Cultivate Lent, Week 3

 For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

3rd Sunday of Lent, March 7

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light four of the six tea lights.

Read: Exodus 20:1-17  Then God gave the people all these instructions. (20:1)

Wonder: One of the central convictions of Jewish and Christian faith is that human life is to be lived before God and that such life has an order and structure, constituted by God’s commandments. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, would agree with this sentiment. We are called to be intentional and methodical, even about our faith, participating in personal devotion (like reading our Bible) to social holiness (helping our neighbor/feeding the poor). To modern ears the Ten Commandments might sound like moral principles, but that is a thin reduction. The Ten Commandments are a window to help us understand the covenantal relationship of a life before God. We have instructions for what we as followers of God are to do. John Calvin says there are three uses for the Ten Commandments: 1) to show us how to live before God and with neighbor, 2) to show us how to be good citizens and restrain sin, and 3) to play an indispensable, positive role in Christian life. They are a guide for our journey of life.

Ponder: How do you view the Ten Commandments? How have you benefited from these clear boundaries in your relationship with God?

Act: Extinguish a candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. We will never know the motivations of Judas's betrayal. All we know is that Judas thought his agenda was more important than Jesus. We, too, are often willing to put our agenda and priorities ahead of the Light of the World. We extinguish the third candle, recalling with regret the times we have betrayed Jesus by the darkness of our own self-centered willfulness.

Additional Readings: Ten Ways to Be Perfect story booklet, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2: 13-22, and in the UMH #374 Standing on the Promises.

Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

The Wayfinding Bible. NLT. Tyndale House Publishing. 2013.

Cultivate Lent, Week 2

For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light five of the six tea lights.

Read: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16  “I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” (17:6-7)

Wonder: The fundamental theme of the Old Testament is the reestablishment of relationship between God and the nations. God wants to be in relationship with creation. (We learned last week, in studying the rainbow covenant, that creation and humanity are linked, and for the purpose of simplicity I will use the term creation to mean both creation and humanity).

In this week’s text, the scope of God’s redemptive work is a promise for all the nations. Abraham stands at the beginning of God’s promise, but the promise is eternal. God promises to always be God to Abraham and to all of Abraham's descendants (that's us). The size of this promise is startling because again, God willingly binds God’s self to a people who turn away from grace, who are difficult and who get it wrong again and again, yet the divine creator of the universe initiates this covenant relationship with humanity, with each of us. God says, “I will be your God. I will be in relationship with you. We are connected forever.” To mark this covenant, God changed Abraham's name from Abram to Abraham (which means 'the father to many').

One of my wise clergy sisters reminded me that the descendant covenant we read about today in Genesis 17 is part of an ongoing conversation where God promises Abraham he will have many descendants. In fact the Jesus Storybook selection that goes with today's devotion (Sons of Laughter) highlights some of these promises. Earlier in Genesis chapter 15 God says to Abram, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!" (Genesis 15:5) The star promise is an inclusive covenant because stars do not get to choose their company. This is the good news. God promised Abraham he would be the father of all nations. ALL. All nations means all, not to the exclusion of any. God desires relationship with all of creation. God longs to be our God and to redeem all of creation, God desires to leave no one out.

Ponder: What are some ways you feel connected to God? How have you benefited from God’s great connection?

Act: Extinguish a candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. Jesus was approached by a rich man. He said he wanted eternal life but he was unwilling to change his lifestyle, and he walked sadly away. We, too, are often unwilling to change even the smallest part of our lifestyle in order to follow Jesus. The darkness approaches when we sadly walk away from Jesus. We extinguish the second candle, confessing our unwillingness to do what is necessary to follow Jesus.

Additional Readings: Sons of Laughter Jesus Storybook Bible, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, and in the UMH #374 Standing on the Promises.

Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

The Wayfinding Bible. NLT. Tyndale House Publishing. 2013.

Cultivate Lent, Week 1

 For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets. 

1st Sunday of Lent, February 21

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light all six tea lights.

Read: Genesis 9:8-17  excerpt for emphasis: “Then God said to Noah, “Yes this rainbow is a sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures of the earth.” (9:17) 

Wonder: For the season of Lent (February 17 to March 28) in worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30am (www.facebook.com/CayceUMC)in our Lenten sermon series I am going to be looking at the covenants or promises of God.

