it seems like every piece of electronic equipment at the church decided to fail in the past week.
Last Thursday when the boiler inspector stopped by, she noticed that our hot water heater was squirting water everywhere!
Monday the internet wouldn't work at the church and I was on the phone with tech support for an hour and a half before they decided to send a replacement modem.
Tuesday the copy machine decided to jam every other copy while we were trying to print the newsletter.
Oh my. Everything is back up and working today - thankfully. It just has been one of those weeks where nothing that was planned seemed to go right. And having things not work made everything take so much longer than it should have.
One thing that did go well was a funeral I did this week. It was my first graveside service. I have done about 12 funerals, most of them at the funeral home with a graveside committal, a few in the church, but this was the first where we did the whole thing out at the cemetary. It was also my first where we buried the cremains instead of the casket. While so many things were the same - the same liturgy, many of the same familiar scriptures, there was an entirely different feel when everyone was standing up together around this little grey marble box. It felt very different to stand in the wind and the cold and to watch people huddle not only for warmth, but also for comfort. On the way home today, I listened to a segment on NPR about home funerals and in many ways - felt like what we did out there on Tuesday was more like a home funeral - family and friends, putting their loved one to rest. There wasn't a big fancy tent to sit under or mechanical things everywhere. It was nice. and simple. And I have a feeling that the man we laid to rest would have appreciated that.
April 30, 2009
April 27, 2009
marriage: job of the state or of the church
I found this conversation over on the Methoblog today.
TheoPoetic Musings: Same-Sex Marriage And Separation Of Church And State
I wasn't aware of the Puritan view of marriage as strictly a civil marriage...
The question is asked in the discussion TheoPoetic linked to whether clergy should be part of legally-binding contracts. The point is made that in baptisms and funerals and communion there are no other state functions being performed... so why weddings?
I want to keep thinking about this. I'm intrigued by the notion of having civil marriages and then any tradition can have whatever kind of ceremony/blessing it wants. But in many ways, I kind of feel like that's what we did when we got married anyway. We had all sorts of things we did to prepare for our wedding ceremony, and then had all of these paperwork things to do for the state. The piece that is the kicker- the state function performed is a signature on a document.
As I pondered this, I remembered a call I recieved a few weeks ago from a woman needing her father's baptismal record. The courthouse seemed to have lost his birth certificate and they needed official documentation in order to have the correct name on a death certificate correction (my prayers go out to that family and their paperwork battle in their time of grief!). An acceptable official documentation for that state was our church's baptismal record! In many places in Europe, it is the church who held the birth and death records - you can't find them all in a local civic authority, because it was the church who was recording these things.
I also am thinking about why it is that clergy are able to sign that piece of paper. It is because we are licensed by an approved body (the church). Or rather, it is because the state recognizes the license I already have. I could get licensed by the state to perform weddings, as a friend of mine did, but I already have a license. No need. Also - the only real "official" thing clergy does as far as the state is concerned is sign the piece of paper. The state has no idea what the ceremony was like and has absolutely no say in what occurs. All they care about is that there are signatures on the form when it comes back. Really - the county recorder is the one who holds all of the civic power. They give out the licenses and require all of the paperwork. Clergy is little more than a witness to the fact that the marriage took place (as far as our official role as the state is concerned). As for other strange people who are licensed to marry: captains of ships... why? who knows (well, I'm sure someone knows and I'm sure a google search will give me the reason, but I'm tired and should be working on the church newsletter).
As I think about my role in the marriage of two people, it is to bless them and to speak to the role of God in their relationship. And something that is very important to me is meeting with the couple and counseling them prior to the marriage. All of these are things that are purely religious in nature. They have nothing to do with the state. My "state" function takes all of a second and more than feeling like an agent of the government, I feel honored that the couple chose me to unite them, rather than the justice of the peace... because it means that I get the opportunity to be a part of their lives and bring God into their marriage as well.
TheoPoetic Musings: Same-Sex Marriage And Separation Of Church And State
I wasn't aware of the Puritan view of marriage as strictly a civil marriage...
I also know of a few couples in my life who have been religiously married but not legally married."Massachusettes history reminds us that what we commonly call marriage today was initially, and quite deliberately, constructed as a form of civil union. Although marriage was a fundamental aspect of these highly religious people's lives and the foundational element of their social order, its reputation was separate from the church. The Puritan founders understood marriage as a social institution that needed adjustment according to changing circumstances, and they left the state to do this important work."
The question is asked in the discussion TheoPoetic linked to whether clergy should be part of legally-binding contracts. The point is made that in baptisms and funerals and communion there are no other state functions being performed... so why weddings?
I want to keep thinking about this. I'm intrigued by the notion of having civil marriages and then any tradition can have whatever kind of ceremony/blessing it wants. But in many ways, I kind of feel like that's what we did when we got married anyway. We had all sorts of things we did to prepare for our wedding ceremony, and then had all of these paperwork things to do for the state. The piece that is the kicker- the state function performed is a signature on a document.
As I pondered this, I remembered a call I recieved a few weeks ago from a woman needing her father's baptismal record. The courthouse seemed to have lost his birth certificate and they needed official documentation in order to have the correct name on a death certificate correction (my prayers go out to that family and their paperwork battle in their time of grief!). An acceptable official documentation for that state was our church's baptismal record! In many places in Europe, it is the church who held the birth and death records - you can't find them all in a local civic authority, because it was the church who was recording these things.
I also am thinking about why it is that clergy are able to sign that piece of paper. It is because we are licensed by an approved body (the church). Or rather, it is because the state recognizes the license I already have. I could get licensed by the state to perform weddings, as a friend of mine did, but I already have a license. No need. Also - the only real "official" thing clergy does as far as the state is concerned is sign the piece of paper. The state has no idea what the ceremony was like and has absolutely no say in what occurs. All they care about is that there are signatures on the form when it comes back. Really - the county recorder is the one who holds all of the civic power. They give out the licenses and require all of the paperwork. Clergy is little more than a witness to the fact that the marriage took place (as far as our official role as the state is concerned). As for other strange people who are licensed to marry: captains of ships... why? who knows (well, I'm sure someone knows and I'm sure a google search will give me the reason, but I'm tired and should be working on the church newsletter).
