Welcome To Church

A church in the U.K. posted this sign on their door; click here for the full text.  Would your church welcome all?  How would some of the people listed in their welcome sign feel coming to your congregation's home this Advent and Christmas season?

Love Is All Around

Preaching lately seems like a fools errand to me.  The terror attacks in San Bernadino, the fear that is being incited in us on purpose by the political debate, and tragedies in the United States and around the world too numerous to name weigh heavily on our hearts, and make words seem useless.  

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 12, verse 21, he notes: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The enormity of the tragedy around us seems insurmountable, like nothing we could do would make a difference.  There is so much evil in the world, and in those who want us to be afraid of it, how can we possibly heal that?  I have learned through my own losses that asking why is not the answer, but asking who – WHO is walking with you through your pain and how are you supporting one another together – is the question to ask to find peace and healing.  

Karl Paulnack is a former professor at Boston Conservatory of Music, and now Dean of the Ithaca College School of Music.  In September 2014 he gave a welcome address  at Boston Conservatory addressing the power of music to bring people together and help them heal:

In September of 2001 I was a resident of Manhattan. On the morning of September 12, 2001 I reached a new understanding of my art and its relationship to the world. I sat down at the piano that morning at 10 AM to practice as was my daily routine; I did it by force of habit, without thinking about it. I lifted the cover on the keyboard, and opened my music, and put my hands on the keys and took my hands off the keys. And I sat there and thought, does this even matter? Isn't this completely irrelevant? Playing the piano right now, given what happened in this city yesterday, seems silly, absurd, irreverent, pointless. Why am I here? What place has a musician in this moment in time? Who needs a piano player right now? I was completely lost.  And then I, along with the rest of New York, went through the journey of getting through that week. I did not play the piano that day, and in fact I contemplated briefly whether I would ever want to play the piano again. And then I observed how we got through the day. 

At least in my neighborhood, we didn't shoot hoops or play Scrabble. We didn't play cards to pass the time, we didn't watch TV, we didn't shop, we most certainly did not go to the mall. The first organized activity that I saw in New York, on the very evening of September 11th, was singing. People sang. People sang around fire houses, people sang "We Shall Overcome". Lots of people sang America the Beautiful. The first organized public event that I remember was the Brahms Requiem, later that week, at Lincoln Center, with the New York Philharmonic. The first organized public expression of grief, our first communal response to that historic event, was a concert. That was the beginning of a sense that life might go on.

The people of New York City didn’t return evil with evil – they sang, they cared, they loved one another, they embraced one another.  God’s call for us today is to overcome the evil in the world with love – love for our family, neighbors and the strangers around us.

As you’re watching the news and considering all the evil in the world – conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Beirut, and Syria, the terror attack in San Bernadino, and gun violence in hundreds of cities across the country to numerous to name, lets not shake our heads in futility thinking that we cannot make a difference.  It is God’s call for us to love and share for people in need, whether they are mourning for someone they lost in a terror attack, or if they live down the road from us and don’t have enough food to feed their family this week (a different kind of terror all its own).  Be there for friends who are grieving and mourning.  Just BE with them, and share your hospitality and care.  The reason we meet as a church and place such importance on being together as a community is that we ARE futile alone.  TOGETHER, as Christians we are stronger, and more able to create change and spread God’s love.  We could all pray alone at home, and worship God alone in our kitchens and our backyards but to be Christians caring for the Lord’s people in need, and mourning with those who mourn TOGETHER we are stronger, and TOGETHER we make a difference.  Just like the assembled masses of people in New York City singing together the evening of 9/11, alone you would have felt impossibly overwhelmed, but together they mourned, they cried, they worshipped and were together.

