I wonder if it is in the remnants of our earthly origins, or inspired by the changing quality and angle of light from the sun, or if we are just conditioned by the repetition - but seasons have their time.
And as much as I look forward to the cozy candlelight glow of Christmas, the familiar carols, the weight of tradition in everything from which cookies I bake, to the rituals of decorating the house, church, and trees, by the time Epiphany comes I’m ready for a change.
Year-end reviews are in order now, and New Years’ resolutions. It’s time to brainstorm creative options using this bright, crisp light reflecting off snow and glinting through icicles. It’s time to consider the space of a seemingly empty year as it stretches out ahead of us.
On Feb 4th it will have been three years since I was ordained and began ministry here. New pastors in the synod have three years of what is called 1st Call Theological Training. There have been special continuing education events that I have attended and I have a mentor to run things by for an unbiased opinion. New pastors also get together quarterly or email one another in colleague groups to share challenges or experiences. All of this is to value the learning curve of ministry. Because of the unique situation of being called into the existing pastoral ministry of my husband, in ways I have experienced little transitional angst. But in other ways I am still a new pastor and behind the curve (I presided at my first wedding in December, for example.) I consider myself still (possibly always) at a point of learning how this goes and being open to suggestions and critique.
I’m asking the church council members to complete an evaluation of my pastoral role, ministry style, and leadership as they’ve seen it develop. I would ask the same of you. An evaluation form is included with this newsletter for those who have reasonable opportunity to know me. It can be mailed or brought to church and placed in a box by the pastors’ office door.
As you will notice, the form also asks you to evaluate your own participation in the ministry and life of the congregation. The life of faith and discipleship of Jesus Christ is an ongoing event. Faith experiences its own seasons throughout our lives. This might be a good time to take an inventory of your spiritual life and religious practices…to put church – the living body of Christ – on your calendar while the days are still open!
In January we enter the season of Epiphany in the church year. It is the season of light. The light of Christ dawns upon a world too often dominated by darkness – war, conflict, hunger, abuse of power and person, loneliness… God dawns on us.
I drive Jan to school in the morning. It’s light when we leave the house, though the sun hasn’t yet cleared the trees when we turn east onto N. But the days are surely coming. Very soon there will be a moment, as we follow Little Butternut’s curves, when the newly risen sun will lick the windshield and light up the remnants of frost in a blinding golden flash. It’s hard to stay on the road. Epiphanies startle us fully awake! God dawns on us. Play with that as imagery and as a word phrase. Think of the dawns you see. Think of the times it has dawned on you that God is real and relevant to your life.
Even though epiphanies are highly personal and often catch us on our own, we need the community of faith to give them a name and a context. We need one another to give form and purpose to what God has revealed. And we need to share the word and experience of new epiphanies rising among us, to recharge the solar cells of living faith in the gathering of the church community.
West Denmark is a place of light for me. I appreciate the openness and clarity of design and of thought and of people who bring their somewhat diverse beliefs together here. I love the light that comes in through those clear and beveled windows, and the light that goes out through the glass doors as the last of the coffee cups are stacked in the dish drainer, the communion glasses washed and tucked away for another week…you bear the light of Christ’s Spirit out into your homes and neighborhoods and jobs. You are vessels of hope and caring – a small part of God’s planned epiphany!
May God bless this year among us, and those you love, with light and peace and courage and faith.
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-- Pastor Linda, 1/1/2010
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