As I think about my role in the marriage of two people, it is to bless them and to speak to the role of God in their relationship. And something that is very important to me is meeting with the couple and counseling them prior to the marriage. All of these are things that are purely religious in nature. They have nothing to do with the state. My "state" function takes all of a second and more than feeling like an agent of the government, I feel honored that the couple chose me to unite them, rather than the justice of the peace... because it means that I get the opportunity to be a part of their lives and bring God into their marriage as well.
some thoughts on amendment one
The first amendment that comes before our Annual Conferences from General Conference this year is to change the wording of paragraph 4 in our constitution.
There are a whole lot of youtube and blogposts and newsletter articles about this and suffice it to say - there are reasons to be in favor of it and to be against it. (not all of them might be rational, but...)
I ran across a post by John Meunier on the topic however that spoke to a lot of what I was feeling. Especially in regards to how similiar the first part of the amendment is to paragraph 214 in the Book of Discipline.
Here is my response to his blogpost:
I absolutely agree with you on the first part of the amendment. We already have the idea of "all persons" in our BOD - so it should be there in the constitution as well. I have especially noted that the amendment talks about eligibility - and I don't necessarily see that as denying the rights of pastors to determine readiness for membership, or the rights of BoOM to examine candidates for ministry. Just because you are eligible for something doesn't mean that you are going to automatically get it (see paragraph 215 in the Book of Discipline)
The wording of the last line of the amendment is unfortunate I believe.
I think the intent is to make it a consistent paragraph and it may have shot itself in the foot. I, too, am interested from a strictly procedural standpoint what the implications are. I don't have the fears that others do about it.
As I would read it, just in a common sense sort of way, it makes me think that no conference or organizational unit can build discrimination into their structure. And to me, that doesn't mean that they can't have a process for readiness or standards for participation.
Who really should be up in arms about this (and I haven't seen any official word) is the United Methodist Men and Women's units...
There are a whole lot of youtube and blogposts and newsletter articles about this and suffice it to say - there are reasons to be in favor of it and to be against it. (not all of them might be rational, but...)
I ran across a post by John Meunier on the topic however that spoke to a lot of what I was feeling. Especially in regards to how similiar the first part of the amendment is to paragraph 214 in the Book of Discipline.
Here is my response to his blogpost:
I absolutely agree with you on the first part of the amendment. We already have the idea of "all persons" in our BOD - so it should be there in the constitution as well. I have especially noted that the amendment talks about eligibility - and I don't necessarily see that as denying the rights of pastors to determine readiness for membership, or the rights of BoOM to examine candidates for ministry. Just because you are eligible for something doesn't mean that you are going to automatically get it (see paragraph 215 in the Book of Discipline)
The wording of the last line of the amendment is unfortunate I believe.
I think the intent is to make it a consistent paragraph and it may have shot itself in the foot. I, too, am interested from a strictly procedural standpoint what the implications are. I don't have the fears that others do about it.
Here is the current last sentence of paragraph 4.
In the United Methodist Church no conference or other organizational unit of the the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constiuent body of the Church because of race, color, national orign, status or economic condition.
Here is the sentence if amended.
In the United Methodist Church no conference or other organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent body.
As I would read it, just in a common sense sort of way, it makes me think that no conference or organizational unit can build discrimination into their structure. And to me, that doesn't mean that they can't have a process for readiness or standards for participation.
Who really should be up in arms about this (and I haven't seen any official word) is the United Methodist Men and Women's units...
Derrama tu Santo EspĂritu
Last night we had our second monthly bi-lingual worship service.
None of the planning or preparation that we had really put into it could have created the spirit of worship that we shared. We couldn't have made it happen... but God could.
In our first worship service, we decided to pretty much stick with the standard order of worship in the book of discipline. We gather, pray, hear the word (in many ways), respond with prayers, offering and communion. Es muy bueno y facil. Oh, and we stick hymns in there where appropriate.
Also, our first worship brought in a few spanish speakers - but no native spanish speakers. No one who wasn't also fluent in english. And no one of Hispanic/Latino/a descent.
This time, as we gathered for worship, it felt like there were only a few of us. The sanctuary felt so big - but we began, hesitantly to worship. We hadn't even gotten to the call to worship with sirens began going off. There was severe weather moving into our area and we had to go to the basement - to be safe.
So we huddled down in this little room that the church has for children's drama - so it had a cute little stage and benches and chairs for toddlers. And we worshipped God together. and it was beautiful.
Because we were all in this little room, we filled the space with our singing and words. Because we lost our powerpoint, all of the leaders shared our worship scripts and sat mixed in with everyone else. We sang to the guitar, we sang whether or not we knew the tune, we sang from our hearts. We clapped and made music together. We heard the word of God proclaimed in english and spanish. And we prayed. I'm not sure that we would have had all of the prayerful time that we did had we been upstairs. There was something about being in that smaller space together that created an intimacy we might not have achieved otherwise. We realized we had no offering plate, so we passed around a sombrero (which we found in the props) and gave from our blessings to this important ministry. And we shared el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo,
para que seamos el cuerpo de Cristo para el mundo,redimidos por su sangre. And at the end, I felt like we were el cuerop de Cristo.
THIS time, we also had some new participants and felt like we really met our target audience! In fact, we had a quite a few bi-cultural couples - which I think is a big part of our audience. One of the husbands said to me - this was really important for my wife to be able to be here - Thank You!
