So one of my problems with weeks that have holidays in the middle of them is that the week is so short that I don't get done everything that needs to be done! 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a nice day-- spent time with my family and with Jeff's, eating 2 meals as usual (although I managed to keep them both reasonable this year). Both gatherings were somewhat small-- my brother and his family were missing this year, due to my brother's heart surgery earlier in the fall; on Jeff's side, it was the immediate Carter family with no extended family, so it was very quiet.  Or, as quiet as that group gets!  We had nice visits on both sides, though very short, as we were home by Friday afternoon.

It is a little odd to be the middle aged part of the family now and have the "children" be the young adults.  We really have no "little ones" at this point in either family (my youngest nephew is 10 and several of the cousins have graduated from college or are in college right now.)  We even have one new family getting ready to start-- one of my nephews got engaged earlier this year-- and the cycle of life continues to spin.  Our families are very blessed to have had only a few real difficult situations to deal with; for the most part everyone remains healthy and happy and engaged in life and work and family and church and all of the things we hope for in our human existence.  God's grace continually touches us and reminds us of our blessings as well as the responsibility that comes with being so blessed. 

And now, on to Advent! May God bless us all as we await together the Christ who was, who is, and who is to come.

It's been kind of a crazy week.  Between recovering from the extra busy weekend I had last week and the internet problems that I've had this week, I've barely had time to think about things. And I still have to write a sermon for Sunday!

We had some real snow flurries this morning.  The past couple of years it's been so warm all the way through November that our first flurries haven't been coming until December or even January. But we've had very cold air and some bits of snow already this year, and maybe more to come!  I happen to like the cold air;  it makes it a little easier to hear the Christmas carols that are already playing in stores! 

Our Five Practices chapter this week dealt with the practice of Extravagant Generosity.  This is the practice of tithing-- which I must admit is not my strongest spiritual gift.  Tithing means giving 10 per cent of your income (you can also tithe your time and talents, I believe, but I think most of us have the most trouble with tithing our income-- and that is the main focus of the chapter.) 

The chapter talks about tithing as a spiritual discipline, and ways to approach tithing if you're don't already practice it.  I like the idea that the book suggests of increasing your giving a small amount each year until you're giving 10 per cent. It also suggests having a plan for tithing (which the book is very big on for each of the practices) so that you can be intentional about it, as well as writing that check first so that you're tithing from your abundance rather than out of your leftovers.  All of this is designed to see our giving as an opportunity rather than a chore--- and as something we do for God or on behalf of the kingdom of God rather than a duty we must perform.  Giving is like any other thing we do for God, in that the amount we give or the way we give it doesn't do anything to earn us points with God-- the only way we attain God's grace is through our faith in Christ-- but like all of the other things we do for God, we do it out of gratitude for what God has done for us in Christ. 

Extravagant Generosity gives us the opportunity to do many things, such as build a church fellowship-- that supports us and is the avenue for creation of new disciples-- and help people outside of the church, in our communities and in the world, to have needs met that wouldn't otherwise be met, to have a better life, and to see the face of God in others.  Extravagant Generosity enables us to think of the needs of others before we think of our own needs-- and self sacrifice is helpful in our growth as faithful people.  The concept of extravagant generosity may seem overwhelming to us at first, but if we take it a step at a time, it is possible.

Week four of the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations is all about "Risk Taking Mission and Service."  The author begins with the premise that most churches may be already doing mission of some kind, but is it anything that moves the congregation out of its comfort zone?  Does it do anything to enrich your relationship with God/ Christ/ Spirit?  Does it do anything to bring God's light to the world?

Parkway, for example, is pretty good about collecting things and giving money. For its size, it has done a lot of projects in the past year:  Coats for the Cold, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for two families. 2 Cents A Meal, School Supplies and Backpack collection, Goody Boxes for Military Personnel, just to name a few.  And these are worthy endeavors-- and they are things that we are able, at this time and size-- to do.

But what if we did something that took us one step further? What if we committed to a project that was ongoing or long term, that brought us into contact with people in the community?  What would it look like for us to take a risk-- and what effect would a larger, longer term project have on the congregation?  The possibilities are great:  it could improve the morale of the church, it could help individuals grow in faith, it could strengthen the congregation as a whole, it could make a difference in the life of someone who is lonely, or hurting, or overwhelmed by modern life.   True, there are risks-- we might not be able to sustain something long-term; we might cause anxiety to or offend those who don't see themselves as able to or interested in taking such a risk; we might get involved with people who don't appreciate us or our efforts, or whose life doesn't seem to change because of our efforts. 

The thing is, God calls us to risk.  Really.  When the disciples responded to Christ's call, they risked being ostracized by the community.  They risked losing family, friends, and homes.  They risked all of this and more because they sensed  that they had the opportunity to be part of something larger than themselves.  Never mind that the outcome wasn't what they had in mind.  Never mind that the something larger was not what God had in mind either--but God managed to work out God's purposes regardless of their human ideas. God didn't need the disciples of Jesus Christ to be perfect or make perfect plans.  All God wanted was for the disciples to take the risk.  And that's what God wants from us, too. Not perfection, not success by human standards.  God just wants us to step out in faith, to take the risk, to move one step beyond our comfort zone.   That's all.  

So here it is, Tuesday again, already.  Here's what I'm thinking about so far today:

Why is it that everything always happens at the same time?  This weekend I am leading a women's retreat, doing my usual Sunday School and worship thing, and preaching at a colleague/ friend's commissioning service?  Oh, and we're having a rummage sale at Parkway this Saturday, too, that I won't get to go to.  And there's a Presbytery meeting that I'll be missing as well.  Sheeesh. 

I didn't write about the 5 Practices class last week. I just go busy and didn'd do it.  It was all about Intentional Faith Development-- or Christian Education, if you prefer. About giving folks who come into our churches a reason to stay.  Fellowship is nice and along with worship is very important, but I think people are hungry for something more. Something that helps them grow as human beings and in their relationship with God.   Once again, this author's main focus is relationship, relationship, relationship-- ours with God, ours with each other.  Our purpose should be to help others find a healthy relationship with God-- one that strengthens and nurtures them in thier daily struggles, and celebrates their joys along with them. 

Being intentional about faith development means going beyond the classes that are already part of your church's cirriculum and thinking about what might appeal to people who haven't even come to your church yet.  It's about making an overall plan for Christian Education at all ages, a plan that facilitates spiritual growth at all ages.  It means not being satisfied with the status quo of opportunities that are already available and thinking creatively about enlarging the circle.  It's about building relationships through learning that will enable us to know one another and God more deeply. 

So I forgot to write my Tuesday Musings again.  I was in and out all day yesterday and it just didn't occur to me until after midnight last night, while I was watching the election coverage. So I will muse today...

I am glad the election is over.  I don't like all the campaigning that goes on for so long before the elections.  I think it's too much sensory overload for my little introverted soul! But this election season has been interesting, and it's pretty exciting to see that we've elected the first African-American president in our nation's history.  I would have liked to see a woman make a real run for president (even though I don't like Sarah Palin's politics and it made me nervous to think she might become president if McCain was elected and then died, it was good to have her be so prominently featured) but it is great to know that this country can be open minded and forward thinking at times.  It will be interesting to see what the true long-term effects of an Obama presidency wil be.  I will say, I voted for Obama and I was glad to do so; but most of all I am glad that I am able to vote, that there were two able candidates for the office, and that lots and lots of people voted.  While I don't think that God necessarily chooses one party or ideology over another-- pretty much because those are human constructs-- I do believe that God wants us to be active participants in this world while we are here.  It's part of being free to be the people God intends for us to be.