Tomorrow’s a big day for many around the world. Ash Wednesday starts off a 40 day season of growing and reflecting on one’s relationship with God. The season that AW kicks off is called Lent, a word which means lengthening... as in the lengthening daylight hours, the greening sprouts of Spring, and the gradual movement toward the big life-returning day of Easter.
If your only experience of Lent has been one of dreary, morose sadness and deprivation, that’s a crying shame. Because there is so much more to this season than the “giving something up” notion that it’s become famous for.
Not that I want to discount the value of giving something up. Giving up a favorite food or activity for a while can be quite meaningful, if that practice draws you closer to God and other people. It’s just that some have had this practice forced down their throats and have missed out on the meaningful part. It’s particularly those injured-by-religious-obligation folks that may want to try ADDING instead of GIVING UP for Lent this year.
Ok, now, the world’s your playground… What little thing (or big thing, if you like) could you add to your life which might get you digging deeper into who you are and how you get along with God?
reading a book
journaling your thoughts or feelings
lighting a candle, praying, meditating
getting into a book of the Bible
taking a yoga class
going for a daily walk
listening in silence
reconciling with an old friend or family member
exploring faith with others
eating vegetarian or making meals for a someone in need
volunteering your time or giving money to a serving organization
changing one or more habits that would benefit the Earth
Any of those get you going? If you need any info on any of the above ideas and how you might carry them out in our neck of the woods, don’t hesitate to ask. Lent represents an opportunity... to examine your inner life and/or to take a good look outside of yourself... to check in with God and others...
If you’d like to join a worshiping community who is observing Ash Wednesday (receiving ashes to remember we're mortal, limited, needy beings; and we're held and formed in God's hands), here are some congregations that would welcome you and the times they are worshiping.
Ash Wednesday: Feb. 25
a sampling of worship times in the area
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Nashua 11:00am and 7:00pm
Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua 7:00am, 12:00noon, and 6:45pm
Church of Our Savior, Milford 6:30am, 12:00noon, and 7:00pm
First Church of Nashua 7:30pm
Grace Lutheran Church, Nashua 6:00pm Soup Supper, 7:00pm Worship
(arrive a little before 7:00 for receiving ashes)
Main St. United Methodist, Nashua 7:30pm
Messiah Lutheran Church, Amherst 7:00pm
Peace to you,
Kari
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Who's Got the Power? (Un-doing the Dis)
What is it about the letters D, I, and S… that when you put them together they can start off words describing such potent awfulness? Dismissed, dismayed, discounted, distanced, disowned. I imagine by now, you’ve thought of a few more to add to the dis-list.
It stinks to be dissed, no matter how you finish the dis-word that describes your state of being.
How about diseased? That’s always a fun one. When you’re diseased (or just plain really sick) so many of the other dis words come with it, don’t they. Disconnected, discouraged, distraught, you name it.
I’ve had some time to think about (and live) these dis words the past two weeks, as I’ve been in and out of feverishness and other kinds of viral misery and fatigue. Here I was coming back from an amazing trip to New Orleans, all ready to jump into my work with new energy and ideas, and I got slammed.
So I’m finding myself relating to someone I've not identified with before who shows up in the Bible's ancient history writings, this sick guy named Naaman. What really struck me about the story as I read it this time is that Naaman had just had this mountaintop experience in his career. Everyone wants his autograph, wants to hear his stories of victory… until he gets slammed, shoved right into the hell-hole of leprosy. Disabled, disgruntled, displaced.
Now Naaman’s a power guy. Take a minute to read the story, and you’ll see how everyone around him goes through the regular power chain of command to try to correct this dis-easedness and give him his life back. (Click on the title of this post to connect to the story.)
But the shocker is that it’s not the big guns who have the power to undo the dissing. Naaman’s healing is held in the hands of the little people, the serving people, the only ones who can discern where the power really is. (I was determined to get a positive dis-word in, and I believe I did it!)
Naaman’s servant-girl by all rights could have despised the guy for taking her from her family like so much stolen property. But instead she chooses to share what she knows about where the power is. Then later in the story, Naaman’s other servants talk him out of his pigheaded power notions, so he’ll get in the water and splash his way to healing and new life.
When Jesus walked this earth, he was one of those servant-people who knew where the power was, wasn’t he? He found God’s power in the little people and the little things. Like low-life lepers and fields of flowers and confessing criminals. He tried to get his admirers to stop ogling over his eye-popping miracles and look at where the REAL power is: in serving up yourself to others, in giving your life for the life of the world, in loving the lowly so deeply that God’s power shines for all to see.
Who’s got the power in your life? How does God work through others to un-do your dissed-ness? How does Jesus help you to find that servant-impulse deep inside you, even when you’re at your lowest level of disability? May these and other questions lead you into further discernment and discovery this week…
~ Kari Henkelmann Keyl
Those who came to our Gathering for Grieving Hearts got to splash around a bit at this station where healing oil and prayer were offered. See the post below for more about this time of prayer and connection hosted by By the Way.
It stinks to be dissed, no matter how you finish the dis-word that describes your state of being.
How about diseased? That’s always a fun one. When you’re diseased (or just plain really sick) so many of the other dis words come with it, don’t they. Disconnected, discouraged, distraught, you name it.
I’ve had some time to think about (and live) these dis words the past two weeks, as I’ve been in and out of feverishness and other kinds of viral misery and fatigue. Here I was coming back from an amazing trip to New Orleans, all ready to jump into my work with new energy and ideas, and I got slammed.
