Rooted in God’s Love

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Living our faithLeave a comment

 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may …grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.  (Ephesians 3:17-18)

Yesterday was a warm, breezy day. The tips of the daffodils could be spotted, bravely pushing their way through the chilly soil, seeking the sunshine.

Today it is snowing. Pine branches droop as they are weighed down by the falling snow.  The daffodils are nowhere in sight.

Tomorrow’s forecast predicts temperatures near 50 degrees.

It is said that the only thing we can count on is that nothing remains the same.

Things change.  Often in an instance. 

I think about the people in Ukraine who were living ordinary lives until suddenly they were living in a country at war.

I think about people who were simply going about their lives – at school or grocery shopping or attending a concert or at a prayer service when shots were fired and their lives changed forever.

I think about the people in Syria and Turkey who went to bed one night only to be convulsed by waves of terror as an earthquake struck.

          Change enters our lives in so many ways. Sometimes it’s a happy occasion like graduation, birth, a new job, or a new friend. Other times it’s a phone call, accident, betrayal, or diagnosis that alters our life forever.

            And then what?  How do we weather the storms?  How do we navigate our new circumstances? 

            Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, says that when we root ourselves in God’s love, we will discover just how trustworthy and constant that love is.  Paul reminds us that even in a world where everything changes, God remains the same.  God is God – yesterday, today, and forever.  God’s love is “steadfast” – unchanging, always there, always available.

 The phrase “rooted in God’s love” makes me think about plants or flowers or long grass that may be tossed about by damaging winds but which remain strong because they have put their roots down into the soil and water below.

So the question for all of us is – how do we root ourselves in the love of God?

When everything is turned upside down, how do we remember to call upon the faithful one?

As we journey through Lent, with our eyes on the Cross and our hope in the promise of resurrection and new life, let’s explore our roots – and how we can tap into the power of God.

Artwork: Roger Solomon

Ordination Anniversary!

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Uncategorized12 Comments

Today I am filled with gratitude.  35 years ago today on January 17, 1988, I was ordained as a Christian minister by the United Church of Christ.

            I am grateful that I was called into ministry.  I was living in Germany at the time, miserable in an office job in a manufacturing company.  Having discovered that I was not cut out for the business world (I never cared how many things we sold or paid attention to increasing productivity), I was searching for direction.  What could I do that might make a difference in the world?  How could I try to help people?  How could I be part of something bigger than myself?

As I mulled over entering ministry, I posted an airmail letter to my parents (it was 1983, long before the internet). Fearing that a declaration about entering ministry might be too shocking, I described wrestling with ideas from teaching to nursing to ministry.  Two weeks later, I received my mother’s reply, “You would be a wonderful minister.”  I am grateful for her faith in me – and for being a role model in living out her own faith.

I quit my job, sold my VW Bug, and headed back to the States. Never mind that I had never met a woman minster or that the majority of Protestant denominations weren’t accepting women ministers, I knew what my direction had to be.

I am grateful to my mentor the Rev. Dr. Bruce Bunker for shepherding me through years of training with countless hours of conversation and guidance.

I am grateful to Lancaster Theological Seminary for providing an educational foundation filled with creativity and community as well as a wide array of hands-on experiences that helped prepare me for parish ministry.

I am grateful for my friends and classmates who accompanied my on the journey through Greek 101 (flashcards, anyone?), introduction to Church History (you too can learn 2000 years of history in 2 semesters!), counseling, sermon preparation (“we have a powerful story to tell – get up and share it!”) and much more.

I am grateful to the East Woodstock Congregational Church for calling me as their pastor in November 1987.  Their faith and confidence in a young, untested seminarian was the confirmation necessary on the journey towards ordination.

I am grateful the First Congregational Church of Wallingford for hosting my ordination. I was baptized and confirmed in that church and attended Sunday School, Pilgrim Fellowship (thanks, Mike Jackson!), and Youth Choir there.  They really raised me in the faith so it was a proper place to celebrate my entry into ministry.  

