Life is really, really good...

My friend who lives in Norway has a blog entitled "Life is really, really good..." and I have truly felt that way lately. It is amazing how awesome life can feel when you are able to spend time being who God is calling you to be. I have spent the last two days playing with my brother's kids (and my brother and sister-in-law too!), and have had a blast, and now I am back in the church office trying to get some stuff done before I hit the road for the synod's fall theological conference. And as crazy as this coming week is, with a conference, and starting confirmation from the ground up, and two weddings and worship to get ready for?? I wouldn't have it any other way. I love it here, and love the people, and God is such an awesome and living God.

My hope for you this day, is that you too can feel soon that life is really, really good.

Until then, my prayers and thoughts are with you!

Peace,
Amy <><

These people are amazing...

So today was my first Sunday back at church after being in the hospital last week, and I must say, this congregation and their compassion continue to amaze me. They were so concerned, and so excited to have me back, and I am excited to be back at work too. We will see what the doctor has to say tomorrow...about whether or not the kidney stone has passed...but for now, the people of this congregation have restored my courage, and my hope that each day I am getting better, and I am in a place where I am incredibly loved.

Peace to y'all!
Amy <><

This too shall pass...

For those of you who do not know, this past week has been filled with the adventure of getting to know the medical facilities in Aurora. I ended up calling for an ambulance on Saturday morning about 2 am because of severe pain in my back, was rushed to the ER, and admitted to the hospital about 2 hours later with a diagnosis of a kidney stone. I was in White Community Hospital for 2 days, and now am at home, still not feeling that great, waiting for the stone to pass.

My mom came up while I was in the hospital, and I was reminded what a blessing she is in my life, and what an amazing care giver she is as well.

Hearing far too many horror stories of kidney stones, and the procedure that I might have to have done this coming week if it doesn't pass, I am praying that it will, and praying for patience as well. I am doing my best to
still find ways to get done what needs to get done, and not over do at the same time.

So here's the thing I have been wondering...it is my experience that tough health stuff tends to happen in my life for a reason...either to help me be more compassionate to others, to strengthen my ministry to families going through similar challenges, etc. I think this may be to teach me to be more patient and depend more on the Lord...

But here is what I am contemplating...does God let this happen so that we can learn the lessons we need to? Or does God work through the challenges to teach us the lessons?

Maybe that sounds the same to you, but I was just wondering. Needless to say, it has been a roller coaster. For now, I must head home. I am feeling a bit dizzy/nauseated at the moment.

Thanks for reading...hope I have better news to post soon!

Peace,
Amy <><

Forgiveness and the hurt of the church...

God opened my eyes today, in a really big way. I was sitting at a WELCA meeting, getting to know some of the ladies that make our church run, and one of the women who I had just met earlier that morning started talking about why she doesn't come to church or volunteer as much as she would like.

You see, she tried to volunteer with the women's group, and was dealt with harshly because she did something incorrectly. She has only recently started coming back to try and help again, claiming to be "older and tougher" than she was when she was hurt.

I couldn't help but wondering at the timing of the conversation. I had been pondering the sermon for this Sunday...the text is about forgiveness...how many times are we to forgive? 7 times? 77? 7 x 7? The short answer is we are to forgive over and over...

But our conversation got me thinking about how much we as "church" hurt people without even realizing it. And that breaks my heart. I know I am called to this congregation to "bring back the joy"...but now I am wondering if we also might need some time of reconcilliation...time where we recognize that just as we have all been hurt, we have all hurt others as well.

It is such a blessing that our God is better at forgiveness than we are!! So, wherever you are today, and whatever you are struggling with, don't forget that just as hurt as you feel, that you have hurt others, and don't forget that through it all...through the hurting and the being hurt, our God is a God of love and forgiveness. And God forgives us more times than we can count!

Grace and peace,
Amy <><

From the "Pastor's Desk"...

So I am sitting in the office on a Monday night...my ordination was on Saturday. It was so much fun, and so filled with blessings. A good friend of mine preached, and I was so glad that Darin could be a part of the day...he helped me survive internship, and will, I hope, be a colleague of mine for many years to come.

But today? Today I am sitting here and just feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. I am excited to have made it to this point, but also just feeling like I don't know where to start, since there are so many things on my plate right now.

I am excited to see the work that God can do through me here at Saint Mark's. I am excited to see how God continues to have hands and feet through the people here. They are amazing, and I am excited to be a part of it.

For now, I am reminded of the prayer of Saint Francis...Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;to be understood, as to understand;to be loved, as to love;for it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

And in addition to that, my own prayer adds this...In the fear I am feeling, just use it for your glory. For you God, work all things for good.

Amen...and Amen.

~Amy <><

Balancing Life in Rural Ministry...

Today is the first day I have been lonely out here. And not just a little lonely, but like down to the bone lonely. It is a hard adjustment to go from being really busy at two churches to being in the middle of the country with one. I am actually looking forward to starting work to have something to do. I am interested in seeing how this goes...life in the heart of finn country...I have a feeling that just as my ministry will be a challenge, so will my social life. All I hope right now, is that it gets better than today.

On another note, this week is going to be a big one. I meet with the family we are doing Tuesday's memorial service with tomorrow. Monday I hope to get some office work done and get things ready for the memorial service. Tuesday I have prayer group and the memorial service (and I think a committee meeting at night). Wednesday I have a graveside service for someone else. Thursday I have Interchurch Ministries, and Friday my friends and family start coming for my ordination which is Saturday. Sunday is my first service here...and then the week starts again.

Maybe I will go work on things for the service now. That will take my mind off today.

I must confess this funk I am in also is because a couple of pretty important folks aren't coming to my ordination. My "adopted" grandma is not able to come for health reasons, and my friend Paul isn't coming because he couldn't get off work. Yuck.

At any rate, as my Mom would say "Today isn't forever it just feels like it!"
Off to get some office work done...

Chat at ya later!
Amy <><

Listening to the clock chime...

I am sitting in my office, and the clock just chimed here at my church where I will soon be ordained and officially become "Pastor Amy". It is an overwhelming moment, filled with excitement and fear. I just finished moving my predecessors files, etc into boxes so that the office would be as I hope to have it...and as I moved his things, I thought about all the wonderful ministry that has happened here over the years. Our church has been through some hard times and some wonderful times, and it is somewhat overwhelming as I sit at the beginning of this journey to think what the next pastor will find when they move into this office. I pray that the church will be a blessing for years to come, and that God can use me to minister to these people and this community...for they surely are already ministering to me!

The clock that chimed reminded me that God is in all things...through the ups and downs of this adventure of ministry...God watches over it all, and I am so thankful.

"Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Praise be to God!
Amy <><