<![CDATA[University Baptist Church Bloomington, Indiana - Pastor Annette ~ 'Not More than a Honeybee']]>

<![CDATA[University Baptist Church Bloomington, Indiana - Pastor Annette ~ 'Not More than a Honeybee']]>Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:25:44 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Easter Poem by Gary Young]]>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:57:55 -0800http://www.ubcbloomington.org/4/post/2012/03/easter-poem-by-gary-young.html

A long time congregant sent me this poem knowing I would love it. I'm grateful for it. pastor anne

In the heat of late afternoon...by Gary Young

In the heat of late afternoon, lightning streaks from a nearly
cloudless sky to the top of the far mesa. At dusk, the whole south
end of the valley blazes as the clouds turn incandescent with
some distant strike. There is a constant congress here between
the earth and the sky. This afternoon a thunderstorm crossed the
valley. One moment the ground was dry, and the next there were
torrents running down the hillsides and arroyos. A quarter-mile off
I could see a downpour bouncing off the sage and the fine clay
soil. I could see the rain approach, and then it hit, drenching me,
and moved on. Ten minutes later I was dry. The rain comes from
heaven, and we are cleansed by it. Suddenly the meaning of baptism
is clear to me: you can begin again, and we are saved every day.

"In the heat of late afternoon..." by Gary Young, from Even So: New & Selected Poems. © White Pine Press, 2012

]]><![CDATA[Comfort Food]]>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:14:53 -0800http://www.ubcbloomington.org/4/post/2011/12/comfort-food.htmlA couple of times a month, Ben and I end up at Panera for supper. We both bring homework and sometimes chat about calculus and theology. He has more to say on theology than I on calculus. This winter we discovered Panera's "Sonoma Chicken Stew." I've been to Sonoma and have no recollection of a noteworthy chicken stew but Panera's is pure comfort food. Here's my attempt at re-creating it at home. It's not exactly the same but it's pretty good all the same.
Winter Chicken Stew w/ Cheese Biscuits ~ Annette Hill Briggs

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
5-6 mushrooms, sliced
2 medium potatoes, cubed
3 carrots, sliced
2 cups total frozen corn, green beans, peas (or whatever you have)
2 cups chicken stock (broth)
1 ½ cups water
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup sour cream
1 pint half & half
1 cup skim milk
3 Tbsp corn starch

storebought can of biscuits
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat olive oil in heavy dutch oven and add onions, garlic, mushrooms. Saute until clear. Add chicken stock, water, carrots, potatoes, frozen veggies, chicken, salt & pepper. Heat until gently boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

While it simmers, Preheat oven to 400 (ignore package directions). Slice each canned biscuit in half and stuff with a little cheddar cheese. Pinch closed and place them on a sprayed baking sheet, not touching. Press any leftover cheese shreds into tops of biscuits.   Overbake them until crunchy but not burned on the outside. Remove and set aside to cool completely.

In a small bowl, stir corn starch into skim milk with a fork until smooth. Keep heat low and pour milk, half & half and sour cream into pot, stirring regularly until thick and bubbly. Try not to hurry this by increasing heat too much or milk will burn at the bottom.

When thick, smooth and smells awesome (about 20-30 minutes after adding milk), ladle into bowls and drop a biscuit into each. So, so good.

]]><![CDATA[ "Monks Inside Today"]]>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:25:14 -0800http://www.ubcbloomington.org/4/post/2011/09/-monks-inside-today.html   "Monks Inside Today" was scribbled on a dry erase board propped in the yard of First Christian Church downtown where my friend Mark preaches. I decided to go see. The monks were creating the mandala in the picture below. A mandala is a beautiful design made entirely of colored, loose sand sprinkled onto a plywood plank. Once complete, the sand is swept away. I'm so glad I went to see it.
   I also had a great time with a new friend, Tenpa, in the picture below. He's a young monk, a second generation Tibetan refugee born in India. So friendly and anxious to practice his English, he explained the design to me. The center of the mandala is a globe with four animals sitting on one another's back; a bird atop a rabbit atop a monkey atop an elephant. "Four harmony brothers," Tenpa said, "to show how even ones who are very different can live together with peace."
   They are a funny bunch, the monks, quiet as they bend very close to their work. When they do speak, it sounds like singing. No slaves to fashion, they wear gold and maroon robes and go barefoot. Although I noticed one wore purple argyle socks. They smile and nod alot. I asked Tenpa, "What if someone needs to sneeze while he is working?" and he got the joke.
   The seven monks will tour in the US for two more months, creating mandalas, sharing Tibetan culture and raising money for their monastery in Dehra Dun, India. "When I sleep, the rain falls on me," Tenpa said, "when we have enough money, we will have a new roof." He invited me to visit the monastery when I'm in India. "It rains in the guest house too, but only in May and June."
   What a totally cool day!

~ pastor annette

]]><![CDATA[A Few Words on the Word – Baptist]]>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:26:27 -0800http://www.ubcbloomington.org/4/post/2011/09/a-few-words-on-the-word-baptist.html

"They were Methodists, a denomination my father referred to as Baptists who could read," says Norman Maclean in A River Runs Through It. Baptists have consistently been better known for what is true about us than what is best about us. At it's best, the name Baptist suggests sacred principles of faith held fast by generations of believers.

Soul Liberty is one; the conviction that each human soul is accountable to God without need of intercessor for confession, forgiveness or worship. No particular person speaks to God on behalf of other people nor on behalf of God to people. Everyone has the same access to the Divine. Soul liberty is also sometimes called priesthood of the believer.

Congregational autonomy is an extension of soul liberty. Each congregation is autonomous from all others; free to worship and minister as God leads and the body sees fit. Congregations bind together to support projects like mission work and seminaries. But they are not, at least according to historic Baptist principle, doctrinally accountable to one another.

The strict and complete Separation of Church and State is another fundamentally Baptist principle. While called to be good citizens, love of country is tertiary to love for God and love for fellow humans. We are Christians first, Americans second. Baptists throughout history were imprisoned by governments and kicked out of churches for resisting government infringement upon the church or preaching against religious alliances with the government. Not a few were martyred in the process.

When Baptists get busy, we build schools and hospitals. We dig wells and plant fields and host vacation bible schools. We are rather like hobbits in our love of parties, music and frequent meals. Through it all we rarely fail to repeat the gospel of God's lovingkindness, acted out in the event of Jesus.

Unfortunately, this everyday reality of Baptist life isn't particularly newsworthy. What goes to press are stories and pictures riddled with angry faces and vile speech that isn't even Christian, let alone Baptist.

Our challenge these days is to remain authentic to Baptist principles and our local ministry while distinguishing ourselves from brothers and sisters whose understanding of ministry has little in common with our own. It's congregational autonomy at work.

Understandably and sadly, people stay away in droves from Baptist churches. Not only do they miss some of the best food ever served, they miss the opportunity to see what ordinary Baptists look like up close. They are professors, lawyers, doctors, mechanics, teachers, parents, and kids. They are of every possible political persuasion and family configuration.

The temptation for Baptist ministers like me is to blame others for tarnishing our good name while the truth is that I am equally responsible. I am responsible for what the world doesn't know about Baptist life. So, today seemed like as good a time as any to exercise that responsibility ~ with a few words about the word Baptist.

]]><![CDATA[First Post!]]>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:23:12 -0800http://www.ubcbloomington.org/4/post/2011/09/first-post.html