Woke up this morning and I saw the sun beaming through the windows. I looked over the field and trees and river behind my house and sighed. "Thank you, God, for this day."
I am focusing these days on gratitude, to the point of stopping what I am doing when I feel that gratitude coming over me and saying, "Thank you, God." It may seem like such a trivial thing on the surface, but it really isn't.
Saying thank you to God isn't something I've just started doing; I've remembered to be thankful for years. Maybe what's new is that I stop what I'm doing and speak out loud. Now, I know I could just think my thanks but speaking it out loud makes a huge difference to me and I hope verbalizing my thanksgiving is pleasing to God.
The other day I saw a man walking intently on Lebanon Road in North Berwick. He held rosary beads in both his hands before his face. I wondered if there were tears streaming down his cheeks from the way his lids were partly closed. His face was focused only upon those beads and his lips moved with inaduible words and then he kissed the beads clenched in his hands.
I was so moved, and I began to wonder about my own devotional life. Would I, could I, be so inclined to walk down the street with my faith streaming down my cheeks? I am envious of the freedom people have when they take their walk with their Rosary beads, shutting out the community around them and focusing so intently on the Lord.
What do you think? Have you ever wondered abouat ways to improve your devotional life? Could you do your devotionals while walking down the street? I pray when I walk, but nobody would know that I was doing so. When I ride my bike past your houses in the summer time, I send a "bicycle" prayer for you.
What are your unique ways of praying? I'd love to hear about them! Please write!
Reverend Donna
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Back to the Blog
Well, it's good to be back to the blog! I had to have help finding the ol' blog and getting back into it, since the last time I blogged was shortly after I returned from Sabbatical.
As you may recall, one of the Action Steps of the Plan we are working in our church is to start up the pastor's blog. So, here we are. Thanks for reading me.
Today I would like to tell you about the answers to prayer and opportunities for mission that have happened at the church during the week.
On Sunday mornings I have been praying with you about asking God to send to us people in need of a church. This past Sunday afternoon, while we were breaking up from our Visitation and Care Team, a woman was walking by the church, saw the small group in the parking lot and came over to them. She introduced herself and said that she had been married in our church 24 years ago. She's just moved back to the area (Dover), but she told us that she was still looking for a church and she would like to come here. She's also a singer and is interested in joining the choir. Answer to prayer.
We all heard about the fire at Central School last weekend. The Trustees asked me to offer space to the school should they need it while repairs are being done. So, Monday morning I called the Superintendent's office and made the offer--I had to leave a message because, of course, he was up here at the school. That afternoon, two teachers from the school came over wondering if they could talk to someone about using some space. They had no idea that we had already called the school department to let them know. So, I showed them around. They'll be meeting with about 40 students in our bright and cheery vestry. See, another 42 people in need of a church. Another answer to prayer. And the remarkable thing to me is that we thought we were doing over and finished the vestry for our purposes, when it was really needed at this particular time by others.
Also this week (and it's only Wednesday), another couple called upon us for some assistance with food and medicine, which we are able to provide through emergency access to the food pantry and the Deacon's Fund. I also learned that they were sleeping on the floor in their apartment. They wanted to get an air mattress. I said, give me one day maybe we can get a real mattress for you. I made a call and the very next morning members of our church donated a complete bed: rails, headboard, mattress and box spring along with bedding. That's another thing I love about this church: we go one step better. It's like when Jesus taught that if someone asks for your shirt to give them your cloak as well.
Another joy is that we will have three baptisms in October: Kenna, Maya, and Jaxson. Three different young families planning to attend church with us as life with a new baby allows. Another answer to prayer.
It's been good to write without worrying about editing. I hope that you will write back, add your comments, pose a question or discussion point. Technology can bring people closer together.
Always thankful for you,
Reverend Donna
As you may recall, one of the Action Steps of the Plan we are working in our church is to start up the pastor's blog. So, here we are. Thanks for reading me.
Today I would like to tell you about the answers to prayer and opportunities for mission that have happened at the church during the week.
On Sunday mornings I have been praying with you about asking God to send to us people in need of a church. This past Sunday afternoon, while we were breaking up from our Visitation and Care Team, a woman was walking by the church, saw the small group in the parking lot and came over to them. She introduced herself and said that she had been married in our church 24 years ago. She's just moved back to the area (Dover), but she told us that she was still looking for a church and she would like to come here. She's also a singer and is interested in joining the choir. Answer to prayer.
We all heard about the fire at Central School last weekend. The Trustees asked me to offer space to the school should they need it while repairs are being done. So, Monday morning I called the Superintendent's office and made the offer--I had to leave a message because, of course, he was up here at the school. That afternoon, two teachers from the school came over wondering if they could talk to someone about using some space. They had no idea that we had already called the school department to let them know. So, I showed them around. They'll be meeting with about 40 students in our bright and cheery vestry. See, another 42 people in need of a church. Another answer to prayer. And the remarkable thing to me is that we thought we were doing over and finished the vestry for our purposes, when it was really needed at this particular time by others.
