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I am so looking forward to our time together honoring the incarnation of Christ! I hope you can join us for one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 3:30 & 5:00 p.m. Please consider inviting a friend or family member who may not have a connection to a faith community. What makes the holidays special is not the perfect table setting, food, or packaged gifts, but rather the gathering of people who are present and patient with and attuned to each other and to the God who gives us another day to love Him.

My Christmas gift to you actually comes from my Nana, who used to ask for a bottle of rum each year for Christmas so that she could make her amazing rum cake. As a kid, I hated the taste of rum in Nana’s cake, but now I think it is delicious. My Nana is no longer with us, but we still have this family recipe, written in her own handwriting, and we cherish it because it is a part of her legacy to us. Just in case you need a good recipe for your family’s celebrations, I am sharing it with you right here, but please keep this one a secret…. xoxo.

Merry Christmas to you. I’m so glad you’re in my life. I pray you may be present to those around your table and to our great Emmanuel, who is “God with us.”

Our Christmas offering goal is $25K this year, all to be used to support external ministries we love.

Some seasons are for building a strong internal church community through facility upgrades, special events, and children’s ministries, all of which contribute toward a healthy church where people can connect & reconnect with God. Over the past year we have been blessed to invest over $100K in the church building to offer an environment more conducive to people’s exploration of following God in the way of Jesus.

Other seasons are about focusing outward, investing in important ministry outside the church walls, as we will do this Christmas. Our Christmas offering goal is $25K to be used to…
– launch a diaper bag business with Guatemalan women
– fund a Christian women’s conference in Nepal
– provide for urgent needs in our community through the benevolence fund
– support new ministry initiatives in 2014!
–  Platt Park Church seeks to nurture both the internal and external aspects of ministry so that we might be a healthy body that can sustain ministry for the long haul.

Please consider a special year-end gift this year. Thank you for your generosity to the ministry of God both at and through Platt Park Church. We love partnering with you in building God’s kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.

During pastor appreciation month in November, you all took a “love offering” for us, the pastoral staff at Platt Park, and we felt so loved by you! Your notes, cards, and gifts just meant the world to us! We have a few things to say to you, our church family:

From Vaun Swanson…
I appreciate the Platt Park Community because of the sincere commitment I see in so many people to following the message of Jesus Christ and being his hands and feet in our community and world. Most people lead busy and active lives and yet they make time to attend worship services and serve. People here are friendly, joyful and encouraging, and it is a privilege to be a part of this church body.

From Susie Grade…
I so love and admire your constellation of values ~ the depths of your love, compassion, and generosity, and the way you hold such a balanced perspective in your beliefs. I love the way you integrate faith, life, and justice without getting arrogant about potential differences in values or beliefs. There is no place I’d rather be. Thank you for allowing me to serve Christ here among you.

From Gary Aronhalt…
I appreciate your “vibe,” which is so rich and varied ~ You are easygoing but also intense and passionate. You are sensitive to the Spirit but also slightly irreverent. You are honest about life struggles yet hopeful. Platt Park Church is a safe place to be messy, and I love it!

From Tim Grade…
I appreciate how authentic your faith is – you are honestly seeking to know God and live life dynamically with God without rote formulas. Life is messy, and Platt Park Church accepts the messiness in the context of God’s grace!

From Lara Hedberg…
You all are so friendly and warm. Love seeing new people and families come in and be welcomed so whole heartedly.

From Amy Borjas…
I appreciate the many ways Platt Park Church extends God’s compassion in our world. I see this compassion evident as people seek to make ethical choices, serve the local and global communities, and extend friendship and support to one another. I am honored to be a part of Platt Park Church community!

We are so grateful for you, much love and thanks,

Silly. Honest. Rooted. Brave. I want these words to characterize my life right now.

I pick “silly” because I’m an ENTJ on the Myers Briggs, and I’m just so damn serious sometimes. I want to be fun and carefree in my home and with my friends. I want to remember, even in the midst of my responsibilities, that there is still time to jump in the bouncy house with Vaun or have a pillow fight with Russell and Tim.

