5. I haven't had time to put up blog posts this week, so I've got some cool things stored up to say (think QUALITY not QUANTITY!!) :-)
4. The heat's on in the parish hall and it's COLD outside!
3. The play-offs were last Sunday, and the Super Bowl is next Sunday, so what else is there to do??
2. The food will be GREAT!
1. God's gonna show up, and He always brings special good things for His people when they gather expecting to hear His voice!
(OK, so I know that it's pretty much a tie between #1 and #2! . . .)
See you there!
Blessings,
Janet+
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Very funny, God!
Dear Friends in Christ -
There have been a few bumps in the road this past week. In this transition in our youth ministries program, we're all working hard to keep things going well. But transition kicks stuff up - inside us, between us. I see and appreciate how hard everyone is working to be respectful and helpful, even as change raises anxieties and concerns. It's just not easy.
Then, this morning I found a note in my email inbox with an article entitled "The Need for Stress and Conflict."
I reacted to the words on the page very much like I used to react to my mother when she told me I had to eat my broccoli: I turned my head off to the side a little and said "ickkkk." Then, under my breath, "Very funny, God!"
But in all honesty, I had to eventually admit to myself that I also felt reassured. Just as I know that my mother wanted me to eat my broccoli because it was good for me, I know that God shows me things in times of stress, change - and, yes, even conflict - that I wouldn't otherwise learn.
Sigh. I'm glad that in the midst of challenging days, God cares enough about me - and all of us - to remind us that, even in tough times, He's there and He'll see us through.
Faithfully,
Janet+
There have been a few bumps in the road this past week. In this transition in our youth ministries program, we're all working hard to keep things going well. But transition kicks stuff up - inside us, between us. I see and appreciate how hard everyone is working to be respectful and helpful, even as change raises anxieties and concerns. It's just not easy.
Then, this morning I found a note in my email inbox with an article entitled "The Need for Stress and Conflict."
I reacted to the words on the page very much like I used to react to my mother when she told me I had to eat my broccoli: I turned my head off to the side a little and said "ickkkk." Then, under my breath, "Very funny, God!"
But in all honesty, I had to eventually admit to myself that I also felt reassured. Just as I know that my mother wanted me to eat my broccoli because it was good for me, I know that God shows me things in times of stress, change - and, yes, even conflict - that I wouldn't otherwise learn.
Sigh. I'm glad that in the midst of challenging days, God cares enough about me - and all of us - to remind us that, even in tough times, He's there and He'll see us through.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Monday, January 25, 2010
OK, so I peeked . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
On a whim, I did something that I usually don't do, I peeked at tomorrow's Scripture readings in the daily office. I hadn't read anything in today's readings that really spoke to me. Usually, I make myself stick with the readings of the day, because if I'm patient and listening, they usually resonate with something at some point in the day. Today, I took a short-cut and peeked ahead.
The first story from tomorrow's readings - Genesis 15:1-11, 17-21 - reached right out and grabbed me, because it illustrates perfectly a key point from Bishop Smith's sermon yesterday.
The sermon was about the spiritual discipline of GUIDANCE. Guidance from God is something we often wish for, pray for. And there are certainly better and worse ways of putting ourselves in a place to hear God's guidance.
Yesterday, Bishop Smith recommended three steps to hearing God's guidance: LISTEN, BELIEVE and ACT. Each of these steps is perfectly illustrated in this Genesis story about Abram. Abram was at a real low point in his life when this encounter with God occurred. What God promised him was so far out, that he was tempted not even to believe God, and he says so. But Abram continues to listen . . . and believe . . . and act.
What is God guiding you to do today? Are you listening? Will you believe? And then will you step out in that belief and act?
I would love to hear your story of how you feel guided as you follow through! revjanet@stpaulsct.org
Faithfully,
Janet+
On a whim, I did something that I usually don't do, I peeked at tomorrow's Scripture readings in the daily office. I hadn't read anything in today's readings that really spoke to me. Usually, I make myself stick with the readings of the day, because if I'm patient and listening, they usually resonate with something at some point in the day. Today, I took a short-cut and peeked ahead.
The first story from tomorrow's readings - Genesis 15:1-11, 17-21 - reached right out and grabbed me, because it illustrates perfectly a key point from Bishop Smith's sermon yesterday.
The sermon was about the spiritual discipline of GUIDANCE. Guidance from God is something we often wish for, pray for. And there are certainly better and worse ways of putting ourselves in a place to hear God's guidance.
Yesterday, Bishop Smith recommended three steps to hearing God's guidance: LISTEN, BELIEVE and ACT. Each of these steps is perfectly illustrated in this Genesis story about Abram. Abram was at a real low point in his life when this encounter with God occurred. What God promised him was so far out, that he was tempted not even to believe God, and he says so. But Abram continues to listen . . . and believe . . . and act.
What is God guiding you to do today? Are you listening? Will you believe? And then will you step out in that belief and act?
I would love to hear your story of how you feel guided as you follow through! revjanet@stpaulsct.org
Faithfully,
Janet+
Friday, January 22, 2010
NPR and the Sunset
Dear Friends in Christ -
This evening as I nagivated the hour-long circuit I drive each day to pick up my children from day-care and school, I was listening to NPR correspondents in Haiti talk about the struggle of the survivors of the earthquake and the obstacles faced by those who are bringing aid. As I witnessed these reports with my ears, my eyes were witnessing something else: an outrageously beautiful sunset, the most beautiful one I've seen in months, if not years. Oranges and aquas fading to pinks and deep violet.
