I’m still basking in the afterglow of Holy Week and Easter. Our journey together throughout this powerful week was a blessing to my spirit.

It all began on Palm Sunday with the waving of Palms. The choir anthems with our combined Youth and Chancel Choirs was a highlight!

Thank you to our Elders who participated in sharing Luke’s passion narrative with us on Maundy Thursday: Mike Cockerham, Dave Lombard, Linda Lombard, Helen Morgan, Dorice Perkins, Mike Simpson, Betty Stacy, Marilyn Strong, Cliff Thompson. Thanks to Rachel Eve Davis for filling in at the last minute and for accompanying worship. Also, thanks to Larry Steele for providing our sound support.

Easter morning heralded Christ’s triumph over death with joy and delight. We began with our sunrise service followed by breakfast – thanks to Dave Schueller, Lora Schueller, Collin Roe and Mark Roe for preparing our Easter morning feast. The cold weather forced our annual egg hunt to be in the sanctuary, but that did not dampen the spirits of the children hunting for candy-filled eggs. Our Easter Worship Celebration was a GRAND examples of the light, love and spirit that pulse through our faith community. Thank you to our Chancel Choir along with Tyler Hendricks on trumpet for an uplifting anthem. I also extend a special thank you to I thank all of you who were here – your active participation in worshipping and celebrating our Risen Lord elevated the day to pure jubilation!

Easter is not over. It is not a one day event. We celebrate Easter each and every Sunday. We are an Easter people. I look forward to continuing the celebration and blooming with you in the coming weeks!

with love, Laureen 🙂

Human beings are creatures of order. We like to have a place for everything, and everything in its place. As children we play with toys that help us determine where objects should go. When we get older we ‘straighten up’ before company comes. We comb our hair in the morning so we don’t look like ragamuffins. We need order, and we do everything we can to order our world. We create clocks so that we can all be at a certain place at a certain time. We pass laws to keep us on the same side of the road while we’re driving. Bottom line… we like order.

When there is not order in our lives feelings of uncertainty, despair and fear can consume us. As we watch the chaos in the Ukraine, hear news of chaos on the streets of our nation, witness lives in chaos of addiction on the streets of Middletown; there is a tendency to bury our heads in the sand, ignore what is going on in the world. We do this so we can maintain order in our own lives. And, while this is a natural response, we need to remember that we are God’s light in the chaos. We need to cry out to God and ask that God bring order to the chaos.

In the beginning, God brought order to the chaos. God’s spirit hovered over the waters and brought order to the chaos even before the beginning of time. We have to trust in God, call out to God, and go out and represent God in the chaos.  Those who serve with SHALOM are going out and sharing God’s light with others whose lives are in the midst of chaos. They are helping to bring order to others.  They have provided meals, given their time as hosts, and spent the night caring for the homeless. During worship on Sunday, February 22, they will share their experiences. We will collect a special offering to support the valuable ministries of SHALOM. Thank you to all who have served this year: Linda Poynter, Diane Kirwen, Charlotte Steele, Sue Tarbox, Dave Lombard, Linda Lombard, Cliff Thompson, Karen Powers, Tim Powers, Zola McClish, Ginger Alley, Angie Otis, Marilyn Chamberlain, Jeremy Andress, Sarah Andress, Mary Helen Shetter, SuAnne Farkas, Brenda Milburn, Leigha Blevins, Debbie Wells, Jerry Hall and Betty Stacy.  Each of you are Christ’s LIGHT and LOVE.

with love, Laureen 🙂

 

It’s the season for flu, colds, pneumonia, or whatever illness is going around.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is encouraging people to wash their hands more frequently and limit physical contact with other people.

I recently received an email that listed ways the church can help keep viruses like the flu from spreading.  One way is to have hand sanitizer readily available (we do).  It also suggested that churches no longer shake hands, share hugs with one another, or hold hands when praying.  In other words, don’t express God’s love to one another – refrain from extending the comfort and joy that we are called to do.  Just air hug.

It strikes me as odd that on the day when we gather celebrating our connectedness we are being encouraged to stay away from one another.  Break our connections, become isolated.  In other words, don’t know if someone is clean… stay far, far away!  Don’t get me wrong.  We need to be concerned about the influenza and other illnesses, but we have to be careful we do not cut ourselves off from others.  It is often those who are ill or hurting that most need to be connected.  Throughout the Gospels we see many examples of Jesus reaching out to those infected with this or that.

