Blessing of the Bikes: June 12 2011

Been thinking about this—about YOU—imaging you riding your Bike—remembering my pink huffy bike I got for Christmas about 30 years ago.

I grew up in a really small neighborhood with woods all around—a couple of ups and down and one great big hill.

And I remember still—years and years later—Hours and Hours spent on that bike…riding all over creation—in the midst of creation---close to the earth—the branches overhead sweeping the top of my head--- quick hills that felt like a challenge OR catch of my breath…

And sometimes my best friend Glee and I would take our bikes to town---Our parents following behind us till we got there safely---then there we were—in the middle of our community…riding past businesses and in the middle of neighborhoods….

AND waiving—everyone waiving at us—us at them….

And then finally the ride home---up the great big hill….pushing hard—legs on fire breath short, but believing that the top will come….

Riding my bike---way back them, reminds me a lot of living well right now…OBVIOUSLY y’all know that already—right.

Maybe that’s why you’re here today—because life is about up hill and thankfully down hill. It is about being close to creation—to its creatures—to the creator…

It’s about the challenge and the burn sometimes, but also about the accomplishment and the steady breath…

And you remember all of that—or have learned that—or are figuring it out----that riding your bike is just about one of the best parts of life—maybe one of the best ways to connect to life….the wheels keep on turning—you keep on moving—Blessings keep on coming…And you wave---and they wave back…AND all of creation rejoices!

Dear Friends,

I hope and pray this letter finds you well. Our days have been full and busy since the beginning of 2011-and we are grateful for your prayers and support and friendship that sustain and give meaning and hope to our Worship, Service and Life Together at KUCC.

I trust you'll recognize in our ministries and gatherings, the many ways that God is at work in and through our church, our community, and each other. AND, I hope you'll come and be a part whenever you can.

I am so very thankful for you and for the incredible opportunity to serve as the pastor of such a faithful, authentic and loving congregation. Praise be to God!

You know that I pray for you daily and love you deeply.

Peace,

Susannah

Dear Friends,
Spring is on the way--warmer is in the air--and the hope of a new season is upon us. Praise Be To God!
It has been a busy month in the life of our church and a great month. We have gathered for meaningful worship, shared in our first Soup Saturday, learned much from each other at our Wine Down Wednesday, beheld the beauty of photographs & words by Bonnie & Robert, and moved in the status of "Under Contract" on the 1931 Memorial Drive property!!!! What a month!
There is much a head of us--1931 Memorial Drivedue diligence that requires discipline and discernment and prayers--many many prayers--your prayers lifted up. We have been thoughtful about each next step in this process, and you have my commitment that we'll keep moving forward wisely and faithfully. I'm counting on your commitment of prayers--many many prayers -- as we together continue to be open to the leading and guiding of God in this process together.
And I am certain that God has a plan for us. Spring is on the way--warmer is in the air--and the hope of a new season is upon us. Thanks Be To God!
You know that I pray for you daily and love you deeply.

Peace to you,
Susannah

Dear Friends,

Can you believe it? Summer time is here! School's out,I believe the sun will come out again, HOT weather will arrive, and life's winding down just bit. It's time for some porch sitting and visiting, pool parties, maybe even Vacation Bible School! The month of June is a full one for me personally and emotionally. It's my birthday month (39) --really, honestly, it's hard to believe. And it is also the time that I celebrate my call into ministry. I've been working in the church since I graduated from high school. My first full time summer job was at a church camp-Camp Glisson. It was 14 years ago this month that I was ordained into full time ministry. While this journey of life and ministry has moved forward with many unexpected twists and turns, I have known the faithful presence of God at work always. God has always been there - keeping me close, guiding me, making a way for me to do what I've been called to do. And this year, as I celebrate and give thanks for this call, you can't even begin to know how deeply grateful I am to be living it out with you at Kirkwood UCC. It is such a privilege and honor to be in ministry with you, with all the twists and turns of a new church and all the faithfulness and guidance of God with us. You mean everything to me, and I thank God for the opportunity to serve with you now, and in this journey ahead.

Keep each other in your prayers! You know I pray for you daily and love you deeply.

