Christmas Eve 3

Our final service is over!  My feet and voice are pooped, but my heart is full!  This was a wonderful first Christmas with our Ridge family.

We had lovely music, candelight, message and another 52 souls!

Worshiped 298 on Christmas!


Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Christmas Eve 2

We just had our middle service at 9pm!  Another lovely service with 105 in attendance.  More kiddos came and enjoyed the remaining goodie bags.

Our choir did a great job with Do You Hear What I Hear?  We had amazing solo of O Holy Night.

My little family and I lit the Christ candle.  My husband did a great job with the Luke reading.

It was Christmas Eve and it was special.

Now- time for a hydration break, put my feet up, and rest until our 11pm service.

O Blessed Night!

Christmas Eve 1

Lovely worship for families at 5pm.

We have 143 souls...and 21 kiddos for the children's sermon! They enjoyed their goodie bags and it was fun to hear the rustle of plastic and joy mixed together.

Lovely to see so many families,

But kudos to our Holy Family who were outstanding!  Little JJ was Jesus and his protective big brother Frank was our Angel!  His angel wings were as tall as he was.

Merry, merry- now we only have 2 more to go.

But before that- I am going home to eat some dinner!

Pre-Christmas Eve Blog

Sermon is prepared.

Bulletins are printed.

Bathrooms are clean.

Gift bags for kiddos are wrapped.

Music is rehearsed.

Candles are ready.

A few more hours and this little nativity will be made complete and full by a young Ridge family as our Live Nativity at 5pm service!

Cannot wait!  (giggles) for the fun to begin!

A Gift Shared

One of my friends from Spiritual Direction training shared this with our small group as a gift. It was too precious not to give to you.

"Christmas is for Healing"
By Macrina Wiederker, OSB (from her book Seasons of the Heart)
Loving you, of course
I am not at all interested in how much money
you are spending on Christmas gifts this year
but rather, in how much blood, sweat, and tears you are shedding
to make Christ a vital part of your life
for you and I will never be able to erase the fact that he came:
to touch lives - to break bread
to heal hurt - to forgive sins
to wash feet - to calm seas
to walk on water - to give us the Spirit
and to care immensely.
Yes, to care enough
to be born in our Bethlehem
to live in our land, and weep over our cities
and die and rise again.
So now it's Christmas
and I am not sure what part of you is crippled
or where you need to feel God's saving power
but with everything in me
I believe that Christmas is for healing
And he came to heal.
So if you can trust Jesus enough to
walk out on the waters of getting involved,
of washing feet and anointing people,
of breaking bread and working miracles,
I am almost sure his saving presence
will touch those blind and crippled parts of your life
and Christmas will come to you.
More than anything else
I want to give you Christmas this year
It's a gift, an offer
You can take it if you like
but I can't really give it to you
like a wrapped up package.
It is deeper than that,
It is warmer, brighter, holier.
It is more personal.
Christmas is more challenging
that a wrapped up package.
It is an offer
It is a mystery
It is birth
It is hope.
It is Christmas and
God can never be born enough. . .

Christmas Eve- the Super Bowl or Daytona Race for Preachers!

Finally the big day is here!  For us preachers tonight is like the Super Bowl for NFL fans or the Daytona Race for NASCAR fans.  That is how huge this evening is.

My preacher heart has been dreaming and waiting.  Waiting and dreaming of this night for decades.

My ministry appointments have had me serve two large congregations where I was an associate on a staff.  That meant that I have not in my eighteen-almost-nineteen-years of ministry preached on Christmas Eve.  My senior pastors have always preached this night.

This is not to say that I have not had meaningful ministry; I have.  Nor is this to say I have not helped and aided in making the holiness of tonight come alive for many; I have with great joy shared in the ministry of Christmas Eve.  Preaching is the only aspect of tonight's service that I have not yet done.

That tradition ends tonight!  Thanks be to God!

All this build up and anticipation, I hope, means the Spirit has something special to deliver through me this evening!  My sermon prep showed that I had too much material and kept having to edit down, and down, and down.  (A sign of the situation, no doubt!)

May the Christmas angels use me tonight!  And may our worship of the Babe of Bethlehem be joyous!

New Tradition

Our family joined in the Ridge UMC's tradition of bell ringing for the Salvation Army on the first Saturday of December.

We dressed in warm clothes.  Wore our Santa hats!  And made Merry!

