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Convictions that provide a Context for our Writing

by Myron Talcott

In our struggles, we may find gifts: gifts that inspire in us a new vision.

God helps us shape our vision into Hope! + Love! + Peace with Justice!

“The great secret of life is how to survive struggle without succumbing to it,
how to bear struggle without being defeated by it,
how to come out of great struggle better than
when we found ourselves in the midst of it.”

Joan D. Chittister, Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope,
Erdman’s Publishing, p.19 (emphasis added)

Joan Chittister understands how deeply we are affected by changes around us and within us. In her book, she names struggles in her own life which brought profound changes in her self-understanding and in her roles in her community and society here and overseas.

She names also gifts for her growth which she discovered in the midst of those struggles gifts she might have missed without those struggles. Her faith and witness are inspiring!!

I read Sr. Chittister’s book while writing an overview of my experiences in ordained ministry. She names nine struggles and gifts which are part of her journey in life and faith. What she writes about struggles with fear matched one particular crisis I had as a pastor. Though I was not very aware of feelings deep inside me and seldom talked about them, I could now tell anyone nearby, “If fear is a river, I’m in a flood!”

Only after this experience did I see that in my struggle with fear I received the gift of courage to get through a whole series of circumstances over which I had little or no control. Chittister calls fear “the catalyst of courage” (p. 51) and she calls courage the
“seedbed of hope.” (p. 48).

“Thank you God, for all your gifts, especially this one!”

Writers and Editors

Bob Adams is a United Methodist Elder and a retired pastor, retired, who, when such things are discussed, describes himself as an Evangelical Protestant Catholic, or maybe a Catholic Evangelical Protestant, who suspects that we shall be judged not by what we have believed ABOUT Jesus but by how well we have believed and practiced what HE believed and practiced. (Mathew 7:21-24). Kyrie eleison!

George Affeldt is an 8^th grade U. S. history teacher at Webster Transitional School in Cedarburg. He is a life-long Methodist/United Methodist at several congregations and is now a member of Faith U M C in Milwaukee. George has been a Certified Lay Speaker since 1977. His church interests include our United Methodist heritage, leading worship, and Isaiah and the Psalms.

Sue Burwell is Pastor of the Monona United Methodist Church. Sue enjoys reading novels, going to movies, attending concerts and singing in the Madison Philharmonic Chorus. She has always loved camping and this past year has upgraded to a used conversion van so that she no longer has to sleep on the ground. Now she can enjoy camping even more.

Jim Christensen is a United Methodist Pastor, retired, living in Madison. He leads religious courses in a learning program for older adults sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jim returned recently from a three-week self-directed trip to Alaska where he paid particular attention to native cultures.

Marianne Cotter is a United Methodist pastor serving Marshall United Methodist Church. She has served in the Wisconsin Conference since 1997. Her interest in combining social justice with a love for Jesus dates back to her days at Boston University School of Theology in the early 1980’s. There she met her future husband, Jim Cotter. Jim and Marianne live in Columbus where Jim is the Pastor and their son Carl is a freshman in high school. Their other son, Samuel, is a freshman at Iowa State University. Marianne’s pages this year are reprinted with her permission from our 2003-04 booklet.

Sue D’Alessio is Pastor of the Mequon United Methodist Church. She is an avid reader, writer, and musician. Sue enjoys using these skills in ministry and for recreation. She is involved also in various social justice ministries where she seeks to create opportunities for like-minded people and organizations to connect with one another to make a healthy, healing difference in people’s lives.

Janet Ellinger is Pastor of the River Falls United Methodist Church. Janet delights in music, reading, kayaking, cherished friends and Missy and Cisco (the horses). Janet is originally from Michigan but now calls northwest Wisconsin home. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Kairos CoMotion.

Sandra Foley Gaylord is a United Methodist Pastor, retired, living in Madison. She served as a short-term missionary in Pakistan from 1958-1962. Currently she tutors ESL (English as a Second Language) for the Madison Are Literacy Council. Sandra is a former president of our Wisconsin UMFSA Chapter. She participates in many other activities as they arise. Have passport – will travel!

Sandra Hermann is pastor of Milwaukee:Greenfield Memorial United Methodist Church and author of Ambassadors of Hope.

Frank Kuhlman is a United Methodist Pastor, retired, living in Pepin. He and his wife, Martha, were missionaries of the General Board of Global Ministries from 1961-1990, serving almost all those years in Japan. From 1990-2000 they served the Pepin/Alma Charge. Frank and Martha serve as Co-Presidents of our Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action.

Dong Su Lee is Pastor of the Parfreyville United Methodist Church. His primary interest is in experiencing God’s presence in body, mind, and spirit. Dong Su does prayer and meditation with Dahn-breathing. Also, he is following John Wesley in precept and practice by fasting and by being quiet in the land along the chain of lakes in Waupaca.

Julie McNaughton is a lay member of the Menomonee United Methodist Church where she is Chair of Missions. She is a Lay Speaker and Chair of the Conference Hunger Task Force. She considers herself a Professional Volunteer. Since getting a degree in Home Economics Education and teaching for one year (1960), Julie has been involved in a variety of church and community mission endeavors. For 25 years, she has organized the Hunger Walks for the local CROP and the Menomonee Area Bread for the World.

Andy Oren is Pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Milwaukee. He is a Licensed Local Pastor and a former Associate Conference Lay Leader. Andy currently serves on the planning team for the Lay Ministry Academy and is, alas, a Cubs fan!

David Steffenson is a United Methodist Pastor, retired, who recently moved to Madison from Columbus, WI, where he last served as pastor of the UMC there. He was a campus minister for 20 years and a part-time college teacher for over 30 years with a specialty in ecological social ethics. David is a life-long activist for social change, peace, justice, and the integrity of creation.

Steve Webster is a lay member of Bethany United Methodist Church in Madison. He has been active as a Certified Lay Speaker since 1980. Steve has served as a Lay Member of Annual Conference several times over the last thirty years. In 1973, during one of the Conference’s early debates on homosexuality, Steve “came out” as a gay man. He and Jim, his partner of twenty-five years, have raised two daughters and look forward, with hope, to becoming grandparents next spring. Steve and Jim are leaders of Soulforce, Inc., and were part of several direct actions including at General Conference in 2000 and 2004.

David Werner is thankful to serve as Pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in West Allis. Within the mystery of life, Dave and Barb involve themselves with five children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His e-mail includes this Chinese proverb: “If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.”

Steve Zekoff is a United Methodist Pastor whose home is in Lake Mills and whose ministry is in Evanston, IL, with the General Council on Finance and Administration. Steve was the first editor for these Advent-Epiphany Meditations beginning in 2000. Each Advent Steve has provided the Meditations to members of the Sunday Adult Class at the Lake Mills U M Church.

Co-Editor: Margaret Talcott lives in Madison and is a member of First United Methodist Church. Margaret travels throughout the country training church staffs in using computer software created especially for congregations. She is part of the Board of
Directors of Kairos Co-Motion, serving as Registrar.

Co-Editor: Myron Talcott is a United Methodist Pastor, retired, living in Madison. He teaches Bible and Spiritual Growth classes at First United Methodist Church. He has affirmed “ministry in the work-place” by working part-time first in a newspaper business office and currently as a desk host for the Supreme Health and Fitness Center. His goal is getting more time on the other side of the desk and in the Center’s programs!