Minneapolis,
MN
Wednesday,
June 30, 2010
To all the saints of the Lehigh
Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
The day began as the last days
have ended: much scurrying about, addressing last minute items in the
Presbytery and preparing for this trip to the General Assembly. It has been
said that the church is not the arrival gate at the airport “we go to
church” but the departure we are sent out. I was reminded of
that as we saw the Rev. Harry McElroy, Honorably Retired and very active at
First Presbyterian Church of Reading, where Minister Commissioner to the GA,
Phillip Keevil, is pastor. Harry and his wife were on their way to Florida,
to celebrate a family milestone and for Harry to preach. Lehigh Valley
International Airport was indeed a departure site for ministry from Lehigh
Presbytery!
My en
route reading included Mother Theresa’s autobiography, Come Be My Light.
I felt a great deal of energy in my reading, energy that felt familiar but
couldn’t be placed. I soon recognized it as the energy I felt in recently
reading my notes from Vera White’s 2009 visit to our Presbytery, to discuss
New Church Development. Vision and incarnate vision in particular, really
gets my blood and my spirit moving.
God is all in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh
Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
Shortly after I came to Lehigh
Presbytery five years ago, I had some unfinished General Assembly/Office of
Spiritual Formation matters to complete. One of those was to visit
Minneapolis, where I spoke at Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery
of Twin Cities. My hosts were Marilyn and Alan Youel, who quickly became
wonderful friends. God works through them to publish Thin Places, a
meaningful (and free!) periodical on the spiritual life.
_______________________
If you are
interested in spiritual formation, out of curiosity or practice, see
Thin Places at www.thinplaces.us Each issue features a testimony from someone’s life of faith, meaningful thoughts, and opportunities for your own growth.
_______________________
Also staying with our hosts was
the Rev. Mzukisi Faleni, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Africa
(South Africa), and pastor of a large multi-site church in Cape Town. A very
thoughtful and interesting fellow, about my age. He has been in the US since
early June, with meetings in Chicago (he stayed at the Cenacle, where a bunch
of Lehigh Presbyterians stayed several years ago for training with the Center
for Parish Development), Grand Rapids, Michigan (where he attended the same
conference as Bishop Csury, Tibor Kiss, and Janos Antal, our Romanian
partners recently in the area), and now in Minneapolis for the General
Assembly.
It was quite interesting to
learn of the South African context, and to do so from a theological
perspective. Hearing about the Belhar Confession, a major item before the
General Assembly, from a person who has lived through its development, has
been fascinating. Faleni believes this Confession may have a different sort
of impact around the world than it has in South Africa, because of the very
dynamics that gave birth to it. (see http://www.pcusa.org/resource/belhar-confession/
). It was also intriguing to hear how South Africa, in light of the experience
in Zimbabwe and other countries, is trying to learn from their experience how
to move into the future. Having avoided the mass bloodshed that often
accompanies massive power shifts, the people of South Africa do not want to
have that happen now. “The land” became a metaphor in our conversations for
that which people wish to gain or hold onto, even if it means forfeiting
their souls and our souls, since we all have our own “land,” our own idols.
God is all in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh
Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
Yesterday my family and I went to
see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Minneapolis Science Center. There is
such power in seeing how the Word of God was living and active so long ago,
and how many (not all of the texts were scriptural) of these same words,
animated by God’s Spirit, continue to ground and shape us today. Having just
read (listened really) to a novel called People of the Book, about the
Sarajevo Haggadah (Jewish prayer book for Passover), seeing how the dyes and
parchment were prepared brought me even greater understanding.
The Dead Sea Scrolls led
right into an exhibit on the St. John’s Bible, of which I’m sure I’ve written
before, but really cannot say enough about. This is the first handwritten
Bible in 500 years. I’ve seen three exhibits on this, and each time I am
awestruck by the illuminations and left speechless by the calligraphy, each
letter, each word somehow expressing more than normal typeface. The artist’s
decisions of format and style are in themselves a proclamation of the Good
News.
Tonight we went to a concert to
kick off the Assembly. It was a time of running into friends far and near,
including RC Smith, pastor of the College Hill Church in Easton. What
originally drew us to attend was the bluegrass group Monroe Crossing. Less
known to us was a men’s acapella ensemble, Cantus. Each was a gift to
everyone present, their music, whether angelic or toe-tapping, sheer joy. In
my quest to “find God in all things” (Ignatius of Loyola), I was struck first
by Monroe Crossing singing a Charles Wesley hymn, “Hallelujah,” with the
refrain,
I’ll sing
hallelujah, you’ll sing hallelujah, and we’ll all sing hallelujah when we
come home.
