Fire Extinguishers

Why is it that when things are going so well, someone has to rain on the parade? My congregation is really growing right now. People are joining on a weekly basis and are excited about serving God in a loving church where it is obvious God is present by the actions of church members. In the past two years we've lost 13 members to death and have gained 27 new members. And we're still growing. Sure, there are those who have moved away but there are others who are coming in as friends. Life is a part of this church. Growth is a part of this church. So why is it, when there seems to be a fire sent by the Holy Spirit that is pushing people to look beyond themselves and reach out to their neighbors, that there is always a fire extinguisher? I had a meeting tonight to talk about how to invest some "extra" money that had come into the church and rather than celebrate, my fire extinguishers just wanted to focus on the fact that the church isn't growing fast enough and we might just need that money to get by. Have they not heard the vision I've been articulating over the past year? That we are choosing to live, even in times of difficulty? That we are not going to focus on our scarcity but rather on how we can be most generous with what we have? Why was it, when I suggested perhaps no matter how much money we had we would always feel that we needed more, that my fire extinguishers preferred to focus on what we still don't have? Are we lacking in anything? No. So why is it that we can't let go of some of what we have to give to others? Isn't that what it is all about? If nothing else, I think I may have lit a fire under them, giving them something to think about. I think I just needed to blog about this so I could decide not to let the fire extinguishers completely put the blaze out. They may not "get it," but fortunately, they're not the only ones in the church.

Escapism Theology

I teach a Bible Study to an ecumenical group of people aged 55+ in a high rise in town. There are about 10 people who meet with me weekly and I must say I enjoy them. Only 1 has any Presbyterian ties and he's the one who invited me to teach. The rest represent all kinds of denominations, including pentecostals, seventh-day adventists, methodists, "former" catholics, and other miscellaneous non-denominations. There have been times I haven't wanted to be the leader of this group -- like the time I was teaching about honoring Sabbath and realized that one in my group considered Sabbath-keeping one of the highest commandments to the exclusion of others, demanding that Saturday be kept or else . . . or the time when one of the people really wanted to make this a religious right political discussion when I have quickly recognized that ALL political views are represented in this group -- especially because this is a low income group. But there are other times when I truly recognize the spirit of God in this group -- like when we are disagreeing but choose to put aside our own passions to listen to the other and recognize that they too are trying to listen for God's word to them. This past week something stuck with me. One woman for whom I have a lot of respect, spoke up saying "when I die I don't want to be remembered as Sister B. who prophesied in church. I want to be remembered as one who showed God's love." This was especially poignant as the discussion ran away (as it does frequently) to the second coming and how we are finally going to get to escape all of these hardships. And then Sister B. spoke up: "I'm not ready for the second coming. I hurt for the many who do not know God's love. I just want to use every second I have to communicate this love and compassion to others." Her comment allowed the escapism theology to halt and opened the door for all of us to think. Another woman spoke up: "Everything we do -- how we spend everyday, every second -- is being recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life and I just want to have a clear conscience so every night, before I go to bed, I ask God's forgiveness for everything . . . " Until finally I could say what was on my mind -- "I think Sister B. is right. I think our salvation is intricately tied into the salvation of others. As long as we are thinking about what is going in the book of life about US, we are only thinking about ourselves. But when we are thinking about others, when we are loving others and showing compassion to others as only God through us can do, then we are extending the joy of our salvation to others. And I also believe that things aren't as hopeless as we confess. I believe that if we will listen to the Holy Spirit, God will show us how to speak and to whom we should speak in love. God will show us how to love in such a way that even those who are closed to the love of God can receive the gift of love that is offered to them." And as I said this and thought further about it, I really began to reflect on how our salvation is tied to the salvation of others. Sure, I believe that there is an individual part of salvation -- that we have to open ourselves up to receive, but I also believe that even that is impossible without the prodding of the Holy Spirit opening us to desire love and to be changed by it. But I am really beginning to think further about the communal part of salvation -- that we are to listen for God's words to us so that we know how to connect with others, knowing that the true connection is a gift from God, is Love itself. I may have to write more on this later, but I am seriously thinking about all of this and wondering how best to receive it myself so that the world can be changed.

