How Quickly We Forget

      For 14 years of my life, I was always thinking about the stuff we throw in the trash that is still edible.  Working for Society of St. Andrew I was always on the lookout for produce that would normally be thrown away-- put on the compost heap or thrown in the trash. I found volunteers who would take that food to soup kitchen and shelters.  The food wasn't waste, we just thought of it that way. We weren't going to eat it, so why keep it around?

     Today, we were working in the church veggie garden.  There were turnip and mustard greens still growing.  They hadn't "produce" as well as we might have hoped.  We were there to pull up weeds and mix in new compost -- getting the beds ready for planting in February.

We decided to pull up the greens and share with anyone present who wanted to take them home.  There were no takers... 

When asked what to do with them, I said, "Throw them in the dumpster."

How quickly I had forgotten... 

A young couple there said, "What if we take them to Jimmie Hale Mission?"

I was caught off-guard!  "OF COURSE!"  was my immediate response!

But, that's when all my "old training" kicked in... Jimmie Hale receives already prepared meals for the most part.  Churches bring meals that have been cooked.  I asked if they would be willing to carry them to Firehouse Shelter knowing that in the past, Firehouse readily accepted fresh produce and the cooks there were willing to do the "extra" work.  They were happy to carry the greens there.

So, instead of going into the dumpster, hopefully those greens will be on a plate at the shelter!

How quickly I had forgotten that with the plenty that I experience, what seems like waste is often not!  

Keeping Christ in Christmas

This is my article for Hoover First UMC December Newsletter:

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Christmas is not just a Christian holiday.  In fact, many persons who profess no faith at all will celebrate Christmas.  They will decorate their homes and put up Christmas trees.  Santa Claus will visit their homes, and they will exchange Christmas gifts.  Special Christmas treats will be baked and families will gather together.  People will do all of this, without entering a church building or without giving any thought to what the word "Christmas" means.  The word “Christmas” originated as a compound meaning “Christ’s Mass”.  Even the abbreviation, “Xmas” comes from the use of the initial letter chi (X) in Greek for “Christ”.

But, what about those of us who are in church every week?  With the rush to purchase gifts, bake goodies, decorate our homes and generally have a good time, we also can lose sight of the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

So, how do we keep Christ in Christmas?  In his book Christmas Is Not Your Birthday, Rev. Mike Slaughter writes,

“At Christmas, we celebrate a messiah, a deliverer, who was born to die.  So, we too are called to give ourselves sacrificially with Christ for the world that God loves.  More of him and less of us.  More for him and less for us.  Such sacrifice is paradoxial because the more of ourselves that we give away, the more abundant our faith and our contentment will be with what we have”. (P. 66)

How do we make Christmas more about Christ?

Here are a few suggestions for your celebrations of Christmas.

Consider donating to charity instead of exchanging gifts.   When someone asks you what you want for Christmas, give them the name of your favorite charity and ask them to make a gift in your honor. 

Consider giving the gift of time:   DO something together!  Plan a special time with family or friends:  baking together, visiting a museum, or even making a “craft” together.

Consider giving the gift of memories: Write down a story for each of your children/grandchildren/niece/nephew.  You might write about your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child.  Or you could write about the day when the child was born or his/her first Christmas.

Consider sharing the story of Christmas together: Read the Christmas story aloud as part of your family celebration.

May your Christmas holiday season be filled with the Joy and Peace that comes only from celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God with Us.

If you want another resource for Spending Less, Giving More by Reclaiming Christmas visit the Rethink Church website.

On a Journey

From Hoover First UMC's October Newsletter

During my vacation in September, my sister and I did some hiking in Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia.  A very small section of a trail we hiked was a part of the Appalacian Trail (AT).  The pictures here were taken at Grayson Highlands State Park  in Virginia.

What we did was very small in comparison to other hikers who we met along the way.  These hikers included eight Methodists from Indiana who were hiking on the AT (one of whom was 79 years old) and there was the young man from Oklahoma who was hiking with both of his elderly parents.

While Debbie and I were further south, Rev. Dale Clem, the pastor of Monte Sano United Methodist Church, was finishing his journey from the Northern most point of the AT to the entrance of the trail into Vermont.  This week, I was expressing to him my admiration for this feat and thought it might be fun.  Dale's response to me was "you don't do it because it's fun, you do it because it's a challenge."