I always found it interesting that certain groups of fundamental Christians protested the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.  They insisted it promoted witchcraft and evil.  I am certain though, that they have never actually read the books because Ms. Rowling actually based the series on, not only other classic literature like works by C.S. Lewis, Shakespeare and others, but on the Bible and Christ’s love in sacrificing himself for us.  The central theme of the books is that Harry Potter’s mother, Lily sacrificed herself to save him from the villain therefore giving him a power the evil villain could never have – the power of love.  Throughout the series Harry’s mentor Professor Dumbledore tells him over and over again that his strength and power are because of his mother’s love for him running through his veins.  This theme is universal – the power of love to overcome evil – we find it everywhere in our culture and it is because it is the truth.  Love really can overcome evil, but only if we are united together in our work and in our devotion to sharing the love of Christ through our actions.  

Have you ever heard the quote “Preach the gospel at all time, and if necessary use words” ?  It is often attributed to St. Francis of Assissi, and its truth is absolute – often our actions are the strongest means to convey the message of Christ’s love for us in the Gospels.  Especially in our media saturated culture when words are becoming so meaningless, actions are more important than ever. 

  

            The movie “Love Actually” follows the love stories of many different people at Christmastime in London.  In it, Hugh Grant plays the fictitious Prime Minister and opens the movie with this quote, as scenes of "normal" (i.e. not actors) people meeting each other at Heathrow Airport play on the screen:

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport.  General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that.  Seems to me that love is everywhere.  Often its not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but its always there.  Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives; boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.  When the planes hit the twin towers as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge.  They were all messages of love.  If you look for it I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.

            Let's be the people in the world helping to spread the love of Christ all around without fear of others, for Christ is in the other.

Alternative or Addition to the Elf

When my brother and I were around the ages obnoxious, and annoying my mother had us to a project during Advent (I think she gets bonus points for coming up with this "pre-Pinterest").  We made a small manger out of cardboard, and cut "straw" out of small pieces of yarn.  The empty manger was put on our television cabinet, with the pile of straw next to it.  

Our task was to fill the manger with straw to prepare it for baby Jesus.  In order to put one small piece of straw in it we had to do something kind and loving for someone else, and in order for it to count, we weren't allowed to tell anyone what we did.

Instead of my mom having to worry about moving an elf every night (I don't have children but I did have an elf in my former Kindergarten classroom, and my fellow staff members can tell you I often forgot to move it/him/her... and often maxed out on excuses on why it hadn't moved) we were sneaking around doing nice things for each other.

I am not against the Elf on the Shelf.  Instead I am for anything that makes children think about others more than they think about themselves.  Doing nice things for others improves behaviors as much or more than thinking they are being watched by an elf every day.  

On Christmas Eve that year we had the joy of seeing the manger overflowing with straw.  Our love and devotion to one another had prepared our hearts, home, and the manger for baby Jesus.  

Reason #1,439 We Sing in Worship

Yesterday in Chapel there was no bulletin, just some hymn lyrics, and a hymn number on the board for the closing song.  When I opened the hymnal to #727 for the closing song (we have the new Presbyterian Glory to God hymnals) it was this - - 

"The Servant Song" on YouTube

 

Brief recording @ Hymnary.org 

When I was a rising freshmen in high school I went to Music Camp at Camp Whitman, a Presbyterian summer camp owned and operated by the Presbyteries of Geneva and Genesee Valley in the Fingerlakes region of New York.  It was not my first time at Camp Whitman, but it was my first time at Music Camp.

I am not usually surprised in worship.  I am one of "those" people that scans the whole bulletin when I sit down.  I was surprised Monday.  When the opening chords of "The Servant Song" were played I was awash in sense memories so strong they created positive emotions and feelings in me I had all but forgotten.  

• I was reminded of beautiful, radiant, wonderful human beings I met that week I learned "The Servant Song" for the very first time (some of whom I am still blessed to be friends with 18 years later).    
• I could smell the mix of damp leaves, lake water, and campfire smoke that is the essence of Camp Whitman.

Remembering that time that was filled with love and joy so vividly overwhelmed and brought me to tears.

"I will weep when you are weeping

When you laugh I'll laugh with you"

Bulletin Covers

When I was planning my beloved friend's memorial service this past week, I briefly considered bulletin covers with a sunflower on them because they were her favorite flower.  

