When are we going to elect the Pastor Nominating Committee? If you have not asked me that question yet, it is likely not too far off your mind. In order to get that piece of the transition puzzle in place, we need YOU!

This week the small group meetings are very specific conversations about what you think God is calling SAPC to be and do in the next few years. This is a critical part of enabling the Session to describe the church with a statement of Vision (who God sees us as), Mission (how God is equipping us to become the Vision), and Ministry (what specific actions –think SMART Goals- do we do).

The small group Q & A will be a directed exercise to elicit from you a bunch of data points toward answering the above question. Combined with the CAT survey you completed, and a demographic overview of the “mission field” around us, the Session will develop a few sentences and some specific ministries that describe the church.

Then a Pastor Nominating Committee will be able to write that resume which prospective pastors read to say, “Hey, that church is about the same things I believe God is calling me to be and do!”

There will be a few other pieces of the puzzle we continue in the coming weeks, but it is very important that you offer your prayerful input in these small group meetings.

PLEASE register for 1 (one) group. The form can be found at https://tinyurl.com/SAPCvisionsmallgroup or by following the link in the QR code here: 

The schedule is:

9/25 Sunday 5:30 p.m. in-person only

9/26 Monday 10:30 a.m. in-person only

9/27 Wednesday 7:00 p.m.  HYBRID

9/29 Thursday 6:30 p.m. online only

 See you soon. Until then, Peace be with you!

I have a sticky note on my computer that reads:

“Remembrance, Remorse, Repentance, Repair, Reconciliation, Resurrection, Rejoicing.”

I practice it everyday as a guide for prayer.

I consider it everyday as guide to staying connected to those I call friends even if we hurt one another.

In political terms these are: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In spiritual terms these are: daily bread, belonging, purpose.

 

“…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.  So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor 5: 19-20

Who follows you? No, I’m not asking about your FB or TikTok followers. At least not directly. I’m curious if you are aware of your sphere of influence.

 

For more information about any of these options, feel free to speak to the people already serving. Their names are listed in the weekly order of service. If you would like to be considered, please speak up–tell Priscilla O., Kate G., Sarah R., Frank D. or George M. These are the members of the Nominating Committee who are now looking for God’s chosen ones! 

Take time to notice the ways God is prodding you each and every day to do the work of discipleship. You are servant leader for whom someone in your sphere of influence. And they may be that to you as well. You do not do the work alone, for Jesus says,

I am passionate about UGA football. Would I describe my faith with the word, “passionate?” What is passion?
As a sports fan, I keep up with my team and try to learn who the players of consequence are. I study their opponents’ records before we play each other. I listen to stories about potential wins and losses, chances for the playoffs and the possibility that my team will come out as the national champion.       

During a game, I watch what is happening. I coach from my seat in my living room or the stands. I enjoy the time with no other distractions. I cheer loudly while wearing my school colors. I yell for my players to give them a special boost in their efforts. At times, I circle the room, as if running the ball, even dodging furniture ready to tackle me with the least little misstep.

As for my faith, dare I confess to you my lackluster passion?

In September and through World Communion Sunday, our theme is Tale-gating with Jesus. I am curious about how I will reshape my whole week to make sure I have time for a football game and whether I make the same commitment to the things Jesus cares about? What does life look like when I cheer for Team Justice? What might happen if I spent time learning what my church friends’ strengths are and where they best fit?

(pause)

I’m not passionate about football after-all. I’m interested in and enjoy it. Passion is interactive and not one single person on the UGA team knows I exist. If anything I am a bobble head on a stadium seat (or sofa in my living room). The only thing my participation in this Saturday afternoon ritual offers is more money in someone’s pocket.

Church. That’s a different story. I hope to see you this week at the tale-gate with Jesus. If you can’t make it, let me know and maybe we can tailgate.

Let’s be more than bobble-heads.

 

Second, over the course of this last year, I have celebrated the depth and commitment of the members of this church regarding your exploration and willingness to learn and grow and share with one another. It is something this church can be proud about—being church is more than showing up for a long “TED” talk and music on Sundays.

For you it is watching for the appearance of Christ in the friendships that are made, the shared support during difficult times, the concern for the well-being of families and children who need childcare, the awareness of economic issues in the county that leave some families in need of hunger relief, and so much more. Church is more than a faith statement here.

