Building to Share – Daily Guide

Sunday, October 23rd

Building Our Hope Gratitude Sunday – Part 1

Luke 17: 11-19 (New International Version)

¹¹Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹²As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Monday, October 24th

“What makes you think that you don’t limp?”

Why I Need Church More than It Needs Me 

Molly Baskette- UCC Daily Devotion

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that God may teach us God's ways and that we may walk in God's paths."            - Micah 4:2

I am getting to find out whether I am a good person, living a good life, without a church. I left the church I was serving a couple of months ago. There is still a month before I start my next gig, another church. I am a free agent. I can sleep in on Sunday mornings and wake to pancakes and the New York Times. I don't have to fight my teenager to get out of bed and get dressed to be on time for worship.

It's wonderful, to wake without panic that the sermon is not done. It's a gift, this unstructured time.

But I've noticed something. I'm more irritated in traffic, judgmental in line at the store, inclined to be imperious and rude on the phone with customer service reps. Without church, I feel myself crumpling into my innate selfishness and pride, exposed as the narcissistic shrew I really am.

Turns out, I need the structure of religious community to be a better person. It's not that I'm a hypocrite, pretending to be better than I am when I am in my role--I am actually a better person when I have the full weight and positive inertia of other Christians also trying to be better people around me. Church is the scaffolding around the weak structure of my character.

Or maybe a better metaphor is that the church is a splint, straightening a spirit that might otherwise be bent or broken. Our UCC sage, William Sloane Coffin said, "It is often said that the Church is a crutch. Of course it's a crutch. What makes you think that you don't limp?"

Prayer

God, I'm lamer than I thought. Thank you for giving me a way to walk in strength and a people to walk with, despite my weakness. Amen.

Tuesday, October 25th

please guide us………….

Dear God –

As our church is one that strives to follow You, please guide us as we move forward in our campaign to make our church more accessible to all. Please help me, as I seek to follow You more closely, to be open and accepting of all who are different from me. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Monday, October 31st

Time, Talents and Treasures, Oh My!

I have an odd faith journey – but don’t we all? As a kid and well into my early adulthood I thought that other people had their faith life much more figured out than I did. It wasn’t until later that I realized that everyone is on a journey, and we are all at different stages.

When I joined CCB, I was sucked in (yes, that’s the right term) to volunteering to be on the Christian Education Committee. For those who did the sucking, you know who you are (Kay Marron). At any rate, I was new to the church and had never been on a church committee before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I got invited to a Leadership Event, I found myself in even more murky territory.

Two interesting things happened at this event. First, I somehow found myself in a tangled rope challenge with Bob Brown. Honestly, not going to lie that I was feeling a bit awkward but I’m pretty sure Bob was too. We laughed. We struggled. We managed to get ourselves undone. I remember thinking – “this is what leaders do”? But I went along. I was 34 years old with two little girls. What did I know?

The other thing that happened was Pastor Jen asked us to DRAW our faith journey. I wish I still had the piece of paper that I used to draw on. Here is an idea of what I drew:

• Childhood – a picture of a bible. Basically, a rectangle with a cross on it.

• Childhood – a cloud with a man floating in it (God)

• Teenage – a question mark
• Young Adult – drawing of a church

• 34-Year-Old – stick figure drawing of people holding hands (and maybe tangled in a rope)

You see for me; I grew up in a family that moved all the time. My father worked for IBM, and I moved every 1-4 years. I remember going to church before the age of five at a lovely Methodist church in California, but when I turned five, we moved to Maryland. From Maryland to Alabama to Louisiana, I remember going to church on Easter and Christmas. When we moved to Massachusetts at the age of 12, I found myself wanting to know more. I started to read the bible on my own and memorized the Lord’s Prayer from an old wooden board my mother had found that had the prayer printed on it. When we moved to Philadelphia and then to Japan, I don’t recall going to any church. It wasn’t until I got to college and move to Connecticut that a little white chapel in the woods became an occasional visit during the holidays. Finally, with the birth of my children and a husband who also supported the idea of having a faith family we began going to church more regularly. And that is what led me to CCB. So, when I drew a picture of a bible and drawing of a church…that is what I knew. The concepts of community and fellowship weren’t yet in my mind.

So back at this Leadership Event, I remember folks talking about people who could give their “time, talents and treasures”. This was new lingo for me. But I began to understand, at 34 and a young parent, I really do not have any “treasure” as money was scarce. But, I was able to commit time to being on a committee. I understood “time”.      

“Talent” was something else entirely. There are so many ways to share “talent”. Talent can be very obviously, like when the singers and musicians of the church share their ability through music every week. Talent can be understanding that if you are good at cleaning and painting, you should be helping with the Church House committee. And if your talent is caring for children, you volunteer to help with Church School or Youth Group. Over time I have learned my talents - -obvious – if you are loud, you are the perfect person to make an announcement at a meeting. Less obvious, if you are good at herding cats, you step up to organize or do marketing for capital campaigns.      

