When I make clear priorities and force myself to consider binary choices, (yes to this, no to that for the sake of the yes,) it really drives me to sadness and despair, and then to Christ for mercy.  Here is why: In making very conscious choices I am forced to confront my weakness, whether it is a lack of time or a lack of warm hearted love, or a driving self-will for comfort. I am forced to see that my circle of influence is miniscule compared to my circle of concern. My circle of influence is far smaller than I fancy it to be and it requires more work than I want to do in order to enlarge it. But if I do not enlarge it (by becoming more organized with my time, money or my emotional energy), I see how others suffer, and how I really am more interested in my comfort zone than I am in other people. This is a bitter pill; one I an inclined to avoid. This is why making a personal mission statement and clarifying priorities is no joke. It is not the statement per se, or the list of priorities per se that is important. It is the process and habit of visiting them before God who calls me to service.

Help us welcome her with a community dinner Thur June 3 6:30pm at Rosewood Manor – bring a Mediterranean dish to share.  (not sure what to bring?  google it!)

While she’s here, feel free to email her and invite her to coffee – areichard001@defiance.edu

I’ve been really interested in this question of “How do I hear God’s Voice?” because as Christians, we don’t follow a philosophy, or an ideal, or a moral or ethic… we follow a WHO not an IDEA.  Which makes things really interesting because this relationship is totally different than any other relationship.  Here’s a couple of the unique features that make it different than a relationship with your friends or family:

1. It’s with a GOD, (that’s pretty different!)

2. It’s with an INVISIBLE God (increasingly different!)

3. It’s with an invisible God, who primarily uses mysterious forms of communication to speak to you, which require your trust. (just plain weird)

Some forms of communication – like directly speaking in an audible voice, or through dreams, visions, messengers…  I believe these things happen, but they only make up about .001 percent of the Christian experience.  Last night Rosie Thomas read from a book called Miracle after Miracle at her concert… and it was funny because it was so contrived.  The author wanted so badly to command the power of miracles that he created them out of silly situations like the shapes of clouds and pulling out a splinter from his wife’s hand.  But in a way I don’t blame him.  You might look at the Bible and you start to think, “This stuff happens all the time for people… what’s wrong with me?”  Until you realize that our scriptures are a highlight reel of the last fourteen thousand years of God’s interactions with humanity.

If you remember, we’re in the Season of Easter now and up until today each Sunday’s Gospel story is about how the resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples, but today’s story isn’t that.  In fact, we jumped backwards in the life of Christ to a story prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus.  So what’s with that? Why get out of order?  Well, the Ascension of our Lord is coming up, when the resurrected Jesus returns to the right hand of God.  It’s the second to last Sunday in the Season of Easter.  And Jesus is preparing the disciples & preparing us to follow him regardless of his physical presence… preparing us to remain in relationship with an invisible God who primarily uses mysterious forms of communication to speak with his followers.

So Jesus is in the temple and some people ask him, “Why wont you speak to us plainly…?”  And isn’t that our question today? “God, Just Be Direct with us!”  And Jesus’ answer is pretty direct,  “Well I have been, but you didn’t believe it – because you’re not my sheep.  Here’s a description of my sheep – here’s a description of a Christ follower:

1. When I speak – they know it’s my voice and not some other voice,

2. and they follow that voice, they obey that voice.

3. And that hearing and following is what real life looks like -I call it eternal life – which is being in relationship to me.  It’s not something you for being in relationship to me, it IS being in relationship to me.

4. And lastly, like any good shepherd, I’m going to see to it that my sheep don’t get snatched away.

Our hearts have a couple of different ways to respond to this.  We can say:

- “What do you mean you’ve spoken plainly to me? It’s as plain as mud.  You think I’m the problem? I’m not listening well enough?  You’re the problem. We need to get you some speech therapy God!”  Incensed and defensive.

We can say: “You’re probably right, I know I don’t hear you well and I really want to, and it kinda scares me that I’m not hearing you, and that makes it pretty difficult to follow you.”

If you feel this way I want to say to you, “Oh, you must be a follower of Christ.”  If you feel this way then you have just joined a long tradition of psalmist, who say, with you:

Psalm 83 “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still… I am in trouble.”

