SFX by the HS

I've been wanting to share this with you all for several days now.

Before our Good Friday Tenebrae service, Mary and I carried the glass-topped chancel table down from its usual location under the cross next to the wall, down to the level of the pulpit and lectern. We got it all centered up and positioned so the readers could easily extinguish a candle after each reading. The candles were all arranged. Everything looked great... simple... unadorned... we were ready.

After that I decided that at the end of the service, as I slipped out the side door, I would turn on one of the small spotlights that shone down in the area now occupied by the chancel table. Little did I know....

At the service - in the dark -when I turned up that one light, I thought I heard a gasp from the congregation. I found out a bit later that the light reflected off that glass top and through the candelabra. As the Holy Spirit would have it, the reflected light shone up on the wall, just at the level of our draped cross. An image appeared there from that reflection. To the left of the cross, it looked like a dove flying. To the right, it looked like a hill with three crosses on it!

Amazing. Grace.

Today's Little Bit of Fun

Limericks Needed!

Hi, All,
Procastination lives! Sue's church is celebrating Holy Humor Sunday this week. Does anybody have one or two of Marv's limericks you can email to me to add to the fun? All that I have are in a box in Portland and I'm here on the coast and can't get to them. I'm still at rgoodin@earthlink.net.
Since graduation, I've been serving as ongoing pulpit supply at Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church, a tiny church on the Oregon Coast. On paper, it's quarter time or less, so it's not an ordainable position. I prepare and lead worship on Sunday and, most weeks, do pastoral calling one other day. It's a church of 18 members, mostly over age 70. Like most part time ministries, it takes as much time as I allow it to fill. I'm having a great time doing Older Adult Ministry and being a solo pastor. I'm learning a lot about the real world that seminary doesn't teach us. Two weeks ago I was at the bedside of one of my 95 year olds as she died. Monday the 16th I'll do her memorial service. Friday this week I'll do, along with Sue, her grandaughter's wedding.
Sue is serving as interim minister at another church on the coast. We have an apartment halfway between the two towns, which works out great. Her interim is winding down--they'll probably call somebody by Pentecost--so our time on the coast will come to an end. To bad--we both enjoy enjoy livng here and I'm having a great time at Lakeside, but it's way too far to commute from Portland.
The search for a call goes on. Lots of ups and downs. Many PIFs sent out, many emails and interviews. Three neutral pulpits so far. Close, but no cigar. Sue and I are concentrating on looking for a call for copastors right now. Keep us in your prayers.
Peace and Blessings,
Bob

my ability to avoid writing sermons is well developed for a non-ordained preacher...

You’re St. Justin Martyr! You have a positive and hopeful attitude toward the world. You think that nature, history, and even the pagan philosophers were often guided by God in preparation for the Advent of the Christ. You find “seeds of the Word” in unexpected places. You’re patient and willing to explain the faith to unbelievers. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!

Which one are you?

So not across the country just yet.

So we thought we were going across the country, it being a good idea at the time and all, but then we started to actually get phone calls and interviews about jobs; and then lo and behold we were both hired to do jobs that utilized our education. Heather is now the Director of family and children Services at this monster sized Episcopalian Church in Downtown Atlanta. One of these huge, gothic looking, old Southern moneyed churches. The church is so big they have their own homeless shelter, food bank, and Training and Counseling Center. She will run all their education programs, supervise some staff (the church does have 12 ordained people on staff, HELLO!), get to boss around her very own seminary interns (ha, ha, ha those suckers), and do other stuff which she hasn't told me yet. I was just hired as the Director of Communications for another huge Episcopalian church here in Atlanta. All big churches down here have their own newspaper, send out at least 5,000 newsletters A WEEK, have a tv show, a radio show, and all sorts of other things that I will coordinate and write, which I think is super funny. And we are moving into a house. I have pictures, but I can't find the camera to download them onto the computer. It has a yard in which Roux can run around. Ok I think that is all.

