April 18, 2023
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Dr. G knew how to write. Which was appropriate as the decades long chair of the Communication Studies Department at Indiana University. He valued concise sentences, “short and sweet,” with sweet defined as “full of good things, not fluff.” I was his last dissertation advisee, and Robert Gray Gunderson was a singular gift to me.
I’ve been reflecting on our Holy Week and ongoing Easter, and some some short and sweet observations come to mind:
• The Colombian refugee family we are assisting joined us for worship on Easter, and with one of our families for dinner. Their smiles were as short and sweet as it gets, as was their madre’s face as Pastor John gave them the sacrament in Spanish.
• 1,045 people worshipped with us in three worships on Easter morning. The worships were necessarily “short” (less than an hour to facilitate crowd traffic), but also SO festively “sweet.” Kudos to Jeremy Bankson, musicians, presiding minister Pastor Tim, worship assistants. It was delicious!
• Jocelyn Alford would have made Dr. G proud as she wrote in her council report this month: “Between Palm Sunday and Easter we had 12 worship services, 112 pages of liturgy, and 176 worship assistants. Thank you ….” No, thank you, Jocelyn!
• The offices and facilities hummed all week long as Sherry Jablonski guided some amazing volunteers who make such a difference. To name them is to risk omitting someone. Sorry. But, any office that has a Peep tasting knows what appreciating meaningful ministry looks like!
• Kaley O’Donnell was onboard; connecting, smiling, helping us dream about how to connect with each other. While many of us were recuperating, Kaley and Pr. Tim facilitated a high school youth lock-in this past weekend. Sweet!
• I had “short” responsibilities on Easter, which was good for me with a gimpy leg right now. Serving communion to cherished guests, beloved members and friends from another time was mystically sweet. I believe we are connected, past, present and future, at the Eucharist, and I felt it.
• 30 plus young folk celebrated their first communion at our packed Maundy Thursday worship. As I came to the Table at our Easter vigil, a grandson several states away celebrated his first communion at their vigil. I give thanks that an eternity of holy dining awaits us all!
• As I was leaving on Easter morning, our new custodian, Kaylor Mendoza, was there, smiling, and already getting our facility ready for ministry again. ¡Él es una dulce adición a nuestra iglesia! You helped us “go in peace.”
I’m hoping you had, and are having, some short and sweet holy resurrection moments. Christ is alive and appearing among us yet today! May God open us to the gifts God is giving.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Pastor Jim
Dr. G knew how to write. Which was appropriate as the decades long chair of the Communication Studies Department at Indiana University. He valued concise sentences, “short and sweet,” with sweet defined as “full of good things, not fluff.” I was his last dissertation advisee, and Robert Gray Gunderson was a singular gift to me.
I’ve been reflecting on our Holy Week and ongoing Easter, and some some short and sweet observations come to mind:
• The Colombian refugee family we are assisting joined us for worship on Easter, and with one of our families for dinner. Their smiles were as short and sweet as it gets, as was their madre’s face as Pastor John gave them the sacrament in Spanish.
• 1,045 people worshipped with us in three worships on Easter morning. The worships were necessarily “short” (less than an hour to facilitate crowd traffic), but also SO festively “sweet.” Kudos to Jeremy Bankson, musicians, presiding minister Pastor Tim, worship assistants. It was delicious!
• Jocelyn Alford would have made Dr. G proud as she wrote in her council report this month: “Between Palm Sunday and Easter we had 12 worship services, 112 pages of liturgy, and 176 worship assistants. Thank you ….” No, thank you, Jocelyn!
• The offices and facilities hummed all week long as Sherry Jablonski guided some amazing volunteers who make such a difference. To name them is to risk omitting someone. Sorry. But, any office that has a Peep tasting knows what appreciating meaningful ministry looks like!
• Kaley O’Donnell was onboard; connecting, smiling, helping us dream about how to connect with each other. While many of us were recuperating, Kaley and Pr. Tim facilitated a high school youth lock-in this past weekend. Sweet!
• I had “short” responsibilities on Easter, which was good for me with a gimpy leg right now. Serving communion to cherished guests, beloved members and friends from another time was mystically sweet. I believe we are connected, past, present and future, at the Eucharist, and I felt it.
• 30 plus young folk celebrated their first communion at our packed Maundy Thursday worship. As I came to the Table at our Easter vigil, a grandson several states away celebrated his first communion at their vigil. I give thanks that an eternity of holy dining awaits us all!
• As I was leaving on Easter morning, our new custodian, Kaylor Mendoza, was there, smiling, and already getting our facility ready for ministry again. ¡Él es una dulce adición a nuestra iglesia! You helped us “go in peace.”
I’m hoping you had, and are having, some short and sweet holy resurrection moments. Christ is alive and appearing among us yet today! May God open us to the gifts God is giving.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Pastor Jim