Plan(t) ahead.

As my year of growth continues, it's time to look ahead AND plan(t) ahead.  These came in the mail this week:

The veggies!

And the herbs!  

This IS the gardening year.  Soonish, these will be planted inside to start the growth process.  

Then I'll head outside to reclaim the garden space.  

The plan is a two level garden.  

Herbs, Brussels sprouts, peppers and squash will end up in the actual garden plot.  Just to the right of the hop bines.   

The tomatoes, lettuce and kale will be in planters on the back porch.  They'll receive great sun and they will not be an all you can eat salad bar for the local rabbit residents.  (They have been snacking on and leaving the remains around the spent grains from our last two brew days.)  

While I'd love to have even more in the garden, I give thanks to God for my proximity to great local farmers who have been the sole providers (in addition to generous parishioners) of our summer produce.  

It's an adventure...for sure, but now that the seeds are here, let the adventure begin!    

I'll keep you posted on the growth and the tasty eats.  

Until the next post...

Coming down to the plain.

February 17, 2019

6^th Sunday after Epiphany

Jeremiah17:5-10

Psalm 1

1Corinthians 15:12-20

Luke 6:17-26

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

When I was working at Camp Calumet, the Lutheran camp in the New England Synod, I had a wide range of learning opportunities as I spent 10 summers as a counselor, and staff member. 

Yet, one of the memories that I go back to time and time again is this one. 

I’m not sure what day it was, but it was a sunny one. 

I was sitting on the front step of my cabin, no doubt taking in the view of the lake as the two buddies of mine and the Executive Director of the camp walked by with buckets, a hose some gloves and other random cleaning supplies. 

“Want to come with us?” they asked. 

“Sure,” I said. 

As we walked toward the family camping beach, I asked what we were up to…I said we, because clearly I was now part of this activity. 

They shared that during the night someone had knocked over the port-a-potties and we were headed over to clean them up. 

Oh boy, I thought.  This is one of those times when you think back to the contract you signed at the beginning of the summer and in addition to your specific job description, there is a line that says, “and other duties as assigned.” 

Pardon the pun, but this was one of those other ‘duties.’  (Ha!)

But seriously, I was invited to help out with this clean up job…and while thankfully, I don’t remember much of the cleaning process…I must have erased that from my memory, I do remember that I was working side-by-side the executive director of the camp. 

I’m sure, he could have walked up to a number of folks and asked them to do this job and continue the work he was busy doing, but he did not delegate. 

He was there, in the muck…doing what needed to be done, for the sake of a beautiful camp, a clean property and by making a huge impact while he did. 

In our gospel lesson for today, we hear at the beginning that Jesus came down. 

This isn’t the sermon on the mount where Jesus’ location is above the others.  While that location helped him to be seen and hopefully heard, that is not where he is in today’s reading. 

Today our lesson is the sermon on the plain. He is preaching to a great crowd and a great multitude of people.  Preaching in and among the people must have been a different experience. 

The people around him, no doubt had to strain their ears, lean their heads and try to get a glimpse of this teacher. 

Yet, Jesus’ presence in and among the people, sheds more light on the words he speaks. 

Blessed are you…who are poor, who are hungry, who weep, or when people hate you…

When we hear the world blessed we think of it as something given to us by God maybe based on merit? 

But perhaps a better definition would be satisfied, unburdened or at peace….

So be at peace…be satisfied….not be happy or joyous, but be at peace, in the place in which you find yourselves, because God is with you in these moments. 

And here, Jesus demonstrates this by being in and among this throng of people reaching in to be touched and healed. 

The Greek word for woe…comes in some sense of a warning…it’s a call to repentance…just a reminder, Jesus says, that getting caught up in the comforts, of the world around you thinking that all your needs are met…look around…look out, Jesus says…where you think you have security…in wealth, in happiness…you think things are going fine….

But Jesus says, what if these are allusions, what if these are the things that keep you from seeing God at work in your world, in your life…in your heart. 

Where are you putting your trust, Jesus challenges the crowds.

Where do we put our trust? 

