Good Morning All,
At the end of last week I declared that it had been “the week that was…” and indeed it was and it kept getting better and better for me as the weekend unfolded; even though the snow became a distant memory only captured in the photos on my screen saver… :) But as we all know, in the midst of all that is wonderful, I was reminded that there is more to life than the here & now.
As most of you are aware, Kay Yow, the Coach of the NC State Women’s basketball team, died last Saturday morning. Within and beyond College Women’s Basketball, her reputation on and off the court was legendary. The professional and personal accomplishments throughout her life are numerous, but so much of what she was able to do was done so in the midst of surviving Breast Cancer for 22 years. As I reflect on that one thing alone, I realize how far we have come since 1987 in the fight against all cancers, but especially Breast Cancer. People are living longer and better because of the research that has been done. And Kay Yow and her notoriety has been very instrumental in raising funds most recently through “Hoops for Hope,” which has brought increased awareness to the disease.
But it is Kay Yow the person who encompasses all these efforts, who will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. Her spirit as she faced each day and coached her teams; her special attention to each of the young girls who attended her summer basketball camps; and most of all, her courage in the face of such adversity which was rooted and grounded in her deep and abiding faith in the God who renewed her, strengthened her and sustained her all throughout her life. Her battle with cancer was done publicly, which brings an added dimension to her example for all cancer survivors, giving us courage to keep on keepin’ on. She indeed according to Paul’s words, “…has fought the good fight and finished the race…” (IITimothy 4:7)
At the end of last week I also learned that a dear young friend, The Reverend Brooke Schneitman, died from complications from surgery to remove an aneurysm. Her recent health was compromised by similar issues, yet all she wanted was to graduate from seminary and to be ordained…fulfilling God’s call and claim on her life to serve the Church in some way. She graduated from Lexington Theological Seminary last May and was ordained at FCC, Black Mountain , NC , this past August. And those of us who supported her throughout this time often wondered with all the demands of ministry, how she would be able to muster the energy to serve the Church. But we also knew that she and her call to ministry were in God’s hands. Brooke’s strong faith, sense of humor and welcoming smile touched so many lives in her not so long life. She too has fought the good fight and has finished the race…And we are grateful.
Last Sunday during worship we also rejoiced greatly as we heard the good news for one among us, Denise Loughridge , who continues to fight the good fight. She has so courageously faced her own battle with colon cancer these past two years and at her recent check-up received the very best of news about her health. And we celebrate life with her. And at the same time, we continue to lift in prayer, Vicky Vanderford, who continues with her treatments for Breast Cancer…holding her in prayer and holding up so many examples of all those among us who know what it is like to bravely face compromising health issues.
All of us, each in our own way, go forth daily to slay the many dragons of destruction in our lives...not just related to our health…but anything and everything that, otherwise, if we allow it, has the power to destroy us in an instant…Yet we go forth with another Power who equips us with indescribable resources deep within us…each of us grateful to God for a faith that brings courage, patience, a sense of humor, and strength; all of which miraculously comes to us when we least expect it and need it the most.
Thanks be to God for the many ways in which God’s healing presence is made known to us each day of our life…
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Week That Was
Good Morning All,
Reaching deep, very deep, into the recesses of my mind, I remember as part of the old television show, Laugh-In, there was a weekly segment called, TW3—That Was The Week That Was; where the host comedian would highlight the previous week’s current events. This past week certainly will be among my favorites. It began on Monday, the MLK holiday, heading for Greensboro to be among the 25 or so participants in the Disciples Women’s Blitz-Build—a joint effort with Greensboro ’s Habitat for Humanity. The original plans calling for the finishing of a 2 story home for a single mom, Adrianna, and her 2 young sons. Adrianna had already clocked in over 315 hours of sweat equity—well over the required hours each future homeowner must do. She is now quite well-skilled in doing just about anything needed to construct and finish a home!
While I only was able to work this one day, and a lot of our time was spent getting ready to do some of the work, we were able to put scaffolding together, hang doors—OK a few bent nails were lost to the process; cut & cope floor molding. As you can imagine, 25 women in a small 3 bedroom home, filled with 2 table saws for cutting molding, vinyl siding strips, molding strips, folks wielding hammers, etc. the working quarters were quite cramped…but story-telling and laughter filled up whatever space was empty.
Late in the afternoon, I headed home, feeling good about our work, blessed to make new friends and to know that by the end of February, Adrianna and her sons would have a chance at several new beginnings in their new home. And I must admit, as I travelled I-40E, my excitement grew as I anticipated the possibility of the predicted snow fall headed our way…(Don’t ask me which brought me more excitement, OK)? :)
Let’s see…enough food in the house…plenty of hot chocolate…wood stacked on the front porch, my mental checklist was complete…I had all that I needed to be snowed in...I knew that it had been at least 4 years since any significant amount of snow had come our way…were Greg and Chris really reading this right…the meteorologists have been wrong so many times before…and it was just raining as I made my way closer to home…could I be setting myself up for a huge disappointment? Can you tell I love snow?
