I found out this morning that our down the street neighbors separated over the weekend. "Long time coming," I was told.
"Tried to work it out," our mutual friend said.
In the other direction down the street, a husband was involuntarily put in rehab for 20 + years of alcoholism.
Where have I been?
In both cases all on the outside looked OK, normal, smiles.
Inside those houses must have been a world of hurt.
Little ecosystems of coping and pain and indecision and grief.
Both families have children and pets and payments.
Everyone in our neighborhood owes more than our houses are worth these days.
Neither family has a faith community of which they are a part.
In fact, I might be the only clergy person either knows.
For both families, I am peripheral.
A nice neighbor.
A friendly face.
I'll write them a note.
And maybe give them a pretty tea pot.
Sometimes in this not fair world, things are not only not Happily Ever After,
they aren't even 'Til Death Do Us Part.
They are Until Life Rips Us Asunder.
This is holy week.
(Reflection by Rev. Laurie Furr-Vancini)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lent Devotional: April 18
When love comes to town...
assumptions about who's in and who's out are challenged...
new stories about grace abound...
challenges are issued to live love daily...
When love comes to town...
As you begin the week, enjoy this version of a song by U2 and B.B. King entitled "When Love comes to Town" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1kQER770M - that invites us to dream the change that happens when love comes to town.
(Reflection by Dr. Tom Walker)
assumptions about who's in and who's out are challenged...
new stories about grace abound...
challenges are issued to live love daily...
When love comes to town...
As you begin the week, enjoy this version of a song by U2 and B.B. King entitled "When Love comes to Town" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1kQER770M - that invites us to dream the change that happens when love comes to town.
(Reflection by Dr. Tom Walker)
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Lent Faith Stories: Betsy Lyons
A word from Betsy Lyons:
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well…” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
When I think about discipleship, the first thing that always comes to mind is sharing. Because when you really look at it, discipleship is simply the act of sharing with another person. Sharing not only the story of Jesus, but opening up ourselves and inviting others to be a part of our faith journey.
Jesus’ ministry plan has always seemed so incredible to me. Today, when we think about a successful ministry or church, we tend to think in terms of attendance or membership. Bigger churches are more successful because they have more people, right? Well it would depend on your definition of successful. Jesus’ ministry was not about gathering as many followers as he could. He chose to focus on discipling twelve young men. Jesus shared his life with his disciples. He lived with them, taught them, questioned them, encouraged them, ate and drank with them and worked alongside them.
Jesus intentionally shared his life with his disciples in order to teach them how to live like he did. And that is how he wants us to continue his ministry. Not by competing to see how many people we can convert, but by helping others grow into true followers of Christ.
I have been so blessed to see that kind of discipleship at Palms. I grew up here at Palms and the youth group played a huge role in my faith journey. It was there that I began to understand what a relationship with Christ meant and how I could live out my faith every day. Without my youth leaders discipling and sharing their lives with me, I know I would be in a much different place today.
As I grew more in my faith and left for college, I realized that while so many people had discipled me, I had never really taken the next step and discipled others. Jesus did not share with his disciples so they could keep it all to themselves. He commanded them to share what he had taught. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Palms has been vital in helping me take this next step in discipleship. Two years ago, we began to develop our college ministry and lead mission trips for college students. It has been amazing to see God work through this ministry and provide opportunities for fellowship and growth for college students. I have also recently begun to work as a leader with the youth group. I now get to share my life with our youth, just like so many of my youth leaders did with me.
Our faith and our lives are meant to be shared and it has been a joy to do so. I am so thankful for the opportunities God has given me to take part in discipleship at Palms. Sharing my life with others has helped me to grow even more in my own faith. I encourage you to take the next step in discipleship and think about who God is calling you to share your life with!
Betsy Lyons
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well…” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
When I think about discipleship, the first thing that always comes to mind is sharing. Because when you really look at it, discipleship is simply the act of sharing with another person. Sharing not only the story of Jesus, but opening up ourselves and inviting others to be a part of our faith journey.
