tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83536809241148877772024-03-18T06:11:05.838-04:00Barefoot PastorBarefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-84980620537696253622017-11-10T16:41:00.002-05:002017-11-11T06:41:16.144-05:00Ten for Ten. Ten reasons it's great to be a pastor, in celebration of my 10 year anniversary of ordination.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9guFA10ApUqb2eUpKXPE4uLadpOknqVCe36TYAsbV0vJ8A4cQqx-E6EYUqKJDDBfuqeViES140jnenmpHe9gQkm36FfXMisErqvTlfVmn0xkGpFAiMPKxqYf7AjPbdE5cDkr6QO7HGhM/s1600/DSC00198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9guFA10ApUqb2eUpKXPE4uLadpOknqVCe36TYAsbV0vJ8A4cQqx-E6EYUqKJDDBfuqeViES140jnenmpHe9gQkm36FfXMisErqvTlfVmn0xkGpFAiMPKxqYf7AjPbdE5cDkr6QO7HGhM/s320/DSC00198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm in there somewhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was ordained at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington DC on November 10, 2007, ten years ago today.<br />
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In celebration and gratitude, I've written a list of ten reasons it's great to be a pastor. <br />
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1) <b>It is interesting, varied work.</b> With a lot of different areas of semi-expertise, it's a decathlon of professions. That's especially energizing if you're a generalist, as I am. You don't get bored because there's always another interesting thing to work on. In the last week, I have crafted worship services, drafted a sermon, fundraised, counseled someone, had lunch with an intergenerational group of people, talked intensely about climate change, talked even more intensely about gun violence, helped a 3 year old color a picture, met a new member for coffee, connected a desperate person with social services, facilitated a conflict resolution, plotted how to make our church available for literacy classes, laughed with staff members, looked over architecture blueprints, designed a bible study, prayed, studied, analyzed budgets, and helped decorate a hall for a huge party. <br />
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2) <b>The schedule.</b> During the week, you have remarkable flexibility. True, working every weekend puts you out of sync with friends and family. That can be brutal. But the flip side is that you can pretty much shape the rhythm of the rest of the week. I haven't yet missed a child's doctor appointment or a preschool drop-off. I can squeeze in lunches with old friends and arrange appointments with the physical therapist. Yes, emergencies arise and I sometimes work late into the night or early in the morning. But who doesn't? By and large, the flexibility is a wonderful aspect of the job.<br />
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3) <b>It's essentially creative work.</b> Pastors get to look at the world as it is and then imagine what else is possible. You have the benefit of thousands of years of tradition to help springboard you into innovating for the future. Plus, there are all these creative people like musicians and artists and poets and quilters and filmmakers hanging around in churches. It's fun to work with them and bask in their talent. In how many professions do you get to hear gorgeous, live music every single week?<br />
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4) <b>When the world seems awful, you have a way to channel your lament and turn it into hope</b>. It's your job to care. You can actually say "I can't really function right now because my heart is breaking" and it's ok. And then you'll find God stepped in and made it possible to keep going. You work with a community of people who really believe in goodness and kindness and justice and God's presence. If they aren't acting that way, you get to gently remind them. And you can actually mobilize those people to create the kind of world that gives you hope in return. This is another aspect of the creativity of the work. It's liberating. <br />
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5)<b> Reading.</b> It's ok if I get caught in my office reading a novel. It's necessary to my work to stay on top of ideas and stories.<br />
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6) <b>Writing</b>. It's ok if I'm in my office writing or just sitting there thinking. It's even ok if I say "I'm going home now to write." I get to try to write meaningful, engaging things every single week and people actually pay attention. (Or they pretend well!). People I know who are authors, politicians and community organizers have pointed out how special it is to have a ready-made audience for newsletter articles, blog posts and sermons.<br />
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7) <b>The people</b>. People in churches are essentially goodhearted and often a little quirky. You get to know some very interesting, talented, varied humans and you get to know them well. As you get to know them, you can't help but love them. It's basically delightful to have your work be to love people. Also, turns out other pastors are a pretty great set of colleagues. Smart, engaged, and kind-hearted, my network of clergy friends would have my back in an instant. If I were ranking this list, this would be tied for #1.<br />
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8) <b>You have a front row seat to personal transformation</b>. You get to see people grapple with tough situations and witness God leading them through. People invite you into some of the most sacred, intense moments of their lives. You watch grief turn into tenderness, disappointment into a new path, and betrayal into renewed trust. You see people's sharp edges slowly become soft because they receive the love of God in community. You watch people grow close to Jesus and you see it making a difference. I've found it's impossible not to realize I'm being transformed too.<br />
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9) <b>Your own faith gets stronger. </b> It's similar to how people who work at gyms become healthier. Through bible study, prayer, worship, conversations, sermon prep, and rubbing shoulders with clergy from all sorts of faith backgrounds, you can't get lazy with your faith. My faith has changed significantly in the ten years. It's more humble and more resilient now. This is not to say there aren't days where faith is absent or long stretches of profound doubt. Of course there are. But even those times turn into strength in the end. This is the other tie for #1<br />
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10) <b>You can trust at the end of the day, it's actually not up to you to make your work fruitful</b>. Yes, as a pastor if you love your work and your people, you're going to have some anxiety about if you're doing well. But it is in God's hands and it is God's church. You really can sleep easy, if you've done your best, with that in mind.<br />
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That's my list! I'm sure I could find 10 more pretty easily. But I'm going to take advantage of the flexibility and get myself a cup of coffee and play with my kiddos. Deep thanks to the many many people who have made these 10 years what they are. And especially the two churches I've served: Prince of Peace, Gaithersburg and Peace, Alexandria, with a special shout out to Luther Place Memorial, Washington DC, and Bethesda in New Haven, the two churches that trained me up.Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-22362535476619074492017-04-13T13:48:00.003-04:002017-04-13T15:04:11.103-04:00Maundy Thursday 2017<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->From Pastor Sarah (<i>weekly reflection for the congregation).</i><br />
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<br /></div>
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After I write this, I will go into the sanctuary to pray for
our worship over the next three days.</div>
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I have the feeling – as I do every year on Maundy Thursday –
that I am longing for something that I can’t even name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it wholeness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace? Relief? Beauty? It’s all of these
things, and it’s more.<br />
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It’s the longing to know that fundamentally, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">things are going to end up well. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s a longing not just for my life but for every one of God’s
hurting, hungry children’s lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not
just for now but extending far into the future and even into the past. It’s not
just for humans but for all of God’s creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I look around and see all that’s broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am unsure that we can ever be made well. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The worship services we’re about to experience allow us to
say, with all lament and distress: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this
is not how it should be.</i> They allow us to express our longings to God and
to be utterly real with them. They also allow us to be utterly real with ourselves,
our selfishness and our incapacity to change all that is wrong without and
within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not ask us to pretend.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But…here’s the most amazing thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the lament is proclaimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the worst thing ever possible has
happened, what we find on the other side is something more miraculous than we can
ever expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longing is met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not there yet, but I know, by God’s
grace, I will be.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ll see you in church,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Sarah</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-7712969991214598032017-03-02T11:57:00.002-05:002017-03-02T12:07:13.301-05:00Lent: A Student of Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMYjB7PaXIlRW67wT9ZDX8_vDIVb5SVX_a9dmqTJp2Dra-CbtRedqu4tBz52LfFvXkFdwksMI9e5JadyXyhkTjbgAGS501xZhmUI1Pn7QRJCyzal4VOGUVQd1PEGvZ7PDP_s-9w3RHns/s1600/jj-thompson-142854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMYjB7PaXIlRW67wT9ZDX8_vDIVb5SVX_a9dmqTJp2Dra-CbtRedqu4tBz52LfFvXkFdwksMI9e5JadyXyhkTjbgAGS501xZhmUI1Pn7QRJCyzal4VOGUVQd1PEGvZ7PDP_s-9w3RHns/s320/jj-thompson-142854.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
On Ash Wednesday I talked about the <i>discipline of Lent</i>. Discipline comes from a word meaning "pupil." A discipline helps you learn something. <br />
<br />
For students of Jesus'
way, a discipline during the season of Lent opens our lives to God's work of transformation. It helps us learn to become what God has created us to be: practitioners of grace, justice, and love. <br />
<br />
If you'd like a Lenten discipline but don't know where to begin, I suggest one or both of these:<br />
<br />
1) Over dinner each day, reflect on these two questions. If you live with people, you may find it helpful to do this together.<br />
<ul>
<li>How did I give love today? </li>
<li>How did I receive love today?</li>
</ul>
2)
Begin each day with a benediction and end each day with a confession. This is what I'm doing this year. <br />
<br />
Every year as we plan the Ash Wednesday service I remember how much I love these texts. The benediction at the end of the service energizes me to be who God made me to be. The confession covers it all, from secret shames to the systemic ills and
everything in between.In the worship service, we start with confession and end with benediction but I think it's appropriate to flip those two in daily life - starting each day with benediction and ending with confession.<br />
<br />
I pray that as I frame my days through this practice, I'll find more patience, resilience, humility and focus. I hope it will help me be a better student of Jesus. If you join me in this, I'd love to hear how it works for you. <br />
<br />
Blessings on your Lent,<br />
- Pr Sarah<br />
<br />
<b>Start the day with a benediction:</b> Perhaps post it to your bathroom mirror or put it on your car radio dial.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Go forth into the world in peace; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be of good courage;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hold fast to that which is good;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Render to no one evil for evil;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Strengthen the fainthearted;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Support the weak; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Help the afflicted; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Honor everyone;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love and serve the Lord,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<b>End the day with confession.</b> I'll print this out and put it on my nightstand.<br />
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<b>Confession </b></div>
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Most holy and merciful God:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confess to you and to the whole communion
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thought, word, and deed; by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.</div>
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I have not loved you with my whole heart, and mind, and
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I have not loved my neighbor as myself. </div>
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I have not forgiven others, as I have been forgiven.</div>
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Have mercy on me, Lord.</div>
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I have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served
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I have not been true to the mind of Christ. </div>
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I have grieved your Holy Spirit.</div>
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Have mercy on me, Lord.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I confess to you, Lord, all my past unfaithfulness. </div>
The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in my life,
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My self-indulgent appetites and ways, and my exploitation
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My anger at my own frustration, and my envy of those more
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My intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and my
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My negligence in prayer and worship, and my failure to
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I confess to you Lord. </div>
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Accept my repentance, Lord, for the wrongs I have done. </div>
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For my blindness to human need and suffering, and my