In the very beginning of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus reaches out and touches one who no one would touch.  He touched him and healed him.  Chapter 1:40-42 reads, ⁴⁰A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

You may be thinking, “Well, the flu is not leprosy.”  And, you are right it is not.  But think about how everyone reacted a few months ago to Ebola.  Very few wanted to go to the African countries where Ebola was epidemic.  And many people wanted to stop those infected with Ebola from entering our country.  It was not too terribly long ago that in reaction to AIDS, people were shunning others, running them out of their neighborhoods, kicking children out of school.

Ultimately, when we react in this manner we are reacting out of fear.  Isolation is never the answer to fear.  Reaching out with love is what Jesus did, and as followers we are called to do the same.

 

Our world is being stretched and pulled by fear.  And, it’s not only illnesses that are causing fear.  Differences in race and religion have caused the extremes to flare up and react with fear, anger and violence.  Last week in Paris bombs went off, bullets were fired and lives were lost.  This is happening within our cities and communities as well.  People are being persecuted, beaten, falsely accused, and killed.  All because people are reacting in fear instead of love.

Do you remember segregated hospitals, schools, water fountains, restrooms, bus seats, schools, restaurants?  In the 1960’s many white Christian ministers taught that whites were the Chosen people, blacks were cursed to be servants, and God supported racial segregation. The Jim Crow laws supported their claims and churches shunned people based upon their race.

We’ve come a long way since the 1960s, no more are there Negro schools or hospitals.  But as we look around Christ’s table today, ask have we come far enough – do Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, “11 a.m. Sunday is the most segregated hour in America” do these words still ring true?    This is a question we need to ask ourselves… and I don’t think we really like the answer.  Look around… we are not diverse, we are all very similar.  As we come to Christ’s table each week, we are celebrating our connectedness to all other Christians.  We need to acknowledge that we are isolated.  This isolation points to the fear and brokenness in our world.

As Disciples of Christ, we are called to extend Christ’s table to the world.  We do not need to go to Africa, Paris, or even go out of state.  We do not need to go very far at all.  Hurting, isolated souls are all around us.  Day in and day out we pass them on the roads, in the grocery store, in the senior center, at school, and at work.  Ohhhh if only there were a bottle of gel that we could pass around and cause openness to occur, cause fear to subside, cause doors to open.  We don’t have a bottle of gel, but we do have a loaf of bread and the cup of salvation.

The flu is raising our awareness of keeping things sanitized.  My prayer is that as your strive to stay healthy during this season, that you also raise your awareness of opening yourself to new connections – connections that cross racial and socio-economic lines.  Connections that help to extend Christ’s table to all people.  And as you reach out and make those vital connections, hear the words of Jesus when he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

with love, Laureen 🙂

Shortly after Jesus was born, there were angels out in the fields telling shepherds about Jesus’ birth.  The shepherds decide to go to Bethlehem to find Jesus.  Imagine you were one of the shepherds going to Bethlehem.  You don’t know Mary and Joseph.  You don’t know Jesus.   You just have a powerfully strange message from the angels.  You were going to enter the stable and introduce yourself and share what you heard from the angels.  Could Mary and Joseph possibly find the message ludicrous and throw you out.  As a shepherd stranger, would you be rejected or welcomed?

The shepherds share with Mary and Joseph the Good News they heard from the angels.  Luke 2:15-18 reads, ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

With this message from the angels, the shepherds brought confirmation to Mary and Joseph that indeed their son was the Messiah.  In a time that had to feel uncertain and scary, God brought to them strangers who believed, who Mary and Joseph could relate to, and people who would witness to others.  They were unrelated witnesses bringing confirmation that Jesus was the Son of God, come to save all people.

What about the Wisemen?  What did they want?  Again, they brought confirmation.  A little over a month had gone by, and God sent a message to Mary and Joseph through these strangers on their
doorstep.  These strangers, these Magi, these Wisemen were from outside the Jewish faith.  They were men of stature and they were there acknowledging Jesus as King.  Again, confirmation.

As we journey in our faith, we have mountaintop moments when we are certain of our faith and all we are hearing from God.  These moments move us forward with great passion and drive.  As humans though, it doesn’t take us long to begin to doubt and wonder.  Mary and Joseph were the same.  So, God used strangers to reinforce the divine message.

The Shepherds, The Wisemen… strangers reaching out to strangers bringing confirmation of God’s presence and love.  You… Me… strangers called to bring confirmation of God’s presence and love to the strangers God brings into our lives.  When we do so, we bring confirmation that the story of Christmas is more than mystery and myth, that it is more than a sweet nativity scene filled with a baby, cute animals, shepherds and wise men.

