Our 2011 Annual Conference is about to begin. I must admit to being a bit nervous about my role with the title of Chair of this awesome event for our church in Indiana. I remember watching this and wondering how the people organized and prepared for this event.
I pray this will be a Spirit filled time with a focus on learning and the renewal of the UMC. We have a tremendous speaker and worship leader with Dr. Marcia McFee. Our theme of doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God is just what the world in which we live needs and the church - the people - are the ones to provide that with courage.
Day 1 begins this evening (Wed, June 8) - my birthday - at Ball State. We will be gathering as clergy and laity in separate places. The first ballot will be taken for delegates to General Conference. May this be a reverent time for all.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Thomas Merton
Several months ago I ordered Thomas Merton's A Book of Hours. Off and on I have read the day's reflections at the scheduled time. Throughout our trip to Alaska and Canada I made a more intentional effort to be engaged with his writings and thoughts.
What wisdom and insight he has. The things I read were so appropo for the place I find myself. His words of hope, contentment, strength of faith, sacrifice, simplicity, contemplatoin, needing to learn, God is all around, the joy of the Lord is everywhere.......
Most of all over and over he reminds me to listen to God in silence. "We do not know we are full of paradise becuase we are so full of our own noise that we cannot hear God singing us and all things into being."
What wisdom and insight he has. The things I read were so appropo for the place I find myself. His words of hope, contentment, strength of faith, sacrifice, simplicity, contemplatoin, needing to learn, God is all around, the joy of the Lord is everywhere.......
Most of all over and over he reminds me to listen to God in silence. "We do not know we are full of paradise becuase we are so full of our own noise that we cannot hear God singing us and all things into being."
Return from Alaska and Canada
We spent 11 days traveling to Alaska and Canada - flying to Vancouver, cruising to Juneau and Skagway via the Inner Passage. Then the White Pass train to Canada, on to Whitehorse via bus, bus to Dawson City with some fun stops along the way. Two days in DC, then bus over the Top of the World Highway - it sure felt like the name fit! - to Tok, Alaska. Bus to Fairbanks where we learned more about gold mining and then train to Denali National Park where we took a marvelous Tundra Wilderness Tour and saw the wildlife in their natural habitat. Then on to Anchorage via train and home.
It was lots of time traveling in a huge open space of land in the Yukon and Alaska but that is what that area is really about. Beautiful scenery, wildlife, and a different way of living than our custom. We met people who lived through long stretches of winter with temperatures around 40-60 below, who had no electricity and chopped wood, hunted, lived alone in days that are dark most of the time. Rugged, rugged people with a different perspective on life. More like pioneers than contemporary dwellers on earth!
But what I reflected on much of the time was the passion with which the people lived. Many had gone to Alaska for a summer position or to find a retreat and had stayed because they absolutely loved it there and felt a connection with the land and way of life.
What if we had that same passion for whatever we were doing in life - what happens when we feel people want to take that away or we can't do the things for which we have passion? How is our passion for being a follower of Jesus reflected in our lives? What would happen in our churches if we had that same whatever it takes attitude for a full life of growing and serving?
It was a great trip and we are looking forward to sharing with people who helped us get connected with this journey. I am looking forward to sharing what I experienced in sermons.
It was lots of time traveling in a huge open space of land in the Yukon and Alaska but that is what that area is really about. Beautiful scenery, wildlife, and a different way of living than our custom. We met people who lived through long stretches of winter with temperatures around 40-60 below, who had no electricity and chopped wood, hunted, lived alone in days that are dark most of the time. Rugged, rugged people with a different perspective on life. More like pioneers than contemporary dwellers on earth!
But what I reflected on much of the time was the passion with which the people lived. Many had gone to Alaska for a summer position or to find a retreat and had stayed because they absolutely loved it there and felt a connection with the land and way of life.
What if we had that same passion for whatever we were doing in life - what happens when we feel people want to take that away or we can't do the things for which we have passion? How is our passion for being a follower of Jesus reflected in our lives? What would happen in our churches if we had that same whatever it takes attitude for a full life of growing and serving?
It was a great trip and we are looking forward to sharing with people who helped us get connected with this journey. I am looking forward to sharing what I experienced in sermons.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
End of Week Two
I have come to the end of the second week. So far, the renewing part of this leave has been a bit elusive. We have grieved the loss of Woody, our 12 year old Corgi, and the next place is unsettled. My trip to Texas may need to be shortened a bit - that is to be my time away visiting my son and his wife in their new home and then an opportunity to connect with our Rio Grande Conference and to spend time at a renewal center in San Antonio.
It also doesn't seem like I have left New Horizons - I still go to the church, my office is the same and has not been packed up - the ultimate in liminal time! The time between....
Does it ever seem as though God is "toying" with you? Please go here to prepare for this - and then it does not work out and looking back it almost feels like a set-up? And then again? Maybe the leading is for the moment at hand and not so much into the future - take what is and trust God is with you in that moment. Do all you can for the glory of God and the kingdom.
I have spent more time with Luke that past few days - what a joy he is. He makes me laugh and forget about all the other stuff. It is fun to watch him grow and change and learn new things each week.
It also doesn't seem like I have left New Horizons - I still go to the church, my office is the same and has not been packed up - the ultimate in liminal time! The time between....