Church is a testimony to the presence and call of God on each of us to strive for a just and peaceful community. We call 

 

My fall commitment to renewal will include Sabbath. As it happens, the fall bible study from Horizons that the Brunch Bunch will be starting in September is about this very topic.

Brunch Bunch: 2^nd Mondays, 10 a.m., at the church.

If you would like to participate in an evening monthly small group using this curriculum, please contact Beverly.

After worship we will head to Franklin Park for a church-wide picnic. This is an opportunity to invite someone to “come and see,” what Jesus is all about in our community of faith. They will find friendships, fun, hope, engagement in the community, and of course food. (Details about the picnic are in the weekly newsletter.)

And you will need to be prepared for the sermon scripture. As part of our banned books series, we will be reading Jude, in the New Testament. There’s a lot of judgement in Jude’s preaching for just 25 verses! The banned books are Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses,” and Nikos Kazantzakis’ “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

However, do not be afraid! As always, we are pondering what these texts tell us about the love of God for all God’s children. The question before us is whether there is any good news in texts of God’s judgement.

In Obadiah we find a purpose—like Abraham, we are called to stand with those whose anger at God’s slowness

in bringing justice for the oppressed is shouted to the heavens.

In Nahum, we find God’s rejection of hate and oppression and are reminded that even when we have been declared useful to God’s purposes, we must not assume God’s authority over others.

Let anyone with ears hear what the prophets are saying to the church. May the words of my mouth and the mediations of all our hearts be pleasing to the Lord our God. See you Sunday!

Peace,

Beverly

Dear Friends:

The Purcellville City Council is not immune to personal attacks being on public display first rather than attempting to resolve differences one-to-one.

A conversation I had this week included a discussion of the Charter for Compassion.

Having asked someone else a general, “what do you think I should write about in the blog,” question, the answer was, how to be nice.

This is so sad!

Being nice to each other is something that we all should have learned in the sandbox AND carried into adulthood. AND been able to pass on to the next generation. And so on.

While I am preaching a short series about God’s judgment, it is important to note that God’s wrath is always pushed to its limit by the lack of loving kindness between people. Violations of another’s humanity can be simple as not listening to each other and as horrific as plotting, justifying and carrying out their execution, from apathy to intractable conflict culminating in war.

The Charter for Compassion recommends the use the of the “golden rule,” as a guiding statement. This is present in some form in all healthy spiritual traditions.

“Do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

At the risk of sounding too simplistic, maybe we are treating others the way we treat ourselves.

Consider the part of the commandment to love that is often ignored: “as yourself.” Perhaps our niceness, or lack thereof, is a reflection of how we feel about what we deserve. Which is why I believe the embrace of God’s grace is such a critical part of our faith.

If loving kindness begins internally, we might ask ourselves, “do I love myself with the love I believe God has for those I care about?”

Be kind to yourself. This week, talk nicely to yourself. Not with a big head, just with a compassionate heart. Take time off from not being good enough. Take a break from producing more than is required so you can rest.

Ah—rest! Sabbath! If even God was self-centered enough to take a break from the work of creation, can you be self-ishly kind–take a beat, and breathe, and play in this marvelous handiwork of God called earth?

Peace,

Rev Bev

Image: “Norman Rockwell Mosaic ‘The Golden Rule’” by United Nations Photo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Banned books! Sex everywhere! Hide them now! Here—under the mattress, quick, the children are coming! Clear the bookshelves!

I took away some music from my kids once. The lyrics were nasty and misogynist and violent. I spent a good deal of time learning about the artist, the lyrics, and then explaining to my kids why it was not acceptable in our home at that time. We discussed it. I did not protest the radio stations or the music stores or expect other people to believe and do as I did. I knew they heard it with their friends. I was not banning them from friendships, but teaching them about healthy boundaries and respect for people. Was I perfect, or right? Who knows?

Consider this: Ferris Buehler’s Day Off (PG-13) depicts a number of inappropriate actions all day long, sins. At the end of the day, he gets away with all of it. All That Jazz (R) depicts a number of inappropriate actions, sins. The main character, after multiple conversations about the wages of sin being death, has a heart attack and dies.

If you do know both movies, you might agree that the rating system has to do with the particular behaviors depicted in the stories but not the moral of the story. The morals of the R-rated film cohere more effectively with the “family values,” arguments than the consequences Ferris and friends don’t get for their bad behavior. How do you decide which movie is most appropriate? Is it naked bodies or willful disobedience that makes a bigger difference?