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For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward
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For my waste and pollution of your creation, and my lack
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Accept my repentance, Lord.</div>
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Restore me, good Lord, and let your anger depart from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Hear me, Lord, for your mercy is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-78355797278388556092016-06-13T12:16:00.005-04:002016-06-13T14:10:20.198-04:00After the shootings at Pulse.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Church,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I write in response to the mass shooting yesterday at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. Like many of you, I am sad, disgusted and weary. The role for people of faith at such a time is certainly to pray for God's peace, comfort and direction. It is also to act, remembering that Jesus' faith empowered him to speak boldly and act courageously in the face of what seemed unchanging social norms<i>. </i>He encouraged his disciples to do the same. That's us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The shooting stands at the intersection of three topics that cry out for our action:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) <b>Gun Control</b>. It is past time for our country to act on meaningful gun control. As soon as I finish this letter I will write to my congresspeople, both national and state, and let them know that I support strict gun control laws. Find the contact information for yours <a href="https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials">here.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though I have long been convinced that our country needs to change laws on gun access in order to solve our national epidemic of mass shootings, I have not acted on that conviction. Why not? Partly because I wanted to avoid confrontation with loved ones who feel differently; partly because the thicket of gun control policies confuse me and make me feel stupid when I try to talk about it; partly because the gun lobby seems too powerful to stop; and partly because there are so many other issues to work on. I suppose I thought that if I could keep my family gun-free, privately lament the way killing machines seem so prevalent, and in my bubble avoid their presence, I would be safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was wrong and I am sorry. Christians are never worried only about their own safety and frankly,<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">no one is <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">insulated</span></span></span>. The gun laws in this country make unsafe conditions for everyone. The answer is not more guns. It's fewer and more restricted access. Obscenely powerful automatic weapons like the one used in Orlando should be outlawed for private use altogether. There is no need for a hunter or a person concerned with personal safety to have such weapons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And regarding all gun ownership, stronger national gun control laws are essential to stopping such killings. The organization I have found to be the most reasonable and aligned with my values (and I hope God's values) on this is <a href="http://everytown.org/">Everytown for Gun Safety.</a> I have just joined the movement and donated. We can change this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) <b>Public affirmation for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. </b>Peace Lutheran Church has, for decades, been a place of worship for people of a variety of sexual orientations. It's one of the reasons I wanted to come here as a pastor. I think it's true - <i>I hope it's true - </i>that the way we enact our belief that all people are loved and worthy of love makes it easy to forget just how much hatred sill exists for people who are GLBTQ. Again, I live in a bubble of tolerance and naivete on this <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one</span>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The shooting is a reminder that hatred for GLBTQ people is out there, real and dangerous. The world is not safe for them. As someone who believes strongly that God made humanity with a variety of sexual orientations and all are equally beloved by God, I will say again and again, this hatred is not holy. It is not godly. It is not right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) <b>Refusal to stereotype Muslims. </b>The killer was an American-born Muslim. I am an American-born Christian, raised in the same religious tradition as Dylann Roof, who killed nine African-American worshipers last summer in a Charleston church. No one, to my knowledge, ever blamed Lutheran Christianity or me personally for his actions. Just like I found his racially-motivated murders appalling, millions of Muslims who stand for peace and love decry the actions of the killer in Orlando. Read examples <a href="http://time.com/4365689/orlando-shooting-muslim-nightclub/,">here</a> and <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-orlando-shootings-and-american-muslims">here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sure, radical aberrations of Islam exist. So do radical aberrations of Christianity. Painting all Muslims with a wide brush destroys our ability to see nuance and variety within such an enormous religious tradition. At its heart, Islam - and the vast majority of American Muslims - is about peace. Somehow our society manages to distinguish between me and the KKK. The same is required for the way we talk about Muslims now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is so much more to say on all three of these topics, but I will leave this here. The world needs disciples of Jesus to point to light, truth, love and peace. I hope this letter stirs you to add your drop of those things to the ocean of need. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faith in the living Jesus makes me believe that change in this world is possible. God's kingdom come.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be at Peace,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pastor Sarah </span>Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-67770698165002070492016-04-21T12:45:00.000-04:002016-04-21T12:45:02.042-04:00Mission: Possible - I'd tell about Jesus but no one's asking. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
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From Pastor Sarah – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mission:
Possible</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last week I preached about the encounters we can have with the
living spirit of God when we take time to listen to people’s concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told about Professor Lucy who, through
teaching film to students craving to find artistic expression and mentoring,
was also able to share her faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBWCMKmMR31iMHsKoU9Dp4WAYpB6aAAMQDT9c8a6SOAuRTzHC3ag-RKkTHoK5nR2Jg2J4t7Y8ssyxtCT5P0ZdvEK1hNM04qxeP7OOKSyv7SwjZ-ikbB_OeTEsEOsr_se8Vfx_h-Kj_ME/s1600/What-would-you-say.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBWCMKmMR31iMHsKoU9Dp4WAYpB6aAAMQDT9c8a6SOAuRTzHC3ag-RKkTHoK5nR2Jg2J4t7Y8ssyxtCT5P0ZdvEK1hNM04qxeP7OOKSyv7SwjZ-ikbB_OeTEsEOsr_se8Vfx_h-Kj_ME/s320/What-would-you-say.png" width="320" /></a>Rarely will someone ask you about Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far more often, they will tell you that they
long for a different kind of life; they will share a joy, a desire, a
heartbreak: they’ll ask for prayers for healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In every human encounter, there is the
possibility for the Holy Spirit’s presence to create healing and peace. Rather than see mission as something that only
happens at church or through church programs, we find renewed grace when we see
our whole lives as part of God’s mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Someone sent me <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-was-a-closeted-christian-at-the-pentagon/2016/04/08/0eea5468-dbd2-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_story.html">this article</a> about an official at the Pentagon who started to integrate his faith with his work. If I'd read it before the sermon, I would have used it as an example. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Listen to the sermon<a href="http://sharingpeace.org/"> here.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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This week I will preach on a vision that Peter had where God
told him to eat animals that were considered unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Peter protested, God retorted: “Never
consider unclean what God has made pure.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter was wondering what the meaning of the
vision could be when it became clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some people who weren’t Jewish wanted Peter to come and teach them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This apparently blew Peter’s mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God would work through people who weren’t
Jewish was astounding and it directly contradicted plenty of passages in
Scripture that said otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, not
one to argue too much with God, Peter went to the family and found indeed that
the Holy Spirit was with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mind
was changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mission was clear.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Questions:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Have you ever met someone who fit in a category
you’d been taught to dislike only to find yourself surprised by the encounter?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Do you think God can work through everybody?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Has God ever made your mission crystal clear?</div>
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Be at Peace,</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-9901839843753511782016-04-07T12:48:00.001-04:002016-04-07T12:48:17.549-04:00Mission: Possible - Last Week/Next Week<i>I sense that Peace Lutheran Church - where I serve as Pastor - is on the brink of doing some new exciting things to share the gospel. I don't know what they are yet, but my first step in making them a reality is cultivating a hunger in the church to grow and reach new people. To that end, I'm doing a sermon series for Easter based on the book of Acts called Mission: Possible. Here's the synopsis/preview for last week/this week.</i><br />
<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
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</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_YenZoW3T5DuZqDQMCZpBPClQzRBylSqUlu3n5OqbHlVE5eNZdqu7Pe_z6BS7Cw3oxNmkq28a9F1lYBB8-etiDOeIwg-x8SiHqfIhFnUP0kv7RQb-EXfx-1YwthjDs3IVRTjvUACvh0/s1600/mission-possible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_YenZoW3T5DuZqDQMCZpBPClQzRBylSqUlu3n5OqbHlVE5eNZdqu7Pe_z6BS7Cw3oxNmkq28a9F1lYBB8-etiDOeIwg-x8SiHqfIhFnUP0kv7RQb-EXfx-1YwthjDs3IVRTjvUACvh0/s320/mission-possible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renewal in one’s own faith life is the first step to sharing
the good news with other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
same Peter who had denied Jesus turned into a bold witness to the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened? He encountered the resurrected
Jesus who loved him despite his betrayal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus forgave Peter, gave Peter a new start, and it made all the
difference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How has Jesus made a difference in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This question is sometimes impossible for
people who’ve been in church forever to answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s critical for our sense of mission to be reminded that we are people
in need of God’s love<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> and</b> we’ve got
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more we live with the awareness
of that amazing grace, the more courage we’ll have to share it with others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Listen to the sermon <a href="http://sharingpeace.org/sermons/">here.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I will preach on the conversion of Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul persecuted Christians and then, an
experience of the resurrected Jesus on the road and just like that, he becomes
Paul, the biggest champion of Jesus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It leads to the question: why don’t you think God can change
you too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adults come up with all sorts
of excuses for why we can’t do new things (too old, too set-in-my-ways, too
comfortable, too poor, too tired, too many people relying on me, too
embarrassed, too afraid).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can ALWAYS
do new things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God could change Saul
into Paul, God can transform your life too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Questions:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Is there an area of life you’d love to change
but don’t know how?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Do you believe that in the future, you could
serve God in a new or different way?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>When is the last time you remember having the
courage to make a big change?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be at Peace,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Sarah</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-54158316424597537322016-01-21T12:01:00.002-05:002016-01-21T12:10:22.491-05:00Christians in the snow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8cQnpCJtWZ4CpchKllwCl-VzGalZEvF1COOldxBoJMcWyfBXqkAvzsZgqhyphenhyphenoc9fqvGp9J8GQnJ0EKJCvDwFsSdWdLQgL-c_BK908aqO2EvfsmMrNUr6FWYL2FNNcbMpDhYz_4b0Lh-w/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8cQnpCJtWZ4CpchKllwCl-VzGalZEvF1COOldxBoJMcWyfBXqkAvzsZgqhyphenhyphenoc9fqvGp9J8GQnJ0EKJCvDwFsSdWdLQgL-c_BK908aqO2EvfsmMrNUr6FWYL2FNNcbMpDhYz_4b0Lh-w/s200/snow.jpg" width="200" /></a>Hi church - I've seen lots of posts about how to stay safe and get what you need in anticipation of a big snow storm.<br />
<br />
Here are a few thrown together thoughts about how you can act out your faith during a snowstorm:<br />
<br />
1) If you anticipate you'll have special needs this weekend, let someone know. <b>This is not the time to be proud. </b> Loneliness, hunger, thirst, cold - we're all susceptible. If you're afraid of experiencing one of those during what could be a debilitating snowstorm, let someone know you need to be checked on and cared for. Email me if you don't know who else to tell. I'll do my best to get you some care. <br />
<br />
