Sabbath notes...

As is often the case on Sabbath mornings, a number of thoughts are running around my head in no particular order. It is a cool day in the Berkshires - the temperature was in the low 50s F here last night - and the sun hasn't quite made it to our back porch.  But The Times was in the driveway - for the last three months I've been grumbling with the delivery people about meeting the 8 AM guarantee closer to 8 AM rather than their preferred 10:45 AM - so we entered they morning quietly, reflectively reading stories to one another as they struck our fancy.

I've been thinking a lot about vacation - we will be leaving for some away time at the start of September - and this is a month later that usual. 

+ We're both a bit churlish about the delay from time to time, but it will be sweet when it arrives.  We had hoped to drive to Thunder Bay, Ontario to see our friends, Peter and Joyce, but Di wasn't able to get the necessary time off from work for such an excursion.  For a few days we were in a quandary about "away time" but quickly found a deal for a break in Montreal - one of my favorite places in the world - so away we go.  It will be shorter - and we are working on another Thunder Bay excursion - but it will be a blessing.

+ One of my MOST favorite things in the world is walking around French speaking Montreal with Dianne just seeing what we encounter (London, too!)  And we are both aching to get on the road.

I've been thinking about what is coming together in our faith community, too.  After four years of intentional - and also totally unexpected - hard work and blessings, a few truly fascinating things are about to take shape and form.

+ First, we've hired a new music director who is equally gifted in both traditional music and jazz.  This opens doors of creativity beyond the imagination on so many levels I can hardly contain my joy.  I can't wait to see how his gifts will meld with ours - and stretch us, too - so that we are finally able to consistently craft what I have been calling "authentically blended worship."

+ Second, our small church band has been attracting a few new top notch players to add to the mix of excellent vocalists and guitar players:  we have a dear friend on acoustic bass - who is also a smokin' guitar player - as well as a killer tenor singer in the "classic rock" vein who really rocks the house on electric guitar, too.  This week's foundation for "The Rising" and "Everything is Broken" kicks up the energy by their presence and creativity.  And let's not forget the upgrade in our sound system:  OMG it is the difference between night and day.

+ Third, a small group of insightful and talented people are now willing to share their gifts by creating three new small groups.  This is a huge leap forward for us.  Others have noted, that while evangelical churches have figured out how to create community and support through small group study, the "side line" churches tend to favor joining a group and then staying with it forever.  These new gatherings, however, are designed to host 4-8 people each, last from October to early December and then evaluate whether to regroup or morph into something new.  Their will be an intentional women's spirituality group, a gathering to reflect on Eucharist and justice, a small group committed to trust building in addition to our Old Testament study group and knitting ministry.  I am truly blessed by this calling to go deeper and excited about where it might lead us all.

+ Fourth, this is the year for our children and families ministry to be strengthened.  There are key parents ready to help us deepen what happens on Sunday morning and I just interviewed a potential new director who knows how to use technology in advance of working with children in creative ways.  While the population in the Berkshires continues to age, many young families who live here sense they have been forgotten - and this is a key group for this year's outreach.

And let's not forget the reconnection of the Sister City Jazz Band who meets for a late summer celebration of our time in Turkey, returns to the bandstand on Thursday, September 1st at Patrick's Pub and who may try to set up a Skype concert with our buddy, Omer Sahin, from Istanbul in support of the Playing for a Change benefit on September 17th.  I am telling you, as I heard a little guy say to his grandmother one afternoon as she held his hand crossing the street:  "I am a lucky, lucky boy!"

All of which made me think of this poem by Anna Kamienska called "Gratitude."

A tempest threw a rainbow in my face
so that I wanted to fall under the rain
to kiss the hands of an old woman to whom I gave my seat
to thank everyone for the fact that they exist
and at times even feel like smiling
I was grateful to young leaves that they were willing
to open up to the sun
to babies that they still

felt like coming into this world
to the old that they heroically
endure until the end
I was full of thanks
like a Sunday alms-box
I would have embrace death
if she'd stopped nearby

Gratitude is a scattered
homeless love.


I have a wedding rehearsal this evening but a lot of time to settle into the beauty of this Sabbath, too.