It was a strange juxtaposition, the bleakness and the beauty. Such moments hold so much tension that I can hardly stand it. Part of me rushes to escape, to stop noticing one or the other, or to move on to something entirely different.
Rather than escaping, I chose to just stick with it. I left the radio on and turned off the road to get a better look at the sunset. It happened that the place I turned into was a cemetery. The deepening of the irony wasn't lost on me. Now my children and I were the living among the dead, witnessing the bleakness and the beauty.
As I drove home, I felt relieved that the tension remained unresolved. No easy answers. I just prayed that the people in Haiti were seeing a beautiful sunset, too.
Faithfully,
Janet+
This evening as I nagivated the hour-long circuit I drive each day to pick up my children from day-care and school, I was listening to NPR correspondents in Haiti talk about the struggle of the survivors of the earthquake and the obstacles faced by those who are bringing aid. As I witnessed these reports with my ears, my eyes were witnessing something else: an outrageously beautiful sunset, the most beautiful one I've seen in months, if not years. Oranges and aquas fading to pinks and deep violet.
It was a strange juxtaposition, the bleakness and the beauty. Such moments hold so much tension that I can hardly stand it. Part of me rushes to escape, to stop noticing one or the other, or to move on to something entirely different.
Rather than escaping, I chose to just stick with it. I left the radio on and turned off the road to get a better look at the sunset. It happened that the place I turned into was a cemetery. The deepening of the irony wasn't lost on me. Now my children and I were the living among the dead, witnessing the bleakness and the beauty.
As I drove home, I felt relieved that the tension remained unresolved. No easy answers. I just prayed that the people in Haiti were seeing a beautiful sunset, too.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Celebration Invitation
Dear Friends in Christ -
After I posted yesterday, bits of a quotation I learned years ago started fluttering into my mind until I had enough pieces to pull the whole thing together. Then I remembered where the quotation came from: it was scratched into a wall in a concentration camp in WWII.
These words are an invitation to celebrate even when we don't feel like it, an invitation to believe even when we're not sure we do:
“I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. I believe in love, even when I can’t feel it. And, I believe in God, even when He is silent.”
May we celebrate God's loving care for us and for those in Haiti, even in the bleakest times, because choosing that makes all the difference.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
After I posted yesterday, bits of a quotation I learned years ago started fluttering into my mind until I had enough pieces to pull the whole thing together. Then I remembered where the quotation came from: it was scratched into a wall in a concentration camp in WWII.
These words are an invitation to celebrate even when we don't feel like it, an invitation to believe even when we're not sure we do:
“I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. I believe in love, even when I can’t feel it. And, I believe in God, even when He is silent.”
May we celebrate God's loving care for us and for those in Haiti, even in the bleakest times, because choosing that makes all the difference.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Choosing to Celebrate
Dear Friends in Christ -
Right this moment, it's easy for me to think of at least a dozen reasons NOT to celebrate. I'm tired. Our Director of Youth Ministries resigned. The photos in the morning paper of the suffering in Haiti are devastating. My son is whining the laundry is piling up my paperwork isn't finished.
But last Sunday, our discipline for the week was assigned: celebration. God has a very perverse sense of humor. Either that, or God's really looking out for me, knowing in advance that I would need a little reminder to celebrate this week.
In the weeks before Thanksgiving, one of our parishioners asked everyone to twitter/blog/email one thing they were thankful for each day. Mini-celebrations.
Today I had cause for celebration when my dentist said, "Great teeth; no problems here." Hooray! I felt like I did when my first grade teacher gave me a smiley-face sticker for good work. The snarky voice in my head butted in, "yeah, the best part about it is that you aren't going to have to pay for a bridge or filling you can't afford."
The snarky voice is wrong. The best part about it is just celebrating a little good news as I run my tongue over my silky smooth, sparkly teeth.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Right this moment, it's easy for me to think of at least a dozen reasons NOT to celebrate. I'm tired. Our Director of Youth Ministries resigned. The photos in the morning paper of the suffering in Haiti are devastating. My son is whining the laundry is piling up my paperwork isn't finished.
But last Sunday, our discipline for the week was assigned: celebration. God has a very perverse sense of humor. Either that, or God's really looking out for me, knowing in advance that I would need a little reminder to celebrate this week.
In the weeks before Thanksgiving, one of our parishioners asked everyone to twitter/blog/email one thing they were thankful for each day. Mini-celebrations.
Today I had cause for celebration when my dentist said, "Great teeth; no problems here." Hooray! I felt like I did when my first grade teacher gave me a smiley-face sticker for good work. The snarky voice in my head butted in, "yeah, the best part about it is that you aren't going to have to pay for a bridge or filling you can't afford."
The snarky voice is wrong. The best part about it is just celebrating a little good news as I run my tongue over my silky smooth, sparkly teeth.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Candlelight Vigil for Haiti
Dear Friends in Christ -
One week ago today, in the evening, around the time most of us were gathering around supper tables, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. As we've seen in the thousands of images pouring out from Haiti this week, a 7.0 quake and its aftershocks was enough to level most of their buildings and to kill thousands upon thousands of people.
