A prayer from my colleague, Ken

My colleague, Ken Carter, posted this prayer on this blog recently.  I post it here for us on this election day:

Creator of us all:

you are the source of every blessing,

the judge of every nation

and the hope of earth and heaven.

We pray to you on the eve of this important and historic election.

We call to mind the best that is within us:

That we live under God, 

that we are indivisible,

that liberty and justice extend to all.

We acknowledge the sin that runs through our history as a nation:

The displacement of native peoples, racial injustice,

desecration of your creation, economic inequality, regional separation.

And yet we profess a deep and abiding gratitude

for the goodness of ordinary people who have made sacrifices,

who have sought opportunities,

who have passionately loved and cared for the earth and its fruits,

who have journeyed to this land as immigrants

strengthening its promise in successive generations,

who have found freedom on these shores,

and defended this freedom at tremendous cost.

Be with us in the days that are near.

Remind us that your ways are not our ways,

that your power and might transcend the plans of every nation,

that you are not mocked.

Let those who follow your Son Jesus Christ

be a peaceable people in the midst of division.

Send your Spirit of peace, justice and freedom upon us,

break down the walls of political partisanship,

and make us one.

Give us wisdom to walk in your ways,

courage to speak in your name,

and humility to trust in your providence.

Amen.

Words from my friend, Peter

As many of you know, Peter Storey has had a more profound impact on my life than any other disciple I know. He is my teacher, my mentor and my friend. Today, it is his email message that has caused me to think most deeply about tomorrow. I share his words with you here....

Dear Friends in the United States,

Warmest greetings to you on this momentous evening. You have been much in our minds and on our hearts over these past few months as we have avidly followed the progress of your Presidential election campaign. As we've said before, what happens in your election profoundly affects us all.

And what a campaign! I recall a dinner table conversation in Atlanta way back in May, 2007, in the home of good friends Jim and Fentress Waits. Those around the table were talking with a deep sense of interest and hope about an exciting young Senator named Barack Obama. Back then, the possibility of Obama's even gaining the nomination of his own party appeared so remote that it seemed more the stuff of dreams than reality.

Yet here you are, on the eve of an even more 'impossible' breakthrough tomorrow! Think of it: the nation whose original sin was to to buy and sell Africans like chattels, that legislated them less than human, could well elect an African-American tomorrow to be its First Citizen! I wonder if the people of the USA have fully realized what a liberating moment this could be? For African Americans, who hold their breath, not yet quite believing what might be possible tomorrow, this may be a step beyond even what Martin Luther King Jr saw from the mountain-top, but it is also more than that: it will be a day of liberation for all Americans: whether deeply conscious, as so many thoughtful people are, of this great burden of historic guilt, or defiantly denialist as too many on the shrill right wing remain. All - the good, the bad and the ugly - will take a giant step toward liberation from one of US history's most burdensome shackles.

I say this because that is the experience we discovered the day Nelson Mandela took the oath of office as the first black President of South Africa. Millions of his exploited compatriots danced with obvious joy at their new freedom, but less expected and perhaps more amazing was the sense of liberation that came upon their erstwhile oppressors. White South Africans testified in large numbers to a new lightness of being, as if some invisible, dragging weight, was gone, and something new could be born.

Now I know that the USA is not South Africa, and your story is not identical with ours, but there are enough echoes for me to assure you that if the voters of America break this barrier tomorrow, you will experience what I'm talking about!

Of course, like so many of you, we are anxious as well as excited. Having seen how deep are the currents of fear and prejudice that still run across the length and breadth of the United States, we too hold our breath. Be assured that the hopes of the vast majority of the people of the wider world go with Senator Barack Obama. There is no question about this. I doubt that even 5 percent of South Africans of any race group have any desire to see anyone of George W Bush's party near the White House. However, we have seen how easily US elections can be stolen and we are praying, as so many of you are, that tomorrow, the American people will march to the polls in greater numbers than ever before, determined to expunge eight of the most shameful years in US history. President Bush has brought America's reputation so low, that from our point of view, another such blow from the US electorate would be almost impossible to understand. Eight years of arrogance and ignorance have been done deep harm in the rest of the world and to the image of a great nation. Surely they will be declared as enough by the people of the US?

But let us be hopeful! Just as tomorrow offers the opportunity for a great sense of historic liberation in the US, so it also offers a chance to radically alter the world's current perception of America, and to open the door to new possibilities of healing and transformation for US foreign relations. If Obama is announced as your President-elect, there will be great rejoicing all around the globe. We will see new hope of the might of the United States being bent to works of justice and compassion and cooperation. We will see new possibilities for the poor of the earth: for the first time, Americans will have elected someone who knows what it is like to be on the outside as well as in the circle, who has actually worked among the poor, who has lived , however briefly, outside the American bubble, and who has the blood of the world's most oppressed continent in his veins. Everyone of these factors speak of change.

You will recall that the day following September 11, 2001, France's most famous newspaper ran the headline: 'Today, we are all Americans!' Well, please know that around the world there are so many people whose hopes ride on what you will do tomorrow, that I guess we wish we were all Americans! What a privilege it will be to vote in this election!

Our prayers are with you.

Warm regards,

Peter Storey

Outside

One of the things I love most about the United Methodist Church is how the table is open to all people. There are no restrictions placed on who can receive the Lord's Supper. In fact, our founder, John Wesley, believed that one could actually experience God for the first time in the bread and the wine. This openness at the table has led to a more open church, I like to believe. I like to believe that the church is open to all people - that the doors of the church are open for all people to come in and receive love and hospitality. But....

I'm really struggling today.

For the last three years, I have had the extraordinary privilege of serving as the pastor of someone who has taught me more about the Kingdom of God than anyone else. Through this person, I have shared a love of older adults and Popeye's Chicken, a love of taking care of the church building and artwork, a love of music and a love of prayer. Through this person, I have seen the power of a church community. It is our church family who has given this individual more medicine than anything else as people have accepted this person almost unconditionally. There have been some Sundays when we did not know what to expect from this person - how this person might respond or react. There have been some Sundays when we were not sure what this precious child of God would say during the sharing of joys and concerns - the concern expressed once was "how the pastor was having to pick up too much poop from the homeless outside." Yet, this person has brought joy and life to our community. This person is integral - central - to who we are as a community of faith. I adore this person.

