That's what they said...

Here are a few links I've come across that are worth watching and reading... they are challenging for sure.  But they also feel right on some deep level, if I can look beyond the discomfort that I initially feel (at least for the poverty link). Meaning, I believe there is truth to be gleaned from them, and a perspective I need to hear.  So I thought, perhaps, you might like to see them too!  What do you think? 

Ben and Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen is known for his "Oreo-nomics" when it comes to the US budget.  I saw a video of him doing this presentation live with a group of senators in Washington.  It was fascinating.  This animated cartoon is the same basic presentation.  I believe there is much wisdom here!



This other link is to a blog I came across.  Reading "Being Poor" makes my stomach queezy, but yet, I believe it's important for us to hear them, especially those of us who live isolated from poverty or live with comfort.  The reality of poverty can be around the corner from many people, but the dominos fall right to help us avoid this reality.  For others, the path veers and they find themselves in a different situation in life.  Take a moment to read to the end of this list... John Scalzi offers powerful words from many people who live in poverty.
http://fartheroutnearerto.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/being-poor-by-john-scalzi/

"Soul Care and The Roots of Clergy Burnout" article and reflection

I came across this article today, and found it interesting...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-dilenschneider/soul-care-and-the-roots-o_b_680925.html

How do you define a pastor's job description or role?  What do you think a pastor does all day or all week?  As I've gotten into the ministry myself, I have much more respect for my pastor role models from years ago.  So often people think a pastor only works one hour on Sunday... and I hear this often from folks, either joking or seriously (and sometimes it's hard to tell which).  I am finding that sometimes (most of the time) being a pastor includes 2 job descriptions: the one you were officially given, and the one everyone creates for you as they go...

Having been a pastor now for 2 years (I celebrated my 2 year ordination anniversary on August 10th), and being in my first call (though I consider this the 5th church I've served--given Seminary student pastorates and extensive volunteer work), I am still amazed and baffled at times by all the things a "Pastor" does.  I also continue to "add courses" (at least in my mental list) that I somehow missed or skipped in seminary (and I note--admittedly--I only skipped 2 class in 4 years, and one was a class I was auditing; I missed a few others for travel or illness in my 4 years, though).  Some of these classes that would have been helpful I've mentioned on the blog before: Basic Church Maintenance, HVAC/Plumbing/Electrical repair, Mission Trip Construction, Accounting, Statistics, Child Development, Conflict Resolution, Communications, etc.  [I note, though, I feel I got a really good education, and there was NO ROOM for any more classes in the schedule... it was FULL!]

Getting back to the article... I attended one of the handful of Seminaries that required a "Spiritual Formation" class, and really enjoyed the whole experience.  But I am still not sure how we can get back to the pre-1920s "care of souls" job of the pastor.  So much of what a pastor does, I am finding, is being "pastoral director", as the article calls it.  There are certainly parts of that job that I enjoy and find I have some gifts for.  There are other parts of the job that hopefully come with more experience, as I know I have lots to learn.  But as far as care of souls... do clergy redefine that role, or congregations, or both?  Where does it start and how do we take the first steps?  Thee are days when I do a lot of it, but it often feels like such a small part of my job.  

When I first started Seminary, a passage that really spoke to me about ministry was Mark 2.  It's the story of the friends that lowered the paralytic through the roof to place him in front of Jesus.  I felt it described the role of pastor--to help place people in front of Jesus, no matter what it took.  As I continue to be transformed through the work of the Spirit, I have grown to resonate with the story of Luke 24 on the road to Emmaus (hence the blog name).  I want to live daily on the road, looking for Christ along the journey, walking with Jesus, and engaging Scripture and God's work in the world, and seeing where and how and why those interact... I want to see how I am part of the greater Story of Faith, and how God uses that to direct and call me as I help others do the same.  So how do all of these things work together? 

On this August 13th, as I remember the work of the Spirit in the Moravian Church on August 13th, 1727 for the "Moravian Pentecost" how do I reclaim this calling and follow the movement of the Spirit?  Where is God at work, transforming, renewing, and empowering us for mission and ministry?  And what is my role in that?  How can I care for souls, mine included, that will allow us all to be more open to the movement of the Spirit?  How can we collectively place others in front of Christ and walk the journey together to see ourselves as part of God's greater story of faith?  I'm open to the answers... I just don't have them all right now.  But I guess... that's just part of the journey.  I hope you'll join me!

