Wondering Presbyterian

              I’ve been reflecting on a certain word: need. It’s not my “star word” for the year (see previous blog entry), but it’s a word that keeps coming up this week. As in, lots of people need help. And, more is needed if we’re going to break down systems that keep people impoverished or disenfranchised. And, what does this person really need when they’re asking me for help? I’m thinking about a question that I plan to ask as many people this year as possible: “What do you need from your church?”             And, a bigger question that is just weighing on my heart this week: am I helping to actually meet a need or am I enabling someone? That’s a hard question, because on the one hand people do need help and what is the church except to be the body of Christ who loves her neighbor as we love ourselves? When the disciples told Jesus people were hungry, Jesus said, “ You feed them” (Matthew 14:16). The early church in Acts had a community fund so that no one was ever in need. Ja

                Every year, my church does “Star Words.” I love this practice. Each year, everyone has a chance to get their own word. In the past, we’ve put the stars with words on them in an offering plate and everyone takes one. Since the pandemic, we’ve switched to a site that automatically generates a yearly word, which serves the same purpose. The idea is that this is the word that will mean something to you this year. It may not mean anything right away, but before the end of the year, God will use this word to shine a light on something in your life.               For example: in 2021, my word was “pivot.”              I keep my star on my desk in my home office where I see it every day. And every day, I’m reminded of this word when I have to pivot again in something. Plans can change so rapidly. As I said in my annual pastor’s report that will come out this month, most of this past year has been about learning to adapt and roll with it. It’s been incredibly stressful and I’ve