And then there was “Treasure”. As we embark on our capital campaign to raise money for an improved church, one that has improved accessibility for all people and a refreshed space, I know that the future can be better. I think back to the tangled rope challenge with Bob. It was uncomfortable. But we worked together and we got out of the bind. And to this day, Bob and I still giggle about that shared moment. That is what leaders do. That is what a community does. They work together through difficult things to find resolution for a better future. I think back over all the things I have gotten from CCB and there is so much to remember and be thankful for. I am thankful for improved faith and knowing I have somewhere to safely share my beliefs. I am thankful for community and fellowship. I am reminded that I am not alone in my struggles and more importantly that everyone struggles and hopefully they know I am there for them. I want to give my treasure to give thanks for all I have gotten AND for all that is to come. I want to give my treasure so others can walk in our doors to find peace, solace, friendship, shared community, a place to give back and more. Faith journeys are never complete. We are always striving to be more gracious, to be graceful, to be more Godly. Thinking of what we can give back helps to lead us down the path.      

Blessings my friends!

~ Carol Eagan     

Tuesday, November 1st

“I am thankful for all that our church is……..

Dear God –

I am thankful for all that our church is - in my life, and in the lives of others. Please guide us and speak to us as we strive to be good stewards of all You have given to us. Help me to seek You, too, as I strive to be a good steward of all the good things You have given to me in my life!

Wednesday, November 2nd

“Be still and know that I am God”

Cameron Trimble- Piloting Faith an (Almost) Daily Devotional

A Word for the Day………..

I've now returned from a long silent retreat where I was gifted the time to slow down, observe life's twists and turns, and discern where the Spirit is leading me forward. These moments of pause and discernment are essential to our spiritual maturation. I don't know how we tune out all of the world's noise long enough to hear that "still small voice" without moments of deep, sustained solitude.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu once asked the Dalai Lama if it was true that he prayed 5 hours a day.

"Yes," said the Dalai Lama, "I do pray 5 hours a day most days."

"Wow," said Archbishop Tutu. "I only pray three hours a day."

Prayer, meditation, and contemplation are pathways to a new consciousness. The Buddhists call it "beginner's mind." Entered into in the right spirit, contemplation opens you to a genuine surrender that "not my will but Thine be done'' (Luke 22:42). You live in a spirit of prayer when you engage in conscious and loving union with all of creation - the birds, trees, flowers, rivers, oceans, beetles, moss, dogs, lizards, flies, cats, humans…all that is. From this expansive space, you can collaborate with the Spirit in how you most fully live your life in peace.

We seem to be in a rush to "get back" to life as we knew it before. Our calendars are booking with travel, conferences, meetings, and children's sporting events. The pressure to be "on" and constantly responsive is seductive only because it's what we have known.

Let's not go back. Today, I hope you will take time - all the time you need - to be present within yourself. Take a few moments to notice the changing of the leaves and migrating birds. Be still enough to ask of the Spirit, "How might I serve today? Where are you calling me?"

The transformation of the world begins with the transformation of ourselves. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." Be still.

Submitted by Wendy Elsen

Thursday, November 3rd

…..thanking God over and over for you……

 2 Thessalonians 1: 3-4

You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have broadsided you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.”

The Message

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Three fore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

New International Version

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.

New Living Translation

Friday, November 4th

THAR SHE BLOWS!

It’s a late winter day. The kind of gray day in March when the snow is gone, and the trees are still bare. It’s cold and windy. Mom’s snoozing in her chair and I’m standing at the window of her third- floor apartment in the senior complex, looking down on the courtyard. From this height, the few, stray brown leaves don’t look like leaves. They look alive, and even a bit silly as the wind whips them around, first one way, then another and even in circles sometimes. I chuckle to myself, as I realize that I feel like one of those leaves, being buffeted one way and then another by the crazy winds of life and wonder if I look as comical to God as the leaves to do me.

But I can’t say I’ve been feeling very comical. I wonder if I had paid more attention all along to the wind of the Holy Spirit, that maybe now there would be only a gentle breeze pushing me along.
Being here for Mom on her slow decline, my thoughts and fears and obligations all have me swirling in an emotional tizzy. Perhaps today I can pay attention to the wind of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps today I will focus on just being my mother’s daughter. Not her caregiver, her medical advocate, or her problem solver. Just one of Mom’s loving children. Tomorrow, that wind may send me elsewhere, but no matter… the point is, I’m listening now

Prayer

Lord, may I have the faith and peace to trust the Holy Spirit Wind.