“Honest” mainly relates to honesty with my emotions. Historically, I have been a master stuffer of feelings. I can win awards for putting on a happy face. But these days, I want to be honest with my inside realities rather than do/say only what is acceptable, nice or easy. I want to be truer and less careful.

“Rooted in Christ” is my aim these days because there are so many other “good” places in which I am tempted to plant, nurture & grow my identity, such as my work, my role as a mom, and even my views/perspectives. Christ is the only constant worthy of deep roots because my work, roles, perspectives and even the seasons of parenting ebb and flow and change.

“Brave” means doing stuff that scares me. It’s about saying “yes” to new challenges like speaking at a business owners event when I’d rather stay home and watch a movie… and it means saying “no” when it is hard, or when I know it will displease someone or I will be misunderstood. Brave is about being vulnerable. It is about letting myself be known and not hiding behind anything at all.

What words would you choose?

This survey was distributed during two Sunday morning worship services in October 2013. There were a total of 104 responses, although not everyone answered every question and there were several couples that completed the questionnaire together. I have attempted to compile the results in such a way as to give you the clearest sense of the make-up of our Platt Park congregation. There were many comments given which are not included here but are available if you would like to read them.

1. AGE: 33% were 21-30, 37% were 31-40, 24% were 41-60 and 6% were 61 or older

2. MARITAL STATUS: 64% were married, 36% were not married (of which 17% were single, 18% were in a committed relationship)

3. EDUCATION: 5% high school, 14% some college, 44% 4-yr college degree, 37% postgraduate degree

4. ETHNICITY: 93% of Respondents were born in the US. There were respondents from six other countries: Canada, Korea, Peru, Mexico, China, and Philippines

Respondents were from 32 different states with the highest concentrations from Colorado (25), Texas (9), Illinois (8) and California (7).

82% of respondents said their ethnicity was Caucasian. 18% listed various other ethnicities with no significant concentration in any of them.

5. CHILDREN: There were 41 children reported under the age of 17, including several pregnancies. 26 of these children were age 5 and under, 15 children were in the 6-12-year-old category, and four teenagers.

6. SPIRITUAL LIFE: Faith Explorer -11%, New follower of Jesus -2%, Committed follower of Jesus -80%, Used to be a committed follower of Jesus but now not so sure -2%, Other -5%

7. SPIRITUAL ROOTS: There were 35 different denominations or faith backgrounds represented with the highest concentrations being Baptist (23), Catholic (20), Non-denominational (14), and Methodist (11).

8. ZIP CODE: 18% are from 80210, 67% are from city of Denver (in addition to 80210), 15% are from outside the city of Denver with no significant concentration

9. Do you consider Platt Park Church to be your primary faith Community?
Yes – 85%
No – 2%
First time visitor – 6%
Not Sure Yet (2nd – 4th time visitor) – 6%

10. When did you first begin attending Platt Park Church (or Pathways Church if it was prior to 2012)?
11% of responders were visiting for the first or second time
47% of responders have begun attending since 2012 (this includes new guests)

11. How strong is your sense of belonging to Platt Park Community Church?
Not at all – 14% Not Very – 11% Moderate – 32% Strong – 43%

12. How many worship services (including today) have you attended at Platt Park church in the past month?
1st time – 10% 1x – 13% 2x – 23% 3x – 23% 4x – 31%

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 I was asked to share a “live tribute” at the final ceremony of Pathways Church as it closed down its ministry after a 20-year presence in Denver. For more on the staff & elders decision to shut down the church and sell the building, read here. I got choked up in front of 500+ people as I shared the following tribute….

Today, my husband Tim and I co-pastor at Platt Park Church, which is the congregation that was formerly called Pathways, Wash Park. We changed our church name a little over a year ago, but we have deep roots in the Pathways story in this city.

