On the Road

Blind Curves Ahead

Based on Exodus 3:1-15

God never calls us to a purely private relationship with Jesus or to engage the brokenness of the culture without God being with us. But to keep them integrated.

Even when we have chosen to be on the road trusting in Jesus there are times when there is a curve ahead and the road just disappears from sight. We may ask, what are we to be about now? Why doesn't God give me a burning bush and tell me what to do?

God can and does still speaks to us through different versions of a burning bush but when it comes to knowing what we're really to be about, we don't need a burning bush, we can look at Scripture--be it Moses, the prophets, Paul or Jesus , they all seem to put it the most succinctly: love the Lord your God with all your heart soul strength and mind and your neighbor as yourself.

What that tangibly looks like in each of our lives will look different. That is God’s creativity at work. And God uses it all. The amazing thing is that when we live in an empire that has lost what it means to be human and employs tools of fear, corruption, hate, force, lies, division that may seem all powerful, --then, simply being the humans God calls us to be, knowing God, knowing God is with us, and seeking the welfare of the community, surprisingly has far more impact than we know.  

Will you be one who trusts? Will we be a community, that embraces the invitation to know God more and to be holy troublemakers disrupting the ways of the Empire, defending the poor, questioning lies and rhetoric, speaking truth in love, loving our neighbor and living as Jesus leads?

-James B Notkin | 07/06/25

With

On June 29, we focused on the importance of being WITH one another in this time when so much divides. To be with someone: is to come alongside, to accompany, to be present.

In Exodus 1, two midwives - Shiphrah and Puah, chose to fear God over the pressure of the ruthless King, to do what they do — support and come alongside women as they give birth.
Mid-wife, literally means: “with-women.” Since mid means “with”, these women provide an image for all of us on how to live in the midst of a ruthless empire.
What does it mean to be “mid-neighbor”, “mid-colleague”, “mid-family”, “mid-stranger”?

In our current time when the news swirling around us creates fear, division, and tendency toward isolation, it is important to take time to be attentive to what it means to be “with” someone. To give thanks for those who are “with” you is also vital. We are connected by God Emmanuel - God WITH us, whose love flows through us to create community that is life-giving and brings transformative change even when systems are unjust.
Spend time asking: “Where are you ‘mid-wifing’ to bring new life and wholeness?

Here is the prayer Emily Huff provided on Sunday, 6/29:

Psalm to the Midwife
Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You will know when it is time to bring to birth the new creation.
The signs will be all around you, urging, insisting; now is the time.
You will have to know just when to bear down and concentrate on one thing only.
It takes labor, hard, hard labor to bring forth something new.

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You have to know just when to push for something that is worth fighting for.
If you push too soon, the dream, so close to fulfillment, may be stillborn.
You have to know how hard to push when something new is about to happen.
If you push too hard, you may be too exhausted or too discouraged to continue on,
and resistance may rise or fear may take hold, convincing you it’s safer not to try.

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You have to know how to cut the cord and how to let go of what has been…
For what will be will be different and it will take time to adjust.

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You have to know how to wait for things to settle after the dream is born,
and how to handle the consequences – clean up the mess and then move on.
How good it is to bring to birth, or to help another bring to birth,
and how good it is to deliver the dream, let us nurture it to fulfillment!!

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!

Adapted from Woman Witness by Miriam Therese Winter

St. Brigid was a woman in Ireland in the 5th century who lived a life of “withing” as she created ministries of hospitality and generosity. Here is a prayer for us from Brigid that invites us to trust that our lives offer the warmth of God’s love to one another:

Kindling the Fire  

This evening as  we  kindle the fire on our hearth,
We pray that the flame of God’s love may burn in
our hearts and in the hearts of all we meet each day.
We pray that no envy or malice,
no hatred or fear, may smother the flame.
We pray that indifference and apathy,
contempt and pride,
may not pour like cold water on the fire.
Instead, may the spark of God’s love
light the love in our hearts,
that it may burn brightly through each day.
And may we warm those who are lonely,
whose hearts are cold and lifeless,
so that all may know the comfort of God’s love

Where do you experience the spark of God’s love today? Share it!

Remember!

Remember.

In Luke 24:5-10 we are told that the faithful women who journeyed with Jesus and also had seen him die on the cross came to the tomb to lay spices on Jesus’ dead body.