Please continue to pray for this important imporant ministry - and especially pray for me - I'm giving the sermon at our next service (on Pentecost) and I will be attempting to proclaim God's word in Spanish!!!
None of the planning or preparation that we had really put into it could have created the spirit of worship that we shared. We couldn't have made it happen... but God could.
In our first worship service, we decided to pretty much stick with the standard order of worship in the book of discipline. We gather, pray, hear the word (in many ways), respond with prayers, offering and communion. Es muy bueno y facil. Oh, and we stick hymns in there where appropriate.
Also, our first worship brought in a few spanish speakers - but no native spanish speakers. No one who wasn't also fluent in english. And no one of Hispanic/Latino/a descent.
This time, as we gathered for worship, it felt like there were only a few of us. The sanctuary felt so big - but we began, hesitantly to worship. We hadn't even gotten to the call to worship with sirens began going off. There was severe weather moving into our area and we had to go to the basement - to be safe.
So we huddled down in this little room that the church has for children's drama - so it had a cute little stage and benches and chairs for toddlers. And we worshipped God together. and it was beautiful.
Because we were all in this little room, we filled the space with our singing and words. Because we lost our powerpoint, all of the leaders shared our worship scripts and sat mixed in with everyone else. We sang to the guitar, we sang whether or not we knew the tune, we sang from our hearts. We clapped and made music together. We heard the word of God proclaimed in english and spanish. And we prayed. I'm not sure that we would have had all of the prayerful time that we did had we been upstairs. There was something about being in that smaller space together that created an intimacy we might not have achieved otherwise. We realized we had no offering plate, so we passed around a sombrero (which we found in the props) and gave from our blessings to this important ministry. And we shared el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo,
para que seamos el cuerpo de Cristo para el mundo,redimidos por su sangre. And at the end, I felt like we were el cuerop de Cristo.
THIS time, we also had some new participants and felt like we really met our target audience! In fact, we had a quite a few bi-cultural couples - which I think is a big part of our audience. One of the husbands said to me - this was really important for my wife to be able to be here - Thank You!
Please continue to pray for this important imporant ministry - and especially pray for me - I'm giving the sermon at our next service (on Pentecost) and I will be attempting to proclaim God's word in Spanish!!!
April 26, 2009
whew.
all of the distraction and wrestling and frustration yesterday with my sermon... and in the two weeks worth of conversations on membership and discipleship really paid off this morning.
I think my number one goal was to get us to admit as a congregation (and as the church) that our current journey of faith - the one through membership - right now isn't transforming us into disciples of Jesus Christ... we aren't quite there yet. The big problem isn't that it's a bad road to travel, it's that we haven't held one another accountable to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. We haven't fully accepted the path.
When I asked how many people feel equipped and empowered to transform the world as a disciple of Jesus Christ - no one raised their hand. When I asked how many wanted to be equipped and empowered to go out there right now and change the world... everyone looked a little bit uneasy.
Good!!!! We should. Because we aren't there yet!!! But we are always moving on to perfection, and today - we put that out there in the light of Christ, we confessed our shortcomings and failures and over the next five weeks we will be prayerfully discerning how we can begin to live out our vows. Because we don't have to be disciples in order to practice these things.... but we might just become disciples if we do.
I think my number one goal was to get us to admit as a congregation (and as the church) that our current journey of faith - the one through membership - right now isn't transforming us into disciples of Jesus Christ... we aren't quite there yet. The big problem isn't that it's a bad road to travel, it's that we haven't held one another accountable to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. We haven't fully accepted the path.
When I asked how many people feel equipped and empowered to transform the world as a disciple of Jesus Christ - no one raised their hand. When I asked how many wanted to be equipped and empowered to go out there right now and change the world... everyone looked a little bit uneasy.
Good!!!! We should. Because we aren't there yet!!! But we are always moving on to perfection, and today - we put that out there in the light of Christ, we confessed our shortcomings and failures and over the next five weeks we will be prayerfully discerning how we can begin to live out our vows. Because we don't have to be disciples in order to practice these things.... but we might just become disciples if we do.
April 25, 2009
distracted
This morning I have spent three and a half hours in front of my computer attempting to work on my sermon. So far I have nothing but a title, but I have accomplished such other things as:
found an excellent debt reduction calculator for excel as I think about whether or not I can manage a car payment right now (since I'm not sure if I will ever see my car again and I can't drive my dad's forever)
explored various contextual interpretations of the NT passages on "homosexuality" including Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Cor 6:9 in response to a discussion I had with a congregation member on Thursday night.
thought about a recent challenge to eat vegan until dinnertime but then thought about how much I like eggs or cereal and milk for breakfast... still thinking about soy milk and cereal and found some interesting recipies for french toast. Wondering if eating vegetarian before dinner might work too? Or trying just one meal a day to start with?
found an excellent debt reduction calculator for excel as I think about whether or not I can manage a car payment right now (since I'm not sure if I will ever see my car again and I can't drive my dad's forever)
explored various contextual interpretations of the NT passages on "homosexuality" including Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Cor 6:9 in response to a discussion I had with a congregation member on Thursday night.
thought about a recent challenge to eat vegan until dinnertime but then thought about how much I like eggs or cereal and milk for breakfast... still thinking about soy milk and cereal and found some interesting recipies for french toast. Wondering if eating vegetarian before dinner might work too? Or trying just one meal a day to start with?
April 24, 2009
FF: Bucket List
From Rev Gals: Do you have a "Bucket List"? In other words, from the movie of
the same name, five things you want to see, do, accomplish, etc. before you kick
the bucket?
I actually don't have a "bucket list"! I have a friend who I know has all of these lists of things that she wants to accomplish in her lifetime, but I have never ever sat down to make a list of those kind of hopes and dreams. I am actually having a really hard time coming up with a list, but here goes (these things are subject to change!)
- visit the Czech Republic with my Babi.
