Please pray for our small broken community.

How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?


How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?


Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, "I have prevailed"
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken


But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

~Psalm 13

Friday Five: Seasons Change

It's Labor Day weekend here in the United States, also known as Summer's Last Hurrah. So let's say goodbye to summer and hello to the autumn.

1. Share a highlight from this summer.
I love our little town fair. Actually I love any and all town fairs, street festivals and music gatherings where folks gather together, support local fundraisers, enjoy music and each other. In small towns we don't have neighborhood night outs, but we do have great little festivals.

2. Are you glad to see this summer end? Why or why not?
Yes and no. Summers are quite busy in the north land - all of your folk that leave the city take up temporary residence here, so we enjoy a vibrant congregation for these 3 months. And with that comes busier times, that just translate to different busy-ness the rest of the year.

3. Name one or two things you're looking forward to this fall.
or more... I love this season: Football games, long walks, warm sweaters and venison sausage.

4. Do you have any special preparations or activities to mark the transition from one season to another?
I know the summer is coming to a close after a visit to the state fair. The last great summer "get together." Filled with fried food and a lot of dairy products, we begin the autumn diet.

5. I'll know that fall is really here when:
Well, it's actually here already in the north country. It's been here for a few weeks now. I'll know that winter is here when I pull out the tubs of sweaters and pack away the tank tops and sundresses.

A little grace for Miss South Carolina

So perhaps, yes, I was a bit harsh in the last post. Based on a number of blogs and news shows (not to mention the judges who voted this candidate in 3rd place...) maybe I was quick to judge this young, uh, scholarship candidate.

But really, where did South Africa and maps come in? Someone please, explain this to me.

Hmmm....

It's great to know that beauty pageants have not defied the stereotype... yet...

August Sabbath

The quiet has arrived

The sermon is finished
The wedding has been celebrated
The gatherings have happened
The sun has set
The sauna is hot
The meal is prepared

The sabbath begins...

Friday Five: Word Association, Redux

This one is patterned off an old Friday Fivewritten by Songbird, our Friday Five Creator Emerita:
Below you will find five words. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem or a story.

1. vineyard
The economic system of the ancient near east. Whenever it is used in text, I like to think it is a model for the whole world. Wine was as important to trade then as oil is to us. It defines us, uses us, helps us and feeds us. Yup, I'm in academic social science mode today.

2. root
What I find myself talking to alot of parents about these days. Especially those who are sending children off to college for the first time. The importance of giving people roots and wings.

3. rescue
What I need when I'm drowning in administrative crap like people who complain to people who complain to people about staff members who overstep their job descriptions and need to be needed for their own self-worth. Yikes, it has been a full week.

4. perseverance
God's church will survive, and even thrive.

5. divided
It will be a good sermon this Sunday- tying in some of number 3 and the division within the congregation and those that threaten the larger church. All will be honored in the power of gathering together around a common table.

What comes to mind for you?

Holy Grounds

Three separate gatherings today
Three separate cups of coffee

holy grounds ~ planning a wedding service with a young couple

holy grounds ~ praying for healing in a hospital room

holy grounds ~ beginning plans for a memorial service for a woman with terminal cancer

Some days I am so overwhelmed by this work.

Sunday afternoon musings

Rarely do I dare to post on Sunday afternoons... at the risk of draining an already low well of vocabulary and coherent thoughts. But today something happened, something rather extraordinary.

Now, I'm sure it's not the first time this has happened, but it was the first time I noticed it. And a few things had to happen in succession...

1. I gave a truly uninspiring sermon (due in some part to the very misplaced popular culture reference... know thy audience... it seemed like a great illustration)

2. the music was jumbled, too fast or too slow. The musicians only had time to practice just before the service.

3. The pastor (me) was tired- and that Sunday adrenaline rush never quite managed to kick in.

and

4. People still left filled, happy, commissioned, active and hopeful.

I'm so glad that this whole church thing is not about me.

There are weeks when my sermon is written by Wednesday afternoon...

And sometimes those sermons must be rewritten:

"vanity of vanities... all is vanity"

~Ecclesiastes 1:2




http://www.startribune.com

Even the fridge is hot

Which came first? The oppressive heat or the need for air conditioning in the oppressive heat which gives off greenhouse gases which heat up the earth and cause more oppressive heat?