2) Call people you know who live alone, who are frail, who might rely on delivery services like Meals on Wheels or grocery deliveries. Check in on them and make sure they have what they need to get through a couple of days.<br />
<br />
3) Elderly or disabled neighbors? Neighbors with small children who can't be outside in cold for long? Let them know ahead of time that you'll shovel their walks for them. This will be a huge relief. <br />
<br />
4) Snow days are no fun for a lot of people, including people who won't get paid if they can't get to work, people who don't have enough money for heat, people who have nowhere safe to sleep. If you are lucky enough to enjoy your snow day, consider giving an extra gift to a local organization that helps people in need. In our area, <a href="http://www.accacares.org/">Annandale Christian Communities for Action</a> and <a href="http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/city.cgi?city=Baileys%20Crossroads&state=VA">Bailey's Crossroads Shelter</a> are both worthy places to give. <br />
<br />
5) If church is cancelled, (I'll make the decision on Saturday by noon), use the hour on Sunday morning to pray, read the scriptures and sing. You can find the texts <a href="http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=109">here</a>. But don't feel the need to be super holy about it. <b>Snow days are a super-sabbath. </b>Hang out in your pjs. Make pancakes and enjoy one another in the name of God! Sleep in, rest up.<br />
<br />
6) Speaking of super-sabbath...don't try to keep up your normal pace and by all means, stay off the roads. Remember, emergency vehicles still need to get through. <br />
<br />
7) Play. I firmly believe that God smiles when we laugh. If you are in a position to relax during the snow day, get out in the snow and enjoy it. Go for a walk, through a snowball, make a snow angel, take in the wonder of the silent stillness that a big snowfall creates. <br />
<br />
Be safe and stay warm - God bless all your days,<br />
Pastor SarahBarefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-70240712685038339192015-12-21T22:07:00.003-05:002015-12-23T09:21:39.346-05:00Before the Christmas Pageant - We are the stories we tell.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-QZae8llkX-9uLfacExMddN9LySjrUGaWo9CsHPbLeN_tKZOSni6fnOUWQL6Sx08-5m6DR3wXVLnK5QC9cc7OHObcZfM-Ld7798TJv36yVQleP_P6YFWA7Pcouo0D5nK4s674Ip-4_o/s1600/Star-Wars-nativity-scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-QZae8llkX-9uLfacExMddN9LySjrUGaWo9CsHPbLeN_tKZOSni6fnOUWQL6Sx08-5m6DR3wXVLnK5QC9cc7OHObcZfM-Ld7798TJv36yVQleP_P6YFWA7Pcouo0D5nK4s674Ip-4_o/s320/Star-Wars-nativity-scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>(This was my introduction to the Christmas Pageant at Peace Lutheran, Alexandria VA, Dec 20 2015)</i><br />
<br />
A few weeks ago I was in a training session about discipleship. What's that, you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The great commandment of the resurrected Jesus
is to go and make disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then,
one of the purposes of church is to do that with every generation: make modern disciples
who will follow the ways of Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this time and place, we can’t assume people learned discipleship at home
or in church as youngsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We have to teach them. </span>Hence, the
training. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the session, we searched for a word to use for
“disciples-in-training.” It’s too long, too church-y, and just kind of
weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People brainstormed words around
the table:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mentee. Student. Apprentice. Novice. Fledgling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all burst into giggles when someone said below his breath,
“Young Jedi.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ahhh, Young Jedi, prepared to follow Jesus you will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our confirmation students would probably better understand what we’re
doing with them if instead of calling them ‘confirmands’ we called them
Padawan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those who don’t know, those are Star Wars
references.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the reason I bring them up isn’t because
I’m a super fan – I’m not - but because it's very clear that Star Wars has influenced a lot of people’s lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the release of the most recent episode,
the anticipation was at its highest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People dressed up in costume, memorized their favorite parts, and even
reenacted famous scenes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a weird thing to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To get SOOOO into a story that you would dress up and reenact it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would you do that?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Indeed. Why? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must
be because that story means something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stories give meaning to our lives; they help us understand
our larger context and give us connection points to previous generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one South African saying goes, “We are the
stories we tell.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the stories we
tell and even more we are the stories we repeat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I prepare to spend time with family in the next weeks, I plan to be intentional about listening to their stories, especially
the ones I’ve heard before, because those are probably the ones that matter
most. I’ll hope people have the grace to listen to my stories too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Though it costs nothing, l</span>istening to another person's story may be the most
precious gift I give this Christmas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All our stories are best understood against the narrative of that larger story that holds us all together. As we tell our stories, we may even be able to see ourselves in light of that great story: a story of good and evil, innocence and corruption,
complex father-son dynamics, ancient wisdom passed on to the hope of the next
generation, empire and rebel, an underdog team of misfits, sin and forgiveness,
justice and mercy, the need to save the child, the hope that the
child will save us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not Star Wars, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the story of Jesus and it’s the story that makes us who we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We can't get enough of it. We tell it and read it and sing it and write books about it and make
sure our children know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We listen to older generations reminisce and
we marvel as younger generations catch its spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We
become superfans. And yes, we even dress up in costume and act it out. We are the stories we tell. Now let's hear from our youngest disciples-in-training as they tell us the greatest story of our lives.</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-86299486549843352152015-06-30T13:46:00.001-04:002015-06-30T13:56:53.077-04:00Independence Day<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Independence Day<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjke27pMXjWxVT84vQSmvCowX-3b1WRl6iBO5bz8_XRPeym1quSjGnV7nxmZY12eGw5UnyQLo_G_zif7NLpRFI1c6PTvObiYXw-q49pRK50_uDwuhD1u7js3w56tsP51c9kH6NC7wsGk8A/s1600/8586589542_fb3fe0d97b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjke27pMXjWxVT84vQSmvCowX-3b1WRl6iBO5bz8_XRPeym1quSjGnV7nxmZY12eGw5UnyQLo_G_zif7NLpRFI1c6PTvObiYXw-q49pRK50_uDwuhD1u7js3w56tsP51c9kH6NC7wsGk8A/s320/8586589542_fb3fe0d97b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You were three and a half weeks old when I drove away from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That makes it sound much more dramatic than
it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t leave for good or sneak
off like an unhinged mom who just couldn’t take it anymore. Your dad and I
decided it would be good for all three of us if I took time by myself and he
cared for you without me hovering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
left you fed and content sleeping on his lap. I had nothing to worry about. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I wasn’t worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as I backed out of the driveway, surprising tears sprung.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt a physical tug in my uterus – your old
apartment - as I slowly drove away from home. “You can do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is good,” I tried to soothe myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was disoriented on my own street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to go back home to you but that
wasn’t the deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to be gone for
an hour. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
59 minutes to go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to go to the library and then the garden store,
two places I knew well that were close enough to home so that if the SOS call
came I could be back in 10 minutes. I expected that call to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the library parking lot I called my own mother. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Guess what I’m doing for the first time in 3 and a half
weeks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spending time away from my
daughter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mom’s response? “It’s not the first time in three and a
half weeks, it’s the first time in ten months.“ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Indeed. She understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For ten months you and I have been as intimately tied to each other as
two people can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should not have
surprised me that even in a familiar parking lot five minutes from home, I felt
completely lost without you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hung up with my mom, halfheartedly searched the stacks
where the books all seemed like foreign objects, and checked out something by
an author I remembered I used to like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
drove to the garden store and called my mom again while I browsed perennials. She
told me what kind to get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked
about the details of your young life. And then she told me of the death of
someone I’d grown up with. A
skateboarding accident. He was 35 years
old with a wife and young child. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I heard that news differently than I would have before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pictured your dad dying and I ached for the
wife left to raise their child alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
imagined if I died and shuddered at the thought of you growing up without
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pictured the man’s parents and
felt their grief in my gut.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To lose a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a new fear. It makes me want to never let you out of my sight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Had the hour passed? Had I been gone long enough? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I love you mom, I have to go.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I love you too sweetie. You’re doing a good job.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hung up the call, paid for my plants and hurried
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined a scene of chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shrieking while your dad tried his
darndest to shush and sway you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Him at
his wits end and me rushing in to save the day with that thing only I can give:
milk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead you were cashed out on the mint green boppy on his
lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was reading, the dog was
sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All was calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was both grateful and at a loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t you miss me?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How was she?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She was just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She woke up a while back and cried so I gave her formula.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gulp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had talked about that option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was perfectly ok in the parenting pact for
your dad to break open our emergency stash of formula and give you a bottle. We’d
even gone over how to make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was
crushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For your entire existence,
except for that microscopic material that swam in from your dad, all the
physical building blocks of your life came from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, you were sullied with enfamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer a breast milk virgin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer solely my creation. You could
survive without me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is how it goes from here on out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We slowly unravel from each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A goal of my parenting is to raise you to be an independent
person. The tricky part is that means I will need to become an independent
person too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rationally I know it is a
good thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Still it felt good to take you in my arms, whisper “I love
you” and feed you my milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Still I hope
that 40 years from now, you’ll call me to comfort you when you feel lost and
afraid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53477219@N02/8586589542">_DSC2628</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-84269517938074788432015-02-26T15:53:00.004-05:002015-02-26T15:53:43.854-05:00Backpacks full of stones are heavy. Words for the week, Feb 22 - March 1.<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">We’re
in a focus on forgiveness during Lent at Peace. We're also mostly off the lectionary.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Last week, I preached
about the woman who had been caught in the act of adultery and was about
to be stoned to death in John 8. Jesus told the crowds ‘let the one
who is without sin cast the first stone.” One by one, people put their
stones down and she was free to go. Jesus showed compassion for her.
