Don't Be One of "Those" Ushers

It's Sunday morning. The sanctuary is set for worship to begin. The choir is in its place. Music hangs in the air as the congregation settles in. The Communion Table is set with homemade breads and those tiny, little chalices filled with Welch's Grape Juice. All things are ready.

We've gathered at this table before... many times, actually. We've heard the story of Jesus sharing his final meal with his friends. And then we are invited to eat and drink that which has been prepared and blessed, with the reminder that no matter who we are or where we are on life's journey, we are welcome to receive from that which is upon Christ's table.

Until today... today is different. The meal hasn't changed. The story is still the same. Yet, our actions will speak louder than our words.

Seeing the message of "God's Doors Are Open To All" printed on the rainbow doors out front, a new family decides to worship with us. They've heard about how welcoming our church is and want to give it a try. You see, they were part of another church in the next town over until things became too difficult for them to stay. For a variety of reasons they no longer felt safe there and decided that their only option was to leave.

And we became their destination.

The family begins walking toward our front doors... when all hell breaks loose.

The ushers, positioned at the church's entrance, have locked all of the doors to the building and have begun lobbing canisters of tear gas at the would-be visitors. Accompanying the assault are words shouted by the ushers; "Go back to where you came from! You're not welcome here!"

The parents frantically grab their children and run for safety, coughing and gagging as the tear gas makes its way into their mouths and lungs.

Inside, worship has begun and the organ is pumping out a boisterous tune, loud enough that those gathered in the sanctuary are unaware of the war that has erupted just outside the doors. And when it comes time for communion...they eat the bread, drink the juice and rejoice that the God they worship has called them to be part of such a "welcoming" community.

Now... thankfully, this is not the scenario playing out on a Sunday morning in our church. Nor would it be. I mean, our ushers are incredibly welcoming people.

However, this scenario is playing out on the southern border of our nation. Those leaving their homes behind because they are no longer safe for them or their families, in seeking asylum in our nation are greeted not with welcome arms but tear gas and rubber bullets. At one of our nation's ports of entry, a war zone has erupted. Families and children are running for their lives as they are fired upon.

Just as the Communion Table can serve as an open, welcoming destination for those of us who are in need of at least one place where we can be our true selves and not experience judgment or suffer harm, our nation once served as a place for those whose lives were in turmoil.

Until now. Now, those seeking asylum... those escaping extreme poverty, civil unrest and living conditions not one of us would wish for ourselves... they are met at our militarized border in a trauma-inducing rain of weaponry.

A not so subtle message of (un)welcome.

In just a few short weeks the church is going to be celebrating the birth of one whom many of us have chosen to follow. And yes, our culture has sterilized the story in a way, making Christmas more about his birth than about the circumstances that surrounded it. You see, Jesus wasn't born into a world that was perfect... far from it, actually. He came into a world where those in power sought to kill him... and eventually succeeded.

His family were refugees... escaping a situation that would've surely ended with not only Jesus' death but perhaps that of Mary and Joseph as well. Jesus was born into extreme hostility.

Can you imagine if when Joseph and Mary knocked on the innkeeper's door they were met instead by stones hurled at them from inside? Thankfully, that's not the story we have learned.

The innkeeper cared for these strangers, had compassion for them in their moment of great need. And the church has grown to carry on that tradition of hospitality, of caring, and of extravagant welcome. The church has lived into the call to love our neighbor... no matter who they are.

So once again, our churches are in direct contrast with the world in which we find ourselves. Our neighbors to the south are in need of our help. At the very least, they need to know that those hurling tear gas canisters at them and their children do not represent what we know to be the heart of our nation. And we must do what we can to put an end to this inhumane treatment.

Because the reality is... if we don't put an end to it soon, it will escalate. History provides plenty of examples for us, unfortunately.

So today, we must all live into our calling as Jesus-followers. We must make it a priority to address this situation. We must stand up for the lives of those whom some in our nation deem insignificant. Call your elected officials now and demand that we cease to militarize our borders, that we cease to inflict harm upon those coming to us seeking asylum.

Because this is not who we are! And we cannot, with a clear conscience, prepare to celebrate the birth of one refugee while waging war on others!

Our Faith is at Odds With Our Culture

In light of recent events in our nation and in response to a concern raised that the #MeToo movement is becoming a permission-giving movement where false accusations can be spread with intent to harm, I share this:

No movement, #MeToo or otherwise, dare I say no behavior, should EVER be lived with an intent to cause another person harm. And the #MeToo movement, in its creation, was not developed to give people permission to cause such harm. It is meant to bring people together with similar trauma histories in order to remind them that they are not alone and to remind the rest of us that our nation, our world, is in need of significant change in order to bring us to a place where we truly love one another as God intends… which sadly is not the experience of many in our nation today.

