My blog "Tripping into Grace" has taken a long vacation...but I have been inspired to trip back on to the scene...so watch out for signs and posts of what I see as grace all around...sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, often mundane, most likely caught off guard by grace and how I see myself and sometimes others tripping into this amazing gift...

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day Worship

November 24, 2011

(You are invited to use this Thanksgiving Day Worship. The parts in italics are for one participant to lead and the parts in bold are for all to share together. Happy Thanksgiving! May you find joy and blessing this day and always!)

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 100:4-5)

Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and God’s courts with praise.

Give thanks to God, bless God’s name.

For the Lord is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever,

And God’s faithfulness to all generations.

PRAYER

God of creation, you have given us so much for which to be thankful. By your providence we are cared for all our days. Fill our hearts with generosity, not only for those close to us, but also the least and the lost, and especially for you, that we may share our blessings freely, and our thanksgiving without ceasing.  Amen.  

SCRIPTURE READING                Psalm 104:1-30

HYMN: Now Thank We All Our God (Martin Rinkart)

1.         Now thank we all our God


with hearts and hands and voices,


who wondrous things has done,


in whom God's world rejoices;


who, from our mothers' arms,


has blest us on our way


with countless gifts of love,


and still is ours today.

SCRIPTURE READING                Philippians 4:4-7

LITANY OF THANKSGIVING

For life in all its meaning, full of challenge and potential, growth and decay, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For time made more precious by its passing; for seasons by which to gauge the rhythm of our work; for times of rest and quiet times; for time spent with others and time spent alone; for times of celebration and the times of struggle which engage our being, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For the resources that make living more pleasant––good food, warmth and shelter, clothing––we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For wisdom and insight; for the gifts of learning and of teaching; for books and other media by which we share ideas; for the joy of a new concept grasped or a new thought understood, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For family and friends, both nearby and far away, both living and dead, each of whom brings much to our lives; for holidays that gladden our hearts and remind us of our losses; for shared experiences that become tomorrow’s precious memories, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For governments and political leadership throughout the world, especially those that protect freedom and promote justice; for reformers and those with the courage to speak out where all is not what it should be, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

Especially for the United States of America, a nation with a foundation of freedom; for peaceful transfer of power and the orderly election of leaders; for institutions that serve and protect and for men and women who are willing to die that others might live and enjoy their freedom, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For the places that we live, the beauty, resources and leadership; for our fellow citizens with whom we work and live in peace and harmony; for those who will not stand silent while others suffer or are deprived, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For the church, the body of Christ at work in the world; for all its joyous confusion and colorfulness, its gifts of the Spirit, its leaders and supporters, all those who give their time to its mission, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

Especially for the places where we worship and the gatherings of God’s people that we have called home; for their history and heritage that help to show us the way; for those who have gone before us in the faith and made it what it is today; for the vision you hold out to it of what it can be and will be tomorrow, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

For all the many gifts or our lives, and for our very lives themselves, we give you thanks, O Lord...Thanks be to God!

And let us pray the prayer that Christ taught disciples to pray together saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven…

HYMN: Now Thank We All Our God

2.         Oh, may this bounteous God


through all our life be near us,


with ever joyful hearts


            and blessed peace to cheer us,


and keep us in God's grace,


and guide us when perplexed,


and free us from all harm


In this world and the next.

3.         All praise and thanks to God


            the Maker now be given,


            the Son, and him who reigns


with them in highest heaven,


the one eternal God,


whom earth and heav'n adore;


for thus it was, is now,


and shall be evermore.

BLESSING

May the Lord, who is our peace, give us peace at all times and in every way.

Amen.

Bless the Lord.

The Lord’s name be praised. 