As I went to bed, I left one window shade up half-way, so that when I would awaken in the night, I could readily see if the snow falling…as I awakened around 5am, I began to hum the old Austrian Carol, Still, Still, Still, “Still, still, still…One can hear the falling snow. For all is hushed, The world is sleeping, Holy Star its vigil keeping. Still, still, still..” Yes!
What a perfect backdrop to Inauguration Day, watching the various networks, picking up on the excitement and anticipation of the millions of folks who were making their way to the Mall, ready to take their 12 x 30 inch space on the ground…to witness the swearing in of our 44th President of the United States . And our first African-American President.
Partisan politics aside, there is always joy and hope as we share in new beginnings…in our own individual lives and now together as a nation…a nation in need of hope and joy in the midst of the overwhelming economic challenges we are facing, with the growing ranks of newly unemployed and homeless; figuring out how we can help those in need and boost our economy at the same time; our involvement in 2 wars; the need to reestablish ourselves as a better-respected player at the world’s boardroom table of leadership…and then listening to our President remind us that we are all in this together…calling for unity of purpose; compassion and restoring us to peace…
And then on Wednesday to be able to see and hear the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral, with our own Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister & President, delivering the sermon, capped off 2 days worth of celebration…Her message was spot on…centered around words of scripture from Isaiah 58: 6-12 and Matthew 22: 36-40; and began by sharing a Cherokee wisdom story that reminds us that there are 2 wolves struggling within us…one is vengeful, angry, resentful, and filled with self-pity; while the other is filled with compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, integrity and love…Which wolf wins? The one you feed…
She also spoke to the President about “…how much we need him and the other leaders to be guided by the wise counsel of the prophet Isaiah to work for the common good, for public happiness, the well-being of our nation and the world…in which liberty and justice prevail…”
(To hear the full message; to see a transcript and the service program, go to www.nationalcathedral.org and follow the links). How proud you will be as a Disciples of Christ!
This certainly has been a TW3 week for me…and it’s not over…as we head into the weekend we have an opportunity to be refreshed and renewed as a community of faith as we hear the Word of God come to us with the same challenge to feed the wolf of compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, integrity and love within us…Come, Satisfy the Hungry Heart as we make our way into this new year that draws us into God’s future together…Blessings, Joanne
Reaching deep, very deep, into the recesses of my mind, I remember as part of the old television show, Laugh-In, there was a weekly segment called, TW3—That Was The Week That Was; where the host comedian would highlight the previous week’s current events. This past week certainly will be among my favorites. It began on Monday, the MLK holiday, heading for Greensboro to be among the 25 or so participants in the Disciples Women’s Blitz-Build—a joint effort with Greensboro ’s Habitat for Humanity. The original plans calling for the finishing of a 2 story home for a single mom, Adrianna, and her 2 young sons. Adrianna had already clocked in over 315 hours of sweat equity—well over the required hours each future homeowner must do. She is now quite well-skilled in doing just about anything needed to construct and finish a home!
While I only was able to work this one day, and a lot of our time was spent getting ready to do some of the work, we were able to put scaffolding together, hang doors—OK a few bent nails were lost to the process; cut & cope floor molding. As you can imagine, 25 women in a small 3 bedroom home, filled with 2 table saws for cutting molding, vinyl siding strips, molding strips, folks wielding hammers, etc. the working quarters were quite cramped…but story-telling and laughter filled up whatever space was empty.
Late in the afternoon, I headed home, feeling good about our work, blessed to make new friends and to know that by the end of February, Adrianna and her sons would have a chance at several new beginnings in their new home. And I must admit, as I travelled I-40E, my excitement grew as I anticipated the possibility of the predicted snow fall headed our way…(Don’t ask me which brought me more excitement, OK)? :)
Let’s see…enough food in the house…plenty of hot chocolate…wood stacked on the front porch, my mental checklist was complete…I had all that I needed to be snowed in...I knew that it had been at least 4 years since any significant amount of snow had come our way…were Greg and Chris really reading this right…the meteorologists have been wrong so many times before…and it was just raining as I made my way closer to home…could I be setting myself up for a huge disappointment? Can you tell I love snow?
As I went to bed, I left one window shade up half-way, so that when I would awaken in the night, I could readily see if the snow falling…as I awakened around 5am, I began to hum the old Austrian Carol, Still, Still, Still, “Still, still, still…One can hear the falling snow. For all is hushed, The world is sleeping, Holy Star its vigil keeping. Still, still, still..” Yes!
What a perfect backdrop to Inauguration Day, watching the various networks, picking up on the excitement and anticipation of the millions of folks who were making their way to the Mall, ready to take their 12 x 30 inch space on the ground…to witness the swearing in of our 44th President of the United States . And our first African-American President.
