urbandale united church of christ
3530 70th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 50322 | phone 515.276.0625
fax 515.276.2451 | e-mail: staff@urbucc.org

notes from our pastors

Michael's Musings | Emily's Ideas

Michael's Musings

The recent and sudden challenging spiritual terrain that my family traversed the past weeks has prompted several musings in my own journey. Perhaps some of them will be useful to you, too.

• When we find ourselves in a new spiritual state, our center of gravity changes and we might need to give ourselves space to find a new center. This is true, I think, no matter what the new place is like: a change from “normal life” to “ecstasy” or “joy” is just as significantly new as a move to “challenge” or “trauma.” Many families are undergoing “reconfiguration” as students graduate; the center of gravity is changing in the family. By pausing, reflecting, and being still, a new centeredness will emerge. I need only be patient and attentive.
• Often accompanying the new centeredness is a new or renewed awareness of Presence. There is a Presence and Companion on the journey with us. Some name it as God and seek the Presence in church buildings and religious doctrines. Others let the Presence remain nameless and seek nourishment from nature and see resurrection in the blooming tulips. I find most people, and certainly myself, to be an eclectic amalgamation of several forms of “religious doctrine” and deep spirituality.
• We are not alone—even though we sometimes act as if we are. During the weeks of distress in my family, there was nothing “to be done.” But that did not mean that we did and received nothing. Folk, from all kinds of places, prayed and held us in their good thoughts. It helps—my family never felt alone. I am careful about the language I use in prayer. I do not ask God to be present or to “be with us now.” Instead, I ask that I might have my mind, heart, and eyes open to see the ever-present care and compassion of God that is always with me (and you) on the journey. In a recent sermon, I called it “God’s radical proximity.”
• And finally, the recent days of turmoil reminded me of my need to pay more careful attention to the “energy in and energy out” balance. A constant hazard for pastors, and everyone else, too, is to “give without regard to our estate.” If our cup is empty, we have nothing to offer; it is hard to be charitable from an empty account! If I am not tending my needs for prayer and meditation, I cannot effectively be present with others. If I am not taking a Sabbath rest, I won’t have lenses of wholeness. If I am not reading poetry, listening to music, and attending the arts, I won’t have my creativity nurtured. I must monitor my input and output.

Again, thank you for the ways you cared for my family and me and the respectful ways you allowed me to navigate the mysterious terrain between “public” and “private” life.

In hopes of wholeness,
The Rev. Dr. Shannon Michael Pater, Senior Pastor

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Emily's Ideas

On May 18th, we will all have to say a word that most people avoid at any cost: Goodbye. Though Tim and I are looking forward to a new chapter of our life in Chicago, saying goodbye to people who have shown so much love and support to us will not be easy! And you may be sad to say goodbye, too. This is natural—you have shared some of the most important moments of your life with me. It has been my great honor and pleasure to travel with you on your faith journey, whether you happen to be a newborn baby, a 100-year old lifelong church member, or anywhere in between.

Not many folks enjoy saying goodbye. But I hope we can all agree that saying goodbye in a healthy way is very important: for the pastor who is moving away and for the congregation who must move forward in ministry. The UCC Ordained Minister’s Code calls me to “deal honorably with the record of my predecessor and my successor,” and never to “interfere or intrude upon the ministry” of the church to whom I say goodbye. I will always pray for your happiness, and be grateful for the gift of our time together, but I will no longer be your pastor. On May 18th, we will observe a sacred ritual of letting-go, at both services. You will release me from being called upon for care, and I will release you from depending on me. There will be laughter and tears. But we will be able to move forward in healthy ways because we said goodbye in a healthy way. See Don Walters’ article on page 11 of The Call for more thoughts on healthy goodbyes.

I was recently reminded that “goodbye” is a contraction of an older expression: “May God be With You.” This will be my prayer for you, that God be with you, and that you know in your very core that God is Good, All the Time!

Rev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries, Associate Pastor