How Do I Pray?

Sunday Offering

How do I pray? My heart hurts, millions of people are suffering. As I pondered how to pray for the extreme needs of so many, our bishop called for clergy to pray the Lord’s Prayer last Thursday at twelve-noon. I was inspired and thankful for Bishop Michael Rinehart, and my clergy colleagues, as we prayed together despite distances. We couldn’t gather, but together, we were present to our father God, asking that our needs be met, and trusting God to answer. 

Look closely at the Lord’s Prayer with me; I hope that you grasp the essence of practicing the presence of God that is intrinsic to prayer. You see, we don’t look at a picture of our mother or father when they are right there with us. 

Practice the Presence of God

After the crucifixion, the terrified disciples were struggling with agonizing grief and loss; their leader was gone. They were next. What did they do besides hide - lock themselves in a room-shaking in their sandals? They prayed. They prayed for ten days. This is what I want to tell you about. You know the rest of the story. The disciples were totally transformed from frightened men scared out of their wits. The world was changed forever. 

But exactly what did they pray? They prayed as Jesus taught them. Jesus often left the disciples to go away to a lonely place to pray. He did it a lot, it was his custom. Something caused the disciples to question Jesus on one occasion. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray as he did. 

What did Jesus do or say while he was praying for long periods that made the disciples ask this question? What do you think Jesus was doing while he was praying? Do you think Jesus spoke out loud? Do you think he was wearing a prayer shawl and bowing (as in the Jewish custom?) or, do you think he counted beads (Hindu) or, was he praying a rosary (Roman Catholic?) Was he seated on the ground with his hands folded in prayer? Was he looking up with his eyes open? Perhaps his head was bent down with folded hands, eyes closed? Would he have been prostrate on the ground? Maybe he had a prayer list? Did he speak out loud? Did he seem anguished at times?

Jesus began by praying what we know as the Lord’s Prayer,
“Abba, Father,
Holy is your name,
Your kingdom come.
Our bread for tomorrow/give us today.
And forgive us our debts/ as we also forgive our debtors.
And let us not succumb to temptation” (Luke 11:2-4: Mt 6:9-13).

Did Jesus pray this aloud over and over for hours? I believe Jesus was teaching the disciples more than words – he was teaching them how to survive without his immediate presence. Jesus was teaching them to practice the presence of God. 

The Lord’s Prayer (as we pray it) has three parts, Adoration, Petition, Praise – those three parts form the basis for our stance before God which can be summed up in three words: Abba, Hinni, Amen. Download those three little words into your hearts.

I. ABBA
Abba is Aramaic for Papa. “Abba…Papa.’ 
Jesus used this word when he spoke of God, his Father. How did Jesus come to know God, his Father, in this intimate, endearing way? 

He likely learned to understand the relationship of Papa to being a child in his own home. I visualize Joseph coming home with all of the children rushing out to greet him, some climbing on his legs, perhaps one gathered up in his arms, one on his back, with the older ones being patient to wait until his play with the younger ones is finished; perhaps they roll around on the ground -- wrestling like fathers and sons are prone to do from time to time. 

It is clear that we are not talking about a father coming home from work saying, “Give me a beer, keep the kids quiet, I need to watch some TV.” 

Abba –becomes our stance before a loving “Papa” in heaven whose name we hallow, who comes to us --meeting us in our littleness – He is the one we trust to meet all our needs. Abba. We put ourselves into the presence of God (God is spirit). God is always present to us, but we are not always conscious of this truth. 

II. HINNI – (pron. Heeney) It means, “Here I am.“ The literal translation of the Hebrew word is, “Here me with you,” like Tonto and the Lone Ranger, “Here me.” Remember the story of the boy Samuel hearing voices calling in the night? Three times he went to the old priest Eli asking why Eli was calling him; Finally, Eli understood that God was calling the boy. Eli told the boy to return and respond to the voice, using the word, Hinni, “Here I am Lord.” Our stance before God is one of utter receptivity, Here I am. 

What are you struggling with this day? What difficulty do you face this moment? My heart cries out with agony for the thousands of people suffering from the virus or those who have lost loved ones. This is the prayer for us. I invite you to pray with me - to be present to the love of God. 

