This week is graduation from seminary. This week I attend my last seminary classes. This week I can more fully engage in future dreaming and planning. It's easy to get all wound up in these activities and to forget what should be at the heart of our thoughts and actions. As I read this poem, I thought of the scripture passage, “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). I need that stillness in my heart.
The Journey with Jesus: Edwina Gateley, Let Your God Love You
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
So what's my excuse?
It's been a while since I have posted anything. Much of what has been happening lately is very exciting, but the details are unsharable. I am a pastoral candidate for a church in New York State which is thrilling. I cannot tell you where and I don't know when everything will come together. I feel like I'm on a bullet train that has definitely left the station. The next step in the process will be meeting with the church council.Reading this piece by Henri Nouwen reminded me of the importance of writing. I do have something worth sharing and this is a time of my life unlike any other. There will never be another "first call" for me. Nouwen's piece is entitled Making Our Lives Available to Others. Click on the title and you'll be able to read it.
May each of us make our lives available in a multitude of ways this week. Peace!
Google Image
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Joining the Resurrection People
"We are resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives" is the mission statement of the Upstate New York Synod, the synod to which I now belong. These words have been going through my mind especially now that it is Easter and we are celebrating the resurrection.
This coming Sunday's gospel is from John 20:19-31. As I have been reading, studying, and meditating upon it, I keep hearing that mission statement. Should our focus be on Thomas or should it be on what Jesus is doing? If we embrace this text in terms of God's action in Christ, then we will can be the kind of active resurrection people that God is calling us to be...and lives will change.
Monday, March 19, 2012
It's Getting Narrower
From this
On May 22, I found out, as noted in my previous post, that I was assigned to ELCA Region 7, which is a pretty fair bit of geography. All I really knew then was where I wasn't going. That all changed yesterday with a bit of specificity was added to the picture.
After a day of interviewing with and meeting and chatting with the various Region 7 bishops, I have been assigned to the Upstate NY Synod, which is like coming full circle back home. I was born and raised in Rochester, NY and have spent most of my lifetime in that area. Since 2003, I lived in Rhode Island for 5 years, then off to Gettysburg, PA for seminary for 2 years, then internship in West Virginia for 1 year, then back to Gettysburg, and after my May 11 graduation...back to New York State.
To make this even more exciting, yesterday my new bishop gave me the profile of a church that is looking for a pastor. We may be a good match for each other. We will see what the Holy Spirit does.
Shortly after Regional assignment, I went through a time of wondering if God really had a place for me. What if there were no openings that were a good match for me? I don't know why it's so hard to remember that God really does love and care for us and that God is truly faithful. Yes, I know, God is God and I am not and God is good all of the time. It's sometimes hard to remember that though.
It was really ironic that during the ride home last night on one of the Christian radio stations they played the song, "Here I Am Lord." After the day spent together with 20 plus candidates for ordained ministry, bishops, and pastors, my response was, "Amen!"
to this.
On May 22, I found out, as noted in my previous post, that I was assigned to ELCA Region 7, which is a pretty fair bit of geography. All I really knew then was where I wasn't going. That all changed yesterday with a bit of specificity was added to the picture.
After a day of interviewing with and meeting and chatting with the various Region 7 bishops, I have been assigned to the Upstate NY Synod, which is like coming full circle back home. I was born and raised in Rochester, NY and have spent most of my lifetime in that area. Since 2003, I lived in Rhode Island for 5 years, then off to Gettysburg, PA for seminary for 2 years, then internship in West Virginia for 1 year, then back to Gettysburg, and after my May 11 graduation...back to New York State.
To make this even more exciting, yesterday my new bishop gave me the profile of a church that is looking for a pastor. We may be a good match for each other. We will see what the Holy Spirit does.
Shortly after Regional assignment, I went through a time of wondering if God really had a place for me. What if there were no openings that were a good match for me? I don't know why it's so hard to remember that God really does love and care for us and that God is truly faithful. Yes, I know, God is God and I am not and God is good all of the time. It's sometimes hard to remember that though.