The trek in the woods and over mountains is is not unlike our spiritual journeys.  Sometimes our journey feels like a walk in the park and other days it is a steep climb.  But, through it all, we know that God  challenges us to faithful living and calls us forward.

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.  Where will my help come from?

The LORD will protect you on your journeys--whether going or coming--

from now until forever from now. 

Psalm 121: 1, 8

A side note:  Somewhere in the state of Maine, my friend Dale Clem, passed a friend of the men from Indiana.  Their friend who goes by the trail name SOS was finishing up his thru-hike from GA to MA.  Here is his blog about his journey.

The Dog Days

This is the article I wrote for the August Newsletter of Hoover First UMC.  (Decided I needed to post here more often, so going to start posting some of my sermons and newsletter articles.)

As I write this, the Dog Days of Summer are upon us.  This season of the year finds many of us feeling lazy as the summer moves towards a hot, sultry weather end.

After I wrote the words "dog days," I thought I had better find out what it really meant.  A search of the internet yielded something unexpected.  I always thought that the "dog days" came from the idea that domesticated dogs are just lazy when it is extremely hot.  But, this is not the case.

The expression goes all the way back to the Roman times.  The brightest star in the sky is Sirius, which is part of the constellation, Canas Major ("large dog") and is sometimes called the Dog Star.  During this time of year, from sometime in July to sometime in August, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun.  To the ancient peoples, it seemed that this star was adding "heat" to the already warm summer weather. 

This surprising history reminded me how through the ages, people have thought that forces beyond their control have pre-determined their lives.  Ancient peoples often thought that the stars moving through the sky somehow determined their aspects of their existence.  As modern people, we often scoff at the ingorance of previous generations, but even today, people know their zodiac signs and follow their horoscopes which are based on constellation and stellar events.

Although we may put less stock in the stars controlling our fate, we do at times fall into the trap of thinking that events in our lives are pre-determined or beyond our control.  Yet as Christians, we understand ourselves as blessed by God with freewill.  We have the power to make choices and to change our lives.  Certainly, there are circumstances that are beyond our control that limit us, but often the biggest limits we face are the ones we place on ourselves.  Too often we are like the lazy dogs of summer thinking that eventhing is fated and we are unable to change the course of our life.

Perhaps we sometimes even have this fatalistic way of thinking about our church.  We might look around and worry what is ahead for our congregation.  But even here, we have a choice.  We can choose to follow God's call to faithfully to reach out to others.  We can look for God's Spirit at work in the world and seek to join in.  Or we can lay down under the porch and just endure the Dog Days....

"See I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity..... I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, belssings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendeants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him..."  Deuteronomy 30: 15,19-20a

The Only Woman in the Room

The first time was the summer before I started seminary when I went to a District Ministers meeting.  I was an intern working at a small church outside of Asheville, NC.  This gathering in June 1986 was one month after I had arrived for the 12 week assignment at Bethel UMC.  The church was served by Tom Beall whose wife was Helen, a high school band director.  Since this was the first district meeting right after moving day, both pastors and spouses were invited for a meal and introductions.  After everyone ate together, the spouses went inside the home, while the "preachers" stayed outside.  Helen looked at me and said, "Are you going to be one of the ladies, or a preacher?"  It was then that I realized that all the preachers were men and all the spouses were women.  It hadn't dawned on me until that point.  So, not only was I the youngest "preacher" but I was also the only female that stayed outside for the "preacher's meeting."

Since that time over 25 years ago, I have never been the only woman preacher in a district meeting.  In smaller gatherings, certainly, I have sometimes been the only female.  In larger gatherings, particularly Executive Session at Annual Conference (clergy only meeting), I am very aware of my "minority" status within the room.  When we sing "And Are We Yet Alive" I am still overwhelmed by hearing so many male voices in the room.  Since my ordination 20 years ago, I hear my voice more strongly now and I can hear more sopranos and altos in the room with me.  I know that the numbers are changing and more women are entering ministry, but are our voices still being drowned out?

A few weeks ago, I found myself once again in a room where I was the only female clergyperson.  It was surprising and distressing to me on a number of levels.  The invitation had come from the District Superintendent via email.  I had no idea who else was invited, but the invitation was to clergy of vital congregations in the two Birmingham Districts to attend a gathering with the Bishop as he was preparing to leave.  In my experience, when invited by the DS to a gathering that includes the Bishop, you had better have a pretty good excuse if you say no.

