“Don’t revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by. Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it.” ~Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Voice)

 With a handful of Sundays left until my retirement September 10th, I’ve been making my way through this Season of Last Times, i.e. this is the ‘last time’ I’ll do this…[fill in the blank]…as the installed pastor of Prineville Presbyterian Church.

It’s a ‘season’ I first identified 15 years ago after Kathleen and I made that leap of faith by changing nearly all of life as we knew it – and moved to seminary where we embarked on this journey for me to become a pastor.

After nearly 20 years of worshipping and growing in our Christian faith with St. Andrew Presbyterian (Yuba City, CA), there were lots of last times for us as a couple, and, individually.

And in the very same breath are the wonderful folks at St. Luke Presbyterian Church (San Rafael, CA) who also warmly brought us in while we were at seminary, walked patiently with us as I learned to be a pastor; and, after 4 years there Kathleen and I went through another Season of Last Times once I accepted the call to serve here.

As the end dates to these last seasons drew closer, what were long standing habits and routines took on a growing sense of being precious.

I find myself there again now; and I’m guessing I’m not the only one feeling this.

Prompted by the thoughts of Stephen R.Covey (he’s written a lot about using ‘time’); when we find our passion then we invest our time and energy in it. And because time is a valuable resource then that passion (person, goal, or activity) becomes ever more precious with that investment.

While we’d all agree that makes sense, there is a caution here too; sometimes we cling to the past simply because we’ve invested so heavily in it…

…and changing from that past comes with an unsettling sense of loss which then opens the door to fear...

…fear that distracts us from the goodness that God waiting in front of us.

May we rightfully honor the preciousness of these days – and delight in the preciousness that is still ahead of us.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

 

 

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” ~ Acts 2:1-2

 Not until my thoughts about retiring moved from “something to consider” to “an actual plan” did I realize the Bible includes faith leaders retiring (Numbers 8:23-26).

Yet it’s a good reminder that while pastors come and go, God’s Holy Spirit is always on the move!

Meaning that throughout the history of God’s people, there’s always going to be a next generation of leaders who are equipped and prepared through God’s Spirit that’s always at work.

The same spirit coming as the breath of God that swept over the waters at the beginning of Creation…

…the same spirit given to His followers as we read in the above verses…

…when just like that amazement and astonishment fell on everybody.

And just like that God’s breath forms and shapes and molds the church’s identity and authority - the who and the what and the why and the how God calls the church to be.

Where in the Greek that forms our English translation this “church” is “ekklesia;” a gathering of people who were and still are students of the new way of living the life of love that Jesus taught.

There’s nothing about hierarchy or places or buildings or music or creeds or -- even professional clergy.

And when we take all of that away, the foundation of the church is a community of committed-Christ-followers.

Where just like that we sit back in wonder because through God's gift of the Spirit this is an incredibly awe inspiring story of new life always coming to be…

…with generation after generation of new life that never stands apart from any of the other generations…

…but is always woven together…

…and while sometimes this comes in in ways that are predictable…

…and other times surprising…

…it assures us that God is preparing PPC’s next pastor.

So fully confident that God's Spirit is still at work, we stand by to be amazed as we imagine the heartfelt smile on someone face as they feel blessed to be called as PPC's next pastor.

Together We Serve,                                                                                                             Pastor Mike

 

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”                ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

Everything Has Its Time – this is one of the subheadings for this above noted chapter from the Bible, and as we’ve talked about for the past several days my “season” as pastor for Prineville Presbyterian Church ends with my retirement on September 10^th.

Understandably, this leads to questions about “what comes with the next season?”

Our denomination’s Committee on Ministry (COM) has a process in place for this. From that manual:

•           A meeting of the congregation is called…to dissolve the pastoral relationship. It is appropriate that the COM liaison assigned to the congregation be present at the meeting of both the session which calls the meeting of the congregation and at the meeting of the congregation itself.

•           When congregational action on the pastor’s request to dissolve the pastoral relationship on a specific date has been taken, that recommendation is forwarded to the regional COM for approval.

•           The regional COM will work with the departing pastor and the officers of the particular congregation to suggest appropriate transitional celebrations, to arrange for an “exit interview” with the pastor, to explain the requirements of “separation ethics,” to explain to congregation and session the processes for interim pastoral services, to appoint a moderator of session when the church is without a pastor, and to answer questions which might arise regarding the process of selection of a new pastor.

Kathleen and I will remain in Prineville, we’ve come to call this place home. And we will continue to serve groups we’re involved in - and maybe add a few? We’re going to wait a while before those decisions are made.

Regarding the “separation ethics,” at some point I will be able to come lend a hand, but in the immediate future I will need to distance myself from PPC to give the new pastor the space needed as they find their footing. So while Kathleen and I enjoy treasured friendships, we’ll all need to be careful that while our friendships include me as a pastor – but not as your pastor.  

