Lately, I've been in love with the song "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." I go through phases in the hymnal where I hear a song and for a time, it's like the Spirit sang that particular hymn just for me. For a while, that song was "Blessed Assurance" and there was something beautiful to me about the phrase "This is my story." Lately, the song that the Spirit has been singing most to me is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
"Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of God's unchanging love!"
I have to admit, my spiritual life has been feeling a bit of a dry spell. Actually, I suppose it's more like a drought. My prayers feel hollow, as though I'm saying the words but they're hitting the air and immediately shattering due to a lack of substance, like a clay pigeon on a shooting range. I keep praying, though, because I believe that even hollow words breaking into a thousand pieces of broken glass against the air's canopy are better than no words at all.
Maybe the problem is that I'm trying to use words.
It's hard for me not to use words. I am a writer by trade. Oh I know my paycheck and the Presbyterian board of pensions say I'm a pastor, but really I'm a writer. My congregation doesn't know this (well, the ones who read this blog will know this now), but I've actually written quite a few books. I've never published any of them, but they exist in the annals of my cyberspace harddrives and there they sit until something tickles my fancy to pull one of them out and pick at it. They're never quite done. One draft turns into a dozen more drafts, and this inability to let a book go and actually reach it out to a publisher or an agent just keeps me writing more and more drafts. Words are my safeguard, they are my sustinence. I write because I breathe and I can keep breathing because I write. Letting a book go means I can no longer pick at it and it's hard to relinquish that kind of control over my child.
And yet despite all of this love for words and language, it strikes me that perhaps words are what have been weighing me down the most. It's possible that God requires us to speak less and listen more (imagine that, right?). Or, because we lock our spirituality into one and only one medium, our spiritual life goes into a drought because it engages only one part of our being. When I was in seminary, I took a prayer and pastoral care class and we did an exercise one day where we prayed by sound. We stood in a circle facing away from each other and we closed our eyes. The professor instructed us to make the sounds that our spirit was feeling and offer that sound up to God. Some people started humming or singing, others just let out these moans like dying walruses (I seem to recall falling into the latter of the two). Praying through sound was a different experience from praying with words. The professor impressed upon us that God doesn't need our words; He only requests our entire being and our words are only one part of our being.
This week I spent some time in northern Indiana at a pastor's retreat and we took some time in our closing worship to pray with color. One of the leaders read the scripture passage and while she read, we drew pictures on the back of our bulletins. The colors, the scribbles, the depth of the lines expressed what was going on in our souls, or even what wasn't going on in our souls. When words fail us, perhaps it is a reminder from God that our words are just one part of our being and God wants ALL of us.
"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."
Where are you feeling those dry spells in your spiritual journey right now? If you are like me, perhaps you are needing to try offering up a different part of your being to God. Maybe your words are shallow and hollow and the sound of breaking glass is a reminder that our hearts say a great deal more than our words.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
My "duh" Moment
Remember when we were kids and we learned how to say "Duh!"? Some of us became better than others at getting the eye roll down pat, too.
Well tonight, at age 27 1/2 at exactly 9:44 p.m. CST, I had a "Duh!" moment.
Yesterday I preached a sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 and the big impetus of my sermon was that the word of God is a living and active partner in our quest towards faithful living. My argument was that we cannot use scripture as a weapon (as many do), the Bible is not a magic 8 ball (I read an excerpt from Augusten Burrough's "Running with Scissors; see "Bible Dipping") and we cannot get "Bible" on Sunday morning alone and call it good. I mentioned that the Bible is there to instruct us and encourage us (see Romans 15) and this was my illustration to illustrate my point:
There's a PBS show on called "Super Why" and it's about these kids who take their life questions to the books for answers. If they have a problem, they consult a children's story and the characters in the book help instruct and encourage the kids in the show to answer their own questions. The background on why I know this (which I didn't include in my sermon) is because I frequently have a "date night" with an honorary sister who has two kids, 4 and 2, who absolutely love "Super Why" and even have most of the songs memorized. With them, I've caught a few episodes.
Now, I have to be honest: I was not a fan when I first watched it. Why? Because they messed up the story of "The Little Red Hen." And by messed up, I mean they used the power of words to change the story so that Little Red Hen actually gets her friends to help her in the end. I was an English major and that makes me kind of a literary snob. I don't like it when people take liberalities with classic stories. So, in the Super Why version of the story, Little Red Hen gets her friends to help her. How? She tells them WHY she needs their help (so she can bake corn bread to feed all her hungry chicks). Suddenly, Little Red Riding Hood knows what she needs to do in order to get her friends to help her pick apples: she needs to tell them WHY.
My point of sharing this with the congregation in my sermon was to illustrate how we, too, can take our questions and our problems to scripture and see examples of people who may not look or live just like us, but they have the same questions and problems as we do: "How do we live as God's children in a broken world?" The Bible is there to encourage and instruct us, so we can use it as a guide. My father has an acronym that he uses: "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (B.I.B.L.E.). So true!
Well, now the moment you've been waiting for: my "duh" moment. Tonight I got a free E-book from a Lutheran seminary called "Renew 52" and it's a collection of advice from 50+ leaders 50 years old or younger on how to stimulate and renew a congregation. How do you get a congregation excited about ministry? How do you stimulate volunteers?
The first essay, on leadership, is called "Into the Vision" by Sara Hayden. And Sara's advice to stimulate volunteers and encourage renewal, is, low and behold tell them why.
I laughed a little. I actually startled my cat, who was curled up so nicely at the foot of my bed and proceeded to give me the stink eye because I disturbed him.
"My idea for churches seeking renewal is to start wiht the 'why', the big reason for which the church exists. Every ministry and detail of the church should flow from and come back to that." Sara Hayden is a wise lady.
How often do we ask for things to get done in the church without telling people why? Those of you with toddlers might be sick of the "why" question.
"Go pick up your toys."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"Why?"
::facepalm::
Of course, those with teenagers, friends, adult children, and parents might be tire of the "why" question, too. But consider the "why" question in church.
"Why should I volunteer to teach Sunday school?"
Not just beacuse someone asked you to or "guilted you" into doing it. Volunteer to teach Sunday school because your name came up as someone who could bring a lot of gifts and energy to a group of kids who are hungry to learn about their faith. We believe very strongly in our church vision that we encourage all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and what better way to reach out to our brothers and sisters than reach out when they are young? You have a chance to be part of something awesome!
See the difference?
The "why" is important. It's a good reminder of what we're doing here as a church in the first place. We're not here just to bring in people and expand our building. We're here to encourage people, share the good news of Jesus Christ, and find new ways to worship God. Everything we do should glorify God. That's the "why."
Once we have the "why" we can move on to the "how."
Here's to having "duh" moments at every stage of life!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
ps: I feel like I should clarify: my "duh" moment was not so much that I've never thought about telling people "why" before. It was just really interesting how connected Super Why was to my sermon and then to this essay on telling the congregation "why." I didn't want it to sound like this was a totally new revelation to me. :)
Dedicated to L and Q G-J
Well tonight, at age 27 1/2 at exactly 9:44 p.m. CST, I had a "Duh!" moment.
Yesterday I preached a sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 and the big impetus of my sermon was that the word of God is a living and active partner in our quest towards faithful living. My argument was that we cannot use scripture as a weapon (as many do), the Bible is not a magic 8 ball (I read an excerpt from Augusten Burrough's "Running with Scissors; see "Bible Dipping") and we cannot get "Bible" on Sunday morning alone and call it good. I mentioned that the Bible is there to instruct us and encourage us (see Romans 15) and this was my illustration to illustrate my point:
There's a PBS show on called "Super Why" and it's about these kids who take their life questions to the books for answers. If they have a problem, they consult a children's story and the characters in the book help instruct and encourage the kids in the show to answer their own questions. The background on why I know this (which I didn't include in my sermon) is because I frequently have a "date night" with an honorary sister who has two kids, 4 and 2, who absolutely love "Super Why" and even have most of the songs memorized. With them, I've caught a few episodes.