Jesus’ ministry plan has always seemed so incredible to me. Today, when we think about a successful ministry or church, we tend to think in terms of attendance or membership. Bigger churches are more successful because they have more people, right? Well it would depend on your definition of successful. Jesus’ ministry was not about gathering as many followers as he could. He chose to focus on discipling twelve young men. Jesus shared his life with his disciples. He lived with them, taught them, questioned them, encouraged them, ate and drank with them and worked alongside them.
Jesus intentionally shared his life with his disciples in order to teach them how to live like he did. And that is how he wants us to continue his ministry. Not by competing to see how many people we can convert, but by helping others grow into true followers of Christ.
I have been so blessed to see that kind of discipleship at Palms. I grew up here at Palms and the youth group played a huge role in my faith journey. It was there that I began to understand what a relationship with Christ meant and how I could live out my faith every day. Without my youth leaders discipling and sharing their lives with me, I know I would be in a much different place today.
As I grew more in my faith and left for college, I realized that while so many people had discipled me, I had never really taken the next step and discipled others. Jesus did not share with his disciples so they could keep it all to themselves. He commanded them to share what he had taught. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Palms has been vital in helping me take this next step in discipleship. Two years ago, we began to develop our college ministry and lead mission trips for college students. It has been amazing to see God work through this ministry and provide opportunities for fellowship and growth for college students. I have also recently begun to work as a leader with the youth group. I now get to share my life with our youth, just like so many of my youth leaders did with me.
Our faith and our lives are meant to be shared and it has been a joy to do so. I am so thankful for the opportunities God has given me to take part in discipleship at Palms. Sharing my life with others has helped me to grow even more in my own faith. I encourage you to take the next step in discipleship and think about who God is calling you to share your life with!
Betsy Lyons
Lent Devotional: April 16
He loves the flowers that come every spring.
Sometimes, his mind drifts to a game he played as a kid, a petal at a time:
"She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me..."
For some reason, the flowers always seemed to have an odd number of petals.
(Reflection by Dr. Tom Walker)
Sometimes, his mind drifts to a game he played as a kid, a petal at a time:
"She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me..."
For some reason, the flowers always seemed to have an odd number of petals.
(Reflection by Dr. Tom Walker)
Lent Devotional: April 15
She was hungry. Surrounded by playmates and attentive adults no one knew. Love was watching. Now she is fed body and soul.
(Reflection by Rev. Carol DiGiusto)
(Reflection by Rev. Carol DiGiusto)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Lent Devotional: April 14
I lay in bed wondering how best to love my neighbor...
...and struggling because I'm filled to overflowing with anger.
Righteous anger?
Maybe...
...but I need to let it go all the same.
Right or wrong doesn't matter... without love we all lose.
(Reflection by Rev. Andrew Kukla)
...and struggling because I'm filled to overflowing with anger.
Righteous anger?
Maybe...
...but I need to let it go all the same.
Right or wrong doesn't matter... without love we all lose.
(Reflection by Rev. Andrew Kukla)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Lent Devotional: April 13
Love actually is all around.
Sometimes I want to point it out,
to say aloud to anyone listening, "That's love!":
the driver who let me turn right onto 3rd Street
the woman who works at the gas station who called me Sweetie
my neighbor who pulled our trash can up to our garage after garbage day
Andrew unlocking my office at least once daily when I lock my keys inside
the letter carrier who shut the lid to our mailbox on a rainy day
a call from my mom just to say hello
It's love! All around!
(Reflection by Rev. Katie Day)
Sometimes I want to point it out,
to say aloud to anyone listening, "That's love!":
the driver who let me turn right onto 3rd Street
the woman who works at the gas station who called me Sweetie
my neighbor who pulled our trash can up to our garage after garbage day
Andrew unlocking my office at least once daily when I lock my keys inside
the letter carrier who shut the lid to our mailbox on a rainy day
a call from my mom just to say hello
It's love! All around!
(Reflection by Rev. Katie Day)
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