November 2006 Archives

Blessed to Be a Blessing
Genesis 12:1-4
Faith Promise Commitment & Thanksgiving Sunday
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf
We are blessed -extravagantly, abundantly blessed! We have discovered just how blessed as we've
kept a blessing journal over the past several weeks and shared some of those blessings as we've
gathered for worship. Yes we are blessed -often surprisingly and unexpectedly blessed!
Over 300 people who sat in the studio audience of the Oprah Winfrey Show received a surprising
and unexpected blessing when Winfrey gave each audience member a $1,000 debit card with the
stipulation that the entire $1000 must be used to help an organization or an individual -relatives being
ineligible.
Now I don't know if there were some audience members who were disappointed that they had to
give the money away. But I do know that as soon as 34-year-old Julie Kenton, heard the news she began
imagining how she would share her blessing. In fact she spent the rest of the show thinking about what
she would do with it. "I wanted to make sure every dollar or penny was going to go as far as it could,"
she said in an interview for her hometown newspaper. That's when she thought of the Backpack Buddies
program designed to give students who received free or reduced-cost school lunches, nutritious food to
eat at home throughout the weekend. So back at home she went to the store and purchased healthy
food to fill kids Backpacks. Her donation will supply more than 300 backpacks full of food. "It was
amazing," Kenton said. "To see the $1,000 going to feed the kids, there's nothing more rewarding than
that."
Another audience member Carrie Cirbo immediately thought of the women who are residents of a
domestic violence shelter near her home. "I didn't want to just contribute to a fund." she said, "I wanted
to help the women and children with something they could have now and use now." She decided to take
the 11 women who were residents of the shelter, many of the women had only sweatshirts or hoodies to
protect them from the winter cold, to Stein Mart to buy warm winter coats. "Until you've experienced or
done that," she said, her eyes brimming with tears, "you can't explain it. It's an incredible experience."
"I'll make you a great nation and bless you. I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing. ... [and] all
the families of the Earth will be blessed through you,"
Julie and Carrie discovered what many of you already know: One of the greatest blessings we can
know is the ability to BE a blessing in the life of another person.
Those of you who have participated in our Arctic Adventure at Daybreak Shelter experienced this
blessing as you saw the faces of children light up when they sat on Santa's lap for the first time or
watched adult faces fill with life as games were played and prizes and gifts were distributed. But even if
you haven't been able to attend an Arctic Adventure event, those of you who baked goodies for the
party, made donations of cash or gift items, or wrapped presents also know the blessing of being a
blessing
Those of you who have saved your allowance or set aside part of your income in order to make
pledge to Foods Resource Bank have discovered the blessing of being a blessing as you learned how your
effort provided the means for food security in ways that forever changed the lives of individuals and
communities.
Those of you who have brought or collected food to help feed the increasing number of families
served by the Plainfield Food Pantry know the blessing of being a blessing.
Those of you who share your gifts in our Sunday School, Children's Church or mid-week youth
programs know the blessing of being a blessing as you touch the lives of so many young people with the
good news of God's extravagant love.
Those of you who spread the blessing of God's Healing Love through one of our healing ministries
know the blessing of being a blessing as hearts are opened, hope is renewed and lives are transformed.
Those of you who share your gift of music in any way during our worship events know the blessing
of being a blessing as hearts are touched an lives are inspired by this gift of God's Love.
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Those of you who provide food for families dealing with a crisis of some kind; those of you who visit
shut-ins or sit with family members while their loved one is in surgery know the blessing of being a
blessing.
Those of you who, as Stephen Ministers, go the extra mile to provide ongoing care and support
when someone is facing a difficult life situation know the blessing of being a blessing.
Those of you who create an atmosphere of extravagant hospitality where strangers are welcomed
and friendships are nurtured know the blessing of being a blessing.
Those of you who donate equipment or use your special gifts to keep our building and grounds
clean, in good repair and looking beautiful know the blessing of being a blessing.
Those of you who make possible a fantastic preschool that gives children in the Plainfield
Community such a good start know the blessing of being a blessing.
Those of you who use your time and talent in the various behind the scenes tasks that are necessary
to create a powerful worship experience know the blessing of being a blessing.
Those of you who help all of these things happen by using your gifts of organization and
administration as part of our Leadership Team know the blessing of being a blessing.
