Merging is an Ongoing Journey - Funny Family Jokes

 So, yesterday was the 5th Sunday of the month, which meant State of the Church reports.  I've done three of them now, January, May, and August.  The first one we were still meeting online so I sent a video in but the other 2 I have done in person.

Giving my report from the Church Council perspective 8/29/2021

So, here's what happened.  We had a couple video reports which were to be followed by 4 people who were giving in-person reports (one of whom was me).  So two people gave their reports.  Then I looked at the other person who had a report to give and indicated they should go before me.  And they did.  Then I went to get up to give my report and someone else asked if they could give a report, so I sat down.  I went to get up a second time, and someone else wanted to give a report.

By this time it was becoming just silly and when I got up the third time, someone else joked they had something to say.  Which just was so funny! (And then when I was done with my report, everyone sang Happy Birthday to me, which was so nice!)

As I was relaying this story to a friend via email last night, it made me really think about family.  I know I've talked about being part of a church family and how I really have grown into feeling the PUMC congregation as my church family.  But I was mostly focused on the caring aspect of family.  But, reality is, with family you can joke too.

In our house when one of us says we can't do something that one literally can't do, we say "Oh that's a poor excuse."  Not being mean, but realizing that it isn't something that could be done.  Like if I'm trying to carry multiple things, sometimes I say "I'm not an octopus, I only have 2 hands" someone is likely to say "Oh that's a poor excuse!" Being funny.

In church it seems the same type of thing happens.  Like when I was trying to give my report and other people had reports and kept jumping in until someone joked about having a report. Family, no matter how it comes across, is not just for caring.  You sometimes argue with family.  And you also joke with family.  

I am glad that I've come across the joking with my church family.  Because it has made for a great memory and one I am still laughing about, even with the craziness of my day.

Thursday Thoughts - Beauty of Night

You have all experienced my numerous sunset pictures, I'm sure.  And more recently, I've been posting a lot of cloud and sky pictures.  But I've also been taking some night pictures, when it's typically pitch black outside and I can't see a thing.  Sometimes I can see clouds or the moon and have worked very hard in the past to take nice pictures of them.

Clouds at Night from 8/25/2021

But what I have learned is just to point, press the area on the phone to take the picture, and hold still for a few seconds.  My phone camera's night setting does something to help take really great night pictures!  I just have to stand still for a few seconds (between 3-8).  Sometimes it's easy but sometimes I'm trying to take pictures while walking Sparkle so I don't always get to stand still for as long as I'm being asked to.

I've gotten some really awesome pictures.  One night, just by happenstance, I actually got one of the dippers!  (Not sure whether it was the big or little one.)  I wasn't even trying to and it came out that way.  So awesome!  I love getting clouds at night too because, like the picture above, they just come out really cool.

I am slowly learning the beauty that night photos hold too.  I still love my sunsets and my blue sky and puffy clouds.  But night is peaceful and beautiful as well.  I can't wait to see what else I can randomly capture this way!

Merging is an Ongoing Journey - Associating as a Whole Unit

It's going to be a short one again this week.

But as I was looking out at the congregation this week, a smaller crowd than usual due to the impending storm, Henri, I realized something that maybe I have realized earlier but just really started thinking about it now.

I don't identify people as "us" and "everyone else."

Or rather "Wappingers" and "Poughkeepsie."

All of US (8/15/2021)

I just look out at the congregation and identify people from their faces (or half faces again while we wear masks).  Not thinking where they came from but that we are all part of one congregation.  I have been saying that I see everyone as my church family.  But, in a sense, I was still mentally thinking church family who was already at Poughkeepsie or church family who came from Wappingers.

But now I look at everyone and I just think of their names and I no longer associate them with where we came from.  I mean, in a sense I always will.  But I think just looking out and seeing the familiar faces and thinking of everyone as one big unit is a big step for me.  I only wish it had come to my mind sooner.

Thursday Thoughts - The Downside of Staycation

If you follow me on Facebook, you've seen a daily post with some images of how my time off from work has been, in other words, my staycation.  I wonder if people are tired of seeing what I am doing with my days off.  But I think after going so much, it was something that I needed to do before things kick up once again.

Attempting to capture lightning one evening

I've gotten to be able to rest.  Maybe not at night like most normal people.  Sparkle is still either waking me when she would wake me up for work, or earlier than that for some reason.  But I've gotten to take naps or go back to sleep in the early morning.

