Whenever it snows profusely on a Saturday, knowing that Sunday is coming I am always slightly confused. Is it meant to stop all activity for the entire weekend? Or just for today? Is it meant to slow us down and remind us of what it means to stay at home? Is it God, the artist, painting a scene so incredibly beautiful that we can do little but simply enjoy it?
As I look out our balcony window at the thick flakes of snow, falling with complete disregard to tomorrow, to worship and a visit from my friend Dee, both of which are presently in question, I am touched by how peaceful everything appears. It's as if all the problems of the world have receded for today. The falling snow has leveled the playing field of our agendas and schedules.
When it snows, we always lose something. In the case of the Pruett-Barnett household, we will not be returning our zillion boxes of Christmas paraphernalia, which I worked so diligently yesterday to repack, to storage. Our loss concerns only our time; while the losses of others may be a great deal more costly.
When it snows, we always gain something. In my case, as I look at the snow flakes falling, each one unique like fingerprints, I delight in knowing that the one who designed the snow flakes to shower snow upon the earth designed me for a specific purpose. If the Creator could care so much about snow flakes to make a mold for each one, what has that same Creator done in making me?
When it snows, the adult in me is reminded that there is a need to simply enjoy life; to put on our boots, our caps, our gloves, our coats, and go out and play; to fall backwards into the snow and make a snow angel, to roll snowballs and make a Frosty or to throw them at friends. Tomorrow we'll figure out how to dig out the car so we can get to Grace Church or even whether or not Grace Church can be gotten to. In the meantime, over a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, I'm going to enjoy the winter wonderland that is being prepared for us. I hope you enjoy it too.
Prayer:
Gracious God, who watches out for each one of us, be with those men and women in service occupations that put them out on the roads this snowy day. Keep them safe and warm; get them to wherever they need to go without harm to themselves. Especially be with the crews who are cleaning the roads of our state, the streets of our cities and towns, and parking lots. Give them the strength they need to complete their tasks. Thank you for their dedication and their willingness to place themselves at risk. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Where is God? Look for the Love!
At the heart of life is love: God's love for us and our love for God, neighbor, and self. The most precious treasure of the Christian Church is the love we have been entrusted by God to share. As with any treasure, knowing its incredible value, a local church can choose to keep it for ourselves, to dispense it parsimoniously, or to share it generously. I have the privilege of serving a church where people practice the language of love, a love that makes God visible.
Recently, a representative of the Seaman's Center at the Port of Wilmington spoke in worship about the concrete ways in which God's love is offered to the sailors entering the Delaware port. She offered her thanksgiving for the good work of Nan Ransom, a Grace Church member, who volunteers her time at the center with sailors who are often out on their ships, away from home and family, for nine months out of the year. She told the story of one sailor who mentioned that he had a daughter who was an avid reader. While in the Port of Wilmington, he had wanted to find her a copy of Alice in Wonderland but could not. Nan heard this; and when she left that afternoon to go home, she went to a bookstore, found a copy, and saw to it that it was put into the sailor's hands. Such a simple act of love; yet it made God visible to this sailor.
"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." 1 John 3:17-18
I was moved to tears this week when I received an email from one of the Moms in our church family who shared a project that her elementary age son is working on. It is called "MJ's Christmas Wish Project." Marlen read about the local Sunday Breakfast Mission and its need for persons to take on the finishing of rooms in its new building. After learning about the good works of the mission, Marlen felt he HAD to help. There are two rooms he would like to see completed: a handicapped accessible family unit room 135 and a small learning center room 161. If you go to http://www.mjschristmaswish.weebly.com/, you will see what is needed for this project to be completed. A local bank has committed to matching contributions that are made up to $10,000! Not only is Marlen displaying a love that makes God visible; he is asking us to step up and do the same.
"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action."
Recent mission trips to Mississippi...Tennessee...preparing monthly meals for the ministry of caring in the city...connections to various outreach/mission opportunities in the city and beyond... These are part of the precious treasure of love that we have been given to share.
What is next for Grace Church? Like MJ, you tell us. What concrete expression of love would you like us to enage in as a church family?
