Sharing stories of God's Resurrection Power

Here's my story...

If you had known me as a child you never, never would have guessed that I would become a pastor. I was afraid of people I did not know. I hated to talk in front of people. I was the kind of kid who was so quiet that I blended into the background. And, I liked it there in the background. It was nice and undemanding.

And yet, here I am standing in front of you front and center every Sunday. The journey from shy quiet little girl to now is a long and complicated one. Because of time, I will not tell you all the steps on that journey. But, I will tell you that over and over again, it felt like God was pushing me off of the safe and sturdy diving board and into the scary deep end of discipleship. Every time, I wanted to scream, “No! I can’t go I’m scared!” And, every time, God would reassure me that this was where I was to go and what I was to do.

It began with small things like going to church camp, or leaving my family for a week to go with the church mission trip. Then it was going to a Bible Study where I knew no one. Then it was leading a Bible Study. Then it was countless other things until I got here. Each new step was scary and challenging. Each time, I was forced to rely upon God’s power and not my own. And, each time, I found that God’s resurrecting power was more than I needed. God’s love was with me each step of the way. And through, God’s gifts and guidance I find myself your pastor. And through God’s gifts and guidance, I know we will be able to continue our journey together.

Would you share your story of how God worked in your life?

Living the Resurrection?

So, I am sitting at my desk, trying desperately to focus. I should have already finished this month's newsletter article, but instead, I just feel crabby. “I don’t want to write an article!” I keep repeating in my mind, as though throwing a temper tantrum will help the situation. The logical side of me is saying, “you should write about Easter, or the Resurrection, or “Living the Easter Spirit” or some other inspiring sort of article like that. But, I cannot quite seem to get there. My spirit refuses to be joyful.

And, yet, in spite of my desire to give up and go home for the day, I realized that dealing with my grouchy attitude is exactly the kind of message that we should be preaching in this season of Easter. In spite of outward appearances, Easter is not about being happy.

It is true that Easter is full of beautiful flowers, and happy, joyful music. It is easy to get carried away in all of that and assume that the Story of the Resurrection is supposed to make us happy all the time. It usually does make us happy, because it is, after all, very good news.

But, the fact of the matter is that our faith does not run on feelings. There will be days when you just plain feel grouchy. And there is little that anyone can do or say to break that grouchy mood within you. That’s how I felt when I started writing this article.

Nevertheless, the good news of the gospel is not dependent upon our moods. It is still good news, even if you don’t feel it. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.” You see, the Resurrection is good news because it proves God’s faithfulness, not ours. We hold unswervingly to the gospel even on grouchy and depressed days, because we know without a doubt, that whatever our mood is today, God’s love for us will never falter nor fail. God’s love could not be stopped by our moods or even by death on the cross. God’s love is with us always. Thanks be to God! Amen.

What does it mean to be Easter People?

In the Hymn, "Easter People, Raise Your Voices" the third verse says this: "Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song."

And it is that verse that has caught my attention. First, I wondered, what does it mean to be an "easter person?" And secondly, how do you make every day Easter?

What does it mean to live the Easter story always?

The Scripture Passages for this Sunday are:
John 20:19-31
Acts 4:32-35

Both passages are stories about the disciples gathered in community. But there is a remarkable difference in these two types of community. One group is huddled in fear in a locked room. And, the second is a community that is truly one body. They have everything in common, they reach out to the poor, they spend time in worship, study, and prayer. They are a group that any church would desire to emmulate.

What makes the difference between these two communities?
How can we seek and find that change in our own lives?

What does it mean to be Easter People?

Holy Week Revisited...

It has been a busy week!

Someone said to me, "this is like your Superbowl weekend, isn't it?" And, indeed it was! There are so many things that happen during Holy Week. A Thursday service, a Friday service, a 24-hour Prayer Vigil, a Sunrise Service, an Easter Breakfast, and finally the Easter worship service. And, in addition to all of that, there was extra time spent with my family.

All of it was time well spent. I had an incredible Holy Week and Easter this year. It was exciting to see so many participate in the prayer vigil. I think that was one of the things I was most nervous about. I wondered, would we really be able to fill up the time slots? And the answer was yes!

I think that the whole week made me realize that during busy weeks and hectic schedules it is most important to remember that we do not do this on our own power, or for our own glory.

I heard many affirming comments about the Good Friday service, and while I did spend time planning who would read, and what songs we would sing, I really did not do anything to create a great service. The thing that made the service great was the fact that God spoke to people's hearts. And again with the Prayer Vigil. If it was helpful and meaningful, it is was so because God was speaking. And that is something that can never be manufactured by the pastor.

Holy Week reminds us that we need to work together as the Body of Christ. When we come together to plan a service, God speaks powerfully. Even more, Holy Week reminds us to stop and listen to God speaking.

May God continue to speak to you this week, and always... Amen.