Open The Door, A Little Wider

 Open the Door, A Little Wider

  For the wanderers, the herders, and the tricksters

  For twelve sons of one father and 4 women

  For their quarreling, headstrong, frustrating children 

  For their tenacious, faithful, welcoming children 

Open the door a little wider

  For the family of faith

  For their nearest neighbors

  For outcasts who joined them

  For faithful who wanted a deeper connection

  For the neighbors a little farther away

    For the neighbors a long way off.

Open the door a little wider

  For those who share our customs and our food

  For those who drifted from the traditions

  For those who were left out or left behind

  For those who never knew the customs

  For those who never ate the way we did and do

Open the door a little wider

  For the ones who made the rules

  For those who adjusted the rules

  For those who called the rules into question

  For those who could not follow ALL the rules

  For those broke the rules and came back.

  For those who never knew the rules but wanted a deeper connection 

Open the door a little wider

  For the old and young, 

and the days in-between 

  For the men and women

and those who are both and neither

  For those who fit in.

and those who have not found their place

  For the seekers,

and for the sought

  For the lost

and for the found

Open the door a little wider

  For everyone made in the image of god

  For every soul looking for a place to belong

  For everyone should be welcome here

Stations of the Cross: Token Supplies

GOOD FRIDAY

(trick or treat style of stations of the cross)

Need 40 of each

coin

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R4MSQI?

psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

rooster

https://anwo.com/store/chicken-rooster-toy-mini-good-luck-miniature.htm

wooden coin w crown of thorns on one side

https://stampmore.com/products/crown-of-thorns-stamp

  You may have to search “crown of thorns”

  Circles can be found https://24hourcrafts.com

wood cross

https://24hourcrafts.com

nail

https://www.amazon.com/1lb-Hardened-Steel-Flooring-Nails/dp/B005THULOE/

ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527484003&sr=8-4&keywords=tremont+nails

red glass stone

https://www.michaels.com

Search “red gem”

SQUARE of white fabric

https://www.michaels.com

Search “white cloth” I used a 4x4 square

Need some background noise/music

Music on loop five songs make sure no commercials

Good Friday Stations of the Cross

  In each basket,
is a token to take.
  A physical reminder
of the Good News.
  That God’s Love
is bigger than death.
  Come and Go
as you please.
  We look forward

to seeing you again. 

=====

Matthew 26.14-16, 47-54
        Silver Coin
Judas got paid the price of a cheap slave. Jesus’
love would pay any price to welcome you to the
Kingdom.

Matthew 26.33-35, 69-75
        Rooster
Each morning brings an opportunity to decide how
we will respond to Christ’s love. We show that
response through our words and actions.

Mark 15.16-20
        Crown of Thorns
Crowns of Gold for Kings. Wreaths of Laurel are for
the champions. This loop of thorn vines is for the
leader of the oppressed.

John 19.17-22
        Cross
Here all the possibilities of human activity meet.
Here our deepest cruelty and failures meet our
highest caring and fulfillment.

Luke 23. 39-43
        Nail
The carpenter holds the house together with nails.
With these nails God will build not a house but a
Kingdom.

Mark 15.33-39
        Red Stone
Each drop a hope. Each drop a mercy. Each drop a
forgiving. Each drop an act of love.

Matthew 27.57-60
        White Cloth
In strips of cloth he was laid in a manger. In a sheet
of cloth he was laid in a tomb. Beginning and Ending
and Beginning Again.

Benediction
Go knowing that God our Creator loves you. That
Christ our redeemer welcomes you. That the Holy
Spirit is with you and within you.
AMEN
=====

Easter Sunrise

Easter Sunrise 2009
Leader in plain text
People in bold text

For a year and more we had followed him.

We learned from him.
We ate with him.

One of our own turned him over to the 
authorities.

We ran away.
We looked for places to hide.

In one day our whole world changed.

We were warned.
We were not ready.

He was the one we thought would save us.

We had no idea.
We were wrong AND right.