Recently, a representative of the Seaman's Center at the Port of Wilmington spoke in worship about the concrete ways in which God's love is offered to the sailors entering the Delaware port. She offered her thanksgiving for the good work of Nan Ransom, a Grace Church member, who volunteers her time at the center with sailors who are often out on their ships, away from home and family, for nine months out of the year. She told the story of one sailor who mentioned that he had a daughter who was an avid reader. While in the Port of Wilmington, he had wanted to find her a copy of Alice in Wonderland but could not. Nan heard this; and when she left that afternoon to go home, she went to a bookstore, found a copy, and saw to it that it was put into the sailor's hands. Such a simple act of love; yet it made God visible to this sailor.
"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." 1 John 3:17-18
I was moved to tears this week when I received an email from one of the Moms in our church family who shared a project that her elementary age son is working on. It is called "MJ's Christmas Wish Project." Marlen read about the local Sunday Breakfast Mission and its need for persons to take on the finishing of rooms in its new building. After learning about the good works of the mission, Marlen felt he HAD to help. There are two rooms he would like to see completed: a handicapped accessible family unit room 135 and a small learning center room 161. If you go to http://www.mjschristmaswish.weebly.com/, you will see what is needed for this project to be completed. A local bank has committed to matching contributions that are made up to $10,000! Not only is Marlen displaying a love that makes God visible; he is asking us to step up and do the same.
"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action."
Recent mission trips to Mississippi...Tennessee...preparing monthly meals for the ministry of caring in the city...connections to various outreach/mission opportunities in the city and beyond... These are part of the precious treasure of love that we have been given to share.
What is next for Grace Church? Like MJ, you tell us. What concrete expression of love would you like us to enage in as a church family?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Back Home Again
For much of my adult life, I've been a fan of John Denver. Years ago, when I was a student at Wesley Seminary in Washington, he did a concert at the National Cathedral. That sealed the deal for me! Since our mission team has returned home from Nashville, the refrain to one of his songs has been playing in my head: "Hey, it's good to be back home again; yes, it is."
While I love going away from home, there is always something sweet about coming back home. Maybe it's having the familiar at our fingertips; or perhaps it's the spouse who is so delighted with your return; or could it be that home is so comfortable, so inviting?
The mission trip reminds me that everyone wants a home that is inviting. No matter who people are and where they are from, no matter what the state of place in which they live, home is important.
Whenever I think of the trailer park in which our team worked, I will hold in my mind the image of the trailer in which Paul and Edwin put in a new water heater. On the first day, when the Shalom Zone staffer took us to this home, as I stood in the living room and kitchen, looking around, I noticed that the walls were a soft, warm yellow. The young couple shared that they were expecting a baby and were getting their home ready to receive him. Canisters in white and the same soft yellow graced the counter tops. Their trailer will never make House Beautiful, but it would make Better Homes.
Will anyone ever be able to say definitively what makes home so important? Maybe not. What I do know is this: When I walk through the door of the home that Mark and I share, I'm thinking, "Hey, it's good to be back home again; yes, it is!"
While I love going away from home, there is always something sweet about coming back home. Maybe it's having the familiar at our fingertips; or perhaps it's the spouse who is so delighted with your return; or could it be that home is so comfortable, so inviting?
The mission trip reminds me that everyone wants a home that is inviting. No matter who people are and where they are from, no matter what the state of place in which they live, home is important.
Whenever I think of the trailer park in which our team worked, I will hold in my mind the image of the trailer in which Paul and Edwin put in a new water heater. On the first day, when the Shalom Zone staffer took us to this home, as I stood in the living room and kitchen, looking around, I noticed that the walls were a soft, warm yellow. The young couple shared that they were expecting a baby and were getting their home ready to receive him. Canisters in white and the same soft yellow graced the counter tops. Their trailer will never make House Beautiful, but it would make Better Homes.
Will anyone ever be able to say definitively what makes home so important? Maybe not. What I do know is this: When I walk through the door of the home that Mark and I share, I'm thinking, "Hey, it's good to be back home again; yes, it is!"
Friday, October 22, 2010
An Addendum to "All Good Things Must Come to An End"
The team has left for the work site leaving me in the hotel to work on Sunday's sermon. Hopefully I will finish the work that I began on Monday.
The team's work is fairly light today. Paul and Edwin will install a water heater and Neil and Mary Jo will be adding a window sill to the window in the bedroom and painting it. Clean-up, putting the tools and such back in their proper places will follow, I'm certain.
