One of the great joys (that is an over exaggeration) is to attend the annual synod assembly. This year, Tom and Sue from church joined me. It is fun to see how they experience the church at a level that we don't often see in the congregation. We realize, and are reminded that the church is bigger than just us; and yet we are part of the church and the witness to Jesus.
It is also a time for me to catch up with colleagues I don't see very often. Tonight some of us sat around a table at dinner, with Sue and Tom--and I don't think they were too put off by some of the stories these church leaders shared--funny stories, not bad stories.
Our current bishop instituted one afternoon of "tracks" --so Tom and Sue went to Bethlehem church here in Grand Rapids and painted a mural. I stayed back and went to a mission track where Living Water Ministries reviewed their past couple years with intentional and deliberate study of the mission and vision, making hard decisions, but now seeing growth.
All this said, I have some ideas roaming around in my head on how to share with the congregation what our church on the larger scale does as a witness and how we are participating in the changing of the world.
Sometimes it is just a new environment, talking to others, laughing and dreaming, and the vision comes more into focus.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Monday, May 9, 2016
Communication and the POWER of the word
Matthew 12:35-37 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure.
36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter;
37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Tonight I was reminded of how sensitive communication in this age of social media and "talk" without being face to face can be. In an email, I responded to another email--no intent but to acquire information and to help determine if there was anything I could think of to address the concerns.
Tonight these questions were addressed, but I found that instead of my intent of gathering information, my questions were seen as a threat and accusing of something that I certainly did not intend. I know that I am responsible for what I say, and in many ways responsible for what people understand me to say. However, how can I take that responsibility when I don't know how these words are received? I was blindsided tonight, accused of some things that I take great offense to, and now with a couple hours since it occurred calming down enough to move forward.
Email, texting, facebook conversations serve their purpose--but they don't serve every purpose. I made a mistake of utilizing email in response to an email. That may make sense to do, but I know better, at least I thought I did. What I asked with little emotion but concerned was received in a totally different way. Without tone of voice, body language, "conversation"-my email was received in a way I did not intend.
But it is so easy to just shoot an email or a text, or post--but the follow up to the misunderstanding of said sent could take up more time and energy than it would if I had just called or scheduled a meeting.
I am sorry for my part in this, and at the same time hurt by what was said tonight. In part I understand, but that doesn't help with the feelings.
So now I recommit to listening, which means I have to hear with my ears. Not my fingers or reading between lines. Words and tongues hurt, they can steer us in directions we do not wish to go. This may take more time, and responses won't come as quick--but that may not be all bad.
So I ask for prayers, for forgiveness of myself and for hurt words I heard. Begin now, and don't read anything into this or "try to figure out what I'm talking about." Just take it as a lesson learned and shared. And next time you consider texting, messaging, emailing--ask yourself before you hit send--how could someone else receive this--is there anyway it could be misinterpreted? Be responsible for your words--for they can justify or condemn you!
Pastor Julie
Tonight I was reminded of how sensitive communication in this age of social media and "talk" without being face to face can be. In an email, I responded to another email--no intent but to acquire information and to help determine if there was anything I could think of to address the concerns.
Tonight these questions were addressed, but I found that instead of my intent of gathering information, my questions were seen as a threat and accusing of something that I certainly did not intend. I know that I am responsible for what I say, and in many ways responsible for what people understand me to say. However, how can I take that responsibility when I don't know how these words are received? I was blindsided tonight, accused of some things that I take great offense to, and now with a couple hours since it occurred calming down enough to move forward.
Email, texting, facebook conversations serve their purpose--but they don't serve every purpose. I made a mistake of utilizing email in response to an email. That may make sense to do, but I know better, at least I thought I did. What I asked with little emotion but concerned was received in a totally different way. Without tone of voice, body language, "conversation"-my email was received in a way I did not intend.
But it is so easy to just shoot an email or a text, or post--but the follow up to the misunderstanding of said sent could take up more time and energy than it would if I had just called or scheduled a meeting.
I am sorry for my part in this, and at the same time hurt by what was said tonight. In part I understand, but that doesn't help with the feelings.
So now I recommit to listening, which means I have to hear with my ears. Not my fingers or reading between lines. Words and tongues hurt, they can steer us in directions we do not wish to go. This may take more time, and responses won't come as quick--but that may not be all bad.
So I ask for prayers, for forgiveness of myself and for hurt words I heard. Begin now, and don't read anything into this or "try to figure out what I'm talking about." Just take it as a lesson learned and shared. And next time you consider texting, messaging, emailing--ask yourself before you hit send--how could someone else receive this--is there anyway it could be misinterpreted? Be responsible for your words--for they can justify or condemn you!
