Invoking Power

Last night I had the great honor of leading the invocation at a rally in a nearby town. The guest of honor was the great senator from New York, the theme was change, and hope was in the air.

Recognizing that this would anger some folks in my congregation, I assumed they wouldn't be surprised.

The excitement was overwhelming, and one could literally feel the energy coursing through the room. What an amazing experience. God is on the move!

God of Grace,
We gather before you tonight filled with hope.

Hope for your children, hope for your world, hope for your creation.

You have gathered together your people, across boundaries of age and gender; Race and ethnicity; Religion and politics.

In your eyes we are your beloved, called to care for one another and the world that you made.

Restore our broken lives. Send comfort to all who grieve. Bring peace to all who suffer. Grant healing to all who walk in darkness, fear, and despair.

Guide the leaders of our communities, our towns, our state and our nation.
Give them wisdom to serve with joy and fairness, guide their hands and feet in paths of peace and justice.

Guide us, your people to the vision of your kingdom.

Help us to be agents of your good news in this world, for in each other we see you as we feed those who are hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, and listen to those whose voices are unheard.

For you have called us, your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, to a future unknown.

Now, give us faith to go out with good courage, not always knowing where we go, but knowing that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us:
Through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

The long awaited Pastoral Rant- Part 2

"Good morning Pastor. Since it is pastor appreciation month, here is a list of things you are doing wrong..."

Sigh.

Pastoral Rant - Part 1 (be advised, there will be more)

My congregation is just fantastic about respecting my day off. They really are.
The only calls I might receive are from my office manager (because no one ever respects her day off!) or the funeral director.

But living in a small town, there are people who either A. don't have a pastor, and call me. or B. don't go to their own pastor, and call me.

Unfortunately, they don't understand the concept of a sabbath. They call me at my home. It's gotten to the point that I don't answer the phone much on this day- yes, I admit it, I screen my calls.

For some people, they apologize for bothering me on my day off, but could I:
"do this thing that could easily have been done tomorrow, that actually could have been taken care of by the office staff, but since the office is closed, I am calling you, because I am thinking about it now."

or

"Hello, I wanted to invite you to my house today to sit with me and have tea" translation: I know you are not my pastor, but mine won't listen to me, so I am assuming you will help me under the guise of me trying to be your friend."

This latter one will translate in to rant part 2, but for now:

Why, why, why?

Thanks, I'm feeling better already!

weddings weddings everywhere...

I just had lunch with a young woman whose wedding I will be officiating at next month. Normally, I admit, I don't like doing weddings. They are a lot of work, mentally, emotionally, and very, very time consuming. As many pastors will say, I'd rather do a funeral any day over a wedding.

But- when I do them outside of the church, for non-members, as is the case with this woman and her fiance, I have to say, I really enjoy officiating at them.

Perhaps it is because I am no longer "in charge" of the wedding ceremony. Of course, I still help them plan it, but I simply show up, run the rehearsal and then the ceremony.

Perhaps it is because I don't know the extended families of the bride and groom. I don't need to know the idiosyncrasies, the histories, the who is not talking to who because of what stuff.

Perhaps it is because most weddings outside are a little less formal, so the illusion of a perfect wedding is lessened, and there are few "bridezillas" or "MOB dictators" (that is, mother-of the-bride)

I am a detailed person, I like things to run smoothly and with grace. But weddings, when millions upon millions of dollars are caught up in the wedding industry, I have a hard time finding the grace necessary for marriage when people are freaking out about floral decorations.

Maybe I should just start my own church policy: "I'll be happy to do your wedding, we can have the vows right after the sermon and before communion at Sunday worship. Otherwise, I'll show up at the nearest state park, and witness your vows under the pine trees."

Think it'll catch on?

Bubble Wrap

OK.
Love, Love, Love, Love this new internet stress reliever.
Love it.
Love it.

Ok, might be a little addicted to it. Just a little.

Holy Grounds: The dog days of summer

I recently learned that the "dog days of summer" refer to the placement of a constellation in the summer sky. The star, Sirius in Canus Major is the brightest star in the night sky in July and Early August. (Also learned a little about Harry Potter and the aptly named Sirius Black!)

It's always fascinating how a term can be taken over by other definitions and meanings. As I write, my big dog is cashed out near the couch, trying to find some relief from the hot weather. She defines, for me the dog days of summer, as I reflect on a glorious weekend with friends, outdoor activities, and celebrations.

As I often lounge around like my dog in these fleeting days of summer, I'm hoping to get out to the night sky, find Sirius and welcome these gloriously hot days of summer, these dog days, before they all to quickly disappear.

How's your dog days treating you?

And now for something completely different...

I really do like this guy, all satire aside.

He ventured forth to bring light to the world

They'll let anyone in that church

I think many of us bloggers dream of the day when our ramblings could be collected into a small but endearing story book about the life and times of what ever it is we do when we are not blogging.

As a pastor, I have found that I often find material for that book. It is a helpful exercise, really, because it often allows one to rise above the actual incident as we think: "that's a good one for the book I will someday write."

Here is a recent gem:

It was said to me by a woman who rarely comes to worship because her husband requires around the clock care. When she asked a family friend to look after him while she attended Sunday service, she asked if he went often any more. He looked at her with distain and said, "They'll let anyone in that church."

To which she replied, Yes, even you are welcome!

Don't you just love it?

Can you just imagine the evangelism that could be done with that phrase? I couldn't be prouder to serve a congregation that will let anyone and everyone in!

Friday Five: Summer Reading

Yes, Yes, it has been a while since the last Friday 5, but nothing like summer to start again! (That, and waiting for my Sunday supply accompanist to call so I can practice the hymns with her... sigh. I am so type A it is ridiculous!)