So, feeling honored and having no excuse, I attended. As I arrived at the Methodist Center, young clergypersons were leaving.  This group had met with the Bishop on this particular day and that group included several younger women within the conference.  I also know that the Board of ordained ministry, which includes several clergywomen, had met earlier that day during the morning hours.

My surprise and distress came from the same source.  I was surprised when I realized that the room included pastors mainly from larger growing churches.  Only having been back in the parish for one year and at a small church, I felt out of place with this group.  But, what distressed me more is that I was the only woman in the room. 

Surely, there were other women who had been invited. So, why was I the only one who showed up?  Was I the only woman willing to accept an invitation to the gathering with the Bishop about his tenure here in North Alabama?  What does that say?

But, what is most interesting to me about all of this is that I chose not to open my mouth during the gathering.  It was a time to give the Bishop feedback on his time here and the changes that have taken place under his leadership.  The longer I sat realizing that mine was the only female voice in the room, the more silenced I felt.  No one else inflicted that feeling on me; it was my own doing.  I kept my mouth closed because I was worried about what would come out if it, if I opened it.

NOTE:  After some comments on facebook, there's something I want to make clear... NO ONE in the room made me feel unwelcome or that I couldn't speak. I was the one who made the choice not to talk for a variety of reasons-- not just because I was the only woman. 

How Healthy Am I?

Over the last couple of years, I have been thinking about what it means to live healthy.  In relative terms, I have been generally healthy, although often overweight.  I even set out to take off some of that weight and get really fit.
I had been doing a fairly good job.  I missed the gym if I didn't get there at least 4-5 times a week.  I was even running!  This increase in exercise meant that I could eat a little "more" of the sweets that I love.

Everything was going along fine as I transitioned out of the non-profit world and back into parish ministry.  I was dedicated to getting to the gym or walking and/or running at home. 

Yet, something happened. Over time, I gradually let my commitment to exercise slip while I didn't moderate my eating habits to match that.  The pounds have slowly started to creep up again.

Every time in the past  when I have found myself in this position--suddenly, figuring out that I need to change my eating  and exercise habits-- it is like a wake up call.  One day, I look in the mirror and I see someone that I don't recognize, and that's the "tipping point."  That is the point at which I make the commitment to change. In the past, I was unhappy about how I looked. My efforts to 'get in shape' were motivated by my appearance.

But, this time was different.   The wake up call has come in another form. This time I am more concerned with my physical health than my appearance.
The wake up call was three-fold and included
1.  the discovery and subsequent surgical removal of an ovarian cyst.
2.  the discovery of hypothyroidism and my need to begin taking medicines for this
3.  the diagnosis of high cholesterol that needs to be treated with medication.
Now, none of these three things were life-threatening and none of them are probably directly related to a modest weight gain. But, all three were signals to me that I was in deed, not as healthy as I thought I was...
So.. surgery now completed and meds begun, I am now ready to concentrate on getting back into my exercise routine and changing my eating habits again.
What is becoming clear to me as I approach my 50th birthday (10/4/2013) is that I want to be has healthy as I possibly can be NOW.. before any more of my body starts to fall apart!  And it is about just that--being healthy!  If I can fit back into some of my clothing and improve my appearance, that's just an added bonus!

St Patrick's Day Fundraiser

This is a fun commerical that our Choir Director put together to advertise a St. Patrick's Day fundraiser at Hoover First United Methodist Church.

Come and Be Found

Note: this post is the Sermon which I preached this morning at Hoover First United Methodist Church.  It is not EXACTLY what I said, but this is the manuscript with which I started.    I also have a note following the sermon to clarify one point that I was trying to make.  Would love to have comments!


Mark 1:14-20      

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”18And immediately they left their nets and followed him.19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
       

　

This week, I had a friend who posted a picture on face book that really struck me. He had taken a picture of a framed saying that hangs on the wall of his favorite “watering hole.”

The saying is a quote from JR Moehringer. Moehringer is writer in New York and after googling him, I think that this quote is from his memoir.

I want to read you part of this quote
“We went there for everything we needed. We went there when thirsty, of course, and when hungry, and when dead tired. We went there when happy, to celebrate, and when sad, to sulk. We went there after weddings and funerals, for something to settle our nerves, and always for a shot of courage just before. We went there when we didn’t know what we needed, hoping someone might tell us. We went there when we were looking for love, ….. or trouble, or for someone who had gone missing, because sooner or later everyone turned up there. Most of all we went there when we needed to be found.” 
What struck me about this when I read it was that I wanted this to be how people feel about coming to church!