As I reflect back upon this week, I would feel remiss if I did not say a word about each team member. Paul Miller has been a fine leader, capable, keeping the team on task, flexible in all situations, faithful, and generous in his praise. Edwin Brown has, once again, proven himself to be a man of great skill with the ability to figure out how to fix anything. His wry humor is a thing of joy! Neil Harmon, aka Doc, has shown, once again, his willingness to work on whatever project he is needed, together with any team member, using his gifts and abilities, and has continuously encouraged each person in their particular work. Mary Jo Miller who, after working on the trailer skirting yesterday with the guys, is affectionately known as Snippy, because she can snip vinyl siding proficiently, was the only first timer on this mission trip. No one would have known because she hit the ground running on the first day and never stopped working, supporting, encouraging, and enjoying the mission.
Missing from this trip was Kim Merkl who fell a few days before the trip and was injured. We missed her particular gifts and talents on this trip, which we know from the Mississippi trip, and particularly her delightful Southern sound.
God called this team to winterize - and somewhat beautify - a trailer that was damaged by flood waters. The team stepped up to the task and glorified God throughout the week.
And the family we served? I suspect that husband Carlos will be painting the outside of their trailer. Yesterday, when I showed Abida, the wife, the skirting Paul, Edwin, Neil, and Mary Jo had put around the trailer, she looked at me and said, "Ah..so beautiful." In the next breath, she pointed at the trailer and said, "Carlos should paint, don't you think?" What could I, a wife, say, but "Yes!"
This week has been an experience of grace; but isn't every week?
The team's work is fairly light today. Paul and Edwin will install a water heater and Neil and Mary Jo will be adding a window sill to the window in the bedroom and painting it. Clean-up, putting the tools and such back in their proper places will follow, I'm certain.
As I reflect back upon this week, I would feel remiss if I did not say a word about each team member. Paul Miller has been a fine leader, capable, keeping the team on task, flexible in all situations, faithful, and generous in his praise. Edwin Brown has, once again, proven himself to be a man of great skill with the ability to figure out how to fix anything. His wry humor is a thing of joy! Neil Harmon, aka Doc, has shown, once again, his willingness to work on whatever project he is needed, together with any team member, using his gifts and abilities, and has continuously encouraged each person in their particular work. Mary Jo Miller who, after working on the trailer skirting yesterday with the guys, is affectionately known as Snippy, because she can snip vinyl siding proficiently, was the only first timer on this mission trip. No one would have known because she hit the ground running on the first day and never stopped working, supporting, encouraging, and enjoying the mission.
Missing from this trip was Kim Merkl who fell a few days before the trip and was injured. We missed her particular gifts and talents on this trip, which we know from the Mississippi trip, and particularly her delightful Southern sound.
God called this team to winterize - and somewhat beautify - a trailer that was damaged by flood waters. The team stepped up to the task and glorified God throughout the week.
And the family we served? I suspect that husband Carlos will be painting the outside of their trailer. Yesterday, when I showed Abida, the wife, the skirting Paul, Edwin, Neil, and Mary Jo had put around the trailer, she looked at me and said, "Ah..so beautiful." In the next breath, she pointed at the trailer and said, "Carlos should paint, don't you think?" What could I, a wife, say, but "Yes!"
This week has been an experience of grace; but isn't every week?
All Good Things Must Come to An End
"There is an end to everything, to good things as well." ~Chaucer 1374
I have never been particularly fond of endings to good things. My feeling is that if it is a good thing, wouldn't it be lovely if it could continue forever?
Our week on the work site has been filled with many good things: vision, teamwork, new learnings, the use of all sorts of talents (some of which we didn't even know we had), making new friends-in-mission, laughter, and great joy.
Today it ends. We're done. The work we have been given to do will be completed. Our names will go up on the local Shalom Zone wall as an indication of this. We will say our good-byes to the young family for whom we have been winterizing the trailer, head back to the Econolodge, pack our bags, and, perhaps, be on the road, depending upon the time, for home.
If we are able to head for home today, it means that we will miss saying "goodbye" to our new mission friends from Michigan who have welcomed us into their circle and shared two meals with us. The meal they cooked for us last evening was delicious. They were so gracious that it was as if they had invited us into their homes and treated us as if we were special guests.
Today it ends. Another chapter in the mission life of our church family will be completed. With two mission trips in 2010 under our belts, it seems probable that there will be many more. Both trips have tweaked our mission imaginations and called us to look beyond our ordinary, daily lives to places beyond! There are persons who have expressed interest in going on mission trips who have not yet been. Isn't that exciting? Even as this good mission experience ends, it seems that another will rise up. What fun to believe that God will continue to open up new beginnings for mission!