Now, I have to be honest: I was not a fan when I first watched it. Why? Because they messed up the story of "The Little Red Hen." And by messed up, I mean they used the power of words to change the story so that Little Red Hen actually gets her friends to help her in the end. I was an English major and that makes me kind of a literary snob. I don't like it when people take liberalities with classic stories. So, in the Super Why version of the story, Little Red Hen gets her friends to help her. How? She tells them WHY she needs their help (so she can bake corn bread to feed all her hungry chicks). Suddenly, Little Red Riding Hood knows what she needs to do in order to get her friends to help her pick apples: she needs to tell them WHY.
My point of sharing this with the congregation in my sermon was to illustrate how we, too, can take our questions and our problems to scripture and see examples of people who may not look or live just like us, but they have the same questions and problems as we do: "How do we live as God's children in a broken world?" The Bible is there to encourage and instruct us, so we can use it as a guide. My father has an acronym that he uses: "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (B.I.B.L.E.). So true!
Well, now the moment you've been waiting for: my "duh" moment. Tonight I got a free E-book from a Lutheran seminary called "Renew 52" and it's a collection of advice from 50+ leaders 50 years old or younger on how to stimulate and renew a congregation. How do you get a congregation excited about ministry? How do you stimulate volunteers?
The first essay, on leadership, is called "Into the Vision" by Sara Hayden. And Sara's advice to stimulate volunteers and encourage renewal, is, low and behold tell them why.
I laughed a little. I actually startled my cat, who was curled up so nicely at the foot of my bed and proceeded to give me the stink eye because I disturbed him.
"My idea for churches seeking renewal is to start wiht the 'why', the big reason for which the church exists. Every ministry and detail of the church should flow from and come back to that." Sara Hayden is a wise lady.
How often do we ask for things to get done in the church without telling people why? Those of you with toddlers might be sick of the "why" question.
"Go pick up your toys."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"Why?"
::facepalm::
Of course, those with teenagers, friends, adult children, and parents might be tire of the "why" question, too. But consider the "why" question in church.
"Why should I volunteer to teach Sunday school?"
Not just beacuse someone asked you to or "guilted you" into doing it. Volunteer to teach Sunday school because your name came up as someone who could bring a lot of gifts and energy to a group of kids who are hungry to learn about their faith. We believe very strongly in our church vision that we encourage all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and what better way to reach out to our brothers and sisters than reach out when they are young? You have a chance to be part of something awesome!
See the difference?
The "why" is important. It's a good reminder of what we're doing here as a church in the first place. We're not here just to bring in people and expand our building. We're here to encourage people, share the good news of Jesus Christ, and find new ways to worship God. Everything we do should glorify God. That's the "why."
Once we have the "why" we can move on to the "how."
Here's to having "duh" moments at every stage of life!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
ps: I feel like I should clarify: my "duh" moment was not so much that I've never thought about telling people "why" before. It was just really interesting how connected Super Why was to my sermon and then to this essay on telling the congregation "why." I didn't want it to sound like this was a totally new revelation to me. :)
Dedicated to L and Q G-J
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Two Kinds of Wisdom: Iago vs. Christ
Earlier
this week I reread Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello,
because I had the rap song from the Reduced Shakespeare Company on Othello
stuck in my head. Besides, I was waiting for the cable company to come and fix
my cable so I had three hours to spend gorging myself on Shakespeare (incidentally,
the cable guy never showed up, but that’s another tirade altogether).
Othello
is an interesting play. It’s about a general named Othello who runs off with a
nobleman’s daughter, Desdemona. The nobleman is miffed because he can’t imagine
that his pure daughter would go off and marry a soldier without permission. You
just didn’t do stuff like that in polite society, especially since Othello is a
Moor (a black person) and Desdemona is white. Othello and Desdemona are in
love, though, but like all the lovers in Shakespeare’s tragedies, they are
doomed from the start.
But it’s not Othello I really want
to talk about. It’s Iago. Iago is not happy with the Moor of Venice. Actually,
he hates him. Really hates him. Hates him to the point where he is willing to
go to any lengths to get rid of him. Part of the reason Iago hates Othello is
that despite all of Iago’s great qualities and credentials, Othello makes
Michael Cassio his lieutenant. Iago is left to be Othello’s ancient, which
means he is an advisor. Iago is not happy with Cassio’s promotion. What
literary critics have said about Iago is that of all Shakespeare’s villains,
Iago is probably the most sinister because he maintains his reputation of
integrity while spilling poisonous words into everyone else’s ear. All of these
terrible things happen to the people in the play because of Iago’s words, but
Iago doesn’t have to lift a finger to do the dirty work.
Iago is the embodiment of what the
passage I’m preaching on this Sunday is warning against. In the epistle of
James, the author talks about how it is our cravings that cause disputes among
us. He says in James 4:1-2, “Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do
they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?
You want something and do not have it, so you commit murder. And you covet
something and you cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts.”
Iago wants something: he wants Cassio’s position. The irony of Othello is that
it is jealousy that drives jealousy: Shakespeare’s green-eyed monster is what
leads Othello to strangle Desdemona, but it is Iago’s jealousy that leads him
to use jealousy as Othello’s downfall to begin with. Iago murders his pawn Rodrigo,
Othello murders Desdemona, Iago then murders his own wife, Emilia, and the list
goes on. In a very literal sense, Iago shows what James means when he says, “You
want something and you cannot have it, so you commit murder.”
How often our ambitions and our envy
lead us to say and do things we might not otherwise do.
It’s ironic that Iago’s position is
an ancient. An ancient was someone who was wise and filled with knowledge. It’s
Iago’s reputation for his integrity and wisdom that wins him a place at Othello’s
side as his advisor. I don’t think it can be argued that Iago is wise; he’s
certainly cunning, or crafty. The serpent in Eden was “crafty” or “wise.” James
tells us that there are two different kinds of wisdom: wisdom that comes from
above and earthly wisdom. Wisdom from above, James said in 3:17 is, “first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and good fruits,
without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” Iago is clearly not willing to
yield, and he is certainly not filled with mercy. Iago is embodies the second
kind of wisdom: “Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly,
unspiritual, devlish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will
be disorder and wickedness of every kind.” In short, there will be chaos. And
to coin a phrase from The Dark Knight,
Iago is an agent of Chaos.
Christ is our example of the kind of
wisdom we are to strive for. When we put others first, realizing that we are
all made in the likeness of God and all equal at the level of existence; when
we are willing to yield and realize that just because we disagree doesn’t make
me right and you wrong; when we realize that everything we say and do is to be
said and done in the name of Jesus Christ, we finally embody the kind of wisdom
that God calls us to strive towards. Christ yielded; he stood before the
religious leaders and let them take him to the cross. Christ came peaceably,
using his words to teach and preach the message of salvation. Christ was gentle
and full of mercy, reaching out his hands to embrace the widow, the orphan, the
sick, and the lame.
