Somers High School Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is having a talent Show at the end of the month. The show’s headline is, Talent – our Anti-Drug and it will feature talented students singing, playing instruments, dancing, twirling, telling jokes and rapping. Participants are active and talented kids we seer everyday around town. I know this because, through my involvement in Somers Comes Together, I was one of those who previewed the talent. Anyone who has a chance to go to the show should not miss it.
Somers Comes Together is the community group made up of school administrators, parents, interested townspeople and students, formed over fifteen years ago to help raise awareness in Somers that we have issues with alcohol and other substance abuse. I honestly do not know if Somers has a bigger or smaller problem than surrounding towns, and frankly, I do not think that matters. The abuse is real, and the abusers are the children of our community.
I have tried to be aware of substance abuse issues in our community over the years, and would like to think I do have some sense of what is going on. Even though we are no longer the community in all of America with the highest number per capita of alcohol related fatal car accidents, there is a great deal of alcohol and other substance abuse that exists just below the surface and just out of public view. Some families address these issues in an open and positive way, while others ignore what they suspect may be going on, and still others have no clue.
Since the fall I have become increasingly away and concerned about the wide spread abuse of prescription drugs among youth in our community. During conversations with teens in Somers I have learned that not only is it relatively easy to get these drugs, there is a thriving market for illegal prescription drugs in our midst. The teens are not involved in anything as huge as the drug heist recently in Enfield, but they are stealing two, three, or more pills from the medicine cabinet at home, at a grandparent’s home, or in the home where there are a guest or a babysitter. The kids are urged. By other kids, to look for leftover prescription drugs at home.
There are simple things we can do to help lesson the abuse of prescription drugs. Clean-out the medicine cabinet, your pocketbook, your bedside table, the cupboard – anywhere you keep prescriptions. Properly dispose of any leftover medicines you have, keeping in mind that flushing them down the toilet may not be the best solution. Be aware of how many pills are in your prescription bottles, and pay attention if your supply seems to run out too fast.
One of the things that really surprised me was the number of times the kids told me that a parent or other adult had given them a pill that had been prescribed for someone else, whether a pain killer, or allergy medication, or tranquilizer. Having prescriptions for a variety of maladies and conditions seems to be a way of life in our culture, and prescriptions are so commonplace that some forget that medication is prescribed not only based on symptoms, but also on age, height, weight, medical history and other factors. Not only is it foolish and illegal to give prescription medication to someone for whom it was not prescribed, it is also dangerous. Death can result from this kind of sharing.
Members of SADD are concerned about the welfare of their friends and classmates. They are aware of the speed with which prescription drug abuse has been accelerating in Somers. They look to the adults around them to step up and help address and overcome the problem, before abuse leads to a tragic end. I hope you will join me in supporting Somers Comes Together, SADD and other school and community efforts to bring alcohol and other substance abuse under control.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day Plus Forty
On the first Earth Day, I was a senior in high school and there was a lot of energy available for action in support of a good cause. In the region of New Hampshire where I live, the Keene High School took the lead and organized an event, to which they invited other high schools. A group from Peterborough, where I went to school, organized to put together a display for the Keene event, but that did not seem to be enough, so we added action.
On the Sunday, April 19, we started early in the morning at Peterborough High School and walked and collected trash along the side of NH Route 101 from Peterborough to Keene, about 20 miles. It took all day. There were probably about 30 kids involved, along with some adults, and we did a great job. We also got a lot less press and recognition than any of us thought we would or should have.
I drove most of that route when I was in New Hampshire recently and major changes have been made to improve the road and to make the travel time, by car, much shorter. There are new businesses and houses along the way and some of the old familiar places have grown and morphed and are now unrecognizable. There is still litter along the road.
Like most things in the late sixties and early seventies Earth Day seemed to me and my friends to be the beginning of an earth-changing movement. We had gathered, were taking action to make the world a better place, and it would be a better place because of what we did. Things have improved over the years. Things that seemed to be totally normal to us, like cigarette smoke, sewage draining into rivers, and gas guzzling cars are no longer acceptable. Even though there was still trash on the side of Route 101, there seemed to be less of it, and there were several miles that had been “adopted” by local groups and businesses, so they were looking spiffier than they had been forty years ago. I noticed there were recycling bins at the side of the road in places, waiting to be picked up, and everyone one of the “dumps” we used to throw away the collected litter in 1970 has been closed, every town now operating a Transfer Station!
