by Stacey Hilliard | Feb 24, 2025 | Conversations
In 2021, the New England Conference offered an online study of the book “Faith After Doubt,” by author Brian D. McLaren. In addition to being a prolific author, McLaren is on the faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation (cac.org) where he recently introduced the center’s 2025 Daily Meditations theme of “Being Salt and Light.” Sound familiar? See and hear McLaren’s thoughts on the scriptures Pastor Anne addressed in her recent sermons, HERE. If you missed Pastor Anne’s recent sermons on salt and light, you can watch or read them on our website (https://crawfordmethodist.org/sermons/).
by Stacey Hilliard | Feb 24, 2025 | Conversations
“The term ‘spiritual practice’ doesn’t usually refer to hiking or painting, but these activities can strengthen our faith. Here are four practices to try when you are yearning to draw close to God…
…People find a deeper connection with God by spending time in spiritual practices that are best for their unique personality and situation. Spiritual practice exploration is an option any day of the year, but adopting something new during a specific season can be helpful. Consider adding a practice during Lent, the 40 days leading to Easter, or Advent, the four weeks leading to Christmas.”
In an article published on umc.org, author Laura Buchanan explores how activities such as making art, hiking, meditating, and listening to or making music can help us find a deeper connection with God. Read the full article HERE.
by Stacey Hilliard | Feb 21, 2025 | Conversations
Know that exhaustion is normal. And to carry on, you must resist turning exhaustion into shame.
This post was originally shared in an email by the Reconciling Ministries Network (see HERE)
After an acute experience of stress, most of our bodies respond by feeling tired. But after prolonged periods of stress, we may experience “adrenal fatigue” – deep exhaustion and lethargy. We borrow against our future energy, and that depletes our future capacity.
Avoiding a fatigued spirit is a group project, not a solo endeavor. Shame will tell you that fatigue is abnormal and a sign that you don’t belong to the community of justice seekers. The Spirit of God will tell you, in contrast, that you were born a beacon of their love.
We can teach our spirits to regulate, and we can co-regulate in community. What a gift – that we retain the child-like ability to come back to ourselves in the presence of others who can bring us there.
Regulating our spirits doesn’t mean accepting increasing dehumanization or cruelty. It means shoring up our relationships and tools so that further cruelty doesn’t blow us off target.
The regime is testing our boundaries now to see who we think is disposable. All our disparate strands of suffering are bound up in one corded whip. So, when they call “red rover, red rover”: hold fast to your neighbor and get low to the earth. We will send no one over!
by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 4, 2024 | Conversations
“The ritual of lighting candles at Advent is not a shallow exercise. It begins the Christian year with a clear reminder that God so loved the world Jesus came to provide the best example of how to find beloved community amid our challenges…It acknowledges, with the lighting of a simple candle once a week, that God is still in our midst, still calling us to be the body of Christ “\’until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.’”
Read Bishop Bickerton’s full Advent letter, HERE.
by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 3, 2024 | Conversations
On Sunday, December 1 – the first Sunday in Advent – we celebrated our annual “Blessing of the Greens.” It’s a fun, family-oriented service during which we learn about how the decorations we use, both inside and out, came to represent our faith. (Yes, even a Christmas Tree, with its Pagan roots.) We lit the first candle on our Advent Wreath, sang a lot of carols, and offered our blessing over it all. (You can watch a recording of the service here, or read the history of our decorations here.)
This Advent season, we will offer a special blessing on a different figure from our home nativity sets. Everyone is encouraged to bring figures from their home to be blessed each week. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, the Messenger, at https://crawfordmethodist.org/subscribe/ to find out which figures will be blessed next! (Spoiler: We’ll bless the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.)
by Stacey Hilliard | Sep 2, 2024 | Conversations
The theme for Backyard Blessings this year was “Soaking in God’s Love” and it came from an experience I had a few Sundays ago.
I was dressed and ready for church but it was still early. It had been a difficult week and I felt the need for some alone time so I decided to drive to Horn Pond and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and take a walk. The pond is my go to place for exercise, relaxation and enjoying nature. It is also a place that renews me and fills my soul.
When I arrived there instead of beginning a walk, I saw an empty bench near the water and decided to sit, enjoy the beautiful surroundings and say a prayer. All the while intending to be on time to worship at Crawford.
In that quiet time I felt such peace. I felt God presence right next to me on that bench. I sat in silence and soaked up the presence of God. I was unaware of the time and needless to say I missed church at Crawford. But I definitely worshipped.
– Sue DiMarzo
