Summer whizzes by alarmingly quickly. The 4th is almost gone and tomorrow begins yet another week of puppeteering, hyperactive kids and more antics from G and G (my two fellow team members)... Oy.
I spent a large chunk of my four-day break preparing sermons. Oh yes!
I gave my second sermon yesterday in church, and despite my apprehensions it was well-received, as was the first sermon, which I gave a week earlier. In fact, I’ll be preaching a third sermon next Sunday and then another at the little Baptist church my aunt attends. (The oldest Ukrainian Baptist church in the United States, incidentally.)
How did this happen? I took a lay speaker training course in April mostly on a last minute whim with a vague idea that taking that course would somehow equip me to help my struggling home church. Never in a million years did I imagine that the pastor would resign suddenly and that I’d be asked to fill in for one..then two...then three Sundays. I feel as if I were launched from a catapult and landed startled and wide-eyed behind a pulpit. And yet, it feels good. It feels right. It’s....FUN!
Even though it consumes my Saturdays, I enjoy creating the bulletin and I enjoy writing the sermons. The first sermon is titled "Freedom through Forgiveness" I recounted the story found in Genesis of Joseph forgiving his twelve brothers who had thrown him into a well and sold him into slavery. Using large rocks to symbolize the weight of grudges and a willing volunteer wearing a backpack, I tried to illustrate that we must forgive one another because God forgave us and forgiveness brings freedom and peace.
The second sermon is titled "Our Daily Bread." I used the story, found in 1 Kings 17 of the widow in Zarephath who shared with the prophet Elijah, the last of her oil and flour. Yet that oil and flour did not run out. The point was that when we trust God to provide for our needs, God can use us to provide for the needs of others. Sermons three and four are still brewing in my head, like good coffee.
7.05.2005
6.18.2005
Pranks and revenge
I have some pranks and revenge against Glen backlogged from last year. Since I'm the lone female on the team this year I expect I'll have to do my plotting solo. Last year my "henchwomen" and I filled his shoes with water and stringed his room among other things. (childish, yes but fun nonetheless) Since then I've been victim to numerous water-drenchings and various forms of embarassment. I need to find something creative and devious and humorous; some sort of revenge. Does anyone reading this have any suggestions? No suggestion is too outlandish.All ideas are much appreciated.
Waterballoons and sunshine
We did a double ministry this week. From 1:30 to 3:30 we were in "Central ND Town A." Then we drove 15 miles to town B where we had supper, set up the trailler/stage and sound system and led the ministry again from 6:30 until 8:30. Then we drove back to our host families in town A.
I spent most of my day sopping wet. We played water games with the kids at Sidewalk Sonday School today. Fortunately it was sunny and windy; good weather for a water fight.
The first week is always a bit tricky. We're still developing the skits and games that we'll use at SWSS this summer to teach kids various Bible stories. Fortunately both our ministries this week were small towns with few kids. The kids that came were well-behaved for the most part and the adults that came were forgiving of our lack of organization. There is always often one child in a ministry who will prove very challenging. That child in town A was "Riley" (names have been changed), age 5, who would pipe up in the middle of a song or story and say loudly "It's time to do something else now! We should play a game!" Then there was the child in Town B who didn't want to play any group games. He just wanted to pretend he was the Green Goblin from Spiderman.
One of the high points of the week was Glen taking all the kids outside to wheedle a free box of ice-cream treats from the Schwan's man as he made his deliveries next to our ministry site.
Our third team member this year plays guitar also. It's nice to have another guitarist. It also is trickier because I can't just fake my way through songs and learn them as I go (which is what I did last year.)
I spent most of my day sopping wet. We played water games with the kids at Sidewalk Sonday School today. Fortunately it was sunny and windy; good weather for a water fight.
The first week is always a bit tricky. We're still developing the skits and games that we'll use at SWSS this summer to teach kids various Bible stories. Fortunately both our ministries this week were small towns with few kids. The kids that came were well-behaved for the most part and the adults that came were forgiving of our lack of organization. There is always often one child in a ministry who will prove very challenging. That child in town A was "Riley" (names have been changed), age 5, who would pipe up in the middle of a song or story and say loudly "It's time to do something else now! We should play a game!" Then there was the child in Town B who didn't want to play any group games. He just wanted to pretend he was the Green Goblin from Spiderman.
One of the high points of the week was Glen taking all the kids outside to wheedle a free box of ice-cream treats from the Schwan's man as he made his deliveries next to our ministry site.