There seems to have been a rebirth of Earth Day activities lately, with more towns restarting their litter pick-up efforts, and more local people aware of Earth Day and what it celebrates. That is a good thing. We are surrounded by such beauty and easily forget what a gift it is.
We did not completely change the world on that first Earth Day. There is still plenty to be done to make the earth cleaner and safer for everyone. But our efforts were part of something larger that has kept moving and changing, bringing awareness and action that has benefitted everyone on the planet.
Happy Earth Day +40
On the Sunday, April 19, we started early in the morning at Peterborough High School and walked and collected trash along the side of NH Route 101 from Peterborough to Keene, about 20 miles. It took all day. There were probably about 30 kids involved, along with some adults, and we did a great job. We also got a lot less press and recognition than any of us thought we would or should have.
I drove most of that route when I was in New Hampshire recently and major changes have been made to improve the road and to make the travel time, by car, much shorter. There are new businesses and houses along the way and some of the old familiar places have grown and morphed and are now unrecognizable. There is still litter along the road.
Like most things in the late sixties and early seventies Earth Day seemed to me and my friends to be the beginning of an earth-changing movement. We had gathered, were taking action to make the world a better place, and it would be a better place because of what we did. Things have improved over the years. Things that seemed to be totally normal to us, like cigarette smoke, sewage draining into rivers, and gas guzzling cars are no longer acceptable. Even though there was still trash on the side of Route 101, there seemed to be less of it, and there were several miles that had been “adopted” by local groups and businesses, so they were looking spiffier than they had been forty years ago. I noticed there were recycling bins at the side of the road in places, waiting to be picked up, and everyone one of the “dumps” we used to throw away the collected litter in 1970 has been closed, every town now operating a Transfer Station!
There seems to have been a rebirth of Earth Day activities lately, with more towns restarting their litter pick-up efforts, and more local people aware of Earth Day and what it celebrates. That is a good thing. We are surrounded by such beauty and easily forget what a gift it is.
We did not completely change the world on that first Earth Day. There is still plenty to be done to make the earth cleaner and safer for everyone. But our efforts were part of something larger that has kept moving and changing, bringing awareness and action that has benefitted everyone on the planet.
Happy Earth Day +40
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Health Care Insurance gets Personal
I think about health care insurance a lot. Because of a strange series of events, I find myself today with no health insurance coverage. This could prove to be a problem as I am diabetic and have high blood pressure. In the very near future, I should have new health insurance coverage, but in the mean time, I am concerned.
My current uninsured state crashed in on me today when I found out that the coverage I thought I had does not exist. The Association which we paid for the coverage is not authorized to sell insurance in Connecticut. The representative of the Connecticut Department of Insurance I talked with put it simply, “That is not an insurance company.” Obviously, not able to provide health insurance coverage. He did not seem to be upset about this turn of events as I.
I ended up checking with the Department of Insurance after an online search for information about the Association turned up a posting saying it is a scam. I was taken. The posting also contained information about other insurance companies, and ads for them, so it seemed wise to check with the Dept. of Insurance.
Maybe I should have known better. Initially I found the coverage through a web search. But, I also had had conversations with a live person on several occasions before agreeing to buy. The coverage offered seemed adequate at a price that was not unreasonable. It was not unbelievable coverage. The cost was not “too good to be true”. It all seemed legitimate and above board, so I went for it.
I was searching on line for health insurance because the coverage I had through the United Church of Christ Pension Boards had changed in the middle of 2009. Between July and August my out-of-pocket cost for prescriptions had increased 800%. What had been reasonable co-pay for prescriptions had changed and the total coverage had become $30 a month. I needed to find new insurance.
The change in the insurance coverage was horrible for me. It left me wondering what I would do about prescriptions and other medical needs. And then, while I was anxious and distressed about these changes, I got several letters and e-mails from various leaders of the United Church of Christ urging me to support the denomination’s campaign to support health care reform and to urge congress to pass a bill that would assure affordable health care for all.