I was left pondering:
 Monroe Crossing  Cantus
Then
Monroe Crossing and Cantus did what many, perhaps even the two groups
themselves, thought unthinkable. After earlier describing the evening as
“high culture meets agriculture,” these two very different
voices came together in seamless harmony. The Presbyterian Church and
“seamless” is hard to imagine, but I am reminded of the Quakers and their
notion of listening to God, seeking “accord” not unanimity. Accord means that
not everyone has to sing the same note, but we all have to sing our notes in
harmony. Tonight was proof incarnate that it is possible!
God is all in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh
Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
As I write this, it is nearly
midnight, with an 8am breakfast on the horizon, so I’ll be a bit brief. Today
was an opportunity to visit the Exhibit Hall before the first business
meeting. Both the Exhibits and the opening session drew from me the same kind
of energy I described earlier around Mother Theresa and the long-ago New
Church Development discussion: the energy that comes from Christ at work
among us. I’m sure many of you will receive word from me one way or another
in future days and weeks and years about barbershop ministries in an
African-American neighborhood, or ministry with skateboarders in an urban
setting, or the small “left to die” congregation that discerned and then
followed God’s vision for their church, their discontent with dying reflected
in worship attendance ten times what they had before they summoned the
courage to hear and act. And as exciting as these real-life examples are, the
opportunity to connect people, our commissioners and other people, is as
great a gift to me here as it is when I’m able to do so in Lehigh Presbytery.
This evening’s election
featured six candidates, making for an unwieldy and time-consuming election
process. I sat with Rev. Faleni as well as former GA colleagues, and while I
am sure everyone had their preferences, the general feeling was that the
church would be well-served, if differently-served, by each of them. Every
effort was made to be decent and in order, but there was a long, if necessary,
delay making sure that everyone’s vote was counted. Ultimately Cynthia
(Cyndy) Bolbach was elected, an elder from National Capital Presbytery in
Washington, DC. As always, I find it so meaningful that despite the
understandable preferences one person may have for one candidate or another,
the room rises in respect of the office as the new moderator is introduced.
 Cynthia Bolbach
Tomorrow is a day of worship
and celebration, of the new moderator and Independence Day. I’ll write as
able, but as Monday rolls around, please remember to pray for our
commissioners in their committees.
God is all in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh
Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
 The morning began with a breakfast
with Phyllis Tickle (www.pcusa.org/news/2010/7/4/phyllis-tickle-addresses-middle-governing-body-lea/),
who has become a significant voice in contemporary understanding of the
church. She was particularly good at interpreting the last 2000 years in her
book The Great Emergence and in the hour of the breakfast. She made
some observations that I found particularly useful:
Tickle also raised three key
questions for our time:
After the Tickle talk, I met my
family for worship at the convention center. As we walked, I was reminded of
the movie we saw at the science center prior to the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit,
called Arabia, about life in Saudi Arabia historically and currently.
At one point there is a video of the pilgrimage to Mecca in which thousands
upon thousands of walk in an unscripted ballet of faith, circling places holy
to Muslims worldwide.
I saw nothing like that. Rather,
it was one person here, two or three there, people drawn like metal shavings
to an unseen magnet. “They will come from east and west and north and south,
to sit at table in the Kingdom of God.” And so it was a blessing to have our
service open in that very way, as Native American Presbyterians from the area
led us through an introduction of the four seasons, the four directions.
 pictures taken by Danny Bolin
Some highlights:
A family musical group, The Brewer
Family, of the Kwanzaa Community Church in Minneapolis, an African-American
congregation, led us through a rousing rendition of “Lord, I Want You to Help
Me.” The chorus was just too good:
Help me on my journey,
Help me on my way,
‘Cause I won’t make it any other
way!
The service included a celebration
of the ministry of military chaplains, especially appropriate on the 4th
of July in a time of war. I was immediately reminded of our own Rev. General
David Hicks (I don’t know how you write that, but we do “Rev. Dr.”) and his
wife, Janice, who before his retirement was responsible for the chaplains of
the US Army. I was also reminded of our attempts in the Presbytery to
encourage all of you to write letters of support and encouragement to
military chaplains. It isn’t a matter of agreeing or disagreeing with
political policy or military strategy, but of standing with those who serve
the church in a very dangerous time and place.
