We are starting a new video series that will be played on our website - www.oursaviorsbeloit.org. Below is the first video - let me know what you think.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Oh the days we have
So I thought today was going to be a nice, easy day. I had a couple of meetings scheduled, time to do some work on newsletters and other paperwork, and maybe even a little bit of reading. But all that went out the window quite fast.
In the middle of one of my meetings I got a call that the mother of one of our custodians had died. So I went to the ER to meet up with him and walk with him during this time of grief and loss. When I got there he already had people with him to support and care for him, but it was a true blessing for me to be there as well.
During this time I was visibly reminded of the need for community. The need for others to walk with us during our times of sorrow and loss. The need of human contact and love. As humans, we were created to live in community, to live with others so that we can share in the experiences of others and they can share in our experiences as well.
So today, I invite you to reflect on the communities you are a part of. Reflect on those who give you strength, as well as the ones you are able to be with during their times of struggle. And also remember that central in these communities is God, the one who will always love and care for you.
In the middle of one of my meetings I got a call that the mother of one of our custodians had died. So I went to the ER to meet up with him and walk with him during this time of grief and loss. When I got there he already had people with him to support and care for him, but it was a true blessing for me to be there as well.
During this time I was visibly reminded of the need for community. The need for others to walk with us during our times of sorrow and loss. The need of human contact and love. As humans, we were created to live in community, to live with others so that we can share in the experiences of others and they can share in our experiences as well.
So today, I invite you to reflect on the communities you are a part of. Reflect on those who give you strength, as well as the ones you are able to be with during their times of struggle. And also remember that central in these communities is God, the one who will always love and care for you.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What's been going on since the last post
I know that it has been a while since I last posted, so I wanted to do a little update on what has been happening. December was a great month. At church we had a wonderful Christmas at Twilight concert - where the music was spectacular - and the kid's put on a great program the following week. It is amazing to go back and see Sierra's first Christmas program and compare it with this one. She is growing up way to fast! We then had some very moving Christmas Eve services and after Christmas our family took a little break for some R and R.
January came on fast. We started the year with four funerals, which was followed by five baptisms (three adults and two children). It was very moving to observe the transition from death to new life in a very dramatic way. We also started a new study on Comparative Religions where we are hosting leaders of other denominations and religions into the church so that they can talk about their faith. This has been very positive and we are making DVD's of their talks that can be checked out from the library.
Another new ministry is our video series - Faithsteps Videos. These videos will be on the church website starting on February 1. Hopefully we will have a new video every two weeks.
All of this has been exciting and exhausting. I am constantly reminded of the gift of rest - rest for the body and rest for the spirit. There are many days when I feel pulled to go, go, go - and it is in making time to rest in God that I am given the strength needed to keep up with everything around here.
So as we continue in this new year, I invite you to continue to make time to rest in God. Rest by praying, listening to music, going for a walk and enjoying the gift of creation. Rest in some way where your spirit can be uplifted, always knowing that GOd is continually coming to you - blessing you with his love and peace every day.
January came on fast. We started the year with four funerals, which was followed by five baptisms (three adults and two children). It was very moving to observe the transition from death to new life in a very dramatic way. We also started a new study on Comparative Religions where we are hosting leaders of other denominations and religions into the church so that they can talk about their faith. This has been very positive and we are making DVD's of their talks that can be checked out from the library.
Another new ministry is our video series - Faithsteps Videos. These videos will be on the church website starting on February 1. Hopefully we will have a new video every two weeks.
All of this has been exciting and exhausting. I am constantly reminded of the gift of rest - rest for the body and rest for the spirit. There are many days when I feel pulled to go, go, go - and it is in making time to rest in God that I am given the strength needed to keep up with everything around here.
So as we continue in this new year, I invite you to continue to make time to rest in God. Rest by praying, listening to music, going for a walk and enjoying the gift of creation. Rest in some way where your spirit can be uplifted, always knowing that GOd is continually coming to you - blessing you with his love and peace every day.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Love
This month, as I have been living in the Advent season and preparing for Christmas, I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on love - the love that God has for us and the love that we have for one another. I ran across an older video that I had seen before, but it spoke to me, once again. It is the story of a father and son, and all that the father does out of the love for his son. It's moving - let me know what you think.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Advent
This week we enter into the season of Advent, and this is one of my favorite seasons of the year. Advent is where we live on a daily basis - in the in-between times. it is a season of hope and a season filled with preparation. It is also a season that is filled with promise.