There was a disconnect. Here I was, a pastor with nearly thirty years of service in the United Church of Christ, a strong record of supporting Basic Support and other giving to the denomination, and because of a decision I had made twenty years ago, when my life situation was completely different than it is now, I was not able to get anything but minimal health insurance coverage from the Pension Boards of my denomination. I made calls and sent e-mails to the Pension Boards and to the head of the UCC’s Minister for Healthcare Justice, but got no response. The Connecticut Conference Associate Minister for Clergy Concerns was sympathetic and even offered me a grant to help pay for the prescriptions I had just picked up. He also made it clear that there was no hope the Pension Boards would ever allow me to change to better coverage.
As a denomination, the United Church of Christ values our commitment to justice and our reputation for compassion. It is very hard to realize how I, and others in similar situations, have been failed by the denomination. While the UCC related Christian Activities Council in Hartford was being celebrated nationally for receiving a grant to underwrite their advocacy of affordable health care for all and the General Synod was resolving to support health care justice, clergy in the UCC were having their benefits reduced.
I am fairly confident that I will find health care insurance in a short while. I am even sure that it will be affordable and adequate. I am positive that it will not be provided by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards.
I love the United Church of Christ and will continue to support this denomination, but in the future, I will be aware of how easy it is to fall into the trap of saying words that are not back with action. The challenge to act in faithful and just ways is as real and as difficult as it has been since the first days of the church.
Peace -
Barry
My current uninsured state crashed in on me today when I found out that the coverage I thought I had does not exist. The Association which we paid for the coverage is not authorized to sell insurance in Connecticut. The representative of the Connecticut Department of Insurance I talked with put it simply, “That is not an insurance company.” Obviously, not able to provide health insurance coverage. He did not seem to be upset about this turn of events as I.
I ended up checking with the Department of Insurance after an online search for information about the Association turned up a posting saying it is a scam. I was taken. The posting also contained information about other insurance companies, and ads for them, so it seemed wise to check with the Dept. of Insurance.
Maybe I should have known better. Initially I found the coverage through a web search. But, I also had had conversations with a live person on several occasions before agreeing to buy. The coverage offered seemed adequate at a price that was not unreasonable. It was not unbelievable coverage. The cost was not “too good to be true”. It all seemed legitimate and above board, so I went for it.
I was searching on line for health insurance because the coverage I had through the United Church of Christ Pension Boards had changed in the middle of 2009. Between July and August my out-of-pocket cost for prescriptions had increased 800%. What had been reasonable co-pay for prescriptions had changed and the total coverage had become $30 a month. I needed to find new insurance.
The change in the insurance coverage was horrible for me. It left me wondering what I would do about prescriptions and other medical needs. And then, while I was anxious and distressed about these changes, I got several letters and e-mails from various leaders of the United Church of Christ urging me to support the denomination’s campaign to support health care reform and to urge congress to pass a bill that would assure affordable health care for all.
There was a disconnect. Here I was, a pastor with nearly thirty years of service in the United Church of Christ, a strong record of supporting Basic Support and other giving to the denomination, and because of a decision I had made twenty years ago, when my life situation was completely different than it is now, I was not able to get anything but minimal health insurance coverage from the Pension Boards of my denomination. I made calls and sent e-mails to the Pension Boards and to the head of the UCC’s Minister for Healthcare Justice, but got no response. The Connecticut Conference Associate Minister for Clergy Concerns was sympathetic and even offered me a grant to help pay for the prescriptions I had just picked up. He also made it clear that there was no hope the Pension Boards would ever allow me to change to better coverage.
As a denomination, the United Church of Christ values our commitment to justice and our reputation for compassion. It is very hard to realize how I, and others in similar situations, have been failed by the denomination. While the UCC related Christian Activities Council in Hartford was being celebrated nationally for receiving a grant to underwrite their advocacy of affordable health care for all and the General Synod was resolving to support health care justice, clergy in the UCC were having their benefits reduced.
I am fairly confident that I will find health care insurance in a short while. I am even sure that it will be affordable and adequate. I am positive that it will not be provided by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards.
I love the United Church of Christ and will continue to support this denomination, but in the future, I will be aware of how easy it is to fall into the trap of saying words that are not back with action. The challenge to act in faithful and just ways is as real and as difficult as it has been since the first days of the church.
Peace -
Barry
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What Is Your Verse?