Does it ever seem as though God is "toying" with you? Please go here to prepare for this - and then it does not work out and looking back it almost feels like a set-up? And then again? Maybe the leading is for the moment at hand and not so much into the future - take what is and trust God is with you in that moment. Do all you can for the glory of God and the kingdom.
I have spent more time with Luke that past few days - what a joy he is. He makes me laugh and forget about all the other stuff. It is fun to watch him grow and change and learn new things each week.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Transitions
As a Transitional Interim Ministry Specialist I have been trained, equipped, called, led ...to lead congregations to a new future with hope as a community of faith . What a challenge as this includes sharing with people places where God is calling them to turn back, to be converted to a new way of life.
At this point in my life I am in my own transition - ending a ministry at one church, waiting to learn where God is leading us next, and on a leave for a time of renewal.
God is calling me to the same adventure - turn back to me, listen, wait, trust, continued conversion to become the person God wants me to be. What a challenge it is for me to do these things myself - perhaps that is a lesson for me during this time to keep close to my heart. Change is not that easy for anyone even those who dearly want to do so. The mysteries, uncertainties, wilderness feeling are more likely to be avoided than embraced.
Even our transition to living without a pet in our home has been difficult. We sure miss our Woody and as we explore the possibilities for a new member of our family, it has been comforting to remember how much he was a part of our life and the experience of unconditional love we knew. God's desire for people is to know that with each other - we can learn a lot from a dog!
At this point in my life I am in my own transition - ending a ministry at one church, waiting to learn where God is leading us next, and on a leave for a time of renewal.
God is calling me to the same adventure - turn back to me, listen, wait, trust, continued conversion to become the person God wants me to be. What a challenge it is for me to do these things myself - perhaps that is a lesson for me during this time to keep close to my heart. Change is not that easy for anyone even those who dearly want to do so. The mysteries, uncertainties, wilderness feeling are more likely to be avoided than embraced.
Even our transition to living without a pet in our home has been difficult. We sure miss our Woody and as we explore the possibilities for a new member of our family, it has been comforting to remember how much he was a part of our life and the experience of unconditional love we knew. God's desire for people is to know that with each other - we can learn a lot from a dog!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Travel North
We just returned from wandering up north in Indiana and Michigan traveling to Amish country around Shipshewana and then to Holland, Michigan for the annual Tulip Festival. We also spent a night at Pokagon State Park - such a beautiful place where we wished we had spent more time.
The Amish way of life and the devotion in Holland to their Dutch tradition seems to point to people who know what they are about and who they are, proud of their tradition. The parade we watched, though mundane, had many local bands including those made up entirely of 6th graders. This says something of their commitment to music in those areas with relatively small cities but high school bands of over 100 students. It was refreshing to see the streets lined with families - lots of children - to watch the parade that really had nothing spectaular or showy included.
We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Middlebury hosted by two people who were devoted to sharing their faith journey through hospitality and in story telling with their guests. We enjoyed the stories of not only guests who came to the inn, but of their encountering of God in their lives.
Where do I share my story with people? How does being a pastor - never taking off my mantle - affect my relationships and relaxation in such settings? What is so difficult about being "laid back"? What am I seeking that the Amish and people who seem to know what they want and are doing it impress me so?
The whole area along the Michigan shoreline was a vacation paradise for many homes lined the shore and the cities were clean and filled with shops. Although we did not stay long enough for a reality check, what we did see made me wonder why it is such a struggle for some places to find a sense of identity - or that found it in the business that was there so much that when it left, the whole town became lost. How do we find a new sense of identity based on something richer and more solid than industry that comes and goes?
The Amish way of life and the devotion in Holland to their Dutch tradition seems to point to people who know what they are about and who they are, proud of their tradition. The parade we watched, though mundane, had many local bands including those made up entirely of 6th graders. This says something of their commitment to music in those areas with relatively small cities but high school bands of over 100 students. It was refreshing to see the streets lined with families - lots of children - to watch the parade that really had nothing spectaular or showy included.
We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Middlebury hosted by two people who were devoted to sharing their faith journey through hospitality and in story telling with their guests. We enjoyed the stories of not only guests who came to the inn, but of their encountering of God in their lives.
Where do I share my story with people? How does being a pastor - never taking off my mantle - affect my relationships and relaxation in such settings? What is so difficult about being "laid back"? What am I seeking that the Amish and people who seem to know what they want and are doing it impress me so?
The whole area along the Michigan shoreline was a vacation paradise for many homes lined the shore and the cities were clean and filled with shops. Although we did not stay long enough for a reality check, what we did see made me wonder why it is such a struggle for some places to find a sense of identity - or that found it in the business that was there so much that when it left, the whole town became lost. How do we find a new sense of identity based on something richer and more solid than industry that comes and goes?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Trust God
today we enjoyed many fun and relaxing moments, however, I had this underlyina sense of anxiety about decisions that are being made. The above message came to me no less than a dozen times, even through the stories of strangers! Perhaps this is a priority of my time away. I know in my head but my heart and soul get lost in my control-itis. Lord, help me in my worry and anxiety to trust you with the outcomes of the days and weeks to come. amen
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