Pastor's Taking Time to Grieve...

I have another funeral this weekend. So today, I sat down to write down to write the sermon for her funeral and was almost instantly stuck. What was my problem? I decided to go out to the cemetary and walk by her headstone (her husband was buried several years ago). It was there as I started to cry that I realized that I will miss this woman deeply. She was one of the first people to recognize me as pastor...one of those shut-ins whom everytime you visit you would learn something, and one of those women who you cannot help but admire.

So today, because of Myrtle, I started a new practice. I put a blanket down on the ground, at the cemetary, pulled out my laptop. I wrote a letter to her...not that she will be able to read it, but as a way of focusing myself, allowing myself a chance to say good-bye, and giving myself some focus to my thoughts that had been all over the place.

It was a time of grieving, cleansing, and just being with God. I consider it a holy moment, and am thankful to God for giving me the idea.

So here's the question for the day...what are some of the ways you grieve? For those of you who are pastors...do you take time to grieve the folks in your congregation before the funeral? After?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Amy <><

Waiting on God...and Pondering his Plan

Well my friends, I write to you this morning, thankful for the beauty that surrounds me (it is a glorious day up here in "God's Country"), but also admittidly stressed out about what is going on in the world of my life and my congregation.

We received word yesterday that another 280 people were layed off at one of the local mines, and members of my congregation were yet again in the mix. Then, as I was driving home last night, my car started having issues again.

And it just made me think...how much I need to wait on God and see what his plan is for this time and place I am in. How much I need to trust that all things work for good through him. And just how hard that can really be.

My dad had surgery yesterday, my "fake" grandma had surgery the day before...and now this stuff. It just makes one wonder what God has in store. It doesn't make me question if God is working...because I KNOW that God is working. I just wonder what he has planned, ya know?

Anyway, dear friends of mine...what do you do when you are waiting on the Lord? Do you have favorite verses you read to remind you of God's promises? Music you listen to? People you talk to?

I pray that you are each able to see all the ways God is blessing you today.

Grace and peace,
Amy <><

A thought before bed...

We have been struggling with the issues of same-gender marriage...as well as the question of whether or not we can ordain folks in same gender monogomus relationships...it was a heated discussion, and made me wonder about the future of our church, and where we are going...I pray that we can find a way to truly be a church that is open to all people, no matter who they are. Afterall, what makes me any better as a pastor just because I am heterosexual? Sheesh.

But I had to share this quote with you, it was said tonight by an amazing woman of God who is in a same gender relationship (and has been for years). She said to the assembly "If Christ mets your family on the road, surely he meets mine too."

And I found myself thinking, how true it is...doesn't God come and meet us where we are, love us for who we are, and ask us to love one another?

That's my thought for the night...what do you think??

Peace,
Amy <><

The joy of networking...

Networking takes on a whole new level this weekend...I am writing to you all from the synod assembly. It is a joy to be able to worship (having a break from leading!), and spend time in conversation with close friends and new colleagues in ministry. It fills my cup to be able to come to this place, bounce ideas off each other, and just in general be able to check in with other Pastors, AiMs, etc.

As we prepare for our next plenary session, I pray for our synod...I pray that we can follow the guidance of the spirit...be open to listening to each other, and that we can do our best to follow the will of God.

Here's some highlights/quotes from the assembly so far:

*When you are reading scripture, consider "how would I tell this story to a stranger"?
*"We do God's work not because God needs us to, but because our neighbor does."

*What "faith signs" are you leaving for your children?
-Accompaniment
(How are we a God-pointer to the children we encounter?)
-Faith Formation and Leadership Development
(Best youth ministry is a congregation full of adults that are growing in their faith)
-Investment
(How/what do we depost in our youth's faith checkbook?)
*Who posted "Faith Signs" in your faith development?


*The good news (gospel) doesn't end in our hearing...it ends in our telling it to others.

*"Word, Table, and Mission"-this is the call of the church

*"Do you want to believe in God?" "Yes" "For now that is enough."

*What would your congregation look like if we dreamed in scripture?

*"I don't believe the Bible is the Word of God if it is not opened."

*The Bible is the manger in which Christ lies.

Food for thought (to my blog readers)
-What is your favorite scripture?
-Why??

This is the first of multiple posts my friends...stay tuned for more synod info!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Amy <><

Thank God for Easter...

As I sit here, writing my 7th sermon over the last two weeks, and re-read my last post, I realize just how awesome God truly is. He has seen this congregation that I am so blessed to serve through a really rough few days, and gives us the gift of Easter at the end of it.

It is finally sunny here on the range, and the Easter Flowers are coming in the door, and it is just a lovely time to realize the beauty of God, and the awesomeness of his timing.

I am so thankful for each of you...for the support you have been the past few weeks, for your prayers, your encouragement, your phone calls! You truly renew my spirit!

I pray that each of you can too find renewal in this Easter season! Alleluia! Christ has risen!
Christ has risen indeed! Alleluia!

Grace and peace,
Amy <><

Preaching the gospel when you need it yourself...

This week has proved to be a challenging one. I am preparing for 2 memorial services, with a possible third coming next week. I just got back from Urban Plunge (25 youth to the cities for a service project), and am trying to get ready for a very full Holy Week.

Meanwhile I am really struggling with a friendship/relationship in my personal life...

It is just a lot on the plate of this new pastor, and I just wish I could go and sit and soak up the gospel somewhere...go back to a place of the mountaintop where everyone loves everyone and the presence of God is palpable.

It feels right now hard to preach the gospel when I feel like I need to hear it myself.

I don't know if it is the winter or all the deaths, or what, but I know that I am finding myself deeply missing my friends, and the joy that I had when I first started this job.

Hopefully this is just a funk that can be overcome. It was suggested by a friend of mine to just keep going...and one of the quotes that hangs on my bulletin board in my office says this: "Practice is to Judaism what belief is to Christianity. Your faith may come and go but your practice ought not to waiver." (The quote is from my favorite author, Lauren F. Winner)

So, I am doing my best to keep going, hoping that God will put the encouragement, hope and joy back into my life that I am lacking so much right now.

What about you?? What do you do when you go through tough stretches of time? Do you have any suggestions?

Until the next post...grace and peace to you my friends!
Amy <><

Keeping Sabbath...

This Sunday we have the opportunity to preach on the 10 Commandments. I was looking at the list this week and was thinking that the one we break most often is the commandment about Sabbath. So we, at Saint Mark's are going to be talking about Sabbath, and hopefully coming up with some ideas that would help us be more intentional about keeping Sabbath.

I wanted to share with you a poem by Wendell Berry that I came across this week. Wendell Berry is one of my favorite authors...he is known for taking a walk every Sunday morning and then going home and writing a Sabbath poem...here's one he wrote a few years ago.

Whatever is foreseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.
Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.
Harvest will fill the barn; for that
The hand must ache, the face must sweat.
And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled
And left to grace. That we may reap,
Great work is done while we're asleep.
When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.

May you each find time this week to spend in Sabbath. Turn off the phone, don't go online...just spend time with the one who created you!

Grace and peace,
Amy <><