Over the past few weeks I have been thinking about the way particular Bible verses are meaningful to different people. This has happened in some pretty diverse places.
In the course of preparing to officiate at a funeral I always ask family members if there is a particular passage of scripture that is meaningful to the deceased or to them. More often than not, the twenty third Psalm is mentioned, but there are also other choices. During the walking tour of North Cemetery led by The Gravestone Girls, I noticed for the first time that a verse we traditionally think of as part of the Christmas story is engraved on the the gravestone of the Rev. Charles Backus, our third pastor.
At the recent Board of Christian Education meeting we talked a bit about favorite Bible stories and our favorites among Jesus' parables. At different points in our lives, we are likely to find comfort for challenge in various passages that would not speak so clearly in other times.
Finally, in reading Lettie Russell's book, Church in the Round, I was intrigued by individual verses or passages chosen by congregations as guiding verses. A church that chose Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." as a guiding verse is certainly making a clear commitment and a clear statement about the direction of their ministry.
In the April 2010 edition of Highlights, our church newsletter, I have challenged members and friends of the church to offer suggestions for a guiding verse for our church. I hope to receive some good suggestions, and will make those public as I receive them. In addition to a guiding verse for a church, though, it is also interesting to think about what the guiding verse for an individual life might be.
Those looking for comfort and assurance would find a wealth of possible verses throughout Psalms, in the letters of Paul and in the teaching of Jesus. Inspiration to action can be found in the preaching of Jesus, the letters of Paul and throughout the books of the Prophets.
Most of us need to be reminded of God's love for us now and then, can benefit from reassurance about God's grace and may find it useful to be spurred to action in light of our faith.
Do you have a verse that you find yourself turning to over and over? Is there a story or parable that you remember as particular poignant to you? Think about it.
Blessings,
Barry
In the course of preparing to officiate at a funeral I always ask family members if there is a particular passage of scripture that is meaningful to the deceased or to them. More often than not, the twenty third Psalm is mentioned, but there are also other choices. During the walking tour of North Cemetery led by The Gravestone Girls, I noticed for the first time that a verse we traditionally think of as part of the Christmas story is engraved on the the gravestone of the Rev. Charles Backus, our third pastor.
At the recent Board of Christian Education meeting we talked a bit about favorite Bible stories and our favorites among Jesus' parables. At different points in our lives, we are likely to find comfort for challenge in various passages that would not speak so clearly in other times.
Finally, in reading Lettie Russell's book, Church in the Round, I was intrigued by individual verses or passages chosen by congregations as guiding verses. A church that chose Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." as a guiding verse is certainly making a clear commitment and a clear statement about the direction of their ministry.
In the April 2010 edition of Highlights, our church newsletter, I have challenged members and friends of the church to offer suggestions for a guiding verse for our church. I hope to receive some good suggestions, and will make those public as I receive them. In addition to a guiding verse for a church, though, it is also interesting to think about what the guiding verse for an individual life might be.
Those looking for comfort and assurance would find a wealth of possible verses throughout Psalms, in the letters of Paul and in the teaching of Jesus. Inspiration to action can be found in the preaching of Jesus, the letters of Paul and throughout the books of the Prophets.
Most of us need to be reminded of God's love for us now and then, can benefit from reassurance about God's grace and may find it useful to be spurred to action in light of our faith.
Do you have a verse that you find yourself turning to over and over? Is there a story or parable that you remember as particular poignant to you? Think about it.
Blessings,
Barry
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Champ's Place - Our Food Pantry and More
Yesterday I had the chance to speak to the third grade class at Somers Elementary School. I was invited by Kathy Mangini and her classroom as they begin a community service project to help Champ's Place, the Somers Congregational Church's food pantry. The children were wonderful, attentive, and inquisitive and I had a great time.
I took an empty grocery bag with me (paper) and asked the kids what they would put in it if they were going to use the contents to feed their family for a week. The first response was M&Ms! Then we talked about nutrition and staying healthy and their suggestions got much better. We also talked about non-food items that we try to have on hand for visitors to Champ's place, from toiletries to gentle used clothing.
I was happy to talk to the kids, and very happy to see how enthused they became about what they could gather to help people in our own community. They will be collecting things for Champ's Place over the next 5 months!
