Food Sale
Fresh, Homemade, Delicious
Baked Goods, Pasta, Meat Dishes (and more!) made by the folks at
Adirondack Friends Church
DURING THE VILLAGE GARAGE SALE
Saturday, June 2, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
NEW LOCATION!! At 6 Harrison Avenue
Tables for Rent for crafts or rummage sales available on site for $20.
Call 798-1806 to reserve tables or for more information
Standing Women, Sunday, May 13, 2012, 1:00 p.m., Triangle Park in South Glens Falls: As is our practice, we will observe this more traditional celebration of Mother’s Day as a Peace event. Based on the book by Sharon Mehdi, we remember Julia Ward Howe’s proclamation first published in 1870 inviting the world to work toward the ending of war and violence. Women ( and their families and friends) are invited to stand together for 5 minutes in silence for a better world. “The Great Silent Grandmother’s Gathering” story will be shared in worship on this day, as a reminder and invitation for all to join us later in the park.
Last Day of Sunday school classes, May 20, 2012: Our class year will end on this day, and participants will be recognized during worship on June 17, 2012. Sunday school will begin again in September.
Childcare during summer worship hours, May 27–September 9, 2012: We need one adult each week to be willing to shepherd children (toddlers-3rd grade) in the nursery from after the children’s story until the last hymn. There will be a sign up sheet in the back parlor; please pick a week or two to help out. Resources including stories, craft supplies, outdoor activities are available to be utilized during this time.
2012 Graduates: Please let Regina know if you have high school or college graduates in your family that you’d like us to celebrate in worship June 17, 2012. She will need their names by June 10.
Quaker Luncheon at the Harvest Restaurant, Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m.: This will be the final luncheon until we start up again next fall! The Harvest Restaurant is located at 4 Cronin Rd.—just off Bay Rd. in Queensbury. It is a popular place with a wide menu which includes pizza. Let Regina know if you are planning to attend by Monday the 21st, so that an accurate reservation can be made.
South Glens Falls Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, Friday, May 25, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.: This is the “official start” of summer in our village. Park in the meeting lot and walk over to Main St. for prime parade viewing.
Looking ahead:
Food Sale, Saturday, June 2, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Sign up to prepare your best dish during our sale, which takes place during the village garage sale. People are needed to set up, sell, and supervise our sale items; those sign-up sheets will be in our back parlor. Flyers will be available to help publicize this event.
Holy Week Events 2012: On Good Friday, April 6, at 6:00 p.m. we’ll meet for a soup and sandwich supper followed by a worship service marking the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ. Easter Sunday, April 8th includes, as has been our tradition the past several years, our celebration of Christ’s resurrection with Unprogrammed Worship at 9:00 a.m., followed by a delicious breakfast served in the back parlor at 9:30 a.m. Intergenerational Programmed Worship will begin at 10:30 a.m. with special music to help us observe this special day.
Quaker Luncheon, Tuesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. at the Adirondack Seafood Company: Our visit to this restaurant is rescheduled from last month. It is located at 115 River St. in Hudson Falls. Please let Regina know if you are planning to attend so that we can make an accurate reservation. Regina is also available to provide transportation if needed
Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, April 21, 2012, 8:00-11:00 a.m.: The menu includes 2 pancakes, a scrambled egg, 1 sausage, 1 strip of bacon, juice and coffee or milk—all for $7.00/adults and $4.00/children. We WILL need help setting up, preparing, serving, and cleaning up. Supplies may also be donated. Watch for the sign up lists and publicity flyers at meeting. Please come and support this fundraiser!
Happening this Month
“Flower Power” Fundraiser– orders due to Sherry Pronto on April 1, 2012: Brochures and order forms are available at the meetinghouse to share this opportunity with your friends and family. Selections include bulbs and plantings that can be enjoyed this year; also orders are sent directly to the purchaser. We get to keep %50 of what we earn! See Sherry with questions or concerns.
Lenten Devotional Worship and Scripture Study, Tuesdays during Lent at 7:00 p.m.: Participants are worshipping contemplatively together; then discussing the text and commentary for each week from “The Scarlet Journey” written by Caspar Green. Anyone is invited to join us as they are able; books are available for $7.00. We meet at Adirondack Meeting on March 13th, and the next 3 weeks at Christ Church in Glens Falls. Regina can answer questions or provide transportation.
Young Adult Friend visits: Regina is trying to connect up for a meal or coffee with all attenders between the ages of 18 to 35 (40 if parenting young children). She will be asking for responses to 3 general queries: “How are you doing?”, “What is the best way to stay in contact with you?”, “What can the meeting do to help meet your needs and desires?”. She also will be glad to respond to any other questions or concerns YAF’s might have. If anyone wants to take the initiative to set up a meeting, give Regina a call at 793-3755, or just know that she’ll be contacting you soon. J
Important Dates
Information and Sharing Potluck, at the rise of worship on Sunday, March 11, 2012: Bring a dish and your input to share with M&C regarding the “Welcoming and Affirming” discernment. We’ll eat and talk together while seeking the movement of the Spirit among us. If you are unable to attend, see any member of Ministry and Counsel to share your thoughts.
Quaker Luncheon, at Adirondack Seafood Company, Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.:
Please join us as we sample the delights of this popular restaurant, located at 115 River St. in Hudson Falls. As usual, let Regina know if you plan to attend, or if you need transportation. Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the companionship as well as a great meal!