- Visit NYC and see a show on Broadway.
- learn to play guitar ( I know... this is one I'm working on already - but it's going to take me a while!) and lead worship at my church with the guitar.
- plant and grow all of my fruits and veggies for a year in my own garden.
- be a mom. (we are hoping to have two kids, but right now my hubby's totally not ready for them)
April 23, 2009
no words...
New York Region
New Riverside Pastor’s Compensation Splits Congregation
By PAUL VITELLO
Published: April 23, 2009
Parishioners have filed a lawsuit to stop the installation of the Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton, who they say will receive more than $600,000 a year and will shift the church’s mission.
He's a former preaching professor of mine from Vanderbilt. And I really have no words to say except that I often feel very guilty about my ~$50,000 total compensation package - especially when so many people are looking for work.
New Riverside Pastor’s Compensation Splits Congregation
By PAUL VITELLO
Published: April 23, 2009
Parishioners have filed a lawsuit to stop the installation of the Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton, who they say will receive more than $600,000 a year and will shift the church’s mission.
He's a former preaching professor of mine from Vanderbilt. And I really have no words to say except that I often feel very guilty about my ~$50,000 total compensation package - especially when so many people are looking for work.
knock-knock
I have posted on here many times that home visitation is not my strength. And if I'm to be honest with myself, even though it is the number one priority of my PPR, it's not as high as it should be when I sit down and schedule myself for the week.
And reason #1 - I'm a huge introvert. We've been there and talked about this before.
These past two weeks, two very active people in the congregation fell (at different times) and have required surgery. And one of these people in particular is the woman who does SO much behind the scenes that no one even thinks about, until she wasn't there. My own grandma (Babi) was also having her knee replaced.
My own ability to visit them was compromised by the fact that I was at School for Ministry and then came home with the crud... but I discovered/remembered some amazing things about my congregation and my ministry in the meantime.
1) Yes, the PPR puts visitation as my number one priority, but they also have it as the main priority of the congregation.
2) The people in my church know how to look after one another. They have made countless visits and delivered countless meals without being asked and simply because that's what they do.
3) At SFM, some colleagues helped me remember that my calling/vocation gives me permission that no one else has to "intrude" on people's lives - that if the congregation has made that a priority, they are in many ways inviting me to know things others don't know and to see them in vulnerable situations.
4) sitting for 2 hours in a waiting room with someone - even if you have nothing to say - is rewarding ministry.
5) I have never lived in a community or family where people stopped by to visit if you were sick. Living in the country, we weren't that neighborly - at least as kids. There were regularly scheduled Sunday evening visits to my great grandparent's house, and we always came and went from Babi's, but I never learned the art of "dropping in"
6) I was blessed to sit with my Babi for well over four hours in the hospital. I didn't want to leave in part because it was good to catch up and spend that time with her, but also because I didn't want to leave her there alone.
7) I really don't want to leave my church family "alone" either. It is part of my calling to drop in and help them to know that they aren't alone - that we are thinking about them and that God loves them.
8) everytime... and i have to keep reminding myself of this... everytime I "drop in" I am blessed.
And reason #1 - I'm a huge introvert. We've been there and talked about this before.
These past two weeks, two very active people in the congregation fell (at different times) and have required surgery. And one of these people in particular is the woman who does SO much behind the scenes that no one even thinks about, until she wasn't there. My own grandma (Babi) was also having her knee replaced.
My own ability to visit them was compromised by the fact that I was at School for Ministry and then came home with the crud... but I discovered/remembered some amazing things about my congregation and my ministry in the meantime.
1) Yes, the PPR puts visitation as my number one priority, but they also have it as the main priority of the congregation.
2) The people in my church know how to look after one another. They have made countless visits and delivered countless meals without being asked and simply because that's what they do.
3) At SFM, some colleagues helped me remember that my calling/vocation gives me permission that no one else has to "intrude" on people's lives - that if the congregation has made that a priority, they are in many ways inviting me to know things others don't know and to see them in vulnerable situations.
4) sitting for 2 hours in a waiting room with someone - even if you have nothing to say - is rewarding ministry.
5) I have never lived in a community or family where people stopped by to visit if you were sick. Living in the country, we weren't that neighborly - at least as kids. There were regularly scheduled Sunday evening visits to my great grandparent's house, and we always came and went from Babi's, but I never learned the art of "dropping in"
6) I was blessed to sit with my Babi for well over four hours in the hospital. I didn't want to leave in part because it was good to catch up and spend that time with her, but also because I didn't want to leave her there alone.
7) I really don't want to leave my church family "alone" either. It is part of my calling to drop in and help them to know that they aren't alone - that we are thinking about them and that God loves them.
8) everytime... and i have to keep reminding myself of this... everytime I "drop in" I am blessed.
April 20, 2009
making members, making disciples
At my church, we have a pretty significant number of people who are "constituents" of our church and not official members. For various reasons, these people want to be an active part of our congregation but do not want to take the vows of membership and officially become United Methodist. And yet, many of those individuals are just as, if not more, active than the "members" of our church.
At School For Ministry last week, we talked a lot about making disciples, and very little about making church members. And at one point in the conversation, we actually admitted that we don't really expect people to uphold their baptismal vows. If we did, we would have a structure for responding or holding people accountable to their choices. But we don't. We baptize them, hold them in our prayers and pray to God that a seed we might have planted would take root.
Contrast that with early Christianity. Baptism was a process you only went through after years of formational training. I'm not sure that "membership" was ever the term used in that time, but certainly one could be excluded from the body for offenses until penance had been made. Confession of faith was extremely important.
Now, our church has very good reasons for upholding infant baptism. It says that baptism is a sign that God's grace goes before us - even before we are able to respond. But... BUT... baptism is also supposed to be an act of the congregation as we together promise, covenant, commit ourselves to nurturing that baby in the Christian faith.
