Holy Week- Thursday's Theme

Thursday's theme was servanthood.  Servanthood or service followed me to a hospital, a home, an assisted living community, back to my home, into a phone conversation, throughout my correspondence, and then eventually back into our evening worship again...  I could not shake it. 

Fascinating how this thread wove it's way into and through my day... it could have had something to do with the fact that I heard and read John 13:1-17 about four times throughout my day.  Sort of a "lectio divinia while on the go" spiritual discipline.  I never planned it that way, but gosh it was so fascianting and wonderful, I may purposefully do this again!

• At the hospital I read to a dying woman Jesus' washing of feet.  We marveled together over her new life to come...and how both she and Jesus 'know' what is coming next.
• At a home I dropped off an Easter basket for my goddaughter who lives with an inoperable brain tumor.  I marvel at her abundant life which embraces every moment.
• At the assisted living community I read to a woman who is slowly and painfully loosing her memory the story of Jesus' washing of feet.  And we marveled at the tenderness of the story and how she relies on the servanthood of others... now and into her future.
• Back in my home the secret duties of the "Easter Bunny" were finished and hidden from view of my kidlet, house was picked up, and four errands for my family were completed inbetween multiple phone calls with church staff and lay leadership.
• Again, I re-read my sermon and John 13:1-17 (Footwashing) while reading more about Pope Francis' washing of 12 teen prisoner's feet (including two young women!).  And I prayed for those twelve young people that they would be open to the Holy Spirit's movement in their lives.
• Then, it was time to arrive for worship with a very tired girl (who is very frustrated with her broken ankle/boot etc.) and a husband who is tired too...  and there in worship I heard for the fourth time in my day the story of Jesus caring for the disciples and challenging them to love one another... and my heart was gladdened yet again. 

But the best God moment of this Holy Thursday for me was- to sit at table with Calvary's disciples (of all ages and stages of life).. and to break bread & share the cup!  What a moving moment to be eye to eye around the table as the twelve!!!  Glory bumps were all over me...as I could witness how the Spirit's presence moved among the disciples gathered at the table!  HOLY WOW! 

To serve and be served by God's servants... what a blessing!

Yesterday, indeed is one of the Maundy Thursday's that I shall not forget! 

Holy Week- What in the World?! Wednesday

Wednesday... was well, wacky!

Our Wednesday staff meeting consisted of more conversation and reflection upon our brackets in the NCAA men's basketball tournament than anything profound, lofty or holy.  We did finally, pray together.  Not sure if that counts for something...

Yet, inspite of the worldiness of the staff our church was full of life abundant!  A full gaggle of awesome volunteers descended upon the church on Wednesday to put together our monthly newsletter.  They along with our amazing prayer warrior's and our previous office manager (Fay) filled the office suite with life and vibrancy.  In the midst of all that my husband camped out on the workroom floor to tinker, yet again, our the church's internet system. 

Wednesday was a...

• wacky-take your husband to work day because he gives his time towards the church computer system as his gift to Christ's church- kind of day. 
• weird- prepare the table for Maundy Thursday communion while listening to an awesome Easter (triumphant!) organ-piano duet,  total a clash of music and theology, kind of day. 

And I would not have traded it for the world...

Holy Week- Talkative Tuesday

My Holy Week Tuesday was full of worship planning meetings, bulletin editing, luncheons, and hospital visits.  I am not sure Jesus did luncheons and hospital visits during his final days in Jerusalem the same way I do... but, then he often healed the sick on the way to some other lecture or gathering. 

Why not do visitation ministry on his way to his betrayal, arrest, beatings and death?

Why not, indeed!

Tuesday was my day of conversations...we sat at table in the church office poured over bulletins and the thousands of details involved in 4 different worship services in 4 days!  Whew!

I listented to three lovely ladies share their ministry stories over salads filled my ears at lunch!  These ladies and I all did our spiritual direction training with the Benedictines back on 2000-2001 in Beech Grove, Indiana.  I marvel at their faithfulness and their keen gifts of deep listening!

