ps from ps Sometimes doing ministry is messy work. Just ask Nicodemus. Or our St. Paul’s staff.
This week we had to change some lightbulbs in the sanctuary that are only accessible through the attic of the church above the ceiling and 35′ above the pews. A daunting, dirty, nasty task. However, the choir and the pastor with aging eyes were having a harder and harder time reading the bulletin and music, as slowly more and more spot lights “crossed the rainbow bridge.” So it seemed a task worth doing.
But when Dave Wolf told me that you had to go into the ceiling, I was less than thrilled. Dark. Dusty. Dirty. Dangerous. Not my favorite worksite. But I asked….and Dave answered….and it was time to embrace it.
Nicodemus went to go see Jesus to find out how to get more “light” in his life. However he didn’t love the answer either. You must be born again. “Ugh” said Nicky. Wasn’t quite ready for that. Maybe it sounded dark, dusty, dirty and dangerous to him too? But he was thinking of the wrong kind of rebirth.
Jesus was inviting him into an adventure. To do things differently. See things differently. Get dirty in a way that can only come through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because that’s the thing, the Holy Spirit doesn’t ask us to do it alone. The Savior that invited Nicodemus was on his way to the cross. The Holy Spirit that was promised would be there through the whole process. Pretty nice invitation actually. Not scary at all.
When I got up into the attic, unsure how this was all going to go, I found a gift….from Dave Wolf. See, Dave had been up there before and wouldn’t have told me it could be done if it wasn’t safe. He’d also hung lights through the whole attic and placed wooden planks the length of the sanctuary so I could safely traverse from the Main Street entrance hatch to the lights over the choir pews. A gift for tough journeys in the search for light.
I’m not sure what you’ll be called into today. I don’t know how dirty you’ll get doing the ministry that God is calling you to do. But I do know the planks have been laid to traverse upon. And I do know that the Holy Spirit will be with you. May you go into that ministry today, maybe even getting a little messy, and bring transformation and light to the people that need it.
ps from ps Here we go…Lent! It begins. Opportunity. Gift. Different.
Enjoy Paul Storfer’s music in this Ash Wednesday guided meditation by clicking HERE.
Lord, thank you for this Lenten season. Help me fully live into it. Amen
Still in One Peace, ps
Don’t forget to start bringing in your change to church as we collect “Change for Change” this Lent. The Upstate NY Synod Churches are partnering with RIPMedicalDebt.org to raise money to reduce medical debt for so many people in New York. One in three people struggle with medical debt that keeps them in a cycle they can’t get out of. RIPMedicalDebt buys debt for pennies on the dollar. Help us live into this powerful form of forgiveness.
Ash Wednesday is next week!
12pm – Lunch and Litany: Soup & bread; ashes and communion spoken service (sign up for lunch provided at church or email Eggertsville office) 7pm – Worship service with ashes and communion
Each Wednesday in March: 12pm – Psalm and Soups; Bring your own lunch and join with Pastor Kristen for a meal together in the Gathering Area and then a brief devotional service of prayers, psalms and song.
We will be praying for different people each week. There will be a Board up at the Eggertsville campus for you to add specific names of people or you can email the office. March 1 – Local and national elected leaders March 8 – Ministry partners in our buildings March 15 – Front line workers, medical personnel, mental health professionals March 22 – A teach that made a difference in my life March 29 – Service industry workers
ps from ps “Let us build some tents and hang out here Lord” – Pete, Jim and Jack on the mountaintop with Jesus
Doesn’t that just make sense? It’s waaaaay more fun to hang out in/on the “mountain top experiences” of life. No way says when they’re leaving a nice cup of coffee and conversation with their friend: “Hope your day turns to total garbage!” No, we wish blessings and goodness on people. We want to be on and wish others to have these mountain top moments.
MTM’s (Mountain Top Moments) are the times we feel it, sense it and can touch/taste the goodness of God’s presence, love, hope and comfort. MTM’s are the moments when it’s clear, when it’s real and when it’s tangible. MTM’s are the times when faith isn’t a mystery, instead it’s a reality.
So no wonder the boys wanted to stay with Jesus up on the mountain top on that first Transfiguration Day when Jesus did the whole “I’m God and human and yes and Let’s Go!!!” thing, turning dazzling white, standing with OT Bible elders and the disciples found themselves in an SSMM – Sweet Sassy Molassy Moment.
But Jesus said: “Fellas, that’s not the point of this. The point of all this is going back down the mountain and getting to work. Doing the hard stuff. BUT, knowing that God’s presence is with you.”
The picture above is from a friend of mine that’s on the west coast this morning. Look’s like a MTM right? But he’s going through a rough patch with work colleagues and there’s hard work ahead. What I love is that in the midst of the hard work, he stopped, grabbed a MTM so that while the hard work of life continues, he knows that he’s not alone, God is present and that might just cause a SSMM for the people he works with.
Are you in the midst of the hard work that God has called you into today? Have you taken enough time for a little MTM to help you through the battle?
Take it. Find it. They are there for a purpose. God didn’t hide this first MTM. And God isn’t trying to hide the others. God just didn’t want us to sit around and think that’s the only thing that life is about. They are there to carry us forward.