Americans have responded to this catastrophy in unprecedented ways. $10 text messages have allowed the American Red Cross to collect upwards of $500,000 an hour at some points in the past week. More doctors and nurses have volunteered to help than there is room for in the triage hospitals in Haiti. All this is good, very good.
But we still have a role to play; our PRAYERS are needed. To remind us that even in the midst of chaos and darkness, God's power creates light and life. To teach us that love overcomes fear and hope leads us to encounter things we never dreamed possible. To call us to be a part of God's creative work, first in listening, then in acting. What we pray and what we do really does make a difference.
Tonight, please come join me and others at St. Paul's for a 30 minute vigil of song and prayer in the Chapel, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Faithfully with you in the healing of Haiti and the world,
Janet+
One week ago today, in the evening, around the time most of us were gathering around supper tables, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. As we've seen in the thousands of images pouring out from Haiti this week, a 7.0 quake and its aftershocks was enough to level most of their buildings and to kill thousands upon thousands of people.
Americans have responded to this catastrophy in unprecedented ways. $10 text messages have allowed the American Red Cross to collect upwards of $500,000 an hour at some points in the past week. More doctors and nurses have volunteered to help than there is room for in the triage hospitals in Haiti. All this is good, very good.
But we still have a role to play; our PRAYERS are needed. To remind us that even in the midst of chaos and darkness, God's power creates light and life. To teach us that love overcomes fear and hope leads us to encounter things we never dreamed possible. To call us to be a part of God's creative work, first in listening, then in acting. What we pray and what we do really does make a difference.
Tonight, please come join me and others at St. Paul's for a 30 minute vigil of song and prayer in the Chapel, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Faithfully with you in the healing of Haiti and the world,
Janet+
Monday, January 18, 2010
She's coming home!
Dear Friends in Christ -
Just an hour ago, Nikki, our parishioner who's in the process of adopting a child from Haiti, received word that Allie will be among the hundreds of already-matched-with-families orphans who will be granted "humanitarian parole" and are now being gathered and transported to planes that will bring them home. THANKS BE TO GOD!
So now, Nikki is waiting and praying that in the midst of the looting of orphanages and the ongoing chaos, God will keep Allie safe. Nikki is also scrambling to prepare for this new arrival. With the normal pace of adoptions, Nikki would be waiting a year or more. Now Allie will likely arrive within a matter of days. Imagine being pregnant and thinking you have nine months to prepare, only to have the baby arrive tomorrow!!
In case you're wondering, YES, you can help. The best things to do: (1) send Nikki a gift card to Babies R Us or Target or Walmart; there's no time for a shower now! You can send the gift card to Nikki directly (her address is in the parish directory) or you can bring it to the parish office, and I'll get it to her. (2) PRAY! Prayer is often fed by on-the-ground connection, and if you want to pray with the most up-to-date information about what's happening with Nikki and Olivia and Allie, you can go on-line to www.nikkiandolivia.blogspot.com.
May God grant his special blessing, peace and safety to Allie (and all the orphans in Haiti) this night. And may Allie be soon safe home with Nikki and with our whole parish family.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Just an hour ago, Nikki, our parishioner who's in the process of adopting a child from Haiti, received word that Allie will be among the hundreds of already-matched-with-families orphans who will be granted "humanitarian parole" and are now being gathered and transported to planes that will bring them home. THANKS BE TO GOD!
So now, Nikki is waiting and praying that in the midst of the looting of orphanages and the ongoing chaos, God will keep Allie safe. Nikki is also scrambling to prepare for this new arrival. With the normal pace of adoptions, Nikki would be waiting a year or more. Now Allie will likely arrive within a matter of days. Imagine being pregnant and thinking you have nine months to prepare, only to have the baby arrive tomorrow!!
In case you're wondering, YES, you can help. The best things to do: (1) send Nikki a gift card to Babies R Us or Target or Walmart; there's no time for a shower now! You can send the gift card to Nikki directly (her address is in the parish directory) or you can bring it to the parish office, and I'll get it to her. (2) PRAY! Prayer is often fed by on-the-ground connection, and if you want to pray with the most up-to-date information about what's happening with Nikki and Olivia and Allie, you can go on-line to www.nikkiandolivia.blogspot.com.
May God grant his special blessing, peace and safety to Allie (and all the orphans in Haiti) this night. And may Allie be soon safe home with Nikki and with our whole parish family.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Sunday, January 17, 2010
In God's Time
Dear Friends in Christ -
As you read in this blog last week, I've been praying for a fresh blessing. Not one for myself (though I'll always take them when and where I can get them!) but one for our parish. I felt like the blessing that God had been giving us at the end of the 10:00 a.m. service was growing faint in our ears from over-familiarity. So on the dawn of a new year, I was praying for a fresh blessing, one that would stir our hearts God-ward in new ways.
By last Sunday, God had spoken to me the beginning of a blessing, but not the whole thing . . . it wasn't until early this morning that God filled in the blanks and spoke the rest of His blessing for us. And wouldn't you know, it was on a day when we really needed an extra blessing. Our beloved Director of Youth Ministries, Leslie, has resigned to follow a dream she's had for 30 years - to own and operate her own beauty salon. While it's easy to wish Leslie well, it's hard to come to grips with missing her presence in the vital role she has had in the lives of our youth and their families.
