YOU are invited to a Resiliency and Prayer Study!

Please consider participating in Pastor Cindy’s Resiliency and Prayer Study.     For completion of the Doctorate in Ministry program in Science & Theology, Pastor Cindy is analyzing the effect of prayer on resiliency. Join us on Saturday, November 3^rd, from 3-5pm in the Parlor of the Parish House and you will receive prayer bead training. This is a “new ancient” way of prayer using prayer beads. The training includes creating your own personal string of beads similar to the image below. A brief resiliency survey will be given at the first meeting and again on December 15^th after 6 weeks of daily personal prayer.
 

  A brief history of Prayer Beads: Christian prayer beads can be useful to focus the mind and heart on prayer. Since the late 1980’s many Protestant churches have begun using a set of 33 beads to represent the years of Christ’s life on earth. Ancient faith practices included the use of prayer beads more than 2000 years ago. Now ecumenical prayer beads have been developed to deepen prayer life for many faith traditions. The beads encourage meditating on God’s love and what Jesus has done for us as our Lord and Savior. This way of prayer may help to remove oneself from distractions in a busy world and focus on prayer that invites the presence of the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Please join us for this study of a “new ancient” way of praying.

For more information email: calloway@pcmorristown.org or call: 973-538-1776.

You are invited to see the movie "I Am!"

I love this movie/documentary so much I am inviting all to come to our Faith on Film event for a free showing at our church Parish House this Sunday, October 28th at 4pm.  We will also have pizza and birthday cake to celebrate another one of my 39th birthdays! Yay!

Plan to join us at 65 South Street, Morristown this Sunday. Here is the trailer to the movie to preview it: http://t.co/02B1JsiG
 

Noah’s Ark and Our Church, Examples of Life-Giving Sanctuaries

Last week I visited our PCUSA headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky for the first time. It is a huge office building and chapel. The atrium walls are lined with a series of amazing paintings telling the story of Creation by artist Maritza Morgan. This one in particular caught my eye.

The cramped quarters of Noah’s ark are portrayed with beautiful colors and block shaped images. Viewing this perspective caused me to realize how every inch of space on the ark was important, including the lap of Noah who is holding a dove. God instructed Noah to share his ark for the life of the world and he did with warm hospitality for the large and small in creation.

Thanks to successful stewardship campaigns year after year our church ark has stayed afloat ever since 1733. We have consistently heard and answered God’s call to share our church for the life of the world. PCM has a reputation in the community for being hospitable, like Noah, and for sharing the life-giving gifts we have been blessed with. Like the ark, our church is a holy refuge for healing and hope for all who need to get away from the chaos and storms of life.

The 2012 Stewardship campaign grand finale is on Thanksgiving Festival Sunday, November 18^th when we all bring food to share with some of our mission partners who feed the hungry in town. It will be a joyful way to connect our food and financial resources with those in need.

This year’s stewardship theme: “Creating Pathways to Giving” inspired each of us to pledge for our church’s future. Our pledges have provided not only funds for our church to thrive on, but also a blessed future for our children and grandchildren and all of creation to enjoy.  God is good!

You are an Essential Part of the Resuscitation Team for the Global Church!

John chapter one begins with this proclamation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it….”

As I ponder the future of the Church, John 1 gives me great hope. Many in the “Western Church” currently announce that “the Church” is drastically declining. Some are even saying it needs to die so it can be reborn. I don’t agree. I believe the message from the passage above inspires us to trust that the light of Christ will still shine even in the darkness of decline and will not be overcome by it. We, you and me, and all in “the Church” today can rally together to transform and reform the church to give it new life without letting it completely die first.

An analogy might be found in healthcare, where I previously worked. Caregivers don’t let the patient die first and then try to resuscitate. Nurses catch the patient on the way down, before life is completely gone, so that chances for a favorable outcome are good. Each of us can do this now on behalf of the global Church of Jesus Christ.  Each of us is critically important in the resuscitation process. You are vital to the life of the church, and your presence in this process makes a successful resuscitation happen.

Our Presbyterian Church in Morristown is doing better than most. We have a vibrant, growing congregation. This new church year is our opportunity to give hope and life to others personally and invigorate our church itself. When we thrive, others will catch our contagious hope and be inspired to thrive as well. The light we shine out into the community of Morristown brightens the lives of others who are feeling hopeless about their own futures.

Stopping the decline of the "Church" takes all of us working together as a team. Like the Code Blue team in the hospital, success depends on each of us -- using our gifts and talents to strengthen our own church so we can reach out and help others. Does this sound exhausting to you?

Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

There are many whose lives we touch who may feel too exhausted, stressed or alienated to attend church. Each of us can proclaim the gospel by inviting these weary folks to receive the strength and rest that comes with attending worship in a faithful community. May you not let the darkness and confusion of unrelenting busyness overwhelm you this new church season. Be an active resuscitation team member and find new life in the light that shines as a result of your service - all for the glory of God and the global church. 