Congreations Gone Wild-NY Times articles

This is an interesting article from today's NY Times...about clergy's calling vs. congregation's expectations related to sermons and preaching.  
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08macdonald.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

In the article, Jeffery MacDonald says, "In this transformation, clergy have seen their job descriptions rewritten. They’re no longer expected to offer moral counsel in pastoral care sessions or to deliver sermons that make the comfortable uneasy. Church leaders who continue such ministerial traditions pay dearly."

What do you think?  [Comment below...]

I know for me, in Seminary we were taught a few "slogans" related to preaching.
Examples:
"Preach with the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other."
"The Gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable."
"Speak the Truth in Love."

[I know these are both famous quotes, but I don't know who they are attributed to.  (Sorry.)]

But... actually preaching in this manner is often more difficult to do in real life than in Seminary classes.  In my preaching classes, though we didn't all always agree, it was a safe space to speak the Truth in Love.  But in a congregation, preaching is different.  When you know people and know the things they are going through, it does make it easier at times, because I can sometimes see how maybe the words I have been given to speak can bring comfort to difficult situations.  But at the same time, it's difficult to follow what we were taught in Seminary, because it often gets us in trouble.  The Gospel's message is so radical, so inclusive, so pushing of social and political norms of the time (and of our times as well).  It got many in trouble by sharing it, including Jesus himself. 

As the article talks about, I understand how pushing the limits of what people are comfortable with becomes so very tiring and difficult at times. 

I also came across this article as well this past week.  It's also very true. So many clergy are tired, burned our, and/or unhealthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
Self-care, de-stressing, and taking care of ourselves was really emphasized in Seminary.  But putting that to practice is tough.  Days off, yoga, reading, watching TV, spending time with family and friends--these are a few ways I try to take care of myself.  How do you feed your soul and fill your own well to take care of yourself?

What do you think of these articles?

Sermon for 7-25-10 "Not Quite What Was Planned" Christmas In July, Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

Sermon for 7/25/10 "Christmas in July"

Favorite Things Worship Series

Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 9:2-7

"Not Quite What Was Planned"

Some weeks just don't go as planned.  Have you ever had one of those?  On Thursday afternoon your TO DO List from Monday is not even half finished, and you can't find the things you have done on the TO DO List anywhere. Well, this was one of those weeks.  As I was driving out of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Parking lot on Thursday afternoon, the Ticket Reader said, "Have A Nice Day" and I paused for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or cry.  It was not quite what was planned.  Now, I love being in ministry, and I am glad that I can be open to the working of the Spirit.  I say some of this to answer the camper’s question from Mission Camp who asked, “So what does a pastor do all week?”  Let me back up and start at the beginning.

We have been working for months to bring guests from our Sister Church in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, here for a visit.  Roman Brady and I have planned. We've been in contact with Alma and her sister Ninfa from Fuenta Da Vida Moravian Church.  They waited on the US Embassy for Visas.  We purchased Plane Tickets thanks to last Christmas Eve's offering to help foster relationships with Fuenta Da Vida.  We were FINALLY able to have Alma, her son Jordy, and Ninfa's son Fernando come for a visit.  They arrived in Winston-Salem Thursday a week ago.  They journeyed to Laurel Ridge for Senior High Camp this week, and then were to join us here in Raleigh for this weekend to visit. That is until my phone rang Monday morning at 8:50am. 

Roman called from Laurel Ridge to say they had just learned that Alma's brother had died unexpectedly Sunday night and they all needed to return home for the funeral.  So--I spent Monday and Tuesday on the phone with Delta Airlines and Roman trying to rearrange their flights to get them back in time for the Funeral.  (As a side note--Delta Airlines has been phenomenally helpful and kind throughout this whole process--Thank you Delta!!)

As I was talking to the reservationists for Delta, one was asking about Alma and her family.  I couldn't answer most of her questions and finally almost broke down in tears.  I said to her, "I don't know them yet.  I was supposed to spend the weekend with them and get to know them, but now we won't get to.  I am just so disappointed."  It was at that point that I believe the Holy Spirit invited us to have a gathering to honor our guests and take the opportunity, however brief, to get to know them.  The email blast went out, the Facebook invitation was sent, and the party was a GO.