I’ll wait. I’ll watch. I’ll listen. I’ll pray. I will go where that Wind takes me.

Susan Dodd

Saturday, November 5th
and as we think about those things…….

Adapted excerpts from an Installation Sermon by Pastor Jennifer Whipple

……….And as we think about those things—discernment and transformation, care and service—and God’s call to us to be about them, we get this great promise of God from the scripture. God says,

“There’s no need to worry about

knowing the proper form for your prayers

or exactly what to say.

I will answer you before you even call to me.

While you are still talking about your needs,

I will go ahead and answer your prayers.”

As we enter into this relationship, I think we know full well that sometimes those prayers will be prayers of thanksgiving and sometimes those prayers will be ones about forgiveness- sometimes they will be prayers about healing divisions and sometimes they will be prayers about celebrating the awesome ministry we will be doing together- sometimes they will be prayers asking for guidance and other times they will be prayers of thanks for God’s voice spoken. No matter what the prayers, I hope that we will stay grounded in the Spirit, in the knowledge of God’s presence that goes before us leading us, and behind us, nudging us along toward this new thing and new time that God is calling us to create……..

My prayer is that we all might be open to seeing this new world that God is working to create and that we might accept the call to be part of that new creation—coming together, using our gifts, following the example of Jesus Christ with courage and deep faith, pointing in all we do toward God who is Love, who is Redeemer, Creator and Transformer.

May it be so. Amen.

Submitted by Wendy Elsen

Sunday, November 6th

Building Our Hope: “Gratitude in All Things”

Gratitude Sunday Part 2

First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 4 and 5 and 11 through 18 (from The Message translation):

^4-5 Friends, you’re not in the dark…You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand….

¹¹So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

^12-13 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

^14-15 Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. … Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Monday, November 7th

“Olivia Quinsland has hit it out of the park today!
What a lovely reminder to “give thanks”

Carol Eagan

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. (John Burroughs)

If you’ve got thoughts, walks, books, and friends, Give thanks.

It’s important to give thanks that when you put your feet on the floor in the morning you’ve got things to do, places to go and people to see.

If you need to clean the bathrooms, it means you have a roof over your head. Give thanks.

If you need to earn a paycheck it means you’ve got a job. Give thanks.

If you need to go to the grocery store it means you have a means of transportation. Give thanks.

If you need to pick a book up at the library, it means you’ve still got all your cognitive faculties. Give thanks.

If you need to prepare meals it means you’ve got food on your table and potable water. Give thanks.

If you need to go to the doctor, it means you have access to healthcare. Give thanks.

If you decide to stop by D&D for a mid-morning mocha latte it means you have disposable income. Give thanks.

If you feel the desire to connect with friends, it means you have community. Give thanks.

When you lay your weary head down at night after being so busy with things to do, places to see, Give thanks.

Perhaps that’s what it looks like to praise God all the time.

Olivia Quinsland.

Tuesday, November 8th

“Give thanks with a grateful heart”

Lyrics taken from the song “Give Thanks” by Don Moen.

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich"

Because of what the Lord has done for us

Give thanks……..

We give thanks

Wednesday, November 9th

The Perfect Beach Trip

— Ecclesiastes 11:4-5

He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

How many times have you had the “perfect” beach trip? (Hmmm… really, is there any other kind?) Well, there was that time it rained. Or the time you tried a new beach house and got lost for two hours trying to find it. Or the time your toddler got an ear infection the first full day you were there. Or the toilet in your rental didn’t work right. Or…

Okay, okay. So maybe at the point-by-point level, you’ve never had a perfect beach trip. So how did you deal with the bumps in the road? Did you manage to make the most of the situation, or did you let it ruin your trip?

There are those times we just want — even demand — perfection in order to execute our plans. Planning a wedding. Planning to exercise. Planning a quiet time. The conditions have to be perfect for us to act, or we give up because it’s utterly ruined. Planning, planning, waiting, waiting… the moment has to be exactly right.

And, to be fair, planning and preparation are important. But if we spend our time waiting for perfect conditions, we’re actually wasting our time. The perfection is simply not gonna happen.

Sometimes we have to simply act and trust God for the next step.

If we make a wrong turn because we misunderstood the Holy Spirit, then we trust that the Father will correct our steps. If we make a wrong decision because we ignored Him, we confess our neglect and trust Him for the next step. And there are times He will wait until we act — because growing our trust is far more important than our knowing the end result. We belong to God: our relationship with Him is assured through the blood of Jesus Christ. So if you look ridiculous, are made fun of, or appear to have failed at something that you’ve prayerfully considered — do not fear. Trust God with His timing.

Our time here on Earth is finite. And none of its days is perfect. There are only so many days we’ll spend here — waiting on the perfect one sure seems like a futile way to spend them.