It’s only through God-given compassion that we can forgive one another.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XQ-vshpzyCBw2VzCS9EMSycmPGxZT9wY3rVLv0eDjbA1giWKy8lOprfPmZTzbf52bi4ghM9SyDSzA3Y4dYXA8HhW7BtZH3i2K-TsX-N31bZtRtt9U8GSleZE0cyKPCmlwumJw0r_X3Y/s1600/Backpack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XQ-vshpzyCBw2VzCS9EMSycmPGxZT9wY3rVLv0eDjbA1giWKy8lOprfPmZTzbf52bi4ghM9SyDSzA3Y4dYXA8HhW7BtZH3i2K-TsX-N31bZtRtt9U8GSleZE0cyKPCmlwumJw0r_X3Y/s1600/Backpack.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I
told a personal story of forgiveness between my father and me. For
years, I experienced the lack of forgiveness between us like a heavy
backpack of stones. I could always reach in and find an old hurt to
hurl at him. I was always worried that something I’d done would be flung at
me. The burden of carrying all those hurts weighed me down. When I
decided to ask for and offer forgiveness, it was a huge relief. As we
both set our backpack of stones down, we allowed for the past to remain
the past and for the future to be something new.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Listen to the sermon <a href="https://soundcloud.com/peace-lutheran/pastorsarahscherschligt-feb22-2015-forgivness1" target="_blank">here</a>:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">This
week, I will preach about the decision we all have, in the face of
hurt, to choose to harm or choose to heal. Drawing on two Biblical
stories of brothers, Jacob and Esau (Genesis 32) and The Prodigal Son
and Older Brother (Luke 15), we’ll see how God’s future comes through
healing, not through revenge. Healing isn’t easy and it can take time,
sometimes years. Throughout the process, God is with us, empowering us,
every step of the way. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Questions:</span></div>
<ol style="list-style: decimal; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<li style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0.42in; margin: 0; padding-left: 0.07in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the world, where do you see people clamor for revenge?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0.42in; margin: 0; padding-left: 0.07in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">If
you forgive, is that the same as letting someone off the hook? Have
you ever withheld forgiveness because you were concerned about being
fair?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0.42in; margin: 0; padding-left: 0.07in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">When have you experienced a homecoming like the one the father offers his prodigal son?</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Be at peace,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Pastor Sarah</span></div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-39050890653665135302015-02-17T14:04:00.002-05:002015-02-17T17:18:38.676-05:00Bye Bye Buy Buy Baby<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Friday date night, my husband and I went to Buy Buy Baby. We were no farther than the first aisle when I needed to sit in a glider for 20 minutes and take a break. All we'd looked at were cribs but I could see the shelves of stuff threatening ahead. I was overwhelmed.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WZ49rWPgBcltzoty_OuDgo426ctSOvbmYujTn9pMetHQzblTKF81APKnC5qZtpBrCU3dY2xjEcrJPXjHgNBJgHHofGLadevIJL1Q2_6G9ugCkuLulRa5kY20Yap5hJCLfuMmpaS1lcc/s1600/IMG_6684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WZ49rWPgBcltzoty_OuDgo426ctSOvbmYujTn9pMetHQzblTKF81APKnC5qZtpBrCU3dY2xjEcrJPXjHgNBJgHHofGLadevIJL1Q2_6G9ugCkuLulRa5kY20Yap5hJCLfuMmpaS1lcc/s1600/IMG_6684.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many kinds of bottles or blankets or strollers need to be made available to expectant parents? How much of my waning energy will be sucked up by researching the difference between car seats or brands of diapers? And how much is this all going to cost??? We made it through every aisle but we had to stop at the grocery store on the way home. This called for ice cream.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were demoralized. It wasn't that the experience made us think we'd be terrible parents exactly. It's that it's all new landscape and we want to do our best. Having the right stuff seems like it should make the navigation into parenthood easier but the sheer variety of choices just makes it harder. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After emailing some close friends and family for advice, I quickly learned this is a rite of passage for middle class parents-to-be. Go to the big box baby store; get totally overwhelmed; feel daunted by the consumerism of this supposedly natural and holy event; eat ice cream. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It reminds me of when I went into the Peace Corps. I received a standard packing list for my host country and I began fretting. I bought tee-shirts and returned them for button-downs. I couldn't find the perfect dresses so I sewed some myself. I lost sleep - yes, lost actual sleep - over the question of how much shampoo to pack. I weighed and reweighed my suitcases a hundred times as I tried to get the perfect 81 lbs of stuff, my sole provisions for 2 years. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was not until after I settled into my life in Malawi that I realized how much my stress about stuff was really misplaced anxiety about the transition itself. After all, people in Malawi live their whole lives with what they can get there. Duh. This couldn't have been about the stuff. It was about my need for control and predictability in a time when everything seemed strange. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As I fret about baby stuff, I know that it is mostly about trying to control and predict what is uncontrollable and unpredictable: what will happen with our child's life. </b> All the stuff in the world won't be able to answer that. It's a faith challenge to trust God, my husband, and myself with the gift we're about to receive. The words of Psalm 23 ring in my ear: "The Lord is my shepherd, I have all I need."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll do the best we can to prepare, of course. The lists from our friends have helped tremendously. Victory! We've actually chosen a stroller and car seat. People have been generous with hand-me-downs and our stockpile is growing. Plus, we can actually purchase things after the child is born, right? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little perspective helps too: most parents throughout time and history haven't had the luxury of such choices. Our choices mean we're rich. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have the basics covered: food, shelter, heat, health care. I can't imagine the anxiety of wondering how we'd provide for this child's most essential needs. And p</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lenty of people who long for children and have experienced the pain of miscarriage, infertility or drawn out adoption processes would kill for our problem. We're hardly facing a crisis. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, I'll probably feel overwhelmed by stuff again. When I do, I'll cling to the advice my mother wrote in the face of my buy buy baby panic.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I don't even know what a bumpo or a boppy are. What a child needs most is parents who love it and yours already has that." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It most certainly does. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be at peace,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-72508628166404376532015-02-07T08:29:00.000-05:002015-02-07T08:41:55.289-05:00Words for the week: Feb 1 - Feb 8<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px;">
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">From Pastor Sarah</span></span></div>
</div>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Last week, my sermon focused on 1 Corinthians and the debate over eating sacrificed meat.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Paul pointed out that this raging debate wasn't really about their diets, it was about their witness. <span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our actions should always be influenced by the question: Does this action show God's love? </span></div>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">It's tempting to turn our faith into a morality lesson.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Certainly our faith in Jesus affects our sense of right and wrong but Jesus did not die just so we could get a new set of rules that we would then - because we're human - fail to follow.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No, Jesus showed us something b</span><span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">eyond ethics, beyond morals.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus showed us love and love isn't summarized in a list of right or wrong actions. </span></div>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Listen to the sermon <a href="https://soundcloud.com/peace-lutheran/february8" mce_href="https://soundcloud.com/peace-lutheran/february8" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">This week, my sermon will focus on Mark 1:29-39, where Jesus heals illness and casts out demons. As I've prayed and discussed <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8353680924114887777" name="_GoBack" target="_blank"></a>and studied this text, it's become abundantly clear that deeply faithful people have a variety of viewpoints on what is meant by these demons.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We don't know exactly what plagued the people Jesus encountered.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Were they displaying symptoms of what we'd now consider mental illnesses?<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Were they epileptic?<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Were they possessed by an evil spirit that goes beyond modern scientific explanation?<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Does that spirit still enter people's bodies now?<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Does it operate on a more communal level?<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What is evil anyway? </span></div>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I admit that I'm puzzled by what exactly Jesus was doing back then or what the corollary would be for our time.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I can say this for sure: <b mce_style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Jesus was concerned with healing bodies and spirits, individuals and communities.</b><span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The healing ministry of Jesus is one that can speak directly into our lives, for as we all know, everybody is in need of healing of some kind.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></div>
<ol mce_style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" start="1" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li mce_style="margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; line-height: 107%; font-size: 15px; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; list-style-type: decimal; padding-left: 0.13in;" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%; font-family:Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">When you think about evil and demons, what comes to mind?</span></li>
<li mce_style="margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; line-height: 107%; font-size: 15px; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; list-style-type: decimal; padding-left: 0.13in;" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%; font-family:Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Jesus went out in the wilderness to pray.<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Is it difficult or easy for you to find time alone to pray?</span></li>
<li mce_style="margin: 0in 0in 11px 0.5in; line-height: 107%; font-size: 15px; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; list-style-type: decimal; padding-left: 0.13in;" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 11px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%; font-family:Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">In what way are you in need of physical healing?<span mce_style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you ever feel like you have a demon that needs to be cast out? </span></li>
</ol>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Be at Peace,</span></div>
<div mce_style=" margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; font-size:15px; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; " style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.049999237060547px; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span mce_style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: Georgia,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Pastor Sarah</span></div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-51339753760270093632015-02-02T11:02:00.002-05:002015-02-02T11:03:03.440-05:00Words for the week: Jan 25-Feb 1<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From Pastor Sarah</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Last
week, in a sermon about Jonah, I pointed out that Jonah's pouty
response to the Ninevite's conversion reveals something true about all
