Good Afternoon Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This week has been a busy one.
Presbyterian Women hosted their annual Salad Luncheon. Furthermore they had a bake sale along with it. (I know I bought several bags of cookies.)
Next week, on 5/12, Man Cave will gather at 5:30 p.m.
She Shed will gather on 5/13 at 6:00 p.m.
Pastor in Action
So this week has been very busy.
This is the week where I read ordination exams for those who are seeking ordination as teaching elders in the PCUSA. So I’ve been involved in the training and then this week specifically the reading and evaluation of those exams. I am specifically reading theology exams.
I have also been directly involved with helping of a potential commissioned ruling elder to get on the appropriate track to being commissioned.
I was able to donate platelets last week. For those keeping track, I have donated 24 units this year.
Message
I have some colleagues who have come across this conversation, and I thought I would share it with you. More than once, a friend of mine, pastors, have been told they need to focus on their congregation. That is, they need to spend less time with “other” people, and dedicate themselves to those in their congregation. Fortunately, I have never had to have this conversation, but I would like to share a thought or two on it.
First of, in general, we are called by Christ, the one we proclaim to be our Lord and Savior, to love our neighbor. Without going into a full blown sermon, it is easy to point to Scripture as the foundation that tells us to love all people, yes including that person. Jesus loves all of God’s children. That includes the rich, the poor, the old, the young, the gay, the straight, men, women, and everyone from every walk of life, including the criminal. Exceptions to love are simply not in the teaching of Christ. I never said this was easy.
In that light, who do I pastor. Yes, I am, on paper, the pastor at Peace Presbyterian Church. However, I am a, if not the, pastor to the person in front of me, on the telephone, on the other end of my e-mail. While I do need a break, just like everyone, if I am needed in a pastoral role, I never look at membership, baptism status, citizenship, political affiliation, graduation status, or anything else. I’m the pastor to the person in front of me.
Congregations have a tendency to do the same thing. They have a habit of caring more for their members than they do the person in front of them. One of the amazing things about Peace is, we have members who are not members. You read that right. And I love it. We have active people who do so much for our family of faith who are not on any membership list. That is as it should be.
I had a recent conversation with a person about how the church for centuries has tried to scare people into faith. It obviously has not held up. The best way I know to draw people to Christ is the way Jesus calls us, through love. Our faith, is not something to be afraid of, rather it is something so sweet, so incredible, that we desire Christ. He offers us Spiritual water that we can not live without. In the same way, we are called to love others in such a was that they walk away thinking, “I want more of that.” We are in the business of tearing down walls, and instead building bigger tables where we can all sit, eat, and be part of a community.
I feel bad for my friends who find themselves working to break down barriers. I love how Peace has helped me to be open to so many other people. That’s how we build God’s Kingdom.
Friends, I hope you know my love for you is real, and that I thank God daily fore each of you. I also hope you are able to get out, walk around, see the wildflowers, and enjoy the wonderful air.
Blessings and Peace
Brian Long