November 9, 2018
At the end of the day, several meals of vegetable beef soup are in the freezer. And the house smells soooo good! This happens once a year, and today was the day. Yum!
Blessings.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Day #1773
November 8, 2018
I had a striking example today of how NOT to be welcoming. After making a lovely visit in someone’s home at a multi-family complex, I came out to my car to find this taped to the window:
No signs in the parking lot advised me I was in the wrong spot. No numbers on the individual spots told me not to park there. No visitor parking signs at certain spaces or indicators there were none available. Was I frustrated? Oh, yes! When I called management to tell them so, they patiently explained parking has been a problem there for more than a decade. Really?! Why aren’t there signs? Well, no one has ever called to ask before. What!?!? Oh, well. Guess I learned my lesson. And hopefully how NOT to make someone else feel.
Blessings.
Day #1772
November 7, 2018
We had snow again today and the roads at “0 dark o’clock” were a little slippery. Well, more than a little. So as I drove around, doing the things I do on Wednesdays, I could hear my mother’s voice in my head - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OUT DRIVING IN THIS STUFF?!?! YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL!!!
And yes, she’d be raising her voice. She worried mightily about me driving in snow, or rain, and I had to smile thinking she would be having a fit. Why the smile? Knowing she worried because she loved me. Miss you, momma!
Blessings.
Day #1771
November 6, 2018
As we sat around the table and read and prayed and discussed, I think the common sentiment was…what in the world does this Gospel reading mean for us today?!?! Sometimes it is like that, trying to second guess what Jesus means for us to learn today. I take comfort, however, in the fact that the disciples who were with him day and night, face to face, struggled in a similar way.
Come, Holy Spirit, and guide us! I also take comfort in knowing the Spirit will!! Amen!
Blessings.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Day #1770
November 5, 2018
A prayer for this week:
Almighty God, as Americans head to the polls for elections, we pray for your guidance to make informed and wise decisions. We pray for political leaders, community leaders, and church leaders - all leaders - that there would be mercy in their decisions and a servant attitude in their actions. Give us wisdom in electing all our leaders. Amen.
Blessings.
Day #1769
November 4, 2018
Comforting worship as we remembered and gave thanks for the saints of the past, the present, and the future.
What are all those candles for, Pastor? A young saint of the present presented a great question for the opening of the Children’s Message. Thanksgiving for folks who have been a part of our lives and who we miss, I said.
Wish I had thought to say, what are those candles for? Love!
Blessings.
Day #1768
November 3, 2018
In preparing for worship for All Saints, I’m thinking about something Father Jim said at the Memorial Service for Cindy:
One can’t explain to humans what heaven is like any easer than one can explain to an unborn infant what earth is like.
That’s a perspective that is helpful in thinking about all the saints resting in the arms of God. What’s it really like? We won’t know until we know, but faith tells me it will be grand!
Blessings.
Day #1767
November 2, 2018
Something to think about from the WELCA Blog:
African American theologian Howard Thurman (1899-1981) suggests that true prayer has very little to do with bringing something external to pass; rather, it has to do with the relationship between God and those who pray. “The essence of prayer is that God answers the pray-er, which is far more important than answering a thousand prayers,” Thurman says. Thurman’s insight suggests that God’s answer to prayer—whether or not a particular petition is granted—is akin to God saying, “I see you. I love you. I am with you. No matter what.” This message is an excerpt from “Closer to God” by Audrey West in the July/August 2018 issue of “Gather” magazine.
Blessings.
Day #1766
November 1, 2018
On this All Saints Day, I give thanks for the saints in my life, past and present, who fill or have filled my life with joy, challenge, education, mentoring, love, acceptance, and family. I miss those who have gone before me - parents, grandparents, uncles, friends, parishioners, colleagues. And I cherish those still present - family, friends, parishioners, and fellow colleagues in ministry. Life truly is relationship to be celebrated!
Blessings.
Day #1765
October 31, 2018
Happy Halloween from the hottest dog around. :-)
And his mustard sidekick:
Day #1764
October 30, 2018
As I sat with colleagues, the subject of lamenting airline travel turned to pet relief stations in the airport. (See Day #1752 for my comments concerning so many dogs.) Turns out one of my colleagues took the picture I missed of the "pet relief station":
Yep, gotta love that care for all of God’s creatures does exist!
Blessings.
Day #1763
October 29, 2018
The prayer for today, this week, and always:
Almighty God, you are God of love. God of relationship. God of forgiveness. Teach your children, all of us, how to be more like you. Give us strength to forgive. Give us desire to be in relationship with you and with others, especially those we most distrust or dislike. Give us a measure of your capacity for love. For we know and experience all too often that the antithesis of love leads to fear, violence, and death. We desire for love to conquer the fear, violence and death. We trust you to help us have that love for one another, all around the world. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Blessings.
Day #1762
October 28, 2018
Quite the busy day - remembering the Reformation in worship with special music, being blessed by another pastor sharing the message - thank you!! - and the first camp counselor youth event of the season. Busy, and faith-filling. The youth are awesome - and so are the counselors!
Blessings.
Day #1761
October 27, 2018
This prayer from the devotion d365 seems important to share in light of the recent shootings in Pittsburgh and after attending a Memorial Service for a pastoral colleague:
The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.” from Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC by Frederick Buechner (1973)
Blessings.
Day #1760
October 26, 2018
When a former confirmation student texts just to say they’re learning about Luther today in school, it brings a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart! Not only do I see this as a “win” for remembering a topic from confirmation, but a “huge win” in remembering relationship is important and I'm available!!!
Then an informative day of learning and discussing the particulars surrounding the election/calling of a new bishop for our synod next June. This is an important step for our synod and the church. So, it’s time to be thinking and praying! June will be here quickly!
Blessings.
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