We all three had such fun that we must do it again next year.

But, we've decided we need a better bell to ring.  So, practice has begun with the Knight family bell choir to learn Jingle Bells in time for December of 2016!

Hope the practice goes well this year!

Advent is Change and then Not Change!

Numerous aspects of our lives change daily or yearly, yet relief from the whirlwinds of change come with Advent and Christmas.  These holy days ground us because of the traditions woven into our celebrations.  Layers of memories fuse into previous memories blanketing us with comfort, strength, and peace. 

We are creatures of habit, aren’t we?  That is not to say anything good or bad about us.  It just is.  We like things to stay the same.  An adjustment to our status quo or equilibrium is an occasion for coping with grief, newness, and unknown possibilities. 

So what happens when a source of our strength- the holidays- means the recognition of change?  Because all of us at Ridge can say together, “Advent and Christmas will be different for the entire Ridge UMC family in 2015”.  Our congregation has made its way through: senior pastoral leadership transitions, other staff changes, death of beloved members who will celebrate their first Christmas in heaven, and shifted ministries from the way-its-always-been-done to new ways of serving Christ in our world. 

My family too has journeyed through massive change this year; we sold our beloved Avon home, Diana graduated from Hickory Elementary in Avon, my appointment changed, we purchased and remodeled a new home in Munster, and our family relocated to this community. 

If you and I are honest with one another, some of the changes we like better than others.  That’s normal.  Some changes are easy to move through and adjust.  Others give us pause. 

Yet, I am reminded that one thing remains the same.  A cradle will stand ready to welcome the Christ child this year.   My family has not yet decided where the Nativity scene will be displayed in our new home, but He will be with us!  We will all welcome the Babe of Bethlehem once again because Jesus Christ stays the same. He is forever and always as our Emmanuel, our gift of possibility, new life, second changes, healing, renewal, and hope.

Maybe 2015 is the best year, after a season of tremendous transition, for all of us to crawl into Christ’s cradle and wrap our arms around the Hope of the World! 

See you at the cradle!

My Thankful List

Every year my gratitude list grows and grows.  And, I suppose, that is a very good thing.  Generosity begets generosity.

This Thanksgiving our traditions have been re-arranged because we live in a different community, but my hearts overflows with gratitude for the variety of blessings I enjoy.

Here is my list (hope you make your list too):

1. Beautiful, safe haven to call home and find refreshment and renewal.
2. Loving, kind family of three (plus dog and fish who keep having babies.
3. Health of mind, body and spirit (although I am very glad to have a new gym membership.)
4. Hope, I have hope because I know Jesus, and he is my hope.
5. Congregation in which to learn how to grow into a more generous, loving pastoral leader.
6. My husband's job provides him with challenge, and blessing.
7. My kiddo's tenacity to conquer her tough homework.
8. My extended family and friends whom I miss dearly.
9. The wonder of Facebook because it does help me stay in touch with people.
10. Colleagues who are loving, supportive, and encouraging.
11. My BFF whose power lunches always give me a boost.
12. The privilege of witnessing how God's spirit grows within people to move them to be and do more than they ever imagined!

Happy Thanksgiving!

House Blessed

Finally, we made it!  The day of our House Blessing and Open House arrived this past Sunday, November 8th.  The weather was lovely and the company delightful.

In between the door bell and the phone ringing,  we read scripture, prayed, and shared our hopes and dreams for safety, rest, renewal, and the making of new memories here in Munster!

It was a joy to share our treasures and hard work with our new church family.  The fish even behaved for all the guests.

Now, that the house is blessed, you know what that means, right?!
REST!

Celebrating Gary

Today staff and members of my former congregation, Calvary United Methodist in Brownsburg, Indiana gathered to celebrate the life and witness of Gary Irwin.  Not only was Gary an active member of the congregation, but he had also served on staff for a number of years.

The following letter is something that I wrote and was shared at the celebration of his life today... I continue to give God thanks for 'loaning' to me such amazing, precious people.

May the family, friends and church community be comforted in their grief. Blessed are the mourn for they will be comforted.

"One of my first memories of Gary was over a decade ago in Disciple 1 Bible class back at the Green Street church.  He brought his can of pop and draped his arm around Debbie and that is how we began to know one nother. Gary was ready to ask questions, like, "what about that or this...?" 