I've been able to read.  I've worked on a diamond painting project.  And, while I didn't finish it which was one of my goals, I got pretty far.  I worked a lot on a blanket for my sister.  And got a bit of organization and cleaning done.  Found more books to donate.  I've kept up with my blogging.  And I took a couple hikes, one familiar and one with memories.  Oh!  And I've had fresh brewed coffee almost every day - YUMMY!

But there has been a constant downside, and I'm not sure why.  I've pretty much had some form of headache every day.  Sometimes it was related to my activity for the day.  Like when I hike, I get overheated and dehydrated.  Or when I was cleaning out, dust bothers me.  Or the days I stressed about my parents getting somewhere, or when I watch them drive the wrong way from Google Maps and I'm calling to get them on the right path again.  Or some days when I was stressing about work - how much I will have to catch up on when I get back and how much we have to do in preparation for the students returning to campus.  Or even stressing about going with my sister back to the Cape tomorrow so that we can drive stuff and them back without them getting lost.  

My sister says I overthink things a lot.  It's related to other things, but in this case, maybe I'm overthinking things too and over-stressing myself when I'm sure things will work out.  

As my time off ends, I am excited about the work that will be going on to welcome the new students to campus in just over a week.  And yeah, it may be stressful, but it is a good kind of stress.  I just hope that my trend of headaches fades away so I can get back into things full force.

Merging is an Ongoing Journey - The Other Side of a Merger

This past weekend was the actual service of merger between Bangall UMC and Poughkeepsie UMC.  We have actually been a merged congregation for a bit now, but the service deconsecrating the Bangall sanctuary and the service bringing us together was on Saturday.

The outside of Bangall UMC

Both services were very nice, and in some cases it reminded me of our own services just over a year ago.  Including the fact that it rained both days.  I definitely wasn't as emotional as with our own service.  And that makes sense.  But it was important for me to be there for these new church family members and support them by praying throughout the services.  This also included reading some scripture in both services.

Now having been on both sides of a merger, both the church that is merging into another and part of a church receiving another church, all within a year, is an experience.  Maybe not the most ideal experience, but maybe it is too - just because the memories are fresh which I think helped me related to both sides a bit better.

It is just another example of how the merging journey continues on.  Even after you've been merged.  Even after you watched another congregation merge with you.  The journey of merging continues on.  Maybe not exactly the same way each time, but there are definitely strings of familiarity each time.

Thursday Thoughts - If X, Then Y Wouldn't Have Happened

I was watching a repeat of an episode of Rizzoli and Isles from the last season, and at the end of the episode, Maura was troubled by a good outcome of case she was treating at a clinic - a baby who was determined to be destined for death, looked to now be on the mend.  Maura trusts science, and has difficulty seeing things outside of plain facts.  Jane brings her to a park and says sometimes when she is in a similar situation, she "plays a game" and thinks about the positive "what ifs."  In Maura's case, if she hadn't had a brain injury, she wouldn't have wanted to pursue life outside of her job as a coroner, in which case she wouldn't have met this terminal child, and led the child on a path to healing.

This got me thinking to my own "what ifs."  Usually when I do this, though, I focus on the negative aspects.  Like, if I hadn't broken off my engagement all those years ago, I would be married and I wouldn't have been hurt by others who I thought might have liked me. 

But let me turn that around.

If I hadn't broken off my engagement, I wouldn't have become as involved in church as I became and as I am now.  If I hadn't broken off my engagement, I wouldn't have become as involved in the district and conference as I am now.  If I hadn't broken off my engagement, I wouldn't have gone back to grad school and earned multiple Master's degrees.

If we hadn't merged, I would not have been able to reconnect with people, and become friends who are more like family.

Polly and I, a former teacher who I am blessed to call my friend and part of my church family

If we hadn't merged, I would still not be singing except the occasional hymn in church, once we were allowed to sing with masks on.  If we hadn't merged, I wouldn't have been involved in church in the ways I am now.  If we hadn't merged, I wouldn't have had more church family like I do now.  If we hadn't merged, I wouldn't have found a person with the same musical tastes as me.  If we hadn't merged, I would never have rediscovered my love for organ music, which I have passed along (at least for now) to my niece.

If I hadn't followed where God was leading me, I would be in a much different place.

And though I still struggle with many things, I know that things happen for a reason.  I may never know the reason.  It may take months or years to figure out the reason, or at least come to terms with a reason.  But God has a reason.  And I am so glad for that.