Perhaps it was because for such a long time, Christianity was just the norm that we lost touch of those promises. The congregation didn't take seriously their role, because after all, this was a Christian nation and anyone who was raised simply by the culture would be brought up Christian. But that was a false presumption and it has led to whole generations of people who have been formed by the culture's view of Christianity, rather than God's view of culture.
So we make members. We ask people to join our club. And we count our success in ministry by the number of people we have on the rolls.
And there is nothing in there about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The big question for me is how do we start? How do I help my confirmation kids, or the baby who will be baptized this next Sunday - but whose parents do not even attend my church (her grandparents do), or the members of my congregation who think that simply by showing up once a month they are living out their commitments... how do I begin to show each of those groups of people that ideally, membership is a process of discipleship?
Let's look first at the process of membership.
1) we ask people to renounce sin and profess their faith
2) the congregation promises to nurture one another in the faith
3) if someone has not been baptized, we do so
4) if it is someone who was baptized before and is now reaffirming their faith (new members or confirmands) we have a blessing over them.
5) we recieve people into the church with the following vow:
as members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its
ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness? I will.
In our tradition, being a member means taking on those five responsibilities.
And to be honest - I think that they are good commitments to make. I believe that they can be disciple making activities. But the big disconnect is the part where it says "its ministries." We expect that all of this disciple making will happen in the congregation, or in some way connected to a ministry of the congregation. And it might not. It may be in a bible study at work, or in helping a neighbor, or partnering with community agencies to share your gifts. Our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness will be evidence of our growth as disciples... but we can't let ourselves be limited to the church. We have to be disciples for the transformation of the world.
Maybe that is my starting place. As we baptise an infant next week, I need to uplift that it is our responsibility to help nurture her wherever in the world she may be. As we get ready to confirm our youth, I need to encourage them to be disciples wherever they may be. And as we go over these membership vows in teaching and preaching in the next five weeks - I need to remind people that this is their responsibility and commitment... and that we need to hold one another accountable to doing so in EVERY facet of our lives.
At School For Ministry last week, we talked a lot about making disciples, and very little about making church members. And at one point in the conversation, we actually admitted that we don't really expect people to uphold their baptismal vows. If we did, we would have a structure for responding or holding people accountable to their choices. But we don't. We baptize them, hold them in our prayers and pray to God that a seed we might have planted would take root.
Contrast that with early Christianity. Baptism was a process you only went through after years of formational training. I'm not sure that "membership" was ever the term used in that time, but certainly one could be excluded from the body for offenses until penance had been made. Confession of faith was extremely important.
Now, our church has very good reasons for upholding infant baptism. It says that baptism is a sign that God's grace goes before us - even before we are able to respond. But... BUT... baptism is also supposed to be an act of the congregation as we together promise, covenant, commit ourselves to nurturing that baby in the Christian faith.
Perhaps it was because for such a long time, Christianity was just the norm that we lost touch of those promises. The congregation didn't take seriously their role, because after all, this was a Christian nation and anyone who was raised simply by the culture would be brought up Christian. But that was a false presumption and it has led to whole generations of people who have been formed by the culture's view of Christianity, rather than God's view of culture.
So we make members. We ask people to join our club. And we count our success in ministry by the number of people we have on the rolls.
And there is nothing in there about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The big question for me is how do we start? How do I help my confirmation kids, or the baby who will be baptized this next Sunday - but whose parents do not even attend my church (her grandparents do), or the members of my congregation who think that simply by showing up once a month they are living out their commitments... how do I begin to show each of those groups of people that ideally, membership is a process of discipleship?
Let's look first at the process of membership.
1) we ask people to renounce sin and profess their faith
2) the congregation promises to nurture one another in the faith
3) if someone has not been baptized, we do so
4) if it is someone who was baptized before and is now reaffirming their faith (new members or confirmands) we have a blessing over them.
5) we recieve people into the church with the following vow:
as members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its
ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness? I will.
In our tradition, being a member means taking on those five responsibilities.
And to be honest - I think that they are good commitments to make. I believe that they can be disciple making activities. But the big disconnect is the part where it says "its ministries." We expect that all of this disciple making will happen in the congregation, or in some way connected to a ministry of the congregation. And it might not. It may be in a bible study at work, or in helping a neighbor, or partnering with community agencies to share your gifts. Our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness will be evidence of our growth as disciples... but we can't let ourselves be limited to the church. We have to be disciples for the transformation of the world.
Maybe that is my starting place. As we baptise an infant next week, I need to uplift that it is our responsibility to help nurture her wherever in the world she may be. As we get ready to confirm our youth, I need to encourage them to be disciples wherever they may be. And as we go over these membership vows in teaching and preaching in the next five weeks - I need to remind people that this is their responsibility and commitment... and that we need to hold one another accountable to doing so in EVERY facet of our lives.
April 19, 2009
soil conservation
This morning, I preached a sermon on soil conservation.
Yah, it may seem like a strange topic - and definately not in line with any lectionary passages or a sermon series.
But this spring, I auctioned off a sermon during our youth fundraiser. And the winning bidder got to choose the topic or scripture for an upcoming sermon. Hence, the topic.
What I was blessed with was the resources this congregation member passed along. I learned all about the National Association of Conservation Districts and recieved their amazing church resource packet.
Because of a series we are starting next week on what it means to belong to the body of Christ, this was the weekened I chose to preach on the topic - but Stewardship Week actually kicks off NEXT Sunday - so I want to pass along the site for any who might be interested! HERE
For our worship, I talked about what it is that makes good soil - both in the earth that surrounds us, but also in more metaphorical terms, what makes good soil for our faith to grow in. Using some of Gary Gunderson's congregational strengths from "Deeply Woven Roots" I lifted up four necessities.
1) Good soil needs roots... both to protect the soil from erosion and also as the tradition and scriptures and stories that ground us in our past.