It was really ironic that during the ride home last night on one of the Christian radio stations they played the song, "Here I Am Lord." After the day spent together with 20 plus candidates for ordained ministry, bishops, and pastors, my response was, "Amen!"
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I'm assigned to...
Region 7, which for me is going back home. I'm originally from Rochester, NY, which is in the Upstate NY Synod. I lived in the New England Synod before coming to seminary. March 17-18, those of us assigned to Region 7 will meet with bishops from the region at the Philadelphia Seminary. We will have interviews with the bishops and from there will find out which synod we're assigned to.Google Image
Marked by Ashes
Special thanks to Dan Clendenin at Journey with Jesus for sharing this poem by one of my favorite theologians, Walter Brueggeman.
Marked by Ashes
Ruler of the Night, Guarantor of the day . . .
This day — a gift from you.
This day — like none other you have ever given, or we have ever received.
This Wednesday dazzles us with gift and newness and possibility.
This Wednesday burdens us with the tasks of the day, for we are already halfway home
halfway back to committees and memos,
halfway back to calls and appointments,
halfway on to next Sunday,
halfway back, half frazzled, half expectant,
half turned toward you, half rather not.
This Wednesday is a long way from Ash Wednesday,
but all our Wednesdays are marked by ashes —
we begin this day with that taste of ash in our mouth:
of failed hope and broken promises,
of forgotten children and frightened women,
we ourselves are ashes to ashes, dust to dust;
we can taste our mortality as we roll the ash around on our tongues.
We are able to ponder our ashness with
some confidence, only because our every Wednesday of ashes
anticipates your Easter victory over that dry, flaky taste of death.
On this Wednesday, we submit our ashen way to you —
you Easter parade of newness.
Before the sun sets, take our Wednesday and Easter us,
Easter us to joy and energy and courage and freedom;
Easter us that we may be fearless for your truth.
Come here and Easter our Wednesday with
mercy and justice and peace and generosity.
We pray as we wait for the Risen One who comes soon.
For over thirty years now, Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933) has combined the best of critical scholarship with love for the local church in service to the kingdom of God. Now a professor emeritus of Old Testament studies at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, Brueggemann has authored over seventy books. Taken from his Prayers for a Privileged People (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008), pp. 27-28.
http://www.journeywithjesus.net/PoemsAndPrayers/Walter_Brueggemann_Marked_By_Ashes.shtml
Marked by Ashes
Ruler of the Night, Guarantor of the day . . .
This day — a gift from you.
This day — like none other you have ever given, or we have ever received.
This Wednesday dazzles us with gift and newness and possibility.
This Wednesday burdens us with the tasks of the day, for we are already halfway home
halfway back to committees and memos,
halfway back to calls and appointments,
halfway on to next Sunday,
halfway back, half frazzled, half expectant,
half turned toward you, half rather not.
This Wednesday is a long way from Ash Wednesday,
but all our Wednesdays are marked by ashes —
we begin this day with that taste of ash in our mouth:
of failed hope and broken promises,
of forgotten children and frightened women,
we ourselves are ashes to ashes, dust to dust;
we can taste our mortality as we roll the ash around on our tongues.
We are able to ponder our ashness with
some confidence, only because our every Wednesday of ashes
anticipates your Easter victory over that dry, flaky taste of death.
On this Wednesday, we submit our ashen way to you —
you Easter parade of newness.
Before the sun sets, take our Wednesday and Easter us,
Easter us to joy and energy and courage and freedom;
Easter us that we may be fearless for your truth.
Come here and Easter our Wednesday with
mercy and justice and peace and generosity.
We pray as we wait for the Risen One who comes soon.
For over thirty years now, Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933) has combined the best of critical scholarship with love for the local church in service to the kingdom of God. Now a professor emeritus of Old Testament studies at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, Brueggemann has authored over seventy books. Taken from his Prayers for a Privileged People (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008), pp. 27-28.
http://www.journeywithjesus.net/PoemsAndPrayers/Walter_Brueggemann_Marked_By_Ashes.shtml
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
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