Category Archives: Meditation

Saving Faith

Posted on March 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

No way they’re gonna believe us! We can imagine this was part of the women’s conversation while they ran from the tomb to tell the disciples that Easter morning. And in this year’s gospel text for Easter (Luke 24:1-12), the disciples don’t. It takes time, and discovery, and reflection.

More and more, we live in a show me world. We expect to see it, if it’s real. Skepticism and distrust rule; faith based on past promises is pushed aside. Today, we’d expect Mary and the others to use their phones to send real-time images of the angels inside the tomb saying He is not here, but has risen, while they pointed to the empty space where Jesus’ body had lain.

But if we don’t see it…what realities of God’s presence could we be missing?

The resurrection announcement calls for faith, and for hope. They are the only way to receive it. Even an empty tomb would not be enough to prove the good news. The disciples had to work it through, make further discoveries of his life with them, reflect on the nature of the promises of scripture he’d talked about. Only then did the reality of the new life really bubble up within them, as they shared the days and weeks after that Easter dawn.

Ours is a hard, hurt world. We have no need of more evidence of that, knowing the pain that has been suffered by members of our church family, and hearing the daily news. It must be that God understands when we are doubtful, when we seek more proof of the power of resurrection. But our calling as the church is to lift up faith and hope, even when the world seems to be forgetting that there is so much reality that can’t be captured on camera.

We need to bring faith, and hope, to Easter. They are the only way to receive it. Only by working it through, reflecting on the promises in God’s word, and (especially) sharing the actions together which represent good news – can we live in Easter’s reality.

Whatever the conditions of our lives and our world as this Holy Week approaches, bring what faith and hope you can muster and plan to be part of our church’s activities. Do you have a friend, relative, neighbor or co-worker who needs a community to help rekindle their own belief in life’s ultimate goodness? BE SURE TO INVITE THEM.

We will sing our glad ALLELUIAS together.

Rod

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Lent and Gospel

Posted on January 31, 2013 | Leave a comment

These are typically considered “lean” times for the church. NPR has recently finished a series featuring the “nones” – the increasing number of folks, especially young adults, who profess no religious affiliation. There is growing interest in what is sometimes called “new atheism.” Many former church members now consider themselves “spiritual, not religious.”

In the church, many argue that it is time for us to grieve the end of Christendom (all the centuries when the church held a favored place in society) – and then get on with what we’re truly called to do, which is to gospel (yes, hear that as a verb).

Douglas John Hall, a respected theologian, writes that the receding of religion has left large numbers of Westerners an emptiness that neither consumerism nor social activism nor entertainment nor sex nor any other substitute for religion can fill. He believes they are waiting for something to correspond to the spirituality so many of them insist they have even when they loudly disclaim any religious affiliation.

The challenge for all serious Christians, Hall says, is not whether we can devise yet more novel and promotionally impressive means for the transmission of ‘the Christian religion’…it is whether we are able to hear and to proclaim…gospel!

For Hall, and for us, this doesn’t mean the simplistic, feel-good evangelism of so many of the new evangelical churches. It means a message that really goes to the heart of life, where the big questions are.

Lent is a good time to get back to basics, as the church follows Jesus in his journey to Jerusalem. This year, a Sunday series called Something to Say will focus on a contemporary look at such things as grace, repentance, and justification as pieces of Gospel that are deeply needed today. How can we speak and live them to a world that has often rejected “religion” but is hungry for the truth carried by the church?

Here’s a look at the scripture, and themes. Why not have a look ahead of Sunday?

February 17 Luke 4:1-3 Temptation of Jesus What’s happened to sin?
February 24 Genesis 15: 1-12,17-18 God’s promise to Abram Covenant foundation
March 3 Luke 13:1-9 A call to repentance The joy of ‘I’m sorry’
March 10 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 The prodigal son Grace amazes
March 17 John 12:1-8 Mary anoints Jesus But what about dying?

Let’s have a good season of reflection together.

Peace,

Rod

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Advent: A Lovely Restlessness

Posted on December 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

There’s a loveliness to be found even amidst the hard-sell harriedness of the holiday push. It might be in a light early winter snowfall. It might be in a carol piped above mall shoppers that you hear in a new way. It might be in a smell of baking, or a child’s eager question. It could be in the sanctuary, watching a candle take flame and singing O Come, O Come… or in ancient words that promise the coming of peace in the One we call Our Peace.

Heaven knows we need such moments in times like these.

But if our efforts are directed only toward wrapping ourselves in loveliness, we will have missed our Advent calling. The prophets’ messages of this season direct us toward the coming again of One who was born in a dark stable in an occupied town… and as of this writing, this same land of his birth is exploding with rockets and wails of mourning. He came to a humble family and would grow to associate with folks on the margins of his society… and if we look through Christ-focused eyes we see how the real needs of such persons in our land are unmet, even trampled.

