Emily attends NLF and is a very talented professional artist/poet. Click on the link below to read or listen to her poem, GIve Us This Day. May her words carry you to God as it did me. http://www.sparkandecho.org/give-us-this-day_emily-ruth-hazel/
One of the great highlights of our celebration last week was this incredible poem by a beautiful and gifted poet in our church. It is so fashioned and shaped and nuanced to our journey at NLF I was in awe. It is evident from the poem that Emily has been watching and listening and personally experiencing the journey as well. With deep gratitude I say thank you to Emily. UNDER THESE GREEN LEAVES by Emily Ruth Hazel Dedicated to Pastors Pete and Geri Scazzero ~ Presented September 27, 2013 ~ Queens, New York City TWENTY-SIX YEARS to arrive at this day. Another doorway: after all the transformations you have ushered us through, now we frame this space for you. What started growing years ago in a sidewalk crack in Queens has taken holdāits roots now reaching deep, uplifting even concrete. The ministry you planted has become a canopy of shade and shelter. Only God. Read more.
This poem by Emily Ruth Hazel, a poet in our church, was written and dedicated to us at our 26th Celebration on Sept. 27th, 2013. It captured the essence of our lives, leadership, ministry, and transition at NLF. Enjoy! “Under These Green Leaves” by Emily Ruth HazelDedicated to Pastors Pete and Geri ScazzeroPresented September 27, 2013Queens, New York City Twenty-six years to arrive atthis day. Another doorway:after all the transformationsyou have ushered us through,now we frame this space for you. What started growing years agoin a sidewalk crack in Queenshas taken holdāits rootsnow reaching deep, uplifting even concrete.The ministry you planted has becomea canopy of shade and shelter.Only God could have imaginedthese generous branches,how wide they would spread.Under these green leaves,the next generation is emergingout of this fertile ground. In the beginning, you stood aloneat the edge of what you knewas waves redefined their boundariesand brought you to your knees.You waded in and walked. Read more.
Prayer is carrying people, paralyzed by life, to the healing waters of the love of Jesus. We meet a man in John 5, paralyzed and suffering for 38 years, who has been unable to get to the healing waters of the pool.Ā Fred Craddock notes that, perhaps, this was because able-bodied people with headaches, sunburn, and fever blisters continually beat the lame, the blind, and the paralyzed to the pool.Ā What kind of community would allow someone to suffer 38 years without once helping him to the head of the line? At our NLF staff meeting last week, we symbolically created the āpoolā through placing a blanket in the middle of a circle. We then invited individual staff to step into the ācenter of the pool,ā representing people paralyzed by life. The rest of us in the circle then picked up the edges of the cloth blanket and gently ruffled it, ātroubling the waters.ā We. Read more.
NLF Staff Midday Prayer Sept. 26, 2012 Stillness and Silence – 2 minutes to be still First Reading: Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ps. 146 1 Praise theĀ Lord.Praise theĀ Lord,Ā my soul. 2 I will praise theĀ LordĀ all my life;I will sing praiseĀ to my God as long as I live.3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings,Ā who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are thoseĀ whose helpĀ is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in theĀ LordĀ their God 6 He is the Maker of heavenĀ and earth, the sea, and everything in themāhe remains faithfulĀ foreverā¦TheĀ LordĀ lifts up those who are bowed down… TheĀ LordĀ reignsĀ forever,Ā your God, O Zion, for all generations.Ā Praise theĀ Lord. Second Reading – Lamentations 3: 21-27 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of theĀ Lordās great loveĀ we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They. Read more.
Every third Wednesday of the month our pastoral staff takes a Day Alone With God. Each person finds a park, beach, a quiet place outside their home to intentionally spend time in silence, Scripture, etc.Ā Take a look at Rich Villodasā recent blog called āYes, our pastors get paid to pray andĀ rest about his experience and to see specific instructions he gave our staff just last week around that day. As I look at my schedule, however, I realize I have moved to Days Alone with God almost weekly. And I wondered why? I believe it relates to the unique season of transition in which I find myself. We are in the final year of my stepping back from the role of Lead Pastor at NLF to a Teaching Pastor/Pastor-at-Large role. (Go to Peteās Transition for the congregational announcement of our four-year process). It has been wonderful and a joy to coach Rich (along. Read more.