My sermon on Sunday is going to focus on another theme that this scripture passage in James 3 and 4 brings up, but it’s interesting how clearly I can see theology peeping through things like Shakespeare. I’ve always been fascinated by Christ and culture studies, and after seeing Iago through the lens of this passage in James, I’m doubly convinced that you can find Christ even in Shakespeare. All we have to do is look J
Sunday, May 27, 2012
A Brief History of Pentecost
During the Children's Moment in worship this morning, I gave a brief history of Pentecost and it was requested of me that I try to make that available in writing. I'm hoping this doesn't read too much like a wikipedia page, but here's the brief history of Pentecost as I explained to the kids this morning in worship:
Once a year, we put a bunch of red stuff in our sanctuary. We wear red to church. It made sense to wear red this weekend because Memorial Day is tomorrow, but we also wear red for a different reason (a reason that doesn't always line up with Memorial Day). Today is Pentecost! How many of you know what Pentecost is?
One of my four-year-olds said, "It's like having a birthday!"
That's a perfect answer! It is like having a birthday. We call Pentecost the birthday of the church. But it wasn't always celebrated as the birthday of the church. Pentecost actually started in the Old Testament with a guy named Moses.
The kids had a hard time saying who Moses was, which honestly made me a little worried. So I very briefly talked about how Pharaoh had God's people in slavery and wasn't very nice to them, so God told Moses to go and tell Pharaoh to let the people go. The kids sort of remembered that story and I could see some of the adults nodded, so I started to feel a little better.
Not much. But a little.
So Moses led the people out of Egypt on Passover. Fifty days later, Moses went up on Mt. Sinai and God gave him ten of something. I asked the kids if they remembered what God gave Moses ten of.
"The Ten Commandments!"
Now I felt a little more better (that's a terribly grammatically incorrect statement, but you get my point).
Fifty days after the exodus out of Egypt, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, rules for how to live in relationship with God and in relationship with each other. Pentecost means, "Fifty Days."
So fast-forward to the New Testament. Every year, people would celebrate the passover and pentecost by making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where the temple was. Pentecost was a day to celebrate God giving his people the Torah. People would decorate with green things, like flowers and fruit, and they would eat dairy products (I don't know why. I need to ask a Jewish friend what the signficance of dairy is). But in today's world, people eat dairy and some people even build a big cake to represent how big Mt. Sinai was. Now how many people like cake? How many people want ice cream with their cake, especially when it's 96 degrees outside like it is today?
Yeah. Me too. (as I point out that I'm wearing a robe in the sanctuary and I'm HOT)
Jewish kids today still celebrate pentecost as the giving of the law from God to the people. Some people even celebrate graduations on pentecost because learning the Torah is a really big deal. Like, a REALLY big deal.
So a group of disciples and a whole lot of other people who had traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the giving of the law, or Pentecost, or the "Festival of Weeks" as it was also called, were all gathered together in the synagogue. They were worshipping and singing and it was 50 days after the passover. Suddenly there was this wind in the synagogue and everyone wondered what was going on. Suddenly, in the midst of this wind, tongues of fire appeared on people's shoulders. How many of you have ever had tongues of fire on your shoulders? Yeah, me either. Imagine how crazy that would be! Imagine how scared or confused you might be. The people in the synagogue were scared and confused and they wondered what the heck was happening. The disciples were speaking and everyone could understand them in their native tongue!
What does that mean? Well, remember people were there from all over the known world. If you came to Jerusalem from Italy, you heard the disciples speaking Italian! If you came from France (I know this time line is wrong, but bear with me), you heard the disciples speaking in French! Everyone heard their own language so they understood. They thought the disciples were crazy, and a lot of them said so out loud!
But then Peter got up. Remember who Peter was? He was one of Jesus' disciples. He got up and he said the people weren't crazy, but God had sent His Holy Spirit among them. He reminded the people that Jesus loved them and wanted His Spirit to dwell inside of them so they could go out and tell everyone about Jesus. And that's what we celebrate in Pentecost today. Fifty days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate God's Holy Spirit dwelling among us and we remember to tell everyone how much Jesus loves us and loves them, too. Pentecost reminds us that we are a new creation. Jesus loves us so much, that He sent His Spirit to stay with us and guide us and take care of us. So let's say a prayer.
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us your Spirit to live inside of us and teach us which way to go. Help us to be a new creation as we celebrate the birthday of your church. Happy birthday, church! We love you. Amen.
So that was my children's moment this morning, my brief history of Pentecost. It's not comprehensive, but it's a good reminder of how connected we really are to our Jewish roots. It certainly makes me want to keep learning about the grandfather of our Christian faith. It's good to remember that we come from some place and Christianity didn't just pop out of nowhere. I hope this encourages you, too, to learn more about the roots of your faith. May you feel the Holy Spirit dwelling within you this day of Pentecost and always.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Once a year, we put a bunch of red stuff in our sanctuary. We wear red to church. It made sense to wear red this weekend because Memorial Day is tomorrow, but we also wear red for a different reason (a reason that doesn't always line up with Memorial Day). Today is Pentecost! How many of you know what Pentecost is?
One of my four-year-olds said, "It's like having a birthday!"
That's a perfect answer! It is like having a birthday. We call Pentecost the birthday of the church. But it wasn't always celebrated as the birthday of the church. Pentecost actually started in the Old Testament with a guy named Moses.
The kids had a hard time saying who Moses was, which honestly made me a little worried. So I very briefly talked about how Pharaoh had God's people in slavery and wasn't very nice to them, so God told Moses to go and tell Pharaoh to let the people go. The kids sort of remembered that story and I could see some of the adults nodded, so I started to feel a little better.
Not much. But a little.
So Moses led the people out of Egypt on Passover. Fifty days later, Moses went up on Mt. Sinai and God gave him ten of something. I asked the kids if they remembered what God gave Moses ten of.
"The Ten Commandments!"
Now I felt a little more better (that's a terribly grammatically incorrect statement, but you get my point).
Fifty days after the exodus out of Egypt, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, rules for how to live in relationship with God and in relationship with each other. Pentecost means, "Fifty Days."
So fast-forward to the New Testament. Every year, people would celebrate the passover and pentecost by making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where the temple was. Pentecost was a day to celebrate God giving his people the Torah. People would decorate with green things, like flowers and fruit, and they would eat dairy products (I don't know why. I need to ask a Jewish friend what the signficance of dairy is). But in today's world, people eat dairy and some people even build a big cake to represent how big Mt. Sinai was. Now how many people like cake? How many people want ice cream with their cake, especially when it's 96 degrees outside like it is today?
Yeah. Me too. (as I point out that I'm wearing a robe in the sanctuary and I'm HOT)
Jewish kids today still celebrate pentecost as the giving of the law from God to the people. Some people even celebrate graduations on pentecost because learning the Torah is a really big deal. Like, a REALLY big deal.
So a group of disciples and a whole lot of other people who had traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the giving of the law, or Pentecost, or the "Festival of Weeks" as it was also called, were all gathered together in the synagogue. They were worshipping and singing and it was 50 days after the passover. Suddenly there was this wind in the synagogue and everyone wondered what was going on. Suddenly, in the midst of this wind, tongues of fire appeared on people's shoulders. How many of you have ever had tongues of fire on your shoulders? Yeah, me either. Imagine how crazy that would be! Imagine how scared or confused you might be. The people in the synagogue were scared and confused and they wondered what the heck was happening. The disciples were speaking and everyone could understand them in their native tongue!
What does that mean? Well, remember people were there from all over the known world. If you came to Jerusalem from Italy, you heard the disciples speaking Italian! If you came from France (I know this time line is wrong, but bear with me), you heard the disciples speaking in French! Everyone heard their own language so they understood. They thought the disciples were crazy, and a lot of them said so out loud!
