Kairos & Ambiguities

A Blessed Watch Night

Happy New Year to each of you!  I had a blessed Watch Night Service on New Year's Eve and I wanted to share with you a little about it.  This tradition I borrowed from my home church in Clarion (Clarion 1st UMC).  It has always held special and deep meaning for me, even more so now as I shoulder pastoral responsibilities. 

The service begins at 7:00 p.m. with the liturgy for Holy Communion from page #12 in the United Methodist Hymnal.  Those who wish to participate in he liturgy come at 7:00 p.m., following the liturgy there is silence and when people are ready to take communion they come forward.  Normally people come as families or a group of friends.  It is a joy to serve them communion and then give individuals or families blessings for the coming year. 

People may come and go through out the evening.  I provide a meditation for those who come after the liturgy and it is often used by those who are present for the liturgy as they prepare silently to come to receive communion.  Here is a link to a copy of the bulletin/meditation I used. 

Normally, I am in silent prayer during the service, which normally lasts about 2 hours.  It is very meaningful time for me to count my blessings in the previous year and to pray for discernment for the coming year.  I have also adopted the tradition of praying through St. Anselm's "Prayer to God,"  "Prayer to Christ," "Prayer Before Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ," and "Prayer to the Holy Cross."

I have always had special experiences to remember.  For example, I remember Robert receiving his first communion at this service, I remember discerning the need to move forward with a capital campaign at Lakeside at this service (I got to say thank you for the blessings of having finished it at this service), and many more.

This year these words of the "Prayer to God" spoke to me about the coming year in ministry.

"May I shun utterly in word and in deed, whatever you forbid, and do and keep whatever you command.  Let me believe and hope, love and live, according to your purpose and your will."

Until next time...Grace & Peace

Missing the Mark

I was reading the October 2007 edition of Interpretation A Journal of Bible and Theology.  I was reading the first major review of Mark Biddle's book Missing the Mark:  Sin and Its consequences in Biblical Theology.  I thought to myself this is a very well organized review (four points numbered) with a good summary of the thrust of the book.  I turned over to the last page of review and I noticed it was written by Susan L. Nelson at Claremont School of Theology at Claremont, California.

I guess I should have recognized the style for Susan Nelson was my adviser for my MDiv thesis at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  My thesis was a process reflection of the feminist critique of Reinhold Niebuhr.  I was very (and still am) interested in process theology and believe it is currently the best descriptive meta-physical description of reality.  I really appreciate how my teacher imparted these principles in a loving and yet strict way to me.  I am a better person because of her teaching.

I wish her the best, now that she is at Claremont.  That is really the home base for Process Theology and I know she will be welcomed there and bless many, many students.

May God's blessing go with her and with you!

Until next time...Grace & Peace 

Prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr

This Sunday we will be celebrating doing a Labor Day remembrance as part of the worship service.  I have always used Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer on Labor Day found in the United Methodist Book of Worship.

O God, you have bound us together in this life.  Give us grace to understand how our lives depend on the courage, the industry, the honesty, and the integrity of all who labor.  May we be mindful of their needs, grateful for their faithfulness, and faithful in our responsibilities to them;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Blessings on you and yours this weekend and blessings on those who labor.

Until next time...Grace & Peace