I prepared more information that I could use in the time allotted for the presentation and conversation, including some notes about who Camp was and why we named the [pantry after him, and the history of the pantry.
Gene Champion (Champ)had a real connection to our commuunity, being a retired Postal Worker who delivered mail on rural routes here in Somers for many years. He had his wife Marion were married in the church and raised their 3 children through our Sunday School. Marion and the children, their spouses and children, continue to be active members of the church.
Although the church had collected and distribute food before, “Champ” was the first volunteer who kept regular hours for people to come and get food. Before the people arrived, Champ sorted and shelved the food and always made sure it was fairly distributed to everyone who used the pantry. He developed a system to sign people in and keep track of what was needed. When Champ became unable to be there, he asked about a better room that would be easier for everyone to access.
When the church was renovated in 1998-'99 the pantry got a new location on first floor with 2 closets that could be locked. New people volunteered and helped sign people in, sort the food and give it out. The program grew as people heard that the church was willing to help. We needed more room and the room was expanded and the pantry had 4, then 5 now 6 closets.
The larger room and more space made it possible for us to add used clothing and then small household items. The people who were using the pantry started talking to each other and passing along clothing and ideas for saving money and making small budgets spread further. The donation of a freezer expanded the program more and now we are able to offer some perishable food.
A lot of the food we distribute comes from people in our community. During the summer, we had people who brought fresh vegetables and sometimes we have gotten bread from Big Y and Giessler’s. Left over’s from church suppers always go to Champs='s place. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Post Office, school and other clubs as well as local businesses have given food over the years. A big boost came when we began receiving food from Food Share through which we are able to get many items at greatly reduced prices.
Every week 25 to 30 people come to get a couple of bags of groceries. Very few of those people live alone, so each person represents 2 or 3 people receiving food.
Our guests sign in and we coordinate what we give with what they might get from other sources and also helps to get people in touch with other sources of aid. There are all kinds of people at Champ's place very week: some who live alone, couples, mom & dad and a child or two, or even more.
The people who make use of Champ's place live in different kinds of houses too. They live in houses, apartments, 1 room in someone else's house, and some even live in their car or outside. This means we must offer different kinds of foods and foods that require different kinds of preparation. A person who lives in their own hoome with a full kitchen will be able to use different things than a person living out of their car in the state forest. We try to be aware of the particular needs of the people we serve.
We want to give people who are going through a bad time some help. Champ's place is not meant to be a permanent source food for anyone, but is a stepping stone and a help in troubled times.
I took an empty grocery bag with me (paper) and asked the kids what they would put in it if they were going to use the contents to feed their family for a week. The first response was M&Ms! Then we talked about nutrition and staying healthy and their suggestions got much better. We also talked about non-food items that we try to have on hand for visitors to Champ's place, from toiletries to gentle used clothing.
I was happy to talk to the kids, and very happy to see how enthused they became about what they could gather to help people in our own community. They will be collecting things for Champ's Place over the next 5 months!
I prepared more information that I could use in the time allotted for the presentation and conversation, including some notes about who Camp was and why we named the [pantry after him, and the history of the pantry.
Gene Champion (Champ)had a real connection to our commuunity, being a retired Postal Worker who delivered mail on rural routes here in Somers for many years. He had his wife Marion were married in the church and raised their 3 children through our Sunday School. Marion and the children, their spouses and children, continue to be active members of the church.
Although the church had collected and distribute food before, “Champ” was the first volunteer who kept regular hours for people to come and get food. Before the people arrived, Champ sorted and shelved the food and always made sure it was fairly distributed to everyone who used the pantry. He developed a system to sign people in and keep track of what was needed. When Champ became unable to be there, he asked about a better room that would be easier for everyone to access.
When the church was renovated in 1998-'99 the pantry got a new location on first floor with 2 closets that could be locked. New people volunteered and helped sign people in, sort the food and give it out. The program grew as people heard that the church was willing to help. We needed more room and the room was expanded and the pantry had 4, then 5 now 6 closets.
The larger room and more space made it possible for us to add used clothing and then small household items. The people who were using the pantry started talking to each other and passing along clothing and ideas for saving money and making small budgets spread further. The donation of a freezer expanded the program more and now we are able to offer some perishable food.
