From The Pastor - October 2018 Newsletter
Hurricane Florence has diminished to a tropical depression and moved out of the area leaving a wake of destruction along the coast and throughout the Carolina's. We were warned over and over again of the damaging wind and the rising waters that could perilously cripple our region. Television programming was interrupted to cover the storm from the early stages of its forming in the Atlantic, and continued until the danger was over.
We were told to prepare, to make ready, and to be safe. Batteries, flash lights, water, food, and other emergency items were quickly snatched off the shelves, and many aisles were left bare of the essentials. Bathtubs were filled and snacks collected in case of an extended period without power. Most heeded the warnings and were well stocked by the time Florence arrived. And while the effects of the storm did little damage in Lincoln County, the same cannot be said of other parts of the state. Some decided to try to ride out the storm and stayed. Many of them had to be rescued as the waters rose to record levels, the likes of which they had never seen. Certain coastal areas will take years to recover. And at the time of this writing 23 people have lost their lives due to the storm.
As I think upon Hurricane Florence, I also think about the storms that rage about us in our daily lives. Storms like Florence become metaphors for the things that shake us and threaten to do us harm. Hearing of a new diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, termination of employment, divorce or separation, financial concerns, as well as actual storms, are all things that cause grief and anxiety, and challenge us to the core. These, among others, shake the foundations of our faith, like a storm surge at high tide. Yet, we too, can be prepared for challenges we face.
Our faith is rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In baptism, God calls us, names us, and claims us, reminding us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is easy, however, to forget to whom we belong if that relationship is not nurtured and nourished. Yet, in weekly worship we are reminded over and over again how much God loves us. We hear God’s Word in scripture, we sing the hymns of faith, we pray for ourselves and for the sake of the world, and we are nourished in, with, through, and under bread and wine, the very body and blood of Christ himself. We have opportunities to share in the fellowship of the saints, uniting us in faith, and strengthening us for the storms ahead. We join the wisdom of the elder with the wonder of the child, sharing our faith stories, the places where God’s marvelous story meets our own. Yes, these are the things that edify faith.
But our faith can also be strengthened by making a difference in the lives of others. Countless homes have been destroyed, lives turned completely upside down, and businesses lost. It will take years for many of those affected by Florence to get back on their feet. Yet, with our help, they can remain hopeful. Our prayers and financial generosity will help to rebuild, not only property, but lives themselves. We do not pray in vain; our contributions are tangible prayers bringing relief to those left in Florence’s path of destruction.
As we lift up in prayer our sisters and brothers across the Carolina's, may we also be generous in showing the love of God in action.
Peace,
Pastor Mike
We were told to prepare, to make ready, and to be safe. Batteries, flash lights, water, food, and other emergency items were quickly snatched off the shelves, and many aisles were left bare of the essentials. Bathtubs were filled and snacks collected in case of an extended period without power. Most heeded the warnings and were well stocked by the time Florence arrived. And while the effects of the storm did little damage in Lincoln County, the same cannot be said of other parts of the state. Some decided to try to ride out the storm and stayed. Many of them had to be rescued as the waters rose to record levels, the likes of which they had never seen. Certain coastal areas will take years to recover. And at the time of this writing 23 people have lost their lives due to the storm.
As I think upon Hurricane Florence, I also think about the storms that rage about us in our daily lives. Storms like Florence become metaphors for the things that shake us and threaten to do us harm. Hearing of a new diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, termination of employment, divorce or separation, financial concerns, as well as actual storms, are all things that cause grief and anxiety, and challenge us to the core. These, among others, shake the foundations of our faith, like a storm surge at high tide. Yet, we too, can be prepared for challenges we face.
Our faith is rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In baptism, God calls us, names us, and claims us, reminding us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is easy, however, to forget to whom we belong if that relationship is not nurtured and nourished. Yet, in weekly worship we are reminded over and over again how much God loves us. We hear God’s Word in scripture, we sing the hymns of faith, we pray for ourselves and for the sake of the world, and we are nourished in, with, through, and under bread and wine, the very body and blood of Christ himself. We have opportunities to share in the fellowship of the saints, uniting us in faith, and strengthening us for the storms ahead. We join the wisdom of the elder with the wonder of the child, sharing our faith stories, the places where God’s marvelous story meets our own. Yes, these are the things that edify faith.
But our faith can also be strengthened by making a difference in the lives of others. Countless homes have been destroyed, lives turned completely upside down, and businesses lost. It will take years for many of those affected by Florence to get back on their feet. Yet, with our help, they can remain hopeful. Our prayers and financial generosity will help to rebuild, not only property, but lives themselves. We do not pray in vain; our contributions are tangible prayers bringing relief to those left in Florence’s path of destruction.