Advent’s hope is heralded through the rough voice of the Baptist, challenging us to prepare the way and to bear fruits worthy of repentance. This we can only do by first looking deep inside, and then deeply at the world around us, and allowing a restlessness to surface. A restlessness with ourselves, and with the conditions of our world that call into question our true readiness for a holy birth among us.

And then we must do something, or some things, even in small ways, to channel this restlessness into actions that help prepare the way – in our hearts, our families, our world.

I recently ran across this prayerful poem by Dom Helder Camara:

Take away the quietness
of a clear conscience,
Press us uncomfortably.
For only thus
that other peace is made,
your peace.

May loveliness, and restlessness, be ours this Advent season.

Peace, Rod

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Fall Retreat & Labyrinth

Posted on September 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Presbyterian Church in Burlington is holding a fall retreat for Christians to reflect on their personal
spiritual journeys and their current place along the road of faith. The theme is Journeying with God and
will include both congregational and individual experiences throughout the day. This event will be held
on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 9AM – 3PM and will include times for sharing and listening to
others, for rejoicing and praising, for quiet reflection including Lectio Divina and guided meditation, and
to top it all off, the opportunity to walk on a brand new Chartres style labyrinth. Lunch will be provided
and a $5.00 minimum donation as you register will help cover our costs.

No experience with either retreats or labyrinths is necessary. However, due to the need to use all of our
classrooms for activities, we cannot provide childcare at this event. Call the office up until Sept 16th to
reserve a spot and/or to ask questions: 781-272-9190. The church is located at 335 Cambridge Street in
Burlington.

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Saying Thanks and Recovering

Posted on June 3, 2012 | Leave a comment
Dancing to the '60s

Dancing to the ’60s

We danced 60s-style, dined internationally, worshiped on a beautiful Sunday morning, and even have 100+ hygiene kits ready to send to Church World Service, all as part of a fine Golden Anniversary for Burlington Presbyterian. If you haven’t already done so, please join me in expressing hearty and heartfelt THANKS to a faithful, creative, and hardworking Planning Team: Judy Brunner and Sue Hadsell, co-chairs; Jen Dewar, Steve and Barbara Karanja, Susan Kemen, Marion McPhee. They rounded up some great volunteers who helped, notably Mark and Cheryl Wells who coordinated the anniversary reception.

Now, let’s all take a deep breath as June arrives, bringing summer. It’s been a full season, and a year that has been full of joys, sorrows, and hard work.

But our enjoyment of times together, in friendship with one another and in service of God, will not end. In fact, here is a preview of a few things coming our way as summer unfolds:

  • June 10 will be our Christian Education celebration with cookout. After that
    Sunday there will be “summer celebrations” for children preschool-grade 2 in
    place of Sunday School.

    • I’m looking forward to hosting a “Friday Night at the Movies” series, spread
    throughout summer weeks.

  • On Thursday, June 21, a well-known Celtic harpist and storyteller, Patrick Ball,
    will give a performance in our sanctuary.

    More information about the above appears in Crossroads.

    The Session will start piecing together a process for exploring the future of ministry in our building – since our fine nursery school program of 43 years held its final “graduation” on May 25.

    So with thanks in our heart, some chance for a needed rest, and anticipation of the future together, let us move into summer.

    Peace,

    Rod

    Folks who were here during the tenure of our first pastor - Dick Douse

    Folks who were here during the tenure of our first pastor – Dick Douse

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    Being Easter People

    Posted on April 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

    This month, Burlington Presbyterian Church’s 50th anniversary will begin in earnest, with additions to Sunday worship and a ‘60’s Party (can’t wait!). Millie Wiegand is working on an updated history booklet, and in her draft she says that I remind us that we are Easter people (though I’m not sure I’ve done that often as she recalls!). She writes,

    This means that although we acknowledge Easter as a historic and worshipful event, the Easter gospel is that Christ is alive. The Holy Spirit is even now at work in the world, making Him known to us.

    This is an amazing claim! To me, there are some things that being an Easter person doesn’t mean, as well as does.

    I don’t believe it means having to have an ironclad theology of the resurrection (even the Bible expresses this truth in various ways). I don’t believe it means regularly addressing the folks with whom we work, play, and otherwise hang out in specific religious language.

    I believe it does mean: Seeing and sometimes experiencing the life of Christ present among people, churched or otherwise (after all, his life is loose in the world!); allowing our lives to be shaped (thanks to the Holy Spirit) to be more like his; living as though the lives of others, and the world, are most important, and finding deep joy in serving them; and knowing that the darkest night doesn’t hold God’s final word to us – that word is life.

    It is my true hope that in its 50 years of existence, BPC has authentically witnessed to something of what it means to be Easter people – and that it will continue to do so for many, many years to come.

    Happy Easter, and Happy Anniversary!

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    Lent, Dust and Covenant

    Posted on March 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

    We’ve entered the church’s season of Lent; and most folks these days have only the vaguest notion of what it is, and how we should feel and act. In the church’s early centuries, a period of time was set for new believers to prepare themselves for baptism at dawn on Easter Day. This was extended to a period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) intended for all Christians to get themselves ready through repentant hearts, and deeds of self-denial and service to others, so as to be truly centered on the celebration of resurrection and new life.

