Good Morning All,
How many doors can you think of? I recently came across this question in a devotional book I am using during Lent entitled, Open the Door; A Journey to the True Self, by Joyce Rupp. I first thought of a screen door; revolving door; glass door; patio door; front /back door; car door; garage door; swinging door; trap door; and if you’re old enough to remember or come from an area of the country where tornadoes come calling, there are cellar doors.
It’s not much of a stretch to move from the naming these physical doors that we use almost daily to “door” as a metaphor for our spiritual lives; and to begin envisioning the door of our heart or the door of our soul…the entry into our deeper, more spiritual selves as we dare to begin a journey with God as our companion, our spiritual director and guide.
On the first Sunday in Lent we spent some time with Jesus in the wilderness and his exchange with the Tempter (aka Evil One; Devil; Lucifer, Beelzebub, et al.) There was no mention of a door or even a gate or gateway into this wilderness; the two of them were simply there.
Sometimes I guess you just find your way there, not too sure how you actually got there. But the challenge, I think, comes from exploring how one arrives or through which entryway or door one comes, to begin or to re-enter one’s spiritual journey…filled with time in the wilderness as well as “lying down in green pastures.”
Does the door of your heart/soul have a sign on it? What does it say? I can think of a lot of signs that may hang on the door of my heart and I imagine that the sign on the door on any particular day and time would be different; depending on what drives us to this time of deeper spiritual exploration; the need and desire to walk and talk with God. I can see the door of my heart with a sign that says Welcome, complete with a welcome mat and a light in the window…Come on in God; you’re warmly welcome here!
And then there are times when that sign would appear in bold letters, maybe even all caps: ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! Or DO NOT DISTURB! NO TRESPASSING! NO LONGER AT THIS ADDRESS! Whew! When this happens, just like Alexander in the children’s story, I must be having “a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.” But I think many times when I dare to delve deeply into my spiritual being, the sign above my door says, Doorbell Broken…Please knock! I am brooding; mulling things over...not much is going all that well; but I still want to be open to God’s presence in my life.
Whenever I think about the metaphor of the door, I can see the famous painting by Warner Sallman of Jesus knocking at the door…”Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door; I will come in to you and eat with you and you with me.” (Rev. 3: 20)
Jesus is standing at the door “politely” waiting an invitation to enter your heart/life. The most intriguing part of this painting is, there is no doorknob on the outside of the door. We’re told he intentionally left it out...letting us know that the door to our heart is only opened from the inside.
So we hold the power; we choose to open the door or to keep it closed.
But when it comes to everyday life’s pushes and pulls, there are always the uninvited circumstances that swoop down and begin clobbering us and clamoring for our attention. And these uninvited occurrences or people force their way upon us…accidents; test results; diagnoses; betrayals; death of a loved one…No matter whether we willingly open the door to our heart or the uninvited circumstances force their way in with a battering ram…we are never alone…God IS always there, offering God’s hand; God’s presence; power; courage; comfort…and somehow, maybe not immediately, but eventually, we learn and grow and change in unimaginable ways…Thanks be to God…Who’s that knocking at your door?
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Norm Factor
Good Morning All,
Have you ever found yourself overhearing, maybe even eavesdropping on a nearby conversation? I’m not talking about a covert operation or juicy bits of gossip; nothing intentional…just simply being within earshot of people talking to one another…OK, enough of my trying to justify my own actions…:)
Well…recently I was seated outside a treatment room at my chiropractor’s office where the door is always open and if the patient has a particularly loud voice, sometimes the conversation takes over whatever else you may be doing at the moment. I was working on the morning crossword puzzle trying to think of an answer when the gist of what I heard was that the woman (patient) worked at Trader Joe’s and she made it a point to learn the names of the regular customers…back to the puzzle…A few moments later a phrase came wafting through the air and landed in my ear. I heard her say, the “Norm Factor.” So much for 37 down…I found myself mulling over that phrase, first thinking that it might refer to “the norm as in normal, factor;” perhaps meaning doing whatever in a routine or normal way.
Then it hit me…a flashback to the once popular television show, Cheers…set in a neighborhood bar in Boston , MA . One of the principal characters was a guy named Norm…always there seated at the bar engaged in conversations. I remember that his persona and role was responsible for the memorable phrase out of the show’s musical theme, “…where everybody knows your name…” Maybe you’re already ahead of me (not too difficult a task when it comes to the latest business world approaches/gimmicks/techniques).
