Lent is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on one’s spiritual and faith journey. There are many themes you could focus on. This particular one focuses on the word “journey.”

Below are ideas for interactive prayer stations focusing on Lent. The interactive prayer stations are meant to be intergenerational. There are also stations designed for ages 2-4. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”)

Interactive Prayer Station #1: I Shed Significance on My Journey

Materials: Long sticks, Sand, Tarp or Wading Pool (Create a large sand pit for people to draw and scratch.)

Journey to the center of your being.

Consider how significance becomes dominant in your life.

Draw an image in the sand for others’ unwelcome expectations of you.

Pray for your load to be lightened.

Scratch out the image as a sign of you shedding those expectations.

Pray to be hungry for God’s life in you on your journey.

Invite God to move with you along your journey.

Interactive Prayer Station #2: I Abandon Success on My Journey 

Materials: Paper, Pens, Bowl, Candle

Let your mind settle into the present.

Reflect on where success becomes supreme in your life.

Name those needs/desires for success which may overpower your life.

Pray for these to be abandoned.

Tear up this paper to be like dust and let them die,

so you may live, hungry for God’s success on your journey.

Invite God to hold you along your journey.

Interactive Prayer Station #3: I Reject Stress on My Journey

Materials: Tongue Depressers/Craft Sticks/Coffee Stirrers, Sharpes, Basket

Allow your body to relax.

Contemplate how many stresses undermine your sense of peace.

Write words describing your existing stress on the sticks.

Pray for the hold of each stress to be broken.

Break the sticks, as a sign of breaking their hold on you,

so you may be hungry for God’s promise on your journey.

Invite God to carry you the length of your journey.

Interactive Prayer Stations for Toddlers:

Activity one: Ash Wednesday. Lent. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. Palm Sunday. Easter. Look through the books and hear the story from Lent to Easter.

Materials: a variety of children’s books on Lenten and Holy Week themes.

Activity two: Lent reminds us that Jesus prayed in the wilderness and was tempted for 40 days. During Lent, we spend time praying or giving up something like a type of food or watching TV. Grab a bag Jelly Beans and follow the Jelly Bean Prayer during Lent.

Materials: Sandwich Bags, Jelly Beans divided, Jelly Bean Prayer

The Jellybean Prayer

On Ash Wednesday, set out a glass jar for each child with a copy of the jellybean prayer taped to it. Each day, have them choose a jellybean to earn for their Easter basket. According to the color of the jellybean have them fulfill the appropriate task.

On Easter morning, all that should be left in their jar are white jellybeans, which represent Christ’s grace. Christ’s grace cannot be earned but is given freely.

Red is for the blood Christ. Choose something to sacrifice that day to earn the red jellybean.  

Green is for the palm’s cool shade. Do a good deed that day to earn a green jellybean.

Yellow is for God’s light so bright. Share God’s light by being kind to others to earn a yellow jellybean. 
 

Orange is for prayers at twilight. Say a bedtime prayer or read a nighttime bible story to earn an orange jellybean.

Black is for sweet rest at night. Go to bed well without fuss to earn a black jellybean.

Purple is for Jesus’ days of sorrow. Apologize to anyone you may have hurt with words or actions to earn a purple jellybean.

Pink is for each new tomorrow. Forgive someone who apologized to you for hurtful behavior to earn a pink jellybean.

Blue is for the joy of knowing Jesus. Sing a favorite bible song to earn a blue jellybean.

White is for the Grace of Christ. White jellybeans cannot be earned.

Activity three: (Have a board with the following definitions for parents to use with their toddlers for the matching board.)

Ash Wednesday: first day of Lent. We place ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance.

Lent: 40 days Jesus spent in wilderness. We pray, fast, & give up something as a sign of temptation. 

Palm Sunday: triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We wave palm leaves to celebrate.

Maundy Thursday: Jesus’ last supper with disciples. We share in the Lord’s Supper.

Good Friday: the day Christ died. We remember the last days of Christ.

Easter: the day Christ resurrected. We celebrate in worship, song, & festivities.

Materials: Matching Board

This picture was taken last year when we celebrated the 20th anniversary of my Head of Staff. The kids laid hands on him as I led them in a prayer. I love this photo because of what it represents. At my church, we take the baptismal vows very seriously, especially our commitment to nurture, teach, and support the kids and their families. What is wonderful about having children in worship is what they end up teaching us.