There are no accidents with God. His timing is always perfect. On a day when we all really needed it, God came through with a great blessing for us all. I really believe it speaks God's heart for us in the midst of what will now be a season of transition - of grief and celebration (celebration, by the way, is the spiritual discipline for this week, another sign of the Spirit among us).
Here's the blessing, which I pray we will all steep ourselves in:
May God give you grace
to try and to fail,
to strive and to succeed,
to dream the dreams of God and
to trust him to lead you to the fulfillment of those dreams,
that you may flourish and the world may know God’s glory
now and forever.
Amen.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
As you read in this blog last week, I've been praying for a fresh blessing. Not one for myself (though I'll always take them when and where I can get them!) but one for our parish. I felt like the blessing that God had been giving us at the end of the 10:00 a.m. service was growing faint in our ears from over-familiarity. So on the dawn of a new year, I was praying for a fresh blessing, one that would stir our hearts God-ward in new ways.
By last Sunday, God had spoken to me the beginning of a blessing, but not the whole thing . . . it wasn't until early this morning that God filled in the blanks and spoke the rest of His blessing for us. And wouldn't you know, it was on a day when we really needed an extra blessing. Our beloved Director of Youth Ministries, Leslie, has resigned to follow a dream she's had for 30 years - to own and operate her own beauty salon. While it's easy to wish Leslie well, it's hard to come to grips with missing her presence in the vital role she has had in the lives of our youth and their families.
There are no accidents with God. His timing is always perfect. On a day when we all really needed it, God came through with a great blessing for us all. I really believe it speaks God's heart for us in the midst of what will now be a season of transition - of grief and celebration (celebration, by the way, is the spiritual discipline for this week, another sign of the Spirit among us).
Here's the blessing, which I pray we will all steep ourselves in:
May God give you grace
to try and to fail,
to strive and to succeed,
to dream the dreams of God and
to trust him to lead you to the fulfillment of those dreams,
that you may flourish and the world may know God’s glory
now and forever.
Amen.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Saturday, January 16, 2010
On discipline . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
This week I ran across one of my favorite quotes about practicing things over and over. It's by Martha Graham, an American dancer and choreographer widely regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of modern dance. Clearly she's someone who knows something about discipline!
Enjoy!
Blessings,
Janet+
"I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire."
This week I ran across one of my favorite quotes about practicing things over and over. It's by Martha Graham, an American dancer and choreographer widely regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of modern dance. Clearly she's someone who knows something about discipline!
Enjoy!
Blessings,
Janet+
"I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire."
Friday, January 15, 2010
Confession
Dear Friends in Christ -
I'm sure that many of you have noticed that this is the first blog post that I've managed to get up all week. Sorry about that.
My hope was to continue during the week following up with the spiritual discipline topic that I talked about in my sermon on Sunday - confession. But I wasn't disciplined enough this week to get that done. So now I have to confess that I fell short.
And I am sorry, particularly for the lost opportunities to connect around this important topic. Of course, now I have the chance to model for you what real confession leads to: repentance.
My confession is simply this: I didn't make writing my blog posts enough of a priority this week to get them done. One might reasonably argue that I've had a few other things to deal with this week - like the disaster in Haiti, like extra preparation for meeting with the Bishop for the last time with the Convocation that I chair. But the truth is that if I had been writing my blog posts on time or in advance there wouldn't be a 4-day gap, even when disaster strikes.
In order for confession to be effective, though, I can't just identify and admit what went wrong. I have to take the steps necessary to amend my fault. That means taking time to write to you today. That means putting it in my schedule to get future posts up on time - or early, if I'm going to be busy.
In his book "Celebration of Discipline," Richard Foster says this, "The discipline of confession brings an end to pretense. [Through confession, we] can openly confess [our] frail humanity and know the forgiving and empowering graces of Christ." What I experience as I type this to you is an unburdening, space in me being freed up to just get on with it.
Onward and upward!
Blessings,
Janet+
I'm sure that many of you have noticed that this is the first blog post that I've managed to get up all week. Sorry about that.
My hope was to continue during the week following up with the spiritual discipline topic that I talked about in my sermon on Sunday - confession. But I wasn't disciplined enough this week to get that done. So now I have to confess that I fell short.
And I am sorry, particularly for the lost opportunities to connect around this important topic. Of course, now I have the chance to model for you what real confession leads to: repentance.
My confession is simply this: I didn't make writing my blog posts enough of a priority this week to get them done. One might reasonably argue that I've had a few other things to deal with this week - like the disaster in Haiti, like extra preparation for meeting with the Bishop for the last time with the Convocation that I chair. But the truth is that if I had been writing my blog posts on time or in advance there wouldn't be a 4-day gap, even when disaster strikes.
In order for confession to be effective, though, I can't just identify and admit what went wrong. I have to take the steps necessary to amend my fault. That means taking time to write to you today. That means putting it in my schedule to get future posts up on time - or early, if I'm going to be busy.