Chicken and Biscuit Dinner, Saturday, March 24, 2012, 5:00-7:00 p.m.: This dinner is one of our most popular events. All proceeds go to help our operating budget stay in the black. Invite your family and friends–ANYONE who enjoys good food– to come on out. We will need a set up crew, food preparers, servers, and a cleaning crew—be sure to sign up to help in the back parlor of the meetinghouse. Flyers are also available to be utilized to help spread the word!
ALSO WATCH FOR: The details of our redeemable bottle or cans and ink cartridge collections!!!
Our Holy Week observances will include:
Palm Sunday worship April 1, 2012
Good Friday supper and worship April 6, 2012
Easter Sunday April 8, 2012
Unprogrammed worship 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast 9:30 a.m.
Programmed worship 10:30 a.m.
FINANCES, FEAR, FREEDOM, FAN BASE (Mark 4:21-25)
Our sign out front begins to tell our story, and the journey that has made us who we are today. If I’ve done my math correctly, we can say that there have been Quakers present and active in this area for 245 years. Indeed, from what little I know of the history of our region, we have every right to say that Quakers—Friends—have played a crucial role in shaping this community. Our heritage is a rich and deep foundation that supports who we are today. I’m sure that Marilyn Van Dyke would be willing to share with anyone regarding more specific details about our history. Our archives hold interesting artifacts that also can help tell our journey; from our origins as a part of the earliest settlements around here, to the merger of the Glens Falls and the South Glens Falls Meetings in 1974 which birthed the Adirondack Friends Meeting, up through the sale of our parking lot last spring to M.B. Kilmer Funeral Homes. It is this history which makes us who we are today; February 12, 2012. Adirondack Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is one of 80 to 90 local faith communities that comprise the New York Yearly Meeting of Friends which is the larger denominational organization with whom we affiliate. New York Yearly Meeting geographically includes all of New York, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. Within New York YM, Adirondack is one of about 6 “Programmed” meetings—or those that follow an order of worship and have paid pastoral leadership. We are one of 2 who employ a full time pastoral minister. Our local theology and faith perspective is “Christ-centered”; we also place an emphasis on the Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
More specifically, from what I have learned and experienced about Adirondack Friends here in my 8 years as pastoral minister, I can say that:
*We average about 25-30 folks for Sunday worship; the largest regular worship crowd happened on April 26, 2009 when we had almost 90 people join us for Bring a Friend Sunday.
*We have between 60-65 “official” members, with 6 to 8 of them being non-residents.
*We have almost as many “attenders” who claim some affiliation with us.
*Adirondack Friends is located almost precisely in the middle of the village of South Glens Falls.
*We matter to this community and the community matters to us.
*We have good neighbors and we ARE good neighbors.
*We are known as being very friendly and welcoming. Folks who worship here DO care a lot about each other and the meeting.
*In my experience, this is the least contentious faith community with whom I have ever been affiliated.
More personally, I have felt called to be here from the very first time I seriously considered responding to the ad I saw in Quaker Life magazine. I remain happy and blessed to be in ministry with and for Adirondack Meeting. My remarks this morning come from a sense that I was being called by God to prepare them; and while I feel as if I certainly don’t have the total –or any– answer or vision for how we might continue to exist, I do carry a conviction that I should share as God has requested. It’s interesting that the title for this message came to me complete in its entirety, as I was worshipping in my nurture group a few weeks ago. I have indeed spent the time since that morning discerning just exactly what might be shared with regard to each of the 4 parts of it; so here we go: Finances, Fear, Freedom, Fan Base.
It should come as no surprise to any of us that finances would be a part of describing the state of our meeting…It is, as I’ve come to realize, the main issue or topic or concern that presently occupies us. That is certainly sensible based on the world economic outlook coupled with our desire to remain solvent and “open for business”. While I am NO financial whiz, I am encouraged by a few things that have occurred here over the recent past. First off and most importantly, our finance committee was able for the first time since I’ve been around to prepare an “Income” side of our anticipated 2012 budget. So from the start, we will have a clearer picture as the year unfolds. Next, as a result of the more detailed budget, when it became clear that we would need to withdraw fairly significantly from our investments to balance the figure, monthly meeting approved that with relatively little kerfuffle. One of the things that I LOVE about this meeting is that we are NOT wedded to or locked into a box by the need or desire to protect our investments up to the point that our preoccupation with them overrides our primary mission to live and share the love of God. THANK YOU for being willing to utilize some of our investment resources to support our ongoing work. Another positive about how we view finances was evident as we sold our parking lot last year. Our action is the result of the realization that we cannot afford its upkeep, added to our trust in our neighbor’s willingness to allow us the use of the property. This reflects our faith that God can and will move in pragmatic ways to support us. Through God’s grace we were able to recognize that this amazing opportunity would indeed prosper our endeavors.
Let me be clear: YES! We need money as much as we need the time, energy, and attention of our committed group in order to function. YES! We should continue to work toward discovering ways that will increase our giving and money making efforts. YES! We should work to find a way to communicate with folks about what we need and when we need it, while NOT imposing on people’s desire and ability to worship here without feeling pressured or burdened unduly about finances.
I read the following statement recently which opened General Secretary Christopher Sammond’s comments to the NYYM fall sessions in November:
“Our financial condition is an aspect of our spiritual condition. How we are in our connection to God, in the coherence of our community, in our faithfulness, in our inspiration to fulfill the work we are led to do, and in our joyful response to God’s presence, guidance, and empowerment, are reflected in our budget and our commitments of our time and talents.”