My kids are getting older and so they no longer spend the majority of worship glued to my side. Instead for the first half of worship, they participate in a segregated program and return for the last half of worship. Most of the time during worship, I sit in the back of the sanctuary to observe. At the back of the sanctuary is where most of the toddlers are walking back and forth and wandering about. Sitting in the back helps me as a pastor/mother evaluate how worshippers are engaged and what obstacles might prohibit them from participating comfortably.

Today, there was an almost 2 year old walking around like he owned the place. While my Head of Staff was preaching, he would casually walk up the middle aisle and entice people to play peek-a-boo with him. He would stare them straight in the eyes until they responded back to him. By the time the choir director was leading the choir in the anthem, he walked up right behind her and mimicked her every move. Eventually, he joined the choir on the chancel steps with such confidence. Later, as his parents brought up the offering, he snuggled in his mother’s arms as if he had passed the baskets out himself.

Following, copying, mimicking, and exploring are ways that we learn and experience church, faith, and life. I am grateful that this church gives this almost 2 year old the freedom to explore at his will and comfort. I think as adults we need to extend that same kind of grace to each other as we follow, copy, explore, and even test our own commitments and beliefs. Like kids, may we freely sing hymns even if we can’t sing or don’t know the tune; may we get up close and personal to the rituals and the word instead of sitting in the back; may we greet each other with same amount of intention; and may we allow ourselves to wander and explore never letting our curiosity dim.

When reading this story, what often is surprising is that Jesus chooses to engage in conversation with a Samaritan woman – someone who by gender and race is a social outcast. This engagement takes the woman off guard. In response to her surprise, Jesus says, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” (John 4.13-14)

Recently, I keynoted at the National Association for Presbyterian Clergywomen (NAPC). The conference was on a cruise ship, which supported the conference theme, One Baptism, Many Waters. As a part of my keynote, I talked about what it means to be in a baptismal community – a community where you don’t have to explain yourself, where there are shared experiences of joy and struggle, and where it is comfortable to be oneself. It’s refreshing like living water to be a part of such communities. For many Presbyterian clergywomen, NAPC has been that baptismal community. As NAPC moves into the 21st century, they wonder how to share their community with younger clergy as well as clergywomen of color.

This is an interesting time to be a clergywoman. As clergywomen, we are more diversified than ever in demographic make up, pressing issues, ordination experiences, struggles, and advocacy concerns. We no longer rally or organize around one single issue or concern. When we gather, there are differences according to generation, race, life experience, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and privilege. Within those differences are subtle, unintentional shifts of power that can undermine any baptismal community when gone unnoticed.

So how does one create, live, or exist in a baptismal community that embraces diversity?

Recognize

We must recognize that just because our baptismal community is a safe and welcoming place for us that it may not be for someone else. The very nature of how the community functions, makes decisions, and engages with one another may actually be foreign, unwelcoming, and uncomfortable to someone else. A part of being in a safe community is that who you are is the norm. I may be in a man’s world when I am working in the Church, but in my group of clergywoman, I as a woman am the norm. But I’ll be honest. When I am in a group of predominantly white clergywomen, I don’t feel the norm. We must be careful not to assume that our lived experience is someone else’s lived experience.

Whenever Jesus enters a community, he is very aware of the power and attention his actions and his mere presence brings. When approaching the Samaritan woman, he was very aware that as a Jewish man, he was drastically going against the norm by engaging in conversation with a Samaritan woman.

We also must recognize the different power plays and structures among us. I am a part of the Korean-American Presbyterian Clergywomen. Besides being Korean and women, there are a lot of nuances we have to contend with when we are together. We have to be aware that those who were born in the U.S. may have more opportunities than those who immigrated. We have to be aware that within our Korean community, those that are older have more voice than those who are younger.

Readjust

If one truly wants to make their community more welcoming to those that are different, then it’s about readjusting what is considered safe, comfortable, and normal in one’s community. It isn’t enough to invite those that are different into your community just so that the community will “look” different. I get asked often to join this group or that group because they need younger voices or more people of color. I always respond with “that is your need, not mine.” I as a woman of color do not feel the need to be a token person of diversity. I would rather be a part of something because of what I have to offer in experience, skills, and ideas rather than how I look. It’s interesting that Jesus except for a drink of water doesn’t ask the Samaritan woman for anything, but instead offers her something – something that is nourishing, life-giving, and eternal. Instead of thinking about what someone has to offer your community, think about what you can offer to them.

Many times, readjusting the norm in one’s community means that a significant number of one’s community leadership has to reflect the “other.” The challenge is that the community has changed so much that it is no longer the safe baptismal community that long-standing members have been a part of.

