lots has been happening in my life and my church/family life lately - but my main excuse for not blogging is that I haven't been feeling well. Stupid colds.
So far, I have been able to establish a sort of strange routine and get my sermons at least written by Wednesday afternoons. Starting in February, I'm meeting with a group from the church on Monday afternoons for a bit of "roundtable pulpit" action - will explain later.
Last weeekend, my brothers, dad and sister-in-law went to the Packers/Giants game up in Green Bay - and probably froze their butts off.
Will post more later.
January 23, 2008
January 15, 2008
junk mail and websites
I don't think I ever realized HOW MUCH junk mail a pastor gets. We get catalogs in the mail EVERY DAY! and tons of paper is wasted on advertisements. Every time I get something in the mail now, I look for a way to unsubscribe from the catalog or ad service. Today, I tried (hopefully successfully) to rid myself of two more subscriptions. geez louise!
I'm also working on setting up a church website. This will allow us to post online our calendar, let people know when services are, etc. I made the arrangements just now: firstumcmarengo.org - but nothing is set up yet... hopefully in the next week or two you can start clicking!
I'm also working on setting up a church website. This will allow us to post online our calendar, let people know when services are, etc. I made the arrangements just now: firstumcmarengo.org - but nothing is set up yet... hopefully in the next week or two you can start clicking!
January 10, 2008
lusting whores in Ezekiel...
Well. I've been going to a bible study that meets at the church... not necessarily a bible study really... they gather to read the bible together, out loud, and have snacks.
Yesterday morning, Ezekiel 23 happened to be where we were (they are reading straight through... I think they might have started with Jeremiah)... and holy cow! I have never read that chapter before... and I don't think that any of them had either! The chapter talks about two sisters who are whores... an analogy for the cities of Jerusalem and Samaria... but if you aren't reading with a careful enough eye or a critical enough spirit, you don't quite get that right away. I'm not quite sure how they would have preceeded through that chapter without me! And while I tried really hard this morning to keep quiet... mostly so I could observe what normally happens in this group... this chapter was just too difficult!
One thing that I have learned from this group however... well, from the church members in general... is that I need to learn how to love the Bible. I think there is a book by Peter Gomes - The Good Book - and I'm going to try to read it sometime soon. I realized that when I go to the bible to read it, I'm looking for the themes, I'm looking for the historical connections, I'm looking at it academically and critically, thinking of it most of the time as a message for people a long time ago and hoping that with the Holy Spirit's help that something might apply to my life today. The people I have met in my congregation just love to read the bible. One homebound member actually said that she doesn't really understand the bible, it gets all confusing, she just loves to read the words. She said - all of that figuring the message out - that's not for us lay people. And that mindset really confuses me! There is a sort of simpleness too it and part of me wants to challenge them and teach them to learn from the depths of the text. That kind of simple-minded reading of the bible leads to a lot of proof-texting and quoting verses without paying attention to the context. On the otherhand, this group is so passionate about reading the word of God, whether they understand it or not, that they gather each week to read it aloud to one another.
As I thought about it today, I wonder if a lectio divina method would work well with this group. I think that it might add just a little bit of structure to their reading and allow them to focus on smaller isolate chunks and really absorb them deeply. It would give them a chance to lift up phrases that speak to them and help them to look more closely at what is going on.
Yesterday morning, Ezekiel 23 happened to be where we were (they are reading straight through... I think they might have started with Jeremiah)... and holy cow! I have never read that chapter before... and I don't think that any of them had either! The chapter talks about two sisters who are whores... an analogy for the cities of Jerusalem and Samaria... but if you aren't reading with a careful enough eye or a critical enough spirit, you don't quite get that right away. I'm not quite sure how they would have preceeded through that chapter without me! And while I tried really hard this morning to keep quiet... mostly so I could observe what normally happens in this group... this chapter was just too difficult!
One thing that I have learned from this group however... well, from the church members in general... is that I need to learn how to love the Bible. I think there is a book by Peter Gomes - The Good Book - and I'm going to try to read it sometime soon. I realized that when I go to the bible to read it, I'm looking for the themes, I'm looking for the historical connections, I'm looking at it academically and critically, thinking of it most of the time as a message for people a long time ago and hoping that with the Holy Spirit's help that something might apply to my life today. The people I have met in my congregation just love to read the bible. One homebound member actually said that she doesn't really understand the bible, it gets all confusing, she just loves to read the words. She said - all of that figuring the message out - that's not for us lay people. And that mindset really confuses me! There is a sort of simpleness too it and part of me wants to challenge them and teach them to learn from the depths of the text. That kind of simple-minded reading of the bible leads to a lot of proof-texting and quoting verses without paying attention to the context. On the otherhand, this group is so passionate about reading the word of God, whether they understand it or not, that they gather each week to read it aloud to one another.