In his book "Celebration of Discipline," Richard Foster says this, "The discipline of confession brings an end to pretense. [Through confession, we] can openly confess [our] frail humanity and know the forgiving and empowering graces of Christ." What I experience as I type this to you is an unburdening, space in me being freed up to just get on with it.
Onward and upward!
Blessings,
Janet+
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Earthquake Relief - Helping Haiti
Dear Friends in Christ –
As you know, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12th at about 5:00 p.m. During times like this, we all want to help. But we don’t want to just alleviate our own sense of suffering and our survivors’ guilt at still having so much, we want to really make a difference. Having worked at two major disaster sites this past decade (9/11 in NYC and Hurricane Katrinia in NO), I have some experience in disaster mobilization; I’ve seen first-hand what really helps and what doesn’t.
Here’s what really helps.
1. After you know the basics of the situation, turn off the TV or fold the newspaper and PRAY. Talk to God about what you’ve seen pour out your heart for those who are suffering. Once you’ve said what you have to say about the unfairness of life and the horror of all this, LISTEN to God. He’ll probably call you to do something.
2. Whatever it is, do it. Then, when you’re talking to people about the disaster, share what you’ve done. One of the biggest problems generated by a disaster of this magnitude is that it makes us feel helpless. But we are NOT helpless. We are God’s hands and feet in the world. What we do does make a difference. We need to do more than talk about how sad this is. We need to help and to talk about our contribution. It lifts our spirits and the spirits of those around us.
The following two things make the biggest immediate and long-term difference in a disaster situation.
A. Give. CASH. Now. And give it to a reputable agency that has the ability to get boots on the ground now. The next week is CRITICAL. Large agencies that already have a relational base in Haiti and have the ability to transport medical supplies, food, water and shelter will use your donations most effectively. The American Red Cross – www.redcross.org. Americares – www.americares.org. OR Episcopal Relief and Development – www.er-d.org. (Please note that the Episcopal Bishop of Haiti, the Rt. Rev. Zache Duracin, is alright, but his wife was injured and his home is destroyed. The entire Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and complex is gone; the Convent of the Sisters of St. Margaret is destroyed, but the Sisters are OK. ERD will also help with rebuilding efforts for the diocese as time goes on.)
B. Support and encourage those you know with connections in Haiti. The transformation that happens during disasters happens because we get involved in each other’s stories and risk going deeper with each other. In our own congregation, Nikki Pivovar is in the process of adopting a child, Allie, who is in an orphanage just outside of Port-au-Prince. Pray for Nikki and her daughters, ask her how she’s doing, listen for ways to help and support her. Paul D’Agostino has worked for years with an organization based in Bridgeport, Haiti Lumiere de Demain (HLD), which provides books for children in Haiti. Paul has been to Haiti many times and has many personal relationships there. Pray for Paul and his Haitian friends. (You may also make a donation to HLD, which is partnering with International Firefighters Assistance, Inc. to provide 10,000 solar powered flashlights – critical equipment for relief work! To donate – www.haitilumiere.org/wp.
Thank you for caring. Thank you for praying. Thank you for doing whatever you can to help. In living our faith, our light shines. The people of Haiti – and God – are grateful.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
As you know, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12th at about 5:00 p.m. During times like this, we all want to help. But we don’t want to just alleviate our own sense of suffering and our survivors’ guilt at still having so much, we want to really make a difference. Having worked at two major disaster sites this past decade (9/11 in NYC and Hurricane Katrinia in NO), I have some experience in disaster mobilization; I’ve seen first-hand what really helps and what doesn’t.
Here’s what really helps.
1. After you know the basics of the situation, turn off the TV or fold the newspaper and PRAY. Talk to God about what you’ve seen pour out your heart for those who are suffering. Once you’ve said what you have to say about the unfairness of life and the horror of all this, LISTEN to God. He’ll probably call you to do something.
2. Whatever it is, do it. Then, when you’re talking to people about the disaster, share what you’ve done. One of the biggest problems generated by a disaster of this magnitude is that it makes us feel helpless. But we are NOT helpless. We are God’s hands and feet in the world. What we do does make a difference. We need to do more than talk about how sad this is. We need to help and to talk about our contribution. It lifts our spirits and the spirits of those around us.
The following two things make the biggest immediate and long-term difference in a disaster situation.
A. Give. CASH. Now. And give it to a reputable agency that has the ability to get boots on the ground now. The next week is CRITICAL. Large agencies that already have a relational base in Haiti and have the ability to transport medical supplies, food, water and shelter will use your donations most effectively. The American Red Cross – www.redcross.org. Americares – www.americares.org. OR Episcopal Relief and Development – www.er-d.org. (Please note that the Episcopal Bishop of Haiti, the Rt. Rev. Zache Duracin, is alright, but his wife was injured and his home is destroyed. The entire Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and complex is gone; the Convent of the Sisters of St. Margaret is destroyed, but the Sisters are OK. ERD will also help with rebuilding efforts for the diocese as time goes on.)
