Half a Week

 

Massey's Chapel church family photo Advent 2024

Today cold snow stay inside

polish sermon print Sunday stuff

fill in table 1 do more church stuff

stop when stomach pain forces it

it's just stress not heart attack

rest.

 

Yesterday pickleball in Siler City!

who would have thought

pickleball even in Siler City

nice people old gymnasium

wonderful fun

afternoon mahjong.

 

Monday newsletter and sermon writing

in dark morning hours

later pickleball in Chapel Hill

afternoon church work.

 

Sunday such a crowd in church

so many visitors not enough space

newcomers (with children!) crept up center aisle

accompanied by masked usher

looking for space on any pew

getting close to front

I paused in speaking and said

please move over and make room on the pew!

embarrassing everyone I’m sure

must we really talk about hospitality again?

 

Here’s temporary solution

two pews in back each will hold a sign

RESERVED FOR VISITORS

folding chairs in front for members

I’m sure ushers will not enforce

I’ll have to do it myself

start worship late

but

you do not own this pew.

A Few of My Favorite Things

 

Recent favorite selfie

Love this one!

My favorite artwork

Good to remind myself

This is me

I need to carry this with me for certain encounters

True for now

Does this include pickleball?

This one made me laugh the most in 2024!

Actions First Please

 

Passing the peace

Are you really helping anyone with this letter?

words are easy when

you are not the one to read them in church

I will not read it

wouldn’t change anyone’s mind

congregation will think it’s partisan

will confirm what they already believe about you

both good and bad 

depending on their perspective.

 

If you really want to help

why not pay legal fees

for churches who harbor illegal immigrants

I see there’s rainbow covenant lane for it

why not elevate it

we should build shelters

send army of volunteers to border

pay for them to get and stay there

I’d like to see you march in protest

offer your prophetic words on TV or from jail

set an example for us

(like Rev. Barber)

why not reward churches

who share space with immigrants

or offer services in two languages

why don’t you entice us to learn another language

put our money where your mouth is.

 

Once when I sat on dCOM

DS tried to eliminate older immigrant woman

I knew well and loved

he said these wives of immigrant pastors

think they are called

because they want to be like their husbands

I thought: did he really just say that?

lay woman in room said

Mister DS that is what white men say

to denigrate women of color

thank God she spoke up

I lacked courage to do so.

 

Perhaps we could work to ensure

such elders are not endlessly promoted.

 

Jesus had harsh words for religious leaders

that should keep us all humble.

December Sweetness

 

Christmas Eve was not one of my better efforts

it seemed not to matter

the beauty is 

the Lord and the day

candles and colors

music and people.

 

My family was there

the grands seemed not to know me

when they came for children’s time

I guess the black robe white stole threw them.

 

We posed for a photo afterwards.

 

Then Katherine took me to a house on the beach

for birthday and Christmas gift

Wrightsville Beach 

where I think we once took her and brother

when they were children

it was cold wind was blowing

except one perfect day we spent

in a garden in Wilmington

then in the city itself.

Live oaks and Spanish moss (above and below) at Airlie Gardens

One day we took a birding trip in a boat

saw exotic birds and dolphins

one day we went to tea, below.

 

I still was not feeling completely recovered

from recent illness

the food was too rich

couldn't drink wine

it was wonderful all the same.

 

If you had it to do all over

knowing now what you didn’t know then

would you do it? my daughter asked.

At the time I did not really have a choice

or felt I did not I replied

the loss of my health was unintended consequence

due to ill-handled stress

other things in me changed too

some good some not so good

at least I got to see God at work

in some pretty awesome ways.

 

Still do.