A lot of the food we distribute comes from people in our community. During the summer, we had people who brought fresh vegetables and sometimes we have gotten bread from Big Y and Giessler’s. Left over’s from church suppers always go to Champs='s place. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Post Office, school and other clubs as well as local businesses have given food over the years. A big boost came when we began receiving food from Food Share through which we are able to get many items at greatly reduced prices.
Every week 25 to 30 people come to get a couple of bags of groceries. Very few of those people live alone, so each person represents 2 or 3 people receiving food.
Our guests sign in and we coordinate what we give with what they might get from other sources and also helps to get people in touch with other sources of aid. There are all kinds of people at Champ's place very week: some who live alone, couples, mom & dad and a child or two, or even more.
The people who make use of Champ's place live in different kinds of houses too. They live in houses, apartments, 1 room in someone else's house, and some even live in their car or outside. This means we must offer different kinds of foods and foods that require different kinds of preparation. A person who lives in their own hoome with a full kitchen will be able to use different things than a person living out of their car in the state forest. We try to be aware of the particular needs of the people we serve.
We want to give people who are going through a bad time some help. Champ's place is not meant to be a permanent source food for anyone, but is a stepping stone and a help in troubled times.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Why Wait for a Funeral?
My parents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this week and the family got together last weekend to help them celebrate. When they celebrated their 50th we had a big party with friends and neighbors invited. This time things were much less formal and only the immediate family was there.
Besides Mom and Dad, immediate family means children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses and great-grandchildren. The total was 18, with only one grandchild and one great-grandchild missing. Everyone brought something to eat, and as usually is the case when we all get together, there was laughter and joking, hugging and catching up. The most important part of the day, though, was the presentation of the gifts. There were no things. Instead each member of the family was asked to share three memories and in the case of the younger grand-kids, to share important things about Grammy and Grampa.
Everyone from my older brother down to our 4 year old niece took a turn. There was a memory of a special bike given on a birthday when my dad was out of work and things were pretty tight. There were memories of how my parents attended all of our games, concerts and plays. There were also memories of how they managed to deal with two of us who were in our teens when the other two were born. There were sacrifices we did not really understand until we had become grown with children of our own. There was the quiet assurance that our parents' support was always there, no matter what - - and there have been more than a few "whats".
The particular memories were great, but more important is the concept. One of my nieces commented that we had shared a lot of stuff usually shared at funerals. How lucky we were to not have waited for a funeral. But we did wait for a sixtieth wedding anniversary. Not everyone gets one of those.
So, don't wait for a funeral, or an anniversary, or a special birthday. Don't even wait for a special gathering, do it today. Today is a good day to thank someone for the special part they have played in your life. It is a great day to tell someone that something they said that they may not even remember, has made a difference in who you are.
People touch our lives every day. We usually find the time to complain about things people do to us - - today celebrate things people do for you.
Besides Mom and Dad, immediate family means children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses and great-grandchildren. The total was 18, with only one grandchild and one great-grandchild missing. Everyone brought something to eat, and as usually is the case when we all get together, there was laughter and joking, hugging and catching up. The most important part of the day, though, was the presentation of the gifts. There were no things. Instead each member of the family was asked to share three memories and in the case of the younger grand-kids, to share important things about Grammy and Grampa.
Everyone from my older brother down to our 4 year old niece took a turn. There was a memory of a special bike given on a birthday when my dad was out of work and things were pretty tight. There were memories of how my parents attended all of our games, concerts and plays. There were also memories of how they managed to deal with two of us who were in our teens when the other two were born. There were sacrifices we did not really understand until we had become grown with children of our own. There was the quiet assurance that our parents' support was always there, no matter what - - and there have been more than a few "whats".
The particular memories were great, but more important is the concept. One of my nieces commented that we had shared a lot of stuff usually shared at funerals. How lucky we were to not have waited for a funeral. But we did wait for a sixtieth wedding anniversary. Not everyone gets one of those.
So, don't wait for a funeral, or an anniversary, or a special birthday. Don't even wait for a special gathering, do it today. Today is a good day to thank someone for the special part they have played in your life. It is a great day to tell someone that something they said that they may not even remember, has made a difference in who you are.
