. Our worship experience will be based on Daniel 3 and the story of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego who had the strength and courage to stand up to the king when asked to do something that conflicted with their beliefs. Alex, Alexis, and Brandon have spent a good deal of time with this scripture and they each have significant things to share about it. I am praying this morning that God gives them the same strength and courage we see in Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego - not only for this morning, but throughout their lifetimes.

Several years ago, when I was preparing for an important presentation, I remember sharing with a group of women from our church my hopes for the presentation, for my leadership that day, and for the group of people who would be gathered together. I certainly felt supported by these women as I shared with them, but surprisingly I felt their presence and support most powerfully while I was in the midst of the presentation itself! Afterward, each of them came and asked me how it had gone, and each of them told me that they had been praying for me.

Their prayers were palpable. I hadn't known they would be praying for me, but I could feel their prayers. I could feel God's Spirit within me. May it be so this morning for Alex, Alexis, and Brandon.

Post-Christian

2009-05-01T05:11:00.000-07:00
The Newsweek cover story that ran during Holy Week, The Decline and Fall of Christian America, inspired me to address the term, "post-Christian" during my Easter sermon of the same title. I wasn't the only one who was stirred up by the article. Kurt Soller, of Newsweek, wrote about how so many people responded to the article that Newsweek had to disable the ability to respond because the heavy traffic on the web was making their web site unstable. His article was titled After 4,000 Comments, Taking the Pulse on Modern Christianity.

I have been increasingly concerned about the perception of Christianity in America as I have come to realize how negatively so many perceive those of us who claim the title, "Chrisitian." In part, this is why I welcomed the opportunity to dig a little further into this topic at 7:30 p.m. tonight when I will speak at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus at 93 West Weisheimer Road in Clintonville. I am a Christian pastor and I can fully see the reality of God through the person of Jesus AND I see the potential movement toward "post-Christian" a positive, rather than a negative, for America and this world.

Getting Outside Myself

2009-04-30T20:52:00.001-07:00

I have been reading An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor; in it she provides a beautiful reflection on the practice of "encountering others" that I shared with the congregation this past Sunday. Yesterday I realized how I had experienced this - not really from doing anything on my part other than "showing up," but through the grace of others. There is great power in simple encounters.

I will confess that Wednesday I started out feeling a little irritable. It was one of those days I would have preferred to just stick to myself. However, whatever was irritating me was soon erased after the greetings I received at The Largest Table. The moment I came downstairs I was greeted by someone who had not been here for awhile and shared with me how much he missed it, and how he was glad to see me. Everyone was raving about the chili and baked potatoes from Wendy's that the staff and students from The Wellington School had brought for lunch. The news must have spread outside our building because I met a couple of people who told me that they had come because someone had told them what a great meal they had just had. And the music! Wellington also brought several students who played brass instuments and keyboard for our lunchtime entertainment. They were fantastic and the fun atmosphere prompted smiles, laughter, and applause. All of this served to pull me out of my own worries and recognize how much there is to be grateful for.

That evening there were several people at my home for a meeting. While we attended to business, there was also laughter and much genuine give and take about what was going on in our lives. Simply talking with others about concerns I had in my head suddenly made them seem much smaller and more manageable.

There is great power in simple encounters.

"Healthy 09!"

2009-04-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

Those who are close to me know my most recent mantra, "Healthy 09!"

I have never been one for new year's resolutions, but I have been one to set goals for myself. As 2008 was coming to a close I was noticing the effects of physical neglect and I knew I wanted to do something to reverse what I saw as an unhealthy trend. My efforts to get more sleep, consume fewer calories, and get regular exercise did not kick in until the week of February 15. For the first several weeks it took real determination to get myself to the gym when there was a long to-do list for work or the prospect of another hour of sleep. I never thought I had the time, but my mantra, "Healthy 09!" would rise in my mind and (most of the time) I made the time.

Now, 9 weeks later, new habits have finally emerged. For the first time, I am experiencing a restlessness when something gets in the way of my workout. I am appreciating how much more energy I have and how much more I can get done in a day when I make the time to get my heart rate up for awhile, and when I have small but frequent boosts of protein and veggies.

This week I find myself also reflecting on how healthy living is so much more than diet and exercise. As my mother has tried to tell me from the time I was a young child, "moderation in everything!" Last Monday I was tempted to sit at my computer most of the day because there was much on my plate this week and I thought it would be a great idea to use my day off to get a jump start on the week. Instead, Dale and I slept until we woke up, went to the gym together, did some errands, succumbed to a nap in the afternoon (at least I did!), and enjoyed a quiet evening together. At the end of a very full week (as I am looking at a very full weekend), I continue to be grateful for the renewal that came on Monday.

