just had meeting re: young adult ministry. that + my time away has me thinking about ministry and my introvert tendencies. Praying for courage!

Lectionary Leanings

I'm hearing Romans call to me this week. Every time we gather around the communion table (this Sunday, being the first Sunday for us), I say something about looking around and noticing who is not at the table with us today - either by choice, because of illness, or because we haven't invited them. I kind of just say it, but never have gone into depth as to why I say that with the congregation.

Paul's cry of despair for his brothers and sisters who haven't listened to his message, who don't believe him and have turned away for that reason seems like a good way to make that message more explicit. I think I'm going to ask the congregation during the sermon time to think about the people in the community - their co-workers, family members, neighbors - who they also care deeply for and who they would like to share the love of God with. I'm going to have them write down those names and then make special handwritten invitations to those people to join us for our big fall kickoff at the end of the month.

Our theme is "back to the basics" so it would be a good time for people who are new or who have been away for a while to get back into the swing of things.

I also want to tie in the gospel message about Jesus having compassion on the people and wanting to feed them all - and how Christ continues to want to gather all of us around the table and to share God's abundance with us.

Updated "Back to the Basics" Fall Plan

,I've gotten some inspiration on the alphabet thing...

The overall theme is going to be " Back to the Basics of Being the Church" (we made BE the CHURCH t-shirts earlier in the year). I'm also going to be tying in some of Robert Schnasse's ideas from "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" - but not in as obvious a way.

I'm not quite sure if I'm going to go strictly with an alphabetical listing anymore... but, if I do, here is another stab at it:

A= Acceptance of God (and who God is... not who we want God to be)
B= Body of Christ - Blessings and Curses - We're All In this Together (this one is a little rough still)
C= Care for One Another (its a stretch from the readings... I may just have to go off lectionary for this one and tie these scriptures in with the previous week)
D= Dealing with Doubters and Grumblers
E= Emptying Yourself & Putting on the Mind of Christ
F= Fallen Family & World Communion Sunday (talk about our lack of unity - and confession)
G= Grace (tied in with Radical Hospitality - Five Practices)
H= Holy Humility (tied in with Passionate Worship - Five Practices)
I= Incarnating Christ to Others
J= Journey to the Jordan (All Saints)
K= Kingdom of God is Near (tied in with Intentional Faith Development from Five Practices... keeping your candle ready)
L= Living out of your Potential (tied in with Extravagant Generosity from Five Practices - parable of the talents)
M= Mission (what we are called to do. tied in with Risk Taking Mission and Service from Five Practices)

a new seed has been planted

I desperately needed to get away. I needed to clear my head and spend some time with my hubby. I needed to pull myself back far enough from all the ins and outs of the church to think about the big picture of what I'm supposed to be doing there (because - after 6 months, I'm starting to get a better idea). And I needed to replenish my spiritual life.

I'm embarassed to admit how far away from my own spiritual disciplines I have gotten. About a week before vacation, I looked into my prayer journal and noticed my last entry was from March. MARCH! Seriously people. I've done plenty of praying, plenty of bible study, plenty of worshipping... but all in the context of my job, of church, of what is expected of me... none of it for myself - none of it just for me and God. And I started to get back to that in the few days before I left and then had the opportunity to spend time each morning, in the amazingly beautiful outdoors of northern wisconsin with my devotional time.

I have a great resource that I use: A Guide to Prayer for All God's People and it really helps not only center my thoughts, but I love the readings - I loved the fact that it also feels worshipful to sing and pray and that there is a psalm that guides me through the whole week. I highly recommend it!!!

Now that I'm back home, I spent my first morning on my back porch with a cup of tea and my devotional. And it felt good. And I finally feel like I have the clarity I need about what to do with my youth this fall - with my preaching this fall - with everything really. it's taken me a while to get there, but things kind of have fallen into place. Now I just need to get it all on paper and present some ideas to the Administrative Board... and get some advertising going to try to bring back in old members who haven't returned and to reach some other parts of our small town.

I'm excited. I'm rejuvenated. And even though tomorrow is a day off for me - I'm going to go to church with my congregation anyways. I thought about visiting somewhere else or taking the sunday off - but I WANT to be with them =) And that is a very very good feeling.

Friday Five (backdated... because I had to play!!!)

what are the five things you simply must have when you are away from home? And why? Any history or goofy things, or stories?

I thought this was absolutely apropo (or however you spell that) because I was just ON vacation! So... here goes!

1. My Phone & Charger

I inevitably always forget my phone charger... and then my phone dies. Luckily, I remembered this time, and didn't miss any important phone calls!!! PLUS - since I got facebook mobile - i got all of my birthday wishes posts right on my phone - the whole drive home!!! It was fantastic!