This is where we fail in our discussions about censorship and book banning. Being angry and vociferous about depictions of sexuality or violence that our kids certainly see and endure regularly and banning a book is not a fully effective parenting process for passing on moral guidelines for healthy growth. We have to have face-to-face conversations. Even if we do personally take away music, books, movies, games, it is the conversation that makes the difference.

 

Public displays of book banning in our schools are publicity stunts for political gains. There, I said it. If it makes the news, it likely has little to do with making sure our own kids are learning our own morals. If it did, we would have to ban the Bible. That is, if we actually read the stories.

Join me the next three weeks as we consider some ignored stories of Scripture.

This week: Fahrenheit 451 and Obadiah.

Dear Friends:
On my desk is a prayer by Thomas Merton. A wall hanging nearby portrays the Lord’s Prayer. An exterior photo of the sanctuary is centered on another wall. An image representing the Laughing Jesus invites the observer to ask “what is so funny?” Prayer and contemplation are clearly marked themes of the office space.

I find myself praying all the time, if saying, “Lord help (fill in the blank),” counts. It does. Nevertheless, I resonate with the question from the disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Last Sunday I spoke about intercessory prayer as it relates to our communities, cities, nation, to our leaders. It was my hope that coming out of this phase of the Jan 6 hearings, you would have a tangible way to think about faith in the private sphere directly related to the public square and which is not about participating in the Christian Nationalist movement.

Sen. Raphael Warnock has said that a vote is a prayer. That is quite different from the events of Jan 6 and since then regarding the hardening line toward “making America into a Christian nation.” Voting and interceding with God through prayer is very different from forcing other free citizens and residents to follow our particular brand of Christianity. Thinking about and voting according to how you understand your faith, about how peace, justice, and mercy can be articulated in legislative acts for the common good, is radically not about creating a nation defined by a branded theology of Christianity.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us all,

“Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated.

Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.”

Christian faith, following Jesus is meant to be transformative, to be seen in moral acts of loving God and loving others, and loving oneself. This is not a law that can be codified. Indeed, it is God’s word that tells us,

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord:

I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.”

Jer 31: 33

Did you? Will you? Will you pray for the nation this week? Let us join our hearts and voices to ask God for peace, prosperity, kindness, relief, and laws and policies that reflect the same love and grace of Jesus Christ offered to his fellow Israelites, and the Syro-Phonecians, and the Canaanites, and the Samaritans, and even the Romans. Let us cry out to the Lord with the oppressed, and with Abraham. Let us pray for the USA and all the nations.

This Sunday we will talk about prayers of lament in a time of pursuing meaning yet finding despair. Come pray with me.

Peace,

Beverly

I, however, was forever changed. This was my first exposure to listening to “voices long silenced.” Mainly because Jewish voices had a place in my growing up, even if minor, I never thought of Jews, despite the horrors of the Holocaust, as something absent, silenced, from my life. Non-Jewish Palestinians were a complete unknown and because of headlines about bombings were equated with Jewish-hating Nazis in my young mind.

What, or better, who I discovered as I did my homework was something altogether different. I recognized Palestinian people striving to create happy homes to raise their kids. They were not different from their new Israeli Jewish nationals or my family. These two peoples were quickly developing a common history: being restricted to ghettos, fenced in by a new government, rationed infrastructure and necessities, restricted travel, forced removal, excluded from employment, from citizenship in their own country, and from the rights and privileges of participating in their government. They were demonized as a whole people for the violent actions of the minority agitating for justice.

I could not help but remember what I learned about the forced removal of the indigenous peoples of Georgia and North Carolina to Oklahoma on the “Trail of Tears.” I could not help but remember Kristallnacht and the fenced neighborhoods that became Jewish ghettos before forced incarceration and extermination. I could not help but remember lessons about Irish Presbyterians and Catholics fighting. I could not help but remember the ongoing struggle for civil rights in our time in our country for descendants of people who had been bought and sold as slaves, some by my very own ancestors.

In getting ready for our debate, I found that I could, as a kid of Jewish descent, want “my” people to be better than those who hurt them, hated them, and killed them. But I found that “we” were not living up to that goal.

In South Africa, when the world named the apartheid state as such, the truth prepared the way for reconciliation.

We cannot hope to become better if we do not name the truth of our current reality. This is the hope of joining other voices who have taken this same step in regard to Israel, that is, declaring that the actions of the Israeli government fit the definition of apartheid. I would have voted for the statement at the PC (USA) General Assembly this summer doing just this.