Later, I learned Gary was stubborn, funny, proud, a tease, loyal, a hard worker, and a great member of any team!  Gary was the only Vietnam vet I ever met to tell me funny, silly stories from Vietnam.  He had the spiritual gift of encouragement. He knew what to say and when to say it. Gary also had the powerful gift of intercession.  He was a warrior at prayer!  I was glad he was on my side.

One of the very best things about Gary... Which is why he was awesome husband, father, father in law, grandfather, uncle, friend, teammate, solider, and church member - is that Gary had your back.  His fierce loyalty, consistency, and tenacity of love was all ways and always there. He made sure you knew that he was ready to do or be anything for you.  

No wonder we are all deeply saddened by the huge hole in our hearts at his passing.  Who will have our back now? Block us from the winds of the world? Make us feel safe in the dark of night? 

Gary was humble enough to know his limitations... As much as he'd enjoy this funeral fuss he would much rather just go and get a beer and talk about your life.  Then he would remind us that what he did for us is small, tiny in fact, in comparison to God's tremendous love and loyalty in Jesus.  God had Gary's back and God will now watch over ours.  

Your friend,

Michelle Knight

Missing My (former) Sheep

One of the most difficult aspects of itinerant ministry is the heart stuff.

I mean... loving people for Jesus and then, because of Jesus you are sent to a new flock. Then, while growing in love for your new flock your pastoral/shepherd heart is tugged by the weight of so many lambs for whom you deeply care.

Maybe I can express myself better.

I realized this week that I was homesick yet, at first, I could not figure out what or for whom I was longing.

Only after I heard sad health news about one of my previous sheep, did a realization hit me like the whack of a shepherd's staff to the head!  I am homesick for my previous flock.

This awareness has little to do with how loving and amazing my new flock is (and they are wonderful people/sheep!  So proud of them!).  Rather, this realization tells me something about my shepherd's heart.  I am missing my sheep...just as they knew me; I knew them.  I wonder about them.  Worry with them.  Pray for them.  Think about them.

And I just .... miss them.

Miss them because I love them.

Happy Birthday, Ridge UMC!

Our congregation celebrates this weekend (actually we've been celebrating all year long) our 60th Anniversary of ministry!

It is amazing to consider how many baptisms, wedding and funerals our congregation has had.  Or how many persons were launched in to vocational ministry or pastoral ministry as a result of the nurture they received at Ridge UMC.  Think about the amount and depth of prayers which have been prayed (and answered) by our gracious God!

Boggles the mind and heart!

As we celebrate the good stuff, give thanks for God's presence through the tough stuff, we realized one important thing.  Our ministry is not over.  We have not reached the finish line.  We're not down with our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

There are more disciples to be made... and the disciple we have are still diligently striving to transform the world... because of and through God's grace in Jesus' love by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we think about it this way- we don't have time to pause for a long party!

So my prayer is that our celebration will strengthen us; rejuvenate us; remind us of our purpose for being; and ultimately 'set us on fire again' to be people of the Way.

Bring on the next 60 years... cannot wait to see what God will accomplish inspite of us and through us for others!

Be Bright, Be Brief, & Be Gone!

Those were the words of wisdom from my "boss" or Bishop in preparation for my first Sunday in the pulpit of Ridge UMC.  So, for those who missed that Sunday I thought I would include the manuscript of my first sermon at Ridge.  You can determine if I was bright, brief, and 'gone'.

(In future weeks we will finish our work on uploading audio of sermons at Ridge.  So stay tuned to that website for more details.  www.ridgeumc.org )

Ridge United Methodist Church

Reverend Michelle L. Knight

Sunday July 12, 2015 10:00am

“Together in Christ”

Ephesians 1:3-14

I want to share my appreciation for the warm welcome by the planning committee (for today and today’s luncheon), the SPRC, Pastor Steve, the staff, and each of you.  My family and I are glad and grateful to be here. We do miss our friends and family.  Our Calvary UMC family was good to us and thus we are sad about our goodbyes, but we are also glad to get to know you, explore Northwest Indiana for the first time, and grow with you in the knowledge, grace and love of Jesus. 

Let us pray… Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful.  Bring your fiery presence to stoke our passion and compassion for you, one another and our world.  Come, Spirit of God, come. Amen. 

