Dear Friends in Christ -
It's Sunday morning, and having just finished a walk on the beach, I'm sitting in the breeze under grey skies and a thatched roof preparing for this morning's worship and writing to you.
We spent the whole day in Tacusa yesterday. On the drive there from our hotel, we stopped at the church of San Marco, an Episcopal church where there is now no congregation. It's a long story, but it's sufficient to say that the former bishop (before Wilfrido) damaged many,many things through his bad choices.
When we arrived in Tacusa, the community greeted us with joy. The children came out in droves, curious and expectant. We spent the morning playing games with them and singing songs. They have been learning English, and loved to show off their skills, saying the colors and numbers in English as we said them in Spanish. We had a conversation with them about what they like about their community! Muy interesante!
The workmen worked on the church all day while we were there. We watched them mix cement by hand and set all the footings. By the end of the day they even had some of the rebar supports up. Their goal is to have it finished by Dec. 23, the 50th anniversary of their town and the 30th anniversary of their church community.
Another amazing feast for lunch (chicken soup, crab, longostino - HUGE shrimp, lobster, ceviche, roasted plantains and rice) was followed by a walk down to the beach with the children.
Then La Misa - the worship service. Worship was held in the school building because it was the biggest building in town, and people gathered inside and outside. Padre Raul asked me to concelebrate with him (a real honor, as he is a very important priest here, an assistant to the bishop). El servicio todo en Espanol, pero no es un problem para mi! Gloria a Dios!
When it was time for the baptisms, four members of our team became godparents. One mother asked particularly that the Reverenda Janet be the godmother for her daughter, Farami, and I joyfully accepted.
Then it was time for me to bless the cornerstone of the new church. What a joy! And we stood in the midst of the construction and prayed and shared and celebrated. Afterward, the community shared a treat with us - they cut open coconuts for each of us to drink from. Deliciosa!
All of this was followed by a brief rest at our hotel, a delicious dinner of steak and seafood and a walk along the beachfront, which was pulsing with life!
A truly blessed day!
Today, worship with another community and return over the mountains to Quito!
We're praying with you today as you pray!
Blessings,
Janet+
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Tacusa!
Tacusa!
Yesterday, after six hours on winding mountain roads, through the Andes and across the equator, we arrived at the coast of Ecuador. Ah! The Pacific Ocean! (for those of us born and raised in the western U.S., the greatest ocean - but also the biggest one in the world)
The first adventure was finding our hotel with limited and not very accurate directions. The second adventure was finding ANOTHER hotel, because the hotel we were supposed to stay in was undergoing renovations. It's a holiday weekend here, so we had to try a couple of places, but we found something clean close to the beach.
Then on to Tacusa! No one has been willing to tell us what we would (or wouldn't) find there in terms of progress on the church. They wanted us to be surprised! We pulled into the little town, and the first thing we saw were dozens of smiling faces - people from the church and Patricio the building project manager, and many, many children.
Everyone greeted us - hugs and laughs all around - and walked with us the short distance to where the dumptruck was delivering the final load of sand for the cement for the foundation of the church. All of the other materials for the church had already arrived. Construction has begun! The land for the foundation has been prepared; the holes for the rebar pillars that stabilize the walls have been dug. The leveling lines for the floor are set. They asked me to bless the cornerstone tomorrow. What an honor!
After giving the kids soccer balls (a mad scramble!), the kids disappeared down to the beach to play with them, and the community ushered us into a small comedor (stand alone dining room) to feed us dinner. What a feast! Shrimp soup followed by seabass and rice and beans. And the best orange juice I've ever tasted.
Travelling back to the hotel in the bus, we got to see the coastal nightlife. Little storefronts uninhabited by day sprang to life!
Today is a day of community connection and worship, including four baptisms!
Blessings,
Janet+
Yesterday, after six hours on winding mountain roads, through the Andes and across the equator, we arrived at the coast of Ecuador. Ah! The Pacific Ocean! (for those of us born and raised in the western U.S., the greatest ocean - but also the biggest one in the world)
The first adventure was finding our hotel with limited and not very accurate directions. The second adventure was finding ANOTHER hotel, because the hotel we were supposed to stay in was undergoing renovations. It's a holiday weekend here, so we had to try a couple of places, but we found something clean close to the beach.
Then on to Tacusa! No one has been willing to tell us what we would (or wouldn't) find there in terms of progress on the church. They wanted us to be surprised! We pulled into the little town, and the first thing we saw were dozens of smiling faces - people from the church and Patricio the building project manager, and many, many children.
Everyone greeted us - hugs and laughs all around - and walked with us the short distance to where the dumptruck was delivering the final load of sand for the cement for the foundation of the church. All of the other materials for the church had already arrived. Construction has begun! The land for the foundation has been prepared; the holes for the rebar pillars that stabilize the walls have been dug. The leveling lines for the floor are set. They asked me to bless the cornerstone tomorrow. What an honor!
After giving the kids soccer balls (a mad scramble!), the kids disappeared down to the beach to play with them, and the community ushered us into a small comedor (stand alone dining room) to feed us dinner. What a feast! Shrimp soup followed by seabass and rice and beans. And the best orange juice I've ever tasted.
Travelling back to the hotel in the bus, we got to see the coastal nightlife. Little storefronts uninhabited by day sprang to life!
Today is a day of community connection and worship, including four baptisms!
