Learning How To Pray
Stories
Object:
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Time to Deceive"
Shining Moments: "Praying: Even When You Can't" by Pamela J. Tinnin
Good Stories: "Learning How to Pray" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "From One Branch to Another" by Bill Dow
What's Up This Week
A deceiver is deceived in the Genesis text this week. Tricky Jacob, stealer of his brother's birthright, is tricked by his even trickier Uncle Laban. Like uncle, like nephew? Perhaps Mother Rebekah should have sent him off to one of Isaac's brothers when it got too hot for him at home. Your congregation will love the story about the deceiving poodle in A Story to Live By when you tell it as the introduction to your sermon on Jacob and Laban. Or, if you are preaching on prayer based on the apostle Paul's unforgettable comments in Romans, you will love telling Pam Tinnin's powerful story in Shining Moments. Our thanks to dear friend Bill Dow for sharing his thoughts about meaningful summer vacations in the Scrap Pile.
A Story to Live By
A Time to Deceive
So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her... When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
Genesis 29:22-23, 25
A wealthy old lady decided to go on a photo safari in Africa, and took her faithful aged poodle named Cuddles along for the company.
One day the poodle started chasing butterflies, and before long Cuddles discovered that she was lost. As she wandered about, she noticed a leopard heading rapidly in her direction -- with the intention of having lunch.
The old poodle thought, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" She noticed some bones on the ground close by, and she immediately settled down to chew on the bones with her back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard was about to leap, the old poodle exclaimed loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?"
Hearing this, the young leopard halted his attack in mid-strike; a look of terror came over him and he slinked away into the trees. "Whew!" said the leopard, "that was close! That old poodle nearly had me!"
Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree figured he could put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he went; but the old poodle saw him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figured that something must be up. The monkey soon caught up with the leopard, spilled the beans, and struck a deal for himself with the leopard.
The young leopard, furious at being made a fool of, said to the monkey, "Here, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!"
Now, the old poodle saw the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thought "What am I going to do now?" But instead of running, the dog sat down with her back to her attackers, pretending that she hadn't seen them yet, and just when they got close enough to hear, the old poodle said: "Where's that darn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!"
Shining Moments
Praying: Even When You Can't
by Pamela J. Tinnin
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
The year I turned 40, I spent my birthday at a three-day women's retreat. The retreat was held at a Catholic boarding school. None of us knew each other, so it was a bit awkward that first night, especially when it came time for bed -- six women, all ages, sleeping in the narrow cots of a dorm room.
By the second night, after a day of study groups, worship and prayer, silly skits and games, and eating three meals together, we were old friends. It was more like the slumber parties I remembered from high school -- lots of giggling and whispering long after "lights out." After a while the voices faded away one by one, until the room was quiet except for the sound of soft snoring.
I lay awake a long time, thinking about the events of the day -- the sight of 80 women, all ages, shapes, and sizes, trying to hold balloons between their knees as they raced, or more accurately stumbled, to the finish line; the words of every old camp song I'd ever learned sung by 80 adult female voices of every description; the flicker of a hundred candles in a darkened chapel, the light gleaming on the bowed heads around me.
In those three days, we prayed a lot in groups, the prayer moving from one to another around the circle. The retreat leaders prayed for us, sometimes with tears on their faces. We even had a midnight prayer walk, each of us holding the hand of the person ahead and behind, with only the team leaders holding a flashlight. I tried to concentrate, to "clear" my mind and heart and reach out to God with fervent words, but all I could do was concentrate on not falling, wondering what the dark shadows were and where the path would take us.
Prayer has never come easy for me, public prayer in particular. Instead of just speaking from the heart, sometimes I get hung up on whether I'm going to sound stupid, whether my prayer is going to be "good enough." In fact, I usually write out a public prayer rather than risk making a mistake, saying "the wrong thing."
But not long ago, I learned something important about prayer. I was at the local hospital visiting a church member, an elderly man who was there following surgery for a broken leg. I saw a young man in a wheelchair, so thin his face wasn't more than a skull with skin stretched tight and marked with numerous small bruises. I've seen him before over the past few years, enough that I smile and nod and he does the same. He had never spoken, but I couldn't help notice that each time I saw him, he was thinner, his eyes sunken deeper in dark circles, his bony hands trembling more and more.
