over and around the rainbow

I have watched more baseball these past few months than I ever thought I would. All this hype around KC baseball even inspired my husband Jesse Graber to draw this on the day of the big game. KC stands for Kingdom Come of course. We couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some reference to KC Royals.  Even the local parish had some fun with this zinger. In the wake of Game 7 (yes, it felt like a wake of sorts), I have received condolences from people around the world. Condolence was their word, not mine.  Thankfully our church moderator put it all in perspective when he wrote, “After all, in the department store of life, we must always remember that sports is in the toy department.”

Some would go so far as to claim that baseball is God’ sport. After all, the first book of the Bible starts with the words, “In the beginning,” or was it “In the BIG INNING?” I don’t know if God cares about baseball, but I do think there are some interesting parallels between the game of baseball and Christian theology and practice For example, in a recent email, Duane K. Friesen, professor emeritus of Bible and religion at Bethel College, shared the following insights:  

1) A baseball game, writes Duane, is always open to the future. It’s not closed to some predetermined outcome. It reminds me of those who say that faith is more like a game of scrabble (open, no game is the same) than a jigsaw puzzle (fixed and predetermined). Furthermore, as Duane suggests, the game of baseball is not bound by a clock. Any batter or inning or game can last for infinity. “Baseball,” writes Duane, “is like the relationship of the sea to the land–the infinity of space, the endless movement of the waves and tides, the finite land bordering on this infinite expanse.”

2) Comedian George Carlin once noted that in football you blitz, sack, throw a bomb.  Baseball, highlights Duane, fits Mennonite peace theology. “You go home, you sacrifice, you are safe.  The worst thing you ever do is steal.”

3)Baseball doesn’t require a person to be a certain height or size. It is not dominated by giant bodies (although did you see how big some of those Giants were?!) “Think about the variety of “gifts” of those who play baseball,” writes Duane.  “It is not a sport dominated by tall guys as in basketball, or by giant bodies as in football…Look at the variety of bodies that make up the Royals baseball team.  Speedy runners like Dyson and Gore, blocky short guys (who almost look like they are out of shape) like Herrera, Holland, and Butler.  Or, then there is Sandoval for the Giants.  “There are many gifts but the same spirit…”

4) Baseball is encouraging, writes Duane. After all, a fantastic hitter in the game of baseball is someone who fails two third of the time. “That,” writes Duane “ought to give us frail human beings some encouragement.”

5) The game of baseball, according to Duane, works. All the distances, equipment, dimensions creates this “finely tuned universe.” How,” asks Duane, “did such a finely tuned game evolve?..Did it just happen this way? What is the mix of sheer accident, serendipity and design?”

6) “Baseball, writes Duane, “is a game of rhythms…waiting in patient expectation as a pitch heads to the plate, suddenly a bunt to put down and every one moves, each to cover an assigned area.  Suddenly–everything is happening at once. Then rest, though with anticipation of the next “event.”  We can then sit back and relax.  We have a reprieve between innings.  We can stop and visit with our companions while the game is going on.” This is life, according to Duane, “as it should be lived…Sabbath and work!”

Have you given thought to the parallels of faith and baseball? Feel free to comment!

The first hymn in our blue Mennonite Hymnal starts with a question: “What is this place where we are meeting?” Answer: “Only a house, the earth its floor, walls and a roof sheltering people, windows for light, an open door. Yet it becomes a body that lives when we are gathered here, and know our God is near.”

This hymn text has been on my mind ever since we started to discuss remodeling the 2nd floor youth space. Now that construction has officially began, I find myself hoping and praying more than ever that the decisions we make about lighting, electronics, color choices, furniture, appliances, will not become ends in and of themselves, but a means to provide a shelter where we can come to know a God who is present with us and who calls us to become shelter to one another, absorbing and then reflecting light. Let’s not just have a beautiful space in other words, let’s make sure we become beautiful followers of Jesus in that space!

I’m grateful to every person who has devoted time and energy to this project: Stewardship Committee, Church Council, Youth Room Remodel Task Force, Trustees, Youth Program Director Renee Reimer and all those who have volunteered at various points.