Pathways’ closing feels very bittersweet to me – and I think bittersweetness is a good thing. (Thank you to Shauna Neiquist for this metaphor!) Life and faith are best when we embrace both the bitter and the sweet. Nothing but sweetness rots both our teeth and our souls. The bitterness is what makes us strong and forces us to push through – it’s what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the most inspiring stories that we share. Bittersweet times can be beautiful because they are seasoned, deep, and rich with wisdom and courage. Our being here together tonight is bittersweet in the best possible way.

On the sweet side of this story…
During its Grant Avenue days, Pathways offered people in this city a safe place to deconstruct and reconstruct their beliefs about God, it provided a relaxed yet reverent space to worship, and it provided an incredible community that felt like a family to many people.

During the South High school days, Pathways was a vibrant place of service and outreach. Rwanda mission trips, Denver serving days, and small groups like the Front Door and Deepen gave countless people a place to serve and find friendship in this city. When Pathways moved out of South High school, the faculty did not want us to go.

On the bitter side of this story…
When things went sideways organizationally in 2008-2009, Pathways was the crucible where many of us learned to be brave. We learned that there is life on the other side of ministry heartbreak, and we came to realize over time that even when the places and people we love most are blown up and stripped away – God is still there. We learned that certain gifts can only be found on the other side of life’s brokenness, disappointments, and hardship. Some of us reluctantly received those gifts because of Pathways’ struggle. Even if we would never have chosen that painful process for our church community, God has used Pathways for growth and formation and transformation in our lives.

On the sweet side for me personally…
Pathways provided me with early opportunities to serve the church. My first times to ever preach a sermon, lead a marriage seminar, or dedicate a child were at Pathways Church.

The most wonderful gift Pathways has given me, and probably you too, is some amazing relationships. Here is where I have intersected with some of the most passionate, creative, unique and wonderful people I know. Some of my favorite people in the world are people I met at Pathways. You all, the people of Pathways have left a forever mark on me. I will never be the same because of you, and I thank God for you. I thank God for the many lives that have been impacted here. I thank God for the many people who came to faith and came back to faith here. I thank God for the formation he has worked and is still working in so many of us because of this place. I thank God for Pathways Church, and I trust that God will capture every bitter and every sweet memory for His gracious purposes in our lives. May He bless and companion each of you always into new pathways forged by His power and love.

When our team landed in Guatemala last summer, a brilliant and beautiful woman named Rosa was standing outside the airport waiting to greet us. It only took moments for our team to fall in love with Rosa and her son Michael. Rosa’s radiant smile, deep soul, and competency in facilitating our team were huge factors in our experience in Guatemala.

I am delighted to introduce you to Rosa! She is coming to Denver December 5-17 and will be sharing in our worship services on December 8th. There will also be an opportunity to meet Rosa after service on December 8th and learn more about the diaper bag business that she and some other Guatemalan women are launching.

One of our core purposes as a church is serving the wholistic needs of others. Our partnership with Mothers Global Village in Guatemala is just one small way that we are serving around the globe. As we do, our hearts grow to be more like God’s heart and our lives are changed in the process.

I can’t wait for you to meet my friend!

Tim and I have been married for 12 years and like all couples we have had our share of ups and downs. One of the best tools that we were given along the way so far was through a relationship program called PAIRS, which stands for Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills. This program is used around the world, with the military, in non-profits, and in companies to teach people strong relationship skills. The founders of PAIRS studied healthy relationships and extracted “skills” that the rest of us can practice to build stronger bonds and connection with the most important people in our lives.

I am thrilled that we are offering an abbreviated version of this workshop tomorrow morning from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. If you’d like to jump in on this opportunity at the last minute, there are some spaces remaining. Whether your relationship is in trouble or doing great but always open to learning, I’d invite you to join us for PAIRS. Our facilitators tomorrow have been married for 47 year (I think that says something) and they still love applying the skills of PAIRS to their marriage today!