Partisan politics aside, there is always joy and hope as we share in new beginnings…in our own individual lives and now together as a nation…a nation in need of hope and joy in the midst of the overwhelming economic challenges we are facing, with the growing ranks of newly unemployed and homeless; figuring out how we can help those in need and boost our economy at the same time; our involvement in 2 wars; the need to reestablish ourselves as a better-respected player at the world’s boardroom table of leadership…and then listening to our President remind us that we are all in this together…calling for unity of purpose; compassion and restoring us to peace…
And then on Wednesday to be able to see and hear the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral, with our own Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister & President, delivering the sermon, capped off 2 days worth of celebration…Her message was spot on…centered around words of scripture from Isaiah 58: 6-12 and Matthew 22: 36-40; and began by sharing a Cherokee wisdom story that reminds us that there are 2 wolves struggling within us…one is vengeful, angry, resentful, and filled with self-pity; while the other is filled with compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, integrity and love…Which wolf wins? The one you feed…
She also spoke to the President about “…how much we need him and the other leaders to be guided by the wise counsel of the prophet Isaiah to work for the common good, for public happiness, the well-being of our nation and the world…in which liberty and justice prevail…”
(To hear the full message; to see a transcript and the service program, go to www.nationalcathedral.org and follow the links). How proud you will be as a Disciples of Christ!
This certainly has been a TW3 week for me…and it’s not over…as we head into the weekend we have an opportunity to be refreshed and renewed as a community of faith as we hear the Word of God come to us with the same challenge to feed the wolf of compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, integrity and love within us…Come, Satisfy the Hungry Heart as we make our way into this new year that draws us into God’s future together…Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
God's Beloved
Good Morning All,
The other day a friend of mine and I were sharing stories of childhood. I spoke of how my parents told me that there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t do or become, if I put my mind to it. I always felt encouraged and supported by my parents when it came to my dreams and aspirations. And I looked over at my friend and it was as if he weren’t fully present. What’s wrong? Did I say something to upset you?
“Oh no,” he said. “But do you have any idea of how lucky you are?” “I would give anything to have had either one of my parents believe in me or encourage me to find my way in life.”
‘Even to this day, I have a hard time turning off the voice inside me that is so critical…”
“Can’t you do anything right?” “You’ll never amount to anything.” “What makes you think you can do that?” “I honestly can’t think of a time when I didn’t have to fight these demons running around in my head.” “Every time I had a test or a try-out for band or sports, I could hear my father say some of these things and I was defeated before I even got out of bed.”
I can’t imagine living with that kind of constant criticism. How does anyone ever manage to grow in one’s self-esteem when there’s always someone standing over you with those kinds of comments? How does one ever succeed at anything after being bombarded in this way?
Especially when our tendency as human beings is to mostly hear the negative things said about us; the negative voices from within; or to only focus on our failures…Why is that, do you suppose?
Last Sunday as we reflected on the Baptism of Jesus as recorded in the first few verses of Mark’s gospel, we did so in relationship to our own baptismal story. We focused on the Voice that declared, “This is my beloved; with whom I am well-pleased,” as Jesus came up from the water. By virtue of our own baptism, we too share in this same declaration. This means that YOU are God’s beloved. Imagine, even for only a moment, how much God delights in YOU.
I suspect that many of us have difficulty thinking, let alone believing, that God cares for us this much— especially in times of failure, or worse, betrayal; in times of disappointment or suffering.
And yet I truly believe that every last one of us longs deep within our very being, to hear these words…to know that our first, middle and last name…our only name given to us by God, is always, Beloved…
God recognizes each one of us as a beloved daughter or son. And God welcomes all of us into relationship with God as God offers us this important invitation: “Let me show you a new way…Come walk with me out of the former shadows of your life and into the light of a brand new day…I have claimed you and called you by name. You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You make me glad!”
May we be guided by these words as together we move into this New Year…
Blessings, Joanne
The other day a friend of mine and I were sharing stories of childhood. I spoke of how my parents told me that there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t do or become, if I put my mind to it. I always felt encouraged and supported by my parents when it came to my dreams and aspirations. And I looked over at my friend and it was as if he weren’t fully present. What’s wrong? Did I say something to upset you?
“Oh no,” he said. “But do you have any idea of how lucky you are?” “I would give anything to have had either one of my parents believe in me or encourage me to find my way in life.”
‘Even to this day, I have a hard time turning off the voice inside me that is so critical…”
“Can’t you do anything right?” “You’ll never amount to anything.” “What makes you think you can do that?” “I honestly can’t think of a time when I didn’t have to fight these demons running around in my head.” “Every time I had a test or a try-out for band or sports, I could hear my father say some of these things and I was defeated before I even got out of bed.”