And lastly, I wish to pay tribute to the woman who made this project possible: Mary Lucille Hays Larson. Mrs. Larson, formerly of Rosedale, passed away January 22, 2013 at the age of 87. Part of her trust fund was designated for Rainbow Mennonite Church. As a long-time member of Rosedale Methodist Church (now Rainbow Mennonite), Lucille had fond memories of this church and neighborhood. In a letter written to the family, I told them, “we are humbled and privileged to be one of the recipients of Lucille’s generosity..plans for use of the funds will be determined through a process of discernment, in keeping with the vision and mission of our congregation and values cherished by Lucille.”

Education was one such value cherished by Lucille. And so, the congregation decided to designate this gift toward the remodeling of the youth space on the 2nd floor. From what I understand, Lucille valued the church being a place of open doors, shelter and light. And so, we begin…or rather, we hope to continue that legacy…

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One of my Facebook friends recently posted the following comment about the Royals:

The way they play and trust each other, and believe they’re going to succeed is flat out inspiring. It’s been athletic and spiritual transcendence played out in spectacular moments, over innings, games, days, and weeks. It defies logic or explanation, and I’m enjoying every second of it.

Like many of my friends, I am enjoying the collective and focused attention on the Royals. It has reminded me again of the power and energy that comes with a community discovering what and who they care about. My hope is that Rainbow continues to be a place where this collective, focused attention can be found and celebrated. Sure, we might not be as spectacular and fun to watch as the Royals, but I would hope that when people look at us they would see the way we trust each other and God. In other words, the love we show one another makes us royal. As the pastor at Rainbow I get a front row seat as I watch people do things that are quite spectacular in their own way. I see people giving of their time and resources in ways that defy logic or easy explanation. I treasure this, every second of it. And so as we prepare to gather for worship on Sunday I encourage you to read Romans 12:1-18 as you look at this highlight reel of the royal team we call Rainbow Mennonite Church.

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If you were to check my internet search history at church or at home this past year, you would find many pages, articles and images pertaining not only to the Royals but to church pulpits. Boring? Hardly! Just look at this variety:

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Here is what we are currently using at Rainbow:

It’s flexible, lightweight (so lightweight it wobbles a little), it offers a handy place to rest notes and papers and provides a great deal of transparency. That is, the speaker isn’t set apart, placed behind some wall, barrier or within a bucket. There is a lot to affirm about all of this. Of course the purchase of these wooden stands wasn’t ever thought to be a long-term pulpit solution. This is why a pulpit committee was appointed back in 2013.

I had no idea working with a church pulpit committee would be so educational and yes, challenging. The committee itself wasn’t the challenging part but rather the task at hand. Most pastors (and congregational members for that matter) don’t get assigned to a pulpit committee and certainly not in their first year at a church! But Rainbow, I’m slowly learning, is sometimes unconventional and so back in November 2013 there I was, scratching my head with the rest of the committee wondering not only about the size, style, design, and functionality of a new pulpit but about the importance of a pulpit and what we will say (and not say) about our beliefs as we begin to design a pulpit. Our architecture is its own sermon in a way: It communicates something about who we believe God is and who we are in God. Again, most of us make due with the architectural/theological decisions of those who came before us. Very few of us are given the opportunity to make a suggestion regarding a pulpit that will impact generations to follow.

I told the committee early on that this was an opportunity to wade into some important theological matters. I don’t know if I ever voiced this but I was working with the assumption that disagreements would surface about all sorts of matters: preaching, leadership and authority, aesthetics, worship, money, etc. Along the way, I tried not to feel threatened by disagreement but rather see it as an opportunity to share our differences and find what common ground there was to be found and perhaps even find some new ground to stand on together.

And sure enough, ever since the committee began unveiling and proposing a specific design, I have heard a whole range of opinions and reactions. Tears have even been shed, both in favor and against this proposal. I’ve heard (and thought) it all: “How could we spend this kind of money on a piece of furniture especially when there are hungry people in the world?” To which some have responded:  “This isn’t just furniture. This is the place where Scripture is read and where the Good News is shared. We therefore must not diminish the power of the Word.”

I certainly support and affirm the work of the committee and the skill of the designer we hired (see design below). I also believe this needs to be a congregational decision.

