You may have noticed a change in the process for communion. I would like us to move to a practice of communion by intinction (dipping the bread in the juice). This practice is something that I learned about in my first church job - I was associate pastor of a small, predominantly aging congregation, and I found it incredibly meaningful.
Being able to look into each person's face as I offered them the body of Christ broken for them and the blood of Christ poured out for them was humbling, uplifting, and affirming all at the same time. It humbled me to be able to serve my congregants in this intimate way. It uplifted me to share a moment with each person, even as short as it was, and to be reminded that we are all on this journey of learning to be more like Christ, together. It affirmed that my ministry, the path I have chosen, is one of serving others. Communion by intinction connects me to you, and me to God. It connects you to me, and you to God, and it connects us all to one another. I thank you for the opportunity that you are giving me, to serve you and become ever more humbled in service to Christ and to you. Blessings, -Pastor Sara -
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Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday - the day of resurrection. On this day, we remember that death is not the final word.
The season of Easter, however, on Easter Sunday, is just beginning. Eastertide, or the Easter Season, lasts from Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost Sunday. During the season of Easter, we remember the events following the resurrection of Jesus: his appearance to the two travelers on the road to Eammaus, his appearance to and commissioning of the apostles, his teachings about how to be the presence of Christ in the world around us, and his ascension into heaven. The fact that Easter is a whole 50 day season, spanning each Sunday from Easter to Pentecost is refreshing to me. It's a relief to know that the joy of Resurrection Sunday continues on, in Jesus' appearances to his followers, and that the official end to Easter is Pentecost, when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit. Relish this season. Enjoy the 50 days following the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. In fact, think about ways in which the Easter Season can be a spiritual practice for you. How are you being invited over the next 50 days to notice reminders of Christ's presence in your life? To be a living example of that presence to the people around you? As we continue to learn and grow together, I wish you a very blessed Easter Season. -Pastor Sara - About a year ago when my glucose got out of control enough to mask a would-be simple and easily treatable infection, I got to spend a pretty scary night in overnight observation to make sure it wasn’t going to my blood stream.
It wasn’t. But, hearing “we need to get a blood culture,” and knowing that this means they are checking for sepsis, was quite the emotional jolt. After that, I learned that intentional deep breathing exercises and guided meditation every day are powerful enough tools of self-care that they can help me keep my stress level down, which helps me keep my blood sugar in range. I've learned that my blood sugar is very sensitive to stress, and I can’t just let stress pile up and hope to relax on the next vacation. That’s not good for any of us, really. After that hospitalization, I started doing mindfulness and a daily gratitude practice, to help me keep letting go of things I can’t control. I write my gratitudes in my prayer journal, and I use apps like the Calm app, and youtube videos for short meditations to ease stress and help me relax. Take heed of what havocs stress can wreak on your body, and find something that works for you, to stay centered and grounded; at peace. For me, that's prayer, listening to music, gratitude and meditation. One of my daily gratitudes is my support system. That makes it into my notebook every day. And yes, my support system even includes Reesee the Cat. How do you handle the stress of everyday life? What practices of prayer (gratitude, silence, prayer journaling, praying out loud) help you through difficult times? Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Colossians 3:16
I learned a few years ago that one of the most effective ways to get through a hard time in life, at least in my experience, is the practice of gratitude. This attitude was instilled in me at an early age, growing up on the mission field in Brazil, South America with my parents. Back then, I thought of our gratitude journals as just another thing preacher’s kids had to do to stay out of trouble, along with taking notes on the sermon and sharing them over Sunday lunch. I know now, that my wise parents were preparing me to use gratitude as a practice in resilience for the hard times that we would face, as part of our human journey on this earth. Lately, I’ve been leaning in to gratitude, and it’s been really helpful. I find that when I’m pausing in the business of life, leaning in to gratitude has indeed reminded me of the richness of Christ dwelling in my heart. I find that hymns and psalms, and spiritual songs come readily, as I focus in on what I’m thankful for. This is not to say that I walk through my days in a rosy glow and everything is fine. Quite the opposite. A lot of days I feel overwhelmed and stressed, deeply tired all the way to my bones. This is a manifestation of grief, and it is important to acknowledge the grief we are all carrying. Mine stems from losing a dear friend 2 weeks ago to a car crash, and being far away from my nieces and nephew. In the meantime, in the pockets of light that emerge from the darkness that seems to press in around us as we watch the world continually try to tear itself apart, gratitude is a friend that waits to be invited to the table of our hearts for a steaming cup of coffee and a conversation about the little things that bring us joy: sun streaming in through the open window as the birds sing their happy songs to God, delicious coffee in a favorite mug with a rare experience of a happy kitty curled up and purring her cares away, hymns that remind us that though all hell should endeavor to shake our souls, God will never forsake us. Thanks be to God. Scripture: Isaiah 30:20-21
20 Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Devotion: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it.’” The canopy atop my four-post bed ruffled ever so slightly, as if billowing in the wind and the words were heavy in my ears. Not in a bad way, the words were full of gravitas and it was like my heart was a shoreline and the words were a wave. They crashed into me, engulfing me in their frothy substance: a promise. I had just graduated from college and was really struggling to find my way.I decided to read through some of my favorite books of the Bible for encouragement. In a hard time of looking for a job and trying to find my place in the world as a brand-new college grad, these words were balm and blessing. Often when I do the welcome at church, I invite participants to listen for the still, small voice of God speaking to them in song, prayer, or sermon. Every opportunity in life is a chance to hear a voice behind us saying “this is the way, walk in it.” I find this very comforting. I’ve often looked back on that day when though everything felt uncertain, I felt grounded and guided by God’s spirit with and within me. Looking back on that time helps me through the current difficulties we are facing together, and the nuanced hardships we face as individuals. Remember, today and always, that God is with you. Whether you turn to the right or the left, the spirit of God will guide you. Just listen. Exercise: Take some time today to listen for the still, small voice of God speaking to you. What do you hear? How will you respond? Journal what you are hearing, and how you are being called to respond, or spend some time in prayer or meditation. This is a good foundation for a vibrant practice of listening for the still, small voice of God speaking to you throughout your life. Blessings, - Pastor Sara - Lent is upon us, in fact it begins next week. Ash Wednesday is on February 14th this year. The last time this happened, my friends and I dubbed it Ash Valentine's Day.
I think it works. On Ash Wednesday, we remember our earthiness. These bodies of ours will not live forever; but our legacies will live on long past our bones have turned to dust. On Ash Wednesday, we reflect on our mortality. How will we be remembered? And we reflect on our living, as well. How are we faithfully following Christ? What needs to change, or go altogether? Some people choose to participate in a fast during Lent. Many people "give up" something, like sugar, TV, or meat. They abstain from these things for the 40 days after Ash Wednesday, not including Sundays. Sundays are like "mini Easters" in the Season of Lent, to remind us of the hope we have, even as we reflect on our earthy, dust-to dustness. Each year, instead of abstaining from something, I add a spiritual practice to my life; an intentional practice to keep me mindful of becoming less in my life, so Christ can become more. I'm still deciding what that will be for this year. However you choose to participate in Lent this year, if you decide to do so, may you have clarity and focus as you turn inward, to identify things that limit your full experience of the love of God and the leading of Christ in your life. Blessings, -Pastor Sara - |
Pastor SaraWelcome! I'm glad you're here. I am delighted to be pastor of The Church at Eaton. Join me here for musings and conversations on faith, love, and belonging. Archives
April 2024
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