What To Do... With A Sunday Off

My family and I have a rare opportunity to worship elsewhere this weekend because I am taking a vacation weekend... and I find myself in a quandary.

Where shall I worship? Another United Methodist congregation of a colleague of mine? Or worship at a different denominational church? Create a worship service for my family at a park? What to do with this opportunity both excites and challenges my imagination.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Where shall we worship??

Shopping for Others

Yesterday my daughter announced at dinner, "Momma, we need to go buy more food!" After a few moments I finally understood that she wanted to buy more food for the food collection as a part of SHAKE IT UP CAFE Vacation Bible School. Here's how the conversation went...

"Oh, honey, we brought our food in already."

"I know, but we don't have enough. We need to have 1000!" said Diana emphatically.

"Sweetie, Mommy bought our food in remember?"

At this point she stomped her foot, "No, no no Momma, I want to buy food with my dollars!"

You've never seen a mother move so fast to get her purse and car keys. We drove to the store and as soon as we walked into the grocery store...Satan or temptation or life or narcission took over because my sweet little generous daughter was captivated by an (evil) toy!

"Mommy, how much is it? I want to but that!"

I reminded her of how much she had, how much the food cost, and how many dollars the toy was. It was a pivotal moment. Toy or food. Self or others.

Haven't we all been in that moment... starting off with the best intentions and then distracted (by self or evil or both) away from generosity and self-sacrifice by something new, shiny, fun and for us.

Thank goodness Diana had a mom who kept her on track... she bought the food. Earlier today she earned more dollars so that she could go back and purchase her toy. She did both.

Don't you wish it would work out that way for all of us adults?!

Storytelling...that Almost Wasn't

Long ago on a different corner in Lincoln Township of Hendricks County, I began my storytelling career at Marketplace 29 AD (that was our Vacation Bible School back then). Honestly, I cannot remember what summer of late high school or during college I dressed in my first storyteller costume...

Maybe someone from my church can recall... all I know is that it started something in me... telling stories, especially Bible stories. Who does not love a great story told well?!

As I prepared for this year's SHAKE IT UP curriculum, I promptly freaked out because of the material scheduled for today. I was close to hanging up my storytelling costume for good. (But I won't unless there is a young storyteller among us who would relish some practice...).

Leviticus! I mean, really?! A Book of the Law for preschoolers through 5th graders, what are these writers from Cokesbury thinking?! That is as far from narrative as a hot dog is kosher for Shabbot school! Geez. How in the world does a storyteller spice up a chapter of the law (regarding Jewish Feasts and Festivals from 4 millenia ago) for 4 year olds?!

We did it. Somehow or another we talked about these feasts and festivals... we were honest with the students... this is not story, this is about rules and organization/ wisdom and culture/ worship and practice.... and yes, this part of the Bible can be boring. Maybe some of them got that and maybe not.

Tomorrow...well, that is another day! I cannot wait to tell about how Jesus celebrated during the Festival of Booths.

Narrative or not, what has become fresh for me again this year is that WE are IN God's story of healing, redeeming, and saving people. Thanks be to God that no person is forgotten. We've only to tell our part of the story.

Fav Annual Conference Moments...

Every day of Annual Conference our HUM staff publish and print a recap of the previous day's events... but here is my little recap of my favorite moments:

• visiting with my family (Hi Mom and Tom)



• seeing all sorts of old and familiar friends and colleagues



• Thursday morning's worship session with Dr. MacFree (I wanna get me a walking stick.)



• laughing with Katie last night during the final voting session (I hope I did not embarass her too bad)



• hearing the best news in 35 years that United Methodists in Indiana are growing (in worship and membership)! It may be a small percentage, but finally we are hearing the news we are not a dying breed of Christianity! Woo Hoo!



• voting and meeting delegates for General Conference



• great synergy and energy at the COSROW/Women in Ministry breakfast including work on scholarships for women in seminary here in US and in Africa.



• meeting new people... everywhere bathroom, meals, hallways, buses, walking along the street, in the pews! What fun to meet so many amazingly dedicated United Methodists.