As I thought about it today, I wonder if a lectio divina method would work well with this group. I think that it might add just a little bit of structure to their reading and allow them to focus on smaller isolate chunks and really absorb them deeply. It would give them a chance to lift up phrases that speak to them and help them to look more closely at what is going on.
January 9, 2008
and can it be?
i might be getting the hang of this pastor thing... it's 5:13 on Wednesday and my sermon is finished! Of course, minor editing may come later, but it's done! My schedule and my time in the office this week has really worked out smoothly... the only question is - can I keep it up?
first series of sermons: thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path... following Christ in the season of Epiphany
okay... so it's a long title for a sermon series. But I'm starting out this new pilgrimage with my congregation by inviting them on a journey - and the Light of Christ is our guide. Last week we talked about the star that led the wise men to the Christ Child. This week, we'll talk about the Spirit of God that came down on Jesus at his baptism - a light that lives within us and sends us forth into ministry. After that - we'll do the calling of the disciples and the reminder that Christ is the light which shines in the darkness, calling all people to him. Finally, the trip up the mountain, and the transfiguration... more light!
It all works out in my head, but figuring out how to incorporate all of the ideas I have into these worship services - especially as I'm brand new at this is difficult. I have all sorts of experience planning worship... but a much more informal worship. I like the traditional stuff... I like doxologies and liturgy and I want to do so much with the space we are worshipping in! But... baby steps... I'm trying not to do it all at once (for my sake as much as for the congregation).
Today I'm a bit stuck as I write my sermon... this idea of the interplay between water and light keeps dancing around in my head. And then I came across a Wendell Berry poem: The Gift of Gravity
It all works out in my head, but figuring out how to incorporate all of the ideas I have into these worship services - especially as I'm brand new at this is difficult. I have all sorts of experience planning worship... but a much more informal worship. I like the traditional stuff... I like doxologies and liturgy and I want to do so much with the space we are worshipping in! But... baby steps... I'm trying not to do it all at once (for my sake as much as for the congregation).
Today I'm a bit stuck as I write my sermon... this idea of the interplay between water and light keeps dancing around in my head. And then I came across a Wendell Berry poem: The Gift of Gravity
The rain that falls upon us comes from God. And it washes us clean. It surrounds us and refreshes us. But the light comes as well. It dries us off and the water evaporates. It is a cycle necessary for life. "for everything that comes/ is a gift, the meaning always/ carried out of sight/ to renew our whereabouts,/ always a starting place." As we renew our baptismal covenants this Sunday, our whereabouts are renewed. We are given a new starting place. And we pray that the water and the light will lead us to God.All that passes descends,
and ascends again unseen
into the light: the river
coming down from sky
to hills, from hills to sea,
and carving as it moves,
to rise invisible,
gathered to light, to return
again. “The river’s injury
is its shape.” I’ve learned no more.
We are what we are given
and what is taken away;
blessed be the name
of the giver and taker.
For everything that comes
is a gift, the meaning always
carried out of sight
to renew our whereabouts,
always a starting place.
And every gift is perfect
in its beginning, for it
is “from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights.”Gravity is grace.
January 8, 2008
things i have learned in my first week as a minister
in no particular order:
1) no one notices if you skip the Lord's Prayer during communion - it was printed in the bulletin... it should have been in my script... but since I switched to a special Epiphany litany, the one with just the great thanksgiving and not the whole shebang, I totally missed it. But... no one seemed to notice, or at least no one said anything.
2) sometimes it's better to just let someone talk than try to respond - during one of my pastoral conversations with a parishoner they became passionately angry about evolution being taught in the schools and then quoted genesis 1. I couldn't figure out what to do next. Should I announce my theological differences? Should I point out that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 tell differing stories and so it's hard to take them both (or either) literally? Should I say something like "wow, you really seem angry about that... can you tell me why you feel that way?"... Since I couldn't figure out what to say, I just listened. intently listened. And preceeded to find out that this really kind and sweet old man (and he really was!) was so angry about evolution being taught that he swore he would go after anyone who tried to teach his kids about evolution with a shotgun! While this probably isn't true, I felt like if I had opened my mouth I would have been run out of town. I think our congregation is a really interesting mix of biblical literalists, fundamentalists (in the early 20th century understanding of the word), people who just want to understand what the text means, and others who could care less. And I desperately want to be honest and authentic about who I am and what I believe. But I'm glad that I just listened to him right then. He got the anger out of his system and we preceeded to discuss whether or not "Deal or No Deal" was gambling.
3) food will be provided at every gathering - YAY! food for bible study, food for youth group, food for sunday morning fellowship. I love being Methodist.
