iHOPE

Ash Wednesday- What's THAT About?!

Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, February 22. Like we did last year, we’ll have a service at 7:00 pm. Like last year, there are bound to be a few folks who say, “Ash Wednesday- I thought that was for Catholics!” Ash Wednesday is actually observed by many denominations- including Presbyterians. It’s true, we haven’t had a special service until last year, and it may not be for you. But here are some reasons why some people find this to be a powerful way to connect with God and deepen their faith:

More Than Semantics

This is part three of my response to the formation of a new ‘denominational entity’ called the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECOP).  The first two posts are below

For my money, the Zimbabwe Mission Partnership (ZMP) is a terrific example of what happens when churches gather around a common mission. If this project stopped there, it would still be an inspiring story of what happens when churches respond to God’s Spirit.

But this story doesn’t end there.

  As the ZMP progressed in its work, connections were made with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe. Conversations began about establishing an official connection between the Presbytery of Denver and the Presbytery of Zimbabwe.  In 2005, that became a reality. I was privileged to be part of a delegation that went to Zimbabwe to ratify a new, missional relationship between the two presbyteries.

What Happened in Orlando- and Why I Wasn't There.

This past week, more than 2,000 Presbyterians met in Orlando for gathering to discuss the future of the Presbyterian Church (USA)- or rather, the lack it. Beginning last year with a letter from a group of (mostly large church) pastors that declared our denomination was "deathly ill", an organization called the Fellowship of Presbyterians (FOP) was formed and culminated in the unveiling of a new denominational entity called, The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECOP- their new logo is displayed above). You can read more about it here. While it claims that this split was not simply over the issue of homosexuality and ordination, it is also no secret that this has been the lightning-rod that spurred this movement. At this point, it is a new denomination that allows others to affiliate with it, even if they choose to stay in the PCUSA.

If you click on the links above and read through the materials, you will find some exciting materials about what the Church is called to be- and could be in the future. I love the passion, admire many of the leaders and embrace their stated values.

So why wasn't I part of the launch of this "new reformed body"?  I will answer that question more fully in the week to come, but I'll answer it briefly here with another question:

Prayer in Worship, by John Baillie

We're taking the month of January to learn about Prayer- prayer that connects to the real world, "in this place and time."  I used a couple different prayers in worship and will post them throughout the week.

The first is from John Baillie. Whenever I am asked about a resource for prayer, Baillie is one of my first recommendations. He was a Scot and noted theologian of the 20th century. At one point, he was elected as Moderator of the World Council of Churches. He several books on prayer, with Diary of Private Prayer as the most well-known. This was the book I took with me all during my sabbatical a couple years ago.  If you want to deepen your prayer life, you could do a lot worse than pray along with John Baillie as your guide.

Thank you, Tim Tebow!

Say what you will about Tim Tebow (and Lord knows there has been a lot said, lately!), no one has generated more conversation about prayer in a long time.

Some people are attracted and curious about his faith. Some are put off by it.

Everyone seems to be talking about.

The timing is perfect because throughout January, we'll be exploring the subject of prayer and how to start a new conversation with God.  Real prayer for the real world..."in this place and time." Praying on one knee will be optional.

We start this Sunday, January 1 (one service only, at 11:00- and don't worry, the game doesn't start until the afternoon!)

Pastor's Class: Faithing the Issues

Are you tired of hearing people talk (argue) about the serious issues of life as if there were only two alternatives (right v. left)?

Do you wish you could have a place to discuss and explore the issues in a way that wasn't so confrontational?

Would you like to see how we can apply our faith to the issues of the day- even if we don't all come up with the same answers?

Then this year's Pastor's Class may be for you!

Beginning the first week of October, I will be leading the class, "Faithing the Issues". It will look at how we apply the Bible and our Faith to the some of the toughest questions of our day (Abortion, Euthanasia, Evolution, Homosexuality, Heaven/Hell,- that should be a good start!). We will be using the book, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White:  Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics by Adam Hamilton as a 'source book' (that means we aren't doing a study of his book as much as using his material for our study).  You can pick up a copy at church for $15.

As in the past, the class will be held on Wednesday nights (6:45- 8:00) and Thursday mornings (10:15- 11:30), with the same content presented at each time. Participants are welcome to move between class times as their schedules allow. What will be different from past years is that while the first 5-6 classes will be "content" oriented (with me presenting some basic concepts and principles, a large part of this class will be built on class discussion.

This is a topic that is critically needed in the Church today and I have been wanting to get at this for a long time. Anyone who has been a part of my last classes knows that we will not suffer from 'group-think'!- we always have a wide spectrum of opinion and beliefs that are represented. I'm looking forward to this  class and invite you to participate. Let's "Faith" the Issues!

We'll start on Wednedsday/Thursday (October 5th/6th). We'll meet weekly with a break for Christmas/New Years and conclude about the middle of February (I'm going to do a different class for Lent).

Did the Clergy Get a "Time Out"?

