Pray for Our World Daily in 2011

Here we are with another chance for new begginings! Concious of our "oneness" with each other and with the world, let us begin each day of 2011 with a prayer for the world and for love to abound in it.

I agree with Reverend Desmond Tutu who believes our relationship with God is a love affair with our Beloved. Ultimately our greatest joy is just to be with the Beloved, to drink in the beauty of the Beloved in the silence of just being together in prayer. He adds, "We are made to live in a delicate network of interdependence with one another, with God and with the rest of God's creation....God is smart, making us different so that we will get to know our need of one another."

Rabbi Harold Kushner's prayer in the photo embraces this love for one another that is so needed in 2011 for the healing of our world. May this prayer touch your heart and inspire you to pray your own prayer for the world as you awaken to each new day.

Here is another beautiful prayer, this one from Desmond Tutu's An African Prayer Book:

An African Canticle

All you big things, bless the Lord.

Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria

The Rift Valley and the Serengeti plain,

Fat baobabs and shady manto trees,

All eucalyptus and tamarind trees,

Bless the Lord.

Praise and extol Him for ever and ever.

All you tiny things, bless the Lord.

Busy black ants and hopping fleas,

Wriggling tadpoles and mosquito larvae,

Flying locusts and water drops,

Pollen dust and tsetse flies,

Millet seeds and dried dagaa,

Bless the Lord.

Praise and extol Him for ever and ever.

Robert Lax also wrote a beautiful verse about Love being the beginning and the end of creation:

The Circus of the Sun

And in the beginning was love. Love made a sphere: all things grew within it;

the sphere then encompassed beginnings and endings, beginning and end.

Love had a compass whose whirling dance traced out a sphere of love in the void:

in the center thereof rose a fountain.

A Christ-like Deed of Love a Day in 2011.

“Joy to the World the Lord is come; let earth receive her king! Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and angels sing!” (Isaac Watts)

We all love singing this hymn at Christmas time. But after the “joy” part Watts is telling us to make room for Jesus Christ in our hearts. How do we make room for J.C. in our hearts and lives? We are too busy, too frantic, too worried, too tired. But Christ said, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) As Christians, our trust is to be in Christ and we are to rest in him and allow him room in our hearts and lives.

In David Bryant’s book: Christ Is All! He explains his belief that the most significant crisis emerging today among Christian churches everywhere is the diminishing of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Do you believe Jesus Christ was more than a man? If not, then why worship him?

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels- everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was supreme in the beginning, and – leading the resurrection parade – He is supreme in the end. From beginning to the end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. The mystery in a nutshell is this: Christ is in YOU. Therefore, you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple." (From The Message version of Colossians 1).

“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God; or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.” (C.S. Lewis)

Jesus Christ showed us God’s love by his deeds. Christ calls us to GO out into the world to DO something that demonstrates God’s love for all his children. From the very beginning of Christ’s life, God asked people to show they are Christians by their actions. The shepherds had to believe and GO to see the child. The Wise Men had to trust in the star’s guidance, and GO by risking their lives to find the baby in a manger. Mary and Joseph had to pack up and flee and protect their precious baby from death. Our God is a God of loving actions. We are not to sit around and judge others as not as faithful or worthy as we are. Jesus said “Go and make disciples of all nations.” You do so by showing the love of Christ in all you do and say wherever you may be. Let Christ dwell in your heart and life by doing a loving action a day for your New Year’s resolution in 2011. Then they’ll know you are a “Christian” by your love.

Lovely Psalm 23 images and music by Bobby McFerrin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9fzWq-d8jU

Gifting Yourself During the Holidays

Recently I was speaking with someone at the JBWS Candlelight Vigil reception in our church. They looked around our Narthex and said, “Are you the church that gives out those holding crosses? My sister gave me one and I love it! I pray with it everyday!” Our new church identity is: The Church That Gives Holding Crosses. What a blessing!