If you would like to write a
letter, note, or card to the chaplains who provide spiritual care and nurture
to those serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, please send them to
Lehigh Presbytery, 710 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown, PA 18104 and mark "Chaplain"
on the envelope. This letter or note of support in their ministry could mean
so much to these men and women who are ambassadors for Christ in what are
most difficult circumstances. Because of privacy concerns, we do not
have particular names or addresses, but forward them to Chaplain Brogan for
distribution around the world. By including your own name and contact
information, you may well hear from the recipient.
 While Bruce Reyes-Chow’s message
as outgoing moderator was not a sermon in the traditional sense, it was a
passionate and prophetic expression of the Good News, as he called on us as a
church to see ourselves as we are. I can’t begin to lay out all that he said
(I’m sure it is available electronically on the GA website, http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/7/4/outgoing-moderator-reminds-denomination-need-invol/)
but a significant theme was the reality that even the mountains shake,
nothing is as permanent as we would like to believe, and God is calling us to
live in that reality, to find new ways to be.
And once again, in waves springing
up with a life of their own, I felt the energy of incarnated vision.
After an
afternoon spent with family and friends, a number of us made our way to the 4th
of July celebration. There were some glitches along the way, but ultimately
there was bread to be broken and fireworks to be seen, and great joy at
having old friends and new with whom to share it all. One was the Rev. George
Goodman, a man whom I ask you to remember in prayer, in thanksgiving for the
ministry he has had in the Presbytery of the Peaks which is about to end in
happy and well-earned retirement. George is one of those folks that when
something new comes up, I ask “What would George Goodman do?” He is a real
saint among us, and it was so good to see him again.
God is all
in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh
Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
The commissioners are hard at
work. Not much to report, except everyone is doing okay and keeping busy. As
you’re praying, please remember those commissioners who are not feeling as
well as they’d like. It is especially hard to not feel well away from home.
Some committees are well-ahead of schedule, others…well, they’ll finish
eventually.
Many of my personal highlights of
the day surround the Presence Keepers. I suggested to the General Assembly
that we invite people from middle governing bodies to minister to us the way
Ruth Rusling and her fellow PKs minister to us during presbytery meetings.
Numbers being what they are, we have someone praying for an hour a day in
each of the committees, and throughout the plenary sessions. Yes, there were
the usual first-time glitches, but I found it meaningful to pray for a
committee, listening for God among them rather than the content of their
conversation. In my case, I was an anonymous pray-er, but in other committees
the PKs were identified, their purpose for being there described, and
invitation made to pray aloud for the committee, its members, and their joys
and concerns. That meant as much to those Presence Keepers as they meant to
the committee.
It was a middle governing body
kind of day, as presbytery and synod leadership came together first to hear
Phyllis Tickle again (largely questions-and-answers), and then the
Association for Executive Presbyters dinner. A time for seeing colleagues in
a more relaxed atmosphere, and to celebrate milestones and life’s changes.
God is all
in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
My morning began early, 5:30am, as
I said good-bye to my family as they made their way back to the hot Lehigh
Valley. It was good to have them here, and nice to have only a few days until
I see them again.
I had been invited to participate
in a focus group on the denomination’s four special offerings: One Great Hour
of Sharing, Pentecost, Witness, and Christmas Joy. A committee was charged to
review and evaluate these offerings and how they are managed, with a 2012
report date. Several middle governing body types were invited to take part in
this and four other focus groups over the next few days. I learned some from
the presenters, but much more from my colleagues, and many recommendations
were made on how to make special offerings on the whole more vital.
Wandering from commissioner to
commissioner, stopping at other committees and talking to folks along the
way, I get more of an appetizer of each committee’s work than an entrée. It
has been interesting to me to hear how some people are anxious about this
Assembly, because I have not felt that at all in my time here. There are
difficult issues, to be sure, but the commissioners are to my eyes and ears treating
each other respectfully and acting quite faithfully. Other assemblies I could
sense some tension, but not thus far in Minneapolis. We’ll see what the
plenary sessions hold, where the whole Assembly gets to vote.