My prayer is that everyone will feel free to voice their opinion and that people will do so by articulating what they value and not just what they like or dislike. I also hope that for anyone who plans to speak up at the congregational meeting on Sunday, that you consider this: Will you spend just as much energy listening to what others have to say as you do in shaping what you plan to say? I’ve been to some meetings where the person speaking can’t say what they planned to say until they summarize what the person said right before them. We won’t set that as a rule but I think it’s an interesting practice.

And as we all prepare for Sunday I will leave you with some more reflections. Consider it a culmination of things I’ve read and thought about over this past year. Please note that these are things I read and thought about not necessarily things I agree with or advocate!

• There doesn’t seem to be pulpits mentioned in the Bible and Jesus certainly didn’t ask for a pulpit. He preached as he walked among the people. Plus, Jesus was often sitting down as he read Scripture and taught. Did the early church use pulpits? The answer is unclear but it is clear that they mainly met in homes, at least until the third century. It is also clear that the people, especially the teachers often stood to read and preach. Eventually, pulpits became more commonplace and therefore ornate (see slideshow above).
• During the Reformation of the 16th century, there was renewed interest or emphasis on the sermon and the centrality of the Word. This triggered many debates over the location of the pulpit. Many churches began to move the pulpit to the center of the sanctuary, giving more centrality to God’s Word. Plus, large pulpits were constructed not to to set the preacher apart but to make the minister look small in order to magnify the Word. Raising the pulpit above the people was symbolic of the authority of Scripture over God’s people. Anabaptists meanwhile had too many other concerns on their mind. I doubt if there were many debates about the location and height of the pulpit as they met in homes and in other secret locations! Plus, I tend to agree with those who say that “Forty minutes of solid biblical exposition will do more than 400 pounds of wood!” (Well, maybe not the forty minutes part.)
• From what I can tell there is not an Anabaptist-style pulpit or prototype. I would venture to say that there is as much pulpit variety in Mennonite congregations as in other denominations. If there is one consistent Mennonite practice, it would be the importance of the communion table. Perhaps that will be another Rainbow committee in the future!

Finally, here is the proposed design. Cost is estimated at $22,500. No, it doesn’t rotate or spin! Click the following link to read more information about this project: Frequently asked questions about the RMC pulpit project(1)

Here ends this sort-of sermon from this gal who started preaching at a very young age.

We have two senses left in our Sensing God worship series: Sight (October 12)  and Smell (October 19).  A couple of things in the works for the 12th include: the purchase of a variety of colorful mums, a litany giving thanks for color, and the hope that some will arrive to church with bright color clothing. Notice that I didn’t say this was Clash or Crazy Clothes Sunday. We simply wanted to invite people to express themselves through color. This is optional of course and no, this isn’t some crazy idea of mine. Apparently, Bright Clothes Sunday has been a long-standing tradition at Rainbow.

Maybe this year more of us will wear bright blue clothing to celebrate the success of the Royals!

To further celebrate bright colors, check out what I’ve done with the colorful prayers that were gifted to me on my first Sunday at Rainbow about one year ago,

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On September 25 I found myself sporting a little pink at Westin Hotel in downtown Kansas City. Why? I, together with Joanna Harader, Stephanie Krehbiel, and Sarah Klaassen (pictured here) presented several documents to Mennonite Church Executive Board.

Here is the first document that we handed out: Handout for MCUSA.  It describes various movements and groups that are working for the full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in the Mennonite Church. (This includes a description of Pink Menno. Reading this document or going to the Pink Menno website might help explain why we wore pink.)

The second document we shared was a graph showing the steady growth in the Supportive Communities Network of Brethren Mennonite Council. Rainbow Mennonite Church has been a long-standing member of SCN, a network of Mennonite and Church of the Brethren communities who are publically affirming of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual members.

The third and final document that we shared can be found here: Hopes for Mennonite Church USA

There was time for each of us to share what it is like to work in congregations working toward greater inclusion for LGBTQ individuals. There was also time for Board members to ask questions. I’m happy to visit with you individually if you want to hear more about our time together. Or you can click here to read a Mennonite press release about our conversation on Friday night.

