Pastorkate’s Weblog

Wow, I love to see Michael Jackson dance!   I can hardly wait to see the new movie, “This is It!” where we get to see some of the best moments of Michael’s rehearsals for his comeback concert that never was to be.  Of course, I would have never seen his concert live, so I am thrilled to be able to see him dance on screen.  He was such a gifted dancer and singer.  His life and death was clouded by such tragedy and sadness.  His life seemed like the Joker character that Heath Ledger played (another sad case) in the movie Batman.  These two men (and so many others) possessed great gifts that were complicated, manipulated and mangled in their life time. Did they lose themselves in fame and fortune?  Or were they simply swept up in a tide of celebrity that dictated what was important? Or did life just get away from their control like so many of us experience? How did they lose IT?

All too often the gifts we are given are lost because they are not appreciated by ourselves and others. Less important traits are magnified by what is popular at the time.  For example, the gift of listening to others is rarely appreciated when all the world is talking loudly.  The gift of time is devalued when you can’t do the things that you want to do with that time and you feel useless.  The gift of  generosity is swelched during times of perceived scarcity.

So what is IT for you?  I know Michael Jackson does define IT.  Nor does our society or celebrity.  What IT is for each of us may be different.  Whatever the gift and source of your strength is- you need to find IT and hold onto IT.  Find out what is really important for you and nurture what you love doing, who you love and who really loves you.  Find that peace that brings wholeness and don’t lose IT.    Share IT with others.

For me ” IT ” is this creed:  ” to love God with all my heart mind and soul and to love my neighbors as myself”  Sound familiar?  Its called the Jesus Creed.  It’s not original- its in all four gospels, where Jesus quotes the summation of the law of the Jews of the Old Testament scriptures.  It’s fundamental.  All the rest is commentary.  So what’s IT for you?

I work with the confirmation class all year and pray they are prepared to confirm the faith their parents expressed when they were babies.   Now this is their own faith.  Its always an interesting and exciting time to read their statements of faith and view their photo shots of “Where I see God.” Humbling and inspiring to watch young people wrestle with their faith and make it their own. 

Every Sunday when I drive to church, I listen to NPR’s audio essays of people talking about what they believe. Some believe in resiliency, kindness, animals, compassion, intelligence and on it goes.  I had to write a statement of faith when I was seeking ordination and it was much more orthodox and comprehensive than these radio recordings or the confirmands.  It had to cover all the bases. But was it any more heartfelt?  I know I believed all the words, but what about my struggles? What about my doubts and agony? Wasn’t that part of faith too?  Sometimes our creeds are so antiseptic that they aren’t human at all. I thin God would want us to be honest – not perfect.

I always tell the kids to start with the questions and look for what connects with your heart.  For example…Why did I fail?  I believe that failure is the result of trying something new.  I beleive God keeps stretching my mind to be open to the new – even it I fail. 

  I challenge you to write down some things that you believe- not everything you believe, but something that has informed and molded who you are today.  

I believe….  you can do it.

Lots of people are hurting-economically, personally and physically. everything inside of you says keep quiet, tough it out or withdraw. For many of us, it is difficult to share our pain and sorrow.  However, instead of hiding our pain, God invites us to be counter intuitive and open up to God and one another.

This economic recession can be a gift to us.  It can show us how to live in community better.  It can help us re-think our spending and get families talking about budgets and needs versus wants. It can reveal the failures of our society “to care for the least of these.”  Maybe even shake some of the most wealthy out of their complacency and help them to see and help hurting people.  God uses every moment of our lives for a lesson. Now, I believe God is using this time and these events to teach us about compassion, stewardship and opening our hearts to God’s strength.

So will you join me this Lent for a brief service of wholeness and healing and also our Lenten Bible Study “Soup and Soul” on Monday nights?  Use this time to focus on what is important and – by the way- the soup is free!

peace to you

Advent appropriately begins with rain today and darkness in the gospel of Mark passage from the lectionary this Sunday.  If any time Auntie Mame was ever right. it is now.  ‘We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.”

Horrors in Mubai, India, stock market tanking, friends and family in hospitals, some with out hope.  My friend, david m. bailey, singer/songwriter had his cancer return. Our children struggle with being lost.  So where do we turn?  This quote from John Stendahl, seemed to say it all for me.  I stand with Hope, I watch for the dawn, and I pray for God’s return to our world.

“I will not choose indifference or resignation. I want to be among those who watch and hope, even when the hope feels like despair. It is after all the company in which God chose to be enfleshed, in Jesus, praying to the still unanswering sky.

And perhaps God did then stir in the heavens, unseen above Golgotha. Perhaps those heavens opened for shepherds to hear a song of peace one night, and later on so that the Holy Spirit could attend a baptism at the Jordan River. And perhaps they will at last open for everyone, that every eye may see.

