A dear and trusted friend casually mentioned in a recent telephone call that my blog was getting a little (ahem) "stale." Oops! I checked back and realized no postings since October...well, that's more than a little stale, and I thank my friend for the appropriate and gentle nudge.
So here's an update about life as minister in a liberal religious tradition in a conservative area of Northwestern Pennsylvania...
The December holiday season went well, and included a mid-week service titled "Re-Living the Christmas Event" (thanks to friend, mentor and minister, The Rev. Dr. Marni P. Harmony, for inspiration and direction on this service); a Hanukkah service with stories; a Christmas Eve service (I loved preaching to and worshipping with that packed sanctuary); and a "Turning of the Wheel" service in early January that acknowledged life passages and significant life events with a candle-lighting ritual and an original meditation I wrote, with members of my congregation in mind.
***
It has been a fast year; I keep mentioning this in various places, but it is true and I guess I'm processing "aloud" what feels like accelerated timing of my life...
One year ago I was engaged in the "pre-candidating" search process for a settled ministry within our denomination. Last February, about this time, I was sitting in Jim Snyder's car at the corner of Market and Chestnut. We had just toured the UUCM sanctuary, and Jim was giving me a tour of Meadville. I remember looking out the car window and feeling this very clear thought pierce my mind and heart: we could be very happy here. Indeed.
So many things have happened since then: finishing my internship in Albuquerque; serving as interim Associate minister there; being ordained (a wonderful day I will remember, always!); packing and moving to Meadville; getting TONS of things done to our little house before the church year began; but most importantly, to me, immersing myself into the life of ministry at the UU Church of Meadville. To me, this is all about building trusting relationships with the people I serve, and also polishing our beacon of liberal religion in this conservative part of our nation.
My wisest friends and I often talk about "consecrating" ourselves to the life of ministry, and every day I understand a little better just exactly what this means, consecrating myself to the work of ministry: first and foremost it means meeting people where they are, but not condemning them to stay there...it means being hopeful for them, about them, and what they are called to do in and with their own lives, within our immediate community and within the larger context of our global neighborhood. It means accepting constant scrutiny and being held to a different (and higher) standard as part of the coin I pay for this privilege of serving as a minister. It means being honest in a respectful way, and hopeful in an authentic way, with those I serve. It means asking tender questions, and holding tender answers with reverence. It means taking risks and being vulnerable, while never expecting my needs to be met by my congregation. It means being present, and being present, and being present. And, did I mention, being present? In some ways it means surrendering myself, with gratitude and determination, to answering a call that became impossible to ignore. Maybe this is the most succinct definition of consecrating myself to the life of ministry: active surrender to servant leadership. (Moses said to God, "Send someone else!" but I've never really felt that way -- I've always felt like, "Me?! Really?! Okay - I'd LOVE to!")
I wonder how my definition of consecration and my thoughts about ministry will change, as time progresses? For now, I am content to live with it as I understand it to be; to live my best with it, and offer my best to it, as I understand my current best to be. I have to trust that I am strong enough, smart enough, and determined enough to grow and to deepen, as time passes, to increase my understandings of "consecration" and "ministry." In the meantime, in the here and now, I am so happy and grateful to be serving this congregation, the UU Church of Meadville.
And of course, I am compelled to ask, "To what or whom have you consecrated your own life?"
Many mid-winter blessings to all...stay warm and safe...and dream of spring!
