You are God's rock and Christ's church

For those of you who were at Palmer today, thank you for your hugs, positive feedback and support. For those of you who weren't, the text of my remarks on trust is below.

The miracle I want to talk to you about today is how this community has saved – and daily saves -- my life. It isn’t so much that Palmer keeps my life together, as that Palmer keeps ME together when my life is not.

Most recently, at the end of January 2009, I found my self without a job, without income, and without insurance. I have a gifted teenaged son, a car with 204,000 miles on it, and two lovable mutts I had rescued from a sure and untimely end. I don’t have an involved ex-husband, a local extended family, or resources beyond my own self-support. I am a typical single parent of our time, and I was frightened.

So I came here. I came to Palmer. I showed up for the first day of the Wednesday noon Bible study because I could. After the class I ran into Gay Stricklin and offered my time – the only gift I had to give – to help her in the office.

Before many weeks had gone by I was on the team revamping the website and working on other communications pieces critical to bringing Palmer’s vision to life. I found that there were things I could do that were helpful to our corporate mission, to our staff, and to our loyal and hardworking volunteers. I could serve, and in doing so I could make a difference.

The word for today is trust, and what my story describes is, no matter how far down the ladder we go, no matter how bleak the landscape appears, we all can be lifted into the light, and we do that for each other. It is surely not a coincidence that since I came to Palmer, I have experienced some of the most turbulent years of my life; God brought me here before he brought me to my knees, so that I would have a community to fall back on in the hardest moments.

At Palmer I am surrounded by people who love me, who say thank you, who are happy to see me enter a room, who seek my contribution to their projects, who appreciate my gifts and say so.

Because of that, I enter any conversation with a potential employer with confidence, enthusiasm, and a sense of purpose. Those among you who are unemployed, or who live with someone who is, know how easy it is to give in to despair from the relentless rejection that comes with job-hunting. This community reminds me every day that I have talents and worth, which shields me from that awful darkness. Every time I am lifted up in love and prayer by the people of Palmer, this Psalm becomes my fervent, personal belief:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
My God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

You people are God’s rock and Christ’s church. Your prayers, your ministry, your hugs and your generous love are larger than any demon in the wee hours of my nights. Because of you, through you, and with you, I trust.

Thank you.

Great Choirs for Great Causes

GREAT CHOIRS FOR GREAT CAUSES This year evensongs and special services will
highlight a service ministry at Palmer and/or in Houston - to both
celebrate its efforts and to learn more. In the spirit of service,
donations of needed items will be collected at the service .

Evensong Sunday September 20, 5:00 pm
Our first evensong will highlight the Refugee Ministry at Palmer and
Interfaith Ministries' Refugee Services. A reception will follow in
Fellowship Hall, including a video about Palmer's collaboration with
Interfaith Ministries. Please attend and bring a donation of family size
toiletries (toothbrush/paste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, laundry detergent,
dish liquid or paper products). Twin sheet sets, and bath linens are also
welcome. Furniture items can be arranged through Linda Shelton at
lshelton@palmerchurch.org. Invite friends to a wonderful service and pique
their interest in what Houston and Palmer are doing to "to welcome
strangers" from many different lands.

Do you make a fantastic international hors d'oeuvres?

We'd love to enjoy your global recipes following Evensong at a Reception
Sunday September 20, 6:00 pm, celebrating the Refugee Ministry. We can open
our hearts, minds and palates to taste the riches of many different
cultures. To offer your culinary or serving skills, contact Courtney
Daniell-Knapp at 713-328-0778 or cdknapp@palmerchurch.org.

This Sunday at Palmer

It's going to be a very busy and fun day at Palmer tomorrow. Don't miss it!

First of course is Light the Fire. Do you know that we have already run out of large flames? The effort goes on this afternoon to cut out more for all of you who will come and name the gift you have from the Holy Spirit. Your Palmer Editor is considering the flames herself -- I would have to add small group, off-campus Bible studies, adopting every abandoned dog in Houston, and having potluck dinners on campus on holidays for those of us with not a lot of family in town. Mostly I want to add my name to a hundred prayer logs, to keep the fire of love and ministry burning bright. I can't wait to see how this all looks tomorrow.

Tomorrow brings another day of EYC, with Jr EYC meeting from 12:30 - 2 and the Sr group from 2:00 - 3:30. Bring your swimming attire and a can of shaving cream. I am not making this up. There will be a glorious mayhem on our campus and all teens and tweens are encouraged to come. The Holy Spirit is alive and well among our youth!

Don't forget registration for fall Sunday School in Holy Cross Children's Chapel. There will be no regular classes tomorrow; come and see the Chapel, newly configured to be dedicated space for our kids, and register for the new classes and curriculum. Our goal is to prepare our kids from their earliest days for their confirmation year and a life of discipleship. After registration, bring the kids to Fellowship Hall for Light the Fire, and let them participate in our corporate life of discipleship, love and giving.

Come and be fed!

Light the Fire

If you've been anywhere near Palmer for the past 2 months, you've seen the icon of the campfire, with the invitation to you to name the flame that burns within you. What it's about is a different way of looking at ministry for all of us, clergy, staff and congregation alike. The staff meeting Tuesday was all about this coming Sunday; we reviewed the scriptures and the central idea together, and in doing so we all felt the energy and hope and enthusiasm that this day has in store for us. As you consider how to put words to your hopes for your own discipleship in the world, maybe some of that recap is worth repeating here.

Let's begin with Acts 2:1 - 4.

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."

And so the Holy Spirit gives us each a gift: gifts that others can hear and discern, no matter what our, or their, native language. What incredible fortune that is to contemplate! That I, through the pure gift of the Holy Spirit, can bring my gift -- whatever it is -- to you, for the betterment of your discipleship and faith.

