It is really clear to me that my church will die soon. Very soon. Maximum amount of time 4 years. I will be able to retire in 3.5 years. I don't think the church will last that long. I can actually retire sooner than 3.5 years. So, I'm trying to discern whether to seek another call.
There is one that I would be really, really interested in. An EP (executive presbyter position). But, if I moved, then I'd want to commit at least 5 years. I'm not sure I want to work that long.
It is really weird. I have thought about retirement, but I'm not sure I want to fully retire. I'm not sure what I want to do. I can't imagine not working, though I have spent long periods of time not working. But I want to have long periods to travel. Life is short.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Saints Wanted
I'm thinking of doing a series on modern saints for Lent. Our Bible study will be on discipleship so it would be nice if the sermons somehow linked with the Bible study.
I'm thinking MLK, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Clarence Jordan, Millard Fuller. Are there other ideas? I'd like to use less well known folks. There's lots of good stuff to say about Millard who has just gone on to his reward but there are some real negatives in his background. Of course there are negatives to anyone. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for other folks. I'd like to tie something in the life to the scripture, but I figure with four texts to choose from, I can finesse anything. Any women come to mind? MLK is such an obvious choice, I'd like someone else. On the other hand, four southerners (counting Archbishop Romero may not be quite kosher) is a real positive. And does someone have a good book on Dorothy Day? Or Clarence Jordan?
I'm thinking MLK, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Clarence Jordan, Millard Fuller. Are there other ideas? I'd like to use less well known folks. There's lots of good stuff to say about Millard who has just gone on to his reward but there are some real negatives in his background. Of course there are negatives to anyone. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for other folks. I'd like to tie something in the life to the scripture, but I figure with four texts to choose from, I can finesse anything. Any women come to mind? MLK is such an obvious choice, I'd like someone else. On the other hand, four southerners (counting Archbishop Romero may not be quite kosher) is a real positive. And does someone have a good book on Dorothy Day? Or Clarence Jordan?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Things I Don't Understand: The Past
There are lots of things I just don't get, I've never gotten that lots of people understand. So, if you have clues to the things I don't understand, I'd love to hear from you. This may be the first of a many-part series! Things relating to the past I don't understand:
1. The DAR. My sister is a member of the DAR. She has been since her 30s. Why does anyone think what some ancestor did 200 years ago is important? (Our papers read that our ancestor was a "foot soldier" in the revolution. Family legend on the other hand is that we are descended from a same-last named brother of a signer of the Declaration.)
2. Anniversary Celebrations for churches. (We're facing our 100th and then death.) These celebrations look backwards and are nostalgic rather than look forward to what our legacy will be. At least as I have experienced them. For me, to look back is a sign of death, of rigidity, of frozen ness. Christianity looks forward, not backwards. Christianity is about hope, not nostalgia.
3. This Scottish-thing. Last Sunday, I drove by an Episcopal Church which had a sign announcing the kirking of the tartans. I mentioned this at the SuperBowl party with several members of my church. One wanted to know why I didn't uphold some Scotsman whose statute was on the grounds of the National Cathedral whose name was John S. The only one I could come up with was John Witherspoon, who I do mention from time to time as the only clergy signer of the Declaration. Some members of our church want to have bagpipes on Reformation Sunday to celebrate our "Scottish" connection. OK, my family came from Scotland to Pennsylvania a little less than 300 years ago. I think men in kilts are cute. I like Scotland. But, really, what does Scotland have to do with Christianity other than a dislikeable man named John Knox? (And don't get me started on John Calvin.)
1. The DAR. My sister is a member of the DAR. She has been since her 30s. Why does anyone think what some ancestor did 200 years ago is important? (Our papers read that our ancestor was a "foot soldier" in the revolution. Family legend on the other hand is that we are descended from a same-last named brother of a signer of the Declaration.)
2. Anniversary Celebrations for churches. (We're facing our 100th and then death.) These celebrations look backwards and are nostalgic rather than look forward to what our legacy will be. At least as I have experienced them. For me, to look back is a sign of death, of rigidity, of frozen ness. Christianity looks forward, not backwards. Christianity is about hope, not nostalgia.