It's taken awhile but I think I am finally taking to heart the lessons of my mother, and the prophet Ecclesiastes, "to everything there is a season and a time for everything under heaven."

Anticipation!

2009-04-17T03:37:00.000-07:00
Tonight is Body & Soul, our annual fundraiser for The Largest Table. I woke up early and easily like a child often will when it is Christmas morning, or when he anticipates a full, fun day with his best friend! I know today will be full and fun.

This is the 6th year for Body & Soul. Every year the event has grown, and with growth always comes new challenges. One of the challenges was simply finding a large enough space! This year we are "coming home" to St. John's so that we can accommodate extra people and extra items for our silent auction. I have been amazed at the large number of people who have offered their gifts and expertise to make this a truly wonderful event. From donating or soliciting items, creating a catalogue, decorating, cooking, or simply offering wonderful helping hands, I think we have more people than ever involved in all of the behind the scenes work involved with any big event like this. Susan Olson, the chair of the event, has done an amazing job of pulling forth those gifts and inviting wide participation. I sense the reason so many people are so glad to help is that they care so much about The Largest Table. Watching it all happen reminds me of Feeding the 5000. If we bring and share what we have, there is not only enough - there is abundance!

Pictured here are Pam Yost and Susan Olson working on decorations yesterday. Pam has coordinated them - I have never seen Fellowship Hall look so elegant!

If you don't have your ticket yet ... no problem! Call our office today, or just show up at the door! Body & Soul will begin at 7:00 p.m. I can hardly wait!

What is important about worship?

2009-04-15T14:27:00.001-07:00
One of my favorite hymns is Bring Many Names by Brian Wren. I like it because the lyrics challenge and broaden the images we have for God. "Strong Mother God" and "Warm Father God" are two of the names Wren uses to describe God.

Just as there is not one name for God, there is certainly not just one way to worship. At St. John's we have three distinct forms of worship and within those three different types of services there is also some variety. And that is just one congregation! Throughout the UCC, let alone other denominations, are many, many variations of worship services. I am always interested to hear what others find most inspiring and most important in a worship service.

This question is heightened in its signifiance for me this week as I have been asked speak on "Worship in the UCC" to a group of seminary students next week. I would love it if you would share your thoughts on what is most important to you about worship. Is it the music? If so, what does good worship music mean for you? Is it the sense of community, the sacraments, the prayers, or the preaching? Again, what about these things make worship feel as though you have really been in worship? And, why should we worship in the first place?

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me!

Nana

2009-04-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Some wise person once said, “We are living in someone else’s dream.” I discovered the truth of this statement anew this past Thursday.

Thursday I went to visit someone in Dublin Riverside Methodist Hospital. It was the first time I had ever entered this relatively new hospital and as soon as I arrived I found myself thinking about Nana, my maternal grandmother. I remember my Nana as a vivacious, energetic, hard-working, creative, optimistic, and faith-filled woman. It wasn’t until more recently that I realized that Nana was a woman of great vision. She could see what other people could not. Back in the 1950’s, Nana had dreamt of Dublin Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Nana was the head Registered Nurse for a hospital in Chicago. She would go to work in her pressed and starched white uniform, white stockings, and cap, and she would work in a hospital that was sterile and austere; hygiene was a huge priority!

Intuitively, Nana appreciated the importance for a more holistic approach to healing. When she would come home at night, she would often journal about how hygiene alone doesn’t heal. Through her writing she would paint vivid images both of the sterile environment in which she worked and how she envisioned hospitals could be. She dreamt of natural light and elements of nature – plants and trees and running water within close sight so that patients could draw strength from nature, and from God’s creation. She dreamt of more human touch, and sounds that would soothe rather than irritate patients who were trying to muster their own internal strength to get well.

As I entered Dublin Riverside on Thursday I felt like I was entering a greenhouse, and I immediately thought of her. Pictured here are the living trees and wall of water that are found in the lobby, a flower in a vase that is outside every patient door, and a tree made of glass that is in one of the many atriums.

In the 1950s we didn’t get it; but we do now. Entering this hospital was a resurrection moment for me. It made me wonder what else God may be creating in our midst that I just can't see right now.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Jesus did not come to explain suffering nor to take it away; he came to fill it with his presence.
Paul Claudel

On this Good Friday, I am holding in prayer all those for whom suffering feels unbearable. I am holding those in prayer who can't sleep at night because their anxiety is so high, their loneliness too sharp, or their fear so gripping that peace seems impossible.

I am praying for those who feel so betrayed by life that they consider killing others in retaliation.
I am praying for those who are desperate enough to steal for food to eat, or money to purchase medicine.