But then Peter got up. Remember who Peter was? He was one of Jesus' disciples. He got up and he said the people weren't crazy, but God had sent His Holy Spirit among them. He reminded the people that Jesus loved them and wanted His Spirit to dwell inside of them so they could go out and tell everyone about Jesus. And that's what we celebrate in Pentecost today. Fifty days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate God's Holy Spirit dwelling among us and we remember to tell everyone how much Jesus loves us and loves them, too. Pentecost reminds us that we are a new creation. Jesus loves us so much, that He sent His Spirit to stay with us and guide us and take care of us. So let's say a prayer.
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us your Spirit to live inside of us and teach us which way to go. Help us to be a new creation as we celebrate the birthday of your church. Happy birthday, church! We love you. Amen.
So that was my children's moment this morning, my brief history of Pentecost. It's not comprehensive, but it's a good reminder of how connected we really are to our Jewish roots. It certainly makes me want to keep learning about the grandfather of our Christian faith. It's good to remember that we come from some place and Christianity didn't just pop out of nowhere. I hope this encourages you, too, to learn more about the roots of your faith. May you feel the Holy Spirit dwelling within you this day of Pentecost and always.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Thursday, May 3, 2012
This week in worship we are celebrating "Older Adult Week." The point of the worship service is to celebrate all the ways that God blesses us through the ministries of the elderly in the church and calls us to remember that the needs of the elderly are just as important as the needs of youth and younger families. According to one resource, the average age of a member in the PC (USA) is 61 (it was 58 in 2001). And with advances in modern medicine, the average age keeps climbing because people are living longer and let's face it: we are not a church of rocking chair-bound seniors. This is a really cool thing, because it means that my church is full of seniors who are active and constantly out and about. They joke that retirement means very little to them because they are just as busy if not busier than they were when they were still working.
The challenge for me to be doing a service celebrating seniors is that I am shall we say age challenged? I'm 27. Obviously talking about aging isn't my strong suit. The challenge is to celebrate seniors without sounding patronizing. I'm very conscious of what it sounds like to be patronized, so I'm going to do my best to avoid that. But as the pastor of a church that is, I would guess, at least 85% people who are over the age of 65, celebrating seniors is something that I feel called to do this year.
In the process of planning the service, I have been thinking a lot about my grandparents. I was very blessed to have all of my grandparents active in my life until I was 21. My paternal grandfather died April 2006 and my paternal grandmother died in 2008; both of my maternal grandparents are still living. All four of my grandparents were extremely active in my upbringing. Because they are all local to where I lived with my parents, my siblings and I never spent a day in day care.
My biblical passage this week is a passage in Romans in which Paul is lifting up Abraham as the epitome of a man of faith. It got me thinking about how the seniors in the church (as well as in the family) are models for the younger generations, even though younger generations don't always appreciate what seniors have to offer. But in many ways, the younger generations are looking to their elders to see what church means to them, who Christ is to them, and what a life of discipleship looks like for them.
So I asked myself what I learned from my grandparents and I'm a person who loves lists, so I compiled a list. It's by no means a comprehensive list, but I wanted to share it with you as a way to celebrate my grandparents and all that they have given me over the course of the last 27 years.
1) Charades is a great game to play when it's raining.
2) Is there really anything more fun than going through a car wash?
3) If you set the cushions of a couch up just right and put a sheet over them, you can make a terribly awesome fort.
4) A basement can easily become a rollar skating rink.
5) Volunteering is a great way to spend retirement.
6) Always keep dog treats handy.
7) Anytime you can support a family member by attending a special event (dance recital, piano recital, grandparents day, whatever), DO IT.
8) Be involved in the church and offer to teach what you know whenever you can.
9) Always say your prayers before bedtime.
10) Wave a newspaper in front of the smoke detector when making toast or the smoke detector will inevitably go off.
11) Take pictures of everything. Twice.
12) Have parties and invite your family and friends. And always have black olives handy.
13) The imagination is a thing to be prized and nurtured.
14) Keep your bread in the microwave.
15) A note will get you out of your grandfather's "Family art class."
16) Sit together as a family whenever you can.
17) Do not call during 7 and 8 p.m. during the week as this is when Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy are on tv.
18) Play the lottery.
19) Tell stories.
20) Always always always take every opportunity to love whenever you can.
May you truly feel blessed by the seniors in your life and take every opportunity that you can to thank them and love them.
Peace,
Pastor Becki
In memory of Nick and Jennie Weltmann and in Honor of Donald and Flora Homer.
The challenge for me to be doing a service celebrating seniors is that I am shall we say age challenged? I'm 27. Obviously talking about aging isn't my strong suit. The challenge is to celebrate seniors without sounding patronizing. I'm very conscious of what it sounds like to be patronized, so I'm going to do my best to avoid that. But as the pastor of a church that is, I would guess, at least 85% people who are over the age of 65, celebrating seniors is something that I feel called to do this year.
In the process of planning the service, I have been thinking a lot about my grandparents. I was very blessed to have all of my grandparents active in my life until I was 21. My paternal grandfather died April 2006 and my paternal grandmother died in 2008; both of my maternal grandparents are still living. All four of my grandparents were extremely active in my upbringing. Because they are all local to where I lived with my parents, my siblings and I never spent a day in day care.
My biblical passage this week is a passage in Romans in which Paul is lifting up Abraham as the epitome of a man of faith. It got me thinking about how the seniors in the church (as well as in the family) are models for the younger generations, even though younger generations don't always appreciate what seniors have to offer. But in many ways, the younger generations are looking to their elders to see what church means to them, who Christ is to them, and what a life of discipleship looks like for them.
So I asked myself what I learned from my grandparents and I'm a person who loves lists, so I compiled a list. It's by no means a comprehensive list, but I wanted to share it with you as a way to celebrate my grandparents and all that they have given me over the course of the last 27 years.
1) Charades is a great game to play when it's raining.
2) Is there really anything more fun than going through a car wash?
3) If you set the cushions of a couch up just right and put a sheet over them, you can make a terribly awesome fort.
4) A basement can easily become a rollar skating rink.
5) Volunteering is a great way to spend retirement.
6) Always keep dog treats handy.
7) Anytime you can support a family member by attending a special event (dance recital, piano recital, grandparents day, whatever), DO IT.
8) Be involved in the church and offer to teach what you know whenever you can.
9) Always say your prayers before bedtime.
10) Wave a newspaper in front of the smoke detector when making toast or the smoke detector will inevitably go off.
11) Take pictures of everything. Twice.
12) Have parties and invite your family and friends. And always have black olives handy.
13) The imagination is a thing to be prized and nurtured.
14) Keep your bread in the microwave.
15) A note will get you out of your grandfather's "Family art class."
16) Sit together as a family whenever you can.
17) Do not call during 7 and 8 p.m. during the week as this is when Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy are on tv.
18) Play the lottery.
19) Tell stories.
20) Always always always take every opportunity to love whenever you can.
May you truly feel blessed by the seniors in your life and take every opportunity that you can to thank them and love them.
Peace,
Pastor Becki
In memory of Nick and Jennie Weltmann and in Honor of Donald and Flora Homer.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A Small Victory!
I don't like talking about this subject, but I'm going to do it anyway because I'm extremely proud of myself for doing what I did today.
What did I do today, you ask?
I walked 3.28 miles. According to mapmywalk, which is the only way I know how many miles I walked for sure. 3.28. That's huge for me. It's been...well, well over what it should be since I walked that far. It was exhausting. But I did it! My legs hurt a lot right now. But I did it! I even have a cramp in my stomach and lower back. But I did it! Why did I do it?
The usual reason.
But I did something new today. Usually when I walk I make sure I take backroads because I have this scenario that plays in my head. Someone who knows me drives by, sees me walking, and thinks to themself, "Yeah, girl, you BETTER walk. Geeze, ease off on the chai tea, why don't chya." I'm sure people aren't think that, but there's this irrational voice in my head judging me for them. Mostly I think people aren't paying attention to me. At least, I like to think people are more focused on the road than they are on the parts of me that jiggle when I walk.
