"The Truest Truth"

As Eastertide continues and we work our way to Pentecost Sunday, what stands out to you?

Have you spent time outside the empty tomb?

Have you walked away from the room that is locked with fear and guilt?

Have you heard Jesus’s invitation to experience life beyond what has been?

Have had taken a moment to release the anxiety of “what is next?”

and settle into what is?

As we continue to discern, struggle, invite resurrection, and rediscover who we are, I offer this excerpt from the pen of my friend and colleague, Britney Winn Lee:

“We open ourselves, when we’re ready,

to the truer truth. The truest truth.

And that is this.

Smaller ships turn faster.

Death is just the beginning.

Scarcity is a distraction.

Abundance is absolute.

Shalom is our inheritance.

The arc is justice-pointed.

In tension is creativity.

In desperation lies a new paradigm.

Out of labor comes new life.

More has been done with less.

The next right thing is enough.

All that we need is here.

Something new is stirring.

Something new is waiting.

Something new is gestating.

And God needs not for us to wear ourselves thin

bailing water from sinking boats all because we do

not trust ourselves as swimmers.

Let sodden boards warp, and we may find ourselves

walking atop waves with Jesus.

The truest truth is that God’s kingdom is not in trouble.

The truest truth is that our calling has not changed.

The truest truth is that we are a part of living history.

The truest truth is that in the economy of the Spirit,

where the last are first, the poor are rich, the

least are greatest, and the weak are strong,

we are in good company here in the flood lands,

planting seeds that the rains may indeed wash away.

Something will take.

Something will grow.

Something is taking! Something is growing!

Watch closely, for when the dust settles,

we’ll learn that the work didn’t stop.

We’ll learn that we didn’t stop!”

May we each invite "the truest truth" of God’s love to be resurrected within each of us!

Pastor Jo

April 23, 2024

Easter Is More than One Sunday

“We need the Resurrection to be a reference point in our lives rather than one Sunday on our calendars." This is a quote from Bishop Tom Berlin’s Book, The Third Day.

As I gave this some thought, it occurred to me that the crucifixion shows what we are capable of doing. The Resurrection focuses on what God is capable of doing. The crucifixion teaches me that God is willing to stay the course--even through my

wickedness, my shame, my guilt. Not only will God stay the course, but God will also take the cursing, the denial, the betrayals, the anger, the wickedness, the backbiting--whatever my shameful fear produces--and God will say, “It is finished.”

It is finished. Jesus’s words moments before he draws his last breath. It is finished.

Jesus didn’t say, “I am finished.” Jesus did not say, “You are finished.” Jesus said, “It is finished.”

The Resurrection of Jesus will always call us to something more. And maybe that’s why we’d rather stay at the foot of the cross instead of making our way to the empty tomb. At the foot of the cross we can confess our anger, our wretchedness, our fear, our sin, our shame—and we’re not asked to do anything. But at the empty tomb? We’re asked to name our “Why?" We’re called to name our grief. We’re confronted with the shame that is no longer there. It is where we face the confusion of how we see Jesus. It is where we hear him call our name. It is where we are asked to go and tell others what we’ve experienced.

For surely, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Christ has risen above our guilt, above our sin, and above our shame. Through his saving grace, Christ invites us to do the same.

We’re going to dig deep into this beautiful story as we journey together through the Sundays of Easter that will guide us to Pentecost. Join us! For surely our journey continues.

Pastor Jo

April 1, 2024

How Much is Enough?

I should be in the office more.

I should be out in the community more.

I should pray more.

I should visit more.

I should spend more time studying.

I should leave now or I’m going to be late to my next meeting.

I read a lot about how pastors are experiencing burnout and are struggling with self-acceptance. But even I know that pastors don’t have a monopoly on feeling the pressures of day-to-day life and second guessing every move. We all have the potential to believe the rumblings that tell us we are not enough, we are not doing enough, we should be farther along by now.

When I am overcome with “I should” moments that rumble “I am not enough,” is it possible I am forgetting that I am a part of something greater than myself?

Brené Brown reminds us that belonging starts with self-acceptance. “Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect.”

In Paul’s letter to the Romans we are reminded of this acceptance with others.

May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. (Romans 15:5 CEB)

I am grateful for a community of faith who reminds me that I am not alone. I am enough. I am loved.

I should not forget that!

Pastor Jo

September 18, 2023