Milt and Florence Andersen have gifted of themselves by making hundreds of holding crosses that our church gives out to those in the hospital or to anyone in need of a reminder that Jesus Christ is present with them in the midst of suffering. Two years ago Florence suggested to Milt that he might make a “few crosses” when he could no longer golf. She thought it would be good to keep him busy. This inspiration has turned into a widely known Holding Cross Ministry from our church to the Morristown area community! When I hand a holding cross to a person in the hospital, they immediately grab onto it and sigh with relief seeming to feel that peace which surpasses all understanding from Christ.

Over 277 years our church has had a very important identity as God’s gift to our Morristown area community. We are known for our great history of leadership and hospitality, for the famous visit for communion by George Washington, for transforming our previous church building into a hospital during the revolution, and we are known for the wonderful reconciliation our church experienced when we reunited the two churches after the Civil War. Currently we are known for having: two beautiful buildings, a fabulous nursery school, a caring mission-oriented congregation, articulate preachers and on and on. Having an identity of “giving” is exactly what Christ had in mind for his Church since the very beginning.

As I write this we are in the midst of stewardship season heading into Advent. “Giving” is a theme for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Meditate on all that God has given and respond with thanksgiving to God by blessing others. This is the time set aside to consider our “gifts and talents” and to give of ourselves sacrificially for the sake of Jesus Christ who sacrificed for each of us.

Please "gift yourself" this season by giving a portion of your time and talent, (like Milton and Florence Andersen do so generously), AND give of your financial resources also, to sustain our many church ministries into 2011. We want to do all we can to help this church continue to be God’s gift to the Morristown region for another 277 years and more!

GOD'S BEEN GOOD TO ME

I'm mindful of the blessings

That come my way each day.

My heart is overflowing

Each time I kneel to pray.

I'm thankful for the seasons;

Each one's a masterpiece.

I'm allowed to work the land,

But God still holds the lease.

I'm grateful for the friendships

That brighten sorrow's way,

Because my cup of happiness

Sustains me everyday.

I love the children and the flowers

That decorate my life

And the quiet, gentle hours

Free from worry and strife.

I'm grateful for eyes that see

The beauty of it all

Because God's been good to me

And blessed me through it all.

I'm thankful for the little things

That fill my life with love.

The best things in life are free;

They come from God above!

~By Clay Harrison~

"The Greatest Generation" is a term coined by journalist Tom Brokaw to describe the generation[1] who grew up in the United States during the deprivation of the Great Depression and many went on to fight in World War II. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Generation)

I have always admired this generation, and their resilience that was shaped by living through the depression, their love of country and their “can do” grateful attitude. Sadly, our church has lost too many of this generation over the past year: Dr. Myles Morrison, Marty Kleindienst, Bob Lundquist, and most recently Rit Kay. Let us appreciate those we still have with us from the “Greatest Generation” and learn from their wisdom about how to be faithful, strong, and grateful in our living.

Phil Thayer will be 96 years old the first of November. Although he lives at Fellowship Village, Phil remains an important member of our church family. When his daughter comes to visit, he asks her to bring him up to our church office so he can greet us. Despite his severe hearing loss and difficulty with mobility, Phil always laughs and jokes as he always did when he comes to visit. His positive spirit has been an important factor in his creative longevity.

Phil was always active in the leadership of our congregation for many many years! We are so grateful for all he has contributed to shaping our church into the strong vibrant one it is today! Phil’s attitude of gratitude that still keeps him growing into his 97^th year of life is reflected in the poetry by Clay Harrison. Let us all learn from both Phil and Clay about having a thankful heart for all our many blessings.

Let us be thankful for the "Greatest Generation" as we enjoy this poem of Thanksgiving: http://www.angelfire.com/d20/cupofjoy/dailythings.html

Why Do We Have Yoga Classes?

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

In the 1990’s, I was a Parish Nurse/Counselor at National Presbyterian Church in the North Washington DC area. Part of the focus of a PN’s work is to develop “Faith and Health” programs that motivate the congregation (and staff) to care for their bodies, minds, and spirits in holistic health promoting ways, valuing the “body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.” This theme has flowed into my work as a Pastor here at PCM. While providing pastoral care I think of your whole person in body, mind, and spirit as I pray for each you.