In this week’s scripture reading God uncreated the Edenic world, preserves a remnant of that original creation, and re-establishes the cosmos under a new order. In the parlance of the modern age, God rebooted the world with a catastrophic flood. The flood destroyed everything except Noah, Noah's family and the animals and creation preserved on the ark. To mark this covenant with a sign God sets a rainbow in the sky. The rainbow represents the first covenant or promise God made to God’s people. God promised “never again would floodwaters kill all the living creatures: never again will a flood destroy the earth.” (9:11) It is interesting to note that this covenant only sets limits on God, who promises not to send another flood. Nothing is required of Noah or creation. Yes, Noah was obedient in building the ark and gathering the animals but Noah's obedience came before the covenant. The rainbow is a reminder to God that God has unstrung the war bow and faced it away from the world. (Interesting trivia: think about a bow and arrow, the arch of the bow faces the direction the arrow is going, a rainbow's arch is facing away from the earth, thus the arrow of destruction is facing away from the earth).

The rainbow covenant also reveals the unity of all creation, humanity and creation are forever linked to the same fate. The intractable sinfulness and undeserved blessedness of humanity and all of creation's dependence on God’s active compassion are in relationship with God. And, despite all evidence to the contrary, humanity and creation are blessed, for God remains consistent and is loyal even  to the disloyal. Humanity and creation are disloyal as we know the world did do not return to how the world was at the creation or in the garden of Eden. Yet, God has compassion and God promises good despite disobedience. God demonstrates God's deep desire to be in relationship with God's creation. It is hard to understand the grace of God.

Ponder: How are you connected to God’s creation? How have you benefited from God’s great compassion?

Act: Extinguish a candle. 

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. Jesus healed many who were sick in mind, body, or spirit. Only a few returned to give thanks. We realize that we have taken the gifts of God for granted . . . that our lives have lacked gratitude. Our lack of gratitude shields the light of Christ from us and others. We extinguish the first candle, confessing our own failure to give thanks to God.

Additional Readings: A New Beginning from the Jesus Storybook Bible, Additional Lectionary texts for February 21: Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Peter 3:18-22, and Mark 1: 9-15 and in the United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) #374 Standing on the Promises.

Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

Cultivate a Lenten spirit in a pandemic world

Today is Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021. I typically look forward to Lent. Really. I like Lent. For me, it has never been a depressing season but rather a time to do something different. A time to give something up or learn something new. It's often a time when I intentionally read my daily devotions versus other seasons in my life when those habits fall by the wayside to busyness and distractions. Lent has always been a bit of a reboot for me...but then we have Lent this year. Lent in 2021. Lent after a long year of what has truly felt like Lent for months because we are living in a global pandemic. We have given up so much. We have lived lives that look so different than other years. It has been a strange year. I have experienced great joy in that my oldest son turned one and he learned to walk and talk, and my youngest son was born in 2020! Ordinary miracles. At the same time 2020 has contained the saddest moments when I've missed people and dear people I know have contracted and died from Covid-19. Really I should feel grateful, I should recognize my blessings...but I'm too tired.  I wonder how I will explain this year to my boys when they are older and remember nothing of living in a global pandemic....I don't know what I'll say. So where does that leave us with Lent? 

I'm too tired for Lent. Lent almost feels irrelevant in 2021, like perhaps it is a relic of a different time and yet...maybe it is not. Perhaps, now that we have experienced life in a pandemic, circumstances different than most of us have ever lived through, experiencing loss of freedoms, loss of opportunities and most deeply the loss of people both to this damn disease and to social/physical distancing...we may understand Lent. I've heard it said we cannot appreciate the sweet without a little salt. I don't love that analogy but there may be a grain of truth in it. Maybe all this loss gives us pause to choose to be in the moment. We are not promised anything more than a moment and we know now what it is to live without. Maybe all this loss give us time to get rid of things that waste our time and attention and focus in on what is actually important. I know I am examining the amount of time I mindlessly scroll social media. Zoned out. Philippians 4:8 reminds us, to focus our thoughts on anything that is excellent, admirable, true, holy and just, all that is pure and lovely and all that is worthy of praise. I wonder if for Lent, what would it look like to do just that. To be present in the moment. To notice the excellent, admirable, truths, holy moments, the opportunities to work for justice, to think of things that are pure and lovely and spend time in praise. I often find this is the gift of having small children, they are totally in the moment. What if for Lent, instead of doing or adding or busying or trying super hard or beating ourselves up we just breathe. We notice. We celebrate the joys, we acknowledge and sit with the sorrows and try and live a different way. A less anxious way. To accept things for what they are rather than wish it away or fight to change things we cannot control. I wonder if then Lent might actually be a time to look forward to.  