3. This Scottish-thing. Last Sunday, I drove by an Episcopal Church which had a sign announcing the kirking of the tartans. I mentioned this at the SuperBowl party with several members of my church. One wanted to know why I didn't uphold some Scotsman whose statute was on the grounds of the National Cathedral whose name was John S. The only one I could come up with was John Witherspoon, who I do mention from time to time as the only clergy signer of the Declaration. Some members of our church want to have bagpipes on Reformation Sunday to celebrate our "Scottish" connection. OK, my family came from Scotland to Pennsylvania a little less than 300 years ago. I think men in kilts are cute. I like Scotland. But, really, what does Scotland have to do with Christianity other than a dislikeable man named John Knox? (And don't get me started on John Calvin.)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
And Addendum to the Previous Post
Hmmmm, as I was reading this evening, I remembered how much I have preached on "Fear Not" since I have arrived here. I think my body understands things don't know consciously.
Interesting Answers to Things I've Wondered About
Wow! We had a session retreat today. Our mission statement is to share our love of God with young people (or something like that). So an elder repeated our mission statment in a comment. Then about two minutes later, she said that a new couple with their two children made her afraid. I asked for clarification and she said that she was afraid that they would need something we couldn't give them. Then another member echoed the same sentiment. If we have new families attending, then they might need things we can't give them. Their thinking is entirely on what the new folks might demand from them instead of how they can share God's love with those folks. Amazing. I just never would have thought of that. Their fear of change came through loud and clear in other ways, too. Now, I was an active church member for 15 years before I went to seminary. It just never occurred to me that the reaction I heard today was a reaction anyone could have. I understand being afraid of change because it is unknown, it is risky, it is well, different. I understand not wanting new members because it means maybe we might be asked to change. But being afraid of new members because they might be needy is a bit weird to me.
I spend Friday night at church with movie night and most of today at the retreat (which actually was quite good, all in all). I was thinking that tomorrow was Monday. It's not. It's Sunday. I have to get up and preach. By Tuesday, I will have worked 12 straight days. I was planning to take Monday off (since I didn't get Friday), but I have to meet with someone and there is not other day in the time frame we need to meet. And my sinuses are killing me.
I am struggling with whether I stay with them until they die (we can stretch it out). They seem to want to stretch it out. I will lose our clerk this year sometime (whenever his house sells) and lose our treasurer in about three years. (Yes, I will lose them; it's a loss for me.) That leaves me with one solid member that I can talk to who understands me and what I see as "church". My guess is she will probably leave soon after those other two.
Movie night was fun, though. We watched the Bucket List. It was probably much less depressing to watch it with a whole group (including five teens) than by myself. Our music director's surgery was postponed another week. I did tell her that you don't throw up like Nicholson did because of chemo (at least not the kind they do for ovarian cancer). If you take your nausea meds. (I forgot once and that's all it took.)
Thanks for listening. I think I'm going to go cry right now.
I spend Friday night at church with movie night and most of today at the retreat (which actually was quite good, all in all). I was thinking that tomorrow was Monday. It's not. It's Sunday. I have to get up and preach. By Tuesday, I will have worked 12 straight days. I was planning to take Monday off (since I didn't get Friday), but I have to meet with someone and there is not other day in the time frame we need to meet. And my sinuses are killing me.
I am struggling with whether I stay with them until they die (we can stretch it out). They seem to want to stretch it out. I will lose our clerk this year sometime (whenever his house sells) and lose our treasurer in about three years. (Yes, I will lose them; it's a loss for me.) That leaves me with one solid member that I can talk to who understands me and what I see as "church". My guess is she will probably leave soon after those other two.
Movie night was fun, though. We watched the Bucket List. It was probably much less depressing to watch it with a whole group (including five teens) than by myself. Our music director's surgery was postponed another week. I did tell her that you don't throw up like Nicholson did because of chemo (at least not the kind they do for ovarian cancer). If you take your nausea meds. (I forgot once and that's all it took.)
Thanks for listening. I think I'm going to go cry right now.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday Five
From willsmama at RevGalBlogPals
As some of you may know I am in the midst of my first home purchase. It is a new-build and so some of the fun was picking out upgrades and major decor items to my taste rather than walking into a previously owned home that needed to be upgraded room by room (pink and teal tiles in the bathroom, anyone?). As much as decorating is not my thing, I did try to embrace the moment because just how many times do you get to have a do-over on kitchen cabinets/floors/countertops?
