Laughter on the Labyrinth

Last Tuesday in our afternoon group of kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students- I shared the labyrinth. It was a hoot!

At first the kids all told me that the large canvas spread on the fellowship hall floor was a maze. Not so, I told them. Mazes want you to get lost. They are a game to play. Labyrinths are not a game. They are a tool for prayer. A labyrinth will never ever get you lost because there is only one path into the center and the same path back out. Ah- these kids were now intrigued.

I told them to help me find the 'cross' in the labyrinth and we did. Then we found the rose in the center and the lunations around the edges.

Finally it was time to 'let them loose' on the path. And we did- they laughed and giggled the whole way! Some decided it was time to pretend to be a car and they 'drove around'. Others hopped, skipped and jumped through the twists and turns.

When they were all done walking in and back out again (after awhile it was hard to tell what they were doing), I had the students sit on their favorite spot on the labyrinth.

I asked them what they liked most about the labyrinth (because it was obvious that these 5 and 6 year olds were having fun!). Their most common answer is the complete opposite of what most adults tell me. They liked the turns and twists. Most adults get frustrated with the turns and twists and like the longer straighter paths. Hmm... what does that say about where we've been in life and where we're going?!?!

Have you laughed on a labyrinth this week? If not, come visit and we'll take off our shoes for a 'drive.'

Weird Does Me Good

Weird day. Ever had such a odd collection of moments in one day that all you could say was, "That was weird?!" That is my today.

Meetings, conversations, writing, Fish Fry preparations, weather, Pumpkin Patch arrival, salary planning for 2010, emails, correspondence, worship planning, casserole deliveries, helping folks with their rent, watching a great movie on Africa, and prayer my mother in law's chemotherapy start- these are just a few of the moments in my day. And that doesn't even touch the housework that awaits me at home tonight!

Actually, at the moment I am taking a break from pounding the keyboard for words and banging my brain for more ideas on the book Todd and I are writing together. Whew. It is one thing to write for pleasure- and another thing for an editorial audience. Yikes. If you see me at Walmart dazed and confused, now you know the reason why. I shall get my chapters done, Todd, I promise!

But the most important thing is- fish! Right?!

Friday's Labyrinth Walk

the following is a brief reflection on my labyrinth walk with Shirley (retreat leader) prior to the retreat beginning last Friday.

Scattered everywhere
what a mess!
crunch, rustle under my feet

tiny strips of something
are you feathers?
could be twigs,
no, must be little bits of leaves.

don't you know you're in the way!?

oh, why do you stay
and stick to my shoes
as I walk this path?

there are more here,
less there.
you clump together, don't you?

winds of spirit blew you here
from somewhere else
sprinkled like seasonings on my path

Labyrinth Count Down

Less than 24 hours from now I will be walking on one of my favorite labyrinths! Yippee!

For those of you not into labyrinths- this is very exciting for me. And it means a terrific opportunity for prayer, reflection, quiet time etc. Yeah. And I need this time/space.

24 hours and counting down...cannot wait to walk the path!

A Pastor's Report

Every year our annual conference of the UMC asks pastors to reveiw the past year of ministry and file this report as a part of our Charge Conference gathering. Because I don't think anyone has ever read my report and it will fill someone else's file cabinet- I thought I would share it with my faithful blog readers. **warning: content may make you sleepy**

This year I join a small, but mighty group of United Methodist pastors who have served one church for ten or more years. I am stunned by the acknowledgement of this accomplishment as well as humbled by this vocational experience. This marks new territory for myself professionally as well as a new era for the congregation in which I serve (I am only the third pastor in Calvary's history to obtain this goal.)

My gratitude remains as we move into this tenth year of service together. I am grateful for the terrific collegial support and encouragement that I receive daily from Todd. What a trooper to put up with me all the time! Our staff and lay leadership continues to offer me their confidence and support in ministry and leadership. Thank you to all!

Longevity in ministry can afford a leader/prophet/preacher with a variety of pitfalls as well as perks. Perks come in knowing the stories of people and living life with them for ten years plus. We have history together! Perks come therefore in the arena of trust, intimacy, familiarity, and knowledge. It is a perk to have enough long term knowledge of the insides of an institution that I can witness her change, move, and have her being in the midst of our culture and world transitions.

Pitfalls are numerous. I can no longer blame mistakes on being a ‘newbie’ in ministry nor even on the people themselves. Their foibles as a church now reflect the weakness and vulnerabilities within my own leadership/psyche/personality. This confession is a tough one to swallow and one that invites me ever more to prayer, confession, and repentance. “How do I make myself new by the Holy Spirit in this place?” I ask.

Enough rambling of a want-to-be-mystic in churchy plainclothes!

We’ve grown in every category numerically (worship attendance, small groups, youth, confirmation classes, number of profession by faiths, missionaries, folks intending on vocations in ministry, etc), but one. We are attracting lots of previously lukewarm, never churched before Christians in training. It is exciting and challenging!!

The one area of non-growth, but even backwards movement is finance. We are not growing givers (i.e. want to be tithers). Our income is slim. And our budget is lean. Calvary is over worked, understaffed, and underfinanced for the size and quality of ministry that we provide our community. And frankly, I am not sure how best to attack, solve, wrestle, and improve this spiritual problem. Ideas are welcome.

Retreat Re-paired

Sometimes during the week prior to our annual women's retreat I feel like I am preparing to be re-paired. As if I can take all my brokenness, problems, situations, wounds, and worries to one place at one location and leave them there for repair. Good definition for a retreat, huh?!

Sometimes going to a different location, being with different people, changing the routine, and mixing all that up with prayer, scripture, worship and song does indeed make a difference.

My cry becomes, "Fix me, Jesus. Fix me." Repair my wounded heart. Heal me of my brokenness. Soothe my worries.

Great thing is that I know God will meet me or I will meet God- then the fixing will begin. See you at the repair shop.

Remembering

Remembering holds us together. Remembering keeps us watchful and mindful. Remembering honors lives lived and lost as well as lives that are yet to be.

Remembering links the past into the present. Remembering gives us wisdom for our future.

Today is a good day to remember...New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC and the place/moment you were in when you heard/saw the events of September 11, 2001. Never forget.

Remembering is vital to shaping where and how we go from here.