I had lunch at the Interim
Ministries gathering. I went there because their keynote speaker was Ken
McFayden, who has a new book about leadership and change. Ken is at Union
Presbyterian Seminary (formerly Union-PSCE), and was the coordinator of the
middle governing body assessment program that I was in two years before
accepting the call to Lehigh (also in my class were good friends of Lehigh
Presbytery, Barb Smith, now General Presbyter of Lackawanna Presbytery to our
north, and Erin Cox-Holmes, now Executive Presbyter of Donegal Presbytery to
the east). His book Strategic
Leadership for a Change: Facing our Losses, Finding Our Future has
received very good reviews. In his talk, he lifted up five “undertows” for
the church today, elements that provide challenge and so opportunity for
our churches. In short he spoke of the realities that:
I offer all of this so that you
the baptized, the deacons, elders, and pastors can ponder these realities in
your own situation, to better understand your context, and how and why you
and those around may be acting the way you/they are
The day ended with the breaking of
bread, joining many of the Lehigh Presbyterians for dinner at Masa, a
wonderful Mexican restaurant. In attendance were Presbytery Moderator the
Rev. Tillie Chase, observer at the Assembly, and Elder Commissioner Lori Pensyl,
both of Mt. Bethel-Portland; Elder Commissioner Bill Marsh of the First
Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem; Minister Commissioner the Rev. Doug Cronce
of the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua; the Rev. RC Smith of the College
Hill Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Dianne Kareha, Chaplain at Luther
Crest, both here as observers; and the Rev. Jeff Aiken and his wife, Libby,
here with Jeff’s responsibilities as Chairman of the Board of the Board of
Pensions.
 Dianne Kareha, Bill Marsh, Steve Shussett, R.C. Smith, Jeff & Libby Aiken, Doug Cronce Tillie Chase, and Lori Pensyl
Our Young Adult Advisory Delegate
(YAAD), James Joseph, had a YAAD event and was unable to attend. It was a
lovely, laid-back evening, learning of everyone’s experience, sharing ideas
and learnings, and for me, an opportunity to see that all of these folks
especially the commissioners are doing well. Whomever is attending the
Ecumenical Worship Service tomorrow is planning to meet afterward, so we
might pray together before the work of the committees comes before the whole
Assembly in the plenary session that afternoon. Please keep the commissioners
in your prayers!
God is all
in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
A word of confession: I waited too
long to write today’s entry. I am currently at the stage where I cannot see
straight. So I ask for your forgiveness ahead of time if I become completely
irrational.
The day began with a synod-wide
meeting to discuss camping ministries among us. As you might expect, there
was a lot of interest in the Presbytery’s action last year, and in how many
Lehigh Presbyterians and Camp Brainerd has responded.
From there I went to the
Ecumenical Worship Service, always one of the highlights of the Assembly. I
think everyone was surprised to learn that former Vice-President Walter
Mondale and his wife are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church where the
service took place, and it was he who gave introductory welcome to the
worshippers but not before he received a standing ovation for his
contributions to our nation and to the world. Ecumenical representatives were
liturgists throughout, and much of the music was international in origin and
in language.
The day’s preacher was Peg
Chamberlain, whose life story I first learned in the last issue of Thin
Places, of which I wrote earlier. She is a Moravian Minister of Word and
Sacrament, the President of the National Council of Churches, and a Minnesota
native. Her comments, or reflections thereof:
After a powerful service, several
of the Lehigh Presbytery commissioners and friends gathered for a time of
prayer in preparation for the plenary sessions. We’ll be meeting again
tomorrow, and I expect they’ll continue after I’ve left very early Friday.
Thanks to Bill Marsh for the idea.
Then, imagine my surprise to find
Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton of the Diocese of Maryland presiding at the
Lord’s Table, along with Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons. I knew “Gene” when he
was “just” an Episcopal priest, and he was one of my Doctor of Ministry
advisors. It is ironic that after all these years, if we lived in the same
geographic reason, we’d be sitting together at the same ecumenical table.
The plenary session after lunch
opened with a video about Riverside Presbyterian Church outside of Washington
DC. This large congregation had a Christmas pageant that had 1000-2000 people
performing and watching. But they began to wonder if this was just an
opportunity for those who like to perform to perform, and those who like to
watch, watch. They realized that something different was needed. The church
moved from the church-wide pageant to smaller house services where hosts
would invite both church members and visitors to celebrate Christ’s birth
together. This was not to get folks to join, or to increase offerings, but to
initiate “human relationship without an agenda.”
