The Joy of Knitting

Along with many other women (and a few men), I have rediscovered the joy of knitting. Primarily, I knit prayer shawls that are given to those who need to be reminded of God’s abiding presence. Other persons I know knit beautiful scarves and assorted items for family and friends. Many do some form of charity knitting – chemo caps, infant caps, blanket squares, scarves and lap robes. It is interesting that a many of the knitted items become gifts of love to others. That topic in itself would be interesting to explore. All of this seems to have generated novels with characters that knit. Debbie Macomber’s A Good Yarn is one that I just read and enjoyed. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs is in the stack of books to be read by my bed. There are also devotional books that focus on knitting. Websites abound that share patterns, sell yarn and needles and give instructions and tips. Yarn shops and knitting groups are popular places to create important friendships.

Somewhere along the way I found this quote by an unknown author that expresses my interest in knitting:

“The act of knitting is a meditation, for the work of the hands compels the mind to rest, and gives free rein to movements of the soul."

Memorial Day 2007

In the quietness of this morning, I remember Memorial Days of the past as noted in last year's blog. I was touched by the above editoral cartoon in the Sun-News and the early morning TV news stories about those who have given their lives for this country. Today's number of US soldier's lives lost in Iraq War is 3455. Lots to think about...

Ending war is not just laying down arms, but addressing the issues that incite conflict and war. Perhaps this is the year that we need to observe Peace with Justice Sunday (June 3, 2007) and be called to action by it.

Church Office

The inner workings of the church are usually a revelation to those who join a church staff including ours. In many ways, our church office is like most other offices. Personnel, policy and procedure matters shape what gets accomplished. Human short-comings sometime thwart our efforts and frustration creates tensions that have to be addressed. Newcomers can be disappointed in finding less than an idyllic setting. So, as we add new staff members it is important to lead them through an understanding of this reality without discouraging them. It becomes an opportunity for the rest of us to re-evaluate our way of being a church staff and it can be a growing point for us. So it has been with the addition of Amy and Ron. They are a blessing to us.

As our Duke intern, Nathan, joins us, we face similar concerns. We need to give him a realistic view of ministry from the inside, but not cause him to question his call to ministry. Our hope is that he will gain a healthy understanding of the complexities of parish ministry and be better prepared to address them in the years ahead. During his time with us, he can help us understand what it means to be in ministry in Myrtle Beach today. Nathan can be very important to how the staff works together to share God's love.

How a pilgrim meets and greets those along the way helps define the journey. "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8.

Kudzu

I must confess that my day goes better if I read the newspaper comics in the morning. They seem to put a lot of things in proper perspective. Some are poignant and others funny, but most have a message worth noting. I will admit that a few of the newer ones challenge me. However, as a NPR junkie, I did enjoy Kudzu this morning and want to share it.

Welcome, Nathan

Our Duke Divinity summer intern arrived this past weekend. Nathan has just completed his first year of seminary and is seeking to further explore his call to parish ministry through this ten-week field experience. I think it is quite appropriate that he begins and ends his time with us in worship. He has spent the last two days meeting and greeting church members and staff and trying to learn a bit about First UMC and Myrtle Beach. I am sure it is all a bit overwhelming, but his winning smile is still in place and he is making plans to teach, preach, visit and to be a part of other assorted activities.

I am so pleased how this congregation takes seriously its role as a teaching church and willingly shares in this experience. By doing so, we certainly are helping to shape the future not only for Nathan, but for the church as well. This is an awesome task and I am glad to be involved with the passing of the mantle. I am curious what congregants think it important for him to know. For me, I plan to help him understand the importance of the teaching role of a pastor and being a servant.

Books for the Road

During my recent road trips, I have listened to two books that have recalled memories of people, places and events from my past. Each has given me an insight into my personal quirks and idiosyncrasies in an enjoyable sort of way and I recommend these books to others.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson is a delicious account of growing up during the 1950s in Des Moines, Iowa. Not only could I readily visualize his story, but I could also see the department stores, restaurants, schools and homes of my childhood. With humor, Bryson told his story of family and friends and how they shaped his life during this time. I enjoyed similar reflection of my own story as he told his and realized how this can be both fun and therapeutic.

Recipes From My Life by Pat Conroy combines two mainstays of Southern living – cooking and storytelling. As Conroy recounts his adventures of cooking, he tells much of his life’s journey. With detailed descriptions of classic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits and macaroni and cheese to fine European cuisine, he tantalizes the taste buds and taunts the culinary skills of this listener. Interwoven are the stories of his dysfunctional childhood and interesting adult life. In listening to his story, I remember my mother teaching me to cook, the wonderful breads and desserts made by my grandmother, the special family gatherings and favorite foods from my childhood. Add to this the requests from Robert for molasses cookies and Dan for beef stew, I realize the sacredness of food prepared carefully and shared with others.

