Uphill idealist

  A Twenty Year Tale of Holy Shenanigans: Wildgoose Journal 2#: Doug Pagitt bought my first beer Seriously though,  Doug Pagitt  bought me my first beer at age 30 something. I had grown up in a church tradition where alcohol was not permitted, so I was something of a late bloomer in trying something so common as a beer. My spouse and I were attending an Emergent Pittsburgh event where Doug was the presenting speaker. At the end of the day, the leadership invited us to go to dinner with them at  The Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh . It was at this dinner that I took note of the other guests enjoying a tall cool one, and asked the waiter what they might suggest for a brand new beer taster to try. All the while, I was doing my best to keep this conversation quiet, but Doug was delighted upon leaning my lack of beer knowledge and shouted from the end of the table, "I'm buying the lady at the end her first beer!" My face flushed as all eyes were on me - but as cool as I could

In honor and remembrance of   International Overdose Awareness Day , on August 31, 2023 this week's episode focuses on,  "Faith In Harm Reduction " with special guest   Rev. Erica M. Poellot , MSW, MDiv.    Rev. Erica M. Poellot, serves as the  Minister of Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Ministries for the National United Church of Christ  and Executive Director of  Faith in Harm Reduction . As a faith leader engaged in a long term healing process from substance use disorder, Erica founded  `Faith in Harm Reduction'  to co-create a justice movement which connects people who use drugs, their loved ones, and communities of faith through the development of harm reduction centered spiritual resources, ritual support, and spiritual care.  With joint MDiv/MSW degrees from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in NYC, Erica is based at  Judson Memorial Church  in NYC. Erica also serves on the Board of Directors for Safehouse and the  Peer Network of New Y

The collection of treasure on my windowsill might not look like treasure to someone else, but it is treasure to me.  I see a plaque that a family member gave me over 10 years ago to announce news of the grandhuman.  I see a freshly transplanted plant, that I nurtured from tiny cuttings on a greenhouse visit.  I see an adorable mushroom planter I found at Citiot on vaca that was a perfect home for my baby plant. I see a handmade pog-chip affirming all-body positivity created by Borderline Normal . Our vision sometimes needs an adjustment to see the treasure right before us.  What treasure do you see around/in you today?

In the book “Untie The Strong Woman” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés , I heard a story about Mary the Mother of God and how she navigated a call to be engaged on the earth, care for the poor and connected with the sacred.  She navigated middle space between Heaven and Earth with grace with a resounding, “Yes”.  Today on August 15th,  the Catholic Church, and those who are drawn to Mary, celebrate her Assumption Day. This day declares that she was taken up to Heaven, body and soul, at the end of her life. Even in her farewell she said yes to the both/and.  (Photo of stained glass window comes from Our Lady of Knock Shrine in East Durham, NY.) What does saying yes to the sacred and the earthy mean to you?  What middle place do you feel the most comfortable?  What is challenging about being in the middle? Where do you feel most connected to your body and spirit?

This week at Holy Shenanigans Podcast , we celebrate the release of the book,   "Youth Are Either Leading or Leaving",   by Lyle Griner.  To get your copy, go to:   https://store.bookbaby.com/book/youth-are-either-leading-or-leaving Lyle Griner , is Executive Peer Ministry Leadership Director: A connoisseur of “Aha” moments as soulfully curious youth and families wrestle with the nuances of faith and life! A writer, teacher, youth minister, spiritual director, working across the country, with multiple denominations to help congregations expand and deepen their abilities for youth and young adults to find purposeful ministry in every day life.  < www.peerministry.org > Support the show When in Western New York, please join Pastor Tara in worship at  First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY  on Sundays at 10:30 am.

“Yaya, I chose this table to sit at because I know you love sunflowers and Van Gogh.”  What a gift to be known and loved. My grandhuman is especially gifted at noticing and celebrating the things they know about the people they love. May your day be blessed with being known, loved and remembered.  Do you have a story of being remembered? Share it in the comments.

