A New Sunday School Year

I can’t believe that it is time for a new Sunday school year to begin. The tasks are many to make this a good experience for all. Tara and Melanie have been working for weeks calling forth teachers for our children and making sure that we have volunteers in place so that these teachers can meet this week during the Sunday school hour to prepare for the weeks ahead. Our new graded curriculum has arrived. Rock Solid is the official resource for The United Methodist Church and published by Cokesbury. In addition, we need to make sure that our Safe Sanctuary Policy is being followed and that our classes are neat, clean, well-supplied and attractive. Finally, we have to extend a special invitation to all. Similar efforts are being made for youth and adult classes. We are blessed to have many folks willing to support our educational ministry. The challenge is to help others understand the importance of it not only for them, but also for the church. Research indicates Sunday schools continue to be an important cornerstone for healthy churches and I want to make sure that we remember this.

In addition, it is time for other Bible study and spiritual formation groups to form. We have some very good teachers who are willing to lead these groups so all we need are some persons willing to make a commitment to what can be a life changing experience. I continue to ponder how I can best help adults to know that this is a faithful use of time.

All of this is to say, I am feeling renewed and re-energized about the role of Christian education in the life of our church. I just need to follow the scope and sequence of what God needs be to be doing.

Upside Down is Better

Recently, I have noticed that a lot of products are being packaged in upside down containers. Catsup, shampoo, hand lotion and various other items can now be stored on their tops so that the contents are easily dispensed. Instead of the frustration of squeezing and tapping these containers, we are readily rewarded with a splash, dash or glob. After years of battling jars, bottles and tubes, one has to wonder why someone hadn’t thought of this sooner. Such are many things in our lives. We have always done it this or that way and never consider making a change in how we do things. Then a sudden realization that upside down can be much more productive and we create a new normal in our lives. Such is Christianity for many of us. This kind of upside down living is what Christ models for us and only when we embrace it do we know the fullness of life.

8-8-08

To the Chinese today's date is one of luck, but to many of us we hear the Beatles singing “Eight Days a Week” in our mind. Numerological significance is important in many realms of understanding. However, for me today means:

• I no longer will be able to watch WIS-TV and know what is happening in the Midlands.
  
• It is my catch-up day and will finish some of the tasks that have been on my “to-do” list all week.
  
• I plan to have a date with my husband this afternoon and see “Mama Mia”.
  
• Tonight, I will join millions of others in watching the extravaganza from Beijing and try not to be too cynical about it all.
  
• And, I will , just in case there is something to this “lucky eight” thing, I think I will start a challenging knitting project that I have been hesitant to begin.
  

A Busy Week

My week has been so rich and full with family, church activities, etc. Therefore, one would assume that I would have much to inspire me for a blog post. But, sometimes in the moment is not the best time to reflect and understand the value of such busy times. With intentional consideration, I am sure I will be able to gain a fuller meaning of these days as I walk into the future.

Obviously, the joy of grandchildren was a highlight of my week. Annaka, William, Jack and Ethan-each with their own unique personality – love the beach and when the invitation to join my sister’s and brother’s families at Sunset Beach was extended, they were there. How great it was to connect with everyone!

This family time paired with lots of time with church family allows me to know that I stand in a circle of love. Whether holding hands with grandchildren as we jump into the waves or worshiping and working with church family, I know that God is ever present and for that I give thanks.

Ironing

Ironing is probably at the top of my list of least enjoyed domestic chores. Maybe it is because I am part of a generation that still had to put that on our weekly schedule in the past. I ironed six white shirts each week for Ron and other items for me for many years. (It is with great joy that I know that my sons do most of their own ironing.) Although it is now an occasional activity for me, I still have certain standards. Linen blouses and tablecloths must be dampened, put in a plastic bag and placed in the refrigerator for at least several hours. Then sprayed with a liberal amount of starch, I iron each item carefully. I have come to realize that there is satisfaction in participating in a ritual that produces a crisp, wrinkle-free item or garment.

