What is Easter For?

Margaret Feinberg wrote, "Prayer may not change things, but it will change my perspective of things. Prayer might not change the past, but inevitably, it changes the present."

Personally, my daily prayers change. Today's prayers will likely be different from tomorrow's. Approaching God, and welcoming God's approach, I pray for...

• Jami and Nick as they become husband and wife tomorrow;
• Tony's family as they seek understanding, comfort, and hope in the face of death;
• Rescue workers and cleanup crews in Japan;
• Oliver, Samuel, and Ruth; and
  
• The "least of these" who are vulnerable to budget choices.

My prayers seem in constant conversation this week with the question, "What is Easter for? Certainly it is life unequaled by death, hope unequaled by despair, presence unequaled by absence. I wonder what this means in my life and in the lives of those for whom I pray today. And just as certainly it is a question that invites us to "come and see."

Many awakened this morning to news of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that swept across Japan. The ever widening waves touched many other nations including Hawaii and the west coast of our own nation. The rush of tidal waters scattered cars, trucks, boats, homes and other buildings. A nuclear reactor's cooling safeguards have failed and the plant warms dangerously. The death toll rises as does the number of those missing.

In your Lenten prayers, remember those in Japan and neighboring nations. In your response, consider a special gift to Week of Compassion designated for Japan. Of designated gifts 100% will go to relief and development as needed. In your worship, thank God for a love that stretches across seas, and embraces those who grieve loss today.

An icon, in Greek, is "image" or religious painting in the tradition of Eastern Christianity. Images often include Mary and Jesus, Joseph, Saints, significant events and biblical stories. Over the years I have seen icons in museums. While I appreciated the art, I failed to appreciate the significance of the images in the deep faith of many Christians around the world.

Nine years ago I attended a Russian Orthodox worship service in Sarajevo, Boznia-Herzogovenia. Inside were a number of icons. A few years ago, at a Faith and Writing Conference, I attended a seminar on the meaning of these religious works of art and faith. My appreciation deepened. Even more recently I read a book by the Archbishop of Cantebury Rowan Williams titled Ponder These Things. He writes of several icons depicting of the Virgin and her Child.

One of the most striking to me was that of The Mother of God of Vladimir, a 12th century icon in a Russian cathedral. In some references it is called the Theotokos meaning "God-bearer" or "birth-giver of God." In it the Christ child "embraces Mary, cheek to cheek, his arm encircles her neck, one foot is thrust towards us as if he is pushing himself up against her body with great energy, and his right hand grasps the corner of her veil..." What is comforting is the Christ child's eagerness to draw close to Mary, to you and to me.

May the peace and joy of be yours as Christ draws near.

A big thank you to our Disciples / Presbyterian youth (pictured here at earlier lock-in) who offered leadership at our Youth Sunday worship. Those guiding us in worship were: Emily Elder, Elliott McClure, Chet McClure, Taylor May, Kristine Medler, Will Provin, Nick Retherford, Amy Ricks, David Ricks, and Erin Tabor.

Later this month on September 26th the youth of American Lutheran, First Christian, First Presbyterian and United Methodist are invited to share in a cookout and fellowship at the Taylor's home.

This is the beginning of a new fellowship for youth among the four congregations. Plans are being developed for one event each month to include outings for fellowship, worship and service.

Church school begins on September 12th with an Opening Assembly at 9:00 am. We will introduce our mission project, sing new songs, and introduce classes and teachers. Children and youth from First Presbyterian Church will join with us this year. Adults will study "Practicing Our Faith" edited by Dorothy Bass.

Another new ministry this Fall will be Welcome Table Wednesdays. Each Wednesday we will gather for a brief meal at 6:00 pm / worship at 6:30 pm / and activities at 7:00 pm. The activities change each week and may include - choir, Disciples Women's Fellowship, hand chimes, videos, discussions, and more.

In Outreach and Service we continue receiving items for school kits to be distributed through Church World Service. Items needed include: round-tipped metal scissors, 70-count spiral notebooks, 12 inch ruler, hand-held pencil sharpeners, large erasers, pencils with erasers, box of 24 crayons.

And one more thing... We will be sharing in a small group study and fellowship with area congregations in exploring "Unbinding the Gospel."

Come and see what God is doing with us.

