Saturday, August 1, 2009

What have you learned lately…

Last month, I told you the general idea of my plans for this month’s Creeksider letter. Being my first anniversary as Plymouth Creek’s minister, I thought it nice to look the year back over, and describe some of what I’ve learned. But before I get going, I want you to hear the back-story on this idea.

It begins with a job interview in Lexington, KY. As you may know, my first church out of seminary was in Lexington, and their interview process was familiar. They reviewed my application, and after a good phone conversation, they brought me down for an interview. I arrived late, because bad weather forced a long delay in our flight. But eventually I’d landed, been picked up, taken to eat my first Kentucky meal (Hot Brown, aka Heart Attack Special), and dropped off at a local hotel that was used as Army HQ in the Civil War, by both the North and the South. At separate times. The next morning, I interviewed with the church staff. Their Senior Minister, my eventual boss, asked the first question, “So Shane, what have you learned since your arrival last night?” Apparently I answered okay, because they extended me a call to serve that church. And rarely a week went by over the next two years that my boss didn’t ask, in one way or another, “What have you learned recently about your church?” I think that was a good habit to pick up, and would encourage you to form your own answers. Then, share them with me and your neighbors. But until that happens, here’s what, over the last year, I’ve learned:

  • Plymouth, Minnesota has a beautiful public garden and walking path- The Millennium Garden. In August, roses and perennials will bloom, so if you’re around, and want a partner for a nice walk, let me know. It’s beautiful. By the way, the Millennium Garden has great flowers, but no vegetables for Plymouth’s hungry residents. Which is why I think you should join me and others in discussing how we can offer our undeveloped land as a community garden for our neighbors. More on that later in the Creeksider (and please forgive this shameless plug!).
  • Saying “Hockey’s like soccer on ice” to a native Minnesotan does not endear you to that person.
  • Resiliency is an undervalued spiritual gift, and an important way many ‘feel the Spirit’ work. You see, Christians often talk of ‘the Spirit’ as something you feel, sense, or ‘just know’ is guiding you at any given moment. That’s accurate in certain contexts; some worship services place high value on powerful, immediate experiences of God’s Spirit. But as Paul writes in Galatians, the fruits of the Spirit include patience and gentleness, attributes that manifest over time, and things you don’t notice best ‘in the moment,’ but after it, in hindsight. Looking back over difficult days, months, years, as you discover how you or others navigated tricky waters (i.e. the resiliency shown), it’s possible to discern God’s help in those extended periods of time. Make no mistake about it- such resiliency, such stick-to-itiveness is hard to achieve and maintain. But Plymouth Creekers have it, and have taught me to access it in my own life. I thank God for that.
  • Hospitality to neighbors, guests, friends and families, before anything else, requires listening. In other words, hospitality demands not only clean carpets and nice treats, but more importantly, curiosity. At least Christian hospitality demands that, because it’s about love, and to love a neighbor you don’t yet know yet means you need to be curious about who they are. That’s risky. And rewarding. And for many shy introverts (like myself), it takes practice. But that can be overcome, which some of us shy introverts are learning as well.
  • Our church has fun, caring neighbors, who play bocce ball on our lawn and look out for our best interests. I hope we will, over the next year, establish closer relationships with these neighbors.


So that’s some of what I learned this year. How about you? Let me know! Until then, in all things,


Grace and Peace,

Shane
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Sunday, July 26, 2009

When I was hungry…

Back in January, we made a decision about the Mission Activities Plymouth Creek would pursue in 2009. Following our year’s theme (A Table Before Me: God’s Open-Armed Adventure), our Mission Gathering decided the 2009 would include a Mission Adventure- Table Hospitality. As I hope you’ve noticed since, we’ve focused our mission activities and conversations in different ways- Adopt-a-Room, SouperBowl of Caring, MN Foodshare, etc- though each has had something to do with opening our Table in service to our neighbors. We’ve shared money, time, effort, and food with folk who need it, and I pray lives have improved by what we’ve done. Now it is mid-July, and this 2009 Mission Adventure continues. Table Hospitality remains our focus, and it’s exciting to anticipate what Fall will bring. I’m writing today, though, not just to recap what has happened, or predict what might happen. I’m writing because I want us to think more about the children.

Or maybe I should say, “The Kid’s Table.” Remember that? When I was young, and my family went to visit Grandma Ray, my sister and I joined rarely sat at the dining room table for dinner. We ate in the living room with our cousins, who were of similar ages, because that’s where Grandma set up the Kid’s Table. To be honest, we preferred sitting there, and not with the adults. After all, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Uncle Dan, everything they talked about was soooo boorrrriiiing when I was eight. The Kid’s Table was much more fun. For we had more important things to discuss. Also, because the rooms had two doors and a hallway separating them, we would even eat the chicken and green beans with our fingers! Sometimes…. In other words, I have fond memories of the Kid’s Table. Perhaps you do too.

This August, we will speak about food with children, though it will seem slightly different than the Kid’s Table at Grandma’s House. In fact, it will be much different. Our Vacation Bible School curriculum this year is combining with 2009’s Mission Adventure, and together, from August 7-9, we will learn more about hunger and abundance. The title of the curriculum is “Hunger No More,” a resource produced by Bread for the World that Kimberly Wilburn located. Thanks Kimberly! Basically, over these three days, through fun activities, crafts and conversations, we hope to teach one another about one of God’s greatest blessings- Food. And we’ll talk about the many children of God throughout the world whose tables are empty more often than not. That may not sound like typical VBS stuff, but that’s why I’m glad we’re doing it. Hunger and the well-being of all God’s children are important topics to keep in mind. And to teach our children. Because if there was one thing that always happened at Grandma’s Kid’s Table, it was that we left the table stuffed and satisfied. I believe that is what God hopes for all.

The thing is we can’t do this learning without one another. We need your help, your laughter, your insight, your creativity. If we’re going to offer these activities to more than just the children in our sanctuary, you’ll need to invite your friends and neighbors, or help do some advertising. And, most especially, we will need adult volunteers to lead activities, cut out paper, read Bible verses, and to love the children who attend VBS. Again, those dates are Friday night, August 7th, through Sunday afternoon, August 9th. On Saturday evening, August 8th VBS participants (and ANYONE who can make it) will travel to Feed My Starving Children for some good and fun work that feeds people around the globe. I did it earlier this year and had a blast. I hope you join in. I also hope you sign-up to help make VBS a success this August. Contact Kimberly at the church office, or call me (763-458-1578), and we’ll plug you in!

So how about it? Will you join me and others at the Kid’s Table this August? Learn hunger and abundance, and loving our neighbors? I hope so, and I very much look forward to it. In all things,


Grace and Peace,

Shane
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