Celebrating the 4th of July comes with fireworks. Fireworks is also a fitting description for reactions to the Supreme Court ruling expanding the definition of marriage to include same sex marriages.

Many follow-up postings and articles have launched a barrage of fireworks where this single issue has become a test; either you think like ‘this’ - or - you think like ‘that.’

It’s very divisive and whoever is asking the question is using it to determine for themselves whether or not somebody else is Christian.

The signing of the Declaration 239 years came with ‘fireworks.’ It  charged the king of England with “the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

Yet 4 days after the signing, Boston townsmen were told to report for the draft. The wealthy could hire substitutes; but the poor had to serve. This led to more rebellion and shouts that “Tyranny is tyranny, let it come from whom it may.”

History records greater opposition to taking up arms against England than support for it. The beginning of these United States came amidst strongly divided beliefs.

Imagine the ‘fireworks.’

Maybe like the ‘fireworks’ at the birth of the Christian Church?

The first Christians were Jewish converts and for them circumcision was the mark of being a proper Jew. As Acts 15 records it, some insisted that one first had to be circumcised to become a Jew in order to become Christian.

Paul, a leader of the early church disagrees. His friend Barnabus joins in the protest and what followed was “No small dissension and debate…”

They’re sent to Jerusalem to ask church leaders there. On their way they’re converting Gentiles to Christianity; Gentiles - people who were not Jewish - are now Christians.“

In Jerusalem and "after there had been much debate,” Peter - the very man whose faith Jesus points to as the model for building the Christian church - says:

“On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they [meaning the Gentiles] will.”

Nowhere does it say that people had to abandon their understandings, or that everybody came to the same conclusion.

What we do find is the very people that God used to bring the church to life acknowledged their differences and refused to let it divide them.

Instead they all submitted to God’s grace made known in Jesus Christ; a gracious space where God holds righteous love for us regardless of whether we have right or wrong answers.

Join us Sundays at 10AM in our chase for grace.

Together We Serve,
Pastor Mike

 

Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ (John 1:46)

As Jesus calls His disciples, we often remember the stories of those who were first called; how quickly they dropped everything and off they went.

However, Nathaniel shows some initial reluctance.

From Nathaniel’s perspective - formed by what it meant to be “a good Jew” - Nazareth was on the wrong side of the tracks in the midst of the wrong area surrounded by the wrong people.

And now he learns that God’s Chosen One was coming from someplace nobody would have chosen as a start for goodness.

Recently we had 28 tomato cages stolen from our Community Garden. Part of our garden is being used by Redemption House homeless shelter to teach people to grow and cook vegetables; these cages were for them.

Our disappointment is understandable and in circumstances like this it can be tough to find any goodness.

On the off-chance they might show up at a weekend yard sale we posted the theft on the Facebook page ‘Prineville Free…Sell…Trade’ and asked people to be on the lookout.   

Nearly 40 people replied! Many offering encouragement and prayers…and then somebody offered their unused cages…and then another…and another…and another…and then came a suggestion for a tomato-cage-making-party.  

This all got us to dreaming – if we build the cages at the church we could roll out the gas grill…throw on some hamburgers and hot dogs…add a couple of easy side dishes…a couple of new members have offered to help…hmmm…

We’ll see what happens, but it sounds like a party may be coming out of someplace where we didn’t think there was any goodness.

This a fabulous way to describe God’s Spirit at work.

Join us Sundays at 10AM as we look for God’s goodness in those 'other places.'

Together We Serve,                                                                                                         Pastor Mike

“A bridge of silver wings stretches from the dead ashes of an unforgiving nightmare
to the jeweled vision of a life started anew.”                                                                        ~ Aberjhani, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry.

This phrase brings to life some very beautiful imagery for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our church, along with thousands of other churches, celebrated that resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The Biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection focus on His body being placed in a tomb, and on the 3rd day the massive rock sealing the tomb was rolled away. With that tomb being opened come promises of great hope for all of humanity. It is easy to understand why Easter services are grand and festive celebrations.

However, in all of our rightful Easter excitement, do we slow down enough to realize that Easter begins with a question? Do we stop to consider the implications of that question?

In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ mother Mary is sobbing. She has watched Jesus become a political pawn that nobody wanted to take, but everybody wanted gone...brutally beaten and His flesh stripped away...nails driven through his wrists and feet...crucified and left to die…Mary watched Jesus take his final breath. Three days later, upon His resurrection Jesus asks Mary:

“Why are you weeping?”

With this question God’s very first move in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is compassion: help me understand.