“Abba, Papa, Here I am standing with you, here I am … in my littleness, trusting you to deliver me from my sinfulness, forgiving me as I forgive others, providing when I need food, or water that gives eternal life, clothing, or protection from all evil. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. I put all my trust in you because you care for me." 

III. AMEN. We let it be done. 
The Hebrew Amen means genuinely, it is true. “Amen!” More than a word, it is an all-embracing attitude: ‘to stay, to support, to be firm, faithful. It is like coming home and sinking down into your favorite comfortable chair… letting go completely. 

And a miracle happens as we practice the presence of God. God transforms our lives to wholeness because Someone happens to us.

Abba, Hinni, Amen: AHA!

Light a Candle March 22

Sunday Offering

Abba, Father God, thank you for sequestered silence to spend loving you. Thank you for the red mountains outside our door where we walk in silent wonder at your creation. We are here in our littleness trusting you to meet our needs. Thank you for hearing the cries of our hearts for those who suffer. Thank you for answering those prayers. In all things and at all times, we give you thanks and praise. Abba! Abba! Abba!

Thanks to our Sedona Pastor, David Brandfass, for the call to place a lighted candle in a window. The more I look at the beautiful photo, the more I see the tremendous power of God’s transforming love at work shining through us as we seek His face.

22 Feb Sunday Offering

Sunday Offering

If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this:  as we mature we find out who we want to be; in suffering, we find out who we are.   As always, I find myself thinking about my past, and about the people I lost.   And all too soon, it is my turn to be gone, to be someone’s lost person. 

I know the grief of losing a person, to have lost parents and a son too young! They are gone.  I stand on this side of the sod, with a broken heart for those who are gone.  If I could but have ten minutes more with my son; what I would not give to kiss my mother’s soft cheeks, to be a comfort to her, to tell my dad he was the best.  If only!   Yet, I have reached that point in life, despite shaky hands, forgetfulness, loss of hearing, I can rejoice in what was and what is yet to be.   

I am sitting in a cabin in Vermont after hiking 160 miles on the Appalachian Trail on a rainy day with a need to gather my lost persons whose bones gave me life.  I wrote about my southern ancestors in my book, Spirit in the South, as grief “work” after my son Scott died.  I gathered the bones of Norwegian ancestors in The Spirit Runner manuscript, soon to be in print.  Now, I gather bones once again, bones of my mother’s German ancestors for those who follow me.  This is a book of the German spirit I inherited from my mother.   

Life was difficult having a mother with epilepsy.  It was a family secret we did not discuss.  I certainly did not tell the secret to my best friends.   With many warnings, “Don’t upset your mother, she could have a spell,” the fear transferred to God.  Imagine!  Just imagine what would happen if God had a spell.   Being a sensitive young girl, I learned to be afraid of conflict.  I remember being nurtured, but fear outweighed courage under duress.  How did I survive?

Good bones.  I have good bones.  Strong bones. And somewhere in my DNA, was a burning passion for babies.   I loved my babies.   In the mix of inheriting a love of babies, my DNA is bursting with zeal for education.  Bouncing babies while balancing an undergraduate degree, two master's degrees, two doctorates, and numerous certifications was a challenge.  My DNA is hard-wired to take a course and cuddle babies.  The credit goes to God, good DNA in my bones, and my mother’s spirit.   

Miller Time: Rose’s Story

Rose Arlene Miller was born on 3 June 1920 in Northwood, Iowa, to Coy Clifton Miller and Ruby Anna King Miller.   Ruby’s father, Coy Clifton Miller, was a dispatcher on the railroad and her mother was a telegraph operator. The young family must have moved south shortly after her birth, because of there is a photo of the baby Rose being held by her grandmother in Mena, Arkansas before they settled into their new home in Ennis, Texas.  A sister, Betty Jean, was born 14 May 1923 in Ennis, followed by the birth of another daughter, JoAnn Miller, on 8 August 1928.  

Rose was twelve, Betty was nine and JoAnn was a toddler when they lost their mother. The untimely, devastating death of their beloved mama, Ruby Anna King Miller, impacted the young Miller sisters immensely, forever changing family life a sense of security.  Coy Miller lost his soul mate and his work in the midst of the depression.  After an attempt to keep the family together, the girls were sent to live with their paternal aunt Reatha Miller Looney and her husband Judge James Looney in Mena, Arkansas.  The move to Arkansas was a temporary solution; adding three motherless, grief-stricken children, to a large household with four children, especially during the dark and difficult days of the depressed South, was too challenging to last longer than a year. 