So "goodbye, Abida and family," "goodbye Michigan mission team," "goodbye Carolyn," (our site coordinator), "goodbye breakfast at Econolodge," "goodbye peanut butter and jelly lunches," (and dinner leftovers), "goodbye Lebanon, TN, home of Cracker Barrel," "goodbye."
There is an end to everything, to good things as well.
We go; but as we do, we will take each experience we have had, each person we have met, with us back to Wilmington. Maybe, just maybe, we will discover that even though things come to an end, they do not leave our hearts and minds. In some way, large or small, they become a permanent part of us. It seems that in God's world, endings take on new meaning.
Keep us in your prayers as we travel. See you soon.
I have never been particularly fond of endings to good things. My feeling is that if it is a good thing, wouldn't it be lovely if it could continue forever?
Our week on the work site has been filled with many good things: vision, teamwork, new learnings, the use of all sorts of talents (some of which we didn't even know we had), making new friends-in-mission, laughter, and great joy.
Today it ends. We're done. The work we have been given to do will be completed. Our names will go up on the local Shalom Zone wall as an indication of this. We will say our good-byes to the young family for whom we have been winterizing the trailer, head back to the Econolodge, pack our bags, and, perhaps, be on the road, depending upon the time, for home.
If we are able to head for home today, it means that we will miss saying "goodbye" to our new mission friends from Michigan who have welcomed us into their circle and shared two meals with us. The meal they cooked for us last evening was delicious. They were so gracious that it was as if they had invited us into their homes and treated us as if we were special guests.
Today it ends. Another chapter in the mission life of our church family will be completed. With two mission trips in 2010 under our belts, it seems probable that there will be many more. Both trips have tweaked our mission imaginations and called us to look beyond our ordinary, daily lives to places beyond! There are persons who have expressed interest in going on mission trips who have not yet been. Isn't that exciting? Even as this good mission experience ends, it seems that another will rise up. What fun to believe that God will continue to open up new beginnings for mission!
So "goodbye, Abida and family," "goodbye Michigan mission team," "goodbye Carolyn," (our site coordinator), "goodbye breakfast at Econolodge," "goodbye peanut butter and jelly lunches," (and dinner leftovers), "goodbye Lebanon, TN, home of Cracker Barrel," "goodbye."
There is an end to everything, to good things as well.
We go; but as we do, we will take each experience we have had, each person we have met, with us back to Wilmington. Maybe, just maybe, we will discover that even though things come to an end, they do not leave our hearts and minds. In some way, large or small, they become a permanent part of us. It seems that in God's world, endings take on new meaning.
Keep us in your prayers as we travel. See you soon.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
These Hands
Some years ago, at the celebration of my grandmother's life, my father spoke of her hands. It was a moving tribute that has stayed in my mind. He used the image of her hands to tell the story of her life.
Today as we continued working on winterizing a young family's trailer, a song entitled Hands, by Jewel, kept playing through my mind.
We are God's eyes, God's hands, God's minds.
We are God's eyes, God's hands, God's heart...
We are God's hands. We are God's hands.
So prominent they were in my mind, that I felt led, at the end of the day on the work site, to take pictures of the hands of our team. The pics are on my Facebook page and will be posted to the Grace Church FB page on Thursday.
The hands of Edwin and Paul worked diligently underneath the trailer insulating it against the cold that is sure to come and fixing plumbing leaks and a sewage concern. They spent their days on their backs looking up at the underbelly of the trailer, except when they made road trips to Lowes.
The hands of Mary Jo and Neil were busy all day framing doors, cutting and putting molding on walls, and painting, at times in difficult spaces. My hands were painting, spilling the paint all over the toilet and floor, cleaning it up, cleaning the bathroom as a result, and finally, after stepping back for a short time, painting again.
The thought came to me, thank you Jewel, that our hands are really God's hands. We came to Tennessee as members of Christ's holy church called Grace UMC, willing to be a hands-on presence of the living God. Today, looking at the hands of each team member, through the lenses of the camera, was an interesting exercise in faith, a reminder of the reason we are here in Tennessee doing the work that we are doing, a reminder that our hands are the only hands that God has.
Pray that as we continue our work here, we will use our hands, God's hands, faithfully.
Today as we continued working on winterizing a young family's trailer, a song entitled Hands, by Jewel, kept playing through my mind.