His burial was not finished so spices were gathered

We knew our duty
We knew what had to be done

A heavy stone had been rolled in front of the tomb

We knew where the tomb was
We had seen the stone 

The stone had been moved, and the tomb was empty.

We don't know what to do.
We never expected any of this.

An angel greeted us and instructed us.

We had made a mistake.
We were looking for the living among the dead.

For our sins he died.
By his death we were set free
and eternal life is ours to claim.

Christ has died
Christ has died
Christ has risen
Christ has risen
Christ will come again.
Christ will come again.
AMEN

KOG: Dandelion Poof

The kingdom of Heaven is like a Dandelion poof. Though it is one of the smallest of seeds, those seeds are blown on the wind to wherever they can take root. Roots that grow as deep as they can, and can only be removed by digging. Roots that if left alone will always spout anew. In the shallowest and roughest of places they grow and prosper. In the most manicured and precise of lawns they take root and prosper. As they prosper they send out other seeds on the wind throughout the earth.

Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19

KOG: Writer

The kingdom of God is like a writer. Whose publisher put her book on shelves in every bookshop, grocery store, and market that would take it.

Some people read the cover and never took it off the shelf.

Some people read the cover and took the book home, where it sat on their shelf and was never read.

Some people took the book home, read it from cover to cover wrote a little review for their social media but never really changed anything.

One group took the book home, read it thoroughly, marked it up, shared it with their friends, and used it to make life better for those around them.

Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15.

Share a Cookie

Six years ago I shared a message of Cookies and Good News at my moms funeral. Today I remind everybody to not be greedy with their cookies.

Who will you share a cookie with today?

Will it be someone who shared a cookie with you before?

Will it be someone who liked the cookie you gave them last time?
Will it be a recipe you have never tried before?
Will it have flavors from other places?
Cookies are Good News
Go share your cookies with your world.

God is A Gardener

So much of the time we hear of God as a warrior, a protector, a guardian. But are there any other “job descriptions” that God has? I went looking for one, because I felt there had to be another way. I went looking for God not for war but for peace. I went looking for God not as one more voice for violence but for peace.

I found one, and it is an amazingly large one. God is a Gardener. 

God will till, plow, plant, water, weed, prune, harvest, feed the people, and give us a dream for what is yet to come.

It then falls to us to follow God’s lead. Planting, watering, pruning, harvesting, sharing, and dreaming. 

Let us grow not just plants but souls. Not just our own spirits but the spirits of those around us. Helping each other to grow deeper in God. Supporting each other in times of storm and drought. Stripping away the things that separate us from God’s love. Creating a harvest of joy and peace. Always remembering to continue to dream, not just our own dreams, but God’s dreams. 

Matthew 5.2-11

Blessed are those who know the garden isn’t theirs, but tend it anyway.

Blessed are those who’s sadness waters the garden, joy shall rise up around them.

Blessed are those who work without being pushy, everything will come up in its time.

Blessed are those who are focused on God’s harvest, knowing the grace that is coming.

Blessed are those who plant mercy around them, their crop will be huge.

Blessed are those who are looking for God, God will always be near them.

Blessed are those who grow peace, God has made them children of the Garden.

Blessed are those who are made fun of for working in God’s Garden, many before you were treated the same way and God cared for them, watched over them, and made them prosper.

Sermon Titles 

God Planted a Garden

God Planted the Human

A Land of Plenty

What is sown is reaped.

You Never Know what might Grow or where.

What Grows Dies First

How is it with your Soil

Fruit or Firewood

Transplants and Graftings

When in Drought

Wheat and Weeds

The Growing Belongs to God

Cut it Back to Make it Grow

Leave the Leftovers

Abundance comes from God

Bring God the Harvest

A Giving of Thanks

The Garden That is to Come (I have this one set as the Sunday before Advent)

Creed 2009

I believe in the ONE

  who was before all things

  and from whom all things come

I believe in Jesus Christ

  who is my Lord and my God

  who bore my sin and my shame

  who died and rose again

  who prepares a place for all those who choose to follow him

I believe in the Holy Spirit

  who is present with us and within us

  who gives us the power and courage to forgive

  who calls us together as the church

    for prayer

    for praise

    for teaching

    for reaching out

    for LIVING as the redeemed children of a Living and Loving GOD

AMEN

Of Course I See Color!