This has been a wonderful season to gather the Busy Hands Pre-School children to the front entrance and invite them to tell what they see in the second of our two stained glass windows - "The Sower." Mark 4:1-20

They have taken notice of the bright colors. First, the waves of browns and greens representing the soil. They note that area fields feature similar lines as soil preparation and planting has begun. The bright blue sky and birds above. The sower, strides across the ground with the deep green bag of seed hanging at his side. Some see him as a farmer. Others are certain it is God or Jesus. Not one seed, but a handful are scattered across the ground. The sower is generous, even extravagant.

Unable to wait for harvest season, we step outside and take in what God has already made to grow - spring trees are full of purple and white blossoms; grass stretches out like a rich green carpet with a few yellow dandelions; tulips show themselves; and rosebushes wait to reveal their beauty. And there is so much more as we lift our eyes to the neighborhood.
God has already been generous, extravagant!

The children return to the classroom where they will imitate God in planting seeds, in showing generosity.

Two new stained glass images offer hospitality to those who enter the church building at the front entrance. They also serve as a reminder to the congregation as we leave worship and go out into the world to be the church. These works of art were possible because of the generosity of families and friends who remembered the congregation's ministry through the Memorial Fund.

Each of the images are a witness to a foundational belief of the congregation. On the west side of the entrance is an image of the loves and fish recalling the "feeding of the 5,000" found in each of the gospels. The basket of bread and brilliant blue fish are a testimony to "God's enough" among us. We remember that Jesus received the bread and fish, blessed them, broke them and shared them. There was enough for all - with some left over.

God has provided enough for our ministry here in Gibson City, across the surrounding area, throughout our nation and around the world.

The version of the "feeding of the 5,000" in Mark 6 is my favorite. I like the part in which Jesus turns to his disciples who have just questioned where they will find enough food for everyone. Jesus says, "Go and see." Go and see what God has done and is doing, has and is providing.

Mother Teresa said, "If you can't feed one hundred people, then feed one."

Where have you experienced God's abundance at and through First Christian Church?

Mark Twain wrote a book called, "The Diary of Adam and Eve." Both Adam and Eve make entries into their daily journal as they discover the garden and all that fills it. One of the final entries by Adam finds him at the graveside of Eve. His blessing over her is simply, "Wheresoever she was, there was Eden."

Several times recently I have been reminded that it could well be said of Jesus Christ that "wheresoever he is, there is enough." Call to mind a parable or biblical story of an encounter with Jesus...

The Feeding of the Five Thousand - a few loves and fishes become enough
The Great Dinner - through all the excuses there is enough for the poor, crippled, blind, lame
Peter and Andrew Fishing - one more try was enough
The Widow - her mite was enough
The Woman with the Hemorrhage - her faith, Jesus' touch was enough
Blind Bartimaeus - a persistent faith, Jesus' attention was again enough
The Rich Young Ruler - though he went away sad, Jesus' invitation was enough
The Cross - even there God's love was enough

Farmers in central Illinois, waiting out another harvest-delaying-rain must wonder if there is enough time. Those who are unemployed or finding unemployment benefits coming to an end must wonder if there is enough work. An area family receiving the body of their son killed in Afghanistan must wonder if there is enough comfort and meaning.

God's enough in Jesus Christ is not a casual confession of faith, but a life-long witness lived one day at a time. Thank you for sharing the journey of God's enough.

There is a book, "Unbinding the Gospel" that I am excited about our congregation exploring this Fall. Actually, it is the content of the book - a focus on evangelism - that is exciting.

Last evening I visited with a congregation in Galesburg, Illinois. As I was early for the meeting I walked the halls, read bulletin boards, sat a moment in the beautiful sanctuary. I noticed that they had a large number photographs of smiling folks with their name and "confessions of faith" written below. They were mostly dated the spring of this year. One of the members enthusiastically told me that they had studied "Unbinding the Gospel" and that they had found new and meaningful ways to invite persons to Christ and into the life and witness of the congregation. She spoke of a man who would park his car at the corner of the church parking lot. Someone teasingly said, "If you park there you have to come to church here." So he did. Later his wife came. No one had ever invited him before. Everyday evangelism.

The opening to the book, by Gay Reece, has a quotation from Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible. He wrote:

Most of us, most of the time, feel left out-misfits. We don't belong...One of the ways we have of responding to this is to form our own club, or join one that will have us. Here is at least one place where we are "in" and others are "out"....The terrible price we pay for keeping all those other people out so that we can savor the sweetness of being insiders is a reduction of reality, a shrinkage of life....As Luke tells the story, all of us who have found ourselves on the outside looking in on life with no hope of gaining entrance (and who of us hasn't felt it?) now find the doors wide open, found and welcomed by God in Jesus.