    Usual discussions of “what to do” revolve around “giving something up” for Lent, or “taking on” some new form of caring for others.

    But at heart, Lent invites us into a way of seeing and knowing ourselves in relationship to God – the most basic way. Poet Mary Coleridge, of the 19th century, may capture this spirit:

    Lord of the winds, I cry to thee.
    I that am dust,
    And blown about by every gust
    I fly to thee.

    Lord of the waters, unto thee I call.
    I that am weed upon the waters borne,
    And by the waters torn,
    Tossed by the waters, at thy feet I fall.

    It’s the cry of a heart that knows how only God can give meaning and life in a stormy world. At the same time, it seems as though the blowing gusts and tossing waters are actually directing the speaker God-ward. That’s a radically different outcome than if we were only “dust in the wind,” to quote the old rock ‘n’ roll song.

    During this Lent, our worship will look at the concept of “covenant,” and how it is much more than an old Bible term for God’s relationship with Israel: it is basic to how we can learn about our place in a turbulent world. We’ll explore covenant notions like grace, personal responsibility, judgment and redemption, and future hope, through the journey of Israel and the church.

    I hope you’ll join us for all the Sundays in Lent!

    Peace,

    Rod

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    Burnout and our Spirits

    Posted on January 29, 2012 | Leave a comment
    He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves
    and rest awhile.’ (Mark 6:30)

    That’s Jesus, inviting his disciples to retreat and rest after they’ve been doing ministry around the countryside. Trying to get away from demands for awhile, and to feed his spirit, is not unusual for Jesus in the gospels.

    “Burnout” isn’t a word Jesus and his disciples would be familiar with. But they faced the human reality that we can’t constantly spend our energies, even on those things that feel most important, without balancing it with some breaks – and, in the case of our faith, times for real spiritual nurture.

    Your Session recently had an impromptu conversation about exhaustion in the church; and it is real. A church which maintains an active pace like ours (and folks new to us often comment on this) requires a lot of energy. Inevitably this means that at least some committed people at any one time will have feelings of burnout, which one author as described as the body’s doing the work, but the spirit’s not present. To a busy church life, add unexpected losses, drawing on our emotional and physical resources, and the general aura of discouragement so many sense in the world at large these days, and we have a mix that leaves many folks feeling depleted and less than joyful even about service in the church.

    Taking a cue from Jesus himself (!), which we church leaders should always be more attentive to than we have been, we’ll be making this a theme for 2012.

    There are many more aspects to our “recovery” than I can mention here. They include much more than just “time off” for busy people, though those who have served long at the same tasks may need encouragement to do that. Also important will be some reassessing of what we’re doing and what’s most valuable to continue, and what’s not, and offering more opportunities for refreshing the spirit.

    Maybe nothing’s more important, though, than seeking to welcome the gifts of volunteers in those areas which they feel most suited for, and which can make them feel most glad. You can expect (I hope!) more use of what members have shared on the time and talent commitments for this year, as areas of our life together in which they might truly feel called to join in. If you haven’t completed a time and talent form for 2012, it’s not too late to do that! They’re available in the church entryway, or just ask.

    Peace,

    Rod

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    Joining with the Characters of Christmas

    Posted on December 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

    This year, the Sundays of Advent will be filled with people who play beloved roles in the story of God’s coming among us in Jesus. But we won’t be trying to rush into Christmas early!

    Instead, we’ll explore each week the ancient Hebrew and Old Testament roots that help explain the meaning of the wise men, shepherds, Mary and Joseph. They don’t spring spontaneously onto the scene, but come filled with old understandings as well as fresh significance. They help to shape the nativity stories of Matthew and Luke in very different ways. And they reflect many of the same longings, struggles, and conflicts that are part of our world in 2011.

    Our children and youth will be important in this journey. Sunday classes are preparing banners based on these characters to be presented each week, and each group will take a turn in the lighting of the Advent candles.

    As you’ll see later in Crossroads, adults have an opportunity to delve more deeply into the scriptures and characters for each Sunday during their study group at 9:15 a.m. New folks are always welcome!

    And the season will also have regular BPC traditions: Christmas caroling to seniors and shut-ins on December 18; and our Christmas Eve Family Service featuring children and youth in Nativity Tableaux (“scenes”).

    Because Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sundays this year, special plans are underway. On Christmas we will have a family-friendly Service of Lessons and Carols. New Year’s Day will feature a brunch, with communion around the tables, as a meaningful way to begin the new year.

    Many of our members (and some friends!) will be helping to staff People Helping People’s Wish Tree at the Mall for three days during the shopping season to help bring holiday blessing to families having hardships. Our Deacons are planning a special offering opportunity, which will include assisting local nursing home residents with clothing (as you’ll see later in Crossroads).

    Come, be part of the real blessings of God’s Christmas. Is there a friend you could invite to share the gift, too?

    Peace,

    Rod

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