B. Support and encourage those you know with connections in Haiti. The transformation that happens during disasters happens because we get involved in each other’s stories and risk going deeper with each other. In our own congregation, Nikki Pivovar is in the process of adopting a child, Allie, who is in an orphanage just outside of Port-au-Prince. Pray for Nikki and her daughters, ask her how she’s doing, listen for ways to help and support her. Paul D’Agostino has worked for years with an organization based in Bridgeport, Haiti Lumiere de Demain (HLD), which provides books for children in Haiti. Paul has been to Haiti many times and has many personal relationships there. Pray for Paul and his Haitian friends. (You may also make a donation to HLD, which is partnering with International Firefighters Assistance, Inc. to provide 10,000 solar powered flashlights – critical equipment for relief work! To donate – www.haitilumiere.org/wp.
Thank you for caring. Thank you for praying. Thank you for doing whatever you can to help. In living our faith, our light shines. The people of Haiti – and God – are grateful.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Friday, January 8, 2010
I've almost got it . . .
. . . but not quite . . . please keep praying that we will all hear God's new blessing.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Faithfully,
Janet+
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A new blessing
Dear Friends in Christ -
God has been on my case for weeks to offer you a new blessing during the season of Epiphany. The blessing that I've been praying over the folks at the conclusion of the 10:00 a.m. worship service off and on for the past 18 months is powerful:
"May God give us grace never to sell ourselves short,
grace to risk something big for something good,
grace to remember that this world is now
too dangerous for anything but truth
and too small for anything but love."
(attributed to William Sloane Coffin)
We've been steeping ourselves in this blessing. It has wormed its way into our hearts and even into some of our choices. That's good. This means the blessing is powerful and that we've had the courage to take God up on his offer to give us newness. That's VERY good.
But now it's time for something new. What? I don't yet know . . .
Please pray for me as I listen for God's next, new blessing on us. With your help, I'll hear it . . .
Faithfully,
Janet+
God has been on my case for weeks to offer you a new blessing during the season of Epiphany. The blessing that I've been praying over the folks at the conclusion of the 10:00 a.m. worship service off and on for the past 18 months is powerful:
"May God give us grace never to sell ourselves short,
grace to risk something big for something good,
grace to remember that this world is now
too dangerous for anything but truth
and too small for anything but love."
(attributed to William Sloane Coffin)
We've been steeping ourselves in this blessing. It has wormed its way into our hearts and even into some of our choices. That's good. This means the blessing is powerful and that we've had the courage to take God up on his offer to give us newness. That's VERY good.
But now it's time for something new. What? I don't yet know . . .
Please pray for me as I listen for God's next, new blessing on us. With your help, I'll hear it . . .
Faithfully,
Janet+
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Epiphany
Dear Friends in Christ -
A blessed Epiphany to you!!! Yesterday was the 12th day of Christmas. TODAY is EPIPHANY - the day we celebrate the arrival of the wise men, who followed the star to find the Messiah, the One who was their Savior. The One who is our Savior.
The word Ephiphany means to be made manifest, or to be revealed. Usually when we encounter something new or unusual, we don't know what it means, nor do we know the impact it will have on our lives. Certainly, this is true with Jesus. Some of us have been knowing Jesus for a month, some for years, some for decades. But for all of us, there's still more to be revealed - and more things of ourselves we need to open up about, to share with Jesus.
We often think of revelation being a one-way street. We want God to reveal himself - his plans, his riches, his wisdom - to us. But all of that revelation won't really make any difference in our lives if we're not open to receiving it. And the way we make room for it is to open ourselves to God, to be honest with Him, to let Him know us.
It is in the open, on the two-way street, that real connection and real transformation happens. May this SEASON of Epiphany be a time for you - and for me! - of revelation and renewal. There may be snow on the ground, but underneath, new things are still getting ready to burst forth!
Blessings of new revelation to you today and in the days to come.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
A blessed Epiphany to you!!! Yesterday was the 12th day of Christmas. TODAY is EPIPHANY - the day we celebrate the arrival of the wise men, who followed the star to find the Messiah, the One who was their Savior. The One who is our Savior.
The word Ephiphany means to be made manifest, or to be revealed. Usually when we encounter something new or unusual, we don't know what it means, nor do we know the impact it will have on our lives. Certainly, this is true with Jesus. Some of us have been knowing Jesus for a month, some for years, some for decades. But for all of us, there's still more to be revealed - and more things of ourselves we need to open up about, to share with Jesus.
We often think of revelation being a one-way street. We want God to reveal himself - his plans, his riches, his wisdom - to us. But all of that revelation won't really make any difference in our lives if we're not open to receiving it. And the way we make room for it is to open ourselves to God, to be honest with Him, to let Him know us.
It is in the open, on the two-way street, that real connection and real transformation happens. May this SEASON of Epiphany be a time for you - and for me! - of revelation and renewal. There may be snow on the ground, but underneath, new things are still getting ready to burst forth!
Blessings of new revelation to you today and in the days to come.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Exhilarated and exhausted
Dear Friends in Christ -
46 calls. Less than 60 minutes. 5 callers. The results? . . .
1. We reached out to people in the parish. We heard their stories. We put people on prayer lists and set up times for pastoral conversations. As always, the real power is in the connection itself. People thanked us for calling - even though we said up front that we were calling about money!
2. The "intrepid 5", who braved the cold weather and our own cold feet about making the calls, had some incredible conversations. Our hearts were truly touched by the people with whom we talked. In our debriefing session after the calls were made (names and pledges confidential!), the callers commented on how open and honest people were, and how honored we felt to be talking with them and sharing with them - in their troubles and in the joys and in the ministry at St. Paul's.
