Happy 71st Daddy!

I’m writing today so that every post isn’t in memory of someone. Today I am thankful for my Daddy. Father to four girls and we just haven’t always been the easiest. (Some more than others!) Through it all, we knew we were loved and supported.

Daddy spent his career as a funeral director/embalmer. Mother and Daddy lived in the garage apartment at the funeral home when I was born. No call forwarding in those days! Someone had to be there at all times. Once the magic of call forwarding happened, we each learned how to take a death call, what information to take down and how to respond to questions. His ministry, and believe me, it’s a ministry, touched the lives of thousands of people in Cleveland County. His ministry with his daughters and wife made us who we are. Some of you have heard me say to get your butt in a pew. His butt was in a pew and his compassion for others almost matches my mother’s. His love for his grandchildren is so fun to watch. The adult conversations he has with Robert and Grant are just as important as rocking Owen to sleep. This is what happens when you have daughters who range in age from 31-47. Eight grandchildren love their Pops beyond belief. Four daughters do too.

Daddy, you are so loved. I know we drive you completely crazy and we many times deserve the “kiss it” we get from you. You’ve taught us well. You’ve taught us the art of telling a story and today the story is you – Happy 71st Birthday Joseph Robert Jones, III.

 

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Proclaim the Gospel

On Easter Sunday around the world the alleluias were shouted, bells rang, hymns were sung and the message was clear. He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia. Later that night, death interrupted yet again. Rev. David L. Lohr passed away. From joy to sadness, celebration to grief.

Funerals should proclaim the Gospel.  David Lohr was clear on that. I remember him saying it more than once. His death breaks my heart but I also know what he taught so well. Death does not have the final word. Easter – resurrection.

On April 7th, family and friends will gather to say goodbye to dear Pastor Lohr.  He’ll forever be a part of my faith journey and he’ll forever be associated with the Good News.

I wrote the paragraph below for an article in The Lutheran Magazine insert in 2013. We were focusing on the Spirit at work in our lives and ministries. I pray that the Holy Spirit would bring comfort to Betty, Cindy, Christy and all those who mourn David.

The Spirit at Work in my life.

I recently had the honor of visiting my former pastor in the hospital. Rev. David Lohr came to Ascension, Shelby when I was in the third grade and retired in that same congregation after I was gone. He suffered through all four Jones girls with confirmation, graduations, weddings and so many youth trips. Bless his heart! He was also there in our times of great sorrow. He was there to pray with us and comfort us at the loss of our grandparents. He was there for surgeries, births and all those events that mark milestones – good and bad, in our lives. He was simply and yet profoundly “Pastor Lohr,” with all the connotations of that title.

That day in the hospital as I prepared to leave I was able to pray with him for healing and strength. More importantly, to follow in his example. This man who taught me to pray now was the recipient of those prayers. Blow Holy Spirit, blow.

The Spirit worked through David Lohr in his ministry to equip me for ministry. Thanks be to God for all those in leadership in our congregations who lead us, guide us and accompany us on our faith journey.

 

Grandparents for Rent

I’ve often said that one of the best kept secrets of some of our congregations is the wonderful, wise, witty, generation of elders contained within. We need signs outside with the words, “Grandparents for Rent.” Rent is really the wrong word but “Free Grandparents” sounds a little like free kittens and in today’s society value comes with a cost.

On Saturday, the cost of one such beautiful contract came to a close for our family. For just a little while, we took up residence in the life of Royall and Martha Yount. We say goodbye to Royall on Friday and it hurts. We loved him dearly. He was a pillar of faith and it has taken me days to even start this post to share a little of our life together.

Some knew Royall as Bishop Royall A. Yount, Sr. who served the Florida/Bahama Synod as LCA Bishop for 37 years. I knew Royall after all that. He’s always been former bishop to me. For us, he was just Mr. Royall and he was married to the wonderful Mrs. Martha. Every Sunday, pulpit side of the aisle, they were there. Potluck dinners, congregational events – they were there. Always.