Psalm 109 “O God, you are the one that I praise, so please do not stay silent”

Psalm 10 “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

This is probably the most frequent concern that people bring to me.  “I don’t hear God’s voice and I really need to hear from him.”  And when people talk like this they’re not having an existential conversation about the idea of God. It’s not theoretical, it’s practical…  When we talk like this we are right in the middle of it, and we just need a word – some kind of direction – something real… “God, just throw me a bone here! Because everyone is giving me advice, but I don’t want everyone’s advice anymore – I just want to hear the voice of the God who made me and holds my fragile future in your hands.”

I have a friend who could certainly use a word from God right now and he turned me on to chapter 45 of Isaiah… two verses that seem to say the opposite thing and they are only three verses in between them

Verse fifteen: Truly you are a God who hides himself

Isn’t that your experience of God? Pretty much hidden.

Verse nineteen: I have not said, “seek me in vain”

God is hidden, and yet seeking this hidden God is not a worthless pursuit. Listening for this silent God will not go unfulfilled.  And when you get even a whisper of his voice, believe it and act confidently on it.

I used to have disdain for that old song that goes, “Trust and Obey… for there’s no better way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”  My mentor Jami was whistling it while I was working with him a number of years back and I made some sarcastic remark about the song.  And he asked, “Oh, well what don’t you like about it?”

‘It feels like the same uncritical dogma as that bumper sticker that says, “The Bible Says it, I believe it, that settles it.”  Which usually ends up using the Bible to say whatever you want.’  Jami thought about it for a year, a whole year, and then said to me, “Um remember that conversation about the song…  well, what if you don’t like it because you don’t want to trust and obey Jesus?”

Brother Roger says it this way, “Live what little of the Gospel you know.”  Whatever it is that Jesus has spoken to you, In the scriptures… in the voice of listening mentor… in the proclamation of the Law and the Gospel… in a springtime leaf… in the bread broken for you and the wine poured out for you… in the waters of baptism that say, “You belong to me and I’ll never let you go.”

Whatever little of the Gospel you have heard - trust it, live it and don’t wait!  Our hearts protest and say, “But I don’t hear your voice and I don’t know what to do.”  Jesus says, “I know you’re scared, but you’ve heard enough for you to follow. Perhaps you’ll hear more in that very act of obedience.”

“But I have a really specific question and I don’t hear your voice Jesus.”  Jesus says, “I know. That sounds really hard. You might have more freedom about this decision than you realize, and that can be terrifying.  But I wont let you. Even if you make a poor decision.  You can be certain of one thing, I’m going to be with you.  I’m not going to let you get snatched out of my hand.  Don’t worry. Still the noise of your worries and listen.  I’m going to speak to you now.”

WHEN?   Fri (5pm on) March 19 to Sun morning March 21

Arrival is any time after 5.  Please remember that we will not be providing dinner on Friday, but we will have snacks available.

WHERE?   Lakeside Bible Camp 4170 Bible Camp Dr.  Clinton, WA 98236-8425  (Whidby Island)

Here is the link to directions:  http://lakesidebiblecamp.org/important/driving-to-camp/

COST?  $45 per adult and $25 for children 6-14, ages 5 and under are free.  For those of you who haven’t paid yet, you can pay on Friday using either cash or check.  If you need financial assistance or would like to pay for another – contact ryan@belovedschurch.org

WHAT TO BRING:

Just check out all the work we did last Saturday:

Why plant a garden?  And what in the world does it have to do with faith?

Glad you asked!  Give me a minute to rant and rave and I’ll tell you.

It’s clear that at no other time in human history has a society been further removed from its sources of food, produced more waste and done more harm to their environment, and all of this at the expense of our global neighbors.  Central to our vocation as Christ’s Beloved is a ministry of reconciliation, which includes all Creation.  That means that God is calling us to drastic life-change, not motivated by guilt and fear, but rather, an inward change motivated by delight in God’s good creation and gratitude for the love of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, it’s with this passion at our heart that we recognize a great need in us and in South Snohomish County for a urban garden space to offer empowerment through education, exploration, work, play and prayer.  There in the garden seemingly mundane work, such as sifting soil or constructing a green house, forms ‘good news’ relationships with our neighbors.  The Rosewood Community Garden tells a different story that offers a hopeful vision for the planet and invites hands-on participation at every level.

What you can look forward to in the near future…

Much, much more to come!  When it comes to the garden – we hope to have both community garden beds as well as rentable plots – we hope to erect a green house, expand the composting system, clear out space for an orchard and pumpkin patch.

