Merging is an Ongoing Journey - Pancakes!!!

Back in February, 2020 roughly a month before our merger was to take place, I attended my first PUMC function, a Shrove Tuesday dinner of pancakes and bacon.

Since then it has been a whirlwind of activity, even though there was a break from mid-March 2020 until mid-July 2020.

Pancakes 2023

Well, last night, the return of the Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner returned. And with it came really fluffy pancakes. And turkey bacon. And bacon. And sausage. And apple sauce. And coffee - which was a bad decision on my part. 

It felt like in some ways I had finally come full circle, now attending as someone who has been involved at church a lot. And knowing more people so having a group of people to sit with. And talk with while waiting on line for pancakes. And to visit with over the course of the night.

I was so excited about the pancakes. Not just because I love pancakes. But because it brought me back to that first time I stepped into the PUMC building as someone who would soon be a regular part of the congregation. Though I was eagerly looking forward to a break from having to do everything, that first time knowing that I would soon have a new church family with new church experiences. Where I could attend service or events and not have to do all the things. Until I realized that doing all the things almost runs in my blood or something.

I never really had the opportunity to experience the hospitality PUMC offered before attending that Shrove Tuesday meal back in 2020. But then I did and it helped me feel ready for the next steps our small congregation in Wappingers was planning to take over the next month. (Or so we thought until COVID got in the way.)

So yesterday I got to experience pancakes once again. And later today I will experience another Ash Wednesday service. (Which has its own set of memories.) And another Lenten journey will begin.

Merging is an Ongoing Journey - Regeneration

I was a late-comer to Doctor Who. I started watching in the middle of the Eleventh Doctor's run (Matt Smith). I got the gist of the show without watching it. And, if you think about it, what really helps with the longevity of the show is the show's ability to continue with a main character (The Doctor) but without having to tax a single actor/actress in the role for the entirety of the show.

So what does Doctor Who have to do with my Merging being an Ongoing Journey?

Well, I got to thinking the other day that a pastoral reappointment is kind of like The Doctor's regeneration.

Yes, yet again, I will be encountering a new pastor. That will make 5 since 2018. Well, once the new pastor is appointed and July 2023 hits anyway.  So I've gotten really good at transitioning to new ways of doing things.

So during Matt Smith's run as The Doctor, and when I started watching, he had one set of companions. Then they left and he gained a new one, Clara. And during the character of Clara's time on the show, she experienced the regeneration of the Eleventh Doctor to the Twelfth Doctor (played by Peter Capaldi). 

The thing about regeneration is that The Doctor is still The Doctor, just with a different face and different mannerisms.

Trying not to give too much away if you're really behind in Doctor Who and want to avoid spoilers, but Clara had a difficult time dealing with the regeneration she witnessed. Until she receives a phone call from The Eleventh Doctor before he regenerated (it's a time travel thing). It is this phone call that helps Clara see the regenerated doctor is the same person, with just a few differences.

Each pastor that is appointed to a church, charge, or cooperative parish is their own person. They have their own way of doing things. They have different passions, ways of approaching a worship service or a meeting, a different way of preaching, and a different way of working with the church as a whole.

But they are all pastors. They all have similar training and expectations by the Bishop, the Cabinet, and the District Superintendent.

A new pastor is like The Doctor's regeneration.

Sometimes it is hard to accept the new face, the new name, the new personality, and the new everything else. Sometimes we are a bit like Clara, who was happy and comfortable with the way she met The Doctor. She didn't want his face or his actions or his likes and dislikes to change. But we just need to know that though the face may have changed and the personality may have changed and the worship style and management style and everything else may have changed - what hasn't changed is the future pastor's mission - to make disciples for the transformation of the world.

Photo from 2/13/2023

Merging is an Ongoing Journey - Losing a Church Family Member

The planet we live on, the country, state, county, and town I live in lost a very faithful man of God on Thursday (1/12/23).

Christmas Eve 2019

This was Richard. The photo is one of my favorites of him from our last Christmas Eve service at Wappingers. He was always willing to be liturgist and had such a great reading voice. Often when he read scripture we would hear a bit about the background of where it came in scripture - which he was passionate about sharing.

