Beyond Sunday S2: Hello/Goodbye
Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.
Looking back and celebrating the ways God has shown up in the past helps us trust Him as we look forward to the year to come.
Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.
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[Music] Hey guys, welcome to another episode of the Beyond Sunday podcast where we desire to take the conversation beyond Sunday. My name is Devin and I'm joined again uh by my friend Sherea. Sheree, how you doing? >> I'm good. >> Great. Um also we have two special guests um uh Pastor Elmer and Pastor Aaron. How you guys doing? Great. >> Good. >> Fantastic. Okay. Before we dive into the conversation and discussion, uh, take a look at this video. [Music] Heat. [Music]
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Heat. [Music] Okay guys, as we jump into the conversation, first let's share uh the big idea. We've come out of the Advent season. This is the um the the limbo weeks, the in between Christmas and New Year's. uh or week I guess it is and uh where nobody knows what day it is and nobody knows where they should be or what they should be doing. Uh and if you have to work in this in between uh you're also maybe lacking motivation because you're like it's not quite the new year and we've been through already
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a year. So um but in this um Sharia what's the big idea for for this last Sunday and some of the scriptures we were in? >> Yeah. Well, this uh these two Sundays actually sit a little bit different for both our churches because we uh just started this brand new year. We're in season two now of the podcast. We just started this brand new year where we uh kicked off with Advent and we'll be following the Christian calendar um through Advent and Epiphany and Lent and all of that. But in these two weeks, um
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for us, the rhythm that's existed is is a pause in that where we say goodbye and we say hello. And so this last Sunday uh was an emphasis on goodbye. um goodbye to the year that we just had. Um for us here at NextStep, the the heavy emphasis there is celebration. Um calling out like where has God shown up in this last year. Um knowing that when we can call out the faithfulness that we've already seen, it helps us trust him, uh for what's coming. And so, uh yeah, this last Sunday was goodbye. Um I think for
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both of us and that emphasis on on this reflection and looking back. >> Yeah. And um Elmer, Aaron, you guys got to team preach. Was this the first time you got to team preach together? >> Yeah. >> Yes. I I believe Aaron's for you, it was your first time, correct? >> Yeah. I've done like some team lessons, but not like a team Sunday sermon. No. >> Y Okay. Yeah, it was fun. >> Also, I think you >> did all the work. >> Yeah. I was going to say, do you want do
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you want to offer the reality of like how >> I did I did I opened that up. I had it written down and that was important to me to to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Elmer did very little. >> But Elmer did most of the talking on Sunday. So it ended up >> first of all I I want you to know >> Okay, here's I get home from the redhead. Well, actually, I take her home and she says to me, "You sure talked a lot more than Aaron." Uh, but it was good. But that's all she said to me.
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Now, I want you to know that that is a win for me cuz she didn't tear apart what it was that I said during that time or maybe I said a, you know, something that was inappropriate and I just kept saying the word over and over again, which I've done in the past. But, yeah, that was a win. >> Yeah. Um, but you guys did a really cool thing um that was reminiscent of Blue Christmas where just having time and space. So, opening the microphone for people to share um what this year uh has
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been or um yeah, a word and a name and a phrase. And so, uh, even from the generations having, um, some who are who are young, some kids share, uh, and then also, uh, up up in up in years and generations being able to share what it what this year has been. >> Yeah, it was cool how how much of a range there was. And like even uh, a Rowan who he was like, I want to share, but like he's like, I I don't know. and just like he's recognizing something's happening um even if he can't quite put
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his finger on it. And so even getting to call out like hey you're here a year ago you weren't here. So that's >> and what was the scripture you guys started with? Isaiah >> 63 >> 63 Yeah. 63:7 I will tell I will tell of the kindness of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised according to all the Lord has done for us. Yes. the many good things he has done for the house of Israel according to his compassion and many kindnesses. >> And we use the ESV because it says the
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word recount because that's um I've I've been uh memorizing the watch word for the week. And actually, this just a little side note, I found out that maybe the watch word for the week isn't always scripture because when I look at 637, it's a lot longer than what I had to memorize. So, that was kind of interesting. But, uh, we did it, we did do it through the, um, >> the the ESV because it uses the word recount and that's what I was seeing ahead of time. And so when I read tell,
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which is fine, tell's fine, but recount reminded me of multiple things of, you know, remember your former days. >> Um, and so that's and then I went with um I told Aaron, I feel like there's a learning circle here that they're that we need to share that. And part of that comes from Mike McCoy and Michael Guzman in my life. uh that when they talk to me, they always figure out that there's a shape going on. And so I thought, I think we should do that. So >> yeah. So you took people around the
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circle. >> Here we go. And I had I actually had a wonderful gal. Um she's a little bit older than me going through a tough time. Uh both her and her husband navigating some stuff. And she's like, Elmer, I'd like to understand this more. Um, and it was this conversation I just had with her that she's like, I I I want to hear from God. And so, it was good. So, we're we'll be I'll be doing some followup with her. >> Yeah. Always the good stuff that comes from Sunday when it's like I want to
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know I want to learn more. I want to know more about what this is. >> Uh, we we also uh we started with Isaiah 63 for the same reason. um the the way even the three words whether it's tell or recount but this idea of like telling and praising and rejoicing. And so out of um out of that like recognizing in the last year um places that even felt hard or that were hard um and for us uh on this Sunday we sit around tables and so this has been our rhythm and um we it's a space uh actually I do very little preaching um
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hardly any speaking from the platform and more just facilitating discussion around the table um so that some of this recounting and reflecting is happening um with those that they're gathered around the table with. And and so in that um a lot of the conversation was a calling out of like places that felt heavy and light in the same thing. Um and that seemed to be an echo in the room of like people uh calling out like, hey, this thing was really hard and here's how I saw God work um even in it.