And take heart friends, God’s Spirit is already on the move with this “next season.” The day after I announced my retirement, a friend stopped by “out of the blue.” Currently a chaplain, she’s also an ordained PCUSA pastor and has previously served a church – and is a certified interim pastor. She’s very interested in talking about what might be…

May we all stand by…ready to be amazed by what God has in store,

Pastor Mike

 

^“But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” ~Matthew 6:6

 

We started the Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday on the first of the month, and the above Scripture passage comes from the Gospel lesson suggested for that day.

Over the generations lots of people have had a lot to say about Lent. It’s interesting to note that we do not find Lent in the Bible. A long standing tradition has been to use Lent as a time to prepare people to be baptized on Easter.

A broadly held understanding is that Lent is a time to give something up. The idea is that “sacrifice” helps us better understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross. However, as a child our family gave up eating meat on Fridays during Lent so for me Lent merely meant we were having Tuna Noodle Casserole for dinner -- again.

These days I think of Lent as a season of spiritual renewal and discipline. It’s an understanding shared by many denominations. I really appreciate the way Matt Rawle thinks of Lent; he calls it an invitation into the “what” and the “why” of our faith.

And Mr. Rawle describes Lent as the church’s gift to itself…for us to give up distractions or adopt spiritual practices that prepare us to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection well.

A great place for this to start would be ‘in a room with the door closed’ as Jesus says above. Yet this “room” comes up short in our English translation. Turning to the Greek text behind it, it’s a secret chamber storing something precious.

I see this secret chamber as a safe space that allows us to bare our hearts (something precious) before God. And sometimes in baring my heart before God, what comes out of that “inner chamber” can be rather rough and raw…

…yet never has God ever flinched or given me the side eye.

Not even once.

As Lent bids us to be intentional about renewal and restoration and repentance, may we let it point us to new life known in a stronger relationship with God coming out of that safe space.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

 

“And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” ~Matthew 25:40

 

Toward the end of January, our outgoing Clerk of Session and our incoming Clerk of Session  and I all sat down to cobble together the 2022 year-end statistics.

In the interest of full disclosure this kind of thing has always made my eyes roll back in my head; back to my sales career and even before that to my news-radio career.

And some of the information we were asked to provide went beyond mind-numbing in its seemingly trivial details (my opinion).

While I'll admit that there is more than likely a very good reason for these details...

...as we worked our way through the reporting guidelines…

…nowhere were we asked about the hours and effort that goes into providing meals to the local food pantry…

…or the food boxes we’ve helped distribute…

...or serving lunch at the Senior Center...

…nor the hours our congregants give to the local homeless shelters or a local relief nursery or CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)…

…or free libraries or English reading programs, or buying and hauling water to Warm Springs reservation to help with their water crisis.

And I suspect there is a lot more energy, and many more hours, spent helping agencies and groups that I’m missing.

Plus, there are other ministry activities we support both as a church and as individuals that takes less direct investment on our part, yet are every bit as needed; like making our parking lot available to those without stable shelter to spend the night in relative safety...

...offering a free shower so people can feel better about themselves and not stress about coming with $5 for a gym shower...

...opening our building and garden to others who share our desire to make our community even healthier.

It all led me to consider that we ought to again take an inventory of the many ways we carry the heart of Jesus in the community around us. 

We'll post these on our bulletin board, and YOU might like to take your own quiet inventory.

And please know -- this does come with a caution: while we want to be careful that we don’t brag about this, there is value in simply acknowledging it…

…for as we acknowledge it we can grow aware of even more ways we can minister in Jesus’ name.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

 

“The angel said to the shepherd, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you,

a message that will fill everyone with joy.” ~Luke 2:10

 I find myself thinking about ‘angels’ a lot lately.

That’s probably due to a couple of reasons; one is our Advent Bible Study: The Angels of Christmas: Hearing God’s Voice in Advent. The other comes as we draw closer to Christmas Eve and its greatest declaration for all time that we see in the above Bible passage from Luke.

My childhood version of angels was typical Hollywood; shimmering beings lighter than air with feathery wings that existed somewhere well outside my earthly life.

However, as I grew older I knew there was more to angels than this…but just what those details were was pretty vague. What did that “more” look like? Act like? Do?

Trying to get a better sense of ‘angels’ I went to the Anchor Bible Dictionary where under the subject ‘angels’ it has: “In modern usage the term angels refers to heavenly beings whose function it is to serve God and to execute God’s will.”

Hmmm…if we’re all given the gift of God’s Holy Spirit doesn’t that bring us within the definition of heavenly beings? And as Jesus Christ followers, aren’t we to function by serving God and executing God’s will?