Popular culture once again gives us a phrase that we can incorporate into our lives in some way. Think about it. The “Norm Factor” can play an important role in so many situations: if you live in a retirement community; or an officer or member of a particular club or organization; or work teams; office staffs and colleagues; or your child’s classmates/teammates and parents; staff and faculty of schools and colleges…any and all settings that are based on welcoming others and assimilating them into a particular community or organization…
And so it goes with our community of faith…you and I have so many opportunities to put the “Norm Factor” into play by welcoming and assimilating others into life at Covenant…getting to know the people who walk through Covenant’s doors—members and guests alike as we worship, study, lead and serve together; i.e. Do you know our childcare workers? Choir members?
Today is Ash Wednesday, (worship at 7:30p) the beginning of Lent, as we journey to Jerusalem and beyond, with Easter Morning just around the next few bends in the road…some of us are called to “give up” something…usually it’s a bad habit that we can simply pick it up again after Easter. But I want to challenge each of us to “take up” something…
I want us to take up the “Norm Factor” here at Covenant…Each week I challenge you to make a concentrated effort toward meeting and welcoming someone—member or guest--that you don’t know along with the challenge of remembering his/her name…write it down on your Sunday bulletin or notepad; whatever works best for you, so that you can greet them by name the next time you see them… WEAR YOUR NAMETAG!
And…I especially challenge each of us to begin learning the names of all our children; and an even greater challenge is matching them with their parents. What a wonderful gift that keeps on giving…creating a lasting memory of being part of a church family where everybody knows your name.
Isaiah 43:1 reminds us that God names and claims us; calls us by name…and I believe, God in turn, calls us to do the same…
Cheers, my friends! Come to Covenant…where everybody knows YOUR name…Joanne
Have you ever found yourself overhearing, maybe even eavesdropping on a nearby conversation? I’m not talking about a covert operation or juicy bits of gossip; nothing intentional…just simply being within earshot of people talking to one another…OK, enough of my trying to justify my own actions…:)
Well…recently I was seated outside a treatment room at my chiropractor’s office where the door is always open and if the patient has a particularly loud voice, sometimes the conversation takes over whatever else you may be doing at the moment. I was working on the morning crossword puzzle trying to think of an answer when the gist of what I heard was that the woman (patient) worked at Trader Joe’s and she made it a point to learn the names of the regular customers…back to the puzzle…A few moments later a phrase came wafting through the air and landed in my ear. I heard her say, the “Norm Factor.” So much for 37 down…I found myself mulling over that phrase, first thinking that it might refer to “the norm as in normal, factor;” perhaps meaning doing whatever in a routine or normal way.
Then it hit me…a flashback to the once popular television show, Cheers…set in a neighborhood bar in Boston , MA . One of the principal characters was a guy named Norm…always there seated at the bar engaged in conversations. I remember that his persona and role was responsible for the memorable phrase out of the show’s musical theme, “…where everybody knows your name…” Maybe you’re already ahead of me (not too difficult a task when it comes to the latest business world approaches/gimmicks/techniques).
Popular culture once again gives us a phrase that we can incorporate into our lives in some way. Think about it. The “Norm Factor” can play an important role in so many situations: if you live in a retirement community; or an officer or member of a particular club or organization; or work teams; office staffs and colleagues; or your child’s classmates/teammates and parents; staff and faculty of schools and colleges…any and all settings that are based on welcoming others and assimilating them into a particular community or organization…
And so it goes with our community of faith…you and I have so many opportunities to put the “Norm Factor” into play by welcoming and assimilating others into life at Covenant…getting to know the people who walk through Covenant’s doors—members and guests alike as we worship, study, lead and serve together; i.e. Do you know our childcare workers? Choir members?
Today is Ash Wednesday, (worship at 7:30p) the beginning of Lent, as we journey to Jerusalem and beyond, with Easter Morning just around the next few bends in the road…some of us are called to “give up” something…usually it’s a bad habit that we can simply pick it up again after Easter. But I want to challenge each of us to “take up” something…
I want us to take up the “Norm Factor” here at Covenant…Each week I challenge you to make a concentrated effort toward meeting and welcoming someone—member or guest--that you don’t know along with the challenge of remembering his/her name…write it down on your Sunday bulletin or notepad; whatever works best for you, so that you can greet them by name the next time you see them… WEAR YOUR NAMETAG!
And…I especially challenge each of us to begin learning the names of all our children; and an even greater challenge is matching them with their parents. What a wonderful gift that keeps on giving…creating a lasting memory of being part of a church family where everybody knows your name.
