I learned of my Aunt Libby’s passing two weeks ago and the news did not come easily to me. She came to Asheville, NC the same year that I did- for me to begin my adult life as a college freshman and her to end hers. She moved to an assisted living facility there that offered end-of-life care. The serendipity of this still baffles and amazes me. We spent countless hours together throughout the eleven years that we shared a zip code and she served as my primary family support throughout my twenties. I have been reflecting a lot on our time together and attempting to hold onto the lovely memories of her that I hope to cherish for a lifetime. I want to introduce her to you as a way to honor her. Continue reading
Author Archives: Elizabeth Richardson
Creating Families
Last week in my clinical skills class we began talking about making genograms to map our familial relations and connections. After a long phone call to my parents and discussing my family tree, I was not sure the people on my family tree, outside of my family of origin, were the people I would frequently bring up when talking about the people I interact with. However, I would consider several of my friends family members because of the close knit relationship we have. Continue reading
Disclosing Compassion
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, 25A, October 26, 2014; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Exodus 20:1-4,7-9, 12-20. Do not fear.
Philippians 2:1-13. But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
Matthew 21:33-46. Listen to another parable.
Philippians 2:1-13. But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
Matthew 21:33-46. Listen to another parable.
O God of grace, may we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth – come when it may and cost what it will.
This morning in our reading from Deuteronomy, we heard the very last part of the Torah. Last weekend was the joyful Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah (simchat means rejoicing). On Simchat Torah, this portion of Deuteronomy is read in synagogues, followed by a reading of the first portion from Genesis. On Simchat Torah, as many people as possible ascend to the blessing of reading, rather than just the usual two or three readers. Afterwards, the congregations dances and sings. It’s the celebration of endings leading to new beginnings. Continue reading
Something in the Way We Move
Recently I was asked why I chose to study Dance/Movement Therapy. My answer was that it has proved to serve me in my experiences and I desire to bring Dance/Movement Therapy to the world and that I aspire to be more qualified in the realm of Expressive Arts Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. After some reflection of my answer I realized that the essence of my statement is a desire for connection and movement. I love to move. I have experienced the transformative power of movement in my life. My desire to be more qualified is really an effort or desire to connect with others on a deeper level and to better understand where someone is in that moment. It was this question that led me to look at the way in which I relate to others and how I can make these connections on a body level. How does the way I move effect or relate to the connections I make, particularly in my three internship areas? Continue reading
Need for Connection
Over the last two weeks one of the themes I have seen rise time and time again is the human need for connection and belonging. Being with one another in a meaningful way can make all the difference in someone’s life. Brené Brown says, “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.” I feel this speaks perfectly to the wonderful people the interns and volunteers get the opportunity to experience firsthand through Common Art, Café Emmanuel and the Art and Spirituality program at the Suffolk County House of Correction.
The artists at Common Art have been creating beautiful works which they presented and sold in a show this past Sunday. Some images show literal connection such as couples while other pieces elicit connection through conversation over the art as it is viewed. They are sharing their memories, dreams and imaginations with the greater community through their art.
Abundant Life
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost, 22A, October 5, 2014; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Exodus 20:1-4,7-9, 12-20 Do not fear.
Philippians 2:1-13 But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
Matthew 21:33-46 Listen to another parable.
Philippians 2:1-13 But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
Matthew 21:33-46 Listen to another parable.
O God of grace, may we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth – come when it may and cost what it will.
In our first lesson this morning we heard one of the most famous passages of scripture in the whole Bible. You don’t have to be Jewish or Christian to have heard of what are commonly known as “The Ten Commandments.” In our church tradition, this passage is called the Decalogue – literally “ten words” from God because of references in Deuteronomy to the ten words or ten things that were written in stone on Sinai – ten things that Moses reported hearing from the Source of all being on the Holy Mountain.
Here is the oldest example in our scripture of instructions for how to live long and well in community. The passage begins by telling us that God the Author spoke all these words, reminding the people first that it was God Who brought the people out of the house of slavery. It was God Who brought the people out of the narrow places – mitzrayim – between rocks and hard places – also called Egypt in the Hebrew Bible. This moment marks their new beginning – a fresh starting point for the community – another chance to live in an entirely new way. And God is expressing God’s will – God’s desire for God’s people. “Listen,” God is saying, “I have moved you out from a place of dishonor and disrespect. You are free. You are no longer trapped. You are not enslaved. I have redeemed you. You are valuable. You are precious to me. And here’s how you, my beloved, will behave when you have no other gods more important than me. Here’s how it will be when you know deep in your hearts that you are my people.” Continue reading
Be swift to love!