Our third team member this year plays guitar also. It's nice to have another guitarist. It also is trickier because I can't just fake my way through songs and learn them as I go (which is what I did last year.)
6.13.2005
"They want me to do what?!"
A couple months ago I took a short seminar on lay ministry in the Methodist church. During the course of a Friday evening and most of Saturday we all gave a very brief sermon and learned how to put together a worship service. I've put little thoughtinto sermons since then and I honestly have only attended church once in the past eight weeks or so. (In my defense, service starts at 8:30 a.m.) Now due to sudden unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances my little hometown Methodist church is without a pastor and guess who they want to fill the pulpit? Yup. Yours truly. I have nothing written and only a week to prepare, but it's a good opportunity to hone my public speaking skills aand help my local church so I agreed.
At the same time Sidewalk Sonday School begins tomorrow. Ten solid weeks of tearing around the Dakotas with a trailer painted with rainbows and plastered with decals of scary-looking children. Ten weeks of "Jesus loves me" and Bible stories and strange gray puppets with their eyeballs in their mouth and "Octopus, Octopus, may we cross your ocean?" and cookies and kool-aid (and kids hyped up on cookies and koolaid) and lopsided crafts and prayers for long-deceased grandparents and assorted livestock. Ten weeks of kids having a wonderful time. Last summer I survived everything from vehicle breakdowns to sound system failures to complete and utter mortification at the hands of a coworker. I believe I can handle anything the next ten weeks has to dish out.Bring on the summer!. Bring on the children! And let the games begin!!
At the same time Sidewalk Sonday School begins tomorrow. Ten solid weeks of tearing around the Dakotas with a trailer painted with rainbows and plastered with decals of scary-looking children. Ten weeks of "Jesus loves me" and Bible stories and strange gray puppets with their eyeballs in their mouth and "Octopus, Octopus, may we cross your ocean?" and cookies and kool-aid (and kids hyped up on cookies and koolaid) and lopsided crafts and prayers for long-deceased grandparents and assorted livestock. Ten weeks of kids having a wonderful time. Last summer I survived everything from vehicle breakdowns to sound system failures to complete and utter mortification at the hands of a coworker. I believe I can handle anything the next ten weeks has to dish out.Bring on the summer!. Bring on the children! And let the games begin!!
6.10.2005
Traffic
My foray eastward has ended and we’ve all come out unscathed. My purpose in this venture was three-fold. First , to spend time with a good friend in St. Cloud, second, transport Glen to Benson, MN where he visited one of his many aging, distant relatives (I actually dropped him off in Alexandria) and third, to go to Minneapolis and gain some much needed experience driving on roads with real traffic.
It may seem strange to drive all the way to Minneapolis to get experience driving, however, I learned to drive in the middle of a field and most of my driving has been on flat, straight gravel roads and two-lane highways with little to no traffic. It is quite possible to drive ten or twenty miles and not see another vehicle on the road and I’m often tempted to tie the steering wheel in place with a bit of string, place a brick on the accelerator and indulge in a good book. The roads really are that flat and straight in places!!
My experiences with city traffic have been mostly of sitting white-knuckled and wide-eyed in the passenger seat, bracing my foot against an imaginary brake in the floor board as Mike sailed down the freeway at high speed with traffic on all four sides. Mike was unfazed even by the signs that read “Warning: Aggressive driver high crash area ahead.” Those signs reinforced my conviction that if humans had been intended to travel at such high speed in such close proximity to one another, God would have made us of something much less fragile than flesh and bone. I was terrified of traffic. But sooner or later we must all face our fears, so off I went to Minneapolis.
And how did it go? I'm still alive....and I'll tell more later.
It may seem strange to drive all the way to Minneapolis to get experience driving, however, I learned to drive in the middle of a field and most of my driving has been on flat, straight gravel roads and two-lane highways with little to no traffic. It is quite possible to drive ten or twenty miles and not see another vehicle on the road and I’m often tempted to tie the steering wheel in place with a bit of string, place a brick on the accelerator and indulge in a good book. The roads really are that flat and straight in places!!
My experiences with city traffic have been mostly of sitting white-knuckled and wide-eyed in the passenger seat, bracing my foot against an imaginary brake in the floor board as Mike sailed down the freeway at high speed with traffic on all four sides. Mike was unfazed even by the signs that read “Warning: Aggressive driver high crash area ahead.” Those signs reinforced my conviction that if humans had been intended to travel at such high speed in such close proximity to one another, God would have made us of something much less fragile than flesh and bone. I was terrified of traffic. But sooner or later we must all face our fears, so off I went to Minneapolis.