In the end we decided to go with roses because of a significant family story.  During those few days searching for covers with sunflowers on them I was really frustrated that the scripture verses on them were specifically focused on fall, and harvest and Thanksgiving.

I've been reflecting a lot about this season of loss occurring during Autumn.  Fall is my favorite season.  While leaves, vines, and flowers all die in the fall, it is also a time of abundant harvest.  Bulbs get planted in the fall for spring blossoms.  It's cool enough in the fall to have a fire in the fireplace at my parent's house.  The smell of woodsmoke has always created feelings of peace and calm in my heart. 

Searching through all of those bulletin covers with scripture passages normally associated with fall, harvest and Thanksgiving was a good reminder for me that in addition to a time of grief, this is still a time of abundance to be thankful for.  Today I am thankful for all the gifts that Paula and Grandpa brought to my life.

  

Holding Space, Not Quoting Cliches

In April, Scott Simon wrote an article for Huffington Post called "7 Things No Grieving Person Wants To Hear (And What To Say Instead)"...

While he makes some great points about the mistakes we can make when speaking to someone who is hurting (out of our own anxiety of not knowing what to say) I think the most important note, is #7 - don't let someone's loss pass without telling them you care.  Basically, after reading the whole slew of things you should NOT say to people who are grieving, please don't let it stop you from saying something.  

A great place to start is "I am so sorry."  Then be quiet.  Hold space for the other person.  Silence might be healing.  If not, they might want to share a memory with you, or tell you how they're feeling.  

The ministry of presence is something we can all handle, and we can all get better at.

Thank God for Dogs

“Dogs are the closest we come to knowing the divine love of God on this side of eternity. They love you all the time, no matter what.” 

– Anne Lamott

The past few months have been a difficult season for me and Steve, and the last month in particular has been really challenging.  The days seemed to have been filled with loss and illness; in particular the deaths of two people beloved to me, my grandfather and a dear friend.  

In addition to those deaths, a series of other events has occurred; some as inane as the fire sprinkler in our closet starting to leak on our clothes and having to be replaced involving moving ALL. THE. THINGS. out of the closet for sprinkler and drywall repair, and others as important as job searching.  

Grief and loss makes everything harder.  Especially brushing your teeth, apparently.  Sorry if that's too much information, but I never forget to do this in "normal mode" but in "grief mode" I have now forgotten at least three times... yuck.

Another totally normal thing I have not enjoyed since all this has started happening is walking the dogs.  Not because I don't love the dogs.  I would pretty much rather spend all day with Steve and the dogs right now.  Nope, that's not it.  The reason I don't want to walk them is because when I am grieving I have discovered I dislike making small talk, and we live in this lovely friendly place where when you go outside, there are PEOPLE EVERYWHERE (normally; awesome).  The people want to talk to you, and check on you, and see if they can help you.  God BLESS them.  Seriously.  We have some absolutely gob-stopping wonderful neighbors who we love a lot.  It's me, not them.  

A side effect of grief for me is an odd, "social anxiety, not wanting to leave the apartment, but I will if I have to" sort of thing.  This is where the dogs come in, because while I will occasionally forget to brush my teeth, the dogs do still need to go to the bathroom outside the apartment.  So at least four times a day, I also have to go outside the apartment with them.

Guess what?  3 times out of 4, we don't see anyone to speak to.  That's O.K.  Fresh air, sunshine, and physical activity are just as good (if not better) than getting a smiling face from a neighbor.  The gift Teddi and McTavish give me is breaking the barrier of the front door more times a day than not, and bringing me out into God's creation as a reminder that this season of suffering and loss is not forever.  

  

Radical Hospitality for UN-Ordinary People

According to an article on TheBlaze.com, when confessing, Dylan Roof reported he, "...almost didn't go through with it because everyone was so nice to him."

I have been listening to the "security experts" on the various news outlets over the last few days.  They have all been noting that churches need people trained to look for visitors who are strange and out of the ordinary, and then to call law enforcement when they see these things/people...