of us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find it easier to be righteous when we have a clear enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or put another way: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it's easier to be the good guy when everyone knows who the bad guy is.</b> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When
a person you'd written off as unworthy changes, you may have a hard
time allowing them to be different than they were before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their change means you have to change too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
God's mercy extends to the Ninevites, Jonah would have to accept those
Niniveites were no worse than he was in the eyes of God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Jonah would have to face them as equals which would mean confronting - yet again - his own shadow side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
probably just wants to get rid of the fishy smell that lingers on his
body and these Ninevites remind him, he's as in need of God's mercy as
they are. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Listen to the whole sermon <a href="https://soundcloud.com/peace-lutheran/january-25-2015-jonah-changechange-back-pastor-sarah-scherschlig" target="_blank">here</a>:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This
week, I will preach on 1 Corinthians 8. Paul wrote to a new church as
they tried to figure out the rules that would govern their life
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their case, at issue is if they should eat meat that had been killed in a sacrifice to idols.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
we no longer have that struggle, it's a safe, non-emotional case study
for us to learn something about how to resolve conflicts within a
church. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Churches
can so often get polarized into our various camps that we forget that
the central reason we are together is because God loves us. Church isn't
made up of people who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> the most or even who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're made up of people equally in need of God's love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we need order and rules, but it's love that undergirds them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Paul writes, "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Questions:</span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Have you ever been so focused on being "right" that you damaged a valuable relationship?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">How would asking yourself "what's the loving thing to do?" change a conflict you are currently in?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 107%; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 11px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What small gift of undeserved love has someone given to you recently?</span></li>
</ol>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-42009890251309602372015-01-22T14:51:00.000-05:002015-01-22T14:59:07.545-05:00Last week this week - Jan 18 and 25<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>Note: each week I send a summary of last week's sermon, a preview of this week's, and discussion questions to our church email list. I am going to try to also post these on my blog weekly in the hopes they may be useful to others. Be at Peace, Pr Sarah</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;"><i> </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">Last week, I preached about Samuel, Eli and the courage it takes to follow your calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all are called by God to be part of the on-going project of spreading
the good news of Jesus. This takes different forms: volunteering as a
Sunday School teacher, being a parent, working a job you find meaningful
or being the best neighbor you know how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All people can serve God wherever they are. To paraphrase Martin Luther, if you're a plumber, be a plumber for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">The difficulty is that sometimes when start to see our lives as part of God's calling, it leads us into unknown and scary territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We can feel quite alone. </span>Think of how a lone dancer at an outdoor concert becomes the leader of an all-out dance party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person starts, but then a few people have to follow and pull others in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we step out in courage, we are tempted to think of ourselves as the
lone dancers, but really, we're always followers. The followers are essential - otherwise there's no party! - but the followers aren't the ones who start it. Jesus precedes us as the first dancer, giving us the courage to get on up and follow
to where we hear, deep down, God is calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">Listen to the sermon <a href="https://soundcloud.com/peace-lutheran/sermon-the-first-followers-pastor-sarah-scherschligt-1182015" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">This week the texts are also about calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll preach about Jonah, that prophet who tried to flee from God's call only to find himself in the belly of a big fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You probably know that God rescued Jonah from that fish but you might not know the second half of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"God's
word came to Jonah a second time." He went where God had originally
instructed and told the people they needed to change, to repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH5gsYrDT-DjVqf7z-_D5EtdbcTJyDNHLf74PdgyH4rGPFI8K3o737tKDtBV8hsaDfQA4GqMPdfWbfcjaw4PwdHFqkdkO53Lj6cn3JtoTgQg92a2HeRokgLNNkakxgQQf1G9iMLYK9f0/s1600/jonah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH5gsYrDT-DjVqf7z-_D5EtdbcTJyDNHLf74PdgyH4rGPFI8K3o737tKDtBV8hsaDfQA4GqMPdfWbfcjaw4PwdHFqkdkO53Lj6cn3JtoTgQg92a2HeRokgLNNkakxgQQf1G9iMLYK9f0/s1600/jonah.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">This is a story about second chances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives Jonah a second chance but it's not as if Jonah can now just do whatever he wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second chance is another chance to follow God's will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means Jonah has to accept that other people - people who were his enemies - can change <i>just like he has</i> and receive God's mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's too much for Jonah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> The people repent but instead of rejoicing Jonah becomes angry. His anger seems ridiculous, until I consider how often I hold onto grudges and refuse to let others change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonah's
example challenges us to consider why we get angry when someone else
gets a second chance and invites us to ask what we do with the second
chances God offers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">Questions:</span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">Have you ever been angry when someone you didn't think deserved it got a second chance?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">Have you ever gotten a second chance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did it change you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;">In Jonah, God is portrayed as angry at people's evil behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you think God is angry about now?</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px;"></span>Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-61822675777972906862015-01-14T09:48:00.000-05:002015-01-14T09:48:52.058-05:00Hold onto Christmas<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hold onto
Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My little living room is awash in nativity scenes. Just a five years ago my parents gave me my first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I have seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got two new ones
last year alone: in Haiti and in Bethlehem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Each year, it's a </span>joy to rediscover them and prepare for Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This weekend, they will finally come down. I will pack the Marys and shepherds and donkeys back
in their boxes to wait in the basement another 11 months until they take their
places center stage again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This year, I’m toying with
leaving out one Jesus when I put the rest away. When I see him, it would
serve as a reminder during the gloomy months of January and February that God’s promises came true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would remind me to live a Christmas
life all year around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What is a Christmas
life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a life that trusts God can
come into the bleakest of situations and transform them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a life that gives generously toward
others in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a life that notices
the variety of people who bowed down to worship the baby Jesus and tries to build a
community to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a life
that recognizes the miracle of God-with-us every day of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The theologian Howard
Thurman wrote this beautiful poem called The Work of Christmas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
the song of the angels is stilled,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when
the star in the sky is gone,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when
the kings and princes are home,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when
the shepherds are back with their flocks,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
work of Christmas begins:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to find the lost,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to heal the broken,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to feed the hungry,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to release the prisoner,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to rebuild the nations,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to bring peace among the people,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to make music in the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whenever we do
something to remind others (or ourselves) that God’s love is real and
life-changing - even if it’s in July - it's as if we sing a Christmas carol.
“Joy to the world, the lord is come!”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blessings on your year-round Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be at Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Sarah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-78925413247225536262014-12-11T14:13:00.000-05:002014-12-11T14:32:56.044-05:00What shall we cry? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mSblNnyZq9M/VInvdNfwroI/AAAAAAAACXE/pwrSLgDe9S4/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mSblNnyZq9M/VInvdNfwroI/AAAAAAAACXE/pwrSLgDe9S4/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Below are excerpts from my sermon Dec 7 on Isaiah 40. I wrote this having heard from
people in my congregation - and experiencing myself - concern, even
outrage, but also feelings of powerless as to how to respond to the
decisions in Staten Island and Ferguson. What role can I play in the healing of the nations?</span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px; text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Living between "What shall we cry?" and "Here is your God."</span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">"Comfort, comfort my people" says Isaiah. God comes to us in the wildernesses of our lives through people who offer comfort. True comfort, however, often requires something besides caring presence: <b>true comfort requires the promise of change</b>. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Something
very important is happening in our society. As Christians who believe
all people are God's children and therefore equally valuable, we do well to pay
attention. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">As
the Garner and Brown cases have been brought to light, they've also
brought new light to the ways, small and large, that racism is alive and
well in America. Some of you have known that for a while. Some of you
can likely add to that testimony. Others of us are just now learning
how much the legacy of racism in our society is not just a thing of the
past. I wish it were over and done. We all do. It goes against our basic Christian values to accept a society rife with racism.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">But,
as with many of the biggest problems in our lives, many of us feel
powerless and confused about what to do. How can we be part of the change
that's needed?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">When God says, "Cry to the people." Isaiah says, "What shall I cry?" He too was confused and probably felt powerless.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Feeling powerless is no reason to give up hope</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">.