This week, then, a Summer Reading Friday Five.
1) Do you think of summer as a particularly good season for reading? Why or why not?
Well, summer is as good as any season for reading! I don't seem to have much more or less time to read, but often I do find winter a better reading season... less ability to sit on the porch until 10pm drinking a beverage.

2) Have you ever fallen asleep reading on the beach?
Not that I am aware of. I rarely fall asleep reading anywhere. I've been known to stay up until 3:30 am finishing a book.

3) Can you recall a favorite childhood book read in the summertime?
Any and all things Madeline L'Engle.

4) Do you have a favorite genre for light or relaxing reading?
Fantasy. I just devour these books. Literally. I can finish a lovely little book in 3 hours and feel perfectly restored!

5) What is the next book on your reading list?
The Year of Living Biblically, by A.J. Jacobs- what promises to be a hilarious account of a lapsed Jew reclaiming the literal aspects of his and Christian faith. I'm excited.


What are your favorite summer reads: past and present?

In the silence

The past couple of weeks have been full of details, running, preaching, presiding, meeting, lamenting, aching, enjoying, celebrating, dancing, eating, drinking, loving and talking.

It has been a month of many, many things.

But today is a day of quietness... and my default is to fill it with activities. You know, the activities I am accused of not doing enough of... Visits, programming, devotions, meditations...

Living in the silence. Being. Enough.

How can we come to the understanding that this too, is holy and worthwhile? What a culture we could be if we could be. enough. silent

Holy Grounds: City Coffee Shops

Farmer's markets in the median.
Chamber music echoing from the stone and glass
Vienna beef hot dog stands
Sidewalk cafe's
Sidewalks
Bakeries
Asian take out
Concrete
Bus fumes

People of all styles,
walks
destinations
hopes
backgrounds
dreams

Sometimes it is good to be back in the city

Holy Grounds: a rainy spring day

Like the Psalmists, it is a healthy thing indeed to cry out--

A beautiful cup of coffee this morning, with no less than 12 species of birds at our feeders.

I'm not sure when I became a binocular holding, quick referencing the bird book, shushing people in the living room person, but I am entirely enamored with Evening Grosbeaks!

It's a bird that kind of reminds me of a superhero.
And if I ever get to choose a mascot, it will be the fighting grosbeaks!

I just wanted a beer...

Sometimes life in rural areas can get a bit trying.
In northern rural areas, where the mud season seems to continue for months- because of alternating snow and rain, the tensions only seem to escalate.

It has been a silent blog for a while, perhaps because I was trying to hold onto the initial goal of the blog, which is welcoming this experience of small town living as a gift, always holding unexpected blessings and holy grounds.

Lately, I've only wanted to complain. ("I hate that feeling," she complains...)

So perhaps sharing some honesty about these backwoods, that they are not always the dreamy, wilderness escape, with quaint people or soul opening encounters could be helpful.

When I lived in the city, and I have live in some large metropolitan areas, I often looked at the rural life as idyllic in its simplicity. Sometimes, yes, this is the case.

But like any place there are complex webs that thrive beneath the surface, and sometimes they are knotted and treacherous. Perhaps an old family feud, a bitterness about life or work so hard it literally kills people.

And sometimes the simplicity is just that: simple. So when all I want after a busy day is a cool draft, quality beer, and the search has me driving 100 miles round trip, I wonder: can this be holy ground?

Holy Grounds: Holding on to the Mystery

Spring has sprung, but hearts are still heavy. I came across this song by Kris Kristofferson (I know, but it really isn't yaught rock, I promise!) It's a good one. And it is the sigh from my heart as I encounter so much pain in this world.

Holy Grounds: Snowy Spring Mornings

It's April...

15 days after the beginning of spring
13 days after Easter
5 days after April Fools Day

And there is over 2 feet of heavy, wet snow on the ground.

We northerners are a hearty lot. People came in to church, trying to top each other's stories of harrowing rides into church, through slippery driveways and heavy snow drifts.

As the only church open within 50 miles, we gathered together, 40 brave souls, in the front of the sanctuary (after some coaxing) and sang Easter and Christmas songs together.

It was a good day.

Musings... perhaps a hint of holy ground

I've started this post many times- only to be

A. frustrated (having the family around- all of them- requires and inordinate amount of pastoral peace keeping.

B. bored (my rule of thumb with my sermons is if I'm bored, the congregation is. Thus the rule with the blog if I'm bored, you are)

C. distracted (hmmm, I wonder what's on the food network now and can I hope to recreate Ina's fresh pea soup with mint... or would it be better with basil or...)

So, I offer to you some of the many places of the post Holy Week/Easter Sunday haze that have me circling around the deeper questions in life.

Not, what does Jesus really mean when he offers peace to the disciples, but rather, why are there never enough M&Ms in gorp?

"Maxed Out"

We are in serious trouble here... serious trouble

13 years...

Perhaps someday we'll stop marking this day
counting the moments we have lived without you
singing your favorite songs absent your voice:

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole round world to hear.

Until then, we remember you

Calendars: containing or coping mechanisms?

Alongside my calendar I have a scheduling book. It is a simple composition book, with the paper held in with a string so it is not easy to rip out a page.

It is in this book, I carry my life. I write the week at the top of the two page spread, and begin writing all my tasks for the week, bulletins to form, people to visit, confirmation to plan.

I carry this book along with my calendar- they just fit in my work bag, alongside my laptop.

My husband makes fun of me, and tells me I live by my calendar, but it isn't true. I live because of this schedule book. Every time I wake up in the middle of the night, knowing I should talk to someone, re-arrange communion or have a sermon idea... I write it down.

THEN... I can fall back asleep

The Vatican, in a new light

You just gotta love the Roman Catholic Church...

Calendario Romano 2008