Many women and men are denied this experience of abundant love because of the overwhelmingly abusive power presenting as systemic misogyny and racism that are at the heart of much of our nation and its leadership today, both locally and nationally. And we see this most often when our neighbors begin to step out of the shadows and name the violence/discrimination/oppression they endure. We’ve seen it with Black Lives Matter, March for our Lives and now with #MeToo.

Jesus saw through this abuse of power in his time. He surrounded himself with those whom his culture continually brushed aside. He named to those in power the extent to which they had abused their positions and caused harm to their community and God’s beloved children. And then, Jesus in instructions to his disciples and to anyone with ears to hear, passed on the same instructions to us today. We are to love one another as God intended. This means listening when someone names how they have been harmed. This means being present for those who have endured abuse. This means taking a hard look at the system, the institution that has been created and decide whether or not it is in line with that which God envisioned for us. And if not… we must do everything in our faith and in our power to correct it.

Too many of our neighbors are being re-traumatized because people are unwilling to believe that someone would be capable of doing something so horrible. And we, as the church, as followers of Jesus Christ, must stand up against that ignorance and help to bring the truth to light.

Claiming to be a Christian is probably one of the more difficult things to do in our world today… because it means living according to a faith which is often at odds with our culture. Unfortunately, we are seeing this more and more in our world today. And as I’m sure that God weeps at this reality… I weep as well.

Despite (or perhaps because of) knowing how difficult that could be, I recommit myself, and invite you to do the same, to live according to the faith which God instills in us… to do justice, to love unconditionally those whom we know and those whom we’ve yet to meet, and to walk humbly with the God who dreams of a world where peace can finally be experienced. Until that day, we must do as Jesus commands… to speak the truth to power and pray that our love of neighbor helps to bring about the necessary healing in our world.

Church... I love you!

This is the letter that was shared as one of the testimonies in worship on Sunday, May 6.

I thought I would take the Apostle Paul’s lead, and craft and present to you a letter - from me, to you.

Timoth, devoted follower of Jesus,  humble servant of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Rumford, with friends and members of the faith family that is Newman Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.

Grace and peace to you.

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus, who through his radical teachings and his modeling of extravagant welcome provides for us all an experience of unconditional love. In the name of our Creator God and God’s Most Holy Spirit, the unseen, that flows within and around us all.

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Now, I’m not just saying this… I truly am thankful for each and every one of you. For through you I have been blessed. My family has been blessed. God has been at work in and through you since before I arrived. And will continue with you long after I am gone. 

(ok, just a parenthetical note here - please don’t take that last line to mean that I am considering leaving. I take very seriously the consideration that Nancy Gage presented to me the night of my first interview with the search committee. While touring the buildings we found ourselves in the Narthex - or the entryway - admiring the portraits of several of Newman UCC’s former pastors. I remarked how wonderful it would be to come back to this place which at the time was a mere 370 years old, how wonderful it would be to come back in 30 years for the 400th anniversary. To which Nancy questioned; “what do you mean ‘come back?’” Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere)

I shared with our search committee in the beginning and I share it again with you now. I have never felt a stronger sense of call to ministry than I do in this place. And together, we have accomplished great things.

And yes, it hasn’t always been easy. During my time with you we have seen, and moved through, significant conflict. Some of that conflict brought about due to the mere understanding of how it is that God has created me to be. 

And what we have learned in the process echoes the understanding found in the words of the great theologian, Kelly Clarkson - “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

We are stronger. To quote another great theologian, Pat Trodson; “We are not what we once were - and we are more what we should be.”

The conflict we have navigated came on the heels of some of the most joyful moments in my life, and in our shared experience.

You were there with us as Peter and I stood on this very spot and celebrated our marriage, finally legal in all 50 states although I would be remiss if I didn’t name that Rhode Island was one of the first to pass this justice-filled legislation.

You were there to celebrate the day with us. And just over a week later, you were there when we adopted our first son, Jacob.

You were there when our family grew by two more, when we adopted Adrian and William. And now, as we open our hearts and our lives to other children, you have been and are now there for us as we foster these children.

Who wouldn’t be thankful for a community filled with aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers all willing to share in the nurturing of these children… and of course, in the holding of the baby?

I thank God for those moments and for the role this church played in it all. The outpouring of love was a testament to who you are and how it is that you are living your faith in this place.