But this time he reached out and touched my arm. "You're a pastor, aren't you?" he asked me, his voice a husky whisper. "The lady at the counter told me -- my name's Robby."
"Yes," I answered, telling him my name and that I was from Partridge Community Church.
"I'd like you to pray for me," he said, his words coming out slow and awkward. "I'd surely appreciate it. I wouldn't bother you, but... see, I've... I've got AIDS... I don't have much time left."
Not knowing what to say, I looked around. I think I was hoping for some other pastor to come along, someone to bail me out, someone who could pray eloquently and powerfully. There was only a young woman pushing a cart stacked with meal trays, a gray-haired couple who got off the elevator laughing at some private joke... and me.
My own voice took me by surprise. "Yes, Robby, I'll pray for you." And I did -- right there in the hallway. I leaned in close so he'd have no trouble hearing, put my arm around his shoulder, took a deep breath, and prayed that the right words would come. I thanked God for loving Robby, for being there to help him not be afraid. I asked that Robby be forgiven for any sins and that he be able to forgive anyone who had hurt him in his life. I prayed that Robby would find comfort and feel at peace in the hard days that lay ahead of him.
I don't know how long we stayed there, our heads bowed, but when I said "In the name of the Risen Christ, Amen" and looked up, there was the young woman who had passed by earlier. She stood against the wall next to the stainless steel cart, her head bowed. When she opened her eyes, she smiled at us, mouthed the word "thanks," then patted Robby's knee and pushed the cart into the waiting elevator. Tears were streaming down Robby's face even though his eyes were shining and he was smiling this enormous smile.
Last week Robby's mother, whom he hadn't seen in nearly ten years, came to take him home to Texas. I pray that whatever time they have will be blessed.
Like that prayer walk I took some 15 years ago, at times our lives can follow dark and shadowed paths to places unknown. The only light may seem faraway and out of reach. But like I told that young man in the wheelchair, there isn't one of us who isn't a beloved child of God -- beloved. When we pray, there are no mistakes, no way to "say the wrong thing." In fact, if we can't find words, we can just wait without speaking, assured that the One who loves us can hear the silent yearnings of our hearts.
Pamela J. Tinnin is pastor of Guerneville Community Church (United Church of Christ) in Guerneville, California. Pamela has written stories for all three of the books in the Vision series. She is also a co-author of Bit Players In The Big Play (CSS Publishing Company).
Good Stories
Learning How to Pray
by John Sumwalt
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
There was once a little boy who did not know how to pray. He asked one of his friends about it one day, and his friend said, "It is really very easy. Each night you must kneel down beside your bed and say, 'God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, and God bless me. Amen.' That is all there is to it." The little boy tried it that night, but somehow it didn't seem to be enough. "There must be more to prayer than this," he thought.
The next morning at breakfast he asked his mom to show him how to pray. "But you know how to pray," his mom told him. "Just fold your hands, close your eyes, and say, 'Dear God, please bless this food that we are about to eat.' " The little boy prayed as his mother said, but that didn't seem to be enough either.
That same afternoon, he asked his father to show him how to pray. "It is very simple," his father said. "When you wish to pray, go into a church, bow your head, and say, 'Thank you, God, for all the blessings of life.' " The next time they were in church, the little boy prayed as his father said, but still he wasn't sure that he really knew how to pray. Something was lacking. He was sure there must be something more about prayer, something crucial that they had forgotten to tell him.
That very night his grandmother came to visit. After supper, when they were alone, the little boy climbed up onto her lap and said, "Grandma, will you teach me to pray? I know about kneeling down beside my bed and folding my hands and bowing my head. I even know some of the right words to say. But, still, I wonder if I really and truly know how to pray."
His grandmother smiled and said, "I think you are ready to learn about the most important part of prayer... listening to God."
"What do you mean?" the little boy asked. "What should I listen for? Does God talk back? How will I know God is talking to me?"
"Shhhhh," his grandmother said. "You will know. Just listen." And so the two of them sat very quietly together and began to listen.
Scrap Pile
From One Branch to Another
by Bill Dow
Summer! Vacation time! Are you ready?
We all need vacations -- even those who are in retirement. However, many times our vacations are so intense they leave us exhausted. And so I lift this question to you: "Will your vacation time feed your spirit, or will your spirit feed your vacation?"