So-we had 30 people at our house this Wednesday evening for an impromptu cookout to meet our friends.  It was a wonderful time!  I took a moment to look around and enjoy the opportunity to watch everyone talking, laughing, playing games, and sharing a meal together.  Everyone showed up with something in hand to contribute to the meal, and we had a feast!  There was so much food eaten, and so much food leftover.  I recall hearing someone say it was like loaves and fishes being multiplied before our very eyes.  Food, friends, and fellowship make a festive, holy combination. 

Thursday morning I brought Alma, Jordy, and Fernando by the church to show them Raleigh Moravian.  Fernando found pictures of his dad and grandmother on our bulletin board, and they named many of the people in the pictures from back home.  Then we hit Interstate 40 and headed to the RDU Airport.  It had been less than 24 hours since I met them when I stood and watched them head through security.  It was a bittersweet moment.  I felt incredibly glad to have met them and had the time that we shared together, and so sad they had to leave and not be here for worship this morning to get to see all of you!

I headed to my car and pulled up to the gate to leave the parking deck. "Have a nice day."  It flashed the message at me, and I paused.  I thought to myself, "Have a nice day?"  My new friends are mourning the loss of a family member.  It's not really a nice day for them.  My week hadn't gone like I planned at all.  It was not really a nice day for me either.  And Sunday isn't going to be a celebration with our friends from our sister church, but instead a time to remember them in prayer during their time of loss. 

 [Suzanne, Steve, Pennsy, Alma, Fernando and Jordy after the party]

Funerals have such a way of changing our plans.  The visit was holy in so many ways, and so wonderful, but it was NOT QUITE WHAT WE PLANNED!  That's when it hit me.  Maybe, just maybe God was helping us to celebrate Christmas throughout this entire week instead of just on Sunday morning. 

Could it be?  I suddenly found myself feeling like Mary in some strange way.  I doubt giving birth in a manger with the animals and overflow crowd gathered around was quite what she had planned.  Births and deaths have a way of changing our plans.  They make us reexamine our priorities and adjust our schedule to reflect the new circumstances.  Our realities are different.  Life is different now, and it wasn't what we had planned.

The more I have thought about Jesus' whole life, the more this week feels interwoven with Scripture.  So many different stories from the Bible include tales of plans changed, journeys re-routed, and lives forever altered.  Just looking at the beginning of Luke--we see the old couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah, told they are finally going to have a child [Luke 1].  This was an answered prayer, but not what they expected.  Mary and Joseph were engaged, but their wedding and life together took a sudden and unexpected turn when she was visited by an angel [Luke 1].  I seriously doubt this was what she planned as she looked through the latest Bridal catalog, visited the local Bridal Boutiques, and filled out their personalized stone tablet on The Nazareth Knot.com registry. 

I doubt the innkeeper planned for the crowds that showed up due to the census being taken [Luke 2].  He was probably surprised to receive the knock on the door by this sojourning couple.  I imagine Mary was clearly about to give birth, and he found himself offering the best hospitality to this young couple that he could given the circumstances.  At least they were in from the weather, had straw to keep warm, and a place to lay their heads.  He might have even called in a midwife or local woman to be there to help with the birth--that is if time allowed it.  Speaking of "If time allows"--A year ago today my youngest niece was born, but it certainly wasn't what her family had planned for her birth.  She arrived so quickly that they didn't even make it to the car to head to the hospital.  Thankfully 911 was only a call away, and the paramedics arrived in time to help cut Lexi's cord.  When we got the phone call, we called 2 other family members just to confirm the story!  Births often don't go as planned.  Mary and Joseph knew that very well.

As for the shepherds in the fields trying to stay awake and guard the sheep... they were startled to be surrounded with a host of angels that night [Luke 2].  Perhaps they were sitting there, rubbing their eyes, and nudging one another, just trying to see if what their eyes saw was really happening?  It wasn't the night they had planned.  That night should have been like the night before--sitting peacefully in a field listening to the crickets chirp and the sheep doze on the grass.  What a tale they had to share!! “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10b-12)

I know many of us have been looking forward to Christmas in July today, and I've had some great conversations about Christmas!  At the Blood Drive on Monday, Carolyn Watts shared a quote with me from a seven-year-old named Bobby.  He said, "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."  I think that's pretty profound.  Christmas is all about Love. 