And we are not outsiders to this conversation. We are joining our voices to those who live and work in Israel and Palestine who have longed for peace and a two-state solution only to be powerless before their government. This is a key word in the PC (USA) statement. We are not making a statement that shuns Jews and is anti-semitic. It specifically identifies laws and policies enacted by the government, in opposition to the will of the people, both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Christians and Muslims, who want a homeland where all the people of God live in peace with equal justice under the law.

July 2022—National Music—The Battle Hymn of the Republic

This song has a long and interesting history. I have sung the refrain, with a bit of a twist, for many years, “Glory, glory to ol’ Georgia…and to %&! with GA Tech.”

Current usage has a limited awareness of this song’s abolitionist history or the story of John Brown (“John Brown’s body lies a mouldering in the grave,”) and the Harper’s Ferry insurrection (only later dubbed a “raid,” and later recognized as a prelude to the Civil War). It has been sung by Anita Bryant in anti-gay rallies and at Ebenezer Baptist for Black civil rights. See the #NPR review of its history here. As you can see, it is easily co-opted to support any number of things people want to thwart with the wrath of God’s sword in their hands.

In a time of rising Christian Nationalism and increasing violence, I believe a song that claims divine favor coupled with wrath shown in battle is incendiary. I am not on board with glorifying an Armageddon fought by the imagined armies of heaven here on earth. In addition Julia Ward Howe’s original word was let us “die” to make them free. During a time of martyrdom by suicide bombs, this is a troublesome image. All this before getting to the absence of the Prince of Peace in the lyrics, the one whose death for our freedom came as a nonviolent activist, who shared his last supper with his betrayer, who refused to call the army of heaven he commanded, and who instructed his disciple to sheathe his sword.

I am aware of my own desire that if we enter a battle– finish it swiftly, with a shock and awe fierceness. I am not content with that streak of violence within myself. I am very conscious of the call of Christians to be light for all the nations and all peoples, called to be ambassadors of reconciliation. To claim ourselves as “children of God,” is to be identified with

“Blessed be the peacemakers,”  in Matthew 5.

If God’s Truth is Jesus Christ, rather than going off to battle stirred by fear and dread, I want to follow the Prince of Peace, marching from the table, where the Lord gathers all us sinners and saints, to stand up for reconciliation and peace with wine and bread. 

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

God is calling faithful people through the Spirit and the Word,

And reforming all the nations so true justice is restored.

God’s truth is marching on.

Chorus

Glory, glory hallelujah.

Glory, glory, hallelujah.

Glory, glory, hallelujah.

God’s truth is marching on.

Christ’s eyes have seen our battle lines, the blood upon our shores.

And is breaking down our weapons and the walls we build for war.

Making peace among the nations, we shall be in one accord.

God’s truth is marching on.

Chorus

I have heard the angel chorus and the seven trumpets roar.

Christ is setting up the table, bread abounds and wine is poured,

Overflowing love and mercy for God’s children, evermore.

God’s truth is marching on.

Chorus

++++++++++++

Dear Friends:

The refrain that cycles through my head every day is the number of times I read or hear someone say, “what is wrong with people?”

Whether they are commenting on a shooting, an ugly remark about another person, a political commentary, a public event or private experience, I am perceiving a generalized perplexity regarding human empathy and understanding.

I’d love to say, “Well, they don’t have Jesus!” As true as that may be for some, it is us Jesus people who also seem be the target of, “what is wrong with you!?”

Our news networks are never going to write a story about a church that educates 130 children from the crib to kindergarten in the ways of kindness and sharing and respect and play. They will not spotlight the middle school conference where kids are learning what blessings give to and ask of each of us. They will not do a deep-dive into the meal trains for grieving families, or the forgiveness that occurs when church members hurt each other’s feelings, or the answered prayers to healed marriages because of regular though brief conversations with a long-time married couple sitting in the pew together.

It was national news when the Baptists held a convention and discussed ordaining women and lists of sexual predators. But the dancing to the song “Celebrate” after the election of the PC (USA) co-moderators—two ordained women of color—did not make headlines anywhere.

The food pantries, the medical services, the space for 12-step groups, and so many more of the good works of good church people is seldom recognized in the public sphere.

