It is Well with My Soul

Friday Five: It Is Well With My Soul Edition

kathrynzj offers today's FF, saying: We lead privileged lives.

True, some are more privileged than others but the fact that we are
communicating right now via technological devices puts us in the
privileged category.

There are many perks in my life for which I give thanks and then 
there are some that make everything right in the world during the 
moment I am enjoying them. I'm wondering what a few of those 
things - five to be specific - are for you.

To help you along here are just three of mine that I will write more
about on my blog: drinking coffee out of a real mug, walking into my
home after the domestic goddess has been there, participating in
the RevGalBlogPals Big Events.

SUNSHINE--it is well with my soul when I am sitting in a big window
(or, if it's just the right temperature, outside) with sun shining full on
me. Mmmmm, soaking in that warmth and light heals my entire being,
including my soul.

WRITING--it is well with my soul when I have the time and space to write,
write well, and know I'll have a chance to share what I've put my whole
self into (e.g.: sermon-writing and preaching).

HOME--it is well with my soul when I am in the space that I call home.
When everything is in its place, and the things that lift my spirit surround
me, I can just be.

BATH TUB--it is well with my soul when I can "take a tubby"-warm water,
good book, nobody around and no to-do list.

DRIVING/SINGING--it is well with my soul when I can sing at the top of
my lungs with nobody around to hear the lyrics (and notes) that I make
up. Sad mood, joyful mood, angry mood, 'tude mood--singing!

...and my KITTERS and being able to lounge late in BED and spending
time with good FRIENDS and, without a doubt, whenever JAMIE and I
can just love each other...

Purple People of the Promise

This month I wrote my church newsletter article on the bullying that has made the news recently. I felt the need to share it more broadly, so here it is:

Purple People of the Promise

I write this Placard article with a purple pen in a purple notebook wearing a purple shirt on a day when our nation has been encouraged to show PURPLE in support of all the bullied teens who have reached the point where they feel suicide to be their only option. This purple day was inspired by the teen suicide deaths—those many that made the news and those (far more) that did not—in September and October. Clearly, this is a topic that touches the core of my being.

            I have had Plymouth members ask, “what can we do?” both to help stop the bullying that breaks down kids’ spirits and to support young people who experience bullying. It is such a multi-faceted problem that we often feel helpless—particularly if we aren’t parents, schoolteachers or counselors. But I believe we are more than any of those individual caregivers: we are the Church. We are a community of love and faith and dedication, and we are intentionally intergenerational. We can care for our kids.

            As an Open & Affirming congregation, we have covenanted to enact a radical welcome to all who have experienced “second class” humanity—including children and youth. But what does that mean for us, and how can we live into it to be partners against the hurtfulness of society?

            Each and every member of Plymouth has covenanted with each and every baptized child’s parent to “accept…responsibility as vehicles of grace to guide them by word and example into the fullest life of which you and they are capable,” and then we pray together: “May they develop trustful and responsible relationships with others and may they grow in their acceptance of themselves as unique and vital persons.” Practically speaking, how do we live into this promise that we—older and younger, parent and “extended faith family”—have made to our kids and youth?

            By living our love for them in word and action. That looks like children’s Bibles in the pews and activities for them to read and color during worship so they can be with us, among us in all their squirming, crying, or bored energy! They are a part of our worshipping community. And it goes further than their presence (seen, but…)—it includes their participation in the passing of the peace and the prayers of the people. It’s their inclusion as ushers and liturgists and special music. But even more significant, it is our participation in their lives, not just their participation in our life!

            It means saying YES when asked to give 3 hours (1 hour each over 3 Sundays) to share the gift of your love for them in a Sunday School Workshop—by dressing up as Abraham and anointing their foreheads with oil to show how very special each one is, or by baking hamantaschen with them while teaching the story of Esther’s choice to use her power to help people and Haman’s choice to use his power to make himself look better and to hurt others! It means saying YES when another adult is needed for a middle school event. It means knowing their names and chatting with them over coffee hour cookies—no matter how many they’ve grabbed from the plate. What a perfect opportunity to talk about your mutual love for Oreos! It’s your presence in their lives that reveals God’s love through you and this community.

            Every adult in this congregation has a commitment to every child and teen present, to help him know he is special and loved. To let her know she is not just the “future of the church,” but a vital part of it now. YES! I am passionate about our youth and kids and their spiritual lives. Jesus himself said, “let them come to me, and do not hinder them.” You never know which teen with 10 cookies has been bullied and needs to be seen as a whole, beloved person.  You never know which kid in the pew next to you has been bullying others on the school bus and also needs to be seen as a whole, beloved person. Your presence and revelation of God’s love matters to them—it matters to all our kids.

            In passionate love for this purple promise,

                         Rev. Pink Dragon

Connecting

Friday Five: Connecting

RGBP's Jan writes: I am currently reading Bowling Alone by 

Robert D. Putnam, where he explores the changes in community 

in the USA in the 20th Century. He explains how communities, 

people, and especially children function better when they live 

where there is high social capital. Basically, it means that 

"relationships matter."

We all know this because Christianity (and other religions) 

emphasize the Golden Rule: All things whatsoever ye would 

that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law 

and the prophets. Matthew 7:1

So here are some questions to ponder for this Friday Five about 

connecting with:

1. Self: Who was your hero/heroine when you were about 

ten years old? My ministers have always been heroes to me. 