Important Reminder

From a Jim Wallis blog -

Throughout American history, church leaders have spoken out on the vital moral issues of the day - whether it be slavery, civil rights, or in defense of the family and the dignity of human life. One of the enduring lessons the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught is the power a religious community can have in society. Reverend King said, "The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority."

Bikers etc.

I seem to be having difficulty writing a blog this week and I am not sure why. Perhaps it is the roar of bikers outside my window or maybe it is the need to multi-task. (I know, Ron, this is more appropriately known as rapid refocus.) However, yesterday I was at a Spartanburg Methodist College Board of Trustee’s meeting and the driving time gave me plenty of time to think. Included in my thoughts were the following:

-No matter how much we talk about the carbon imprint we are leaving on the Earth, most of us like the independence of driving ourselves and traveling alone. The four SMC trustees from this area drove separately to Spartanburg. Although we are advocates of being environmentally friendly, many of us haven’t adopted such practices. Lord, have mercy upon us.

-I am a firm believer in maintaining Sunday school during the summer and many within our congregation agree. If we don’t, the discipline of learning is often lost and class members become strangers. However, providing this ministry effectively is the challenge. The children need familiar faces and routine. Yet, their teachers need a respite. Youth that don’t want to be part of the summer visitation/music activity do not have an alternative. Adults are caught up in the Myrtle Beach summer scene and elect to do other things on Sunday morning. What are our options as we prepare for summer Sunday school? Lord, have mercy upon us.

-Nathan, our summer intern, is arriving this weekend. For this to be a good teaching/learning experience for all, we need to define more clearly both sides of this relationship. Our lay committee will meet on Sunday evening with Nathan and work on this. In our effort to teach our interns, we sometimes fail to learn from them. They can provide an understanding of the church and pastoral leadership into the future. Are we listening? Lord, have mercy upon us.

-Listening to multiple news accounts of world events can be depressing. Why are Christians so reluctant to be voices for peace and justice? Lord, have mercy upon us.

A Trip to Durham

I spent the last couple of days at Duke Divinity School in preparation for our field education student, Nathan Kilbourne. This year we are part of the Teaching Congregation program that offers an added experience for those who are named Duke Scholars in recognition of their academic achievement and promise of future ministry. Although I enjoyed supervising our interns the last two summers, I now have a greater respect for this program after meeting and hearing the faculty that oversee it. First UMC has undertaken very important work by offering this contextual learning experience that helps further define a student’s call and prepare him/her for ministry. Nathan will begin his field experience on May 20 and be with us for ten weeks. He will be sampling the realities of congregational life in a variety of ways.

Some observations and thoughts from my Duke adventure:
- Duke seminary students are some of the youngest in the country and I certainly am a mature minister.
- Students not only study the usual basic courses, but also enter into meaningful community and together explore what it means to be in ministry.
- Environmental and social justice issues are major concerns and calls to activism.
- It is exciting to think about what our future church might be.
- God does live in Duke Chapel.
- It was a good time for me to evaluate my own ministry and consider what I need to be studying to further my effectiveness. I am still thinking about this and will take suggestions.
- A meaningful pilgrimage can be made by traveling I-95 and I-40.

The Power of the Spoken Word

I frequently read Issac Bailey's blog. Sometimes it is related to what he is discussing in his column and other times he writes about what others are saying. Either way I often find it thought provoking. This week he linked to a report from media researchers at Indiana University about Bill O'Reilly's style of news commentary. Not only do we have to ask some serious questions about O'Reilly's popularity, but also have to realize the power this kind of spoken word currently holds over our culture.

The Bishops Come to Town

The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church is meeting at Springmaid Beach this week. The South Carolina Conference is serving as host and some of First Church members are helping in a variety of ways. Yet, we know little of what is happening because this episcopal gathering is not a secular news event. So, it was with great interest when I read the UMNS account of the address by Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, president of the Council Bishop. She called for our denomination to reclaim its heritage as a Christian movement. “The United Methodist movement invites belief in Jesus Christ over the cultural gods, the practice of forgiveness over hate, peace over violence, a better life over poverty, health over sickness.” She challenged the bishops to be leaders in making this happening. However, I find it a challenge for us all to hear.