This was a significant day and
night for the Assembly. The Presbyterian News Service can tell you more, but
I can tell you that the Belhar Confession was approved by a 77% margin, and the
decision to write a new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism in
consultation with fellow Reformed denominations passed by voice vote. Lori
Pensyl, Elder Commissioner from Community Church of Mt. Portland-Bethel was
on that committee.
Did anyone feel the earth tremble
at 10:30 tonight (your time)? After lengthy debate, including comments by our
own Philip Keevil of the First Presbyterian Church of Reading, the New Form
of Government was approved by a 70-30% margin. We will have opportunity to
discuss nFoG, just as we did a year or so ago, the comments of a Lehigh
Presbytery study group having been passed on. In fact, one of my personal
reservations, sent on to the GA committee, was addressed by the committee as
a change to original document. I was concerned that Committees on
Representation were not been required, when in truth that is an area in which
our feet still need to be held to the fire. Whatever progress has been made
in representation, we have not yet reached health and wholeness. Seeing that
change, I felt much better. Once the vote was received and other matters
addressed, the committee was thanked with a standing ovation.
Then, ahead of the docket (for the
second time today both our moderator and vice-moderator run a tight but
entertaining ship!) we adjourned for the night. I only hope that when Friday
night gets later and later that the commissioners don’t regret breaking early
twice today.
God is all
in all,
Steve
To all the saints of the Lehigh Presbytery,
Grace to you all and peace.
8:30 a.m. Thursday. My last day at
the General Assembly. Tomorrow morning by this time I’ll be in the skies above
Minnesota, just missing the latest heatwave of the century.
All work and no play makes Steve
even more dull, so it was a gift to find a copy of the Onion in my
hotel. If you are not familiar with this publication, it is a wonderful
provider of the best kind of satire: anyone can be a target. In this,
“The Patriotism Issue,” the lead story was entitled, “Area Man Passionate
Defender of What He Imagines the Constitution to Be.” The article detailed
the beliefs of an fictional man “whose understanding of the Constitution
derives not from a close reading of the document but from talk show pundits,
books by television personalities, and the limitless expanse of his own
colorful imagination.”
Like the best humor, it made me
laugh, and it made me think. Reading Scripture and really thinking about what
we believe has been a focus of mine for some time now, as Lehigh
Presbyterians know. I have lifted up the efforts at the Middle Smithfield,
Pennside, and Emmaus Presbyterian Churches, and the First Presbyterian Churches
of Allentown and Bethlehem. I have also pointed out that no matter how many
pictures suggest otherwise, Mary did not ride a donkey, and Jesus never said
“God helps those who help themselves.”
For too many of us, our
understanding of Scripture and the faith derive “not from a close reading of
the document but from talk show pundits, books by television personalities,
and the limitless expanse of our own colorful imaginations.”
This is why I look forward to
sharing with you a new initiative from the Office of Theology and Worship
“Invitation to the Word,” which calls for a covenanted reading of Scripture.
Without some accountability we are often without any action. I am hopeful
that we might find a corps of people, a collection of churches, that would be
willing to make this commitment.
________________________
It was good to gather with those
commissioners who were available in a time of prayer before the Assembly
convened. May God’s Spirit be upon each and every one through the rest of GA,
and may their lives be renewed and made new.
________________________
The day opened with a celebration
of thirty years of the PCUSA Peacemaking Program. The Rev. Mark Koenig,
director of that program and recent visitor to Lehigh, and a second
peacemaking leader led a litany whose refrain spoke to visions that move into
reality. For the first half of the litany, the congregation responded to each
hope for a better world with the words We stood on the border of a
promised time. But this soon changed, building to those times when
we, as individuals and as a church, have indeed been Christ in the world,
entering into the risk of ministry. At that point we began to say We
cross the border.
I admit that I often find these GA
litanies to be a bit long-winded, even when I support the cause as I do here.
But there was something stirring in that shift from “We stood on the border…”
to “We cross the border,” and once again the river of living water that has
run through my GA experience incarnate vision welled up.
________________________
After some more techno-issues,
another big ticket item was on the docket: the development of a commission
that would have limited authority, in consultation with presbyteries and
synods, to help with the form and function of those middle governing bodies.
There was some debate, but ultimately it was approved by a 5:1 margin.
________________________
Too much committee and plenary
watching and visiting: my 100 words will be forthcoming when I can think
straight again!
