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WEEKLY PASTORAL LETTER – April 30, 2013
Rev. Graham P. Hart – General Presbyter
Boston, the Gospel and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance:
Making connections… being present… sharing support
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
For God so loved the world, he sent his son…. are words so familiar it is easy for us to lose their meaning and impact, yet they stand at the heart of what we believe and how, as followers of Jesus, we are called to live. Without going into a theological discussion, at its core, John 3:16 is about a purposeful God who, in the face of humankind’s short-sighted and sinful ways, never-the-less chose to love us by being present, sharing love and support, and making a connection with us in and through Christ. And, in summary form the church, as witnesses to the evangel, is called to go and do likewise. How? One of the many ways the PCUSA has chosen to bear witness to the love of God in Christ is to respond, in the face of natural disasters and human tragedies, by having trained representatives on our behalf, to be present, share support, and make connections. We talk about being a connectional church, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance [PDA] is just one of the visible ways those connections are offered and maintained. [Click here to go to the PDA home page]. Two weeks ago Bruce Wismer, a PDA trained volunteer and co-pastor of Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, was deployed on behalf of all of us in the PCUSA to go to Boston after the horrific and tragic events there [click here for PDA responses to Boston]. After Hurricane Charlie devastated our area in 2004, PDA helped us in the re-building of 8 congregations and 1000 homes. We, in Peace River, have a pretty good idea of how PDA responds in a natural disaster, but what about the disasters that have human origins and are caused by evil and humankind’s inhumanity to one another? [click here for how the ecumenical faith community responded to Boston] I thank Bruce Wismer for writing and sharing [see below] with us his reflections and experience of being in Boston the day after the bombing, and being present, making connections, and sharing support.
Thanks be to God who continues to be the wind in our sails and helps us steer into the future in each of our journeys!
Graham Graham Hart General Presbyter [email protected]
REFLECTIONS ON BOSTON – BRUCE WISMER – PDA VOLUNTEER
I arrived in Boston around noon on Tuesday and met up with Cheryl Baldwin, a LMHC from Erie, Pennsylvania; Lisa Baker, a second career seminary student from Springfield, Massachusetts; and Rev. Mark Kayser, a retired military chaplain from Tryon, North Carolina. We’re all members and colleagues of the National Response Team.
The purpose of our deployment was to support the leadership of Boston Presbytery and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. Over the 3 1/2 days we contacted or connected with a couple of dozen faith leaders and had conversation with FEMA, Red Cross and the Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships.
One of our primary tasks, particularly in a first deployment, is to show up, stand with and be a supportive and stabilizing presence. In a very tangible way we represent both the presence of Christ and the care of the larger faith community.
On the first evening we attended a prayer service at 4th Presbyterian Church where one of the children of that church played on the same baseball team as Martin Richard, the 8-year old killed in the bombing. It was touching and a sacred time. Wednesday evening we gathered with a large group in Milford for a community service for Krystle Campbell. We sang, prayed and shared grief. Standing there we sensed the gift of community. Thursday we stood in the midst of thousands outside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and heard words of hope from the speakers who had authority and power in their voice. We ended the day in worship with the beloved of Old South Congregation. Their Sanctuary was located within the bomb area and they were unable to enter or use their sanctuary. The service was held at the Church of the Covenant (PCUSA) just a few blocks away. It was beautiful as we gathered with them in holiness. Each service was authentic, rich and the Spirit was present. It was a privilege to be present in each one.
As you could expect there was a very odd sense. What I noticed, probably felt more, was disbelief and stun rather than shock. Shock had not yet emerged. As we made our visits with pastors, members and folks on the street we heard the resolve in their voice but disbelief in their words.
The bomb area was barricaded and there was a strong police/military presence. I heard between 9 and 10 thousand local, state and federal agents and authorities were actively supporting the response. Their presence was noticeable and comforting as much as disconcerting.
Friday was the strangest day, and at the recommendation of the authorities, our denominational staff, and the team’s basic common sense, we at a very safe distance from the Watertown, stayed in and worked on reports, made calls and watched the events unfold on the TV. Other than a periodical helicopter fly over and slowness to the traffic it could have been like any other day, but we knew it was not.
Here’s what I learned from the experience. Stun and shock are not necessarily the same thing. Disbelief and bewilderment are expressed differently. Worship is the opportunity for the beloved to breathe together, be together and believe. I also was reminded that God is close and as we pay attention we’ll notice. Bruce Wismer Co-Pastor Pine Shores Presbyterian Church Sarasota, Fl. [email protected]
PRAYER NEEDS
Please pray for: Rev. Steve Nagy – in Physicians Regional Hospital on Pine Ridge Road Please continue to pray for: Valerie Bell, Pastor of Holy Trinity – facing potential surgery related to recurrence of cancer. Pray for her as she consults specialists.
Bob Rea – health Alesia Sharpe’s mother, Judy Parrish – health
Rev. Craig Countiss, Stated Supply at First, Lehigh Acres - health Rev. Steve Nagy – health Rev. Rosemary Gremban Beth-El Farmworker Ministry Misión Peniel Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center Dan and Elizabeth Turk, PCUSA Mission Co-Workers in Madagascar Les and Cindy Morgan, PCUSA Mission Co-Workers in Bangladesh Pastors and Educators in transition Nations in crisis
CHURCH PRAYER GUIDE - MAY 2013:
May 5 First Presbyterian Church, Lehigh Acres Stated Supply Pastor: Rev. Craig Countiss e-mail: [email protected]
May 12 Christ Church of Longboat Key (PCUSA) Stated Supply Pastor: Rev. Dr. Bruce Porter e-mail: [email protected]
May 19 First Presbyterian Church, Naples Interim Pastor: Rev. Dr. David Horne e-mail: [email protected]
May 26 Lely Presbyterian Church, Naples Temporary Supply Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jim Kirk e-mail: [email protected]
The articles below may interest you. I have found some of them in my reading, and others have been passed on to me. Just click on the underlined phrases.
Viewpoint: In the war over Christianity, orthodoxy is winning
Time: Though religious traditionalism may be losing today's political and legal battles, it remains poised to win the
wider war over what Christianity will look like tomorrow, says Mary Eberstadt.
When religious beliefs become evil: 4 signs
CNN Belief blog: How can you tell that someone's religious beliefs have crossed the line?
How old is too old to join the clergy? United Methodist News Service: The Texas Annual Conference has proposed changing its minimum standards for clergy to discourage people over 45 from becoming candidates for ordained ministry.
Faith at the finish line in Boston
Wall Street Journal: Barred from the chaotic scene of the bombing, priests nonetheless found ways to provide solace.
Robert Alter is truly a translator of Biblical proportions
Jewish Daily Forward: Literary scholar Robert Alter has spent the past three decades shedding new light on one of
Western civilization's oldest and best-known texts.
Catholics try their hand at old-fashioned evangelism
Religion News Service: Catholics are no less engaged by the Great Commission than evangelicals.
PRESBYTERY CALENDAR - MAY (for more details, go to www.peaceriverpresbytery.org) 2 Planning Team at Siesta Key Chapel Missional Team Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team 8 Nominations / Representation Conference Call 9 Finance Team 14 Committee On Ministry 16 Steering Committee 23 Presbytery Stated Meeting at Siesta Key Chapel 27 Memorial Day – Presbytery Office Closed *Other dates will be added as scheduled.