And how did it go? I'm still alive....and I'll tell more later.
6.06.2005
Road trip!
I left Sunday morning, and drove and drove and drove. Glen came along part way and I dropped him off in Alexandria. This post comes from the campus of St. Cloud State University, where I'm currently visiting a friend. Today's agenda: exploring downtown St. Cloud. Tomorrow? onward to Minneapolis where we hope to take in the Walker Art Center and sculpture garden, Whole Foods Market and other adventures downtown Minneapolis has to offer.
4.15.2005
We need counselors!!
We are still in need of male counselors for the summer camping season here at Camp of the Cross. Do you enjoy working with kids and sharing your faith with them? Would you enjoy living in a scenic natural setting by a lake? How about getting paid to play outside, go swimming, sing songs, worship God outdoors, be in skits and generally just have fun?! We even have a waterslide!!!!! (AND a replica of the Statue of Liberty made out of tin-foil!!)
Honestly, camp counselling can be a ton of work, but it is some of the most rewarding, fun work you'll ever do!! If you would consider being a camp counselor at Camp of the Cross, or if you know someone who would, post a reply, or e-mail me at freespirit_82@hotmail.com or check out the
We especially need guys!!! (And we do take people for only a few weeks of the summer if you're interested but can't work the entire summer.) Give it some thought!
Honestly, camp counselling can be a ton of work, but it is some of the most rewarding, fun work you'll ever do!! If you would consider being a camp counselor at Camp of the Cross, or if you know someone who would, post a reply, or e-mail me at freespirit_82@hotmail.com or check out the
We especially need guys!!! (And we do take people for only a few weeks of the summer if you're interested but can't work the entire summer.) Give it some thought!
The roar of the sea
I stepped out my door into a roaring sound this morning. It took me a moment to realize it was the crash of waves from the lake. The wind is blowing like crazy. The ice melted last weekend and the lake is alive again!! I'd forgotten how much I love the lake until this morning. It's nice to be able to live and work in such a beautiful setting.
Now that the lake has thawed, the camp is coming alive too. The grass is growing greener and new volunteers are popping up everyday!
Now that the lake has thawed, the camp is coming alive too. The grass is growing greener and new volunteers are popping up everyday!
4.13.2005
Fun and games
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
Thus reads the inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Torch held high, she has proudly stood in New York's harbor for years, greeting weary travellers. Thanks to our efforts at staff night last night there is a tin foil covered mass in the shape of Lady Liberty waiting to greet one of our weary travellers. A staff member here at camp returns from a trip to New York tonight. We spent our staff evening yesterday constructing the Statue of Liberty out of an old plant stand, a pool stick, newspaper, a pair of old coveralls, a sleeping bag, cardboard and lots and lots of tin foil. You could say we constructed her from "the wretched refuse of our teeming shores." It was fun and she is a thing of beauty.
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
Thus reads the inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Torch held high, she has proudly stood in New York's harbor for years, greeting weary travellers. Thanks to our efforts at staff night last night there is a tin foil covered mass in the shape of Lady Liberty waiting to greet one of our weary travellers. A staff member here at camp returns from a trip to New York tonight. We spent our staff evening yesterday constructing the Statue of Liberty out of an old plant stand, a pool stick, newspaper, a pair of old coveralls, a sleeping bag, cardboard and lots and lots of tin foil. You could say we constructed her from "the wretched refuse of our teeming shores." It was fun and she is a thing of beauty.
4.02.2005
"sigh..."
"For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation." - Rainer Maria Rilke
I saw this quote in the "Student Guide to Collegiate Challenge, Habitat for Humanity International" (Collegiate Challenge is one of the best spring break activities I can think of!!! I did it three of the five years of my college career and had a blast.)
Anyway, this quote is extremely relevant this week, not that I can discuss all the reasons why...I wish I could.
I saw this quote in the "Student Guide to Collegiate Challenge, Habitat for Humanity International" (
Anyway, this quote is extremely relevant this week, not that I can discuss all the reasons why...I wish I could.
3.27.2005
Do justice, love mercy....