Of course I see color!

What is the point of a rainbow it's just the streak of red? 

What is the point of flowers if they are the same hue as the grass? 

What is the point of sky without sunset and sunrise that separates us from endless dark?

Of course I see color!

We are made of the earth. 

Black and red soils. 

White and grey and brown clays. 

Black and white and tan beaches and dunes. 

Even when we cannot see the ground we are still formed from it and by it.

Of course I see color! 

Following the brilliant tones of the wings around us. 

Following stripes and spots on hoof and paw. 

Following fierce manes and sleek furs. 

We decorate ourselves in cloth and color. 

We decorate our bodies and homes.

Of course I see color! 

Of course I see you. 

Of course you are important to me. 

In you I see the marvelous variety of the Image of God.

Hats Full of Feels

I have heard of people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. But most of my feelings are in my head. So I wear them on my head. Like a hat.

My happy hat fits just right, and works well with anything and everything.

My contented hat shades my eyes for a perfect nap.

My angry hat is so tight I often can't get it off my head.

My sadness hat is too floppy and it lets in ALL the rain.

I discovered I own two worry hats.
   One is too loose and threatens to blow off in the slightest breeze.
   The other isn't on my head, it's being twisted into new shapes in my hands.

My envy hat THINKS its a little faded and threadbare.

My fear hat sits like an eyeless ghost-sheet, potential walls at every turn.

My excited hat holds the trophy-pins for each adventure and story.

My frustration hat is usually on the floor having been thrown there and stomped on.

Screwing Around vs. SCIENCE

Remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down. --Adam Savage

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BSUMBBFjxrY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBSUMBBFjxrY

This quote is largely the base for why I always have a place to write things down some where in arms reach. I have weird thoughts. I think of a quote or a scripture and a connection or context and I have at hand the tools to capture create it.

Are u a success? Write it down.

  Leave behind a record of how you got there and let others follow your method.

Are u a failure?  Write it down.

  Leave behind a record of how u got into the mess and your signs will lead u back out again. And so others will not make the mistakes u did.

I have not failed 10,000 times. I just know 10,000 things that don't work. 

   --Edison

Are u confused?

Are u worried?

   Write it down. Double space.

   Then the worries and confusions are contained and can be studied. 

   Not just by the one who had the worry but by those who support u.

Write the answers in between.

Easter "Morning Has Broken"

Morning has broken like the first Easter

The tomb lays open what shall we do

Come to the garden see where they put him

Come with confusion on this new day

Come with your spices come with your wailing

Come with the first light of the new week

Angels will greet us give us strange tidings

Leave with the good news of Christ's return.

Go tell the nations Christ is alive

Death has no power where is its sting

We shall bring praises we shall bring our lives

Filled with your Spirit growing in love

--I wrote these lyrics for Easter 2015

--To the tune of Morning Has Broken 

to post or not to post.

to dredge up the thoughts and feelings of a day

   better left behind

to endure the comments and misunderstandings 

   that come of not knowing the whole story 

to search a needle in a stack of hay 

   made of the straws that broke the camel's back
to sleep and dream of a better day tomorrow
to morrow to act on those dreams
   and make of it whatever i may

Paper Fields

Open fields of paper

my pen/staff in hand

herding thoughts like sheep

thoughts with legs to be nurtured

and

in their course sheared and

made to clothe and shelter others

Open fields of paper

my pen/hoe in hand

weeding the rows of growing plans

waiting for the harvest day

that what I have written might feed other souls

Open fields of paper

my pen/walking stick in hand

enjoying the play of sunlight and clouds

nothing to do here but watch and take note

perhaps some rain will come

the sun will rise and set.