[Pastors Craig and Suzanne with our Decorated Lovefeast Buns from Christmas 2009.]

I must confess I love Christmas music, candles, decorations, and all the merriment of the Christmas season.  I love A Charlie Brown Christmas playing on TV and decorating the tree.  I love Christmas Eve Lovefeasts and the expectation of what yummy treats will appear inside my Lovefeast bun this year. And right about now those cold temperatures would feel mighty nice.

This was my lovefeast bun from the 2nd Christmas Eve lovefeast last year!

But celebrating Christmas in July, or any time besides December, allows us to celebrate without all the societal expectations of shopping, overspending, often-uncomfortable company parties, and overbooked schedules.  It helps us, I believe, to focus on what is most important--the good news of a baby that was born to show God's love to the world in the most tangible ways possible.  The prophets had promised this baby for centuries, and yet he arrived in a way no one planned.  The Light of the World is here. "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." [Isaiah 9:6 NRSV] 

At our potluck on Wednesday night, we had the opportunity to spend time together in a room soaking in the love that was being shared.  There was no wrapping paper or bows strewn across the floor... instead there were people whose plans had been changed in unexpected ways because of both a death and a birth.  A family member was being mourned, and yet in the midst of that sorrow, God's love shone in the darkness.

I must tell this one story from the potluck.  When I arrived home on Wednesday from picking up Alma, Jordy, and Fernando in Winston-Salem, I opened the fridge.  In there was a bowl of dessert that I knew I hadn't made.  I asked Steve where it had come from.  He said his co-worker had seen my posting on Facebook about the potluck, and just happened to have the ingredients at home to make this chocolate cherry dessert.  So she showed up at work on Wednesday with a dish for our party just to make sure we had enough food.  God's love shines in the darkness and in the sweetness of chocolate and cherries.

On this past Wednesday and today, and hopefully every day, we celebrate a feast of love and joy and share the Good News that death does not have the final word.  In fact, Jesus' death didn't end as planned either.  The sorrowful disciples found out their plans had changed in quite unexpected ways when their loved one walked through the wall and joined the party.  Jesus' whole life and ministry did not go as people expected, and Jesus came to show God's kingdom often happens in unexpected ways as well.  It's the small things, like a bowl of dessert, that often show us God's kingdom of love at work.

May the Good News of Christmas cause us all to pause and reflect on the birth of God-With-US--Emmanuel.  Christ the Lord.  We can and should celebrate every day that the Promised Messiah has arrived, most unexpectedly and not at all how we planned, and our lives are forever changed by God's gift of love. Amen. 

Ten Thousand Villages School Kits Collection

Hi Everyone!  I'm back from a week at Mission Camp in Ashe & Alleghany Counties, NC.  It was a great week, and more will be posted later.  I wanted to post quickly about the 10,000 Villages Drive to collect kits for displaced school children. 

The email this week said:

"Ten Thousand Villages launches its 11th school supply drive to benefit displaced or orphaned children in places such as Haiti, Iraq, Nicaragua, North Korea, Serbia, Ukraine, U.S. and Canada. Last year over 100,000 school kits filled with new school supplies reached the hands of school-aged children whose lives had been interrupted by war or natural disasters. Supplies for the school kits can be dropped off at Ten Thousand Villages in Cameron Village from July 1 through August 31.

Include the following items in your school supply donations:

• 4 spiral-bound notebooks (about 8.5’’x 11”), 70-80 pages each
• 4 unsharpened #2 pencils
• 1 ruler, flexible plastic (with both 12” markings & 30 cm)
• 1 box/package of 12 colored pencils
• 1 large pink eraser

For more information email Marketing Coordinator Gricelle Font at marketing.raleigh@tenthousandvillages.com."

Check out this link for more info:

http://raleigh.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.events.php?date=&selected_date=1277956800&event_id=6401

Hope you're able to help and encourage your friends to do the same! Thanks!