And when it comes to workshops and events – we hope to have a full calendar of offerings from a canning and pickling party with urban practitioner Mike McGill to “The Spirituality of Gardening” morning retreat with author Christine Sine.  What types of things do you want to learn about?  Do you know about something that you can teach us?  We want to know!  (email ryan@belovedschurch.org)

The Rosewood Community Garden is getting ready for Spring and getting ready for you!  So be on the look out for the next garden work day and come get your hands dirty.  Would you believe that it’s just one small way of joining God’s dream of mending the entire universe?

Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) is a paratransit service that provides transportation for people whose disability or condition prevents them from using Community Transit regular route buses.  See their proposed changes here.

This proposal is personal to us, because if this change occurs, Church of the Beloved will lose the Sunday participation of one of our dear friends, Nancy Lind.  While needing to make budget cuts is understandable, the outcome of this cut is horrific.  This decision will work to further isolate those with limited mobility on the day most commonly set aside for worship.  Some of the most vulnerable people in our neighborhoods will lose their ability to gather with their communities of faith, break bread, offer prayers, and hear the Word.  DART transportation is Nancy’s, as well as thousands of other’s life line to the world and that’s why we are asking you to help stop this cancelation and save Sundays.

Church of the Beloved is proposing that we take action in three ways:

1. Pray for the good of Community Transit. Ask that God would bless them in order to prevent this cut.

2. Take the bus. This does two important things.  A. Creates solidarity with our sisters and brothers who rely upon Community Transit.  B. Creates needed income for Community Transit.   Let us start by making Sunday January 31st “Save Sundays – Take the Bus to Church” Day.

3. Make Your Voice Heard.

A. Write an email to 2010changes@commtrans.org

B. Write a letter to 2010 Changes – Community Transit

7100 Hardeson Road Everett, WA 98203

C. Call (425) 353-RIDE (7433)

I want to like love songs.  I do.  But most of what passes for a love song is enmeshed co-dependent disfunction.  I know too much for my heart to swoon to that ear candy.  But, every once in a while there comes a rare a love song that knows the cost and complexity of loving.  I mean, when have you ever heard of a “differentiated love song”?  I could give a little pitter patter for that.  And really, whose up for that challenge more than Wilco?  Their new release, Wilco (the album) is front to back pretty stellar and it’s got this little song called “You and I” that is able to somehow accept the inevitable distance between two people who love each other… and not just tolerate it, but celebrate it and protect the mystery that it holds.  Where most love songs want to consume every detail of the other, this love song abstains.  And, come on, there’s something sexy about that.  Jeff Tweedy, if my heart did not belong to another, you would have it.

You and I, we might be strangers
However close we get sometimes
It’s like we never met

But you and I, I think we can take it
All the good with the bad
Make something that no one else has but

You and I, you and I

Me and you, what can we do
When the words we use sometimes
Are misconstrued

Well, I won’t guess what’s coming next
I can’t ever tell you
The deepest well i’ve ever fallen into

Oh, I don’t wanna know
Oh, I don’t wanna know
Oh, I don’t need to know
Everything about you

Oh, I don’t wanna know
And you don’t need to know
That much about me

How are you in your body?  Is your body achy and tired or is it energized and calmed?  Where do you feel tension in your body?  Where do feel relaxed?  Let your body be before God.

For it is in God that we live and move and have our being.

How are you in your mind?  Is your mind racing and cluttered or is it at rest and ordered?  Where do your thoughts turn when your body stops moving? Let your body be before God.

For it is in God that we live  and move and have our being.

How are you in your feelings?  Are you feeling a low level anger or a managable sadness or contented or happy?  Sometimes it’s difficult to name how you are feeling.  Let your feelings be before God.

For it is in God that we live and move and have our being.

Take a breath.  Hold it, then release it.  That was one breath out of 10,541,200 breaths that you’ve taken over the last year.  Find your pulse on your wrist or your neck.  Feel the pulse of your heart.  That was one beat out of 37,869,120 heart beats during the course of the last year.  Rub your hands together and feel the touch of your skin.  Your outer layer of skin will have replaced itself twelve times over the last year.  Your fingernails have replaced themselves twice.  Your hair has grown about six inches.  Back in 2003 there was not a cell in your body that you currently have now.  Essentially you have a new body every seven years.  And not only is your body changing with time, but Christ is also changing your inner person…. the you of you.