And so, my questions to you this fine Friday involve your home past, present or future...
1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?
First, you have to know I have a perfect house. It is a 20s bungalow (not quite Craftsman, though there are some beautiful Craftsmans in my neighborhood). It was completely redone just before I bought it. The remodeler added a great room to the back. It runs across the entire back and has big windows overlooking the tiny back yard. I had the back yard redone. It's all patio with a koi pond and waterfall. It is lovely. And the house is just about perfect.
2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?
When I was looking for a house here, (I think I saw 70 or 80), almost everyhouse had a red room. What were they thinking. I asked my sister who has remained a Southerner and she said that Southern Living seemed to feature red rooms. And the laundries were the strangest things. In one house you couldn't open the dryer door completely because the water heater was in the way. In another, the washer and dryer were moved onto an otherwise great back porch. I don't know what one does when it's 20 degrees (and we've had cold weather here for a few days).
3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?
My house is just about perfect. I never particulary wanted a whirlpool tub, but I love it. I now can't imagine not having one. And my refrigerator has one of those water/ice thingies on the door. I wouldn't have bought one that way, but I love it.
4) Your kitchen - love it or hate it? Why?
The only problem with my kitchen is that it is the passage way between the old house (and the dining room) and the great room where I live. It's OK, except when I have people over. I used to just close the messy kitchen door. Now I have to leave enough time to have a mostly clean kitchen.
5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?
Actually, there is nothing that needs to be done. I told you I have the perfect house (at least for me)
BONUS: Why do you think there was such a surplus of ugly bathroom tile colors showcased in all homes built from the 1950's right through the early 80's?
On my various house hunting tours, I learned that I could date a house from the color of the tile. What is so wrong with white? It goes with everything. My upstairs bathroom is white. The one downstairs has a sandy/pinkish stone tile on the floor and in the shower, but not elsewhere.
As some of you may know I am in the midst of my first home purchase. It is a new-build and so some of the fun was picking out upgrades and major decor items to my taste rather than walking into a previously owned home that needed to be upgraded room by room (pink and teal tiles in the bathroom, anyone?). As much as decorating is not my thing, I did try to embrace the moment because just how many times do you get to have a do-over on kitchen cabinets/floors/countertops?
And so, my questions to you this fine Friday involve your home past, present or future...
1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?
First, you have to know I have a perfect house. It is a 20s bungalow (not quite Craftsman, though there are some beautiful Craftsmans in my neighborhood). It was completely redone just before I bought it. The remodeler added a great room to the back. It runs across the entire back and has big windows overlooking the tiny back yard. I had the back yard redone. It's all patio with a koi pond and waterfall. It is lovely. And the house is just about perfect.
2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?
When I was looking for a house here, (I think I saw 70 or 80), almost everyhouse had a red room. What were they thinking. I asked my sister who has remained a Southerner and she said that Southern Living seemed to feature red rooms. And the laundries were the strangest things. In one house you couldn't open the dryer door completely because the water heater was in the way. In another, the washer and dryer were moved onto an otherwise great back porch. I don't know what one does when it's 20 degrees (and we've had cold weather here for a few days).
3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?
My house is just about perfect. I never particulary wanted a whirlpool tub, but I love it. I now can't imagine not having one. And my refrigerator has one of those water/ice thingies on the door. I wouldn't have bought one that way, but I love it.
4) Your kitchen - love it or hate it? Why?
The only problem with my kitchen is that it is the passage way between the old house (and the dining room) and the great room where I live. It's OK, except when I have people over. I used to just close the messy kitchen door. Now I have to leave enough time to have a mostly clean kitchen.
5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?
Actually, there is nothing that needs to be done. I told you I have the perfect house (at least for me)
BONUS: Why do you think there was such a surplus of ugly bathroom tile colors showcased in all homes built from the 1950's right through the early 80's?
On my various house hunting tours, I learned that I could date a house from the color of the tile. What is so wrong with white? It goes with everything. My upstairs bathroom is white. The one downstairs has a sandy/pinkish stone tile on the floor and in the shower, but not elsewhere.
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