Lots of people have been coming to our church seeking aid. I am struck time and again by how even the smallest measure of compassion can provide great hope. Looking at our county’s immediate future shows that compassion and hope will remain in high demand.

A health qualities survey recently released compares all counties in Oregon. Overall, Crook County seems to fare pretty well. When it comes to health outcomes we are #9. However in health factors, overall we drop way down to #31. Among the contributing issues: our unemployment rate – while dropping – remains much higher than the state average, and more alarming is that one in four children are living in poverty. In a related newspaper article a county official indicated these challenges are expected to remain, and, maybe even worsen over the immediate future.

Where are we being called to provide compassion as individuals and churches and service clubs? How can we work together to turn this around?

Our church, like many others, is looking for ways to do better ministry. In expanding our outreach we seek to be Jesus’ hands and feet and heart as we come alongside people during difficult times; for this I am very grateful.

Yet, when I hear a teenager caught in the tumult of chaotic family circumstances say “at least in jail you get a warm place to sleep and three meals a day,” it makes me realize how much more there is to do. What do you suppose this teen sees when looking at their future?

In those times and places where life is a constant scramble filled with demands for this and payment for that, and you’re already on the edge with not nearly enough time or money or energy to take care of it all, often the first thing to go is any sense of being worthy of compassion. When that sense of self-worth disappears the thought that God might actually care disappears too.

Whether we are broken on the insides or broken on the outsides, the resurrection of Jesus Christ shows us that God refuses to be careless about any of it. God’s compassion continues to find ways to put us back together again for our wellbeing and for our right relationship with God.

The empty tomb is God’s reminder for us to slow down enough to ask others that simple question: help me understand? And then to consider what our world might look like if we stopped to listen.

^“16But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Luke 18:16).

As we begin our “2^nd Sundays” youth events series (March 8), I’ve been thinking about this Scripture passage (also in Mark’s and Luke’s Gospels).

A quick Google search of images regarding this Scripture has lots of lovely and gentle scenes showing Jesus with any number of neat and orderly and well behaved children; they’re all very similar to the picture above.

And while I have no doubt about Jesus’ great love for all, and maybe even His great love especially for children…I gotta ask: where are the other children?

You know, where’s that kid tugging on Jesus’ robe and asking Him how He felt about the nine lepers who did not turn to thank Him for their healing? (Luke 17:11-19).  

Or, “hey, Jesus…what was the deal with the Canaanite woman and you saying ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs’” (Matthew 15:21-28).                        

Part of our 2^nd Sundays series deliberately includes making space for questions. Man-oh-man I hope they ask all kinds of crazy questions.

In the George Fox Journal, Leonard Sweet says, “A missional church faces outward toward the world. … For too long, churches have faced inward, offering religion as a benefits package—something that ‘meets my needs’ or offers good outcomes.” He tells churches to look at their mission statement. “Is your mission statement based on how to get people to go into the world, or how to get more people to come to church?” He and others who are pushing congregations to be more missional say, “The church is measured, not by its seating capacity, but by its sending capacity.”  (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/today/outward-facing-church/)

Scripture never tells us what became of the children brought to Jesus. I do like to think that hearing stories about Him prompted them to want to meet Him; and then having met Jesus they felt their own sense of call to being sent out. And this is where they found faith-filled and God-honoring answers to their questions.

Join us Sundays at 10AM, and bring your crazy questions with you!

Together We Serve,                                                                                                              Pastor Mike

For times and places about 2^nd Sundays: prinevillepc@gmail.com                                        or call (541) 447-1017.

The boxes filled with Christmas decorations have hardly started collecting dust in the garage and already we’re rushing ahead to the next holiday.  Depending upon your interests I suppose that would be either Super Bowl or Valentine’s Day.

A couple of weeks ago our choir sang “When the Angels Song Is Silent.” This song is written from an after-Christmas point of view; “the stable door is open…the angels song is silent…the shepherds have gone home…the swaddling clothes are folded…then the promise of Christmas begins.”

Over the last year Prineville Presbyterian Church worked to make good on this Christmas promise by trying new things.

We provided new stuffed animals to the Police Department and Sheriff’s Department for officers to use in comforting children caught in traumatic situations.

We used our “Souper Bowl” canned soup collection on Super Bowl Sunday to launch a monthly canned food drive to help stock the food pantry at St. Vincent DePaul. By the end of the year we had collected enough groceries to provide 1100 meals.