I don't think these security experts are familiar with the Gospel message churches like Mother Emanuel are sharing (and obviously shared) with people (especially if they look out of the ordinary).

Let me share a few "un-ordinary" (read: not well dressed, not normally in attendance, not of your skin color, perhaps having an odor, not clean) people who have come to worship during my time in church membership/service:

• a young man looking for money to buy milk for his family
• a mom who needed diapers for the baby in her stroller
• a young man who wandered into the front row (I know all you Presbyterians are gasping out there in cyberspace) during a sermon about welcoming your neighbor!  Talk about a sermon illustration.  Or maybe that is a sermon dramatization? 
• countless others who were hoping to visit the food pantry...

I am not even going to start quoting the times Jesus cavorted with un-ordinary people.  It is practically our charge as Christians.

What we NEED to be doing is teaching our young people is it UNACCEPTABLE to hate others because of their skin color (really, for any reason, but let's start there). While we're at it, we could re-teach that lesson to citizens of all ages.

+++++++++++++++++++

I offer prayers for the congregation of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and for the families and friends of:

The church's lead pastor and state Senator Clementa Pinckney, 41

Cynthia Hurd, 54

Tywanza Sanders, 26

Myra Thompson, 59

Ethel Lance, 70

Susie Jackson, 87

Reverend DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49

Reverend Sharonda Singleton, 45

Reverend Daniel Simmons Sr., 74

God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

What's In A Name?

There is a new PC(U.S.A.) children's curriculum called "Growing in Grace and Gratitude" set to debut in the fall of 2015.  Is anyone seeing a connection to the name of this blog?  

While I certainly do not think that the folks in the denominational offices stumbled upon this blog (while I was actively NOT writing in it) and thought, "Huh, that sounds like a great name for a curriculum, let's reverse it!"  I thought I would state for the record that I renamed this blog "gratitude & grace" on December 31, 2011.

Seriously though, it sounds like the curriculum is going to be a great resource and I do enjoy the title!

It IS an Umbrella Stand

Since Holy Week, Passover, and Easter lent (ha!) themselves to more intense subject matter I thought I would share an image from the Princeton Theological Seminary Library lobby with you this evening.  I don't think any further explanation is needed.  

Happy Dyngus Day! 

(if you don't know - google it)

Up From the Grave He Arose!

my Easter basket

Steve and I had a wonderful Easter morning.  I woke up to a surprise Easter basket from my (Jewish) husband, who is currently working 70 hours a week, and we went to 9:00am worship.  Worship was followed by breakfast at a diner downtown, and potluck Easter lunch with classmates and friends at our apartment complex.  

One thing I DID miss this morning was hearing my mom sing me an impromptu chorus of "Christ Arose" (more information about the hymn at hymnary.org) even before getting to church.  We generally didn't sing it in my childhood church or my current church (I don't think it was in their hymnals) but we did sing it at East Bethany Presbyterian Church when visiting family or when I was doing Pulpit Supply.  

My mom LOVES this hymn.  She sways, she dances, and she bounces.  You can listen to the hymn's chorus here and imagine that for yourself.  I was not a child that was ever really embarrassed by her parents so I remember thinking it was funny, and then as I got older, just FUN.    

Up from the grave he arose; 

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes; 

he arose a victor from the dark domain, 

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign. 

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

So what did all this swaying, dancing, singing and bouncing teach me?  Easter is joyous, joyful, and exciting!  The pastor should not have to say "Christ Is Risen" to the congregation five times to get an excited "He Is Risen Indeed!" in return!

Happy Easter!  Christ Is Risen!  He Is Risen Indeed!

Jesus Trusted the Women

Earlier this week Bronwyn Lea wrote an article about What Easter Says About Trusting Women on the Huff Post Religion Blog.  In it she notes:

But in the hours and days after his death, God in His sovereignty entrusted a group of women to be the first witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. Women, whose opinion counted for nothing in court. Women, who couldn't vote. Women, who were regarded as less able, and innately less trustworthy. But it was to these that the Angel first testified that Jesus had risen from the dead, and to these that Jesus first appeared and commissioned to bear witness to his resurrection.