How true this is!! (in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way) This is an issue I've long struggled with and I think something closer to the truth is found in Micah 6:8 What is God's will? Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
3.20.2005
Artistic Creations
Thirty-six ladies stamping and scrapbooking. This weekend our retreat is called "Artistic Creations" -- a weekend for women (and men if they're inclined) to get away from home and stamp cards and bookmarks or work on their scrapbooks while staying in our cozy heated cabins, fellowshipping with friends, enjoying delicious meals and having worship time together around the fireplace in the lodge. They're having a wonderful time. I, however, am exhausted. I spent the day washing mountains of dishes, helping bake breads and stuffing twice-baked potatoes.
3.15.2005
Sidewalk Sonday School
It's the middle of the night and I should be in bed, but I just wanted to say that we FINALLY put together the curriculum for Sidewalk Sonday School. Done, finished, finito!!! Hurrah! Yes, I am going back to the madness of Sidewalk Sonday School once again this summer. Why? The only reason I can come up with is "for the kids". I don't know why but despite the myriad automotive breakdowns, the hilariously lame puppet shows we put on, (and the kids always begged for more!), the sound system that never worked right, the long days we put in and secret tears I shed when no one was looking, my memories of last summer are infused with a sense of peace. It's as if God's hand was covering us every mile from Webster to Grafton, to McClusky to Hot Springs. And so I've chosen to go back. We're learning about Jesus this summer and Glen has promised more wierd and wacky puppet voices. God help us all! (and I know God will.)
2.27.2005
uneasiness
So I'm kinda in charge of leading the worship tomorrow before the Annual meeting. My last post "Pray!" is basically my intro to the summer's theme that I'll give as part of worship....not much for a sermon, but then it's only supposed to be a five to ten minute worship. Throw in a couple songs, a greeting and a blessing, and there you go!!!......ahh who'm I kidding? I'm basically doing this off the cuff...which I know I should not do, but at this point it's a bit late. pray for me!!
2.25.2005
PRAY!
“Lord, teach us to Pray!” These are the words of Jesus‘ twelve disciples in Luke 11. PRAY! That is the theme for our upcoming summer program at Camp of the Cross. As Jesus taught His disciples to pray, we will teach campers that prayer isn’t just something you say before meals. It is both a conversation with God and time for reflection. It is a journey and a way of life. Through exciting skits, games, fun activities and discussions campers will learn about different aspects of prayer: praising God joyfully and thanking God for all our gifts, asking God for our needs, persisting when its seems like there’s no answer and most importantly listening to what God has to say to us.
2.23.2005
like a river
I'm feeling somewhat more peaceful lately. I'm not sure why because I'm still buried under a mountain of projects that I really don't know how to do and more appear every day. Maybe it's prayer, or maybe it's mercy. It's grace. Whatever it is, there's a voice at my core whispering "It's alright. It's going to be okay."
2.21.2005
quilts and questions
My apologies to those of you who read this. It's been awhile, I know. But if you were wondering, yes, I am still alive. I survived my first retreat without Amy and Carrie. Forty women were here quilting from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. Every table in the camp was covered with fabric, and sewing machines whirred and hummed day and night. They made some beautiful quilts...but still, I have a hard time seeing the point in cutting apart fabric just to sew it back together and cut it apart and sew it together again. I appreciate that they do it...but I probably won't ever be a quilter.
2.17.2005
Chocolate Fantasy
Even though Valentine's Day is already past, I thought I'd share this story which took place about three years ago. The YWCA hosts an annual "Chocolate Fantasy" Valentines Day buffet. For around $7.50 you can gorge yourself on a buffet of bon-bons, brownies, cupcakes, cookies and other goodies. There is also a contest where people bring in their chocolate creations to be judged by a panel of prestigious community members. The mayor, for example, is often asked tojudge. One year Glen and I decided to attend this event. However, instead of paying the $7.50, we showed up early, walked confidently in the door and announced "Hello we're here to judge." Not one person questioned us! They simply handed us judging sheets and directed us to a table filled with goodies. We tasted them all and chose our favorites. Hey, my tastebud work just as well as the mayors! We judged the annual Chocolate Fantasy Chocolate bake off AND got our pictures taken with the mayor AND got as much chocolate as we wanted for free!!!
1.30.2005
another lazy Sunday
The quilter's guild has finished their weekend of fun and fabric here at Camp of the Cross. The Women's Weekend Away, where women came to be pampered and relax is also over and it's Sunday again. Time to relax, renew, refresh, restore. And start all over with another busy week!!
1.23.2005
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