Why Volunteer?

Soup kitchens, homeless ministries, multiple mission trips, food drives, AIDS care team ministries, worship leadership and visitation in nursing homes, Habitat for Humanity builds and board meetings... I have done them all- as a volunteer.

When I stop and think about it... I have been a volunteer for much longer than I have been ordained.  In fact I could blame my current vocational status on my experiences as a volunteer.  Or better yet on my deeply held belief that giving involves time and hands-in-action.  My farmer-entrepreneur grandfather, Grant Lowe, modeled that for me very well.

Even though my 'work' is directly linked to a non-for-profit, once bitten by the bug of volunteering; there is no going back. Now I volunteer weekly at a local elementary school.  While I have not made the laminating machine explode, I am sure that some of my bulletin boards may be a tad crooked.  The kids don't seem to mind.  And teachers seem grateful for the stacks freshly printed papers to complete and grade.

I overheard one of my clergy colleagues say once, "How can I ask my laity to volunteer in spite of their busy work and family schedules if I do not model that myself.  That is why I volunteer over and beyond what I do as a pastoral leader in our community."  I never thought about that until she said it.  But I have heard the same logic applied to clergy tithers. These pastoral leaders preach stewardship with deep conviction. Hmmm.  May ring true about volunteering as well.

Nevertheless, volunteering gets me out of myself and my world.  It is a great opportunity to make new friends, but also to see the world from another perspective.  It isn't the cure for narcissism, but it is one of the paths toward generosity, freedom, hope, peace, and love.

Years ago our bishop wrote one of his E-Pistles about the difference between being people of the bib and people of the apron.  People of the bib want to be fed and expect others to do for them.  People of the apron seek to serve others. Since then whenever I see an apron I think about how amazing volunteers are. What a cool breed of people!

I enjoy wearing my apron. It's Duke blue, of course.

How about you?

King's Hand

After Epiphany Sunday and while 'polar vortex' was still new to our local vocabulary the church staff gathered to put away the remaining Christmas decorations.  The wise man from the East, who is pictured to our left, was found beneath the fellowship hall Christmas tree with a broken off hand and gift.

On a subsequent day I found myself holding hands or er' at least fingertips-to-a-hand with this handsome fellow. While the super glue dried my eyes studied him.  Details of his long beard and fine clothing billow around him.  But it seems as if none of his stature matters to this star-gazer.  See how his eyes are not even on his shiny gift of gold (no wonder it could be broken off and possibly snatched away).  Rather his sees only one thing before him.

Notice the focus, intensity and attention of his eyes upon the One he gazes.  Forever fixed, yes, but adoringly so.

My confession is that I have never really been this close to royalty.  Monarchies are not as popular nor prevalent as they used to be.  Stories from across the pond describe how citizens of England are not even allowed to touch their royals.  They must stand at a certain proper distance, for example.

So who am I for such an intimate thing as hand-holding in the church office with a king?

As this questions rolls around in my mind, the glue dries and all is whole again for this traveler from afar.  My mundane fix-it task finished; I continue to ponder him longer.

How it is, I don't know, but I would risk telling you that this small ceramic representation of an ancient long dead man spoke to me that afternoon. We made a connection across the ages. I could swear that my ears heard echoed back to me my own words in his voice, "Who am I for such an intimate thing as gazing upon my newborn King?"

Who are we, indeed.

Journal Writing: More Than a Hobby

When two special people in my life chose the same Christmas gift for me...(observe the lovely journals to our left)... I take notice! There is a message here that perhaps I am supposed to be about more writing in 2014.

Or maybe these folks know me really, really well in that I would get a kick out of a journal with lined paper and no other do-dads or kitten pictures or writing in them. I am very peculiar in my journal preferences.

Mostly, I think the Holy Spirit is trying to knock me over the head and write more this new year.  My blogging slowed in 2013; grief can be a heavy thing and a sure fire way to stunt creativity.

I am about to finally finish a journal- my personal writing slowed way down as well in 2013... so now I must choose between these two beauties.

If I get really quiet with these lovely gifts... something else whispers.  There is a treasure beneath the gift of merely writing for the sake of writing.  The invitation, I believe, which is tucked and hidden in these soon-to-be-scribbled-upon pages... is more than mere self-exploration or self-expression.  I sense an invitation to seek the Holy Mystery which is our God-Incarnate and Transcendent.  This is the adventure which will happen between the lines, pages and folds.

Give me a pen- I am ready to start!

"Nothing personal, " said the Polar Vortex

During the past ten days of my newly established full time status as an Elder in the Indiana Conference, we've received two snow storms totaling 18 inches of snow, a polar vortex with 100 year record low temps, canceled worship, and four days of canceled school.  Interesting that all this coincided with my change in ministry/work status.  Hmm.

I am trying not to take this personal.  But it is an odd 'welcome back'.