Remove

Sometimes being a part of a baptismal community is not about being comfortable or safe. In those moments when we are uncomfortable, we have an opportunity to learn ways to be truly inviting of the other. By removing ourselves from places of comfort and engaging in other diverse communities, we open ourselves to understanding ways we participate in understanding our own actions as well as understanding others. We also have to be aware of what our role is when we are guests in other’s baptismal communities. As guests, we should be observers and be aware of how our presence changes the dynamics of our environment. This awareness can only happen if we recognize how we fit in the current structures of power and if we are willing to readjust our perspective of what is the norm. Does my presence translate as dominance, welcoming, or unwanted? Notice that Jesus is not in his community, he has entered Samaria – the community of the woman at the well.

Reclaim

Sometimes we need to be reminded why we are members of a baptismal community. We need to reclaim the purpose of why this particular baptismal community exists. Especially if  an organization or community has been around for a long time, then members can get too comfortable with each other . . . so much so that it makes “newbies” feel left out. I am a part of two baptismal communities that have been living water for not only my ministry, but for me personally.

photo by Dwight Morita

One, I mentioned previously. My Korean-American clergy sisters have been through a lot together and with each other. We have loved, supported, argued, and cried together. Last year, we celebrated our 20th anniversary as a baptismal community. It was a time to not only reclaim our need and appreciation for each other, but also welcome and introduce new ones into this wonderful support group.

Another one has been this community of Asian-American pastors who have mentored me and shaped my theological lens. Last week, the Rev. Frank Yamada was installed as the new president of McCormick Theological Seminary, the Rev. Mary Paik, gave the charge and presented him with the gift of a Hebrew Bible that was passed down throughout the Asian Presbyterian community. Within that book are the stamps and signatures of those who used that book in seminary over the years. As a part of the gift, many of us were asked to stamp and sign our own name into the book. In her charge, Mary said, “When we heard that you were elected to be the President of McCormick Theological Seminary, thus becoming the first Asian American president of a PCUSA seminary, we were absolutely thrilled! and we decided to present this Bible to you -  not only because now it will belong to someone who can actually read it… but because this Bible represents the hopes and dreams of an Asian American Community that sojourns here.”

Baptismal communities are vital to our spiritual and personal growth. God calls us to be in community. When we baptize, we do not baptize in solitude but in the midst of a faith community. It is okay to have a baptismal community that affirms who we are and what we are about. We just need to be aware of how we invite or enter into other baptismal communities.

Let us be refreshed by the living water that Christ provides – a living water that is refreshing, renewing, and life-giving. I share this version of the story of the woman at the well that was written at a Racial Ethnic Pastors Conference in 1998.

Get the Sisters to the Well (John 4:6)

by Rev. Lonna Lee, Jeannie Yee, Rev. Dr. Arlene Gordon, Rev. Sarah Reyes-Gibbs, Rev. Mary Paik, Rev. Carrie Buckner, Rev. Dr. Clarice Martin, and Laurene Chan.

… and Jesus, tired from his Traveling Narrative , was sitting at the well.  It was about noon.

A racial/ethnic  woman associate pastor came to draw water from the well, even though it had been dry of water for many months.  It was out of hope, though, that she continued to come to this well.  And Jesus, who saw her, said to her, “Give me a sermon,”  The racial/ethnic woman associate pastor said to him, “How is it that you, a white man, ask a sermon of me, a racial/ethnic woman?”  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a sermon,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you a Living Sermon.”

 And the racial/Ethnic woman associate pastor said to him, “Where would you get that Living Sermon?  Are you greater than our ancestor Calvin, who gave us our theology and with his students taught it?”  Jesus said to her, “Everyone who hears a sermon scraped together from dryness will never be filled.  But those who listen to the Living Sermon will always be filled.” The racial/ethnic woman associate pastor said to him, “Give me this living Sermon for my well is dry.”  And Jesus asked her, “Why is it that your well is dry?”  And she answered, “My well has been dry, because I am never given a well full of water.  I am only given wells that nobody else wants, wells that are infested with rats, wells that are crumbling, wells that are covered with mold and moss, wells that I am sent to clean up.  A well full of water is never mine.”

