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The Year of Lingering

12/31/2014

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My guiding word for 2014 has been Linger. My word has stayed with me and held me accountable when it would have been easier to be busy and not be in the moment.

Here are three times when the ability to linger has helped me be more fully present for myself and others.

1. Christmas Eve - I was asked to give the sermon for the family services at church. We wanted to try something more interactive that combined both the children's sermon and the regular sermon into one experience. As I moved through the sermon, families opened envelopes containing objects that helped illustrate the story. At the first service there was a murmur that ran through the sanctuary the whole time. At the larger service it was a rising din that could not be contained: the excitement of opening the envelopes and sharing the discovery of what was inside with each other. I took these moments to pause and watch. It was great!
I saw relief on many parents' faces because they did not have to shush their little children the whole time. I saw children ready to learn what the newly opened object meant to the story. I saw grandparents happy to see their grandchildren welcomed and included in church.
It could have been totally stressful for me but all I felt was gratitude to linger in the abundant joy of these families.

2. Kayaking in Alaska - To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, my parents brought their family on a cruise to Alaska. It was a wonderful time with family. One of my most peaceful moments was kayaking in a protected bay. We were far away from both the tourist and local water traffic. It was quiet and still except for the sounds of the water and wildlife. My guide was gracious and let me paddle slowly (if at all) at times. He could tell I was soaking in every moment of this beautiful and rugged landscape.
This is what I imagined when I chose the word "linger". I hoped I would have quiet and peaceful moments like these. I had many in 2014 but this one stands out.

3. The death of a colleague - In August, the Parish Nurse at my church died suddenly. She had been on staff caring for people for 20 years. (And an active member of the church longer than that.) She and I worked together for 15 years. This happened at a time of the year when activity increases exponentially. Everyone is gearing up for the fall kick off of programs and ministry. When the congregation found out Sue had a stroke and then died 2 days later, all of that preparation work came to a halt. The most important thing that needed to be done was to linger with people: hear their stories, cry together, comfort those in shock. For about 10 days surrounding her stroke and then funeral, all I did was be present for people. Folks wandered into my office wanting to talk or just share in the shock of what happened. It was an important time to let go of all the to-do lists and be available for conversation and sitting together quietly. Even though I wasn't busy as usual, I knew the work I was doing was more important than any list. I learned to not rush a conversation and let my silence be a comfort for others. We lingered then as a congregation. We still linger once in a while when Sue's name is mentioned. We pause and take a moment to remember her place in the world.

2014 was a good year. Our family had many great celebrations: college graduation, wedding, anniversaries. I was asked to share my work with other congregations. I stretched myself in my own ministry at Faith. In the midst of all the busyness, I discovered ways to linger. I felt fully present with myself, people around me and life. That is a really good year!

~Pam

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Third Sunday of Advent - Light in the Darkness

12/16/2014

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On Sunday, our Advent procession included a procession of light. The lights in the Chancel were dimmed so when people brought forward tea lights, the glow was unmistakable. Battery operated tea lights were used so people of all ages and abilities could participate.

One of the most powerful parts of this year’s Advent ritual is that the procession is long. Each week there are many people coming forward to adorn the altar area. We didn't want one or two people to represent the rest of the congregation. We wanted the congregation to take part. And so each week a long line of people join with the worship leaders, quietly and reverently come forward accompanied by the ringing of bells.

The gospel for the day was John the Baptist reminding us that he is not the light but he is one of many (including us) who bear witness to the Light - Jesus. How do we point to the Light when the world seems so full of darkness? I encourage you to read the sermon from Sunday here. It so beautifully voiced my heartache over the violence of the last few weeks in our nation's cities and the lack of compassion and civility that has followed. For me, the sermon pointed to the Light. It comforted me, challenged me, and called me out - just as Jesus does.

I wonder: where in my life am I bearing witness to the Light? One thing I do not question is who is with me. It is the long line of people bearing the light in the procession - not just the physical procession from Sunday but the intentional and constant forward moving procession towards the love of Christ with the people in my life who bring me along when I am in the dark and who let me accompany them when the darkness is theirs. What a gift!