Pastor Julie
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
April 8, 2015--This is the day.....
1O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
14The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
17I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
_____________________________
On this Wednesday after Easter, I share the psalm we sang on Easter. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
I would guess many of us know this psalm not from scripture directly, but from the Rev. Robert Schuller from the Crystal Cathedral, who died April 2 at the age of 88. I would periodically catch a bit of his show when it was on, usually to hear the guest who was speaking and also the music. Nothing could compare to the choir at the Crystal Cathedral. (Side, did you know that he attended Hope College and Western Theological Seminary here in Michigan?)
He was always the positive preacher. He had a smile on his face. I struggled sometimes because I know life doesn't always lead us to smile. Each day at the hospital, which is where I was working when I had time to watch, I probably was part of telling a family that their loved one was dying, that they have been diagnosed with a disease that is radically going to alter their life style, or working with staff that had so much to do they couldn't imagine getting it all done.
I know life isn't always smiling, Jesus meets us in the cross, where God and humanity come together. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, I know that! God meets us where we are, loves us where we are, and it is in this hope and promise of eternal life with Christ that sustains the days of struggle.
So my challenge this day and every day is to remember and wake each day with "This is the Day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad with him."
2Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
14The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
17I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
_____________________________
On this Wednesday after Easter, I share the psalm we sang on Easter. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
I would guess many of us know this psalm not from scripture directly, but from the Rev. Robert Schuller from the Crystal Cathedral, who died April 2 at the age of 88. I would periodically catch a bit of his show when it was on, usually to hear the guest who was speaking and also the music. Nothing could compare to the choir at the Crystal Cathedral. (Side, did you know that he attended Hope College and Western Theological Seminary here in Michigan?)
He was always the positive preacher. He had a smile on his face. I struggled sometimes because I know life doesn't always lead us to smile. Each day at the hospital, which is where I was working when I had time to watch, I probably was part of telling a family that their loved one was dying, that they have been diagnosed with a disease that is radically going to alter their life style, or working with staff that had so much to do they couldn't imagine getting it all done.
I know life isn't always smiling, Jesus meets us in the cross, where God and humanity come together. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, I know that! God meets us where we are, loves us where we are, and it is in this hope and promise of eternal life with Christ that sustains the days of struggle.
So my challenge this day and every day is to remember and wake each day with "This is the Day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad with him."
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Tuesday Reflection of Holy Week
So it is late in the day on Tuesday of Holy Week. My goal to write a daily reflection has fallen way behind. I'll start again after Easter. It isn't that I'm too busy, and it isn't that I'm not doing a devotion. I guess I have just been doing it away from the computer. And those who know me know I like to change it up, so I am doing something different than reading the daily texts for each day.
Anyway, it is Tuesday of Holy Week. So far, I am very calm and reflective. I have some laundry going, I had a nice dinner out with a friend, lunch with a colleague, and a funeral. I also presided at a memorial service Saturday.
All this to say, I really am feeling the power of resurrection, and I feel a little guilty saying that before Good Friday. Yet I have witnessed death.
I was not present when either died, but I witnessed death as I spoke with the families, with friends, with people who loved the person. Loss, grief, thankfulness, tears. And what a power the words of Jesus are at this time. This week as I shared with two families the promise of life, resurrected life, the words mean so much. During this holiest of weeks, I had the privilege of proclaiming that death does not win. Death does not have dominion over Jesus, and therefore not over us. Jesus, according to the gospel of John has gone before us to prepare a place.
I am moved by the love of these families, the witnesses of a young person who worked hard to help out one of the families, the power of prayers, the power of placing the loved one in the arms of our savior. Earth to earth, dust to dust.... Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return--AND just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too will live a new life.
Yes, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday must come before Easter, but I know the power of the resurrection! And if I dare say, Alleluia!!!
Anyway, it is Tuesday of Holy Week. So far, I am very calm and reflective. I have some laundry going, I had a nice dinner out with a friend, lunch with a colleague, and a funeral. I also presided at a memorial service Saturday.
All this to say, I really am feeling the power of resurrection, and I feel a little guilty saying that before Good Friday. Yet I have witnessed death.
I was not present when either died, but I witnessed death as I spoke with the families, with friends, with people who loved the person. Loss, grief, thankfulness, tears. And what a power the words of Jesus are at this time. This week as I shared with two families the promise of life, resurrected life, the words mean so much. During this holiest of weeks, I had the privilege of proclaiming that death does not win. Death does not have dominion over Jesus, and therefore not over us. Jesus, according to the gospel of John has gone before us to prepare a place.