Isaiah teaches us that we are powerless to do anything in God's name unless and until God
comes to us, in our wilderness, and intervenes. This means that we have
to learn to cultivate Godly patience and be honest about the wilderness
life we're living. I don't mean we should sit quietly while we watch
others suffer, but if you don't know how to respond (and I confess being
in that category), you can be still be faithful and prepare for change, trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal a pathway forward. I offer these
practices:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><ol start="1" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 107%; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Pray earnestly and intentionally about prejudice in America and ask for God's help.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 107%; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Confess.
None of us is free from entanglement in systems of privilege and
oppression. We do well to confess both the ways we've contributed and
our befuddlement at how to move forward. After you confess, know
yourself to be forgiven. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: 107%; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 11px 0.5in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Listen
and learn from other people, especially those who testify to the way
racism affects them. Trust the stories, even those that seem
unbelievable to you. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">In all of this, we can trust God to act to make a way forward. Eventually, even in the wilderness, the path became clear. God's freeing activity was made known and Isaiah was able to say with utter clarity: <i>Here is your God. </i><i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" target="_blank"></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">Be at Peace,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 11px;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">Pastor Sarah</span></div>
</span>Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-76337357110470574842014-12-01T12:47:00.001-05:002014-12-01T12:47:57.567-05:00What really needs to happen in Advent?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From Pastor Sarah - While
We Wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Advent has always been my
favorite church season. It’s one where I intentionally slow down and try
to live life a bit more calmly and patiently. I savor the darkness, the
candles, the hymns in minor keys, the bible passages of hope and expectation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My internal rhythms match the rhythms of
nature. Dead leaves and cold weather make it seem like growth has halted, but in
ways that we can’t easily perceive, nature’s hibernation makes way
for new life ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This Advent will be
particularly special as I will experience it as one who, for the first time in
her life, is preparing for a child. (My husband and I are expecting, due
in May). While we’re thrilled, we also know we have a limited amount of
time until our lives change forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have five months left to go to the movies without planning ahead, to
sleep through the night, to get house projects done. I’m trying to take
advantage of all the time I have left and it's already making me a bit frantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The to-do list is long and growing
longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already know it will not all
get done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so it is with the days
leading up to Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make our
preparations and yes, they are important, but the to-dos will never be totally
checked off by the time December 24<sup>th</sup> rolls around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I received good advice
about getting ready for a child:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition to outward preparations, I need to prepare my spirit for
this change that’s coming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might not
seem as important as painting the nursery or creating the perfect birth plan,
but it’s actually more so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s my advice to you
too, this season of Advent. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Take time to
prepare your spirit</b>. It’s so easy to be caught up in the outward
preparations for Christmas - the cookie baking and tree decorating and shopping
and party-going – that there’s little energy left for anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New life, however, requires times of
spiritual inwardness and rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas
isn’t just another deadline looming, it’s the birth of a new relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be able to find more of the peace and
joy that relationship brings if you take time, while you wait, to reflect on your hopes, fears, expectations, grief, and sense of mystery about what God's renewed presence in your life might bring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m going to try to take my
cues from Mary. When the angel Gabriel announced that she was pregnant, she
didn’t make a to-do list, she prayed for a world of justice and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She visited her relative Elizabeth and they waited
and wondered together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pondered
things in her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She certainly had
plenty to do (like go to Bethlehem for the census!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, she stayed connected to the Holy
Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaUeHJD6tLTbiug-VnukupqMoCOIwlug9Fhx-lRRJxgHrJW7hgqvqoZhlpJMHJnTPRfFqOUzHX_YnENxG3KSDwkl6VjJqTExQ82vCT3Id0psSxfjb-El6ikBzcryXwGoDojK3O-M-xVg/s1600/Annunciation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaUeHJD6tLTbiug-VnukupqMoCOIwlug9Fhx-lRRJxgHrJW7hgqvqoZhlpJMHJnTPRfFqOUzHX_YnENxG3KSDwkl6VjJqTExQ82vCT3Id0psSxfjb-El6ikBzcryXwGoDojK3O-M-xVg/s1600/Annunciation.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How can you make time, this
Advent, to spiritually prepare for Christmas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How can you let go of the frenzy and enjoy the simple moments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you reduce the amount of time you
spend shopping and increase the amount of time you spend in prayer, scripture
study, and contemplation, “pondering things in your heart.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Advent at
Peace, sermons, adult studies, vespers, and family programs will all focus on being
connected to God’s spirit “While We Wait.” I hope these will help you be like
Mary this Advent, aware of the Holy Spirit and full of God’s blessed
presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Note: the </span></span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">stained glass window is from the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth which I visited last summer. I found the image on www.womenintheology.org.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Be at Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pastor Sarah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-68946329742800674082014-08-11T22:39:00.004-04:002014-08-11T22:44:46.236-04:00Moratorium on the word suicide, please.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w6iXnsfaaXY/U-l9fHQDXxI/AAAAAAAACQU/XzE9rAooeSE/s1600/dead-poets-society-quotes-14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w6iXnsfaaXY/U-l9fHQDXxI/AAAAAAAACQU/XzE9rAooeSE/s1600/dead-poets-society-quotes-14.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I just saw the headline running across the screen: "Robin Williams dead at 63 of apparent suicide." Even though Williams struggled with a variety of illnesses: cardiac disease, alcoholism, depression, bipolar, the cause of his death will likely go down as suicide. <br />
<br />
The word suicide is loaded. It carries with it the taint of fault and selfishness. Christians have argued about the eternal soul of someone who died by suicide. It's been considered the worst of all sins. Dante put people who commit suicides in the seventh circle of hell; they would not be resurrected. <br />
<br />
Suicide is hard to come to terms with and hard to grieve. I think that's because when we call a death a suicide, we assume the
person had a choice in their death. For many, the pain is so severe and the mental processes are so broken that there is no choice. <br />
<br />
Calling a death a suicide leads to stigmatization. That's why I think we shouldn't use it. <br />
<br />
Cardiac disease can be a terminal disease if left untreated. And sometimes, even when treated, it still kills you. The mechanism by which it kills you is heart failure. You have no choice. It's never called suicide, especially not if a person has done everything "right" - eaten healthy foods and exercised etc. Family and friends of someone who dies of cardiac disease get sympathy, not shame. <br />
<br />
So too mental illnesses can be terminal diseases if left untreated and, even if treated, sometimes are too powerful to heal. The mechanism by which some mental illnesses kill you is suicide. Suicide is how an illness kills, not how a healthy person kills. People who commit suicide because of mental illnesses are no more at
fault for their deaths than people who die of heart disease are for
theirs. Their family and friends also need only sympathy and not shame.<br />
<br />
In the past year, my husband and I have both had cousins die of a combination of mental illness and chronic pain. You could say they both committed suicide, but that ascribes blame to them that they don't deserve. They were both struggling as valiantly as they could against diseases that were just too strong. They could not be healed and they died. We grieve their deaths and trust them to a loving God. They were not at fault.<br />
<br />
I ask anyone reading this to pause if they start to say that Robin Williams committed suicide. Say he fought valiantly for a long time against a disease that wouldn't be healed. Channel Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society and stand on a desk, inviting someone to look at things in a different way and just say he died of mental illness. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Pr SarahBarefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-14822493073669863252014-07-16T16:55:00.000-04:002014-07-16T17:13:45.032-04:00Meeting with Senator Warner re: EPA Clean Power Plan<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">On Tues, July 15, 20+ Virginian faith leaders from 5 faith traditions and 7 different denominations of Christianity met with Senator Mark Warner to ask him to oppose any congressional efforts to interfere with the EPA's clean power plan. Below is my part of the presentation, a brief speech about why my faith calls me to care about the issue. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">July 15,
2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcsug8KBeKpkZ4RCNoWC7LG8YM656Q2enyVCX2gGTkdXxB8QsVnjKTdYxx14uWImiNfi2JFLTpQvPIGi_Q9W7QNZQBRKaiivBVPmIGYBoUjD09uoPygRDvlYnvNRQmEfc9Kf1a80iwak/s1600/GWIPL+Warner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcsug8KBeKpkZ4RCNoWC7LG8YM656Q2enyVCX2gGTkdXxB8QsVnjKTdYxx14uWImiNfi2JFLTpQvPIGi_Q9W7QNZQBRKaiivBVPmIGYBoUjD09uoPygRDvlYnvNRQmEfc9Kf1a80iwak/s1600/GWIPL+Warner.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Thank you
Senator Warner for your leadership on environmental issues and for meeting with us today.