Let’s not forget this. There is a lot right with people and lot of them are in the church. Many are not. All who seek the good, the well-being of their neighbor, and provide loving kindness the vulnerable are doing the work Christ sends us to do. While the good, who bear the fruit of the Spirit, will seldom be shown in primetime, we can help turn the negative question into a positive celebration. Maybe there is a word from the Lord:

Whoever is not against us is for us. 

Dear Friends:
“Back to Basics.” Vince Lombardi reportedly started every season’s first practice by holding up the pigskin and saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” They then spent time reinforcing the basics of stance, tackling, blocking, throwing and catching, and even running.

 

Reassessment of our lives is good practice. New Year’s Day in the secular world is one example of that reflection period. Lent, the season before Easter, is an example in the Christian world. Transition times are excellent times to relearn what we already know. Summer times are excellent times to take stock.

You likely have some significant reflections from the pandemic times, moments when you said to yourself, “really, for this?” Maybe you have already changed jobs, or even relocated to be closer to grandkids. Perhaps you have made new commitments to the things or people who matter to you.

 

“The only place success comes

before work is in the dictionary.”

–Vince Lombardi

I invite you, particularly if you do not already do so, try a daily practice that has made the crossover from spiritual disciplines to ubiquitous advice: practicing a daily review. This summer I will be revisiting the basics of our faith. The following suggestion is meant to support the basics of personal joy and growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  The practice begins the day by anticipating an opportunity to see or serve Christ, pauses the day to recenter in Christ, and ends the day confessing the joy (gratitude) and sorrow (grief) from the day, and everything in thanksgiving.

This one is connected to the scriptures that will be part of the Massanetta Middle School Conference theme. Let’s join the youth in a daily reflection on the Beatitudes.

The Practice of Prayer:

Wake up time—recite the assigned Scripture and give thanks for something you will do that day.

Lunch time—take some deep cleansing breaths and offer a breath prayer (a word you say when you inhale and a word when you exhale—the words are listed daily).

Bedtime—recite the Scripture, consider how you experienced the text throughout the day. Write down a grief and a gratitude regarding this living word in you day.

Bev’s e.g.:

Wake up: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Thank you, Lord, for the chance to share a daily practice with the people of SAPC.

Lunchtime: breathe in-“One;” out-“Love.”

Bedtime: Scripture, Grief: For the ways I put others first today, forgive me Lord. Gratitude: for the way people of SAPC have shown your love by committing to serving you here.

 

Friday, 6/17                        Mt 5: 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

                Blessed, poor

Saturday, 6/18                 Mt 5: 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

                Mourn, comforted

Sunday, 6/19                     Mt 5: 5  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

                Blessed, heir

Monday, 6/20                   Mt 5: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

                Hunger, thirst

Tuesday, 6/21                   Mt 5: 7  Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

                Grant, mercy

Wednesday, 6/22            Mt 5: 8  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

                May I, see you

Thursday, 6/23                  Mt 5: 9  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

What good is the Trinity? I don’t mean what good is God, even though that question is a fine question to be able to answer. I am wondering whether you give thought to one of the most critical doctrines of the church. It is one singularly important distinction between Christianity and Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and others. Yet, it is the doctrine we struggle the most to define.

Trinitarian doctrine is often emphasized as “a mystery.” Something we believe, and have language for, yet cannot fully explain. What good does it do us if we cannot apply it practically in our everyday lives beyond stating it in prayer, or affirming it in ritual?

The doctrine is: we believe in one God, revealed in three persons (which does not mean humans).

 

The Triune God is the model for human community.     

To be holy as God is holy is to honor our nature as communal creatures, made to be with and for others in order to be whole and complete.

Our relational nature means we will seek connection. We will always be working toward belonging to another and acting on their behalf.

Therefore, our choice is to live into our humanity in which the connection, the communion we seek, is lived — out, with, and for — the holiness of our Creator-Savior-Sanctifier, or, sadly, it will be lived out/with/in cooperation among that which is evil.

The heartache you feel for the families of Uvalde is a sign of your divine nature.

A trinitarian faith would act in communion with and for these families in this time of grief and unnecessary horror. A trinitarian faith acts in order to provide for a life-giving, just, and peacemaking path through this terror. Trinitarian faith acts in imitation of the Divine communion.

Day 6 – Moving from Tragedy to Triumph

Dear Friends:

Reba McEntire sings, “Pray for Peace.” We have been working on moving from thoughts and prayers to action and change.

John Lennon sings, “Imagine all the people Livin’ life in peace You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will be as one.”  We’ve been working on becoming aware of our own broken hearts and mending them that we might be whole.