Slim and Trim

She's 8 years old and she has already internalized what she is "supposed" to look like. Yesterday my daughter got her practice uniform for her cheerleading team and it included a tank top -- tight-fitted. She tried it on for me and it fit her perfectly and looked great (if only I had muscular arms like that!) but her mood immediately went sour. She only wants to wear clothes that hide her body. She doesn't like what she sees. I remember what I called my "ugly stage" and even now I can't look at my 4th grade picture without feeling the way I did then. But my daughter isn't ugly. She's beautiful. She doesn't have a Barbie body and doesn't even fit the "normal" on the doctor's weight chart, but she's healthy, she's athletic, and she's beautiful. She spends 5 hours tumbling at the gym each week so her legs and arms are gorgeous. I don't think the older people at my church know what it does to her when they say (as I heard one say this week) "Don't you want to be slim and trim?" Geesh, undo everything I'm trying to instill in her about being healthy!!!! No, she doesn't need to be slim and trim! She needs to be healthy and fit and happy about who she is. Her doctor says she's healthy. Her coach says she's fit. But thanks to those who think we all have the same body type, the same body weight expectations, the same hormonal surges, she isn't happy about who she is. I hate to say this, but I know that how she is feeling about herself is "normal" for a tweenage girl, but I don't like this US model of normal. All of those adages: "beauty is only skin deep" and "true beauty can be found within" may be true, but no one really gives a crap about such things in this world. Pretty people frequently get the jobs, the breaks, the kudos from all they come into contact with. They decide what is "popular" while the rest of us (the majority!) try to mold ourselves into their image. When will the image of God in each of us matter? When will our eyes be opened to the beauty that exists only because we are God's children? Raising girls is difficult in this crazy mixed up world. I just hope she can one day (soon!) recognize how beautiful she truly is.

Lonely Old People

I just finished reading my friend Dixie's blog about how he listened to an old woman talk non-stop today while he was eating lunch at the diner and it prompted me to write about a couple of conversations I had yesterday.

Yesterday was the first day I worked with my new secretary and she truly is a gem. She can carry on a few conversations, get busy work done, finish the checklist I've left for her while also sharing some wonderful ideas. She mentioned that Wednesday she had been at the doctor's office and was listening to the conversations in the waiting room. One man was bragging that he was the oldest in the room when a woman corrected him and admitted that she was 93. He changed the subject and began talking about the fact that his son was coming to visit and how excited he was to which the 93 year old replied, "how lovely it would be to have a visit to look forward to." My secretary was struck by this woman's loneliness and realized that she spoke the reality of many of the population of our town. She couldn't sleep last night and began to brainstorm how the church could meet this need of helping lonely old people.

My first thought was meals on wheels which we've been trying to start for over a year now. But I liked the idea she came up with -- why not start something akin to Big Brothers and Big Sisters only for older people? Match people according to interests and let them form local friendships. I really liked the idea. For one thing, I have several in my congregation who are independent enough but are widowed and need something like this to keep them busy. I have others who just yearn to be visited by someone. They can no longer get out much and they just desire some attention. I thanked my secretary for the idea and I'm going to begin to toss the idea around with some of the congregational leaders. I think it could be a wonderful outreach ministry!

But as she shared this story, I remembered that I had promised one of our shut-ins that I would spend some time with her that day. Somehow amid all of the self-made busy-ness, I had almost forgotten her. I stopped by her home and was greeted by a huge smile and a "I was hoping you wouldn't forget!" And while I usually do most of the talking with her, she must have talked a mile a minute. She shared memories of her garden -- the many flowers and vegetables she and her husband had raised. She told me about taming wild animals and seeing many others at work on her garden. And she smiled and laughed. She even showed me pictures of her great granddaughter who had surprise-visited her a month ago. Because she was happy sharing her story, I too was happy, though I did get a little fidgety. (It was a bit difficult for me to be IN that moment.) And she told me she had almost called and invited me to lunch that day. I told her I had eaten alone and had wondered who I should share lunch with. Next time I know to call on her and I think it will allow both of us to discover that God is there, between the two or three who are gathered.

In-Laws

I love my in-laws. It's not everybody who can say that, but I truly have great in-laws. They came to visit for the whole week which is making my kids very happy. They've taken the kids shopping, surprised them with halloween candy and spoiled them with little presents here and there. They've taken us out to eat a couple of times and we've taken them out once. Today I returned to work after my 2 day hiatus and ended up having to work longer than I had expected. They had agreed to keep the kids until 3:30ish, but I had to ask them to spend grandparent time until 7. They loved it (as did the kids) and I came home to a clean kitchen and a meal on the table, not to mention happy kids whose grandparents were their school teachers today. They only come to visit once a year, and it's just right. They don't get in my way and I don't get in theirs, yet they are helpful to have around. My mother-in-law even asked if she could do some laundry for me tomorrow. I'm not proud. I just beamed and replied "YEEESSSS!" and told her she could help fold some clean clothes I have too. She looked happy to help. Now, most people I wouldn't ask this of, but she LOVES to clean and so when she offers I gladly nod my head. I still need help. But tonight my sink is clean and the dishes are done and the table has been wiped down. She even had the kids sweep the floor and straighten up the living room. I love my in-laws!