Bottom line… You’re strange.  I’m strange.  We are all strangers to someone.  The love of God is our common denominator, and God calls us to be in the world.

Reaching out to someone you don’t know with kindness and love of is worth it.  Who knows, maybe the stranger has a message for you.  Remember Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt. 25:35).   We live in this world as strangers with strangers.  It is through God and Jesus Christ that we are connected.  I pray we can all remember this as we find ourselves encountering strangers this Holy season.  Extend a smile, an act of kindness and bring confirmation of God’s great love for ALL people.

with Christmas love,  Laureen 🙂

 

Below is an excerpt from the sermon Sunday, November 23, 2014…

I thank God for all of you.  I remember you in my prayers, and give thanks for the ministry we have done together over the years.

For many months now, I have been trying to think of a way to thank you who have answered God’s call on your lives… you who live out your faith with passion and serve others with love, and look to the future with great hope in your hearts.   Everything I thought of as a way to say thanks and acknowledge your faith and dedication required more effort upon some of you.  This defeated the purpose of a special thank you.

I do however give thanks to God for you, and I’ve come up with a way to acknowledge my thankfulness before God and all of you.  Here’s how this is going to work… I’m going to mention many of the things and ways you give of your lives to God and Jesus Christ.  When I mention something you have done, raise your hand and you will be given a flower.  There are many of you who do more than one thing, raise your hand every time something you do is mentioned.

Let’s get this thankfulness fun started…

I give thanks to God for those of you who are here to Worship God and Jesus Christ this morning… flowers will be passed out to everyone.  Taking the time to worship is something many in our culture choose not to do.  It would be easy to stay at home, go shopping, or on a nice day garden or golf.  But, your faith has propelled you to be here this morning worshipping and sharing your heart, soul and mind with God and all those within our faith community.  I thank God for you as you are a visible witness to the world beyond these walls that spending time with God in God’s house is important.

• I thank God for those who have served as Moderator at any point during the history of the church…     The Moderator’s role in our midst is to work closely with me and navigate the business of the church.  This requires a great deal of prayerful work and savvy.  Your dedication, faithfulness and love of our congregation has enabled us to move forward together with hope and promise.  Thank you!
• I thank God for our Elders and Elder Emeriti…       I often refer to the Elders as the Associate Pastor of this congregation, because collectively this is how I rely on them.  They regularly visit our specials needs members and serve them communion, they make hospital visits, they pray along with me for our congregation, they watch over the spiritual health of the congregation, they care for the pastoral care needs of the congregation in my absence, and serve in many other ways to build up the body of Christ here at FCC.
• I thank God for our Deacons, Deacon Emeritus and Junior Deacons…     Our deacons are the hands of Christ in our midst.  These quiet servants are so often the first that anyone encounters when they come through our front doors.  It is through them that we experience Christ’s presence as they carry and serve the bread and cup.  While some are here earlier than most, preparing the table; other deacons stay later than most cleaning up communion and our sanctuary.
• I thank God for those on our General Board and Cabinet…     These folks serve as the leaders of our church.  They direct, guide and lead the ministries of our congregation.  Their work ranges from creating mission and ministry opportunities to setting our church budget.  They are the key think tank for our ministry together.
• I thank God for our youth…     Our young people are to be treasured.  They bring hope in promise into our midst simply by being here.  They inspire us to be stronger and more passionate in our faith – for God has entrusted their spirits and souls to us.
• I thank God for those who sing in the choir and provide special music…     The choir is the most dedicated group within our church.  They faithfully meet nearly every week to practice and prepare to lead us in worship.  No other group within the church meets with this regularity and provides leadership in worship as often or as melodically as they do.
• I thank God for those who volunteer in the office including those who help with the newsletter…     The bulletins you have on Sunday mornings, the newsletter you receive, the phone calls they answer, the visitors they receive, the supplies they order, and the minute day-to-day details they handle is what keeps the church functioning.  These faithful volunteers are a blessing beyond words.
• I thank God for those who teach – this includes anyone who helps with Bible Study, Sunday School, CWW…     Teaching is one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in scripture.  Where would any of us be without teachers of the faith?  It is because of these that our children grow in their understanding of God and Jesus Christ.  It is because of these that our own wisdom and passion in the faith grows.  They dedicate themselves to learning and growing in their own faith, so that they can share that with those God has entrusted to their care.
• I thank God for our Sunday morning prayer group…     These faithful people come on Sunday mornings and pray for our church and those in our congregation who need extra prayers.  In many ways, they set the tone for our day of worship.
• I thank God for all our custodial volunteers…     We now have a custodial service. But prior to their arrival a couple months ago, there were those in our midst who swept floors, emptied trash cans, dusted, mopped and cleaned the bathrooms.  I once read about a colony of Buddhist monks who lived in such a way that it was viewed that the ones cleaning the toilets were the most enlightened.  They believed this because it was only out of true humbleness and gratitude that one could serve others in this manner.
• I thank God for CWF women…     The women of CWF remind me much of house churches in the first century.  Much like the house churches, the CWF circles care for one another with love and Christ-like compassion.  They do this while also extending an arm outside their circles to do mission and service to those in need.
• I thank God for those who care for our Property – this includes serving on a lawn team or coming for Property Workday…     these folks git ‘er done!  They do whatever is necessary to keep the building and property in working order.  The things they do range from cutting the grass to taking care of swarming bugs in my office and bees in the kitchen.
• I thank God for those who serve Hope House, SHALOM and our other Outreach ministries…     Those of you who serve in this capacity are sharing the heart of Christ with every meal you make, every food basket you put together, every delivery you make, and every moment you give.  You are directly impacting the lives of those who Christ calls us to serve.
•  I thank God for our Financial Team this includes counters, financial secretary and treasurer…     Those of you serving in these roles are sharing your financial and math skills in a way that keeps the business of the church running smoothly.  I want you to know that the countless hours you give are noticed.
• I thank God for our Trustees and Wills, Gifts and Memorials members…     Your willingness to oversee the legalities of the church and the invested funds is a blessing to us all.  Your care and attention to detail are appreciated as you represent us.
• I thank God for our Tech Team…     Our tech team is more than just running the computer and sound in worship on Sunday – which I am abundantly grateful.  They also are the first to call when we need help with the alarm system, phones or computers during the week during the week.  They use their expertise to keep us at the top of our game in these areas.  They’ve also been known to reach out within our congregation and help many of you with your personal tech issues as well.
• I thank God for those who have served on a Worship Theme Team over the last year…     This year has been a grand adventure with the Worship Theme Teams.  We have had a great deal of fun creating with God and each other.  I also want to acknowledge that it has also been a lot of work.  Many hours have been put in creating the worship space and services that raise our spirituality.