Have you ever heard a small child describe fireworks for the first time?  Do you remember the last time you listened to a teenager gush about how they just met an amazing, dazzling new friend and this teen is in awe of how much she/he connected to this former stranger?  Have you ever watched the face and listened to the voice of someone you love… light up with passion as they talk about their favorite hobby, their best game, or their most awe-inspiring experience with nature? 

If you have experienced one or all of these moments… then you can imagine Paul’s energy as he wrote his letter to the Ephesians.  Light in his eyes, his heart racing, and passion in his choice of words!  He almost does not know how to express his sense of blessedness so he runs on and on and on.  If you and I could read the original Greek we would know that these verses are one long single sentence!  Paul in his enthusiasm forgot to put a period or a coma or anything!  Like stepping into a busy, babbling brook; you and I can enter into Paul’s ancient thoughts as he gushes and rushes past us proclaiming how laddened we are with a bounty of blessings.  And so he begins this letter unlike any of this other letters.  There are no personal greeting for so and so, but he poetically writes praise about the cosmic magnitude of our salvation from God through Jesus. 

I can personally connect with Paul’s enthusiasm and joy.  My call to ministry was fostered and developed from a heart of gratitude.  I was baptized as a child, raised within a church family, confirmed as a young person… and if I would let you read my journals, which I won’t, but if I did… you would find an entry from when I was eleven in which I pondered a call to ministry.  In this way, I personally can connect with the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah who was called by God when he was a young person. 

I thought more seriously about a call into ordained ministry when I was in college at the University of Evansville studying to become a music therapist.   I majored in orchestral percussion and minored in piano.  I presumed, at the time, that the combined gifts of music and helping other persons heal would satisfy this calling on my heart.  Clearly, God had other plans…because my heart was not satisfied, nor at “home”… my heart rather was too overwhelmed with joy, wonder, passion and enthusiasm like Paul. 

Finally, one night in my dorm room; God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and I had a personnel meeting.  This come-to-Jesus-meeting was WITH Jesus- if you get my drift!  I said, “I will go where you want me to go, Lord.  I will be want you want me to be.  If I am to be a music therapist who is a very involved volunteer in her local church that is me.  If I am to be an ordained pastor serving a congregation, then (gulp) that is me.  Whatever it is… I am simply too grateful and overwhelmed by your love, O God, to not offer myself and my life as my small gift of thanks.”  By now… after seminary, ordination, and eighteen years of service to congregations in Indiana- you have figured out how that personnel conversation ended!

Some prophets of God are called and they run away from God (see Jonah). Other folks have blinding lights shine in their eyes while traveling on Damascus Roads (see Paul).  Me- it was out of love and with love… that my call to ministry was seeded, nurtured, strengthened, and answered.  And I am still responding to that call out of, with, because of, and to—love.

My purpose in sharing part of my call to ministry story is… quite obvious… I want you to know a little something of how I tick and got this ‘gig’.  But more than just a get-to-know-the-pastor-moment, responding to God’s love with our lives brimmed over with joy, wonder, enthusiasm, and passion is at the center of our message this morning. 

Why is Paul so enthused?  What is this blessing business about anyway? Why is it such a big deal?

The big deal is, well, that God has this amazingly wonderful, outstandingly gracious long-range strategic plan.  And not only is it wonderful that God is in charge, but also the plan God has is wonderful.  Moreover, it also just so happens that you and I are part of this long range strategic plan.  We are all are. 

One aspect of God’s long range plan is that we receive gifts from God!  God gives us through Jesus mercy, grace and forgiveness so that we are no longer held back by our pain, shame, fear, and sin.  We can live freely.  But, wait, there is more.  God gives us through the Spirit wisdom and understanding so that our little minds and hearts can begin to fathom… just how much we are loved! And we are loved by an unending abundance of unconditional, personal love.  God is love, after all.  Bible does indeed say that, rather consistently, I might add.

Within God’s plan is finally our purpose.  This is also very exciting.  You may be looking for your purpose.  Or you may be frustrated with all that prevents you from living your purpose.  God’s love in Jesus overcomes all the stuff, junk, and the mess that people do against other people which get in the way of OUR purpose. 

Reality is that when we discover just how much we are loved by God, we begin to live into the fullest and best versions of our selves.  As we live into being who God designed us to be we experience our purpose.  This is as much a group purpose as an individual purpose at the same time.  This form of togetherness is not sameness equaling closeness.  Nor is it difference in unity.  Rather our purpose is more compelling and deeply satisfying than either of those. 