Alexis, Heather, and Roux

Easter Blessings

Thanks Anitra for the prompt to get us blogging again :) I am doing really well! I just finished my 2nd full week at Family and Children's and I am loving it. My official title is Family Support Specialist and basically and I am the social service side of the educational component that the child receives in Head Start. Before getting hired I was getting really depressed and down, but God does work in mysterious ways and has come through yet again. Resurrection experiences abound!

Anyway, that's about it for now. I hope you all are well. I miss you my friends!

Christ is Risen!

News from Wilbur

Hello friends -









Finally some news from Wilbur. I am sure you were all waiting with bated breath :) Everything is prepped and ready for Holy Week. Now all I have to do is lead the services. One of my parishoners that was on the PNC asked if I was planning on giving the Easter sermon from my DVD when they hired me. I took that as a sign, as she was really interested in the rest of the congregation hearing it, so that took some major pressure off. So on Sunday it will be "This is Easter" again.




Lars and I continue to enjoy Wilbur. We are eagerly awaiting Spring. I have lots of greenery coming up from my bulbs but no flowers yet. When they arrive I will post pictures. Lars and I are trying to grow a lawn and that is proving to be harder than it looks. We have sprouted some flamingos though (a fundraising event for the Miss Wilbur pagent.)

Lars is working as a cook most evenings. It is going ok. He is on the lookout for something better and will probably work at the pool this summer.

I am doing ok. Ministry is so much work. Note to self - don't try to write all the Holy Week services that week. Lars and I are headed to Kennewick to visit my folks after church on Sunday and are taking a few days off there which is good. On the whole I am happy, but also feeling a bit tired. I am looking forward to things slowing down and some vacation time in the summer.

Around the house, our new dog Milo keeps us all entertained. He is always on a lap or bugging a cat. We sure enjoy his bright spirit in the house as we await warmer weather.

Well, I hope that everyone is doing well. Easter blessings to you all!

A new member of the SFTS family

Hey everyone~
Here's some good news I just got ahold of. Rich, Becky and Austin Poole have a new addition to their family. I don't have the details except that his name is William. Maybe someone can bug Rich for the details and a picture.
Missing you all this Holy Week and hope you all are having a wonderful one.
Blessings
Cheryl

Hello - anyone out there?

Things have gone quiet lately but I imagine there is much going on in our lives. Has Alex & Heather moved yet? How goes the work with Family Support, Jen? Heather and James and Harold - this is your first holy week as pastors! Going well? Good enough? Watcha doing to celebrate the high holy days? Stephanie - send more pictures now that the snow has melted? Are the birds back on the pond? Cheryl, Bob - log in - how goes the search? Robert Hattle - finish signing up and tell us good news from Ghost Ranch! Aimee - send up more news - what is day to day life like in Switzerland?

And for everyone who is reading:

What is going on in your life that feels like Good Friday?

What is going on that feels like Easter?

2007 SFTS Alumni Reunion

We all qualify for this!

2007 Alumni Reunion 'Save the date'... the SFTS Alumni Reunion will be held April 19-21, 2007, for all graduates, with special recognition for the classes of 1957, 1982, and 1997 as they celebrate their 50th, 25th and 10th anniversaries. Click here for registration and program information:

http://www.sfts.edu/docs/Alumni_Brochure_2007.pdf

how to avoid writing a sermon

In case you want more:

• First Week
• Second Week - part 2
• Third Week
  

What an amazing thing!

I planted tomato and basil seeds last weekend. For five days they did whatever they did in secret and then on the sixth day they started popping up. In the morning, there was just three of them - their little stems bent over but starting to straighten up. By the end of the day almost all the tomatoes were up and out. Now they are tall enough that they follow the sun. I walk into the kitchen where I keep them in a greenhouse window thing that hangs out over the sink and I can see all of them leaning into the morning sunlight.

Dana is out visiting on her last spring break before graduating.... the last school holiday. I'm getting very sentimental on the thought that she'll get a real job with limited vacations and then I won't see her as much any more. Also becoming rather terrified about the idea of her moving into a place of her own and having to figure out for herself how to do the furniture, food, pots & pans, rent, utilities, etc. I cried hard when I dropped her off for the first day of kindergarten (its a mom thing) - now look at this! How did my mother ever let me go?

Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
and I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Another graduation...and the Pope

It's hard to believe that just nine months after I received my last diploma, I've already gotten another one. The way the program works here, about two-thirds of the students graduate from the "graduate school" at the end of February and go home, leaving the 10 masters students to fend for themselves during the spring semester. So a couple of weeks ago, we had a graduation ceremony, and here's me receiving my diploma for the graduate school - the guy shaking my hand is the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Samuel Kobia. (I might mention that he didn't whisper anything in my ear when he shook my hand.)


Before we got our diplomas, though, the whole lot of us went to Rome for a visit with the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity - and to meet the Pope, sort of. In previous years, Bossey students have participated in a "general audience" with the Pope, meaning they sit in a room with 12,000 other screaming fans (literally - it was like a football game with people getting up and offering the Pope "cheers" from their various countries or organizations) and then get a group photo taken with him after. Sadly, this year the Bossey students only got to see the Popemaster General from afar - no group photo. Seen here, he's shaking the hand of Bossey's director, which is as close as we got. The blond head in front is one of our students from Germany. I didn't take this photo - I was a few rows farther back...but you get the idea.

Thanks, everyone, for posting all your news! It helps me feel a little closer to my SFTS family (can you believe it's been a year since we were starting to plan baccalaureate???).

Grist for the Mill

There have been a few interesting resources coming into my life lately that I'd like to share with you. The first is a book by William Willimon. Its titled simply, "Pastor". I'm only through the introduction so far and have already found it to be helpful, inspiring, and timely. I will recommend it to you all as "continuing education."

The second is one I found today in my search for resources to lead our process for discernment about becoming an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation (think More Light). This is a beginning place for looking at the scriptural basis of conversations around human sexuality, LGBT issues, and the church. I believe it will lead one to further helpful articles and links. It might be useful for those who need or want to talk openly about these issues with their congregations, Presbyteries, and CsOM. See it at
http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-walter-wink

Finally, I thank you all who came to Kenwood on Feb. 18, who called or wrote, or who have simply prayed for me on that most wonderful day, or since then. You continue to bless and inspire me!

Howdy from Holland

Hey Everybody!

The little yellow house you see is our new home. If you look closely, you'll see the newest edition to our family, Ferdinand the snow blower. And if you look very very closely you can see a tiny little twig just to the left of the driveway. That's an oak tree that sprang up in our former abode on Ross Avenue way back when. Jim has nurtured that little tree for lo, these many years and by golly, we brought it with us to CA. I think the last leaf finally "let go" a few days ago!

Once the snow melts (if ever) we look forward to having the yard landscaped since there is really nothing there but dirt! Next door (just to your right) is an empty lot; behind us is a little lake which hosts scurrying geese and ducks and a few high-stepping herons. They've all gone away since the lake is now frozen.

Jim is still in CA but will be striking out to come this way after he finishes service at San Francisco Towers on March 18. I tell you, it has been a real eye-opener and challenge to face all this newness without him right here. Cell phone conversations with 3 hour time differences just aren't the same as having your sweetie right here! However, this experience has made me have a whole new appreciation for those who live alone. I also have a greater empathy for those military families whose loved ones are so far away, facing the attrocities of this seemingly never-ending war. At least I know that our geographical separation has a definite ending; these families demonstrate real courage -- and I keep them in my prayers daily!

I also check the blogpot daily -- just to see your sweet familiar faces in the great ordination photos from James' special day (thanks, Cheryl!) and to keep in touch. I'll try not to be such a lurker -- much love and every blessing!

James Ordination!

The gang gathers to raise a glass (or two) to our dear friends James and Mary!

