Messages by Rev. Lee Paczulla (Page 5)
The Practice of Adulting
This week, Rev. Lee talks about little moments that sneak up on you and stay with you forever. She remarks on the differences between what “adulting” looks like to younger people observing adults, and what it actually means to the people living it. Our Heirloom Connection Penpals this week are Nan and Tina, and Julie and Ron. Nan and Tina talk about a shared interest in counseling, and how their life circumstances effected their ability to pursue that. Ron shares…
The Big Picture
Rev. Lee opens our new Message series by recounting “The Josh Battle.” She remarks how right it feels that “Little Josh” was allowed to win. This is the way it’s supposed to be when we say we want better for our kids. She also shares a recent “Maslow Got it Wrong” article. She highlights the difference between the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and the “teepee” of the Blackfoot Indian Tribe.Rev. Lee speaks a bit about our current message series by…
Belonging Sunday
This week, Rev. Lee explains the meaning of Belonging Sunday in our congregation. She reflects on what it means to belong to a community, especially now that we’re in a pandemic. Later, she asks us to consider how there can be a cloud and sunshine in something as simple as a piece of paper. Our new members are introduced, and Rev. Lee goes over what’s in the welcome package we delivered to each household. There’s also a special welcome from…
Life Among the Living
Rev. Lee begins this week by acknowledging that we are all “in need of a resurrection.” She sympathizes with the women in the Easter story of the resurrection who were visiting his grave that Sunday. She reminds us that when Jesus is resurrected, he isn’t recognized by his friends and family – he’s unfamiliar. A messenger reminds the women that we can not look for the living among the dead. We can’t find new life in what is past. We…
We’re Giving You an Hour Back
This week, rather than having a traditional Sunday service, we’re giving you back the hour you lost in Daylight Savings Time last week. We’re inviting you to use this time to do whatever it is that charges you full. Take a walk, spend time with your family, rest, or check out the resource guide from our Spiritual Development Ministry for ideas here. We’Re Giving You an Hour Back The following is a message from Wellspring’s congregation.[00:00:07]Good morning, everyone.[00:00:09]Well, if you…
We Remember So We Can Grow
Rev. Lee begins with a story about a healthcare worker isolating from her family, and the stress it caused on her young son. This worker asks her son to “remember this feeling” as we move towards a return to normal. Rev. Lee invites us to remember those who became sick, or those who were lost to this pandemic in the past year. She also references an essay which went viral last year which pointed out that the “old normal” wasn’t…
Nature Based Practices
Rev. Lee begins this week’s message by telling us about a tree she used to climb as a child. She also shares a passage from a book called ‘Wintering,” which acknowledges that life has a natural ebb and flow. Did you ever think you might learn an important lesson about life from a pecan tree? Perhaps you will. Rev. Lee also takes us into the John Heinz refuge in Philadelphia for a few moments of quiet mindfulness together. Nature Based…
The Practice of Yoga and Embodied Movement
This week, Rev. Lee begins with telling us a story about how pandemic stress has affected some friends of hers, and how, in a moment of intense pressure, her friend as able to think “I’m alive right now and with the people I love.” The idea of “Coming Home” to your own body might not be something we think of often, but it’s an important practice. During this message, yoga instructor Gael Alba takes us through some gentle guided movement…
The Practice of Generosity
Rev. Lee struggles a bit with what to say about the events at the Capitol this week. She planned to introduce the practice of generosity, but thought the message might not make sense this week. But when she thought more about it, she realized that generosity is a practice of pushing back against toxic individualism “I’ve got mine, and you’ve got yours… good luck.” She shares with us how she began practicing generosity herself this year, now that her everyday…
Can’t Unsee
Rev. Lee talks about a friend’s policy towards internet use with children: Before you click on something, think about whether you really want to watch, becauase once you see it, you can’t unsee it. She also talks about a reality show where drag performers put on shows in small communities to help let people know that there are all types of people in every community. She includes a parable from the bible wherein Jesus talks about men given land, but…
Christmas Eve
Rev. Lee brings us our annual Christmas Eve service, this year inspired by the movie Home Alone. Christmas Eve Maybe you’ve had the feeling this week that you were running out of time as you hit refresh on a package that youwere tracking for delivery, as you thought about all the things that needed to happen, I guess, before Christmas.Maybe that’s one of the things that has become clear to you, all of these preparations and plans for Christmas.Which ones…
With, Not In
This week, Rev. Lee discusses the concept of living with our fear, but not in it. This past week, with the election and the rising Covid cases, has made us realize how fragile and vulnerable we still are. Rev. Lee also admits her fear of snakes and shares a story about a recent encounter with a snake on a hike. In the moment, she was able to be with her fear, and realize that not only was it a harmless…