I hate admitting that to you readers that this is what I think about when I'm walking, but it's true.
So today here's what I did that was new: I PURPOSELY walked on the busiest street in town. No kidding. I started with the backroad and then, for those of you who know the town, I walked from the light over by Michael's restaurant straight down the highway back to my apartment by Kroger's. 3.28 miles, half of which was done in the view of everyone and their mother.
Oh
My
Goodness.
But I did it.
And I'm totally tooting my own horn because not only is this a huge deal for me, but I feel a certain humbleness before God because I know I didn't have the strength to do that on my own. I'm SOOO out of shape (and fear not, by the time I got to Hillcrest Golf Course, I was pretty sure I was going to throw up). But I did it because God wants me to take better care of this body that He's given me. So that's what I'm going to do.
I'm reading a book called Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst and it's about learning how to ajdust our mentality so that we're craving God, not food. She talked in one chapter about how she was running and just heard God calling her to run farther and so she ended up running 8.6 miles. I'm no where near ready to take 8.6 of anything (nor am I in any position to run), but she said the first thing she did when she got home was look up Psalm 8.6 in honor of her 8.6 miles. And she found a verse that spoke to her about how God spoke to her during that run. So I got home and looked up Psalm 3:28 and realized there's no such verse. So instead I looked up Psalm 32.8 and here's what it says:
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Yeah, I wanted to stop and take a break at the coffee house on my way back to the apartment (and then call a friend to come pick me up). But I didn't. I kept going because I had something to prove to myself: that if I put my mind to it, if I trust in God's willingness to help, I can totally do this. I'm not saying its going to be easy. I know there will be a lot more tears and angry fist-shaking at the dessert tray in my favorite restaurant before this is over. But I know that God is going to help me.
So you are all witnesses: I'm taking a stand here and now to work on letting my comfort come in God; not in food. Like Lysa says, I'm made for more than this and like Psalm 32 says, God's going to keep a loving eye on me as I go.
He's going to keep a loving eye on you, too, in whatever your journey entails. In whatever you might be battling -- whether it's a weight problem, financial concerns, a rocky relationship, or health problems -- God is going to keep a loving eye on you. There will be tears and there will be fist-shaking at no one in particular. But we will, with God's help, make it happen :-D
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
What did I do today, you ask?
I walked 3.28 miles. According to mapmywalk, which is the only way I know how many miles I walked for sure. 3.28. That's huge for me. It's been...well, well over what it should be since I walked that far. It was exhausting. But I did it! My legs hurt a lot right now. But I did it! I even have a cramp in my stomach and lower back. But I did it! Why did I do it?
The usual reason.
But I did something new today. Usually when I walk I make sure I take backroads because I have this scenario that plays in my head. Someone who knows me drives by, sees me walking, and thinks to themself, "Yeah, girl, you BETTER walk. Geeze, ease off on the chai tea, why don't chya." I'm sure people aren't think that, but there's this irrational voice in my head judging me for them. Mostly I think people aren't paying attention to me. At least, I like to think people are more focused on the road than they are on the parts of me that jiggle when I walk.
I hate admitting that to you readers that this is what I think about when I'm walking, but it's true.
So today here's what I did that was new: I PURPOSELY walked on the busiest street in town. No kidding. I started with the backroad and then, for those of you who know the town, I walked from the light over by Michael's restaurant straight down the highway back to my apartment by Kroger's. 3.28 miles, half of which was done in the view of everyone and their mother.
Oh
My
Goodness.
But I did it.
And I'm totally tooting my own horn because not only is this a huge deal for me, but I feel a certain humbleness before God because I know I didn't have the strength to do that on my own. I'm SOOO out of shape (and fear not, by the time I got to Hillcrest Golf Course, I was pretty sure I was going to throw up). But I did it because God wants me to take better care of this body that He's given me. So that's what I'm going to do.
I'm reading a book called Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst and it's about learning how to ajdust our mentality so that we're craving God, not food. She talked in one chapter about how she was running and just heard God calling her to run farther and so she ended up running 8.6 miles. I'm no where near ready to take 8.6 of anything (nor am I in any position to run), but she said the first thing she did when she got home was look up Psalm 8.6 in honor of her 8.6 miles. And she found a verse that spoke to her about how God spoke to her during that run. So I got home and looked up Psalm 3:28 and realized there's no such verse. So instead I looked up Psalm 32.8 and here's what it says:
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Yeah, I wanted to stop and take a break at the coffee house on my way back to the apartment (and then call a friend to come pick me up). But I didn't. I kept going because I had something to prove to myself: that if I put my mind to it, if I trust in God's willingness to help, I can totally do this. I'm not saying its going to be easy. I know there will be a lot more tears and angry fist-shaking at the dessert tray in my favorite restaurant before this is over. But I know that God is going to help me.
So you are all witnesses: I'm taking a stand here and now to work on letting my comfort come in God; not in food. Like Lysa says, I'm made for more than this and like Psalm 32 says, God's going to keep a loving eye on me as I go.
He's going to keep a loving eye on you, too, in whatever your journey entails. In whatever you might be battling -- whether it's a weight problem, financial concerns, a rocky relationship, or health problems -- God is going to keep a loving eye on you. There will be tears and there will be fist-shaking at no one in particular. But we will, with God's help, make it happen :-D
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday Meditation
Delivered by Rev. Rebecca Weltmann, Ash Wednesday 2012
When I was a little kid, I loved the movie “Wizard of Oz.” I don’t remember this, but my father will tell you that when I was really little, I would make him go outside with me and we would walk around the backyard singing “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” over and over again. A few years ago, I discovered I also love the book series by L. Frank Baum. I want to read you an excerpt from the second book, “The Land of Oz.” To give you just a brief synopsis of what’s going on, the Scarecrow has been ousted from his throne in a political revolt – well, as political as it can be in the Land of Oz – and he, along with others are being kept prisoner in the castle. He sits and thinks, using those brains that the wizard gave him and he remembers that the wizard escaped Oz in a hot air balloon, so they decide what they have to do is create something that will carry them out of the castle by flight. They have this powder of life that will allow whatever they create to carry them. So, here is an excerpt from “The Land of Oz.”
“Then let us search through the palace,” continued the Tin Woodman, “and carry all the material we can find to the roof, where I will begin my work.”
“First, however,” said the Pumpkinhead, “I beg you will release me from this horse, and make me another leg to walk with. For in my present condition I am of no use to myself or to anyone else.”
So the Tin Woodman knocked a mahogany centre-table to pieces with his axe and fitted one of the legs, which was beautifully carved, on to the body of Jack Pumpkinhead, who was very proud of the acquisition.
“It seems strange,” said he, as he watched the Tin Woodman work, “that my left leg should be the most elegant and substantial part of me.”
“That proves that you are unusual,” returned the Scarecrow, “and I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed.”
“Spoken like a philosopher!” cried the Woggle-Bug as he assisted the Tin Woodman to set Jack upon his feet.
“How do you feel now?” asked Tim, watching the Pumpkinhead stump around to try his new leg.
“As good as new,” answered Jack joyfully, “and quite ready to assist you all to escape.”
“Then let us get to work,” said the Scarecrow in a business-like tone.