My Prayer for a Dying Church Member

Creator God, Nancy is your beloved child who was known to you before her birth. Now Nancy's life on this earth is coming to a close. We are grateful Nancy has had a wonderful life fully lived. She will never be forgotten as her life and loves are carried along in our own lives in many ways. 

Wrap her in your loving arms so she can feel your presence here at this time. Reassure Nancy that she is never alone, that you are here with us and there is nothing to fear, for you promise that NOTHING can separate us from your all-encompassing love. Please forgive the things that Nancy believes need to be forgiven. Give her reassurance of your mercy, understanding, and unconditional acceptance; for you alone know our deepest thoughts and needs.

May Nancy trust in your promise that you are with us to the end of the age and that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Take away any present suffering and fear. Replace our worries with your gifts of grace, love, and comforting peace that surpasses all understanding. And in your wise timing, may your heavenly angels peacefully carry our beloved Nancy to the next dwelling place where there is joy; no more tears or sorrow.
Receive Nancy into your tender loving arms of mercy.

And grant us all an awareness of your love interweaving the Universe together in everlasting life. Amen

Prayer for All People

I lift up to you, our Eternal and Loving God, in prayer:

The lost and all who go searching for them, the broken and wounded, and the merciful who tend to them.

The frightened souls and those who advocate for them;

all nations and their advisers who have influence over them.

The diverse peoples of the world and all who protect the smallest and the weakest, 

those involved in warring regions, and for the peacemakers who try to bring a just reconciliation.

We pray:

For the hungry millions and for the homeless, for refugees;

and for all who do their best to provide for their needs.

 For the physically challenged, the oppressed, the addicted;

 and each clinic, advocate and therapist that offers respect and hope.

For the diseased, the mentally ill; and we ask for God's tender loving care of them and encouragement for those who patiently work for their wellbeing.

For the dying and for those who comfort them, and we pray for those grieving the loss of loved ones.

For the unemployed and all who despair with economic problems. 

Inspire those of us who can be of help to boldly take others under our wings.

For the church in its many denominations and congregations. 

May we together present a strong armor to the world protecting the weak, providing for the poor, lifting up the downtrodden, and doing justice with mercy and kindness.  May we channel God's love through all our words and actions.

Thank you Lord for challenging us to be more than we think we can be. Help us be alert to the inspiration of your Spirit and remember to pray at all times. As we draw strength from your power may we stand firm against all that can corrupt your creation.  

Thank you for the reassurance that you deeply love each one of us. 

In Christ's name we pray. Amen

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

 “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Last weekend a staff member commented that it was good to hear laughter in the congregation during the service. She believes it attracts more people to our church when they hear how happy and fun we are. I agree with her! When we count our blessings here at PCM we have lots to be thankful for and show it with joyful laughter.

"The power of humor can transform heads and hearts," said Michael Farrell, author and publisher. He believes God gave us a whole system of facial muscles designed just for laughing; so we must use them! We are created to laugh! Yet, life is a mix of tragedy and comedy. Soren Kierkegaard wrote: “Wherever there is life there is contradiction and wherever there is contradiction the comical is present.”

As our church seeks to connect more people to Jesus Christ, we can do so with our facial muscles to greet visitors and old friends with smiles and laughter. People are automatically attracted to laughter when it is positively based on God’s good humor. Plus, a light-hearted look at life can give us hope and optimism in times of trouble.

God had a plan when human creation was blessed with the ability to laugh. Laughter lowers your blood pressure, improves your digestion, and increases the serotonin in your brain that enhances your mood. One of my favorite sounds is a baby’s belly laugh when playing peek-a-boo. I find it impossible to not laugh along with the baby I hear laughing. Humor is contagious! (I can't help but laugh when I look at this photo of my son, Ian, who was laughing at me when I took this picture.)

As a Psychiatric Nurse Therapist/Pastor, I must share with you more of the mental health benefits of humor. Laughter adds joy and zest to life, eases anxiety and fear, relieves stress, improves mood, and enhances resilience. A dose of laughter is important to have each day. Look up a new joke-a-day on the internet and start your day with a laugh. Share the good medicine by making one of your daily goals to make another person laugh heartily and positively.

Strive to see the funny side of tension, disagreements, disappointments, or surprising changes in plans. Marriage counselors say that one of the key qualities to a successful marriage is when one of the couple is able to step back and diffuse an argument with genuine positive laughter or lightheartedness. Not to ignore the problem, but to give a new perspective on it that changes the tone from hopeless to hopeful.

God created us to enjoy three L’s:  to laugh and love and live together. Angela Macnamara suggests it is best to seek the lighter side of life in all circumstances. She said, “There is no period of life that does not have its own silver lining.”

As we become more “silver,” over time, let us keep the gift of laughter active to enhance our faith and mental health status as we respond to the contradictions and calamities of life on earth. (For more on the health benefits of laughter see: http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm)