November 3 for 3: From feasting to simplicity
What I've been up to lately plus work from other creators and cultivators who are helping us worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty - all arranged in lists of threes.
Tamara’s Note
November took us there and back again - literally on the road and liturgically from Thanksgiving to Advent.
From two church conferences in North Carolina and Maryland to a quick but sweet visit with our kids in Austin to a pop-in sandwich with my niece and nephew in Maryland back to our house to wait for the arrival of our first grandbaby, we covered a lot of ground this month. And we are so grateful.
How was November for you? I’d love to hear what you’re reflecting on from the past month.
From the festal muchness of Thanksgiving to the cleansing simplicity of Advent, I’m so grateful for you and your continued companionship with me here. May you each know the nearness of God-with-us in the coming days and weeks.
xo,
Tamara
p.s., Here are a few things I’m thankful for this month.
1.Our 31st Wedding Anniversary!
At the very top of my thankful list, I put this man and the 31 years of marriage we’re celebrating this week. Thanks be to God for the abundance of love he gives me through Brian Murphy.
2. Connecticut in November is a sight to behold!
3. We traveled together to meet with a bunch of other churches in our diocese which prompted some deep reflection on the nature of healthy pastors. Here’s part of what I wrote:
I keep trying to to put into words what I’ve learned the hard way about who I trust to lead me as a pastor. Here’s my best attempt so far: Find a small-ish church pastored by good people who preach their hearts out every week no matter how many people are in the room (occasionally the sermons are even really good).
Keep in mind these good people probably spent the week offering care to everyone around them & probably prayed with someone living their worst nightmare. In their spare time they mowed the lawn & the neighbor’s too without telling anyone else.
Do your homework. Make sure the pastors only preach about things like money, human dignity, & justice as much as Jesus did and, like Jesus, know how to tell actual evil to go to hell. Make sure they treat their families & neighbors even better when no ones looking & for the love of Christ, make sure they know how to take a day or two off every week & laugh at good jokes.
Pay attention to their friendships. Trust a pastor who knows how to tend to a few really close friends even more than they tend to you or any of your ideals for your church & then expects you to do the same.
Choose to be content with the wonky building, show up every week to offer your help wherever it’s needed, pass the peace & put your hard-earned 10% in the offering basket. Every once in a while throw in a thank you note, too.
Give your truest allegiance to the God who gathers us & to Jesus who is always interceding for the Church. Then join Jesus in prayer for those pastors. Trust the Holy Spirit who advocates for all of us.
I worship only the Good Shepherd & I’ll follow these pastors every single day & twice on Sunday. Thank you, Brian, Jan, Etienne & Walter.
Favorite Links
Monthly picks to help us worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty!
Worship God
A Sacramental Life Categories: Spiritual Direction & Practices | Liturgy & Church Calendar | Daily Work & Callings
A prayer for Creation and COP26 - The Pollinator
The church against the ideologies Written by our friend Jame Wood and worth every word. - Comment
It’s here! 40 meditations to prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for Christ’s arrival. (And it’s $10 off!) - A Sacramental Life
Love People
A Sacramental Life Categories: Family, Friends, Church & Neighbors | Peace & Justice | Wholeness & Healing
I never know how to answer this question so here’s a pretty good reply. I suspect the new book is encouraging too! - Justin Whitmel Earley
If the word inclusive doesn’t mean our friend Garry’s story then you’re using the word wrong. - Love & Truth Network
Amen. - Osheta Moore
Enjoy Beauty
A Sacramental Life Categories: Look, Listen, Make & Do | Creators & Cultivators | Reading & Writing
I’m memorizing this list: How to recover from creative rejection (according to my friend Karen) - Karen Stiller
We talked about the importance of analog engagement with the world in my recent guide for cultivating a Rule of Life. Here’s a great list of suggestions to help us do that: “Rewilding”, analog-style- The Art of Noticing | Rob Walker
An Advent gift from the best curator of art and theology I know - Art & Theology | Victoria Emily Jones
Before an update on A Sacramental Life’s 3 member areas, here’s a reminder for all of us!
Advent begins tomorrow! Purchase your Daybook Meditations digital download at the sale price today!
Member Areas
The welcome mat is out. Come on in!
$17/mo. level
Thank you to our November retreat leader, Kaley Ehret! Here’s a word about what she shared regarding the spiritual practice of gratitude:
“This transformative practice, grounded in brain science, has offered me a lifeline to shift from anxious, swirling thoughts to a sense of being centered in joy. Gratitude is considered the on-ramp to joy and even more so when it is practiced in community!”
Find out more about Kaley’s work here: KaleyEhret.com
$5/mo. level
IMHO, This is still the best place to receive daily Advent and Christmastide meditations. Today’s a great time to join us!
“This is so very powerful. Thank you for your ministry of speaking truth and arranging it in such beauty and easily accessible.”
$3/mo. level
I’m sharing my final post in the Ordinary Time stories series on Monday! After that I’ll be returning to the 5-Minute stories format with a couple of simple reflections on various experiences each month.
In October I shared one f my more vulnerable stories on joining Jesus in interceding for my pastor, who also happens to be my husband.
Become and member and read it here: Go with your love to the fields.
“Your writing resonates so deep within my soul. Thank you for sharing so honestly with truth and grace! ”
Currently Reading
From the Book Pile 2021 | See my giant reading list here.
Bonus Feature
A playlist for a gentle entry to the most wonderful time of the year.
Here’s to another month of worshiping God, loving people, and enjoying beauty, friends!
Thank you so much for your continuous support. Every time you mention my spiritual direction offerings, retreats, writing or devotional guides to a friend, or engage on my social media accounts, you're helping to support my work that reaches beyond the scope of this website. I am grateful for your help!