Last winter, I organized a “Coping with Depression” group and planned an exercise class in coordination with the group timing because regular exercise often decreases the severity of depression. Yoga was chosen for the exercise method because a certified Yoga instructor in our church family was looking for ways to share her gifts and talents with the church. This presented a perfect opportunity to combine the talents of Susan Jones with our need for an exercise class to follow the depression group! (Recently, Susan moved to Florida, but the group of 12+ dedicated class members kept the yoga class going with various devoted amateur instructors).

Although Yoga was originally practiced 5000 years ago as an Eastern religious practice, it is now widely accepted in the West as a peaceful way of exercise that promotes health and mental wellbeing. The original goal of Yoga practice was the uniting of the spirit with the cosmos. Our class applies "Hatha Yoga" which is a physical fitness yoga allowing us to focus on the movements in a holistic practice that benefits body, mind and spirit without the eastern religion emphasis. The Sanskrit term “ha” means sun energy and “tha” refers to the moon. The Hatha Yoga poses focus on a balance between opposites (right and left) and breathing while stretching, relaxing, and strengthening.

People take up yoga for a wide range of reasons: to gain flexibility, to tone-up or lose weight, to improve their ability to relax, or for the challenge of learning something new. Regular practice of yoga improves general fitness, balance, and strength, with each class ending with a peaceful relaxation time. Yoga has the potential to make each of us more fit disciples of Jesus Christ. Join us for Yoga on Saturday mornings at 10am in the Parish House. Your body, mind, and spirit will be glad you did! (For more information contact me or any of our current pool of instructors: Carolyn Westerdahl, Christine Volinsky, and Milton Argueta Jr.)

(Paul Tillich quote on stone in New Harmony, IN)

We are Called to be Co-Creators and Co-Redeemers

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” (Romans 8: 18-24a)

For the Doctorate of Ministry in Science and Theology program, I have been reading Christopher Southgate's: The Groaning of Creation: God, Evolution and the Problem of Evil. Southgate proposes that humans are "called" to be "co-creators" and "co-redeemers" with God's unfolding creation. He defines co-creators as those whose purpose is to be the agency, acting in freedom, to help further God's work in creating a "wholesome future" not only for our own benefit but for all creatures. And he adds, "if we may participate in God's creative and redemptive work, it is because we ourselves are still being created and redeemed."

Isn't this good news? Each of us has a calling to help create and redeem creation, working in companionship with God! Southgate emphasizes that as we live out this purpose we become partners with our triune God in the healing of our little corner of the cosmos. But to do so we must be humble Christ-like servants and realize that all creatures are embraced and loved in communion with God.

What does this mean for your life? At our Church Expo there are many opportunities presented to help you get involved in our church as Christ-like servants that will ultimately benefit our little corner of the cosmos. You can still sign up to be a Sunday School teacher helper, or a Youth group advisor, sign up for a mission team going to Louisiana, or help with the church bazaar. If you are still searching for how you can help “co-create” our church ministries, contact me and I'll be glad to help you find a way to align your gifts and talents with a ministry opportunity. Helping others not only promotes growth in our church, but it helps you grow in new ways, too!

A Dangerous Woman?

A Faithful "Dangerous Woman"

My Grandma Thaxton, pictured above, had a big positive influence on my life. She taught me what a strong faithful Christian woman looked and acted like. Fern Thaxton raised three little girls as a single mother during the Great Depression in Boelus, Nebraska. She supported her little family by working fulltime as a schoolteacher. When this photo was taken, Grandma was riding on her favorite horse, Daisy, who carried her on the daily trek to teach her "little folks" in a one-room school house.

Grandma may look meek and mild in this photo, but she truly was what Lynne Hybels would call: "a dangerous woman." Why? In her book, Nice Girls Don't Change the World, Hybels says, "A dangerous woman is one who shows up with everything she is and joins the battle against whatever opposes the redeeming work of God in our lives and in our world. A dangerous woman delves deeply into the truth of who she is, grounds herself daily in the healing and empowering love of God, and radically engages with the needs of the world."

