Jen's Blog

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Broken Connections

Evil happens in the world all the time, every day. In fact something horrendous is probably taking place as I type this. The text I had to work with this Sunday was one of the tough ones--King Herod and the slaughter of innocent kids. I'd been wracking my brain since the Christmas chaos ended to come up with something to say. Floating in my head: Why did they entrust this text to the intern?? (Though props to Paul for noting that I was the lucky one really because I got the one with dead babies while he ended up with the blah 3 magi text.) The transition is so jarring. What does this story possibly have in common with the stable scene from last week?

Last Thursday I happened to have the morning news on TV. I've been avoiding it as of late because I just haven't been in the mood to deal with the blaring outside world when I'm groggy at 7am. But Thursday morning I heard the breaking news that Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at an election rally. Still not sure why, but when I heard the news I had this awful sense of gloom and doom. I knew nothing of Bhutto and I'm no big feminist, but something about her death seemed very wrong and catastrophic. Somehow an important person had been lost.

This story was front page in my mind as I reread the text again and again. Blood is a cheap commodity in the world today; humans mere pawns in the power games of life. People in early Israel were expendable and disposable. They still are today too. Children are still slain around the world each day. The prayers for kids, refugees, etc. were much clearer today. I found that I couldn't just glaze over them and guild them into fairytale land like I (and most likely other people in the congregation) had been doing with the Christmas story. Thank God that Christmas is real because we have real problems. Thank God for a real flesh and blood savior who rescues us from this nightmare of evil.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Risky Business

Yesterday I got to do something I have wanted to do for a number of years now. With the help of Kirsti's sister's snow gear I got to go snowboarding for the first time!! Quite possibly one of the best inventions in the entire world. Getting there was a real trip. Snoqualmie Pass has been getting lots of snow for the last couple weeks which means lots of inexperienced snow drivers. The road up to the summit wasn't that bad at all, but most people were going all the way through the pass and were in need of tire chains for the other side. Essentially that meant a 2.5 hour wait to travel 4 miles to the tire chain checkpoint. There was no one there actually checking, but that didn't stop people from driving at stop and go rates for 4 miles where there was then suddenly wide open road. Yea traffic.

Snowboarding was brutal. I probably spent 50% of my time sitting on the hill catching my breath, 40% getting up and falling and 10% actually flying down the hill at speeds that people should be wearing helmets. I wasn't trying to get hurt, but since I had no control to turn, it was pretty hard to not get going at ridiculous speeds. I didn't realize you could be this sore. But oh was it fun. I can't wait to go again.

I did take quite a spill on my second time down the hill. I must have flipped forward somehow and spun around because I smacked my head/neck on the hill and then flipped over onto my face. Ouch. Had a headache the rest of the time. Sadly I didn't replenish the ibuprofen in my purse so I had to wait until I got back home to relieve the pain.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Presenting Her Holiness...


So this is my in my new alb. I've never been "crazy" about wearing them. My mild "nyeh" attitude toward albs was aggravated by having to wear a very thick, heat-holding, extra bulky, wheat colored alb for the last 3 months until the one I ordered arrived. Let's just say I'm really excited this one fits! It's got some lace like detailing on the sleeves and at the bottom. Nice box pleats in the front and back so it hangs well. Plus, the fabric doesn't really hold wrinkles so no ironing!! Boo yah!!

Winter Wonderland

It hardly ever snows in Seattle, but when it does it's a huge event. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap some shots of the snow falling a couple weeks back. Also I included my Christmas tree in all it's small cuteness.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Playground




This is Trinity where I work and play during the week. The room up front is the small chapel and the larger pod behind it is the main sanctuary. The office is in the back center and the preschool/child center is off to the left side.

There's four rows of seating (two on either side of the ones pictured here). Up in the top center of the ceiling is a huge skylight and two stained glass windows of the Luther Rose. The stained glass on the right here is a mix of old testament stories with a burning bush, Moses and things you can't quite figure out what they are. Everything on the platform up front is movable which give loads of flexibility with different programs and events (especially the choirs and music groups that come in).