“we went there for everything we needed…. Most of all we went there when we needed to be found.”

In trying to figure out where Moehringer had written this, I read some excerpts from his memoir, The Tender Bar.  And in it he writes,
“Everyone has a holy place, a refuge, where their heart is purer, their mind clearer, where they feel closer to God or love or truth or whatever it is they happen to worship. For better or worse my holy place was Steve’s bar.”
What is YOUR holy place? But, more importantly,
WHY is it holy to you?
Is it a place where you feel refuge?
Where your heart is purer and your mind is clearer?

Is it a place where you feel closer to God?

So, WHAT in the world does how this man feels about a bar have to do with the call of the first disciples?

Why in the world am I sharing this with you this morning?

Well, it has stuck in my brain ever since I read it.
especially the part about
Going to a certain place because you needed to be found.

Isn't that what the church SHOULD be?

The place where we go to find our truest, best selves…

The place where we are found by others…

And then, I think…. What if???

What if other people KNEW that this was the place to come to be found…

Just like my friend really identified with this quote because this bar where it hangs is a special place to him---

The image that keeps going through my mind is “Cheers”-- that old TV show..

Which had as it’s theme song….. Those words that I bet you call could even sing…

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name…
And they’re always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same
 You wanna be where everybody knows your name…
So, what do these bar stories have to do with the Gospel??
Why in the world have a started a sermon with this?

Because the passage of Scripture that we read this morning is about Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John…. Leaving everyone and everything in order to follow Jesus…
They must have been so compelled by what Jesus had to share with them, that they were willing to give up all that they had to follow him.

Now, Mark doesn’t give us much detail. We really don’t know if this is the first time that they had met Jesus, or if they had been listening to his message of repent and believe in the Gospel and this is just the first time that they are invited to join him.

But, not only do they follow him, Jesus says that they are called to draw OTHERS to him as well…that’s where these bar stories come to mind…

What compels US to come to church???
Why is that YOU are here today?
Is it because this is a place where everyone knows your name?
And they are always glad you came?
Is this a place where you find your truest and best self?
Is it a place where you come to find courage? (maybe not the liquid kind as the quote suggests)
But is it a place where you come when you don’t know what you need, but hope you will find it?
Is this the place where you come to be found?

Shouldn’t the church be ALL of those places for us?

A place to come for courage and encouragement,
A place to find what we need
And a place to be found

So… WHY do people think they will find that in a bar??
Not at church?

What is the message that we have to share that might be compelling enough today?

This scripture from Mark talks about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and he begins with these words,  “repent and believe”

Too often what we here in those words is condemnation--

YOU ARE A SINNER…

But really what those words are about is GRACE!!!

They are a word of grace.
And that is the message that we are called to share…

Believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ
That GOD loves EACH One of us!
That God loves EVERY person..
WE are called to share this message of grace--
share with others

BUT, before we can witness to our faith to others…

We have to be able to share what it is that makes us want to follow Christ.
So, what is so compelling about the message of Jesus that we come here every week to worship?
What is it that draws YOU to Christ-- what is it that makes you want to follow him?

Not many of us are called like Simon Peter and Andrew, like James and John…
Not many of us are asked to give up everything to follow,
There were only 12 disciples and they were the leaders…
But Jesus had many more followers--

So, for all those who followed Jesus there was a decision point-
A point at which they decided that he was the messiah
The anointed one
The one who had come to announce the kingdom of God.

But, Jesus didn’t call ANY of his followers just so that they could be self-satisfied with themselves and their OWN personal devotion…

Jesus came so that ALL might be found….

So that ALL might come to repent and believe.

As followers of Christ, WE are asked to share this message

A message that is compelling enough that we come to church each week to worship a God who lives and reigns.. Who loves and cares for each one of us.

When I read that quote I was deeply sad that for some people the place where they are “found” is a bar…

Surely, the message here is one that is more grace filled…

Come and follow!

Come and be found!


Further Note:  One of the things that I think I "threw in" was that I understand that people feel a sense of "community" at other places and that this is what they are craving.  On a personal note, I have nothing against bars per se.  I just wish more people saw the church as a place where they will be welcomed and find community.