Blessings,
Janet+
Friday, October 29, 2010
Quito...and heading to Tacusa
Where the tourists don't go
Dear Friends in Christ-
Our mission team spent yesterday crisscrossing the city, in yellow taxis, from the southernmost neighborhoods to the northernmost neighborhoods. We visited three mission churches (none of the 26 churches in the diocese is a parish because none are self-supporting - not even the cathedral!
Every mission church we visited greeted us so warmly! And it wasn't just the priest who was there in the middle of the week in the middle of the day, but members came to greet us (and feed us!) as well. They weren't just curious about "Los gringos"; they wanted to share their joy in their church and show us their ministries. Each church had a particular ministry or two. One had a ministry to Colombian refugees (1,000 come over the border each month), one is recovering from leadership under a dissident priest and looking to start a restaurant where they can employ people and feed the poorest for free, and one has a nursery school in the poorest part of town.
Today we head over the mountain for Tacusa. We can't wait to present the school supplies to the school and soccer balls to the kids .... And to see how progress on the church is going.
The weather is beautiful; the sun is coming up and the birds are singing as I write this. No houses here have heating or a/c, so the cool not cold fall air is most welcome.
Blessings
Janet+
Dear Friends in Christ-
Our mission team spent yesterday crisscrossing the city, in yellow taxis, from the southernmost neighborhoods to the northernmost neighborhoods. We visited three mission churches (none of the 26 churches in the diocese is a parish because none are self-supporting - not even the cathedral!
Every mission church we visited greeted us so warmly! And it wasn't just the priest who was there in the middle of the week in the middle of the day, but members came to greet us (and feed us!) as well. They weren't just curious about "Los gringos"; they wanted to share their joy in their church and show us their ministries. Each church had a particular ministry or two. One had a ministry to Colombian refugees (1,000 come over the border each month), one is recovering from leadership under a dissident priest and looking to start a restaurant where they can employ people and feed the poorest for free, and one has a nursery school in the poorest part of town.
Today we head over the mountain for Tacusa. We can't wait to present the school supplies to the school and soccer balls to the kids .... And to see how progress on the church is going.
The weather is beautiful; the sun is coming up and the birds are singing as I write this. No houses here have heating or a/c, so the cool not cold fall air is most welcome.
Blessings
Janet+
Thursday, October 28, 2010
In Ecuador
Dear Friends in Christ -
Living at 2 miles up in the Andes is breathtaking in so many ways! A little shortness of breath walking up hills, the beauty of the mountains, the mix of the peoples - not many Anglos, but people from many of the tribes in Ecuador walking the streets in native dress.
We have been welcomed most warmly - food excellent, accommodations suitable, not-quite warm showers available (at least for now).
We all arrived safely and on time. We spent yesterday receiving an orientation from on of the Episcopal missionaries here, touring the Cathedral and Cathedral school, and touring the historic district of Quito.
I was touched by the tender (read:short!) history of the Episcopal church here, the large number of people saying private prayers in all of the Catholic churches we visited, the beauty of the works of the local artisans, and the curious joy of the school children in meeting us.
Contact by phone and email limited and expensive, but I will be in contact as I can!
Blessings,
Janet+
Living at 2 miles up in the Andes is breathtaking in so many ways! A little shortness of breath walking up hills, the beauty of the mountains, the mix of the peoples - not many Anglos, but people from many of the tribes in Ecuador walking the streets in native dress.
We have been welcomed most warmly - food excellent, accommodations suitable, not-quite warm showers available (at least for now).
We all arrived safely and on time. We spent yesterday receiving an orientation from on of the Episcopal missionaries here, touring the Cathedral and Cathedral school, and touring the historic district of Quito.
I was touched by the tender (read:short!) history of the Episcopal church here, the large number of people saying private prayers in all of the Catholic churches we visited, the beauty of the works of the local artisans, and the curious joy of the school children in meeting us.
Contact by phone and email limited and expensive, but I will be in contact as I can!
Blessings,
Janet+
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
A gift for you . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
In less than an hour, the car taking our team to the airport will be departing from here. I am filled to overflowing with the blessings that you prayed for me and the rest of our team on Sunday.
These past 24 hours, while my planning work has been focused on Ecuador, my prayers have been focused on you. God has turned my heart toward you, and I have been praying prayers of blessing and safety on you. It's Halloween week, with all sorts of extra busyness. And with Halloween comes looming anticipation and pressures of the holidays to come.
So Jesus put these words, His own words, on my heart for you . . . "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:27-28)
May God keep us all in perfect peace!
I look forward to being with you again soon!
Faithfully,
Janet+
In less than an hour, the car taking our team to the airport will be departing from here. I am filled to overflowing with the blessings that you prayed for me and the rest of our team on Sunday.
These past 24 hours, while my planning work has been focused on Ecuador, my prayers have been focused on you. God has turned my heart toward you, and I have been praying prayers of blessing and safety on you. It's Halloween week, with all sorts of extra busyness. And with Halloween comes looming anticipation and pressures of the holidays to come.
So Jesus put these words, His own words, on my heart for you . . . "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:27-28)
May God keep us all in perfect peace!
I look forward to being with you again soon!
Faithfully,
Janet+
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
T-minus 7 and counting
Dear Friends in Christ -
I occurred to me today that - WOW - I'm leaving for Ecuador in 7 short days. Sometimes big things like this sneak up on me because I'm not prone to enough anxiety to jar me into grasping the reality that SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
But, something big IS about to happen. Seven people from three different churches in our deanery are praying daily, trying to learn a few more words of Spanish, gathering essentials like insect repellant, cameras and hats, and getting ready to pack.
