It was the day before Christmas Eve when I received a phone call asking me to assist my ministers in communion at the Christmas Eve services. I have served communion many times before at the Wesley Foundation and Candler School of Theology. But looking back on it, I had never served communion to my local church. It had been years since I had done anything official at Haymount UMC in Fayetteville, NC - probably dating all the way back to my first semester of college. With a tinge of anticipation mixed with excitement I accepted the inviation and prepared myself for the Christmas Eve services.
Now, I must tell you that ministers who have been doing this for many years must have dozens of communion stories! It was so humbling and also funny at times serving communion. Funny and touching moments include:
- Some families and other adults forgot about dipping their bread in the grape juice so I just stood in front of them and said the words as they giggled to themselves.
- One little girl took her whole hand and dipped it into the juice, leaving her dry piece of bread in her other hand. Her mother was horrified but I thought that it was touching and very precious!
- A little boy was too short to kneel at the altar with his hands folded at the top so instead he just bent all the way down on the floor, much like a yoga position. I was in awe of his reverence and desire to want communion.
- Another little girl dipped her bread in the juice but instead of eating it herself, she served it to her mother.
While the funny moments kept a smile on my face it was the humbling experience of it all that reminded me that this is why I'm called to the ministry. Since I was serving communion in a town that I had lived in since 4th grade, many of my former teachers, principals and youth leaders came to the altar in front of me. My grandfather and dad received communion from my hands. Roles were reversed as the people in my life that had always served me whether academically, spiritually, or emotionally became those that I was able to serve and offer them the cup of salvation. Another family that I was close to in high school came to the altar and kneeled, but without their mom, who had passed away two years ago. I almost cried as I thought about how much I wanted to see her face.
Everyone that came to the altar received the same words, no matter the differences between them, the distance that they might have placed between themselves and others, or their relationship with God. This is the beauty of the Eucharist - it is open to one and all because it is not about us as people, but rather about God's love and grace. It is also where I am reminded that as a minister I get to do what I love the most, serve others. Perhaps this is why I am called into the ministry.
Merry Christmas everyone and God's love to all of you!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Happy Birthday and Anniversary!!
P.S. Happy Birthday to my mom and Happy Anniversary to my parents today! Yall are the best!!
Finals need to be Final
So in order to complete my last final of this first semester of seminary here is what I am doing today:
- wearing a Superman shirt in hopes to gain some of the powers and write my paper
- keeping a chocolate goodie in my kitchen as my reward for when I am done
- going to the public library where there will be no way to hook up to the internet
- a Sesame Street bandaid - takes me back to the younger days and reminds me that I can do it
- the mantra: "Just keep swimming" sung just like Ellen did when she was Doria on Finding Nemo
- wearing my Penn State sweatpants that Melinda gave me - the Nittany Lions had a comeback year this year so maybe their sweatness will rub off onto my paper
- wearing my City Year Young Heroes fleece - motivate me oh middle school students
Okay, now back to reading and writing - almost done!!!
- wearing a Superman shirt in hopes to gain some of the powers and write my paper
- keeping a chocolate goodie in my kitchen as my reward for when I am done
- going to the public library where there will be no way to hook up to the internet
- a Sesame Street bandaid - takes me back to the younger days and reminds me that I can do it
- the mantra: "Just keep swimming" sung just like Ellen did when she was Doria on Finding Nemo
- wearing my Penn State sweatpants that Melinda gave me - the Nittany Lions had a comeback year this year so maybe their sweatness will rub off onto my paper
- wearing my City Year Young Heroes fleece - motivate me oh middle school students
Okay, now back to reading and writing - almost done!!!
Monday, December 05, 2005
Butter(ball and nativity!)
Tis the season to be jolly and apparently have very high cholesterol!
So I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner for my family and was in charge of making the turkey. Turkey choices are a lot more difficult then one would first think...almost as hard as when CJ had to decide which turkey the President was going to pardon on the West Wing. So I'm standing over the open freezer full of turkeys in the grocery store and I make my first decision: get a turkey breast. Thanksgiving was only going to be four of us (me, mom, dad, and Hannah) so there was no need for a HUGE Thanksgiving turkey. Second decision - how many pounds? So I go with 5 and 1/2. It seemed like a pretty good number for people that can pack away some food (especially since my sister is eating for two right now!). And finally, was I going to go with the Butterball or the Publix brand? I had no clue! Was there a big difference in the Butterball turkey? Did one cook better than the other? How about leftovers - did one survive longer? My mind was spinning and I had no idea which decision to make! The women around me also didn't really help out too much - it was another woman's first year making a turkey and the other woman was looking for a free range. So I went with my West Wing instincts again, remembering that there was a Butterball hotline on Thanksgiving day. I grabbed my Butterball turkey breasts with all hopes that the Butterball hotline could help me with any potential problem that I had.
Thanksgiving day comes and my mom made me so nervous about making the turkey that I get up at 9am to put it in the oven. It was nice and juicy when I took it out of the container and fortunately my friends (Beth and Dana from downstairs) had warned me to remove it from the wrapper over the sink. Otherwise all of the nastiness could have gotten on me. Lo and behold - the turkey is done and it looks beautiful! Although - GASP! - it is four hours ahead of time. My mom calls to ask how everything is going and I tell her of the quandry and she tells me to call the Butterball hotline that I had so hoped to call in order to receive some information. Here is the recording of my conversation with the Butterball hotline...
Lots of numbers to press to get to the right operator...
Butterball: All of our representatives are busy right now helping other callers. Your turkey domestic helper will be with you in 5 minutes.
(Elevator music)
Butterball: This is the Butterball hotline. How may I help you?
me: Hi! My name is Sara Pugh and I am making my first turkey today. It is done now but my parents won't be here for about 4 more hours.
Butterball: Well Sara, we usually suggest that all of our clients finish the turkey no earlier than an hour prior to eating it.
me: Well yes that would have been nice but it is done now and I just want to make sure that it doesn't get dry.
Butterball: We suggest that you wrap up your turkey in aluminum foil, place towels around it, and place it into a cooler without any ice to lock in the heat. It can stay like that for 3-4 hours without losing any of the juicy flavor.
me: Thank you very much and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butterball saved my turkey and it saved my Thanksgiving! According to my family (I don't really like to eat turkey), the turkey was still nice and juicy with plenty of heat left in it (although some of this can be attributed to the microwave). So whenever you have a turkey problem, don't hesisitate and call the Butterball hotline and they'll help you in a jiff!
In other news - when I went out to dinner on Friday night, there was a butter nativity scene at the front of the resturant. All of us seminary students got a big kick out of that one! Tis the season and enjoy yourself!
So I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner for my family and was in charge of making the turkey. Turkey choices are a lot more difficult then one would first think...almost as hard as when CJ had to decide which turkey the President was going to pardon on the West Wing. So I'm standing over the open freezer full of turkeys in the grocery store and I make my first decision: get a turkey breast. Thanksgiving was only going to be four of us (me, mom, dad, and Hannah) so there was no need for a HUGE Thanksgiving turkey. Second decision - how many pounds? So I go with 5 and 1/2. It seemed like a pretty good number for people that can pack away some food (especially since my sister is eating for two right now!). And finally, was I going to go with the Butterball or the Publix brand? I had no clue! Was there a big difference in the Butterball turkey? Did one cook better than the other? How about leftovers - did one survive longer? My mind was spinning and I had no idea which decision to make! The women around me also didn't really help out too much - it was another woman's first year making a turkey and the other woman was looking for a free range. So I went with my West Wing instincts again, remembering that there was a Butterball hotline on Thanksgiving day. I grabbed my Butterball turkey breasts with all hopes that the Butterball hotline could help me with any potential problem that I had.
Thanksgiving day comes and my mom made me so nervous about making the turkey that I get up at 9am to put it in the oven. It was nice and juicy when I took it out of the container and fortunately my friends (Beth and Dana from downstairs) had warned me to remove it from the wrapper over the sink. Otherwise all of the nastiness could have gotten on me. Lo and behold - the turkey is done and it looks beautiful! Although - GASP! - it is four hours ahead of time. My mom calls to ask how everything is going and I tell her of the quandry and she tells me to call the Butterball hotline that I had so hoped to call in order to receive some information. Here is the recording of my conversation with the Butterball hotline...
Lots of numbers to press to get to the right operator...
Butterball: All of our representatives are busy right now helping other callers. Your turkey domestic helper will be with you in 5 minutes.
(Elevator music)
Butterball: This is the Butterball hotline. How may I help you?
me: Hi! My name is Sara Pugh and I am making my first turkey today. It is done now but my parents won't be here for about 4 more hours.
Butterball: Well Sara, we usually suggest that all of our clients finish the turkey no earlier than an hour prior to eating it.
me: Well yes that would have been nice but it is done now and I just want to make sure that it doesn't get dry.
Butterball: We suggest that you wrap up your turkey in aluminum foil, place towels around it, and place it into a cooler without any ice to lock in the heat. It can stay like that for 3-4 hours without losing any of the juicy flavor.
me: Thank you very much and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butterball saved my turkey and it saved my Thanksgiving! According to my family (I don't really like to eat turkey), the turkey was still nice and juicy with plenty of heat left in it (although some of this can be attributed to the microwave). So whenever you have a turkey problem, don't hesisitate and call the Butterball hotline and they'll help you in a jiff!
In other news - when I went out to dinner on Friday night, there was a butter nativity scene at the front of the resturant. All of us seminary students got a big kick out of that one! Tis the season and enjoy yourself!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Hello Friends!
Dear friends of mine - I have entered the world of seminary and therefore definitely entered the world of blogging cause we all know that ministers have lots to say! So come and visit this website to see the fun stuff that is going on in life and hear great stories...
Enjoy your days!
Enjoy your days!
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