  For the record, I think New York's Mayor Blumberg's decision to hold a Memorial Service without clergy or religious representation is misguided.  I can understand how 'religion' might be considered too volatile at a time like this, but it can also be a source of comfort and strength. The picture on the left is the iconic shot of the Firefighters carrying out Father Mychal Judge, the Franciscan priest who lost his life while administering last rites in one of the Twin Towers.  Faith is powerful. It can create chaos, but it can also heal hearts. There have been other inter-faith, 9/11 memorial services- including in New York, and they added to the healing.

  That said, I don't see the exclusion of clergy as comparable to 'banning God'.

  First, all but the most egomaniacal of clergy would readily blanche at the notion that their presence is somehow on par with the Almighty. God didn't get banned- Religion did. There is a deep suspicion in some that Religion may be at the heart of this and many other tragic events. I think that is oversimplified and frankly, just wrong (a recent study about this was just released). At the same time, there is no denying the danger of Religion Gone Wrong. Maybe Blumberg still remembers all the fuss kicked up by clergy-types over the proposed construction of an Islamic Community Center a couple blocks from "Ground Zero. Maybe he decided he didn't want to try and navigate the through the minefield of, 'Which faiths should be respresented?', 'By Whom?', 'Doing What?'  Maybe, Blumberg decided the clergy needed a "time-out" so the memorial service could focus on the victims, and their families. Based on some of the hyper-ventilated responses, maybe he was right.

  Second, God isn't so easily 'banned'.  Just because religious representatives won't be on the platform, doesn't mean God's not around. Some of God's best work is done out of the spotlight. God specializes in showing up in the least expected places at the least expected times. If God was present in the hell of the first 9/11, God will certainly be at the memorial service for this 9/11, too.  You can't keep God out. Try keeping prayer out, for that matter. God's people have never needed to have a spot on the 'schedule' in order to pray.  That site has been bathed in prayer for the past 10 years. People all over the world will be praying for the victims and their families that day. I know we will.

  Which brings me to my last thought. I can understand why Mayor Blumberg may have made the decision he made, but here is why I think he missed an opportunity:  The answer is not to try and ban Religion Gone Wrong as much as it is incorporate Religion Going Right.  How much more powerful would it  have been to have representatives from all the major religions up front in a show of unity? How much more healing? The combined witness of all faiths standing against violence, would have signalled that Religion Gone Wrong is an aberration, not the norm.

  Earlier this year, an interfaith statement was crafted called, The Charter for Compassion . It is as simple as it is powerful. There is nothing controversial here- and that is the point. For all the significant differences that exist between major faiths (and there are many), one value that all can agree on is the need for Compassion. Maybe if more folks (clergy included) could embrace things like the Charter for Compassion, others wouldn't feel the need to give religious leaders a "time out" at memorial services like this. Then again, if more people embraced Compassion, maybe there wouldn't have to be as many memorial services like this in the first place.

 

 

9/11- Ten Years Later

 This Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We'll be observing that event as part of our worship. We'll also be launching our Sunday School for the new year.

A 9/11 observance and a Sunday School Kick-Off. Does that sound like an odd combination to you? At first, it did to me, too. We considered moving the date of the Sunday School Kick-Off, but then decided against it.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that these two events belong together.

Sunday School (and Christian Education for all ages) is designed to equip us to live faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in this world.  The world we are preparing our kids for is very different than the world we grew up in (it's different than the world 11 years ago!). How do we equip them?  What will they need to know? What habits will help them?

The title for the sermon this week is, "Will Our Children Have Faith?" Maybe the better question is, "What Kind of Faith Will Our Children Have?"  On the Sunday that we remember the tragedy that has shaped this decade like no other, I can't think of a better time to take seriously the vital work of passing faith from one generation to another.

Ordination Standards and the Presbyterian Church

   If you haven't already, you'll soon be hearing that the Presbyterian Church (USA) has changed its ordination standards for Deacons Elders and Ministers- specifically allowing people in same sex realationships to be ordained. At least, that is what you'll hear.

  Others will say that nothing has really changed and that what was approved is nothing more than de-centralizing the authority over who gets to make decisions about ordination of officers.

  Both of those statements have some truth- and both leave some key pieces out.

Fan Club Fringe

  A particularly memorable bumper sticker proclaims, "I like Jesus, but his Fan Club scares me!'

  I thought about that bumper sticker this week after hearing about the pastor in Florida who declared his congregation's intention to burn the Koran this weekend. People like that scare me, too. I was a little less grieved when I heard that the church only had about 50 members and wasn't part of some large campaign. Don't get me wrong, it is still a bonehead thing to say, but I could probably find 50 people who still advocate for a flat earth. If the press hadn't made this an international story, no one would have paid attention to it- or him.

  Nonetheless, it is an international story and several people have asked me what I thought. Mostly, I think the less we mention it, the better. At the same time,I know that silence is sometimes interpreted as tacit agreement, and that wouldn't be good.