Life Giving Practices

It is lifegiving to watch B. with tears in her eyes as she participates in the life of the worshipping community - both from the perspective of watching her emote; and from the perspective of wondering (and then, as a Pastor following up on) what is going on with her.  It is lifegiving to see the growth of faith in L. as she participates in the life of the worshipping community, but doesn't fully accept or even necessarily believe what the community believes.  These are lifegiving moments for me - and not simply because I am a pastor, but because I am present.

Some of the most formative, and life-giving relationships in my life are those I have with colleagues. Those are fed and nurtured at gatherings like convo.

60 Days into my new call and I have witnessed OSLC in Seaside: 1) Host, sponsor, and ad-minister a community wide project: "The Back-Pack Program," with  3 other congregations, 3 service organizations, and 7 business/merchants that provides lunches in back packs to 97 (and growing) Elementry School Children each week who are documented as living in poverty; 2) Share a single Sunday worship with the UMC in Seaside on the 5th Sunday of the month when the hosting congregation presides using their traditional liturgy, and the guest congregation's pastor preaches and combines their choir and members to gather around Word and Sacrament; and 3) Learn how to respond to the extended hand gesture of the presider of worship who says, "The (peace of the) Lord be with you," so that when the congregation responds with, "And also with you," the people extend their hand; knowing this is a sign that the Christ in me meets and greets the Christ in you.

I had two funerals that followed shortly after the holidays and can safely say that the end of life can be life giving.  We see the release of a life lived well and know that those who have passed have moved on and found God waiting for them.  This offers up hope for those that remain, but also greater confidence and courage for the life we live now.  Grief of all kinds offers us a way to say goodbye to those things that have ended, but also allows us to begin to look around and see what new posibilities are ahead.

Hearing one's wife sing . . . This is a wonderful example, for me, of what I think Prof. Nessan has been saying to us about what God is "doing to us" In worship. I am also sometime parishioner and sometimes presider. It is WAY different!

I get a lot of life by being a part of the Oregon Synod.  This is the first Convo where I felt like we are in this together.  I appreciate the camraderie and the encouragement.  Thanks for razzing me about golf and self-care.  I take this seriously considering the complexities of our job.  Thanks Craig for that. 

Jon Strasman