Also this week (and it's only Wednesday), another couple called upon us for some assistance with food and medicine, which we are able to provide through emergency access to the food pantry and the Deacon's Fund. I also learned that they were sleeping on the floor in their apartment. They wanted to get an air mattress. I said, give me one day maybe we can get a real mattress for you. I made a call and the very next morning members of our church donated a complete bed: rails, headboard, mattress and box spring along with bedding. That's another thing I love about this church: we go one step better. It's like when Jesus taught that if someone asks for your shirt to give them your cloak as well.
Another joy is that we will have three baptisms in October: Kenna, Maya, and Jaxson. Three different young families planning to attend church with us as life with a new baby allows. Another answer to prayer.
It's been good to write without worrying about editing. I hope that you will write back, add your comments, pose a question or discussion point. Technology can bring people closer together.
Always thankful for you,
Reverend Donna
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Year of Joy
Sunday, July 02, 2006
The End is Near
Now that the end is near, the days are passing swiftly. In fifteen days, I will return to the office, and I find myself becoming eager to see you all, to catch up with what is happening in your lives, and to jump into my work, which brings me so much joy. On the other hand, I have truly enjoyed the freedom sabbatical affords to move with the project that captures my attention at any given time, to rest when I feel the need, to read and take notes to my heart's content, to visit with friends, and spend time with God asking questions and seeking answers and being very, very quiet. It is good to do so.Today I, after much hemming and hawing (where does that expression come from????), decided NOT to go to church. What a very strange feeling this is! I find myself glancing at the clock every few minutes and picturing where you are in the service. Not just in our church, but in all the churches (9 so far) that I have visited during my sabbatical. My goal was ten different churches, so I am very close to my goal, with two more Sundays after today to achieve the mark. So, in one way, it felt ok to stay home; but in another way....I find myself feeling weirdly isolated. I am missing the fellowship, camraderie, and pleasure of spending a Sunday morning worshiping with others--singing the hymns, praying prayers, opening the word, holding hands, exchanging hugs of comfort and affection. Even when I was visiting churches, filled with folks I do not know, I felt glad to be there. Of course, I was working (sometimes it felt like I was spying!) on my church comparison project, yet still I knew that being in church was where I belonged. Some pastors go on sabbatical and never go to church; I guess they think it would be a "busman's holiday" to do so; some pastors really do need the break from the hustle and bustle of Sunday morning church life. As for me, I have enjoyed visiting churches, hearing others preach, and taking it all in.After all the visits, and sometimes even during them, I begin comparing what happens in other services with our own. What do we do better? What do they do "better?" (I guess that depends on how you define better.) What are the people like? Do they look happy to be there, or are there blank stares or scowls upon their jowls? (Sorry; had to do that. You know how I am with words.) How friendly are they with each other? How friendly are they to me? In several of the churches I have attended, no one knew me, either as a person or a pastor, which was probably more helpful in terms of their being themselves. In a few of the churches, I knew the pastor well or a few of the parishioners well. Some of them even asked me to share the results of my survey with them when I am done with this work. There's something appealing and very 21st century about bringing many churches together to join in self-evaluation and to encourage one another to reach out with Christ to our communities: instead of being competitors, let's be compadres, si?Please know that I think of you often, and I will be glad to see you again in the middle of the month! Take good care of each other!Blessings,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 10:28 AM 1 comments
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Besides the fact that this rain, relentless and cruel, continues to keep me basically inside during this sabbatical, I have been busy with one of my annual traditions: providing the invocation and benediction at both the Baccalaureate and Commencement Exercises at Berwick Academy yesterday and today. I felt that it was especially important to share in this time with the school this year because of the sad time the school experienced earlier this year when one of their students died, and we provided comfort and hope through a memorial service at our church. It is good to follow up a sad occasion with a happy one.As I sat on dais, I was keenly aware of the longevity of this pastorate at FPFC. Two of the students, Laura Putnam and Grant Ridgway, were 9 years old when I came to our church. As they came across the stage this morning, I felt so proud of them. I can only imagine how pleased and proud their parents were. In some small way, I felt that I had played a part in their journey to adulthood--I know the church did! At Baccalaureate, Laura was awarded the Parson Thompson award for her service to her community and during her international travels to Budapest and Honduras. Parson Thompson was the pastor of our church way back when the school was founded by members of the First Parish Church (I think that's right info! Could be wrong....).I guess aging is something that happens to us when we are busy doing life. The passage of time is so apparent when we look at our children as they grow up right before our eyes. When I came to FPFC my nieces and nephew were a year old. The twins, Kaylee and Kaitlyn, turned ten on May 31 and Kody will be 10 in July. Another 7 years and I will be at their high school graduation--God willin' and the crick don't rise (literally these days!). I've been seeing pictures of our young people in the paper, in the Top Ten Students articles, and I think that we have the best kids in the district right in our church. We have supersmart kids, and they are really good and kind people, who care about others, who've gone off to serve folks and build homes and relationships in places far away from the comforts of home. I feel so proud of them! They were just youngsters when I arrived--how time passes! I certainly haven't gotten older, have I????Thinking of you!Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 8:45 PM 0 comments