But I'm really struggling today.

When does the church give up on someone? When does the church reach the place where it is more dangerous to let someone in the doors than it is to keep them out? Is there anyone who is beyond redemption? What are we to do in situations like this one?

Damn it. Why is ministry so messy?

Exposed

A few weeks ago, I joined the wonderful word of Facebook. I have heard about Facebook for more than a year now. I have seen the wedding pictures of friends on Facebook when another person on Facebook was willing to show them to me. I have been intrigued by Facebook, and I finally joined after one of my clergy sisters shared with me how many people she had reconnected with over Facebook. Like my friend, Ginger, I have now reconnected with high school friends and college sorority sisters, clergy colleagues and seminary classmates. It has been a joy - an absolute hoot - to be in communication with all of these people once again.

One of the features Facebook provides is photograph tags. A Facebook friend can post a picture on their page and then tag you in the process, linking it to your page. This past week, a Facebook friend posted a picture of me from her wedding weekend. The picture was anything but flattering. In the picture, I am about 20 pounds heavier than I am now. I am wearing an awful polka-dotted shirt, and I have a beer can in my hand. The picture was anything but the image I seek to project. I rather hated the picture and so I denied it. I untagged the photograph, blocking it from my Facebook page.

There was too much truth in the photograph.

The photograph exposed too much.

The photograph showed me - too much of me.

I did not like it, so I blocked it. And, I keep thinking about how much we block in our lives.

There is so much of us that we seek to pretend is not there - so much of us that we think is not good enough - not smart enough, pretty enough, successful enough, holy enough, hot enough, big enough, small enough - that we seek to hide. There is too much truth to and in us that we are afraid to exposed - fearful that if people know the real truth that they will not be able to bear it or us in the process. We wear so many facades - so many faces - so many masks. We hide so much.

But what happens when we remove the mask? What happens when we allow people to see inside?

At Mount Vernon Place, we seek to create this place where people can be real - exposed - raw. We seek to be an authentic community where people can come as they are, share what's on their hearts or in their minds, talk about their fears and their frustrations, and be loved through it all. We seek to not be the place where everyone only wants to know what one does for a living - but to be the place where people share why they love living - what is giving them joy in life - as well as what is hurting them in life, causing pain in life. And something miraculous is happening in the process. As we are being real, lives are being healed. As we tell the truth, the truth makes us free.

Maybe next time I'll let the photograph be posted - the one that exposes me - shining a light on me that isn't exactly flattering - but telling the truth.

I love authenticity. I love the authentic community that I see each week at this place. Lord, please help us all to be authentic with one another - real - raw - exposed.

Holy Friendships

As many of you know, I spent seven years at Duke Divinity School - three as a student and four years as the Director of Admissions. For seven years, I was taught and shaped by the people who teach and lead Duke Divinity School. One of the voices that continues to instruct me is Greg Jones, the Dean of Duke Divinity School.

Greg talks a lot about the need for holy friendships. He says that everyone needs a holy friend - someone who is willing to point out the sins we have grown to love while naming the gifts we are afraid to claim.

I have many friends who have been willing to do the latter. No doubt, I would have never made it through the rough first couple of years at Mount Vernon Place had I not had the voices from the first church I served still speaking in my heart and mind. The people from First UMC in Hendersonville, NC are the people who continued to affirm my gifts for ministry when I felt anything but affirmed in my early years at Mount Vernon Place (change is hard at every church - but it is particularly hard to change a church that was near death but filled with potential).

Rarely, however, do I find someone who is willing to point out the sins I have grown to love. I have found such a friend, however. We do not see each other often. She is in Ohio and I am in DC. We communicate more on email than we do in person. Still, Laurie has challenged me on my need to succeed - on my willingness to say "yes" to too many things, pushing aside my ability to rest - to take Sabbath - to practice one of the Ten Commandments - and to make my marriage grow.

A few weeks ago, Laurie wrote me an email in response to my blog. I had written on my blog how I was exhausted and stretched but how I had just accepted another responsibility with the Annual Conference. Laurie wrote:

"So what has been so crazy about the last 3 weeks?
And why did you say yes to the Par 213 team? Important work, but another night away from home, away from Craig, away from the congregation ... I'm just asking b/c it's the same thing I ask myself."

She then proceeded to remind me of how the most important covenants I have made are the covenant I made to follow Christ which means practicing the Sabbath and the covenant I made with Craig which requires that I make space for Craig - plenty of space for our relationship to grow and flourish.

As a result of Laurie's words and witness, I have now said "no" a few different times. I have even told the Bishop's Office "no" this week when asked to serve on another committee. I am trying to prioritize my life - to not let the clutter of ministry creep in on what is really important. I am grateful for Laurie's friendship.

Who are your holy friends? How do they hold you accountable?

A Sermon on the Economy / Current Economic Crisis

I preached on the economy on Sunday morning. Many people have commented on the sermon. It is posted here for all to see:

Luke 12:13-34
Rev. Donna Claycomb Sokol
October 5, 2008
Mount Vernon Place UMC, Washington

I have heard about “the Hoovers” since arriving at Mount Vernon Place over three years ago. Every year around budget time, I am told how we need to include “the Hoovers” in our annual operating budget. “The Hoovers” were mentioned often at Social Concerns Meetings. The Hoovers were a household or a “churchold” name around Mount Vernon Place. This congregation has been supporting “the Hoovers” for nearly twenty years. We have been part of the 10% of all congregations supporting missionaries for a long, long time.

But I never knew the first names, Jeff and Ellen, of the Hoovers until recently. I did not know exactly where they were serving in Africa until we started to prepare for their visit at Mount Vernon Place. I did not understand what the Hoovers did or what they now do until I met them on Wednesday night.

And I now cannot get their witness out of my mind.

Jeff and Ellen Hoover spoke to twenty-something of us who gathered in the chapel for pizza and conversation on Wednesday night. They arrived, and I recognized Ellen immediately as she walked into the door. She appeared exactly as she appears in the pictures of her newsletters – even the newsletters that are more than a decade old.

Jeff and Ellen opened their presentation with a slide show, pointing out the places where they are privileged to serve. They shared pictures of them going on a journey, telling us how a successful journey in the Congo is arriving – since the infrastructure is not exactly in place. They talked about how some places have electricity and some do not. They told us of the schools where they teach – how the students cram together and the computers are hard to rely on since the electricity is not always available. They told us stories of the Congo, and then they shared a bit of their background.