I take this to mean that while we utilize good and sound business practices to manage our finances, that instead of being motivated to make as much profit as possible, we instead use the gospel teachings to define how and what we make and spend. These would be ideas like what is included as our thought for waiting worship: “I have come so that you may have life and have it abundantly.”…Abundance, grace, justice, redemption, love are goals and guidelines that make sharing the good news of God’s reign our rightful ultimate purpose.
We are already doing excellent work to manage our finances in the light of our faith. Let’s continue to remember that purpose as we balance our income and expenses at Adirondack Friends Meeting.
While finances are the main issue or concern, I would suggest “Fear” has the potential to be the largest negative influence among our faith community. By fear, I mean the thoughts and actions that occur as a result of feeling threatened by hurt or risk. I would make a distinction between “fear” and “concern” in this case, with concern being a more reasonable and moderate response to harm or danger that enables more positive activity toward an issue or event that might bring an otherwise negative result. I know that personally as I experience fear, I get focused more inwardly in order to protect myself from suffering bad or painful things. Often, the thing that causes fear in me or in the groups that I affiliate with is change…As I encounter changes in the circumstances or activities in my life, I can easily sink into a fearful and fear-filled response. Unfortunately (or fortunately) change happens—as easily and normally as breathing really. I wake up and one day Andy is choosing colleges, or someone has passed away, or we possibly have to pay for unforeseen expenses or learn a new computer program to receive email, or whatever… Psychologists tell us that fear can cause two actions: “fight” or “flight”. Both of these cause normal or usual behavior to become disrupted or to cease. Fear is a defensive position that causes me or groups that I am a part of to put up walls or blocks and close off to outside influence. For an organization or a person, fear takes a lot of effort that could be focused in other directions—often toward healing or fixing or reconciling the wrong or negative presence. The interesting thing about fear is that throughout the Gospels, people are told to “fear not!” From the word given by the angel Gabriel to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds in the story of Jesus’ birth, to the charge uttered Easter morning by the heavenly being to the women who visit the tomb one of the most important messages is DO NOT BE AFRAID! Often Jesus, when confronted with choosing a fight or flight response to challenges or evil, will take a third way that enables the Divine to intervene with a presence or power or activity that prospers Jesus or those who follow him.
The same is true for we followers of Christ in the present. In any or every circumstance; FEAR NOT! Because, GOD HAS OUR BACKS! This then opens us to the tremendous freedom available to us in seeking, responding and sharing the Good News.
If there’s one message that we should have heard in the E100 Bible readings thus far, it’s that God loves humanity and wants to be in relationship with us. Additionally, God will bend over backwards to answer or fix or overcome our inabilities, mistakes, sins, ignorance in order to further the covenant and call God has with us –with all humans…All we have to do is pay attention; and then we are free to respond as led. It’s all about RELATIONSHIP and love, grace, abundance, redemption…and FREEDOM. That’s really all that the scripture from Mark is speaking about…if we pay attention, we will notice that we have exactly what we need to live into the relationship with God. And; the more we pay attention the more we notice we have and are free to utilize, as we pursue the reign of God in our world. In other words use it or lose it… But please, please use our God given freedom to see God’s presence and activity first! Notice where God is working, and become a part of it, and then before we know it, there’s way more possibility and activity than we first thought.
Here’s a specific way that this is happening in my life right now…As a result of the financial conversations and activities here at meeting, it has become clear to me that I could give more money as a way to help prosper the meeting…But how? It certainly looks like there’s nothing extra at my house…We’re straining to pay the bills each month now. But, as a result of my leading, I picked up a box of giving envelopes the last week of December. I kept wondering “what the heck was I thinking?!” God’s response has been to invite me to notice where I can find $10 each week to use to put in the envelope. It has happened every week so far; all I’ve had to do is put it in the envelope. I’m thinking if God cares about me putting ten bucks in the collection each week, that there’s surely other things I have or do that can be a part of God’s reign. I AM NOT advocating this for anyone else! I am trying to show how God will use us if we free up our spirits and notice what get laid before us…
And then, when it happens, to use that as motivation to keep looking. WE ARE LOVED BY GOD, AND FREE TO RESPOND TO THAT LOVE as individuals, as a faith community.
Fan Base is a relatively new phrase that defines a group of regular supporters who follow a sports team, musical group, entertainer, or the like. It’s also used when referring to a group of folks who electronically support a blog, website, Facebook page
or any other internet social networking venue. These are tallied by counting the numbers and the identities of those who “hit” or “click onto” any computer location…(Incidentally, there were just over 12,600 visits to our website during the last year!) I first heard of fan base used with regard to faith communities while reading a daily online devotional that was discussing Jesus’ calling of the first disciples in Mark 1. The author, Caspar Green wrote: Not even Jesus can go it alone. World-changing work requires community. Even “building community” requires community. Whether you’re a church, a company, a school, service club, a family, or a not-for-profit whatever agency – the first thing you need (even before you need money!) is community engagement. He then describes those who become engaged with Jesus as a “fan base” rather than disciples.
