Rev. Terri's Musings


What's Good About It?

Henri Nouven saying

A Holy and Blessed Good Friday to you all. Today is the day of our salvation and the conclusion to Lent. I always get questions about why today is called "Good" when it's about the crucifixion. And, many folks, even in my own denomination, would prefer to focus on the joy and promise of the Resurrection and not on the suffering on the cross. Very few people go to Good Friday services. Churches are packed at Easter.

But, the Resurrection and the Cross are bound together by God's love for us: Salvation won on the Cross...Death Conquered and eternal life at the Resurrection. Both are about our relationship with God...and God's relationship with us. Our God is a God who's willing to go to the darketst places of pain and suffering for us, and then lead us out of the darkness into the light.

Good Friday says that our God is close, never distant from us, no matter what happens in our lives. Easter says God will keep us close, eternally. God's faithful presence in our lives is what makes it "Good."


Sermons are Now Online

Finally. Well...the mp3's of my sermons are now online. And, as soon as I master Garageband or Audacity, they'll sound even better. And, until I do master the sound techniques of removing clanks, bangs, the sound of the heat coming on, and empty space, I hope you'll just consider the spontanaety of it all and like the message.

Family Service Really Means Family

One of the things I love about our 11:40 casual Family Service is that each week we go with the flow. You kinda have to with little ones present. One of the other things I love is the reminder that little children really can love church and God. We have 3-yr. old twin girls who come each week. At first they were a little shy, but finally started to find all we do pretty fascinating. Two weeks ago we forgot to light the altar candles and they pointed this out to me. Then one Sunday, after a bunch of Sundays observing us receive communion, they came forward with their hands extended to receive the host. Pretty cool I thought. Pretty astounding and praise the Lord I thought when they touched the host to the wine in the chalice. Just like their parents did.

I was asked recently if our new service is a 'success.?' Well, the person asking really meant how many people were attending. I personally think that Jesus would consider it a success. Some things can't be quantified.

If you're looking for non-quantifiable success in your relationship with God, try the 11:40 service. We go with the flow, dig deep into scripture, let the little children come forward and enjoy a casual liturgy with touches of traditon.

Blogging or Musing?

I am an abysmal blogger. I was reminded of this when it was pointed out that I hadn't updated my "blog" in a while. There is an expectation that if you have a blog, you will blog all the time...or at least weekly. I'm amazed at the folks on Facebook that update many times a day. Actually, I'm astounded...and annoyed. There's an expectation that all of us shall do likewise. Plus, there's a belief that technology makes it all absolutely immediate, seamless and convenient. It's not always, as I discovered trying to be the church blogger.

Whenever I had something to blog, I had my iPad. So, I'd write it down in an iPad app because the only way to update the web site and blog is on my Mac. Conversion is not seamless. Trust me. Plus, sometimes I just don't think about it. It's not in my muscle memory. In fact, ideas usually come to me when I'm driving, falling asleep, standing in line at the gas station. Nope, don't have the 'spiritual' discipline to schedule a time weekly. Well, I do actually. I schedule, plan, do it all. However, I'm reminded about the day in seminary when we asked a well-seasoned priest for his best advice. "Write everything in your planner in pencil." There's also a saying, "You plan. God laughs."

While with some fellow pastors, I mentioned that maintaining a web site and a good blog was a) not taught in seminary, and b) not always one of those gifts given to us in Baptism. However, what I learned is that one can 'blog' without really blogging. One can 'muse.'

Musings can happen when the 'muse' strikes. Musing has little expectation. I can muse to my heart's content.

I'm musing. I like musing.

Remember White Out?

Our denomination requires that we keep a register of all liturgical services, for Sundays, weekdays, and weddings and funerals, including what kind of service, time, how many attended, etc. It's an actual register book and whomever presides at the service has to sign it. It's used for all kinds of reporting requirements. It looks like a general accounting ledger from the old days when accounting was not done electronically. It's done in pen. That's a wonderful opportunity for mistakes, like putting the wrong thing in the wrong column, which is what I did while filling in a bunch of weeks. I thought I was being efficient by filling in the weeks in advance. Unfortunately, I'd filled in most of the page before I noticed I'd switched columns. Yikes!

That's when I recalled the days of White Out. You know, the stuff in the little bottle that you brush on written or typed booboos. I had 2 bottles in my office. But, they hadn't been used in so long they were dried out. I asked some of our folks if there was any more in the office and I got the question, "Do they still make that stuff?" I'm hoping that in the world of electronic mistake-proof copy that they still do. We still use pen and paper. Really, we do, and that means fixing stuff that just can't get re-printed. I'll be heading to the big box office supply store, looking for a service person from my generation that won't think I'm crazy and who will, at the least, know what I'm talking about.

I'm sure some theologian will cringe at this simplistic comparison, but White Out is a form of Grace. You get a do-over. You get to start again. Life goes on and you can leave the mistake behind. It gives you the opportunity to forgive yourself for your shortcomings and not get stopped in your tracks. Couldn't we all use a little White Out in our lives?

God reminds us during Lent that we get that opportunity to start over, that our God, through the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, recognizes that mistakes and shortcomings are inevitable. Thing is, unlike the little bottle, God's Grace and forgiveness never dry up or become obsolete.

If they still make the stuff, I think I'll get a bunch of bottles and leave one on my desk as a reminder that grace comes in all sizes and means.

Ashes to Go -- Remember that thou art dust

If you drove by Holy Trinity on Ash Wednesday there was this woman in cassock, white surplice, and stole, with an Indiana University Umbrella standing out in the snow. That was me. It was cold and fun, too. People waved, commented on an Indiana umbrella in OSU territory, and some stopped by for ashes and to drop off food for the InterParish Ministry Pantry. Thanks to all who came by during the day and in the evening when our Deacon, Ken, and I were out there. One person asked why I was out there and not doing the traditional in the building service.

The answer is that Ashes to Go is an effort by the Episcopal Church to bring grace to the people where they are. I pointed out that Jesus didn't sit in Nazareth and wait for everyone to discover him. He went to where they were.

One of my clergy colleagues has her ministry in the local Starbucks. She's there at specific times and people have come to know when that is. They stop by to ask questions, pray, study the bible, and receive the sacraments. They consider her their priest. I guess you could say she's the modern day circuit rider...with coffee instead of a horse.


The Real SuperGlue

I was reading an article in the New York Times about a young woman reminiscing about growing up with extraordinarily well-educated parents who fed her a steady diet of learning and literature. I actually started reading it because of its title, “The Prayer of An Unconventional Family.” I thought it was about something else because she used the phrase, “I grew up wanting a normal family that said prayers and went to church…” Unfortunately, the rest of the sentence was, “…but thank God you mostly ignored my menu choices, because instead I got…parents who worshiped at the temples of James Joyce and Willa Cather, John Updike and John Cheever, Dorothy Parker and Evelyn Waugh.” Sigh, ‘spiritual, but not religious.’

She then went on to recount the glorious life of literature that inspired and formed her…sans God. She actually thanks God for a life growing up without God, or at the very least, without going to ‘church.’ Of course, the article is not as simple as that, but pretty close.

But there was a sentence that struck me for many reasons. It’s the one where she quotes the great American dramatist, Eugene O’Neill: “Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.”

She kind of talks about how all the literary stuff is the glue that held together her brokenness in her life, gives God some grace as being the catalyst for that, but neglects the real issue: God’s really gluing us together even when we try to avoid it. God is SuperGlue! God found a way to ‘mend’ even in the midst of determined avoidance to have God be a focus for that brokenness.

Imagine what God could have done on the mending front if He’d been the focus!

That’s what church, as a living, breathing community of faith is supposed to be about. Healing and ‘gluing’ our brokenness together.

There’s a lot of talk in religious circles today about the return to being ‘missional.’ It’s a big topic in mainline denominations that are seeking to understand and be relevant in faith life in the 21st century. It’s a nice theological term meaning we need to get back to the mission of God: healing the brokenness and building the Kingdom. O’Neill took far fewer words to explain it so well.

Black Friday is Upon Us

I'm getting a whole lot of emails about the upcoming Black Friday sales. I'm not ready for Black Friday, the official start of shopping insanity. Just in case you don't know why it's called "Black Friday," it's because that's the day all the retailers go to the black column in accounting.

I worked in retail to pay my way through college. Black Friday had a special meaning for those of us behind the counters. In fact, I no longer shop during the holiday shopping period because I still have PTSD from those days. I either get my shopping done in October or shop online. The FedEx guy once asked me if I ever leave the house.

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I also don't like to shop on Black Friday because it's black for another reason. People aren't really in a 'holiday' mood, they're in a 'get-a-deal-at-all-costs-including-stomping-on-people' mood. I get upset. It's the day after Thanksgiving. It should be a day when we're still basking in the glow of gratitude to God for our blessings, not waking up at 4 a.m. to camp out to buy something.

But, I know that this battle is long over. The Friday after Thanksgiving will never return to just a day when we ate turkey leftovers and watched football and spent time with our families. I do, however hope that maybe we can approach the day with a bit more gratitude for what we have, a bit more consideration for our friends and neighbors (and especially for the folks behind the counters!), and a bit more realization that Christmas isn't about all the stuff we want, but about all the joy that God gives us in the birth of Our Lord and Savior. I'll keep praying.

Pray for All Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy

The East Coast has been particularly hard hit by Hurricane Sandy, including a number of deaths attributed to the storm. Then there is all the destruction and disruption of life from the surge waters. Our prayers are with our brothers and sisters in the affected areas. Please include them in yours, and consider making a donation to the various agencies providing much needed assistance to those who’ve lost their homes and businesses and are without power, food and the basic necessities. It’s what God calls us to do always.

The Marathon

My best friend’s daughter, Nicole, a non-active duty marine, just ran in the Marine Corps Marathon (MMC) in Washington, D.C., this weekend. Please note that I said ‘non-active duty’ and not retired. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Nicole’s also married to an active duty Marine stationed in Japan.

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The MMC honors the dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants, the majority of whom are active duty or ‘retired’ military personnel. It’s not just a race, though. It’s a weekend of events and races that support runners, their families, and developing a healthy and active lifestyle. MMC has been voted the best family-friendly marathon. (Note: you don’t have to be military to participate, people from around the world enter to run.)

I mentioned to a few friends that Nicole was running in the Marathon in D.C. and they were all sure it would be cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy heading up the coast. Yeah, right. Cancel a MARINE marathon because of a little weather. These are folks who endured The Crucible, the 3-day final test for graduation from 13 weeks of Boot Camp Hell. Cancel? I think not. In fact, the first runner over the finish line lamented that his time would have been better, except for the weather. His time: 2:20:20. That’s 2 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds to run 26 miles…a little over 5 minutes per mile! I think it would have taken me 2 days, 20 hours, and 20 minutes!

I’m always awestruck by folks who run marathons, Marine or not. It takes an enormous amount of discipline and commitment to prepare for a marathon, particularly if you want to cross the finish line. It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to face much along the race, and not everyone finishes.

Being a faithful Christian is like running a marathon. It’s not for the faint of heart, either. It requires discipline, practice and commitment. You have to face many challenges along the race route, and maybe hurricane conditions along the way. Nor is a marathon a solo endeavor. There’s a whole support structure for the runners and an infrastructure required from concept through the route to the finish line. It requires a community to put one on. For Christians, that community is called ‘Church.’ And, like a marathon race, God doesn’t care about your running time…just that you cross the finish line.

Looking for your faith marathon support team? Come visit us this Sunday!


© HTCKenwood 2011