Overwhelmed by the Underwhelming?

Which is worse - being overwhelmed or being underwhelmed?

What about when what overwhelms us is underwhelming?

dictionary.com defines overwhelm as, "To load, heap, treat, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything,’ and defines underwhelm as, “To fail to interest or astonish.”

We’re barely into 2022 and many are already feeling overwhelmed by so much that is underwhelming.

In his book, The Contemplative Pastor, Eugene Peterson argues that constantly feeling overwhelmed by our schedules can be a sign of inattentiveness. He suggests that we’re overwhelmed by our schedules because we don’t take the time to establish values or set goals – we allow others to do it for us, “then we find ourselves frantically, at the last minute, trying to satisfy a half-dozen different demands.” (I argue this is true for all of us, not just pastors.)

Peterson suggests that we cannot be busy and pray because when we are busy, we are inwardly rushed and distracted. We can, however, be active and pray. This suggests that there is purpose and intentionality. And who doesn’t want to live a life of purpose and intentionality?

Granted, there will always be tasks that are both underwhelming and necessary. There will always be days when we feel overwhelmed. And… there will always be time to take a deep breath and whisper a prayer. Who knows, by beginning each day with a time of prayer and reflection, we just might find that we spend the day overwhelmed by God’s mercy and grace.

Pastor Jo

January 6, 2022

A Year of Living Intentionally

Most of us have lived long enough to know that seasons come and go and those seasons don’t always come and go according to plan. It’s 80 degrees on Christmas Day and snowing on Easter Sunday. The family can’t come home for the holidays… the family won’t leave. The season is too sad, too lonely, too busy, too stressful…

As we prepare for 2022 we won’t magically enter into a new frame of mind, a healthier lifestyle, or a stronger connection to our faith. We will do so only with intentionality.

Or, as Nick Laird says,

“Time is how you spend your love.”

With that in mind, I invited each of us to take our 2022 calendars--paper or digital--and

set aside the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10-11 to serve others as we gather to prepare sack lunches for the homeless of St. Mark’s UMC.

And/or set aside the 1st Saturday of each month (anytime between 8AM and noon) to help with our Second Harvest Sharing (and/or the Friday before to help set-up).

Or maybe there is another act of service that draws you in… put it in your calendar.

If you’re really feeling adventurous, add the worship services you plan to attend.

Yes, seasons come and go--rarely according to plan--but let us not forget that the good we offer is everlasting.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as though you were working for the Lord and not for people."

--Colossians 3:23

Pastor Jo

December 29, 2021

To Carry the Wreath within Us

As part of our worship this past Sunday we added the Candle of Peace to the Advent Wreath.

Honestly, for most of us, we wonder if the light from these candles will ever makes its way into our lives. It appears hope, love, joy, and peace are too far out of reach for our weary world. Yet, the fact that we light them is in fact a reminder that deep within each of us is a light that shines in the darkness. So, we gather, we sing, we pray, and we listen for the brush of angel wings.

On Christmas Eve we will gather in our sanctuary at 5 PM to celebrate the Gift of Jesus. One way we will do this is by lighting the Christ Candle which is in the center of the Advent Wreath. What a powerful moment it is to finally light the Christ Candle and know that the season and the wreath are now complete, and Christmastide is upon us!

What if this year we allow our hearts and minds to carry the Advent Wreath with us into Christmastide? What if this Christmas Eve we invite Jesus to truly be the center of our thoughts and our actions?

Someone once said, “To light a candle in the darkness is to say, ‘I beg to differ.’”

The light of Christ is a powerful gift of hope, love, joy, and peace to a weary world…

to my weary world… to your weary world.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:5

May the Light of Christ warm your heart and brighten your path,

Pastor Jo

December 21, 2021