Manna from Heaven

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

I was not even supposed to be in the office this afternoon. I was there finishing up some last minute paperwork determined to get home as soon as possible. I thought about ignoring the phone call, but I figured that it would only take a moment to explain to the caller how to get food from our food pantry. As I explained the process of coming to the church during office hours, though, there was something in this caller’s voice that gave me pause. When she realized that she was not going to be able to get food before the weekend, she got quiet. “Do you need the food to get through the weekend?” I finally asked the woman on the other end of the phone. “Yes,” was her quick and quiet reply. I told her to come and we would have some food waiting for her.

I packed a few bags of food and had them waiting for the woman when she arrived at the church about twenty minutes later. She came, infant carrier in hand, with her newborn and another woman who had driven her to the church. I immediately went back down to the food pantry to pack up some infant formula. I heard her voice calling to me down the stairs, “Pastor,” she said, “could the woman who drove me here get some food as well.”

As I reached in the food pantry for more bags, she shared with me some of her story. Remarking how she had tried to apply for food stamps, but was still waiting for a response. She and the other woman had recently rented an apartment with their children. They had a place to live, but they were struggling.

When you look at St. Paul’s food pantry is appears to be just two small closets in a corner of the hallway. On afternoons like this one, though, that pantry looks like manna from heaven.

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Posted November 16th, 2007 | 1 Comment

Saying “Thanks”

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

This Sunday’s gospel lesson is from Luke 17:11-19 and tells the story of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. Well, actually, they were received the promise of healing on the road to Jerusalem. When they called to Jesus, asking for mercy, Jesus replied, saying, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”

A bit of historical context might be helpful here for us 21st century readers of Luke’s gospel. According to the Torah, the priests were the only ones who could declare a leper clean. The only reason that these outcast lepers would go to the priests would be for such a declaration. If they were still covered in leprosy, then they would not be allowed anywhere near the priests or the temple for fear that they would defile it.

So, back to the story… the 10 lepers go on their way, heading towards the priests, when they are made clean. Somewhere on a random corner between were they were and were Jesus told them to go, the lepers were healed. And then, only one returned to say, “Thank you.”

When was the last time that you said, “Thank you?” When was the last time that you returned to the people, the places and the God who has made you the person you are today and offered your thanks?

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Posted October 10th, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Thoughts about a Sea Lion

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

This past Saturday, I found myself sitting in a kayak in Monterrey Bay, CA, paddle in hand, heading toward a sea lion. It was not, needless to say, a typical Saturday in my world! It was my first kayaking experience, my first time in Monterrey Bay and certainly my first time being anywhere near a wild sea lion.

Hanging out in the kayak in the bay, I was struck by how diverse God’s creation really is. I was surrounded by lush, green mountains and a beautiful landscape. Approaching the sea lion, I was struck by what a funky animal the sea lion is. The sound coming out of its mouth was a cross between a lion’s roar and a bird’s chirp. It had these flappers that helped it move and it looked funny. Yet, there it was. Doing the things that God had created it to do. My paddle kept getting stuck in the kelp forests that had grown to the surface. Each thing that I saw was unique and wonderfully made by God, the Creator.

St. Paul’s has recently started a Stewardship of Creation team that is helping the congregation think about how we can be better stewards of this creation that has been entrusted to us. This team of people is working on creating a better recycling program at the church, replacing our current light bulbs (when they burn out, of course) with energy efficient light bulbs and reducing our carbon footprint. I would encourage you to think about this in your homes, offices and schools as well. I would love to hear your ideas, so please be in touch!

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Posted September 24th, 2007 | Leave a Comment

What Shall I Say?

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

There is a small little book sitting on my desk at the moment called What Shall I Say? Discerning God’s Call to Ministry. The book is quite literally falling apart at this point. Even though my call to ministry was discerned many years ago, I still find myself going back to refer to it. There is something about re-reading it that reminds me of what God is calling me to do and be.

Recently, I had the privilege of having dinner with 12 young adults who are discerning their own calls to ministry. Amidst much food and laughter, there was conversation about what it means to be called by God and the church to public ministry. Listening to these young adults, I was inspired by the many ways that God is working in their lives and calling to them.

Discernment is not just something for pastors or future pastors. Discernment is the work of all of the people of God. God calls each one of us to do the work of God in the world.

What is it that God is calling you to do? Think about it. Pray about it. Talk to others about it. And then, filled with the grace God, go off and do it!

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Posted August 29th, 2007 | 1 Comment

Growing Grass, Growing Faith

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

Earlier this summer, I tried to grow some grass in the front yard of the parsonage. Now, I will admit upfront that I am not much of a gardener, but figured that even I could handle a little bit of grass seed. I scattered the seed on the lawn and waited for something to happen. You have to water it everyday, people kept saying to me.

I was quite diligent the first few days about watering my little seeds. Each night I would go out, turn on the hose and stand there watering. Quickly, however, this routine grew tiring and before long I realized that it had been several days since the hose had been turned on. Needless to say, my grass seed never sprouted.

Growing faith, it seems, is a lot like growing grass. We have each been given seeds of faith, planted in us by God, the heavenly gardener. These seeds are then left to us to be tended and nurtured. They need to be fed regularly with the bread and wine of Holy Communion, nurtured by study of scripture and cultivated by gathering as part of a community of believers for worship. These are not meant to be occasional things, but regular parts of our daily lives. How are your faith seeds growing? Hopefully, much better than my grass!

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Posted August 1st, 2007 | Leave a Comment