I use the term here because it helps me to view our supporters at Adirondack Friends Meeting beyond only those of us who attend worship… Caspar goes on to say that :
“Think about your community’s “fan base.” It may be larger than you think. What about all those fans who are on the inactive roles, and the non-resident fans? What about the people who come just for special occasions? Weddings and funerals? People who turn up at the chicken and biscuit dinner? …many of them may be leaving the doors of their hearts open to being (re)captured. …in an age when attention is at a premium, you’ve got theirs… you’re missing an opportunity if you’re pretending they’re not there.”
One of the harshest changes for many of us to comprehend is that Church, as we have known and enjoyed it, is becoming out dated and less and less popular. This is the one church trend that all evaluations, surveys, assessments agree on—across just about every theological or denominational line out there.
A great deal of effort is being expended to counteract this reality through different worship methods, new church organizations and locations. Most importantly for Adirondack meeting, this is one change that remaining stuck in fear over will work to insure our demise.
I think the start of the answer for us at Adirondack Friends is to widen our perspective about who we are. We need to identify, claim, engage and build relationships with our fan base in order to survive and prosper. Here’s one example of what I mean: a statistic that I didn’t mention earlier about us, is that as one surveys the list of attenders and members it becomes clear that there are over 20 individuals in the 18-40 age range! This makes it one of the largest categories in the whole group of us…Interesting when we realize that on any given Sunday morning there are almost never any more than 5 in worship. Our “fan base” is significantly larger than our worship attendance! Chances are good that we are missing a lot of opportunities to be interacting with them. Thus as we consider the present and future of our meeting, I want to offer suggestions that not only answer the needs and desires of those of us here in the meetingroom, but also those who consider themselves a part of us who are outside these walls.
As I mentioned earlier with regard to finances, COMMUNICATION is an important issue. We MUST find ways that get folks’ attention to share information. Mail works some of the time. For a number of folks email, Facebook, and our website are the best way to connect. But the BEST way to reach folks is face to face; person to person. And that friends, takes us all working together. WE continue to be the best resource we have! Our ideas, time, energy, experiences—all of us– are what will make the difference with regard to communication as well as to the success or failure of any endeavor we undertake be it a fund raiser, ministry, fellowship—whatever. We CANNOT expect that all those who care about this meeting and who will work to help us will show up for worship consistently Sunday after Sunday; year after year.
This also changes HOW we “do” ministry. For this, Jesus becomes our best model. There are only a couple of times named in the Bible when Jesus spoke in worship, or visited a temple for a religious event. Jesus’ ministry was incarnational and itinerant. Jesus went to where folks worked and lived; and shared God’s love and care by embodying them—being God’s love and care whenever, wherever people gathered…meals in fields, healings in the evening at homes where he was staying, along the roads as he traveled. We will be successful as we find ways and places to share the light and love of God when and where people are.
This means things like theology on tap, or book discussions at breakfast, or worship in a campground, and conversation at the holiday parade while handing out hot chocolate.
Please hear me well when I say that I am not advocating the elimination of worship as we know it. I just want us to be open and ready; to be willing to take our faith out and about into our neighborhoods and homes if and when that’s where we’re called.
The other wonderful thing for us is that we ARE NOT too small. Although we have room to grow—some growth would be great–, our model of worship and community is always going to work best on the smaller end of things. Thus, I am not advocating a mega church growth strategy, with huge financial campaigns and door to door canvassing. “A lot more” is not going to be better for us. Our size enables us to be more intimate and relational. Also, if we stay between an average 30 to 60 in attendance at worship and activities, we can be more agile to accommodate what needs or desires emerge than most of the larger faith communities. We’ve already seen this happen, as our Sunday school starts up and lays down based on the number of children. We have also been able to offer intergenerational worship, health care, quilting groups, religious ed classes based on interest of the folks present and active among us. I wonder what other activities or endeavors we can try that will bring new opportunities for relationships and ministry…
I am going to stop talking so that we can start living into our destiny as a place of Divine love, grace and peace. It is my privilege and pleasure to continue to serve you as pastoral minister. It is my conviction that we will, with God’s blessing, continue to be a small, friendly, simple, Quaker meeting where folks care deeply about one another and about sharing God’s love with others.
Please DO be in conversation with me and with each other as God lights our way. Please DO pray and worship and wonder and dream about what God has in store for us…
Oh friends, the state of our meeting is GOOD!…We have so much to be thankful for, and a lot to do if and when we feel called. Let’s continue to give the finances our best care and concern and then not stress about them. Let us overcome fear by basking in the freedom God has given us. Let’s support and minister to our fan base wherever we find them…
John Woolman said it best: (and this has been the tagline on our webpage over the last year) “Let love be our first motion”… as we work with Divine direction and assistance, bringing forth the reign of God through our finances, fear, freedom, and fan base.
Adirondack Friends Meeting Newsletter February 2012
Our fundraising brainstorming meeting produced A LOT of great ideas. Here’s what we have planned for this year:
DATE EVENT POINT PERSON
March Kick-off Cartridge Collection Regina Haag
Kick-off Bottle Return Lisa Hall
Flower & Vegetable Seeds/Bulbs Sherry Pronto
Mar 24 Chicken & Biscuit Dinner Diana DeBlois
Apr 21 Pancake Breakfast Joe Orlow
May 05 Cinco de Mayo Dinner Anni Stewart
Jun 02 Food Sale at village garage sale
Jun 02 Fudge Sale (w/ Food Sale and beyond) Karen Villesvik
August Yankee Candle Sale Shannon Nelson
Oct 13 Chicken & Biscuit Dinner Diana DeBlois
November AVON Sale Tina Pronto
Nov 06 Election Day Dinner Diana DeBlois
December Advertising Booklet (all year) Regina Haag/Lauren Pronto
Now all we need is YOU to watch for the details about each event, decide how you want to be involved, and share the information with your family and friends! All fundraisers help us make income that is contributed to our general fund for our budgeted expenses.
