Midweek News 4-24-13

Dear Family of faith, I just got back from the last Bible Study of the season. We ended with the magnificent story of “The Prodigal Son;” which, as it turns out, may be the story of two prodigal sons. It is my favorite parable in all the Bible because it speaks so powerfully about the way God woos us back to Him with extravagant love and undeserved grace. The study of the remainder of Luke’s Gospel is planned for the fall. Earlier today I visited with Beverly Gethen in Bayonet Medical Center in Hudson. She had fallen yesterday and broken her neck and is recovering from emergency surgery. Please keep her in your prayers. Beverly fell while she was volunteering at Oak Hill Hospital. Such experiences in our lives make us wonder why troubles come when we are trying our best to help others. Somehow it just doesn’t seem fair; yet Beverly has taken it in stride. “Things happen,” she said to me. “I’ll get over this.” Isn’t that a wonderful attitude?! Instead of being bitter and questioning the fairness of it all, she has accepted it as ‘an accident’ and just part of life. If only all of us could be so forgiving of life and God! We would take each experience as it comes, instead of fighting against it in our minds, and let God’s way become our way. Most of us have been hurt helping others. If you are one who laments the undeserved pain, take a lesson from Beverly. I am. According to the Health Department 43% of the homeless youth in Hernando County are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender people! What does that say about our need to be Open and Affirming of all?! Many of the young people have been kicked out of their families because they have come out. We need to be family for those who don’t have one. This Sunday’s sermon will be on the hard questions about prayer. I read this on a poster on my Facebook page: “I don’t have time to worry about who doesn’t like me. I’m too busy loving the people who love me.” It’s a good way to live. We can’t expect everyone to care about us, but we can value and rejoice in those who are truly faithful friends and family. Thank you for being there for me. With affection, Pastor Carlan

Midweek News 4-17-13

Dear Family of faith, “When others hurt, our hearts are broken, too.” That’s what I put on the church sign today. It’s how I feel about the pain that our country is experiencing right now after the bombings at the Boston Marathon. At last count there were three people dead—including an 8-year-old boy, a 29-year-old woman, and a graduate student from China—and 176 people injured, many losing limbs. When such things happen to innocent people, it’s natural to ask “Where is God?” Where was God when the bombs went off in Boston? Where is God when bad things happen to good people? The question is asked by people who believe that God is in control of our world, that God watches over our world. It throws us into confusion. I believe that when we face the tragedies and injustices of life, the horrors and darkness of evil, there are two questions which need answers: (1) Does God know? and (2) Does God care? The first question is easy. By definition God knows everything—that’s part of what makes God God. The second question is the one that causes us the most consternation. We anguish over the thought that, because bad things happen to us and those we know and even to strangers we think deserve better, maybe God doesn’t really care about what happens in the world. Maybe we are just deceiving ourselves, believing in a good God because that’s how we want God to be. And even with all the Scriptures’ teaching about the goodness and love of God, real life experiences makes us wonder whether it’s true or not. The tough times of life make us realize again that God doesn’t micromanage the world; God allows us humans much freedom to do good and even to do evil. Back to the question: Does God care, and if God did care, wouldn’t God have been there in Boston? It makes me think of a song that I heard long ago called Saint Theresa’s Prayer. It begins “Christ has no body now but yours.” In other words, God comes to us in this world through others in whom God lives—people like you and me who love and know God. We become Christ to the world; we bring God to the world. You see, God really was at the finish line in Boston this past week when those bombs went off. God was running toward the blasts, putting tourniquets on the wounded, comforting the survivors and grieving over those who had lost their lives. God was in all those people who became the face of Jesus in the midst of terror, who became the hands of Christ in the midst of pain, who became the power of God in the midst of utter hopelessness. God was in Boston in people like you and me. Let us be Christ to the world wherever we are whenever we are needed, too. Someone recently gave me a magnet with the words “I can’t change the past, but I can make peace.” Those are good words to remember. Don’t worry about the past; it’s gone and over. Just think about what you can do today to enjoy life and make it better for those around you. See you in worship on Sunday. With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 4-10-13