To tell you the truth, I have never felt like we are a closed congregation, that we are cautious of who we let into the fellowship of First Christian Church. But, to tell more truth, I am not sure I am the best judge of that. I wonder if some have come and felt there was no place for them, for their worship of God.

Maybe what we can do best is make sure that the doors are opened wide, that in daily life we act and speak as a people who have been found by God, that we reach out as a people who know God's welcome in Christ. Let's find new ways.

Memorial Garden

Have trouble remembering? "AJ" doesn't. A recent article tells that in 2000 she wrote that she "can take a date, between 1974 and today, and tell you what day it falls on, what I was doing that day and if anything of importance occurred on that day. She had been called 'the human calendar' for years by her friends and acquaintances." The very rare condition is called hyperthymestic syndrome, based on the Greek word meaning "more than normal remembering."

There are a few dates from the past that I can vividly remember where I was - the day President Kennedy was assassinated; the evening Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated; the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger; the Oklahoma City bombing; the fall of the twin towers on 9/11. Each was a traumatic national event that broke into my awareness and exposed me to a wider world than the place where I was standing at the moment.

Here, at First Christian Church, a new memorial garden has begun to take shape. Within a week flowers are blooming. I have referred to it as a memorial garden and also as a peace garden. I have been asked, "Which is it?" To me it is both, but I am happy to be consistent in calling it a memorial garden.

Will Provin and a crew of Boy Scouts, leaders and parents created the garden just outside my window. The garden is the fruit of Will's Eagle Scout Project as well as memorial funds entrusted to the First Christian Church. The garden will continue to mature and become a familiar part of the church landscape.

It is a memorial garden. When I stand for a moment in the garden, my memory does not automatically improve or expand. I not not suffer from "more than normal remembering."

But what has happened is that I can stand, quiet myself for a moment, and allow God to help my remembering. Thoughts turn to members and friends from First Christian Church I have known, loved, cared for, and who have cared and nurtured me. Their faces return to me in a few moments of quiet, peace if you would. My only response is "thank you." My world expands to recall so many who have made this church what it is - by their prayers, labors, giving, and risk-taking. I believe you can name one or two or many. In that garden my world expands to see God more clearly, this God who has stirred in their hearts and minds and in mine. My only response is "thank you."

Thanks Will. Thanks memorial fund donors. Thank you families who choose church as a place of remembering. Thank you God.

Take a moment to stand in the garden. Who comes to your mind? Click and comment below and share your memories.

I Once Was Lost

It was an impressive display. Will threw his car keys about 40 feet out into our lawn. The keys settled into down into the thick grass - out of sight. And then the search began. Middle school and senior high youth as well as parents other church members stood back in fascination as the magnificent German shepherd set to work. It was a demonstration by the Gibson City Police Department canine unit.
The few commands given were in Polish, the dog's native language. With an eagerness of a parent seeking a lost child, the dog made broad sweeping circles, zeroing in on the keys. His nose was at grass level as he tried to distinguish one scent from others. Within two minutes he found the keys and crouched down until they were retrieved - much to Will's relief. This recent addition to the police department in Gibson City also found marijuana planted under the seat of our mower as well as under the bumper of Pastor Oerter's truck. (please note - planted by the police). And finally, the dog's ability to bring a running man to a halt, until assistance arrived. Altogether, an impressive demonstration.
I envied our canine friend. It is not always an easy thing to focus. Sitting in my office, I think of multiple places to be or tasks that need to be finished up. It is hard to leave the unfinished behind. I would imagine that most of us awaken in the morning to find a multitude of decisions to be made about how or where to invest the day's energy.
Last fall as we began a new season of ministry and mission our leadership through the Board, Elders, Nurture and Outreach ministries gave some attention to the Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation identified by Robert Schnase.
They are:

• Radical hospitality
• Passionate worship
• Intentional faith development
• Risk-taking mission and service
• Extravagant generosity

These practices can be found on each Board agenda, on the walls of our fellowship place, in our chapel, and throughout the newsletter. The wonderful part of this is that they continue to show up in the life and witness of the congregation.
Extravagant generosity is evident in the tremendous response of the congregation in our recent "New Love, New Mercy" stewardship. The stewardship committee as well as the small group leaders and hosts created a healthy environment for God to do new things through us!
Keep your eyes open, your nose to the ground, as we continue to search for and discover the wonder God has placed among us. Let us take it as a gift to others in service.

From Day One

Sometimes I gently shake books - in each hand a front and back cover, pages open and dangling below. It started hen I remembered how often I used dollar bills for bookmarks.