Our purpose is to praise God.  Together in Christ, we praise our God with the enthusiasm of a young child watching fireworks, the joy of a teen making a new best friend, and with the wonder of witnessing the splendor of the Grand Canyon or the mountains or the ocean.    

You know that shepherd needs sheep to tend.  A coach needs athletes to coach.  A maestro needs musicians to conduct.  Well, the same is true for a pastor.  She needs a flock to tend, love, and lead.  Long ago, two years actually, before you as a congregation knew that you would be receiving a new pastor, God in God’s loving, long range planning and purpose… laid on my heart a calling to leave where I have served.  I have been praying and waiting for you long before I knew you were the people, and long before you knew you would need a new pastoral leader.

But notice how God knew.

And pay attention to how God acted… and God whispered in my ear, Jesus enlarged my heart and The Spirit opened my vision.  God equipped my husband and family to begin to consider a dramatic change in our lives.  God worked, even through our Bishop and cabinet, to send me to you and you to me.  God graciously prepared you as a people to receive our family.  I think all that planning, preparing, coordinating, and inner working of God through the threads of our lives… is worthy of a thank you.  Worthy of praise.  Worthy of a song.  Worthy of a people together in Christ- saying, “WOW- God you did good!  Alleluia and Amen!”

               

Home Sweet Home!

Here we are the day we closed on our new home in Munster.  It was a bumpy ride, but we made it! Special thanks to all our prayer warriors including my mother in law who we sense nudged us in this direction.

We feel in love with the house- and the previous owners who left behind the green wicker porch swing.  Truly we have the best porch in all of Munster!  Maybe even all of northwest Indiana.

Since we have moved in I struggled to find my way around my new kitchen.  Several rooms received new wood floors.  New carpet upstairs has removed a funky odor.

The only things left to do are wallpaper removal and painting.  Drapes, photos and art to hang will be the last on our list.

Diana and Eric had some fun over the July 4th weekend as they gave Diana's beautiful room a fresh coat of lavender paint!  She has the most beautiful room in the whole house.

Our Welcome!

What a Sunday of welcome we had!  

We were so grateful for the lovely meal, great music, positive spirit, warm smiles, guests from Calvary, my supportive family (including Mom and Tom), and bonus- a bounce house for kids. 

Check out all the Pentecost red from that day!  I was so thrilled to wear my new robe and stole from Calvary UMC on my first Sunday with our new Ridge UMC family.

Great day!  Off to a super start!

My New Team!

For the past few weeks I have had the joy and privilege to get to know my new team at Ridge UMC.  Here they are pictured (with exception of Susan who works with our kiddos in the nursery).

What a talented collection of servant leaders!

I am so pleased to share with them the wonders of leading the flock at Ridge UMC.  I would suggest that you pray for these folks as they have to put up with me and get to know me better!

A wonderful group who are ready for a new exciting chapter in ministry together.  Thanks be to God!

Arrived and Alive!

Finally, after two UHaul truck loads, three men and one woman and two trucks our family arrived in Munster.  The fish traveled via a blue cooler and survived!

During our trek north we experienced lots of summer thunderstorms and after one encounter there appeared in the horizon an EPIC rainbow which we were able to 'follow' for miles and miles.  We agreed it was a sign that God was with us!

Now after four weeks of unpacking, trying different grocery stores, getting driver's licences changed, and greeting neighbors... we can say we have lived here a month.  We await more appliances, hard wood floors, new carpet, wall paper removal and paint... but we are together, alive and still have our sense of humor!

We want to personally thank the many, many Blackhawk fans who on our first night in our new home kept us from sleep because of their firework celebrations!  We assumed that you folks were so glad to have us in Munster that you lit up the night on our behalf!  But, alas, no, you won a championship!

My Word

Recently, the group I completed Spiritual Direction training with in 2002 met for prayer and conversation.  We have been challenged by one another to share a 'word' that best illustrates what is happening in our lives and how we really are.  Then, as we share our words we are to be in prayer holding the word for each person.

Finally, this morning on my drive to the church office my word came to me.  "Deploy"  is my word. Often in both the Old and New Testaments we hear the word, 'sent', and know that to describe how God's Spirit moves among us and through us for the betterment and completion of God's work.