The volume of emails that have been flying back and forth signal that people in Ecuador are working hard to prepare for our arrival. The sweet fragrance of their generous hospitality is gently wafting through the e-waves.
How can I best prepare for this experience? Notice what's here. I need to really see and hear and taste and smell and touch HERE so that when I get THERE and go about seeing and hearing and tasting and smelling and touching I can make some connections and be a bridge-builder. Between cultures. Between peoples. Between 'you' and 'me.'
"Blessed are the peacemakers." That's what the Bible says. So how exactly to we MAKE peace?! Well studies show that we treat people we know better than people we don't know, so it seems that making connections is the first step in making peace.
Now, you might be thinking: 'Why is she talking about peace? We're not at war with Ecuador." Indeed, we're not at war with Ecuador. But I submit to you that there's a lot more to making peace than not being at war. Real PEACE has to do with living in harmony with each other, with living in a state of freedom that allows appreciation of differences and creative energies to flow.
Please pray that as our ministry team members do the outside preparation - packing our bags, finding our passports, etc. - that God helps us with the inside, heart preparation May God make us peacemakers that we may be known as children of God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
I occurred to me today that - WOW - I'm leaving for Ecuador in 7 short days. Sometimes big things like this sneak up on me because I'm not prone to enough anxiety to jar me into grasping the reality that SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
But, something big IS about to happen. Seven people from three different churches in our deanery are praying daily, trying to learn a few more words of Spanish, gathering essentials like insect repellant, cameras and hats, and getting ready to pack.
The volume of emails that have been flying back and forth signal that people in Ecuador are working hard to prepare for our arrival. The sweet fragrance of their generous hospitality is gently wafting through the e-waves.
How can I best prepare for this experience? Notice what's here. I need to really see and hear and taste and smell and touch HERE so that when I get THERE and go about seeing and hearing and tasting and smelling and touching I can make some connections and be a bridge-builder. Between cultures. Between peoples. Between 'you' and 'me.'
"Blessed are the peacemakers." That's what the Bible says. So how exactly to we MAKE peace?! Well studies show that we treat people we know better than people we don't know, so it seems that making connections is the first step in making peace.
Now, you might be thinking: 'Why is she talking about peace? We're not at war with Ecuador." Indeed, we're not at war with Ecuador. But I submit to you that there's a lot more to making peace than not being at war. Real PEACE has to do with living in harmony with each other, with living in a state of freedom that allows appreciation of differences and creative energies to flow.
Please pray that as our ministry team members do the outside preparation - packing our bags, finding our passports, etc. - that God helps us with the inside, heart preparation May God make us peacemakers that we may be known as children of God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A good laugh . . . about money!
Dear Friends in Christ -
So here's the joke a heard today in the Finance Committee meeting (see, we do have some fun!):
One day, a $20 bill was talking to a $1 bill.
The $1 bill said, 'So, what have you been up to lately?'
The $20 bill said, 'Well, I've really been getting around. I've been to a couple great restaurants, and I've been out to the movies. I've travelled a good bit and even made it to a foreign country recently. What have you been doing lately?'
The $1 bill said, 'Well, I've been pretty active, too. I've been shuffling back and forth between the bank and several churches in town.'
The $20 bill said, 'What's a church?'
Perhaps part of evangelism is introducing our money to Jesus! :-)
Have a great sunny Sunday!
Blessings,
Janet+
So here's the joke a heard today in the Finance Committee meeting (see, we do have some fun!):
One day, a $20 bill was talking to a $1 bill.
The $1 bill said, 'So, what have you been up to lately?'
The $20 bill said, 'Well, I've really been getting around. I've been to a couple great restaurants, and I've been out to the movies. I've travelled a good bit and even made it to a foreign country recently. What have you been doing lately?'
The $1 bill said, 'Well, I've been pretty active, too. I've been shuffling back and forth between the bank and several churches in town.'
The $20 bill said, 'What's a church?'
Perhaps part of evangelism is introducing our money to Jesus! :-)
Have a great sunny Sunday!
Blessings,
Janet+
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Today's quotable quote . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
Here's the quotable quote I'm pondering on this blustery Fall Saturday:
"Life will either make you better or bitter."
I've certainly observed the truth of that. I wonder, though, what makes the difference? If God's saving love and care are available for all of us, how is it that some of us seem to grow stronger and have enough hope to carry on, while others grow more depleated and defeated?
Some time ago, a priest friend of mine said, "You must always remember that people are doing the best they can." Hmmm. On the one hand, it makes sense that no one intentionally does a bad job of living. On the other hand, it's tragic that many folks can't manage to do more than make one questionable choice after another, and/or fall into one bad situation after another.
"Life isn't fair." I think every parent on the planet has probably said that to her/his children. And likely with a knowing note of resignation in their voice due to personal experience with unfairness.
But here's another truism that's just as important, though perhaps less often cited: "God is here." Helping, healing, holding. Always. Tapping into God's presence and power is sometimes challenging, but it's possible. Always. Sometimes connecting with God's presence and power takes only a fleeting prayer; other times it requires a long obedience in the same direction. Either way, connecting with God is often the difference between 'better' and 'bitter.'
Faithfully praying into 'better' -,
Janet+
Here's the quotable quote I'm pondering on this blustery Fall Saturday:
"Life will either make you better or bitter."