Of course, the disciples didn't believe their story. Of course they didn't trust the women -- "these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them" (Luke 24:11) Surely the women were mad? Or frightened? Or too full of feelings? And so wasting no time, the disciples ran to see for themselves.

That first Easter, nobody trusted the women.

But I'm reminded on Easter that Jesus did. He trusted the women.  

And it tells me that somehow, when it comes to bearing witness to Him, He trusts me too.

I have always loved the story of the women encountering the empty tomb on Easter morning.  Luke 24:1-12 says:

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

While we celebrate Jesus' resurrection tomorrow morning, let's make sure we remember how radical Jesus was in his ministry.  That radical love and trust for those society put no stock in continues to have repercussions for us almost 2,000 years later.

Pesach

In addition to today being Good Friday in the Western Christian tradition, tonight is also the first evening of Pesach (Passover) for Jews all over the world.  My husband is Jewish, so we celebrate Passover in our house as well.  Tonight we will be retelling the story of the Exodus out of Egypt.  As we share the Passover meal together it will not be lost on either of us that it is the same meal that Jesus shared with his disciples on Maundy Thursday at the Last Supper.

  

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt recently wrote this reflection on Passover:

On Passover, Jews are commanded to tell the story of the Exodus and to see ourselves as having lived through that story, so that we may better learn how to live our lives today. The stories we tell our children shape what they believe to be possible—which is why at Passover, we must tell the stories of the women who played a crucial role in the Exodus narrative...

While there is much light in today’s world, there remains in our universe disheartening darkness, inhumanity spawned by ignorance and hate. We see horrific examples in the Middle East, parts of Africa, and Ukraine. The Passover story recalls to all of us—women and men—that with vision and action we can join hands with others of like mind, kindling lights along paths leading out of the terrifying darkness.

May it be so.
Happy Passover.  Blessed Good Friday.

Basement Tenebrae

Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness") is a Christian religious service celebrated within Western Christianity on the evening before or early morning of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, which are the last three days of Holy Week. Tenebrae is distinctive for its gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of readings is recited.

I have powerful memories of Holy Week as a child and teenager, and my favorite service was always the Tenebrae Service held in the basement fellowship hall at my childhood church.  The candles and readings were set up and said in the middle of the room, and folding chairs were set up in circles around them.  

The series of readings at our service were the events leading up to Jesus' death, from the Last Supper to the crucifixion and death of Jesus (our church didn't have Good Friday services).  After each reading, the reader extinguished another candle until there were no lights remaining, and we left in silence.

Today I will be attending two Good Friday services, and although I am sure they will powerful and spirit-filled, every Holy Week I am transported back to that basement - - reading about the last hours of Jesus' life with people I love, temporarily extinguishing the light until it returns Easter morning.

Commandment Thursday

The Easter season is full of vocabulary we don't use the rest of the year.  Gary Neal Hansen wrote an article called Vocabulary Lesson: Maundy Thursday last Easter to explain why we call it "Maundy" Thursday.  Hansen says:

If you were too embarrassed to ask, I’ll tell you: It is from a Latin word meaning “commandment.” It is like our English word “mandate.” This is “Commandment Thursday.”

The commandment?  Love one another.  John 13:34 says: 

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

First Flowers

Monday afternoon I took this picture while waiting for the bus:

Yesterday morning it was 50 degrees and I felt brave enough to wear flip flops.

Glorious!  Holy Week!  Easter!  New Life!

Last night it might have snowed/slushed a little, and this morning it is 32 degrees. 

While the Easter season is typically associated with tulips and lilies and all things spring, being from Western New York I can remember many an Easter when it snowed on Easter Sunday.  While this does put a damper on adorable little girl Easter Sunday fashion statements circa 1989, it can't put a damper on the day. 

The lilies, the tulips, the daffodils and all things spring and new life associated with Easter are just symbols for the new life we have in Christ.  So, let it snow (I guess?).