As 2012 begins, I am resisting making "resolutions," but I am reflecting on my life and about "best practices" that are important to me.  One "practice" that I have begun this year is gathering around the table pictured here once a month with six colleagues from different denominations.  We worship and pray together, we study together, and we hold one another accountable for bringing our best selves to ministry.  Each time we meet, I am grateful for the time together.  I am grateful for this group's perspective and wisdom, and for deepening friendships. 

I know that at Rock Spring there are some who find this kind of support in Sacred Circles or in one of our small group ministries.  What helps you keep things in perspective and bring your best self forward? 

Captured In The Heart

What do you see through your rose-colored glasses?

Strawberries with a Smile!

There were many great images from the Strawberry Festival Sunday two weeks ago.  John Roman broke out the rose-colored glasses to inspire our imaginative thinking.  Strawberries, ice cream and chocolate sauce were served up with a smile.  And, of course, there was that marvelous spread that always transpires when Rock Springers are invited to bring a dish to share.  This time it was supplemented by lots of good stuff coming off the grill from YoRS.

Much of this was captured on camera, but I think my favorite image of the day was not.  It was an image that was captured in my heart.  The image I am referring to happened not in Carpenter Hall at the Strawberry Festival, but in worship earlier in the morning. 

The Spread

Communion was served by intinction that Sunday (meaning we invite everyone forward to receive).   One young child, after receiving communion with her family, returned to her seat and stood between her parents, on her pew.  I watched as she stood on tip toe, leaning forward, straining to see all of the other people in the congregation come forward to receive the gift she had just taken.  Watching this young girl, her face lit up with expectancy and joy, helped me enter the experience more fully.

Occasionally, I will hear adults suggest that a child is too young to understand communion.  Often, I think it is adults who have the most difficulty because we try to use our head too much and overload ritual with doctrine.  Clearly, this young child experienced, "take, eat, this is for you" as an act of love, generosity, and abundance.  It is a mental image I will cherish in my heart.

Problem Solving

I have known since Day One At Rock Spring that  “affordable housing” was a great community concern for the members of Rock Spring; it has taken me eight months to begin to discover what that really means.

Since my arrival, I have been keeping my eyes and ears open for information about this issue.   From individuals pointing out new developments to me to learning about the wide range of organizations in Arlington that are focused on this issue, it quickly became clear that that there is much focus on this issue.  Yet it wasn’t until the first week of May that I began to realize what a challenging issue this is. 

Bill Bozman, president of AHS

That first week of May I attended “The State of Affordable Housing in Arlington” sponsored by the Alliance for Housing Solutions.   I had known that Bill and Ellen Bozman had long been very involved with the community, but I had not realized until I got there that evening that Bill not only helped found AHS, he has been and continues to chair the AHS board for the past twenty years.

At that meeting, we heard reports from several different developers about projects that have been done and projects that are in the works.   All sorts of development is in the works!  There are efforts to “lock in” housing rates over a number of years which is also good.   I heard Nina Janapaul from APAH talk about how they are working to lock in 6000 units around Columbia Pike so that the rental value will not go over 80% market index for something like 60 years.   Sounds good.

As I drove home, I thought a little more about those numbers.  The median income in Arlington is $104,000.  Eighty percent of that about $80,000!   Could that be right? 

The next day I sat around the table with some VOICE leaders and suddenly it was like a light bulb went off and I started asking questions.  How do we define “affordable?”  Most of the developers define affordable as 60% of the medium income, $104,000.  The starting salary for a teacher in Arlington County is $43,000.  There is a five-year wait list for section 8 housing.  I now understand that housing grants are available in Arlington but only if you have secured a lease and you make less than $30, 183 year.

Perhaps it has taken me so long to get my head around this issue because every time I have been hearing the term, “affordable housing” I thought about what affordable housing is in Columbus, Ohio (from where I have recently moved).  Affordable housing in Columbus, Ohio provides an apartment for an 82 year old man with a monthly SSI check of $851.  Affordable housing provides for those who really can’t provide for themselves.  There is a whole other spectrum of housing available for teachers and firefighters, clerks and administrative assistants! 