In closing I’ll take this opportunity to put in a plug for the bi-annual MCUSA convention June 30-July 5, 2015. We don’t know yet what action the delegate body will be invited to take, but I imagine part of the agenda will include discussing the future of MCUSA and whether we as a denomination will continue to exclude LGBTQ individuals. We will want a full delegate slate in other words! And perhaps some of you might want to start adding pink to your wardrobe.

Top right photo credit: Anna Groff

Our 2014  church retreat began on Saturday September 20. As we registered our retreat leaders Paul Rudy and Lana Maree asked us to write down our favorite sound.

What sound did they just hear?

I saw people write the following: Trains (close and far away, mainly far away), water/rain/thunder/streams/waterfalls, birds, laughter, various instruments (cello and violin), tuning, basketballs dribbling, silence, etc.

Later in the day we reflected on the sounds we associate with Rainbow: organ, a cappella singing, How can I help you? (the sound of empathy), Coffee filling a mug (the sound of hospitality), coffee grinding (sounds like a squirrel in the kitchen), doors opening and closing (sound of activity, energy moving, maintenance, people coming AND people leaving), conversation, the organ breathing, the pews breathing, hotdogs grilling, children, red tail hawks (often perching in park tree), the Sunday school bell, the sound of collaboration.

Speaking of sounds and collaboration, we (mainly the younger participants) composed a song (see below)! Special credit to Madeline Bollinger, Emma Campbell and Abigail Grittman for writing the verses.

Here are some music-playing photos:

And here are some photos of adults doing what adults do!

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And here we are all together.

We ate and played outside and yes, basketball was played (not in my office of course)

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Our 2014 retreat was funded in large part by the Vital Worship Grant we received from the Calvin Institute of Christian worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan,with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Photo credits: Bill Hess of Alistair Photography

Looking at this candle in my office, I sometimes ask myself:When does standing around a common light with arms around each other feel comforting and when does it feel suffocating or heavy? It looks to me as if one of them is trying to get out of the circle!

We will continue our worship series on “Sensing God” this Sunday. Sunday’s sense is TOUCH.  How do we draw the holy into life through touch? Or we might ask: How is the holy in life stolen or destroyed as a result of touch that hurts?

Many stories and experiences come to mind. For starters, I invite you to consider this reflection written by my former colleague in ministry Heidi Regier Kreider:

I went one day to visit a friend in health care – someone whose world had shrunk and abilities had diminished after suffering a stroke… the day I came she was in the lounge sitting at a table, sorting and arranging colorful bead necklaces, and large, gaudy clip-on earrings; there was a plastic tub of the jewelry on her lap in the wheelchair, and a growing display of strings of beads on the table in front of her… blue and pink, yellow and metallic green, sea-shell beads and bright purple.

Her earlier career and life experience had used the skills of careful eye-hand coordination, and attention to detail and order – here, now, she was applying that same careful attention to the task at hand – her fingers working meticulously to sort and arrange the palette of colors and shapes in front of her.

She didn’t pay much attention to me, and kept saying in a perplexed way, “I don’t know why they asked me to do this,” but her hands kept working methodically and creatively at the task. When she was finished, I picked up two of the largest, bright red clip-on earrings – and gave them to her – and to my surprise this rather practical, plain woman promptly clipped them on her ears! So I picked up another set of rather large dangly earrings and clamped them on my ears! I asked her whether she used to play dress-up as a child? Yes, she said, her face brightening – we would dress up to play church – and she went on to describe how she and her friends or siblings would sit on the steps of the porch, pass the offering and preach.

Through color and shape, touch and movement, her memories were evoked and she painted for me a vivid picture of a young girl playing the rituals of worship.

Heidi goes on to share about a talk she heard at Kidron Bethel Village by Erin Bonitto on Unlocking the Mind: Pleasure, Purpose and Peace. She remembers Erin speaking about how touch can trigger memory. Here are some of the notes Heidi took down on how various senses including touch might be tapped when visiting someone with memory loss:

• “hand-memories” – folding, sorting, sanding, painting, playing with objects, art-work, making things that would trigger memories and experiences – like my friend and the beads.
• physical human contact – hugs, kisses, touch, caring for a pet, holding a doll
• automatic responses that have been repeated over and over through the years – rituals, hymns, prayers, poems, proverbs and familiar sayings [“peace be with you”]

As we prepare to gather on Sunday I invite you to think about your own history with touch. This might trigger some good memories, as well as some bad memories. I promise I won’t force anyone to huddle together around a common light on Sunday. However, I can’t promise that I won’t show up with colorful bead necklaces, and large, gaudy clip-on earrings.

