Notes of Hope

I’m So Excited! I Just Can’t Hide It!

Epiphany Greetings from the land of snow! Sometimes when I look outside I’m surprised I’m still in Greenfield, Indiana, and not in Chicago or Minnesota with all this beautiful snow!

Are you excited that Lent is almost here? Every time I ask that question of people I get an odd look, no response or a “not really”. It really surprises me. Not everyone is like me. Why not? lol

I have such fond memories of Lent at St. Matthew Church, Detroit, and Christ Our Savior Church, Livonia. Lent gave me the opportunity to be at church more and around people who truly loved me, to be at church at night on Wednesdays eating a good meal with friends and worshiping together, to be at church singing some wonderful Lenten hymns we would only sing once a year.

And, most of all, Lent led to a wonderful celebration on Easter. I always like the transformation of the worship space from Lent to Maundy Thursday, to Good Friday to Easter. May I never have to miss one of those worship times.

It seems we get more excited over Advent (although I’ve run into those who are not that excited about Advent either), because we are looking forward to a baby’s birth, presents, pretty lights and time off work. The media really hypes up the Advent season although they don’t refer to it as that.

During Lent we look forward to………..a death. How many look forward to their death or their best friend’s death. That would be a bit odd. Yet it is not a death we are looking forward to. Lent doesn’t just lead us to Good Friday and leave us there. Lent leads us on a journey through the life of Christ, his joys and sorrows and; yes, his death but then to his resurrection which points us to our resurrection and our best friend’s resurrection! So exciting!

We may not get a lot of days off at Easter to celebrate with family and friends. We may not shower each other with gifts. We may not be celebrating a baby’s birth. But! We do get to celebrate additional time together at midweek worship services and often meals together at our churches. We do get to celebrate Jesus’ life. Most importantly we get to celebrate eternal life. Why not get excited about Lent?!!

May you take advantage of the times your church family gets together to eat together, worship together and build relationships together. If you don’t have a church family, I hope you take the time to find one that welcomes and encourages you. Ash Wednesday is this coming Wednesday! It’s almost here! May you rejoice in the beginning of Lent and the journey, not only to the cross, but more importantly to the empty tomb.

God is with us!

Hope

Meet & Greet

Epiphany Greetings from Greenfield, Indiana, where I am excitedly anticipating the 4 -  8 inches of snow the weather people are predicting!  Hoping it is the snowman and snow angel making type of snow!

Last summer I had the great opportunity to attend worship at a masjid in Eden Prairie, MN.  One thing, of many, that struck me was the fact that the women very lovingly called me sister.  I was not covered head to toe as it was summer and quite hot in MN, and I hadn’t brought any clothes with me that could cover me. 

When I sat down on the floor a couple women talked quietly.  One came over to me, gently called me sister and looked so caringly at me.  She had a baby blanket and asked that I cover myself since this was their tradition.  I had no problem with that at all, but my exposed body parts (I had on capris and a sleeveless shirt) were larger than the baby blanket.  I apologized for my dress and explained I was a Christian.  She smiled, said she was glad I was there and called me sister again.  I asked her where I should place the little blanket.  Should I cover my head or my arms or my legs?  She went over to the other women, came back and said they decided it would be best to cover my legs - which I did.  She sat very close to me, helped me during the time of worship and continued to refer to me as sister.  It was a very touching experience.

This event came back to me last Sunday when Pastor John Moe was the worship leader at First Trinity in Indianapolis where I am a member.  At the end of his sermon he told this story:

Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, tells of the time he was walking down the street and passed a beggar.  Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the man some money, but his pocket was empty.  Tolstoy turned to the man and said, “I’m sorry, my brother, but I have nothing to give.”  The beggar brightened and said:  “You have given me more than I asked for…you have called me brother.”  To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel, but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast.

The Bible says in Mark 3: 34 - 35:  “Then he (Jesus) looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” 

Also, many times the apostle Paul refers to his audience as his brothers and sisters. 

I know brothers and sisters argue, disagree and fight at times.  I also know that they care for each other, make up after their disputes and love one another.  Having had 11 years between me and my sister, 8 years between me and my older brother and 10 years between me and my younger brother, there was little fighting at home and little time together at home.  I do know that whether we agree or disagree on things in life, I will always love them as I plan on them always loving me. 

May the same be true of all of us. May we provide that word of affection that can be a feast to the love-starved and all that we meet and greet.