Jeff and Ellen both have PhDs from Yale University. They could have taught anywhere – taking their newly minted degrees to another Ivy League school where they could be tenured faculty with a job and a steady income for life. But they did not.

Instead, they took their degrees from Yale – their prestigious piece of paperwork that many people would yearn to have – to the Congo. They went to the Congo for an initial three years, believing that they had skills to teach and gifts to share. They would go and share themselves with the Congolese, training others to do what they know how to do, with the intention of returning home. But, 30 years later, Jeff and Ellen are still teaching and administering in the Congo. Thirty years later, they have no real plans to return to the United States anytime soon.

On Wednesday night, Jeff and Ellen shared how the role of a missionary is one of empowerment. A missionary never keeps what she has to herself but instead shares it with others. A missionary takes his skill to another place where the skill is needed. The person transfers his or her knowledge, teaching the people a skill they are lacking. The people are then empowered with the knowledge and the missionary returns home. The missionary receives little – the basic necessities of life – while the people receive what they need to sustain life. Missionaries give all that they have in order to see a community strengthened and sustained. In the economy of a missionary, it is all about the people – all about the community. A missionary frees him or herself of everything that he or she has in order to give all he or she has to others. And it is this freedom – this visible freedom – that is still with me following the Hoover’s presentation. I have not seen anyone so free – so able to take risks and enjoy life to the fullest – as I saw the Hoovers on Wednesday night.

It has been quite a week. Tuesday’s headline was “House Rejects Financial Rescue, Sending Stocks Plummeting.” Wednesday’s top of the fold read, “Most Voters Worry About Economy: Majority Consider Situation a Crisis.” Yesterday’s paper shares how a rescue bill was signed into law but the headline is not much brighter, “House Passes Plan By Wide Margin, but Stocks Keep Falling.” Things are not good on Main Street or Wall Street.

I have been tempted to change the sermon topic throughout the week. This sermon topic on the economy was chosen last summer. More than one year ago – I put down my thoughts on sermon series for 2008 in a paper that was due for my doctoral work in July of 2007. It was in June of last year that I was led to pencil in the economy as the sermon topic for this Sunday. And, I have been haunted by this action all week long. Are there any such coincidences? Who would have known that the situation would be this bleak? And in times like this, would it not make more sense to stick with the lectionary – to avoid the bleakness of our life situation and pretend that Jesus has nothing to say about the economy?

Most people – liberal and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans – believe that the United States is experiencing a meltdown of the economy because some people have taken too much. This week’s Newsweek magazine has an article titled “The Monster that Ate Wall Street.” Matthew Philips explains how the monster has been self-created – created by high-finance executives who believed that it was possible to loan billions upon billions of dollars to governments and corporations – dollars that could be protected even if there was a default. The credit defaults would keep being swapped, one after another. Bankers would continue to get richer while others would grow poorer. Nothing could stop them. Invisible money would keep things afloat.

The mortgage meltdown started because of invisible money, too. Individuals were given loans that were affordable when the loan documents were signed. People were told they had plenty of money – that they could afford homes with a large price tag even when the salary and bank account was not so large. The loans were affordable at first – but soon the rates adjusted. Buyers started to default. Bankers realized they had made bad decisions. The invisible money was now appearing to be quite visible when the payments stopped coming in. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have been taken over by the government – something many people thought would never happen.

People at the top wanted more. Those with power and influence demanded more power and influence – more loans, more investments, more money, more this and more that. And no matter how much there was it was never enough. And now that it really is not enough, people have demanded an intervention. Those who have much and those who have little have sought a bailout. Those with power and influence have been asked to come to the rescue – to come and set things straight with a $700 billion bailout.

A similar request is made in today’s scripture passage.

A man comes to Jesus with a request. A man comes to Jesus because Jesus has more power than anyone, and this man wants Jesus to intervene into his financial situation. The man wants Jesus to demand his brother to share the family inheritance – to divide it between the two of them. The brother who comes to Jesus wants an intervention. He wants Jesus to bail him out. Jesus does not exert his power over such trivial matters, however. Instead, Jesus teaches about what is really important.

Jesus responds with a parable about a man who is blessed with an amazing harvest. The man is blessed with a tremendous return on his planting. When the man sees all that he has, he concludes that life is all about him. He starts to think about everything that he should do.

I have no place to store my crops.
I will do this.
I will pull down my barns and build larger ones.
I will store my grain and my goods.
I will say to my soul – soul: you have enough. Relax, eat, drink, be merry.
It is all about me! It is all about me! Look at what I have done!

An executive gets one promotion after another until she finds her way at the top – in the corner, executive office. Her salary has increased and so have the stock options. She has more than she could possibly need or use. She did not ask for any of it – she worked hard but others have worked just as hard.

Look at all I have.
I will take my money and buy a bigger house.
I will increase my power with as many stock options as possible.
I will buy a vacation home and a Mercedes sports sedan.
I will shop until I drop.
It’s all about me! It’s all about me! Look at what I have done!

But with the blink of an eye it can all be gone. The barn can be blown down and the crops can rot. The stock market can drop 700 points in one day and the government can buy out the company, deflating the golden parachute that was to float in the air for a lifetime. Worse yet, life can end and one’s efforts to store up everything for another day can slip away with the night.

Life is never about what one person can acquire. Those who believe that the goal of life is to acquire more and more are downright fools according to today’s scripture passage. God calls the man with the barn full of stuff a fool!

Imagine what God might be calling people today – who have a lot more than a barn full of stuff…
Jesus wants those who follow him to put their trust in him – to trust that God, not our investments, is the source of our security. God – not our homes – is our comfort. God – not our stuff – is our livelihood. Our future is in the hands of God who never fails – not investors on Wall Street who may have made us rich last month only to take it all away this month.