Lord, sweet sassy molassy, thanks for these moments to carry us forward. Amen
ps from ps “I lift my eyes up to the hills; from does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121
Important to remember that second part sometimes. Maybe all the time. God is big and set this all in motion and has given us gifts of wonder around us to remind us.
But do we take the opportunities to see them?
I went up to the City of Niagara Falls this morning to pick up something from one of our Lutheran Churches that recently closed. Ironically, it’s another St. Paul’s (which never ceases to amaze me at how little creativity went into naming churches years ago).
If you’re not familiar with where the City of Niagara Falls is located, it’s right next to the ACTUAL Niagara Falls! Which is basically in my backyard….or a 40 minute drive away from my home. And since moving back to Buffalo 20 years ago, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve visited the Falls. Yes, many have it on their list of the seven wonders of the world (or at least an honorary eighth) and I barely/rarely swing by.
So today, I stopped by. Not for long, but a six minute detour and a few extra steps put me yards away from an amazing spectacle of God’s creation. The Lord, that made the heavens and the earth….and the Falls.
How many other “wonders” are we that close to each and every day and we forget to stop by or breathe it in or recognize it or connect it to God’s divine presence and gift? They might not be as large as Niagara Falls but I bet they are around you right now. Small children napping. Your dog looking out the window at home. Quiet moments where you feel connected to another human. A small creek quietly flowing in the neighborhood. The sun breaking through the clouds for a moment or two.
Wonders. All around us. Reminding us of God’s gift.
Where would a six minute detour and a few extra steps take you today? What is in your view right now that we sometimes forget to marvel at? Are you noticing the wonders of what God is doing right now?
They are important to remember to see….maybe all the time.
Lord, thanks for the moments and places of wonder that you give to us. Amen
ps from ps You made it!! You made it through the darkest 10 weeks of the year. The five weeks preceding the winter solstice and the five weeks after it – they make up the “fifth of the year” that has the least amount of light.
And we even have some sunshine today in WNY as I type.
As the light grows, hopefully it’s battling the physical, emotional and spiritual “S.A.D.” that comes with winter.
But sometimes “winters” aren’t just a season. Sometimes they’re an event. Or a period of time. Or grief. Or a struggle.
Luckily the prophets of the Old Testament have some insight.
Today, Adam Schmidt shares some original music to accompany Joshua’s words of wisdom for all of us. I could listen to it all day on repeat! You can enjoy it by clicking HERE.
And as you listen, may you be strong and courageous in the midst of the winters.
Lord, may connecting to you bring strength for today! Amen
ps from ps “Do justice. Love kindness. And walk humbly with your God.” – Micah (in the Old Testament)
I first remember hearing this verse when I joined the staff at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center (LCLC) back in the ’80s. I’m sure I had heard it before in regular church, but I was probably not paying as much attention. As a kid, church was filled with distractions and boredom. And as a pastor’s kid, it was filled even more with messing around when I was supposed to be worshipping or listening to some life-changing Confirmation lesson from my dad. So let’s just agree that I missed out on the depth of what Scripture had to offer for most of my childhood.
Until camp. Camp helped me pay attention.
LCLC was the first place I experienced younger people excited about their faith and willing to pass it on. I was with other people my age and it was actually OK to talk about questions, doubts and the fact that you thought this Jesus character was pretty cool.
And then this verse from Micah: a simple message on how to live out your faith. Three steps. Sure there are complexities within them, but the basics are there. I don’t have it tattooed on my body (that’s Jeremiah 29:11) but it is certainly tattoo worthy. Or bumper sticker. Or away message. Or voice mail outgoing message. Or dashboard sticky note. Or wherever you put simple reminders to remind you how to live out your faith.
Where is that place for you? Where are you reminded? Is it camp? Church? Your tattoo? A cross in your house? A verse like Micah’s gem?
And what is the verse? Is it a few words? A longer story? An entire book or gospel?
I hope you have one. But if you don’t, I offer you that verse from Micah. Join me in those three simple steps this week and beyond as we realize together that this Jesus character is pretty cool.
Lord, thanks for the simplicity and depth of this thing called faith? Amen
—— Side note: Mr. Lee Lindeman, who many of you know and has visited St. Paul’s many times, is retiring after 18 years of being the Executive Director of LCLC. We are pulling together a financial gift for him to thank him for his years of energy and direction for the camp. His strong leadership and living out of that Micah verse has put the camp in incredible stable ministry and financial position. Michelle and I (we met at LCLC) will be contributing to this and I invite you to as well.
Checks can be sent to our LCLC Board Treasurer Holly Freed at: Nativity Lutheran Church; C/o Holly Freed, LCLC Board Treasurer; 970 East Main Street; East Aurora, NY 14052. Or, you can give online through St. Paul’s by clicking HERE. Please designate “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” and all gift will go directly to Lee. Let’s show him our thanks by overwhelming him with our generosity.
Please check out the information under his picture about the Blessing and Sending Event on Feb 4 if you want to say thank you in person.
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