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And so that was kind of cool. Um and that's what it feels like even in that Isaiah 63. We we used 7-9 because it goes on to talk about the way that God is going uh that the way that he is savior and that he rescues and redeems and lifts up and and so there's like both the the telling of what he has done and also the promise of like remember this is who God is and what he will continue to do. Um and so yeah I don't this is always a different Sunday but it's a cool it's cool to um I don't know
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people get to engage kind of like this in that space which is cool. Yeah. Well, and Erin, um, since Pastor Elmer used all the words on Sunday, what what is what were the what's still sticking with you? I mean, maybe it's a kyros, but from from even the prep and putting together from Sunday, what or even being in the room and people sharing, what what is still with you today? >> Yeah, I've just been sitting with the the fact that there's such a diversity of experiences and how even like one
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experience can be experienced differently by different people in different stages. Um, and so we kind of landed the plane in Psalm 148 and it's like, "Praise the Lord, son and moon and stars. Praise the Lord, the deepest waters. Praise the Lord." And it's like these it it just struck me of like just the difference in that. And so um and then even people sharing in the room like the variety of experiences where like some people there was immense loss and for others it was new life. Um, for
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some it was like, I need to learn how to love my enemies. And for others it was like, I had really great relationships this year. And so thinking about how um the one of the phrases that I think about often is just a recurring thing for me is um God's character is not dependent on my circumstances. And so thinking about like even across a room of however many people, each individual is going to have different experiences and God is still worthy of praise even in the midst of whatever it is. Um and so that's been
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something that I've been thinking about throughout the rest of the week, too. >> Yeah, that's good. I I was able to listen to the sermon on my drive home. I was down at the my family's cabin in Oregon and um and I every time I'm there and we're we're it was a work weekend. We were fixing bathrooms and plumbing and so that's not fun work but um but it's good to be around uh family and work together. Uh there is just something when you when you're you know elbow to elbow and and
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working on a project and getting things done um that draws you together that just sitting in a room won't do. So um but I'm I'm you know it's a three and a half four hour drive home. I got a lot of time and I was able to listen to the to the message and to the whole service and I found myself just worshiping to it but also reflecting like there's you know even as we in this Sunday this last Sunday of of goodbye the thinking of the years recounting remembering um the goodness of God uh the ways in
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which um God has we've se I've seen God's faithfulness um and and being down at the cabin it was you know for me reflecting on seeing God's faithfulness um in and through my family and family dynamic and relationship that um the responsibility of keeping this cabin up is no is not a small it's not a small responsibility and when you get uh three generations together trying to do that not everyone's going to agree not everyone's going to get along but um but I I was uh recounting the goodness of
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God remembering the goodness of God from the legacy of my grandparents who uh purchased this property and the cabin and have um uh set it aside as a place for the family to gather. Um, and here we are keeping it up, right? Making sure it's not going to fall apart or it's it's usable, workable, and also knowing that in 3 months time, well, four months time, that the pastoral staff will gather there, retreat away in some in some solitude and some space to pray. um that that's actually a part of
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the legacy that my grandparents um you know even had in their in their minds but but it couldn't see it never you know they're not alive now and so um did didn't see this to fruition but saw it in in their hearts and their minds that this is what this could be and and there is something too about coming to the end of a year and recounting and remembering the goodness of God remembering not not even just in a year but just all throughout that we come to this place before we launch into a new here the
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remember who God is. Remember what he has done. Uh and I feel like that's been an echo throughout this last year in various spaces and places and scriptures that we've read. Don't forget remember remember who I am. I am I am uh I am your God. I am a good God. I'm faithful. I'm trustworthy. So um that was that was a good it was a good way to to fill that space and time on the on the road for me. Yeah, it feels like one of those reminders we always need. I was looking at a resource that we're um gonna be
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using pretty soon that um had the practice of like actually building a an a stack of rocks of like stones and thinking about how in uh in scripture we read about people like building an or the song um here I raise my ebenezer of like having an actual like here's something that I'm going to tangibly have to remember God's goodness and point back to and come back to. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We uh we ended in Psalm 145. Um and it calls out like let each generation tell its children of your