Rituals are times of focus. For me, as I iron a garment, I try to achieve perfection by making sure there is not a wrinkle to be seen. Realizing that this won’t happen without careful preparation, I give intentional thought to this process. I remember days gone by when I practiced this skill as a young girl by ironing dishtowels and pillowcases. It becomes apparent that when we include rituals in our lives we enjoy a sense of comfort and security. We celebrate who we are and understand how important rituals are to our identity. So it is as we claim our Christian faith. What rituals do we need to include in our lives as we seek greater understanding of our discipleship?

Farewell, Laura

This week our congregation has been saying good-bye to Laura, our Duke Divinity School intern. It is amazing how she has become such a part of us in just ten short weeks and how saddened we are for her to leave. She has been an extraordinary extra set of eyes, ears and hands as we have been in ministry together. We are in awe of her abilities and have learned from her insightful and caring observations of people and situations. Blessings, Laura, as you pursue what God has called you to do.

Of course, Laura’s call to ordination as a deacon has been a joy to me. She is not only pursuing a Master of Divinity degree, but also a doctorate in psychology and plans to counsel clergy and congregations as they face challenging situations. She has a clear understanding of the role of a deacon and has been able to assist our congregation grasp what this means in the life of the church. Participating in the field education experience of a seminary student has once again proved to be a valuable experience for all involved. We look forward to our intern next summer and all the gifts that he or she will bring as it gives us an opportunity not only to be a teacher, but also a learner of what effective ministry might look like.

A New Computer

Recently, after numerous aggravations with my laptop computer, I faced the fact that I needed a new computer. This made my personal shopper, Ron, very happy as this meant he had a research project. What did I need? What would be a good price? Finally, the purchase was made yesterday and I am now happily using my new HP Pavilion. However, I wonder why having this computer is a necessity? We have a desktop computer and I have a computer at the church. Of course, this means Ron and I don’t have to share. It also means I can take my work with me wherever I go. I think that I have bought more than a computer. I have bought into some of our cultural ills…consumption of stuff and workaholic practices.

A Bucket List

I recently saw the movie, The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman and have been thinking about it ever since. Truly, I have been reflecting more on the idea of a bucket list than this enjoyable movie. The lead characters, each terminally ill, purposely set out to live their bucket list, a wish list of things to do before dying. Of course, I have had to ask myself about what my bucket list might include. To date, I have not been too creative, but have started this list:

• see the Grand Canyon,
• be a co-creator of a well-loved yard,
• observe Sabbath faithfully,
• have a loving, caring relationship with my grandchildren.
  

What might you include on your bucket list?

Another TED Talk

As noted previously, TED talks provide a wonderful opportunity to hear a variety of today's voices share thoughts and wisdom that can have a signifiicant impact on our lives. Wofford students and alumni should be quite proud of President Ben Dunlap's presentation, The Story of a Passionate Life. I invite you to listen to it.

What You Doing?

When we talk with our grandchildren via Skype, Annaka usually asks “what you doin’? Sometimes the answer isn’t easy to give in the vocabulary of a five year old. When my sister asked me that same question last night I also found myself unable to articulate exactly what I have been doing. Perhaps I have the misconception that the answers should be exciting and enviable words. Anyway, during these lazy, hazy days of summer this is what I am doing:

- finally have started reading Suite Francaise,
- still finding peace in knitting prayer shawls,
- planning congregational learning opportunities beginning in September,
- putting the finishing touches on Dancing with God,
- enjoying my responsibilities with our Duke intern,
- attending to some Board of Ministry matters,
- enjoying some time with grandchildren and
- having a little renewing time at the beach.

Thank God for July.

Fourth of July

Our Fourth of July was enjoyed at home doing a few little housekeeping projects, preparing some traditional holiday food and attacking the to-read stack of books and magazines. With the darkness of night, fireworks lighted the neighborhood sky and we walked the streets to experience their beauty and sounds. What a great way to appreciate the freedom we have to make choices as to how we spend all of our days.