My Grandma Fern lived a full life loving God and caring for children by teaching during the week at a small public school and also every Sunday at her little Methodist Church's Sunday School. Even after she retired from fulltime teaching at age 73, she volunteered as a private tutor for special needs children in her home.

Grandma never left Nebraska in all her 93 years, but she still fit Hybels' description of a "dangerous woman" who: cherishes children, embraces the elderly, and empowers the poor; who prays deeply and teaches wisely." As her adoring granddaughter, when I looked into her eyes and listened to her speak, I could see she was a strong and gentle leader, who sang songs of joy and talked down fear; who never hesitated to let passion and conviction compel her and righteous anger energize her. She was a "dangerous woman" who overflowed with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus. By that power and God's amazing grace, Grandma Thaxton changed the world for those whose lives she touched in Nebraska. And she continues to change the world through us her offspring and for generations to come. Thanks be to God for faithful dangerous women!

Thought Conditioners

Norman Vincent Peale is one of my favorite inspirational authors. He always wrote positive practical messages in his many books and Bible studies. Recently I found an article entitled: "Thought Conditioners." Our thoughts need to be conditioned - like clothing, or hair!

Reverend Peale dedicated much of his ministry to the power of positive thinking. In his preaching and teaching he would often remind us that we do have control over what we think about and how we perceive the events in our lives. Dr. Peale said, "Since happiness and effectiveness depend upon the kinds of thoughts we think, it is absoutely impossible to be happy if we think unhappiness-producing thoughts."

This reminds me of a favorite scripture: "Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things...And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4: 8-9 NIV)

And Luke 17: 21 promises, "The kingdom of God is within you." When we are filled with self-doubt, fear, and insecurity, we tell ourselves, "I can't do it. I don't have it in me!" But you do have it in you. You have the Kingdom of God within you. Dr. Peale once said that God has placed in your personality all the ability you need. You have only to believe in yourself, and strength within you will be released.

This photo of my daughter shows the joy and strength one feels when accomplishing God's work. We were in Kenya digging an irrigation ditch to direct water to the garden of a Maasai community. It seemed an impossible task at first, but with perseverance and the help of our whole team working alongside our Maasai friends, we were able to do it. Remember, when you are gripped with self-doubt, repeat to yourself, "God's abundance, peace and power are within me. I lack for nothing."

Entertaining Angels Unaware

There is a song by the Newsboys that has the chorus: "Entertaining Angels by the light of my TV screen, 24/7, you wait for me. Entertaining Angels, by the time I fall to my knees, host of Heaven, sing over me."

The scripture that inspired this song is Hebrews 13: 2-3. "Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured as though you yourselves were being tortured." (NRSV)

How difficult it is for us to take time to show such hospitality! This kind of hospitality was a custom in the Mediterranean region in the early Christian era. And the Bible speaks often of the importance of hospitality as in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). The book: Entertaining Angels: Early Christian Hospitality in its Mediterranean Setting by Andrew Arterbury details what Christian hospitality meant. It wasn't just a quick greeting and welcome, it was a sincere interest in the wellbeing of the other. Our modern society has lost interest in true hospitality and often shuns the idea of getting involved in one anothers lives. Yet, God calls us to reach out and take the risk to care for each other personally.

The little angel in the center of the labyrinth photo above is a symbol of hospitality to me. It was given to me by a parishioner who wanted me to keep it in memory of our mutual dear friend who passed on into eternal life a few years ago. Every time I look at this precious little angel, I think of our friend, Joy, and the graceful talents she often demonstrated in showing Christian hospitality to friend and stranger alike. Joy was a professor at a nearby university. She often invited students to her home for a home-cooked meal and fellowship.

Life is full of opportunities to show hospitality. And when you do, the blessings come back to you, maybe in the form of angels and maybe in the form of the peace you feel from doing what your heart knows is grace-giving. You are an instrument of God's grace when you show hospitality to the strangers in need. May God bless you richly as you bless others near and far.

"A human being is a part of the whole Universe, a part limited in time and space. One experiences one's self, our thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical illusion of our consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. This is what I call Hospitality, offering our home, this earth, this universe to all who share it with us." (http://www.uupuertorico.org/Values/Hospitality.htm accessed 7-08-10)

Flourishing With Activity Since 1733 or 1878 or 1925??!