Rose, especially, struggled because she was manifesting symptoms of an illness that was frightening to her and those around her.  About the time of her mother’s death, while yet living in Ennis, Texas, she had been hit in the back of the head with a miniature golf club and spent several days in a Dallas hospital with a concussion.   In Mena, when she began having petit mal seizures, her aunt Retha thought she was trying to get attention and punished Rose by locking her in a closet.  Rose had her first Grand Mal seizure playing girls basketball in Mena.  The name for the malady was “fits” or “spells.”  It would be the beginning of a lifetime of esteem issues.   The move to Northwood, Iowa followed soon afterward.  Ruby’s mother Anna King Painter and Rena King, Ruby’s sister drove to Arkansas to bring them to Northwood, Iowa to live where Gramma Anna would become a second mother to Rose and her sisters. 

The story of the “spells” and the seizure followed Rose to the Board of Education in Northwood.  Initially, they refused to allow Rose to enter school (the eighth grade).  Her step-grandfather J. L. Painter was a member of the school board who insisted she be allowed at least to test; she passed high school admittance exams with such high scores they placed her as a freshman in high school, skipping the eighth grade at age 14.  She did not have any Grand Mal seizures during the four years of high school.  Rose graduated with the Class of 1937 at age 17.    

Rose, green-eyed and very pretty, was welcomed and sought after; she charmed the boys with her delightful southern accent.  During her high school years, she wore a tam or beret to school every day because it was the last Christmas gift she had received from her mother before she passed away.   She played girls basketball and went out for track.  Her senior year she attracted the attention of a classmate’s older brother, Paul or Ole Vold, depending on who was talking about him.  Close friends and family nicknamed him Paul.  People in the community called him Little Ole.  Paul/Ole’s sister, Frances Vold (Meyer) claimed to be the match-maker for the two delivering notes back and forth.   They began dating the spring of her senior year.  After graduation, Rose went to El Paso, Texas to live with her dad, Coy Miller; Gramma Anna King Painter convinced Ole/Paul to go to Texas and propose.  He did and she accepted, but they told no one.

On October 5, 1937, Rose and: Ole/Paul, were on a car ride with friends when they decided to elope in Cresco, Iowa.  According to the marriage record: The State of Iowa issued Marriage License: SO242548. Witnesses to the Marriage: Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore Halland. The license application states First Marriage for Both; Groom's parents:  Carl O. Vold and Susan Turvold; Brides Parents: C.C. Miller and Ruby King; September 5, 1937.; Officiant, Rev. C.E. Jarun.  Cresco, Iowa.

Rose and Ole had the first of three daughters, Cynthia Annette, in Northwood when Gramma

Anna Schulz King Painter passed away in 1941, Rose and Ole moved first to El Paso, Texas, then to Tucson, Arizona while Ole worked for the railroad with his father-in-law.  The family transferred to Dunsmuir, California.  Cynthia Vold has memories of  Dunsmuir where the streets all run up the mountain.   Grandpa Miller come to the house calling out , “16 to Gerber, “ meaning the #16 train from Shasta to 

Gerber was going to depart. 

(Source: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,3397946)

Bonnie Sue Vold was born in Dunsmuir, California. .  It was during this pregnancy Rose Miller Vold had her second Grand Mal seizure.  When Bonnie was six months old the family returned to Northwood.  The family stayed in Grandparent's Vold household for several months, with Rose and Baby Bonnie sleeping downstairs, Cynthia and her dad sleeping in the very cold upstairs under a horsehair blanket.  

The birth of Merrilee Vold followed eighteen months later in the house across the street from the old elementary school in Northwood.  Cynthia and Bonnie heard the birth cry but continued to enjoy themselves pouring out a bag of sugar on the play table.   Mrs. Conn (Bess) Olson, the nurse/caregiver, was not happy with her little charges.  With three daughters in the family, Ervin/Ole/Paul received a draft notice but he escaped duty.  

During WWII  it was a time of heightened drama children did not understand. Blackouts, listening to the radio under a blanket were frightening to children.  Little wonder that strange noise in the basement proved scary until the source revealed was a new cocker spaniel puppy named Duke. 