I experienced Richard in many ways during our time together at Wappingers. He was a lay servant, like me. He would preach from time to time.  We attended Bible studies together. If there was an event at church, he was always there to help out. He was our Finance chair and SPR for many years. We both attended Annual Conference in different capacities. We worked together when he was secretary of our Round Table (Ad Council) to ensure he picked up on everything we needed to make note of. When we no longer had kids or youth to light the candles he was often the acolyte. He also took on ushering and greeting duties.

He always had questions that gave you pause. When we were in Bible study together he would often come from a very different perspective from the rest of us. Which is always a good thing! Like me, he'd often take notes during the sermon.

He was always there with a hug to greet you - unless he was feeling under the weather. This was all pre-COVID though, when most people were okay with hugs. He'd always ask how you were, even if things weren't the greatest for him he always cared about everyone else around him. He would definitely let you know how things were going with him and his family if you asked him. 

When we did our first Thanksgiving Dinner, on his own he went to all his neighbors in his apartment complex and asked if they were interested in having a meal. Many of his neighbors were just one or two people who didn't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving - or couldn't get somewhere. So he worked with another church member and transported many meals back to his neighbors. He did this almost every year we hosted a dinner.

Eleven years ago we were doing a winter Bible study. It was the first time I was able to do a Bible study with my sister because she was unemployed and pregnant with  Anastasia. And one of the days we met happened to be my sister's birthday. Which, turned out to also be Richard's birthday. He brought one of those sampler cheesecakes - with different flavored slices - to celebrate Jessica's birthday, which also happened to be his. And any time I was tasked with doing announcements around my sister's birthday, he made sure to remind me to share her birthday and if I wanted to, share that it was his too.

I know, for sure, that Richard is in a better place. A place where he is completely healed of everything that went on with him. He will be missed. But, I know he was welcomed with open arms by God and the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant." And maybe also, "Nicodemus!" by Robert, another man of God taken from this earthly world far too soon.

Friday's Finding - My Word of 2023

I struggled as 2022 came to a close with choosing my word of the year. I haven't always had a word of the year.  But the past two years it seemed to be the thing to do and the words came so easily to me. Words like "Hope" and "Joy" with accompanying stones found at the Christmas Tree Shop made sense.

But as I headed into 2023, I had a tough time finding a word. The thing with the word of the year, at least for me, is that I want to feel like I can live into that word. Maybe not every waking moment of every day of the year. But it should at least be a guide of some sorts to me and an encouragement to try to find those things, even in my darkest moments.

Dayspring had a Word of the Year quiz and going through it, the word it gave me was "Rooted." But that word just didn't resonate with me. I thought maybe I should repeat a word, because I really resonated with both Hope and Joy. But that almost felt like cheating.

Instead I went into 2023 without a word of the year. I didn't feel bad about it. It just was the way things seemed to go.

Until I looked at the things on my desk at work. I have a few desk sayings given to me by various people over the past few years. I have pictures of family (blood and not) hanging on a bulletin-type board. I have a picture my niece drew for me. I have a few small gifts from people. And a rock from a Health Benefits day several years ago. On the rock it says "Breathe." 

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Or rocks. There it was. My word for 2023.

BREATHE.

Breathing is such a part of life that you don't often think about it. But, during our Contemplative worship service Sunday mornings, we are often encouraged in different ways to breathe in deeply. Or we do breath prayers. When I go for walks at Long Dock Park, I often breathe in the river air. It is a familiar smell, but one I miss when I go too long between visits. And, sometimes I get myself so wound up about things or singing or people or feelings or whatever that I need to remind myself to breathe.

Breathe is a word I definitely feel a connection to. One I do feel I can live into during 2023. And so, there it is.

BREATHE.

Reminding myself to breathe 12/31/2022 - whether I knew it or not

 

The Last Thought of 2022

Here we are on the last day of 2022.

I thought about a lot of things I could say. And various ways to say them.

It has been a year of stress. A year of change. A year of getting even closer with friends. A year of learning. A year of music. A year of having to take more on. A year of having to start making some decisions. A year of laughter. A year with many, many, many sunsets. And other interesting photos. A year of coffee and tea. A year of trying a lot of new foods. A year of growth with my church family. A year of crafting.

There were things I so wished for in 2022 that didn't happen. But some things that did happen. I found a new doctor and as a result of medications I have significantly less migraines.  I got to see and hear 2 more huge organs. I earned a certificate in Music Ministry. I got a new job after 23 1/2 years in one position. 