We place a high value on upward mobility. Vacations have a way of getting "bigger and better." But as our expectations rise, so does the potential for disappointment. And as the price tag goes up, much of our energies are spent making sure we get our money's worth instead of enjoying the moment. The tensions created by financing a vacation can sometimes outweigh the benefits. Vacations often leave us in debt -- creating a need to work more hours. It might even tempt us to raid the savings account and further weaken our financial viability.
Perhaps we should consider approaching vacations from the perspective of enrichment rather than entitlement and pleasure. There are many who use their vacation time to volunteer. I know of people who use vacation time to volunteer at the State Fair in Milwaukee. They have a great time! Another friend volunteers at a university library. Others volunteer at summer camps. Short-term ministries such as Volunteers in Mission (VIM) have captured the hearts of many, and they can't wait for their vacation to start. I've heard of 87-year-old women in wheelchairs vacationing for a whole month at the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana. They belong to a team of over 2,700 volunteers that sew, sort, and pack items sent all over the world to help people in need know that someone cares. A friend of mine, a retired school administrator, "vacations" at Sager-Brown for a week each year. Without that vacation time, his spirit becomes restless and his attitude deteriorates.
The Bible says we "reap what we sow." In other words, if we "buy" a pleasure vacation with money, we should expect the benefits of that vacation to be short and unfulfilling, maybe even stressful in the long run. However, if we invest our vacation time and money in activities of learning, enrichment, and Christian service, the benefits live in us for eternity.
There are so many opportunities to serve. Check out www.wisconsinumc.org ; click on the "Missions" link in the left-hand column. In the next screen you will see "Volunteer Opportunities" on the left side. Take a look -- it may be a life-changing vacation for you this summer.
Bill Dow is pastor of the Westfield and Coloma United Methodist Churches in central Wisconsin. This article appeared in his summer newsletter.
**********************************************
New Book
The third book in the vision series, Shining Moments: Visions of the Holy in Ordinary Lives (edited by John Sumwalt), is now available from CSS Publishing Company. (Click on the title for information about how to order.) Among the 60 contributing authors of these Chicken Soup for the Soul-like vignettes are Ralph Milton, Sandra Herrmann, Pamela J. Tinnin, Richard H. Gentzler Jr., David Michael Smith, Anne Sunday, Nancy Nichols, William Lee Rand, Gail Ingle, and Rosmarie Trapp, whose family story was told in the classic movie The Sound of Music. The stories follow the lectionary for Cycle A.
Other Books by John & Jo Sumwalt
Sharing Visions: Divine Revelations, Angels, and Holy Coincidences
Vision Stories: True Accounts of Visions, Angels, and Healing Miracles
Life Stories: A Study in Christian Decision Making
Lectionary Stories: Forty Tellable Tales for Cycle A
Lectionary Stories: Forty Tellable Tales for Cycle B
Lectionary Stories: Forty Tellable Tales for Cycle C
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit: 62 Stories for Cycle B
**************
About the Editors
John E. Sumwalt is the pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, and is the author of eight books for CSS. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS), John received the Herbert Manning Jr. award for Parish Ministry from UDTS in 1997. John is known in the Milwaukee area for his one-minute radio spots which always include a brief story. He concludes each spot by saying, "I'm John Sumwalt with 'A Story to Live By' from Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church."
John has done numerous storytelling events for civic, school, and church groups, as well as on radio and television. He has performed at a number of fundraisers for the homeless, the hungry, Habitat for Humanity, and women's shelters. Since the fall of 1999, when he began working on the Vision Stories series, he has led seminars and retreats around the themes "A Safe Place to Tell Visions," "Vision Stories in the Bible and Today," and coming this spring: "Soul Growth: Discovering Lost Spiritual Dimensions." To schedule a seminar or a retreat, write to jsumwalt@naspa.net or phone 414-257-1228.
Joanne Perry-Sumwalt is director of Christian Education at Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee. Jo is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, with a degree in English and writing. She has co-authored two books with John, Life Stories: A Study In Christian Decision Making and Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit: 62 Stories For Cycle B. Jo writes original curriculum for church classes. She also serves as the secretary of the Wisconsin chapter of the Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF), and is a member of the National CEF.
Jo and John have been married since 1975. They have two grown children, Kathryn and Orrin. They both love reading, movies, long walks with Chloe (their West Highland Terrier), and working on their old farmhouse in southwest Wisconsin.
**********************************************
StoryShare, July 24, 2005, issue.