February Events:
Ash Wednesday Simple Supper and Worship, Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 6:15p.m.: We are invited to join the folks at Christ Church United Methodist for this observance of the beginning of Lent. After a meal of soup and sandwiches, we will gather to worship with intentionality and devotion that prepares us for the journey toward Easter.
Lenten Worship and Book Study, on Tuesday evenings (Feb 28, Mar 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3), 7:00 p.m.: Join us as we begin with some contemplative worship and then explore together a chapter in the book: The Scarlet Journey, Six Studies from Mark’s Gospel by Caspar Green. The books will be available in our meeting ahead of time for those who want to participate. This is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for those of us who are unable to attend worship on Sunday mornings! Sign up or call Regina if you are planning on participating
Quaker Luncheon, Tuesday, February 28, 11:30 a.m., East End Eatery: Anyone who enjoys good food and great company is invited to attend this gathering. Transportation is available by contacting Regina. Let her know if you’re planning to attend by Monday the 27th, so enough space is saved.
Coming In March:
South High Marathon Dance, March 2-3, 2012: This is our chance to help make a difference in our community and beyond! Check out SHMD.org for complete details including this year’s recipient list, or talk (and contribute) to our “own” dancers: Shalyn Macica and Andy Haag.
At our February Meeting for Business, we decided that our meeting would continue to explore the possibility of becoming a “Welcoming and Affirming” faith community. Our next step is to provide opportunity for those who have questions, concerns, suggestions, ideas, and hopes to meet with our Ministry and Counsel members. Here’s what we mean by “Welcoming and Affirming”:
We affirm and welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic status, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We offer all individuals and families, with or without children, our spiritual and practical support. We regard same sex couples who are in committed relationships as families.
Members and attenders of Adirondack Friends Meeting are welcomed and encouraged to:
attend and participate fully in meetings for worship
take an active part in the life and activities of our meeting
contribute their time, talents, spiritual gifts and resources to God through our meeting
apply for and serve in positions of paid, public ministry or other positions of leadership in our meeting
test and shape their personal beliefs and daily practices and help others to do the same
invest themselves in our common efforts to improve and heal the world
help our meeting to discern God’s will in our meetings for business
(this definition credited to West Richmond Friends Meeting website)
Information and Sharing Potluck, at the rise of worship on Sunday, March 11, 2012: Bring a dish and your input to share with M&C regarding the “Welcoming and Affirming” discernment. We’ll eat and talk together while seeking the movement of the Spirit among us. You may also communicate with any M&C member by phone or email.
scripture text: Exodus 1:8-2:10
This scripture from Genesis 1 and 2 has, over the past few years, become my favorite part of the story of Moses and the exile. While I often previously overlooked it to rush forward to the Burning Bush, or the Passover, or the Ten Commandments, it has become obvious to me that without these episodes, the others perhaps not have happened…This is as strong of an example that I can give for the reality that bible readings have the spiritual capacity to continue to change our perspective—to allow us to evolve over time; to deepen in our faith; to notice something important—no matter how often we’ve read them. Here, it has become clear to me that Exodus might be a completely different story—that God might have had to work in other ways to move the chosen people along…but for 5 women and a baby.
It’s kind of surprising that things aren’t going so well for the Hebrews; after all, we’re told that they’ve multiplied into great numbers and the future seems to be wide open up through verse 7 of chapter 1. The new king—or Pharaoh– changes all that drastically. In fear of the potential for the Hebrew people to turn against the Egyptians, he enslaves them and puts them under increasingly great burdens and labor, with the result to always be that the Hebrew numbers continue to grow. God’s blessing seems to be present and active no matter what gets thrown at the Hebrews.
So, Pharaoh confronts two women, the midwives Shiphrah and Puah, who act courageously in response to his order to kill all male Hebrew babies, by disobeying him. They also tell a lie to cover their defiance. Bible commentator Walter Brueggemann points up the importance of the women’s actions when he says: “In this dangerous mix of power and powerlessness, the narrative places Shiphrah and Puah. Amazing! They are nowhere else named or known, and certainly not celebrated. Yet we remember them by name. We remember these two discreet, defiant, cunning, mothering agents. At great risk they counter genocide; in doing so they bear witness to the mothering power of God, whose will for life overrides the killing, and whose power for life is undeterred by the death dispensed by the powerful.”[i]
Interesting here that deception and trickery are utilized for the benefit of God’s people. It’s also ironic that Pharaoh– in order to put down those who he perceives as enemies, — does away with the means that brings him his power. Killing all boy babies would soon leave a gaping hole in the resources Pharaoh has to build and expand the kingdom. At the end of this episode, God rewards these faithful midwives with families of their own and the Hebrew people continue to multiply.