I've read countless articles, poems and stories about surviving winter. You know, the stark beauty, the dark, cold land, blah blah. Winter is great.

Now seriously how about surviving summer?

Humid and heavy air, swarming, biting black flies, distant loved ones (don't touch me- your feet are hot!)

Where are the poets for this stuff?

Another great YouTube video...

It's totally worth 8 minutes of your time:

Draft the College Republicans

Back from even more backwoods

I am back to the land of wireless after being in a different kind of wireless place. That place was wireless, toliet-less, running water-less, and comfy bed-less.

But it was:

beauty-full, grace-full, clean air-full, God-full, and hope-full.

8 days with kids and adults out of our comfort zones and ordinary patterns. It was wonderful, frustrating, inspiring and trying. All the things that come with good adventures.

Now, it's back to the lists and tasks. But- also back to beds and showers!

Friday Five: Wocher, Harry!

As you may have seen in this Rev Gal's Wednesday's Festival, Pottermainia has hit the RevGals--though not all of them. So today's Friday Five is a Choose your Own Adventure: that is, another version of the quiz is available at RevGals for the muggles...

Accio Friday Five!

1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why?
hmmm... this is a tough one. Because I tend to like to have all my options in front of me and I need to read 7! But in many ways I'm still loving the very first one, because it introduced me to the beauty, wonder and imagination of the characters and the world of Harry Potter.

2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?
Well, most quizzes tell me I'm like Hermione, which I probably was a bit like when I was younger- kind of a intellectual nut, but I do admire her fierce loyalty and intelligence.
And I think a dive into the psyche of Firenze, the new divination prof would be a fascinating time!

3. How careful are you about spoilers?
a) bring 'em on--even if I know the destination, the journey's still good
b) eh, I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slip
c) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out

I'm pretty cool about this stuff- Goodness knows I've been reading enough blogs about it, so I'm probably a "B" but I will be out in the woods next weekend so I'm not too worried about the spoiler- in any case, it will still be a great book!

4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.
Like other bloggers, I still hold out hope that Snape is on the side of good, not evil.

5. Rowling has said she's not planning any prequels or sequels, but are there characters or story lines (past or future) that you would like to see pursued?
Again, I can't say for certain, not knowing what the next book will hold and the paths it will lead, but I love following the lives of Fred and George- I sort of live vicariously through them- throwing caution to the wind and living it up!

What's shape is your Pottermania taking?

Expectations of the Office: Growing Edge

Well, he didn't show. I can't say I'm terribly surprised, but I am torn between relief and a bit of sadness.

Whatever made him stop in to ask for help, maybe the desperation, maybe the 5 beers he had on his breath... the bravado must have left or the immediate situation got better- so he didn't feel he needed to talk to someone anymore. I am saddened, because it sounded like he really could have used a listening ear.

I am relieved as well, an a bit ashamed of this, because I tend to have little patience with people who demand things from me. I was worried about my reaction to his need. I guess this is a big place for me to grow pastorally: patience and grace.

So, I continue to lift him in prayer and others who are in similar places in life. And maybe, he will stop by again, hopefully looking toward the future rather than buried in the past.

Expectations of the Office

It's always interesting to encounter people who feel they are "owed" something from the church.

The man came in one afternoon, demanded to see the pastor, (me) who was out visiting parishioners. The office staff (who did not recognize him) refused to give him my home phone number or the parsonage address (God bless level headed office ministry staff!) but he finally left with the assurance I would call him.

Saturday morning I did. The phone was answered with some anger over how long it took me to call him, "a member" (who never attends worship, is not on our roster, nor recognized by 15 year veteran staff) because he needs to meet with me because he is depressed but refuses to see a counselor.

Hmmm....

Sometimes its hard to love people through difficult times when they show little respect for others. I agreed to one pastoral counseling meeting, which will occur tomorrow. But it is difficult not to approach it with a bit of a chip on my own shoulder. God help me to be present to this person!

