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Pastor Annette's Blog

"OF ALL THE THINGS GOD HAS SHOWN ME, I CAN SPEAK BUT A LITTLE WORD NOT MORE THAN A HONEYBEE CAN CARRY AWAY ON ITS FOOT FROM AN OVERFLOWING JAR."
~ MECHTHILD OF MAGDEBURG, 13TH CENTURY MYSTIC

Goodbye... and Hello...

7/28/2015

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Beloved:    

I've two pieces of church news to share.  

One, this Sunday, August 2nd, is Gwenette's last Sunday before her big move to Oregon.  During Sunday School we'll gather downstairs for coffee, sweets and good wishes. We'll have a love offering basket out to which you are invited to contribute if you want.  Please plan to come say thank you, goodbye and Godspeed to our dear friend.  

Second, we've hired an administrative assistant to help with all manner of clerical, worship and outreach duties, and guess what? You already know her!  Fan Hamrick is already busy getting the work office shipshape and ready for the business of ministry.  She'll be in the office ten to twelve hours a week and you'll no doubt have an email from her now and then too.  If you're in the building be sure to stop in and say hello.  

A far less interesting bit of news is that I'll be out tomorrow for a small medical experience, and I expect to be back in the saddle no later than Thursday morning.   

Peace & Prayers, pastor annette


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Drought or rotting gardens...

7/14/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Beloved:

Had I known then what I know now - I’d have ordered ducklings instead of chicks. My girls are like gangly teenagers now, slip sliding all over their coop floor no matter how much straw I put down.  Their tiny feet are encased in mud.

And still it rains and rains and rains.  The butternut squash is on higher ground and still thriving but my summer squash and zucchini is rotting before it gets big enough to harvest.  I picked blackberries and cucumber yesterday.  Scout can fit her head through the fence and ate my first round of grape tomatoes as they ripened but I’m on to her now so the rest are mine.  She also stripped fruit and leaves off all the blackberries canes she could reach.  See how proud of herself she is.

While we wade from house to coop to car, Californians begin to ration.  I started wondering what’s causing their drought.  Go figure, it’s the weather.  Not enough snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range means not enough runoff to fill their reservoirs.   My garden rots while theirs withers.  Is there some sweet spot in Kansas where people are picking perfect squash?       Whether it’s weather, our relationships or a recipe for pie ~ how much is enough is the constant in our thoughts.  When to push through and when to hold back? When is helping helpful and when does it hurt?  To speak and to keep silent?   

I do not know the answer, only the quest.  And the desire to live in that sweet, sweet spot of courageous faith and humble obedience as many days as possible.   

I pray you find this week exactly enough of whatever you need.  
~ peace & prayers, pastor annette


Speaking of pie - Mariah has nearly perfected a peach cobbler recipe you might enjoy.You'll find it in the UBC Recipes section of the website.

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Rich in the Things that Matter

7/7/2015

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Beloved:

I love working at home in the mornings.  The washer, dryer and crock pot are loaded and I’ve been folding laundry since 7:30. Carl is traveling and the kids are out the door to their respective internships and jobs.  All three dogs are asleep at my feet, exhausted as soccer players after practice.  I feel so rich ~ in the things that matter and the things that don’t.  

How did I inherit such wealth?  Carl likes to say we are reaping the harvest of generations of Chism family prayers.  Chisms are his mother’s people; canners, farmers and entrepreneurs by trade.  Not of one of them with two dimes to rub together at any given time.  Poor in all things that don’t matter and rich in all the things that do; love, faith, and family.  And food of course, which is my third favorite part of life this summer after time with Carl and the constant stream of baby-adult-kids moving through my kitchen.

I cook a big supper almost every day.  Last night was pulled pork, squash casserole, cole slaw, green beans, sliced tomatoes and watermelon.  Except for the watermelon all the produce came from farmer’s market.  The kids ate and ate.  Just watching them I felt like the richest person on the planet, asking myself again, “Why me?  Why do I get this?” Then trying to be more grateful than curious.  

Tonight will be a big pan of baked beef burritos with guacamole, chips, leftover slaw and another melon.  We eat around 6:30 if you’d like to join us.  

~ peace & prayers, pastor annette


Did you know we have a collection of favorite recipes here on the UBC website? Click here for the recipe for Squash Casserole!

1 Comment
    I write a Tuesday morning devotional to members and friends of UBC.  It is also posted here. 
     
    Enjoy!  
    Pastor Annette

    Copyright
    Everything on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons license, which gives you permission to copy freely, provided that you attribute the work to me, that you use the work for non-commercial purposes, and that you do not produce derivative works.

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3740 East Third Street   Bloomington, IN 47401         812/339-1404                   Life Groups ~ 9:30 am          Worship ~ 10:45 am
Photo used under Creative Commons from TheReptilarium
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Staff
    • Annette Hill Briggs, Pastor
    • Rob Drummond ~ Music Minister
  • Listen & Read
    • Sermons
    • Pastor's Blog
    • #ITSYOURCHURCHTOO >
      • About >
        • When & Where?
        • Ministries >
          • Worship >
            • Music
            • Worship Arts
            • Worship Resources
          • Fellowship >
            • Wednesday Night Supper
            • Church Recipes
          • Service >
            • MCUM Collections
            • Habitat for Humanity Project
          • Vacation Bible School
        • Our Story >
          • Denomination
          • Who We Are
        • Contact
        • Calendar
    • Social Media Feed
  • Give
  • Newsletter