The next part of the story opens with Pharaoh’s command to all people that all Hebrew boys are to be thrown in the Nile. Again here, as in the former passage, God is not named as a major player in the plot, but rather three more women—these unnamed—carry out the crucial roles that move God’s intentions along and ultimately prosper God’s people. Baby Moses, who was kept and protected by his mother, is finally too big and too active to hide anymore. After making a waterproof basket, Mom sets him afloat on the Nile River. Following along is his sister who watches what happens next. The daughter of Pharaoh discovers this baby as she bathes in the Nile and takes him up to be included in her family. Moses’ sister, offers a “wet nurse” to help out, who is in actuality his own mother. These 3 women who are designated enemies of one another,
become unwitting allies who work together to raise the one who saves the Hebrew people. Again, Pharaoh’s discounting or overlooking of the women in his personal and professional life leads finally to his demise.
Both the stories of the midwives and Baby Moses lead to God’s call on Moses, and God’s covenant of promise and blessing on the Hebrews. Together they both rely on the disobedience, the mothering instinct that brings forth or support life, and the convictions in the hearts of Shiphrah, Pauh, Moses’ mother and sister, as well as Pharaoh’s daughter. It all starts here with 5 women and a baby…
Andy Andrews wrote a little book called The Butterfly Effect in which he catalogues the extraordinary impact of simple and courageous efforts. Except when you go back, you can never really tell which efforts made the biggest difference. So, for instance, should Norman Borlaug, who developed high yield, disease resistant corn and wheat be credited with saving two billion lives from famine, or should Henry Wallace, the one-term U.S. Vice-President, who created an office in New Mexico to develop hybrid seed for arid climates and hired Borlaug to run it. Or should we credit George Washington Carver, who took a young Henry Wallace for long walks and instilled in him his love of plants. Or should it be Moses and Susan Carver, who adopted the orphaned George as their son. Or should it be… Well, you get the idea. Andrews points out how inter-connected our actions are, creating an unforeseen butterfly effect that can ripple across time and space to affect the lives of millions.[ii]
In the Time edition that names “the protester” as the 2011 Person of the Year the initiation of those kinds of ripples in today’s world is described:
It began in Tunisia, where the dictator’s power grabbing and high living crossed a line of shamelessness, and a commonplace bit of government callousness against an ordinary citizen — a 26-year-old street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi — became the final straw. Bouazizi lived in the charmless Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid, 125 miles south of Tunis. On a Friday morning almost exactly a year ago, he set out for work, selling produce from a cart. Police had hassled Bouazizi routinely for years, his family says, fining him, making him jump through bureaucratic hoops. On Dec. 17, 2010, a cop started giving him grief yet again. She confiscated his scale and allegedly slapped him. He walked straight to the provincial-capital building to complain and got no response. At the gate, he drenched himself in paint thinner and lit a match. “My son set himself on fire for dignity,” Mannoubia Bouazizi told me when I visited her. “In Tunisia,” added her 16-year-old daughter Basma, “dignity is more important than bread.”[iii]
This is the beginning of movements not only in Tunisia, but Egypt, Russia, Madrid, the United States and what is known now as the “Arab Spring”.
As I read the newspaper this week, I noticed issues or situations that have come about or continue to evolve because this someone—or several some ones—have acted in response to their circumstances, nudges, or beliefs in a “butterfly effect”. Surely all those protesters who initiated and supported and continue to work in the demonstrations that led to the ouster of Mubarak in Egypt and other settings around the world including the “occupy wall street” movement here in the US, are effecting tons of ripples which continue across all cultures.
Closer to our hearts here, I am also led to notice the actions that have “butterflied” in significant ways within this faith community:
The first humble efforts years ago to initiate an investment account, which has helped in us the past, and will continue this year to enable us to meet our expenses.
A small meeting between clergy and community leaders which took place in our back parlor began the comprehensive effort that produced this area’s response to bullying and suicide in our local schools.
A significant number of folks remain in recovery and engaged productively in their personal and professional lives all because we make space for 12 step groups to meet here.
Our future can be seen as a time that is full of similar opportunities…
Who knows? Maybe [sometime this week] a school teacher who will give encouragement to a student who will see something in herself that she hadn’t before and in turn befriend another student who was on the verge of giving up on life…. Or maybe a young person will stand up to the neighborhood bully this week and not only help the kids being bullied but also the bully, who never had anyone care enough to stand up to him before, and in turn he’ll go on to be a police officer who protects the vulnerable…. Or maybe an elder will be moved to volunteer to read to kids at the local library and one of those kids will discover a passion for language and will grow up to be the poet laureate….
The things we do this week – our actions, decision, choices – will, in fact, ripple out with consequences foreseen and unforeseen, for good or for ill, for the health or damage of the world. That question isn’t whether, but what…what will we do this week to make a difference in the world. Some of these actions may be big, bold, and courageous. Others may be small, hardly noticeable. And yet they all have the potential to ripple out, affecting countless lives. In [Exodus] it’s Shiphrah and Puah, quietly standing up to a bully and tyrant, [and 3 other unnamed women who defy the same system in order to save Moses.] Who knows whom it will be today, this week, this year.[iv]
My hope and prayer is that these stories prompt each of us to make a small valiant gesture that could change our world for the better. It is my conviction that God assures us that this is indeed possible… In the Bible passage this morning, according to God’s scheme, boy babies are more important than building bricks or accumulating power.
Who would have believed the enormous butterfly effect that began from the ripples involving five women and a baby?