Copyright 2005 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Time to Deceive"
Shining Moments: "Praying: Even When You Can't" by Pamela J. Tinnin
Good Stories: "Learning How to Pray" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "From One Branch to Another" by Bill Dow
What's Up This Week
A deceiver is deceived in the Genesis text this week. Tricky Jacob, stealer of his brother's birthright, is tricked by his even trickier Uncle Laban. Like uncle, like nephew? Perhaps Mother Rebekah should have sent him off to one of Isaac's brothers when it got too hot for him at home. Your congregation will love the story about the deceiving poodle in A Story to Live By when you tell it as the introduction to your sermon on Jacob and Laban. Or, if you are preaching on prayer based on the apostle Paul's unforgettable comments in Romans, you will love telling Pam Tinnin's powerful story in Shining Moments. Our thanks to dear friend Bill Dow for sharing his thoughts about meaningful summer vacations in the Scrap Pile.
A Story to Live By
A Time to Deceive
So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her... When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
Genesis 29:22-23, 25
A wealthy old lady decided to go on a photo safari in Africa, and took her faithful aged poodle named Cuddles along for the company.
One day the poodle started chasing butterflies, and before long Cuddles discovered that she was lost. As she wandered about, she noticed a leopard heading rapidly in her direction -- with the intention of having lunch.
The old poodle thought, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" She noticed some bones on the ground close by, and she immediately settled down to chew on the bones with her back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard was about to leap, the old poodle exclaimed loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?"
Hearing this, the young leopard halted his attack in mid-strike; a look of terror came over him and he slinked away into the trees. "Whew!" said the leopard, "that was close! That old poodle nearly had me!"
Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree figured he could put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he went; but the old poodle saw him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figured that something must be up. The monkey soon caught up with the leopard, spilled the beans, and struck a deal for himself with the leopard.
The young leopard, furious at being made a fool of, said to the monkey, "Here, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!"
Now, the old poodle saw the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thought "What am I going to do now?" But instead of running, the dog sat down with her back to her attackers, pretending that she hadn't seen them yet, and just when they got close enough to hear, the old poodle said: "Where's that darn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!"
Shining Moments
Praying: Even When You Can't
by Pamela J. Tinnin
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
The year I turned 40, I spent my birthday at a three-day women's retreat. The retreat was held at a Catholic boarding school. None of us knew each other, so it was a bit awkward that first night, especially when it came time for bed -- six women, all ages, sleeping in the narrow cots of a dorm room.
By the second night, after a day of study groups, worship and prayer, silly skits and games, and eating three meals together, we were old friends. It was more like the slumber parties I remembered from high school -- lots of giggling and whispering long after "lights out." After a while the voices faded away one by one, until the room was quiet except for the sound of soft snoring.
I lay awake a long time, thinking about the events of the day -- the sight of 80 women, all ages, shapes, and sizes, trying to hold balloons between their knees as they raced, or more accurately stumbled, to the finish line; the words of every old camp song I'd ever learned sung by 80 adult female voices of every description; the flicker of a hundred candles in a darkened chapel, the light gleaming on the bowed heads around me.
In those three days, we prayed a lot in groups, the prayer moving from one to another around the circle. The retreat leaders prayed for us, sometimes with tears on their faces. We even had a midnight prayer walk, each of us holding the hand of the person ahead and behind, with only the team leaders holding a flashlight. I tried to concentrate, to "clear" my mind and heart and reach out to God with fervent words, but all I could do was concentrate on not falling, wondering what the dark shadows were and where the path would take us.
Prayer has never come easy for me, public prayer in particular. Instead of just speaking from the heart, sometimes I get hung up on whether I'm going to sound stupid, whether my prayer is going to be "good enough." In fact, I usually write out a public prayer rather than risk making a mistake, saying "the wrong thing."
But not long ago, I learned something important about prayer. I was at the local hospital visiting a church member, an elderly man who was there following surgery for a broken leg. I saw a young man in a wheelchair, so thin his face wasn't more than a skull with skin stretched tight and marked with numerous small bruises. I've seen him before over the past few years, enough that I smile and nod and he does the same. He had never spoken, but I couldn't help notice that each time I saw him, he was thinner, his eyes sunken deeper in dark circles, his bony hands trembling more and more.
But this time he reached out and touched my arm. "You're a pastor, aren't you?" he asked me, his voice a husky whisper. "The lady at the counter told me -- my name's Robby."
