I finally got a "plum" assignment at Presbytery: A seat on the Committee on Ministry. Of course, I'm the new kid, know nothing that is going on and ask too many stupid questions during meetings. But besides that, I'm really making a contribution (HA!).
One of the things COM, I mean the Committee on Ministry, does (besides learning an entire vocabulary of different initials for papers, processes and people, which I am taking an oath NEVER to use: PIF, CIF, EP, PNC, EPC, etc ad nauseum) is to go visit each church once every three years.
The purpose is to foster a relationship between the pastors and the committee and the church and the presbytery. The unspoken motivation is that when or if trouble strikes, the Presbytery and the Committee on Ministry won't be starting from scratch when they come in to "help" and or pick up the pieces.
So I had my first visit last night. And it was really fun! The pastors were thoughtful and hardworking and committed. The session was pleased and proud of their church. They seemed genuinely glad that someone from Presbytery was showing an interest in them. And I got lots of good ideas about alternative ways of "being church". When I asked if they had suggestions for me to take back to Presbytery, they said "Yes."
They said that Presbytery could help by setting up opportunities for sharing ideas between churches. Have a Sunday School training fair. A building and grounds seminar. A mission sponsor swap. Isn't that a good idea? Do you think, if people thought they were going to get to share their ideas and hear from people "on the ground" in other churches they would participate?
We get so stuck doing things "the way they've always been done" that sometimes we don't even realize that it is quite, quite possible to do them differently.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Men in Uniform
Why are my encounters with law enforcement always so silly?
The deputy just left. I filed a report (case #S07-????) in the case of the missing flamingos. Our Youth Group Fundraising Flamingos got bird-napped last Saturday night, and after hoping that someone at school would hear who had them, and driving around Philo and Tolono hoping against hope that the thieves would think putting them in some one's yard was as funny an idea as I did, I finally called the sheriff's office. And the deputy came and wrote down all the facts of the case:
32 missing pink plastic flamingos.
Last seen 4/7/07.
Value of $180.
He even wrote down my age. Does that matter, I ask you? Is there an extra penalty for stealing from senior citizens?
And as he left he said "With a little help (pointing up) maybe we'll find them."
He was a lot more helpful than the officer who came (MANY MANY years ago) when I reported a wild animal had chased my 1 year old child around in the yard. I said I thought it was some sort of rabid weasel or something. Big. Like a badger. Frightening. Dangerous. That guy asked if I'd been drinking. Later, someone showed me a picture of a pet ferret. Yep. That was it.
I'm sorry that my need for aid always seems to be so ridiculous. No. On second thought, I'm not. I'm glad.
The deputy just left. I filed a report (case #S07-????) in the case of the missing flamingos. Our Youth Group Fundraising Flamingos got bird-napped last Saturday night, and after hoping that someone at school would hear who had them, and driving around Philo and Tolono hoping against hope that the thieves would think putting them in some one's yard was as funny an idea as I did, I finally called the sheriff's office. And the deputy came and wrote down all the facts of the case:
32 missing pink plastic flamingos.
Last seen 4/7/07.
Value of $180.
He even wrote down my age. Does that matter, I ask you? Is there an extra penalty for stealing from senior citizens?
And as he left he said "With a little help (pointing up) maybe we'll find them."
He was a lot more helpful than the officer who came (MANY MANY years ago) when I reported a wild animal had chased my 1 year old child around in the yard. I said I thought it was some sort of rabid weasel or something. Big. Like a badger. Frightening. Dangerous. That guy asked if I'd been drinking. Later, someone showed me a picture of a pet ferret. Yep. That was it.
I'm sorry that my need for aid always seems to be so ridiculous. No. On second thought, I'm not. I'm glad.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Lent is Over - Is this Blog?
Thank all of you for reading and/or commenting on this Lenten blog. Lent is over? Shall we continue blogging? Let me know what you think. I'll think, too.
C
C
God and Dogs
There's a middle ages vintage tradition that the week after Easter you tell jokes, to remind you that God really put one over on the Devil when Jesus rose from the dead.
Here's one of my favorites:
Did you hear about the dyslexic, insomniac agnostic? Yeah. He stayed awake all night wondering if there is a dog.
And speaking of dogs . . . I've got to get this new book. The author is a Presbyterian, you know:
http://www.preaching2thechoir.blogspot.com/
Here's one of my favorites:
Did you hear about the dyslexic, insomniac agnostic? Yeah. He stayed awake all night wondering if there is a dog.
And speaking of dogs . . . I've got to get this new book. The author is a Presbyterian, you know:
http://www.preaching2thechoir.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Here's a funny
Qualifications for Youth Ministry:
This came from a blog at www.preaching2thechoir.blogspot.com As we plan our youth mission trip for this summer, I can see how logistics begin to trump high ideals . . .