This Sunday the sanctuary was full of light: 3 candles on the Advent Wreath, tea lights from the procession, candles on the altar...and...most importantly, the light of Christ shining bright and pointing us back out into the world.

~Pam

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Advent Liturgy

12/9/2014

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Liturgy is defined as "the work of the people." It is the faith-work of all the people which contributes to the vibrancy of worship at Faith Lutheran Church. Sharing that "faith-work" is a priority at my church. Worship leaders are all ages. Participation comes in many different ways. Two new ways of participation this Advent season is through liturgical art and the movement of the assembly.

Last week, the children joined the procession, carrying in stars and adorning the Chancel. This week it was entire families! Families were invited to make an Advent banner that mirrors the colors and shapes of our Advent paraments. On Sunday the families processed the banners forward and hung them behind the altar as a beautiful backdrop to worship.
These families are leaders, liturgical artists, creating something to help others encounter the Spirit. The banners will hang in the Sanctuary through the Sunday School Christmas Program on December 21, and then the families can take their banner to hang it at home. A piece of the Sanctuary will go out into their homes. What a lovely image.

The movement of the people gathered has also changed this Advent. The prayers of the People and the Liturgy of the Meal have both been brought down the steps and into the middle of the Sanctuary. The assembly gathers close to pray and prepare to receive Holy Communion. We look at each other. We are in each other's space. We support each other as we join together in our faith-work.

As we continue through this season, we know Advent preparation is not just about the physical getting ready for Christmas. We know it is really about getting our selves ready for Jesus. Opening our eyes to the beauty around us. Opening our hearts to the people in our lives. Opening our futures to ways God will work through us, ways we cannot even imagine yet!
All of this opening takes work: faith-work. So we come back each Sunday to participate together in the Advent Liturgy so we will be ready to receive Christ - again.

~ Pam

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First Sunday of Advent - Coming into Being

12/3/2014

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I am grateful for the invitation to be a part of worship planning at my church. A few weeks ago the task was imagining the season of Advent in which new rituals are blended with familiar well-loved ones. One priority was to counter the busyness of the season that takes over our lives and for worship to be a place of refuge and calm.

This year at Faith the service begins quietly, reverently with no gathering hymn. The worship leaders process in to the sound of bells. Not the raucous Christmas Day peeling of bells, but the slow ringing of one or two beautifully paired notes.
We want to set a different tone for this season - to help people slow down, prepare, be in the space together. We hope that will help limit worldly distractions.
As the bells were ringing, I found myself taking deeper, slower breaths. I felt the ring of the bells echoing around the room. The muscles in my head and neck relaxed as the calm surrounded me.

Another planning decision was to incorporate the children in the preparing of the space and the mood. The children carried gold stars in the procession. They hung the stars on a beautiful wooden frame behind the altar. Their movements mirrored the slow quiet ringing of the bells. They reverently hung their stars which they could watch glimmer and shine during the rest of the service.
The stars were ordinary cardboard gold stars purchased at a teacher supply store. But as the service progressed and the light of the candles caught the slight movement of the stars, they provided their own sacred light to worship.

It is our prayer that this spirit of calm will not be limited to those 60 minutes on Sunday morning but will be taken out into the world with the people present. I find for me, it has. I still hear those bells ringing. I let myself breathe slower and relax into my space. Even as my busy life whirls about me, I have moments of sacred calm that are also a part of my day.

Advent is "the coming into being" as the Webster's definition tells us, not a coming into doing. My days, like yours, are filled with the doing of holiday preparation: list making, shopping, cooking, cleaning, oh yeah - and also my normal work schedule.

I need Advent worship and that unique slowing down which helps me come into being and prepare in a different way. I am grateful for that because as much as I want to and think I can do that on my own, I can't. I need my community at Faith Lutheran Church to slow down and "be" with me.

 ~ Pam

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    Pam Voves

    On my own journey as a dabbling artist, a lover of stories,
    and grounded by my call to accompany people on their journey of faith.

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