Running into Grace-Part 2

Participating in the half marathon was a real highlight for me, despite the lack of training and the extreme soreness. When I saw that there was a 5K on May 2010 for MacArthur Park I decided to sign up. For some reason as the MacArthur Park run got closer all I could remember about the half marathon was that I finished. I didn't remember the soreness, I didn't remember the promises I made to myself to train and prepare for another run. The MacArthur Park Run was an evening run. So, on that coolish Friday evening a group of people started gathering at the museum. It was a small group gathered for this run at least it seemed that way to me. But then all I had to compare it to was the Race for the Cure and the Little Rock Marathon. As Lindsay (my daughter and running buddy) and I waited to run, Jim (my husband) encouraged us. When we began the race it was fine but we'd barely made it half a mile before I started breathing hard and felt like I needed to walk instead of run. Lindsay encouraged me to keep going. But when a fat little dog and it's owner passed us I knew I was in trouble and I might as well walk a spell. We did run more but for the most part we walked that 5K, both of us feeling the lack of training. I knew then that if I was serious about running in the next half marathon or even walking in it, or if I ever intended to run in another 5K I was going to have to prepare and train. So what does all this have to do with Tripping into Grace? Everything....

Running into Grace

"Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Last year before I turned 48 I made a "bucket list" of the things I wanted to do before I turned 50. One of the things on my list was to participate in a half marathon. I say participate because as much as I wanted to run I was pretty sure I would walk a good part of that 13.1 miles. March 4, 2010 was a COLD, pretty day. There were so many people in downtown Little Rock that morning and it was so exciting and a little bit frightening. But the momentum of the crowd moved me. The excitement was overwhelming! So when the race started, Lindsay and I ran. Oh, I walked too but I ran more than I should have run for someone who hadn't trained, at all. Something more than my own stamina kept me going that day...there were people praying for me, people cheering me on along the way, and the other walkers and runners around me. I felt the community. My daughter and I crossed the finish line and it was very exciting.
The soreness, however, started settling into my muscles and bones almost immediately. And two hours later I was hurting. I think I felt that race for two weeks. It's a soreness that I'm not sure I will ever forget. a soreness that was compounded because I didn't TRAIN.
And yet a few months later I thought that I could just go run a 5K with no training...
I'll finish that story in my next installment but it reminds me of how we try to go about each day without the training and discipline of prayer, trust, and seeking God's will and way...

"Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Thanksgiving--Thanksliving

“I will give thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart…” Psalm 138:1

After receiving a gift it is customary to say “thank you” either in a word or a gesture or a note. When we sit down to a meal we often say “grace” or a "blessing” before we eat in some traditions there is a blessing before the meal and one after it as well.
Several years ago after a busy morning of Bible study and sermon preparation, I was rushing to a meeting; when someone stopped me. This individual had come to the church wanting help. I remember thinking that I was running late and that I really couldn’t be bothered at that moment. But as the person began to tell me his story I slowed my pace. I thought about how I was able to go to meetings, teach bible studies, preach sermons, but that living a grateful life also meant helping others and sharing God’s grace with each person I encounter.
Gratitude and Thanksgiving then are ways of life, not just a day or even a season. They challenge us to see to God’s activity in the midst of our struggles and pain as well as in our joys and celebrations.
This week as we celebrate a day of thanks, I want to give you a challenge—be thankful for every day because for God’s people the season of Thanksgiving lasts all year long.
I’m so grateful for each one of you. Thank you!