"Yes," I answered, telling him my name and that I was from Partridge Community Church.
"I'd like you to pray for me," he said, his words coming out slow and awkward. "I'd surely appreciate it. I wouldn't bother you, but... see, I've... I've got AIDS... I don't have much time left."
Not knowing what to say, I looked around. I think I was hoping for some other pastor to come along, someone to bail me out, someone who could pray eloquently and powerfully. There was only a young woman pushing a cart stacked with meal trays, a gray-haired couple who got off the elevator laughing at some private joke... and me.
My own voice took me by surprise. "Yes, Robby, I'll pray for you." And I did -- right there in the hallway. I leaned in close so he'd have no trouble hearing, put my arm around his shoulder, took a deep breath, and prayed that the right words would come. I thanked God for loving Robby, for being there to help him not be afraid. I asked that Robby be forgiven for any sins and that he be able to forgive anyone who had hurt him in his life. I prayed that Robby would find comfort and feel at peace in the hard days that lay ahead of him.
I don't know how long we stayed there, our heads bowed, but when I said "In the name of the Risen Christ, Amen" and looked up, there was the young woman who had passed by earlier. She stood against the wall next to the stainless steel cart, her head bowed. When she opened her eyes, she smiled at us, mouthed the word "thanks," then patted Robby's knee and pushed the cart into the waiting elevator. Tears were streaming down Robby's face even though his eyes were shining and he was smiling this enormous smile.
Last week Robby's mother, whom he hadn't seen in nearly ten years, came to take him home to Texas. I pray that whatever time they have will be blessed.
Like that prayer walk I took some 15 years ago, at times our lives can follow dark and shadowed paths to places unknown. The only light may seem faraway and out of reach. But like I told that young man in the wheelchair, there isn't one of us who isn't a beloved child of God -- beloved. When we pray, there are no mistakes, no way to "say the wrong thing." In fact, if we can't find words, we can just wait without speaking, assured that the One who loves us can hear the silent yearnings of our hearts.
Pamela J. Tinnin is pastor of Guerneville Community Church (United Church of Christ) in Guerneville, California. Pamela has written stories for all three of the books in the Vision series. She is also a co-author of Bit Players In The Big Play (CSS Publishing Company).
Good Stories
Learning How to Pray
by John Sumwalt
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
There was once a little boy who did not know how to pray. He asked one of his friends about it one day, and his friend said, "It is really very easy. Each night you must kneel down beside your bed and say, 'God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, and God bless me. Amen.' That is all there is to it." The little boy tried it that night, but somehow it didn't seem to be enough. "There must be more to prayer than this," he thought.
The next morning at breakfast he asked his mom to show him how to pray. "But you know how to pray," his mom told him. "Just fold your hands, close your eyes, and say, 'Dear God, please bless this food that we are about to eat.' " The little boy prayed as his mother said, but that didn't seem to be enough either.
That same afternoon, he asked his father to show him how to pray. "It is very simple," his father said. "When you wish to pray, go into a church, bow your head, and say, 'Thank you, God, for all the blessings of life.' " The next time they were in church, the little boy prayed as his father said, but still he wasn't sure that he really knew how to pray. Something was lacking. He was sure there must be something more about prayer, something crucial that they had forgotten to tell him.
That very night his grandmother came to visit. After supper, when they were alone, the little boy climbed up onto her lap and said, "Grandma, will you teach me to pray? I know about kneeling down beside my bed and folding my hands and bowing my head. I even know some of the right words to say. But, still, I wonder if I really and truly know how to pray."
His grandmother smiled and said, "I think you are ready to learn about the most important part of prayer... listening to God."
"What do you mean?" the little boy asked. "What should I listen for? Does God talk back? How will I know God is talking to me?"
"Shhhhh," his grandmother said. "You will know. Just listen." And so the two of them sat very quietly together and began to listen.
Scrap Pile
From One Branch to Another
by Bill Dow
Summer! Vacation time! Are you ready?
We all need vacations -- even those who are in retirement. However, many times our vacations are so intense they leave us exhausted. And so I lift this question to you: "Will your vacation time feed your spirit, or will your spirit feed your vacation?"
