~ by the Pastor and guest writers ~
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A Festival of Thanks (April 30, 2004) Last week I had the opportunity to spend three days at the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What a joyous feast it was! For three days I listened to writers of fiction, mysteries, and religion. I listened to people of faith who talked about how their beliefs inform their writings. There were so many great selections on the menu and I had to make some choices. Were their some highlights for me? Absolutely! There were several Southern writers who appealed to me. Tim Gautreaux spoke of life in southern Louisiana and the richness of family, friends, culture, and church. Silas House, born and raised in Kentucky in a Pentecostal family, spoke lovingly of how that church background influences his novels. He proudly spoke of his belief in Jesus. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest, spoke of the language of “beholding” and learning to trust in God when mostly what we have is our faith and very little else. She calls it “falling into the arms of God.” For many years Calvin College has hosted this festival of writers. There were some two thousand of us in attendance for whom books have been lifelong companions. I am most grateful to a church that supports my continuing education. Thank you for allowing me to spend a few days with like-minded folk. And now it’s back home where I spend my time with other like-minded folk. I am most thankful for leaders and elders in our church who faithfully serve this congregation. Our thanks goes to Michael Pullen for preaching in our church while I was away. I believe it is important for members of our church to share their faith. I give thanks to God for Michael and the gifts of ministry he brings to our congregation. The one thing I missed about being away was having the opportunity to hear Michael preach. I have heard so many encouraging things about his good words. Thanks be to God! In May we will continue to celebrate the gifts of special people in our congregation. On Wednesday, May 5, we will gather on our First Wednesday to share a meal and recognize older adults in our church. Rebecca Villarreal has been working diligently on a special program. This one you do not want to miss! So, be here at 6:00 pm on May 5. Thanks Rebecca! May is graduation for many in our church. From high school to college, we celebrate these milestones. On Sunday, May 23, the youth of our church will lead us in worship. After the service, we will honor the graduating seniors with a meal. We give thanks for this milestone in their lives and pray God’s continuing blessings. So now it’s back home and I give thanks for all of you. May the grace and peace of our Lord be with each of you.
 Easter Joy (April 2, 2004) I read a story a few days ago that has been around for some time. It was new to me but it is becoming one of my favorites. The story comes from the “Metropolitan Diary” feature of the New York Times. It seems that the music librarian of a nearby community college had borrowed a score of Handel’s Messiah from the Brooklyn Public Library. What he didn’t know was the borrowing of the piece was somehow not recorded on his library record, and the library had been searching for the missing music the whole time he was in possession of it. The day he returned the score, placing it in front of the librarian, he was astonished to hear the joyful cry go up: “The Messiah is here! The Messiah is back!” Every head in the library snapped up at the breaking of the silence and turned to look at the desk wondering what this pronouncement could mean. And perhaps more than a few felt their hearts leap into their throats, half expecting to see a glimpse of the risen Lord (Ron Alexander, “Metropolitan Diary,” The New York Times, December 25, 1985). Easter is coming in a few days and once again preachers will stand in pulpits to proclaim this news that is neither new or unexpected, and it is not likely that we will evoke the surprise of that first Easter—or even of that poignant moment at the Brooklyn Public Library. What can we say that hasn’t been said before? How do we stir up enough excitement and joy to make Easter worship great? The truth is, of course, that there is nothing new to say. We certainly can’t explain the resurrection. All we can do is stand to proclaim what we have seen and heard: that the Lord is risen, and is among us. Kim Long, who teaches at Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, says that proclaiming the mystery of Easter “is something like gazing at the sun—looking at it directly only yields blindness. Not even the most skillful preacher can make sense of the story of Christ’s disappearance from the tomb; the wise ones don’t even try.” Until the day when we will cry out, “The Messiah is back!” we continue to tell the story of the resurrection. We do this as no mere historical exercise. We do this with joy and shouts of praise that “the risen Christ is with us!” By the power of the Holy Spirit we apprehend the mystery—and with our whole beings break forth in joy. We proclaim that nothing is hopeless anymore. And that hope gives us the strength to live each day in hope—for ourselves, for those we love, and for the whole world!
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