Pastor Brian's Ruminations

May 15, 2007

I had a computer mixup last week, so this didn’t get out to everyone as I had planned (note the Mother’s Day reference at the end!).  So you’ll get two email messages from me this week.  Blessings!   BCH

Greetings fellow pilgrims on the journey,

J. Philip Wogaman wrote some of his reflections in a book called “An Unexpected Journey.”  Dr. Wogaman was one of my professors when I participated in a special Washington semester of study at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, and later spent ten years in ministry at Foundry UM Church in Washington, DC where many national political leaders have worshiped.  In his reflections, he writes, “…the church seems to be positioned somewhere near the middle of the culture wars…Culture war issues matter, but trusting more deeply in the grace of God can help us avoid demonizing our adversaries.”

In the midst of many polarizing issues in our day such as war in Iraq, abortion, and homosexuality, can we avoid demonizing our adversaries on one side or another?   When was the last time we sat down for a cup of coffee with someone we know who sees things very differently than we do?  And in the church it is all the more part of our very calling to sit down together, for “in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13).  That’s the kind of thing we try to do at Annual Conference each year as we seek the Spirit’s leading together.  And I believe that this is what we are doing, in informal conversations and at the worship information meetings we have held as we discern the direction for fall worship and the fall schedule together.

John Wesley called such conversations with brothers and sisters “Christian conferencing.”  He saw this as one of the means of grace, in fact, like Holy Communion or praying or getting into the Scriptures!  It can happen in large groups (the hundreds of folks at Annual Conference, where, by the way, Pastor Melanie will be ordained this year!), or in small groups. 

Are you in a small group for spiritual growth or serving Christ in mission?  I hope every member and friend of our congregation finds a home in a small group.  If you need help looking for one, or getting one going, let me know….

And just for fun…Some elementary children were asked why God made mothers.  Here are a couple of their answers: (1) She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. (2) To help us out of there when we were getting born.

When asked what kind of girl was your Mom, these two answers came: (1) I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. (2) They say she used to be nice.

Moms have to be tough sometimes indeed!  Give thanks this week for all the gifts your mother has helped to plant and cultivate in your life. 

Shalom,

Brian