Is it in the things that surround us?  In our wealth?  In our possessions?  In what we think our happiness is? 

We are so often trapped by these things that we think feed our souls, minds and bodies. 

Yet, the blessings of God come upon us, come among us when we don’t even realize it.  When we are trusting in God, not worrying about how we try to meet our own needs, then we see God’s blessings.

And so I really think there is something to be said, for Jesus speaking these words in and among the people. 

He comes down…he is face to face, body to body, with the people in deepest need in the world around him. 

He is walking among the sick, the poor, the hurt, those with unclean spirits, those with the deep desired to be touched and healed. 

In Jesus, God comes down to earth, he suffers and dies. 

He does all this for each and every one of us, before we were even here….

God frees us from sin and death, through the resurrection of Jesus, so that we are free to love and serve others. 

God came down to save us.  God came down in Jesus Christ to open scriptures to us, to love us, to teach us, and to empower, strengthen us and prepare us for service for our neighbors. 

God has given each of us the gifts and skills we need to offer compassion, love and support to others in times of need.

It isn’t up to just me (up in this pulpit) to provide those in need with words of comfort and hope…it is God who does that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is the company of all the saints that offer strength, love and support to others. 

In this place, among you all…the people of God…we walk this journey together. 

Look around…we are all together in this place. 

The place has been leveled. 

We are all welcomed into this place, as the body of Christ, as members of God’s family. 

We come clamoring in to be touched, healed, forgiven, saved…

We come to this place, in the company of one another…shoulder to shoulder…no better or worse than any other…knowing that the love and grace of God will reach us, will teach us, will heal us, will save us. 

(and then I stepped out of the pulpit)

This is the plain on which Jesus preaches, teaches, loves and saves. 

This is the plain on which we are healed, transformed, blessed and sent to walk side-by-side with Jesus and with one another…in a response to love and serve all those who surround us. 

(At each service the sermon ended a little differently, but the gist was this...if you are feeling low down, Jesus reaches our a hand and brings you up onto the plain.  If you are feeling better than ever before, Jesus invites you to come down to the plain.  Because wherever you find yourself, Jesus will invite you into this place.  It is into this place, where we gather shoulder to shoulder with people who have very different opinions of .... the color of the carpet.... not to mention lots of other things, but this place is where we come together, in spite of our differences to be gifted with the presence of God.  All we do, is put one foot in front of the other, open up our hands and receive this amazing gift of God in bread and wine.  This is the plain on which Jesus is and invites us to be with him here.) 

And may the peace, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and let all God’s people say, amen. 

What's your excuse?

February 3, 2019

4^th Sunday after Epiphany

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Psalm 71:1-6

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable and suitable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

An excuse becomes an obstacle in your journey to success when it is made in place of your best effort or when it is used as the object of the blame.

(Bo Bennett)

Let me say that again, an excuse becomes an obstacle in your journey to success when it is made in place of your best effort or when it is used as the object of the blame.

In light of our reading from Jeremiah today, I would also add that an excuse becomes and obstacle not just in our journeys to success but also as we follow the call of God in our lives. 

And here’s the thing, I bet we’ve all made excuses.  Right?  At some point in our lives we have made an excuse.  We’re probably all well versed in the art of excuses. 

I was particularly good at them when I was asked about attending seminary and becoming a pastor. 

When I was in high school, my pastor at the time said, have you ever thought of becoming a pastor?  My quick reply, “Nope.”

As friends lifted up gifts I had for working with youth and connecting with people of all ages, I said, “I’m not sure about this…I want to be a vet, no wait, a teacher, no wait, work with before and after-school programming, and I want to work at camp!

But you have the gifts for ministry said friends, family and people working at the seminary. 

Eventually I gave in, okay, I’ll go to seminary, but I’m NOT going to be a pastor. 

As you can see me up here, clearly God had other plans….yet even with all my excuses…here I am. 

I’m well aware that God does not call everyone to be parish pastors, I believe God calls each of us to be part of God’s plan of salvation for the whole world. 

So, what’s your excuse? 

Is it Jeremiah’s?  I’m only a boy!  Too young? 