And then I listened to the suffering and pain as folks share their health concerns was my afternoon.

I have no doubt that Our Lord did a lot of talking and listening his last week too...

Holy Week- Unsacred Monday

What makes the Monday of Holy Week holy or sacred?  Or is it just another day on planet Earth?

Was it the...

• foul weather requiring the snow blower
• science camp for my kiddo 
• my long list of busyness/errands
• piles of sorted out-grown clothes from my kiddo
• laundry duty
• mailing our Easter cards to friends and family
• cleaning the house
• mopping floors from soggy puppy paws 
• Easter egg decorating

I am acutely aware that my Holy Week rhythm has been thrown off by the mundane, yet again.  As you can see by my long list of busyness and worldliness, there is not a moment of silence, time of reflection, reading of scripture or even a mediation listed above.  I long ago read through my Lent Devotional (multiple times).

I have been thrown off course this Holy Week and it is only Monday.

And maybe that is the lesson... how easily we stray from our focus of faith, our relationship with our Savior, that we wander off into the mopping, dusting, and snow removal.

Sigh.  My holy week bracket is broken.

Holy Week- Palm Sunday

My bias is showing, again.  It occurred to me this morning that I have never blogged daily throughout Holy Week, yet every Christmas Eve I blog between our four worship services.  Time to change that unholy habit.

Parades of palms, loud hosannas (and we snuck in an Alleluia), and lots of wonderful music from all our vocal choirs (plus a small portion of our hand bell group); all made for a wonderful Palm-Passion Sunday!  Lots of excitement and anticipation in the air.  Can you feel the sizzle?!  No wonder things were stirred in the Holy City the year of Jesus' death.

We too want oppression to end, change in how we are governed, hope seems tangible and yet very fragile at the same time.  Yes, I can relate to the crowds on Palm Sunday...

Jesus, on his Palm Sunday, never had to contend with 5-6 inches of snow.  Sure would have made those cloaks and palm branches soggy...

Dear Confirmands, A Letter as You Write

Dear 2013 Confirmands,

I know you are frantic and in a panic about writing your faith statements.  Don't worry.  You'll get it done.  750 words will come forth from your pens and finger tips.  I have confidence in you that your faith is in  you to be written, articulated, shared, read, and even spoken.

You are prayed for today as you re-write, erase and edit.  Our Prayer Warriors remembered you by name at 10:30 am this morning.  I have been praying for you each by name this week too. Your church family loves you.

Most of all, God loves you the most, the best, and the deepest!  God's love is the best love!

Pray for yourselves as you write.. ask God to enter your hearts and minds!  Invite God's Spirit to give life to your words and thoughts (clarity and logic are good requests too).  You have knowledge (some of it new and some of it old) about our common faith in Jesus.  You also have new experiences (again some new and some old) of what a faith-filled life looks like (giving, sharing, listening, healing, doing and being).

Most of all trust that you have something amazing to share- a testimony or witness for how God has moved in your life, already, in middle school!

I cannot wait to read your thoughts!  Proud of you, already!

Love you and praying for you,

Your servant-pastor-friend Michelle

Brackets!

Brackets are everywhere!

Even the United States' President does brackets.  Although he is cheering for Indiana to win the Big Dance! (I knew there was some thing I didn't like about the guy!   :) )

Our senior pastor's office wall is now decorated with twelve sets of brackets for the men's NCAA basketball tournament. March Madness, baby!

Wonder if our Bishop does brackets?!  I should ask him, but I already know two of his alma maters didn't make the tournament (Purdue and Drew).

Bracket time... so little work will get done tomorrow, Friday and the weekend because folks will be watching as much basketball as they can!  Ah- bring on the fun!

The Broken

Well, our kidlet has her first broken bone... and her father and I had a premonition this would happen as soon as we dropped her off at the Flip Zone in Plainfield Saturday night.  (A lovely place with squishy mats and all sorts of gymnastic equipment!)