I am grateful for God’s faithfulness through the ups and downs of a lifetime in ministry. During 35 years, I have confronted unbearable sadness, suffering, evil, and hardship.  And I have experienced compassion, joy, fellowship, transformation, kindness, empathy, forgiveness, and new life. In the end, love wins.  To quote Desmond Tutu, during my ministry I have discovered that “goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, light is stronger than darkness, life is stronger than death.”

Today, January 17, 2023 I am so grateful.

Celebrating “shining lights”

On By fosteringyourfaithIn EpiphanyLeave a comment

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has deep cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lit the flame within us.”  – Albert Schweitzer

  • Who is a shining light in your life? 
  • Who is someone who has helped you find your way?
  • Who is a person who rekindled your spark just when you thought that you might never shine again?

I’m going to guess that all of us have at least one story about a person who has been a shining light in our lives. All of us have a person – and perhaps several people – who have offered us hope, encouragement, wisdom, forgiveness, or inspiration.  The season of Epiphany  – the weeks when we especially celebrate the Light shining in the darkness – is an opportunity to give thanks for a person who lit up your life and rekindled your spirit just when you needed it most.

Sometimes that person is someone we have a longstanding relationship with. Or it might be a teacher, coach, neighbor, or boss.  It may even be a stranger whose life briefly intersected with ours but who left a lasting impression.

These “shining lights” are gifts from God.  These weeks of Epiphany are an opportunity to celebrate the many forms that God’s light takes. We rely on the promise that God’s light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never overcome it. Epiphany begins with the star over Bethlehem, inviting any who look up to follow the light to Christ.  The season continues for seven weeks as we celebrate God’s gift to us in Jesus, the “light of the world.”

We are asked to look for that light in others. Who is someone who taught you how to let your light shine?  Who has demonstrated God’s love and light to you – and what did you learn from them? Who is that person who helped you find your path or directed your course?

How has that person’s light encouraged you to let your own light shine? We are asked to share God’s light that dwells within each one of us.

We live in a world that often seems worn and weary, a world that is aching for glimpses of the divine. Let us bask in the glow of gratitude for those who has shared their light with us. And let us dare to share our own light and our own gifts with those around us.  

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify God in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Forced Gaiety

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Advent1 Comment

 Even my Kleenex box is insisting that I be happy this time of year.  The “holiday three-pack” that I purchased is inscribed with the words, “Be merry.”  And I know – ‘tis the season.  We’re “supposed” to be merry as we wend our way through Advent on our way to Christmas.  But what if we’re not?  If we can’t manage to utter a “ho, ho, ho” or choose not to put up a tree or skip the decorating and baking altogether, have we somehow failed the annual holiday test?  Will we be called a “Scrooge” if we can’t seem to muster any holiday spirit?

            Let’s talk Advent. Advent is about “not yet.” Advent is about preparing for God’s arrival in the midst of chaos, war, and despair. Advent is about searching for God – who promises to be with us – in the midst of a time when it seems like God is absent.

            If you are not feeling “merry” or “bright,” this might be the year to forego the gaiety that is forced upon us. This may be the time to claim God’s story instead of the commercially produced noise that surrounds us.  Society robs us of the original intent of the Christmas story.  The real story – our story – is not about silver bells and the wreath hanging on your front door. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those things – go ahead and decorate if/when the spirit moves you!)

The real story is about God seeking out the lost and the lonely. Christmas reminds us of God who enters into the sorrow and sadness of God’s people. Christmas celebrates God who recognizes that people are hurting and does not want them to be alone. 

Our story is not a neat and tidy one. It is not about a young woman who has a baby and lives happily ever after. Mary endures a precarious life of poverty. She is a refugee displaced from her hometown during wartime occupation who then flees the country to evade Herod’s threats. She lives long enough to witness her son’s death. Her story reflects the messiness, loss, and hardship of life.  Mary discovers that God is faithful. God is with her throughout her tumultuous life. She experiences a companionship that the world cannot imagine. 

