a gift

Well, of course I was surprised as I went to two council meetings this evening. These congregations could be drowning in fear of closing their doors...but instead we joke around and laugh, plan about remodeling the church in 2010, and talk about how change is a part of the world and so we will adapt and change as well.

But the real gift came when I realized each congregations gift--one congregation has their mission support/benevolence at 37% of total expenses this year. The other which averages about 65 in worship has 20 kids up from during a children's message (for that gift we are all going to go up to the balcony and stand behind a paper mountain and shout good news from the top of the "mountain"). I think each of those are great. Paz

creative force...force creative

It's been a break of sorts. After a week of vacation several weeks ago, a busy Thanksgiving week, and a bit of nudging I am back posting. I had a wonderful week off before Thanksgiving. It gave me several weeks off from preaching because of a guests preachers. I needed time to breathe and not have a week of work hanging over my head. I think I did a relatively good job of forgetting about what was coming up. Although, I now know that I will always be at least slightly plagued by what is "to come", that is until the heavens tear open.

What I have realized this week is the enormous responsibility I feel to be creative week in and week out. It often feels like I am in the belly of Jonah in the belly of a big fish. I am not sure how I am going to get my way out of this one. I kind of wish I had some Caster Oil and some blueberry pies...

Yet, I am learning lessons. From other pastors in the area and what they are dealing with in congregational life, and from my own experiences. It is daily letting go of my own shortcomings. It is, at least for now, knowing that I am called to do things that I am not so very good at. I am at the most humbling, and I think self-conscious point in my life. I am laid bare before a people I am called to serve. I am so thankful they are accepting and very kind to me.

Despite that, the days are fully of good surprises. I have come to expect the best parts of my days to be the unplanned one. The surprises are creeping in daily.

What I could go for right now is a good solid mentor in ministry. One who keeps me accountable as well as one who tells me that such and such is not my responsibility. This I pray for.

To those of you who create and create, God give you strength. By the grace of God the work will be faithful. Paz

Inspiration and Imagination

I have been thinking a lot lately again about preaching in the parish. I have also been doing a lot of reading on the subject. I have come to discern that there are two general steps to the process (with the help of Linda Clader from Church Divinity School in Berkely). It actually has been very encouraging for me to come to various realizations.

The first step (rather a crude way of putting it) is the Spirit’s gift to us, or ‘inspiration’. I would define this as the stirring, the still small voice or the nudge. I would explain this as what happens to me when I dream about a text, or read an incredible book, or come upon an idea that piques my attentiveness to my surroundings. I often create this dream in my head that is awe inspiring and I imagine myself sharing this with a congregation and it gets me so excited. I feel this all the time throughout my days. Often as I am doing my work I feel the inspiration I am referring to. Often though when I write down what I feel I am inspired to and come back to it at a later time it doesn’t seem that inspiring. But still I enjoy my own little world throughout the week.

The second step is offering this gift to my congregations. This is the ‘imagination’ step that translates the Spirit’s gift to me into words that will invoke wonder and imagination in the hearers of my sermon. This I am less skillful at. I struggle to pique interest with words that open up the imagination.

But I guess for now that is ok. The inspiration part of this equation has been with me a long time. I know it is a gift to me from God. It is what finally assured me that I could enter seminary. I knew this inspiration, even though what would come out of my mouth to others was not as exciting as what was concocted in my own head.

Thankfully I am pretty sure that it cannot contain itself in my bones alone forever. It is bound to pour over. I guess that is why I keep trying and keep reading and keep praying. This is hopelessly eschatological, and with so many daily pressing issues, at least on this day, it seems sort of playful.

Come Holy Spirit and work imagination that translates and calls. Paz