For your information:
In order to reduce our expenses as well as be better stewards of our natural resources, we are seeking to begin the sending of mailings by internet, starting with the February newsletter. Those who use the internet, please be sure to send us your email address. If you don’t have an email address, rest assured that you will continue to receive the newsletter and other correspondence via the US mail. Our email address for the meeting is: AdirondackFM@nycap.rr.com. Hard copies of all publications and communication will also be available at the meetinghouse. We do want to stay connected, as well as make good use of our resources! If you are interested in helping to support the cost of mailings, donations may be sent to our treasurer, Sherry Pronto, 199 Redmond Rd., Gansevoort, NY 12831
Did you know that our meeting has both a website and a Facebook page? The website can be found at www.adirondackfriendsmeeting.org. Bulletins, newsletters, some messages, and descriptive documents can be found there. Facebook is used to post reminders, late breaking news, photographs, and links of interest to us. “Like” us if you use Facebook and stay up to date.
Not sure if severe weather has caused the cancellation of our worship?! Be sure to check a media outlet (website, TV, or radio) for the latest info…We are members of the “School Closings Network”, and will share our most up-to-date news regarding a change in scheduled events through it. Our cancellation of worship was effectively publicized in this way during Tropical Storm Irene this fall.
Upcoming Events:
Comparative Religion Class, Beginning January 15, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.: Based on Adam Hamilton’s study guide, we will explore the 5 most popular religions in the world: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhaism, Judiasm, and Christianity. SEE REGINA RIGHT AWAY, if you want to join us, so that a book can be ordered for you!
Quaker Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., January 16, 2012, at Maude’s Restaurant in South Glens Falls: We’re going to take advantage of the Martin Luther King holiday so that those who have a day “off” from work might join us. Let Regina know by Friday, January 13, 2012, if you’re planning to attend so that our reservation is accurate. Transportation is also available if you need it.
Potluck and Fundraiser Brainstorming Session : February 5, 2012, after Sunday worship:The key to our meeting’s financial security is having a well-planned series of fundraising events throughout the year. We need YOUR thoughts and ideas as we brainstorm and schedule these. We will first share a potluck meal in order to acquire the energy to sustain our planning efforts… Childcare will be provided for the planning portion of this gathering. Bring your favorite dish, calendars, and your best ideas! This will be followed by February meeting for business. Join us on this day and plan on staying for this important work.
Message from Pastoral Minister regarding the State of our Meeting, February 12, 2012, during worship: Regina has felt led to come under the weight of discernment and spiritual openings concerning the past, present, and future of Adirondack Meeting. The culmination of this work will be given in her message on this day. Please pray for Regina and our meeting as she prepares for this.
Scripture reference: Isaiah 40:1-11
Isaiah is an interesting and complex book…We’ve talked about it some here, and I want to remind us about what we know. It’s the product of at least 3 different prophetic writers—or groups of writers– from different times in the history of God’s people. The first 39 chapters come from a time –8th century BCE—when the writers or prophets spoke words of warning and judgment to the Hebrews. These chapters are full of admonitions for the people to refrain from idolatry and to quit putting their trust in that which is not God—to return to and be obedient to God’s ways. They are warned that if they persist, they will be overcome by foreign invaders as a consequence for their misbehavior. To make a long story short that is in fact exactly what happens; Israel is conquered by the Assyrians in 720 BCE, followed by the annihilation of Jerusalem in 586 BCE by the Babylonian Empire who carried most of the Hebrew people off to captivity. It is to these people that the second part of Isaiah is focused and addressed, through the words and actions of another prophet or group of prophets. In fact, our scripture this morning is thought to be the call by God to this second prophet, who announces to the Hebrews God’s message that their time of punishment and exile is now over; that in spite of their neglect of God, God will renew their relationship and restore them to their land. They will, in fact, be comforted by the Divine.
What does that word mean: COMFORT? How is it used by us? A perfect illustration of comfort is afforded to us this morning in the image of Missy cradling Makenzy in her arms. According to my handy dandy Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, comfort has two main meanings: 1) “to give strength and hope to”; and 2) “to ease the grief and trouble of”. Synonyms include cheer, console, solace, reassure… I immediately think of phrases like “comfort food”, “comfortable” that evoke images of warm, happy places filled with everything that makes me happy. More specifically, this time of year is one where seeking comfort is a major focus…We scurry around gathering our favorite foods, attempting to fulfill those deepest wishes, undertaking festive activities, attending joyous events, making the appearance of our homes and communities as beautiful as possible; eliminating or at least reducing any unpleasantness or negativity or trouble or harsh environments.
The carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’s” refrain rings with the phrase “O tidings of comfort and joy” which summarizes for many the intentions and goals of most modern holiday efforts.
While these are legitimate uses and meanings for “Comfort”, a closer look at the words from Isaiah 40:1-11 give a more explicit description of what the prophet understands God to be about for these people; who have neglected, overlooked, and downright ignored their covenant with God; who then suffer—rightfully in the view of the first part of Isaiah—humiliating defeat and oppression; and finally who are redeemed through the comfort extended by the One who has been wounded the most by their grievous actions.
Bible scholar Elna K. Solvang says:
What is striking at the start of Isaiah 40 is not that there are persons in need of comfort; it is that God commands that they be comforted.