I can’t imagine living with that kind of constant criticism. How does anyone ever manage to grow in one’s self-esteem when there’s always someone standing over you with those kinds of comments? How does one ever succeed at anything after being bombarded in this way?
Especially when our tendency as human beings is to mostly hear the negative things said about us; the negative voices from within; or to only focus on our failures…Why is that, do you suppose?
Last Sunday as we reflected on the Baptism of Jesus as recorded in the first few verses of Mark’s gospel, we did so in relationship to our own baptismal story. We focused on the Voice that declared, “This is my beloved; with whom I am well-pleased,” as Jesus came up from the water. By virtue of our own baptism, we too share in this same declaration. This means that YOU are God’s beloved. Imagine, even for only a moment, how much God delights in YOU.
I suspect that many of us have difficulty thinking, let alone believing, that God cares for us this much— especially in times of failure, or worse, betrayal; in times of disappointment or suffering.
And yet I truly believe that every last one of us longs deep within our very being, to hear these words…to know that our first, middle and last name…our only name given to us by God, is always, Beloved…
God recognizes each one of us as a beloved daughter or son. And God welcomes all of us into relationship with God as God offers us this important invitation: “Let me show you a new way…Come walk with me out of the former shadows of your life and into the light of a brand new day…I have claimed you and called you by name. You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You make me glad!”
May we be guided by these words as together we move into this New Year…
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
God's Joy
Good Morning Bethlehem Trekkers,
So much this holy-day season is here to bring us joy. But I also know that so much else is here to rob us of that joy. A few weeks ago I didn’t know whether to laugh or be greatly concerned when I heard about a church who, after several years of someone stealing the baby Jesus from their outdoor Nativity Scene, attached a GPS to the baby Jesus. But every year somebody out of guilt or simply a silly prank, returned him to his rightful place on Christmas Eve. Maybe the would-be Grinch was like some of the rest of us who know quite well that you don’t put the baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve! :) I take heart in the idea that the thief even knew that the baby Jesus was important enough to steal it in the first place.
Last Sunday, everyone present, received God’s gift of joy through the music of our Christmas Cantata. Joy was on the faces of those who played, sang and directed as well as on the faces of those who were privileged with hearing the beautiful music. Joy was there in the giving and the receiving. Sometimes though, joy doesn’t come to us as readily. Joy is oftentimes elusive. We seem to only brush up against joy —almost as if we were being teased with it; as if we were only flirting with experiencing joy. And so as we make our way to Bethlehem, we are greatly encouraged to be on the lookout for joy, along with hope, peace & love, as we focus our prayers and thoughts and meditations on what these gifts mean to our lives.
So often we set ourselves up. We don’t mean to, but we raise the bar so high on what we expect to get from this special time of year. We fall so deeply into the seductive trappings of the season that we diminish for ourselves, or we completely miss, the depth and the mystery of Christmas. And I think some the elusiveness of joy is because of our tendency to confuse joy with happiness.
A dear woman from my past, Frances, said it best, “Happiness is fleeting; it can come and go in your life. But joy is what you feel deep down inside your very soul.” “At its root,” writes Sam Purdum, “Joy is a testimony of the heart.” Joy is a gift and with all gifts, we must learn to be gracious receivers—to receive God’s grace—to receive God’s joy—to allow joy to enter your life— Joy comes from knowing that no matter what comes our way, God will make all things right—somehow and for better or worse, in God’s own time. But I also know when we allow God to enter our experiences, God is right on time…
In the midst of the “stuff” of life, we must get a grip on trusting and believing that we are really on our way to something far better and more wonderful than we can ever imagine—all because God loves us this much—all because our faith journey, our moving into God’s future, will be all that God desires for us…The joy in our song, the joy in our soul, allows us to drink from the well of God’s love, God’s joy, supplying and re-supplying all that we could ever need; all that allows us to never to hunger or thirst again.
When Paul told the Philippians “Rejoice always; again I say rejoice!” he wasn’t simply telling them, “Don’t worry; be happy…Put on a happy face.” He was telling them to allow themselves to enter into the joy that God has for them—to be open to experiencing the joy that fills life to overflowing of anyone who is in Christ Jesus. And the evidence of such a joy-filled faith comes to us from Jesus himself, when he spoke of joy during the Last Supper when he told his closest friends he would soon be crucified- hardly a time of joy for those hearing these words: “Abide in me as I abide in you…Abide in my love…I have said these things to you so that MY joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:4, 9-10)
Joy to the World! Joy to you! Blessings, Joanne
So much this holy-day season is here to bring us joy. But I also know that so much else is here to rob us of that joy. A few weeks ago I didn’t know whether to laugh or be greatly concerned when I heard about a church who, after several years of someone stealing the baby Jesus from their outdoor Nativity Scene, attached a GPS to the baby Jesus. But every year somebody out of guilt or simply a silly prank, returned him to his rightful place on Christmas Eve. Maybe the would-be Grinch was like some of the rest of us who know quite well that you don’t put the baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve! :) I take heart in the idea that the thief even knew that the baby Jesus was important enough to steal it in the first place.