Friday Five: Hasty Edition

Reverend Mother tells us of her family-induced haze these few days, with the July 4 holiday and taking time off while relatives are visiting. The haze is, indeed smoky and a bit sticky. So she encouraged us with an oldie: Today, what are you:

1. Wearing
Since I didn't get my morning workout-hoping to transfer it to the early afternoon- I am pretty comfortable in capri khaki microfiber pants, a Merlefest T-shirt of the light green variety and my dusty hiking boots I am attempting to break in some more.

2. Reading
Trying to catch up on the mountain of theology journals that are weighing down my desk. the big question is do I wade through them by group title or just by chronology...

3. Eating
Special K for breakfast... (prep for that hiking trip), yummy Mexican stew for lunch, and hopefully some grilled chicken for dinner, using some of our lovely herbs and adding home grown tomatoes with the meal.

4. Doing
Procrastinating. That is, not working on: my sermon for Sunday, the article for the local paper, my sermon for the wedding I'm performing this weekend, the article for the online 'zine, and the autobiographical statement for a program application. Oh, and not exercising yet either!

5. Pondering
Whatever moves people get up at 4am to wait in line for garage sales?

Industry: Religion

I just received another packet of, well, let's call it what it is... crap... through the mail.

Encompassed in a large plastic sleeve which must be thrown away, 5 "magazines" of religious product news fall out. Under the guise of articles, various companies are writing to promote their products which range from clerical shirts to church playground equipments to sound system offers.

How does this fit into the message of the gospel?

Well, at least I can recycle the sleek pictures of a 7,000 seat sanctuary...

5 Things I Dig About Jesus Meme

I was tagged by St. Inuksuk for this, my very first meme: Yeah!

1. I dig that Jesus was all about being human - life, friends, food, drink, etc.

2. I dig that Jesus saw through all the gunk that has us drawing lines and putting up walls: he walked through lines of gender, class, race, ability, sex... he crossed them all.

3. I dig that he was really with people - in all aspects of their lives. He was there in their passion, their hurt, their joy, their frustration, their hope, their fear... and our's too.

4. I dig that Jesus loved the world so much he became a part of all of us to live on in each of us.

5. I dig that Jesus didn't ask for membership cards, faith statements, documents, creeds or proof that people deserved love and healing.

Passing along the great love of our buddy Jesus, I tag:
Amused, Walking Wet, Pastor Peters, JJ

But if you haven't been tagged- tell us what you dig about the great JC!

Rules for this meme:
a)Those tagged will share "Five Things They Dig About Jesus".
b)Those tagged will tag 5 people. (if they can find someone untagged!)
c) Those tagged will leave a link to their meme in the comments section of the
blog of the person who tagged them (meaning this post) so that everyone can
keep track of what's being posted.

Backwoods Living

Living in the north woods, we have found there are some tools, machines and other doo-dads that everyone owns and just assumes everyone else owns. For example, almost everyone has some form of a:
fishing boat with at least two kinds of motors
a 4 wheeler or ATV
a snow machine (snowmobile to us urbanites)
an ice auger
a wood burning something or other
and....
wait for it...
the ultimate show of backwoods manly man-and woman-ness....

The chainsaw.

We don't own a chainsaw up here in logging country... but I think my big city, urban loving husband is in deep chainsaw envy. As we had parishioners help with the downed trees in our yard, he stared longingly at the 3 - count them 3 for the 1 downed tree- chainsaws that were roaring away as he sadly pushed the lowly wheelbarrow of branches.

Of the list above, we actually have 3 - but the ice auger is a hand crank, and completely, I am told by those in the know, outdated, but hey, at least their pastor and her husband are slowly adjusting to rural backwoods living.

cliffs notes for bookclubs?

Since reading time is hard to come by these days... I am rather picky about the books I read.
I want to know that I will like the book, because I am jealous of my time and want to be entertained.

In order to counter this tendency, I began a book club at the church. Our goal was not so much to read Christian literature but to read book whose authors have a story to tell that can enhance our lives as Christians.

This has been really a good experiment, but the one drawback to book clubs is when I really don't like the book, when I really can't finish it, (or I am drawn to re-read the 5th Harry Potter book in anticipation of the movie release) I feel really, really guilty. Like I've skipped a test.

(yes, oldest child syndrome is kicking in; yes, I am anal-retentive; yes, I turned in all my assignments on time)

And I am really, really bored by the current book.

I can't get past page 57.

I am leading a discussion on it Saturday. Sigh.