I would venture to guess that I am in good company if I were to ask how many of you have worried recently about the housing market or the state of our economy. I would like very much for someone to bail my husband and I out of the home purchases we made in 2005. I would like very much for someone to tell us that we will be able to sell both of our one-bedroom condominiums soon so that we can have a home that is big enough to start a family. We all want some part of our finances to be fixed or some part of life to be repaired. But Jesus does not care about how big or how little our homes or our investments are. As long as we have enough for this day – then Jesus does not get involved. Jesus does not offer a financial bailout in today’s passage. What Jesus offers is a promise of peace and security for life. And, we all need to hear the words spoken by Jesus who told his disciples to not worry about life – about how life is more than food and clothing, about how we are to strive not for stuff but for the kingdom of God to come down and be embodied in our midst. Read Luke 12:32 – 24 again, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaving, where no thief or moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In the economy of Jesus, all are taken care of as long as all share what they have with others.

In the economy of God, there is just enough for every single person. There is always enough as long as people take their share – and not their share along with the share of ten or 100 more people.

In the economy of Jesus, God rains bread from heaven. If we try to store up any extra it will spoil, just as the manna in the wilderness was good only for one day.

In the economy of Jesus, the disciples take their possessions and sell them, distributing the proceeds to any who have needs, making sure that all are taken care of.

In the economy of Jesus, followers of him pray a prayer with the words, “Give us this day our daily bread” not our yearly bread or enough bread for a lifetime – but enough for today.

In the economy of Jesus, our treasure has nothing to do with Main Street or Wall Street but instead has everything to do with the Kingdom – the place where Jesus dwells and the poor have good news preached to them, the captives are released, the blind are given sight, and the oppressed go free.

If we have enough for this day, we are okay, Jesus says. We are not to look at how little we might have but instead we are to search our hearts to see if there might be too much for if we are rich in things and not rich towards God, then we are in trouble.

And so what does this mean for us and for this church? It is clear that if our possessions have a hold on us then we are in trouble. Throughout the scriptures, we are asked to give a tenth of all we have – to give back to God one dollar for every ten dollars we receive. And while this 10% can be a stretch – an act of faith – even it looks small in light of today’s passage as I think about my savings account or my 401K – how this money could provide the basic necessities of life – food and shelter – for others on this day. If we have too much, we not only can share but we must share what we have with those in need.

But what does this mean for this church? There are still many rooms that have never been used in this building. There are four showers downstairs where the water has never been turned on with the exception of the plumber who installed the pipes. We have more than enough space for the congregation that currently calls this place home. We have built a building for tomorrow – trusting that God is going to grow this congregation and that we will need all that we are building. We have made an investment in property that we might not need for ten or even twenty years. But what about today? If we read this passage faithfully, then God might be calling us to do more with this space – to stop protecting it for today, to stop worrying about the place getting too dirty or the carpet not lasting at least a decade.

The portion of today’s passage that tells me not to worry – I love this part. I want to read over and over again about how God will take care of us. But there is more to the passage and there is more to life. The rest of this passage haunts me – scares me – makes me want to run because Jesus is meddling with my business and the church’s business. Jesus is stopping me straight in my tracks and not allowing me to go any further.

It’s not about me. It’s about God.

It’s not about you. It’s about God.

It’s not about us. It’s about God.

Purpose

What is the purpose of my life?

What is my purpose?

How can I find more purpose in my life?

We all ask these questions many times throughout life.  While in high school, we begin to ponder the meaning and purpose of our life as we start preparing for college, hoping that the place where we are educated will prepare us well for what we want to do in life. 

Once we get to college, we start thinking about majors and minors, trying to find that perfect fit for our particular skill set and interests.

When we graduate and finally have our degrees, we realize that a long job search can probe us to ask the question even more.  What am I to do with my life?  What is my purpose?

As baptized Christians, we are called to ask this question often as we seek to discover our calling, trusting that God has given us specific gifts that can be used in this world.  We hope to find that place where our gifts meet the world's great needs and hungers.  We hope to find that place where we can apply our gifts in an effort to make a difference in the church, the community, the nation and the world.  Our purpose is to share these gifts with others.

We all have a purpose - even though the purpose can be hard to find.  

But what happens when we feel like we can no longer fulfill our purpose?

As many of you know, my step-father, Red, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease earlier this year.  When he was first diagnosed, we were all devastated.  Red is one of the most remarkable and gifted people I know.  Red never forgot a name of any of the hundreds of students he taught - he could even tell you what year he taught them.  Red was so gifted - he could do just about anything including winning over my mom, sister and me.

Red was in a nursing facility for a while and then moved home.  While he is no longer as strong as he used to be, he was doing well, and Mother was adjusting to a different kind of life as she became the supporter and the caregiver.  Things were going okay.  But, everything went downhill on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Red called his children and told them "good-bye."  He was ready to die because he no longer had purpose.  His purpose was gone.  He was no longer useful around the house.  He could no longer remember the things he could once articulate in a blink of an eye.  He had no purpose, and he had no desire to live a life without purpose.

Fortunately, a team of people immediately rallied behind Red.  He was given instant care and is now in an exceptional care facility for treatment.  Still, his statements are ringing in my head.

How do we help all people to discover their purpose - whether they are 16 or 96?  How do we help people to find their new purpose when they are no longer able to fulfill their old purpose? How do we help people to discover their call - their purpose in life - throughout all stages of life? 

I do not know the answers to these questions.  What I do know is that my heart has been broken by Red and the dark place he reached last week.  I also know that this darkness is pushing me forward to help others find the light - the light of their purpose when the darkness has evaded it.

We're starting a new Bible study this week at Mount Vernon Place.  Led by one of our gifted interns, we are going to gather around a table and study scripture - the scriptures about spiritual gifts - about the ways in which God gifts all of us.  There is power in such a study.  If we know our gifts and if we have a place to use them, then we can all know our purpose.  I hope you'll make plans to be with us; all are welcome.

What is your purpose?

Saturday Shopping

I went shopping on Saturday morning. Along with a group of individuals from church, I stuffed clothing into several different shopping bags. We found some things we were looking for and there were other things on our list that we could not find on any of the racks. There seemed to be a shortage of things, fact. There was not enough.

You see, we were "shopping" at Rachael's Women's Center, a day shelter for homeless women located a few blocks from Mount Vernon Place. As part of our building rededication week, we felt it was important for us to spend time in the community, giving back to others as we have received so much. We were assigned to go to Rachael's to help sort through their donations, folding clothing, sorting it by size and then placing it on new racks that we bought for the purpose. When we were done sorting through the clothing, we were given a wish list - a list of individual names along with the items of clothing they needed most:

Connie: shoes size 9, coat extra large, t-shirt

Julie: Size 11 Keds Sneakers

Beverly: Size 18 pants

Carol: Size 12 pants, scarf and hat

The list went on and on but the supplies did not. There were a lot of things - but not the right things. And, I keep thinking about the experience.