AND i and my pen will observe and take note.

I am reviewing my writing that I wanted saved a little less spread out than I discovered they were on my Facebook page. So here they are. Slightly out of order but here for easier review.

SILENCE

SILENCE

of not knowing what to say

SILENCE

of having run out of things to say

SILENCE

of pain, doubt, and despair

SILENCE

of waiting
SILENCE
of the unknown
SILENCE
of wondering where God is
SILENCE
of a voice gone horse with crying and shouting
SILENCE
of a world that has moved on without seeming to care
SILENCE
SILENCE
SILENCE
of God reaching out
SILENCE
of nothing needing to be said
SILENCE
of contacts that need no words
SILENCE
of simple care
SILENCE
of just being together
SILENCE
of the still peace that comes of knowing that God is there, even in the midst of the SILENCE
that threatens to overwhelm us

Psalm 46.10a
Be still and know that I am God.

In the times of chaos and silence, may we be reminded of God’s presence, power, and love. AMEN

What to do when you don't KNOW what to do.

What to do, when you don’t know what to do.

1. Run in circles; scream at the top of your lungs.

2. Pout.

3. Cause trouble for others.

4. Complain about being bored.

5. Complain in general.

6. Ask somebody what to do.

7. Pray.
8. Watch what others are doing.
9. Read,
10. Read your Bible.
11. Read a book from your work area.
12. Read a book that you love.
13. Write,
14. Get a blank sheet of paper, a pen/pencil, and a timer, set the timer for 10 minutes. Write whatever comes to your head.
15. Write a list of things you would do if money was no issue.
16. Write a list of things you would buy if money was no issue.
17. Write a list of people you would help if money was no issue.
18. Write a list of things you would do if you really believed God’s power was available to you.
19. Pray!

When you don’t know what to do, God does. Jeremiah 29.11. When you don’t know what to say, God does. Isaiah 59.21. 

Mom's Cookies

We are a cookie eating

And more importantly a cookie BAKING family

I’ve tried them all ! And I’ve made quite a few.

But, you can keep

    your Peanut butter cookies

    your oatmeal raisin cookies

    your ginger snaps

I’ll take one of mom’s batch of

    Aunt Isabell’s chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting … straight from the freezer

The recipe is there.

    The instructions are written out

         (In at least three places just in my house)

BUT EACH OF US ADD OUR OWN TOUCH

    I still can’t figure out how she frosted them that fast.

Because of my mom

    I can read any recipe, and write some of my own

    I can cook a decent to excellent meal on a range, in the oven, in the crock pot, or over a camp fire.

Because of mom I know that there are recipes for eating well, and for living well

Recipes and patterns written down for us by people with a     deep relationship with God.

That there isn't a different recipe or different rules for different kinds of folks. We are all children of God.

Each of us takes that recipe and makes it our own.

Hoarders and Church Life

There is a show on TV called Hoarders, while I have not watched it ... from the description it seems that there is a segment of society that feels that if must keep and never discard the totality of every artifact that comes into their possession. Even things that other segments of society might find disgusting or in need of being TRASHED.

The great need for these individuals and families is for an honest evaluation of the value of the items being kept, and then purging the debris from their lives.

WE IN THE CHURCH need to go through a course on hoarders. We are a family addicted not necessarily to the keeping of STUFF, though that is sadly a problem in places where the “memorial” fund is the most profitable account in the church, but to the keeping of traditions and teachings that are long overdue for an evaluation of their true worth.

How will we measure their worth?

In secular society, value can be compared by reference books on collecting and collected estimates of value from knowledgeable people.

The Methodist/Wesleyian tradition holds that we must compare all things in Tradition, Personal Experience, and our own Reasonings to the teachings found in Scripture. I also presume that we as Christians must take the teachings of Christ as holding more priority than the teachings of any other in Scriptural Canon.

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD BE UP FOR RE-EVALUATION??