I think I have finally discovered why “affordable housing” was the number one issue Rock Springers indicated in the Search profile was a major community concern.  My question now is: what are we going to do about it?  Gathering together around the table for problem-solving is one step in the right direction.

Note:  I talked about this issue in more depth during my May 8, 2011 sermon.  

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Shabbat Shalom!

Eager to experience different forms of vital worship, I was glad to hear from Hank that there was a lot of good stuff happening at the Synagogue at Sixth & I.  I headed there tonight for their "Sixth in the City Shabbat" designed for those in their 20s and 30s.  (You don't need to remind me that I am no longer in this target group.)  The evening began at 6:30 p.m. with socializing, drinks, and appetizers.  The Shabbat service began at 7:15 p.m. and was followed with dinner at 8:15 p.m.  As we entered, everyone who greeted us with, "Shabbat Shalom!"

The service was led by Rabbi Shira Stutman and musician Sheldon Low.  Sheldon is a wonderful musician who played the guitar and led the congregation in song, mostly in Hebrew.  Rabbi Stutman is a vibrant person who quickly drew me in with her warm smile, easy manner, and obvious delight in being with the group who had gathered tonight.  I loved how she talked about the value of Shabbat and taking time apart from the typical rhythm of our days. The service drew heavily from the prayer book and included a teaching moment, some words about infusing the mundane tasks of life with the holy, prayers of healing, as well as the ritual of breaking bread at the end of the service.  Rabbi Stutman called forward a couple who had recently been married to hold the bread for the blessing; tonight she added honey rather than salt to the challah as a blessing of sweetness for their first year of marriage  After a prayer, she passed the bread throughout the congregation.   The loaves were passed through the several hundred people who were gathered there tonight quickly - some pieces were even tossed to the back!  I loved the eagerness I saw!  Everyone can understand, "take, eat, this is for you" as an act of love. 

After breaking bread in the sanctuary we went downstairs for dinner - chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, ratatouille, brownies and cookies.  All of the tables with seats were taken so we stood at a bistro table with Andrea and Evan, new friends who talked with us about their faith and lives, as we broke bread together.


Breaking bread, authenticity, vibrancy in sharing, music that stirs my soul, a sense of community (even amongst people I do not know) - these are some of the things that make worship meaningful for me.  What makes worship meaningful for you?


"Shabbat Shalom!" A peaceful Sabbath.  


 

When Two or Three Are Gathered

What is your favorite story about Jesus and why?
What is our understanding of who Jesus was/is and why is he important?

These are a couple of the questions that we wrestled with on Sunday evening at the New Christianity class.  I am enjoying our lively conversations and have been thinking since Sunday how appropriate it was that of all the topics we are exploring in this class, Jesus was the focus as we began Holy Week.

However, not one of us mentioned the crucifixion or resurrection as his or her "favorite" story.  For some Christians, the events that we remember during Holy Week comprise the only story of Jesus that is important.  I am so glad that I am a part of a community that sees the events of Holy Week as a part of a larger narrative that continually challenges us to to live fully, love generously, and boldly strive to bring heaven to earth.

Someone in the class shared that their favorite story was the Feeding of the 5000 so I shared a close runner up for me: Jesus meeting the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).  Every time two or more are gathered together, God is with us.  I am certainly experiencing that on Sunday evenings as we break bread and talk with one another.

Setting the Table

When I first met my husband I told him casually, "I love setting tables." He will tell you he didn't really know what I meant by that, or what that meant in relationship to being married to me! It's true; I love to set tables and I gather people around them as often as I can. I enjoy cooking and I love different foods, but even more, I love what happens when people come together at the table.

Conversation. Relationships. Community. Ah-ha moments. Plans, big and small.

I look forward to using this blog to reflect on many of the beautiful things I experience happening around the tables I am able to gather around, especially at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ.

Do you have a favorite table story to share?