I typically wear a size 12, but not all size 12s are the same. I cannot imagine anyone selecting a pair of jeans for me that would actually fit. I cannot imagine anyone picking out the one shirt that would be my own. I cannot imagine anyone - no one - doing my clothes shopping for me. I prefer a large selection. I like choices. I like to try things on.

And this is why it is important for me to spend time in places like Rachael's. Rachael's reminds me of what I have. Experiences like this tell me again how blessed I am and how little gratitude I express. Mornings like the one I spent at Rachael's have a way of pushing me to see all that I have as gift.

So, I am going shopping. I am going shopping for some larger size pants and some t-shirts - not for me - but for the women at Rachael's. To whom much has been given - much is owed.

Lonely in Washington

There is an article on the front page of today's Washington Post that caught my attention.  The article, titled, "Matchmakers, Matchmakers, Making a Mint: Dating Services Give Way to Coaches, Wingmen and Profile Writers," is a story of the new industry emerging to help people connect.  Ellen McCarthy writes how hard it is for people in Washington to meet people - particularly prospective romantic partners. She writes:

People work more, know their neighbors less.  They leave home towns full of family and friends in exchange for cities rife with interesting opportunities but few connections.  They are tied to, and reliant on, technology - which has indelibly altered the way humans interact.

I cannot read statements like this without thinking of the church... How is the church helping to connect people - not romantically, necessarily - but people who are longing for connections - real, authentic connections?  How is it that the church can become that neighborhood of front porches - that community where people long to say "good morning" or "good night" or ask about your day?

We're seeking to be this kind of place - a place of real connections - authentic connections.  You don't need a coach to come - just come - just as you are.

Consecration

We rededicated our building on Sunday morning.  After being out of the sanctuary for nearly two years, we returned at the end of July and then planned a great celebration on Sunday morning.  Our bishop, Bishop John Schol, was with us to proclaim the sermon.  We had many longtime members in worship again, including many people who grew up at Mount Vernon Place.  We dedicated the baptismal font, the altar, the pulpit and the lectern.  We encouraged people to walk through the building, looking at the complete top to bottom restoration of the building. It was wonderful.

But my favorite part was when one of our new members got up and shared what brought him to the church.  He shared how the building is lovely and the stained glass windows are magnificent, yet these things are not what brought him to the church.  He talked about how the church had filled a 10-year hole in his life and what a wonderful journey he and his wife were experiencing.  He then led us in a litany of consecration, talking about how our lives and not just our building needed to be consecrated.

We responded with the litany of consecration, inspired by the congregation of Hyde Park UMC in Tampa when they consecrated their building in 2003.  There are a few lines of this liturgy that stand out to me:

For a church that shall be a renewing, cleansing, and empowering partner in the community, seeking to serve and befriend the hurting, the lost, and the broken.

For a church with an open door for all people: rich and poor, housed and homeless, old and young, red and yellow, black and white, gay and straight, liberal and conservative, those filled with faith and those who have not yet been gifted with faith.

For a church that shall gather the children in its arms and hold them close to Christ, that they may grow up in Christ and never be lost from the fold.

After each of these lines, we repeated the words, "We consecrate ourselves today."

What powerful words!  Can you imagine a congregation that is truly a partner with and in the community, seeking to serve all who are hurting, lost or broken?  Can you imagine a church where all people are welcome?  Can you imagine a church that holds children - all children - those who are wanted and those who are neglected, those who were conceived in love and those who were conceived and surprised the parents - where all children are gathered and held, empowered with the ways of Christ?

I get a glimpse of this kind of place every time I enter the doors of Mount Vernon Place.  While we still have a long ways to go, I gain a glimpse of the Kingdom at hand almost every time I gather with the people who call Mount Vernon Place home.  There is a rich history of prophetic proclamation in this place.  The journey now continues, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this congregation.  

Come and use us, Lord.  Thanks be to God!

September 2

I am behind in getting pictures posted to the blog. I let go of my computer when I moved in with my husband, Craig, and I have not quite gotten everything hooked up at home yet. You are therefore going to see some pictures from the past being brought to the future...

September 2 was an extraordinary day. My friend and parishioner, Mabel, turned 100 on this day. Mabel was the chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee when I was first appointed as the pastor of Mount Vernon Place. She has been a member of this church since 1940 and she is an eternal optimist. I love visiting Mabel because without fail, Mabel will tell me how blessed I am to be serving in this place. Without fail, Mabel will tell me how much great ministry there is to be done in the heart of Washington. She tells me how she would give anything to be in my shoes. And, she tells me that I am capable of doing anything. She often has more confidence in me than I have in myself. She never complains. She is a jewel. What a joy it is to see her reach her 100th birthday.

I'd give anything if she was turning 70 or 80 instead. I'd love to have her around for a few more decades so that we could make an impact on this city together. Yet, I am convinced that Mabel's words will impact me throughout the rest of my life. I am convinced that through Mabel, an impact has already been made. She is amazing.

On the same day, my best friend, Jenni, gave birth to her first child. Alexa was born on Tuesday night, September 2. And while I did not get to meet her until the following day, I was amazed at God's hand so clearly evident in both Mabel's life and Alexa's life. One of them is 100 and the other is brand new to this world. One of them has seen the world change in big ways and the other has the entire world in front of her. One of them has a body that is aging and the other has a brand new body. Both of them are extraordinary children of God - created in God's image - reflecting God's love and grace in very unique and beautiful ways.

Praise God for life - for all of life!

Adam Hamilton

Adam Hamilton is scheduled to speak at Mount Vernon Place UMC on next Thursday evening, September 25. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome Adam to our church as part of an evening sponsored by MVPUMC, Wesley Theological Seminary and Asbury United Methodist Church.

I first met Adam when I was a student at Duke Divinity School. I do not remember why, but I was given the opportunity to host him while he was speaking at Duke. We went out for true North Carolina Barbecue at Bullock's, one of Durham's finest. While chowing away on hush puppies and pulled park, Adam inspired me, empowering me throughout the conversation on how to be the most faithful pastor possible. His encouragement and inspiration remain with me to this day, and I have since seen him lecture many times while also sitting in a class with him at the Church of the Resurrection.