I cried a lot this year and I have a feeling that won't change in 2023. But I also smiled a lot. And laughed a lot.

While there are things I wish I had done or wish I had said or wish I had the courage to say or do in 2022, it was the year it was supposed to be.

And I'm hoping that 2023 is as interesting as 2022 was - and maybe more so. And I hope to get back in a more regular routine of blogging too - because I have missed it!

The view from my back yard 12/25/2022

Monday Musings - Trying to Find Joy

 

Joy - From 12/24/2020

Yesterday if you lit an Advent Wreath, you lit the pink candle, or the Joy candle. Going to two different services at church means I got to experience it twice.  Our pastor had us contemplate Joy, in both services, as well as sharing things that give you joy. And one of the things he said was that sometimes it is hard, especially at this time of year, for some people to find the joy.  But to try to find the joy in what others find joy in.

I will admit - this is where I struggle. And, appropriately enough (or inappropriately), I struggled a whole lot with this over the weekend.

Though the end of Saturday was a great day, the start to my Saturday was not good at all. And, it probably stemmed from some stuff that was going on in my head from Friday night. My dog woke me up early, and when I say early, I mean before 7am. On a day, in fact, the ONLY day I have to sleep past 7am. And then she refused to settle down, which meant I couldn't try to get more rest. And I also wound up having to take her out again before I went out to run the errands I had planned. Plus there was some other chaos going on that started to bring me down.

By the time I got home, which wasn't really that late, I still couldn't have a few moments of peace because I had more treks outside with the dog, had to make myself some lunch, grab a shower and fix my hair, and then go to a party hosted by my pastor and his family. Which was the part of my day that actually went well.

But before that I was struggling, a lot, with finding joy. 

I have tried to not be a negative person. Or to be able to find the good in any situation. But, there are times that I am human and I do struggle to find the joy.

There was a lot of joy going on around me, at home, at church, and other places. And there are things that definitely bring me joy on a personal level. I am working on trying to focus on those things. But sometimes my brain tries to bring me down.

So I keep trying to find the joy.

Heading into Christmas is a season of joy. And yes, I realize that there are people who are not able to find the joy for reasons very different from my own. But I keep trying to find it - if not for myself, then joy for others who need it or who are experiencing it.

That's why I chose to share the photo I did on this blog entry - from two years ago. Because that Christmas Eve day was one of joy. It was one of struggles too, as I fought with a migraine the entire day while attending multiple church services and singing at them. But it was also one of joy as it was our first Christmas Eve at our new church. 

So as I look back on that day, I think about the joy of that day despite my personal struggles that day and hope it helps me find the joy today. And I think about the music we sing at this time of year. One song in particular that keeps running through my head has the words to Joyful, Joyful in it but also has a chorus where it says "Joy, Unspeakable Joy..."  With that in my head, I try to find that unspeakable joy.

Monday Musings - My Photos

All I use is whatever camera is on my phone.  I've tried a few different camera apps from time to time in order to get better photos, but for the most part all the photos I take are from the actual camera on whatever phone I have.

And people compliment me on them all the time.

I'm not sure what I do that is different from anyone else - because everyone else has the same abilities as I do. Sometimes it is the same phone. Sometimes it is a better phone.

Many times I take a photo because the view is so beautiful I can't help myself. And the photo I take just never does the view justice. I can't tell you the number of times I have posted a photo and typed those words or shared a photo with a friend and sent those words. The photo is great in itself, but sometimes what is going on in real life is more beautiful than I can get the photo to express.

But, what happens every so often is that I hold my phone up to take what I think is a nice photo but what comes through the screen is much better than I even thought.

Outside Fellowship Hall at PUMC 12/4/2022

This photo is one of those rare ones. The sun was starting to peek out over the hill there and was shining in the window of our Fellowship Hall at church. It was 7:59am, and I had just a minute to grab it. I picked up my phone, opened the camera, and pointed. And what I saw through the camera lens was so much better than what I saw through the window. You can tell there is a bit of glaring from the window, and you can see one of the lights in the Fellowship Hall in the photo at the top. But the photo itself was more than I was expecting and I am so glad that I took the few seconds to take the photo before our Contemplative Service started.

I still don't know what to do with the compliments I receive from the photos I post and share. I just post and share them because I've taken them and I just want to share them because I like them and I feel like others should see them. I just like to share photos because they are a part of me.