Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Shack

Check out the new phenom in the Christian pop book world--not too Christian, not pop enough, and definitely a phenom. I enjoyed it: The Shack by William P. Young.

My review is at http://saraemrys.blogspot.com.

~emrys

Prayers for Knitting Preacher

Hello friends,

I'm not sure how widely this is known; J. J. had surgery Monday for a badly broken ankle, which now has 12-- count 'em!-- 12 pins in it. She is absolutely not to put any weight on it for 12 weeks. At present she is at the manse with her mom (her manse is not only three stories; it also is split level on the individual story). Later this week she goes to her mom's home for a month.

Prayers for our dear friend!

Mags

Friday, June 6, 2008

Any suggestions for EMI?

My coach is on the planning committee for EMI and he is looking for feedback/suggestions. The committee will be meeting soon to begin planning for next year. I know we filled out feedback forms, but if there is anything we have thought of in the meantime here is a way to let the planning team know. We can use the blog to do a communal kind of thing - maybe a bit of brainstorming on things we might want, topics to cover or ways to do things. Or if you like, you can send me your feedback via email.

I'm going to pass along the suggestion that they offer some alternative to going to a show in the city. Any ideas for what we might do instead?

Nancy

Update on Jim's wife

Yesterday I learned that Jim's wife, Robin, suffered a stroke earlier in the week. The news is that it was a mild stroke and she is already in rehab. Jim is getting some relief from his duties at church as one of our colleagues, recently retired and worshipping at Jim's church, is handling some of his responsibilities.

Prayers arising for Jim and Robin.

Peace,
Nancy

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

My Gag

I was invited to try my hand at writing gags for the comic strip B.C.

Check out the B.C. strip this Saturday, 24 May. It's my gag!

http://www.creators.com/comics/bc.html

~emrys

Monday, May 12, 2008

PlayDate

One of the things we talked about wanting to do was schedule a day in October for us to meet again and have a play-date/check in/something. I have agreed to coordinate the date.

However, I came home to a matriarch admitted to Hospice Care and have been consumed by that, the details of having been gone and getting ready to leave again, another person who had a heart attack etc etc. SO...

Pick a date or dates in October that might be good for you to run away for a day and hang out with friends and colleagues in a central location yet to be decided. Put it in the comments below. I'll check in in a few days (or maybe when I get back from the festival of homiletics) and see who has not responded and send out e-mails with the same request.

I am now going to take a nap.

Friday, May 9, 2008

This Ain't My Call

Here's the lamenting limerick we came up with at EMI--to the tune of the Sloop John B (Kingston Trio, Beach Boys).

My grandfather told me, I’d love the ministry
So to serve the people of God, I got my MDiv
I found before long, Grandpa was wrong
He never told me how much, I’d have to give.

Refrain:
I padded my resume, filled out my PIF
Told my EP I just can’t handle it all
I wanted to preach, the Bible to teach
If this is ministry, then this ain’t my call.

The Treasurer seems sedate but she borrows from the offering plates
And the elders for twenty years won’t set it aright
They just won’t say, she needs to pay,
‘Cause she knows where their husbands go on Friday nights
Refrain

The choir’s at it again, they just won’t learn the new hymn
Choir director won’t plan in advance,
And old Mrs. Store, walked out the back door
The week we tried to include liturgical dance.
Refrain

The Clerk came to Session drunk, and my lay leader’s in a funk
He thinks the King James is the only version that’s true
The elders agree, they won’t listen to me
They say that “thee” and “thou” are better than you
Refrain

I gave a talk to the youth, and considered it uncouth
That while I spoke they texted all of their friends
They say they can hear, with buds in their ears
But I think their interest in me—is just for pretend.
Refrain

PW’s in a row with the guys from Building and Grounds
‘Cause they painted the kitchen walls a shade of bright lime
A head’s gonna roll over all of this bull
Now I’m afraid, that head’s gonna be mine

I polished my resume, spat on my PIF
Told my EP these jerks can have it all
They won’t let me teach, or listen when I preach:
People of God, my ass! This isn’t my call.

Then in an evening drear, the Spirit showed me so clear
Jesus with a cross enduring all the world’s shame
He looked in my eye, and said with a sigh
How do you love without bearing some pain?

So I left my resume, shredded my PIF
Told my EP that push has now come to shove
Jesus I’ll preach, and grace I will teach
My ministry will be a labour of love

~emrys

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Yet another prayer request

Prayers for Jim Poinsett and his wife Robin.

Our ep sent the following out to the presbytery today as a preface to her weekly prayer requests. Thought we'd want to know and support Jim and Robin in whatever ways we can.
-Nancy

"This morning, Jim Poinsett (Associate Pastor, Mt. Kisco), shared the sad news that his wife, Robin Theurkauf, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer (the most recent prognosis is very hopeful after difficult but effective treatment). In his sermon, Jim proclaimed the wonderful Road to Emmaus story and then connected it with his own story - walking toward the unknown of cancer with fear and doubt and confusion. But he also talked about how he met the Risen Christ this week - through the ministries of strangers - who opened his eyes to the graceful possibilities of the Gospel.Last December Jim went on the presbytery Pastor's Trip to Nicaragua. There he met two pastors he did not know - Bill Weisenbach (Katonah) and Paul Lent (Freedom Plains). Since that trip, Jim has been meeting in a small pastor's group with Bill, Paul, and Ken Mast (Mahopac). This last Wednesday - before the more hopeful prognosis had been given - Jim met for prayer and conversation with these strangers-now-friends, and shared his sadness and terror about Robin's illness. Both Paul and Bill immediately told stories about parishioners in their congregations who had also suffered from esophageal cancer, but who have been cured with successful treatment.The next day one of those parishioners - a complete stranger - called Jim and Robin, told them what to expect in the weeks and months ahead, and gave them great hope. Eyes and hearts were opened - by the grace and wisdom of strangers - and Jim and Robin recognized Life before them."

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

More Prayers

Prayers for the Nineveh church (and her pastor) as she struggles to figure out building issues.

Prayers for Judy McNabb, struggling with diabetes.

Prayers for our little garden, that it may grow in the wonderful soil provided by the Lord.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Shalom,
em

Prayers For All of Us!

Hello friends. Let's see if we can't get this blog to do what it was intended to do: get us a little more connected in all our disparate locations, physical, emotional and spiritual.

I've had a couple of requests for prayer come my way, so I'm putting them out here, with an invitation to you do come along and add yours, so that we may all be in prayer for one another.

For Sarah, recovering from emergency gall bladder surgery.

For Nancy, dealing with overwork and understaffing.

For Leslie, in the throes of home-purchasing-closing-occupying.

For Julie, surrounded by more than one pastor's share of death and dying this week.

For all of us, Holy Week looming ahead and inviting us to share in the passion and resurrection of Christ in ways expected and unexpected.

Others? Bless you all, friends.

Pat/ Mags