Cultivate fresh starts

March 17,  2020

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, in fact almost 1 year! I admit chasing a 14 month old and being 7.75 months pregnant is a lot. That said, I am grateful for this season (of having a young child and anticipating our last baby) and do not take it for granted. Motherhood is a privilege and (for me) long awaited. Being mommy and working full-time means blogging and finding time to do “my” projects are slim for a season. And that’s ok. It’s a season and I’m grateful. 

In light of COVID-19 and all this new pastoral territory it seems weird to create a somewhat “normal” blog post and not talk about COVID-19. I think I’m just going to have to say this is all such new territory and I am figuring out the best practices for pastoring and leading in the midst of this. I’m not sure I have enough distance to espouse wisdom about these times. I’m simply drawn to the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39. Even social distancing and not getting to worship physically together. I pray we find creative ways to maintain community and continue to take care of those more vulnerable than us.  

In the spirit of community and sharing news....We have blog-worthy news in the Cook house; we’re moving at the end of June!! After maternity leave, I will be serving Cayce United Methodist Church. I’m so excited. Depending on when baby Leonard McCoy Cook aka Bones makes his arrival, I will start at Cayce UMC 8 weeks after his birth. Our due date is around May 20th, but his older brother Jimmy T was 2 weeks late so... we shall see, maybe mid-July. You cannot control babies! Isn’t that a life lesson, motherhood, for me, has been often realizing I’m not really in charge. More broadly, much of my faith journey has been a reminder that “Hey, Meg, you’re not in charge: God is.”  (A fitting reminder in these times too!) Ironically, or perhaps predictably, it has been the same in appointment season. There is a trite, but true, sentiment that when we ask God for something we don’t always get it, sometimes we get something even better. I feel like this is the case with the appointment to Cayce UMC. Myself and John are very excited about the opportunity for me to serve as the pastor at Cayce UMC. From everything I have heard Cayce is a great, healthy church and I know some of you from my time at Epworth! I’m thrilled to get to be a part of a strong team and ministry. John’s thrilled to be back in Cola, he’ll be able to ride his bike to campus again (he really enjoyed that when I served at Epworth Children’s Home). John teaches Physics at USC. Our eldest, James Tiberius, aka Jimmy T or Captain, is too little to know much (he is only 14 months old) but I’m excited that Cayce will probably be the first church home he really will remember.  And bless him, he will get so many life changes all at once: a baby brother and then moving. My Winnsboro people, please do not be sad. First UMC Winnsboro has been good to Jimmy T and I will remind him of his first church and where he was baptized. 

So, First UMC Winnsboro, as our time winds down in Winnsboro don’t count me out, we still have a few more ministry opportunities before maternity leave and moving. I have some fun things planned for worship online and when we come back to physically meeting together in the next 9 or so weeks and I know you are looking forward to having Rev. Mac Kinnett with you for maternity/transition leave and as you prepare to welcome your new preacher Rev. Steve Elkins. May this be a healthy season for the church and one of smooth transitions. 

Cayce friends, we cannot wait to meet you and, after maternity leave, get to work! 

Pastor Meg (And John, Jimmy T and baby Bones) 

Cultivate the sermon

March 18, 2019

So, ever have a day when you're just not on your game? Me too, this week it was yesterday which was a Sunday. Sigh. Since it's been bugging me I thought I'd share what I was trying to convey in the sermon/service on the blog.

For Lent we have embarked on a sermon series called God is on the Move. This series is inspired by A Preacher's Guide to Lectionary Sermon Series: Thematic Plans for years A, B, and C. It's been a useful tool, especially as I get back in the swing after maternity leave and sometimes it's good to try something different.