The Rev. James Kosko

Ok so better late than never. I have finally gotten my act together to get this post done. Everyone please feel free to add your comments about the ordination. Although it was probably the longest ordination I've been to yet it was worth every minute to get to see James loved on and affirmed by such a great cloud of witnesses.
Ok so now I've done my part all-be-it a little sloppily (I'll get the hang of it someday) Who knew it wouldn't put the pictures where I wanted them but you all get the idea anyway.

Love to you all, can't wait for the next one!

Cheryl

Katrina News

The Presbyterian News Service has written up and posted, with photos and video, how recovery is going in Katrinaland. There is a rather distressingly long video of a car drive through the now non-existent 9th ward

To view the stories - please click here.

If you want to see an astounding video of the storm and the surge coming ashore into Biloxi then click here

There is an interesting analysis of the storm's impact on Biloxi and D'Iberville at the The Weather underground - and a very personal story of how the storm was deeply devastating to the community of St. Martins just east of D'Ibeville.

A story that haunts me comes from this site:

"One of the odd things that has occur ed since the storm, probably due to continuing issues with bringing the phone system back online, is that the sub station regularly receives 911 calls from locations that currently are nothing but slabs, from these areas. Answering the call, there is only static on the other end. There is a list of addresses, numbering about 20 in total, hung up on the wall for the dispatcher, noting these locations. We think that possibly the last calls from these locations were 911 calls, and are somehow still electronically in the memory or database of the phone system."

A Red Letter Day!

Dear Friends,
February 18, 2007 was quite a day for ordinations! Blessings to James & Mary as they venture out into their new life of ministry! And congratulations and blessings for Paul Phillips who was also ordained in the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy on the very same day. Paul will be serving at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis MO as chaplain. The hospital, I believe is somehow affiliated with Presbyterians. Leanne Van Dyk, former prof of Systematic Theology at SFTS and current Dean/VP of Western Theological Seminary was also ordained on Sunday, February 18. So all-in-all, it was a RED letter day to be sure. I attended Leanne's ordination and felt that I was standing amidst a great cloud of witnesses in the chapel at Western -- and somehow felt a sweet connection to the ordinations of James and Paul. Call it a Spirit thing!

The man who preached at Leanne's ordination used to serve on the board of trustees at SFTS and was part of the search committee who called her to SFTS back in ?? and is now pastor of Westminster Presbyterian, Grand Rapids. Leanne has an identical twin sister who was there too -- kinda freaky in a good kind of way. Leanne and Greg Love are pals -- in fact, Leanne encouraged Greg to apply for the position at SFTS way back when. Interestingly (to me), he, too, has an identical twin. BUT they didn't know that about each other -- luckily, yours truly was able to make that connection for them! Another man with whom I spoke (Don Butyne) at Leanne's ordination was on the faculty at SFTS for 8 years and served as interim dean for 3 of those years. So I felt very close to my community at SFTS even though I am, at times, what seems light years away.

But that's for another blog. For now, I just wanted to let you know about the other ordinations. Think of you all often and send you loads of love!! Keep in touch when you can!!

Jenn's Update

Today there are over 800 jobs posted on the Church Leadership Connection...yet nothing has worked out. However, I just had an interview with Family and Children's Services in Tulsa, OK and it was great! They affirmed me and my gifts and wanted me...and I want to be involved in their mission! I haven't felt this happy, calm and complete about something in such a long time.

The position is a Family Support Specialist, which basically means that I am working with families and parents that have kids in Head Start and Early Head Start (infants start at 6 weeks). I go on home visits and form relationships with both kids and adults, helping them set goals and giving them resources they might not otherwise get. I am really excited and I thought I would share this with my friends :) While it's not an ordained call, I really do feel like this is a call to ministry and I believe God's hand is there guiding this endeavor.

I miss you all! Take care and God bless :)

I love Italy - Their Food Sings

Sooner or later somebody (Cheryl, pictures?) will post on the Grand Ordination of The Rev. James Kosko (a 3 hour extravaganza and truely a great love-a-thon) and the debrief in the bar afterwards but in the meantime:

I found this on another blog (on cheese making, natch) and fell in love....