Got prayer?
Nah, too busy. It's almost December, you know. Time for the marathon of Christmas cards/shopping/parties/cookies/gifts/fruitcakes/extra pounds. Y'all ready for this?
Timely, then, that one of our parishioners submitted an article for our December newsletter about being "too busy" for worship. She wrote about the rest and peace that comes when she does make that holy space.
Sometimes I think the busier I am, the more I MUST stop and rest, worship, pray. If I am full, there is no space for God to come in and nestle in the manger of my heart.
But we all get distracted.
In another newsletter from Christ Lutheran in Soldotna (shout out to Pr Randy) there's an opening letter about distractions in prayer. We all experience this, admit it. My moments of silence can be the loudest part of my day, with the echoing thoughts screaming in my brain.
Pr Randy quotes British theologian Herbert McCabe, so I will too. (Shout out to McCabe, where ever you are). Says McCabe, when we pray for "high-minded" things like wars to cease and the hungry to be fed, we may be easily distracted. Yes, these are good to pray for but they are not our deepest desires. We are distraced by our deepest desires, so pay attention to them. McCabe goes on:
"If you are distracted, trace your distraction back to the real desire it comes from and pray about these. When you are praying for what you really want you will not be distracted. People on sinking shops do not complain about distractions during their prayer."
Amen!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Frequently facebook
It's true. Since my twenty-something sister helped me figure out how to use Facebook this summer, I'm a regular user. I confess. My email address for Facebook, BTW, is centsmith@gci.net. So if you'd like to be my "friend," please invite me. I can't figure out how to invite you. No offense.
Anyway, came across this funny little ditty about Facebook on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-fJxzpK7s
What does this have to do with ministry? Well, the reason I signed up (and as Pastor Lisa) was by an invite from a parishioner who doesn't attend worship but communicates with me on Facebook. Interesting way to do ministry, eh?
Anyway, came across this funny little ditty about Facebook on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-fJxzpK7s
What does this have to do with ministry? Well, the reason I signed up (and as Pastor Lisa) was by an invite from a parishioner who doesn't attend worship but communicates with me on Facebook. Interesting way to do ministry, eh?
Friday, November 16, 2007
A little more press
Okay, one more bit of media attention. Check out what the Anchorage Daily News has to report about the after school program at Central, run by Campfire USA.
http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/9457561p-9368961c.html
I promise I'm not quoted in this one :)
http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/9457561p-9368961c.html
I promise I'm not quoted in this one :)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
On interfaith dialogue
Last Thursday I attended a luncheon of Jews, Christians and Muslims. We came for interfaith dialogue, facilitated by Maryam Quadrat, a Muslim scholar whose family is from Afghanistan. She did a number of lectures last week as part of APU's "Engaging Muslims" series.
First, let me say unapologetically that we each have a responsibility to learn from and listen to those of other faiths, cultures and ethnicities. This is foundational if we are to work for peace in our world. Living in a bubble of those just like us is not the way toward peace and understanding. We must go out of our comfort zone and dialogue with someone different.
Sitting in the Willow Conference room at Providence Hospital last Thursday, I felt alive. We introduced ourselves: Muslims, Jews, Methodists, Lutherans, Christian Scientists. Our common purpose was to listen and hopefully hear each other.
Here are some things I learned:
* Islam is tightly wound with politics and culture. Political and religious leaders are "in" with each other, kind of like the Holy Roman Empire/Catholic church of middle ages Europe. This is problematic, but not a FAULT in Islam. Can you say, "crusades?"
* The Koran does NOT say women must cover their heads. It says they must cover their "ornaments." So it's open for interpretation and many disagree, just like with the Bible. Remember these are men in power doing the interpreting. So, women cover their heads. Some think "ornaments" means hair. A more liberal read on the Koran would suggest "ornaments" merely refers to "breasts." And, yes, those should be covered in public!
* In Afghanistan, only men are allowed in mosques. Period.
* The Taliban are burning 10 schools a month in Afghanistan.