That’s what we are celebrating during Advent and Christmas. The Good News of Christmas is that God seeks us out.  God chooses to be with us. God meets us where we are.  We might be lonely and hardworking on a hillside like the shepherds. We might be on a wandering journey of discovery like the wise men. We might be like Mary and Joseph with lives turned upside down by unexpected events. We may be experiencing circumstances that we never could have imagined.

Christmas does not ask us to be “merry.”  The Christmas story invites us to experience the promise that God is Emmanuel, always with us. We are invited to give thanks that God is faithful and celebrate the God who dwells among us, no matter where we are.

What’s in your wallet?

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Grief4 Comments

“What’s in your wallet?” – that’s the tagline of a credit card company trying to convince us that we need their product to successfully navigate the world. With this in your wallet, they proclaim, you can face any challenge.

          But that made me wonder – what else do we carry in our wallets?  What hidden treasures are held within this mundane carrying case?

          It reminds me of a time when I was helping my father-in-law fill out a pile of forms necessary to move into assisted living.  They needed lots of information – his driver’s license number, social security number, health insurance number.  Again and again, he would say, “I have that – it’s in my wallet.”  He handed me his wallet to look through.  As I was searching for the information, a small black and white photo dropped out.  It was a picture of his son,  my husband’s older brother who had passed away 15 years earlier.  My father-in-law grabbed the photo and at first looked almost angry, then maybe embarrassed.  Finally, this quiet and private man said to me, “I always carry him with me.”

          Since that time, whenever I encounter someone, I always wonder, “What’s in their wallet?”  What hurts are they carrying with them? Who are they missing? What is private and precious to them? Who is near and dear to their heart – hidden from view but always close to them?

          I try to let that thought influence my behavior when I encounter someone who is rude or surly, withdrawn or distant.  I try to wonder – what’s in their wallet?  What load might they be bearing? What unspoken truths do they carry with them?

          This is where the “love kindness” part of Micah’s dictate (Micah 6:8) comes in. We are commanded to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

Every day we encounter many people.  I suspect all of them are yearning for kindness – or at least decency and respect. Every day we meet people who are carrying some burden with them. Without ever knowing what is in their wallet, we can endeavor to treat them with the kindness they deserve.

Come to church!

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Church1 Comment

The news is in – for the first time in 80 years, fewer than 50% of Americans belong to a church. Church membership has been steadily declining for decades; in 1999 over 70% of our population were members of a congregation; now 47% identify as church members. (Mirror Now Digital, April 18, 2022)

            When I was in seminary one assignment was to define what “church” is.  What is church? Why is it important? And why should someone be involved with a church?

            I described church as being similar to a beating heart. With apologies to those with actual medical knowledge, I imagined the church this way – Blood flows into the heart where it is rejuvenated with oxygen and fortified by the heart’s energetic pumping.  Then the blood goes out to reach the farthest parts of the body, offering much-needed energy and sustenance.  Then the blood circles back to the heart to be reenergized again.  The church is like that.

            On Sunday mornings, I visualize the people of God gathering together, often weary from a long week of bad news and discouraged by events seemingly beyond their control. At church we find something sure and unchanging. Good News of hope and new life is offered. In the midst of our turbulent, chaotic world, we discover again God’s steadfast love that endures forever. Overwhelmed by images of violence, we accept Jesus’ invitation – “Peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  (John 14:27)

            Here we can find hope.

            Here we can celebrate forgiveness and new life.

            Here we can share community.

            Here we can experience welcome.

Church reminds us that we are not alone. We have work to do – to act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).  And – what joy! – We do that with God’s help and the support of our congregation.        

            It isn’t that we “have to” go to church. We “get to” go to church to be revitalized by God’s living Spirit. We come into God’s presence together to celebrate that God can make all things new.  It is a message of enduring, undefeatable hope.

            I’ll be at church on Sunday morning.  I hope you will be too.

Why the Jamboree?

