Pentecost

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."
Acts 2: 1-4 NSRV

Pentecost, the celebration of the Spirit, the birthday of the church,is my
favorite Sunday of the church year. One reason I look so forward to Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit operates on this day as something of a wild card,descending upon us in unexpected ways. It is Holy Spirit after all...a Holy Chaos that embraces and stirs a contagious energy.

I am so drawn to Pentecost by the way the Holy Spirit fills me with such joy and hope over and over again.

We celebrate the birthday of the church,yet the festivities are not aimed at celebrating us, our efforts or our accomplishments. We celebrate God who chose to birth the church out of the chaos and despair of those early days after Jesus’death. Each Pentecost I feel that is what we do. We let go off the stuff that weighs us down, to really do God's work. We trust in the movement of the Spirit. It is kind of like the Holy Spirit's coming out party.

So, Pentecost is a birthday party, and the present God always brings is new life. For us today at service, how wonderful it was to share in the baptism of a new baby, new life, the newest member of our community, on the very same day that God breathes new life into all of us.

We are anointed with the gifts of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are freely given to us, we are blessed with them so we can go out in the world, be disciples and bless others.

This anointing, this fire from above, is for us to move forward to proclaim the Word and live the gospel,in our lives, in our homes, in our work, in our community and in the world; with a renewed passion and "spirit" that we have been blessed with through the resurrection and suffering of Jesus.

God wants to release Pentecost on us, giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us on the path.

"Wherever you go, I am going with you. I'm giving you all authority. Go into the world and I will confirm My Word with signs, wonders, and miracles."

That's what it is about, don't you think? Stepping out in faith with trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us, revealing the mystery that can and will bring transformation.

Barbara Brown Taylor has a wonderful way of describing that event. She writes: " He commissioned them by breathing on them, opening his mouth and pouring what was inside of him into them so that their bangs flew and their eyelashes fluttered and they could smell where he had come from -- not just Golgotha and Galilee, but way before that -- back when the world itself was being born. Anyone standing there that evening with any memory at all could smell Eden on his breath: salt brine, river mud, calla lilies. They could feel their own lungs fill as they brought back to life. It was Genesis reborn, as they were created all over again by the power of the Spirit that was coming out of his mouth."

Taylor and others tell us there are two distinctly different models of church that emerge from these stories. One is the Pentecostal model, the church that receives the Spirit in dramatic fashion and shares that gift just as dramatically. The other is the Johannine model, which receives the Spirit more as a gentle gift. Obviously, whether one is a gentle breath type or a mighty wind type, the church has but one purpose. Taylor says, "the church has received the Holy Spirit, the world has not, and it is the church's job to bring the Spirit into the world."

Are you up to the job? The Holy Spirit challenge.

Who are you in the world today at this moment?

Are you living and dreaming God's dream for your life?

How is the Spirit moving in your life?

Will you let the movement of the spirit ignite your own renewed Pentecost?

God continues to send the Holy Spirit to soothe us, His anxious disciples, who are
made by God but unmade by our own fears, doubts and brokenness. The Spirit ignites us over and over again, firing us up until we stop thinking so much about what we are or are not doing; and worrying so much about what might or might not happen. We come to just trust and have faith to be led by the Spirit and just do what feels right,what we know is right and let happen whatever God intends, living the life God dreams for us.

So you see, whenever God plays the wild card of the Holy Spirit,whether it is with Holy Chaos or a gentle nudge, the future of Christ’s body gets lifted right out of the hands of disciples and transplanted right firmly in the heart of God,in the church and in each and everyone of us in the world.

I often feel the presence of the Holy Spirit through others in my life and as I continue my adventure in spiritual growth and in my spiritual journey. When the Spirit came to the disciples huddled in their locked room, he changed their world. The Holy Spirit speaks to me and is constantly changing my world, challenging me and filling me with joy.

How are you going to share the story beyond your locked room?

Holy Spirit, in and beyond me,
keep and extend me among strangers and friends.
Let me see clearly and reach deep.
Open me to feel and live your gospel,proclaiming your word
with my voice as I never have before
with my actions
with my love
with your guidance
Let me hear the music of your glory before me.
Let love move me.
Awaken me again,again and again.


Namaste'
Maureen

For Kathy

On my nightstand I keep a pile of books and a few journals. There is a journal for one for each of my children and my own gratitude journal. As I was writing in it last night, I recalled that each week over these past nine months, I would write about this class.