3. Over $20,000 in pledges! And a number of other folks promising to send their pledges in soon.
I'm so grateful to be sharing in this ministry with all of you. I go to bed tonight exhausted, but it's that good, clean kind of tired. And I'm exhilarated about the sense of togetherness we share in this ministry, ESPECIALLY in the midst of the uncertainties in the world around us.
I hope God's blessing you as much as He's blessing me through you - cause that's A LOT!
Faithfully,
Janet+
46 calls. Less than 60 minutes. 5 callers. The results? . . .
1. We reached out to people in the parish. We heard their stories. We put people on prayer lists and set up times for pastoral conversations. As always, the real power is in the connection itself. People thanked us for calling - even though we said up front that we were calling about money!
2. The "intrepid 5", who braved the cold weather and our own cold feet about making the calls, had some incredible conversations. Our hearts were truly touched by the people with whom we talked. In our debriefing session after the calls were made (names and pledges confidential!), the callers commented on how open and honest people were, and how honored we felt to be talking with them and sharing with them - in their troubles and in the joys and in the ministry at St. Paul's.
3. Over $20,000 in pledges! And a number of other folks promising to send their pledges in soon.
I'm so grateful to be sharing in this ministry with all of you. I go to bed tonight exhausted, but it's that good, clean kind of tired. And I'm exhilarated about the sense of togetherness we share in this ministry, ESPECIALLY in the midst of the uncertainties in the world around us.
I hope God's blessing you as much as He's blessing me through you - cause that's A LOT!
Faithfully,
Janet+
Monday, January 4, 2010
Fascinating and irreverent
Dear Friends in Christ -
I read a fascinating and irreverent book of poetry today: "To Be Read in 500 Years" by Albert Goldbarth. I wouldn't broadly recommend it. Parts of it are graphic (rated R at least), though none of it seemed gratuitous; Goldbarth a very talented poet.
There were a several poems that really struck me, that sang out siren songs of the elements and our human condition. One of the things that Goldbarth does so subtly and well in his poetry is to call the reader to consider what we might be missing if things were different. Here's a little poem that caused me to see in a new light just one (positive?) change in the world.
Faithfully,
Janet+
IN A WIRELESS WORLD
what of the chord
the wind plays
over the highway?
I read a fascinating and irreverent book of poetry today: "To Be Read in 500 Years" by Albert Goldbarth. I wouldn't broadly recommend it. Parts of it are graphic (rated R at least), though none of it seemed gratuitous; Goldbarth a very talented poet.
There were a several poems that really struck me, that sang out siren songs of the elements and our human condition. One of the things that Goldbarth does so subtly and well in his poetry is to call the reader to consider what we might be missing if things were different. Here's a little poem that caused me to see in a new light just one (positive?) change in the world.
Faithfully,
Janet+
IN A WIRELESS WORLD
what of the chord
the wind plays
over the highway?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
On following the Star . . .
For you, dear friends, an offering from today's sermon on being wise and following the Star . . .
Faithfully,
Janet+
"How do you get the kind of faith my friend has? The answer is simple, but not easy: you follow the Star. No matter what. You follow the Star.
For most - I daresay for all - star-followers, following the Star is a choice which, even once you make it, isn’t easy to stick with. You have to wonder . . . the star the wise men followed was right up there in the sky. Herod saw it. His chief priests and scribes saw it. All the people could see it. If you had asked them, lots and lots of people would have even said that they thought the appearing of the star meant something. But in all of Scripture, we only have the story of these three wise men making the whole journey, getting all the way to Bethlehem to see for themselves. Why is that?! Because it's not easy, perhaps. And also because we can't do it on our own.
What star have you seen in the sky that you feel called to follow? Each and every one of us has a dream. Something we feel drawn, compelled to do, to be. For most of us, the distance between where we are and where we would be if we did as we were called is, as my Grandfather Cuff used to say, “a fer piece,” meaning a LONG way. Much too far away to get to without considerable determination.
'O Star of wonder . . . star of night . . . star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading . . . still proceeding . . . guide us to thy perfect light.'"
Faithfully,
Janet+
"How do you get the kind of faith my friend has? The answer is simple, but not easy: you follow the Star. No matter what. You follow the Star.
For most - I daresay for all - star-followers, following the Star is a choice which, even once you make it, isn’t easy to stick with. You have to wonder . . . the star the wise men followed was right up there in the sky. Herod saw it. His chief priests and scribes saw it. All the people could see it. If you had asked them, lots and lots of people would have even said that they thought the appearing of the star meant something. But in all of Scripture, we only have the story of these three wise men making the whole journey, getting all the way to Bethlehem to see for themselves. Why is that?! Because it's not easy, perhaps. And also because we can't do it on our own.
What star have you seen in the sky that you feel called to follow? Each and every one of us has a dream. Something we feel drawn, compelled to do, to be. For most of us, the distance between where we are and where we would be if we did as we were called is, as my Grandfather Cuff used to say, “a fer piece,” meaning a LONG way. Much too far away to get to without considerable determination.
'O Star of wonder . . . star of night . . . star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading . . . still proceeding . . . guide us to thy perfect light.'"