< 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-20 >

From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

I am in Christ, I am a new creation;

The old has gone, the new has come!

I am in Christ, I am a new creation;

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us.

I am in Christ, I am a new creation;

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

I am in Christ, I am a new creation;

In a couple minutes we are going to reflect on 2009 and wonder what it’s time to do in the new year.  But before you explore the mystery of your heart, ask to receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance so that you can look upon your actions and motives with honesty and patience. The Spirit gives you a freedom to look upon yourself without condemnation and without complacency and therefore be open to growth and maturity.  God’s love has been at work in your life over the course of the last year.  Ask the Holy Spirit to how so that you can give thanks for that time and discern what it’s time to be about now.

< ECCLESIASTES 3 >

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain,

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Imagine a blank canvas in your mind.  Reflect now upon your last year.  Perhaps your year felt like a Jackson Pollack painting. Or perhaps like a Claude Monet?  Or maybe more like a Salvador Dali?  Find a style of painting that might represent your last year and imagine the canvas of your year.

Whether this was the worst, best, craziest or most ordinary year of your life, it’s likely that you are thinking about how this new year might be different.  This year, like every year, millions of Americans will resolve to lose weight, quit smoking, spend more time with their family, or get out of debt.  And this year, even though they may want all these things, millions of Americans will refuse to make resolutions because they don’t think new year’s resolutions are effective.  So what will create actual change, not just superficial exterior change that might last through february, but sustainable change in our hearts and minds?  The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a time when God would change his people from the inside out:

< EZEKIEL 11 >

Then you, my people, will return to me, your God, and I will remove all your detestable idols.  I will give you an undivided heart and put a new spirit in you;

We will be your people, and you will be our God.

I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  Then I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my ways and be careful to keep my laws.

We will be your people, and you will be our God.

Before you is a new year, a fresh start, a blank canvas.  In order to move into the future you must pack light.  You can’t, and probably don’t want to take everything with you from the previous year.  But there are somethings, some experiences, some wisdom, some new gifts that you certainly want to bring with you into the new year.  So think back upon the last 365 days.  Where were you in your life a month ago…

three months ago…

six, nine, or twelve months ago?

What events stick out to you?

What things marked you this year, what you might consider now, both good or bad?

What were you involved in and who were you with?

Review your hopes and hesitations.

What moved you to act the way you did?

What things do you want to grieve for?

What things do you want to be thankful for?

What parts of yourself do you want to have compassion on?

What parts of yourself do you want to encourage to blossom?

Lay all these things before the God who made you and continues to make you.

< REVELATION 21 >

I saw a vision of new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

God is making all things new.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

God is making all things new.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with people, and God will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

God is making all things new.

God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

God is making all things new.

Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.  It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

(you’ll have to do a little preparation to pull off this next part)

So what is it the right time for in your life?

There are two stations here – one for things that you wish to leave behind you and not continue to carry into the new year.  You are welcome to release whatever regret you have, whatever you wish to leave behind by writing it onto paper and placing it into the fire.

The other is for things that you wish to take with you into the new year and to ask for resolve from God’s Spirit.  You are welcome to write whatever desires, memories, plans for the future, whatever change on a letter, address the envelope to yourself and we’ll mail it to you sometime during the year.  Feel free to participate in both, one or none of the stations.  This space is for you to be with God.  Enjoy.

by Ryan Marsh and Tara Ward

ALL SING: Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

ONE: At some point in time we have all probably sang the song Old Lang Syne, but who’s ever stopped to figure out what in the world it means?  Well, I  thought I’d look into it and I found that essentially you could translate “Auld Lang Syne” as “For Old Time’s Sake”.  ”For old time’s sake, my dear, for old time’s sake, we’ll raise a drink and make a toast for old time’s sake”  It’s a song to remember friends and times long forgotten.  And when we remember, we bring the past into the present moment.  And that is what do here at this table.  We remember the story of God’s grace for us in Jesus and Jesus re-members us – makes us members of the people of God.

ALL SING: We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a wearyfoot,
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

ONE: Perhaps this year many currents have swept you to and from the living memory of God’s grace.  May this story sweep you there once more.

(Pass bread around)

Jesus gathered his friends to a meal, took a piece of bread in his hands and prayed God’s blessing upon it.  Then he broke it apart and gave it to his friends saying, “Here, take it and eat.  Remember Beloved, I am for you.”