Looking Back into the Future

September 20, 2010
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from God comes my salvation.
God alone is my rock and my salvation; my fortress, I shall never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1
It’s been over a month since I have written anything but that doesn’t mean I have been without grace, actually it has been anything but that. Ever day I have had moments of grace, in fact as I look back each day has been full of grace. I want to share with you one of my “trips into grace” today.
As some of you may know I have recently changed jobs. I had been serving as co-pastor or pastor of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church for the past fifteen and a half years and am now the minister in residence at Presbyterian Village Retirement Community. I have been in this position only a week. I am trying to get settled, learn names and get organized. The residents and staff have welcomed me with open arms and happy smiles. But as many of you know transitions can be challenging even in the best of times.
Today I opened one of my personal file cabinets and inside this empty cabinet was a single, small, square piece of paper. I reached in the cabinet and took out the piece of paper and on the other side I saw the familiar handwriting of Dusty Malcolm, a saint, a friend and one of the last people for whom I conducted a memorial service at Westover Hills.
Dusty used to jot down notes about the scripture he treasured and read every day. Sometimes he would bring me a question or a thought. Today I found one of his ponderings and it was as if it was a gift from heaven. The scrap of paper read,
From Psalm 62
The Presbyterian Pledge: “…(we) shall not be greatly moved”.
compare with Paul’s “saved by Grace alone”
“For thou dost requite a man according to his work.” or “For you repay all according to their work.”
Psalm 62 is a full of grace reminding us that God is our strength despite what others may say or do, “How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse; despite the changes that life brings, Trust in him al all times, Pour out your heart before him God is a refuge for us…”; despite the economic downturns or even upturns, Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them…God is our strength and salvation.”
I know that many of us are on journeys that challenge us, that make us question some of the things that we have been taught, that make us wonder about what is happening. When this happens it is awesome to trip into grace and have God speak to you through words of encouragement offered by friends.

Stumbling Into Grace

Micah 6:6-8
Acts 6:1-15
My blog is entitled “Tripping into Grace,” only as I was trying to leave Little Rock, for my journey overseas it was more like “Stumbling into Grace.” Here is one of my stories.
When I began my journey to Scotland to go to school it started at the airport in Little Rock on a flight that was “bound” to be late. The “patient” flyers waited eagerly to get to their destinations and as we waited for a plane to arrive, passengers to deplane, the ground crew to clean up, some of us began talking about where we were going.
There were people traveling to many and varied destinations. It was interesting to listen to the people talking and sharing and getting to know one another without using their names. There was a young woman who hoped to get on the flight but was on standby; a couple of sisters traveling together; an army officer in fatigues not in any hurry so considering giving his spot up and taking another flight so someone else who needed to go could; several business folks—dressed and ready for action, with computers and phones and conversations all going at one time; some who were connecting with tour groups and many others—if you’ve been on a trip before you’ve seen a similar sight.
Well, the plane finally arrived and the passengers exited, and the ground crew cleaned and then we were allowed to board. I was in the last boarding group. And when I got on the plane I realized that my seat was at the front of the plane so that I could get off quickly to connect to my next flight, but there was no place under the seat for my backpack. So, I started to look above and move down just a bit, but the flight attendant said, “It’s full, you’ll have to check that bag.” I said, “My computer and camera are in here I’d rather not have to check the bag.” “Well,” he said, “I don’t think you will find anywhere to put it.” At which point the man in the army fatigues who was five or six rows back said, “I’ll put it under my seat, I don’t have any carry on baggage.”
My first reaction was gratitude. I said, “thank you.” And handed him my bag.
Much later I got to thinking – you handed over all your stuff to a complete stranger.
But more than that I thought about hospitality—in this case hospitality was the generosity of a stranger to the point of inconveniencing himself for another.
As I pondered the words God spoke to Micah and the people–– “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God”––and even as I thought about the lectionary reading from the other day from Acts 6:1-15 about the apostles’ concern for those who need to be served—I began to think about hospitality in different ways. Hospitality is an opportunity to demonstrate God’s grace, God’s justice, God’s love for another—whether we are at home or away; whether we are with friends or strangers; Hospitality is making known the generosity of grace. And that’s one of the ways I keep tripping and stumbling into grace: the hospitality of others, the giving of their talent and their skills, their time and their interest to those like me who have a particular need. No, it wasn’t a big deal, putting a bag under a plane seat, but it was, in a small way, indicative of what God calls us to do in a big way, day in and day out, all of our lives.
As you and I journey along the road of life, what can we do to help others stumble, not into danger or loss or pain, but into grace so that they will know God’s love and will be able to live more fully?
After the flight my bag was returned to me in good shape, nothing missing. But even as I carry my backpack every day with me I also carry with me the memory of the act itself, a person’s gesture of hospitality, and a willingness to do the same.