I've certainly observed the truth of that. I wonder, though, what makes the difference? If God's saving love and care are available for all of us, how is it that some of us seem to grow stronger and have enough hope to carry on, while others grow more depleated and defeated?
Some time ago, a priest friend of mine said, "You must always remember that people are doing the best they can." Hmmm. On the one hand, it makes sense that no one intentionally does a bad job of living. On the other hand, it's tragic that many folks can't manage to do more than make one questionable choice after another, and/or fall into one bad situation after another.
"Life isn't fair." I think every parent on the planet has probably said that to her/his children. And likely with a knowing note of resignation in their voice due to personal experience with unfairness.
But here's another truism that's just as important, though perhaps less often cited: "God is here." Helping, healing, holding. Always. Tapping into God's presence and power is sometimes challenging, but it's possible. Always. Sometimes connecting with God's presence and power takes only a fleeting prayer; other times it requires a long obedience in the same direction. Either way, connecting with God is often the difference between 'better' and 'bitter.'
Faithfully praying into 'better' -,
Janet+
Thursday, October 14, 2010
aaaaRRRRRRRRGGH!
Dear Friends in Christ -
I've been betrayed. Again.
Betrayal is, unfortunately, a common occurance in life. Relying on someone, and then finding that they've cheated you. I don't know about you, but I have sort of a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, and I'm not sticking around for long" policy. And that rule of thumb works pretty well for a me in relationships.
Human relationships, at least.
This week my betrayer was electronic: my computer. I would like to throw the stupid thing over altogether - over the cliff, that is! But I NEEEEEED it. So I've allowed a very nice fellow from "customer support" to talk me back from the edge. Again. For now.
Nancy's computer crashed and died this week. Mine has a "little glitch" which is supposed to have been mended. And for an untold number of weeks, a good chunk of my email (25%?!) has been somewhat randomly disappearing as "spam." If you've sent me an email to which I haven't responded, you may be a victim of my computer's betrayal too. Sorry! If you haven't heard back from me about whatever you were emailing about, please write again . . . hopefully this time I'll get the message. Sigh.
Hope - nope; I don't think I can call it that . . . DESPERATE DEPENDENCY springs eternal . . . so I'm sending this message electronically!!! Oh, the irony!
Still not done grinding my teeth, but trying to move on . . .
Blessings,
Janet+
I've been betrayed. Again.
Betrayal is, unfortunately, a common occurance in life. Relying on someone, and then finding that they've cheated you. I don't know about you, but I have sort of a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, and I'm not sticking around for long" policy. And that rule of thumb works pretty well for a me in relationships.
Human relationships, at least.
This week my betrayer was electronic: my computer. I would like to throw the stupid thing over altogether - over the cliff, that is! But I NEEEEEED it. So I've allowed a very nice fellow from "customer support" to talk me back from the edge. Again. For now.
Nancy's computer crashed and died this week. Mine has a "little glitch" which is supposed to have been mended. And for an untold number of weeks, a good chunk of my email (25%?!) has been somewhat randomly disappearing as "spam." If you've sent me an email to which I haven't responded, you may be a victim of my computer's betrayal too. Sorry! If you haven't heard back from me about whatever you were emailing about, please write again . . . hopefully this time I'll get the message. Sigh.
Hope - nope; I don't think I can call it that . . . DESPERATE DEPENDENCY springs eternal . . . so I'm sending this message electronically!!! Oh, the irony!
Still not done grinding my teeth, but trying to move on . . .
Blessings,
Janet+
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wild Church
Dear Friends in Christ -
Churches that have WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION for God and for the good are doing some really unexpected and powerful things. Here's a story I heard last week about one such church:
A church in Massachusetts decided that they could make a difference in their community by picking up the garbage that was littering their neighborhood and making everyone feel low about the place where they live. They set seven dates for litter pick-up and got to work. After the first few, people started noticing what they were doing. Neighbors started being curious about a church that would do something for others, something of no clear benefit to themselves. Their good efforts were written up in the local newspaper. They mayor of the town noticed, and he worked to get them funds for a handicapped ramp for their church.
Someone who was with me when the story was told said, "You know what's interesting about that? It's something that didn't cost any money. And something that lifted the church up and gave community a positive boost, even in this economy."
Yes indeed! And it gets me to wondering: what might our wild, outsized passion draw us to do in our community?
Wondering and wondering . . .
Janet+
Churches that have WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION for God and for the good are doing some really unexpected and powerful things. Here's a story I heard last week about one such church:
A church in Massachusetts decided that they could make a difference in their community by picking up the garbage that was littering their neighborhood and making everyone feel low about the place where they live. They set seven dates for litter pick-up and got to work. After the first few, people started noticing what they were doing. Neighbors started being curious about a church that would do something for others, something of no clear benefit to themselves. Their good efforts were written up in the local newspaper. They mayor of the town noticed, and he worked to get them funds for a handicapped ramp for their church.
Someone who was with me when the story was told said, "You know what's interesting about that? It's something that didn't cost any money. And something that lifted the church up and gave community a positive boost, even in this economy."
Yes indeed! And it gets me to wondering: what might our wild, outsized passion draw us to do in our community?
Wondering and wondering . . .
Janet+
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wild, outsized passion . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
What do you want your church to be? To do?
Tonight some of our adult leaders and our confirmation class talked about this question together during the beginning of our Ministry Team Meeting. If you weren't there, you missed out!!