I am praying for those who could not return to their home after the earthquake in Italy, and those in our community who have no place to call home and no secure place to rest their head at night.

I am praying for those whose own lives, or the lives of a family member, have been turned upside down with a sudden and difficult diagnosis.

Today - even as I seek forgiveness for the times I have been unable to stay present to the pain and suffering around me, I am saying a prayer of thanksgiving that in the darkest times, when all seems lost, God is still with us.

Thanks be to God.

Loving One Another

2009-04-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

Today is Thursday of Holy Week, often called "Maundy Thursday." Maundy comes from the Latin word Mandatum meaning commandment and Christians remember Jesus' famous commandment to his disciples to "Love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

This morning in my email box was a meditation by Richard Rohr who was reflecting on the gospel of John and how there is no Last Supper scene in John's gospel. Instead we have the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet.

Rohr writes, "Perhaps John realized that after seventy years the other Gospels had been read. He wanted to give a theology of the Eucharist that revealed the meaning behind the breaking of the bread. He made it into an active ritual of servanthood and solidarity... Peter symbolizes all of us as he protests, "You will never wash my feet!" (John 13:8). But Jesus answers, "If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me." That is strong! We all find it hard to receive undeserved love from another. For some reason it is very humiliating to the ego. We all want to think we have earned any love that we get by our worthiness or attractiveness. So Jesus has to insist on being the servant lover. Thank God, Peter surrenders, but it probably takes the rest of his life to understand."
(Drawn from Radical Grace: Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr, p. 143, day 154 Source: The Great Themes of Scripture).

We often get the "love others" part of this commandment, but it is often difficult to recognize that "loving one another" is a two-way street involving both giving and receiving. As I am thinking about this, the refrain to one of my favorite hymns comes to mind:

Won't you let me be your servant

Let me be as Christ to you

Pray that I may have the grace

To let you be my servant, too

Not a bad prayer for this Holy Week.

Gloria

2009-04-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning before my alarm clock went off to a nice breeze through the window, the sound of birds outside, and the opening measures of Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi in my head. It was a beautiful way to begin the day.

Last night we had the final rehearsal, with orchestra, for Vivaldi's Gloria which will be part of our worship service this Sunday, April 5th. There were a few times during the evening when I could close my eyes and listen to the orchestra playing, or the beautiful solos being sung. As I listened, I could actually feel stress leave my neck and shoulders and a peacefulness settle in. Hearing it all come together, I realized why the Gloria is so well-loved. It is beautiful, soul-stirring music!

Following the rehearsal, May, our Minister of Music, asked us to reflect on what singing in the choir meant to us. I heard people say that the choir was like an extended family, that the music helped them get through the week and helped them feel God's presence. Several of us commented on how May made such a difference by always being positive and bringing out the best in each of us. (She is one of the most positive and uplifting people I know!) And, like me, there were others who found that the music would often replace stress with peacefulness, and stay in their heads throughout the week.
On Sunday, the Gloria will provide the sermon-in-song. I am sure it will be a message that people remember!

#44

2009-04-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

The number 44 has taken on great significance for me during the past eight years. The number refers to the page on which the hymn, "God Will Take Care of You" appears in the Elmhurst Hymnal, published in 1921 and used by our congregation for many years. I know this not because I research old hymnals, but because of my relationship with the Davies family.

"#44" is a code in the Davies' family. #44 appears on every greeting card that is sent to a loved one and #44 is a greeting that is shared when a loved one departs for the day, or for a trip, that will take him or her away for awhile. #44 is shorthand for the message of this hymn: remember that God is with you, loves you, and will take care of you.

This past Sunday, our east lobby was dedicated to the memory of Jack Davies. It was heartwarming for me to hear the testimony of several of our members who remember the gracious and exuberant welcome Jack offered to everyone who entered our doors when he served as our "doorkeeper" for many years. I heard about how just anticipating the love and warmth which which someone would be received helped them make it through the week.

Today Jack's son, Jim, serves St. John's in the formal role of "doorkeeper" and is beautifully carrying out his father's legacy. I have often thought that the name "doorkeeper" doesn't quite fit the openness and graciousness with which he greets all who enter our doors. Jim is fantastic! While Jim has a formal role at St. John's, he is just one of many people who now extend the extravagant hospitality that is regularly experienced at St. John's. On Sunday, when I heard about how people could remember a specific greeting from decades ago, I realized anew how very important hospitality and welcome are.

There are many ways we can communicate welcome, love and care. One way is through special code.

#44

I Love Wednesdays!

2009-03-25T18:35:00.000-07:00
Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the week.