Last Sunday, everyone present, received God’s gift of joy through the music of our Christmas Cantata. Joy was on the faces of those who played, sang and directed as well as on the faces of those who were privileged with hearing the beautiful music. Joy was there in the giving and the receiving. Sometimes though, joy doesn’t come to us as readily. Joy is oftentimes elusive. We seem to only brush up against joy —almost as if we were being teased with it; as if we were only flirting with experiencing joy. And so as we make our way to Bethlehem, we are greatly encouraged to be on the lookout for joy, along with hope, peace & love, as we focus our prayers and thoughts and meditations on what these gifts mean to our lives.
So often we set ourselves up. We don’t mean to, but we raise the bar so high on what we expect to get from this special time of year. We fall so deeply into the seductive trappings of the season that we diminish for ourselves, or we completely miss, the depth and the mystery of Christmas. And I think some the elusiveness of joy is because of our tendency to confuse joy with happiness.
A dear woman from my past, Frances, said it best, “Happiness is fleeting; it can come and go in your life. But joy is what you feel deep down inside your very soul.” “At its root,” writes Sam Purdum, “Joy is a testimony of the heart.” Joy is a gift and with all gifts, we must learn to be gracious receivers—to receive God’s grace—to receive God’s joy—to allow joy to enter your life— Joy comes from knowing that no matter what comes our way, God will make all things right—somehow and for better or worse, in God’s own time. But I also know when we allow God to enter our experiences, God is right on time…
In the midst of the “stuff” of life, we must get a grip on trusting and believing that we are really on our way to something far better and more wonderful than we can ever imagine—all because God loves us this much—all because our faith journey, our moving into God’s future, will be all that God desires for us…The joy in our song, the joy in our soul, allows us to drink from the well of God’s love, God’s joy, supplying and re-supplying all that we could ever need; all that allows us to never to hunger or thirst again.
When Paul told the Philippians “Rejoice always; again I say rejoice!” he wasn’t simply telling them, “Don’t worry; be happy…Put on a happy face.” He was telling them to allow themselves to enter into the joy that God has for them—to be open to experiencing the joy that fills life to overflowing of anyone who is in Christ Jesus. And the evidence of such a joy-filled faith comes to us from Jesus himself, when he spoke of joy during the Last Supper when he told his closest friends he would soon be crucified- hardly a time of joy for those hearing these words: “Abide in me as I abide in you…Abide in my love…I have said these things to you so that MY joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:4, 9-10)
Joy to the World! Joy to you! Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Children
Good Morning Bethlehem Trekkers,
Stars! Angels! Shepherds & Sheep! Lion & Lamb! Crèche! Trees, Wreaths & Garlands! Candles! This time of year offers us so many rich images to capture the meaning and message of this sacred season. And of course there are also so many stories and legends that are now entrenched into the customs of Christmas. A Christmas without Grinch? Without George Bailey and his Wonderful Life? Without a trip down 54th Street? Without Charlie Brown’s Christmas? Without the bright nose of Rudolph? Without the Bah-Humbugs of Ebeneezer Scrooge? How empty my Christmas heart would be!
And for sure my Christmas would be more devoid of meaning and happiness if I couldn’t share this wonderful time through the eyes of the children in my life. Think about it…of course the lists to Santa are so very long and most items are more than just wishful thinking…then there are the messy kitchens filled with cookie baking and making gingerbread houses…the most creative efforts of wrapping presents…the Christmas trees that are heavy-laden with ornaments at the bottom and in the front…the playful ways of keeping secrets about that special gift for Mom or Dad or someone else dear…the squeals of delight at the simplest of things…the singing of Christmas songs with their own interpretation as they sound out the words…and most of all, the light and wonder in their eyes as they take in all that is happening around them…of course I’m intentionally leaving out their tears and tantrums that also are the reality of children (and some adults :) ), most especially this time of year!
During our Hanging of the Greens Service last Sunday, the children were certainly front and center-stage as we began to decorate the sanctuary. When they brought in the poinsettias there was such joy on their faces…they had been asked to help us decorate and they were so proud…so determined to get it right…and then as they helped put the ornaments on the tree, the older ones reaching as high as they could and the younger placing them on the first available branch before them…
…And then after all this came the attempt to settle into the Children’s Moment about none other than, PEACE…as they declared that peace was when everyone gets along; peace is the word that goes with quiet; when everything is calm…and as they were given olive shells…a symbol of peace…a bit of whining followed: “This one’s cracked…this one has stuff in it; she got a bigger one than this; his is prettier than this one—can I have another? And then in the spirit of sharing, one little voice whispered, “Can I get two? One for my baby brother?”