2) Good soil must be abundant and have a common purpose... a clump of dirt can't grow the planet's food and neither can individual Christians reach out and embody God's will in the world - but together, we can bear fruit.
3) Good soil must be alive... filled with minerals and living organisms and water and soil and air - it is the diversity that makes life able to survive. And our body of Christ requires all of us working together, with our unique gifts to bring to life the word of God in our world.
4) Good soil must be nourished by nutrients and water... without these things, the soil would be dead and worthless, unable to produce abundance. And as people of faith, we need the refreshing power of the Holy Spirit, the waters of baptism, the bread of new life and to live in the Word of God in order to do God's will.
Yah, it may seem like a strange topic - and definately not in line with any lectionary passages or a sermon series.
But this spring, I auctioned off a sermon during our youth fundraiser. And the winning bidder got to choose the topic or scripture for an upcoming sermon. Hence, the topic.
What I was blessed with was the resources this congregation member passed along. I learned all about the National Association of Conservation Districts and recieved their amazing church resource packet.
Because of a series we are starting next week on what it means to belong to the body of Christ, this was the weekened I chose to preach on the topic - but Stewardship Week actually kicks off NEXT Sunday - so I want to pass along the site for any who might be interested! HERE
For our worship, I talked about what it is that makes good soil - both in the earth that surrounds us, but also in more metaphorical terms, what makes good soil for our faith to grow in. Using some of Gary Gunderson's congregational strengths from "Deeply Woven Roots" I lifted up four necessities.
1) Good soil needs roots... both to protect the soil from erosion and also as the tradition and scriptures and stories that ground us in our past.
2) Good soil must be abundant and have a common purpose... a clump of dirt can't grow the planet's food and neither can individual Christians reach out and embody God's will in the world - but together, we can bear fruit.
3) Good soil must be alive... filled with minerals and living organisms and water and soil and air - it is the diversity that makes life able to survive. And our body of Christ requires all of us working together, with our unique gifts to bring to life the word of God in our world.
4) Good soil must be nourished by nutrients and water... without these things, the soil would be dead and worthless, unable to produce abundance. And as people of faith, we need the refreshing power of the Holy Spirit, the waters of baptism, the bread of new life and to live in the Word of God in order to do God's will.
April 13, 2009
and a broke down car to boot.
Oh...
on top of the whole paying taxes thing, I also have either car repairs or a whole new car to purchase. My "grandpa car" broke down last week and I'm pretty sure the repairs are going to be more than its worth. =(
on top of the whole paying taxes thing, I also have either car repairs or a whole new car to purchase. My "grandpa car" broke down last week and I'm pretty sure the repairs are going to be more than its worth. =(
death and taxes
Benjamin Franklin once said that nothing is certain in this world but death and taxes.
Well... yesterday proves that one of those things is just as in question as everything else. Christ is Risen - Christ is Risen Indeed! And that means that even the forces of death have been defeated.
Taxes on the other hand... well, I got home from Easter dinner and realized that I pretty much had 36 hours to get mine done. I leave tomorrow morning for our conference School for Ministry (all about the emerging church... yay!) - but that means that I have to get them done BEFORE I leave.
And let me tell you... clergy taxes are the worst thing on the face of the planet.
It doesn't help that there are things called housing exclusions and housing allowances and parsonage allowances and that the GCFA site, which tries to help with all of this says: "The housing allowance is sometimes called a “parsonage allowance” for clergy who are provided with a parsonage and a “rental allowance” for clergy who rent their home." And then goes on to use the generic "housing allowance" - or is it the specific "housing allowance" for the rest of the form. I just need to know if my exclusion has already been taken out or not... or if I have to add it on! ahhhhh.
I figured things out on paper last night and got all the information and numbers I need. Tonight, I'll head over to my parent's and use their handy super Turbo Tax small business edition and hopefully I'll have to pay less than what my paper numbers showed me.
Some things for new clergy people to learn from this:
1) put any receipt you have from any work-meal/supplies purchase in a box.
2) put any reciept you have from any home purchase (furniture, cleaning supplies, paper towels) in a box.
3) put any reciept you have from any medical related expense... in a box.
4) put all of your utility bills... in a box
5) keep a travel log of where you went, miles, general reason for going... might as well keep it in your car, and not in a box
6) sit down with your treasurer and try to wade through all of the craziness that is the housing exclusion (or allowance, or whatever it is you have) - make sure you are all on the same page.
7) every time you get paid for a funeral, wedding, speaking engagement - write it down and put it in your handy dandy little box.
8) every time your church gives you a gift of money, like through a love offering or Christmas gift - write it down and put it in your handy dandy little box.
9) I'm sure this list will keep growing as I realize what other things I learned, and or things I forgot this year are pointed out to me.
Well... yesterday proves that one of those things is just as in question as everything else. Christ is Risen - Christ is Risen Indeed! And that means that even the forces of death have been defeated.
Taxes on the other hand... well, I got home from Easter dinner and realized that I pretty much had 36 hours to get mine done. I leave tomorrow morning for our conference School for Ministry (all about the emerging church... yay!) - but that means that I have to get them done BEFORE I leave.
And let me tell you... clergy taxes are the worst thing on the face of the planet.
It doesn't help that there are things called housing exclusions and housing allowances and parsonage allowances and that the GCFA site, which tries to help with all of this says: "The housing allowance is sometimes called a “parsonage allowance” for clergy who are provided with a parsonage and a “rental allowance” for clergy who rent their home." And then goes on to use the generic "housing allowance" - or is it the specific "housing allowance" for the rest of the form. I just need to know if my exclusion has already been taken out or not... or if I have to add it on! ahhhhh.
I figured things out on paper last night and got all the information and numbers I need. Tonight, I'll head over to my parent's and use their handy super Turbo Tax small business edition and hopefully I'll have to pay less than what my paper numbers showed me.