When they did not see Jesus’ body and instead saw two men in dazzling  clothes, “the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men  said to them,
‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. REMEMBER….’”

These women are invited to pause at an empty tomb and connect the past, present and future by remembering…

“…REMEMBER how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.”
 Then they REMEMBERED!

“…They remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the   eleven and to all the rest.”

Isn’t this something?!

Angels appeared to faithful women in their grief and sorrow  to say “Remember the words Jesus told you.” 

And they remembered that Jesus had said many times that the Messiah must suffer and die to rise to new life on the third day.  They remembered – because they had heard Jesus speak – many times I believe. 

Angels appeared to women, often unseen in their society, to say “go tell others what you remember and see.” This remembering is too good to keep to yourself.

Do you remember words that you’ve heard from Jesus along your journey? Do you remember words of… “you are not alone”, “I am with you”, “ I love you, courageous one.”

These words are not from a man who died long ago, but from one who is ALIVE now and forever because death could not hold him. And, because He lives, you live!

When we gather we faithfully  say, “Yes” Jesus is the Risen Lord.

When we gather we proclaim and REMEMBER how much Jesus was for All people. Women were not considered ones who could learn from a Rabbi.  Yet, Jesus, ignored that cultural view because Jesus did not seem much concerned about who society said was “in and out”. He gave a message that was for “all people.” Just as the angels said from the sky at his birth: “Good news for ALL people,”  Jesus’ life ministry reached out to ALL people.

Do you feel excluded at times or often?  Are you aware of people who feel excluded?

When we gather in the name of Jesus to worship – we gather in a radically welcoming space – where all people are included, valued, and seen!

Let’s remember the words of the now Risen Jesus: “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly,” John 10:10

As people who remember our Risen Lord is for all people, to whom are you invited to bring this message of hope?

Remember!                                                                                                                        Renée Notkin. April 2025

Celebrate Resurrection!

I Praise you for this Resurrection Madness (by Ted Loder)

Lord of such amazing surprises as put a catch in my breath

and wings on my heart.

I praise you for this joy, too great for words,

but not for tears and songs and sharing, for mercy

that blots out my betrayals and bids me begin again,

and to limp on, to hop-skip-and-jump on.

To mend what is broken in and around me

and to forgive the breakers; for this YES

to life and laughter, to love and lovers,

and to my unwinding self; for this Kingdom

unleashed in me and I in it forever.

And no dead ends to growing, to choices, to chances,

to calls to be just.

No dead ends to living, to making peace, to dreaming dreams,

to being glad of heart.

For this resurrection madness which is wiser than I

and in which I see how great you are, how full of grace,

Alleluia!

Friday. When Love said NO to evil

This Friday that is called Good because of Jesus’ deep love for us—a love stretched out for us on a cross. Through Music, Scripture and Prayer we offer you an opportunity to ponder and reflect upon the gift of life given to you through the death of Jesus. 

Tonight, we must stay paused at Jesus’ death and not rush too fast to Easter.  For those of you online, you may want to sit in darkened room.  You can have your screen on or off.

This is a day that is filled with the words: Betrayal, Arrest, Denial, Guilt, Trial, Riot, Cowardice, Sentencing, Blaming, Violence, Pain, Suffering, Death.

 These are words that still hold a tight grip on us in our world. They are words that fill our news streams and our lives even still. Do you come here tonight feeling heavy hearted, numb, exhausted, uncertain, angry, ashamed, yet longing for hope?

Today we invite you to sit with Jesus who HOLDS all these words with us -- who holds space for the pain, sorrow, suffering, injustice of our world. Who holds our sin, our doubt, our fear. We sit with Jesus who HOLDs you in all that you are – Jesus entered into this world to reveal how deep is God’s love for you -- deep enough to enter death for YOU.

 Today we live in the mystery that Jesus walked this earth – God incarnate -- fully Human – who became like us in every way that we might know we are not alone in our humanness.  Yet, Jesus remained fully God – the visible image of the invisible God. And the only One who could stand in our place and be our Reconciliation. Thanks be to God.

Jesus said, “It is finished.”
Nothing can separate you from God’s love. Nothing.
Amen

Together at the Cross. Lent 2025

Throughout Lent we are exploring more the significance of the cross for our lives. See below to see the weekly focus:

The cross reveals the power of God to transform lives.
Christ's death broke the forces of evil allowing our hearts to be changed and beat with the heartbeat of God, for our minds to be renewed to think the thoughts of Christ, to have new eyes to see as Christ sees and to receive the Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, teach us, strengthen us, to give new life and unite us by uniting us with the risen Lord Jesus. 