And then sometimes, some blessed times, we have had worked in us such Advent alchemy that our own hearts stir to feel the stirring of God. Not yet so powerful, not yet quite visible, but more, we think, than just imagined. While the sky still appears opaque and silent, seeds quicken in the dark soil. A child stirs in the womb.”

John Stendahl

As it says in Pauls letter to the Corinthians, our bodies are temples of Gods spirit, So we need to keep our temples in shape.  Some of us need some serious reconstruction! Some need some long put off tests and others just need a tune up.  So start NOW!

Join with me this summer in our new program called Stretch and Pray starting in July on Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:00pm.  Open to all ages, male and female, Just wear loose clothing and bring a mat.  We will just work on stretching and yoga poses- nothing heavy duty- But it will get your heart pumping and your muscles toned.   Meet in the AC lounge!

This past Sunday I was struck by the depth of faith as expressed by so many of our church members. The stories that were shared about the growing partnership we have with the Presbyterian Church in Cardenas, Cuba were so moving. There was much more happening that day. Eleanor Kelley was the first member of CPC to travel to Cuba and she assisted in the liturgy so beautifully. The Youth Bell choir, so ably directed by Marje Miller, performed two pieces that brought tears to my eyes. The Choir sang a beautiful choral introit in Spanish and lead us in a new song “Lord Let my life be Good Soil” Then we enjoyed the most wonderful luncheon compliments of the Flores family and we watched the video of the Quinceanera ceremony of Annjakira. They danced for us and it was really wonderful.

It is actually more work for me to design a worship service with such participation than if I preached. I can control myself !! (sometimes!) However, when so many others are involved it is so hard to plan where or how the seeds of love and challenge might be spread. The fact is that none of us really know when or where the new seed of God’s love might be found. We only need to be good soil open to the seed of the lord to us this day.

I hope you will keep the Cuban and Cameroon churches in your prayers. They have struggles more obvious than ours. Our struggles are to keep open to a word of love that is often crowded out by weeds,

We use the word confirmation many ways these days. Your flight is confirmed. Please confirm your order. This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday. All mean the sealing of requests or wishes.

So what will the three young people who are confirming their faith this Sunday be sealing? They are already marked with the sign of the cross and sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism. They are already members of the household of faith by the action of God in their baptism.

Years ago, we used to call this communicants class because it was usually the first time you would receive communion.However the church has changed its stance on children and communion and most have been taking communion for years usually at the age of early elementary school or whenever their parents deem fit. Twelve of our children will be receiving communion this Sunday as well after a communion instruction class this week.

So what is really being confirmed on Sunday? For each young person the answer is different. I can tell you what I hope is happening in their hearts. I hope that they start to understand the faith that was affirmed by their parents when they were babies and claim it as their own. More than that, I hope that they begin to peek through the curtain and see the miraculous gifts that are available to them, if only they would accept such love and grace. I hope they understand that this community of faith is here to listen, encourage and guide them all of their lives. I I hope they understand that joining the church doesn’t mean having all the answers or that questions aren’t acceptable. I hope and pray that they know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they are a child of God and that they belong to God.

I have said that to them, but I pray that this Sunday they really start to believe it.

This past week we commemorated the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Politicians tromped over to Memphis to the hotel where he was shot and tried to appear to be honorable.  I have to say it all seemed rather political and although probably necessary, it still seemed stilted to me.  If they really wanted to honor Dr. King lets do something in the areas of health care, poverty, drugs, housing, ending the insanity of the Iraq, Sudan, Somalian, Afghanistan wars and advocating for those oppressed by small minds such as our gay and lesbian friends.  Sounds like a lot to do, I  know.  It has been building up for a long time and not addressed by our leaders.  Its time to listen to one of the foremost Christian Prophets of our time.  Hold fast to the dream. 

WWDK do?  He would speak up.  He would march. He would speak the truth with love.  Lets follow. 

WIth a heart burning for generosity and justice,    Pastor Kate

Still keeping attention to our year with faith and arts, I was impressed with the web site http://paintedprayerbook.com/ that described the tender and intimate depiction of Thomas – often called the doubter- and Jesus exposing his wounds to prove his resurrection. Having had my heart and soul tested this past week with several members who have struggled with death and illness, I feel an intimacy with God that seems to expose our deepest pains and yet shines the light of the resurrection hope on our darkest moments. God is with us in miraculous ways. Even with our doubts and questions, God invites us to place our hands on his heart and our weary heads on his chest. There is peace for the pained.

I pray that the Easter story opens up new ways for you to emerge from your winter cloistered life to embrace the miracle of a new spring of hope.

peace to you…