Some things for new clergy people to learn from this:
1) put any receipt you have from any work-meal/supplies purchase in a box.
2) put any reciept you have from any home purchase (furniture, cleaning supplies, paper towels) in a box.
3) put any reciept you have from any medical related expense... in a box.
4) put all of your utility bills... in a box
5) keep a travel log of where you went, miles, general reason for going... might as well keep it in your car, and not in a box
6) sit down with your treasurer and try to wade through all of the craziness that is the housing exclusion (or allowance, or whatever it is you have) - make sure you are all on the same page.
7) every time you get paid for a funeral, wedding, speaking engagement - write it down and put it in your handy dandy little box.
8) every time your church gives you a gift of money, like through a love offering or Christmas gift - write it down and put it in your handy dandy little box.
9) I'm sure this list will keep growing as I realize what other things I learned, and or things I forgot this year are pointed out to me.
April 11, 2009
afraid.
Three women made their way to a lonely tomb just after sunrise. The sky still had that rosy pink hue – but instead of feeling warm and comforted, they were reminded of the bloodshed only days earlier.
Never again would they look at a cross the same way again. Before, it had been a symbol of punishment, a tool used by the Romans to keep the people in line. Now, it was where their teacher had been martyred. It stood for all of his truth and goodness and they would forever remember him upon that cross.
They were journeying back to the place where they had laid his body. They were going to mourn but also to honor and glorify his broken body. They were going to say goodbye.
A million thoughts raced through the minds of those three women. Chief among them – what’s next? Would they, could they, return to their old lives? With Jesus dead, there wasn’t really any among the group of disciples who seemed ready to continue sharing his message. No, it all ended on the cross. All of their hopes and dreams, all of the promises of the Kingdom of God ended on the cross. It was finished.
They brought with them the spices and oils they would need, but as the three women neared the tomb, they began to wonder what on earth they were doing. Were the Romans who crucified their Teacher watching them? What about the Jewish leaders? And if they made it there safely, how were they going to roll back the stone covering the entrance on their own?
Despite their doubts and fears, they kept moving forward, step by step, clutching one another’s hands, until they came to place where he had been laid.
The stone... That big huge obstacle they thought they would have to overcome. It was gone. And a young man sat on the cold hard slab just inside the tomb. What was he doing there? And where on earth was the body of Jesus?
The man looked at them and the women instinctively flinched. He had a strange aura about him and was dressed in dazzling white. They were absolutely speechless.
Don’t be afraid – he whispered to them…. You’re looking for Jesus of Nazareth, but he’s not here! He has been raised, just like he promised. Go – tell the disciples and Peter that he will meet you in Galilee. He’s waiting for you!
The hearts of the women literally stopped beating for a few moments. They had come to honor a dead body and they were met by a mystery. He has been raised?! He’s… waiting for us? Was it a trap? Was it true? Could it possibly be?
It was all so completely overwhelming. They felt like they were standing in the presence of the holy – like Moses before the burning bush – like Elijah standing on the side of the mountain and hearing God’s voice in the silence… and yet nothing made sense. Nothing that was happening fit with their understanding of the world! If the massive stone could be rolled away without any human effort, if Jesus really was raised from the dead, what other assumptions and truths that they had known would be proved false? If the very power of death had been overcome, what was next? What else was going to change?
The world was turned upside down for these three women by this radically holy encounter. Terror and amazement seized them and they turn and fled from the tomb. Was it unworthiness? Was it the weight of the message that they were called to proclaim? Was it fear and awe that come from being face to face with God’s power? The world may never know. But Mary Magdelene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome said nothing to anyone… for they were afraid.
Never again would they look at a cross the same way again. Before, it had been a symbol of punishment, a tool used by the Romans to keep the people in line. Now, it was where their teacher had been martyred. It stood for all of his truth and goodness and they would forever remember him upon that cross.
They were journeying back to the place where they had laid his body. They were going to mourn but also to honor and glorify his broken body. They were going to say goodbye.
A million thoughts raced through the minds of those three women. Chief among them – what’s next? Would they, could they, return to their old lives? With Jesus dead, there wasn’t really any among the group of disciples who seemed ready to continue sharing his message. No, it all ended on the cross. All of their hopes and dreams, all of the promises of the Kingdom of God ended on the cross. It was finished.
They brought with them the spices and oils they would need, but as the three women neared the tomb, they began to wonder what on earth they were doing. Were the Romans who crucified their Teacher watching them? What about the Jewish leaders? And if they made it there safely, how were they going to roll back the stone covering the entrance on their own?
Despite their doubts and fears, they kept moving forward, step by step, clutching one another’s hands, until they came to place where he had been laid.
The stone... That big huge obstacle they thought they would have to overcome. It was gone. And a young man sat on the cold hard slab just inside the tomb. What was he doing there? And where on earth was the body of Jesus?
The man looked at them and the women instinctively flinched. He had a strange aura about him and was dressed in dazzling white. They were absolutely speechless.
Don’t be afraid – he whispered to them…. You’re looking for Jesus of Nazareth, but he’s not here! He has been raised, just like he promised. Go – tell the disciples and Peter that he will meet you in Galilee. He’s waiting for you!
The hearts of the women literally stopped beating for a few moments. They had come to honor a dead body and they were met by a mystery. He has been raised?! He’s… waiting for us? Was it a trap? Was it true? Could it possibly be?
It was all so completely overwhelming. They felt like they were standing in the presence of the holy – like Moses before the burning bush – like Elijah standing on the side of the mountain and hearing God’s voice in the silence… and yet nothing made sense. Nothing that was happening fit with their understanding of the world! If the massive stone could be rolled away without any human effort, if Jesus really was raised from the dead, what other assumptions and truths that they had known would be proved false? If the very power of death had been overcome, what was next? What else was going to change?