People touch our lives every day. We usually find the time to complain about things people do to us - - today celebrate things people do for you.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Grateful
We have all had to make some adjustments because of the new configuration of the church staff and because we were without and Administrative Secretary for a month. I am grateful to all the individuals who spent time sitting in the office, answering phones, taking messages, typing, printing, folding and stapling. Even those who offered help that we did not use made the time go by more quickly and made the workload seem lighter. Getting through a newsletter printing, the Apple Crisp lunch, and the regular things that need to happen in the office was no small accomplishment, and I am grateful to everyone who lent a hand.
Although there was some panic when Linda’s departure was only days away, Boards and Committees had actually put more things in place than it seemed. The Board of Christian Education, though short-handed, was prepared to get the word out to parents that the Sunday school would be operating as usual and were able to run the first Communion Sunday of the fall very smoothly. They are on top of the CE program and are continuing to look for additional volunteers to work with the young people in our church. Fellowship groups for middle school and high school aged kids are being addressed, though finding adult leaders for these has proven to be more difficult than usual.
Our Board of Caring Ministry has also been able to carry on their ministry with no interruption. There is a party on October 25 for our Caring List people. It is well organized and should be a success. The Caring Board chair and I have been in regular e-mail contact and have had conversations about the caring program. I have gone to the hospitals, nursing home and several homes for pastoral visits.
Worship was, of course, the third of Linda’s central responsibilities. The Deacons have revived the Lay Reader program which seem to be very popular. The Board of Finance has been approached about funds to cover supply preachers when I am away and for inclusion in the 2009 operating budget of the church. I have done the Children’s message each week there has been one since Linda left, and there are people who have volunteered to take a turn at bringing a message for the kids as time goes along.
Without an Associate Pastor things day-to-day are obviously different, but I think we can be very happy about the ways the Boards involved have stepped up to ensure the continuation of these important ministries. The support offered, leadership provided, and commitment to the ministry and mission of the church shown have helped and continue to help as we move through this challenging time in the life of our church.
Our Moderator Jim Jewell has shown tremendous care and commitment in the leadership he has provided through this difficult year. He has led with an even hand, grace and good humor, even when things were touchy and volatile. His style has given everyone a voice and his understanding of how congregationalists do things has made it possible for us to move ahead. Jim’s interaction with our youth helped keep them in church at a critical time in their relationship with the church. Our church is fortunate to have had Jim as Moderator in this time when a calm voice and attitude were needed.
Although there was some panic when Linda’s departure was only days away, Boards and Committees had actually put more things in place than it seemed. The Board of Christian Education, though short-handed, was prepared to get the word out to parents that the Sunday school would be operating as usual and were able to run the first Communion Sunday of the fall very smoothly. They are on top of the CE program and are continuing to look for additional volunteers to work with the young people in our church. Fellowship groups for middle school and high school aged kids are being addressed, though finding adult leaders for these has proven to be more difficult than usual.
Our Board of Caring Ministry has also been able to carry on their ministry with no interruption. There is a party on October 25 for our Caring List people. It is well organized and should be a success. The Caring Board chair and I have been in regular e-mail contact and have had conversations about the caring program. I have gone to the hospitals, nursing home and several homes for pastoral visits.
Worship was, of course, the third of Linda’s central responsibilities. The Deacons have revived the Lay Reader program which seem to be very popular. The Board of Finance has been approached about funds to cover supply preachers when I am away and for inclusion in the 2009 operating budget of the church. I have done the Children’s message each week there has been one since Linda left, and there are people who have volunteered to take a turn at bringing a message for the kids as time goes along.
Without an Associate Pastor things day-to-day are obviously different, but I think we can be very happy about the ways the Boards involved have stepped up to ensure the continuation of these important ministries. The support offered, leadership provided, and commitment to the ministry and mission of the church shown have helped and continue to help as we move through this challenging time in the life of our church.
Our Moderator Jim Jewell has shown tremendous care and commitment in the leadership he has provided through this difficult year. He has led with an even hand, grace and good humor, even when things were touchy and volatile. His style has given everyone a voice and his understanding of how congregationalists do things has made it possible for us to move ahead. Jim’s interaction with our youth helped keep them in church at a critical time in their relationship with the church. Our church is fortunate to have had Jim as Moderator in this time when a calm voice and attitude were needed.
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