Personally, my gratitude is more than is more than I can put into words and I know some of you find that hard to believe! There are some things that there are no words for.

Kathy, I have only known you 9 short months. Our conversations began last spring over the phone, after my application sat in a folder on my desk for two years. During those conversations and your patience of my many, many questions

Sometimes in life we are lucky enough to meet someone who touches us in a way that is life changing. You have been that for me, in many ways. Through classroom work, verbatim discussions, reflection comments, email exchange, and reaching out to me when I needed it most....I am forever grateful.

We talked in class last week about us all being brought together in this class, in this time, for a reason. The reason some of us may know now and some of us may not know for a long time. I think it is safe to say that I, along with my comrades in pastoral care will continue to trust in the movement of the spirit, in the sacred space, of how deeply our lives have intertwined.

This is a gift you have given us all...to trust in ...to be open to...to believe in the sacred exchange that takes place in caring ministry.

Kathy, you have such a beautiful way of always meeting people where they are and sometimes gently nudging us to where we need to be and if we didn’t get it with the gentle nudge, you push a little harder, always with a with compassion and a listening heart that leads to growth and transformation.

We have learned that in understanding our own grief, sadness and wounds that have shaped our own lives we can be living reminders of God's love and care and be a blessing to others.

I read something from the mystic, Julian of Norwich that I feel summarizes this sacred work in pastoral care that we are all called to do.


"I saw God in an instant of time,
in my understanding,
and by this vision
I saw that God is present in all things...
And God said to me:
I thank you
for your service and your labor,


Thank you Kathy , for your service and labor.


"Blessed are you
woman of passion rooted deep
standing tall
touching all you reach


Blessed are you woman of the earth
sculpted from is clay
and fired by the very breath of God
forming and firing new life and
reflecting the light of
the One
who calls you by name

Blessed are you tender woman
freely sharing laughter and tears
wounds and healing
weaving compassion and peace

Blessed are you
woman of wisdom
enfolding and unfolding
mystery and myth


Blessed are you in all that you are".....

an island in the sea
a hill on the shore
a star in the night
a staff for the weak

Amen.

Namaste'
Maureen

"Peace to you, Maureen"

Today at church little Gabe, who is three, came running up to me from the other end of the church saying, "Peace to you, Maureen". (He has never done that before) The hug that followed those words were a reminder to me of the movement of the Spirit in all of us. We never know to whom or when our actions and words impact someone deeply. Let them be kind words with a gentle healing touch.

Thank you Gabe for a most special blessing today.

Namaste'
Maureen

The Path

I take an early morning walk often. It is the same route . I begin behind my house on a dirt road. The entire walk is on a dirt path that passes horse farms, cows, a stream and green pastures. There is beauty in every season that I walk this path.

My walk stills my soul.

I especially love the sound of the dirt under my sneakers. I always notice it and it creates a simple music and rhythm to my steps. This morning I couldn't help but think about how this is the dirt from which God created life . I am sculpted from its clay and fired upon by the very breath of God. Today on my walk I felt more aware of this than ever before.

As the breeze cooled my steps and the sun began to rise, I though of this verse:

"Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

Jeremiah 18:6 NSRV

Gods finger prints are all over us. He centers us,or shapes us and even restores us from collapse, he transforms us in ways we never imagined.

As I continued on my walk, a place inside me opened up and let go to a softness in nature. I felt like I belonged to the earth, and the gentle breeze had secrets to tell me. The garden of my spirit rested in the dewy sent of honeysuckle nectar and there it was...the peace that passes all understanding... Presence meeting me and calling me by name.

My walk stills my soul.

Namaste'
Maureen

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (NSRV)

I love this psalm. There is something so comforting in its simplistic beauty. It brings such comfort and calm to my soul. It is a calling from the Holy Spirit for an awareness of steadfast guidance by the Lord. I am blessed with the perfect harvest of everyting I need , a life of abundance that leads to that peace that passes all understanding. This love of God comforts me now, in times of joy and sorrow and with the covenant of peace, rest and joy with God.