On By fosteringyourfaithIn JamboreeLeave a comment

In February it can be hard to get excited about the Jamboree.

In February, all we can think about is how many volunteers we need and how much planning goes into making the day go smoothly.

In February, we might be tempted to wonder – is it really worth all the effort?

It can seem like an insurmountable task.

         But then the meetings begin and there is laughter and anticipation and building excitement as we remember cherished aspects of this special day.  Everyone has their favorite part – for some it is the parade, for others it’s all about the food – strawberry shortcake! – or the sound of children running and laughing.  It’s the amazing tag sale, thousands of books, the hay ride through beautiful East Woodstock, an invitation to relax in the shade while listening to music.  And of course, the water polo and cake walk.

After a two year Covid-caused delay, the Jamboree was back!  Throughout the day many people came up to say thank you. “We’ve missed this!”  “I’ve been coming here for years.  It wasn’t the Fourth of July without the Jamboree.”  “This is our first time here.  We’ll definitely be back next year!” There was a sense of gratitude that we were able to share this day together.

Looking across the common, there were people of all ages enjoying the festivities. Children thrilled with the bounce house, balloon animals, and frog jumping contest. Young adults enjoying spontaneous reunions with others who had grown up attending the Jamboree. There were several people who hadn’t missed a single Jamboree in its 66 years. The East Woodstock Common was a sea of red, white, and blue with an abundance of good cheer.

In July we remember why we do this.

In July we celebrate the feeling of community and fellowship.

In July we enjoy the simple pleasures of an old-fashioned holiday.

In July we are thrilled to hear the laughter, share the welcome and hospitality, and celebrate a day together.

I am grateful for the intrepid women who dreamed up the Jamboree in 1957 as an emergency fundraiser for their small, financially strapped country church.  I am grateful for the – literally – thousands of volunteers who have pitched in over the decades to continue this tradition.

Next February be on the lookout for an announcement about a Jamboree organizational meeting. And join us as we share our memories and dream of another chance to celebrate the East Woodstock Fourth of July Jamboree.

How do we respond?

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Faith1 Comment

How do we respond?

What worries you the most these days?

Is it

  • Gun violence?
  • The repeal of Roe v. Wade?
  • The ongoing division in our country?
  • Racial injustice?
  • The war in Ukraine?
  • Your own family concerns?
  • Health issues?

 There is an abundance of concerns right now in what feels like an ongoing unsettled time in our country. It’s hard to watch the news but it feels somewhat negligent to simply ignore everything going on. What to do?

I don’t have solutions for these complex, heart-rending problems. But I would like to offer some encouragement about tending to our mental and spiritual health while navigating these emotional challenges. I believe we must take care of ourselves so that we can engage in facing these issues and searching for positive solutions.

Here are some steps that might help.

  • Name your fears. Make a list. Get it out of your head and onto paper (or a screen). Otherwise we keep rehashing the same worries; it’s like riding a never-ending rollercoaster of emptions.
  • Acknowledge your concerns.  They are real and they are valid.  Ignoring the issues or pretending that they are not serious will not help. If part of your acknowledgment includes crying out to God and the universe, do it.  Talking about our concerns opens up space in our spirits so that we can be renewed.
  • Replenish your spirit.  We are not alone. We don’t have to rely solely on our strength or wisdom. God promises never to leave us or abandon us. Seek God’s comfort and strength.
  • Go to the well and drink deeply. God’s love is described as streams of living water (John 7). Our spirits are parched by a parade of bad news and heartbreaking events. Before we can address them, we must replenish our energy with God’s renewing hope.

What will that look like for you? How will you seek God’s love and be reminded of God’s presence?  Will you sit quietly, go for a walk, read the Bible, journal, garden, meet with friends to talk and share?  Try different ways of encountering God.

            The problems of this generation will not improve without our efforts. We can remember a wise Jewish saying, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” With God’s help we will receive the strength and comfort we need to navigate each day filled with the reassurance that God is always with us.

Nothing to say

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Gun violence4 Comments

I have no words.