Welcome to episode #147 of Holy Shenanigans Podcast from the   2023 Wild Goose Festival   - this week I visit with a new friend,   Jon Carl Lewis , on the topic of    Spiritual Direction/Companionship.   Jon Carl Lewis is a spiritual companion dedicated to helping followers of Christ connect more deeply with Christ—and each other—so that they might live with abundant joy, loving God and their neighbor with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. He lives in Trenton, NJ, with his husband of 27 years and Alfred the cat. He feels a special affinity with contemplatives of any tradition and the LGBTQIA+ community. Jon Carl is always open to chat.  Please schedule a free hour with him at  https://calendly.com/joncarllewis/60min  and find out about all of his projects at  linktr.ee/joncarllewis . Support the show When in Western New York, please join Pastor Tara in worship at  First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY  on Sundays at 10:30 am.

Matthew 11:28-30   "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This spring I read the book by Rev. Tricia Hersey from The Nap Ministry and have been returning to it as a well of encouragement to live into regular rest practices. I n her book,  “Rest Is Resistance”, she tells the story of an elder in her life who practiced rest daily by taking a pause to, “Rest their eyes.” This story reminded me of my neighbor Ms. Estella who had a similar practice of, “resting her eyes” every afternoon. As a child it was a puzzle to me, but her commitment to this practice made a big impression on me.  The ways we all rest is different, but what if “resting our eyes” was something we all engaged in?  This photo comes from last week’s vaca time.   As the last campfire burned down, I collected some glow-

Lughnasadh or Lughnasa (/ˈluːnəsə/ LOO-nə-sə, Irish: [ˈl̪ˠuːnˠəsˠə]) is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In Modern Irish it is called Lúnasa, in Scottish Gaelic: August August 1st is the Celtic Celebration of Lùnastal, and in Manx: Luanistyn.  Traditionally it is held on 1 August, or about halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. In recent centuries some of the celebrations have been shifted to the Sunday nearest this date. It is a celebration of the first harvest, a time to give thanks for the fruit of the seeds planted in Spring.  On this day of thanksgiving, what fruit and harvest are you grateful for? This morning I paused to think about the growth of this house plant as well as the lily that bloomed in my yard. My how they both have uncurled and expanded since their initial planting! The green of these plants makes me also consider what "greening

Little things make a difference. Several years ago, I was a youth chaplain for young adults that lived in a secured residence facility.  My role was to care for the spiritual needs of the youth residents. I was tasked with visiting the teens in secured units, to offer small group gatherings and to provide emergency pastoral care.  Because I wasn’t a full-time staff person, I was never given keys or exit codes to the secured facility. I was dependent upon the support staff to let me in and out of the secured units.  In this arrangement, my safety was dependent upon my relationships with my co-workers - as well as my clients - to have way in and out of the secured units. On my first day, I entered the locked down unit to meet my first group of students. I remember saying out loud as the door was buzzed to let me in, “Ok God, here we go - you are coming with me and I have NO idea what we’re walking into!” In that season as a youth chaplain: I taught lessons on the parables - like the Good

  Today is the 7th Anniversary of Ordination Day. What a wild and wonderful seven years so far! Gratitude to God, my family and all who have traveled this road of ministry alongside me. “I swing in the grasp of Thy Great Love, Thy Great Love’s strength.” holyshenaniganspodcast #pastorlife #womeninministry #lovewins

Wednesday was a day to buy a bunch of gorgeous flowers for no reason.  But, was it actually for no reason?  They were $14.  They smelled gorgeous.  They made me smile.  They helped me stand in hope for something good that is yet to be. This is more than enough reason to take $14 flowers home. Where can you treat yourself to hope today? #gratitudematters #holyshenaniganspodcast

What can painted rocks do?  This was my question in May as I was considering what mini community art project to engage with this summer.  In time, I decided to start with rock painting for its accessibility and simplicity adding the #loverocks and #fpcjtn   Since June over 100 rocks have been painted by an over 50 people. Some of the rocks are in the garden at church - others all over Jamestown. Some well beyond Chautauqua County.  But yesterday morning I witnessed a moment that clarified why I’ve been lugging all these rocks around.  A grandmother and grandchild walked past a garden and paused to look at the colorful rocks, they smiled, they made a good memory and continued their walk, carrying a bit of joy with them.  This is the whole point. Share love. Share joy. Take it with you. We need it.  Thanks be for painted rocks.