1946 – The young family purchased a home on the east side of Northwood (now the Village Florist).  Rose’s Petit Mal and Grand Mal “spells” increased.  Cynthia recalls fetching Mrs. Fredrickson from across the street to call Dr. Allison inviting her mother’s anger for telling anyone.   

Memories of life in that house abound.   A good time was had by all of the survivors!  Cynthia proved she was not a good baby sitter when she took 18-month-old Merrilee to the sandpit to go swimming and got a sound whipping from a very frightened mother Rose.  Independent young girls at an early age, they invited the neighbors to celebrate their parent’s wedding anniversary without telling the parents or arranging food.  Rose and Ole rolled up the rug and the gathered group jitterbugged to music on the radio.   Those were the days of playtime in the attic dressing up to put on shows; playing paper dolls with imaginary friends “Mrs. Kodakee and Mrs. Emmasaw.”  Cynthia and Bonnie dragged little Merrilee out of her crib to accompany them to the bathroom at night because an outside branch cast an eerie shadow on the window shade.  

1948 – The Volds purchased the Satterlee house on Eighth Street South.  They owned this home until Rose and Ole/Paul/Ervin moved to Glendale, California in 1958.   

1952- The Vold family traveled with Aunt Fran and Uncle Si Meyer to Elko, Nevada to visit Rose’s father, Coy Miller, and cousin Clark who was living with Coy, before traveling onto Sacramento to see Betty and “Wac” (George Francis) and their daughter Laura Gay.   The Vold family took the bus to Los Angles to see Aunts Rose and Ruth, going through Burbank during an earthquake; Aunt Fran and Uncle Si brought them home to Iowa.  The California seed was planted.

1957 – The Volds sold their Eighth Street South home in Northwood and moved to Glendale, California.  Rose went to college and then nurses training to become an RN, an awesome accomplishment for the intelligent, creative woman who lived under the stress and duress of being found on the streets during an epileptic seizure, put in a straitjacket and taken to a hospital.

1962 – Rose’s beloved daddy had a fatal heart attack in Mena, Arkansas.  She was bereft.  During this time in California, she was treated with two kinds of medications to treat both kinds of seizures.  She lost all interest in returning to Northwood to visit old friends for a time.  

1977 – Ervin/Ole/Paul contracted lung cancer and passed away on 1 November 1977.

Reprinted from the program of the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1934 - 1984 - Written by Richard 'Bud' Johnson:

" After graduation, Irving worked at Urdahl and Vold's Store, Painter Chemical Co. and the Worth Co. Co-op. Oil having his own tank wagon business until 1957 when they moved to California.  Irving and Rose Arlene Miller were married in 1937.  They were the parents of three daughters, Cynthia Forde who has five children; Bonnie Baker who has two children; Merrilee Reid who has two children. Rose died February 10, 1984, of heart failure.  In California, Irving worked for the Los Angeles School system as a regional supervisor in the electrical engineering department.  Irving enjoyed hunting and also woodworking.  When he was in Northwood, he enjoyed many winning many championships in bowling.  He served in the volunteer fire department for many years.  Irving died on November 1, 1977, of lung cancer.  To say that he is missed by his many friends is a tribute to his life.   Irving's daughters said that in his heart, Northwood was always home."

10 February 1984, Rose Arlene Miller Vold passed away as the result of an epileptic seizure.  

Name:

Sunday Offering Making Memories

9 February 2020

Sunday Offering

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde

        Life-enriching moments make memories. Today we made memories. I marveled at the women in my family, two daughters, three daughters-in-law, seven granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters gathered at a baby shower for an expected great-granddaughter. Strong women; creative women, from the oldest to the youngest, kind, loving, thoughtful women. And I am proud, so very proud. I marvel at our hostess, daughter-in-law Karen, Scott’s wife, who raised their two babies alone after Scott died from Leukemia. Our hearts melted when my daughter-in-law Jill, soon-to-be grandma, gifted heirloom quilts from her grandmother and great-grandmother, plus tiny dresses I gave Rachel thirty-two years ago. The female half of the family are makers. They make things. Granddaughter Corrie and her two little ones crocheted a soft, cuddly pink and white blanket. Granddaughter Fyn, five-years-old, received accolades with hand-made cards, a blanket, and a hat she sewed herself (perhaps with some help from her mother, my daughter-in-law Cheryl – designer and maker). Yes, this was a memorable moment, strong women in a family welcoming a new life with gifts from our hearts and our hands; and all are children of the heavenly father. These life-enriching memories made another day wonderfully rich. Thank you, God.