4) when i'm on the internet, no one can call the church office - an interesting consequence of previous pastors not keeping office hours is that the office doesn't get used much. So they have dial-up and one phone line. But now that I have set office hours (M-Th 9-12), someone is there! And while I'm there, I'm likely to do things like correspond by email to other district and conference pastors, work on my sermon and the bulletin using textweek.com, begin working on a church website... all of which means, no incoming calls. I started to wonder why the phone wasn't ringing. LUCKILY, no one desperately needed me and we figured this out before any damage has been done. (it's not like anyone is expecting to get someone at the church... they haven't for a while). I discussed upgrading to DSL so that we can talk and surf at the same time... it's in the works.
5) homebound members LOVE IT when the pastor visits - I have been fairly nervous about visiting people. I'm not the most outgoing person in the world and my only experience so far has been making cold calls in a hospital. But there is a huge difference when you are now someone's pastor and when they haven't been visited for a long time. A congregation member came with me to begin making visits and it was so good to meet all of these wonderful people! They have so many stories to tell, so much life that they have seen. Each circumstance is different. Some are retired farmers who have moved into town. Others have lived in Marengo their whole lives. Some moved to Iowa later in life. All that I visited were widowers, but some for as few as 9 months and others for 35 years. Each desperately missed their spouses. I think that a significant ministry that our church can offer is ministry to these people. Evidently the church used to tape services for them, which can be done again. And we definately need to start a communion ministry. Maybe we can get some funding from somewhere to invest in a church bus... for quite a few of these people they either can't drive or the weather keeps them away... all they need is a ride.
6) no matter how long they have been doing without, when the pastor arrives they are expected to lead - My first day in the office, before I even had set down my stuff, I was invited to join in the bible study happening in the next room. I accepted because I wanted to see what they were doing and introduce myself, etc. but EVERY TIME there was a pause or a question, I was supposed to have the answers. As the week has gone on, it hasn't been quite as bad, but there is an expectation/hope that I'll be the one who prays, who has the answer, that I'll come join all the civic groups and participate in each of their outside bible studies. I think the part that is difficult for me is that I really value and want to embody a communal ethic of church leadership... one in which power is shared and we are all ministers in the Body of Christ. They really want a pastor. They really want a shepherd. This doesn't mean that I want to shirk my responsibilities... it means that I want to help them fully claim theirs. And I think that it will take a little while before we get to that place. I have to admit, I'm tempted at times just to take things over and do them my way... but that's not how I feel that God has called me to lead, nor do I believe that it embodies the ministry of Christ. So... while it may be slow going... together we will learn how to be the church.
7) croutons of christ just aren't as full of grace as hawaiian sweet bread - This is for all of you Vanderbilt and West End people... I'm a big fan of intinction... the good old "rip and dip"... especially when you are feasting on a hunk of Hawaiian sweet bread. Yeah, I know Jesus was probably eating unleavened bread in the upper room, but a tender chunk of bread, with all of its texture and the smells... it just really conveys the fact that you are sharing part of a meal with one another. I grew fond of gathering at the table after the worship service was over to eat the communion "leftovers." Things just are not the same when you have cubed, crustless white bread (especially when you have no loaf to break and when you take the cloth off the plate bread cubes stick to it and go flying off the table) Note to self: have a meeting with the communion committee.
1) no one notices if you skip the Lord's Prayer during communion - it was printed in the bulletin... it should have been in my script... but since I switched to a special Epiphany litany, the one with just the great thanksgiving and not the whole shebang, I totally missed it. But... no one seemed to notice, or at least no one said anything.
2) sometimes it's better to just let someone talk than try to respond - during one of my pastoral conversations with a parishoner they became passionately angry about evolution being taught in the schools and then quoted genesis 1. I couldn't figure out what to do next. Should I announce my theological differences? Should I point out that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 tell differing stories and so it's hard to take them both (or either) literally? Should I say something like "wow, you really seem angry about that... can you tell me why you feel that way?"... Since I couldn't figure out what to say, I just listened. intently listened. And preceeded to find out that this really kind and sweet old man (and he really was!) was so angry about evolution being taught that he swore he would go after anyone who tried to teach his kids about evolution with a shotgun! While this probably isn't true, I felt like if I had opened my mouth I would have been run out of town. I think our congregation is a really interesting mix of biblical literalists, fundamentalists (in the early 20th century understanding of the word), people who just want to understand what the text means, and others who could care less. And I desperately want to be honest and authentic about who I am and what I believe. But I'm glad that I just listened to him right then. He got the anger out of his system and we preceeded to discuss whether or not "Deal or No Deal" was gambling.
3) food will be provided at every gathering - YAY! food for bible study, food for youth group, food for sunday morning fellowship. I love being Methodist.
