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

Mid-week News 3-6-13

Dear Family of Faith, There is a God! That’s how I felt last Sunday after an incident on my way to church. I stopped at a light on Elgin Blvd. saw one car coming, waited for it to pass, and then pulled out to make a right turn. What I didn’t see was a sheriff’s deputy coming, and I “cut him off.” Well, it took about two seconds for the flashing lights to come on and I was pulled over to the side of the road. “Oh, no!” I thought. “I’ll be late for choir rehearsal and who knows what else!” As I handed over my driver’s license and waited for him to run his checks, I was ruing the fact that it would be a costly mistake for not seeing his car coming. He came back to the car. I rolled down the window, ready for the bad news. He handed me back my license and said, “Let’s just call it even this time.” There is a God!! At a time when I needed a little grace, it came—from a most unexpected source, too! That’s just like God—to show up in a disguise to remind us that He is not very far away, and that in our most desperate times, we can sure of His Presence. I hope that is true for you—that you, too, have those little reminders in your life that God has not abandoned you, but is very much with you in the midst of life. As you know by now, the Baltimore Ravens managed to hang on to a 3-point lead to win the Super Bowl over their opponents, the San Francisco 49ers, who came roaring back in the second half. Prior to the big day the mayors of San Francisco and Baltimore were interviewed on CNN. What struck me about the interview was not what they said as they bantered back and forth about the game, but rather that San Francisco’s Mayor Li is Asian American and Baltimore’s Mayor Rawlings Blake is African American. In other words, both are members of minorities. It was just one more reminder that the face of our country is rapidly changing, and we need to be open to the diversity around us. I’m so glad that you and we, as a congregation, are accepting of all people. Life will be much easier for us than for those who try to live in the past. See you on Sunday for the party. Wear some colorful clothes and plan to have a good time! With affection, Pastor Carlan