2. My Keeper!

Ladies... if you don't know about the keeper - you should! It is a woman's best friend. Never again will you or your significant other have to make midnight runs to the store for tampons or pads. Never again will you shell out tons of money for overpriced products. Never again will you clog up dumps with all that waste... It is simple, easy, affordable, and the absolute most wonderful thing you can have when you are out in the backwoods of northern wisconsin... or traveling across Europe. any questions - feel free to ask me about it!!!!!

3. A Guide to Prayer for All God's People

(see the next post for more details)

4. My Camera

a must have for all of those amazing pictures and video clips to remember it all by. What I love about this particular camera is that it is small (about the size of a deck of cards), it takes pretty good pictures, but that it also has a 2g memory card! And I like the fact I can take short video clips on the same camera that I'm shooting pictures with - it's always there when I need it... like to capture my neice singing "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar" for 20 minutes straight...

5. A Deck of Cards

My family (well, both mine and my husband's) LOVE to play cards. Pinochle, Cribbage, Hearts, 500, Garbage, Golf, Mao, Crap on Your Neighbor... you name it, we probably play it. All time favorites of mine are pinochle and cribbage. The image included here is the double run with double pinochle that my brother-in-law recently got that helped us to win the game!

sigh of relief!!!

it's 7:30... and i'm about to get dressed for church... and then put a few more things into my suitcase... and then i'm off! Off to preach and THEN OFF ON VACATION!!!

I am SO excited to be getting away for a few days. So ready for a break. So desperate for a few days of rest and relaxation. I'll post pictures from the trip when we get back!!!

ABC's of ...

I spent a lot of time in the car last week - having to drive to the hospital in another city and then traveling yet again to meet with my clergy mentor. And as I did so, I kept thinking about how we can really ramp up energy for the fall and then sustain it. What would get people who haven't been in a while to come back? What would be appealing for those in our community who have never checked out our church? How can we reach out and really start at the basics?

And then it hit me... back to school... back to the basics... what about focusing this fall, beginning with the return to our normal schedule/sunday school/3rd grade bible give out, on the ABC's?

I struggle with the ABC's of what... ABC's of the church? ABC's of faith? ABC's of Christianity? So bear with me as I figure that one out... (or if you have suggestions - please comment!!!)

I'm also a fairly consistent lectionary preacher, so in thinking about this, I've been trying to figure out how each Sunday, from Aug 31 to Nov 23 (because then we start Lent), fits not only a letter, but also the weekly texts. Some have worked beautifully. Others, not so well. So I'm asking for some help.

1) Am I trying to hard to make this concept work?
2) Suggestions for the letters that have no direction yet (B, H, I, L)

Here is what I have so far:

A: Alpha/Omega or I AM

focusing on who God is, using the burning bush scriptures from Exodus, and combining this and the previous week's gospels - Mt 16:13-28

B: Body of Christ, Blessed, ?

scriptures for the week include teaching on how to reach when someone offends you in the church, the institution of passover, and in Romans, the call to love and call to prepare for salvation by putting on Christ. Sidenote: after reading a sermon recently on Psalm 119 - I really was thinking about using "Bible" for my B... so that may be an entirely different direction

C: Care, Compassion, Community

scriptures include the law of forgiveness, the call not to judge one another, and the parting of the sea in exodus. Originally when I thought about this series, I really wanted to focus on care during this week - and to emphasize our role as a community to care for one another, and my desire to care for them. I've noticed that people don't call me or tell me when something happens in their lives - like if they have to go in for surgery or suddenly end up in the hospital - which may be simply that they aren't used to telling their pastor these things. I want to talk about how together we are supposed to care for each other.

D: Disciple (but I was really thinking about Doubt too)

scriptures: Paul's exhortation to live lives worthy of the gospel, the parable of the landowner and the wages for workers, and if I went the doubt route - the manna and quails and the people grumbling in the wilderness

E: Emptying

I really wanted to use Kenosis for K... and then realized that the Christ Hymn fell on the E Sunday - which is perfect! (since its the same concept)

F: Faith (and maybe Fear also) ooo... maybe Fall?

This is also World Communion Sunday - so I was stuck a bit. The scriptures for the week don't fit really well with the scope of world communion Sunday and I was stretching trying to make fruit work. Scriptures are supposed to include the parable of the wicked tenants, the 10 commandments, and the example of Paul - I press on toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ. I could use the wicked tenants and the 10 commandments to talk about the Fall, and our place before God - why we need the law. But another idea is to actually take the readings from August 10 and use them here: Jesus walking on the water (faith and fear) along with Paul talking about faith and the idea that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all. (which I think works much better for World Communion Sunday). Thoughts?

