Missions, Missions and more missions

I am so glad to be part of a church that is involved in local missions as well as Global. On Sunday Sept 14 we had Mission & Service Day. This is the third one they have done. After the worship service, we have lunch and then span out across Huntsville at various sites to do missions. The types of projects: Painting wheelchair ramps for CASA, working at Terry Heights Elementary School, painting at Meadow Hills Baptist Church (soon to be the new home of Second Mile Pre-School), working at the Interfaith Mission Service offices, and repairing two homes with Huntsville Community Development. We also packed 77 Flood buckets to go to those who have been affected by storms. They also included something that the families with young children could do. This time the kids cleaned around the church. My kids went around cleaning windows. They had the best time and told me they could do this at home if I would buy them the squeegee and the spray bottles. Some of the older elementary kids went out to the work sites as well. It was very successful with a good number of the visitors joining in on the work.

On the Saturday before some of the church members were involved with the weekend of Service & Unity coordinated city-wide by the Interfaith Mission Service. This involved some of the similar and also different work sites. We didn't go instead we were at the United Methodist school of Missions. I attended the class on The Israel/Palestine Conflict taught by my friend Paulette West. It was an eye opener. The kids were with me at the school and someone took a picture of them, that I thought I would post here. The other picture is Bob working on Mission Sunday.We are also involved in a Capitol Campaign. We have committed 10% of the funds raised to seed not just a mission project but a justice project, something that will be long lasting, transformation, and address not just short term matters. Well, we are in the middle of discussing what that will be. In the last campaign they gave 10% to the Methodist Church in Kybarti. 10% of the regular offerings go to missions and that is beyond what is given to the United Methodist apportionments.

If you want to read the whole article on the Mission Sunday you can read it at the Huntsville Times. And this is me in class making some kind of point about something, who knows.

Friday Five on Sunday

Raise your hand if you know that today is Johnny Appleseed Day! Uh no, but I bet my kids did.
September 26, 1774 was his birthday. "Johnny Appleseed" (John Chapman) is one of America's great legends. He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania, but he was among those who were captivated by the movement west across the continent.
As Johnny traveled west (at that time, the "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois) he planted apple trees and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew. A devout Christian, he was known to preach during his travels. According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received to churches or charities. He planted hundreds of orchards, considering it his service to humankind. There is some link between Johny Appleseed and very early Arbor Day celebrations.
So, in honor of this interesting fellow, let's get on with the questions!
1. What is your favorite apple dish? (BIG BONUS points if you share the recipe.) Ooh, I know this one.

Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp

4 cups sliced peeled tart apples
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
Vanilla ice cream (not optional)

Place apples in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and allspice; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time 15 min.
Cook Time 30 min.

m-m-m good

from:

2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about? Wherever Bob and I have lived we have planted a tree. We haven't planted one yet, but probably will at this new location. I just think it is a good thing to do, it beautifies, helps with pollution, and God's creation.
3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not? No, not really, okay then, why am I a Methodist who use to be circuit riders roaming around the countryside preaching and planting new churches? Good question. I have an old homebody spirit inside of me is the best reason I can give.
4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours? Why do people like to ask if you have favorites, then you have to make a choice and commit to that choice and there are so many choices, oh my, how does one make one? I would have to go with Annie Oakley; cause she was a woman, a heroine, a straight shooter and a cowgirl, and I wanted to be one!
5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he traveled the roads of the west. Do you have a song that comes when you are trying to be cheerful, or is there something else that you often do? "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine....".

And the bonus question is....can you sing the Johnny Appleseed blessing? You bet I can, its my kids favorite presently;

The Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me
The things I need
The sun, the rain and the apple seed.
The lord is good to me

Sunday Prayer (late Edition)

Gracious God,
Thank you for this day.
Thank you for your presence in our lives.
Thank you for this day of worship and focus on you.
Thank you for your goodness to us.
Lord, forgive us when we take you for granted.
Forgive us when we take others for granted.
Forgive us when we take ourselves for granted.
Thank you for your forgiveness, may we live our lives as your forgiven people.
Lord we are grateful that our leaders care about the economic situation in our country, but Lord, can they go a little further than just Wall Street to Main Street to down the street to across the street and to those who make the street their home? Lord, may we do our part to make it so.
Amen

Cross posted at revgalblogpals and my sermon blog

Sunday Prayer

Gracious God, today as we labor in your vineyard, your Kingdom, guide our work.
As we stand in the pulpit with all our labor for a sermon, may all that is said bring forth fruit.
May your vineyard flourish, may your Kingdom flourish.
May your spirit flow forth like water watering the land, may our souls be filled with your goodness, your mercy, your kindness.
Oh Lord we pray for our brothers and sisters
who were devastated by the power of hurricane Ike.
Oh Lord we pray for those who have lost their homes,
lost their jobs, lost their savings in this economic crisis.
Lord, presently, life just doesn't seem fair.
Life seems precarious, and unsure.
Lord we turn to you to right the wrong, bring peace to war torn lives,
comfort to those who are in pain and suffering, and love to those who feel unloved
Oh Lord the list goes on of the needs in this world.
How do we find the words, to say, except to turn to you our rock and our salvation.
And so Lord to you we turn and place our trust. Amen

Sunday Prayer

Forgiving and ever merciful God, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Help us to forgive when it is the hard thing to do. Help us to forgive one another for the slights, and big hurts as well just as you have forgiven us. Help us to remember that when we forgive we let go of wounds, pain, hurt and anger that would bind us and keep us from being free. Help us to remember that forgiveness does not mean we have to stay in abusive relationships or situations. Lord thank you again for the multitude of forgiveness that you have for all.