Now and then I shake scripture, gently. Though I have never winnowed, that might be what it is like. It isn't for the possibility of money. It is for the possibility of understanding. Most days I need understanding more than money. This week the phrase "From Day One" fluttered down from Genesis 1:1-5 when I shook it a little bit.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. -Genesis 1:1-5 NRSV

Say it again God. Say, "Let there be light....

• to show a way to peace for Israel and her neighbors,
• to show a way to jobs and meaningful labor for the unemployed and underemployed,
• to show a way to hope for all who are huddled in fear against terrorism,
• to show a way to comfort to those who grieve the death of one of your children,
• to show a way to compassion for those who are hungry to serve you.

Say it again God. And remind us it is good. From day one, let us be a part of your goodness.

Who are You?

Three times during this past week I made purchases. As I finished the transaction I was asked to participate in an evaluation of the one assisting me. Each said the evaluation would come in a few days. Two pointed out that the evaluation would be a reflection on them personally. These two salespersons asked me outright to give them "10's." Anything less would be a reflection on them personally.

The evaluations have not yet arrived. So I have some more time to think about it. I certainly don't want to cause any problems as both really were helpful. Eagerly and genuinely helpful. However, I am stubborn enough that I don't really care for persons suggesting how I should respond. I wanted to ask them to please rate themselves - my own version of "Who do you say you are?" (See John passage to the right of this entry.)

I wonder if our governor might attempt the same approach - "please give me all "10's." Apparently his approval rating has slipped to 4%. Trust is broken. As more information comes out, many citizen's of the state are likely asking, "Who are you?" or with more attitude "Who, in the world, do you think you are?"

John the Baptist might well have taken advantage of the opportunity to answer differently when questioned by the priests and Levites. "Are you the Messiah?" "No." "Are you Elijah?" "No." "Are you the prophet?" "No." John knew who he was and who he was not - he was the one preparing a way in the wilderness. His life pointed to Jesus, the Light of the World. In a land of deep darkness, a light has shined.

The ministry we share is one of pointing to Christ. We may be evaluated by others, but what may be most important, is that we know who we are and whose we are. The Messiah? No. But we are "God-bearers" in the world.

On Sunday, in worship, I commented on the disconnect between seasonal/ Christmas" music and what is going on around us. It isn't a new discovery, just an observation this year. My comments drew a variety of responses from "get over it Ed" to "tune it out" to "I couldn't agree more."

Walking in a Winter Wonderland seemed misplaced while Nancy and I were having lunch on November 19th as it was clear and nearly 50 degrees outside. And, O Holy Night arrived just after the sun came up on Thanksgiving morning. Both seemed to ignore where and when they were.

Songs that can evoke pleasant memories will likely be worn out and tattered at the edges by the time Christmas Day arrives. The day after, they can almost be an embarrassment as we hurry to put them away. I'm not advocating an end to Christmas music. I rather enjoy it most of the time.

However, the words of Lillian Daniel have jostled my thinking again about a season I have walked through 55 times now. She said, "But let us be clear that while the world's busy-ness may seem to be pointed toward Christmas, it is seldom pointed toward the coming Christ child."

With so many, I desire to find my voice to sing a song that takes a long look at the world's brokenness and its wonder and still find reason for hope in the Christ who is already present.

For Creation Waits...

For creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God;...

These are the words of the apostle Paul in a letter to the Christians, to the many house churches, in Rome. Over the last six weeks I have found myself continully drawn to visit and revisit these words for comfort, encouragement, purpose, and even celebration. They are hope-full words.

It has been and is a joyous wonder to see the children of God revealed in so many places and in so many ways. This week, the incredible outpouring of kindness and love for the families of Shanna and Madisyn is evidence of God's presence in and through a community. It is a wonderful thing to be able to walk through this community and indeed see the faces of the revealed children of God - in the faces of police and firefighters; doctors, nurses and hospital staff; school administrators, teachers and staff; clergy and congregations; businesses and organizations; neighbors and strangers.

On Sunday, at First Christian Church, it was wonderful to see so many of our children and youth gather at the front to greet worshippers as we went out to "love and serve the Lord." They have been much on our minds and in our hearts.

God's healing continues. "Hope grows where love flows." We give thanks to God for the love that flows through this community as hope grows in the faces of the revealed children of God.

Fellowship in an Unfinished House

Two weeks ago the Hustler's Class met at our home. As each car arrived and pulled up the drive, it was a little like getting much anticipated visitors all over again. There was something joyful about it.