God is with us as we do so!
Hope

First Trinity News

Worship this Sunday will be at 10:45am led by Pastor Denise Brentlinger.  Remember your food for the food bank.  Items in need are peanut butter, tuna fish, canned soups, canned fruit, soap and laundry soap.

If you haven’t returned your Spiritual Gifts Assessment to me, please do so this Sunday.

Winter House Cleaning Day is Saturday, February 13, at 11am with a light lunch.  How enjoyable it is to do this together.

Our website is up and running and in the creation phase with many, many thanks to Jason Cunningham.  We also have a Twitter, FaceBook and MySpace account.  Check us out at www.ftlutheran.com



***Notes of Hope Stay-in-Touch email devotions began in 1995 as three of the high school kids from my group in Livonia, MI, went off to college, and they helped me find a way to stay connected with them weekly and to connect them with their congregation.  Today the list has grown to over 700 friends and family members around the world.  At the end of each Notes I put information about the current church I am attending and anything else on my heart.  If you desire to not receive Notes of Hope, just send me an email.  You may also read these on my facebook account or on my blog at www.hopemoran.com****

Gas America or Home?

Advent Greetings!

It’s Advent! My most favorite season of the year! And, it’s cold outside, and I’ve heard talk of snow next week. My other favorite season is almost here - winter! Although I’m finding my body isn’t liking the cold as much as it used to. Not sure what happened there. I just know that I need to actually wear a coat this winter and need to find a warmer one.

This Sunday I have the honor of leading worship at First Trinity in Indianapolis. Although I’ve written my message, I keep going over the readings each day to see if anything different hits me.

Last night as I was driving home I came across a very familiar, yet unfamiliar, piece of road once again. Just north of 1-70 on State Road 9 the road has changed. For 9 years I have always stayed in the left lane, because the right lane disappeared, and I don’t like having to get over and fit in with traffic. Now that familiar section of road has changed. The straight away section of road is now on the right and the left has become a turn lane and then ends. I find that frustrating, because I forget to stay in the right now.

In the gospel lesson for this week it talks about making our paths straight. The road people did make that path of roadway straight by my house, but it is a hard thing for me to deal with.

Just like when I try to make my path straight in God’s eyes. It’s so hard sometime to not get caught up in things that take me on a crooked path away from God. Sometimes it is even more enjoyable on the crooked path. Yet, that is only momentary happiness. I want eternal joy and happiness.

To help me figure out if I’m on the straight or crooked path I have always come back to the verse in Philippians: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” That is my filter to judge whether what I’m saying and doing is leading me on a straight path toward God or a crooked one away from God.

Often the path of least resistance is the crooked path for some reason. Often it is much more difficult to stay on the straight path. Just like with the stretch of road by my house. It is much easier for me to do as I’ve always done and stay in the left lane. But very quickly I find out that it’s not leading me where I want to go.

If I stay in that lane I have to turn left into Gas America; but, if I stay in the straight, right lane I end up at home. And, generally, I’d much rather end up at home with my God than at a gas station needing to pay for another fill-up.

God is with us!

Hope

Bless You!

Greetings from Greenfield, IN, where Devil’s Night and Loose Coneys don’t exist - grateful for the former but sad about the latter:

“May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with…me.” (Ruth 1: 8)

Writing a devotion based upon Ruth 1 is part of the process for writing for the devotional “Christ in Our Home” from Augsburg Fortress Publishing.  The verse above is the one I chose and wrote about.  Here’s my thoughts:

Why is it that I bless my children, friends, and even strangers only when they sneeze?

A man who worked third shift arrived at church each week just as worship ended.  The pastor asked why he bothered to come at all.  The man said that if he received the blessing and was sent back out in God’s peace, he could get through the next week.

Making it through the week can be tough.  How great that we are blessed in worship as we begin each week.

I wish I had done this with my children when they lived at home.  Given them a blessing each time I sent them out, and not only when they sneezed.

Even as adults living in different states, it is not too late to start.  I am going to begin ending letters, phone calls, emails and visits with a blessing inviting God to be with them.  I know God is with them; yet, extending the invitation encourages their soul and mine and lets God know how important they are to me.

But wait, why should I call out a blessing only on my children?  Why not with others?  It will take some boldness to begin this, but I know God is with me.