________________________
We are now in the midst of debate
on ordination standards. A minority report has been presented and perfected,
and it stands before us along with the majority report. Now the commissioners
are deciding which should be the main motion. Once again, things have been
respectful. There are different theories as to why this is, but this is one
of those times when I am simply grateful it is so. Our own Young Adult
Advisory Delegate James Joseph spoke to the Assembly. Ultimately, the
minority report did not replace the majority, and when the vote was taken, it
was 53-46% in favor of changing the Book of Order G-6.0106b, from
“Those who
are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to
Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the
church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity
within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or
chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged
practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or
installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
to
Standards
for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the
Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing
body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450)
shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability
for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be
limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to
fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for
ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by
Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”
There was no cheering, no
celebration, no booing or storming out. While I did hear some anger, I also
felt a lot of sadness, realizing that this is not the end of the story but
only the beginning of a new chapter in which a sizeable number of people will
be hurt no matter how this turns out. If I thought it were possible, I’d
overture for a supermajority on everything, because the “no-brainers” pass by
a wide margin already, and the very controversial shouldn’t change or stand
on a vote separated by a few percent. American presidents may claim a mandate
at 52-48%, but the Church of Jesus Christ should be clearer in recognizing
God’s will. And I would say that regardless of who held the simple majority.
________________________
Some good news from my family: my
son Daniel, 13, just completed his swimming requirements for the Boy Scouts
an hour ago. I’m glad for him and proud of him. It is good to have something
to clearly celebrate!
________________________
Wait! Another celebration. Even
though attendance at the GA was down (believed to be due to taking place over
the 4th of July a pattern that is to be repeated because of
cost-savings), Sunday’s offering meant over $33,000 went to national
and local ministry efforts. Terrific!
________________________
It’s Thursday night, but for me
the end is near, at least in terms of the General Assembly. I’ll be heading
out to the airport at 6:30am, home by 5pm if all goes well. And the rest of
my evening will be spent as a Presence Keeper. I’ve gotten some gracious
feedback on this initiative, and have little doubt we’ll do it again in two
years in Pittsburgh. On a personal note, it is nice to have an opportunity to
contribute to the greater whole. I’m “on duty” for the next two hours, and
planning to read Scripture, enter into Centering Prayer, and journal. All in
all, a good way to go out.
As I am praying, I am of course
thinking of all of you even as I think of so many more. And the words of my
prayer go out to you, to them, and I hope in me.
First, from the First Principle
and Foundation of Ignatius of Loyola, a portion of this wisdom, that I think
applies to congregations and presbyteries as well as individuals:
We should not fix our desires on
health or sickness, wealth or poverty,
success or failure, a long life or
a short one.
For everything has the potential
of calling forth in us a deeper response to our life in God.
Then the
famous prayer by Thomas Merton, but changed in an important way: to be a
prayer of the community, not only the individual.
Our Lord God
We have no idea where we are
going.
We do not see the road ahead of
us.
We cannot know for certain where
it will end.
Nor do we I really know ourselves,
and the fact that we think we are
following
your will does not mean
that we are actually doing so.
But we believe that our desire to
please you
does in fact please you.
And we hope that we have that
desire
in all that we are doing.
We hope that we will never do
anything
apart from that desire.
And we know that if we do this
you will lead us by the right road
though we may know nothing about
it.
Therefore will we trust you always
though we may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
we will not fear,
for you are ever with us,
and you will never leave us
to face our perils alone.
And finally, the Welcoming
Prayer of Contemplative Outreach, calling us to
Be
attentive to the thoughts and feelings we have, and welcoming them
Then let
go of their power over us by repeating:
“I let go
of the desire for security, affection, control.
I let go of the desire to change
this feeling or thought.”
This is not about “surrendering” in the face of adversity, just giving up.
It is all about surrendering ourselves to Jesus Christ,
just giving it up to him.
________________________
Please remember to pray for
Doug, Philip, Lori, Bill, and James in the days ahead, and lift up our
churches, presbyteries, and church as we enter into a time of listening for
God’s will among us. May you be blessed, not with anxiety over decisions but
gratitude toward our God who has promised to be with us always. To paraphrase
Julian of Norwich’s words, words that I hold onto for dear life:
Jesus did not say we will not be
caught in storms
He did not say we will not
struggle.
He did not say we will not be
afflicted.
He
said, we shall not be overcome.
Until next time in Lehigh,
God is all in all,
Steve
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