Really, you say? Indeed, says the Lord. The next scripture is from Joel, 2:28-29.

"Then afterward
I will pour out my spirit on all
flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy,
your old men shall dream
dreams,
and your young men shall see
visions.
Even on the male and female
slaves,
in those days, I will pour out
my spirit."

Indeed, says the Lord. I give this gift to all, man and woman, slave and free, old and infant. That means you, and your kids, and everyone you know. We all have a gift! That's great, you say. Now what?

The next scripture answers: Acts 4:13-14.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition."

Uneducated? Ordinary? No problem. Bold? You bet. Peter and John converted thousands by giving themselves over to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If they can do that, we can, too.

Last scripture: Ephesians 3:16-20.

"I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Be bold! Know that what you are given is the gift of God for his glory; know that from your gift, you convey the love that passes all understanding.

What is your gift? Ask yourself: what do I see that hurts? That makes me long for a solution? That makes me think, if I won the lottery, I would set up a foundation to ___________?

It can be anything from ending hunger or war to caring for abandoned dogs to hosting potluck dinners. What is important is that it connects to your gifts and passions. Even if it doesn't have an obvious connection to Palmer ministry, name it and claim it because your discipleship matters in this community.

Come to Fellowship Hall on Sunday, anytime during the day. Write your gift, idea or passion on one of the large flames. If you don't have one, please come and see the wall of flames posted by others. One of them already there may move you, and if it does you can write your name on a smaller flame to show your interest and support. Write your name on a prayer log, and pray for the ministry and discipleship of others.

I can't wait to see it: a wall full of flames and logs, hopes and goals and dreams fueled by prayer and love, creating a bonfire of the spirit among us. Come and see.

Do you still have questions? Contact sarah scherschel, sscherchel@palmerchurch.org

Are you stressed?

Me, too.

Your Palmer Editor has sensed some stress in the community. We are a busy people, in our worldly lives and in our Palmer mission. And there is so much to do! And who does not want to do it with skill, with all the love and grace we have, with our best, with perfection, even? Not one of us.

But then what happens? The altar was not "just so". A youth reader missed a beat. We disagree with a decision. We churn. We placate whining children and try to avoid conflict of all kinds. We look for relief.

Christ would not want us ruining our stomach linings in his behalf: far from it. We list below a number of scriptures. These tell of times that Jesus went away, alone, to pray or meditate. Our work for the kingdom depends upon our individual spiritual health, the daily maintenance of our spiritual condition. These remind me that my ability to change lives in his name depends upon my right relationship with him. Ministry is about the GOOD NEWS!

Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this (news of John's death) he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart.

Matthew 15:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went into the hills by himself to pray

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, a great while before the day, he rose, and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.

Mark 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the otherside." And leaving the crowd, they took him just as he was, in the boat.

Mark 6:31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were comning and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Mark 6:46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went into the hills to pray.

Mark 7:24 And he entered the house and would not have anyone know it; yet he could not be hid.

Luke 5:16 But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out into the hills to pray; and all the night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 9:10 On their return the apostles told him what they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida.

John 12:36 ...When Jesus had said this (saying he would die) he departed and hid himself from them.

Whether you are clergy, staff, lay ministry leader or volunteer, remember to be fed with prayer, with scripture, in worship, by pastoral care with another, in rest. Be fed, so that you may feed others.

Help Palmer Youth! And other Fellowship Notes

Palmer Youth Ministry will be selling delicious breakfast tacos to raise money THIS SUNDAY in the courtyard. Your purchase will help to support the Emergency Aid Coalition. Bring your hunger for ministry!

For Young Adults, join us at a pool party August 8. At 4:00 pm, come to 4023 Grennoch Lane, 77025. Bring some friends, a side dish to share, and the beverage of your choice. Burgers and hot dogs will be provided. RSVP to sarahdavies01@hotmail.com.

Join the next trip to Galveston with the Hurricane Relief Team on September 26. Contact Kathy Jackson and Bob Adolph (KJandBA@sbcglobal.net)for more information and to get involved!

Do we make a difference?

Your Palmer Editor heard the most wonderful story yesterday, one I'm sure you will enjoy as well. A member of the staff had a visit recently from a woman, here in town with her son while she is undergoing tests at MD Anderson. They had been to Palmer before when they were relocated to Houston after hurricane Katrina and the boy had gone to NOAH, the school for displaced kids housed at Palmer for that year. After the mother's test was done, the son wanted to come to Palmer to see the place where he had gone to school. Can you imagine? A school aged child passes up the opportunity to go to the zoo or some ice cream parlor to come and visit a church. But two of his teachers at NOAH were also back at his school when it was rebuilt, surely providing continuity to a young person in sore need of it. It made an impression.

The woman went on to share at length about the impact Palmer made on her family's life. The love we showed her, she said, will be forever part of them; that what she watched the people of Palmer do changed the way her son looked at the world; that she goes by St. Paul's Church in Louisiana every day, and thinks of this community of people -- YOU -- who went there to rebuild it.

We minister because we are called to do it, and Palmers do it gladly for that simple reason. It is freeing to just do the good work in a world that screams for results and growth and instant returns. Sometimes we give until we burn out, or we get so busy doing that we forget why we do it. Certainly, I do. And then a story like this presents itself with all of its grace and who, on either side of the ministry, can remain unchanged? We are blessed beyond measure, and these gifts multiply by our sharing of them. Please -- make comments here, and share the stories you know of ministry that changed a life, yours or anyone else's. It's part of our mission, to "know and share the love of Jesus Christ".

Yes, we make a difference. Thanks be to God!