As Royall grew more frail, we would meet them at the back door of the church and Eric would take him upstairs to the sanctuary in the wheelchair. Eric even refrained from popping wheelies with the wheelchair – only because it was Mr. Royall. We won’t talk about all the times we asked to pick them up or the times Royall drove them to worship and then got in the wheelchair. Stubborn and independent go hand in hand. We would take lunch to their house after feeding the LR kids and sit in their den and listen to stories of their life in Florida before we even knew them.

When I became assembly manager, Royall was still able to come for at least the first day and be recognized. Later, I’d go see him before and after assembly to tell him all about it. He was always quick to say no when asked if he missed synod assemblies as bishop. As his health issues grew more serious and they both moved to Trinity Village, I knew that one day soon we’d be calling his name during assembly worship and ringing a bell. It’s a lovely remembrance for a lovely man but I’m telling you now, there will be tears.

Royall Austin Yount, Sr., we were blessed to know you, love you, and call you friend. You taught us about Jesus because you lived as his disciple – each and every day. Thanks be to God for the gift of the Royall’s in all our lives.

Grandparents for rent – priceless.

How many people have prayed for you?

Pastor Andrew Miller asked this question in worship on Sunday. How many people have prayed for you? He asked us to guess at the number. There is no way to know that number and there is some comfort in that. Knowing that people are praying for you is powerful. We take turns doing devotions in the office and Tuesday was my turn. I wanted to add to that number and lift up our rostered leaders. I printed off a list and gave each staff member a sheet of names and asked that they pray for the leaders on their list. Pastor John Mocko took his list and emailed each person on it asking for prayer requests. I “borrowed” his idea and emailed my list as well.

Thank you John Mocko for following through on the request and letting them know you were praying. Thank you Andrew Miller for asking the question. Your question led to conversations with rostered leaders and led to prayers I would have never known to pray for. To our rostered leaders – you are being prayed for by name. Your number is increasing. As you are a blessing to this synod, know that we are praying for your ministry. Thank you for your service.

Catherine Anderson – well done good and faithful servant!

So, before the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering a wild idea started bopping around the Youth Ministry world. What would it look like to have a “Synod Day” as part of the gathering? One of my dearest friends, Catherine Anderson, was approached with this new idea. Catherine, in her infinite wisdom, said it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done UNLESS someone put together a coach in each synod to do trainings so that adults traveling with our most precious young people would be equipped to walk alongside them on this journey of faith. Turns out Catherine was that someone. So, she gathered some people to dream and when you get together with people you enjoy working with and dream together, amazing things happen.

The Practice Discipleship Initiative happened. I have been blessed to be a part of this journey and on December 1st will move into the position of Interim Director. I’m not taking Catherine’s place because that simply isn’t possible. She is one of a kind. She has built a wild idea into reality and is ready for her next adventure. I’m stepping in as we decide what’s next for Practice Discipleship. The ELCA has funded this Initiative and conversations are happening about what’s next and what’s best. I trust in the process and have faith that it will bear fruit.

What I do want to say publicly is thank you, Catherine. For daring to dream big dreams and trusting that God would be with us and guide us. For being Christ to so many. “Most likely to make a difference in the ELCA” – not a superlative you’ll find in any high school yearbook but one that rings true. You’ve made a difference and will continue to do so.

Because of your dreams we have…

– 5 years of curriculum that will be used for years to come.

– incredible webinars that are free and easily available.

– coaches in each synod that are equipped to teach and share the faith practices.

– over 30,000 people who have been a part of some type of Practice Discipleship training.

– writers in our colleges/universities and seminaries who have blessed this initiative with their knowledge.

– a system in place that makes folks take notice. Proclaim Story used the same delivery system with Synod Day Directors and it worked SO well.

– volunteers who were once searching for accessible trainings who can now feel equipped to walk with our young people.

– young people surrounded by adults who have the tools they need to talk with young people about where the Kingdom of God has drawn near and to feel comfortable with the big questions of faith.

You’ll never take credit because that’s just who you are but bless your heart – without you, this wouldn’t have happened. The Holy Spirit took you by the hand and set you on this path. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride. Well done, good and faithful servant.