Passionate Worship

Enjoying the second row at Annual Conference during voting... but, what was most meaningful this morning occurred during the morning teaching session with Dr. Marcia MacFee! I learned some new things... unlearned more items, and was profoundly reminded of the artistry of worship!

Below are a few nuggets from the session...
Worship is transforming, powerful, invitation to be, ought to be M M good (meaningful and memorable).

Worship answers our need for ritual, need to engage, need for symbol,.

To be boring is to bear false witness- Tom Driver.

We need to be part of a shift happpening in our worship... we need to have the following:

• authentic spiritual leadership


• attention to journey of worship


• making ritual- rich-ual


• making sensory rich


• thematic and seasional planning

Worship ought to be more poetry than prose.

Aren't these great nuggets? Don't they help you think and re-think about what we do when we worship together? hmmm... may need to make some changes in my plans for this weekend and next month. Back to the creative drawing board!

Helper Wanted

My husband is accurate when he declares that I am not a good helper. Stories of Eric's childhood when he helped his father abound... but I have little of that sort of memory to compare. I am not trying to declare this as a gender difference... because I helped at my childhood home in areas other than with power tools: housework, laundry, sewing, gardening etc. Or did I?

The love of my life reassures me that my leadership skills are outstanding. Deligation, vision, hard work, organization, and motivation... these attributes and abilities are mine. But not helping. I have been fired from more than one home project. And truth be confessed, I would have fired me too.

I lack the skills and intuition to know when to bring the papertowels, which gadget from the tool box is required, and how to hold the level properly. Basically, I stink helping with any car, plumbing, carpentry, and house project that does not need Duct Tape.

From one perspective this failure of mine is to my favor. I 'get out' of doing projects.

But I am concerned though that my lack of helping is an indication of my yet to be fully sanctified Christian discipleship. Am I a good or at least decent helper for Jesus? Or does my leading get in the way? Hmm... here is something to ponder deeper.

The secret, if there is one in our Christian faith, is to be comfortable and confident enough in yourself to 'get out of the way' allowing God's Spirit to work through us. In this manner we help God do what God wants to accomplish in the world without really 'doing' anything.

Hopefully, that does not involve knowing which thing-a-ma-job to put into the what-cha-ma-call-it.

Summer Goals

Traditionally at this time of year paper and pen are used for the writing of my summer goals exercises. While my first sunburn is not peeling yet, I still have an empty page before me.

Twice a year I write goals. Once in late December anticipating the start of a new year and again at the end of May before June starts. Wait- I just realized I write more goals than that. My District Superintendent required me to write my continuing education goals down this week. And my boss- aka the Donut Man down the hall from me- requires the staff write goals in January.

Even though usually all the goals are not completed I still do this exercise. Why? Am I that addicted to routine? Is it an exercise in self-humiliation? Or am I that much of a Personality Type A, first born, perfectionist, over-ambitious freak?? (You are supposed to say, yes!)

Who knows? And who probably cares... but I still write my goals. And try to attack them like I do my daily To Do List. Crossing off an item gives me a strange thrill even at 40!

Here are my summer goals which involve home, family, self and a bit of ministry thrown in there... (between now and August 16th):

1. Help Diana read over 200 books in her summer reading programs. (I signed her up for 3 this year!) Most of which she will read on her own or with help. We have to beat last year's record.


2. I will read over 2,000 pages myself this summer. How's that for continuing education?


3. Lose the final pounds that I didn't expunge before my big birthday! Which means more exercise in my weekly routine...


4. Play with my family (this is my best goal and one I know I shall achieve).


5. Finish Diana's 6th year scrapbook.


6. Start and finish Eric's Indy Racing League scrapbook.


7. Write several letters of honor to some very special people and share with them how important they are to me and to God.


8. Hug my goddaughter as often as possible.


9. Share inspiring, interesting and challenging sermons/messages with our congregation.


10. Write creatively every week.

Ten seems to be a workable number... I'll keep you posted.

Summer is Here!

Today I officially received my first official sunburn! Woo hoo!

Let the peeling begin!