I’ve been designated to speak about the theological underpinnings that
bring this diverse group of people before you. I speak from
a Lutheran perspective knowing that each person here could give a passionate,
wise reflection rooted in their particular tradition. I’ll begin with scripture – where all good
Lutheran reflection begins!</span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">In the creation
stories in Genesis 1 and 2, (you no doubt
know them well), God made a whole world
and called it good. Then God put people
in a very particular relationship with the rest of this world. Unfortunately, the term used for this
relationship has been misunderstood as “to dominate.” Its meaning is closer to
“take-care of” or “steward.” It’s to
have “dominion over” in the same way that you have “dominion” over the
commonwealth of Virginia. You’re in your
position not to control us or use us, but to care for us. Caring for this world is our first
God-given responsibility. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">God told
Adam and Eve that they could enjoy most of creation, but they had to live
within limits. They didn’t respect those
limits and you know what happened. They
ate that fruit. This is the first
recorded over-consumption of the earth’s resources. The problem wasn’t just over-consumption, it was also its polluting effects. The result of their sin
spread. The balance was thrown; the ideal ecology was no more; life got very hard.<br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Every time we consume without
accounting for the consequences, we follow in the pathway of those first
humans. It doesn’t lead anywhere good.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">With an
estimated 25% of CO2 output, the United States uses up far more than our share
of the earth’s resources and throws more pollution into the air than the world
can handle. The consequences are devastating. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">My husband
and I just returned from Acadia National Park.
I’m grateful for the National Park System, one of the jewels of the
Federal Government because they help me connect with God - giving inner peace, a
renewed spirit, and a sense of belonging to a wider web of creation. Our lands and
creatures are precious and they are threatened by rising sea levels and changes in habitat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">It’s alarming to think of these pristine places being damaged by climate change,
yet care for our marvelous landscapes and animals isn’t my primary
concern. <b>Care for people in our neighborhoods; country, and around the world
motivates me</b>. Increased asthma, respiratory
diseases and cancers are caused by fossil fuel pollution - including mining and
power production processes. Changes in
weather patterns, landscapes and economies threaten people’s homes and
livelihoods. These affect our faith
communities – our people - here in Virginia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">But the
effects aren’t just here. I have a sense of global citizenship that's rooted in my faith and confirmed by my time in Malawi, East Africa, serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. <b>All
trustworthy indications – including the government’s own scientists and
development agencies – agree that climate change caused by CO2 emissions
threatens the global poor in unjust measure</b>. Our denominations all work to
alleviate global poverty, food scarcity, societal insecurity, conflicts, and preventable
diseases like Malaria. <b>As people of faith we take great
responsibility to do all we can for our brothers and sisters around the world
but with the added crises created by climate change, the load is growing even
harder to bear. </b>This year, local Lutheran churches combined “Creation Care
Sunday” and “Malaria Awareness Sunday,” acknowledging that all the mosquito
nets we can send won’t keep pace with increasing spread of global malarial
zones caused by climate change. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">I started
with Genesis, I’ll end somewhere else familiar to you: the Lord’s Prayer. We’re in a
sermon series on it at my church. Last week, preaching on the section “thy
kingdom come, thy will be done,” I let my congregation know I would be here
today. When we pray “thy kingdom come” an unspoken response echoes in our hearts “<i>and let me be part of it.</i>” That’s why I’m here – with the prayer that
our actions today are part of God's kingdom coming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">This week
we’ll focus on the next line: “give us today our daily bread.” You’re welcome to come. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">:) </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;"> We’ll focus on the word <i>daily. </i>God promises if we take only
our share for today there will be enough for all again tomorrow<b>. Limits
help us live in good relationships with one another and the rest of creation</b>.
It’s a lesson Adam and Eve didn't learn but we’re trying to.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">We trust
that you can influence major national policy changes, including the carbon
limits in the EPA's Clean Power Plan, ensuring responsible use of energy today in order
to secure a peaceful, just and beautiful future for all God’s creatures
tomorrow. God made this world good. You’re in a unique position to help keep it
that way.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">Thank you,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">The Reverend
Sarah S. Scherschligt.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">Senior Pastor, Peace Lutheran Church,
Alexandria, VA</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 107%;">Leader, Creation Care Team of the
Metropolitan Washington DC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America </span>Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-74389152367244064062014-07-02T17:49:00.001-04:002014-07-02T17:49:22.238-04:00Welcome Back PotterFor the first four years of my life as a pastor, pottery was part of my weekly rhythm. I spent every Monday night Glen Echo Park. Like the best of habits, it gave me balance, creativity, and dependable joy. Two years ago, when I bought a fixer-upper house, got a new job, and met my husband, something needed to give. I stopped doing pottery and turned my energy toward the multitude of other projects demanding my attention.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShaNmu14fl7bvtYGvzch21k0rooqQ5kU0AOlMUKNWvXl811eenARsHlxj3QLFIvpjL95A-Tf7vylAkcubBhABvgLXEC51G3BURSgKREWP-k2e9rTNThDdyeR8R4tSL91HMmkuu2NME2c/s1600/Glen+Echo+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShaNmu14fl7bvtYGvzch21k0rooqQ5kU0AOlMUKNWvXl811eenARsHlxj3QLFIvpjL95A-Tf7vylAkcubBhABvgLXEC51G3BURSgKREWP-k2e9rTNThDdyeR8R4tSL91HMmkuu2NME2c/s1600/Glen+Echo+Park.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Last Wednesday, I went back. Why the change? It's not that the evenings suddenly got free-er or that the house projects are complete (hah!). Certainly no one in the world needs another off-centered vase made by my amateur hands.<br />
<br />
I went back because I missed it. I missed it the way a dancer misses the barre or a church-goer misses the liturgy. Even when I didn't produce anything, the weekly practice of wedging and centering and throwing and rewedging the clay was like a re-set for my whole life. It made all the rest more calm and doable.<br />
<br />
I'd been missing it for a while, but when I got to browsing the pottery studio website every other day, I knew it was time. By some fluke, there was actually a Wednesday night class that fit my schedule. I paid my money and signed up. <br />
<br />
I spent the week before my return not totally sure I'd actually go. If I hadn't had money on the line, I'd probably found a way out because I was nervous about my return. <br />
<br />
Would anyone remember me? Would my hands know what to do? Should I wear my pottery apron or would that make me seem like an expert and invite judgement? Where to sit? (Like seats in church, the wheels in the studio become the squatter's property of the regulars and I didn't want to start out by embarrassing myself by sitting in someone else's place. I showed up intentionally late so I wouldn't make that mistake.)<br />
<br />
This must be what it's like to come back to church after a long time away. The longing to reconnect with God, self and community compels people to seek it our but there's a big difference between wanting to get back to church and actually arriving, turning off the car, and entering a community of people without knowing how you will be received.<br />
<br />
It's helpful for me to remember that each new person who is returning to church after an absence carries some of that internal nervousness. What to wear? Who will greet you? Will you remember what to do? Will you sit in someone else's seat? <br />
<br />
Will this work?<br />
<br />
I hope that anyone who decides to go back to church receives the same kind of welcome I got. A few people mildly recognized me, though most were new (no surprise - communities change). The instructor - though he never taught me - remembered me vaguely from the Monday night class. He made sure I knew the new rules and took time to get me situated and explain procedures. One by one, people introduced themselves without fanfare and we all settled into our projects quickly. I felt comfortable fast. When my former teacher walked in, he gave a big smile and hug and said: <br />
<br />
"It's so so good to see you. You're still alive! I've missed you. Welcome back."<br />
<br />
<br />Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-33087186043082299822014-05-19T10:31:00.001-04:002014-05-20T08:05:30.708-04:00When to ask: are you pregnant?When I was fifteen and drop waisted dresses were in, I was wearing one that puffed out at exactly the right place to inspire a stranger to ask, "are you pregnant?" If you knew me then you would have known it was a very odd question. I hardly knew where babies came from! I wasn't offended as much as I was baffled. Who would ask such a thing?<br />
<br />
Fast forward to now. I've been married for seven months, my husband and I are old enough that if I become pregnant it will be considered a "geriatric pregnancy," and we've talked about family life enough that it's generally known we'd welcome children.<br />
<br />
Having not been asked the "pregnant" question since I was fifteen, suddenly I'm fielding it again from a variety of fronts.<br />
<br />
Now I know that I've gained ten pounds since I got married. They're my happy pounds - the result of wonderful nights of skipping the gym and hanging out eating ice cream with my husband instead.<br />
<br />
I also know that people who ask that question love us and are simply curious out of their hopes for us. I shudder to think of how often I've blurted out that question to others because I'm so excited at the thought of it. <br />
<br />
So when is it ok to ask the question: "are you pregnant?"<br />
<br />
The answer is simple: Never.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vxbQvjSa1o/U3oUROJsC_I/AAAAAAAABXE/FrkRWNy0jOU/s1600/Pregnant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vxbQvjSa1o/U3oUROJsC_I/AAAAAAAABXE/FrkRWNy0jOU/s1600/Pregnant.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Certainly don't ask it about couples you know are trying to become pregnant. You don't know where they are in their process or the private pain they might be carrying about a miscarriage, infertility or marital stress.<br />
<br />
Certainly don't ask it to a woman who looks to be in the early stages of pregnancy. She might not be pregnant and your question is either a searing reminder of that fact or just another way of saying "you look fat." Also, she might be pregnant but waiting to let people know until she's past the first 3 or 4 months.<br />
<br />
Certainly don't ask it if you are someone's boss. If your workplace doesn't have clear family leave policies (which should include at what point in a pregnancy you discuss coverage for leave) then get those in place and make sure that every employee, male/female/old/young knows them. Otherwise, it's none of your business.<br />
<br />
Even if a person is obviously very very pregnant, don't ask. At the moment when
you are obsessed with the size of her belly - especially in a professional setting - she's probably just trying
to get her work done. She's pretty aware of her pregnancy; you don't need to point it out. Also, different cultures have different norms for talking about pregnancy. In Malawi, for instance, it is considered bad form to talk about a child before it is born because of the uncertainty in childbirth. The child doesn't exist for the public until it is visible for all to see.<br />
<br />
If you are curious about someone with whom you are close, it is appropriate to say privately something like this. "You've talked before about wanting to have children. If you ever need to share how that's going, I'm here for you."<br />
<br />