Jesus prayed and lived, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” Now, we come together, sent, to be ambassadors of reconciliation and peace.

The heavy question is always, “what difference can I make, I’m just one.”

We begin by trusting–if we trust that God answers the prayers of Christ, you and I are one, and we are one with others. Therefore, your suffering is mine and your peace is also mine. Only together can we begin to pray, imagine and go out to bring about the kin-dom of our Creator God.

Gun violence is one of the principalities and powers of evil that works against our striving for peace.

We are not hopeless. We are not helpless. We are not unable. And we are willing.

Personal actions for your own peace of mind:

If you own a gun:

 

Remember that the work we do each day may save someone’s life, possibly someone whom you will never know.

Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t give out. (Hon. John Lewis)

Within the society,

10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Gun Violence

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Seven Signs of Life – A weekly Lenten experience series that is NSFW.

Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s talk about Nurturing Seeds of Faith and Works. How are you doing this for yourself—nurturing yourself that is?

What is the soil like where you are planting seeds of faith? Is it old and worn, duty and tradition? Or is it full of nutrients, earthworms and organic matter?

What kind of water are you drinking? Is it full of poisonous matter or filtered, enriched, and life-giving?

What fertilizer gets dumped into your heart and mind? Is it just a load of manure or a cultivated pile of healthy bacteria?

Real. And vital. Come till the soil of your life, allow the River of Life to nourish you, and the Breath of God to fill you with all good things.

Please join us on Tuesdays at noon for L@L (Lessons at Lunch)—online at: https://tinyurl.com/SAPClectionarylunch

Dear Friends:

“If you only had 3 months to live….” We have faced this question squarely during covid’s worst. Some of us began baking. Others left jobs that were not fulfilling. Some moved out of family homes to be nearer the children and grandchildren. Whatever you did differently in the last two years, you were asking yourself, “is this the way I want live my last days on earth if this ugly disease comes for me?”

When “going to church,” was instantly transformed into “watching worship,” the experience of God through the institutional church shifted permanently for our lifetime. While church regulars had been lamenting the declining attendance in organized religious celebrations, they now discovered new life on Sunday mornings that had nothing to do with worshipping as a religious community.

A large portion of the population who engaged in church life as it was in 2019 will never return or even go in searc

h of “church” again. We can grieve it, fight it, lament over it. But we must also let them go with our blessing. Because:

This is good news.

Being uprooted forces to find the ground of our being. Knocked off-center, we navigate the maze until we discover a path into the heart of the matter. Unavoidable change unmoors us from the fear of change that kept us tied to the past.

Isaiah’s people were aliens, living in a strange land, far from home.

 Everything that gave them assurance had been ripped from under their feet. Nothing was the same. Except this promise of God. When they returned to their homeland, they rebuilt their temple and their lives. A period of revival gave way gave way to the return to what was. They rejected what had become. They lost the opportunity to launch into the deep for a new and abundant catch (Luke 5: 1-11).

As we return to our familiar “land,” let us be wary of the trap of adopting the old as if it is new life. Let us not miss the chance to be re-created in Christ – re-incarnated, if you will, personally and as a church.

To carry on this conversation, you may come to the Lectionary Lunchmeet on Tuesdays at noon or the Brews & Bibles on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Both are currently online.

++++++++++++

Dear Friends:
We are returning to in-person and online worship this Sunday.

For those who are cheering, yay! For those who are wrinkling their brow, we know, we get it. There is still a lot to be concerned about.

Not the least of which is—will I be forgotten if I am not physically present? The short answer is no. The long answer is no, because we are in the process of discerning how to create new opportunities for meaningful relationships and exploration of one’s beliefs and loyalties, both IRL and VR. IRL = In Real Life, which I think misses the point that VR–Virtual Reality–is real life. SAPC will be making sure that both avenues of ministry and mission are meaningful engagements with God and each other. New life is coming throughout the year.  

This week that begins with a confirmation class of young people. They will be exploring what it means to say, “I follow Jesus.” We will meet in person (F2F), and also do some virtual work. One of the things that is life-changing for younger disciples is the older ones, the adults who share their faith journey with them.

I still remember my church-school teacher sitting with me in “big church,” when my parents dropped me off in the preschool room.

I still remember a 2^nd grade teacher (public school) and her comments about bible reading (yes, they can still discuss this, if a kid is asking).

