“He rose and we will too!” was our worship theme for Easter Sunday, “leaving us with nothing in this world to be afraid of anymore!”

The whole day was absolutely beautiful.  The sun could not have been brighter.  The feast could not have been tastier nor the fellowship sweeter.  The music was exactly right.  The little kids took home candy and presents.  We had first-time guests.  A few regulars were not feeling well enough to attend and others were out of town, but this side of heaven I’m not sure the day could have been any more perfect.
 
Carl Briggs, Susanne Parker, & Deborah Ensmenger outdid themselves in arranging the sanctuary and planning the meal.  Thanks to their team for the labor of love given to set up, serve, and clean up such a huge project.  Thanks to Rob, Fan, and the choir for their amazing gifts on both Good Friday and Easter.  Thanks to every single person who helped make it so worshipful for all of us. 

Now, may the worship linger in our hearts and in our life together.  We’ll eat together again tomorrow evening.  Please come even if you haven’t signed up.  I already miss you and look forward to being together again.  The time we spend at table is one of this life’s most precious gifts. 
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~ peace& prayers,
pastor annette

Beloved:
    My favorite quote recently is from the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu:  “Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.  Do your work and then step back.  It is the only path to serenity.”  
    I realize that ten times, twenty times, fifty times a day I catch myself caring what others think of my decisions.  Of my thoughts, even.  Even now I care what you think of me quoting a Chinese philosopher!  Shouldn’t she be quoting the Bible?  From a practical standpoint, such cares get in the way of ministry, like the chain constantly falling off the bicycle.  From the spiritual standpoint, such cares get in the way of everything. 
    To do my work and then step back is to trust in the endlessness of God’s patience, the abundance of God’s grace, the consistency of God’s goodness and, as Julia Cameron calls it, the divinely driven pace of time.  To think how small my life is in the grand scheme of all things is a comfort actually.  And yet, to do my best with and for the people alongside me is no small thing at all. 
    I pray the day treats you gently.  Be gentle back to it all the same. 
~ peace & prayers,
​pastor annette

Beloved,

                             “I allow my life to be tidal.  I allow my life to fill and empty
                             according to a plan higher than I might naturally perceive.”
                             ~ Julia Cameron, Blessings

       Fill and empty, just like my house with kids at holidays and school breaks.  They come and go, bringing and taking the busyness of being their mama.  Fill and empty, like the worries that breach my mind’s shore, as constant as the tides. 

       For years and years I was overwhelmed with work and kids and house. Several of those, aging parents in failing health were also in the mix.  Now I’m rarely ever truly busy.  I go to work, come home and do some chores before the evening stretches out before me.  I journal, color, knit, read, sew and talk to my husband.   Gardening season is very near.

       It’s a lovely adjustment, a gift in which I constantly resist the temptation to think myself too lazy. A temptation drawn from some other faith than ours; a faith which treats weariness as a virtue and contentment as a sin.

       Fill and empty, fill and empty flow the days.  I am grateful for them all. 

~ peace & prayers,
pastor Annette

Beloved:

    March 1st marks a milestone for my husband and me.  Twenty-five years ago today we left our graduate student apartment a couple and came back three days later a family.  Mariah Elizabeth, hardly bigger than a loaf of bread and yet an entire human being.  We were terrified, amazed the hospital just handed her over and waved bye.  My mother was waiting at the apartment.  And our friends Cathy and John.  After a few days my mother left and the four of us just sat around staring at her, none of us really knowing what to do. 
 
    As it turned out, Mariah raised us as much as we raised her.  Five more kids were born to me, Carl, Cathy and John.  All five of them should call her up today and thank her for taking our first fails.  She was ever so patient with us.  The time we let her fall off the changing table at church.  The time I sat the iron on the floor and she burned her fingers.  The time I forgot her at Girl Scouts.  

    The time I forgot her at Target.  The many times I put her in charge of the babies then fussed at her later for being so bossy.  The time I had a different kid at the doctor and he said, “What’s behind that Band-Aid, Mariah?  Can I see?”  Then turned to me and said, “Hmm, Mom, that needs to be stitched.”  All the times she had to remind us to feed her.  

    We can hardly take any credit since she mostly raised herself.  She’s been figuring things out by herself for twenty-five years and we’ve had the joy of watching.  She’s all grown up, married, working and taking care of business much like she always has.  So Happy Birthday, Mariah Elizabeth! Thanks for the best first twenty-five years any parents ever had!”
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~peace & prayers,
pastor annette