Monday, June 05, 2006
A Few Words
The whirlwind traveling is cycling down, and I plan to stay put for a while. I have no more trips planned, but I'm learning to be spontaneous and maybe an offer will arise that will interest me.I have gathered my books and supplies and tools to put together what I am calling my Portfolio that I will present to the church upon my return. I have a vision of our having a luncheon or potluck dinner during which I can present to you the highlights of my sabbatical, including learnings, reflections, photos, and ideas/suggestions for our future together. This event should be a fun yet important time for us to become reconnected and a time for you to tell me what you have been up to as well.On another tangent, I attended worship services in Eliot, at two different churches, the past two Sundays. On Memorial Day Weekend, I participated in worship at the Eliot Baptist Church; this past Sunday, I attended the congregational church. Two very different experiences, but both enjoyable. I'm off to an even tonight so I will post my thoughts on the two churches later.Blessings,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 4:37 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Living out your dreams
Do something you've only dreamed about...something that you never thought could really happen. If you are thinking of that special something and feeling that hop, skip and a jump in your heart then you can identify with what I'm feeling here at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers' Conference. This place, for the longest time, was just a spot in cyberspace, but now I'm here in Ridgecrest, North Carolina, googled right into reality, and I'm loving every minute of it.I've never been to a writers conference before, but this event has been an excellent place to start. There are 410 conferees, plus about 30 faculty—all published authors, editors, and agents. At lunch and supper, each faculty member has a table, and we conferees can sit with whomever we wish and converse with the author/editor about our work, their work, the vision of the work.I have taken three continuing classes and workshops during the day:Writing Unforgettable Children's BooksWriting Biblically for Maximum Life ImpactFiction 101There are so many classes to choose from that most of us are lamenting that we don't have time to take everything we want to!Every morning we have music from an awesome group called “Promise” (in fact, I had lunch today with two of the three members). I bought one of their CDs. Their music fills the room and fills your heart with the power and praise of God. After the music we have a speaker, a member of the faculty who not only provide inspiration and encouragement to us as writers but they also share a part of their story. We can see how they are just like we, “everybody has their stuff” to overcome and can go on to fulfill the purpose for which God created us. One of the first lessons we learned was that if each of us does not do what God put each of us here to do, then God's creation will be incomplete, for we are co-creators in creation (God is still speaking, you know).On Tuesday morning we had an awesome experience of the story of Nehemiah, the man who led thousands to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. The speaker, Eva Marie Everson (author of Christian fiction) had us all form a human wall around the auditorium and walked us through the story. God has given us a specific vision, purpose, to fulfill and God will make a way to help you complete that purpose if you let God lead and not try to do it by yourself. The title of this lesson was called, “Meet Me at the Wall: The Story of Nehemiah—The Story of You and Me.”Monday morning we were treated to an outstanding performance by a man named C McNair Wilson, who is an actor, writer, and spent many years as an Imagineer at Walt Disney. His definition of Creativity is “to make the new or rearrange the old to appear new.” He talked about taking risks—to ignore the people in your life who say “it can't be done” or “we've never done it that way before” and go ahead and do it anyway. Don't let people take your vision from you. Four things I noted as he spoke (performed, really) wereTake the risk of doing it differently.Challenge Assumptions (the unwritten rules)Stay curiousSee things differently: What would it be like for you to take the Creator seriously? “If you don't do you, then you doesn't get done and then God's creation is incomplete.I can see how these tasks can be adapted to the church family; can you?This morning's message was from Allison Bottke, the editor of the anthology series, God Allows U-Turns. Have you seen it? This series is a lot like the “Chicken Soup” books, a collection of stories from regular people like you and me. In GAUT, there are stories of people who have had the experience of straying far from God and then their taking a U-turn and finding themselves back with the Lord through his grace.Last night's speaker was Deborah Raney who wrote the novel, A Vow to Cherish. She talked of the miracle God worked in her life when she wanted to write to earn enough money so that she could stay home with her baby daughter (she had older children preparing to go to college and she needed to work, but then had this later-in-life baby). She wrote the novel and it was picked up by a publisher who paid her exactly the amount she was looking to earn so that she could stay at home. After that, a movie company bought the book and made a television movie by the same name. Some of you may have seen it. It starred Ken Howard and Barbara Babcock. The story is of a woman in her 40s who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and follows her decline. Her husband remains faithful to her, despite his years of loneliness after she no longer recognizes him or their children. It is a tear jerker, that's for sure.Tonight is the faculty book signing. I'm in heaven about that. I collect autographed books and now I will have several more to add to my collection. After that there will be the faculty talent show. That should be a lot of fun, because if there's one thing these faculty members all have it is PERSONALITY!I think this shall be all for now. It's time to get ready to go to dinner. Meals here are interesting. I usually have to have the menu interpreted, and there are certain things I have stayed away from, like fried catfish and grits!I hope this note finds you all well and eagerly in pursuit of your purposes in God's creation!Blessings,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 5:28 PM 0 comments