I still remember the Sunday a pastor read about the followers who tore the roof off the church to get their friend inside to see Jesus.

Wouldn’t it be cool to be that kind of church, one where people will do anything to participate, virtually or in-person?

In fact, SAPC is so close to that level, I can feel it. Joining the confirmation class to support the faith journey of your children is one way you can feel it. Please speak to Jessica or me about participating as a prayer partner, mentor, or chaperone.

The requirements are:

PP—commit to praying regularly now through Pentecost for a particular person. We will regularly ask them what they want us to pray about and you will receive that info. In addition, you may email or text, with parent’s permission with them for occasional 1-1 prayer discussions.

Mentors—meet on Sundays, after worship, to participate in the group learning with the class. This class will begin each week at about 11:30 a.m. and end no later than 12:30 p.m. Again, with parent’s permission, there may be other opportunities for 1-1 conversations and meetings. (In addition, anyone meeting outside of the church scheduled times will be required to involve two unrelated adults approved by the CYM committee per our safe children policies.)

Chaperone—meet on Sundays to ensure that two unrelated adults are always present with the kids. You can sign-up for 1 or 12 Sundays. Additionally, if we take a field trip and mentors cannot attend, we may have an opportunity for chaperones to join in mission.

I am excited to lead this program with Jessica and all of you who feel called to serve, and especially with our youth!

Dear Friends:

This month we are celebrating African-American History. I saw a t-shirt that emphasized this history is not the history of slavery only. We are all aware of the debates about how to teach history to our students. The rhetoric around this has become vitriolic—for good reason.

Everyone is engulfed in what we church people call sin, for which the outcome is death. Stay with me here. Sin is the universal power that creates human fear. While there are a lot of little fears of the monsters under the bed, the universal human fear is that our lives do not matter. If that were not true, would we have seen the backlash of “All lives matter,” to the exhortation that “Black lives matter?” Are we invisible? When we are gone, dead, and buried, will the world even notice? Will any “history book,” remember us in any way?

It’s why we take so many photos, I think. We are creating a history of joy and fulfilment to leave behind.

 

 

By definition, we, the church, are a redeemed people, full of hope, unafraid of our truth because Jesus! Christ has seen us, all of us, and forgiven us for the things we have done, and what we failed to do, what was said, and what we failed to speak. Therefore, we are free, not to ignore those actions, to point them out in order to give God the glory for our 

acquittal and reconciliation.

Christians are called to be at the forefront of confession because it is the joyful and grateful response to the good news of Jesus Christ. This is a contrast to typical understandings that forgiveness is the result of confession. In February, as we learn about our African American Presbyterian history, we will be invited to confess the sin of white supremacy, not for the purposes of embarrassment or shaming. Solely for the purpose of giving thanks to God.

This week we began a spiritual gifts discovery process. You can join in anytime. We are hoping to discern the superpowers of St. Andrew Presbyterians and thus the way we are equipped to do the work of Christ by the gifting of Holy Spirit.

Sunday we considered the very first superhero of the comic book era: The Phantom.

Two primary aspects need to be noted. The Phantom was an ordinary guy who discovered a passion and extraordinary gift for seeking justice and accountability to defeat crime. He also did so out of a traumatic situation and his work was due to a need for vengeance.

Christians seek justice, with a passion for peace and reconciliation. We operate from a mode of discipling so that the punishment associated with vengeance becomes rehabilitation and reunion associated with mercy, compassion, and community. We seek to discover, or uncover, the gifts of the child of God in each other, even our enemies.

This week, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we will pick up with Part 2: All for One & One for All. The Corinthians were a church in disarray regarding their sense of unity because they realized they were so different from one another. Let’s learn how our gifts unite us with a look at the teams of superheroes, including the Paw Patrol!

Text: 1 Cor 12: 12-31a

Then on Jan. 30, we will talk about Bruno! The sermon will pick up on how using our gifts will sometimes feel threatening to those who don’t understand. Part 3: The Gospel According to “Encanto.” Texts: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4: 21-30

#cusundayonline #spiritualgifts

Peace,

Rev Bev

Dear Friends:

Today is January 6. Epiphany. The day the Messiah was revealed to the Gentiles, and who are known popularly today as “the three kings.”

This twelfth day of Christmas reminds us that God provides a guiding light even when we don’t know we need it. The shepherds were told to find the child who would save them. The wise men, kings, were told to follow the star to the child who would rule in righteousness. Even Herod was made aware of the presence of a holy newborn who would be God’s anointed. When we wonder how we will know what to do, we begin with trusting that God will provide the light we need to find Christ.