I held Stone in my arms and marveled at all his tiny-ness with awe and love. Stone was just born to our good friends Bill and Kate. Stone, just like all the other children in my life, is going to be a big person some day – full of dreams for the future and a drive to achieve. But even when Stone is big, I’ll always remember him as small. I’ll always remember holding those tiny hands and staring at the precious features of him as a newborn.

One summer during college I did an internship at Elmbrook, my home church in Milwaukee, WI. Elmbrook is a mega-church by everyone’s definition and I remember how strong my desire was to do well there, to impress and to achieve. I wanted to show everyone what a professional I had become. So I strode in to the office each morning, head high and heels on, in my most professional clothes, with my Blackberry in hand, eager to please. Head up? Check. Shoulders back? Check. Lipstick on? Check. Laptop loaded? Check.

But having grown up in that church it was inevitable that right in the middle of my making an oh-so-grown-up-impression, someone from the staff would say, “Oh, I remember when Susie was a camper at Camp TimberLee” -or- “I remember when you and your brother were Hippos in the church musical.” Then everyone in the room was thinking of my little girl self rather then my very professional adult self that I was working so hard to present. Author Shauna Neiquist shares of a similar experience in her writing.

I get it now. As much as I’ll embrace Stone at every age, I will also always hold dear my mental picture of him as a 21 incher, just 9 little pounds of baby love.

The pastors and leaders at Elmbrook affectionately remembered me as a child, when my spiritual roots were first growing in their loving, nourishing soil. There, I was safe to try and fail and learn and grow. When I returned to Elmbrook as an adult, the leaders remembered me, believed in me, and trusted me with responsibilities and authority. They gave me a chance to lead.

I love you sweet baby Stone, and I love your future grown up self too. May you never cease growing in God’s love. Whether you become a Platt Park intern some day or an accountant or a software developer or a doctor like your Daddy or a photographer like your Mama, I will be cheering you on each step of the way.

People sometimes ask me, “So what are you reading these days?” I usually have several books going at once, but here is what is on my shelf, in my device, or audibly in my ear these days:

The Power of Starting Something Stupid, by Natalie and Richie Norton ~ I’m reading this because I love how entrepreneurs think, and I am pretty much always reading a book by some entrepreneur.

The Next 100 Years, by George Friedman ~ One man predicts America’s future and life around the globe in the next century.

Happier at Home, by Gretchen Rubin ~ This book recounts one woman’s quest to own her own choices and pave a life of greater happiness.

The Heart of Christianity, by Marcus Borg ~ A theologian turns away from traditional beliefs about God, Jesus and the Bible but still has a relevant, nourishing faith in Christ.

The Happiest Toddler on the Block, by Harvey Karp ~ I’m reading this because Tim and I have a 2 year old, and we have no clue what we’re doing. I’ll tell you right now, Russell is not the happiest toddler on our block most days, but he had better be by the end of this book, or I’m asking for a refund. Enough said!

Surrender to Love, by David Benner ~ I’m reading this slowly, like a good glass of Cabernet, because a mentor friend specifically “picked” this book out with me in mind. Needless to say, I’m paying attention and taking my time.

Galations for You, by Tim Keller ~ I owe thanks to my Thursday morning Bible study leaders for lining up this book for our Fall study. (Thanks, Heidi, Lara, Amy & Carol!)

The Connected Child, by Karyn Purvis ~ Eventually we hope to bring home a little sprout from China, and this book is about bonding and attaching with your adopted child.

Deep & Wide, by Andy Stanley ~ This is a book about strategy for delivering messages (preaching) and arranging Sunday worship gatherings for a “dual audience.” The dual audience is both the already convinced and the not yet convinced of following Christ people.

Books that I flew through this summer and really loved include: Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown; Bread & Wine, by Shauna Neiquest; Escape from Camp 14, by Blaine Harden; Icarus Deception, by Seth Godin; and Bossypants, by Tina Fey.