Thursday, May 18, 2006
The Uncommon Common
Glorious, glorious day. Finally, two weeks after purchasing a patio set I think I actually might get to use it today!The house is coming along. I got one of the downstairs rooms all painted and straightened up this week. It took two days to paint it. Only the downstairs bedroom and bathroom are left to be painted, and I'm not quite sure what I want to do with the bedroom down there yet. If I've learned anything during the home ownership process it is not to jump at anything. There's a lot to be said for waiting for the right idea, the right thing, to come along. Of course, that theory doesn't always work--Mr Right is still somewhere else.....(just kidding; my life is very fulfilling just the way it is, not to worry!).It is a strange sensation to be so close but "yet so far," in terms of being near the church and all of you, but out of the loop. On the rainy days, it's easy to think about all the things I should have done, could have done better; the acts of omission that I let happen. So sabbatical is a time for me to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses as a pastor. Now that the sun has returned I'm more apt to be thinking about how I can improve my skills and be attentive, especially when I am rested from the past nine years. This time apart can be good for thinking about the things we love and appreciate about each other as well as ways to encourage one another in our areas needing improvement or that provide challenges. If we use this time well and wisely, we will benefit from sabbatical in ways we probably find hard to imagine. Yet, that's how the Holy Spirit works as it moves in, among, and between us while we are absent one from another.I've finished the second book in the texts I've selected to read over these three months: Introducing the Uncommon Lectionary: Opening the Bible to Seekers and Disciples. The author is Tom Bandy, with whom I studied for three days in April. I'll be working on a report of the book for my sabbatical portfolio, which I hope people will read when I return.The book is Bandy's latest. I have been preaching a lot of the Uncommon Lectionary a lot in the past year. The Common Lectionary is what the majority of mainline churches have used for the last 50 years or so. It is a three-year cycle of bible readings. One of the benefits of a common lectionary for the congregation (especially) is that it keeps preachers from preaching only on their favorite texts or themes (diffuses boredom for all of you who have to listen to us!). It also gives all of us a journey through the Bible that we might not otherwise take.We always worry about our children learning the bible stories, but in my experience over all the years I've been in ministry, lots of adults feel pretty inadequate about their knowledge of the bible stories. The common lectionary teaches us many stories, yet I think what Bandy has done with the Uncommon Lectionary is to help us not only learn the stories well but to LIVE the stories well. It's not called the "uncommon" lectionary because it covers all the obtuse stories of the bible. It's called "uncommon" because it's not the "common" popular, well-worn and used lectionary. It addresses the needs of folks who are discovering spirituality for the first time and those folks who are eager to hear new takes on the timeless truths of the Bible.In our time together since 1997, we've been through the Common Lectionary 3 times and it can be challenging to find ways to re-peak our interests in these passages. Lots to think about for my report; lots to think about in terms of how best to share the Word with you when I return.Peace,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 10:39 AM 0 comments
Sunday, May 14, 2006
PUt on the Visitor's Shoes
Will it ever stop raining? I've been watching the great works river from my living room, and it is rising steadily, so much so that a blue canoe (not the gas station) that was left on the shore in the grass is not completely afloat. I believe the only reason it has not set off for greater fortune is that the bushes have kept it from entering the current, which appears through my binoculars to be quite swift. Every few hours I check to see if the canoe is still there. Reminds me of looking out the window of my apartment to check on the church when I lived on Academy Street. Did I expectc the church to float away???Today I visited my fourth church on my sabbatical journey. I purposely arrive one or two minutes late at the churches to see how or even if I am greeted as a latecomer. I have spent years watching our ushers greet people who come in late. Almost always folks are warmly greeted, handed a bulletin, and invited to find a seat. The ones who greet them always have smile on their faces. It may sound trite but that smile is extremely important!The sanctuary was warm and bright; modern colors covered the walls, contrast trim, and ceiling, yet the straight-back box pews retained the charm of the "old congregational sanctuary." One thing I noticed right away was that the first 8 or 9 rows in three of the four front sections were empty. People really sit in the back of this church! The choir was very good, clearly well prepared, and seemed to enjoy their ministry of music.The pastor seemed tired a bit, though doing his best to be friendly, welcoming, and professional. He is a good friend and colleague of mine, so I know some of the background of this church. Still, I worked to use the same criteria for observation that I used at the other churches I have visited to date. I also saw two teachers from Berwick Academy at this church and it was great to reconnect with them since the day of the Duval Memorial Service.The service flowed, very much like our own. It was easy to follow and to participate in, pretty much, though worshipers seemed to have some question about when they were to be seated after standing. After the service, the man seated in front of me turned around and pleasantly introduced himself to me, which was very nice. I did go down to coffee hour briefly, and a few folks did speak with me, which is always helpful when you're a stranger in coffee hour! Never underestimate the power of a smile and a hello to a visitor during coffee hour. It is quite intimidating to stand among people who are engrossed in talking to each other while you stand alone, feeling like you're invisible. Each week we should put on the visitors shoes, and help them to walk in and among us like friends instead.