I am moved by the love of these families, the witnesses of a young person who worked hard to help out one of the families, the power of prayers, the power of placing the loved one in the arms of our savior. Earth to earth, dust to dust.... Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return--AND just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too will live a new life.
Yes, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday must come before Easter, but I know the power of the resurrection! And if I dare say, Alleluia!!!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
March 10, 2015- Dwelling trust
Psalm 84
1How lovely is your dwelling place, O
Lord of hosts!
2My soul longs, indeed it faints for
the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3Even the sparrow finds a home, and
the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O
Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
4Happy are those who live in your
house, ever singing your praise. Selah
5Happy are those whose strength is in
you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6As they go through the valley of
Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
7They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9Behold our shield, O God; look on
the face of your anointed.
10For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
God than live in the tents of wickedness.
11For the Lord God is a sun and
shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from
those who walk uprightly.
12O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone
who trusts in you.
On Sunday, I suggested in my sermon
that when one is praying, one might wish to look at a Psalm and let the psalm
lead you in prayer.
When you read Psalm 84, what images
come to mind? (By the way, Selah is
likely some sort of refrain that would have been said or sung—it doesn’t have
any “meaning” other than that).
What encouragement does the psalmist
give in this song/poem? What
comfort? What praise?
I also mentioned that I often am
drawn to music. So as I read this psalm,
I begin to sing:
Monday, March 9, 2015
March 9, 2015-Foundations
1
Corinthians 3:10-23
According to the grace of God given
to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is
building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.
11For no one can lay any foundation
other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 12Now
if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw— 13the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will
disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what
sort of work each has done. 14If what has been built on the foundation
survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If the work is burned up, the
builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.
16Do you not know that you are God’s
temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple,
God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18Do not deceive yourselves. If you
think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may
become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is
written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20and again, “The Lord
knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
21So let
no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul or
Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the
future—all belong to you, 23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to
God.
Foundations are the base work of a
building. Most of us don’t care what it
looks like, but we do care that it is sturdy, solid, immovable. I remember when building my house I was
excited to see the foundation poured, but it didn’t really become my house
until I saw the stuff built on top. I
did care again about the foundation when water came into the basement!
How sturdy is your foundation. Scripture tells us that our foundation is
Jesus, and if so, that would be a sturdy foundation. Jesus we know from scripture is the
rock.
What does our temple “look”
like? Not just our physical appearance,
though how we care for our physical bodies is a spiritual matter. What is built on our foundation? Are we caring for it as we know we should?
As we continue this Lenten season at
Ascension, we continue to discuss the faith practices of discipleship. In many ways these are the building blocks
upon which is built our temple upon the foundation of Christ. What rooms do you need to tend to?
Listen to Sanctuary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LiTy7ndOzw
Monday, February 23, 2015
February 24, 2015--unity of spirit
1 Peter 3:8-18a
8Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. 10For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; 11let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
16yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.
18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God.
________________________________________________________
I watch the news, I have worked with many congregations, I have friends and family, and I wonder--is it really possible to ever have unity? Scripture will talk about being of one mind, not to argue. Is it really possible? I have to believe it is, or else why would scripture speak so much about it.
I don't believe unity means to be alike, to agree with everything others may say. The writer of 1 Peter encourages a unity of spirit, of sympathy/care for one another, love one anther, have a tender heart, and a humble mind. Don't repay evil with evil or abuse for abuse, rather repay with a blessing.
I encouraged the people of Ascension to give up fear for Lent. I wonder how much fear has to do with why it is so hard to have a kind of unity that God seems to desire.
The first fear I can imagine is the fear that things won't be the way "I" like things to be. Things will change and it won't be my way, and I like my way. It's always been that way. We might make up rules that speak to us, that work for us, and we expect them to be met. But so often these rules are about us. Instead we are to have a humble mind, to think of ourselves less and to think of others more. What would be best for the community might be our first question instead of what is in this for me.
One fear I have seen when difficult decisions need to be made is the fear and threat of money. If the congregation makes a decision, we know some people will stop giving. We assume we know who the big givers are, and we want to make sure we keep them happy. It saddens me when I have heard congregational members even say this is what the pastor is to do (I have never heard this at Ascension!) Clearly the church leaders were not happy with Jesus' decisions, with Jesus' way of expressing faith in God. So much so they killed him. But Jesus did not repay evil with evil, instead he said Father forgive them.
What would happen if Ascension and let me go there, the whole church were to be in unity of spirit? Oh, I can only imagine, and what an imagination I can have.
unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing
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