I'd look up to each of them in a different way (I can't recall who was the 

minister at that particular time). A close second was probably Madonna 

;-P.

2. Family: Who are you most like? Who is most like you?
Yesterday I was leading a Q&A following a presentation, and I heard 

myself use a phrase that'd never before come from my mouth except 

to tease my father for starting every explanation with it: 

"Well, I'll tell ya...". I had to call and tell him of my slip :). Having said 

that, I acknowledge that my mother and I are most alike--my partner 

tells me I sound more and more like her each day. We're also 

*extremely* different!
3. Friends: How do you stay in touch? I wish I were better at staying 

in touch! My m.o. is to not talk for way too long, then get together a 

couple times each year to catch up. Every once in a while we'll email 

or send a letter, but otherwise... :(

4. Neighborhood, community: What are ways you like to be 

involved? Cafés!! I love to to be present in gathering places 

where people meet and connect and move on into their days. 

Especially places where I can become a regular (Norm!) and 

always see new people.

5. Job/church: Do you see a need that will help in developing 

connections? Deep, long-lasting spiritual practices would be a 

great addition. I'd love to help people create community around 

particular styles of prayer, meditation, reading, etc. We do a little bit, 

and the opportunities are growing. Helping people recognize their 

need for these connections--that's my challenge!

Bonus link: Cheers Theme Song

A Fall Word Association Friday Five

A Fall Word Association Friday Five

(SingingOwl says...) Hello
everyone! The Canadian
geese are excited, forming
up and practicing,
encouraging each other with
honking, the Wisconsin
fall color is at peak where I
am, and in Kohl's Dept.
Store the Christmas
decorations are up. Yep,
Fall is here. It's my
turn to do the Rev Gal Blog Pals
Friday Five. It has been a while
since we did one of these word association Friday FIves, so here goes,
with an autumnal theme. I know, fall is one way on this side of the world
and different in other places, but please bear with me as I post words
that say FALL--at least where I am.

Give us the the first word that comes to mind (you know how that works, right?)
and then add a little something about why, or how or what.

Well, it seems my answers are all typical.... oh well!

1. Pumpkins - gooey (of course, because sticking your hand inside when carving a jack-o-lantern! I can never decide if I love the feeling or hate it... until it has dried on my fingers---uck!)

2. Campfire - smell (as in the wonderful smell of woodsmoke -- today would be a perfect campfire day)

3. Apples - crunch (yum!)


4. Color - orange (even though I live in Colorado where the Aspen all turn yellow, the only color for the season is orange... pumpkins & halloween)

5. Halloween - costumes (mostly of the headless, goblin-y, blood-sucking sort... fairy princesses never seemed right for the holiday)
And since it is REV Gals and their Pals, here is the bonus question, sort of a serious one:

What does the following passage from Daniel 2 make you think about?

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
Wisdom and power are his...
He changes times and seasons."

My first thought upon reading this was to recall the familiar passage from Ecclesiastes: to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. Some wisdom that I always need to remember. 

Thanks for a great F5!

Praying Twice

Friday Five: We Who Sing Pray Twice

Mary Beth at RGBP shares: Music is a part of the human experience, and part of religious traditions the world over. It is evocative and stirring, and many forms of worship are incomplete without it.

Our title comes from a quote popularly attributed to St. Augustine: "He who sings prays twice." A little Googling, however, indicates that Augustine didn't say exactly that. In fact, what he said just doesn't fit well onto a t-shirt. So we'll stick with what we have.

"Singing reduces stress and increases healthy breathing and emotional expression. Singing taps into a deep, age-old power available to all of us. When we find our voice, we find ourselves. Today, sing like you mean it." And let's talk about the role music plays in your life and worship.

1) Do you like to sing/listen to others sing? In worship, or on your own (or not at all?) Singing is life. Okay, that may be a bit strong - but when I'm happy, when I'm miserable, when I'm pissed off singing gets me through. I'm no great voice, but I have to sing. Listening to music doesn't do it for me - even music without words, I have to sing along to!
2) Did you grow up with music in worship, or come to it later in life? Tell us about it, and how that has changed in your experience. Hymns were and continue to be holy for me. Being a word person, theologically astute lyrics mean a lot, so that has changed since childhood. Poetic and "smart" lyrics also factor big in my appreciation.
3) Some people find worship incomplete without music; others would just as soon not have it. Where do you fall? MUST SING - music is great and a perfect means of setting a theme through sound, so I experience it as necessary to worship - but if I can't sing, too, it often feels superfluous (NOT to many of my church members, though!).
4) Do you prefer traditional music in worship, or contemporary? That can mean many different things! I prefer hymns, and I enjoy some Taizé and other chanted music (which I consider contemporary); I love when the choir bursts out with classical texts, but again, I want to at least hum (badly) along. 
5) What's your go-to music ... when you need solace or want to express joy? A video/recording will garner bonus points! Indigo Girls are always my go-to music (as I've expressed here numerous times); but lately, Brandi Carlisle and Pink feed my own "bursting" side. 
I keep trying to reconcile "why one form of music in one setting, and another form in a different setting?" (the question people ask as they argue for rock, etc in worship)... but I think I NEED both! And I don't use hymns in my everyday, because, for me, they are communal, corporate, only among my faith family - and they travel with me from one faith community to another, so that I can often find "home" wherever I may go. THANKS FOR A GREAT F5!!