And who could have possibly anticipated the “Burp heard ‘round the Church” as the first word of litany of the lighting of the Peace Candle was barely out of the leader’s mouth? No it didn’t come from the leader; it came from an infant among us who had just finished his mid-morning feeding. Some burst out laughing immediately; some giggled while others shifted in their seats; and before long, the room was overflowing with laughter and we began a “do-over.”
And the recovery was well on its way as we were about to hear the scripture reading for the candle lighting. and if on cue, a child in the congregation began loudly crying. Talk about “…a voice crying out…In the wilderness…” We couldn’t have asked for better stage direction! :)
If there were those among us who were anticipating a solemn assembly for the Hanging of the Greens service, I know they must have left feeling a bit empty; but for those among us who come to worship with eager anticipation of God’s surprises, I know you left filled to the brim with the joy of this holy time as we enjoyed the presence of God’s Spirit and one another…
Truly we experienced the truth of the prophet Isaiah: “The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid…and a little child shall lead them…”
Blessings, Joanne
Stars! Angels! Shepherds & Sheep! Lion & Lamb! Crèche! Trees, Wreaths & Garlands! Candles! This time of year offers us so many rich images to capture the meaning and message of this sacred season. And of course there are also so many stories and legends that are now entrenched into the customs of Christmas. A Christmas without Grinch? Without George Bailey and his Wonderful Life? Without a trip down 54th Street? Without Charlie Brown’s Christmas? Without the bright nose of Rudolph? Without the Bah-Humbugs of Ebeneezer Scrooge? How empty my Christmas heart would be!
And for sure my Christmas would be more devoid of meaning and happiness if I couldn’t share this wonderful time through the eyes of the children in my life. Think about it…of course the lists to Santa are so very long and most items are more than just wishful thinking…then there are the messy kitchens filled with cookie baking and making gingerbread houses…the most creative efforts of wrapping presents…the Christmas trees that are heavy-laden with ornaments at the bottom and in the front…the playful ways of keeping secrets about that special gift for Mom or Dad or someone else dear…the squeals of delight at the simplest of things…the singing of Christmas songs with their own interpretation as they sound out the words…and most of all, the light and wonder in their eyes as they take in all that is happening around them…of course I’m intentionally leaving out their tears and tantrums that also are the reality of children (and some adults :) ), most especially this time of year!
During our Hanging of the Greens Service last Sunday, the children were certainly front and center-stage as we began to decorate the sanctuary. When they brought in the poinsettias there was such joy on their faces…they had been asked to help us decorate and they were so proud…so determined to get it right…and then as they helped put the ornaments on the tree, the older ones reaching as high as they could and the younger placing them on the first available branch before them…
…And then after all this came the attempt to settle into the Children’s Moment about none other than, PEACE…as they declared that peace was when everyone gets along; peace is the word that goes with quiet; when everything is calm…and as they were given olive shells…a symbol of peace…a bit of whining followed: “This one’s cracked…this one has stuff in it; she got a bigger one than this; his is prettier than this one—can I have another? And then in the spirit of sharing, one little voice whispered, “Can I get two? One for my baby brother?”
And who could have possibly anticipated the “Burp heard ‘round the Church” as the first word of litany of the lighting of the Peace Candle was barely out of the leader’s mouth? No it didn’t come from the leader; it came from an infant among us who had just finished his mid-morning feeding. Some burst out laughing immediately; some giggled while others shifted in their seats; and before long, the room was overflowing with laughter and we began a “do-over.”
And the recovery was well on its way as we were about to hear the scripture reading for the candle lighting. and if on cue, a child in the congregation began loudly crying. Talk about “…a voice crying out…In the wilderness…” We couldn’t have asked for better stage direction! :)
If there were those among us who were anticipating a solemn assembly for the Hanging of the Greens service, I know they must have left feeling a bit empty; but for those among us who come to worship with eager anticipation of God’s surprises, I know you left filled to the brim with the joy of this holy time as we enjoyed the presence of God’s Spirit and one another…
Truly we experienced the truth of the prophet Isaiah: “The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid…and a little child shall lead them…”
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Delayed Gratification
Good Morning All,
Anticipation! Promise! Preparation! Waiting! Wonder! Mystery! These are just a few of the watchwords that set the Advent stage for us… Advent begins the Church year for us as Christians. Advent also flows into the natural rhythm of late fall and the onset of winter. Nature is preparing for the deep sleep of winter; fluffing her pillow and snuggling underneath her warm, thick quilt; anticipating a long, winter’s nap.
Winter is known for its darkness yet it continues its work hidden beneath the ground. And in the midst of this shroud of mystery, Advent comes. Together Advent and winter invite us to long in hope as we anticipate the return of more sunlight and the birth of the Word made Flesh. Can you feel the power in this combined effort? Advent and Nature…Nature and Advent.