Hope

Moran News

I continue to send out resumes to non-profits looking for a new job.  No job yet

The deal fell through on the house.  We are having an open house this Sunday.  No sale yet

Do you listen to Delilah on the radio?  Sometimes when I get in a sappy, love song mood I do.  Yesterday she extended her weekly challenge to her listeners.  It was that each of us should do something nice and encouraging for the person we like the least.  Now, isn’t that a challenge?  I shall try to figure out something to do for that person even if it takes me all week to think of it and get it done.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May your heart find grace.
May your soul know peace.
May your mind be renewed.

May your eyes see the light.
May ears hear the glory.
Of Jesus Christ in our midst.

~Benediction by Brian Dunning and Jeff Johnston

Big Box Stores

Pentecost Greetings from Greenfield, Indiana, where Newcomer Lumber has closed as another victim of the recession and the big box stores:

Big box stores overwhelm me and cause some fear and trepidation in my being.  I like to walk into a place where they know my name, and they are always glad I came.  *smile*

Walking into a church where I was unknown had a little of the same feeling.  This is the first time I can remember where I joined a church simply as a member totally unknown to most.  Although it was a little uneasy at first, once the service began I felt at home.  The liturgy really reassured me and made me even more aware of how we are the kingdom of God here on earth.  How many people were reciting the Apostle’s Creed Sunday morning?  As my lips moved to those familiar words, how many others were doing the same?  That was calming.  The edge of uncomfortableness left me and made me feel stronger as the liturgy continued.

All in all, I do feel stronger these days.  Psalm 46 has been a great comfort as I do so many things all on my own for the first time in my life.  Major things like finding a job that only I have to approve of and not my whole family, finding a place to live that meets only my needs and determining what is truly important in my life.

I am at quite a crossroads, yet I have never felt more peaceful and more joyful. Life is exciting and a great adventure.   Psalm 46 has become important to me during this time.  Have you ever personalized a Psalm so that it speaks directly to you?  That has been good for me to do.  Here is what I have done to this Psalm.  Maybe it will be helpful to you as you pray the Psalms to do the same at times.

¹ God is my refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

² Therefore I will not fear, though I have no job
and every job in every state is open to me,

³ though my home has just about been sold
and I’m not sure where to move. I am truly in limbo.
Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

⁵ God is within me, I will not fall;
God will help me at break of day.

⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The LORD Almighty is with me;
the God of Jacob is my fortress.
Selah

⁸ Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields ^[b] with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with me;
the God of Jacob is my fortress.
Selah

This Psalm is so powerful.  I see why it was selected for such an important day like Reformation Sunday.  My God is so mighty and does so many powerful things in this world.  Yet that same God is with me as I reside for a while in “limbo land”.  How can I not enjoy this?  God has never felt closer to me.  It is a real joy to have this time with God - this time when all I really have to take care of and look out for is myself.  It has been a blessing.

I would like to ask for your prayers as I discern God’s will for my future employment and where I can serve God’s people best, as I look to get published as an author of Notes of Hope and a book called Defining Moments, as I look for a new place to live and wait to see if this home has truly been sold, and as I seek to serve the people God places in my path today and each day.  It is a wonderful journey with God.  How can I pray for you and yours?

God is with us!

Hope

Sunday the Indianapolis Conference of the I-K Synod of the ELCA is having a Reformation Service at 4pm followed by a German Dinner at Christ Lutheran Church in Zionsville.  Hope you can attend.  It will be great time for the 31 churches in our conference to worship together and enjoy fellowship.  If you know you are coming, please let me know ahead of time; however, if you decide Sunday afternoon to join us, that is fine too.  Reservations are hoped for but not mandatory.  I would love to see you there.

joanielvschachi

Pentecost Greetings from Greenfield, Indiana, where the banners have been hung announcing our annual Riley Festival from October 1 - 4. The excitement grows!

“joanielvschachi” is the twitter user name for my dear daughter-in-law Erin DeBoer-Moran. For a while now I have been trying to pronounce her “name” and understand it. It is like trying to decipher a vanity plate on a car. My daughter-in-law is gifted beyond belief in playing the piano, singing and in various forms of art from creating and binding books to jewelry-making to painting to decorating a home. She is interested in women’s issues, the environment, social justice causes, India, family and friends and lots more.

Knowing her talents and interests, I tried to figure out an artsy, deep meaning to those 15 letters that were strung together. It had to be something profound. Finally on my last trip to MN a couple weeks ago, I decided to plead my ignorance and ask her what the letters meant. I knew I would learn something astounding.