Children of the Heavenly Father

Children of the heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given
God, His own doth tend and nourish
In His holy courts, they flourish
From all evil things, He spares them
In His mighty arms, He bears them
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord, His children sever
Unto them His grace He showeth
And their sorrows all He knoweth
Though He giveth or He taketh
God His children ne’er forsaketh
His, the loving purpose solely
To preserve them, pure and holy
Lo, their very hairs He numbers
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His every blessing

Sunday Offering 19 Jan 2020

SUNDAY OFFERING

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde

Where do you worship? We all want that special church home that meets the needs of young and old and all ages in-between. We want music that stirs our souls, and to hear the Word of God rightly spoken. We want community. Exactly! And that’s why Ron and I worship at Grace Lutheran Church in Conroe, Texas. As a retired pastor sitting in a pew, worship offers a different perspective from a pulpit: worship is enhanced. Here are a few illustrations of the morning’s meaningful moments:

1. The music director’s effervescent guidance of a very lively first hymn set the tone of the day. Praise to you, Lord!

2. The Children’s Sermon is a huge hit. A large group of youngsters of various colors, little ones and older ones descended on the altar steps to listen in rapt attention to Pastor Diane’s storytime. Her worship theme has strong illustrations: ‘Show and Tell’! Thank you, Jesus, for this pastor’s work with children. 

3. The congregation is a nice blend of elderly, in-betweens, and very young. An energetic, precious baby was a sheer delight to watch. O Thank you, Lord, for the gift of new life.

4. My heart smiled watching folks reach down and lovingly hug the oldest member of the congregation sitting in her wheelchair.

5. The benediction is given by the pastor and the children! YAY! Flames of love with hands uplifted over us in benediction.  

6. The recessional hymn was powerful! Drums, horns, piano and a very dynamic John Roth on guitar, marching us to the light of God. 

7. And this is why we worship at Grace Lutheran Church in Conroe, Texas

1st Sunday after Christmas

1st Sunday after Christmas

Sunday Offering: Do You Wonder?

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde

Do you wonder? An angel appears to Joseph in a dream warning him to flee because King Herod is going to kill his baby, Jesus. Herod begins the wholesale slaughter of infants throughout the land, seeking to destroy a newborn king prophesied to take his place. Rachel weeps for her babies. A king Is born? What kind of king? How can this be? Do you wonder? 

Centuries pass after the birth that changed the world, Joseph’s warning to flee, and Rachel lamenting for her children. Civilizations come and go, we are born, we live, and we die. Why am I? I wonder! Do you wonder? 

In the quiet between Christmas Joy and New Year fireworks, I ponder the lessons for the First Sunday after Christmas. Will pastors predictably preach about refugees, the Holy Family as immigrants? Or will the topic be the slaughter of babies by abortion? Or is there something more? Do you wonder? 

In this quiet week, Ron and I walk the beach holding hands, marveling at the energy of the sea with white clouds dancing across the blue-sky overhead, caught up in the oneness of belonging to the universe, the wonder of the incarnation! God with us! Do you wonder? 

Abba Father, Thank you for opening my eyes to wonder! Thank you for the holy quiet, the sweet stillness in my soul. Thank you for placing me on the earth beneath me, the sky and the stars above me, for your breath and spirit that flow through me with life in oneness with you. Amen.

 (Matthew 2:13-23 RSV)

Advent Four

Millennials are leaving religion and not returning.  My point is simple. Parents are responsible for being spiritual guides, teaching children to pray, and bringing them to worship. We teach our children to worship God by worshipping with them. In the process of worship, paying attention to the presence of God, we are transformed. It is in the crucible, that transforming power, we become broken bread and poured out wine to serve, and to love. We become Christ’s love. It is a very different kind of love than what the world knows. What is the summa of commandments? Love the Lord your God..., your self and your neighbor. Love God first, and all else flows forth. Having said that, why are young people leaving religion? Parents and a changing society! So again, my point is if parents want their children to have faith... it is up to the parents!