A Jumble of Events

Just wanted to check in and let all of my readers know what's up right now. First, we began stewardship season today and I think it's going to be a great season. Everything is upbeat and our stewardship committee is creative and optimistic. What a wonderful change from a few years ago! Second, we received 4 new members this morning! Woo Hoo! That's 6 in the last 3 weeks! Next week I know we'll be receiving ANOTHER one!!! Something is happening here . . . finally! It's a lot of fun to be the pastor when things are going well. I'm not going to dwell here, but I am going to enjoy it while things are going well! Third, we hired a secretary today and I really like her! Granted, we've not worked together yet, but she's quiet, not needy, and quite competent. She already knows many in the congregation -- young and old -- because she lives in the community. She's in her 60s but appears to be in great health, is computer literate, creative, organized, etc. I hope the next 90 days are as good as I hope they will be! Fourth, my in-laws are here so I've taken off Monday and Tuesday to spend some time with a couple of Tennesseans. Today we went out for ice cream and hot dogs at the new, "great place to hang out" in Sebring -- Cones & Coneys. (Note to Sebring-ians: the sugar free ice cream is as heavenly as the "real" stuff and the Chicago hot dog is out of this world!) We also went to the mall and grandma bought the girls lots of clothes (which they needed) and we had a fun day all-around. The in-laws are staying at the Kenilworth Lodge and it really is a fun, old-fashioned place to stay. It's over 100 years old and has the lobby of the olden days -- bookshelves from which to borrow a book, tables with puzzles to share with other guests, ping pong, ballrooms, front porch rockers overlooking the lake and of course the more modern central a/c, coffee around the clock, fitness room, large screen TV rooms, and wireless internet. It's a fun place to stay if you ever come visit. It's the first time I've gone in there with "tourist" eyes.

Well, that's the news from Arbuckle Creek, where the love bugs spend their days ramming into countless windshields, the "northerners" crowd the doctors' waiting rooms, and "country radio top 40" has not been updated in at least 2 years.

Homemade Bread and Creative Sermons

I got creative today and I was so proud of myself. It was Worldwide Communion today and I wanted to do something to help people remember it without having them sing in a foreign language and feel kind of awkward. And so, there were two "themes" of this worship service. The first was the Lord's Prayer, with the hope that by the end of the service people would feel and remember that they were praying with people around the world in multiple languages. The second was Bread.

My organist is also a foreign language teacher and an amazing linguist, so he agreed to pray the Lord's Prayer in French and in Russian. I rustled up those years in college devoted to Koine Greek and prayed the Lord's Prayer in Greek and also in Spanish. The prayers were interspersed throughout the service, but always, we told people what we were praying so that, even in other languages, we could pray together. I wasn't quite sure how it would come together, but it was obvious that God was there, in the midst of our unity and in the midst of cultural diversity as we realized we were not alone in our prayers or in our claim to Christianity.

I had also found a resource that encouraged people to remember the many cultures with which we were celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper by utilizing breads from around the world. A church member made Spicy Tea bread from Ethiopia. Another brought in honey wheat bread and we remembered another culture. Another brought in pita bread and we remembered the war going on in the middle east. Another brought in peasant bread and we remembered the poor who are among us. Another brought in unleavened bread and we remembered those in Syria. Then we all started naming bread that wasn't there and extending our memory to those who we should share in our celebration of Christ's death and resurrection. Tortillas, Cuban bread, Hawaiian bread, and others were named and suddenly, we, who were many, realized we were one in Christ. All of the breads were on the communion table. I wish I had a picture of it because it truly was beautiful.

The last thing I did was set up a card table with two bowls of dough -- one with yeast and one without. I also woke up really early this morning and baked two loaves of dough -- one with yeast and one without. All of this sat on the table and I donned my apron as I began the sermon, talking about disciples not wanting to forgive each other but rather wanting to have their faith grow. Jesus said, if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can do great things. I preached on having faith the size of a little yeast -- enough to change the dough, to make it into something gloriously different -- lighter. And I explained that Jesus was telling them that they DID have the faith of a mustard seed and because of that, they couldn't use a lack of faith as an excuse for forgiving those who repeatedly sinned against them. I told my congregation that I believed that they did actually have the faith of a little yeast and that they could forgive - that they didn't need any excuses. And then I finished the Luke 17 pericope telling them that when they did what they were supposed to (forgiving sins, using the faith that had been given to them) they/we don't need to run back to God and ask for a little acknowledgment. We are rather to realize that it is our duty to forgive the annoying and unforgivable; it is our duty to love the unlovable; it is our duty to commune with those who are different from us. It is our duty to be the body of Christ. One bread -- many parts -- flour, water, sugar, oil, yeast -- without the yeast there is something lacking. Just as we are one body -- the body of Christ -- many parts held together by faith.

It was a wonderful Sunday!

On the Back of My Car

I'll have to get a picture for you later, but in the meantime I'll explain it. On the back of my car, my husband, a compassionate environmentalist among other things, slapped a magnet which he had procured from the Vet's office. It's a big paw print around which is printed: "Save Lives! Spay and Neuter" One of my parishioners approached me one day and told me she thinks that is one of the funniest things she has ever seen on a pastor's car. I had never considered the context!