And Jesus said, “How is it then that your well shall be filled?”  And the racial/ethnic woman associate pastor said, “Get my sisters to the well.  Gather my sisters from east and west, and we shall crowd around the well.  And together we will cry tears of anger, tears of oppression, tears of frustration, tears of aloneness.  And we will mix with those tears of joy, tears of victory, tears of laughter, tears of faith.  And we will fill that well with our tears.  We will fill that well with our tears till it is dry no longer.  And then in the warmth of the sun and the glow of the moon, we will once again see our reflections in the fullness of the well.  We will gather around the well, and see our reflections, and smile.  For again, we will see our beauty.”

 And Jesus wept.

]]> http://theresaecho.com/2012/02/13/expanding-our-baptismal-community/feed/ 1 theresaecho 250028_176866299037216_142359975821182_448406_4592107_n 429621_10150645776167629_692877628_11345143_1991094987_n http://theresaecho.com/2012/02/12/a-sunday-7-in-the-life-of-a-pastormother-hospitality/ http://theresaecho.com/2012/02/12/a-sunday-7-in-the-life-of-a-pastormother-hospitality/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:57:51 +0000 Theresa E Cho http://theresaecho.com/?p=1833 ]]> ¹⁹ We love because God first loved us. . . . ²¹ This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also. (1 John 4.19, 21)

This morning, my daughter and I sported the side ponytail. Lately, she has been wanting to copy me in putting on lipstick, painting toenails, and now the side ponytail. It’s quite adorable to watch her decide what attributes of mine to copy.

If I think about it, I probably have my own list of things that I hope she would learn from me that goes beyond my side ponytail. I hope that I am able to teach her the importance of love and sharing that love with others. I hope that I can rub off on her a sense of hospitality – an ability to tap into her inner Martha Stewart.

I’ve been thinking about the art of hospitality and how important it is in one’s life and ministry. My church is very intentional about making worship a place that is hospitable to families with young children – removing barriers that make it difficult for them to feel comfortable. For example, allowing food and drinks in the sanctuary or providing space for strollers and crawling babies.

Lately, I’ve been having the older kids in Sunday School reflect on how their behavior contributes or prevents others from feeling comfortable. For example, when they play chase in the sanctuary, how does that make our senior members in walkers or parents with crawling babies feel?

Today, the kids learned about the Good Samaritan and made “Good Samaritan First Aid Kits.” Inside the kit were different objects that reminded them of how the Samaritan extended care and hospitality to a person in need. One of the objects was a heart that symbolized God’s love, the kind of love expressed in 1 John 4.

I imagine in a blink of an eye, my daughter will be borrowing more from me than a side ponytail – like money from my wallet or my clothes. But as she grows up, I’ll do my best to be a good role model of showing her how to love by loving her the best way I can.

It is wonderful when a baptismal community is a place where you don’t have to explain yourself. It is a place full of people that have had similar experiences and speak a vocabulary that you understand. NAPC has been that place for many clergywomen. For me, my baptismal community has been the Korean American Presbyterian Clergywomen (KAPCW). These women have been my teachers, mentors, mothers, sisters, and confidants.

I had never been on a cruise, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. I did know however that I get sea sick. It’s one thing to keynote a conference and wanting to do your best and another thing to keynote at a conference when you are unsure of your environment. Luckily, I had four of my Asian clergywomen sisters, who signed up for the cruise when they heard I was keynoting. They provided support, sanity, laughter, fun, and companionship. They were looking out for me and were there to provide me with support when I didn’t even know I would need it. They have been every part of my spiritual, professional, and personal growth over the years.

They make me a better pastor/mother. Because these sisters look out for me even before I know I need it, I am able to receive the respite and care I need and reciprocate it back to them. Thank you Marion, Mary, Ann, and Mariko.

It’s common for the apostle Paul to begin his letters with an expression of thanksgiving. However, there are a few unique and interesting elements to this particular prayer of thanksgiving. For one, Paul chooses to use the Greek word “deomai” instead of the more common verb “proseuche.” The kind of prayer that Paul talks about here is more of a “request,” a “petition.” Paul says in verse 9 that his prayer request comes so that “your love might be even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight.”

What also is fascinating about this petition of thanksgiving is that Paul uses the word “koinonia,” that we are partners in Christ’s service, sharing in the spreading of the good news. Therefore, Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving is a request for partnership, community, and sharing of the gospel so that love may overflow and that we may be filled with joy.

This is my prayer, my petition for you, for us. This year, I will have been a member of the Presbytery of San Francisco for eight years. In those eight years, I feel that this presbytery, you all, have journeyed with me through some important milestones in my life. In those eight years, I feel that you all have nurtured me in my call and in my spiritual growth.

