Thoughts Along the Way . . .

As many of you know, we had a congregational meeting last Sunday after church. The discussion which took place was lively, with strong opinions being expressed on both sides of the issue. We took a vote, tallied and announced the results and we were done. The point I want to make about all of that has to do with what it says about the character of our congregation. Some of you may have been here long enough and watch enough of these sorts of discussions take place that you’ve stopped noticing what an amazing thing it is. But I would like to invite you to notice. We had a challenging discussion that could easily have resulted in hard feelings and left people not talking to each other. But not here. People felt free to participate fully and give voice to their views on the matter. And when all was said and done we were still talking to each other. That speaks volumes about who we are as Church. Once again I find myself feeling such gratitude for the privilege of sharing in ministry with you.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

I am home sick today. It is not a condition I enjoy. But it does serve as an opportunity to remember how grateful I am for my body. It allows me to be fully present in this amazing world – hearing, seeing, tasting, touching, smelling my way through each and every moment. And the inner workings of my body are truly remarkable. The reason I’m sick is because my body is busy fighting off whatever foreign bugs found their way into my system. So I am grateful to be alive. Every moment is a God-given gift. And in this moment I will stay home and drink lots of water.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

We are all connected – to each other, to the planet and all of its inhabitants, to God. What happens to one happens to all. Last Saturday I experienced this reality in a personal way. Someone I know was shot and killed in yet another incident of senseless and violent mayhem. I didn’t know her well, but I knew her. And a lot of people I know knew her, many more intimately than I did. As the news of this tragedy spread across Facebook I experienced a dull and numbing ache in my soul, partly because it was someone I knew and partly because so many of my friends were touched by it. It didn’t matter that they were hundreds of miles away. Their pain affected me. The shared experience of loss did not bind us together, it simply reminded us that we were already bound together. And thus connected, we reached out. One person shared a story that left us smiling. Another expressed her disbelief and sense of being numb. Virtual hugs were offered. A sense of being present with each other, in the words and in the silence between the words, permeated the experience. And the Sacred Presence of Spirit was made tangible. Some might ask “Where is God?”. In this particular experience, I can only respond by pointing to the many ways in which we touched each other. We are all connected.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Welcome to 2015

Welcome to 2015! The beginning of a new year is an arbitrary and artificial point in the cycle of the seasons, and yet we organize our lives around it. It becomes a milestone because we make it so. We are meaning-making creatures and making sense of our lives through a filter of endings and beginnings seems to be a very human trait.

So much has happened in the past twelve months, for you and for me. A year ago we could not have guessed what life held in store for us. Some of it left us laughing. Some of it left us weeping. Some of it left us wondering how we could be so lucky. And some of it left us wondering how to just keep going. Through it all we were not sustained by having enough knowledge or skill or control. We were sustained by the grace of God’s Spirit, often manifest in the form of the love and support of family, friends and partners in faith.

And so we stand at the threshold of a new year, looking back at where we’ve been and ahead to where we’re going. It is a foregone conclusion that where we find ourselves a year from now will be as much a surprise as this past year has been. Life is simply not predictable or controllable. We are calling this time in the congregation’s life a period of transition, but the truth is that every moment of life is a transition moment. We are always moving from what is into what will be, and we cannot know what will be until we get there. What will sustain us on this journey is not being smart enough, or strong enough, or in control enough. What will sustain us through whatever experiences come our way is being open to the ever-present Spirit of God and the ongoing support of our partners on the journey. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of walking this path with you in this moment.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

As the calendar changes and I strive to remember to write “2015” I sometimes find myself struggling to stay present in the moment. I start entertaining thoughts like “I wonder what will happen in the coming year.” and “Where will I be when this year comes to an end?” And, instantly, I am in some nonexistent and imaginary future which is populated by anxiety and stress. Of course I know better than to wander down such paths. And yet, somehow, I still manage to do it from time to time – until I remember to take a deep breath and allow myself to be drawn back to this present moment. A little pondering, wondering and speculating can be a useful practice. It helps me to be open to the possibilities. But when such reflecting begins to take on a life of its own then it becomes a distraction. This moment, right here, right now, is the only moment that is truly real. It is the only moment where I can be fully alive. And the only way to be fully present in this moment is to give up the illusion that I can control what will happen in the future by worrying about it. In the book we are currently reading for the Tuesday book group (“Why I am an Atheist Who Believes in God: How to Give Love, Create Beauty and Find Peace”) Frank Schaeffer writes, “My illusion of control over my life is long gone. I am part of a story; I am not the story. I’ve given up on planning. Rather, I plan while hoping that my plans won’t work. I’ve experienced the serendipity of my plans failing. Then my failures sometimes open doors to things better than those I’d wished for.” May this be the year (now – this very moment) when you let go and fall head first into the wonder of your amazing life in this amazing world.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

As I write these words another year is coming to a close. When you read these words a new year will be dawning. Together endings and beginnings form one of the basic building blocks of life. And they certainly describe this time in the life of our congregation. It is never just one or the other. They always come together. Wherever there is an ending there is also a new beginning just waiting to unfold. Sometimes the new unfolding seems painfully slow in coming, so patience is often required. But never for a moment doubt that the new beginning is on its way. In this time of transition I have tremendous confidence that the coming year will bring new and exciting opportunities for you. And I am grateful for the chance to share life with you as we move through these days of change. Together may we experience the profound gift of abundant life in this new year.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)