Adam is the senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He started the church in a funeral home chapel in 1990 (thus the need for the church to be named "resurrection"). The congregation quickly grew, and there are now over 12,000 people who make COR their home church. Adam has a remarkable ability to make the message relevant. He is a visionary who has intentionally built a church with the aim of reaching non-religious and nominally religious people. He is a gifted preacher, writer and speaker. But, one of the things I love most about Adam is his passion for building not just COR but for building every single Body of Christ. He has a passion for revitalizing the mainline church, and his knowledge is making a difference.

Wherever Adam goes, he tells others the secrets of COR's success. He tells others how to make an impact for Christ. He tells others how to build a church. He wants desperately for the church to grow - every church - not just his church.

His ways are so different. I am surrounded by churches - there is another United Methodist Church less than two blocks away and dozens of churches within walking distance- but we do not do much together. We have not had regular conversations about how to bring together our best in order to see what might happen in downtown Washington. There are pastors all around me, but we do not get together often for mutual support and accountability. Too often we are silos, trying to build our own churches, trying to be our best, instead of thinking about how we all might have something to offer another. Adam could hoard his success. He could keep what works well at COR. But, Adam is intentional about sharing it. And, I love how Adam is constantly trying to build every church. His witness is a powerful one.

Adam will be at MVPUMC for a 7:00 p.m. lecture on his new book, "Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White: Thoughts on Religion, Morality and Politics." You're welcome to come early and see our new, old building that has just been completely restored. Our open house will begin at 6:00 p.m. We'd love to see you, and I hope you will make plans to be with us next Thursday night.

A Farewell Sermon to Remember

As we prepare for our building rededication this weekend (thanks be to God!), I have had the extraordinary privilege of preparing a historical sketch of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. The church, founded in 1850, has done an amazing job of keeping pieces of history locked upstairs in the archives. The archives committee was really on top of things, especially at the turn of the 20th Century. Along with my occasional visit to the archives, one of our new members has been spending hours each day sorting through the things in the cabinets. He came downstairs yesterday, explaining how he could hardly wait to show me what he had found.

In someone's scrapbook left to the church was an article clipped from the September 17, 1950 Washington Post. The article was written the day after a beloved former pastor of MVPUMC, Dr. John Rustin, preached his final sermon at the church.

Dr. Rustin served MVPUMC from 1936 - 1950. He was here when many of our longtime members joined the church - during the war years of the 1940s. I am told that he never forgot a name. He went out of his way to welcome young people who were new to the city. He was a visionary leader who built the church to more than 4,000 members. And, I now know why. The Washington Post article tells how Dr. Rustin told the "misty-eyed gathering of more than 1500 persons" how the church is not liberal enough. The article, written by Thomas Schlesinger, a Post Reporter, reads:

"Doctor Rustin told the congregation, 'the trouble with the church is that it is not liberal enough,' and then spelled out what he thought the church of the future should be like. 'When the church becomes a real factor in the life of the people,' he said, 'first of all, it has vision and is not expending all its energy in defending creeds or standing on ancient dogmas. 'It should challenge the people to move beyond its warped emotions and deep-seated prejudices,' he continued, 'and it should always move into action."

The trouble with the church is that it is not liberal enough!
The church needs to be a real factor in the life of the people!
The church must have vision; it cannot expend all its energy on defending creeds or standing on ancient dogmas!
The church must challenge the people to move beyond its warped emotions and deep-seated prejudices!
The church should always move into action!

Is it any wonder that Mount Vernon Place grew during Dr. Rustin's tenure? Is it any wonder that people - especially young people - wanted to be a part of this church -a church that was moving - a church that was making a difference in the lives of people? Is it any wonder that people will come to a church that is focused on what is important - being the kingdom of God here on earth?

These words were spoken 58 years ago. People heard them, and people wanted to be a part of it!

Thank you, Dr. Rustin, for your legacy. May we continue to embrace your message. What an amazing place this is!

I Remember

I remember exactly where I was seven  years ago.  It was my first year as Director of Admissions, and I was sitting in a student services meeting at Duke Divinity School.  The dean walked in, shared how a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers, and asked us what to do.  We proceeded with canceling different things, unsure of exactly what was happening.  I continued to plan a recruiting trip to Florida and made final arrangements for the welcoming of prospective students the next day.  I remember.  I remember well.

I also remember Kim, a prospective student who arrived two years after 9/11.  Kim lost her husband in the Twin Towers.  She had a toddler at home and was pregnant with their second son. She had been hit by a tragic loss, and yet God was somehow using this loss to call her - calling her to ministry.  I remember Kim on this day, along with her children.  My heart still aches for them.

I also remember my friend David who lost his best friend.  David's friend was on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania.  David has not been the same since.  I remember David on this day. My heart still aches for him.

It took me longer to get to work today than it has taken since I moved to Northern Virginia. My drive past the Pentagon started and stopped, started and stopped.  The traffic was horrendous.  I wanted to complain as I waited for the traffic to move again.  But, I instead thought of how long Kim waited for a sign of her husband - for confirmation that her husband had died - and how she had to wait months until a police officer arrived at her door one day with a small bone that had been identified as that of her husband's.

I wanted the traffic to move - but God instead called me to prayer.  And then, I watched as the sun broke through the clouds.  

My heart aches with all who were touched by this tragic day, and perhaps all of us in this nation have been touched by it - but I could not help but to see once more how the light shines - the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never overcome the light.

I remember.  I remember you in my prayers.  I remember you on this day.  And, I remember God's faithfulness of how we will, indeed, all be reunited again one day.

Sound Advice

I have recently been taught sound advice that can keep me and others out of trouble.  A ministry colleague told me the criteria that should be used before saying anything out loud.  Before speaking, one needs to ask oneself three questions:

1) Is what I am about to say truthful?

2) Is it helpful?

3) Is it kind?

Before saying anything, one needs to make sure that what is said meets at least two of the three criteria.

It's good wisdom and if practiced, I'll be saying a whole lot less.