The world was turned upside down for these three women by this radically holy encounter. Terror and amazement seized them and they turn and fled from the tomb. Was it unworthiness? Was it the weight of the message that they were called to proclaim? Was it fear and awe that come from being face to face with God’s power? The world may never know. But Mary Magdelene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome said nothing to anyone… for they were afraid.
April 7, 2009
a simple prayer for pastors
gracious god.
help us to speak your truth.
help us know that while judgment is reserved only for you, that sometimes you call prophets to share your concern for the world and for your children.
bless us with courage.
bless us with grace for the times we have failed to proclaim boldly your words of liberation and bless us with the ability to be ready the next time you call us to speak.
amen.
help us to speak your truth.
help us know that while judgment is reserved only for you, that sometimes you call prophets to share your concern for the world and for your children.
bless us with courage.
bless us with grace for the times we have failed to proclaim boldly your words of liberation and bless us with the ability to be ready the next time you call us to speak.
amen.
April 4, 2009
Passion Sunday
For about two and a half weeks now, I have been working on and reworking and tweaking our Passion Sunday worship. Last year, our format was pretty much a lessons and hymns service - where we read the scriptures and sang songs in between chunks of the reading.
I'm always torn about whether or not to really focus on Palm Sunday or to span the gammit and do the whole Passion Sunday reading. Knowing my congregation, probably only 15% of those who regularly attend worship will be at our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. And that is only 5% of the whole church. So if we didn't hear the Passion story on the Sunday before Easter, the depth of the journey, the betrayal and the sacrifice would go unnoticed. And Easter just isn't Easter if you haven't journeyed through the cross.
But how do you tell the whole story on a Sunday morning? I've been reading a lot of other pastor's litanies, and how they have put together worship and used some ideas from here and some ideas from there. The main structure that has fed into the service we will be doing tomorrow is a responsive singing of "Were You There." The verses are not the typical ones, but each one ties into the readings that have preceded it.
What I did end up doing however, was take each of the scripture readings and put any spoken words into particular people's voices. There is a narrator, but then there will be someone speaking the words of Jesus, of Peter, of the Disciples, of the Crowd, of Pilate, of Judas, and of Caiaphas. And then as I continued to wrestle with the text, each of those voices tell a bit of their own story and give some context to the message as we hear again the story of Christ.
I'm pretty happy with the final script, and I'm putting it all in God's hands for tomorrow morning - praying that the spirit will be in our reading, and will help everyone present understand the Journey Through the Cross.
I'm always torn about whether or not to really focus on Palm Sunday or to span the gammit and do the whole Passion Sunday reading. Knowing my congregation, probably only 15% of those who regularly attend worship will be at our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. And that is only 5% of the whole church. So if we didn't hear the Passion story on the Sunday before Easter, the depth of the journey, the betrayal and the sacrifice would go unnoticed. And Easter just isn't Easter if you haven't journeyed through the cross.
But how do you tell the whole story on a Sunday morning? I've been reading a lot of other pastor's litanies, and how they have put together worship and used some ideas from here and some ideas from there. The main structure that has fed into the service we will be doing tomorrow is a responsive singing of "Were You There." The verses are not the typical ones, but each one ties into the readings that have preceded it.
What I did end up doing however, was take each of the scripture readings and put any spoken words into particular people's voices. There is a narrator, but then there will be someone speaking the words of Jesus, of Peter, of the Disciples, of the Crowd, of Pilate, of Judas, and of Caiaphas. And then as I continued to wrestle with the text, each of those voices tell a bit of their own story and give some context to the message as we hear again the story of Christ.
I'm pretty happy with the final script, and I'm putting it all in God's hands for tomorrow morning - praying that the spirit will be in our reading, and will help everyone present understand the Journey Through the Cross.
April 3, 2009
YAY IOWA!
Today, the Iowa Supreme Court declared that a ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional!
I am really impressed by the fact that the decision was unanimous and took seriously the fact that marriage - as far as the state is concerned - has nothing to do with religion.
And as far as "tradition" goes - traditions need to be living, and need to be able to be flexible and change as we learn and grow, otherwise they are dead. That is true in the church and that is true in society also. If we had stuck with the traditions of marriage from the very beginning, women would be property, we would have polygamous relationships, and interracial couples wouldn't have a chance. Traditions are LIVING!
I now pray that as a church, we too might find ways to value committed mutually-self-giving relationships between our gay and lesbian parishoners.
To be honest, I never even considered the possibility that it might be legal for gays and lesbians to marry in my state before my church would allow it. I have been thinking so much about the United Methodist perspective and have been working for reform there and if this decision holds, then I have a very difficult choice ahead of me. Do I continue to follow church discipline? Do I refuse to marry any couples until I can marry all? It may not even be an issue in my community, but I pray for God's grace and God's guidance so that when the question comes, when someone approaches me, I may have the heart to respond.
I am really impressed by the fact that the decision was unanimous and took seriously the fact that marriage - as far as the state is concerned - has nothing to do with religion.
And as far as "tradition" goes - traditions need to be living, and need to be able to be flexible and change as we learn and grow, otherwise they are dead. That is true in the church and that is true in society also. If we had stuck with the traditions of marriage from the very beginning, women would be property, we would have polygamous relationships, and interracial couples wouldn't have a chance. Traditions are LIVING!
I now pray that as a church, we too might find ways to value committed mutually-self-giving relationships between our gay and lesbian parishoners.
To be honest, I never even considered the possibility that it might be legal for gays and lesbians to marry in my state before my church would allow it. I have been thinking so much about the United Methodist perspective and have been working for reform there and if this decision holds, then I have a very difficult choice ahead of me. Do I continue to follow church discipline? Do I refuse to marry any couples until I can marry all? It may not even be an issue in my community, but I pray for God's grace and God's guidance so that when the question comes, when someone approaches me, I may have the heart to respond.
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