Fundamentally, those of us who were gathered together agreed that we want to be a part of a church that
- helps the community
- prays and worships (a.k.a. - connects with God)
- shares how good God is
Do we dare help and pray and share in a way that makes us stand out as Christians?
I don't know about you, but I want our church to encourage the WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION that I sense stirring in our souls for God and for the good.
Hmmmm . . . how might this happen?? Here? Soon?
Blessings,
Janet+
What do you want your church to be? To do?
Tonight some of our adult leaders and our confirmation class talked about this question together during the beginning of our Ministry Team Meeting. If you weren't there, you missed out!!
Fundamentally, those of us who were gathered together agreed that we want to be a part of a church that
- helps the community
- prays and worships (a.k.a. - connects with God)
- shares how good God is
Do we dare help and pray and share in a way that makes us stand out as Christians?
I don't know about you, but I want our church to encourage the WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION that I sense stirring in our souls for God and for the good.
Hmmmm . . . how might this happen?? Here? Soon?
Blessings,
Janet+
Friday, October 8, 2010
Praying in new ways
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our mission team is traveling to Ecuador in just over two weeks. As part of the preparation of our hearts for this mission, we're committing pray the Lord's Prayer every day in Spanish.
As I prayed this prayer this morning, I realized that understanding of another language, another culture, begins with the willingness to open my heart and my mind, to take the risk to believe that I can understand, rather than protecting myself with "I can't."
As I pray this prayer, I hope that God will begin to build a bridge between me and the people I'll meet, making a way for us to understand and bless each other.
I invite you to pray it with our team. May the humble act of trying something new be a blessing to you, build a bridge in you.
Faithfully,
Janet+
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Padre nuestro que Estás en los cielos:
Santificado sea tu nombre,
venga tu reino,
sea hecha tu voluntad,
como en el cielo Así también en la tierra.
El pan nuestro de cada Día, Dánoslo hoy.
Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a nuestros deudores.
Y no nos metas en Tentación,
mas Líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino, el poder
y la gloria por todos los siglos.
Amén.
Our mission team is traveling to Ecuador in just over two weeks. As part of the preparation of our hearts for this mission, we're committing pray the Lord's Prayer every day in Spanish.
As I prayed this prayer this morning, I realized that understanding of another language, another culture, begins with the willingness to open my heart and my mind, to take the risk to believe that I can understand, rather than protecting myself with "I can't."
As I pray this prayer, I hope that God will begin to build a bridge between me and the people I'll meet, making a way for us to understand and bless each other.
I invite you to pray it with our team. May the humble act of trying something new be a blessing to you, build a bridge in you.
Faithfully,
Janet+
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Padre nuestro que Estás en los cielos:
Santificado sea tu nombre,
venga tu reino,
sea hecha tu voluntad,
como en el cielo Así también en la tierra.
El pan nuestro de cada Día, Dánoslo hoy.
Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a nuestros deudores.
Y no nos metas en Tentación,
mas Líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino, el poder
y la gloria por todos los siglos.
Amén.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Do our lives look different?
Dear Friends in Christ -
Years ago, a long-time preacher said to me, "Whether you're aware of it or not, as a preacher, you're always preaching first to yourself."
This past Sunday, I heard myself say something in the sermon that I preached, something that's been ringing in my ears ever since. It wasn't something I planned to say, it just came out as spoke.
"As Christians, do our lives look different than the lives of people around us?"
The reason that that question has been ringing in my ears is that I've worked so hard to have my life look the same as the lives of those I admired, to look good. When I was young and poor and struggling to figure out how to make a go of life, I aspired to have what others had: a nice place to live, a family, an education, a good job. Now, I feel totally blessed to have all these things, but I have to admit that I've cut some corners, that things in my life aren't always as good as they look - on the outside and, especially, on the inside. I'm not always true to my values. I hedge at doing some things that God asks me to do because I'm afraid that I'll be less comfortable or that people won't like me or that people will think I'm weird.
Honestly, I'm terrified of becoming one of those people whose life is a travelling bill-board for the causes they believe in. Yes, yes, I know - that white collar thingy is sort of a dead giveaway that I'm a church-type! But, sadly, I've discovered that many people don't actually think the collar means that much. Many people are so disillusioned with church that simply belonging to one doesn't raise people's expectations that there's something special, something God-power-sparkly, happening in my life.
The little devil on my left shoulder says, 'It's good to keep a low profile. You don't want peoples expectations of you to be raised; you'll just make God look bad when you make mistakes or get impatient and out of sorts.' The little angel on my right shoulder says, 'You sell yourself short thinking like that! Just DO IT - tell the truth, help where you can, push for fairness. Even if you don't get very far, you'll have made a bit of difference. It all adds up!'
Little choices. Little changes. Living a little bit closer to my values . . . Watch out! In a week or two or three, you might notice that something looks a little bit different . . .
Faithfully,
Janet+
Years ago, a long-time preacher said to me, "Whether you're aware of it or not, as a preacher, you're always preaching first to yourself."
This past Sunday, I heard myself say something in the sermon that I preached, something that's been ringing in my ears ever since. It wasn't something I planned to say, it just came out as spoke.
"As Christians, do our lives look different than the lives of people around us?"