* The way to change? Quadrat suggests EDUCATION, which would "put the Taliban out of business." People need education and scholarship rising up from universities. This is where we can find hope.
When asked at the end, what can we do to help bring about peace, we heard only simple answers. But maybe these are the most important.
Recognize that peoples' most basic needs are the same everywhere. And get beyond misconceptions to actually learn about those from different cultures and religions.
To that, I'd add, "Do it now."
First, let me say unapologetically that we each have a responsibility to learn from and listen to those of other faiths, cultures and ethnicities. This is foundational if we are to work for peace in our world. Living in a bubble of those just like us is not the way toward peace and understanding. We must go out of our comfort zone and dialogue with someone different.
Sitting in the Willow Conference room at Providence Hospital last Thursday, I felt alive. We introduced ourselves: Muslims, Jews, Methodists, Lutherans, Christian Scientists. Our common purpose was to listen and hopefully hear each other.
Here are some things I learned:
* Islam is tightly wound with politics and culture. Political and religious leaders are "in" with each other, kind of like the Holy Roman Empire/Catholic church of middle ages Europe. This is problematic, but not a FAULT in Islam. Can you say, "crusades?"
* The Koran does NOT say women must cover their heads. It says they must cover their "ornaments." So it's open for interpretation and many disagree, just like with the Bible. Remember these are men in power doing the interpreting. So, women cover their heads. Some think "ornaments" means hair. A more liberal read on the Koran would suggest "ornaments" merely refers to "breasts." And, yes, those should be covered in public!
* In Afghanistan, only men are allowed in mosques. Period.
* The Taliban are burning 10 schools a month in Afghanistan.
* The way to change? Quadrat suggests EDUCATION, which would "put the Taliban out of business." People need education and scholarship rising up from universities. This is where we can find hope.
When asked at the end, what can we do to help bring about peace, we heard only simple answers. But maybe these are the most important.
Recognize that peoples' most basic needs are the same everywhere. And get beyond misconceptions to actually learn about those from different cultures and religions.
To that, I'd add, "Do it now."
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Can I Have Your Autograph?
Seriously. Someone asked me this yesterday (I think they were kidding). We've had some media attention around Central lately, thanks to the municipality of Anchorage budget that underfunds an after-school program at Central.
Two years ago, the mayor's office agreed to fund a Campfire USA program for free for kids in our West Fairview neighborhood. In the 2008 proposed muni budget, the program was not fully funded. Neither was a summer kids' program at St. Anthony Catholic Church, a fellow member of our community organizing group AFACT.
So we did what we knew how to do: we had a public meeting with assembly members, presented research on why these programs are important and asked assembly members to commit to supporting them.
And then the media came. The local NBC and CBS affiliates interviewed me here at Central, one on Monday, one on Friday. One interviewed our parishioner Dahna Graham. Both she and I ended up on TV. I was sure glad we were getting some "press" for something positive. Yes! Now we just have to wait and see what the assembly will do.
I was pretty fired up about getting our muni support for the families in Fairview who use the Campfire program. One mother recently told me that her son has no where else to play (they live in a high-density living area). And a 6-year-old boy in an apartment for hours on end is no good!
Another thing that fired me up: when we focus on the families being served, we win. When we focus on the politics, we lose. There's been some tug of war between mayors' office and assembly 'round this buget. I was extremely disappointed when a parishioner from another congregation (thank you!) wrote an assemblyman to urge his support for the afterschool program. The assemblyman's response: it's the mayor's fault, he left it out of the budget, why don't you ask him. The last sentence was in all capital letters...like he was in third grade or becoming Owen Meany.
Anyway, I don't know whose "fault" it was that the after school program wasn't in the budget but the damage is done. I commend all who showed up to support these programs in our AFACT meeting Monday night, and all those on the assembly who will work for after-school programs in the budget.
Two years ago, the mayor's office agreed to fund a Campfire USA program for free for kids in our West Fairview neighborhood. In the 2008 proposed muni budget, the program was not fully funded. Neither was a summer kids' program at St. Anthony Catholic Church, a fellow member of our community organizing group AFACT.