Isaiah 43:1 reminds us that God names and claims us; calls us by name…and I believe, God in turn, calls us to do the same…
Cheers, my friends! Come to Covenant…where everybody knows YOUR name…Joanne
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
One of Us
Good Morning All,
Super Bowl XLIV may have been one for the audience viewing record books. I don’t know if you were among the estimated 106+million who watched the game and/or commercials or not, but I wonder if you were among the 38.6 million people who watched the debut of the new reality show Undercover Boss. The show features chief executives of major corporations, who for one week go undercover as entry-level workers to not only rub elbows with their employees but also to identify some of the unsung he-roes and she-roes among the workers.
While I watched this new show, mostly, I suppose, because it immediately followed the Super Bowl, I became increasingly intrigued by the show’s premise. And as I reflected on this idea of CEO’s rubbing elbows with the workers and becoming one of them, my thoughts quickly shifted to how we have been making our way along our faith journey since the Day of Epiphany on January 6; which then makes it hard to believe that it has only been a little over 6 weeks since Christmas Day!
So much has happened in our world and in our lives in such a brief period of time. So why look back? Why all the focus on a celebration that seems eons ago? All I know is that I continue to look back only so I can more fully move ahead…Christmas was not simply a few days back in December that we managed to survive. Christmas marks so much more…It was the beginning of understanding yet again, how much God loves us; how God’s timing is everything…being born as the Christ Child; reminding us of how God plunged into the darkness of a waiting world, longing to know that the Light of the World had come and any and all darkness can never extinguish it.
This is the message that has stood the test of time; a message that brings us to the here and now; a message that will accompany us into the days ahead. We dare to look back a mere 6 weeks so that we might continue to remember how God came to Earth as one of us…much more than an undercover boss mingling among us or rubbing elbows with us.
I recall the chorus of a once popular song, “If God Were One of Us;”
What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
While I’m not inclined to think of God as a slob, the underlying message is that God’s very self is within every woman, man, boy & girl on this planet—not just within people we like and love; or who look and live just like us; or possess the same values; or are of the same belief; but within every last one of us…
…And that’s it, isn’t it? God is one of us…the One who relates to all aspects of our humanness; the One who continues to pitch God’s tent right in our backyard…
So, here we are, traveling together along this faith journey…There’s a bend in the road up ahead…and in a week’s time, the Spirit will once again lead us into and through the season of Lent; the time we will spend with Jesus in the wilderness of our faith; taking some “holy timeout” as we wrestle with some of life’s deepest and darkest moments of the soul; as we await the Light of Easter dawn…May we seek and sense God’s presence along the way…Blessings, Joanne
Super Bowl XLIV may have been one for the audience viewing record books. I don’t know if you were among the estimated 106+million who watched the game and/or commercials or not, but I wonder if you were among the 38.6 million people who watched the debut of the new reality show Undercover Boss. The show features chief executives of major corporations, who for one week go undercover as entry-level workers to not only rub elbows with their employees but also to identify some of the unsung he-roes and she-roes among the workers.
While I watched this new show, mostly, I suppose, because it immediately followed the Super Bowl, I became increasingly intrigued by the show’s premise. And as I reflected on this idea of CEO’s rubbing elbows with the workers and becoming one of them, my thoughts quickly shifted to how we have been making our way along our faith journey since the Day of Epiphany on January 6; which then makes it hard to believe that it has only been a little over 6 weeks since Christmas Day!
So much has happened in our world and in our lives in such a brief period of time. So why look back? Why all the focus on a celebration that seems eons ago? All I know is that I continue to look back only so I can more fully move ahead…Christmas was not simply a few days back in December that we managed to survive. Christmas marks so much more…It was the beginning of understanding yet again, how much God loves us; how God’s timing is everything…being born as the Christ Child; reminding us of how God plunged into the darkness of a waiting world, longing to know that the Light of the World had come and any and all darkness can never extinguish it.
This is the message that has stood the test of time; a message that brings us to the here and now; a message that will accompany us into the days ahead. We dare to look back a mere 6 weeks so that we might continue to remember how God came to Earth as one of us…much more than an undercover boss mingling among us or rubbing elbows with us.