Paragraph 213

I had never before heard of paragraph 213 in our United Methodist Book of Discipline.  The Book of Discipline is a book we study in seminary as we make our way through Methodist polity.  It is a book we study when we are preparing for ordination exams.  And, it is a book we pull out often when we are preparing for Charge Conference or putting together the new budget.  But, I had never before noticed paragraph 213.  I never noticed it until my District Superintendent called me recently, asking if I would serve on a paragraph 213 task force.

Paragraph 213 addresses churches that are in decline - churches that are facing an uncertain future - churches that need to be redeveloped, refocused, merged or closed.  The paragraph outlines a process of calling together clergy and laity who can go through the church's budget, membership, ministries, and programs - looking to see what might have caused the decline and what might be put in place in order to have the congregation grow again.

For the last three weeks, I have spent each Thursday night at another church in Washington.  Gathering with two other clergy and three laity, two from the congregation facing redevelopment, merger or closure, we have sifted through old budgets, old reports, a variety of data, and a myriad of other documents.  We have heard a lot about the church - its building, its congregation, its lay leadership and its clergy.  And we are nearing the place where we need to make a recommendation on the future of the church.  And, it sucks.  Forgive me for being so blunt, but I cannot think of a better word to describe this work.  It sucks.

How is it that so many of our congregations are in decline?  Why is it that so many church's are filled with potential but have not been able to welcome more than one or two or no new members in the last year?  How is it that a church started with incredible vision - formed with a secure foundation and a community of people around it really believing in the potential - can ever face the possibility of being out of potential - of needing to close?

I have spent many restless nights in the last three weeks thinking through these questions.  I have become the bad guy in the eyes of some as I have questioned different things, wondering how we got to the place we are.

And then I think about a video we watched this week as part of the Baltimore Washington Conference's small groups for clergy called "Discipler Groups."  Our video asked about the last time we had a "wet your pants and lose your breath" experience in church.  The words are rather blunt.  When have you last had a wet your pants and lose your breath kind of experience at church?  When is the last time that you got so excited that you could not contain yourself?

I would venture to say that it has been a long time for many of us.  Or, perhaps we have never experienced a shortness of breath or a lose control type of experience within the walls of a church.  What would it take for us to get to this place again?  How is it that church has become so irrelevant, so boring, so out of touch that new people are not coming?

I lost my breath last Sunday.  I lost my breath when our time of sharing joys and concerns extended well past the fifteen minute mark.  During our time together, we had one young woman ask for prayers because she has just moved to Washington from California, and she is having a hard time adjusting.  We had another person ask for prayers because of how often we take the gift of education for granted and yet her sister, a survivor of the civil war in Liberia, is starting college this week.  We had yet another person ask for prayers in his job search.  And we continued to pray.  We continued to be this place where no concern was irrelevant and where no person - new or old - had a voice that could not be heard.  And, it was breathtaking.  It was breathtaking because the Spirit was so alive and so clearly at work.

Now, what would it take for me or you to have a wet your pants kind of experience in worship?  Have you lost your breath lately?  Wet your pants?

Come, Holy Spirit.  Come and rekindle the fire in all of our churches.  Come guide and direct the task force who will make a recommendation for one church and come fill and use every church.  May we be short of breath this Sunday and filled only with your breath.  Amen!

NOTE: If I ever go another two weeks without writing something on the blog, please send me an email.  Ask if I am taking care of myself.  Encourage me to let go of some things and embrace again the things that feed me - like reflecting here.  It has been a crazy few weeks, and I am in need of rest, renewal and refocus.  Thankfully, I'm back!

Another Opening

For many years now, the United Methodist Church has used as its slogan, "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors: The People of the United Methodist Church." For many years now, I have been criticizing this advertising campaign, sharing how the millions of dollars that have been pumped into the campaign, including advertisements in Times Square, have not really added up to the doors of the church being opened any wider. I also have a problem with pastors who print this message on their business cards and then vote to support legislation that gives pastors a right to exclude people from church membership because of who or how the person loves. Some people have appreciated my criticizm - I won a sermon contest that included my critique of the slogan. I have also been criticized for being too critical of the church and its slogan. In any event, I learned last week that the church I serve has been campaigning for open doors long before this advertising campaign was created.

We are now back in our renovated and restored facility at 900 Massachusetts Avenue (you should come see it - it is amazing!). The church's belongings were returned from storage several weeks ago. One of our members has been working daily to put the archives back together.

The archives of this church are amazing. People have kept things from the very beginning of the church - from 1850. There are old photographs, old documents, old sermons, old bulletins, old everything. I have been going up to the archives often because I find the history of this church so fascinating. It is really quite remarkable.

Last week, I pulled out an envelope of bulletins from 1933. The church was still part of the Southern denomination during this time. The congregation was about 15 years into living in this grand, stately church. Still, every bulletin from 1933 had a quote printed on the cover. Every bulletin cover from 1933 reads:

God make the door of this house we have raised to Thee

wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship and a Father’s care;

and narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride, and hate.

Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children,

weakness or straying feet;

but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power.

God, make the doorway of this house the gateway to Thy Eternal Kingdom.

What a prophetic witness! Can you imagine such a prayer - in the heart of Washington in 1933? And, the amazing thing is that the prayer was answered and continues to be answered. This church became a prophetic witness to the community, providing one of the first places for integrated audiences to come together to watch community theatre. This church served all people in the community, especially the people who had little or nothing. This church has been and continues to be the body of Christ - a place with a door wide enough to welcome all who need human love - and, well, I have yet to meet anyone who does not need human love.

Thanks be to God for the 158 faithful years of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church! And, thanks be to God for this new chapter - for this day when we get to open the doors even further, welcoming all into this grand, historic building so that all might receive the gift of human love.

Vocation

I love being a pastor. Today is one of those days when I realize just how precious this job really is. My work day started at 8 when I met a young woman for coffee - for conversation around what it means to risk it all for the sake of the Gospel. I then traveled to Virginia to attend the memorial service of a remarkable 89 year old woman who has regularly attended our Tuesday Bible study for the past year and a half. I met another young woman from Mount Vernon Place for lunch, and we talked about her job and where she might go when she finishes her two year stint with Teach for America.

I love this job - I love being in conversation with others about life, where God is, who God is, and how God is at work. I cannot imagine myself being anything else or doing anything else other than being a pastor. And, my love of being a pastor is exactly why my job is driving me a little nuts lately.