posted by RevDonna 5:10 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Good to be back on line. It's not been easy the last few days in terms of technology. My modem actually died--I didn't know they could do that. The black box was brand new! I've only had internet set up in this house for 5 weeks! It was all very frustrating, but thanks to a new modem and the technical acumen of Paul K, I'm able to blog again.I've spent a good part of the last several days putting together a report on the first book I finished about a week ago, called The Great Permission. So far, the report is 8 pages long, but I'm almost finished. When it's all done, the report can be used as a manual for teaching ourselves and others about asset-based thinking and avoiding acid-based thinking.Asset-based thinking is about turning problems around into opportunities and new possibilities; it gives us tools to eliminate needs-based complaining, sorrowing, and victimizing. We learn to focus on what we do have--our assets (gifts from God, talents, etc)--and working from a foundation of assets frather than perceived pains or weaknesses. This book is a field guide to attitude adjustment, which has far-reaching benefits beyond the church. I hope that some of you will want to read this text because our church, like most mainline protestant churches, tends to get stuck on the plateau of what we don't have rather than on what we do have.One of the best pieces in the book for me was a section on Asset Mapping. I included a lot of the material from this section in my report, and I am eager to try out this mapping with our congregation when I return. The idea is to get everyone to write all their gifts and talents, connections and anything else that is helpful on index cards--one asset per card. Then you gather all the cards (there will be hundreds of them probably) and look for patterns and categories, themes and missions, and you group those things together, connecting everything to form a map. This map is a great visual expression of the great giftedness in the congregation and an awesome opportunity for expansion of our self-understanding and provision for a clearer focus on particular missions and ministries, rather than darting all over the place from one project to another project, which might be completely unrelated.One of the main points Tom Bandy made at the training I attended was about focus. He taught us that the whole mission and ministry of the church has to be focused on a goal, a destiny, a vision, and that every activity the church engages in must be in alignment with that vision. YOu might recall my remarking that visions are received from God not determined by a committee. When I return one of the processes we will begin is the road toward vision, opening ourselves up so that God may come in and point us in the purposed direction that God has planned just for FPFC. When we receive our vision, and I know we will, how great it will be to align ourselves to the accomplishment of our mission. The tires on our cars must be in alignment to work well and wear well. If they're out of alignment bad stuff happens. Well, I think the same metaphor can be applied to a church. When we're not in alignment, we get worn out and out of balance and not the best stuff happens. It doesn't have to be that way. Being a part of a permission giving church can be awesome, inspiring, invigorating and life-changing. Don't ya want it all?! I do!Till next time!Reverend Donna
The End is Near
Now that the end is near, the days are passing swiftly. In fifteen days, I will return to the office, and I find myself becoming eager to see you all, to catch up with what is happening in your lives, and to jump into my work, which brings me so much joy. On the other hand, I have truly enjoyed the freedom sabbatical affords to move with the project that captures my attention at any given time, to rest when I feel the need, to read and take notes to my heart's content, to visit with friends, and spend time with God asking questions and seeking answers and being very, very quiet. It is good to do so.Today I, after much hemming and hawing (where does that expression come from????), decided NOT to go to church. What a very strange feeling this is! I find myself glancing at the clock every few minutes and picturing where you are in the service. Not just in our church, but in all the churches (9 so far) that I have visited during my sabbatical. My goal was ten different churches, so I am very close to my goal, with two more Sundays after today to achieve the mark. So, in one way, it felt ok to stay home; but in another way....I find myself feeling weirdly isolated. I am missing the fellowship, camraderie, and pleasure of spending a Sunday morning worshiping with others--singing the hymns, praying prayers, opening the word, holding hands, exchanging hugs of comfort and affection. Even when I was visiting churches, filled with folks I do not know, I felt glad to be there. Of course, I was working (sometimes it felt like I was spying!) on my church comparison project, yet still I knew that being in church was where I belonged. Some pastors go on sabbatical and never go to church; I guess they think it would be a "busman's holiday" to do so; some pastors really do need the break from the hustle and bustle of Sunday morning church life. As for me, I have enjoyed visiting churches, hearing others preach, and taking it all in.After all the visits, and sometimes even during them, I begin comparing what happens in other services with our own. What do we do better? What do they do "better?" (I guess that depends on how you define better.) What are the people like? Do they look happy to be there, or are there blank stares or scowls upon their jowls? (Sorry; had to do that. You know how I am with words.) How friendly are they with each other? How friendly are they to me? In several of the churches I have attended, no one knew me, either as a person or a pastor, which was probably more helpful in terms of their being themselves. In a few of the churches, I knew the pastor well or a few of the parishioners well. Some of them even asked me to share the results of my survey with them when I am done with this work. There's something appealing and very 21st century about bringing many churches together to join in self-evaluation and to encourage one another to reach out with Christ to our communities: instead of being competitors, let's be compadres, si?Please know that I think of you often, and I will be glad to see you again in the middle of the month! Take good care of each other!Blessings,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 10:28 AM 1 comments