The first expression of comfort is the way they are to be identified: “my people,” says God (40:1). Though multiple chapters of Isaiah illuminate actions that are incompatible with God’s desires for human community and that end in punishment, God continues to identify as their God. God does not overlook or ignore those behaviors but all people should know that God has not abandoned Jerusalem…
The second expression of comfort is the command to speak “tenderly to Jerusalem” (40:2). Compassion, not condemnation, should determine how Jerusalem is treated.
Third, is the clear declaration in verse 2 of release from debt to sins. The verse notes that Jerusalem “has served her term” but there is also an expression [in the passive] noting that “her penalty is paid.” The reference to “term” connects the exile to punishment, but the announcement of a penalty paid suggests divine grace in the release. It is the release from debt — not the efforts to satisfy the debt — that brings comfort.
Fourth, is the command to Jerusalem to announce good tidings to the cities of Judah. Jerusalem — the city judged, conquered and exiled — is to be involved in voicing comfort to others.
Fifth, is the announcement of God’s coming to be with them. In Isaiah 40 the commands to “comfort” and to “speak tenderly” are immediately followed by the instruction to “Prepare the way of the LORD”… The arrival will be one of divine splendor revealing “the glory of the LORD.” The pathway is not through the cities and towns like a conquering warrior but through the desert and wilderness, where the settlement and survival of human and other living creatures is precarious. That the LORD’s coming is comfort, not withering judgment, is clear in the transformation of the wilderness and desert: “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain”.
Sixth, and greatest, is the announcement of God’s involvement in creating a new future. Just as the conclusion of a prison term does not, by itself, result in a better tomorrow, the end of the Babylonian period does not ensure that what lies ahead will be any different for the exiles. But for their sake, God chooses to be involved in that future. The deepest comfort and greatest joy is the power of God at work in their midst, providing, protecting and guiding them with gentleness. True comfort, indeed.[i]
These actions of comfort articulated here: reconnection, re-naming, compassion, release, forgiveness, enabling, accompanying, and the promise of a future together; all these call me, exhort me to not be satisfied with the superficial efforts of our cultural connotations of comfort. To not merely make Christmas about the number of wishes and fantasies I can fulfill, but rather to do the work of opening myself to the comfort offered by the divine who truly works to restore and redeem not only me, and my little circle of connections, but THE WHOLE WORLD!
The text invites me, and each one of us, to make a way—to clear a path for God to come into our lives by removing the impediments and obstacles, to clear out old animosities and grievances, to cut back the weeds of doubt and greed, not just to make a nice little bed for the newborn babe, but to open our lives to transforming grace.[ii]
Through the events and journeys of the past few weeks, I have an inkling of just exactly what God’s COMFORT might be about. Interspersed with the grief and sadness of losing someone who has been an important, formative, foundational presence in my life, was the opportunity to experience comfort in the gathering of friends and family, in the worship at the memorial, in the recollected memories of many happy or significant occasions and conversations and events and activities in the life of Rudy Haag that revealed the reality of what life here is all about, in particular life as experienced during the holiday season. Let me be clear; I did not do anything to make this happen. I could not plan or control this outcome. All I did is open myself to that comfort which was a divinely given and enabled gift.
It is SO NOT about how much I can buy or how many lights I can hang or how many holiday activities I can attend or how happy and fulfilled I can make myself or others be…
IT IS about preparing to receive those things from the one whose birth we anticipate that make the difference in whether a life is worthwhile or worthless. IT IS about grace and love and forgiveness and mercy and redemption for each and every one of us, as articulated in Isaiah 40 and experienced as we open ourselves to Christ in our midst. These then—grace, mercy, forgiveness, mercy, redemption– are the true words of Comfort.
Keep the toys, hats, gloves, and mittens coming! We will be collecting through Sunday, December 11, 2011 to assist those less fortunate in our community. All collected items will be turned in at the Moreau Community Center for distribution during the holiday season…
December Events:
Christmas Program Rehearsal, Saturday, December 10, 2011 at noon: Our presentation has a part for anyone and everyone! If you are interested, all you need to do is show up at this gathering. Costumes and roles will be ready to hand out after a pizza lunch. This is about the most “user friendly” way to put together an enjoyable, inclusive, inspiring rendition of the important and familiar Christmas story. Come one; come all to help us out!!
Quaker Luncheon, Thursday, December 15, 2011, 11:30 a.m. at the Peppermill Restaurant: This outing will be an opportunity to share some holiday joy at a local landmark. RSVP to Regina by Tuesday, December 13th so that an accurate reservation can be made.
Christmas Program and Potluck, Sunday, December 18, 2011, 4:00 p.m.: We’ll gather as usual to celebrate the holiday as a faith community, with a program that features the special talents of our group, and that tells the important Christmas story. The potluck afterwards will provide time to visit and share the delicious dishes that we look forward to each year prepared by our excellent chefs. We’ll host a special visitor spreading Christmas cheer to round out the evening. Please feel free to bring your family and friends to join our festivities on this evening.
Longest Night Service, Wednesday, December 21, 2010, 6:30 p.m.: Folks who find the holidays difficult, as well as those who are seeking some inspiration beyond the predominant materialistic emphasis of our culture are invited to this worship. If you or someone who you care about is experiencing sadness, grief, depression, or frustration, this service will provide opportunity to acknowledge those feelings and receive some encouragement for the days ahead. We will be collaborating with Christ Church United Methodist, Glens Falls in order to provide this program as a gift to the community. A time of refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. Cookies and readers are needed for this service; see Regina if you can help out!