G: Grace

This would be a great time to talk about grace from the Wesleyan perspective. I think the three main readings can help illustrate prevenient grace (the sinners invited to the feast), justifying grace (moses interceding after the golden calf), and sanctifying grace (stand firm, help one another, rejoice from Philippians)

H: Holy, Holy Spirit, Humility

I'm stuck here. Readings include Jesus call to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, as well as the pharisees trying to trap Jesus in questions; Moses having the chance to encounter God's presence, but not being able to look at God's face; and Paul giving thanks for the Thessalonians who received the gospel with power and the Holy Spirit. Could go lots of different ways.

I: ? Instruction? Idolatry?

Again, stuck here. Readings include the greatest command - to love, the death and burial of Moses, and Paul assuring the Thessalonians that he comes to bring them not only God's word, but also their true hearts (you are witnesses to how blameless our conduct was towards you)

J: Joy, Journey, Jordan River

All Saints Sunday - which fits in PERFECTLY. Joshua is leading the people across the river Jordan where they remember the promise of God and leave 12 stones for remembrance, Paul gives thanks for witnesses, and Matthew warns against trying to be better, but that we should all be servants - what a great day to celebrate the saints among us who have passed before us?

K: Kingdom of God/Heaven

parable of the 10 bridesmaids (the kingdom of heaven will be like this!), choose this day who you will serve (Joshua)

L: ? (Lord, Light, Love, Law, Life, Lord's Prayer, Logos)

readings include the parable of the talents; Paul claiming that the Lord will come like a theif in the night - so we should be children of the light; and simply the introduction of Deborah as a judge - not even the full story. Part of me wants to switch this week with the greatest command to love scriptures (week I) - which would mean going a different direction with week I (could they just be flip-flopped?)

M: Messiah

Christ the King Sunday - Readings include the sheep and the goats, Christ as the head of the church, and Ezekiel's description of the shepherd who seeks the lost.

That brings me to the first Sunday of Advent - which I want to focus on in its fullness.

stumped

how on earth do I get through to my youth group kids?

this thursday was supposed to be our big summer start-up. Typically, if school is not in session, youth group doesn't meet, but so many of them asked if we could continue through the summer that I said yes... for part of it at least. There were so many other things jam-packed into June that it just wasn't going to work out very well. So we agreed July 3 would be the big day.

In the meantime, we were also planning a mission trip - a very short term one, because I have had no time to plan it. All the forms were sent out, reservations made, fundraisers put into motion, etc. etc. etc.

The first fundraisers we had... no kids showed up. So we went along and raised some money anyways. The next fundraiser we did... no kids showed up. But we made some money and put it in the account. The deadline came and went for forms to be filled out... and I have one form and one deposit in. That's it. I extended the deadline... nothing. So the trip is now cancelled, or at the very least postponed until later this fall.

And then, the time to start back up with youth group - after I've talked with a few parents and seen a few kids... and I'm sitting there with my new devotions and a cool new game where we measure things around town in bananas... and I sit there. and sit there. and no one shows up.

I think that there are a few things to think about in this situation... 1) I have got to find a better way to communicate with my kids. Some have cell phones, and I tried text messaging everyone as a reminder before, which worked - okay. But not everyone has a cell. Not everyone gets messages if they are left at home. Almost everyone is busy working. 2) they and their families pretty much never show up on Sunday mornings... which also makes the chain of communication difficult. I have yet to meet most of their parents. 3) I'm a HUGE introvert when it comes to meeting new people and I really need to step it up and go visit these kids... except, I don't always know where they will be. Whose parent's house they will be at, if their parents/ guardians will be home, etc. But I really do need to step it up and just do it. Make the first step. Get it over with.

It's not that I don't want to meet their families. I suppose an extrovert wouldn't understand, but it's like this deep inner fear of saying the wrong thing or making the wrong impression. I just want to let them know I'm hear and I care about their kids and I would love to get to know them better. That doesn't sound so bad at all! So why am I so terrified of it?!

Are we surrounded by hate, or by love?

Stand Strong Against Hate - a map of hate groups in the country... along with the ability to stand against hate and see how many others are standing with you in your area

tuesday thoughts

I've been posting every Tuesday over at revgals - and realized that I'm not really posting much here on my OWN blog =) so. I'm going to post my reflections here, and then link from there back over. woot!