Our United Methodist heritage lives this out by sending or appointing pastors to congregations or bishops to conferences.  We, ordained Elders, are sent.

Well, I like sent.  It captures the change of location and status.  But lately, I have been musing on the word 'deploy'.  I could have said my word was chaos, transition, mystery, stress, move or change.  But deploy rings for me.

Deploy has the same sense as sent, but then adds the dimension that a person is sent on a mission or purpose to do a thing for which they have the giftedness and training to accomplish.  I am deployed to the Munster community and Ridge United Methodist Church for a mission and purpose as an ordained elder in the UMC.

Now, I need only for the Spirit to begin to reveal the details around my deployment... goals, mission, objectives, purpose, so that my gifts will be focused on what God wants them to be focused upon.

Pray for my (and our family's) deployment in then next 12 days!

Amazing Send Off!

 Sunday May 31, our congregation at Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana gave us most loving, gracious, personal and fun send off EVER!

We were thrilled with the foods (delicious cake, sweet tea, BBQ, and all the special foods we like).

The decorations (blue & white) and personal touches of racing, labyrinths, Duke, and Steelers stuff was a great touch.

 The program was so fun!  We loved the music, the speeches, the 'almost arrest with the retaining order', and the gifts (i.e. snow shovel was a great touch).

We feel overwhelmed with love, well-wishes, blessings and affirmation.

Thank you to the team!

Thank you to all who contributed to the gifts and the giving!

Thanks be to God who makes all things possible!

Including our time together.

Amazing Staff at the Reservior

Check out these amazingly talented, servant leaders who give generously of themselves, their time, their talent all for the wonderful work of Christ's church!

I am so proud of these colleagues!

Thank you for a glorious luncheon at Rick's Cafe Boatyard today to wish me well and send me off into the new, wild adventures to come!  At a restaurant on the reservoir made perfect sentence to me as a send off party!  These folks have been a wellspring of encouragement, laughs, and good times in spite of all the crazy ministry, nutty lives and wild adventures we have done together.

I am so glad these folks get my weird humor because they seemed to enjoyed my little 'token' gifts of goodbye... Christmas ornaments... some silly, others sentimental, and some simply because they reminded me of their favorite food or hobby!

I shall miss this team.  But, as I told them, I will them most at Christmas!  Celebrating our Savior's birth while ushering in a new year of brightness and boldness.

In the words of the tiny Tim, "God bless you- Mark, Trevor, Shellody, Kem, Tonya, Lori, Todd, Jennifer, Andrew (Holly & Mark, Brent, and Leanne) in other words, everyone!"

Celebration of Memorial Weekend: Packing!

With only 23 left remaining before the moving truck arrives at my home... there is still a lot of packing and moving to do.

I only wish that my home and church office looked as tidy and simple as the photo to the left.

Instead, my office has dust on all the shelves which I am both taking with me and leaving behind for the next pastor.  There is a pile of boxes in one corner of my office... and two stacks of items remain to be boxed and packaged.
My home is another matter.

We hope, this Memorial weekend, in between Pentecost worship and the World's Greatest Spectacle of Racing (Indy 500) to complete more packing.  It is sweet when so many folks want to help pack... but there is something important about doing the sort, discard, and/or pack ourselves.

As time for the BIG move approaches, faster and faster each day, all mixed up emotions of excitement, nervousness, joy, wonder, sadness,  and a sense of overwhelming 'yuck' at the actual moving process accelerate too.  It is an endeavor to move a family from one community to another.

No wonder, so much of our Scripture is filled with moving stories. Like Abraham and Sarah's move to the land promised.  All the way to the movement of the early church from Jerusalem to beyond.

The church of Christ Jesus continues to send people OUT into the world... and so goes the Knight family.  We pray we have made a positive impact for God's kingdom from where we leave.  And we hope to make a tremendous difference for the Kingdom where we are sent.

Mostly, we cling to the promise that our Gods before us and with us ALL the way!

Amen!

Birthday Chocolates

Check out this amazing gift- a box of chocolates... made out of chocolate!!  WOW!

Never have I received so much chocolate before on a birthday!

One my my close friends from High School whose family are part of our Calvary family got me a GIANT box of Whitman
s Chocolates.  I had to share with the staff and church because there was so much chocolate.

Happy Birthday, chocolate to me, to me!

Makes 44 all the better with chocolate on top.