This past Sunday's sermon continued the message of God on the move with God moving past all obstacles. The lectionary scripture (the assigned text for the Sunday) was Luke 13: 31-35. It's a less familiar passage that talks about Herod and the city of Jerusalem (which represents the people of Israel) as obstacles as well as holding in tension that the people of Israel are both God's beloved and an obstacle to God. This passage describes God as a mother hen wanting to pull the people in and shelter us under her wings (Verse 34). While verse 32 and 33a reads:

Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way.

Despite the obstacle of Herod, Jesus states clearly his intent to proceed towards his purpose. Jesus has set his sights on Jerusalem and ultimately the cross. The call (or response)for us is,  What have we set our sights on? Are we working towards a (heavenly) goal during the 40 days of Lent? What obstacles to do we need to name and address? 

May we have a better week! 

#WINNing with you

Pastor Meg


PS. This image was on the cover of the bulletin. It is a mosaic from a church in Jerusalem Dominus Flevit. This image is inspired by Luke 13:34 when Jesus describes God as a hen wanting to protect the people. I visited this church in 2016 with the Bishop's trip to the Holy Land. I was supposed to explain this in my sermon, but well...we all have days when it just doesn't go the way we planned. 

Cultivate something new

February 19, 2019

It's been a very busy season, but we have much to celebrate. James Tiberius Cook made his long awaited arrival on January 12th at 5:40pm weighing 8.7lbs and 21.5 inches long. It was a long birth but we are so in love. I'm forgetting the less fun details of that day. It's hard to believe our baby is 5 weeks old. Jimmy T is a good baby. A few highlights, he's been to 2 church services (one of which he ripped a huge adult size burp in the middle of the sermon), 1 funeral (John's Aunt Sallie), several restaurants, Sam's, Trader Joe's, Walmart and Kroger and lots of doctor's appointments. He's growing, happy and healthy. His parents are happy too if somewhat tired! I head back to work March 3rd and Jimmy T will be baptized March 10th. Much to look forward to!

Update on Dad...so my folks came to be with us for Jimmy's birth. They were staying with us at the parsonage. When Jimmy was 6 days old my father got very sick in the middle of the night. Mom took him to the local ER. Dad was transported to the city eventually through 2 hospitals and then was diagnosed with meningitis and an infection in his brain (at the previous surgery site). John, Jimmy T and I were under quarantine until it could be determined what time...a stressful adventure with a 6 day old. But we were very lucky that the type was not contagious AND Dad is okay. Dad had a 3rd brain surgery and lots of antibiotics. It's been "exciting," to cite the quote "I used to have tons of stress in my life, now I call it excitement and I feel better." We have had a lot of "excitement" around here. We have a blessing board in our kitchen; it took me a while to notice but my Mom wrote "Dad is Alive!" as one of our blessings this season. We rejoice my father is alive. Dad spent many days in the hospital here near us with a few medical "excitements" before he was transported back to my folk's home state to a rehab facility. He is home now and continuing his journey of healing. He has IV's at home that Mom is handling as well as visits from a home health nurse and several therapies which Mom takes him to. Dad has regained much of his movement, he can climb the stairs! Mom could use some prayers too, she has had pneumonia in the midst of Dad's sickness and her asthma is flaring up. See, much "excitement" in the Sweeney/Cook household.

Smaller genuine excitements here at home:

• Jimmy has started laughing and is truly a good baby. We rejoice in his life!
• John started back at USC (the Monday after JTC was born) and is having a great semester.
• Jimmy T got his very own library card AND participated in story hour at our local library.
  We pray he will have a lifelong love of reading and learning.
• Mommy packed up the maternity clothes, all but the maternity jeans. Also Marie Kondo'ed some of my other clothes...it's nice  to feel better organized. Thought I'd have time to get ahead on lots of projects and work...not so much BUT tackling a few dresser drawers feels significant. John and I have learned it's impossible to be productive (outside of keeping the tiny human alive) with a newborn.
• Jimmy T will be baptized March 10th by our good friend and mentor Rev. John Holler Jr. and we are thrilled! The gown Jimmy will wear is a family heirloom. I was baptized in it as was my father, grandmother, great grandfather and beyond. It's a pretty special outfit and we're praying it will fit our LONG big boy! JTC is already in 3 month clothes at 5 weeks old...so we're crossing our fingers.

Still WINNing with you,

~Meg

#theCooksWINN