When she told me I burst out laughing! It translates into “Joanie Loves Chachi” that former tv show in the early 80’s which was a spin-off of Happy Days with Erin Moran and Scott Baio. With my daughter-in-law Erin marrying my son, Moran was added to her name. Hence Joani who is Erin Moran. Therefore Chachi is my son Jason. *smile* I laughed so hard when I heard this. A deep belly laugh. Hard to stop. Here something that I thought would be so deep and profound ended up being something so fun and easy to see once it had been shown to me. Of course it is joaniloveschachi. Only 2 letters were omitted and they were all strung together. Amazing how something can be right in front of you and you have no idea what it is and try to make more out of it than what it is.

It can be that way with the Bible and with God in my life at times. The Bible holds a simple message that I often try to go too deep with. Sometimes we get all bogged down in issues that distort the simple message of love that God is giving to us. The message is so evident in the songs “Amazing Grace” and “Jesus Loves Me”.

Want to smile and hear the great Gospel message at the same time? Check out these two videos and then share them with someone who need to hear them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS93Q4jQAO0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHiZBbz_aTY&feature=related

Such a simple and sweet message to communicate with so many in need, so many hurting, so many feeling unloved and unwanted in the world today.

God is with us!

Hope

People are always asking how I am. Just to let everyone know, I am doing great. It is so wonderful to have Aaron home. We are working hard to make this house shine and sparkle so it can be put on the market and sell quickly. Amazing how much stuff I have accumulated in 10 years, and I do not consider myself a “saver”. And, have you tried the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers? Aaron introduced them to me. All I can say is - Amazing! I am sending out resumes and interviewing, and the next position I will take is just around the corner in Washington State, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota or maybe even Indianapolis. I feel very peaceful and peace-filled and enjoy every day I have been given. God is great! God is good! So I thank and praise God! It is wonderful to have so many loving friends and colleagues. Thank you for caring.

Plus, life couldn’t be better tomorrow, as my brother got Red Wings tickets so Aaron and I will be joining him and his daughter at the game in Detroit and catching up on seeing family I haven’t visited in a long time - too long.

Whopping Numbers

Pentecost Greetings from Greenfield, Indiana, on this solemn day of remembrance for the tragedy that happened in NYC in 2001:

Tragedy is all around us. My version of tragedy, which I actually see and feel, is far different from the real tragedies going on in the world today when I think of the:

Lives of the people who knew the 3000 who were killed in the 9/11 attacks – the widows, the orphans, etc.;

Lives of the people who know the 26,000 children who die every day from hunger;

Lives of the people affected by the 2,319,258 men and women in jail in the US today;

Lives of over a billion people, or roughly one in six, who live in extreme poverty which is as living on less than $1 a day;

Lives of the 300 million people who wake up every morning without shoes to protect their feet from injury and disease.

What am I doing about this? What am I concerned about and spending my time on? It seems to me that those people listed above are what I am to be about and not the petty things that often occupy my time. After all, if I am to be like Jesus, then I shouldn’t get mired down by things that Jesus wasn’t even concerned about. I need to read these familiar verses often and look for ways to be Christ to these people. There certainly are enough of them around as I can see from the stats above.

Here’s what Jesus said we should be concerned with from the 25th book of Matthew: 31

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34”Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37”Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40”The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41”Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44”They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45”He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46”Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

So, how much do the rest of the things I occupy my time with in life really matter? Possibly if all of us focused more on what Jesus focused on and let go of the rest, life might be better for all.

God is with us!

Hope

Beautiful Hurting Feet

Pentecost Greetings from St. Paul, MN, where it is cool and sunny and all a-buzz with the State Fair!

One of the great joys with being around my kids is that we laugh a lot.  Laughter is so important in life, isn’t it? Really good belly laughs.

Sunday when I gave the sermon on my last day at St. James, Greenfield, IN, parts of my sharing got pretty intense for me and maybe for the people listening.  Humor was important at those points.

I started to say something about the person who fills my shoes…..and realized, that as I stood behind the pulpit, I had taken my shoes off…..anyone at that point could have filled my shoes especially if they wore a 9  and a 1/2 and like beautiful high heels.  Even though they hurt my feet,  I love how they look.  :-)

Yet, I love being barefoot best.  One of my favorite Bible passages is Exodus 3: 5 “”Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

No one fills another’s shoes though.  We all, fortunately, have our own shoes in this country.  We are privileged and blessed.  New shoes come in and give a fresh spark to things.  We all have our own identity and flair.  It is wonderful!  New shoes and new beginnings are fun and exciting. We never know where those new shoes or new beginnings will take us.  Yet, we can trust that we walk in those shoes with God, and God is with us in every new beginning and every step along the way.