Many of you have come to my wedding ten years ago as friends and family . . . so much so that people said it felt like a mini-presbytery meeting (minus the motions and amendments of course.) You all have created a warm and inviting atmosphere for my kids to sit with us during those long presbytery meetings . . . so much so that my son equates them to going to Disneyland. I’m not sure if that should be a concern or a blessing. You have made it possible for my husband, InHo Kim, and I to serve the presbytery while also having young children . . . so much so that I have often made committee reports while my son was strapped to my body in a sling . . . so much so that I have often chaired those late night meetings while rocking my baby girl to sleep.

I feel honored and blessed to have journeyed with many of you through ordinations, births, transitions to new calls, deaths, disappointments, and retirements. I have seen this presbytery through many leadership transitions, mission statements and priorities. I have sat through many long nights on contentious votes – usually holding my kids asleep in my arms awaiting the outcome.  Along with that journey, I have also experienced the many frustrations, lack of trust, and disappointing times as well.

I say all this because this is to remind you of what you all have done well – for me, for my family, and for each other. However, the fact remains that we have a lot of work to do to move towards a healthier presbytery, healthier relationships, and a healthier spirit.

Council, committees, working groups, and task forces have been working hard these past couple of years on that movement. My focus as moderator this year will be on how we meet as a presbytery. You will see some small and major changes throughout the year. And my prayer, my petition to you is that we can be partners in this change. It is up to you all, the koinonia, on how we will share in ministry, partner in God’s call in order for joy and love to overflow.

My charge to you is this: love one another, listen to one another, and take a moment to meet someone you haven’t had a chance to meet yet. John Anderson, my Head of Staff, always reminds our congregation that “God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it.” Shouldn’t we then be ever compelled to share that love with one another and the world. As the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” My hope is that we will believe it enough to share it and live it.

I have high expectations for this year. I have set a high goal for us. My goal is that the changes we make in how we meet as a presbytery will be so wonderful that we will actually say, “I love my presbytery.” The truth is I do love this presbytery and wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I look forward to working together this year.

It’s been a while since I’ve preached. So, when I saw the options from the lectionary texts, I was scratching my head on deciding whether to preach on prophets, demons, or idols. I chose idols. Not because it was any easier than the three, but January is my church’s stewardship month. This particular Sunday was the day we were asking people to consider their commitment of resources, time, and energy to this particular faith community.

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul speaks to a divided community over the matter of food sacrificed idols. And without taking sides he says, if we have a choice of being right or being loving, choose loving. I really am blessed and grateful to be in a community that chooses to be loving over being right. We don’t all agree theologically or politically, but we do believe in extending tremendous grace and flexibility to one another – so that if a baby is crying that is okay; if my daughter is playing under my robe while I preach that is okay; if the pews get moved for the 100th time that is okay.

I realize community is especially important when one’s Head of Staff is still recovering from surgery, the choir director breaks her wrist, the guest preacher backs out, the coffee grinder goes missing, and the Sunday School teacher shows up late. The only thing stopping “community” from helping me out is myself.

Thank you to all the parishioners who asked what they could do to help; Deb, the parish associate, for stepping in last minute to preach; Ryan, the intern, for holding down the fort. I also am grateful for my baby girl who was holding on to the ropes of my wrap around sweater while I was giving the benediction. As I said, “May Christ’s peace be with you as you go out into the world” and began to exit the sanctuary, I could barely walk forward because she was tugging on the ropes of my sweater. In her own small way, I was reminded to slow down and not hurry. Sometimes the world can wait. I picked up my daughter and we exited together.

]]> http://theresaecho.com/2012/01/30/a-sunday-5-in-the-life-of-a-pastormother-community/feed/ 0 theresaecho SONY DSC http://theresaecho.com/2012/01/23/a-sunday-4-in-the-life-of-a-pastormother-just-add-water/ http://theresaecho.com/2012/01/23/a-sunday-4-in-the-life-of-a-pastormother-just-add-water/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:13:20 +0000 Theresa E Cho http://theresaecho.wordpress.com/?p=1786 ]]>

For Christmas, my son got Sea Monkeys in his stocking. Basically, you just add water to the packet and after 24 hours, little sea monkeys should begin to grow. Water has that effect on things. Just add water and life will happen. That’s what my Sunday was like.