In the abstract the implications of the cross can seem foolish/scandalous but as we see the transformation in our lives, when we see the transformation in the lives of others, when we encounter healing that we never experienced before, when we have a real hope when intellectually we have no space for hope, when we have a peace that surpasses all understanding then the cross doesn't seem so foolish but the power of God. 

A Christianity without the cross is really nothing more than the story of an interesting life lived by an incredibly deluded young carpenter or an exceptionally gifted liar who got  nothing for his efforts. There is no hope for a thriving, just world, other than education, technology, and power—none of which have proven adequate.

 With the cross: we encounter a Living Loving God, who not only knows what it is to be human, who understands suffering and death, but uses it to do what we cannot not do on our own and unites us with the Living Christ to be truly human and be restore us to our life giving purpose of bearing the image of Christ in the world that the world may flourish and know the real hope of living in Christ’s presence in a new heaven and a new earth forever.

 Have you given yourself the gift of pondering the cross? Have you given yourself freedom to unpacked the expansive implications of the cross beyond Jesus died for my sin? Explored what it says about who Jesus is? Who you are? It is not a foolish idea.Together at the Cross

Together at the Cross

Sunday, March 16:  In Foolishness

Sunday, March 30: In Victory & Love

Sunday, April 6:  In Cross-Shaped Community

Sunday, April 13:  In the Now

Sunday, April 20:  IN CELEBRATION

Ephesians 2:14-17

14 For Jesus is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us, 15 abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So, Jesus came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

First Thing | From Union Pastoral Staff

This week brought a tidal wave of national news, in addition to everything else happening in our world. At our Union staff meeting, we observed how easily we can become beholden to our news feed and discussed ideas for a more centered and intentional approach to how and when we consume media and interact with our smart phones. How do we remember that Jesus is Lord? One way is through the shape of our day. What are those "first things" that root and establish you in the love of God for the day ahead? Below are some practices from the staff. What are yours?

“First thing in the morning, I sense my impulse to get up, make coffee, read the news, and rush into whatever the day holds. CS Lewis has given me a transformative approach to each day: My ‘first job each morning consists simply in shoving back (all the wild animal voices)  listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.’*  I pause in bed, take deep breaths, and focus on my gratitude to my Creator who never slumbers or sleeps. Then I begin the day in company with Jesus. (*from Mere Christianity) ~Renee Notkin

“First thing in the morning before I am disoriented by the news, overnight texts and my list of items to accomplish, I read a verse on my Bible app and mull it over to grasp more fully what it says and what it means for me this day. Then, if I walk our dog, I listen to Pray As You Go; if not, I head to my desk to read scripture, a few pages of ‘friends’ who have journeyed with Jesus before us and then pray, often with a pen.” ~James B Notkin

 
“First thing in the morning, I lift my window blinds and then crawl back into bed with my phone opened to Pray As You Go. In that space between my night's slumber and waking I listen to the songs, scripture and consider how God is meeting me in the moment, this day. Then I grab a coffee and write my Morning Pages, usually, (Artist Way folk, I see you) which further helps me get my bearings on the content of my heart and mind, and the presence of Jesus in this world.” ~Renee Sundberg

 
“First thing in the morning after I wake up, I take a moment to read a meditation from Howard Thurman's Meditation's of the Heart and meditate on the reading of the day and the invitation for today. From there I get bundled up, put my headphones on and go for my morning walk. It's a moment to pray with my feet (no pun intended) and take in the beautiful world around me, the crows, the school, my neighbors, the dogs and the dog poop that missed the grass and landed on the sidewalk. I ground myself in the reminder that God holds all of us and is at work doing a new thing.” ~Phil Lewis

 
“First thing in the morning, I just want to hear scripture, plain and simple. I use the Lectio 365 app which also has prompts for prayer in the morning, lunchtime and evening. Although I love the words of Jesus, I've been very drawn to the Psalms and Isaiah these days and my hope is to stand on those promises as I move throughout the day. When I forget to do that, my anxiety rises quickly.  But staying close to the promises and asking the Holy Spirit to guide and help me are what keep me rooted in hope and trust.” ~Sharon Mead