We are God's eyes, God's hands, God's minds.
We are God's eyes, God's hands, God's heart...
We are God's hands. We are God's hands.
So prominent they were in my mind, that I felt led, at the end of the day on the work site, to take pictures of the hands of our team. The pics are on my Facebook page and will be posted to the Grace Church FB page on Thursday.
The hands of Edwin and Paul worked diligently underneath the trailer insulating it against the cold that is sure to come and fixing plumbing leaks and a sewage concern. They spent their days on their backs looking up at the underbelly of the trailer, except when they made road trips to Lowes.
The hands of Mary Jo and Neil were busy all day framing doors, cutting and putting molding on walls, and painting, at times in difficult spaces. My hands were painting, spilling the paint all over the toilet and floor, cleaning it up, cleaning the bathroom as a result, and finally, after stepping back for a short time, painting again.
The thought came to me, thank you Jewel, that our hands are really God's hands. We came to Tennessee as members of Christ's holy church called Grace UMC, willing to be a hands-on presence of the living God. Today, looking at the hands of each team member, through the lenses of the camera, was an interesting exercise in faith, a reminder of the reason we are here in Tennessee doing the work that we are doing, a reminder that our hands are the only hands that God has.
Pray that as we continue our work here, we will use our hands, God's hands, faithfully.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Babe's Wisdom
In a playoff season where we are waiting to see who will play in the World Series, wondering if the Phillies and the Yankees will play against one another one more time, I thought it might be fun to glean a nugget of wisdom from the great Babe Ruth. Here it is:
"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."
The team we brought from Grace Church to Nashville plays well together. While each person on the team is individually gifted and talented, it is what is accomplished together that is meaningful. Collectively, decisions have been made as to how to redo the walls of a bedroom, how to fix the electric and plumbing concerns, how to frame windows and doors, how to do the difficult work which needs to be done underneath the trailer, how to put Kilz on the walls to prepare them for painting, to name a few of the team's tasks. If the first two days on the work site are any indication of the collegial spirit of our team, I think the Babe would be pleased.
Tonight we fixed dinner for our team and a team of eight from Michigan. Our team worked together to prepare two delicious stir fry dishes served over rice. It was definitely a group effort. In a week that was rough for Ohio State fans, the Michigan team was magnanimous in its remarks about the Ohio and Michigan rivalry. The folks on the team even shared their homemade peanut butter cake with us as we brought out the ice cream and cake for dessert.
The Michigan work team has been doing mission trips for much longer than we have; so we learned some new and interesting ways to approach mission trips in the future. It was good to talk with a team who is so experienced and kind enough to share their wisdom. I should also mention that we really liked them when they volunteered to do the dinner dishes! They will cook for us on Thursday evening and I believe we will volunteer to do the dishes. Seems only fair!
If the way a team plays (works) together as a whole determines its success, then I would say we have already had a successful week. And it's only day two on the work site! To God be the glory!
Off to sleep. Sweet dreams. I'll write more tomorrow.
"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."
The team we brought from Grace Church to Nashville plays well together. While each person on the team is individually gifted and talented, it is what is accomplished together that is meaningful. Collectively, decisions have been made as to how to redo the walls of a bedroom, how to fix the electric and plumbing concerns, how to frame windows and doors, how to do the difficult work which needs to be done underneath the trailer, how to put Kilz on the walls to prepare them for painting, to name a few of the team's tasks. If the first two days on the work site are any indication of the collegial spirit of our team, I think the Babe would be pleased.
Tonight we fixed dinner for our team and a team of eight from Michigan. Our team worked together to prepare two delicious stir fry dishes served over rice. It was definitely a group effort. In a week that was rough for Ohio State fans, the Michigan team was magnanimous in its remarks about the Ohio and Michigan rivalry. The folks on the team even shared their homemade peanut butter cake with us as we brought out the ice cream and cake for dessert.
The Michigan work team has been doing mission trips for much longer than we have; so we learned some new and interesting ways to approach mission trips in the future. It was good to talk with a team who is so experienced and kind enough to share their wisdom. I should also mention that we really liked them when they volunteered to do the dinner dishes! They will cook for us on Thursday evening and I believe we will volunteer to do the dishes. Seems only fair!
If the way a team plays (works) together as a whole determines its success, then I would say we have already had a successful week. And it's only day two on the work site! To God be the glory!
Off to sleep. Sweet dreams. I'll write more tomorrow.
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