Claimed, gathered and sent

On Sunday I had the privilege of leading worship and preaching at the church I'm serving and also a neighboring congregation. Our two churches are close geographically and for many years shared a pastor. This is the message I shared at my congregation. The text was John 6:51-58.             Our church has quite a reputation. Last week, for the celebration of Portville’s 175 th anniversary, many people made pies and other delicious baked goods. From what I have heard, many people were specifically looking for the goodies we made. They had purchased pies or fudge from us during the Heritage Days celebration. Our baked goods have achieved renown in the community.             We are a church who enjoys food and knows how to eat. Before I was officially called to be Bethel’s pastor, Ray and I had dinner together with the church council at Sprague’s. Pr. Dan Rumfelt shared that Bethel has a reputation. Then, he asked if the council knew what that reputation in the community is.

  One of the most wonderful and humbling experiences of being a pastor is that people let you into their lives. I love hearing their stories and they in turn hear mine. I have been a pastor a little over a month and I am continually amazed at this great privilege God and God's people afford me. So...what have I been doing since my first week? I have been visiting in people's homes, in the hospital, in the nursing home, at the Portville Heritage Days. I've been to a funeral and a memorial service (on the same day) without any official role other than support and non-anxious presence. We have had church council meetings and committee meetings and have been planning worship for the fall, which will include a Blessing of School Backpacks on the first Sunday of September. Sunday school and confirmation will be starting up again and we'll be full swing into our program year. I have with some trepidation take on a preaching series on the gospel texts in John, the Bre

This was my first week as pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church. Last week was my ordination. In this picture, Bishop Marie Jerge is praying with and for me while everyone else sings a hymn of invocation of the Holy Spirit. This is something unique to the Upstate NY Synod and Bishop Jerge.  As I read the difficult gospel text assigned for this Sunday, I was reminded of the ordination and installation vows I had taken regarding my call to preach the Word faithfully to God's people in Portville. So, with that challenge and the encouragement of prayer, I have finished my sermon for tomorrow, on the beheading of John the Baptist. The text is Mark 6:14-29 and my sermon is below.             God you have to be kidding! Where is the good news in today’s gospel? You want me to preach about the beheading of John the Baptist?   Believe me, I tried to avoid it. After all, there are the other readings. I like the book of Ephesians—adoption, redemption, blessings—yes that’s the stuff I l

I am now officially a seminary graduate (front row, 4th from the right). Friday, May 11, 2012 my classmates and I graduated from LTSG . We have come a long way. Sometimes it seems like we just started and other times our journey seems has seemed much longer. It was an emotional day that we celebrated with family, friends, and the whole seminary community.  All academic righteousness has been fulfilled. No class projects are hanging over my head. What a relief! But it is a bittersweet relief. Since I began writing this post many weeks ago, I have been called as pastor of a small town church in the Southern Tier of New York State. I was ordained Friday night to the ministry of Word and Sacrament surrounded by family, friends, members of my congregation, and neighboring congregations. I was privileged to have some of my closest friends from seminary participate in this occasion. That too was an emotional occasion. Glad the church has boxes of Kleenex in the pews! I have bee

What kind of Muppet are you, chaos or order? - Slate Magazine

This week is graduation from seminary. This week I attend my last seminary classes. This week I can more fully engage in future dreaming and planning. It's easy to get all wound up in these activities and to forget what should be at the heart of our thoughts and actions. As I read this poem, I thought of the scripture passage,  “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). I need that stillness in my heart. The Journey with Jesus: Edwina Gateley, Let Your God Love You

It's been a while since I have posted anything. Much of what has been happening lately is very exciting, but the details are unsharable. I am a pastoral candidate for a church in New York State which is thrilling. I cannot tell you where and I don't know when everything will come together. I feel like I'm on a bullet train that has definitely left the station. The next step in the process will be meeting with the church council. Reading this piece by Henri Nouwen reminded me of the importance of writing. I do have something worth sharing and this is a time of my life unlike any other. There will never be another "first call" for me. Nouwen's piece is entitled Making Our Lives Available to Others . Click on the title and you'll be able to read it. May each of us make our lives available in a multitude of ways this week. Peace! Google Image