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THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, September 30, 2010


METHODIST CHURCH, WEIRS-1889


by Rev. Victoria Wood Parrish Contributing Writer


If you watch TV, you


know that the tag line “so what’s in your pocket?” is an advertisement for a credit card company. But it asks a good question. As we empty our pockets


in the evening, what do we find? Some change, a re- ceipt, a note, a money clip or wallet, a cough drop, a tin of chewing tobacco, a worry stone, or a cross? Sometimes we carry the important things with us and sometimes we keep things without thinking. Some evening, spread


COMMUNITY CHURCH MEDITATIONS SO WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKET?


everything out in front of you and examine each thing. What does the fact that I carry this object say about my priorities? However, there are also symbolic things we “carry in our pockets”. Some are negative – an-


gers or addictions or prej- udices that we pull out when we feel we need to defend ourselves, but that also keep us from being free, loving, and accepting people. My father used to say


to always carry your res- ignation in your pocket. That way if you were put in an untenable position


Proverbs Moment “A gentle answer turns away wrath,


but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1


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at work, you could resign without compromising your ethical standards. That also meant that at all times you should have a plan for the future so you could, with confidence or courage, give up the past and move into something new. Brownie Girl Scouts sing


that they carry a “great big Brownie smile” in the pocket next to their heart. In other words, they carry an attitude of happiness, ready to be drawn upon at any time. We carry in our pockets


a set of skills and abili- ties. Boys used to carry a pocket knife until it was banned as a weapon. With that pocket knife, they could do any number of things from whittling to turning a screw. Howev- er, we don’t need a pocket knife when we carry the knowledge of how to add a sum, play the piano, drive a nail, or program a computer. These and any number of other skills can be pulled out and used when needed. And most important, we carry a faith. Well, at


least I hope you carry a faith. Some people re- mind themselves of their faith with a cross or medal in their pocket. But even without the symbol to touch and hold, a faith is there to be used when needed. A friend dies, a house burns, a diagnosis is given. We feel most alone. To whom do we turn? In what doo we put our faith. In Psalm 21, the writ-


er asks “where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord…” (vs. 1b-2a, NIV) . As Christians, our faith says that we are never alone and that God is always with us. The world may change, but God is there. Death may come, but God is there. The world we see is beautiful and God is there. A child is born, and God is there. As you look at your


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pocket objects, can you depend on the coins or bills? Will the thing the receipt shows you bought always be there? The cough drop will either be used or will turn furry, the objects of our addictions only cover the hurt but don’t heal. But our faith will be there through it all. What’s in your pocket.


Rev. Victoria Wood Par-


rish is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Gilford, NH, located on Route 11-A. It is a congregation of open hearts, open minds, and open doors. We invite you to worship with us on Sun- days at 10:30 AM Children’s activities and nursery are available during the 10:30 morning worship. We also invite you to the United Meth- odist Church in the Weirs, 35 Tower St., which worships at 9:30 AM. There are also many other local congrega- tions who would welcome you to worship.


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