But have you ever considered the fact that none of this would be possible if all of us did not give of
our financial resources so money is available to pay the utilities, salaries, and insurance, fund programs
and maintain the building and equipment? So, if we stop and think about it, all of us know the blessing of
being the blessing that is Plainfield Congregational United Church of Christ.
Created in the image of the One whose very nature it is to extravagantly, abundantly and joyously
bless and when we learn to live in ways that bless others - extravagantly, abundantly and joyously- we
live into the fullness of all we are created to be! Yes, we are blessed so that we can receive the greatest
blessing of all -the blessing of being a blessing!
But did you catch it? Did you notice that Abram and Sari could only know this blessing if they left
behind the security of familiar ways and comfortable existence and dared to journey with the God of
Blessing? Did you see that it was only when they stepped out in faith, daring to trust that God would
always be with them that they stepped into the fullness of God's promise to them?
Today, many of you will take another step on the journey of being a blessing as you give your
offerings and make your commitment to financially support the ministry of this congregation. Like Abram
and Sari some of you may be sensing God's call to step beyond the familiar safety of giving only when its
convenient, or only when you are at church, or only what is left over at the end of the paycheck. Some of
you may be sensing God's call to take another step on the journey of blessing by signing up for electronic
giving, assuring that your offering will be given whether or not you are present in worship. Some of you
may be sensing God's call to take another step on the journey of blessing and give a percentage of your
income -2%, 5% 10% or more and to give it before you pay any other bills or spend money for any of
your own needs.
As Oprah Winfrey talked to her audience about her $1000 gift she said, "I can honestly say that
every gift I've ever given has brought at least as much happiness to me as it has to the person I've given
it to. That's the feeling I want to pass on to you. ... Just imagine the love and kindness you can spread
with $1,000." That's the feeling God dreams all of us can know each and every day! Someone once said,
"Stewardship is not a way for the church to raise a budget. It's a way for God to raise Christians. As they
learn the joy of giving, they become more generous givers in all they do and say."
Just as God called Abram and Sari to be a blessing, God is still calling you and me. Just imagine the
love and kindness we can spread if each and every one of us takes the risk, answers the call, sets out on
the journey, and becomes the blessing we are meant to be! Amen

Blessed with Life
John 10:6-10
November 12, 2006
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the
sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less
about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because
my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in
storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while
watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go
into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show
soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every
moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance
in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get
washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and
really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

Blessed with Hope
Romans 8:22-25 (CEV), Hebrews 6:17-19 (CEV), Hebrews 11:1 (CEV) Mark 4:25-27 (CEV)
November 5, 2006
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf
We are blessed with Hope! But what is hope? And more importantly why is it a blessing?
Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." George Iles
"Hope is the fuel that prevents an energy crisis." Herb Miller
"Hope is to our spirits what oxygen is to our lungs." Lewis Smedes
"When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of
God." Charles L. Allen
In the late 1980's I participated in a study program called Understanding the Dynamics of
Conflict in Northern Ireland. There were about 25 of us, who met for the first time in Dublin.
We came from a number of different parts of the United States and we represented a number
of different religious traditions. But all of us had traveled to Ireland for a three week experience
that we hoped would help us understand The Troubles, so that we each in our own way might
be empowered to do something that would bring a little more peace to a land torn by fear and
violence. We met with government and religious officials in both the Republic of Ireland and in
Northern Ireland. We saw divided neighborhoods and stood at the so-called "Peace Walls." We
met people on both sides of the religious and political divide and we visited with those who
labored for reconciliation. It was during one of those visits that I heard a statement that
profoundly affected my understanding of the blessing of hope. One of the speakers was talking
about the number of different programs in Ireland -both North and South- that sought to bring
people together and build bridges of understanding across the religious and political divide. He
said, "Each and every peace program is like a building block, a piece of the puzzle. Each one
plays a necessary part. One day peace will happen; reconciliation will be a reality, and it might
appear that one program or action is responsible. But the truth is that peace will be built on the
foundation of all that has gone before. For now, all that we do is done to keep hope alive, to
build hope, to nurture hope. Because there must be hope that the way things are does not have
to be the way things will be. Without that hope nothing would ever change!"