Saturday, January 2, 2010
An in-between day
1 Kings 19:1-8
Dear Friends in Christ -
It's an in-between day. Vacation is almost over, but not yet. My chores are almost done, but not yet. Work is starting to crank up, but things aren't yet fully under way. On days like today, I sometimes have trouble getting my feet under me. And this brutal cold is the final straw. I just want to pull the covers over my head!
It was great comfort to me to find this story about Elijah in today's daily office reading. Elijah is fed up. He's been working hard and has had tremendous success, but his enemies are still hounding him, and he's exhausted. At the point at which the pressure against him gets so bad that someone threatens his life, Elijah makes a run for it. Forced to hide out like a criminal even though he's one of the good guys, Elijah feels sorry for himself. And just when he's complaining to God that he doesn't even know if he can go on, an angel comes to help him out.
In terms of difficulty, my life bears no resemblance to Elijah's. But when it comes to complaining to God about this, that, and the other thing, I can keep up with the best of 'em.
It's SO comforting to know that God greets us in our exhaustion and complaining not with distain, but with angelic comfort and support. Isn't that amazing? The God of the universe could call our complaints petty or point out that others have it worse. But instead, he greets our honesty with compassion (though the OT shows if we whine too long God does get impatient!). Of course, we can refuse help and continue to wallow. But I think I'll keep an eye out for an angel and accept help when it's offered. How 'bout you?
Faithfully,
Janet+
Dear Friends in Christ -
It's an in-between day. Vacation is almost over, but not yet. My chores are almost done, but not yet. Work is starting to crank up, but things aren't yet fully under way. On days like today, I sometimes have trouble getting my feet under me. And this brutal cold is the final straw. I just want to pull the covers over my head!
It was great comfort to me to find this story about Elijah in today's daily office reading. Elijah is fed up. He's been working hard and has had tremendous success, but his enemies are still hounding him, and he's exhausted. At the point at which the pressure against him gets so bad that someone threatens his life, Elijah makes a run for it. Forced to hide out like a criminal even though he's one of the good guys, Elijah feels sorry for himself. And just when he's complaining to God that he doesn't even know if he can go on, an angel comes to help him out.
In terms of difficulty, my life bears no resemblance to Elijah's. But when it comes to complaining to God about this, that, and the other thing, I can keep up with the best of 'em.
It's SO comforting to know that God greets us in our exhaustion and complaining not with distain, but with angelic comfort and support. Isn't that amazing? The God of the universe could call our complaints petty or point out that others have it worse. But instead, he greets our honesty with compassion (though the OT shows if we whine too long God does get impatient!). Of course, we can refuse help and continue to wallow. But I think I'll keep an eye out for an angel and accept help when it's offered. How 'bout you?
Faithfully,
Janet+
Friday, January 1, 2010
Light for the New Year
Dear Friends in Christ -
Yesterday, I was thinking about leaving things behind. Today, on this first day of the New Year, I am thinking about turning toward new things. For me, transition is NEVER easy, whether it's moving across the country or turning the corner into the new year. I'm not sure why this is . . . perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I spent the first 18 years of my life in one tiny rural community. After that length of time in set rhythms, any newness just rattles my being a bit.
As I've felt the new year rattling in me, I've had this image persistently before me: the image of the time in the Sacrament of Baptism when the baptizands and sponsors turn to face the darkness, renounce it, and then turn to face the light. This process of turning takes only a minute, but it's clear and intentional. It's the outward and visible act that marks an inward choice.
Interestingly, as this image has played over and over in my mind like a little video, the "video" ends with turning to face . . . pure light: tender, lively, warm, inviting light.
I haven't yet settled on a New Year's resolution. I have several things I need to do this year: do a better job a taking care of my body; take care of some financial issues for my family; get my Christmas cards out; and more, and more. But I've decided that whatever I resolve to do, it has to be something that pulls me in the direction of that light. Making the resolution that takes me toward the Light will be the right one for sure - and it will also be the one I'm most likely to actually keep!
Blessings of the Light to you in this New Year!
Faithfully,
Janet+
Yesterday, I was thinking about leaving things behind. Today, on this first day of the New Year, I am thinking about turning toward new things. For me, transition is NEVER easy, whether it's moving across the country or turning the corner into the new year. I'm not sure why this is . . . perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I spent the first 18 years of my life in one tiny rural community. After that length of time in set rhythms, any newness just rattles my being a bit.
As I've felt the new year rattling in me, I've had this image persistently before me: the image of the time in the Sacrament of Baptism when the baptizands and sponsors turn to face the darkness, renounce it, and then turn to face the light. This process of turning takes only a minute, but it's clear and intentional. It's the outward and visible act that marks an inward choice.
Interestingly, as this image has played over and over in my mind like a little video, the "video" ends with turning to face . . . pure light: tender, lively, warm, inviting light.
I haven't yet settled on a New Year's resolution. I have several things I need to do this year: do a better job a taking care of my body; take care of some financial issues for my family; get my Christmas cards out; and more, and more. But I've decided that whatever I resolve to do, it has to be something that pulls me in the direction of that light. Making the resolution that takes me toward the Light will be the right one for sure - and it will also be the one I'm most likely to actually keep!
Blessings of the Light to you in this New Year!
Faithfully,
Janet+
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