Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Soul music
Ken Medema
In a number of ways we are spoken to, called. Sometimes it is an earthquake, a fire, a whirlwind. Sometimes it is a 14 y.o. girl who asks us to dance. Sometimes it is our own heart saying ‘yes’.
Sometimes it is a Ken getting us to stand up and dance and wave our arms around and laugh together.
God’s voice is not always prophetic. Sometimes it is laugh-inducing and loud. Sometimes it is a gentle, reassuring story of the eternity of us and of love and the gift of a dragon fly. Sometimes it is our own stories.
One of the things Ken teaches is how to listen. He hears music in our words. What do we hear from one another? From ourselves?
In a number of ways we are spoken to, called. Sometimes it is an earthquake, a fire, a whirlwind. Sometimes it is a 14 y.o. girl who asks us to dance. Sometimes it is our own heart saying ‘yes’.
Sometimes it is a Ken getting us to stand up and dance and wave our arms around and laugh together.
God’s voice is not always prophetic. Sometimes it is laugh-inducing and loud. Sometimes it is a gentle, reassuring story of the eternity of us and of love and the gift of a dragon fly. Sometimes it is our own stories.
One of the things Ken teaches is how to listen. He hears music in our words. What do we hear from one another? From ourselves?
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Through the wilderness...
David Moyer accepted the call to Conference minister at probably the most interesting* time in the Conference’s history. His presentation this morning was but a glimpse of what he is dealing with. What he needs to hear from us, as do each and all of our leadership dealing with the necessity of restructuring, is:
1) Thank you. Very much.
2) You are not alone. Not at all.
And if applicable:
3) You can retire in 3 years or when the Dow hits 10,000 which ever comes first.
Humor aside, we are fortunate to have David.
So, in addition to ‘thank you’ what words do you have for David today?
*As in the Oriental curse “May you live in interesting times.”
1) Thank you. Very much.
2) You are not alone. Not at all.
And if applicable:
3) You can retire in 3 years or when the Dow hits 10,000 which ever comes first.
Humor aside, we are fortunate to have David.
So, in addition to ‘thank you’ what words do you have for David today?
*As in the Oriental curse “May you live in interesting times.”
Jean Feraca
It is a gift when someone within our congregation or circle of friends shares part of the their journey of faith and awareness. It is even more so when someone brings the insights and especially the excitement of spiritual growth. Jean taught us of the differences between the old and new understandings of the cosmos, illuminated with quotes from poetic and enlightened authors, illustrated with pictures from the Hubble telescope. And that would be enough. But the greatest gift was the reporting from her own life.
Would Jean claim to be spoken to by ‘the still-speaking God’? Probably not. She’s too humble about her religious history to make such a claim. (Perhaps in that in a lesson for many of us.) But her words bore witness to being led in spirit by Spirit to greater intimacy with our Creator.
We couldn’t have asked for more.
Would Jean claim to be spoken to by ‘the still-speaking God’? Probably not. She’s too humble about her religious history to make such a claim. (Perhaps in that in a lesson for many of us.) But her words bore witness to being led in spirit by Spirit to greater intimacy with our Creator.
We couldn’t have asked for more.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Incoming...
There are, if we wish, lots of reasons to worry about the future of the church, the UCC and the Wisconsin Conference in particular. There are reasons for despair and the wringing of hands (as opposed, I suppose, to the ringing of hand bells) and living in fear more than faith. But the quality and extent of life experiences, education, dedication and commitment present in the pastors new to our Conference is not a reason to for such anxiety. The era of college-seminary-church as the most traveled path is over, and we are blessed.
And slowly some of us who have toiled long in the vineyard and know with sinful certainty exactly how the Spirit calls people into ministry are…well, ‘resistive’ might be the most charitable term. May we be liberated.
On a personal note, I would like to say that earlier in my ministry I knew Todd Smith Lippert as a sprout. He didn’t seem as weird as a child…but then his dad… One of the delights of my life is seeing young people like Todd whom I knew in Iowa, like A.J. Smith whom I knew (also as a sprout) in Saukville, finding joy and meaning in the life of the church. I can’t believe I’m this old…
And slowly some of us who have toiled long in the vineyard and know with sinful certainty exactly how the Spirit calls people into ministry are…well, ‘resistive’ might be the most charitable term. May we be liberated.
On a personal note, I would like to say that earlier in my ministry I knew Todd Smith Lippert as a sprout. He didn’t seem as weird as a child…but then his dad… One of the delights of my life is seeing young people like Todd whom I knew in Iowa, like A.J. Smith whom I knew (also as a sprout) in Saukville, finding joy and meaning in the life of the church. I can’t believe I’m this old…
Keynote
When I was a student it was rare, indeed if it ever happened, that a college professor’s lecture raised my consciousness or drew me nearer to my Creator.
Thanks, Karl.
What did you think?
Thanks, Karl.
What did you think?
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