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Besides the fact that this rain, relentless and cruel, continues to keep me basically inside during this sabbatical, I have been busy with one of my annual traditions: providing the invocation and benediction at both the Baccalaureate and Commencement Exercises at Berwick Academy yesterday and today. I felt that it was especially important to share in this time with the school this year because of the sad time the school experienced earlier this year when one of their students died, and we provided comfort and hope through a memorial service at our church. It is good to follow up a sad occasion with a happy one.As I sat on dais, I was keenly aware of the longevity of this pastorate at FPFC. Two of the students, Laura Putnam and Grant Ridgway, were 9 years old when I came to our church. As they came across the stage this morning, I felt so proud of them. I can only imagine how pleased and proud their parents were. In some small way, I felt that I had played a part in their journey to adulthood--I know the church did! At Baccalaureate, Laura was awarded the Parson Thompson award for her service to her community and during her international travels to Budapest and Honduras. Parson Thompson was the pastor of our church way back when the school was founded by members of the First Parish Church (I think that's right info! Could be wrong....).I guess aging is something that happens to us when we are busy doing life. The passage of time is so apparent when we look at our children as they grow up right before our eyes. When I came to FPFC my nieces and nephew were a year old. The twins, Kaylee and Kaitlyn, turned ten on May 31 and Kody will be 10 in July. Another 7 years and I will be at their high school graduation--God willin' and the crick don't rise (literally these days!). I've been seeing pictures of our young people in the paper, in the Top Ten Students articles, and I think that we have the best kids in the district right in our church. We have supersmart kids, and they are really good and kind people, who care about others, who've gone off to serve folks and build homes and relationships in places far away from the comforts of home. I feel so proud of them! They were just youngsters when I arrived--how time passes! I certainly haven't gotten older, have I????Thinking of you!Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 8:45 PM 0 comments
Monday, June 05, 2006
A Few Words
The whirlwind traveling is cycling down, and I plan to stay put for a while. I have no more trips planned, but I'm learning to be spontaneous and maybe an offer will arise that will interest me.I have gathered my books and supplies and tools to put together what I am calling my Portfolio that I will present to the church upon my return. I have a vision of our having a luncheon or potluck dinner during which I can present to you the highlights of my sabbatical, including learnings, reflections, photos, and ideas/suggestions for our future together. This event should be a fun yet important time for us to become reconnected and a time for you to tell me what you have been up to as well.On another tangent, I attended worship services in Eliot, at two different churches, the past two Sundays. On Memorial Day Weekend, I participated in worship at the Eliot Baptist Church; this past Sunday, I attended the congregational church. Two very different experiences, but both enjoyable. I'm off to an even tonight so I will post my thoughts on the two churches later.Blessings,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 4:37 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Living out your dreams
Do something you've only dreamed about...something that you never thought could really happen. If you are thinking of that special something and feeling that hop, skip and a jump in your heart then you can identify with what I'm feeling here at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers' Conference. This place, for the longest time, was just a spot in cyberspace, but now I'm here in Ridgecrest, North Carolina, googled right into reality, and I'm loving every minute of it.I've never been to a writers conference before, but this event has been an excellent place to start. There are 410 conferees, plus about 30 faculty—all published authors, editors, and agents. At lunch and supper, each faculty member has a table, and we conferees can sit with whomever we wish and converse with the author/editor about our work, their work, the vision of the work.I have taken three continuing classes and workshops during the day:Writing Unforgettable Children's BooksWriting Biblically for Maximum Life ImpactFiction 101There are so many classes to choose from that most of us are lamenting that we don't have time to take everything we want to!Every morning we have music from an awesome group called “Promise” (in fact, I had lunch today with two of the three members). I bought one of their CDs. Their music fills the room and fills your heart with the power and praise of God. After the music we have a speaker, a member of the faculty who not only provide inspiration and encouragement to us as writers but they also share a part of their story. We can see how they are just like we, “everybody has their stuff” to overcome and can go on to fulfill the purpose for which God created us. One of the first lessons we learned was that if each of us does not do what God put each of us here to do, then God's creation will be incomplete, for we are co-creators in creation (God is still speaking, you know).On Tuesday morning we had an awesome experience of the story of Nehemiah, the man who led thousands to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. The speaker, Eva Marie Everson (author of Christian fiction) had us all form a human wall around the auditorium and walked us through the story. God has given us a specific vision, purpose, to fulfill and God will make a way to help you complete that purpose if you let God lead and not try to do it by yourself. The title of this lesson was called, “Meet Me at the Wall: The Story of Nehemiah—The Story of You and Me.”Monday morning we were treated to an