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mighty acts. Let them proclaim your power. Um talks about meditating on just his awe inspiring deeds and and all of this like throughout the generations. And so that um in in everything you guys are talking about that like uh that that is part of what we were designed to do is like to continue calling out and reflecting uh God's glory in that um and and how easy it is to I don't know we get caught up in the like we just come on Sunday and do our thing and whatever but where are the spaces where we're telling the stories
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because that one of the things um that was really cool on Sunday. Uh partly because we're around tables. Afterwards, uh one of our our uh older guys came up to me and he lost his wife in this last well, it's been probably I don't know 15 months now. But he was seated at a table with a gal who's newer to our church. She's been here for the last I don't know 9 months, but she lost her husband just before they started coming. Um and they were they like just happened to be at the same table. And in that uh he
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came up to me afterwards and he was uh telling he's crying and telling me like uh he goes it was so nice to hear to have somebody who knows what it feels like. Um and he's like I uh just shared contact information with her because he's uh about to start grief share and she had never heard of it. And he's like she said she was interested in coming and wants to be part of it. And I'm in that whole space sitting there like none of that is anything I could offer these people. Um but because there was a space
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for them to tell stories and to tell each other stories um they you know in that they just happened to like hey that story is something that's impactful and you're calling out um a way that God's walked you through something really hard. And so in that space for me, the reminder of like uh how often are there stories that God of of ways that God's shown up for me that if I'm not telling in any space, um I might be depriving somebody of of the way they need to feel or hear or experience God. And so um
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yeah, I don't know that that reminder to just tell to keep proclaiming. >> Yeah. All right. As we wrap up this episode and uh it's time to share our chyros. What is God saying and how will you respond? I know in this last uh Sunday uh Elmer your invitation at the end was to take yourself around the circle and uh invite some other people as you um uh after uh observing and reflecting but into the discussion uh and then into the accountability piece once you make a plan of what you're hearing from God. So
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go around the circle. Um and so I I'll start I'll share my chyros and I um it my chyros from Sunday is is an encouraging one. one of which this has been a a normal pattern that exists in my life to to notice when there is a chyros moment and and then to and to take myself around a circle and to invite people into the conversation to the discussion and to um not just stop uh after the discussion and like well I'll just come back you know later I'll I'll I'll uh I'll wait uh but but to to
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to shift or to make a plan to to produce something uh to respond to God in a in a faithful way. Whether that's not necessarily putting my putting necessarily putting my hands to something, but it could be a shift of mindset or thinking or whatever. Um but that that is a normal practice for me. And so as the encouragement for our our church family as uh church ended on Sunday was take yourself around the circle. I'm like, well, this is so that's so normal for me and and I'm recognizing that it's not for many
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others who I am in relationship with and um who are a part of our church family that to even this idea of what is God saying? Wait, God speaking to me? This is he he will want he will get my attention. Uh and then to the next step of like yeah when when you have clarity about what he's saying how will you respond or like you say what are you going to do about it? Uh and uh so the the encouraging part for me in this chyros is like that's a normal rhythm. It's a normal action that in my in my
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mindset that it that that happens when I I sense there's a chyros and I have enough people around me who call attention to that even if I might miss it in moments where I get you know I'm just too busy or I'm I'm unwilling to to stop uh to to spend the time and processing through the chairos. So I'm grateful for that. And also too, I guess the encouragement is and there are others who it's not a part of the regular rhythm or thought process or um it doesn't come to mind. And so how am I
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um coming alongside people and discipling them into this way of yeah God does speak to you. He wants to speak. He wants you to hear him. He wants to he wants to to get your attention. And so he probably is. But are you paying attention? And then let's let's process this chyros. I I think for me I was the chy Ross probably came before so it's not sense and meaning so Saturday um I got to remember we're being recorded um sorry um we we had the whole family over and so we we celebrate Christmas on
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Saturday and um so four of the five boys, 14 of the 16 grandkids um and and grandma was there and so I had to take Grandma Earl home uh down to Long View. So, I left about 8:00 and I told Tammy, I said, "Hey, I'm going to I'm going to take mom home and then I'm going to head to the church and I I I need to wrap up my thoughts on the sermon." Now, I knew what I was doing, but the rule that Tammy has put in my life is if I don't write it down, then I'm gonna speak for like five more hours