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 21A, September 28, 2014; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Exodus 17:1-7 The whole congregation journeyed by stages…is the Lord among us or not?
Philippians 2:1-13 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete… for it is God who is at work in you
Matthew 21:23-32 We do not know.
Philippians 2:1-13 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete… for it is God who is at work in you
Matthew 21:23-32 We do not know.
O God of mercy, may we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth – come when it may and cost what it will.
Today our story from Exodus tells us that in the olden days, the people of God used to wonder whether God was really with (or in) them or not. As I recited last week, the people of God had survived the plagues, experienced the Passover, miraculously escaped a pursuing army, escaped slavery, cried out for food in the desert and had meat and bread delivered. Now they were thirsty. They were so thirsty that Moses was afraid for his life if he didn’t find some water for them to drink. When water came bubbling up out of the rock, Moses named the place “squabble” and “disputation” because the people couldn’t agree about whether God was among them, yes or no. Just so you know, getting enough water to quench their thirst didn’t stop the squabbling and disputation about whether God was in their midst or not. We are still grappling with this, aren’t we, whether we are counting this year as 2014 or 5775 or some other number altogether. Continue reading
Welcome forward, Emmanuel!
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 20A, September 21, 2014; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Exodus 16:2-15 In the evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Philippians 1:21-30 Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 20:1-16 Are you envious because I am generous?
Philippians 1:21-30 Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 20:1-16 Are you envious because I am generous?
O God of grace, may we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.
Good morning! Welcome into this magnificent sanctuary of time and space and parish that is Emmanuel Church. Welcome to you who are here for the very first time. Welcome to you who are returning here, having been away for a short time or a long time. Welcome to you who were here much of yesterday or the day before, or every day this last week. Welcome to you who have been here more times than you could ever count! Welcome into the future of God’s beloved community gathered in this place. You know, it’s our future that I’m most excited about. While I was traveling this summer, someone said to me, “Wow, Emmanuel Church in Boston has such a great history.” I said, “Yes! And a great future too!” I hope you’ll be able to stay for a while after our service to hear about the amazing progress on our north-wall restoration project. And I hope you’ll stay a while in the months and years to come to challenge and change us as we become more and more of who God is calling us to be. This is not welcome back Sunday; it is welcome forward Sunday! Continue reading
Welcome our Expressive-Art Interns!
My name is Rebekah Woolf and I will be spending the next 9 months with you all at Emmanuel Church as an intern from Lesley University. Currently, I am in my second of three years in my master’s program where I am studying to become an Expressive Art Therapist and Mental Health Counselor.
Originally, I hail from Central Pennsylvania and am a recent transplant to the greater Boston area as of last year. I am fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to have the arts in my life since an early age and have been creating and expressing myself via art ever since. I have been interested in understanding personhood and have participated in community service for as long as I can remember. Thus, the desire to serve others as well as combining my love to art and psychology has brought me to this incredible experience. I am very much looking forward to getting to know the Emmanuel Church community and the people you serve. Continue reading
Blessing Day
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 19A, September 14, 2014; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Exodus 14:19-31 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground…the Egyptians pursued and went into the sea after them.
Romans 14:1-12 Welcome
Matthew 18:21-35 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?
Romans 14:1-12 Welcome
Matthew 18:21-35 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?
O God of mercy, grant us the wisdom, the strength and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.
Today’s Gospel passage concludes the section in Matthew about what discipleship really means for Jesus followers. Those of you who were here last week might remember my rant about the words in the ancient Greek which read, “my brother,” being translated as “member of the church.” Since the problematic translation occurs again in today’s reading, this week I took the time to try to discover when that shift from “my brother” to “member of the church” happened – in the ancient Latin translation of the early church? Was it during the German or the English reformation? I went on an investigative tear. Alas. It was in 1989 with our present translation in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. I’m completely baffled by that. Continue reading