Hope! I hope that all of you have experienced HOPE! In fact, I hope that you are filled with
an ever deepening sense of hope because there is so much in our world right now that seems
to fly in the face of hope, making hope seem foolish.
Hope! As I pondered the blessing of hope, I came across a sermon by Paul Tillich titled, The
Right to Hope, in which Tillich poses the question "Do we have a right to hope, even, against
hope?" As he seeks to lead his listeners to an answer that question, he says:
Where there is genuine hope, there that for which we hope already has some
presence. In some way, the hoped for is at the same time here and not here. It is
not yet fulfilled, and it may remain unfulfilled. But it is here, in the situation and in
ourselves, as a power which drives those who hope into the future. ... The hope
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itself, if it is rooted in the reality of something already given, becomes a driving
power and makes fulfillment not certain, but possible.
In writing to the Romans about hope, the Apostle Paul says: "We know that all creation is
still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth." Think about it, those of you who
have known the blessing of bearing a child. As the new life grows within you, it is impossible to
deny it's existence, isn't? But what the child will be like, who he will resemble, what traits she
will posses, what skills he will have, what challenges she will face, all of that is still unknown;
unknown, but yet the very life growing within you is indeed the source of your hope.
Now we hope for many things, don't we? We hope it won't rain on the day we plan an
outdoor wedding. We hope that somehow we will win the lottery -even if we don't buy a lottery
ticket. We hope that someone will find a cure for AIDS, a way to prevent cancer, a treatment
that will reverse the affects of childhood onset diabetes. We hope for world peace. We hope our
loved one won't die. We hope.
As I thought about our many and various hopes, it seemed to me, however, that sometimes
we confuse wishing and hoping. While they both arise from something we desire, wishes are
quiet often less substantial and not deeply rooted in that which gives their fulfillment real
possibility. Hope, on the other hand, springs directly from the heart of God; the seed of God's
Hope, God's Dream, God's Vision for us and for our world which the Divine Farmer plants in the
soil of our being.
In a 1993 sermon titled Keeping Hope Alive, broadcast on the radio program 30 Good
Minutes, Rev. Dr. Lewis Smedes said:
Hope is the most powerful energy source in the world. Hope gives people power
to achieve what they hope for. Some people think that poor people, hungry
people, oppressed people change things because they are poor and hungry and
oppressed. It is not true. People change things when they have hope that they do
not need to be hungry or poor or oppressed any more.
In an interview which followed this sermon, Dr. Smedes shares the following story:
I was a teacher at a college and I asked the students -- "How many of you want
to go to heaven when you die?" Everybody raised [their] hand. Heaven by a
landslide. Then I asked, "How many of you would like to go tomorrow if you
could?" All the hands went down and I was glad. I worry about young people
wanting to go to heaven too quickly, don't you?
So I rephrased the question. I said, "How many of you would like to wake up
tomorrow in a world where no child ever feared to dance on the street at night, or
nobody ever pointed a gun at another human being, or no child ever starved, or
nobody ever put you down because you were different, or no mother ever wept
over a hungry baby? How many of you would like to live in a world that finally
worked right?"
"Not only that, how many of you would like to wake up into that good world, as
good as the world? You had all the capacities and powers and freedom that you
longed to have? You went into that world a terrific, fantastic human being. How
many of you would like to wake up into that tomorrow?" [100% of their hands
went up]. I said, "Then you want to go to heaven tomorrow, because that is what
biblical hope is about. Look, God created this world. [God] is not that interested in
getting us off of it. What [God] is interested in is getting it to work right."
We know in our bones, we discern from the depths of our soul, we comprehend at the
deepest level of our being God's Vision, God's Hope for us and for our world. But what
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empowers us to grasp God's Vision and take hold of God's Hope is God's Promise to be with us,
even when hope seems to fail.
...[God's] promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is
right in front of us. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In
fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place. [Hebrews
6:18b-19]
No matter what, God is with us -guiding us, moving us, holding us, transforming us,
empowering us, and silently growing us until the seed of God's Hope sprouts and we are
blessed once again with a Living Hope. Amen{Play recording of God's Promise}:
I will be with you that's my promise
I will shine when you can't see
Everywhere you travel is everywhere I'll be
Trust me for that first step
Leave the journey up to me
I will be with you
I will shine when you can't see!