 

I thank God for all of you!

with love, Laureen 🙂

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.                                 (Philippians 4:4-7, NRSV)

 

Thanksgiving is upon us.  In Philippians, Paul tells us that we should have an attitude full of thankfulness and joy.  And, through this we will receive God’s peace.

This “peace” Paul promises does not come about through the absence of strife or hardship.  Paul’s own difficult life clearly points that out.  The peace which Paul speaks about is a peace that comes from within.  When you are truly connected to God through prayer, an inner peace, an inner calm washes over you.  No words can explain it, but when you experience it you know that in all things you can give thanks, because God’s loving peace has entered your life.

God’s joy and peace cannot be seen, touched, purchased or possessed – like food, clothing, cars, boats or homes. And yet, they are the very greatest gifts we ever receive. To give thanks for the intangibles is what Paul is calling all of us to do.  We are called to give thanks for everything – especially the things that are intangible.  It is in thanksgiving that you can recognize that it is all about God and not about you.

In Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s classic book The Little Prince, the fox character is saying goodbye to the little prince, and as he leaves he says, “And now here’s my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

 

“What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the little prince repeats, so that he will be sure to remember.  This fox’s insight is right in line with what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

We look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18).  It is the unseen that is eternal. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

This approach to Thanksgiving runs counter to conventional wisdom, and it refuses to fall into step with the swarm of shoppers that will surge into shopping malls on Black Friday to begin the Christmas buying binge.

Paul doesn’t give thanks for gold jewelry, PlayStations, leather jackets, computer tablets, or trendy toys.  Throughout the scriptures, he refuses to focus on the things that can be seen, because he knows that these things are temporary.

Instead, he looks only at the essential and eternal things that are invisible to the eye. When he counts his blessings, he lists absolutely nothing you can buy, and nothing you can own – only faith, love, a spirit of wisdom, a spirit of revelation, God’s inheritance, God’s power.

Paul reminds us to appreciate is the immeasurable greatness of God’s gifts in our lives – and give thanks for them!  Whether we are rich or poor, homeowners or homeless, working or unemployed, we have access to an amazing set of essential, eternal, unseen treasures – God’s love, joy and peace – all of which pass all our human understanding!  When we remember these, we can honestly say to God, “Thanks for everything!”

with love, Laureen 🙂

 

Praise the Lord!  What does it mean to truly praise the Lord?  First, what is praise?