Dear Family of Faith, I’m still feeling overwhelmed by all your acts of kindness in the past week. Even on Sunday there was a birthday cake in Fellowship Hour for me—and it was decorated with purple frosting, too!! Please be patient with me as I try to appropriately thank all who gave gifts and showed me such kindness. Speaking of patience…Today I ran into Publix to pick up a couple of grocery items. I was in a bit of a hurry, so I thought I would go through the Express Lane. I was third in line. As I kept looking for the line to move, I noticed that the holdup was with the first shopper. Apparently the woman at the head of the line, who had already paid for everything was squabbling about the price of something because she had gotten ahold of a store flyer that didn’t start until tomorrow. She was refusing to pay the current price and was having the bagger run to exchange her salad dressing. I decided to push my cart with the few items to another checkout. I was the second in line with the new cashier. After I had put my items on the belt, I realized that the woman in front of me had bought two things from the deli which were not coded and priced. Once again the bagger had to run off to the deli to get the appropriate labels. The guy behind me simply packed up his things and went to another line. I waited….and waited…..and waited…and fumed. Half an hour later I emerged from the store, frazzled—not from running around, but from standing around and waiting. Now, I have been doing the bulk of our family’s grocery shopping for thirty-five years (My father did it, too); but I was ready to throw in the towel an quit. If there were such a malady as checkout-line-rage, I might get tested. And yet, in the whole scheme of things, when you look at life as a whole; none of this matters. The whole incident will be forgotten within days. How is it that we so easily succumb to turning so much of life into a crisis? Even when we’re in a hurry, maybe we need to cut each other more slack so that we have time for the unexpected delays of life. So we’re a few minutes late to a meeting or planned rendezvous—it’s not the end of the world! I know that I need to walk more slowly through life to allow for more peace and less stress. How about you? I received the following email this past week: “We wanted you to know what an important role SHUCC plays in our ability to break through barriers to love others. Between meeting Karen and Linda (Schrader) and being a part of your session on “Homosexuality and the Bible,” our members have been able to “love through their past prejudices” and accept our gay and lesbian friends with an open heart. Marty and her group of tutors are also helping us “break the barrier of poverty” by helping build confidence in our Pay It Forward Farm children, giving them hope of a sustainable and fulfilling future. Thank you and the entire SHUCC congregation for all that you do for our PIFF families.” -- Christine Collins (and Paul). First time visitors continue to flock to our worship services—more than 33 bags were given out in the past three weeks alone! Take time this Sunday to meet someone you don’t know. It can be so rewarding, and it’s just the thing Jesus would do. See you in worship! With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 4-3-13

Dear Family of faith, Tonight was the Bible Study that wasn’t! I went over to the Fellowship Hall, prepared to do a teaching on Luke 11; but when I got near, I saw that the whole parking lot was full of cars. I thought to myself, “Either the Baptists are having a revival, or somebody has planned a surprise.” Sure enough, Jill and her friends pulled off a surprise birthday party for me with about 120 people present! I guess there are some advantages in turning another year older! Thanks to all who came to show their love and support and thanks for all the food, the as-of-yet unopened cards and presents, and the blessings of hope and friendship. Up until then, my day had been rather drab and uneventful—figuring out my income taxes, getting my car fixed, and checking on a cell phone. That’s the way life can be, isn’t it? An ordinary day can turn into a wonderful day. As I told the gathered crowd tonight, “The most precious gift of all is life, and every one of you has it.” Whatever else you may have, whatever troubles loom large in your life; you have the best—life itself. Appreciate the privilege of living each day, and appreciate the people around you who make life so precious and meaningful! Speaking of meaningful, last Sunday’s Easter worship was a wonderful experience in God’s presence. The choir cantata, “Wondrous Love,” was beautiful (Thanks to Wayne Raymond and Kathy Hackemer for directing and accompanying!) So was the Junior Choir offertory, “Free to Be You and Me.” The very title tells the message. Karina did a marvelous job on her solo and Alivia, Allyssa, Ashleigh, and Emma were backup. We had about 20 children who came forward for the Blessing of the Children during communion, and another 320 people shared the Holy Sacrament. The sanctuary was beautiful with 119 Easter lilies and delphiniums. Thanks to all who purchased them to adorn our service. “Where do you come from?” That was a question asked of me this past week. I didn’t know how to answer it. I could talk about my Norwegian or Ukrainian ancestry. I could tell about my birthplace in North Dakota or my childhood home in Northern Minnesota. I could mention my previous years in Ohio, or I could talk about my residence in Spring Hill. In John’s Gospel Pilate asks Jesus, “Where are you from?” It is a question out of fear as much as curiosity. And although Jesus never answered, we know the answer. Jesus came from God…and so does each one of us. Among all the answers to the question of our origin is one which stands behind all. We come from God, our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Future Home. Next time someone asks you, “Where do you come from?” just say, “God!” That ought to open up an interesting opportunity for sharing your faith! Tomorrow, Thursday, I have an interview in regard to the ongoing fitness review. Keep me in your prayers. With gratitude and affection for all of you, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 3-27-13