It’s a power that stirs deep within us…hidden, yet somehow known, as it rumbles around in our hearts and minds. We long to be embraced by the Holy; we long for our lives to be different in some way; we long for the world to be different... Advent is a season of reflection… remembering the people and events that have shaped our lives, most recently as well as in years gone by; people and events, both joy-filled and sad. And we wait…we wait in hope…knowing and believing that the Light of the World is coming…a time of true joy as the Light of the World dispels any and all sadness.
Some folks want to equate waiting with wasting…and we can indeed waste time in our waiting. But nature reminds us that everything comes in due season and waiting to its fullness makes all the difference to our sense of wholeness and well being. Gertrud Mueller Nelson, in her book, To Dance with God, reminds us that “a shortened period of incubation brings forth what is not whole or strong or at times even alive. Brewing, baking, simmering, fermenting, ripening, germinating, gestating are the processes of becoming and are symbolic states of being which belong in a life of value, necessary to transformation.”
While waiting is not often a welcomed guest in our lives, maybe the best gift we can give ourselves is to give waiting a new look…to dress it up a bit; maybe top it off with a bright red bow; so that we may better appreciate the power and purpose that waiting brings us. After all, isn’t it instant gratification that usually gets us in trouble or diminishes the act?
As we make our way to Bethlehem , let’s give a cheer to delayed gratification…feeling its power; seeking ways that bring meaning to our lives and purpose to our days; longing to experience the mystery of this sacred time… waiting in hope for the birth of the Christ Child…
Blessings, Joanne
Anticipation! Promise! Preparation! Waiting! Wonder! Mystery! These are just a few of the watchwords that set the Advent stage for us… Advent begins the Church year for us as Christians. Advent also flows into the natural rhythm of late fall and the onset of winter. Nature is preparing for the deep sleep of winter; fluffing her pillow and snuggling underneath her warm, thick quilt; anticipating a long, winter’s nap.
Winter is known for its darkness yet it continues its work hidden beneath the ground. And in the midst of this shroud of mystery, Advent comes. Together Advent and winter invite us to long in hope as we anticipate the return of more sunlight and the birth of the Word made Flesh. Can you feel the power in this combined effort? Advent and Nature…Nature and Advent.
It’s a power that stirs deep within us…hidden, yet somehow known, as it rumbles around in our hearts and minds. We long to be embraced by the Holy; we long for our lives to be different in some way; we long for the world to be different... Advent is a season of reflection… remembering the people and events that have shaped our lives, most recently as well as in years gone by; people and events, both joy-filled and sad. And we wait…we wait in hope…knowing and believing that the Light of the World is coming…a time of true joy as the Light of the World dispels any and all sadness.
Some folks want to equate waiting with wasting…and we can indeed waste time in our waiting. But nature reminds us that everything comes in due season and waiting to its fullness makes all the difference to our sense of wholeness and well being. Gertrud Mueller Nelson, in her book, To Dance with God, reminds us that “a shortened period of incubation brings forth what is not whole or strong or at times even alive. Brewing, baking, simmering, fermenting, ripening, germinating, gestating are the processes of becoming and are symbolic states of being which belong in a life of value, necessary to transformation.”
While waiting is not often a welcomed guest in our lives, maybe the best gift we can give ourselves is to give waiting a new look…to dress it up a bit; maybe top it off with a bright red bow; so that we may better appreciate the power and purpose that waiting brings us. After all, isn’t it instant gratification that usually gets us in trouble or diminishes the act?
As we make our way to Bethlehem , let’s give a cheer to delayed gratification…feeling its power; seeking ways that bring meaning to our lives and purpose to our days; longing to experience the mystery of this sacred time… waiting in hope for the birth of the Christ Child…
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Call for Unity
Good Morning All,
“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…”(2Timothy 4.7) These words were penned by the Apostle Paul, but are quite appropriate for both of the presidential candidates and to all who worked to help elect them and to all of us who cast our ballots. I have awakened to this “morning after” with an Election Night Hangover. Shame on you for thinking it might be due to something other than sleep deprivation! :)
I gave my remote quite a workout going from network to network to catch the latest results from the early pockets of electoral votes to the statewide decisions; from the moment when the magic # of 270 was reached to the last words of the concession speech and closing with the last words of the victory speech. I was riveted to say the least. I come by all this enthusiasm about politics quite naturally because all through my upbringing my parents were politicians; working and serving throughout their careers and beyond. I have such vivid memories of election night parties and activities in our home and it continues to this day.
Elections, especially many of our Presidential elections, and this one in particular, carry such emotion, such fervor. And this election certainly bears witness to the words of caution that warn of the divisiveness that usually comes from discussions about politics & religion. Although we heard so much about “the undecideds,” I never encountered the first person who didn’t know which candidate they supported. Everyone I met had such strong feelings of support for their candidate and their political party as did I.