We place a high value on upward mobility. Vacations have a way of getting "bigger and better." But as our expectations rise, so does the potential for disappointment. And as the price tag goes up, much of our energies are spent making sure we get our money's worth instead of enjoying the moment. The tensions created by financing a vacation can sometimes outweigh the benefits. Vacations often leave us in debt -- creating a need to work more hours. It might even tempt us to raid the savings account and further weaken our financial viability.
Perhaps we should consider approaching vacations from the perspective of enrichment rather than entitlement and pleasure. There are many who use their vacation time to volunteer. I know of people who use vacation time to volunteer at the State Fair in Milwaukee. They have a great time! Another friend volunteers at a university library. Others volunteer at summer camps. Short-term ministries such as Volunteers in Mission (VIM) have captured the hearts of many, and they can't wait for their vacation to start. I've heard of 87-year-old women in wheelchairs vacationing for a whole month at the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana. They belong to a team of over 2,700 volunteers that sew, sort, and pack items sent all over the world to help people in need know that someone cares. A friend of mine, a retired school administrator, "vacations" at Sager-Brown for a week each year. Without that vacation time, his spirit becomes restless and his attitude deteriorates.
The Bible says we "reap what we sow." In other words, if we "buy" a pleasure vacation with money, we should expect the benefits of that vacation to be short and unfulfilling, maybe even stressful in the long run. However, if we invest our vacation time and money in activities of learning, enrichment, and Christian service, the benefits live in us for eternity.
There are so many opportunities to serve. Check out www.wisconsinumc.org ; click on the "Missions" link in the left-hand column. In the next screen you will see "Volunteer Opportunities" on the left side. Take a look -- it may be a life-changing vacation for you this summer.
Bill Dow is pastor of the Westfield and Coloma United Methodist Churches in central Wisconsin. This article appeared in his summer newsletter.
**********************************************
New Book
The third book in the vision series, Shining Moments: Visions of the Holy in Ordinary Lives (edited by John Sumwalt), is now available from CSS Publishing Company. (Click on the title for information about how to order.) Among the 60 contributing authors of these Chicken Soup for the Soul-like vignettes are Ralph Milton, Sandra Herrmann, Pamela J. Tinnin, Richard H. Gentzler Jr., David Michael Smith, Anne Sunday, Nancy Nichols, William Lee Rand, Gail Ingle, and Rosmarie Trapp, whose family story was told in the classic movie The Sound of Music. The stories follow the lectionary for Cycle A.
Other Books by John & Jo Sumwalt
Sharing Visions: Divine Revelations, Angels, and Holy Coincidences
Vision Stories: True Accounts of Visions, Angels, and Healing Miracles
Life Stories: A Study in Christian Decision Making
Lectionary Stories: Forty Tellable Tales for Cycle A
Lectionary Stories: Forty Tellable Tales for Cycle B
Lectionary Stories: Forty Tellable Tales for Cycle C
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit: 62 Stories for Cycle B
**************
About the Editors
John E. Sumwalt is the pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, and is the author of eight books for CSS. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS), John received the Herbert Manning Jr. award for Parish Ministry from UDTS in 1997. John is known in the Milwaukee area for his one-minute radio spots which always include a brief story. He concludes each spot by saying, "I'm John Sumwalt with 'A Story to Live By' from Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church."
John has done numerous storytelling events for civic, school, and church groups, as well as on radio and television. He has performed at a number of fundraisers for the homeless, the hungry, Habitat for Humanity, and women's shelters. Since the fall of 1999, when he began working on the Vision Stories series, he has led seminars and retreats around the themes "A Safe Place to Tell Visions," "Vision Stories in the Bible and Today," and coming this spring: "Soul Growth: Discovering Lost Spiritual Dimensions." To schedule a seminar or a retreat, write to jsumwalt@naspa.net or phone 414-257-1228.
Joanne Perry-Sumwalt is director of Christian Education at Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee. Jo is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, with a degree in English and writing. She has co-authored two books with John, Life Stories: A Study In Christian Decision Making and Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit: 62 Stories For Cycle B. Jo writes original curriculum for church classes. She also serves as the secretary of the Wisconsin chapter of the Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF), and is a member of the National CEF.
Jo and John have been married since 1975. They have two grown children, Kathryn and Orrin. They both love reading, movies, long walks with Chloe (their West Highland Terrier), and working on their old farmhouse in southwest Wisconsin.
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StoryShare, July 24, 2005, issue.
Copyright 2005 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