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than because I'll just keep talking uh because I enjoy to talking. So, in the midst of me writing things down, the kyros was, and I I shared it a little bit on Sunday, the kyros was when I was at the cabin, which was huge for me uh at camp tikum during my solitude, during my sbatical was that phrase that I came up with, um, dude, do you want to hang with me? So it was like I was taking myself around the circle at the cabin, but it was unconscious competency is all it was. And so really trying so the the
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kairos that I've had recently just been a recurring theme probably since coming back from sbatical of what does it look like? How how do I uh take this unconscious competency that I just know I just know that I'm doing it. Now, obviously, there was no discussion. The squirrel that I ran into did not like me and he was really mad at me and there was there's that. Um, and when I stepped outside at night and all the bullfrogs were singing, which was awesome. Uh, but the reality was they really weren't in a
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discussion with me. So, the discussions have come since that time. But I think um I would just echo sometimes um at least where I'm at, it's just something that I'm I'm already doing. Um I probably just need to make more consciousness of saying, "Okay, God, this is this is this process is take actually taking place right now." >> And to uh that's that's and and when I heard the words, "Dude, do you want to do you wanna you want to hang with me?"
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And it was like, "Oh, yeah, that's probably what you were saying, weren't you?" And I had a couple people ask me, "What does that solitude look like?" And I'm like, you know, it just depends. Um, like today I'm going to do Solitude after we're done with this because I didn't feel good last night and so I I slept in but because I wanted to be here at 8:00. Um, because I got the stinking cold and and I don't know what it is. But um, so yeah, it's I I I recognize
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that it's not just one thing. It's I I again I don't feel guilty. I can move it around. So >> yeah. >> Yeah. That's Ky Ross. Dude, do you want to hang with me? >> Erin, how about you? >> Um yeah, I was thinking about it and I had the one in mind and then um I lost it when other people were talking so I should have written it down. Um, I think it was really just thinking about um, uh, handing things to God um, with the goodbye, with the concept of goodbye.
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Um, what am I handing to God and letting it like just be um, and handing it over. I went through um, yesterday and did the spiritual health reflection that's a resource available from practicing the way. And one of the things that popped up as like an area that I can grow in was um like intentionally handing things over to God at the end of the day of like intentionally ending my day in prayer. And so like what is something I'm thankful for? What is something that I can hand over to God? And um and so
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there's a there's a lot of things that I can constantly be handing over to the Lord. Um, but the just thinking about the relation relational conversations I've had in the last like uh couple weeks of hey actually that's not necessarily mine to carry. Um, if it's something that somebody else is carrying then that's something that they can carry. Um, and that's hard as somebody who wants to be in harmony and in healthy relationship with people like that can be really challenging. Um, but
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actually letting God take the things that I'm being invited to hand over. So, >> yeah, it's good. Uh, for me, uh, it comes out of Psalm 145 and verse 18 says, uh, the Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. and that um I don't know we were reading reading Psalm 145 one one of the days earlier on in the week um and it just that one that it was like God was highlighting that verse and there's something in the nearness this has been an echo uh in the last
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couple weeks of this reminder like God is a God who's near. Um, and I think I think what's sitting for me in light of this whole idea of goodbye and reflecting and calling out God's goodness um is like actually uh the act of calling out the goodness of God and the ways that we've seen him show up. That is one of the ways that God draws near. And so in those spaces or those seasons um that inevitably feel maybe wild like a wilderness um like that I know those are coming. I know those
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exist. And so, you know, uh, when you're in when I'm in those spaces where I'm like, gosh, God just doesn't feel close, the reminder of like, will I, yes, call out to him and cry out to him, but also will I in those spaces remember and and call out the things that he's done because there's a nearness that comes, I think, in that. >> Um, so that's sitting for me. >> That's good. >> Well, um, thanks guys for listening in, uh, in this episode of the Beyond Sunday
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podcast. We hope and pray that your conversations are going to be on Sunday and uh as God stirs in your heart and soul uh the things he uh the chyros moments moments he's getting your attention that you have people that you're having these kinds of conversations with uh through the text uh through life uh and all the different ways that that God does and uh get our attention and desires for us to hear from him. So have a blessed week. [Music]