With grace and peace to you,
Susannah

I am so excited about the month of Sundays in September I can barely stand it! We’ve claimed the month of September as our Invitation Initiative, Bring a Friend Month, Invite Somebody to Church…you get the point. We, all of us, have been sharing stories and invitation cards with our friends—inviting people to come worship and serve with us at Kirkwood UCC. Put down roots. Grow. Branch Out!!!!!! Through the grace and goodness of God, that’s what we’re praying and hoping to be about these next several days—years.
It’s been a great August, gathering for worship, gathering for food and gathering school supplies that were given to about 200 children and teachers at Toomer Elementary and Coan Middle School in the Kirkwood Community. There are many generous hearts at Kirkwood UCC! We ate supper together every Sunday following our worship this month and it was so much fun to be together and talk and share and eat, of course. A very special thank you to Chris Mayer and her family and to Kelly O’Connor for having us over to their houses and extending such wonderful hospitality to the whole crowd!
I want you to pray with me about these next couple of months. I am certain that the church is experiencing some forward momentum and excitement right now and if we continue to reach out in love and kindness to others, inviting them to be a part of a community of faith that is following Christ, loving others and sharing life together in genuine and relevant ways, people will come and visit and eventually stay and serve. This is a lot of work my friends—to build a church—to gather together as the body of Christ, but because of who God is and because of who you are and are becoming, it is happening! Thanks be to God! And thanks be to You! I do hope you know how thankful I am for you—that I pray for you daily and love you deeply. Susannah

We're moving...

Dear Friends,
It follows the rule —the experience of planting the small seed, the digging in at first, the watering, the fertilizing—waiting—watching—hoping—praying and then it begins to happen, little by little. That’s what it feels like this month. Kirkwood UCC has been growing—slowly, but steadily, little by little, day by day with much waiting—watching-hoping and praying.

May 18th marks our first move—- creating space for more. We will gather for worship in our new space at Bessie Branham Community Center @ 5:00. This is an opportunity for our congregation to grow-space for our community of faith to invite and share and offer hospitality to all people.

It will be a change from our coffee house worship-we will still need to Create Space and be Creative with this space. If you have some special/sacred art or artifact, creation or construction to add to our worship space that would be great-bring it with you on the 18th. We will stay after worship on the 11th and work on some community banners, too. I am excited and a little nervous of all that is ahead, but I do believe that God is leading and guiding us to this next place.

Following are several prayer requests, dreams and visions that I ask you and encourage you to pray about with me:
A good move for all of us
Loving child care for our children
Meaningful & creative worship, offering God's love and new life
New friends and neighbors to fill this space
Our Kirkwood UCC Church and Community
Our larger UCC community

Waiting, Watching, Hoping, Praying and with much love,
Susannah

Ash Wednesday's coming...

Grace and Peace to you my sisters and brothers. I have been so thankful for our worship together during this season of Epiphany and look forward to journeying with you through this season of Lent into the glorious celebration of Easter! It has been a busy time no doubt...for all of us. End of the year stuff, what a pain in the neck and head. Recovering, in many ways from Christmas--easier--calmer--lighter next year, right. Making coffee, selling coffee (thank God), a little time in the mountains, more time with you and a couple of fires in the fire place at home.

Christmas Eve was a one year mark for us in our gathering together and I will join with the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ New Church Development Committee to share with them all that has happened in that year. It is exciting to think about, even hard to believe at moments, amazing and holy in so many ways. I've put together a year in review power point and it's powerful, to realize all that God is doing in and among us. Praise the Lord!

Some highlights include all the 1st annuals, like the blessing of the animals and our Christmas Caroling. We participated in 8 service-mission projects and gave about $5700. to mission projects in our neighborhood and different places around the world! Come to church Sunday and you can see the powerpoint.

Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten journey and we will gather for an early morning service Feb.6th at 6:30 at the coffee shop, please join us if you can. AND, if you are interested, here are some other resources that might give us strength on our journey. Go to i.ucc.org and click on the Lenten Journey...some good stuff. I love you so much and thank God for you, everyday! Please pray for me and for each other--prayer makes alllllllll the difference in the world. S

Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent

Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays celebrate the Resurrection. Lent begins on the 6th of February 2008 and ends on the 22nd of March which is the day before Easter. It's really early this year--it came this early in the 30's but only twice in 250 years.
Lent is observed throughout the Christian Church and all may participate. And why would we want to participate…
Well, it is a time of self reflection—soul searching. Before Jesus began is full time ministry, he went out to the wilderness to pray…(Luke 4:1-13) and this is a time when we are invited to do the same, to wander in the wilderness with Jesus. During this time, we are invited to pray, to fast, to forgive, to love and to open ourselves wide to the transforming grace and goodness of God.