churchlife

Welcome!

“The end is near,” we have been hearing the past few weeks on Sundays. This Sunday, we do reach an end—the end of our church’s liturgical year. Our church year always begins on the first Sunday of Advent and it ends today on Christ the King Sunday.

It’s easy to rush through Christ the King Sunday and move into the much anticipated season of Advent. Who doesn’t love a good Advent season with its blue colors and, eventually, trees? While I will preach about Christ the King and its meaning for us today, I would like to take this space and reflect on our past church year as Bay Shore.

A year ago, I was in my spare bedroom leading worship on Zoom. Danny, Dulcie and Kate also were in their homes, playing music, reading lessons and singing hymns. A year ago, we knew we would not be worshipping together for Christmas Eve, and we began making plans to create a service that we could show on our then new YouTube Channel. A year ago, we were completing the installation of our new technology which allowed us to begin livestreaming our services in early 2021. A year ago, I couldn’t fathom that we would not be together for a second Easter. A year ago, we didn’t have vaccines readily available.

In June, we returned to our building. We continue to livestream. And now, we still are contemplating the best way to have services in the coming weeks and months. I do not have a crystal ball, and so far, God is not answering certain questions that I have about when the pandemic will finally be contained enough to return to all things normally. But I am grateful to have spent the past year with this great community here at Bay Shore—the staff, our Council, our volunteers, our members and friends. We learned a lot; we grew in ways we did and did not want to grow. But most of all, we stayed together and supported one another as Jesus taught his disciples to do.

Blessings, my friends. May God bless us in our new year.

Pastor Sarah

Jesus and I have our best conversations when I am driving. Sometimes, it is just me talking and venting. Often, it is me praying. But every so often, Jesus comes through the radio. Like today.

Driving to work this morning, I listened to a segment on Public Radio. It was an interview with Sam Quinones, the author of Dreamland and his latest release, The Least of Us. Both books feature stories about the opioid crisis in America. This morning, Sam shared why he called his latest book The Least of Us. Sam shared that he went to the Bible and he was reminded of how Jesus served the least in the society. The poor, the orphan, etc. And then he said that our society “was only as strong as the least of us.”

Bay Shore, I needed that reminder. Maybe you do, too. Our community here in the Greater Milwaukee area is only as strong as “the least.” Jesus taught this, we hear this on Sundays, and we know it is true—but it’s also easy to move on. But today, I couldn’t move on. Because today I also learned that 36% of Wisconsin’s 4^th graders are reading below reading levels. And today I felt Jesus speaking through the radio, reminding me of why churches exist.

It’s to serve the least of us. Those who have needs, problems, issues, and adversities. It’s to be Jesus to the person who needs tutoring, clothing and other basic necessities. Jesus taught that we were only as strong as the least of us—and that to be first, we had to become last. When you think of it this way—if we are last, with our skills, education and privilege, then our society will finally be more equal and just for all.  Because if we are last—just imagine how better our world will be for those who follow.

What areas that are least served can we fill and renew? Where can we use our gifts and skills and help others in the name of Christ?

As we ponder the future mission of Bay Shore through the Strategic Plan process, join me in being open to the where the Spirit is guiding us. Or what Jesus may be telling us when we least expect it. The world is changing, I know you can feel it. But the message of Jesus in its purest form, loving our neighbor, is constant and the world is desperate for this good news.

You’re in my prayers, Bay Shore.

Blessings and peace to you and your loved ones.

Pastor Sarah

This past summer, I shared pumpkins seeds with our children here at church to tie into the story when Jesus talked to his disciples about mustard seeds and faith. Later that day, Pete, LJ, and I each took a seed to plant at home, but space was limited so in the end, I planted them in my almost empty compost pile. Surprisingly, all three grew and grew large. But, after the most blossoms I have ever had—only one pumpkin grew from one seed. That’s the one I brought today.

At the same time, I saw how a young dad threw his pumpkin into the yard in 2020, and he noticed this past summer all the stalks that were growing. So he left them to see what what would happen. At last count, which is hard since his yard now looks like a forest of pumpkin leaves, he has 19 pumpkins growing. Truth is, he tossed that pumpkin and didn’t give it a thought. Careless, you could say.

This reminded me that what we do with purpose and with carelessness matters because both ways produce results. Results which may surprise us or overwhelm us. Results which are good and sometimes hurtful. Results which we may not see for years by the seeds grow. With purpose, I planted three seeds and have one pumpkin, but the dad who likely threw the pumpkin in his backyard as a joke has a bounty.

It doesn’t seem fair at times what comes easily for others and harder for some. Or that carelessness is rewarded while careful planning produces less than desired. And yet, Jesus would tell me that I really only needed one pumpkin today, and that’s what I was given. Perhaps the dad needed more pumpkins to understand God’s abundance.  The truth is, we all learn differently, we have different results, and we need different experiences to experience God. Today, for me, it is one pumpkin. And Jesus is right. Today, it’s enough. Pastor Sarah

This time in Fall is a favorite of mine. Apple pies, pumpkins, color displayed by trees… it’s all lovely. For a short period of time. 

Because while I enjoy this lovely time, I have a lot to do. A long list of “things to complete before winter.” This week will be spent caulking windows, filling in holes in the lawn, emptying the rain barrels, preparing for the first frost…. There is a lot to do before my house takes our next steps into a new season.

In a way, I see Stewardship Appeals in the same manner. We do an appeal to prepare for what is ahead. Appeals address needs, like a list, and we can’t move forward, really, without addressing our needs, filling some holes, and sealing up our plans.

At the same time, Bay Shore, we are also progressing on our Strategic Plan. Soon, a survey will be made available to you all to continue our conversations and planning for our future. It takes work to do a Plan—lots of lists, and reviewing the past, present, but more importantly discerning our future. Like Fall and Stewardship Appeals, a Plan process is a short time in the life of the church—but it’s critical for the new season.

You can only put off chores and the list for so long. Like my carport roof—its leaking, and we’ve patched it, but this year—if we don’t address it, this may the year it comes crashing down. So, it’s number one on my list—to address it.

Appeals and Plans, they aren’t attractive. It’s like a chore list, right? But they are necessary and critical. So, thank you, Bay Shore, for taking the time this month to review our Appeal and see how you might be able to support Bay Shore in a new way, and thank you, Bay Shore, for participating and engaging in our conversations about the Strategic Plan. We are building for a future that many of us will not see. And that, my friends, is what “expanding the Kingdom” is all about.

Blessings and peace, Pastor Sarah