outstanding performance by a man named C McNair Wilson, who is an actor, writer, and spent many years as an Imagineer at Walt Disney. His definition of Creativity is “to make the new or rearrange the old to appear new.” He talked about taking risks—to ignore the people in your life who say “it can't be done” or “we've never done it that way before” and go ahead and do it anyway. Don't let people take your vision from you. Four things I noted as he spoke (performed, really) wereTake the risk of doing it differently.Challenge Assumptions (the unwritten rules)Stay curiousSee things differently: What would it be like for you to take the Creator seriously? “If you don't do you, then you doesn't get done and then God's creation is incomplete.I can see how these tasks can be adapted to the church family; can you?This morning's message was from Allison Bottke, the editor of the anthology series, God Allows U-Turns. Have you seen it? This series is a lot like the “Chicken Soup” books, a collection of stories from regular people like you and me. In GAUT, there are stories of people who have had the experience of straying far from God and then their taking a U-turn and finding themselves back with the Lord through his grace.Last night's speaker was Deborah Raney who wrote the novel, A Vow to Cherish. She talked of the miracle God worked in her life when she wanted to write to earn enough money so that she could stay home with her baby daughter (she had older children preparing to go to college and she needed to work, but then had this later-in-life baby). She wrote the novel and it was picked up by a publisher who paid her exactly the amount she was looking to earn so that she could stay at home. After that, a movie company bought the book and made a television movie by the same name. Some of you may have seen it. It starred Ken Howard and Barbara Babcock. The story is of a woman in her 40s who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and follows her decline. Her husband remains faithful to her, despite his years of loneliness after she no longer recognizes him or their children. It is a tear jerker, that's for sure.Tonight is the faculty book signing. I'm in heaven about that. I collect autographed books and now I will have several more to add to my collection. After that there will be the faculty talent show. That should be a lot of fun, because if there's one thing these faculty members all have it is PERSONALITY!I think this shall be all for now. It's time to get ready to go to dinner. Meals here are interesting. I usually have to have the menu interpreted, and there are certain things I have stayed away from, like fried catfish and grits!I hope this note finds you all well and eagerly in pursuit of your purposes in God's creation!Blessings,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 5:28 PM 0 comments
Thursday, May 18, 2006
The Uncommon Common
Glorious, glorious day. Finally, two weeks after purchasing a patio set I think I actually might get to use it today!The house is coming along. I got one of the downstairs rooms all painted and straightened up this week. It took two days to paint it. Only the downstairs bedroom and bathroom are left to be painted, and I'm not quite sure what I want to do with the bedroom down there yet. If I've learned anything during the home ownership process it is not to jump at anything. There's a lot to be said for waiting for the right idea, the right thing, to come along. Of course, that theory doesn't always work--Mr Right is still somewhere else.....(just kidding; my life is very fulfilling just the way it is, not to worry!).It is a strange sensation to be so close but "yet so far," in terms of being near the church and all of you, but out of the loop. On the rainy days, it's easy to think about all the things I should have done, could have done better; the acts of omission that I let happen. So sabbatical is a time for me to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses as a pastor. Now that the sun has returned I'm more apt to be thinking about how I can improve my skills and be attentive, especially when I am rested from the past nine years. This time apart can be good for thinking about the things we love and appreciate about each other as well as ways to encourage one another in our areas needing improvement or that provide challenges. If we use this time well and wisely, we will benefit from sabbatical in ways we probably find hard to imagine. Yet, that's how the Holy Spirit works as it moves in, among, and between us while we are absent one from another.I've finished the second book in the texts I've selected to read over these three months: Introducing the Uncommon Lectionary: Opening the Bible to Seekers and Disciples. The author is Tom Bandy, with whom I studied for three days in April. I'll be working on a report of the book for my sabbatical portfolio, which I hope people will read when I return.The book is Bandy's latest. I have been preaching a lot of the Uncommon Lectionary a lot in the past year. The Common Lectionary is what the majority of mainline churches have used for the last 50 years or so. It is a three-year cycle of bible readings. One of the benefits of a common lectionary for the congregation (especially) is that it keeps preachers from preaching only on their favorite texts or themes (diffuses boredom for all of you who have to listen to us!). It also gives all of us a journey through the Bible that we might not otherwise take.We always worry about our children learning the bible stories, but in my experience over all the years I've been in ministry, lots of adults feel pretty inadequate about their knowledge of the bible stories. The common lectionary teaches us many stories, yet I think what Bandy has done with the Uncommon Lectionary is to help us not only learn the stories well but to LIVE the stories well. It's not called the "uncommon" lectionary because it covers all the obtuse stories of the bible. It's called "uncommon" because it's not the "common" popular, well-worn and used lectionary. It addresses the needs of folks who are discovering spirituality for the first time and those folks who are eager to hear new takes on the timeless truths of the Bible.In our time together since 1997, we've been through the Common Lectionary 3 times and it can be challenging to find ways to re-peak our interests in these passages. Lots to think about for my report; lots to think about in terms of how best to share the Word with you when I return.Peace,Rev Donna