Last week Pr. Jennifer's grandmother passed away. She was 91 and lived a wonderful life. Her wit and sassy nature will be missed by everyone. During her last few days I was filled with a sense of awe - for her was this wonderful lady preparing for the end, and yet she had this spirit of hope continuing to permeate her being. She knew that she was embarking on a new journey where the promise of God would continue to hold onto her and bring her to the new life that was promised to her.
And that is what Advent is all about - the promise of God that we are his children and always will be. For now, we live in the gray, we live in the season of Advent, holding onto that hope and remembering that God will always be there for us - blessing us, loving us, and caring for us - as we are his beloved.
Last week Pr. Jennifer's grandmother passed away. She was 91 and lived a wonderful life. Her wit and sassy nature will be missed by everyone. During her last few days I was filled with a sense of awe - for her was this wonderful lady preparing for the end, and yet she had this spirit of hope continuing to permeate her being. She knew that she was embarking on a new journey where the promise of God would continue to hold onto her and bring her to the new life that was promised to her.
And that is what Advent is all about - the promise of God that we are his children and always will be. For now, we live in the gray, we live in the season of Advent, holding onto that hope and remembering that God will always be there for us - blessing us, loving us, and caring for us - as we are his beloved.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Diving into Job
Tonight we started a Bible study on the Book of Job (we are doing the same thing on Thursday at noon if anyone is interested). So I read through the book again and was reminded of how this was such a troubling book for me.
I have always struggled with the idea of bad things happening to good people - as I believe most of us have. But I also know the realities of life, and I know that bad things do happen to good people. As we have started this book on of the things that really stood out to me were the three friends of Job. Later on they are problematic, but at the beginning, they do just what I like to see friends do - they come and sit with Job as he is going through a difficult time.
Having friends like that is a true treasure. Having someone who will come and just be with you as you endure trials and struggles is a true gift. I have a few of these friendships, and I treasure them.
So today, I invite you to think about the people who have come and sat with you during difficult times. Think about the support and live you have been given. Then let them know. So often we take these friendships for granted - let's try not to do that anymore.
I have always struggled with the idea of bad things happening to good people - as I believe most of us have. But I also know the realities of life, and I know that bad things do happen to good people. As we have started this book on of the things that really stood out to me were the three friends of Job. Later on they are problematic, but at the beginning, they do just what I like to see friends do - they come and sit with Job as he is going through a difficult time.
Having friends like that is a true treasure. Having someone who will come and just be with you as you endure trials and struggles is a true gift. I have a few of these friendships, and I treasure them.
So today, I invite you to think about the people who have come and sat with you during difficult times. Think about the support and live you have been given. Then let them know. So often we take these friendships for granted - let's try not to do that anymore.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Grace
As we have been reading through the Bible in the Bible Challenge, I have come back to some gems that I had not spent a lot of time with recently. And it always amazes me how I see something new in the Scriptures, even if it is a story that I have read over and over again.
Today we covered the story of Joseph, and in reading through it this time my mind hung on the word "redeem." Even in the most difficult of times that Joseph faced, God was with him, empowering him, redeeming him, and using him to redeem others.
It is a reminder to me that God is a God of grace. He blesses us over and over again, sometimes without us even realizing it until after the fact. Even in the lowest points of our lives, or maybe especially then, God is there - lifting us up and giving us what we need to make it through those "valleys of the shadow of death."
So today, I invite you to reflect on the grace God has showered on you. Reflect on the blessings you have been given, and take some time to reflect on the ways God has entered into your life.
Today we covered the story of Joseph, and in reading through it this time my mind hung on the word "redeem." Even in the most difficult of times that Joseph faced, God was with him, empowering him, redeeming him, and using him to redeem others.
It is a reminder to me that God is a God of grace. He blesses us over and over again, sometimes without us even realizing it until after the fact. Even in the lowest points of our lives, or maybe especially then, God is there - lifting us up and giving us what we need to make it through those "valleys of the shadow of death."
So today, I invite you to reflect on the grace God has showered on you. Reflect on the blessings you have been given, and take some time to reflect on the ways God has entered into your life.
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