Marti Wiebers offered a devotion that invited each person present to recall events in their own lives. Many gave illustrations of being cared for.

Margaret and Nancy Gambill, Dennis Higgins and I narrated a series of pictures taken during the mission trip to Iowa. There were illustrations of caring.

As over twenty persons were gathered in the small area of living and dining room, I was very conscious of our house being unfinished. It has been and will continue to be "a work in progress." But that is where we met - where we rejoiced in gathering, in caring, and in being cared for.

That seems to be one description of the church - a place of rejoicing, caring and being cared for in an unfinished house. God has much more in store for us - being the unfinished houses we are.

Jesus used the images of mercy to express how it is that we receive him or how it is that we reject him in daily life.

I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

I was naked and you gave me clothing,

I was sick and you took care of me,

I was in prison and you visited me.

Matthew 25

Last Sunday four members David Hagan, Katie Ricks, Glenn Branson and Nancy Taylor told of their personal experience with a least one of these mercies. They could each have spoken longer for there is much to tell. I can imagine that those members and friends sitting in the pews were also thinking of those moments in life where they offered, received, or witnessed one of these mercies.

"I was hungry and you fed me." Where have you experienced this act of mercy? Feeding? Being fed? Witnessing one feeding another? Click Comment below and tell your story.

PS

This week I have been in correspondence with artist, Jeremiah Patterson, who created watercolors of each of these mercies. One (I was naked and you clothed me...) appeared on our bulletin cover. It also appears here. You can see all seven of these on his web site at: http://www.jeremiahpatterson.com/sevenacts.html

A Gift from Lindsey

It was a joy to welcome Lindsey Elder into worship on October 12th and to receive her gifts of faith, insight, and passion. As many of you know Lindsey, a sophmore at Southern Illinois University, participated as an intern with Uncharted Waters sports ministry this summer.

With other young adults, Lindsey helped lead Vacation Church Schools and youth meetings in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, California and Mexico. She spoke eloquently of the hospitality she experienced in the homes of hosts along the way. It was particularly moving to hear her speak of a host in Mexico whose generous hospitality seemed to far outreach her means.

Lindsey looks forward to her studies and new opportunities for ministry. Thank you Lindsey! And, thank you all for the wonderful ways your faith leads you to encourage, uplift and sustain youth and adults as they explore their discipleship.

Iowa Mission Team

For three days, Margaret Gambill, Nancy Gambill, Dennis Higgins and I worked along side homeowners, a mission team from Des Moines and former First Christian youth minister Tom Felts in reclaiming two homes in Iowa.

Floods in June of this year have still unsettled many residents. Water levels in the two homes ranmged from 3 feet to 7.5 feet. While neighborhoods look fairly normal (save piles of debris), many home interiors are still stripped to bare studs. Many residents wait for funds and labor to secure homes before winter.

Here are a few photos. Thank you for your continued support of First Christian Church mission teams.

Gone Horse Sale-ing

My "Holy Day" for nearly 20 years has been a visit to the Waverly Sale Barn in Waverly, Iowa. The event is billed as "The World's Largest Draft Horse Sale." Over 700 head of draft horses are sold one at a time. Magnificent animals. A relaxing community of farmers and ranchers, Amish and English, Canadian and Mexican and German. See you after the Holy Day. This Belgian sold for $35,000.

Global Positioning System Faith

On our recent Mission Team trip to Iowa, Dennis Higgins entered our destination address into his new GPS (Global Positioning System). After that, a rather kind voice guided us highway by highway, road by road and street by street to the Disciple’s mission station waiting for us. If we took a path different than the one suggested, we would hear the voice tell us they were reconfiguring a new route based on where we actually were.

Recently I have thought a lot about how we navigate and negotiate the path we take as individuals. A wheel-chair mobile person negotiates a way through life differently than another. Someone who is blind, or has cancer, or cannot speak English, or who is young, or one who is married, or who is older, or… Well, you get the picture. We each make our way through life with our particular set of abilities, insights and circumstances.

As pastor, I am given to thought to how we make our way in the world as the church, specifically as First Christian Church. And, I know you think about it also. We make our way as protestants, as a “mainline” congregation, as Disciples of Christ, as a small congregation, as…

It is a joy to be your pastor, to be a minister and missionary with you, as we make our way into the world. We remember the one who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” May we navigate the Way with joy, hope, and love.

What gifts, abilities, insights, challenges and circumstances influence the way you navigate in daily life - the way you navigate as a child of God on a path of faith?