So we did what we knew how to do: we had a public meeting with assembly members, presented research on why these programs are important and asked assembly members to commit to supporting them.
And then the media came. The local NBC and CBS affiliates interviewed me here at Central, one on Monday, one on Friday. One interviewed our parishioner Dahna Graham. Both she and I ended up on TV. I was sure glad we were getting some "press" for something positive. Yes! Now we just have to wait and see what the assembly will do.
I was pretty fired up about getting our muni support for the families in Fairview who use the Campfire program. One mother recently told me that her son has no where else to play (they live in a high-density living area). And a 6-year-old boy in an apartment for hours on end is no good!
Another thing that fired me up: when we focus on the families being served, we win. When we focus on the politics, we lose. There's been some tug of war between mayors' office and assembly 'round this buget. I was extremely disappointed when a parishioner from another congregation (thank you!) wrote an assemblyman to urge his support for the afterschool program. The assemblyman's response: it's the mayor's fault, he left it out of the budget, why don't you ask him. The last sentence was in all capital letters...like he was in third grade or becoming Owen Meany.
Anyway, I don't know whose "fault" it was that the after school program wasn't in the budget but the damage is done. I commend all who showed up to support these programs in our AFACT meeting Monday night, and all those on the assembly who will work for after-school programs in the budget.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
For all the saints
Hello to all you saints out there. It's all saints day in our tradition and I've been thinking about this all week. My yoga teacher even mentioned it in class this morning (after first asking me to please explain the intent of the festival -- nice to get some positive PR for Christians in there :)
Pastor Mike explained last year that All Saints on Nov. 1 traditionally honors those "bona fide" saints: matthew, mark, luke, what-have-you. All Saints was started sometime in the third century to honor martyrs.
Nov. 2 is All Souls, which honors anyone who has gone before. I always thought All Souls sounded funny, especially when I noted that an Episcopal church in Berkeley was named "All Souls Parish." Duh!
In worship tonight (Taize, 7 pm) and on Sunday, we'll light a candle for those who have gone before. It's good to think of this. We need ritual to remember the dead and celebrate their impacts in our lives. After all, most people at a funeral aren't crying over the one who died, they're grieving all the other losses they haven't finished grieving yet. Some of them we never finish grieving and that's okay. We just live with "grief moments," as Donna Stevens says, an Anchorage nurse and expert in grief. We should have her speak at Central sometime.
So I'll share that I'm thinking about my Grandma today, who died in March. Janina Hnantow Smith. I haven't been back to Iowa since she died, so sometimes I forget she's gone. I think this is normal. And I know the grief moments will keep coming, especially when I return after Christmas this year.
So maybe you have special saint to think of today. Maybe you can light a candle to remember him or her. I'm going to go light one right now.
Pastor Mike explained last year that All Saints on Nov. 1 traditionally honors those "bona fide" saints: matthew, mark, luke, what-have-you. All Saints was started sometime in the third century to honor martyrs.
Nov. 2 is All Souls, which honors anyone who has gone before. I always thought All Souls sounded funny, especially when I noted that an Episcopal church in Berkeley was named "All Souls Parish." Duh!
In worship tonight (Taize, 7 pm) and on Sunday, we'll light a candle for those who have gone before. It's good to think of this. We need ritual to remember the dead and celebrate their impacts in our lives. After all, most people at a funeral aren't crying over the one who died, they're grieving all the other losses they haven't finished grieving yet. Some of them we never finish grieving and that's okay. We just live with "grief moments," as Donna Stevens says, an Anchorage nurse and expert in grief. We should have her speak at Central sometime.
So I'll share that I'm thinking about my Grandma today, who died in March. Janina Hnantow Smith. I haven't been back to Iowa since she died, so sometimes I forget she's gone. I think this is normal. And I know the grief moments will keep coming, especially when I return after Christmas this year.
So maybe you have special saint to think of today. Maybe you can light a candle to remember him or her. I'm going to go light one right now.
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