I recall the chorus of a once popular song, “If God Were One of Us;”
What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
While I’m not inclined to think of God as a slob, the underlying message is that God’s very self is within every woman, man, boy & girl on this planet—not just within people we like and love; or who look and live just like us; or possess the same values; or are of the same belief; but within every last one of us…
…And that’s it, isn’t it? God is one of us…the One who relates to all aspects of our humanness; the One who continues to pitch God’s tent right in our backyard…
So, here we are, traveling together along this faith journey…There’s a bend in the road up ahead…and in a week’s time, the Spirit will once again lead us into and through the season of Lent; the time we will spend with Jesus in the wilderness of our faith; taking some “holy timeout” as we wrestle with some of life’s deepest and darkest moments of the soul; as we await the Light of Easter dawn…May we seek and sense God’s presence along the way…Blessings, Joanne
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Carried Away
Good Morning All!
I came across this Musing written June 14, 2005…and now, here we are 4 years and few days later and it seems the same message applies…Hmmmm…the more things change, the more they stay the same…What do you think? Joanne
Yesterday when the news broke regarding the acquittal of Michael Jackson, I watched as hundreds of fans outside the courthouse erupted with shouts and acclamations of joy and satisfaction. The press, Michael Jackson and his family filed out showing very little emotion. 20 minutes later the Jackson motorcade arrived back at Neverland to be greeted by hundreds more fans, dancing and celebrating outside the gate. The trial has been covered worldwide. And the trial is over; and the “post-trial” follow-ups begin; ad nauseum, I suspect since collective “inquiring minds” are insatiable when it comes to celebrities. And this goes for fans as well as those who are greatly disturbed by the verdict.
Normally I wouldn’t be apt to give this any further press; but in celebrity cases, when interest is so high and it’s the topic for so many around the water coolers, I can’t help but wonder what the attraction really is all about. We act as if we really “know” anyone in the public eye, i.e. film, TV and music celebrities, professional athletes, politicians and world leaders. And with knowing seems to come ownership; as if we have the power to determine their every move; even their destiny. And with our dollars and ballot boxes, I suppose we actually do have some say-so; but you get my drift.
We may or may not be Michael Jackson fans, but if we’re honest, most of us have gotten caught up at some times in our lives, in the “inquiring minds want to know” pursuits when it comes to the famous or infamous who are making headline news. Some spend endless hours reading and watching the news or the biography channel or the entertainment channels; some spend endless hours near or at the scene/courtroom/senate chambers, etc. wherever the action is taking place. Some spend not only time but money to support their habit as a groupie; a fan; a supporter.
It’s times like these when we’re inundated with Michael Jackson media attention that I also wonder why the efforts of living a faithful life do not call forth the same dedication. How many times do we see hundreds of people in long lines to enter worship? How many times do we see people elbowing their way to the front to get a seat so that they might feel God’s spirit moving through those who have gathered as community? How many times do we get excited about our faith? How often do we find it difficult to put the Bible down because we are so caught up in wanting to learn more about God’s love for God’s people?
How many of us carry the words of scripture in our hearts and minds like the lyrics to our favorite songs? How many times do we spend consecutive nights camping out so that we can gain entrance to a church sponsored event? How many mornings do we wake up hoping that we will catch a glimpse of God? How many times does God take our breath away? Just wondering…
Blessings, Joanne
I came across this Musing written June 14, 2005…and now, here we are 4 years and few days later and it seems the same message applies…Hmmmm…the more things change, the more they stay the same…What do you think? Joanne
Yesterday when the news broke regarding the acquittal of Michael Jackson, I watched as hundreds of fans outside the courthouse erupted with shouts and acclamations of joy and satisfaction. The press, Michael Jackson and his family filed out showing very little emotion. 20 minutes later the Jackson motorcade arrived back at Neverland to be greeted by hundreds more fans, dancing and celebrating outside the gate. The trial has been covered worldwide. And the trial is over; and the “post-trial” follow-ups begin; ad nauseum, I suspect since collective “inquiring minds” are insatiable when it comes to celebrities. And this goes for fans as well as those who are greatly disturbed by the verdict.
Normally I wouldn’t be apt to give this any further press; but in celebrity cases, when interest is so high and it’s the topic for so many around the water coolers, I can’t help but wonder what the attraction really is all about. We act as if we really “know” anyone in the public eye, i.e. film, TV and music celebrities, professional athletes, politicians and world leaders. And with knowing seems to come ownership; as if we have the power to determine their every move; even their destiny. And with our dollars and ballot boxes, I suppose we actually do have some say-so; but you get my drift.