We found ourselves suddenly brought into a situation with a person living out of their motor home. Taking a big, deep gulp - while seeking to authentically follow our Christian faith - we extended temporary sanctuary that allowed this person to catch their breath and position themselves for a brighter future.

Like many people, we are aware of homelessness; however our sanctuary guest brought the challenges of homelessness right to our door step, opening our eyes even more fully to the depths and complexities confronting people lacking secure housing.

This led to an increased sensitivity that has brought us into new partnerships. Now, with our friends at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, we are looking at ways to bring our combined efforts alongside clients from Redemption House - the local homeless shelter - in using our one acre garden to provide opportunities for Redemption House guests to learn gardening skills and other work habits while providing fresh vegetables for their own use.   

Our Squares and Prayers quilters group embarked on an ambitious project that resulted in a gorgeous quilt. Their great work continued as the quilt was raffled off to raise money for our Children’s Fund. This fund is used in our partnership with St. Vincent DePaul to provide aid for families needing assistance with rent or power bills.

We have been honored - and humbled - to use these funds in helping 50 families during the past year. In many cases the financial assistance was only a part of the aid we provided; meeting with the families also created a safe space for people to vent and share and seek God’s comfort.

Words like “we” and “our” are the key to all of this. Carrying out the ministry of Jesus Christ is not the work of one new pastor, nor is it left to the work of one church community.

Rob Bell is a writer and has been a very popular pastor. He has supporters and critics, I find him thought provoking. In his book Velvet Elvis he writes:

“We can insist that hope is real and that a group of people who love God and others really can change the world. We can reclaim our idealism and our belief and our confidence in the big ideas that stir us deep in our bones. We can commit all the more to being the kinds of people who are learning how to do what Jesus teaches us…

 …but I can’t do it alone…

We need you to rediscover wonder and awe.

We need you to believe that it is really possible.

We need you to join us. It’s better that way.

It’s what Jesus had in mind.”

The earlier mentioned “When the Angels Song Is Silent” also included this: “All the world is changed forever…for the echo lingers on.”

That echo begins with all of us rediscovering, believing, and joining. And that echo lingers long after the Christmas decorations have been put away.

Together We Serve,
Pastor Mikeeacons yesterday. Our elders work to strengthen and nurture our congregation’s faith and life. The deacons are a friend to those inside and outside the church, sharing Christ’s love with anyone in distress. Both elders and deacons set the pace for this promise of Christmas.

“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80:3-7)

We began the season of Advent yesterday; four Sundays used to prepare for celebrating the birth of the Christ-child. And while maybe it’s just me, I’m inclined to believe that in our accomplishment-driven Western culture, the idea of preparing includes knowing about a specific event at a particular time which is known to those making the preparations.

We need to remember that those who lived before Jesus’ birth did not know the time and day of His arrival; for those alive on that first Christmas Day it was more of a surprise party. So their Spiritual life was filled with waiting – and this theme of waiting is another way to prepare for Advent.

During Advent we want to put ourselves in that same mindset as those who lived before Jesus’ birth…knowing he would appear but not know when He would appear. In that space between the knowing and not-yet-known, while they whisper among themselves about their hopes in the coming of the Savior, they have their realities around them in “the bread of tears” and the “tears to drink in full measure.”                                        

Their whispers of hope are being drowned out by the noise of reality.

While the realities of the violence in Ferguson Missouri certainly drowns out the whispers of hope that we might talk about the racial divide across our country, in our own community these whispers of hope were heard by the 237 employees of Woodgrain Millwork. They were hoping to be back at work following a roof collapse a couple of weeks ago. Instead, Advent came with the reality of a layoff notice. This is the 3^rd largest employer in the county.

In the above Psalm there is no searching of the heart, no probing discussions seeking to unearth the reason that God might be withdrawn, nor is there any understanding of humanity being at-fault.

What we hear is simply the need for God when the whispers of our hope have been drowned out by the reality of circumstances.

So hope changes as we wait for God’s presence to be made known. Throughout Advent may we be extra-sensitive and very intentional about the waiting that is a part of our preparations for the surprise party that we know is coming.

Karl Barth is one of the ‘big thinkers’ when it comes to thinking about God and he writes: “There is no good reason we should forbid ourselves, or be forbidden, openness to the possibility that in the reality of God in man and Jesus Christ there is contained much more than we might expect…that in the truth of this reality there might be contained the superabundant promise of the final deliverance of all.”

May God’s whispers of hope become an uproar that shouts over the noise of the world’s reality.