To.find.Christ.

This is the point of God’s guiding light: to direct our attention, our footsteps, our worship, our hope, our allegiance to Jesus Christ, and our actions point to the righteousness of God, who is Christ. Our epiphany, from God helps us today to see the work of Holy Spirit bringing order in chaos.

I’m guessing you haven’t thought a lot about Epiphany with the news discussing the other January 6. In all you hear and see about the events of 1/6/2021 at the US Capitol, do you see any light that shines on Christ?

I do. The workers who secured the electors’ votes displayed wisdom and calm in a moment of terror. This is a point of light guiding people to the side of goodness. Eugene Goodman, who was a like a star leading the mob away from their targets, was the iconic representative of all who tried to maintain maximum safety and minimal loss of life. The elected officials who survived and returned to do their work from a basis of truth and provable facts, refusing to be intimidated by fear for their lives, were points of light that speak of the rule of law and the ethical imperative that binds this nation’s peaceful transfer of power. All these actions, and many more on site and in our communities, were done to bring order in the midst of chaos. These were the actions of shepherds and wise ones following the light.

On the other hand, the mob of people who broke in, shouted insults, threatened lives, damaged property, wreaked havoc and caused people to hide in fear were creators of chaos, literally, disturbers of peace. Theirs was not righteous behavior. This was the behavior of Herod who tried to use the light to destroy God’s beloved.

Jesus does not call us to kill, maim, or threaten the lives and livelihood of others. The gathering and march did not constitute sin but provided the field of play for evil’s darkness to erupt. It seems so obvious that it is shocking to me on this anniversary that we must still name such endangerment as anti-Christian. I do not say this lightly.

Christians must hold our siblings accountable for choosing to believe in lies and follow the darkness. We must name the events of Jan. 6, 2021 as a denunciation to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must invite the people back into the fold and welcome them, forgiven and redeemed, when they return.

We must be the church. The marks of the church are the “pure” preaching of the Word, the right administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of ecclesial discipline. These reformed marks reach back centuries and call us to return to our roots. If Christians believe that what occurred on Jan. 6 was in any way faithful to the gospel, the church bears responsibility for failing to be the true church. We, the church, must repent of our failure to disciple a spiritually mature faith that does justice, loves mercifully, and walks humbly with our God. Let us pray that God will provide St. Andrew, for one, a bright shining light guiding us to a new level of faithfully churching one another. May we seek and find Christ together.

Peace be with you.

Rev Bev

For references, Mt 2: 1-12 and the PCUSA Book of Confessions and Book of Order describe aspects of the marks of the church and the occasion of our holiday, Epiphany.

Many of us consider that birthdays and New Years suggest (or demand) a chance to do a new thing for ourselves. Others may lower their heads thinking it will be just another year of the same ol’-same ol’. And everything in between. You already know habits are hard to change; the status quo is hard to disrupt. The challenge is deciding what is worth the effort.

An intentional interim time in the life of a church asks us to decide what changes are worth the effort. We will begin to explore whether and how to overcome our status quo in order to gain a deeper and more intimate relationship with God, each other, and our purpose in our community.

We will examine our “habits,” aka, “we’ve always done it this way.” The mere fact that we will put things on the table to look at them will create some change. This may be uncomfortable. Growing pains usually are. Just as Jesus, following his trip to the Temple at 12, is said to have grown in stature and wisdom and favor, we can choose a path that will increase our wellbeing.

 

This may feel like a monumental task right now with the upheaval in our personal lives due to the political crises, the pandemic persistence, and economic uncertainty. In my first quarter here among you I have heard one consistent ask: more engagement with one another around meaningful spiritual opportunities. In short, create opportunities for relationships of meaning.

It is in that experience that change actually transpires. As relates to God’s nature, this is called process theology. The concept that God is unchanging in goodness, and affected by what happens in creation, including in you and me, suggests that relationships matter. If God engages us for the purpose of persuading us to peace and justice (aspects of God’s goodness), how much more so are we called to engage each other for the same?

As the plan for revisioning calls for your presence at town hall meetings, or small groups, or individual reflections, I ask that you commit to engaging. Your presence will grow relationships. Your response will foster change. Your proposals will inspire new understanding. It’s up to you.

              
And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev 21: 5