September 2022 Newsletter

Hello!

Sermon on a stick. At the United Methodist Church where my parents attended in North Minneapolis, each Labor Day Weekend the minister would have an outdoor service and offer a sermon on a stick. I never got to attend, so I don’t really know what a sermon on a stick is. I know my parents came home with a brightly colored piece of paper attached to the popsicle stick and it had a Bible verse on it. I remember my father liked the idea.

Not everyone is a Minnesota State Fair fan. I am. I got to hold Will Heldt’s chicken at the State Fair. I was in a state of pure delight and almost started to cry. I am not sure why. I know I like birds; it must be that. Birds of all kinds seem to connect to a holy place in me.

I believe my fascination with the fair has to do with the abundance of life that is found there--literally the number of living things, including humans, so many of them! And many of those humans, like Will, are people who nurture life in the animals they show-- the animals they raise and feed and clean and sleep with at the fair. They sleep at the fair! Can you imagine the JOY?! Now, to be honest, I am barely a pet person. There is no way I could sleep in a barn and take care of a sheep or goat or even a chicken. But I am so grateful there are people in the world that can so that for a moment I can hold a chicken and have an experience of the HOLY.

I have gone to the fair with each of my children. For Josie the fair is peaches, pies, and people watching. For Sam it is about getting anything that is free, especially if we have to stand in a line to play plinko or spin any kind of wheel. For Addison it is about seeing every kind of animal, especially any baby animals. For me, it is coupons. I love the Blue Ribbon Book. The more we use it, the happier I am. I will be getting the 24 pack of AA batteries for only 3.99 (regularly 10.99)—coupon number 94.

Of course, it is about the food. I have mapped the food on the map I picked up the first day of fair. I go at least 3 times (I have 3 kids--Tom, my husband, does not like the fair, though he often goes just to please me). This year, I have been introduced to the interactive Minnesota State Fair APP. I may use it, but I am pretty sure my well-worn paper map will suffice.

Sermon on a stick. What would my sermon on a stick be? Why is it on a stick? So you can easily ponder and digest it as you walk around? What spiritually satisfying words (savory and sweet) can I offer you on a stick today so that you can ponder and digest them easily as you go about with your activities today?

Let’s try this. The sweetest words I can offer to you today are these: You are a child of God, deeply loved and pleasing in the sight of God. The savory words I can offer you today are these: Let nothing make you afraid, you have the power to do much good in the world.

Have fun at the fair, or whatever it is you are doing today and enjoy your