Click here for a bonus picture/reflection involving my adorable cats who probably wish I didn’t pick them up as much as I do.

Luke 19:41 makes me ache every time I read it: As he [Jesus] came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If  you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!”

Coinciding with United Nations’ International Day of Peace, September 21 is recognized as Peace Sunday in many Mennonite circles. See Leroy Seat’s blog post to learn more about the Week for Peace (Sept. 21-27) sponsored by World Council of Churches.

This morning many Mennonite churches worldwide used worship materials provided by the Peace and Justice Support Network. Of particular concern right now to PJSN (and the world) is the on-going violence and unrest in Jerusalem. Therefore, worship materials this year focused primarily on “Prayers for the Peace of Jerusalem.”

Our church retreat scheduled for this weekend prevented us from using these worship materials this morning. However, we will have our own version of “Prayers for the Peace of Jerusalem” on November 16. Why? I will be in Israel/Palestine October 31-November 12 participating in a learning tour thanks to the generosity and priorities of  Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Church USA.

I imagine I will be aching many times on that trip and for a variety of reasons. I also hope to go with a spirit of courage, hope and imagination. Every day until leaving on this trip I will hold this tile gifted to me by Patty Shelly as a reminder of such hope. Here is what Patty writes about this particular tile:

The image is a variation of the “tree of life” motif that is very common in the Middle East, especially in Jordan and Palestine. Sometimes the images focus on fruitfulness and abundance (like the one here) and sometimes they focus on life as both joyful and tragic. Armenian Christians in Jerusalem from the 4th century onward used a lot of “tree of life” images in their mosaics…As I look at this specific tile, it seems to me to be a lively artistic presentation or a “mash up” of a fig tree (the round purple fruit with the yellow tops) and probably a date palm (the hanging clusters on the side). I also wonder if they could be grapes, as in “vine and fig tree” as a symbol of peace and prosperity. The blue stream in the middle makes me think of Revelation 22 and the river of the water of life with the tree of life growing on the banks of either side of the river, whose leaves are for “the healing of the nations.” Then again, I may be barking up the wrong tree!

Patty bought this tile from the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt, Jordan. MCC partners with this organization as it addresses education and vocational training for people with disabilities. Tile-making is part of their efforts to provide income generating skills.

Today I am remembering MARJORIE JANTZ who died Friday September 12. Marjorie will be remembered for her calm, wise, confident, and thoughtful nature.

Marjorie loved Rainbow and regularly prayed for this church. Marjorie was also committed to the church defined more broadly. For example, she was the first lay representative to serve on what was called the Ministerial Committee of Western District Conference from 1988-1994. My father Keith Harder actually served with Marjorie on this committee. Many lay people, he said, would have felt intimidated by this committee because up until that point, the committee had consisted of mostly ordained, male pastors who were responsible for reviewing, affirming, and sometimes disciplining other male pastors. My dad said if she was intimidated, it didn’t show. Former WDC Conference Minster Marvin Zehr put it this way: “Marjorie was a very devoted and gifted member of the committee and a strong advocate of women in ministry.” Marjorie led by example and many people at Rainbow remember her as the first female moderator of this congregation.

There is no doubt that Marjorie will be remembered as a champion for women, especially women pastors. She was aware of the many glass ceilings, including stained glass ceilings, that were preventing women from exercising their full leadership potential in the church. Of course, Marjorie was a champion of many causes including improving the quality of life for seniors. Still, my remembering of Marjorie this week will include celebrating her advocacy for women in ministry. And what better to do that than share this slideshow:

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This post wouldn’t be complete without giving a shout-out to Joshua Smith who is also a MDiv student at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Working for gender equality after all is not about devaluing men! When I took these photos, it appeared as though Joshua was locked in a library?!