In honor of the day, I once again read some of American Gospel by Jon Meacham. It is one of a number of very interesting books that have been written in recent years about those who are known as the heroes of the American Revolution. The incredible stories of these Founding Fathers have given me a greater appreciation of their commitment to and understanding of human rights. Meacham reminds us that “faith and freedom were inextricably linked from the beginning.” Belief in God was central to the making of this nation, yet faith was a matter of choice. The issues that surround this basic tenet have almost continuously been a source of debate and sometimes misinterpretation. It would seem that in this presidential election year, it would be important for us to untangle the web of misconception about church and state by studying our past and learning what it really means to us today.

Three Years

I failed to note recently that I have now been a blogger for three years and this is my 530th post. As I review the variety of topics explored, it interests me what I have chosen to use and not use. Obviously, personal relationships are important to me as is my ministry. Life's journey takes many twists and turns, but intentionally claiming it as a walk with God is my focus. My passion for social justice emerges from time to time, but never as much as it should. The intent of this blog is to share some of what I am thinking and reading and to encourage conversation about some of them. I have discovered that having others share my pilgrimage in this blog helps me find my way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Computer Brain

The land of blogs takes me at times to some interesting and inviting places. Such was the case today when I read Larry Hollen’s comments about a recent article in The Atlantic Monthly. I had to follow the link to it and read for myself about what the Internet is doing to our brains. I really think there may be some truth in it when I think about my own current scattered reading habits. I just thought it was a matter of aging. Also, I have found that I have to compose my thoughts on a keyboard versus the once favored yellow tablet. Apparently as we increasingly use a computer a different kind of thinking process is beginning to shape us and one wonders where this is leading us. The author, Nicholas Carr theorizes that “as we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence.” Being of a generation that values reading, I tend to agree with this observation included within the article:

“In the quiet spaces opened up by the sustained, undistracted reading of a book, or by any other act of contemplation, for that matter, we make our own associations, draw our own inferences and analogies, foster our own ideas. Deep reading, as Maryanne Wolf argues, is indistinguishable from deep thinking.

If we lose those quiet spaces…we will sacrifice something important not only in our- selves but in our culture.”

Personally, I trust that we can find a way to use both deep reading and Google power to shape our thoughts. I will be interested in what others think.

Vacation Bible School - 2008

This is Vacation Bible School Week at First UMC. As usual, it is a special time for all who participate and it is wonderful to see the number of families that are present. We have a great group of volunteers who provide the leadership and are committed to making this a good experience for all. Once again I observe that this is a model of congregational leadership that we should follow more often in the life together. First, the core leaders seem to listen carefully to the needs of the people and tell the story within that context. Such as, having an evening event for all ages with a meal is our format. They study the curriculum and make sure the key points are truly the focus of learning and work collaboratively to call forth each volunteer’s gifts as they plan each year’s VBS. The director serves one year and the assistant becomes the director the following year. The retiring director serves as an advisor.

Our leaders know the value of good communication. From publicity to instructions, we all know what’s happening. Once again we have a number of persons from the community including several families who are vacationing in Myrtle Beach. Over the years, VBS has been the introductory visit for quite a few new members. Careful evaluation means some tweaking for the next year. I especially appreciate being able to fulfill the role as spiritual leader and to empower those who share their leadership gifts so generously. How can we duplicate this healthy pattern for successful ministry in other areas of our congregational life?

Remembering

As noted previously, Wendell Berry’s prose and poetry speak to my soul. So, when Amazon told me that I might like to purchase another of his books from them, I couldn’t resist. Remembering is the account of one of Port William’s members, Andy Catlett, as he spends a long day in San Francisco 'remembering' his life and experiences. The loss of a hand to a corn picker has led him into a dark time. Depressed by the state of farming as defined by agribusiness terms and the deterioration of community, Andy begins to reclaim his identity through his memories of people, places and events of the past. I especially enjoyed his encounter with the Ohio State educated farmer followed by his visit with an Amish farmer. Remembering my own connection to farming and community added to my appreciation of this beautifully written book. However, it is worth reading by all who are seeking to know the value of place in their lives.