My Mustang

Back in 2011 as my beloved Gram was in hospice she shared one regret in her life- she never got a red convertible! 

Well, that was a lesson for Eric and I, so as she lay dying we bought this immaculate 2008 Mustang GT for a deal and took my Gram's ashed remains (in her urn) for a final 'topless' drive prior to her burial. 

Since then, we have never regretted this car! Many beloved, fun memories. 

On May 6, I gave up this car and sold it to ensure the best for my family's future. I shall miss the car (and the sound of it's V8 engine) and how FABULOUS I looked in it, but I have no regrets (and I know my Gram doesn't either) because my family is #1 to me.

'Bye Mustang!  

Piano Surprises

One of the difficult aspects of changing communities is that we'll need to change piano teachers for our daughter.  I remember doing that as a kid while my family experienced job transfers.

In April our daughter had her last official recital with her current piano teacher, Mrs. Hassfurder. During the March competition Diana did excellent on her four events, but I did not realize that she had accumulated enough points to earn a trophy this year.


As you can see from this proud photo, she received a trophy at her last piano recital a lot of joy and surprise!

Well done, Diana!  Especially since she had to practice her piano pieces with our home topsy-turvy due to a home remodel!  Bravo!

Confirmands of 2015!

I am so very proud of my final Confirmation class at Calvary UMC in Brownsburg.

They are a wonder!  Smart, inquisitive, funny, passionate, eager, and amazing describe these students.  There are a lot of leaders in this group too.

We've been especially in awe of Joe who has enjoyed our class this year.  What fun it was to shower him with all sorts of simple to silly gifts as a tangible way to honor how he showed us the unconditional love and grace of our God in Christ Jesus!

On retreat Joe curled up on my lap... so I was able to take this 'selfie' with him!


This was also my last creek baptism at Calvary.  My, Oh, My was it a COLD baptism! We did not dally in the waters long because the temperatures were so frigid.  But I am thrilled that we were able to make Leah's request happen.

Thanks be to God for these new disciples, their families and our amazing mentors!

With this class- I was blessed to participate in 239 Confirmand's lives while serving at Calvary UMC in Brownsburg. Indeed, to God be the glory!

Alleluia and Amen.

New Appointment!

My heart is full and in two places! It was in early February announced at both congregations that as of July 1, 2015 I will be the senior pastor of Ridge UMC in Munster, Indiana. 

My family and I are saddened to say goodbyes, but thrilled with the new opportunities that await us. God is good!

Since the announcement life and ministry have been a whirlwind of preparations (good-byeing as well hellos)!  We took four weeks to prepare our Avon home for sale.  Now it is on the market.  Looking for a lovely home?  Great neighborhood and schools?  Amazing backyard!  

We've look at houses in Munster three times and have made an offer on one.  Now we wait.  I must say that I do not like waiting!  

As much as I am thrilled, excited, and totally ready for our new home & church community; every Monday I stop a cry about saying goodbye to our congregation, our staff, our community our friends/neighbors etc.  We have been so invested here and for so long.. this is really an upheaval of good strong roots.  Sigh.  

Transitions, transitions, transitions.  

My Poem as I Dream about Church

A Dream Church

I dream a church to shepherd…

where kiddos with donut smudged faces sit at Jesus’ knee,

while tattooed young adults clasp Grandma’s gnarled hand in the dripping candlelight of Christmas Eve;

and where the old men fuss over the dreams of teens

as much as toddlers cling to the legs of blue-haired warriors of prayer;

A church where life’s joys and sorrows soak into each other like bread in the cup, fulfilling the truth that best of all; God = Emmanuel!

                                                                                                                                                                            

I dream a church…

imperfect and messy, plodding and deliberate in movement,

compassionate and gossipy, sassy and humorous, mentally ill and quirky;

            made of bent, but not broken people,

who are sinners in recovery toward sainthood, and

saints recovery from their hypocrisy.

Church who is lukewarm and resilient, strong and uncertain,

passionate and weary, but always a leaning church…

leaning deep into the wide and buoyant grace of God.

A church poised in her past yet, ready to pounce into the unfolding of God’s vision. 

I dream a church…

who has not valued the yet-to-be abundant harvest from Her neighbor soccer fields, ball diamonds, and dance classes;

who yearn to know how their absence would devastate their community;

who are hungry to live purposefully;

and who may have forgotten Whose they are and Where they are going-

but when reminded - the fire ignites and the people flash into a Pentecost flame!