We may or may not be Michael Jackson fans, but if we’re honest, most of us have gotten caught up at some times in our lives, in the “inquiring minds want to know” pursuits when it comes to the famous or infamous who are making headline news. Some spend endless hours reading and watching the news or the biography channel or the entertainment channels; some spend endless hours near or at the scene/courtroom/senate chambers, etc. wherever the action is taking place. Some spend not only time but money to support their habit as a groupie; a fan; a supporter.
It’s times like these when we’re inundated with Michael Jackson media attention that I also wonder why the efforts of living a faithful life do not call forth the same dedication. How many times do we see hundreds of people in long lines to enter worship? How many times do we see people elbowing their way to the front to get a seat so that they might feel God’s spirit moving through those who have gathered as community? How many times do we get excited about our faith? How often do we find it difficult to put the Bible down because we are so caught up in wanting to learn more about God’s love for God’s people?
How many of us carry the words of scripture in our hearts and minds like the lyrics to our favorite songs? How many times do we spend consecutive nights camping out so that we can gain entrance to a church sponsored event? How many mornings do we wake up hoping that we will catch a glimpse of God? How many times does God take our breath away? Just wondering…
Blessings, Joanne
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Remote Control
Good Morning All,
When I was preparing for ministry I participated in a basic unit of Clinical Pastoral Education as a student chaplain at the University of Kentucky . This experience allows you to take a deep and critical look at yourself while serving in a hospital setting and offering pastoral care to the patients—speaking with them; counseling with them; praying with them. Through this experience and the many years of pastoral ministry that have ensued, I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about a variety of medical procedures, illnesses, etc.—just enough knowledge to be dangerous and yet not enough knowledge to put M.D. after my name! :)
All this has helped me be increasingly more comfortable in hospital settings and have encouraged me to be curious about a whole host of things and to be aware of my surroundings while visiting with patients..
This past week I was visiting one of our members prior to his surgery that morning. There didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary in the room, until the nurse wheeled in a contraption I had never seen before that also included a different kind of gown for the patient to change into. After that happened, I got a closer look at this new gizmo that resembled an old-fashioned hair dryer, complete with a white coiled hose.
The nurse said that the hospital was trying out this new technique on patients who would be in surgery longer than one hour; to help regulate the patient’s body temperature. The special gown has a plastic connection to which the coiled hose is attached…you punch a few buttons and it begins to blow warm air into the gown. Wooooo Hooooo! The gown then began to look like a huge inflatable pillow. Great invention!
Then I looked down and noticed that he had a small remote control in his hand. I quickly looked around for a television or monitor, only to discover that the remote was given to him to help him regulate the temperature of the forced air. How appropriate for him to have a remote control even on his way to surgery. His wife said it was quite appropriate since he’s happiest with a remote control in his hands…he’s King of the Remote!
It was then time for us to pray before they wheeled him off to the OR and I couldn’t resist this opening phrase:
“Gracious God, in our desire and our need to always be in control, remind us, that YOU are there as the One who calls us to trust in you as the God of all time and all circumstance…
As I left his room I began to think about the whole issue of control in our lives. Now while I don’t believe that God controls us like a puppeteer, I do believe that God asks us to ultimately trust God always and in all ways; to let go of our need to figure everything out on our terms--as though we could possibly control what will happen to us from the time we rise and when we put our head on the pillow at night. It’s the very idea that we cannot control it all, that calls us to trust God more…to get us through whatever each day may hold no matter how challenging or joy-filled it may be.
As difficult as it is to trust God, it seems to me that our attempts to control it all can be detrimental to our well being. Think of all the wasted time we spend worrying, fretting, stewing in our own juices and then think of how that affects our physical, mental emotional and spiritual health. What about the times we spend trying to second guess others; attempting to figure out any and all possible outcomes to whatever comes our way? And all for what purpose?
Even our coins remind us, “In God we trust…” But we rarely look at our coins while spending them. Then there’s that wonderful phrase, “Let go and let God…” Easier said than done most days…But do you think we could actually do this? Wonder what would really happen if we try this wisdom on for size. Are you willing to give it a shot?
I will if you will. Let’s get started today…Now where’d I put that remote?
Blessings, Joanne
When I was preparing for ministry I participated in a basic unit of Clinical Pastoral Education as a student chaplain at the University of Kentucky . This experience allows you to take a deep and critical look at yourself while serving in a hospital setting and offering pastoral care to the patients—speaking with them; counseling with them; praying with them. Through this experience and the many years of pastoral ministry that have ensued, I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about a variety of medical procedures, illnesses, etc.—just enough knowledge to be dangerous and yet not enough knowledge to put M.D. after my name! :)
All this has helped me be increasingly more comfortable in hospital settings and have encouraged me to be curious about a whole host of things and to be aware of my surroundings while visiting with patients..