posted by RevDonna 10:39 AM 0 comments
Sunday, May 14, 2006
PUt on the Visitor's Shoes
Will it ever stop raining? I've been watching the great works river from my living room, and it is rising steadily, so much so that a blue canoe (not the gas station) that was left on the shore in the grass is not completely afloat. I believe the only reason it has not set off for greater fortune is that the bushes have kept it from entering the current, which appears through my binoculars to be quite swift. Every few hours I check to see if the canoe is still there. Reminds me of looking out the window of my apartment to check on the church when I lived on Academy Street. Did I expectc the church to float away???Today I visited my fourth church on my sabbatical journey. I purposely arrive one or two minutes late at the churches to see how or even if I am greeted as a latecomer. I have spent years watching our ushers greet people who come in late. Almost always folks are warmly greeted, handed a bulletin, and invited to find a seat. The ones who greet them always have smile on their faces. It may sound trite but that smile is extremely important!The sanctuary was warm and bright; modern colors covered the walls, contrast trim, and ceiling, yet the straight-back box pews retained the charm of the "old congregational sanctuary." One thing I noticed right away was that the first 8 or 9 rows in three of the four front sections were empty. People really sit in the back of this church! The choir was very good, clearly well prepared, and seemed to enjoy their ministry of music.The pastor seemed tired a bit, though doing his best to be friendly, welcoming, and professional. He is a good friend and colleague of mine, so I know some of the background of this church. Still, I worked to use the same criteria for observation that I used at the other churches I have visited to date. I also saw two teachers from Berwick Academy at this church and it was great to reconnect with them since the day of the Duval Memorial Service.The service flowed, very much like our own. It was easy to follow and to participate in, pretty much, though worshipers seemed to have some question about when they were to be seated after standing. After the service, the man seated in front of me turned around and pleasantly introduced himself to me, which was very nice. I did go down to coffee hour briefly, and a few folks did speak with me, which is always helpful when you're a stranger in coffee hour! Never underestimate the power of a smile and a hello to a visitor during coffee hour. It is quite intimidating to stand among people who are engrossed in talking to each other while you stand alone, feeling like you're invisible. Each week we should put on the visitors shoes, and help them to walk in and among us like friends instead.
posted by RevDonna 5:10 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Good to be back on line. It's not been easy the last few days in terms of technology. My modem actually died--I didn't know they could do that. The black box was brand new! I've only had internet set up in this house for 5 weeks! It was all very frustrating, but thanks to a new modem and the technical acumen of Paul K, I'm able to blog again.I've spent a good part of the last several days putting together a report on the first book I finished about a week ago, called The Great Permission. So far, the report is 8 pages long, but I'm almost finished. When it's all done, the report can be used as a manual for teaching ourselves and others about asset-based thinking and avoiding acid-based thinking.Asset-based thinking is about turning problems around into opportunities and new possibilities; it gives us tools to eliminate needs-based complaining, sorrowing, and victimizing. We learn to focus on what we do have--our assets (gifts from God, talents, etc)--and working from a foundation of assets frather than perceived pains or weaknesses. This book is a field guide to attitude adjustment, which has far-reaching benefits beyond the church. I hope that some of you will want to read this text because our church, like most mainline protestant churches, tends to get stuck on the plateau of what we don't have rather than on what we do have.One of the best pieces in the book for me was a section on Asset Mapping. I included a lot of the material from this section in my report, and I am eager to try out this mapping with our congregation when I return. The idea is to get everyone to write all their gifts and talents, connections and anything else that is helpful on index cards--one asset per card. Then you gather all the cards (there will be hundreds of them probably) and look for patterns and categories, themes and missions, and you group those things together, connecting everything to form a map. This map is a great visual expression of the great giftedness in the congregation and an awesome opportunity for expansion of our self-understanding and provision for a clearer focus on particular missions and ministries, rather than darting all over the place from one project to another project, which might be completely unrelated.One of the main points Tom Bandy made at the training I attended was about focus. He taught us that the whole mission and ministry of the church has to be focused on a goal, a destiny, a vision, and that every activity the church engages in must be in alignment with that vision. YOu might recall my remarking that visions are received from God not determined by a committee. When I return one of the processes we will begin is the road toward vision, opening ourselves up so that God may come in and point us in the purposed direction that God has planned just for FPFC. When we receive our vision, and I know we will, how great it will be to align ourselves to the accomplishment of our mission. The tires on our cars must be in alignment to work well and wear well. If they're out of alignment bad stuff happens. Well, I think the same metaphor can be applied to a church. When we're not in alignment, we get worn out and out of balance and not the best stuff happens. It doesn't have to be that way. Being a part of a permission giving church can be awesome, inspiring, invigorating and life-changing. Don't ya want it all?! I do!Till next time!Reverend Donna
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