A New Way

From Ann Weem’s Kneeling in Jerusalem:

Miracle

There’s been a call for a miracle,
but Jesus says no:
The only miracle going is Jonah’s.

Jonah and Jesus in fish and earth,
buried,
then catapulted to new life.

You want a miracle?
The miracle is in believing.
Ask the Queen of Sheba or the people of Nineveh.
Then go your way and live forever.

From Jonah

“…The Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights…Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.”

From the Gospel of Matthew

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!”

Gentle Nudging

My miracle is the fact that I came back to church after A LOT of time. Ever since I came back to church I’ve felt like it was the most right thing I could have done in my life. Now, ever since that return I feel open, and very aware of how God is constantly leading me, gently pushing me, nudging my arm in so many ways. In one particular way, God is inspiring me to get our Presbyterian Women (PW) group going again in this place. One of my favorite memories is of my time in PW. I loved the fellowship of the women from my old church, and I’m “feelin’ the love” here, slowly, but definitely and surely…

And another wonderful thing about being back in church is being in the choir, so my singing has gotten a little better, too!

:: Written by Sue Consalvo, PW Moderator

Easter Miracle

Dan, Chris, and I (7 months pregnant with Justin) along with our puppy, Sparky, made the 4 1/2 hour trip to spend Easter with my family in 1997. It was a beautiful Easter that year and I remember it was so warm that we didn’t need jackets. My father was concerned as we prepared to leave that Monday to drive back to Jersey Shore PA because the weatherman was predicting a snowstorm. It was hard to believe as we packed the car in the beautiful sunshine.

As we drove on the Northeast Extension and got closer to the Poconos, the snow started to fall. It came down hard and heavy. The windshield wipers on our car needed to be replaced and they were useless in clearing the window after an hour. I think for a while we thought of it as an adventure and thought we could drive out of the storm, but it soon became apparent that driving in the storm was not safe. When we reached our exit, we went to the nearest hotel that was overbooked with people already staking spots in the lobby.

We went to the McDonalds across the road to eat and figure out what we should do. After a half hour, we went back to the car because we were concerned about leaving Sparky in the cold. Having no other options, we decided to try to drive farther and try another exit and other hotels. 80 was a mess. There was no one else on the road and I admit that I began to panic. I was not dressed for a winter storm and we were not equipped. It was scary to think that we would have to spend the night in our car.

We got off at the next exit. We made it to a motel that was full, but they had the name of a church that was taking travelers in. Thank you, God! We got directions to the church and arrived with relief. We joined about 40 other people in their fellowship hall. Luckily, Sparky traveled in his crate and we were allowed to bring him in with us. There were blankets and pillows for everyone. That night is a blur to me. I spent most of it in the hall after laying there listening to four or five people that sounded like they were in a snoring competition. I joke about that now, but at the time, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness.

We read in the paper the next day how hundreds of travelers were stranded on 80 overnight. We drove home safely the next day. Every Easter we talk about our naivete in planning our trip and how we would do things differently now, but we also talk about how blessed we were that there are strangers out there willing to help others in need.

:: Written by Christy Molnar, Elder for Children’s Ministries

An Empty Cup

I don’t remember what specific day it was, but I know it was Communion Sunday. We partook of the bread of God and it was time for the cup of God. I had taken a full cup of the blood of God, and when it was time to take the cup, it was empty. I don’t know where it went, but I know I didn’t spill it or drink it. This is my miracle.

:: Written by Shirley Morgenstern, Deacon

Angels in our Midst

My dad died in August 1981.  He and my mom were living in the original Leisure Village in Lakewood, NJ.  I went down that night to be with my mom and help her with the funeral arrangements.  My son, Doug, then 11, insisted on coming along, because he was close to his grandparents.  I hesitated at first, but realized how much it meant to him to be there with my mom and me.

The next day, after finalizing the arrangements, we drove over to the beach at Point Pleasant to walk along the boardwalk and savor the sights, sounds, and smells of the ocean, something my mom loved to do.  We ended up walking into one of those big, old hotels near the beach.  I forget its name, but it was a place where my mom and dad would go on occasion for dinner and dancing.  Walking through the lobby she was visibly overcome with emotion – so many fond memories flooding back of the evenings she and my dad had spent there together.

Seemingly from out of nowhere, an elderly lady who had noticed my mom’s distress came up and asked her what was bothering her.  My mom explained that she had just lost her husband 52 days short of their 50^th anniversary and that they used to come to this hotel occasionally.  The lady listened attentively, thought for a moment and said in effect that my mom needed to go through the entire grieving process – not to shorten it or avoid it — and shed tears, many tears, for my dad’s loss.  She went on to add – and I think this was what my mom needed to hear — that she shouldn’t feel sorry for herself.  Since that day I can say with certainty that there are angels walking among us.  We were blessed to be in that place at that time.

We learned later that the lady was a Catholic nun, a psychotherapist, who lived in a convent in the Bronx.  She was on her annual week’s vacation in this hotel where she had been coming for a number of years.  She added with a twinkle in her eye that she always made the round trip in a limo.  Good for her!  And thank God for her caring presence and her gift of sage advice that day!

:: Written by Bob Coe, Elder for Mission