This past week I was visiting one of our members prior to his surgery that morning. There didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary in the room, until the nurse wheeled in a contraption I had never seen before that also included a different kind of gown for the patient to change into. After that happened, I got a closer look at this new gizmo that resembled an old-fashioned hair dryer, complete with a white coiled hose.
The nurse said that the hospital was trying out this new technique on patients who would be in surgery longer than one hour; to help regulate the patient’s body temperature. The special gown has a plastic connection to which the coiled hose is attached…you punch a few buttons and it begins to blow warm air into the gown. Wooooo Hooooo! The gown then began to look like a huge inflatable pillow. Great invention!
Then I looked down and noticed that he had a small remote control in his hand. I quickly looked around for a television or monitor, only to discover that the remote was given to him to help him regulate the temperature of the forced air. How appropriate for him to have a remote control even on his way to surgery. His wife said it was quite appropriate since he’s happiest with a remote control in his hands…he’s King of the Remote!
It was then time for us to pray before they wheeled him off to the OR and I couldn’t resist this opening phrase:
“Gracious God, in our desire and our need to always be in control, remind us, that YOU are there as the One who calls us to trust in you as the God of all time and all circumstance…
As I left his room I began to think about the whole issue of control in our lives. Now while I don’t believe that God controls us like a puppeteer, I do believe that God asks us to ultimately trust God always and in all ways; to let go of our need to figure everything out on our terms--as though we could possibly control what will happen to us from the time we rise and when we put our head on the pillow at night. It’s the very idea that we cannot control it all, that calls us to trust God more…to get us through whatever each day may hold no matter how challenging or joy-filled it may be.
As difficult as it is to trust God, it seems to me that our attempts to control it all can be detrimental to our well being. Think of all the wasted time we spend worrying, fretting, stewing in our own juices and then think of how that affects our physical, mental emotional and spiritual health. What about the times we spend trying to second guess others; attempting to figure out any and all possible outcomes to whatever comes our way? And all for what purpose?
Even our coins remind us, “In God we trust…” But we rarely look at our coins while spending them. Then there’s that wonderful phrase, “Let go and let God…” Easier said than done most days…But do you think we could actually do this? Wonder what would really happen if we try this wisdom on for size. Are you willing to give it a shot?
I will if you will. Let’s get started today…Now where’d I put that remote?
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wind and Fire
Good Morning, All!
Pentecost is coming! Pentecost is coming! Pentecost is coming! And as we prepare for MY favorite holiday in the church year, I have to admit I’m a bit disappointed…it’s only 4 days until this “great getting’ up mornin’” and I’ve scoured the town and there are no window decorations; no signs that count down the days; no special sales; no holiday recipes; no special flags for our cars…Bummer. Surprising as it may seem, there remains a marketing boom yet to be discovered! :)
And while Pentecost Day is the “official” beginning of the early Church, the birthday of the Church, it’s important not to think of it in terms of bricks and mortar and not to simply focus on Covenant Christian Church. I so love Pentecost because it is not a holiday that you can celebrate by yourself. There is nothing about self in this special day. Pentecost is a celebration of and for the community of faith wherever it is found…
It’s one of those stories in scripture that describes the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work. As described in Acts 2, it’s a day filled with activity and forward movement; filled with energy that serves to fuel and refuel people of faith.
This story contains so many rich symbols of the Spirit:
· rushing wind coming through the Upper Room where the disciples were gathered;
· breathing on them, filling them with confidence and power;
· tongues of fire, giving the disciples all the inspiration they needed to go forth and share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ; giving them the words of speech that any and all would be able to understand;
· the Spirit descending upon them like a dove, surrounding them and enveloping them, making them whole.
· And then you add the bold vibrant colors of red and orange.