Join us for the uproar Sundays at 10AM.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

p.s. Prineville Presbyterian is looking at how to help those laid off and we welcome your help to do this. Please call: 541-447-1017; or email: ppc@crestviewcable.com with ideas or energies to share.

It’s an odd sounding little line seemingly tacked on to the end of Exodus chapter 16: “An omer is a tenth of an ephah.” By itself it doesn’t do very much until we read the story leading up to this.

Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness. No longer are they slaves to the Egyptians and no longer are they forced to make bricks.

And no longer do they know what each new day brings them.

While they’re physically hungry; they’re also hungry for some sense of certainty. God knows this and tells Moses “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” Sure enough, the quail come in the evening and the bread is there when they wake up.

This bread is the manna, and they keep an omer of it (about a half-gallon) as a reminder of how God constantly cares for them. Old bread stuck away someplace might not seem like much until we remember this is the same “daily bread” we ask for in the Lord’s Prayer: “give us this day our daily bread.” This is the verse I often land on in my daily prayer: “God…I’m turning to You to get me through this day.”

In Crook County more than 36 hundred people – 1 out of 6 – struggle to make it through each day.

THANK YOU to all who supported this Friday’s Autumnfest and the follow-up Soroptomist bazaar on Saturday. A little bit here and little bit there all came together to raise $2,024 – all to help people get their “daily bread” in the form of food, or help with rent or power…and know a little bit more about our God who really and truly does care for them.

We hope to see you Sunday at 10AM – let’s share this “daily bread.

Together We Serve,                                                                                Pastor Mike

^“27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

     We’ve been working our way through a 5 week long Season of Peace, being more intentional about looking at the need for peace in different areas of our lives as well as different ways to understand peace in a variety of circumstances outside our lives.

     This included the story of Jesus storming into the Temple and overturning the money changers tables. The money changers were running a scam that required people to buy sacrifices for Temple worship and it ripped them off in the process; the victims knew it but there wasn’t anything they could do about it. It was done with cooperation of the Temple leaders, and these leaders thought they held the monopoly on being holy. However the popularity of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ would suggest the masses did not agree .

     A Pew Research survey released last week reflects a similar sentiment, it says “nearly three-quarters of the public (72%) now thinks religion is losing influence in American life." That’s grown by about 5% over the past four years...”And most people who say religion's influence is waning see this as a bad thing."

     Certainly this is interesting by itself, but what really got my attention though came in the survey results that show “that most Americans do not agree that religion has a positive impact on society.” Much like during the time of Jesus, people are not at peace with holiness as they know it; the holiness they see does not reflect the goodness of God they desire.

     We’ve got work to do.

     As we step forward into this work, and as odd as it sounds, perhaps it’s best if our prayers seek the foolishness that St. Francis of Assisi sought rather than holiness:

“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.                                                                   May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.”

     Come be part of the foolishness. We meet at 10AM on Sundays.

Together We Serve,                                                                                                         Pastor Mike

A few months ago I was working on my sermon while eating lunch at a local burger place when a person approached my booth and began talking with me. They had seen my Bible on the table and used that to start conversation. Upon learning I was a pastor their comments went “gloomy.” I was really saddened by their sour tone which centered on the church needing younger families (agreed), and today’s youth are worthless (whoa!!!). It was the 2nd comment that really got me. Sadly, I hear this refrain much more than I like.

With 13 years of youth work, seven youth mission trips to Mexico, and currently as the guardian parent of a 15 year old, I did my pastoral best to keep my tongue in check. Instead I countered by sharing some of my delight-filled youth stories. (Toward the end of his semi-rant I did want to ask this person: How do you think youth might view you?)

Presbyterians Today has a great article Faith Formation Starts During High School which includes the following:
“When asked what led the survey participants to develop relationships with particular adults, several characteristics emerged as important: The adults were kind, caring, friendly, and interested in conversation and dialogue. As youth, the survey participants appreciated when they could bring questions to the adults and when adults brought questions of their own. They desired to feel as though they were not being judged, and appreciated being treated as equals. Trust was important, in two senses: trusting the adult but also feeling that the adult had trust in them.”

The 3 biggest factors cited by youth for their “home-grown” faith formation: going to church with parents (92%), eating meals regularly as a family (87%), and praying/saying grace as a family (63%).

As this guest left, I had a couple of questions dancing around my mind: what kind of  family life and church life did they experience as a teen; and where they might see themself in relation to the above survey results...or the following from Luke:
¹⁶
Jesus called them [people with babies] back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy” (The Message Bible).

The article is an easy read and you can find it here:

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/today/modeling-faith-0514/

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike