Advent Day 21-Prophet

"Prophet"

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

-Isaiah 9:6

Luke 1:26-38

Advent Day 20-Good News

"Good News"

I feel like Christmas came in July this year…

This was REALLY good news!

Advent Day 19-Patience

"Patience"

You have to have patience to live through upper midwest winters!

Advent Day 16-Strong

"Strong"

=

My niece had a rough start to life but she is a fighter…

&

I am so much stronger than I was even a year ago…

Photo taken by Susan Gilchrist

(my sister-in-law's mother)

Advent Day 15-Rejoice

"Rejoice"

Children are so good at rejoicing with music…we can learn from them…

Advent Day 14-Gather

"Gather"

This is how I imagine God gathering me into his/her arms when I'm suffering or in pain.

Advent Day 10-Holy

"Holy"

Some days this is the only way I can become aware of The Holy.

Advent Day 8-Wisdom

"Wisdom"…

awareness of Emanuel-God within us!

Advent Day 7-Ready

"Ready"…

for the day, for the season of Advent, for Christmas...

Advent Day 6-Awake

"Awake"

Advent Day 4-Time

Time

Advent Day 3 - "Peace"

"Shalom"

(The Hebrew word for "peace" that says so much to me)

Advent Day 2-Bound

"Bound"

Advent Day 1-Go (Advent "Photo a Day")

In Lent 2013 I began a discipline inspired by Rethink Church a website of the United Methodist Church. While I didn't make it through Lent I really enjoyed the challenge. Rethink Church has brought back the Photo-A-Day challenge. So once again I am inspired to take on the Advent Photo-A-Day (click the link to learn more about it) challenge.

Today's Word is "Go"...

Emmanuel-God Within Me

The beginning of Advent is just over a week away and I have been thinking about waiting and preparing. The purpose of Advent is to prepare for Emmanuel or God with us. I feel like I have just come out of a long period of Advent in my faith journey. Since I left my previous position in Hudson, WI over two years ago I had been preparing and waiting for my next call. My experience in Hudson proved to be a turning point in my faith journey. 

The experience propelled me to do some serious "soul work".  I yearned to feel God's presence and I yearned to feel worthy. It turns our what I really needed was to recover Emmanuel within myself. I embarked on a journey of peeling away the layers of shame and fear that hid my true soul, my authentic self-that hid Emmanuel. In the beginning I believed this uncovering would be easy-just learning skills to make the shame and fear go away. It turns out it was a painful process because healing means wading through the messiness of shame and fear and coming out on the other side. It meant learning what triggers my feelings of shame and fear, it meant lots of crying, and it meant lots of hard work.

What I discovered was that under all the shame and fear God was  present within me. God was working in me. God's healing love was transforming the dark wounds of shame and fear into light. The light revealed gifts of worthiness, leadership, compassion, confidence, hope, and joy. I also discovered that God was preparing me for a new adventure-an adventure that has taken me away from my family, my friends, my support system. Two years ago I was not ready for this adventure-I had to wait. God was preparing my heart and soul to minister with the congregation of Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Right now seems to be a Christmas season in my faith journey. I am able to more fully embrace Emmanuel or God within me. I am grateful for the Advent Season in my life but even more grateful for this new season of joy and light!

Emmanuel!

Friday Photographs-Sunset

"In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God."

Maude Hart Lovelace,

Betsy-Tacey and Tib

Friday Photographs-Peace

What does peace feel like?

Peace feels like walking alone in the woods on a crisp fall day. 

Friday Photographs-Light

"I wish I could show when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being."

~Hafiz  

Friday Photographs are Back!

"Scooby-Doo, where are you?"

Back in the Saddle

Today I led staff devotions in my new congregation Memorial Presbyterian Church. My devotion was a reading from a book by the former Senior Pastor at my home congregation Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Don Miesel. The reading was about balance and how vital balance is to ones faith journey. At first I could not figure out why I was drawn to this reading. Then it dawned on me-I've been feeling unbalanced. Since moving to Appleton and starting this new call a majority of my life has revolved around the church and the people in church. It occurred to me that maybe God is reminding me to find and/or rediscover other outlets for my time and energy. What else am I passionate about? What else to I enjoy doing?

As I've pondered this today amongst the work of my call I realize I miss writing and blogging (it has been over 6 months since I posted last), I miss my photography, I miss crocheting, and I miss reading! I am reminded that I am more than my job and God has given me gifts, skills, and passions that also make me who I am.

I was also reminded that taking a break from blogging, photography, reading, crocheting was necessary to focus my energy on my job search and the "soul and shame work" that I need to do in order to be where I am now. Granting my self grace to do what I needed to do and not what I thought I "should" be doing has given me freedom to be more authentic and true to myself.

Thus I'm ready to be "back in the saddle"-sharing my musings and my photographs.

Lent Day 20: shadow

shadow

Lent Day 18: bless

bless

Bread for those who are in need of nourishment! 

Lent Day 17: thirst

thirst

Lent Day 16: leave

leave

Lent Day 14: earthly

earthly

Lent Day 12: lift

lift

Psalm 121:1-2

Lent Day 11: cover

cover

Up-side Down Leadership

Genesis 41

Mark 6:30-44

A Pharaoh turning over power to a “criminal”! Jesus AND his disciples feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish! These are pretty amazing stories of upside-down leadership. 

In our first story the almighty Pharaoh who has total power over his people decides to relinquish quite a bit of this power to Joseph. Remember, Pharaoh was like a King in a monarchy he had total power over the people and this power had been passed down to him through his family. Pharaohs themselves were even regarded as gods and god’s are NOT supposed to relinquish power to mere humans. Not to mention the man he was giving power to had been in jail! In fact he came right from jail he was not even a “respectable” man in society! Pharaoh upon knowing this man for less than a day recognizes Josephs gifts and that they are God given and decides to make him “second in command”. Now that’s going out on leadership limb! 

There are several important things going on in this story. One is that God opened Pharaoh’s eyes to God’s power. Pharaoh saw God as bigger and more powerful than even he was and Pharaoh was considered all powerful and god like. Second in seeing God as all powerful Pharaoh buys in to God’s “plan” for the future of Egypt and put’s Joseph in charge of carrying out this plan because of Joseph’s God given gifts and his faith in God. Third we are witness to God’s love and compassion to all of God’s children. God has compassion for Pharaoh by keeping him in power-in other words he doesn’t loose everything because of this change in leadership. God show compassion toward Joseph by bringing him out of his deepest struggle-being in jail. God shows compassion toward the people of Egypt and the surrounding countries through the leadership of Pharaoh and Joseph whose planning ahead kept food in their bellies during the famine. 

Then there is the story of Jesus and his disciples feeding the 5,000. Jesus decides to take his disciples on a little vacation away from the crowds for some rest and relaxation. However, they are “found” and Jesus has “compassion” for the crowd and begins teaching them. As the daylight wanes the disciples, in their typical manner, become restless and begin to worry about how they are going to feed all these people. Their solution, which seems compassionate and easiest, is to just send them out to the neighboring towns so that they can buy their own food before it gets too dark and it is unsafe to travel. 

Jesus, with his true compassion and wisdom, challenges their solution and says “You give them something to eat.” They of course give him a “very good” reason why this is not possible. He then sends them out find out how many “loaves and fishes” they have. After finding out there are 5 loaves and 2 fish he “directs” the disciples to gather the crowd into groups and sit. Giving thanks to God he divides the bread and fish among the disciples to distribute to the entire crowd. 

Think about it! Jesus by this point in his ministry was probably getting kind of tired of the disciples complaining and finding the “easy way out”. It wasn’t that the disciples were not compassionate or dumb they just were not able to see the big picture. In this case Jesus could have taken full power over the disciples and done it all by himself. He is God you know! Yet, instead he decides to empower his disciples to serve the people. Jesus, challenges the status quo and the disciples first solution by setting forth a new vision/solution where the disciples and the gathered crowd could experience the love and power of God. By equipping the disciples with the necessary gifts they are able engage more fully and truly in God’s work. Jesus empowers the disciples to become leaders in this ministry of compassion and love.

Both of these stories testify to God’s compassion and love for her beloved. These stories also testify to the fact that all people are beloved children of God and thus we all deserve compassion and love. Compassion, belonging, and love are not based on our status in society, how much money we have, our age, or our religion. We all deserve these things because we all belong to God. Ministry is showing authentic compassion and love to God’s people no matter who they are. It might be your sister, your teacher, the bully at school, the mean coworker, the homeless person you passed on your way here, your children or grandchildren...you get the idea. We are all called by God to embody compassion and love-this is ministry.

We are all called into ministry and ministry requires shared leadership. According to Kevin Ford in his book Transforming Church, Leadership is not defined in terms of power over someone or something but rather is defined as “leadership as ministry through sacrifice and service.” (Ford p. 11). For Ford leadership is shared leadership. In American culture this kind of leadership might be considered upside-down leadership. In a culture that promotes power and individuality, effective leadership is defined by how much power you have over someone and how effective you are at coercing others to follow you.  This stands is stark contrast to leadership as compassion, sacrifice, and service! In this context Ford says “leadership is about how best to fulfill the churches mission” (Ford p. 11). Our mission, ultimately, is to embody God’s love and compassion in our own context.

Both of today’s Bible stories are examples of this type of leadership. Pharaoh sacrificed his power and probably his status. In doing so he showed compassion for his people as well as recognizing the gifts and wisdom of Joseph. Jesus’ leadership was also one of compassion and service. In this story Jesus empowered his disciples to carry out a ministry of compassion and love.

Shared leadership and ministry go hand in hand. Shared leadership requires sacrifice, service, vision, faith, and compassion. Ministry occurs in the Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church (DAPC) community, in you family, your workplace, and/or in your personal life. Ministry happens when God’s love and compassion are experienced by everyone. Cultivating ministries of love and compassion requires that everyone participate using our unique God given gifts. Leadership as ministry occurs when we empower others and/or are empowered by others to use our gifts to embody God’s love and compassion for all people and to focus on how to best fulfill this congregation’s mission.

I wonder how we in the DAPC community can embody leadership as ministry? How can we in “official” leadership positions empower this community to best fulfill the mission of DAPC? I wonder how God will use this community to embody her love and compassion? I wonder how God will bless each of us this week with love and compassion? I wonder how will we respond?

Amen.

Lent Day 9: live

live

candles, food, drink, God's Word, rest...

Lent Day 8: spirit

spirit...

...and/or...

spirit...

Lent Day 7: love

love

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Lent Day 5: wonder

wonder

I could stare at sunsets in wonder for hours!

(This is a photograph taken in November 2010)

Lent Day 4: world

world

All these objects tell a story about my experience interacting with the people and places of this amazing world.

First Sunday in Lent: settle

settle

books of all kinds help me settle!

Lent Day 3: Injustice

injustice

(I took this photograph in 2002 at the Slave Castle in Accra, Ghana)

Lent Day 2: see

God sees you...

Lent Day 1: return

return

Ecclesiastics 3:20

Ash Wednesday: Who am I?

Who am I?:

A child of the Light

(This is the my Lenten practice for 2013 based on Lent: photo a day challenge from Rethink Church-reflect and enjoy!)

Diversity: It's the Individuals That Matter

I have been working at Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church for a little over a month now. I love it! I love the people! I was told by Pastor David Stewart and the search committee that DAPC was a very diverse congregation and that the were diverse in many ways-racially, ethnically, educationally, and socioeconomically. I admit that when they told me this I thought to myself can a Presbyterian Church (USA) church really be that diverse? The statistics say that the PCUSA is predominantly caucasian, middle class, and highly educated. It is also true that all of the other congregations I have worked with or grew up in fit this image of the PCUSA. So, yes, I was skeptical that what they were telling me could really be true.

However, as I have come to know this congregation I am proud to say that it IS true! Each Sunday I come to work and worship I look around at the individuals sitting in the pews and smile. Yes, I smile because of the diversity I can see and that I can not see but know. Yet, I smile mostly because all of these people have stories to tell and stories to share with me and with one another (and I am looking forward to hearing their stories!). Diversity in a community of faith means nothing if the stories and lives of each individual member is not heard, honored, and respected. When this happens real community happens, transformation happens, and God smiles!

I smile because in many ways this congregation embodies what church is and can be. DAPC is a reflection of the culture of America and of St. Paul, MN. It is committed to caring for those who are with in the community of faith as well as those who live in the community where it is located.

Working with this diverse community is an exciting challenge for me. While I love the diversity, it is this same diversity that is forcing me to challenge my some of the stereotypes I did not realize I had about people. It is challenging me to think outside the box about Christian Education. It is challenging me to think about the fact that what I thought the future of Christian Education might look like may be realized in this setting much more quickly than I maybe I am ready for. In short it is challenging me to rethink what my ministry is in this particular community of faith called Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church!

Stories of a Prayer Chair

As I stare into the candlelight and sit in my "Prayer Chair" my mind and heart are filled with joy, worry, struggle, wonder, and love. My mind wanders to the stories this chair might tell me.

What stories would this chair tell about those who have sat, played, cried, slept, and laughed in it? What would they teach me about my family, my past, about life, and how I live? Did those who sat here have the same inner struggles I do? Did they ask the same questions I ask? How did they respond to their struggles? How did they fight loneliness, sorrow, worry, sadness, and depression? How did they heal?

I know their energy is present in the place-in this chair. I too will leave energy in this chair. I trust that God transcends the energy and creates healing energy. It is this energy and love which sustains me, gives me hope, and gives me life!

Friday Photographs-God Sees You

God sees you as you truly are - a holy child of light: 

God sees you strong and whole.  

God sees you blessed and prospered.  

God sees you courageous and confident.  

God sees you capable and successful.  

God sees you free from all limitations or bondage of any kind. 

God sees you as the spiritually perfect being you truly are.