Lord as we remember this week the events of 9/11, help us to forgive those who caused these acts. Help us to continue to support and encourage those who were traumatized that day and those who still deeply miss their loved ones.

And Lord once again we lift up those in Texas and surrounding areas that have been impacted by hurricane Ike. We pray for the other countries that have also been impacted by the recent hurricanes. Help us to reach to out to our brothers and sisters in these areas with loving kindness and good will. Amen.

cross posted at revgalblogpals and my personal blog

Sunday Prayer

Forgiving and ever merciful God, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Help us to forgive when it is the hard thing to do. Help us to forgive one another for the slights, and big hurts as well just as you have forgiven us. Help us to remember that when we forgive we let go of wounds, pain, hurt and anger that would bind us and keep us from being free. Help us to remember that forgiveness does not mean we have to stay in abusive relationships or situations. Lord thank you again for the multitude of forgiveness that you have for all.

Lord as we remember this week the events of 9/11, help us to forgive those who caused these acts. Help us to continue to support and encourage those who were traumatized that day and those who still deeply miss their loved ones.

And Lord once again we lift up those in Texas and surrounding areas that have been impacted by hurricane Ike. We pray for the other countries that have also been impacted by the recent hurricanes. Help us to reach to out to our brothers and sisters in these areas with loving kindness and good will. Amen.

cross posted at revgalblogpals and my sermon blog

Sunday's prayer

Merciful God,
we ask that your loving kindness be showered on the communities of faith we serve. We ask that where there is conflict that there is ability to speak the truth in love. We ask where there are divisions that restoration would be brought about by the power of your love. Help us to be ministers of reconciliation in a world full of hate, pain and alienation. And keep on forgiving us, so that we might learn to forgive ourselves and in turn forgive others.

We pray also for all those who have experienced the devastating power of hurricanes this season, and the ones still come. Amen.

posted at revgalblogpals and my sermon blog.

Gustav

Today, I am thinking of those who were in the path of Hurricane Gustav.

I lived through hurricanes growing up in Florida. I know their impact.

And so today I say a prayer for all who evacuated and left behind their homes and don't know what they will come back to. Those who once again lived through another threat after living through the devastation from previous hurricanes not so long ago. I say a prayer for those who lost loved ones. I say a prayer for those in other countries who don't have the kind of resources we do to rebuild, help, and support. I say a prayer for my friends in Mississippi along the Gulf Coast. I say a prayer for those I do not know. I say a prayer for those now in the path of Hannah, Ike and any others in this Hurricane Season. Lord in your mercy hear our prayers.

And may our prayers become one of action and love as well, amen.

"This Old House"

It feels funny calling a 40 year old house, old, but it is. It just isn't as old as some. But it is is a house that has not had a lot updated to it over the years. The last owners, moved out and let their adult daughter and her husband move in to rent it and keep it up. That didn't work for a variety of reasons. The carpet was the original carpet and so has to be replaced. The first place Bob did that was in the room we made into an office. The daughter had cats, and they put the kitty litter box in this room on the carpet. Okay you get the idea. He ripped it out immediately on moving in. Laid down laminated flooring. Really looks better. So now we are slowly taking out the carpet and putting down new flooring.
The next room to get worked on was the family room. It had dark wood paneling, and yes the old carpet with multiple stains. Bob and I chose some colors to lighten it up. I didn't want to go with just cream or white or tan, so used a color called Shrimp toast from Lowes. It is very nice and has added color and lightness to the room.
Did I mention the old wallpaper from forty years ago? We are taking the wall paper down also and repainting the walls. The next room we are going after is the kitchen. The cabinets, flooring is dark. The walls had this colorful wall paper, and some tiles over by the sink. Bob and I are trying to decide on a color to use. They had bright orange and green and yellow, a bit overbearing. Bob wants to go with yellow, I am not sure what color I want.
Bob is very happy doing this, it has given him great sense of accomplishment.
Why didn't we just buy a newly built house? Cost, and size. I liked them, but they cost too much and didn't have the room we felt we needed for the three kids. This house had the rooms and the right price. Plus Bob can be Bob the Builder!

All this remodeling reminds me of my own life. If I let myself go physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally then I will be in the shape of this house, in much need of repair and updating. And I have to be honest, I haven't kept myself up as well physically as I need to. I am back walking regualarly and eating healthier, and I can tell the difference. I am hoping this will lead me to even more care for my body and health. And what about mentally, have I kept myself up mentally with reading, study, discussions, listening and learning? If not I need to assess this and shore up where I am weak. I am trying to learn how to minister to and with young adults. And what about emotionally, have I paid attention to my emotional health? I have had to work a long time and a hard time on this area, and continue to work on my emotional health. Although I tend to neglect myself when stressed, and right now I am going through a stressful transition. And what about spiritually, have I paid attention to and maintained my spiritual life? They say that Pastors are the worse at doing this. To be honest there have been times in my life when I have neglected this area of my life, and there have been other times I have spent lots of time. I know with this transition, that I cannot neglect my spiritual life, I need to be intentional about my quiet time with the Lord, prayer and meditation. This is a busy church and position and I could easily get caught up in it.
All these areas are interconnected to make for a healthy self a whole self. One affects the other. I don't want to end up like this old house, in much need of repair. So I need to attend to all the areas of my life. The good thing about this old house is that it has a good foundation, good structure, and a good roof. My life has these too, and it makes for easier repairs and daily attention to those areas of my life. How about you?