"Where is your church? Is it the one on South Street or the one on the Green?" When I became a Pastor here 4+ years ago at our beloved 276 year old Presbyterian Church in Morristown, I didn't expect to get this question almost weekly. But now I am accustomed to it. Our two church buildings confound most people who are trying to find our offices, nursery school, or our sanctuary and chapel. Among many we are known as, "The church in Morristown with the two church buildings."

So why would God grant us this blessed confusion? I am always glad when people ask because it gives me a chance to tell the amazing grace-filled story of reunion and reconciliation. In 1925, after worshipping apart ever since the split in 1840, (over many issues but mainly over the conservative vs. liberal theological issues), our Presbyterian Church on the Green and the South Street Church reunited! What a wonderful example of reconciliation and cooperation! What a chance to be an ambassador for Christ here and now!

We can use this remarkable history for the advantage of our church growth! You can share this story with others to encourage their participation in our place of reconciliation history by inviting your friends and neighbors to church to see our awesome historic buildings. I love showing them off to visitors and family! If they aren't interested in worship, then ask if they would like a tour of our church buildings. We believe the Holy Spirit leads hearts to Christ, so with no pressure, but with an "invitation" we are called to invite our friends and neighbors to come see who we are and where we worship. I have found that once folks come inside our buildings they feel a sense of the peace of Christ and become interested in attending worship. Maybe it starts with a desire to hear our massive organ play, or our reknown choirs sing or bells ring. Or maybe they are just curious about two women preachers leading an historic congregation....Whatever sparks the spirit working, let us all be conduits of God's grace and hospitality.

Summertime combined services are another example of cooperation and union. When we merge with the Methodist church on the Green, our church shines! In the Methodist church for combined worship in August, I know our congregation will be enthusiastically filling their pews as we do alongside the Methodists in our church sanctuary in July. We are an active vibrant congregation that shows up even in the heat of summer.

Help us keep our long tradition of showing up for church in the summertime in our union church services. We have a long history of combining resources and voices with the faithful. I am certain God smiles everytime you walk into our church (either on the Green or on South Street) or into the Methodist church in August. Let's make God smile a lot this summer!

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to God through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to God in Christ, not counting their sins against them. And God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God was making an appeal through us...."

(2 Corinthians 5: 18-20. NIV)

Loving the Whole of Creation

OMD!! Oh, My Dogs!!

I love my dogs, Casey and Sammie. They are both NJ Puppy Rescues. Casey is a Black Lab/Scottish Deerhound mix and Sammie is a Black Lab/German Shepherd mix. They remind me daily of how important the creatures of the Earth are to us humans. Every creation is a gift as the whole Earth is a precious gift. It is up to us at the top of the food chain to cherish all of creation and to be good stewards of all that God has given to us. (Psalm 24.1)

God calls us to care for all of creation, and especially for the future of the earth. ("Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Phil. 2:4)

The first Morristown Festival for the Earth event happens next Saturday, May 22nd, from 11am - 6pm on the Green. I hope you will take some time to join us in celebrating the Earth and educating ourselves on ways to help sustain it. See: http://sustainablemorristown.org/whats-happening for more information on next Saturday's event.

Let us take these words to heart as we ponder new ways to pray for the Universe we have been created within:

Love all Creation
The whole of it and every grain of sand
Love every leaf
Every ray of God's light
Love the animals
Love the plants
Love everything
If you love everything
You will perceive
The divine mystery in things
And once you have perceived it
You will begin to comprehend it ceaselessly
More and more everyday
And you will at last come to love the whole world
With an abiding universal love.
(Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

You are Called as a disciple of Christ to Advocate for Victims
Jesus had a special sense of mission to poor and oppressed people. At the outset of his ministry, sometimes referred to as Jesus' mission statement, Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)

I attended an event called “Denim Day” last Wednesday. It was sponsored by the Morris County Sexual Assault Center, Jersey Battered Women’s Services and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. Denise Lang of the Morris County Sexual Assault Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital told the Daily Record newspaper that victims should not feel ashamed. "I think we as a society have made them feel guilty, rather than the crime victims that they are." Lang said, "Denim Day refers to an Italian Supreme Court ruling that said a teenage girl invited an attack by wearing tight denim jeans.”