If you have no idea what Practice Discipleship is all about – check it out. http://www.practicediscipleship.org  You’ll be glad you did.

Another LYO, another Senior Blessing, the long goodbye.

Well, let’s just say I’m not known for making it through the blessing of our high school seniors at LYO. I’ve done it maybe twice without tears. The problem with being a crier is that once the tears start, it’s almost impossible to hold them back again. Each year at LYO Assembly we have seniors stand, give them a blessing stone and have them bless their adult advisors and then the advisors bless them while we pray for their journey. Liz Fisher and I usually took turns doing this each year. (OK, full confession, I usually convinced her I’d done it the year before. She knew and yet she did it anyway. Thanks Liz.) Then we became brilliant women who let our dear Bishop Bolick do it. My job was to have them stand and pass out stones to the adults. Today, I took the microphone, looked out into the congregation and just said nope and passed it off to LIz as Leonard took the stage. Couldn’t even do that much. My son, Robert, is one of those seniors and no one expected me to make it anyway so I’m not even sure there were bets on it this year but the tears had already started long before we approached that blessing.

Leonard stood to give the sermon and it washed over me that this was his last LYO as bishop. This year we’ve done event after event where at some point it has hit me that this was yet another goodbye. I’ve been calling it the long goodbye. Leonard’s retirement as bishop after 18 years is hard. I’m so excited for him – being bishop has to be exhausting. However, I’m just gonna miss him. He first walked into my life when he assumed his role as Assistant to the Bishop in 1986. I was serving as LYNC President. (Lutheran Youth in North Carolina) During my college years at Lenoir-Rhyne I would see him on campus periodically and he even asked me to serve on the Region Nine Youth Gathering Planning team while I was there. On my wedding day he called and talked to my mother asking her to share his congratulations. (It took awhile to figure out who called. My mother said some nice pastor called and said congratulations. I knew a few pastors back then and by the process of elimination and her finally remembering he was from Salisbury, I knew)

For the past twenty years we’ve worked together. Our office has never been one of light shining on the office of bishop. Leonard has the unique ability to shine that light on others. Leonard, you’ve been Christ to me and so many others.

My life has been richer, my faith journey deeper, the laugher sweeter because of you, Leonard Homer Bolick. I give God thanks for your being a part of my story. You are loved!

Detroit 2015

2015 ELCA Youth Gathering
Tammy Jones West

It’s that time again. Every three years in the fall prior to the actual gathering we gear up, make our decisions, gather information and begin the registration process for the ELCA Youth Gathering. This year is no different. Approximately 1,000 youth and adult advisors from across our synod will hit the submit button on October 15th – saying, “Yes, we’re going to Detroit.” Will you be with them? I will. I have agreed to serve on the Proclaim Story Day Team. This is the day we gather as a synod to worship, share, learn and laugh. This is the day we will also celebrate together the ministry of our dear Bishop Bolick. One of his final days serving as our bishop and it just so happens that 1,000 NC Synod Lutherans can be together in Michigan to say thank you and Godspeed. ☺

So, why Detroit? What about safety? What about…..? I’ve heard your questions, fears, and concerns. Some of them were my own. There are other places I’d rather have gone simply because of logistics. I prefer a place where walking everywhere is an option. I prefer a place where synods can be housed together. I prefer a place where it’s not so expensive to fly there. The problem with all those phrases is “I.” This is not about me. Yes, there are concerns and when I’m concerned I’m not the best at trusting the Holy Spirit. I want to make things right myself. Not the greatest example on the planet – true confession time. However, our team has spent a considerable amount of time working through the Gospel of Mark. Mark 1:1 keeps reminding me that this is “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” We are part of that story. Detroit is part of that story. How we proclaim Christ – how we proclaim our story within God’s story is important.

I think we gather in Detroit, not to bring Jesus to Detroit. We are called there to witness how the kingdom is being proclaimed; how the story of that city does in ways translate into our story; how our stories at home are part of a much bigger story and how our call to discipleship means we go not where I prefer but where we are called.