The reason that that question has been ringing in my ears is that I've worked so hard to have my life look the same as the lives of those I admired, to look good. When I was young and poor and struggling to figure out how to make a go of life, I aspired to have what others had: a nice place to live, a family, an education, a good job. Now, I feel totally blessed to have all these things, but I have to admit that I've cut some corners, that things in my life aren't always as good as they look - on the outside and, especially, on the inside. I'm not always true to my values. I hedge at doing some things that God asks me to do because I'm afraid that I'll be less comfortable or that people won't like me or that people will think I'm weird.
Honestly, I'm terrified of becoming one of those people whose life is a travelling bill-board for the causes they believe in. Yes, yes, I know - that white collar thingy is sort of a dead giveaway that I'm a church-type! But, sadly, I've discovered that many people don't actually think the collar means that much. Many people are so disillusioned with church that simply belonging to one doesn't raise people's expectations that there's something special, something God-power-sparkly, happening in my life.
The little devil on my left shoulder says, 'It's good to keep a low profile. You don't want peoples expectations of you to be raised; you'll just make God look bad when you make mistakes or get impatient and out of sorts.' The little angel on my right shoulder says, 'You sell yourself short thinking like that! Just DO IT - tell the truth, help where you can, push for fairness. Even if you don't get very far, you'll have made a bit of difference. It all adds up!'
Little choices. Little changes. Living a little bit closer to my values . . . Watch out! In a week or two or three, you might notice that something looks a little bit different . . .
Faithfully,
Janet+
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
A burning question
Dear Friends in Christ -
I spent the day with our three excellent Bishops and about 200 of my fellow clergy at a mandatory training day. Sometimes such meetings can be boring, but not today!
Our new Diocesan Bishop, Ian Douglas, has this idea that we experience more of God's awe-dropping power by:
1. Sharing our stories of how we've seen God move powerfully in our lives
2. Noticing how our collection of stories reveals our unique role in God's mission of reconcilation and renewal in the world
3. Moving out together as a parish (a deanery and/or a diocese) as agents of transformation in our community
As we talked together at this meeting, I felt very proud of St. Paul's. Over the past four years, we've done a lot of work - especially in the leadership workshops with Mac Barnum - sharing our stories and noticing our strengths. We've accomplished a lot together, too.
I came away with a burning question on my heart. WHAT would GOD have US to do NOW? What one big thing can we do together that would use our gifts and talents and really make a difference?
Hmmmm . . . Let's share our stories, notice the common threads, and see where God's calling us!
Faithfully,
Janet+
I spent the day with our three excellent Bishops and about 200 of my fellow clergy at a mandatory training day. Sometimes such meetings can be boring, but not today!
Our new Diocesan Bishop, Ian Douglas, has this idea that we experience more of God's awe-dropping power by:
1. Sharing our stories of how we've seen God move powerfully in our lives
2. Noticing how our collection of stories reveals our unique role in God's mission of reconcilation and renewal in the world
3. Moving out together as a parish (a deanery and/or a diocese) as agents of transformation in our community
As we talked together at this meeting, I felt very proud of St. Paul's. Over the past four years, we've done a lot of work - especially in the leadership workshops with Mac Barnum - sharing our stories and noticing our strengths. We've accomplished a lot together, too.
I came away with a burning question on my heart. WHAT would GOD have US to do NOW? What one big thing can we do together that would use our gifts and talents and really make a difference?
Hmmmm . . . Let's share our stories, notice the common threads, and see where God's calling us!
Faithfully,
Janet+
Monday, October 4, 2010
Garden Guilt
Dear Friends in Christ -
I spent time on this quiet, gray morning tackling my guilty conscience. Almost since my garden was planted this spring, I've felt guilty about not tending it well. Over the course of the spring and summer, I spent time going on training walks (in preparation for the Prayer Walk Around Shelton) instead of gardening, and my garden was the worse for it. Weeds grew up every which way. Beautiful produce went unharvested until it was past its prime.
Today I expected to have a rough go of it. I expected there to be little or nothing to harvest. I expected the weeds to be unconquerable. But I got my wheelbarrow and my garden gloves out and set to it.
The first surprise was that the weeds came out so easily. The weeds had gotten so big that they choked other weeds out, so it wasn't difficult to quickly make progess in clearing the garden beds.
The second surprise was that there was still so much to harvest - 3 kinds of tomatoes, 3 kinds of kale, 2 kinds of swiss chard, cucumbers, 2 kinds of onions, and even a beet! Garden grace gave me the tomato I ate today for lunch, the kale we had for dinner, and the potatoes and onions that are on the menu for tomorrow night.
I was really amazed at how fearlessly and faithfully the garden grew with such little tending. I was humbled to think of what might have happened if I had given the garden even a tiny bit more attention. I could have done a bit more, too, if I hadn't been avoiding the garden because of the guilt.
So today, as I weeded and harvested, I determined to learn from the error of my ways. Next year there will likely still be times when I don't tend the garden well, but instead of letting guilt keep me away even longer, I'll do whatever I can whenever I can. Next year, I'm going to forego the garden guilt and remember the garden's grace.
Faithfully learning . . .
Janet+
I spent time on this quiet, gray morning tackling my guilty conscience. Almost since my garden was planted this spring, I've felt guilty about not tending it well. Over the course of the spring and summer, I spent time going on training walks (in preparation for the Prayer Walk Around Shelton) instead of gardening, and my garden was the worse for it. Weeds grew up every which way. Beautiful produce went unharvested until it was past its prime.
Today I expected to have a rough go of it. I expected there to be little or nothing to harvest. I expected the weeds to be unconquerable. But I got my wheelbarrow and my garden gloves out and set to it.
