A Mighty Force

I collaborate with Paulette Fry and together we create much music. In the past few years, we have created choral anthems and entire programs for Christmas, Pentecost, Reformation.   I write the lyrics.  She composes the music.  After that, a very talented choir director and choir bring the music to life.  Recently, Paulette asked me for lyrics for a song on the power of faith.   It will be special music in July.  Here it is.

A Mighty Force

Faith is a mighty force,

As powerful as the sea…

Faith can change world…

and transform you and me.

It only takes a small amount

No bigger than a seed,

To move a mountain, cure the lame, 

Or put a mind at ease.

Faith in God, can see us through

In the darkest of our hours,

Faith is a mighty force,

A daunting, awesome power.

Jesus said, “Believe in me, 

And you will be free,

of guilt and shame and fear.

I am the bread of life,

The shepherd of my sheep,

I know their voice and they know mine.

Believe in me, I am the vine,

Abide in me and you will find,

That I am the Way, the truth, the life.”

Faith is a mighty force

Yet a small amount is all you need,

To heal a child, or a disease,

To change the world, and greater yet,

To conquer the power of death.

For all eternity, for all eternity.

Faith is a mighty force

More powerful than the sea

Faith can change the world,

And transform you and me.

                                                                        Nancy Rehkugler, April, 2018

Easter Sunday Message for Children

I have something to show you this morning.

It is kind of dry and shriveled up.  Do you know what this is?

 

Yes, it is a bulb. It is not the kind of bulb that you put in a lamp to get light.   It is the kind of bulb that you put in the ground to get Life!  Out of this ugly brown thing, a beautiful flower grows.

I wanted to show you this today, because all of the Easter flowers in the church this morning come from bulbs.  Bulbs are a symbol for Easter.

Can you guess why?   You put bulbs into the ground where it is dark and they come out of the ground and come to life.  What does that make you think of?

It makes me think of Jesus in the tomb, who rose right out of death and into Life Again!

Let me share this lovely little Easter story with you this morning. 

Many years ago, Rev. Robert Barns was serving at a church in Philadelphia.  The church had just bought a nearby lot on which they planned to put a big parking lot.  A small patch of Easter lilies had been growing in the lot for the past few years, probably because someone from the church planted the left-over Easter lilies there.

The paving company came in and bulldozed the lilies.  Next they poured asphalt, then bulldozed over that.  Soon the congregation was using the new parking lot.

But the following spring, they began to notice something strange going on.  The pavement in the new parking lot was starting to buckle and crack.  Sure enough, the Easter lilies were poking up through the asphalt. ++

Almost every year, I see the same thing happen at the tennis courts where we play.  These delicate little yellow flowers push their way through the thick asphalt and blossom, which never ceases to amaze me.

And that is what Easter is all about.  Life is stronger than death.  You can bury life in the ground, but sooner or later, it will spring up once again.  Isn't that good news?

If an Easter lily can overcome a parking lot, imagine what you and I can do!

Thank God that Life is always happening!!

Venting

I do not usually vent on my blog, because I want it to be positive, uplifting, filled with hope.   At the moment, I feel like venting.  So be it.

Yes, I do generally enjoy really great health, with no major health issues or medication,  with one exception.  Like many Americans, I suffer from digestive disorders such as acid, heartburn, etc.

For a while, I managed that with Tums.  In time, the problem was eliminated with a prescription from the doctor.  Eventually, when I did not have a doctor, I relied on an over the counter medication, which was equivalent to my prescription,  until the word came that those were really bad for you.  So I decided to stop taking them.

That meant that I really had to completely change my lifestyle, which I did with some success.  That means eating dinner early, not eating too much,  watching what I eat,  no alcohol, no chocolate, and so on.

All of those lifestyle changes did not completely change the fact that I would still have the digestive distress, though it was much less disruptive.   The next step was to try and identify what the triggers might be.  I read on-line about what a number of possibilities are.  In the end,  it seems that the culprit is most likely wheat!

I do not believe that I have an intolerance, just a sensitivity. I do not get sick, just uncomfortable.  It has been really challenging to completely eliminate wheat from my diet.    If I were given a choice of the one thing that I most wanted to eat in all the world, it would be bread!  Bread, pastries, crackers, muffins and so forth.  Those are no longer in my life!   I grieve for wheat!

I grieve for wheat,
its rice cakes for me;
No more donuts or toast.
It's the crunchy things
not there for me that
I really miss the most.

Crackers and chips
and crispy things,
are not allowed for me.
It's apples and oats,
bananas, or in a
smoothie, all three!

Oh,  cookies, how I miss thee!
How I grieve for wheat!

Only the pain keeps me away
from the loaf of bread I want today.
Upon a muffin I would gladly pounce.

And yet, with my wheat-less life,
I do not lose an ounce!

An Unexpected Gift

I met a retired pastor named Rev. Doug Deer at a church event back in October.  Not long after that, he called me to ask if I might be interested in doing some pulpit supply at a church where he was preaching.  Doug was having some health issues, and wanted to step back from some of his work there.  After giving it a little thought, I agreed to accept two Sundays a month.  I began preaching at Groton City United Church of Christ in December.

Groton City is a small country church, as Doug described, in the middle of a corn field.  There is really no corn, but it is surrounded by agricultural lands and farms and a few houses.  There is no city.  Many of the parishioners are farmers, or former farmers.  What they really wanted was their own pastor.  And as it has turned out, much to my surprise, what I really wanted was my own pulpit!

The church is small with a congregation of around twenty five on a regular basis.  It reminds me of the churches of my childhood.  I am totally at home there!

Since all of this happened, Rev. Doug Deer has passed away from a serious heart condition.  I am so very grateful to him for calling me.  It was unexpected.

I have always loved preaching.  You could say that it is my passion.  Other aspects of ministry---meetings, denominational expectations, finance, building and grounds, are less appealing to me.  Groton City has none of those demands.

What is so surprising to me is what a joy preaching is at this point in my life.  Like never before!  I think perhaps that is because worship is the primary focus. I do not have to attend district or conference meetings.  I do not have to report every detail of attendance and finance in statistical reports.  I can simply relate to the people and enjoy worship, which I do indeed.

I feel like an athlete who has returned to my sport after a long absence, and am now doing that sport for no reason other than the sheer thrill of it!

Perhaps the most important benefit is for Gerry, who has always so loved my preaching!  He is happy now.  He feels at home there.  He is delighted, as am I.

What an unexpected gift!  And I am so very thankful!