So, glad to be doing anything that might lead to the end of their captivity, the friends separated to wander over the palace in search of fitting material to use in the construction of their aerial machine.[1]
I love that line, “I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones.” The Scarecrow was always by far my most favorite character in the Oz series. But growing up, I was always sort of different from the other kids my age, so with that in my background I appreciate the kudos for the unusual people. As human beings, we are a little bit like Jack Pumpkinhead, woven together in what might seem like an arbitrary fashion. But piece by piece we are put together. Sometimes, like the Pumpkinhead, our parts wear out and we need replacements, and sometimes there are parts of us that look a little more fashionable than other parts. But all of those things combined are the things that make us what we are. Unusual is one word for it. Fearfully and wonderfully made is another.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. Whether we are anointed with ashes from the palms of last year or healing oil, it’s a season when we remember that we are all sinners and in need of God’s grace. It’s a day when many Christians focus their attention on fasting, praying, and almsgiving. In Lent we realize how totally dependent we as human beings are on the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But how unusual that love is! How unusual is grace that God wants to be in relationship with us, a messy, less than perfect species. Traditionally Ash Wednesday is a day of mourning for our sin and the sin of all humanity before God, but I think we also need to take time to celebrate the fact that despite all those things that make us messy, rebellious, and resentful – we were worth dying for. The grace of God is an unusual thing. We don’t deserve it. We can’t earn it. A lot of times we don’t even recognize it and there are certainly times when we forget to extend grace to others. But through Jesus Christ, God gives us His grace freely and because of the love of Christ we have hope for the future. That is something to celebrate.
And yet we still want to be mindful of how dependent on God’s grace we really are. We can do nothing apart from our Lord and Savior.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The Transfiguration
Begin this blog entry by reading Mark 4:2-9
Tomorrow is Transfiguration Sunday, that transitional Sunday between the season of Epiphany and the Lenten season. I've been somewhat preoccupied with putting things together for our weekly Lenten study that starts up soon, so I thought it might be a nice break to step aside from Lent and think about something else. Since it's on the liturgical calendar and in the lectionary this week, it's no wonder that the story of the Transfiguration popped into my head.
It's a unique little story about how the disciples saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain top and they saw, standing next to him, Moses and Elijah (not to be confused with Elisha, who comes later). I wonder what the disciples must have been thinking when they saw Jesus the Christ with Moses (representing the law) and Elijah (representing the prophets and the prophesy that Elijah would return to mark the appearance of the Messiah).
We know what Peter was thinking.
"DUDE!!!! That was WICKED AWESOME!!!!"
Okay, he probably didn't say dude. Or wicked. Or awesome. But he was struck with awe and he did immediately suggest that they build homes for Moses and Elijah. Beyond that, Peter, like the other disciples, was rendered speechless by fear. Or awe. Or both. At any rate, scripture reports that he "did not know what he was saying."
Have you ever seen something so awesome happen that you just start talking without even knowing what you're saying? You ramble or babble because the only thing you can think to do is move your lips and make sound come out, even if it's incoherent sound. I'm trying to remember if I've ever had a moment where I was so awe-struck that I just started to babble. I'm not sure I can recall that ever happening to me.
It did, however, happen to the disciples as they witnessed the transfiguration. The word "transfigure" means to change appearance, as if to be glorified or exalted. In witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on that mountain top, the disciples witness Jesus, perhaps for the first time, as both fully human and fully divine. It's not that this is the moment that Jesus becomes God. It's the moment where the disciples catch a glimpse of Christ's divinity. We celebrate it as a liturgical holiday because it's a good reminder for us, too, that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. We remember this especially as we go into Lent because it is only as a human being that Jesus could die on the cross and it is only as God that Christ could take away the stain of our sins and offer us His perfect grace. Transfiguration Sunday is a reminder of something truly beautiful and something truly awesome.
I have a new awe for this story. I've heard it so many times that I can't even begin to tell you when I first learned about it (though I suspect I remember the story better from worship than from Sunday school), but for some reason this story has hit me in a new way this year. I keep thinking about the disciples and what must have been going through their minds when they witnessed this incredible thing. What a gift Christ has gievn them, to see a glimpse of His divinity!
...And what a responsibility.
What does it mean for us, as readers, to stand alongside the disciples and witness the Transfiguration? Do you witness this with awe and perhaps a little fear? Or are you, like the disciples, terrified beyond the capacity to speak clearly? Are you indifferent? Or are you wondering what drugs someone slipped into your drink?
As you hear the story read in worship tomorrow or as you read the story to yourself now that I've encouraged you to do so, may you hear it with new ears, see it with new eyes, and stand in awe of the glory of Jesus Christ as we go into this season of Lent together.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Tomorrow is Transfiguration Sunday, that transitional Sunday between the season of Epiphany and the Lenten season. I've been somewhat preoccupied with putting things together for our weekly Lenten study that starts up soon, so I thought it might be a nice break to step aside from Lent and think about something else. Since it's on the liturgical calendar and in the lectionary this week, it's no wonder that the story of the Transfiguration popped into my head.
It's a unique little story about how the disciples saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain top and they saw, standing next to him, Moses and Elijah (not to be confused with Elisha, who comes later). I wonder what the disciples must have been thinking when they saw Jesus the Christ with Moses (representing the law) and Elijah (representing the prophets and the prophesy that Elijah would return to mark the appearance of the Messiah).
We know what Peter was thinking.
"DUDE!!!! That was WICKED AWESOME!!!!"
Okay, he probably didn't say dude. Or wicked. Or awesome. But he was struck with awe and he did immediately suggest that they build homes for Moses and Elijah. Beyond that, Peter, like the other disciples, was rendered speechless by fear. Or awe. Or both. At any rate, scripture reports that he "did not know what he was saying."
Have you ever seen something so awesome happen that you just start talking without even knowing what you're saying? You ramble or babble because the only thing you can think to do is move your lips and make sound come out, even if it's incoherent sound. I'm trying to remember if I've ever had a moment where I was so awe-struck that I just started to babble. I'm not sure I can recall that ever happening to me.
It did, however, happen to the disciples as they witnessed the transfiguration. The word "transfigure" means to change appearance, as if to be glorified or exalted. In witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on that mountain top, the disciples witness Jesus, perhaps for the first time, as both fully human and fully divine. It's not that this is the moment that Jesus becomes God. It's the moment where the disciples catch a glimpse of Christ's divinity. We celebrate it as a liturgical holiday because it's a good reminder for us, too, that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. We remember this especially as we go into Lent because it is only as a human being that Jesus could die on the cross and it is only as God that Christ could take away the stain of our sins and offer us His perfect grace. Transfiguration Sunday is a reminder of something truly beautiful and something truly awesome.
I have a new awe for this story. I've heard it so many times that I can't even begin to tell you when I first learned about it (though I suspect I remember the story better from worship than from Sunday school), but for some reason this story has hit me in a new way this year. I keep thinking about the disciples and what must have been going through their minds when they witnessed this incredible thing. What a gift Christ has gievn them, to see a glimpse of His divinity!
...And what a responsibility.
What does it mean for us, as readers, to stand alongside the disciples and witness the Transfiguration? Do you witness this with awe and perhaps a little fear? Or are you, like the disciples, terrified beyond the capacity to speak clearly? Are you indifferent? Or are you wondering what drugs someone slipped into your drink?
As you hear the story read in worship tomorrow or as you read the story to yourself now that I've encouraged you to do so, may you hear it with new ears, see it with new eyes, and stand in awe of the glory of Jesus Christ as we go into this season of Lent together.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Fare thee well, facebook.
Lately I've been feeling over-saturated by media. I've been really happy to keep the television off and not go on the computer as much at night. I'm hungry for a technology sabbath.
So this morning I deleted my personal facebook account. I was maintaining two accounts: a personal account and my professional account. Today I deactivated the personal account. Why am I friends with all these people that I never talk to? Why do I feel guilty un-friending them? The people I really need to talk to or keep up with are either a) on my professional account or b) in my phone so we text message each other or actually call each other. So I deleted my personal facebook account.