I have nothing to say after the murders in Uvalde, after the racist killings in Buffalo, in response to the ongoing grief and loss in Ukraine.

There are enough people talking.  A lot of people making noise that sounds like “never again,” but without any accompanying action.

There are many people who say that this is unpreventable, unstoppable, inevitable.

There are some people who are offering profound, heartfelt prayers and tender words to comfort those whose lives have been changed forever.

But I have no words.

I have no original, insightful, wise words that will make this better.

I do believe that we must draw close to God, to the source of life and love, so that our spirits will not be drained by the hate and evil that surround us. Let us fill our souls with the promise that God’s love is stronger than our fear.  Let us remember that God has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

And armed with those promises and filled with God’s love and new life, let us go into those places of loss and sorrow to offer not words, but a listening ear, a caring heart, and a supporting hand.

Let us embody the love of God, who is always with us.  

Instead of my words, I will share a prayer that speaks to my heart.  This is a “caim” prayer – a  prayer for God’s love and blessing to encircle those in need.  These words can be offered for anyone we carry in our hearts, especially when we have no words.

Circle them, Lord. Keep comfort near and discouragement far.

Keep peace within and turmoil out.

Circle them, Lord. Keep protection near and danger afar.

Circle them, Lord. Keep hope within, keep despair without.

Circle them, Lord. Keep light near and darkness afar.

Circle them, Lord. Keep peace within and anxiety without.

The eternal Creator, Son and Holy Spirit shield them on every side.

Amen.

Caim prayer: (Celtic Daily Prayer, p. 297).

Let us pray

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Prayer1 Comment

I think we can all agree – we live in overwhelming times. The relentless pursuit of the Corona virus in all of its variations, the ongoing war in Ukraine, climate change and reports of evaporating lakes, wildfires, and warming oceans. There is seemingly endless division and conflict amongst our political leaders that trickles down to infect local and state governments. Prices are up. Shortages are growing. Rents are climbing. Affordable housing is difficult to find. Racist violence is rampant.

            Add to that your own personal worries about loved ones, employment, finances, and health. It is no wonder that rates of anxiety and depression are growing in our country.

            What to do?

            How should we respond?

            What’s the best course of action?

            Let us pray.

            I can almost see you rolling your eyes.  Pray?!?  What good will that do? Why should I waste my time muttering words to God?  If God is all-knowing, God doesn’t need my reminders about today’s dismal state of affairs.  If God is all-caring, God shouldn’t require me to convince him to tend to the sick and the dying. If God is all-powerful, God won’t be helped by my encouragement and entreaties.  

            You’re right.

            So much of prayer is not for God’s benefit, but for our own. It is not to convince a grudging, reluctant God to act. Prayer brings our parched spirits to the ever flowing streams of God’s love and presence. We can find renewal there. We can find hope.

            Here’s the invitation – let us pray. We have started gathering on Fridays at noon for prayer. You are invited to join us – in person in our sanctuary or in spirit wherever you happen to be. You can also send me prayer requests.

 This brief service reminds us of what is true – we are not alone as we face the challenges of this world.

            Prayer is an invitation to listen to God’s life-giving words. If we fill our ears solely with the latest news reports and urgent (and often depressing) text/social media messages, our minds and hearts will be filled with despair. Taking time to pray offers moments of quiet and peace in the presence of love. It is not about denying or running away from the truly awful state of affairs. Instead, prayer feeds our spirits so we can be strengthened to act.  

When I take time to listen, I hear assurances like these:

  • God cares deeply for the stranger, supports the widowed and orphaned, and ruins the schemes of the wicked.  (Psalm 146)
  • You know me, God. You know me. You see me working, you see me resting.

You know what I think about; you know what I do.  

You are everywhere – near and far, and all around me. (Psalm 139)

  • Turn from evil, love what is good, and you will be at peace;

God is a lover of justice who will never abandon the faithful.   (Psalm 37)

We are called to respond to the needs of the world. Let us begin with prayer.