life

It just continues....retreat with the Bishop, racial inclusiveness training, pandemic training, kindergarten graduation, Annual Conference, Summer Course of Study, not to mention doctor appointment (Jack and I on seperate dates), blood work, eye appointment, dentist (again Jack and I on seperate dates), sermon prep, music selection due to organist being out, two papers still due for school, all the prereading that is not getting done!!, trying to make Jack feel like we had a summer together with a two part camping trip on Memorial Day weekend, plans to see Prince Caspian tomorrow, need to clean the house as it is getting left behind, yard work is starting, praying for guidance.

sacred and secular

My newest default if nothing is on tv is VH1 classics. Last night, we caught a segment about Meatloaf and they were singing the chorus from "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". When Meatloaf sang out "I'll love you forever - I'll love you to the end of time". My six year old started singing it and said "Hey, I know that song". Me: "From where?"

We finally figured out that we was confused. He didn't know Meatloaf -- He knew Jesus!! The words were the lectionary text from the 18th "I'll be with you to the end of time"!!!

Gotta love that kid.

Renewal Baptism

On Pentacost Sunday, what would be more fitting that a service of renewal baptism? That's what we did. My son who is six had asked about it and a member of the congregation had been asking questions about baptism etc to share with a friend, so it seemed to be even more appropriate to do it now.

I went up with Jack to the bowl of water and then knelt at the altar. After I went to sit back down he remained at the altar. I found this a little curious, but didnt' say anything until much later.

On the way home from church, we called my mother to wish her a happy mother's day. I heard Jack say "We washed ourselves clean", so she must have asked how church was. Later I commented that "You really do listen when I talk (during the service)". That gave me the opportunity to ask him about staying at the altar. He said he was asking God not to take away his (Jack's) mercy! His teacher has made several comments about Jack being 'merciful' and he really likes that. So somehow he got the idea that being a new creation -- being washed clean -- would take away his mercy! I let him know that was a really good thing and God would not take that from him. God would only take away the bad stuff.

Friends/Mentors

I just had the most wonderful surprise. The pastor who mentored me into the ministry stopped by unexpectedly to talk to my boss about an issue in his life and we got to talk for 40 minutes or so. It was wonderful to see him looking so well. I will not mention names since he has just left the blogosphere, but some of you will know to whom I am referring.

Beyond the fact that he is no longer in ministry, it was just like old times discussing everything from what we are doing in general, to specifics of the churches, to the denomination as a whole, to advice from a mentor to a mentee. It was just great to have that connection again.

Those of you who know please pray specifics, those of you who don't please pray for wholeness.

Mars Hill

Yesterday, the children's message addressed the Ascension (of course, only Jack was there! Cheyenne was home spending alone time with mom and Ariana didn't want to stay so Grandma took her home after Sunday school). We then moved on to Mars Hill and Paul's sermon. Hopefully, the main idea behind the message came across (God can be known, but not by us debating with others or conversely beating them over the head with the Bible, but by being authentic Christians). I felt the entire service went well, that it represented a typical Sunday at State Line. Which was my goal once I found out my mentor would be attending worship - something he hasn't been able to do in the three years he's been my mentor and I've been at State Line.

on a side note, he has a beautiful singing voice and just blessed the congregation during each of the songs (we do six). Personally, I had not been thinking about his singing voice and was completely thrown off for the first few bars of the first hymn before I settled back to enjoy it. Personally, that is why I love going to District/Conference events to hear all those male voices! It's not something you hear in the average church worship service from my experience.

This week being Pentacost I hope to explain the third person of the Trinity in terms that can be understood even by the children as we have been having problems with this: ie are we talking about God the Father or God the Son? Who died and are they still dead? and what do you mean 'the holy spirit'? It's been wonderful having the children, but it sure does stretch a person!! I am ending the service with a renewal baptismal service. As we talk about receiving the Holy Spirit and how that experience is repeatable, we'll move into how water baptism is not repeatable but Jesus received water baptism before the Spirit (dove) fell upon him so let's remember our baptism as we open ourselves up to receiving the Holy Spirit.

The only question I have right now is about the music. Our musician will be out with family for Mother's Day. I was thinking of doing a contemporary set (sort of like the babbling experienced at Pentacost!), but haven't yet gotten into picking the songs and arranging them. Also should it be a set or should we do four songs in place of the normal four hymns? Lots to think about on top of sermon prep, etc!!!!