She found the process of x-rays and wheelchairs to be fascinating!  But she does not like her walking boot - especially the walking part of it! 

Anyway, this means no dance class for four weeks and a huge adjustment in our daily routine (no school bus for awhile as crutches make that tricky). 

Sometime soon we need to go Easter dress shopping... and I haven't a clue to what we can coordinate with a black velcro boot!  It will be the most expensive shoe she will have as a kid, though.  Not that it is stylin'.

Thank goodness, the Good Lord, built us to heal! 

Hello Pope Francis!

Hello Pope Francis I- whether you are named for Francis of Assisi (depicted above) or for Francis Xavier... welcome to the world stage as a symbol of Christ and His Church! 

Already, you have created a stir among your faithful within Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestant Christianity around the world.  The first non-European, the first Jesuit, the first in so many ways... We are honored by your humility, simplicity, prayerfulness, and the fact that you personally paid your hotel bill before putting on your holy outfit!  :)

Way to go, Holy Spirit! 

Mr. Wesley Meets Our Confirmands!

 

 

I am such a geek for moments like this... but we had to take a photo op with Mr. John Wesley (aka Reverend Bert Kite, our District Superintendent) and our 2013 Confirmation class this morning!  I mean how many confirmation classes get a visit from the one and only John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement?!?!?!

 

Not enough or too many depending on who you ask!  ha ha!

 

There you have it: 18 new members of the Body of Christ hanging out with the John Wesley who challenged them on making the decision for faith as being the biggest decision they will ever make; invited them to live lives of personal and social holiness; and told them amazing stories about his life and field preaching. 

 

It was awesome!!!! 

 

At least to me (it was awesome) but then I am a complete goober when it comes to church history, Methodism and who we are today and United Methodists.  Yes, it was my bright idea to invite our District Superintendent (who by the way has been doing this impersonation preaching/teaching ministry for the past 20 years) to teach our confirmands and then also to stay and preach for the morning. 

What warmed my heart even more was the joy of sharing this with previous confirmands (our 7th through 12th graders) who joined us for class this morning!  Here are our older students in a photo op with John Wesley! 

 

Hey- I'll do anything to change up the experience of confirmation and make it better! Or at least different!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

Problem Kids

Every Monday morning I spend about two and a half hours volunteering at my daughter's elementary school. I am nothing more than a glorified secretary-photo-copy lady- bulletin board designer- and red pen grading designee.  In other words, I do the stuff the teacher needs done so that she can do her teaching with the students.  Whew- and she has a lot that needs to be done!

Yesterday I noticed that two of the male students had the desks off in sections of the room by themselves.  Alone.  Within a group.  And facing the wall.

Now, I am familiar with these boys and their antics.  My daughter also gives me detail reports on who got in trouble and how much trouble they got into.

But my heart sank as I saw these guys were now islands onto themselves. (I have no doubt that their behavior got them there.) I do not have a guess about their family life, if they have a faith background or who has custody of who.  But I do know a bit about how they are performing on their school work.  One struggles more than the other, but they both are having huge behavior problems.  And they are on a tight leash, if you know what I mean.

So, when the teacher took the class to the library, I stopped at each desk to return their graded math tests and once there I prayed for students especially the "boy islands".  I prayed for their emotional and spiritual well being. I prayed for loving, strong adults to have a positive impact on their lives.  I prayed that each of these boys would respond to loving, firm kindness and make better choices now so that their futures can continue to be bright.  I usually pray for the students and teachers every time I visit the school, but my prayers were a lot more focused yesterday on those two.

I found it curious that later that morning one of the young men (who has both the hardest time academically as well as behaviorally) initiated a conversation with me.  We had a wonderful visit about superheros and how much I look like my daughter (he thinks that it is funny how much I look like her).  Ha ha!  Little does he know that usually I hear how much she looks like me!

Even today I am praying for all the "problem- trouble-making" kids...