Because if so…does this suggest God might possibly consider me to be an angel? 

And as I try to understand how this works for myself, then Hebrews 13:2 comes to mind: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Would this then mean that our first approach to everybody should begin with us looking for the angel in them too? Starting with kindness and generosity; making sure their needs are met?

Because as Advent prepares us for a Christmas that celebrates the birth of the Christ child, just maybe this will be the first step in bringing the true meaning of Christmas - and not the Hollywood or advertiser’s version - to life in those around us.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

 

^“…4but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land,                    a sabbath for the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.”

~ Leviticus 25:4

 

I imagine that about the time you’re reading this, Kathleen and I will be in the midst of my  sabbatical. (I’ll be back in the office Monday, October 24^th).

In our Presbyterian denomination ‘sabbatical’ is part of a pastor’s “terms of call.” 

My sabbatical had been scheduled for 2020 – until COVID. Quickly it became very clear that a sabbatical then (or 2021 as the pandemic lingered) would not have been beneficial for either PPC or me. However, as PPC finds its post-pandemic rhythm we’re good to go. So ‘go’ we shall.

While Kathleen and I will randomly be in and out quite often; during our times away we’ll be camping by ourselves, and at other times we'll be with friends. Plus, we’ll spend some non-camping time with family as well.

All of this is right in line with what Lifeway Research suggests in its: 6 Reasons to Take a Sabbatical: “rest, release burdens, reconnect with loved ones, disconnect from tech, travel, and tinker.”

While I appreciate these 6 points, as I weave them all together -- I come to a ‘ruach’ recharge.

Ruach is the Hebrew word for God’s breath, wind, spirit that we find at the beginning of creation, and that is still on the move today.

In doing some reading about sabbaticals I came across a comment that won’t let go of me: “Don’t let a sabbatical be a cheap excuse for a vacation.”  

So while there will be many vacation-like elements to my sabbatical…

…to keep this as more than a vacation…

…we’ll start our day with a devotional and end with a daily examen (reflecting on the day’s events to sense God's presence and direction). I expect I’ll have another book or two I’ll be reading as well.

Bringing all of this together; the recharge comes in the reminder that the weight of the world (or PPC) is not on my shoulders (nor is it on yours)...

...and neither is my value and identity found in what I produce (nor is your value and identity found in this either).  

Instead, as I catch my breath-in-God, this recharge comes to me with God in control - the One whom I can trust and who holds the whole world.

The world that God created. In six days. Right before God took a sabbatical.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

 [Jesus said] ”I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed!” ~ Luke 12:50

It’s kind of odd to think about Jesus feeling stressed out.

Looking closer at the Greek word translated as stress or distressed, it emphasizes how totally absorbed Jesus was with the mission He had come to complete.

It’s not anxiety nor is it nervousness or fretfulness or worry…

…Jesus was feeling an all-consuming sense of urgency in God’s eager work of love to bring people together.

However as we find our footing with COVID as something to live with…

…COVID only added to divisions that were already fracturing our communities…

…and as those divisions opened up wider and deeper cracks…

…all these things that take the rough edges off of life we see in the radical love of God with grace and compassion are falling through those cracks.

Stanford neuroscientist Jamil Zaki’ spent his career researching the neuroscience of empathy and writes:

“People empathize most easily when they can see others’ suffering with their own eyes or when their actions are visible to others. But the modern world has stripped them away. We see more people than ever but know fewer of them.”

Join us Sundays at 10AM as we get to know our neighbors – all of them. 

If you’d like to join us virtually send us your email: prinevillepc@gmail.com.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

 

We took a deep dive into Jesus’ teaching called the ‘Good Samaritan’ recently. It gets going as Jesus asked a lawyer (then they were considered experts-in-knowing-the-nature-of-God):

"…what does the law say?"

The lawyer began with:

“…love the Lord your God with all your heart…and with all your soul…

…and with all your strength…and with all your mind."

Then the lawyer followed that repeating something Jesus had earlier added: “…and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus had taken two different parts of the Old Testament Law and wove them together which was repeated in the lawyer’s response.

Then the lawyer essentially asked for an example…

…and in using the ‘Good Samaritan’ Jesus made a hero out of someone they had historically been taught to treat with contempt.

Well that suddenly and certainly casts doubts on notions of them being an enemy…

…and prompts even more questions about who we’ve told who our enemy is?

…and why?

Part of this is prompted by a sense that media attention today is mainly on churches that define themselves by who they keep out…

...who they hold in contempt…

…rather than those churches striving to show that Jesus wants to welcome them in.

May the ‘Good Samaritan’ keep prompting questions throughout Jesus’ church.

May those question keep pushing us to better love our neighbors.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

p.s We meet in-person and online 10AM Sunday. Email prinevillepc@gmail.com for a link to our livestream.