Two important verses about walking with God:

Micah 6: 8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

2 Corinthians 6: 16  “As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

God is with us!
Hope

Thwapp!

Pentecost Greetings:

When I was in school, we began every day in devotions singing a hymn or two and reading Scripture. We were not allowed to close the hymn book, and were not supposed to turn the page, until the amen was sung on that particular hymn. I never really knew why, but followed the rules so my knuckles didn’t get thwapped with a ruler. Over the years as I’ve held a hymn book or a bulletin with the printed liturgy and songs in it, I will find myself putting my finger behind the page we are on ready to flip to the next page, but I cannot turn the page until we are completely done with the page we are on.

Two thoughts have come to me on this. One is that staying on the page we are on helps me to stay in the present moment. This is such an important principle in life. When someone comes in to talk, I always tell myself silently to stay in the present moment, enjoy the time, relax and listen. When I haven’t stayed in the present moment, I have missed so much. I’ve learned the hard way. The same holds true with worshipping God. Staying in the present moment is important in our worship services, too. Really thinking about what we are saying and doing at that minute and giving it all to God.

The second thing I’ve learned is that there is a tinge of excitement not knowing what is on the next page. If I flipped the page too soon I would ruin the surprise.

What I thought was a dumb rule at St. Matthew Lutheran School in Detroit turned out to be a valuable life lesson years later. As I leave St. James, it is important that I stay in the present moment these last couple days and enjoy the moments to the fullest. As I begin to turn the page on the next decade of my life, it is important that I do so slowly with anticipation and excitement to see what God has in store for me and where the Holy Spirit is leading.

I ask my St. James family to do the same. Enjoy the moments we have together. Look ahead so you don’t miss the exciting, faith-filled times that God has in store for you. God has blessed St. James abundantly, and I feel privileged to have been a part of that and to have felt God’s grace fully here in this place. Bask in God’s grace and share it with others as you have been. Invite them into this wonderful church family. Don’t keep it just for yourself. Keep looking ahead, not at the past, so you can grasp onto all that God is sending your way in the days ahead. God is great and worthy of our praise!

This Sunday I will be giving the sermon and look forward to seeing you.

God is with us!
Hope

Complaint Department Closed! Lamentation Station Open!

Pentecost Greetings from Greenfield, Indiana, where it is 2nd Friday downtown with sidewalk chalk art, Abe Lincoln exhibit, cupcakes at Moxie’s, sodas at (where else?) the Soda Fountain, and more good, family fun!

Did you know that today is V-J Day? I wonder how many people reading this know that and know what it means. Since I was very young I knew it was V-J Day, because it is also my mom’s birthday. She always linked the two. Had she not died at 53, she would have been 83 today, and I still do miss her an awful lot.

It is the 64th anniversary of V-J Day. I have always known it as the American Victory over Japan Day which ended WWII. The Japanese call it Shuusen-kinenbi, which literally means the “memorial day for the end of the war”; the official name for the day is however “the day for mourning of war dead and praying for peace”. This official name was adopted in 1982 by an ordinance issued by the Japanese government.

How good that the Japanese, who follow this ordinance, use a very sad day when they could have just complained and complained for years to come (and maybe some have) and declared it a day for mourning and praying for peace not a day for griping.

I have been reading and praying the Psalms daily. Although at times David appears to be complaining, my friend and mentor, Pastor Jeff Iacobazzi, told me the difference between complaining and lamenting. Complaining happens when a person turns their back on God and speak ABOUT God rather than to God and expects that they have to lead themselves out of a situation.

David did not do that in the Psalms. David lamented. He presumed God was with him in the predicament. God was experiencing the situation with him and would lead him out of it into the next life-giving place.

Life isn’t easy. There are many times that are rough and difficult especially at night. Things are always darkest at night. That’s why I sleep with the lights on. *smile* It reminds me that the light of God’s love is surrounding me and protecting me and loving me through whatever may be consuming me at that hour.

When those dark times come, may I lament when necessary and flee from complaining so that I may be driven into the arms of God instead of turning my back on God.

God is with us always and forever,
Hope