This is my office/home base in all its busyness. I'm excited I have a window to stare out to keep me sane. Sadly though it looks out on the shopping village right behind the church. So occasionally I get to see the garbage being taken out, workers smoking, broken carts and drug deals.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Broken Bracelet

When I was in about 5th or 6th grade my cousins taught me how to make those friendship bracelets out of embroidery floss. I took to the habit quickly and before long had branded myself with about 5-6 on my right ankle. I have had at least 1 or 2 on my right foot since then and sometimes up to 12 (they add up quick when you make the small thin ones). As they would wear out and break off I would replace them.

Last Thursday morning the last one finally broke. I haven't replaced it yet thinking that perhaps it's time to let a childish fetish go. In some ways I feel "naked" without my bracelets on. Usually they are hidden beneath a sock or pants and no one but me knows they are there. On the other hand, I feel kind of free from not having them imprint on my ankle when I cross my feet or sit on the floor.

In a somewhat unrelated event last Thursday afternoon I gained some maturity. People never tell you how much it will cost or hurt to "grow up," but we're all encouraged to want to grow up with great fervor. The circumstances are unimportant save that I felt wounded by the way one of the pastors on staff treated me. What he said made me feel that while I was gifted in some ministry areas, I might not be strong enough to take on the whole package (implying that I might want to reconsider my direction for the next 9 months). I'm fairly certain what he said was meant to help me and keep me aware of my growing edges "for my own good." From a bystander the wounds would be minor if not imperceptible, however the incident reminded me of how my committee treated me a few years ago. I get it. I have baggage and I'm still working on dealing with it. The shocking turn came when I came out of hiding, dried my tears and went back to said staff member and talked to him about it. Though he was still a bit confused as to what he did that caused such pain on my part, he commended me for making such a huge step in coming back and confronting the tension and uneasiness I felt.

I'm still not quite sure how this all fits together in my life. I recognize that I gained some self-confidence because I can literally feel this bit of strength inside me that wasn't there before. I fought for myself because I believed for once in my life that I was worth fighting for. So maybe it's a good thing that bracelet broke.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Anyway

What's one of the best gifts someone's given you?
A book?
Something handmade?
Jewelry?
Clothes?
Their time?

How about one of those little, shiny, glass rocks that people use in fish bowls and flower decorations? You're probably wondering, "Why would anyone give one of those away? What kind of gift is that?" Fair enough. Let me tell you a story.

The glass rock to which I am referring came from a baptismal font at a previous congregation where Paul was serving. His last pastoral act was to baptize some people. He placed a bunch of these glass rocks in the font and did the baptisms. At the end of the service he handed a glass rock from the font to each person and told them all that though they would face difficult times ahead in the congregation and the struggles that come with calling a new pastor, they were all beloved, baptized children of God. No matter what happened or what troubles came their way in life, God's promises to each of them were sure and certain. The words spoken to Jesus at his baptism were true for them as well. "This is my beloved child." The glass rock, covered in baptismal water, was their "anyway stone"--a tangible reminder that God loved them anyway.

A few weeks ago Paul gave me one of the leftover remaining glass rocks. Mine to use and do with whatever I wanted. Today was a tough day. The glass rock traveled with me reminding me that no matter how rotten I felt, there is One who loves me....anyway.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Water, Water Everywhere....

One of the lines I memorized from a poem (The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) in 6th grade (I think) was
"Water, water, everywhere and all the boards did shrink
Water, water, everywhere nor any drop to drink."
It's been snowing and raining here quite excessively. NW Washington is already wet to begin with and the Seattle area is practically surrounded by water on all sides. Nevertheless, precipitate it did. The storm came in 3 waves. A 20 mile section of Interstate 5 (one of the life lines of this part of the state) was shut down near Chehalis. Cities just outside Seattle are buried in hip high water. The basement of a woman from church was flooded. Lynnwood was essentially unscathed by all forces of nature.