Or is it even a welcome back?  I am not so sure.

When I returned to ministry after my maternity leave and my sabbatical, coming back each of those times felt like a return to something. I was away in both instances.  In this situation there was nothing that I left in order to return.  Ministry at our ever growing and expanding congregation has shifted and shaped itself so much that I've been giving of time, talent and energy at a full time capacity for much of the past eighteen months or longer.  Also, I never left. I've been at this since my daughter was three months old.

Rather, I have begun to think of my 'return' to full time status as a series of "additions".  Additional responsibilities have been added to my job description.  Additional compensation has been added to the budget line item which I represent within the structure of our congregation.  Additional ministry hopefully will take place with enriched investment from all of us together.

In other words what I am about now is a fuller version of what I have been doing with the appropriate compensation and status that goes with it.  In a way our wacky weather is also an addition! Serving as an additional challenge and metaphor for how none of us is truly in charge of anything.

Nothing personal, just Indiana weather.

Launching My Annual Goals

Like the hot air balloon that crashed landed in someone's backyard yesterday, I shall launch my new year goals on this cold, snowy afternoon.  Hopefully, they will cause a stir, but not a fire!

Tomorrow I shall hand in my staff/church related goals, but here are my goals for family, faith, self and personal-vocational growth.

1. Run/walk four 5K events this year.
2. Write and submit three devotions or articles or poems.
3. Host an awesome MBA graduation and 40th birthday party for my BFF, Eric, in November.
4. Create and sew a special memory quilt for Diana.
5. Attend an outstanding preaching conference in May.
6. Complete my DAR application by the end of 2014.
7. Spend time with God and self digging deeper into the treasures of mid-life.
8. Ask, receive and use more help from others 
9. Attend to all things new on my 'full time again' pastoral plate while balancing faith and family.
10. Be the best me I can while honoring the best others offer.

Cheers!

Goals in Review

How did you do on your goals for last year?  Me, not so much success.

Here were the goals...

1. be the best wife I can be
2. be the best mom I can be
3. be the best friend (to my friends and myself) I can be
4. be the pastor I can be
5. be the best daughter, aunt, cousin, niece, etc I can be
6. I will ask for help more often this year.
7. I will admit my mistakes more readily this year.
8. I will walk at least three 5K events and 1 mini-marathon this year.
9. I will write and submit at least four items (poems/devotions/etc) for publishing this year.
10. I will swear less often (and work on my short patience other wise known as my feisty, quick Lithuanian temper too).

My husband, child, friends, congregation, and family will need to turn in their reports on how I did on #1-#5. My hope is that I at least 'passed'.  

I wrote a lot more notes and letters of apology this year so maybe there was some growth on #6 and #7.  While I did not complete a mini-marathon in 2013, I did successfully run/walk three 5K events.  I hope to do the same in 2014.

Regarding #9; I made only one submission for publication in 2013 and it will be published in 2014.  I am woefully behind on this goal.

And with number ten, that is a work in progress and a very very slow work.  

All I can say about 2013 is ..."Lord, in your mercy!"

Snow Blech!

After eighteen inches of snow in less than one week, my tolerance for winter has crashed to a conclusion.  I am done with winter!

The snow is in my way, impeding my travel, work, life and errands!  Melting is not happening fast enough!

My kid needs to get back in school.  Our family needs a routine.  Piano lessons need to resume so that there is some different music in the house.

Spring cannot get here fast enough.

Hurry up and melt, already!

Epiphany- A Homemade Worship Service

Yesterday, while the winter storm of 2014 raged our little family huddled together in the living room for our makeshift worship service.  Worship and Sunday School had already been canceled for the morning, but, my kiddo came up with the idea of "home church'.  Haven't told her yet that home church has been around for centuries.

We exercised great trust because our dog served as the usher and he usually eats paper products. A variety of stuffed animals were in attendance (not sure if I can consider them in my overall worship attendance numbers...).

My husband agreed to be our liturgist while my daughter was our worship musician.  She provided a Prelude, Special Music, and Closing Hymn.  Delightfully her closing hymn matched what we would have sung had we been able to attend worship at Calvary. "Go Tell It on the Mountain" was how we were sent forth from our little service.

I led the prayers and, of course, gave a brief homily on the Matthew 2 passage about the wise men traveling to follow the star. Not my best sermon, but not my worst impromptu message either.  Needless to say the point for us was to worship, share in the story of the Magi, and honor the 12th day of the Christmas season as we entered into Epiphany.

Mostly we prayed for all those who had to be out in the weather: police, fire fighters, EMT's, workers who were and are still repairing electrical lines, city and state officials, etc.  And we gave thanks for our warmth, food, and shelter.

The humility and simplicity of our worship buoyed up my heart and provided me with great inner warmth. Now my soul sings, "Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies..."