Merging is an Ongoing Journey - Continuing to Adapt

It'll be a short entry today.  But one thing I have learned, which is why I'm continuing with this blog series, is that I am continuing to adapt.  Adapting to being involved with others, adapting to being part of changing plans, adapting to pushing myself vocally, adapting to changing environments, and many other things.

Sunrise on 8/6/2021

I even adapted to going on with a smile on my face after a long day on Friday August 8th, where I not only saw the sunrise but the sunset, everything in between most of which while I was on the road.  Even after a day of doing nothing, except napping, I was still tired and wanted to have another day of doing nothing.  But, I got up early with my alarm and got ready and went to church.

I think, though, even in this world we have to be ready to adapt.  People hate the word "change" or having to change.  Maybe adapt is a better word for it.  Adapting to new ways of doing things.  Adapting to how different people are.  Adapting to things you maybe weren't used to.

Being part of a merging process has helped me adapt to things a bit better.  I can't explain how because it just seems like something I've come to accept.  But I'm glad I have learned to adapt and I am able to continue to adapt as the days go on.

Thursday Thoughts - Such Great Joy!

 Note: This was a brief devotional I wrote for our Church Council meeting held on Wednesday, August 4th and I thought I'd share it with a wider audience.

 

Sun behind clouds 8/5/2021

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!  Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150: 1-6 (NRSV)

 You may have learned that sometimes hearing particular pieces of scripture can do one of two things for me.  It can either bring to mind a pop culture reference or a musical reference.  The musical references are tougher for me, only because they then become those dreaded ear worms and it takes awhile to get it out of my head.  I sing them in my head.  I sing them in the car.  I sing them at home.  (I sound like I’m a Dr. Seuss book!)  I sing them at work while listening to them on my laptop – so much so that I instituted a new rule since my office space is filling up, “If Jenn starts singing too loudly, throw something at her.”  (Note: this was said because he was right next to me at the meeting:  Oh, and Pastor Jody, if I encounter you singing the Phantom of the Opera while on the Rail Trail, I’m going to sing along with you and then that will become my next ear worm.)

Psalm 150 is no exception to me getting a song stuck in my head.  It was in one of my readings today and all I could think of was this song from my childhood where the chorus went “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, Rejoice and sing and shout ‘Hallelujah!’ Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, Kick up your heels and sing!”

It is a short Psalm, but it is packed with joy.  Joy that may just make us happy.  Or it may cause us to sing and shout and dance.  Or even just smile and know that we will get through the day.  We have had a rough year and a half.  And it continues on.  But it is important to remember that underneath all that rough stuff there is still joy.  Joy because God is with us and God loves us.

We may have to make or support tough decisions during this meeting.  We may have bad days at home or in our jobs or whatever else it is that we do.  But know that even amid the tough stuff and the hard stuff and the sad stuff and rough stuff, there is good stuff and God loves us and there is great joy in that.

Merging is an Ongoing Journey - And I Do Too Much

In small church, those who are there tend to do a lot, because, well, there's no one else to do stuff.  On any one Sunday, I would run either the computer or the sound system (or both), sometimes be liturgist, 1st Sunday of the month I would assist with Communion, and every once and awhile do some of this while also preaching.  And then after church I would count the offering.

One would think in a larger church, I would not be doing so much at one time.  But, in addition to being too hard on myself, I also do too much.  Or what some might think is too much.

The calm before the crazy (8/1/2021)

So yesterday I sang with choir. This is nothing new.  Since choir came back in June, I've been singing every week.  And choir continued through July and now August, which I guess never happened before but 2021 is the year for new things so it's kind of cool being able to keep singing.

But yesterday I also was in the back of the church running some of the streaming technology and training someone else on it as well.  It's not an impossible feat, because others have done the same.  But, I guess for me the issue is figuring out the best timing so I'm not running to get in place, then struggling to breathe while singing, and then running to get back.  All with a dress on.  Which, amazingly, I didn't trip on!  (I'm counting my blessings where I can.)

What was different this time was that I wasn't doing a bunch of things because I had to, but because I wanted to.  I love choir and the people who are part of choir.  I love singing.  I love the tech people I work with and being able to help provide church to those who aren't able to make it to church or aren't comfortable now with being around a lot of people.

Yes, some may say I do too much.  But, I'm learning some limits.  But I am glad to be able to do those things.  It does not feel so much of a burden instead, I'm involved and I like being able to do what I can to share things I love and help others experience worship even if they aren't in the 4 walls of the sanctuary.