I love coming to The Largest Table. I love the bustling nature of our building on Wednesdays. I love sitting in the sanctuary and simultaneously hearing the sounds of the city and the beautiful sounds of the piano before worship. I love the mix of people and the exuberance with which so many greet one another. I love the great food, and I love sitting down with people over a meal and getting to know them a little more.

I also love it that on Wednesdays I am almost always surprised by someone or something. Sometimes someone will show up who I haven't seen in ages. Sometimes I am impressed by the generosity of someone extending themselves to another. Often, I am touched by the hospitality that is extended to me.

There are times, however, when I find myself reflecting on needs that seem so great and I find myself wishing that we had more resources and more creativity to help some of our guests.

Today I experienced everything I have just described. It was a busy day, and from the moment I walked in until I found myself alone in the building - and still after - I felt a strong sense of the Spirit. As I was packing up my things to head home, I was thinking about one gentleman and how his needs seemed to surpass what we could offer. Just as I was thinking about him I realized there was a message on my phone. It was him. He called and wanted to extend his thanks for all the hospitality he had received from all of those who were present today. He told me it was just what he needed.

Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the week.

(Pictured here are our fabulous greeters and just a sampling of our outstanding kitchen crew!)

God Moments

2009-03-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in the confirmation class we discussed how God can be experienced in many different ways. This was part of a larger conversation about the concept of the Trinity so we talked about how God can be experienced in creation, through others, and through the Spirit.

I often find that an individual seems to have a primary way he or she experiences the presence of God. From a very young age, I have experienced God regularly in worship - not through specific music or words or liturgy, but from feeling the presence of something much greater than anything tangibly present amongst us. I name my experience of the Spirit as a "God moment." It is not something I feel every single time I worship, but often enough that I can't imagine my life without it and the strong community in which it is set. I also will often have "God moments" when I am beside bodies of water. There are moments when the beauty of creation assures me of God's presence. The picture here is of one of my favorite places on Lake Michigan, a place to which I return every summer.

How and where do you experience God? Please share a "God Moment!"

Be Creative!

2009-03-20T08:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I dropped off a member of our congregation at her home and saw an abundance of purple crocus forcing their way up through the earth. As I drove on to my next stop, I found myself reflecting on the hard work it takes to bring anything to new life.

This Lent, my preaching and teaching has been loosely based on Irwin Kula's book, Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life. This week we are looking at the yearning each of us has to create. So often, we think of creativity as something playful or crafty like painting or sewing. Kula pushes us to think more deeply about creativity. He identifies four stages: inspiration, preparation, incubation, and illumination. Writing about inspiration, he says this: Inspiration is about yearning, not finding. It is the moment we recognize a problem that needs solving, not the moment of finding a solution.

This past summer, I had the honor of marrying a wonderful couple. In one of our sessions together, the bride described how when she would become overwhelmed with a problem or felt stuck in a particular situation, her partner would listen attentively and then ask, "How can we figure out a way to be creative?" Those two words, "be creative," invited her to think outside the box and develop a different approach for whatever she was doing.

For more about creativity, how it is teachable and trackable, and helps us solve nearly any problem, you can read more here: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=how-to-unleash-your-creativity

"And A Child Shall Lead Them ..."

2009-03-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a Budget & Finance meeting. At the meeting we looked at all of the income and expense lines from 2008 and talked about what we expect for 2009. I noted that last year we collected $236 for One Great Hour of Sharing, one of the special offerings for the United Church of Christ.

This year we have already exceeded that total because of the leadership we have had from the children and youth of the church; they are leading our campaign this year. At the beginning of March, the children passed out treasure chest coin boxes and devotional guides to the congregation. Last week, they used the Sunday School hour and the time in the Celebration Station to bake a variety of treats which they sold following worship. I wish I had a photo of the lines of people who were eager to purchase their goods! The bake sale alone made $256.50.

We will collect the coin boxes on Easter Sunday and I have no doubt that we will at least double our offering from last year. I love the enthusiasm the children of the church are creating for this important effort!

A New Channel of Communication

2009-03-17T06:56:00.000-07:00
For the past year I have been considering entering the blogging world, mostly because I had heard that blogging is such a powerful channel of communication. However, there is a difference between hearing about something and experiencing it. My experience convinced me that this was something I should try to do.

Recently I have been following two blogs, Mary's Blog for Healing and Tom's Ohio Nature Blog. Each, in a different way, has not only informed me about what is happening in his or her corner of the world, but has also inspired me to see grace and hope in my own life experience. As the pastor of St. John's, I have a unique vantage point from the church that sits at Third and Mound. Through this blog, I hope to share some of the things I see that inspire me.

What are the blogs that you follow and how do they inspire you?