7-03-08 Death, Discernment, Sabbath

THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRES 7-03-08
It has been quite a week-

On Saturday, many of us gathered at Bobbit Chapel to remember Ken, who died suddenly last week at the age of 41. The grief was deep and profound, as was the care expressed by the community who gathered and filled the room. It is good to know, even in our most painful moments, that we are not alone- that the community of faith gathers around us to hold us up, and that the Spirit of God accompanies us in the loneliest of landscapes. We continue to pray for Jim and Sheila as they grieve and heal, knowing that grief is not the end.

On Sunday, we celebrated our Leonard Scholars, and prayed with them for their preparation for lives of Christian service in all kinds of ways. They are in the process of discerning how to live out their sense of Call, how to honor God in their studies, their relationships, and their professional lives. It is a joy to be part of that process with them, and to know that God is using us to help shape the lives and futures of these college students.

This weekend, our APNC met with a candidate for the Associate Pastor position, and it has been exciting to think about this long-anticipated leap for our congregation in terms of a ‘real person’: what would it be like to have this person here? Would they like this area? Could they love this congregation? What kind of a leader or pastor or friend might they be? If this is The Person, how will we know?

Discernment is an art, and there are no ‘3 easy steps to certainty’ in our walk with Christ. We are invited to use our minds, our hearts, our intuition, our body wisdom, our trusted community, and our experiences and what we know of scripture to help us notice where God seems to be present and where the Spirit seems to be leading us. Our rep from the Committee on Ministry said to me yesterday, “Your committee has really done their homework- and not only that, they have done their Prayer work as well. They have taken the work of prayer and discernment seriously.” It made me proud of who they are, and of who we aim to be as a church.

Today the Personnel Committee will do my annual review. The discernment task as we sit together will be to try to come to consensus on where God has been at work in the ministry we share, and where my work has been clear and pointing us toward the Holy One; also where we sense direction being given for the year ahead: what might be adjusted or changed? How might goals be set or priorities shifted? What might I need to let go of? It is a precious thing to have companions willing to reflect on such things, and help me grow into who God dreams I might be at my best.

Tomorrow my family and I head off for 3 weeks in the forest, under the redwood trees that surround our (somewhat decrepit) old family cabin in Camp Meeker, California. I am not sure I have ever been so ready for a Sabbath season. From the time of Norma’s death last fall it seems like the pace has never slowed, as we moved to a 2-hour format, welcomed new members, paved and painted, and moved through Advent-Christmas-Lent-Easter-Pentecost and the string of deaths this spring has brought to us. My body and spirit are weary, and I am eager to be in a familiar place with shade and books and coastline and trees.

I know from experience, however, that shortly after I arrive, my heart will be filled with longing for this place and for you- for this is Home, and I carry you all with me wherever I go.

I will post a reflection or two from the cabin porch, and I will be back at the end of the month. Take care of one another while I am gone, love each other with the love of Christ.

Peace,
Sandy