As we lift up in prayer our sisters and brothers across the Carolina's, may we also be generous in showing the love of God in action.
Peace,
Pastor Mike
From The Pastor - September 2018 Newsletter
Children As Church
Have you ever heard people say that our children are the church of tomorrow? Perhaps you’ve said it yourself. In my early years of ministry, I probably said it, too. But the truth is that children are the church of today just as much as you and I are. There is no magical age at which one becomes the church; it comes through an event, a calling. It comes through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. In baptism, God calls us into a relationship and places us in the community called church. It is the community in which we hear God’s word, experience God’s presence in wine and bread, blood and body, sing praises, carry one another’s grief, celebrate joys, and learn to live together in forgiveness and grace. It is the community through which God speaks and acts for the sake of the world. This community is not reserved for adults alone, but for all whom God has called, claimed, and named, for all who have experienced the living waters of God’s grace.
Sometimes we forget that. We forget that children are full participants in Christ’s body, the church. There are no degrees of church, no graduated status; if you are in the church, you are in 100%. Certainly, we will continue to grow in faith, but we will be no more the church than the day God washed us in baptismal grace. Matthew’s Gospel gives us an indication of just how important children are to Jesus and the church.
The disciples saw parents bringing children to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and bless them. But they spoke to the parents harshly discouraging them from bothering Jesus. Yet, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matt 19:13-14) It is my guess that these were not angelic children whose excellent behavior warranted special treatment from Jesus. These were everyday children, real children, noisy, runny-nosed children. These were the kind of children who would run up and down the aisles, stand on the pews backward making faces, while eating Cheerios. These are our children. Yes, to such as these the kingdom of heaven belongs.
Surely, they can be distracting and disruptive, yet they also bring with them a vitality, a sense of being alive, and a wonderment that is lost when they are not present. Children bring a gift that is needed in the life of the church. The church is the only place in society where we have the opportunity to have four generations gathering together for a single purpose, where, as Dr. Rich Melheim says, “the wisdom of the elder and the wonder of the child collide.” What a beautiful picture of the kingdom, generations coming together to share the stories of faith and life. The church is a vibrant community of people of all ages bringing their gifts together, teaching one another, and sharing in the love of Christ.
And so we open our arms in welcome to all children, embracing the kingdom in all its messy glory. Yes, children are the church today, tomorrow, and forever. After all, aren’t we all children of God?
Peace,
Pastor Mike
Have you ever heard people say that our children are the church of tomorrow? Perhaps you’ve said it yourself. In my early years of ministry, I probably said it, too. But the truth is that children are the church of today just as much as you and I are. There is no magical age at which one becomes the church; it comes through an event, a calling. It comes through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. In baptism, God calls us into a relationship and places us in the community called church. It is the community in which we hear God’s word, experience God’s presence in wine and bread, blood and body, sing praises, carry one another’s grief, celebrate joys, and learn to live together in forgiveness and grace. It is the community through which God speaks and acts for the sake of the world. This community is not reserved for adults alone, but for all whom God has called, claimed, and named, for all who have experienced the living waters of God’s grace.
Sometimes we forget that. We forget that children are full participants in Christ’s body, the church. There are no degrees of church, no graduated status; if you are in the church, you are in 100%. Certainly, we will continue to grow in faith, but we will be no more the church than the day God washed us in baptismal grace. Matthew’s Gospel gives us an indication of just how important children are to Jesus and the church.
The disciples saw parents bringing children to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and bless them. But they spoke to the parents harshly discouraging them from bothering Jesus. Yet, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matt 19:13-14) It is my guess that these were not angelic children whose excellent behavior warranted special treatment from Jesus. These were everyday children, real children, noisy, runny-nosed children. These were the kind of children who would run up and down the aisles, stand on the pews backward making faces, while eating Cheerios. These are our children. Yes, to such as these the kingdom of heaven belongs.
Surely, they can be distracting and disruptive, yet they also bring with them a vitality, a sense of being alive, and a wonderment that is lost when they are not present. Children bring a gift that is needed in the life of the church. The church is the only place in society where we have the opportunity to have four generations gathering together for a single purpose, where, as Dr. Rich Melheim says, “the wisdom of the elder and the wonder of the child collide.” What a beautiful picture of the kingdom, generations coming together to share the stories of faith and life. The church is a vibrant community of people of all ages bringing their gifts together, teaching one another, and sharing in the love of Christ.
And so we open our arms in welcome to all children, embracing the kingdom in all its messy glory. Yes, children are the church today, tomorrow, and forever. After all, aren’t we all children of God?
Peace,
Pastor Mike