And it actually felt kind of liberating.
Yesterday I did something else bold. I organized my office. I emptied the closet and rearranged all my books according to subject. And it felt liberating.
I've been thinking a lot about this concept of "liberation." Liberation is a pretty big biblical theme (just look at Exodus). What does it mean for us to be liberated in our own time?
For me, liberation means trying to neutralize those things in my life that feel like weights on my shoulders. At the onset, they don't seem like big things. Is having two facebook accounts really a big thing? Is having a messy closet hidden by a door really a big thing? Not really. They are what they are. But if I can subtract and divide those things that drive me just a little bit crazy, it makes a huge difference. And really, who doesn't want to delete those things in their life that add stress?
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says, "Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful." How beautiful it is to think that we were called to have peace. In a world where it seems like we're constantly seeking liberation from something -- from facebook, from financial stress, from family arguments, from questionable tv programs, from unfortunate friend drama, from the burdens of past hurts...fill in the blank -- it seems so wonderful to think that we're actually called to peace. I want peace. I want serenity. I take comfort in the fact that I can find those things in Christ and in Christ, I can do all things.
What does liberation mean for you? What are those things in your life that you might need liberation from? How can you ask Christ to help you neutralize those things?
May the peace of Christ envelop you.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
So this morning I deleted my personal facebook account. I was maintaining two accounts: a personal account and my professional account. Today I deactivated the personal account. Why am I friends with all these people that I never talk to? Why do I feel guilty un-friending them? The people I really need to talk to or keep up with are either a) on my professional account or b) in my phone so we text message each other or actually call each other. So I deleted my personal facebook account.
And it actually felt kind of liberating.
Yesterday I did something else bold. I organized my office. I emptied the closet and rearranged all my books according to subject. And it felt liberating.
I've been thinking a lot about this concept of "liberation." Liberation is a pretty big biblical theme (just look at Exodus). What does it mean for us to be liberated in our own time?
For me, liberation means trying to neutralize those things in my life that feel like weights on my shoulders. At the onset, they don't seem like big things. Is having two facebook accounts really a big thing? Is having a messy closet hidden by a door really a big thing? Not really. They are what they are. But if I can subtract and divide those things that drive me just a little bit crazy, it makes a huge difference. And really, who doesn't want to delete those things in their life that add stress?
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says, "Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful." How beautiful it is to think that we were called to have peace. In a world where it seems like we're constantly seeking liberation from something -- from facebook, from financial stress, from family arguments, from questionable tv programs, from unfortunate friend drama, from the burdens of past hurts...fill in the blank -- it seems so wonderful to think that we're actually called to peace. I want peace. I want serenity. I take comfort in the fact that I can find those things in Christ and in Christ, I can do all things.
What does liberation mean for you? What are those things in your life that you might need liberation from? How can you ask Christ to help you neutralize those things?
May the peace of Christ envelop you.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Friday, January 20, 2012
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
I've been thinking a lot about church membership lately for some reason. When I was ordained, the pastor who gave my charge and the congregation's charge pointed out to everyone that my home church was the only church I had ever -- or would ever -- be a member of. In the Presbyterian Church (USA), once a pastor is ordained, that pastor becomes a member of Presbytery. Presbytery is my church; I am no longer a member of any one particular church. That hit me in a strange way when the pastor doing my charge said that and for some reason I've been thinking about that a lot lately. It probably has something to do with my congregation's focus on how we increase on our membership.
People have very different views on church membership. Some think the obvious thing to do when you start attending a church is to become a member. Others believe that membership is just a way for the church to get new leaders and new pledge cards.
Which, I have to admit, is probably partly true.
There are different reasons for becoming a church member, and several pros and cons to church membership that I'm not going into here. What I'm really interested in this week is the importance of membership not in the particular church, but in the body of Christ.
As a church, we are just one part of the body of Christ. Even the Presbyterian church as a denomination is just one part of the body of Christ. Our brothers and sisters in Christ of every time and every place -regardless of denomination - are a part of that body.
I noticed when I led a new member's class that one of the first things I focused on was what makes the Presbyterian church stand out from other churches. When you come right down to it, the things that are really different are how we do communion, when we do baptism, and how we conduct our church's polity. In retrospect, I kind of wish I'd started that conversation differently. Instead of beginning with where we are different, I wish I had started with where we are the same. We are the same in our belief in Jesus Christ. We are the same in our belief in God's amazing love for us. We are the same in our belief that the power of the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us to live in the grace of God. That's the heart of the week of prayer for Christian unity.
I asked an older member of my church once why she was still Presbyterian. She answered with a smile, "Find me a church where I agree with absolutely every single theological point." Point taken. There really isn't the "perfect denomination." She's totally right.
Our Book of Order reminds us that "Unity is God's gift to the Church in Jesus Christ" and that "Division into different denominations obscures but does not destroy unity in Christ." We talk about how we as a church are to strive towards diminishing that obstruction of unity. How is it that we actually do that? In Washington, Illinois, we have a very active ministerial board. That ministerial board is a gathering open to all the clergy in our community. While not every clergymember in town is active on the board, we are represented by a wealth of ecclesial traditions. At our meetings, we don't talk about what makes us different. Actually, we actively avoid that. We talk about how we as a board can offer pastoral support to each other as well as to the community around us. We hold several events throughout the year, including a community prayer service, a Good Friday service, and Thanksgiving service. We also participate in the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in the fall. I feel so blessed to be a community where the ministerial board is dedicated to striving towards minimizing the ways in which having different denominations obscures the unity of Christ.
I take comfort in the fact that being part of one denomination or another doesn't mean we are destroying the unity because there are things about being Presbyterian that I certainly don't want to give up. I feel strongly that God has called me to minister in the Reformed tradition.
So this week I'm praying for unity among the entire body of Christ, regardless of what denomination you subscribe to. I'm also praying for unity within the Presbyterian denomination itself. Lord knows we need those kinds of prayers right now. I hope that as you think about how God is calling you in your walk of faith, you think about how you are helping to strive towards minimalizing the obstruction of unity in Christ. How does your church support Christian unity? How do YOU?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
People have very different views on church membership. Some think the obvious thing to do when you start attending a church is to become a member. Others believe that membership is just a way for the church to get new leaders and new pledge cards.
Which, I have to admit, is probably partly true.
There are different reasons for becoming a church member, and several pros and cons to church membership that I'm not going into here. What I'm really interested in this week is the importance of membership not in the particular church, but in the body of Christ.
As a church, we are just one part of the body of Christ. Even the Presbyterian church as a denomination is just one part of the body of Christ. Our brothers and sisters in Christ of every time and every place -regardless of denomination - are a part of that body.
I noticed when I led a new member's class that one of the first things I focused on was what makes the Presbyterian church stand out from other churches. When you come right down to it, the things that are really different are how we do communion, when we do baptism, and how we conduct our church's polity. In retrospect, I kind of wish I'd started that conversation differently. Instead of beginning with where we are different, I wish I had started with where we are the same. We are the same in our belief in Jesus Christ. We are the same in our belief in God's amazing love for us. We are the same in our belief that the power of the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us to live in the grace of God. That's the heart of the week of prayer for Christian unity.
I asked an older member of my church once why she was still Presbyterian. She answered with a smile, "Find me a church where I agree with absolutely every single theological point." Point taken. There really isn't the "perfect denomination." She's totally right.