Let’s eat to Jesus, the Lord of all time!

ALL: Christ has died

Christ is risen

Christ will come again! (all eat)

(Pass wine glasses around, sparkling white wine is preferable)

ONE: After supper Jesus took the cup of wine in his hands and prayed God’s blessing upon it.  Then he gave it to his friends saying, “Here, take it and drink.  Remember Beloved, I am for you.”

So let’s drink to Jesus, the Lord of all time!

ALL: Alleluia! Grant us peace! (all drink)

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

ONE: May the Peace of Christ be with you all!

ALL: And also with you.

ONE: Share a sign of Christ’s peace with one another.

(There is a song text set to the tune of “O Danny Boy”, whose first line is “I cannot tell why he whom angels worship” that we are using for a sending song right after this.  It seemed to fit the service and the season.)

Mary (the modern remix)

by Todd Johnson

No vacancy -blinks- neon  
(no room, no room) 
no reservations, no room,  
even for pregnant girls 
great with child, from out of town. 
Sweet Joe rushes about  
cursing the Census Bureau 
and its old abacus methods of counting. 
Best Western, Hotel 6, Holiday Inn 
all full to overflowing, no coat  
closets, laundry rooms or cubby holes  
to crawl into tonight. 
We explore the unseen  
boundaries of plight. 
My stomach is a sphere,  
a growing world 
about to hatch  
into a pained universe 
eclipsed in Orion’s shadow.

The pickup slouches  
into the dust it collected, 
the tires groan  
like beaten hoofs 
into the earth. 
Sitting mimics standing  
in discomfort, I squirm 
wondering if the next rejection 
offers a bathroom at least. 
A good man is hard to find, 
much less, a righteous concierge 
or night audit clerk. 
Options shrivel and shrink as city  
blocks blur beneath us.  
Sidewalk mirages take shape 
in mattress, pillow, sheet,  
but fade upon inspection, 
cans and cardboard, lotto tickets.

Pain and labor, labor in pain 
a lone bulb illuminates  
the concrete slabs  
of our Self-Storage unit, 
a humble accommodation. 
Embarrassment, the midwife,  
ushers in this little king 
of boxes and furniture,  
the miscellaneous 
items of displacement, like us.

With each push I cry out,  
my voice an echoing  
chorus on aluminum siding. 
my stubbled Love, he sweats  
in darkness no longer fearful  
of angels, gods, or HMO’s, 
but quivers still  
at the hour of arrival.

In the baby squawls,  
we look for miracles 
and jump at nondescript whispers.  
Cherubim or seraphims 
should nanny him now 
in rush of wing, flutter of eye, 
I think they’ll wink it all away 
but feel their holy hold,  
as nothing divine pauses  
with comments or courtesy 
as we grasp the battered diaper bags 
of doubt, tuck it in close  
to chest and stroke 
like the wounded pedigree  
of teen surrogates from Yakima.

My breath is caught up 
like plastic shrapnel 
hovering in the wind 
as the curious arrive 
from 7-11, Circle K, Dunkin Donuts 
the shepherds of sweets, 
coffee pots, and gasoline 
–nomads of night. 
Their eyes elliptic ask questions  
a mouth can’t scrawl, 
they believed enough to come,  
but question the fragile  
truth cradled on a newspaper 
bin of wicker, wrapped in sweatshirts.

What next? I ponder, floating  
safe in a warm embryo of solitude. 
Scientologists from the East 
bearing Tom Cruise autographs 
and crates of fruitcake? 
 
Maybe we’ll just go, Joe,  
hop a train 
down to Frisco, share a story  
and spare change with hobos. 
Maybe we’ll take the boy 
and run, fleeing like Hermes 
winged, from politicians 
dieting on their own rhetoric 
ready to brand us Unfit parents. 
Maybe we’ll find a way 
to make everything work 
to raise a son 
and pave a better road 
pot-hole free 
for a chosen one to trod on.

But as I see his tiny hand 
outstretched (and flailing) 
visions unfurl like confetti 
the dream unwinds as 
hammers fall with each flake 
of colored paper 
I am pierced again and again 
through and through 
as metal parts flesh 
(oh, favored one) 
and I am named 
in that moment, 
like his tender voice, 
not yet heard, 
calling out 
now and forever 
crying, “Mother.” ]]> http://belovedschurch.org/2009/12/25/mary-modern-remix/feed/ 1