To show our support for the victims of sexual assault we were to wear denim to this event. But for those who had to wear dress clothes to work, they made buttons to wear as a sign of solidarity with the Denim Day theme. (See photo). After the event I was getting coffee at Greenberry’s Coffee Shop. A man asked about this button that I was wearing. I told him about Denim Day’s purpose. He said, “Isn’t the victim always believed even when it isn’t true?”

This man’s attitude of assuming victims tell lies about sexual assault is a sad reminder of a common reality many assault victims suffer. Many crimes are never reported because the victims worry that they will not be believed and they feel ashamed of what happened to them. Telling the story of the assault and going through a very thorough evidence collection medical exam can be very intimidating, too. But the Prosecutor’s office understands this and does not force people to involve the police. The state of New Jersey provides funds to Morris County to enable the SANE nurses to give the medical care and evidence collection free of charge and allows the victim to decide later if they want to take the case to the police for investigation and prosecution or not.

In the spirit of our Lord and Savior who cared deeply for victims of oppression in all its forms, I offer this prayer for those suffering from abuse:

A Healing Prayer for Victims of Abuse
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong,always present, always just:

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, ease the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit. Hear our cries as we agonize over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.

Breathe wisdom into our prayers, soothe restless hearts with hope, steady shaken spirits with faith: Show us the way to justice and wholeness, enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy. Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people's wounds and transform our brokenness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace, so that we may act with justice and find peace in you. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(adapted from a prayer distributed by the United Conference of Catholic Bishops. See: www.usccbpublishing.org)

Eastertide Joy in Weeping

I love weeping willows! This photo is of a cherry willow in our front yard that we planted after our dog, Foxy, died. It is our way of memorializing the wonderful 7 years we enjoyed with our precious lab. I still miss Foxy, but her tree gets prettier every year. It is our Springtime reminder of renewal and hope.

Matthew 28 tells the story of the women leaving Christ's empty tomb with "fear and great joy" as they ran to tell his disciples. Then Jesus appeared and greeted them. They "took hold of his feet" (where the nails had been driven), "and worhiped him." Even though the women at the tomb were weeping, the risen Christ came to them and their joy was renewed. Although we don't often get to see and hear the voice of Christ come to us so clearly as he did to the women at the tomb, I believe Christ still comes to us when we weep.

The shortest verse in the Bible is, "Jesus wept." (John 11: 35) It shows that our God cries along with us and is present to us when we suffer loss and heartache. Knowing he is with us can give us comfort and peace as we journey with God together in the sufferings and joys in life. Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed! And his rising assures us that he is still with us "to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20)

You wept at the death of a friend, O Christ, you showed sorrow at the suffering of others. Grant us the strength to express sadness and the confidence to call forth new life. Open our eyes to see every family as part of one family. Open our lips to speak words of hope. Amen (from: Celtic Treasure: Daily Scriptures and Prayer, by John Philip Newell) http://www.johnphilipnewell.com/

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Dear Readers,

I just read an article about why pastors should blog. It suggested blogging to: write, teach, share something of ourselves, to interact, and to recommend helpful things. My goal with this blog is to humbly do all of the above. But most of all, to share my journey of faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior as I continue to seek a closer relationship with our love-creating God.

I am a second career pastor who answered a persistent call to ministry after many years of being a psychiatric nurse therapist, clinical instructor, wife, mother, Parish nurse, forensic nurse, and more recently a pastor. It has been an incredible journey pro Christi amore (for the love of Christ).

First, I will share one of my favorite scriptures. Today I love to meditate on Philippians 4: 4-9 --

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (NIV)

May the peace of Christ be with you and fill your soul with a deep sense of God's love today and always.

Pastor Cindy

P.S. The photo is one I took of the floor at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC. I highly recommend going to see this amazing place the next time you are in NYC!