Now can you at least begin to understand why Pentecost is such a great day in the life of the Church? This day quite forcefully reminded those early disciples of how God would make good on a promise Jesus had made to them—the promise that God would never abandon them; that an Advocate, a Comforter was coming to them. And once this promise was fulfilled, they somehow knew that the roles they would play in establishing the early church meant there would be no time for standing still; looking down or drawing in the sand with their big toes…
This was a day for paying attention yet the disciples could never know at that very moment, the impact of everything that was happening around them. But their faith was their strength. Their faith was the key that allowed them to respond to this Mighty Wind and Fire. They somehow knew to respond; to grab hold; to hold on tight; all that was happening was preparing them for the bumpy ride that lay ahead—a ride that could never be captured at an amusement park; a ride that was filled with chills and thrills and literally could take one’s breath away, only to fill them with new breath—the breath that would never die.
For all of you thrill-seekers out there, if this isn’t enough excitement for you, know that the icing on the Church’s birthday cake this Sunday, is when Tom Evett, Becky Layko, Andrew Stiles & Katherine White, come forward to make their Confession of Faith…to accept Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior of their lives. And then to later share in the sacrament of Baptism. In so doing they are also saying “Yes!”—Yes to life; Yes to capturing a ride on the Wind of Faith that will indeed be their strength for whatever the road ahead brings.
With each celebration of Pentecost Day, you and I are called upon to renew our faith; to renew our commitment and dedication to support the life and ministry of Covenant Christian Church; praying for the strength and courage to move forward into God’s future. We stand at the precipice between the present and the future; toes curling over the edge, as we survey God’s grandeur before us. And we are invited to soar with the eagles; but only sprouting wings, once we dare to fly!
Let’s gather for worship on what promises to be a “great gettin’ up mornin’” and don’t forget to wear RED! If finding something red becomes a bother, come anyway!
Blessings, Joanne
Pentecost is coming! Pentecost is coming! Pentecost is coming! And as we prepare for MY favorite holiday in the church year, I have to admit I’m a bit disappointed…it’s only 4 days until this “great getting’ up mornin’” and I’ve scoured the town and there are no window decorations; no signs that count down the days; no special sales; no holiday recipes; no special flags for our cars…Bummer. Surprising as it may seem, there remains a marketing boom yet to be discovered! :)
And while Pentecost Day is the “official” beginning of the early Church, the birthday of the Church, it’s important not to think of it in terms of bricks and mortar and not to simply focus on Covenant Christian Church. I so love Pentecost because it is not a holiday that you can celebrate by yourself. There is nothing about self in this special day. Pentecost is a celebration of and for the community of faith wherever it is found…
It’s one of those stories in scripture that describes the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work. As described in Acts 2, it’s a day filled with activity and forward movement; filled with energy that serves to fuel and refuel people of faith.
This story contains so many rich symbols of the Spirit:
· rushing wind coming through the Upper Room where the disciples were gathered;
· breathing on them, filling them with confidence and power;
· tongues of fire, giving the disciples all the inspiration they needed to go forth and share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ; giving them the words of speech that any and all would be able to understand;
· the Spirit descending upon them like a dove, surrounding them and enveloping them, making them whole.
· And then you add the bold vibrant colors of red and orange.
Now can you at least begin to understand why Pentecost is such a great day in the life of the Church? This day quite forcefully reminded those early disciples of how God would make good on a promise Jesus had made to them—the promise that God would never abandon them; that an Advocate, a Comforter was coming to them. And once this promise was fulfilled, they somehow knew that the roles they would play in establishing the early church meant there would be no time for standing still; looking down or drawing in the sand with their big toes…
This was a day for paying attention yet the disciples could never know at that very moment, the impact of everything that was happening around them. But their faith was their strength. Their faith was the key that allowed them to respond to this Mighty Wind and Fire. They somehow knew to respond; to grab hold; to hold on tight; all that was happening was preparing them for the bumpy ride that lay ahead—a ride that could never be captured at an amusement park; a ride that was filled with chills and thrills and literally could take one’s breath away, only to fill them with new breath—the breath that would never die.
For all of you thrill-seekers out there, if this isn’t enough excitement for you, know that the icing on the Church’s birthday cake this Sunday, is when Tom Evett, Becky Layko, Andrew Stiles & Katherine White, come forward to make their Confession of Faith…to accept Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior of their lives. And then to later share in the sacrament of Baptism. In so doing they are also saying “Yes!”—Yes to life; Yes to capturing a ride on the Wind of Faith that will indeed be their strength for whatever the road ahead brings.
With each celebration of Pentecost Day, you and I are called upon to renew our faith; to renew our commitment and dedication to support the life and ministry of Covenant Christian Church; praying for the strength and courage to move forward into God’s future. We stand at the precipice between the present and the future; toes curling over the edge, as we survey God’s grandeur before us. And we are invited to soar with the eagles; but only sprouting wings, once we dare to fly!
Let’s gather for worship on what promises to be a “great gettin’ up mornin’” and don’t forget to wear RED! If finding something red becomes a bother, come anyway!
Blessings, Joanne
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Gifts of Creation
Good Morning All,
Here it is 3 days after we celebrated Earth Stewardship Day and so much of what happened as we worshipped together and many of the readings and music we shared, still resonate in my heart and mind. That’s how it is with experiences that speak to us; they’re meant to be captured by the wind and come back to us time and time again. In the gentlest of offerings I share some of them with you in the hope that they will speak to you as together we remember, in the words of Matthew Fox, God’s “Original Blessing”—the gifts of creation, whose care-giving has been entrusted to us.
“Praise God!..
Praise God, sun and moon; praise God all you shining stars!
…Praise God, you highest heavens…sea monsters and all the deeps, fire and hail,
snow and frost, stormy wind…mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars…
wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds…rulers and all peoples…
Praise God!” (Psalm 24)
The angelic voices of the children allowed us to see firsthand that God had indeed created them and all children, ever so bright and beautiful:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, in love God made them all…”
(“All Things Bright and Beautiful” Cecil F. Alexander, words; Martin Shaw, melody)
Psalm 24: 1-2 set the stage for “The Creation Connection”:
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the word and those who live in it;
for God has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers.”
Followed by a most wonderful poem penned by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
“Earth's crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God.
Only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”
When we take time to remove our shoes as opposed to simply plucking the blackberries of our routine busyness, we can affirm that the Earth is indeed “crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God.” These words certainly can be heard as an invitation that beckons us to see the wonders of nature as gifts from God and our call to be stewards of the Earth’s resources.
But in them I also hear an invitation to look for God all around us, not just in the beauty of the natural world; but in whatever we experience throughout each day--leaving very little to circumstance or happenstance. Seeing “every common bush afire with God” paints the backdrop for our day, from the time we awaken each morning until we lie down for a night’s rest. And against this backdrop the scenes of our life unfold bit by bit, moment by moment. “Oh, the places you’ll go today; the people you’ll meet…” (Dr. Seuss)
Look around you, people of God!
Blackberries are not yet in season ‘round here;
the warmth of Spring begs us to take off our shoes…
We are standing on Holy Ground… (jvb)
Blessings, Joanne
Here it is 3 days after we celebrated Earth Stewardship Day and so much of what happened as we worshipped together and many of the readings and music we shared, still resonate in my heart and mind. That’s how it is with experiences that speak to us; they’re meant to be captured by the wind and come back to us time and time again. In the gentlest of offerings I share some of them with you in the hope that they will speak to you as together we remember, in the words of Matthew Fox, God’s “Original Blessing”—the gifts of creation, whose care-giving has been entrusted to us.
“Praise God!..
Praise God, sun and moon; praise God all you shining stars!
…Praise God, you highest heavens…sea monsters and all the deeps, fire and hail,
snow and frost, stormy wind…mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars…
wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds…rulers and all peoples…
Praise God!” (Psalm 24)
The angelic voices of the children allowed us to see firsthand that God had indeed created them and all children, ever so bright and beautiful:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, in love God made them all…”
(“All Things Bright and Beautiful” Cecil F. Alexander, words; Martin Shaw, melody)
Psalm 24: 1-2 set the stage for “The Creation Connection”:
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the word and those who live in it;
for God has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers.”
Followed by a most wonderful poem penned by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
“Earth's crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God.
Only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”
When we take time to remove our shoes as opposed to simply plucking the blackberries of our routine busyness, we can affirm that the Earth is indeed “crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God.” These words certainly can be heard as an invitation that beckons us to see the wonders of nature as gifts from God and our call to be stewards of the Earth’s resources.
But in them I also hear an invitation to look for God all around us, not just in the beauty of the natural world; but in whatever we experience throughout each day--leaving very little to circumstance or happenstance. Seeing “every common bush afire with God” paints the backdrop for our day, from the time we awaken each morning until we lie down for a night’s rest. And against this backdrop the scenes of our life unfold bit by bit, moment by moment. “Oh, the places you’ll go today; the people you’ll meet…” (Dr. Seuss)
Look around you, people of God!
Blackberries are not yet in season ‘round here;
the warmth of Spring begs us to take off our shoes…
We are standing on Holy Ground… (jvb)
Blessings, Joanne
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