According to the dictionary “praise” is the expression of approval and admiration or it is the extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero.  Although it is used for talking highly about other things, it is usually applied to our God.  Of all the times it is used in the Bible, one third of those are found in the Psalms.  Almost all of these times it appears in the plural, showing us that our lives need to involve praising God.  We cannot be what God wants us to be and not include praise in our lives.

Another definition says that “Praise” is a natural and necessary response to fully enjoy the object that is praised.  For example, when watching a football game, it is a natural response to praise a tremendous play.  To shout WOW!  After an acrobatic catch in the end zone is not only natural, but necessary to enjoy the spectacular play.  If you do not believe that it is necessary, the next time you watch a football game try to not express yourself at all.  No, shouts of joy – no moans of disgust – just sit there expressionless.  I can guarantee that you will not enjoy the action nearly as much as you do when you have the freedom to express yourself in praise and excitement!

So where do you praise God in your life?  Where do you express your excitement for God?  Here at church?  When you are out with your family and friends?  If not here at church or with your family and friends, where?

God wants us to surround ourselves with people that will build up the Kingdom.  That’s what church, family and friends should be about – Praising God!

The best way to succeed at this is to surround yourself with people who believe in God – people who not only believe in God, but also have a passion for God.

Psalm 111:1 says passion and enthusiasm are key when praising God, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.”   That means that we should praise God completely, unreserved, and unrestrained.  We are to do it with enthusiasm!

I use the word “enthusiasm” here because it’s one thing to say you believe in God, but it’s a totally different thing to have enthusiasm about your belief.  People who praise God with enthusiasm carry a special kind of energy.  They bring warmth and feeling to their relationships and vigor and freshness to all aspects of life.  This happens because they have given God access to EVERY part of their lives.

Do you know people who live with this kind of enthusiasm?  Are you filled with this type of enthusiasm?  Does God effervesce out of every part of you?  When living a life filled with enthusiasm for God, others are aware when you are excited about something.  You throw yourself into projects with everything you’ve got.  You have an eagerness about you and give all you’ve got so God can be glorified through you.  You are willing to pour your heart out for the joy it brings to others.  You know what being excited or jazzed about God can do in your life.  Imagine if everyone was filled with this kind of excitement and enthusiasm for God – it would change the world!  I look forward to enthusiastically praising God with you on Sunday!

with love,

Laureen 🙂

 

Fall is upon us.  The colors are beginning to appear and the morning air is crisp.  I love the fall!  One of the best things about fall is cider.  My Granddaddy had a cider press and lots of apples trees.  Every fall he would have us (me and my siblings) collect the apples that had fallen from the trees.  We would fill our arms full of bruised apples, and put them in the top of the press. We would take turns helping my Granddaddy crank the press.  The apples would be chopped and squeezed.  The final step is pouring the cider through cheesecloth to filter out bits of seeds, peel, etc.  Then it was time to fill our cups – it was soooooo good!

Even though we had filtered the cider, there were times when bits of stuff would get through and it wasn’t perfect, but we didn’t care.  It was delicious.

Today, our culture has become very perfectionistic.  It seems most people expect things to be flawless.  There are special processes that apples go through so they look pretty in the store.  People just don’t like to buy things that are not perfect.  I find it very ironic that we now have products on the market that can be sprayed onto fruits and vegetables when you get home to remove all the products that have been put on the fruits and vegetables to make them look pretty.  It’s crazy!

The drive for perfectionism doesn’t stop with our fruits and vegetables.  It’s rampant throughout our society.  People want to live the perfect lives – never making a mistake or having a flaw.  My Granddaddy always used to say that the bruised apples made the best cider.  I think the same is true for people.  People who have not experienced any bruising in their lives are not fully living.  To live means to risk getting bruised.

The good news is that we do not have to take these risks alone.  God is there guiding us and helping us as we go.  And, when we get bruised God is there to hold us and comfort us.  Through the Holy Spirit God gives us a basket full of things to help us as we live our imperfect lives.  These things are called the Fruit of the Spirit, and they are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22)  Notice that perfection is not one of these.

In a world full of expectations of perfection, the church is a place where people can find relief from the pressure.  It is here that we can offer a place of acceptance and love.  I believe Jesus would say that bruised people are his people.  Our world is full of bruised people, but they are hiding their bruises.  Are you one?  I know I am.  Come, join us and allow God and Jesus Christ to hold you and bring you comfort.

with love,  Laureen 🙂