Namaste'
Maureen

Emmaus Blessing
by Jan Richardson

Already a blessing
in the walking

already a blessing
on the road

already a blessing
drawing near

already a blessing
in the listening

already a blessing
in the burning hearts

already a blessing
in the almost evening

already a blessing
in the staying

already a blessing
at the table

already a blessing
in the bread

already a blessing
in the breaking

already a blessing
finally known

already a blessing
give us eyes

already a blessing
let us see.

Doubting Thomas

One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those haven't seen me and believe anyway." John 20: 24-29

Doubting Thomas." If you look up this phrase in the dictionary, you'll find something like: "one who habitually or instinctively doubts or questions." A "doubting Thomas" is somebody who always lags behind in matters of faith. A "doubting Thomas" always needs more proof, more time. A "doubting Thomas" has a hard time trusting others.

I personally think Thomas gets a bad rap. I mean, how would you like it if your name went down in history attached to "doubting"? How would it feel to know that every time someone uses your name it had a negative connotation? Growing up, that is how I recall learning about Thomas...Doubting Thomas. This always made me think that Thomas was a coward.He is not a coward at all.

Thomas was willing to be honest even when it wasn't pretty, even when others were not quite so truthful. Thomas gives us the freedom to be more honest with our own faith , or lack of it. I think we all need to be more like Thomas, not by doubting more but by being honest with God and each other.

Do you connect with Thomas?

I do.

I wish I had more of Thomnas in me.

Maybe you connect with Thomas because, like him, you don't believe Jesus or you are having a crisis of faith...Or you've heard your friends and family members tell you how great it is to be a Christian....You hear great sermons talk about God's love in Christ, but you're still not sure. After all, how can this really be relevant in you life now. So you can relate to Thomas as one who stands on the outside of faith, peering in.

I wonder what I would have done if I were in Thomas' shoes. I'm not sure. Would I have been able to accept the testimony of the other disciples. I ask myself how many times have I doubted my faith even when those around me have guided me with theirs?

The wonderful thing about God is that he can handle it. Imgaine that. God can handle our doubts and he will meet us there, giving enough faith to take that step. Sometimes we wait....and we wait. We wait for the courage to step out in faith or we wait because God has us wait.

Jesus chose to let Thomas wait. He didn't show up right away to relieve Thomas's fears. We don't know why. We don't know what needed to happen in Thomas before Jesus appeared to him. All we know is that Jesus made him wait. Boy, that sound familiar. Things really do happen in God's timing and when we can honeslty look back, it is a comfort to say, "of course, this is how it is suppose to be.

I have had times in my life where I have waited. For days, honestly for years, I cried out to God for help. And for days God was silent. For days I begged to see God. And for days the eyes of my heart were blind. It was one of the most desperate, terrifying, and empty times of my entire life. And God seemed to have abandoned me during that time, my "eight days" of waiting, if you will. Of course God really didn't abandon me. I abandoned my trust I God, in God's promise...just like Thomas.

I don't know what God was doing with Thomas during his eight days of wiating, but when I wait during my periods in the desert and doubt, God has broken my pride and set me free from my self-reliance. During my waiting God has prepared me for something and teaching me that I could not do it alone.

Jesus meets Thomas where he is. Jesus gently and mercifully offers Thomas exactly what he had wanted. Jesus met Thomas right where he was. He offered himself to Thomas: "Here, touch me, and believe."

This is what He does for me. This is what He does for all of us...if we let Him. In His time and in His way, Jesus comes to us and makes himself known to us. Sometimes he does it in the way we have wanted. Sometimes he doesn't. But he always gives us exactly what we really need. And it comes, not because we've earned it, but by grace and because he loves us unconditionally.

I love when Thomas said, "My Lord and my God!" This makes him the first person in the gospels, to confess Jesus not only as Lord, but also as God. Doubting Thomas? No. Bold Thomas, yes! Faithful Believing Thomas, yes!

I think this is where honesty with God leads. This is the outcome of an open confession of doubt. This is not pretend faith. It's a genuine faith that issues from the deepest recesses of our soul. It's a faith that transforms our lives. It's the sort of faith that I want and it is the faith that grows when we say yes to God.

Jesus finishes his encounter with Thomas: "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway." This is a word of encouragement for you and me, because we don't get to see Jesus and we believe and in this we are blessed. God has chosen to pour out his goodness upon us, to be gracious to us, to reveal his Son to us.

I am thankful to Thomas for doubting and exploring his doubts with Jesus.

I think there is a Thomas is all of us.

Namaste',

Maureen