Is it Moses’?  I am not good at speaking.

Is it Jonah’s?  I hear your call, but I am NOT going to Nineveh! 

I asked folks on Facebook this week, “Say God calls you, to be part of this plan of salvation, grace and love...what's your excuse?” 

I’m thankful for wide range of responses from people younger and older than me, male and female.  Here are a few things they said, knowing that they would be shared anonymously. 

I won’t be in control.

But So and So would be so much better at this than I would be. 

Same excuses we all use, right?

I have to take my kid to the dentist, or sports. I’m way too busy. I really need that time for “me time”.

I’m waiting until the time is right.

Maybe when my 401k is vested. Maybe after my kids graduate. I’m not talented enough in that way. It’s better not to rock the boat.

Someone else should set a precedent so I’ll know what to do. It’s not socially acceptable to get people stirred up about sensitive things.

It’s too hard to find a night that works for everyone.

But my kids need me…

A combination of self-doubt and impatience:  Am I qualified?  Why me?  How will I know what to do?  What if I fail?  Will my failure affect others?  God, I’m waiting for an answer.  What’s the plan?  No answer?  I’m not qualified…I shouldn’t do this. 

When I finish this project. 

Who would make the schedule?!!!!!

I don’t know what I’m talking about.

I don’t know how to start or what to say. I might mess up the friendship we have.

I’m not sure I can do this. 

Any of these excuses sound familiar? 

Any you would want to add to these? 

What’s your excuse? 

Looking around the room, ages aside, experience aside, how common are our excuses? 

More common than we may realize. 

Jeremiah’s vocation (calling) was in calling all members of the community back to their vocation as followers of Israel’s God.  This was Jeremiah’s mission to all the people.  (McKim)

That’s a tough call, no doubt.  When called to be a prophet, you are called upon to preach God’s word in the community of the world.  Often times, the word of God calls upon God’s people to repent, to turn from sinful ways, to respond to injustices in our communities and world, and to move into a place of action.  That’s not always easy…

Yet God never said this call would be easy. 

And as we’ve seen throughout scripture, God continues to call all people to serve God no matter what their condition, situation, or status. 

We can hear God’s call to us in Jesus Christ, no matter who we are or what we are. 

God calls and connects us with others. 

So, let’s think about this a little, together. 

Not just is God calling you, but how is God calling you to be part of this mission of salvation?

That may be the first step in this whole responding to God’s call thing…that yes, God is calling you. 

Let me affirm that.  We all have gifts that God has given us to be used in mission and service to others as part of God’s plan of salvation for the entire world. 

So, knowing that God is calling you….

What does that call sound like? 

In what areas of your life…parenthood, work, on a sports team or club at school, in the ministries of this congregation, in your circle of friends….how is God calling you? 

{These slips of paper were scattered around the sanctuary throughout worship.}

Take a moment or two to jot down your sense of call…your excuses…and if you can right now how you might say yes. 

If you want to talk more about this, please put your name on the paper. 

There will be a basket up here following the service for you to leave the papers if you want to talk more about this…or you can take them with you, place them in your Bible or devotional book at home to take time to pray about this call from God. 

Thank you for taking time to think and pray about how God is calling you to be part of God’s mission of love and grace in the world today. 

I pray that as you continue to think and pray about God’s call in your life, you are empowered, no matter who you are, to say yes. 

To be open to new and various ways God is calling you.

To be affirmed that God meant to and means to call you. 

To be ready to work with others and come together in ways that we can continue to live out God’s mission in our lives and in our world. 

Would you join me in prayer?

Gracious God,

You call us, as your beloved children. 

You have gifted each of us with the abilities needed to share your light, your love and your peace in the world. 

Help us to hear your call…and to respond with a YES. 

Surround us with brothers and sisters in Christ to guide us and guard us as we continue to work together to share your gospel message. 

And may the peace, which surpasses all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and let all God’s people say, amen.  

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Post Script:  Many papers were returned and there are some followup conversations to have as well.  I'm thankful for a place where people are wiling to think and pray about how God calls them to live their lives as a part of God's plan.  How about you?