Tag Archives: church

2018 and 2019

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Wow!  2018 went by fast!  It was a busy year with lots of traveling.  We experienced weddings, funerals, dealing with unexpected death, and births.  I started this post and then never came back.  Now 2019 is past and we are well into 2020.  When people say time flies, I am understanding it now.  I finished my sabbatical and jumped back gingerly into the life of the congregation and am now feeling more connected and useful than before.  It is different but so am I.  It was somewhat unnerving to make such a shift in thinking about church.  I have long been a person who feels that God is with us always and is an active participant in every aspect of our lives, if we open ourselves to that. Up until recently that included the church community as an absolute necessity.  Now, I am realizing that there are aspects of “church” that just don’t work for me.  It is also true that these things are human additions to the truth of God’s message  for us.  Now more than ever I am aware that following Jesus is so much more that what the organized institution of church, (church brought to the US by colonization), offers.  In some instances the church has distorted what the Way of Christ really is.  Unlocking this for myself has been life-giving.  It has opened my eyes to the wonder and glory of life in the spirit.   More later.

Preparing for the Grand Jury Decision

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There is tension in the air.  The whole area is waiting for the Grand Jury to come back with a decision on the Darren Wilson case.  Is there enough evidence to indict him and bring him to trial?  We are preparing for the worst.  Governor Nixon has called a state of emergency and activated the National Guard, clergy and other volunteers have been trained to help control crowds if there is unrest.  Pins and Needles.  People are very worried.

Churches in the area are providing 24 hour presence for those who need solace, prayer time, or just a place to go to talk or rest and be away from the news for a while.  I’m happy that my church is one of those offering this place of caring for the community.  There continue to be peaceful protests.  People are talking about the issues.

O God, please bring healing to your people.  Help us all to find ways to live together in peace, caring for one another. Strengthen relationships for a better future.  Amen

Why Do I Go to Church?

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I was driving to church one Sunday morning and this question crossed my mind. Why DO I go to church? I have a good relationship with God. I am a spiritual director and I practice what I preach, I find God in everyday living, I pray, I try to live a life of faith. So what is it about going to church that draws me every week and occasionally mid-week?

I enjoy the people. I find it so comforting to sit with others and share time worshiping God in community. It is good to hear others’ prayers, to hear another reaction to scripture, to share bread and cup and know that we are part of something really big and special, called together by God who is love. The people in my church are diverse in age, theological perspective, political affiliation. Their occupations are across the board. There is variation in socioeconomic status. The people whose lives have touched me have enriched my life so much. I like that I can share my own faith with others. Together we try to be a mission-centered church and care for one another, locally and outside our walls. In doing all this I have grown to know God a little more. I have felt God’s presence and have seen the face of Christ in so many people.

I love to make music. Praying with hymns and anthems is so nurturing to my soul. I share this gift in several ways and that has given me a way to worship and a way to share with others. Helping others have a richer worship experience through music is a great blessing to me. I have made good friends through this ministry.

One might argue that these things are attainable outside a church setting and that is probably true but to have all of them in one place is a real joy. My particular church has been a vital part of our family life for many years and I truly appreciate the time spent in ministry. I have had several leadership roles and have found those to be meaningful ways to consider what God might have in store for us and strive to be God’s people in this world. It has been my privilege to be an organizer and a teacher and a caregiver. I have been supported in my own ministry of listening. I may or may not have the same experience in another church but I tend to believe that people generally are good and church life brings our the best in folks.

So why do I go to church? Because when I wake up on Sunday morning I don’t want to be at home in my own space. I genuinely want to be in a place where people gather to praise God and lift one another up in prayer and support. As I close my eyes I see those people rising to greet one another. It makes me smile.