Dear Family of faith, I hope that you staying warm on these chilly days. Who would know this is Florida?! I have lost count of how many times we have dragged in our orchid from the lanai this year! Last night Ed Lewis and I went down to Tampa to represent our church at a rally in support of ending the discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in our judicial system—the very thing the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing this week. About 200 people braved the cold to show support for people of all gender identities, and the stories of some were heart-breaking—lack of legal standing creating all kinds of problems ranging from deportation to inheritance nightmares. Following the rally, we combed the streets of downtown Tampa to distribute blankets and caps to the homeless. We gave out 8 blankets and as many stocking caps and even two pair of wool socks. We found people sleeping in doorways—including one mother and her son. We also found people huddled in bushes around parking lots. One man was barricaded behind trash containers as a windbreak, and a woman was sleeping on the steps of the Catholic Church, of which she claimed to be a member. I am astounded how these homeless people try to take of each other, too. One man, after receiving a blanket, said, “My buddy over there could use one, too.” Often we hear “Thank you!” and “God bless you!” Isn’t that amazing—that people who have so little are grateful for what we would consider part of every household? I am blessed by them—the ones Jesus called “the least of these.” I probably won’t need any more blankets or caps this season to give out (hopefully), but I want to thank you who have provided this opportunity to help these who seem so hidden to the world at large. Already some “snow birds” are flying back north to get in on the tail end of winter. Hug them all a little tighter in the next weeks as their time with us is short. I just read today where the co-workers of the Keller Williams Realty in Plantation, Florida, who won the Powerball jackpot two weeks ago, decided to share their winnings with the one person in the office who didn’t kick in for the tickets. Jennifer Maldonado had just started working at the agency two weeks before and didn’t have the extra cash to chip in for tickets. Apparently, it didn’t matter to the winning office pool. She will be included in the wealth. It reminds me so much of the parable that Jesus told about the workers in the vineyard and how those who worked 1 hour got the same reward as those who worked 11 hours. That’s what so amazing about God’s grace! We don’t deserve it, but it comes to us anyway. May your life be filled with the underserved grace of God, and may you show that same undeserved goodness and generosity to others by the way you treat them and live your lives! With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 3-20-13

Dear Family of faith, Happy Spring! That’s the hopeful outlook; unfortunately it’s been a cloudy and rainy day in this Sunshine State. I heard today that long ago the St. Pete Times would give away free newspapers on any day that the sun didn’t shine. Wouldn’t that be nice? The days are longer now, which is how we get the word “Lent” for this season of the church year. The word lencten in Anglo Saxon meant “to get longer” (our lengthen), and is the root of our word, Lent. I saw a female cardinal in the backyard yesterday. I was so excited! Now when I lived “up north,” such birds were no big thing—they were ‘a dime a dozen.’ But I don’t remember seeing a cardinal in my yard since I’ve lived in Florida. It was a little reminder of the past as well as a hopeful sign for the future—that God’s creatures are moving back into the once stripped-out, deforested allotment where we now reside. We all live between the past and the future. Happy are those who have pleasant memories from yesterday to bring new joy; and happy are those who have wonderful dreams to look forward to in the future; yet, real life, the only life we have, is now. May all of us enjoy the day at hand and delight in the cardinals, the blue jays and the mourning doves that show up unexpectedly in our backyards! I am in a quandary. I received a check in the mail from my mortgage company payable for the amount of $.01. Now I know that it has already cost the company a lot more than a penny to process that check, and if I cash it, it will cost them more again; but if I don’t cash it, then their books will be off. What to do? I wonder if I would need a bank account to cash it at a local bank? Would I need an ID? Sometimes life gets ridiculous, doesn’t it?! Just keep laughing! Already this week some of those who have been attending worship regularly are leaving for the cold country. Hug those around you a little tighter in these coming weeks. Many more will be going north. Never take your friendships for granted. They are worth more than gold. With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 3-13-13

Dear Family of faith, First of all, let me say thank you for all the cards and letters, emails and calls that I have received from many of you in the past two weeks. Those, and your affirmation on the last Sunday of February, have meant so much to me; and I appreciate more than ever the support and caring that you have shown. I have come to value friendship more in my life than at any other time. Our trip to see our grandchildren was wonderful. Not only did we see our 2½ -year-old granddaughter, Annika, and our newborn grandson, Malik (pictures soon available); but our Ohio children surprised me and drove through the night to spend the weekend with us for an early birthday party. It was wonderful to have the whole family together in one place. One of the highlights was when our four children and two son-in-laws all gathered around me, laid hands on me, and prayed for me—so touching. It’s at moments like that that I know God has blessed me beyond anything money can buy. Speaking of blessing, thanks to those of you who were praying for me this morning. I had a rough night, but about 7-8 a.m. I felt an incredible calm come over me that only comes from prayer. Never underestimate the power of interceding for others! Recently when I was on a beach, I wrote the following words about what I saw: She sat in her wheelchair, perched on the boardwalk, Wrapped in her shawl on the hot sunny day, Looking at the bronzed bathers on the beach Frolicking in their carefree youth, Oblivious to the watching eye of nostalgia incarnate. A wistful window on yesterday’s pleasures Brought moments of delight to one imprisoned by age; And yet within, her spirit sparkled anew with every gleeful laugh Of half-clad lovers on the sand. Their joy audible, hers now silent, Her soul waiting for rebirth and youth come back again. Don’t ever get too old to be young at heart! With affection for all of you, Pastor Carlan