Summer Rhythms

My office at a previous church was right next door to a pool at the neighborhood condo complex.  Summers were hard.  I would sit at my desk trying to work but found the sound of the laughing, splashing and fun made it hard to focus.  Between then and now I have learned that work can be done poolside better than in the office and so now summer is wonderful.

This past week, I spent 2 days in Laguna Beach with writer and pastor Rob Bell.  It was 2 days that I thought I'd get a lot out of but for a variety of reasons, I really didn't.  Most everyone there was young, new to ministry and male (with cool facial hair) and so most of the things talked about had little to do with my current reality. But sometimes the change of scenery is gift enough and things I was working on the last couple weeks around house churches and making disciples had some time to come together as I sat by the window and heard the waves come ashore.

This weekend I am off.  My husband is having a birthday. And today as I lay by the pool working I thought about how much better I see things God is doing in my life with a change of scenery.  Poolside or beachside God is working...

Huddle 1 Link for Spiritual Gifts

Here is the link for the Spiritual Gifts assessment for Huddle 1

http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1355371/k.9501/Spiritual_Gifts.htm

OnlIne Resources for Lent

This week are in home groups for Holy Week but if you cannot be a part, check out these online resources:

http://www.heraldandtimeslabs.com/hosted/easter/crackingeaster.html

http://engageworship.org/ideas/The_Promise_of_the_Empty_Tomb

http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/pray-the-daily-office

http://www.rejesus.co.uk/site/plain_page/chocolate_theology

http://www.ecva.org/exhibition/stations/coasc.html

and while this is not specifically lent, the images and words are some of my favorites: http://vimeo.com/8235503

She, thinking He was the gardener...

I am a gardener, so lent for me is a time not only to get my heart and life ready for the death and resurrection of Jesus but it also a time to get my garden ready for spring.  The two happen together each year, more or less...


I say more or less because some years I am too busy with worship and church to give much thought to the garden.  This happened the last couple years especially but I found it worked out OK because spring comes to my garden regardless of if I am ready or not.  And, every year there is Easter Monday.

You see, after Easter Sunday, I spend Easter Monday (the day after Easter) gardening.  Yes, I take the whole day off for work and dig in the dirt. It is my way of  living into the promise of Easter and a way to remember how Mary went to the garden and upon seeing Jesus there, thought he was the gardener.  (In fact in my fantasy life, I have a band called "She, Thinking He Was the Gardener")  Digging in the dirt, planting, weeding - all of it plugs me into the beauty of nature and the glory of Easter.

This weekend, I plan to do some weeding and maybe even go to Home Depot and look at plants.  Then I will be putting the finishing touches on the second week of Lent's sermon.  And,  that sounds like a good weekend to me.

This Week's Message

1-22-12 Sermon from Pastor on Vimeo.

This week's message

1-15-12 Sermon from Pastor on Vimeo.

Power of the Positive Mom

Discipleship Group in the New Year

Preaching in the New Year

New Series: The Wide-Open Life 010812 Baptism of Jesus (010612 is Epiphany) 2 Corinthians 6:11b-13, Romans 5:1-5 The Wide-Open Life: We were created for more, for a bigger life than what we usually accept—God puts this desire within us. Action Steps (at sermons end) & Discipleship Huddle Introduce BELL

011512, Epiphany 2 2 Corinthians 6:11b-13, Mark 14:3-9 Wide-Open Welcome: The more isn’t more stuff but the monster of more is tamed by “extravagant love” which is made visible in inviting and welcoming people into our life and church Action Steps (at sermons end) & Discipleship Huddle

012212, Epiphany 3 2 Corinthians 6:11b-13,  Luke 10:1-10,  Matthew 6:19-24 Open Up Your Life More isn’t about clutching (holding on for dear life) but growth (salvation = roots in Hebrew means to be spacious, broad, grow) Action Steps (at sermons end) & Discipleship Huddle

012912, Epiphany 4 2 Corinthians 6:11b-13 Luke 12:16-21 Living Expansively The wide-open life is a choice we can make in giving, in serving, in living Action Steps (at sermons end) & Discipleship Huddle

020512, Epiphany 5 2 Corinthians 6:11b-13 Matthew 25:14-30 The Chance of a Lifetime: Don’t settle for less (or make excuses) live the wide-open life Action Steps (at sermons end) & Discipleship Huddle

Looking forward to January

January 1 I will start an interim appointment at First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach.  This gives me an opportunity to bring the congregation through a process of discernment as we look at what is doing in this next chapter of their life as a church.

Redondo Beach 1st is an exciting place!  Great staff, wonderful outreach to those in need (Shared Bread), loving congregation, prime location and more.  I have already met with staff and spent time reading over orders of worship.  I have also put together a tentative schedule of preaching and teaching (which I will post too).

Love to get to know you so please "friend" me on Facebook.

Grace and Peace, Rev. Nicole

Bio for Rev Nicole Reilley

Several have asked, so here it is...

Rev. Nicole Reilley

Rev. Nicole Reilley grew up in Southern California and graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, receiving the 1989 Outstanding Graduate Award.  She received her Master of Divinity degree in 1992 from the School of Theology at Claremont.  There, she was the recipient of The Reverend Edwin H. Witman Pastoral Care Award and The President’s Award for Academic Excellence.  She is the director of the UMC House Church Network (started July 2011) and she previously served at Santa Margarita United Methodist Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA from 2006 to 2011 and Hope United Methodist Church in Torrance, CA from 1992 to 2006.

Rev. Nicole enjoys working with people who are seeking a modern-day faith and those who are returning to church after a period of inactivity. She is gifted in preaching, church and leadership development and teaching, and she enjoys working with young adults, parents with elementary age children and preschoolers.  Her interests include music, gardening, reading, walking and the new monasticism.  She chairs the Skill Builders Team on the New Ministries Essential Ministry Team for the Annual Conference, is active in the Missional Church movement, dyes a streak in her hair to match the liturgical season, and has a passion for the local church.  She is married to Dr. Jeffrey Luther, the Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, and they have a son, Jacob Reilley-Luther, who is a senior at PV High School.  In her free time you’ll find her drinking coffee, reading a book and learning something new.

(Jacob, Nicole’s Mom Barbara, Nicole, Jeff)