4) when i'm on the internet, no one can call the church office - an interesting consequence of previous pastors not keeping office hours is that the office doesn't get used much. So they have dial-up and one phone line. But now that I have set office hours (M-Th 9-12), someone is there! And while I'm there, I'm likely to do things like correspond by email to other district and conference pastors, work on my sermon and the bulletin using textweek.com, begin working on a church website... all of which means, no incoming calls. I started to wonder why the phone wasn't ringing. LUCKILY, no one desperately needed me and we figured this out before any damage has been done. (it's not like anyone is expecting to get someone at the church... they haven't for a while). I discussed upgrading to DSL so that we can talk and surf at the same time... it's in the works.
5) homebound members LOVE IT when the pastor visits - I have been fairly nervous about visiting people. I'm not the most outgoing person in the world and my only experience so far has been making cold calls in a hospital. But there is a huge difference when you are now someone's pastor and when they haven't been visited for a long time. A congregation member came with me to begin making visits and it was so good to meet all of these wonderful people! They have so many stories to tell, so much life that they have seen. Each circumstance is different. Some are retired farmers who have moved into town. Others have lived in Marengo their whole lives. Some moved to Iowa later in life. All that I visited were widowers, but some for as few as 9 months and others for 35 years. Each desperately missed their spouses. I think that a significant ministry that our church can offer is ministry to these people. Evidently the church used to tape services for them, which can be done again. And we definately need to start a communion ministry. Maybe we can get some funding from somewhere to invest in a church bus... for quite a few of these people they either can't drive or the weather keeps them away... all they need is a ride.
6) no matter how long they have been doing without, when the pastor arrives they are expected to lead - My first day in the office, before I even had set down my stuff, I was invited to join in the bible study happening in the next room. I accepted because I wanted to see what they were doing and introduce myself, etc. but EVERY TIME there was a pause or a question, I was supposed to have the answers. As the week has gone on, it hasn't been quite as bad, but there is an expectation/hope that I'll be the one who prays, who has the answer, that I'll come join all the civic groups and participate in each of their outside bible studies. I think the part that is difficult for me is that I really value and want to embody a communal ethic of church leadership... one in which power is shared and we are all ministers in the Body of Christ. They really want a pastor. They really want a shepherd. This doesn't mean that I want to shirk my responsibilities... it means that I want to help them fully claim theirs. And I think that it will take a little while before we get to that place. I have to admit, I'm tempted at times just to take things over and do them my way... but that's not how I feel that God has called me to lead, nor do I believe that it embodies the ministry of Christ. So... while it may be slow going... together we will learn how to be the church.
7) croutons of christ just aren't as full of grace as hawaiian sweet bread - This is for all of you Vanderbilt and West End people... I'm a big fan of intinction... the good old "rip and dip"... especially when you are feasting on a hunk of Hawaiian sweet bread. Yeah, I know Jesus was probably eating unleavened bread in the upper room, but a tender chunk of bread, with all of its texture and the smells... it just really conveys the fact that you are sharing part of a meal with one another. I grew fond of gathering at the table after the worship service was over to eat the communion "leftovers." Things just are not the same when you have cubed, crustless white bread (especially when you have no loaf to break and when you take the cloth off the plate bread cubes stick to it and go flying off the table) Note to self: have a meeting with the communion committee.
January 4, 2008
first sermon...
I've been working on my sermon for days... it was supposed to be done yesterday at the latest, but here I am, on friday night, on my day off, working on my sermon. I don't even have a proper desk in my office at home yet, so I'm sitting on the floor, laptop on my lap-top, typing away. Only I'm stuck and I get distracted.
In one of my bouts of more purposeful distraction I stumbled across a sermon another colleague has written for this sunday... and it makes me feel very inadequate. I feel as though he has said everything I wanted to say - only so much better. More poetic. I would love to read his sermon aloud. I've already begun thinking about how I would articulate and intone various passages.... and then I realize that I have my own sermon to finish. blast.
I've had a few adventures this week at the church. First youth group night. First visit with a congregation member (officially). So much to say and share about those experiences, but, alas, the sermon still sits there waiting to be finished.
Brandon is fairly frustrated by my procrastination. He has threatened that I don't get dinner tonight until its finished. I really only have like 3-4 more paragraphs to write. But i'm here, typing, instead of there, typing. grr.
In one of my bouts of more purposeful distraction I stumbled across a sermon another colleague has written for this sunday... and it makes me feel very inadequate. I feel as though he has said everything I wanted to say - only so much better. More poetic. I would love to read his sermon aloud. I've already begun thinking about how I would articulate and intone various passages.... and then I realize that I have my own sermon to finish. blast.
I've had a few adventures this week at the church. First youth group night. First visit with a congregation member (officially). So much to say and share about those experiences, but, alas, the sermon still sits there waiting to be finished.
Brandon is fairly frustrated by my procrastination. He has threatened that I don't get dinner tonight until its finished. I really only have like 3-4 more paragraphs to write. But i'm here, typing, instead of there, typing. grr.
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