The first surprise was that the weeds came out so easily. The weeds had gotten so big that they choked other weeds out, so it wasn't difficult to quickly make progess in clearing the garden beds.
The second surprise was that there was still so much to harvest - 3 kinds of tomatoes, 3 kinds of kale, 2 kinds of swiss chard, cucumbers, 2 kinds of onions, and even a beet! Garden grace gave me the tomato I ate today for lunch, the kale we had for dinner, and the potatoes and onions that are on the menu for tomorrow night.
I was really amazed at how fearlessly and faithfully the garden grew with such little tending. I was humbled to think of what might have happened if I had given the garden even a tiny bit more attention. I could have done a bit more, too, if I hadn't been avoiding the garden because of the guilt.
So today, as I weeded and harvested, I determined to learn from the error of my ways. Next year there will likely still be times when I don't tend the garden well, but instead of letting guilt keep me away even longer, I'll do whatever I can whenever I can. Next year, I'm going to forego the garden guilt and remember the garden's grace.
Faithfully learning . . .
Janet+
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tacusa or Bust - October 26 thru November 2
Dear Friends in Christ -
Three weeks from this Tuesday, our seven-person mission team will be "wheels up" en route to Tacusa, Ecuador. The mission team met together for the first time today. What an amazing, diverse group of people . . .
- Four from St. Peter's in Oxford, one from Good Shepherd in Orange and two from St. Paul's (Kate Rennie and myself)
- People ranging in age from 20 to 60(+/-)
- Two men and five women
- A couple of seasoned vetrans of many mission trips; some folks who have never been on a mission trip before
- A couple of nurses, a priest, a college student, and folks of several other occupations
. . . a group of people united by enthusiasm for reaching out to others in God's loving care.
We're not just A mission team, we're YOUR mission team. We represent all of you, carrying your hopes and concerns and joys. Please keep us tethered to you by supporting us as you can. Want to help? Here are some things you can do:
- Show interest - ask us how preparations are going, ask to see the pictures when we return
- Give generously - THE CHURCH WE'RE BUILDING IS PAID FOR (HALLELUJAH!), but we could use help with travel expenses (about $1,300 per missionary) and some gifts (soccer balls and uniforms) for the kids (we're also taking 3 suitcases full of school supplies)
- Pray! - Pray that the political situation calms down (there was an attempted coup this week). Pray for safety in travel. Pray for good health. Pray for us to be good listeners to those we meet and fearless witnesses about God's goodness and love.
What our Deanery has done in building relationships with folks in Ecuador and in providing money to build a new church for the people in Tacusa is AMAZING! I'm grateful to be a part of it all, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us as we travel. Our team fully expects to catch a fresh, greater vision from God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Three weeks from this Tuesday, our seven-person mission team will be "wheels up" en route to Tacusa, Ecuador. The mission team met together for the first time today. What an amazing, diverse group of people . . .
- Four from St. Peter's in Oxford, one from Good Shepherd in Orange and two from St. Paul's (Kate Rennie and myself)
- People ranging in age from 20 to 60(+/-)
- Two men and five women
- A couple of seasoned vetrans of many mission trips; some folks who have never been on a mission trip before
- A couple of nurses, a priest, a college student, and folks of several other occupations
. . . a group of people united by enthusiasm for reaching out to others in God's loving care.
We're not just A mission team, we're YOUR mission team. We represent all of you, carrying your hopes and concerns and joys. Please keep us tethered to you by supporting us as you can. Want to help? Here are some things you can do:
- Show interest - ask us how preparations are going, ask to see the pictures when we return
- Give generously - THE CHURCH WE'RE BUILDING IS PAID FOR (HALLELUJAH!), but we could use help with travel expenses (about $1,300 per missionary) and some gifts (soccer balls and uniforms) for the kids (we're also taking 3 suitcases full of school supplies)
- Pray! - Pray that the political situation calms down (there was an attempted coup this week). Pray for safety in travel. Pray for good health. Pray for us to be good listeners to those we meet and fearless witnesses about God's goodness and love.
What our Deanery has done in building relationships with folks in Ecuador and in providing money to build a new church for the people in Tacusa is AMAZING! I'm grateful to be a part of it all, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us as we travel. Our team fully expects to catch a fresh, greater vision from God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Son Burn
Dear Friends in Christ -
One of the "mysterious" stories about Moses in the Bible is "The Case of the Glowing Face" (Exodus 34). After spending time on Mount Sinai, Moses came down the mountain with his face glowing. His face was shining so bright that it scared people, and he had to wear a veil! Moses picked up that rosy glow from spending time in God's presence. It was as if the light of God rubbed off on him - literally!
It's been a long time since I thought of that story, but this evening when I looked in the mirror and saw my face glowing like Rudolph's nose, bright and shiny as can be!, it sprang right to might. And for good reason: I spent this beautiful day exposed to Glory - in the beauty of creation, in watching my kids play soccer and daughter ride a horse, in spending time with friends over lunch and bocce, and in blessing over 100 pets (and some of their owners!) at St. Paul's annual Blessing of the Animals. Perhaps a little sunscreen might have kept my face from glowing after all that, but I'm not so sure. When you see my face tomorrow, you might see only a sun burn, but I tell you truly, I think the glow is the result of spending this glorious day in the Presence of God!