After months of no rain, we have had lots of needed rain these past few days. In fact, it started raining Thursday, which is probably when my already busy life just got busier. As the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.” I already knew this Sunday would be a little crazier than usual knowing that my Head of Staff is recovering from surgery and our intern was off that day as well. We had a guest preacher scheduled so at least I didn’t have to preach. But I wouldn’t have been nervous about that anyway. When my Head of Staff is gone, my nervousness centers around making coffee, which is not a gift that God gave me. The only hope I can have with the coffee I make is that it doesn’t turn new visitors away.

But this Sunday was a day that was truly mixed with blessings and chaos, depending on how much water was added to the mix. Water seems to have that effect. The bible is full of stories of how water can be destructive as well as healing. In addition to going to my church, as moderator of my presbytery, I  had the pleasure of going to a colleague’s church to install him as pastor. Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church has waited ten years to finally have an installed pastor so there was a lot to celebrate on this day. And that’s what the installation truly was. While the downpour rain surely made it chaotic to transport my kids from one place to another, the symbolism of water used at the installation was refreshing and healing.

The newly installed Rev. Kamal Hassan began the service by pouring water into the baptismal font, inviting us to name our ancestors that came before us and whose spirit and memory is ever present with us. I instantly remembered my husband’s grandfather who passed away a couple years ago. He named both my children, whose name coincidentally means “water.” Not the chaotic water. The peaceful water. The still water that you read in Psalm 23.

I tried to remember that every time my baby girl stage dived off the chancel. I’m grateful that Kamal didn’t seem to mind her liturgically dancing and interpreting the constitutional questions when installing him. After all, whether peaceful or chaotic, when you add water, you get life.

Interactive Prayer Station #1: Journey into Celebration

Materials: Markers, Pledge Card, Basket, Candle

Although I’m tempted to approach God as a consumer, seeking to be served, these days am I using God or letting God use me. Authentic worship means God being present to me and me being present to God who penetrates our whole life, regardless of how we feel in the moment.

How authentic do I find myself to be in worship? (draw a symbol of self)

How is it dangerous for me? (draw a symbol of that feeling)

How do I offer up to God? (draw a symbol of your gift)

For whom am I God’s presence? (draw a symbol of your capacity)

Interactive Prayer Station #2: Journey into Community

Materials: Bucket of sand, Tealights, Pencils, Candle, Pledge Card

Why in the world would I want to be part of a church, or St. John’s – what difference does it make in the lives of others? I really am taking a risk to be among others with whom I have little, if any, history! Living in community within God’s household can get messy. A church is a way of living deeply and fully with people here and now, in the place we find ourselves – a collection of storied, fractured folks.

What 3 words speak of my story?

What do I offer to others in this community?

Who is God’s presence for me?

Light a candle to symbolize your light in this community.

Interactive Prayer Station #3: Journey into Compassio

Materials: Basket, Candle, Pledge Card

Imagine yourself moving into a house with a huge picture window. . . keeping the window clean develops into an obsessive-compulsive neurosis. You accumulate ladders and buckets and squeegees. You construct a scaffolding both inside and out to make it possible to get at all the difficult corners and heights. You’re very pleased with yourself. You have the cleanest window in the country – but it’s now been years since you looked through it. You’ve lost your vision.

If I want to follow Jesus, it is less about making my life better and more about serving, giving up, letting go for others.

Reflect upon your desire and offer a prayer that speaks of that desire.

You see, today was a day we call “Interactive Sunday,” where we set up interactive prayer stations in worship. On these Sundays, we don’t have any Sunday School programs because the stations are meant to be intergenerational. Only yesterday morning, did I wake up and realize the mix-up. Now, you can say, “Theresa, everyone does that every now and then.” Except that, I literally spent the week planning for both the interactive prayer stations and Sunday School this Sunday without realizing it. It was as if my right brain and my left brain weren’t aware of what the other was thinking. Usually I would just shrug it off but I am aware that next Sunday we have a guest preacher because my Head of Staff will be having hip replacement surgery this week and no Sunday School planned. So, it will be all me for a while.

With all this on my mind, this pastor/mother was a bit frazzled. Running 15 minutes late, I rushed the kids into the car, ignored the empty gas light that was on, and managed to accidentally drop my 3 year old on the ground while taking her out of her car seat. My saving grace really is my congregation, who after noticing the mix-up of programs, volunteered to help me put together an impromptu Sunday School program for next week.

Luckily the casualties were minor this time for this frazzled mom: I lost a few more brain cells; my son was only mildly neglected; and my baby girl has a little scraped arm. Nothing that McDonald’s can’t fix.