Lord, remind me that if I’m waiting for a perfect moment, that waiting may be rooted in fear. As Your child and Your creation, I will never be a failure, regardless of what the world sees and thinks. Sometimes my own plans will fail, but in a way only known to You, they are still successful — because You remain sovereign. Let this truth give me wings and a willingness to take risks, take chances, and never fear failure. I am grateful and thankful to You always, in all situations. What a great gift it is to take refuge in You!

(Excerpted with permission from Devotions for the Beach by Miriam Drennan, copyright Thomas Nelson)

Submitted by Mark Lyon

Thursday November 10th

…….never stop……….

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

New International Version

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

The Message

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

New Living Translation

Friday, November 11th

Seeing God in Toilet Paper

I learned a few things about myself the past couple of years. I know I do not welcome change, but I didn’t realize how much I like to control situations……….

It is March 2020, I am in a CE meeting and we are discussing if we should stop having Sunday School and church in person if the schools close down. To be honest, I was clueless about things up to this point. We all know how things turned out…..

Our household at that time consisted of my sister and brother-in-law, their PREGNANT daughter, her husband, Bacchus (a dog) and me.

Do you remember the toilet paper shortage? I decided I needed to care for my family and keep us well supplied. It became a daily mission for me to shop the stores and I finally resorted to ordering online to be sure we were stockpiled and ready. My loving family, thankfully, just shook their heads and smiled as the boxes rolled in……

As you see in the photo, my online orders were quite comical. Boxes of toilet paper in all shapes and sizes and some even touting “heavenly soft”. I kept hauling it to our basement for storage, very proud of my contribution to the welfare of our household.

Months later as I was in the basement, I found my stockpile. We never needed to use any of it. I felt God smiling down on me asking, ”Do you trust me yet?” No judgment, just care from the One that knows me best. All my quirks and doubts.

I gathered it all up and placed it in the recycling pile. (I assume you can recycle unused toilet paper?) Thanking the Provider for always taking care of my needs.

This is not the end of the story. The next week, I found the toilet paper back where I had stored it. …..still in the boxes and bags. Ready for the next need. Perhaps others have control issues, too….What is it you are having difficulty turning over to God?

(Deep breath in)......... Oh Lord, Thank you for caring and providing in all situations, even those I think I have under control. Help me seek and SEE you in all things….and thank you for toilet paper. Amen.

Wendy Elsen

Saturday, November 12th

“frenzied or calm”

Gracious Lord,

When I am immersed in the moment, frenzied or calm, help me to always find one thing that I am grateful for.

Amen.

Sunday, November 13th

Building Our Hope: Vision Sunday – Sacrificial Giving

Our Scripture reading today is from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 5 through 11
(from The Message translation):

⁵ So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute. ^6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. ^8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”

Monday, November 14th

“I wonder who we might welcome in the future…”.

“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here”

UCCB Saint Tom Eaker, God rest his soul, advocated my request to use fellowship hall as a meeting place for a toast master’s group that included wheelchair bound members. Thank you, Tom, for that and much more.

For the better part of 20 years, we met as a group downstairs. I became qualified to transport and assist these individuals. This included tending to personal care needs. News flash! In order, for me to continue, I need to disclose that same sex personal care assistance was not always possible, due to availability, strength, training, and such but it was known and accepted by this population at this time.

There was a woman who I helped regularly. Getting her wheelchair into fellowship hall was easy because the entrance is at ground level, but the bathroom area was tight quarters. We negotiated the tight turn by stepping on her wheelchair’s tilt bar, raising the front of the chair, and pivoting it on its rear tires. Still, we could only get so close to the toilet. So, we would get as close as we could and lock the brakes and unfasten her seat belt. I would get in front of her, she would put her arms around my neck, and she would stand. Luckily, she could stand. Slowly, carefully, inch by inch we would make our way to the toilet and back. Exchanging wisecracks and poetry along the way.

A unifying factor among our wheelchair bound members was that they had an acquired head injury or spinal cord injury. For one person we gave a platform for her to speak when she literally had no voice, at least until she received her mechanical talker machine. The process used cards with different words printed on them. The audience would get the right word by eliminating the wrong words on that card. I was so proud of the respect, silence, and time her audience gave her in anticipation of her speech or talk.

This was before any talk about improving accessibility that I knew of. UCCB was slow to charge a fee to our Toastmasters group. I think it was seen as something of a ministry. In time, we would be charged for use of the facility and that was fine. A part of our yearly dues went back into our club. It was a great place to hold our meetings. We made the most of what we had.

I wonder who we might accommodate (welcome) in the future.

Pete Lane

      https://youtu.be/taOJWc9t7Bg

Tuesday, November 15th

“messenger of hope”

Good Shepard,

Help us at UCCB, to each be a messenger of hope for someone else.

Amen.