This came from a blog at www.preaching2thechoir.blogspot.com As we plan our youth mission trip for this summer, I can see how logistics begin to trump high ideals . . .Friday, April 6, 2007
Maundy Thursday Meal
Two nights ago we had our second attempt at a "Christian Seder" to commemorate Maundy Thursday. The Gospel of Luke is explicit about Jesus' Last Supper being a Passover meal, so it makes a certain amount of sense. And I like many things about it: the story itself, the involvement of the children who ask "the four questions", the symbolic foods, the connection to Jesus' Jewish roots.
But, for the second year in a row, I've been surprised and disturbed when we get to the part where we celebrate the Lord's Supper. Even with the words of institution, and the traditional food, and an elder at each table doing the breaking and pouring . . . as part of a hearty meal, the elements seem out of place. People are talking to their table mates and I wonder if they are paying attention. It's not as quiet as it is in worship, and there is no "mood music" to spur meditation.
I have to remind myself that all of that is much closer to what Jesus and the disciples experienced. No wonder they didn't quite remember every word the same. No wonder they went back to arguing with one another so soon. No wonder they received this great gift and then an hour later couldn't stay awake to pray with the Giver.
We don't get to say, "Wait, Jesus, I'm not ready to feel spiritual and to listen carefully to what you say." All we can do is try to rise to the occasion and hope we get it just a little bit right.
But, for the second year in a row, I've been surprised and disturbed when we get to the part where we celebrate the Lord's Supper. Even with the words of institution, and the traditional food, and an elder at each table doing the breaking and pouring . . . as part of a hearty meal, the elements seem out of place. People are talking to their table mates and I wonder if they are paying attention. It's not as quiet as it is in worship, and there is no "mood music" to spur meditation.
I have to remind myself that all of that is much closer to what Jesus and the disciples experienced. No wonder they didn't quite remember every word the same. No wonder they went back to arguing with one another so soon. No wonder they received this great gift and then an hour later couldn't stay awake to pray with the Giver.
We don't get to say, "Wait, Jesus, I'm not ready to feel spiritual and to listen carefully to what you say." All we can do is try to rise to the occasion and hope we get it just a little bit right.
Holy Week/ Cold-y Week
The sudden cold spell this week has certainly put a damper on my Easter mood. Already I'm a little peevish, since my son's spring break is this week, and I can't take him anywhere fun, because of Holy Week obligations. But I might have been able to get over that, had the spring weather held.
There is nothing better to me than waking up early, having a cup of coffee and going out to tour the garden, to check on hostas spearing their way above ground, and peonies lip-stick red shoots. "My" bee balm has spread, after several years, from a couple of little plants to a plot in the garden the diameter of a whiskey barrel. And just last week, when I cut off the tops of my perennial grasses, I discovered that they'd already begun to put on green.
Then, boom! the bottom fell out of the thermometer. Most of what's up is going to have to start all over again.
And, being the one who has to wonder about such things, I have to wonder if folks are going to be in the mood to come to Easter services, when they will have to wear parkas and scarves over their pretty pastel Easter outfits. Grump.
Then I read this wonderful article: http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=3085 about how we sometimes lean on the spring imagery to convey the Easter message, but that in fact "there is nothing natural about the resurrection." (Or words to that effect.) So a cold, rainy Easter of gloomy weather should be no impediment to experiencing and celebrating the wonderful news of Christ's victory over sin and death. Just put on your fur-lined Easter bonnet and come on to church!
For us, no less than for Mary and the others who stumbled around the cemetery on that first, dark Easter morning, something amazing is happening, and we need to experience it firsthand and share it with the other disciples.
There is nothing better to me than waking up early, having a cup of coffee and going out to tour the garden, to check on hostas spearing their way above ground, and peonies lip-stick red shoots. "My" bee balm has spread, after several years, from a couple of little plants to a plot in the garden the diameter of a whiskey barrel. And just last week, when I cut off the tops of my perennial grasses, I discovered that they'd already begun to put on green.
Then, boom! the bottom fell out of the thermometer. Most of what's up is going to have to start all over again.
And, being the one who has to wonder about such things, I have to wonder if folks are going to be in the mood to come to Easter services, when they will have to wear parkas and scarves over their pretty pastel Easter outfits. Grump.
Then I read this wonderful article: http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=3085 about how we sometimes lean on the spring imagery to convey the Easter message, but that in fact "there is nothing natural about the resurrection." (Or words to that effect.) So a cold, rainy Easter of gloomy weather should be no impediment to experiencing and celebrating the wonderful news of Christ's victory over sin and death. Just put on your fur-lined Easter bonnet and come on to church!
For us, no less than for Mary and the others who stumbled around the cemetery on that first, dark Easter morning, something amazing is happening, and we need to experience it firsthand and share it with the other disciples.
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