As I listened to Senator McCain’s concession speech, and as I listened to Senator Obama’s victory speech, I heard them both call for unity among all the people of our nation. And I thought for a nano-second, I was at a Disciples of Christ rally…ah, to have those millions of supporters as members of our denomination! The rule and passion of one of our Disciples of Christ’s founders, Barton Stone was, "Let Christian unity be our polar star."
The call for unity; the desire to end the polarity always must come following a long, hard, passionate fight for whatever prize. And while the many months of campaigning were arduous, the hard work that is needed to make this call a reality in this country has just begun. There are many walking wounded who will need more than just a little bit of time to heal from last night’s results and there are those whose candidate has emerged victorious who will need to respect that with the same kind of graciousness that Senator McCain exhibited.
But regardless of your political leanings, this indeed has been an election filled with numbers we haven’t seen in this country for several decades: new voter registrations, volunteer efforts, actual voter turnout and unprecedented financial support. But more than all this…this election is unprecedented in some very important ways. Step back in our US history to:
· 1870(138 years ago) when the 15th amendment of our Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing voting rights for all citizens (read, all Black male citizens) regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude…yet it wasn’t enforced until 1963—only 45 years ago, at the height of the Civil Rights movement;
· 1920 (88 years ago) when the 19th amendment was ratified, guaranteeing the right of all women to vote (read, only white women) and the same enforcement came for Black women in 1963…
And now 46 years after one of the worst struggles in our history, our new US President will be sworn into office on January 20, 2009, on the steps of the US Capitol, which was built by slaves during the 1850’s…
We’ve come full circle…we are about to not only talk the talk of equality, we are about to walk its walk…putting words that have appeared on some very important paper for several generations; reminding us that every last one of us, is not only equal under the laws of this great nation, but first and foremost, every last one of us is equal in the eyes of God…
Let unity be our nation’s “polar star…” Blessings, Joanne
“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…”(2Timothy 4.7) These words were penned by the Apostle Paul, but are quite appropriate for both of the presidential candidates and to all who worked to help elect them and to all of us who cast our ballots. I have awakened to this “morning after” with an Election Night Hangover. Shame on you for thinking it might be due to something other than sleep deprivation! :)
I gave my remote quite a workout going from network to network to catch the latest results from the early pockets of electoral votes to the statewide decisions; from the moment when the magic # of 270 was reached to the last words of the concession speech and closing with the last words of the victory speech. I was riveted to say the least. I come by all this enthusiasm about politics quite naturally because all through my upbringing my parents were politicians; working and serving throughout their careers and beyond. I have such vivid memories of election night parties and activities in our home and it continues to this day.
Elections, especially many of our Presidential elections, and this one in particular, carry such emotion, such fervor. And this election certainly bears witness to the words of caution that warn of the divisiveness that usually comes from discussions about politics & religion. Although we heard so much about “the undecideds,” I never encountered the first person who didn’t know which candidate they supported. Everyone I met had such strong feelings of support for their candidate and their political party as did I.
As I listened to Senator McCain’s concession speech, and as I listened to Senator Obama’s victory speech, I heard them both call for unity among all the people of our nation. And I thought for a nano-second, I was at a Disciples of Christ rally…ah, to have those millions of supporters as members of our denomination! The rule and passion of one of our Disciples of Christ’s founders, Barton Stone was, "Let Christian unity be our polar star."
The call for unity; the desire to end the polarity always must come following a long, hard, passionate fight for whatever prize. And while the many months of campaigning were arduous, the hard work that is needed to make this call a reality in this country has just begun. There are many walking wounded who will need more than just a little bit of time to heal from last night’s results and there are those whose candidate has emerged victorious who will need to respect that with the same kind of graciousness that Senator McCain exhibited.
But regardless of your political leanings, this indeed has been an election filled with numbers we haven’t seen in this country for several decades: new voter registrations, volunteer efforts, actual voter turnout and unprecedented financial support. But more than all this…this election is unprecedented in some very important ways. Step back in our US history to:
· 1870(138 years ago) when the 15th amendment of our Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing voting rights for all citizens (read, all Black male citizens) regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude…yet it wasn’t enforced until 1963—only 45 years ago, at the height of the Civil Rights movement;
· 1920 (88 years ago) when the 19th amendment was ratified, guaranteeing the right of all women to vote (read, only white women) and the same enforcement came for Black women in 1963…
And now 46 years after one of the worst struggles in our history, our new US President will be sworn into office on January 20, 2009, on the steps of the US Capitol, which was built by slaves during the 1850’s…
We’ve come full circle…we are about to not only talk the talk of equality, we are about to walk its walk…putting words that have appeared on some very important paper for several generations; reminding us that every last one of us, is not only equal under the laws of this great nation, but first and foremost, every last one of us is equal in the eyes of God…
Let unity be our nation’s “polar star…” Blessings, Joanne
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