Tim Russert

It has been a week since I first saw the shocking news that Tim Russert had died. Like many, many people I sensed a personal loss and watched with great interest as a public time of mourning unfolded. As a news junkie, I looked forward to Tim’s take on the political scene. He seemed to ask the questions that I wanted answered and did so in a civil manner. Delightfully, he was more than a political reporter. He was a husband, father, son, friend and a faithful Catholic who revealed his humanity to us. Tim demonstrated again and again that he remembered who he was in an honest and forthright manner. Because he shared these parts of his life with us, it hurt our hearts when he passed and we realized that he would no longer appear on our television screens to express his insights about our political world. His exuberant joy about all that was his life was contagious and helped us remember who we are. What a legacy!

Although I have given Tim Russert’s death much thought during this past week as the many words of eulogy poured forth, it was his apparent failure to fully take care of his health that really caught my attention. Medication does not take the place of healthy habits of eating, exercising and resting. Like Tim and others, I am always going to make sure I do that tomorrow. Since I want to know tomorrow, I better get serious about these things.

Food for Thought

Food has become a subject of headlines and we who have never given much thought to the complexity of this topic are beginning to understand the ethics of eating. As such issues of hunger, health, environment, justice, and globalization come to the table with us, we are now hearing the call to claim a theology of eating. This certainly could be the focus of many blog postings, so I offer this thought from author and theologian, Joan Chittister, as a beginning point:

“Food connects us to nature, to ourselves, to the future. It must never be taken lightly. Everything we eat is either developing us or destroying us. When we chose what we eat, it is an act of creation second only to the conception of life.”

Annual Conference 2008

With the theme “Dare to Change the World”, South Carolina Methodists met in Florence for our Annual Conference this past week. Bishop Taylor led us in worship and business as we sought to chart our course into the future. Although there were no headline grabbing agenda items, the challenge for us to be faithful in and through our ministries was certainly put before us. Changing the world begins with expressions of grace – love, mercy, justice and peace. The traditional opening hymn for Annual Conference is Charles Wesley’s “And Are we Yet Alive”. I often think that we should use it as our closing hymn to evaluate our time spent together.

An Old Friend

The Class of ’63 is planning a reunion. That means we are searching the Internet and other sources for classmate addresses and contacting one another in the hope of reconnecting. I will not be able to attend this event as it is VBS week at First Church. However, this past weekend I was able to experience a little bit of what will be a special time for those who will be present. Chuck Ritenour, who I have known since 4th grade, sailed up the Intracoastal Waterway for a visit. Currently, he is living on his boat and is on his way to the Norfolk area where he will dock and then journey to Washington C.H. for the reunion.

It was so interesting to hear how an Ohio farm boy has become such an adventurer, especially a sailor. Listening to inner voices and allowing circumstances to shape this style of living, Chuck seems to be enjoying retirement to its fullest. I also enjoyed taking that proverbial trip down memory lane as together we remembered people and events from the past. It was even good to hear someone call me Jeannie. Only Ohio friends and family know me by that name. Old friends are truly like gold.

Family Travel

Our son, Robert, and his wife, Kristen, enjoy travel adventures and are teaching their children to appreciate them, also. This year they wanted to see not only New York City, but also some other areas of the state. After investigating airline fares, they decided to have a real plane, train, automobile experience. They flew to Buffalo and in the following days traveled across the state to NYC. To this mother’s delight, they documented this trip each day on a blog, Family Matters. It has been great fun to follow their itinerary in this way and to imagine what Annaka and Jack might be saying. This kind of real time postcard truly says “wish you were here.” I can’t wait to hear their commentary on the sights and experiences. Accolades to Rob and Kristen for choosing many kid-friendly places too visit.

One of the last destinations for these Osbornes was to visit the Dickson family farm in Verbank. This is the farm that was established by Annaka and Jack’s great-great-great grandfather. I, too, have wonderful childhood memories of visits to this special place and am glad that they had the opportunity to play where many of their ancestors have worked and lived. What a rich and wonderful vacation they have had!