Our Book of Order reminds us that "Unity is God's gift to the Church in Jesus Christ" and that "Division into different denominations obscures but does not destroy unity in Christ." We talk about how we as a church are to strive towards diminishing that obstruction of unity. How is it that we actually do that? In Washington, Illinois, we have a very active ministerial board. That ministerial board is a gathering open to all the clergy in our community. While not every clergymember in town is active on the board, we are represented by a wealth of ecclesial traditions. At our meetings, we don't talk about what makes us different. Actually, we actively avoid that. We talk about how we as a board can offer pastoral support to each other as well as to the community around us. We hold several events throughout the year, including a community prayer service, a Good Friday service, and Thanksgiving service. We also participate in the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in the fall. I feel so blessed to be a community where the ministerial board is dedicated to striving towards minimizing the ways in which having different denominations obscures the unity of Christ.
I take comfort in the fact that being part of one denomination or another doesn't mean we are destroying the unity because there are things about being Presbyterian that I certainly don't want to give up. I feel strongly that God has called me to minister in the Reformed tradition.
So this week I'm praying for unity among the entire body of Christ, regardless of what denomination you subscribe to. I'm also praying for unity within the Presbyterian denomination itself. Lord knows we need those kinds of prayers right now. I hope that as you think about how God is calling you in your walk of faith, you think about how you are helping to strive towards minimalizing the obstruction of unity in Christ. How does your church support Christian unity? How do YOU?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Praying for Each Other
I have to say, I'm rather embarassed to note that the last time I posted on this blog was in November. I really do have the best of intentions to update this reguarly. Life, as you might have guessed, happens and the Advent season is especially crazy for pastors.
We did something new this year for Advent that I wanted to share with you because it really went over much better than I thought it would. I've heard of "Stations of the Cross" as a spiritual journey we undertake during the Lent season and I was looking for something comparable for Advent. I really wasn't finding what I was looking for, so I decided to make something up and I entitled it "Stations of the Manger." Each classroom downstairs had a different station. Each station had a scripture passage, a devotion, and a prayer practice. Each person went through the stations as individuals instead of as groups. I put up a sign by the door that said, 'Quiet please, prayer in progress' and encouraged people to go through each station at their own pace. Most people took about an hour to get through all five stations. What was really interesting for me was that I didn't see anything actually happening. I stayed up by the front door at a table handing out instructions and maps outlining where each station was and the whole event kind of ran itself. The only way I knew what was actually going on downstairs was the feedback I received from people after the event. Most people were grateful to have something the week before Christmas that actually forced them to slow down, take a deep breath, and encounter Christ in Advent. I even had to make more photocopies of things, something I've never had to do before. The "Stations of the Manger" was truly a testiment to what a powerful experience engaging in prayer can be for people.
Among the changes to the Presbyterian Book of Order is change to the ordination/installation vows. The eighth question for those being ordained or installed as ruling elders, deacons, teaching elders, or certified Christian educators is this: "Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love?" (bold print notes the new language). There is something profound, I think, about our leaders taking a vow to pray for the people they serve. We are asking the congregation to trust the decisions this group of people make. It makes sense to hope that they are not making decisions in a vaccuum; it makes sense to hope that decision makers in the church are making decisions based on the direction they hear God calling us as a congregation, not just making decisions based on their own agendas (which does, unfortunately, happen occassionally in church politics). Reminding our leaders to be praying for the people they serve reminds us as a congregation that church politics is not just about the politics; it's also about people serving, encouraging, and praying for other people.
The other side of the coin is that not only should congregations expect their leaders to be praying for them, but leaders should expect their congregations to pray for them, as well. During installation and ordination services, congregations take a vow to agree to "pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church." As pastor, I hope that my congregation prays for me. Lord knows we pastors need prayer!
This coming Sunday my congregation will be ordaining and installing new officers to the offices of ruling elders (session) and deacons. As we hear the candidates make their vows to pray for us and as we vow that we will pray for them in return, I truly hope we take that vow seriously. As a congregation, we agree to trust each other. Officers trust that congregations will do what they can to make sure our congregation continues to thrive and congregations trust the officers will make decisions that paint a clear picture of God's call for our church.
I deeply encourage you, whether you are an officer of the church, a member (whether a member on roles or a visiting member) of a church, or even someone not connected with the church at all to keep your leaders in your thoughts. I hope this also includes our secular leaders who, Lord knows, also need our prayers. If we keep each other in prayer, I suspect we will quickly feel the evidence of so many hands keeping us uplifted. And if you are praying for someone in particular, I encourage you to tell that person you pray for him or her. Your leaders will appreciate knowing that they are in your prayers and congregations will appreciate knowing that their leaders are keeping them in prayer as well.
Yours in Christ (and keeping you in prayer),
Pastor Becki
We did something new this year for Advent that I wanted to share with you because it really went over much better than I thought it would. I've heard of "Stations of the Cross" as a spiritual journey we undertake during the Lent season and I was looking for something comparable for Advent. I really wasn't finding what I was looking for, so I decided to make something up and I entitled it "Stations of the Manger." Each classroom downstairs had a different station. Each station had a scripture passage, a devotion, and a prayer practice. Each person went through the stations as individuals instead of as groups. I put up a sign by the door that said, 'Quiet please, prayer in progress' and encouraged people to go through each station at their own pace. Most people took about an hour to get through all five stations. What was really interesting for me was that I didn't see anything actually happening. I stayed up by the front door at a table handing out instructions and maps outlining where each station was and the whole event kind of ran itself. The only way I knew what was actually going on downstairs was the feedback I received from people after the event. Most people were grateful to have something the week before Christmas that actually forced them to slow down, take a deep breath, and encounter Christ in Advent. I even had to make more photocopies of things, something I've never had to do before. The "Stations of the Manger" was truly a testiment to what a powerful experience engaging in prayer can be for people.
Among the changes to the Presbyterian Book of Order is change to the ordination/installation vows. The eighth question for those being ordained or installed as ruling elders, deacons, teaching elders, or certified Christian educators is this: "Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love?" (bold print notes the new language). There is something profound, I think, about our leaders taking a vow to pray for the people they serve. We are asking the congregation to trust the decisions this group of people make. It makes sense to hope that they are not making decisions in a vaccuum; it makes sense to hope that decision makers in the church are making decisions based on the direction they hear God calling us as a congregation, not just making decisions based on their own agendas (which does, unfortunately, happen occassionally in church politics). Reminding our leaders to be praying for the people they serve reminds us as a congregation that church politics is not just about the politics; it's also about people serving, encouraging, and praying for other people.
The other side of the coin is that not only should congregations expect their leaders to be praying for them, but leaders should expect their congregations to pray for them, as well. During installation and ordination services, congregations take a vow to agree to "pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church." As pastor, I hope that my congregation prays for me. Lord knows we pastors need prayer!
This coming Sunday my congregation will be ordaining and installing new officers to the offices of ruling elders (session) and deacons. As we hear the candidates make their vows to pray for us and as we vow that we will pray for them in return, I truly hope we take that vow seriously. As a congregation, we agree to trust each other. Officers trust that congregations will do what they can to make sure our congregation continues to thrive and congregations trust the officers will make decisions that paint a clear picture of God's call for our church.
I deeply encourage you, whether you are an officer of the church, a member (whether a member on roles or a visiting member) of a church, or even someone not connected with the church at all to keep your leaders in your thoughts. I hope this also includes our secular leaders who, Lord knows, also need our prayers. If we keep each other in prayer, I suspect we will quickly feel the evidence of so many hands keeping us uplifted. And if you are praying for someone in particular, I encourage you to tell that person you pray for him or her. Your leaders will appreciate knowing that they are in your prayers and congregations will appreciate knowing that their leaders are keeping them in prayer as well.
Yours in Christ (and keeping you in prayer),
Pastor Becki
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