And I believe, the bond we created in those moments helped us to navigate the treacherous landscape that was about to become our reality.

For many of you know that following our wedding and Jacob’s adoption, the waters became a bit rough and our faith family began to divide. 

I would skip right over this portion of our shared history if it weren’t for the fact that it was in the midst of it all that I saw how strong you were in your faith. I saw how it was, and is now, that Jesus’ life and teachings mattered to you… mattered so much that you embodied them.

Many of you in that time spoke the truth with love, even if it meant naming the unhealthy behavior of others who were dear friends.

Because of your witness, God’s church in this place has been able to thrive.

I give thanks for the ways in which God guided you, guided us to the place we are now… through shared wisdom and prayer, love and mercy, we have grown in our faith and in our witness to the world of what it means to be true followers of Jesus.

As I look at you now, you are a new church. We are a new church, more closely reflecting (I believe) that which God has envisioned for us.

We have taken Jesus’ commandments and breathed them down into our very being.

Our love of God is apparent - in our worship, our shared ministries, our dedication to one another and to this place. We live it when we celebrate the sacraments of baptism and communion, accepting God’s invitation to community and welcoming others in.

And our love of Neighbor abounds.

Hygiene Kits and Clean Up buckets

Eggs for Haiti

Blankets for victims of Domestic Violence

Blessing Bags

Soup Kitchen

The Bread of Life Food Pantry

Aids Care Ocean State

Hospice Care of Rhode Island

RIOP

Crossroads

Back Bay Missions

Haiti Clinic Medical Staff

Summer Youth Mission Trips

Collations following funerals and Memorial Services

(If I weren’t writing this to you in the form of a letter, I would step down from the pulpit and invite each of you to add to this list as I’m sure I have missed many of the ways in which we live out our commandment to love our neighbors. But alas, this is a letter and not a sermon so you will have to do that work on your own - taking a moment to think of the ways in which you have seen our shared work live out our faith in our community, our nation and around the world.)

One other way that I can name as to how it is we live out our love of neighbor is through our denominational support.

Of the roughly 5,000 congregations in the United Church of Christ, our financial support for the work of the church locally and globally through our commitment to Our Church’s Wider Mission ($33,000 budgeted for this year - which is actually down about $13,000 from previous years) - this commitment puts us in the top 1% of churches based on our level of support.

God continues to do great things through you. Lives are blessed because of you. And I thank God for you.

I thank God for the invitation you have extended to me to participate in your lives and in some of the most sacred, most intimate of moments. 

I have baptized your children.

I have buried your loved ones.

I have sat at your bedside in hospitals and hospice.

I have listened as you’ve cried.

And I have rejoiced with you as you celebrate.

And with each of these experiences, if I have not named it already let me name it now… I am honored to be your pastor. I am honored to be invited into these moments where we name God’s presence and lean heavily on our faith with an understanding that we are not alone in that which we encounter.

Church - I love you!

I love you! It’s not something I often say from the pulpit so I write it in this letter. 

I love you for the many ways you accompany me on my journey. For the many ways you engage with the various crazy ideas I present. Drive Thru Ashes as but one of many examples.

I love you for never giving up… on me, on one another, on this church… I love you for never giving up on God.

I love you for supporting me in my continuing education, growing in my own faith and leadership, growing in my understanding of what it is that God is calling me to be about in this place and in our community.

I love you for showing up.

I love you for your honesty.

I love you for your bravery, your commitment, your perseverance, your hospitality, your eagerness to learn, your ability to admit failure and to move on to new things.

I love you for living as God intends as best you are able.

So friends, know that there are an infinite number of words I could add to this letter showing how thankful I am that God has brought our lives alongside one another. Trust, if given the opportunity and the time, that I would love to sit with each of you and to hear in your own words how it is that you see God at work in your life. 

I know that God is. And God will continue to be faithful in that, entering into your life in truly spectacular ways.

This Thursday, as I give God thanks for 10 years of Ordained ministry, I will give thanks for this community as it is you who have helped to most fully form me in my understanding of who it is that God calls me to be… and subsequently, who it is that God is calling us to be as God’s church.

And for that I am also truly thankful.

Go forth and continue to testify to love. Proclaim Christ. Live the Gospel and assist in God’s great plan for healing and reconciliation.

God has begun a great work in you… and God will be faithful to complete it.

Thank you for inviting me into it all. 

I thank God for you daily.

Greet everyone you meet in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. And know that all of the Saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

I'l be a witness in the silences

When words are not enough

With every breath I take

I will give thanks to God above

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love