I'm doing a series right now on Wesley's General Rules, or as Reuben Job likes to call them "Three Simple Rules"

Do No Harm
Do Good
Stay in Love With God

Last week, (readings here) do no harm and Paul's struggle to keep from doing those things that he so doesn't want to do. I'm mostly going to focus on the last part of the romans passage however... "who will deliver me fom this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord"

I'm going to tie that in with the Matthew scripture. We struggle and we wrestle and on our own spend so much time focusing on all the bad things that we have done and continue to do in our life. And Wesley's "do no harm" rule seems like this all over again. But we need to be reminded that Christ himself promised he would teach us. "take my yoke upon you and learm from Me, for I am gentle and lwly in heart and you will find rest for your souls." so stop beating yourself up over not doing the good. walk with me, become my apprentice, cease from doing harm, and lay aside that burden of guilt.

we don't cease to do harm because it is a law - we do it because we love Christ and want to become more like him... and we will find when we do so that his yoke is easy and his burden is light


This is week two of the series: Do Good and this week's parable of the sower actually fits really well! (readings here)

I'm going to talk about what we have to do in our lives to become "good soil" - and that is WORK! the soil needs tilled, weeded, watered, cared for, and it doesn't happen all on its own. While we can sit around and just wait for the holy spirit to plant seeds, if we just sit on the path and don't take any risks, if we are surrounded by rocks (i'm going to interpret this part as those who are in families/communities where faith isn't welcome... such as the kids who come to vbs, get all excited, and then go back to homes where their families don't take them to church), if we let the cares of the world - weeds - crowd out God... then the seed of love will have a harder time being planted.

Wesley wanted his flock to "do good" and by that he meant an active good - caring for people's bodies and souls and as a part of that, helping one another in the community of faith. Wesley liked to fill his time with such good deeds - not so much to earn God's love, but because he loved God...

I am trying to tend my new garden... and it takes a lot of work - far more time that I thought it would... just think about how much work it takes to tend our souls!

sunday afternoons

i LOVE sunday afternoons. they are one of my favorite times in the week. the time when I really feel like i have nothing to do, nothing waiting for me, and often when I can relax with family (and a glass of wine).
we often go to my inlaws for sunday afternoons for a casual dinner of burgers and chicken, and whatever else gets whipped up for the day. There are usually about 10 of us over there, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the day. And especially during the three warmer seasons, we sit on the deck or on the swing and just talk. let go of everything and just be. it is wonderful. the kids play, the grown-ups talk, and everything seems right with the world.

today, we have one of the few days in recent time where there is no where to be. and that feels good too. no obligations. no commitments. just me and my hubby and our computers =)

weekends are a time for us to play computer games together. he is a big fan of world of warcraft and I like to play with him. and i'm working on getting better gear for my character, so this is a good weekend to play and veg out on the couch earning honor points =)

FF: Independence Day

1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)

Definately NOT the same thing. BBQ's involve a grill, and a backyard, or a park, but definately involve fire and yummy grilled things. A picnic to me is more cold items, packed in a basket that you take with you to some place wonderful. Or your backyard, or wherever. When I think picnic, I always think blankets and baskets.

2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?

Well, we celebrate in my new town on the 3rd! So we had a day full of activites and for the fourth, we had lots of time off to disc golf all day at local parks. Then that evening, we went home and watched movies, b/c we had already done the fireworks thing.

3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em?

I love fireworks. And I think I love them even more after working with some of the people that shoot them off. I worked for a city's yearly shindig and got to talk a lot about fireworks (they had three different fireworks events and were at the time talking about a yearly fireworks competition). And then, working at a county fair a few summers later I got to hang out with the fireworks guys again. I especially love the fireworks that are choreographed to music!!!

4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory...

Oh my goodness. Lots of parades. When I was young, I rode on the local county Cattlemen's float with my grandma. And then, in high school I was first the Czech Princess, and then the Czech Queen. LOTS of parades with that - in fully costume, which was kind of hot! Not so many parades recently, but I was definately seen in kroj on the back of a few sports cars in my day =)

5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?

imagine this video:


being done during the playing of this song:

A Mosaic project...

images correspond to the following answers:

What is your first name? Katie
What is your favorite food? Lobster ravioli
What high school did you attend? Prairie High School
What is your favorite color? Indigo
Who is your celebrity crush? Sean Connery
What is your favorite drink? Cosmopolitan
Where would you go on your dream vacation? Maui
What is your favorite dessert? Strawberry Jell-o Cake
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Preacher
What do you love most in life? Brandon
Choose one word to describe you? Absentminded
Your Flickr name? amomono