Blessings,
Janet+
One of the "mysterious" stories about Moses in the Bible is "The Case of the Glowing Face" (Exodus 34). After spending time on Mount Sinai, Moses came down the mountain with his face glowing. His face was shining so bright that it scared people, and he had to wear a veil! Moses picked up that rosy glow from spending time in God's presence. It was as if the light of God rubbed off on him - literally!
It's been a long time since I thought of that story, but this evening when I looked in the mirror and saw my face glowing like Rudolph's nose, bright and shiny as can be!, it sprang right to might. And for good reason: I spent this beautiful day exposed to Glory - in the beauty of creation, in watching my kids play soccer and daughter ride a horse, in spending time with friends over lunch and bocce, and in blessing over 100 pets (and some of their owners!) at St. Paul's annual Blessing of the Animals. Perhaps a little sunscreen might have kept my face from glowing after all that, but I'm not so sure. When you see my face tomorrow, you might see only a sun burn, but I tell you truly, I think the glow is the result of spending this glorious day in the Presence of God!
Blessings,
Janet+
Friday, October 1, 2010
Remembering the password
Dear Friends in Christ -
Almost a month ago (September 3rd!), I put up a blog post about getting back to blogging, after a lull in posting over the summer. And I haven't posted a word since. It's been so long since I posted that when I went to put up a post today, I couldn't remember my password! Yikes!
In all honesty, it happened to me once before that it had been so long since I posted that I couldn't remember my password. In that case, I just got distracted . . . took my eye off the writing/connecting ball. This time, it was just a really difficult month for me.
Personally, my kids started back to school, with all the school-shopping, lunch-box-filling chaos that involves. Also, my husband and I took the plunge and did away with all remaining daily child-care for our kids, which means that we've made adjustments in our daily work schedules to allow one of us to be with the kids after school every day. We love spending more time with our kids, but work has been taking over every spare second that we're not with them - (early) morning, noon and night! In addition, I suffered a personal loss: a dear friend of mine died. She was the first person who reached out to me when my husband and I moved to Connecticut 13 years ago; she was a really amazing, bright-light sort of person, and I miss her.
Professionally, there were a number difficulties, too. I had to relieve my part-time assistant minister of his post because he just wasn't able to fill his role here. I had such great hopes that he would be able to help me shoulder the leadership burdens here, so it's a great loss to me and to the parish that it didn't work out. It's been a month of many pastoral crises, too: for the entire 30 days of September, there was a least one parishioner in a hospital somewhere in Derby, Bridgeport or New Haven. Most signficantly, a beloved parishioner, Kathy, passed away after a four-year struggle with metastasized breast cancer. She's safe at home in heaven now, but the world is a less good place without her.
There's a difference between password-forgetting due to distraction and password-forgetting due to overload. In "normal" times, praying and blogging are both "requirements" for me - for my sanity and, increasingly, for our parish connections. For the past month, it was either one or the other - either oxygen or food - and I chose to breathe!
But now, back to writing. There's something really good for me in the work of writing. I find joy in the art of wrestling to speak truth, speak hope, speak life! I was lamenting the struggles of the past month in conversation with a friend this week. He shared his philosophy of leadership, of life: "It's OK to lose your balance for a time, but make sure that 'time' doesn't last too long, or you might lose your self - and THAT'S a problem."
Today, I remembered my password, and thus I begin re - membering myself!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Almost a month ago (September 3rd!), I put up a blog post about getting back to blogging, after a lull in posting over the summer. And I haven't posted a word since. It's been so long since I posted that when I went to put up a post today, I couldn't remember my password! Yikes!
In all honesty, it happened to me once before that it had been so long since I posted that I couldn't remember my password. In that case, I just got distracted . . . took my eye off the writing/connecting ball. This time, it was just a really difficult month for me.
Personally, my kids started back to school, with all the school-shopping, lunch-box-filling chaos that involves. Also, my husband and I took the plunge and did away with all remaining daily child-care for our kids, which means that we've made adjustments in our daily work schedules to allow one of us to be with the kids after school every day. We love spending more time with our kids, but work has been taking over every spare second that we're not with them - (early) morning, noon and night! In addition, I suffered a personal loss: a dear friend of mine died. She was the first person who reached out to me when my husband and I moved to Connecticut 13 years ago; she was a really amazing, bright-light sort of person, and I miss her.
Professionally, there were a number difficulties, too. I had to relieve my part-time assistant minister of his post because he just wasn't able to fill his role here. I had such great hopes that he would be able to help me shoulder the leadership burdens here, so it's a great loss to me and to the parish that it didn't work out. It's been a month of many pastoral crises, too: for the entire 30 days of September, there was a least one parishioner in a hospital somewhere in Derby, Bridgeport or New Haven. Most signficantly, a beloved parishioner, Kathy, passed away after a four-year struggle with metastasized breast cancer. She's safe at home in heaven now, but the world is a less good place without her.
There's a difference between password-forgetting due to distraction and password-forgetting due to overload. In "normal" times, praying and blogging are both "requirements" for me - for my sanity and, increasingly, for our parish connections. For the past month, it was either one or the other - either oxygen or food - and I chose to breathe!
But now, back to writing. There's something really good for me in the work of writing. I find joy in the art of wrestling to speak truth, speak hope, speak life! I was lamenting the struggles of the past month in conversation with a friend this week. He shared his philosophy of leadership, of life: "It's OK to lose your balance for a time, but make sure that 'time' doesn't last too long, or you might lose your self - and THAT'S a problem."
Today, I remembered my password, and thus I begin re - membering myself!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)