You can trust that when a person wants you to know she is pregnant, she will tell you. But until then, as hard as it might be to contain your hopes and excitement, you'll do her a kindness if you just don't ask. <br />
<br />
-Be at Peace,<br />
Pr Sarah<br />
<br />Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-26769660460746631082014-04-17T14:35:00.002-04:002014-04-17T14:35:21.773-04:00Recap of Lent - something has to die, something else has to be born. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Something has to die,
something else has to be born.</i></div>
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During the five Sundays in Lent, that phrase shaped my
sermons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A recap: </div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Putting to death your desire to live without
human limitations gives birth to acceptance of yourself, limits and all. (Matthew 4:1-11) </li>
<li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Putting to death your need to be the expert gives
birth to the possibility of being changed. (John 3:1-17). </li>
<li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Putting to death the belief that your past is
unforgivable gives birth to a future with unimagined possibilities. (John
4:5-12)</li>
<li>
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span>Putting to death the idea that God’s work is
limited to the people you deem acceptable gives birth to increased joy as you celebrate
God’s activity in all kinds of people. (John 9:1-41)</li>
<li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Putting to death the fiction that you have control
over time gives birth to an ability to trust God’s timing, even with the timing
of death. (John 11:1-45)</li>
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Now, on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we
will experience this death/birth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dynamic
as powerfully as possible as Jesus goes to the cross and rises to new life.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What will die along with Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear, shame, separation from God, reliance on
our own selves, and our hope in human constructs to save us.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What will be born? Courage, freedom that comes from forgiveness,
unity with God and one another, trust in God, and hope in our living God to do
what no mere human could do – love us through the dying places into new life.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be at Peace,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Sarah</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-74159954406829260832014-03-27T14:35:00.000-04:002014-03-27T14:35:48.531-04:00The Samaritan Woman at the Well and The Healing of the Blind Man. (John 4 and John 9)<i>Something needs to die; something new needs to be
born - Peace Lutheran Church's Lent series.</i>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), here are
a few things that needed to die: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
-<span style="font-size: 7.0pt;">
</span>her idea that shame about the past should keep her from God’s love; </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
-<span style="font-size: 7.0pt;">
</span>her belief that Samaritans and Jewish people had nothing in common; </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
-<span style="font-size: 7.0pt;">
</span>the disciples’ view that a Samaritan woman wasn’t fit to spread the
gospel. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In short, this encounter put to death the idea that God’s
work is limited to people who are deemed “acceptable.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As we try to live as Jesus’ disciples, this
story is a
caution to make sure we engage unlikely people in the work of spreading
the
gospel. We can start by befriending people who are different from us. The
good news is that we are all unlikely! As we are
willing to show our own unlikeliness – in the form of awkwardness,
discomfort, honest confession of our past – the Holy Spirit will
appear. What
will be born? New relationships build on honesty, mutual acceptance, and
a
fresh amazement at God’s forgiving love.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
-</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This week, we will hear the story of Jesus’ healing the
blind man. Sadly, the miracle of healing is overtaken by the Pharisee’s
debate that follows: Who healed him? Wasn't it wrong on the Sabbath? Was he
really blind? The Pharisees defensiveness makes them unable to celebrate
the miracle of healing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are quick to identify ourselves with the blind man and
pounce on the Pharisees as self-righteous prigs. But again a caution;
before we identify with the blind man, it serves us well to ask 'in what ways
we are like the 'Pharisees?' </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Questions:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How are you blind to the joy and healing in other
people’s lives? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Have you ever been so sure you were right that you couldn’t
accept somebody with a different experience?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Are you resentful of someone else’s good turn?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
From what specific spiritual blindness could you ask God
to heal you?</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-67670135143599884902014-03-20T14:45:00.001-04:002014-03-20T14:45:22.579-04:00Something has to die, something else has to be born.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Note: each week, I send the congregation sermon summaries of the last week and a preview of what's coming up. My tech was off this week so there's no audio. In Lent, my focus is: Something has to die; something has to be born. </div>
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Something has to die; something has to be born.</div>
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When Nicodemus came to Jesus, it took a lot of courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t understand Jesus, he just knew
there was something important about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus’ insisted that the Spirit can empower people to be born
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nicodemus never really understood
it and neither do we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is the
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are born again, we are
like infants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re out of control, we’re
dependent, and we don’t understand most of what’s going on.</div>
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What needs to die in order for you to be born again? What’s
the shield that keeps you from admitting all that you don’t know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nicodemus teaches that when you let go of your
need to be the expert, you become open to the Holy Spirit’s life-changing work.</div>
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This week, we will hear a conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan
woman who has had 5 husbands. She’s not your typical conversation partner for a
Jewish man, much less someone holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she's so affected by Jesus she turns into one of his followers and tells everyone
about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the old disciples find
Jesus talking with this new, unlikely disciple, they are speechless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not the kind of person Jesus should
be talking to!</div>
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It’s easy to think of unlikely disciples as others. But what
makes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you </i>unlikely? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can knowing yourself as unlikely help you welcome other, equally unlikely people into this community of the unlikely disciples?</div>
Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680924114887777.post-53572019148741719522013-09-20T10:56:00.001-04:002013-09-20T10:57:50.734-04:00Getting Married Pt 2 - So, how'd you meet?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qM5IN1bzHrM/Ujxe5_ma4UI/AAAAAAAAAso/cgwQioanoFw/s1600/online+dating+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qM5IN1bzHrM/Ujxe5_ma4UI/AAAAAAAAAso/cgwQioanoFw/s320/online+dating+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My fiance and I met online. <br />
<br />
There. I said it. I'll say it proudly and openly to anyone who asks but I wasn't at all comfortable with on-line dating when I started six years ago. I was moving to the DC area for my first call as a pastor. I knew I wanted to live life with a family and I didn't know how else I'd meet someone. I set up my match.com profile with my brother vetoing particularly generic/pathetic lines (he nixed my initial profile name, "the purple turtle," saying I sounded like a 7th grader who believes in unicorns). My sister-in-law cheered me on, getting so into it that she wished she could do it too. M, I said, you married your high school sweetheart; we're all on here because we want what you've got. <br />
<br />
At first, I was terrified of people finding out I was online dating. I quickly went from match.com to eharmony (a more private site) because I didn't want anyone to find me. Of course, what I actually wanted was someone to find me, so that was counter-productive. I was ashamed that I had sunk to online dating. It felt desperate.<br />
<br />
Despite my shame, I kept at it. I devised the term "inquiry coffee" instead of first date - took the pressure off. I realized that if I were in it for the long haul, I'd better develop a thick skin and a good dose of humor. I laughed off the person who lied and added seven years to his age because he likes older women; or the person who, after reading that the environment was important to me responded with "let's go burn some fossil fuels." Huh?<br />
<br />
After many months and gallons of inquiry coffee, I got serious with someone I was with for a few years. But when that ended...<br />
<br />
I hated having to go back on there, but even more, I hated walking through my life lonely and powerless hoping to bump into prince charming at the grocery store. So, the last time around, I did more than just online dating. I also got bold about asking friends for help. They responded with care. One couple arranged a dinner with their single friends so we could all meet. One set me up with a date. Ultimately, none of those people worked out, but having a network of support took the edge off and gave me hope.<br />
<br />
Here's the full story of how I my fiance: It started with someone on my frisbee team. Over time, he'd piqued my interest. A few years ago, in an uncharacteristic fit of boldness I emailed and confessed I was curious:<br />
<br />
"I am not practiced at dipping my toes in the water, so please excuse me
if this is waaay off base - or if your wife or child or girlfriend is
looking over your shoulder and laughing! Or if you are gay (I can never
tell!) or just otherwise uninterested. I don't really know how to do
this, but seemed worth exploring."<br />
<br />
He had a girlfriend, but he was very kind in his response. A year later, I went back on match.com and his profile was the first that popped up. I emailed him immediately and found out that he was already seeing someone (note to self: if he hadn't thought to ask me out on his own, he wasn't interested). But still he was friendly and kind.<br />
<br />
So I mustered courage and asked him for advice. He looked over my profile and sent me a page of feedback. He told me to get onto OKCupid (no, I'm not being paid for this endorsement!). He also said he'd keep an eye out for someone "awesome to introduce me to." But the most important thing he wrote was about the fact that I'm a pastor:<br />
<br />
"...for the right person it will be an awesome thing."<br />
<br />
My identity as a pastor had felt like an enormous amount of baggage, but these words made me realize I just hadn't found the right person yet. <br />
<br />
I took all his advice and within a couple of weeks, a goofy, musical, fun-loving, caring, progressive baptist minister-turned-theology professor emailed me. He was the right person. The rest is history in the making.<br />
<br />
Despite the statistic that an estimated <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/03/online-dating-marriage/2377961/">20-35% of marriages in the US in the last 5 years</a> started online, it still has an underground, dirty feeling.<br />
<br />
That's why my fiancee and I claim it proudly - to take away the shame and give other people hope. We met online, thank God! And I mean that. We would not have met otherwise and we're so glad we did.<br />
<br />
matchmaker, matchmaker...la la la,<br />
-Sarah Barefoot Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13373353895513229909noreply@blogger.com3