New Creation

Today became a celebration of creation. A long anticipated kid was born -- the four legged kind. While we have two other nannies ready to deliver in the next week or so, this pregnancy turned out to be a difficult one for the mother. In the latter stages of the pregnancy, the nanny goat could not utilize one of her hind legs. The last couple of weeks were heart wrenching watching her slowly make her way around the pasture. This morning a little female goat was born. The baby is doing well. Mom is still moving slowly. I will attempt to become more adept at the blog and actually add a photo of her next week.

The celebration continued with the Bucket List Coffee group heading to Kalona for a day of cinnamon rolls, a plethora of plants and lunch at the local restaurant. It was a marvelous day to be out searching for flowers, shrubs and hanging baskets.

I have received a number of verbal responses concerning last week's sermon. Most came from couples practicing caressing touch: hand holding, hugging, a squeeze of the arm. It is amazing how paying attention to this aspect of our lives pays such big dividends in our relationships.

Continuing on the journey,

Alecia

What Did You Say?

This morning I was walking through the entryway in our church. I said, "Hi," to a child putting away her book bag in the appropriate bin. I started a conversation.... she wanted to continue it. Actually I wasn't starting a conversation in my mind. I was simply saying hello to another person. It is like when we ask loved ones and strangers the same question, "How are you?" The socially accepted response is, "Fine thank you." Periodically someone breeches the politically correct response and shares honestly and openly.

I have had a number of responses to yesterday's sermon on Highly Effective Dating Habits. Most comments centered on my illustration about how often we employ inactive listening with our spouses, children and friends. It is easy to respond at the periodic pauses of some else's soliloquy with responses of "mmm", "right", "yes".

Today I got to practice what I preached. This child engaged me in a conversatation. I stopped what I was doing and turned around and actively listened. She had a story she wanted to tell. I needed to be taught.

On the journey,
Alecia

Getting Ready

Hearing the vision read responsively on Sunday filled my heart with great joy. God is sending a fresh wind of fire of the Holy Spirit at the church. It was heartening to see the ministry board in the entryway begin to fill up with expressions , of ministries lived out daily was wonderful. Having someone in the congregation be so moved by the Spirit, that she began writing a new ministry plan during service for a much unders-served part of our population. In case you are wondering, that is her story to tell! She will be up front soon with her testimony. God's moving within our church and our broader community. How exciting to be part of the congregation at this time.

On another note, I am in the process of implementing the first stages of a disaster preparedness plan within the East Central district. Clergy throughout our district are invited to attend one of six sub-district groups taking place over the next six weeks. They will hear an overview, as well as receive a packet of information... and yes, forms to be completed. On June 12th from 9-1, the District Preparedness team has asked all of our district churches to send 1-2 representatives to a UMCOR workshop titled, Connecting Neighbors. We will collect the forms to help organize a more unified response when disaster strikes. Each church has unique gifts, equipment and laity that can get mobilized quickly when we do our prep work. If you are interested in serving on this team, please contact the church office. I'm excited about what God is doing in our midst.

What a great day!

Peace,
Alecia

Resurrection Hope

I love Easter at our church! From the dawn breaking over the smoky fire to the ringing of the church bell announcing, Christ is Risen. I heartily agreed with Todd Hilmer's joy that the church was humming with energy. I saw the servant hearts of members working hard to find and st up every seat available. I'm not sure I even said Happy Easter to Andrew Walker prior to askng him to help set up more seats.

The Holy Spirit moved throughout the morning. I am grateful to belong to this community of believers. God is good.

Discussing Easter

I have often wondered about the discussion within the Trinity as they hatched this plan that would one day play out in Jesus on the cross. How did the discussion of costliness measure up to the realities of walking the rocky pathway to the cross with the jeering crowds? How did God watch his Son die, even with the knowledge of resurrection power? How did the Spirit hover without interfering in the chaos of the week? Is what the Trinity anticipated?

These questions haunt me each Lenten season as I cannot begin to fathom the grace of God. God's grace changes everything. Even our ability to respond to grace is God-given. I feel compelled during Holy Week to immerse myself in the Gospels in order to have a clearer understanding of the sacrifice.

Thank You, Lord, for the staggering sacrifice You made to and through the cross. This week help me to extend Your grace to those with whom I come in contact. Thank You for a grace which seeks to restore this world to all it's meant to be. Help me to listen closely to You this week in order to offer Your mercy to a hurting world, Your justice to the oppressed around and Your kindness to all I encounter. Amen.

On the journey,
Alecia

The Apron and the Towel

Many of you commented yesterday after the sermon about the mental image of my mother wearing her apron with a towel tucked into the waistband. The image seemed to resonate with the understanding of our call to take up the towel in serving one another. There is something beautiful about my mother being comfortable in her skin. She was like the Biblical character Martha in the best sense of the word. The towel wasn't forced upon her. She chose to add it to her many, many colorful (and flamboyant) aprons.

Others expressed how difficult it was to feel that bearing the towel was unappreciated by those that you loved the most. There was a lot of pain expressed when the towel seemed forced rather than picked up out of love. Sometimes our ideas of servanthood are skewed because our image of God is distorted.

When I think of the cross, it is easy to see Jesus as the bridge between humankind and God-- a substitutionary sacrifice. If we are honest, we often add to the last sentence -- to appease an angry God. I think of the work of the cross as the bridge, not appeasing the angry God-- but a bridge that helps our hearts to be open the grace of God. It's our hearts that need to be changed, not God's. When Jesus picked up the towel, he did it out of love, pure unadulterated love.

On the journey,
Alecia

New Eyes

My family and I were driving through western Wisconsin yesterday. As spring emerges, I am constantly amazed at the natural beauty of creation. Thank you Lord for spinning into existence this blue and green globe.

I am out of the state through Wednesday.

On the journey,
Alecia