A church ripe to live another life chapter: together.

Yes, oh yes, I dream big dreams.

I dream a church to shepherd. 

And as any dreamer does: I pray, “Does the church still dream?”

What does the church dream for in a shepherd?

Does She dream for a shepherd-leader-teacher-preacher-prophetic sayer-priest and prayer that is me?

Better yet, when the Church dreams does She also pray like a dreamer asking,

”Does a shepherd still dream?”

May, the God of all Dreamers, grant our dreams to come true.  

Artistic Gifts?!

The art before you, I have no doubt, represents a new and up-n-coming artistic era which will wildly, rapidly gain the attention of art critics and historians for years to come.

It is genius on canvas, really.

Even though I was a music major in college and had roommate who minored in art history, my confidence in this art stems from another source.

I am the mother of the artist.

This alone makes me an authority.  Doesn't it?!

Prokofiev's Russian Overture inspired my young artist.  Can't you tell!?  I can, but I am the MOTHER!  :)

There is a shortage of artistic drawing talent in me.  I can only draw stick figures and swirls, but that is about it.  Apparently, this gene did not pass to my offspring, which proves, again, there is a genius living at my house.  A sweet, artistic genius!

Join me in celebrating that my daughter's art will represent her school in the 2015 Symphony in Color competition.  http://www.indianapolissymphony.org/education/teachers/symphonyincolor.aspx

Book Club- Anyone?

In December Pastor Todd and I attended a seminar for Indiana area United Methodist pastors on the issues surrounding the topic of sexuality, homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

One of the panelist's in the afternoon made a very complimentary and positive reference to the 2014 book (pictured on the left), Finding Our Way: Love and Law in the United Methodist Church.  I just ordered my copy.  All royalties of this book will support our denomination's "Imagine No Malaria" campaign to rid Africa of malaria.

Eight United Methodist bishops (from across the globe and theological spectrum) contributed to this book which was edited by Neil Alexander and retired (now deceased) Bishop Reuben Job. Moreover, there is an ongoing conversation with other written materials from other UM bishops (including our Indiana area bishop) on the www.ministrymatters.com

Here is what Cokesbury says on their website as a content description of Finding Our Way...

"Questions and conflict about homosexual practice and the church abound. We encounter media reports of same-gender unions and clergy trials. This leads to talk in congregations and district preacher's meetings, in the hallways at district, conference and general church gatherings, and in the deliberations of the Council of Bishops where we hear prayers, questions, and an outpouring of conviction or anguish.

We observe The United Methodist Church grappling with issues of importance that divide and confound us. We hunger for our church to engage hard questions and decisions in a spirit of generosity, gracefulness, and mutual respect.

This book could change the nature of the conversation. It encourages frank and constructive dialogue that will help us conference together and open ourselves to God's guidance. We seek faithful, fair, just, and loving resolution to issues that challenge our faith community.

Finding Our Way: Love and Law in The United Methodist Church is authored by several United Methodist bishops. These writers enunciate and clarify pathways that represent faithful, responsible, and constructive ways forward through the current controversies. Each bishop articulates a prescription for moving through current conflict about homosexual practice, same-gender unions, qualifications for ordination, and maintaining the "good standing" of elders. Go to www.ministrymatters.com/FindingOurWay  to read the introduction and to comment."

Making Disciples, Again

Our annual pilgrimage of making, growing, and forming disciples begins in one week.  I remain grateful that our congregation enjoys and fosters an environment ripe for making disciples!

Here we grow, again with another twelve amazing young people who will spend the next four months digging deep into the Bible, our tradition, our faith and our community outreach and impact.

Whew!  It is a lot of 'work' and 'stuff', but always and all ways I am thrilled with the result of what we do, as a congregation, together.

Bring it on, Confirmation Class of 2015!

New Year Goals!

Here we go into 2015!  And I have already completed one goal; that is I wrote down my goals.  Score one, for me.

Besides being the best wife, mother, daughter, niece, friend, pastor and leader that I can be; my first main goal must be completed within the next 71 days.

At that time our family will embark on our Disney cruise!  :)  We cannot wait.

Until then, I gotta get bathing suit prepared which means workouts, weight loss, and trimming some inches.

See you at the gym.