We moved back home three weeks ago at Mount Vernon Place. We are finally back home - in a glorious, completely renovated, 1917 building. It is fantastic space. And, it is space that creates another huge responsibility.

We are no longer renting space on Sunday mornings - easily paying someone else to provide security, turn the lights on and clean the bathrooms. Instead, we are responsible for the space. And, the space is stealing my time.

In the last three weeks, I have had conversations about how often the grass should be mowed, how often and how much the building should be cleaned, when the doors should be alarmed and when they should be unlocked, who will sit at the front door on Sundays, who will turn the handicap lift on, where the new pew pads go - especially the ones that arrived without a size tag, how to take care of the rodent problem that shows signs of rats the size of cats (not in the building - thank God - but outside), how to fill the space with people, how much it will cost to get married here, and the list goes on and on and on. And, all of these things are important - but these things are not my vocation - these things are not part of my calling. I have been spending more than half of my workweek on building related matters - instead of Biblical, spiritual, connectional or theological matters. And, my energy is depleted. My mind is boggled. My creativity is zapped. I want to simply be a pastor again!

Frederick Buechner defines vocation as that place where one's deep gladness meets the world's deep hunger. I know that as much as I could think about finances and building partners and rodent control, that this is not my call. As much as I could go out and create new partnerships and relationships with people in the community who might need a fantastic theatre space or want to plan a rock concert for 500 that this is not my call. My calling is to be a pastor - to be a person who wants more than nothing else to tell people about the all encompassing love of Christ and to invite them to experience this transforming love.

I am so grateful to have found my call - my vocation. I now hope we find someone whose vocation is to be an administrator - an administrator for this wonderful, one-of-a-kind, dynamic, growing, visionary place called Mount Vernon Place. Interested? Please apply!

Same Old, Same Old

I spend a lot of time thinking about how to get unchurched people into church. I spend time thinking about this - but rarely do I ask unchurched people about what it would take to get them into the church. Perhaps I don't ask because I am afraid of the answer - I am afraid that their answer will make so much sense and yet seem impossible to accommodate.

Following is an email I received yesterday from someone who does not believe in God but who visits Mount Vernon Place often. I asked for permission to share these thoughts because I think they have a lot to teach us.

Rev. Donna,

The problem with church is that it is boring and out of touch. This is partly the reason why I don't like to show up on time and certainly not every Sunday. Here is the procedure at every church that I go to:

1. Assemble
2. Stand for some singing
3. Sit down
4. Listen to the "verse of the week"
5. Stand up
6. More singing
7. Sit down
8. Listen to the weekly interpretation of the verse. Reminds me of Andy Rooney in 60 minutes
9. Stand up
10. Sing some more
11. Sit down
12. Prayer for people in need
13. Stand up.
14. More singing and verse reading.
15. Sit down.
16. Communion (depending on what Sunday it is)
17. Stand up
18. More singing
19. Adjournment

As long as I have been in church, there has never been any discussion of the tenants of faith. You must already be a believer to be in church. Also, never anything to be excited about. I show up every so often because of the people and even then I really don't like to be a part of the entire service.

Why should I be on time or even show up?

I am in agreement that you need some of the above but if you want more involvement in the church break down the above structure. Have open discussion or an activity during actual service instead of the above. Instead of just pure volunteerism there should be a goal (such as picking one school to fully transform or building one person's house, etc, etc.) That way I am not only working on something greater than myself but I am also achieving something beyond just doing my civic duty for the week.

Since you have a lot of old blood, this does not have a good chance of happening. The people that come regularly like procedure so it is hard to get them to try something new. We are told to start side committees that prove meaningless and otherwise pushed to the side.

Most of the time the committees do not amount to anything truly significant.

You want a significant portion of my time, energy, and various other resources? Change the above.

Just my two cents.

My questions after reading this email are:

When are we going to start listening to statements like this one?

How far are we willing to go - what are we willing to let go of - in order to get people like this into our worship services and ministries?

Do we have the passion that we see in the New Testament, particularly the writings of Paul, who asks us to do whatever we can to get people who are on the outside to the inside of our faith?

And, you who are reading this blog - is your church like the one described below or what have you done to make changes?

Come on Down!

Craig and I went to see Coldplay last night at the Verizon Center. The concert was a special event for us since our first date was at a Coldplay concert on March 2, 2006. The concert was fantastic. The energy of the band is electric. The dancing, the singing, and the playing are all amazing. I highly recommend seeing the group play if you ever have a chance. I think it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen, and it is filled with surprises - from balls in the sky to paper butterflies that shower from the ceiling. Yes, we loved it! But we also loved what happened before the concert started.

Craig and I were sitting in the seventh row. We arrived at about 7:00 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. concert. At about 7:20, we watched as many very excited teenagers started to fill the rows in front of us. Some of them looked as though they had won the lottery. Slowly, more and more excited young people started to arrive in the first and second rows. We soon learned that these people had come from the very top of the Verizon Center. Some of them were sitting on the back row and others were sitting on the next to last row when someone came, tapped them on the shoulder, and offered them a better seat. The performance organizers were filling up the front rows with people in the very back rows. Those with some of the worst seats in the house were being given the best seats in the house.

It was such a blessing to watch the reaction on these individuals' faces when they saw their new seats. Many of them looked so surprised. They looked as though they could hardly believe what was happening to them. The last were becoming first. Those who had been placed in the very back were coming to the very front.

Is this not what can happen in the church every time we gather?

The church is called to bring to the inside anyone who has been pushed aside - anyone who has been told they are not good enough or they are not smart enough or they do not love the right way or act the right way. The church is called to bring to the front anyone who has been cast off. The church is called to radically reach out and say, "You belong here. You are precious in the eyes of God. You are our honored guest. Come on down to the front."

One of the things I love about Mount Vernon Place is that there are people here who stand at the center of our community who receive little value everywhere else. There are people in our congregation who are at the core of who we are as a community who have been tossed aside in so many other places by so many other people - but here they are valued.

We still have a long ways to go when it comes to flinging our doors open as wide as they can go. Still, we are working on it. And, I hope and pray I get to see more reactions in church like I saw at the Coldplay concert last night - people saying to others, "What, you want me to sit here?"

"Excuse me, you are allowing ME to be in the front row?"

"Are you sure about this?"

Yes, I am sure about this!