So I’m finding myself relating to someone I've not identified with before who shows up in the Bible's ancient history writings, this sick guy named Naaman. What really struck me about the story as I read it this time is that Naaman had just had this mountaintop experience in his career. Everyone wants his autograph, wants to hear his stories of victory… until he gets slammed, shoved right into the hell-hole of leprosy. Disabled, disgruntled, displaced.
Now Naaman’s a power guy. Take a minute to read the story, and you’ll see how everyone around him goes through the regular power chain of command to try to correct this dis-easedness and give him his life back. (Click on the title of this post to connect to the story.)
But the shocker is that it’s not the big guns who have the power to undo the dissing. Naaman’s healing is held in the hands of the little people, the serving people, the only ones who can discern where the power really is. (I was determined to get a positive dis-word in, and I believe I did it!)
Naaman’s servant-girl by all rights could have despised the guy for taking her from her family like so much stolen property. But instead she chooses to share what she knows about where the power is. Then later in the story, Naaman’s other servants talk him out of his pigheaded power notions, so he’ll get in the water and splash his way to healing and new life.
When Jesus walked this earth, he was one of those servant-people who knew where the power was, wasn’t he? He found God’s power in the little people and the little things. Like low-life lepers and fields of flowers and confessing criminals. He tried to get his admirers to stop ogling over his eye-popping miracles and look at where the REAL power is: in serving up yourself to others, in giving your life for the life of the world, in loving the lowly so deeply that God’s power shines for all to see.
Who’s got the power in your life? How does God work through others to un-do your dissed-ness? How does Jesus help you to find that servant-impulse deep inside you, even when you’re at your lowest level of disability? May these and other questions lead you into further discernment and discovery this week…
~ Kari Henkelmann Keyl
Those who came to our Gathering for Grieving Hearts got to splash around a bit at this station where healing oil and prayer were offered. See the post below for more about this time of prayer and connection hosted by By the Way.Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Patchwork of Creative Expression
At By the Way's Gathering for Grieving Hearts, one of the choices in our "open space time" was to make a quilt square to express our feelings of loss and our hope to find healing, and then connect the square to everyone else's. There are many ways to grieve, and finding the permission to express yourself can be so important.
(See the post below for another view of this gathering.)
Gathering Hearts Healing
Last Sunday, By the Way hosted A Gathering for Grieving Hearts in Manchester, a chance for anyone who’s hurting to come and find connection with God and with other people who also know loss. It was a beautiful time of listening and praying, lighting candles and singing, creatively expressing our grief and finding healing in one another’s presence and care. Thank you to all who came to give of themselves and to receive God's healing grace.
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Gathering for Grieving Hearts
Sunday, Feb. 8, at 7pm
a time of prayer and reflection, candlelight and connection
There are times when we are hurting and we need to know we are not alone, especially in this season of Valentines and “happy hearts”! Some are grieving for loved ones who have died. Some are suffering from broken relationships, unemployment, and other kinds of loss. We need to feel connected to others who understand. And we need the light God shines in the midst of our blues.
Whether you are feeling sad or you just want to support others going through tough times… you are welcome to join in this time of remembrance, companionship, and hope. The service is being held in Manchester, a “re-scheduling” of our snowed-out prayer service last December… but with a February twist. I hope you can be there.
Sunday, Feb. 8 at 7:00pm
Gethsemane Lutheran Church, St. James Hall
Pennacook St. and Pine St.
Manchester, New Hampshire
Feel free to bring… pictures of those you are missing, a poem to read or a story to share, a friend or two, or just bring yourself.
If you'd like to have pictures of those you are remembering put into a slide show, please send them to Crystal Mohrmann at crystal24@gmail.com.
This event is sponsored by… By the Way; Birch Tree Counseling, Londonderry, NH; and Rivier College Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers.
If you have any questions, call Kari at 603-889-7537.
Directions to Gethsemane's St. James Hall:
Take exit 6 off of 293/Everett Turnpike and turn right on Amoskeag St. which becomes Salmon St. after you cross the bridge. Turn right on Elm St. and left on Pennacook. The parking lot and entrance to St. James Hall will be on your left before you reach Pine St.
a time of prayer and reflection, candlelight and connection
There are times when we are hurting and we need to know we are not alone, especially in this season of Valentines and “happy hearts”! Some are grieving for loved ones who have died. Some are suffering from broken relationships, unemployment, and other kinds of loss. We need to feel connected to others who understand. And we need the light God shines in the midst of our blues.
Whether you are feeling sad or you just want to support others going through tough times… you are welcome to join in this time of remembrance, companionship, and hope. The service is being held in Manchester, a “re-scheduling” of our snowed-out prayer service last December… but with a February twist. I hope you can be there.
Sunday, Feb. 8 at 7:00pm
Gethsemane Lutheran Church, St. James Hall
Pennacook St. and Pine St.
Manchester, New Hampshire
Feel free to bring… pictures of those you are missing, a poem to read or a story to share, a friend or two, or just bring yourself.
If you'd like to have pictures of those you are remembering put into a slide show, please send them to Crystal Mohrmann at crystal24@gmail.com.
This event is sponsored by… By the Way; Birch Tree Counseling, Londonderry, NH; and Rivier College Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers.
If you have any questions, call Kari at 603-889-7537.
Directions to Gethsemane's St. James Hall:
Take exit 6 off of 293/Everett Turnpike and turn right on Amoskeag St. which becomes Salmon St. after you cross the bridge. Turn right on Elm St. and left on Pennacook. The parking lot and entrance to St. James Hall will be on your left before you reach Pine St.
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