Getting Ready for Visitors

On Tuesday night the Session discussed what as a congregation we might do differently if each Sunday we anticipated that visitors would be joining us. After just a brief discussion we came up with the following list:
- We would be on time to church
- We would have someone at the door to welcome people
- We would have a "host" for the service
- We would be sure to introduce each other to guests
- We would "freshen up" the space, children's activity bags, etc.

The Session also decided to make Advent 2010 a time of intentional inviting and welcoming others into our worship and our congregational activities. If we do that, we need to get ready.

What would you do differently if you knew visitors were coming to church? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Stem cells and prayer

Driving to the Farmer's Market Sunday morning had the radio on to a show called "Being" - the successor show to another great show called "Speaking of Faith." "Being" explores the big questions about life, the universe and spirituality.

On Sunday, the host, Krista Tippet, interviewed Dr. Doris Taylor, one of the leading stem cell researchers, most known for using stem cells to rebuild and revive a heart. What she said fascinated me.

Stem cells, she says, are the cells used to regenerate our bodies. We have thousands of them. When we get cut, stem cells are what allow our skin and muscle to rebuild. If we suffer heart, lung or kidney damage, stem cells are what repair that damage. The reason why bone marrow transplants work so well on cancer patients is that bone marrow is full of stem cells, which flood the body and rebuild the damage caused by the cancer.

So here is the amazing thing: Her research shows that stress kills stem cells. It also shows that prayer (both the act of prayer and the act of being prayed for) increases the number of stem cells in the body. So when we pray for somebody we are literally, through divine intervention, increasing the number of stem cells in their body, thus enabling them to get well. Isn't that amazing?

The Quilt is Done!

The quilters have finished the quilt to be raffled off at the fair! Its incredible. To buy a ticket see Roxanne McDonald or Elaine Burns. The drawing will be held on November 6th.

Presbytery Day 2010

September 25th is Presbytery Day, a time of worship, workshops and eating with Presbyterians from all across Long Island. Hosted by Setauket Presbyterian Church, it starts at 9:30 and runs until 3:30. Let Pastor Fritz know if you're interested in attending.

Highlights include:

• Multi-cultural hymn sing
• Taste of Long Island
• Prayer Shawl knitting
• All Presbytery choir
• Evangelism workshop
• Issues discussions on both immigration and the Middle East

See the flier
Where is Setauket

More on General Assembly

Recently the three Long Island representatives to the 219th PC(USA) General Assembly made a brief report about their experiences via email. Here are some excerpts:

Elder Gordon Moore - Despite differing theological positions, moral stances and social agendas, commissioners and advisory delegates were able to come together, debating a broad spectrum of complex and controversial issues in a spirit of love and mutual respect. In my view, much was accomplished, and throughout the entire process we were guided, refreshed and energized by “rivers of living water.”

One more thing – I am fully convinced that without the involvement and vital contributions of our young adult advisory delegates (YAAD’s), we could not have come close to accomplishing all that we did!

Elder Lorna Lisa – [Going to General Assembly] was a great privilege and a responsibility that I took very seriously but I absolutely loved!! I served on the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee which recommended to the Assembly that they call upon the United States government to end combat operations in Afghanistan. The PC(USA) had not taken a stand on the war since it began in 2001.

I left General Assembly with a feeling of renewed hope for our denomination (especially after listening to our YAAD’s) and a deep appreciation for the PC(USA).

The Rev. Wanda Lawry Hughes - Whenever I am asked to describe what it means to be a Presbyterian I always say that it means that every member has a voice and a vote. Unfortunately I suffered a bout of laryngitis and as I sat in my committee meeting and listened to the arguments about the Belhar Confession, a confession of faith written at the time of apartheid in South Africa in opposition to racism, God reminded me that countless peoples over the centuries have lost their voices due to racism and oppression. As I remembered that many voices had been silenced, I realized that I could not keep quiet. I had to speak out against racism and oppression. I had to speak out against fear. I had to speak up for justice, reconciliation and unity. And so I did.

219th General Assembly Summary

Last Saturday the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) completed a weeks worth of meetings, debates and discussions. A very quick summary is below:

Cynthia Bolbach, an elder from Washington DC, was elected moderator.

122 Young Adult Volunteers and 17 Missionaries were commissioned for work around the globe.

The Belhar Confession, a confession of Christian unity written by South African Christians protesting Aparthide, was approved for inclusion in the PC(USA) Book of Confessions. (Must be ratified by a majority of presbyteries.)

A new, simpler, more flexible Form of Government was approved to govern the church. (Must be ratified by a majority of presbyteries.)

Marriage as defined between a man and a woman was reaffirmed.

A comprehensive report on the Middle East was accepted which, among other things:

• Called for an immediate cessation of violence on all sides.
• Reaffirmed Israel's right to exist
• Called for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories
• Called for a freeze on the establishment of settlements

Replaced language requiring candidates for ordination to be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman or celibate in singleness with broader language requiring candidates for ordination to be faithful to scripture and committed to following Jesus Christ. (Must be approved by the Presbyteries.)

Called for an end to the war in Afghanistan.

Community Worship this Saturday

Offering will support The Bowery MIssion and Family Promise of Nassau County.

Music includes: Songwriter John Guardino, Men from the Bowery & Grace Lutheran's Becky Elfman

Speakers include: Father Frank Parsi of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pastor Fritz Nelson of Community Presbyterian, Darcel Whitten-Wilowski, Diocese of Rockville Centre and Evangelist Mary Bell

Bring your own chair.

Beatrix pops the question

Prior to voting for the new moderator at the PC(USA) General Assembly, commissioners get to ask them questions. Beatrix got the last question in - a query about same sex relationships - and some say her question decided the election.

Click here to go to the video of Beatrix asking her question and the candidates' responses.

Note: This is the video of the entire three hour plenary session. Beatrix's question comes around 2:38. You may have to let the video finish streaming before you can fast forward. Elder Cynthia Bolbach, the third woman to speak, won the vote and is now Moderator.

Beatrix Weil Commissioned

Beatrix Weil was commissioned as both a delegate to the PC(USA) General Assembly and a participant in the Presbyterian Youth Triennium at last Tuesday's meeting of the Presbytery of Long Island. In the below photo, Presbytery Vice Moderator Rev. John Underwood (in back, wearing stole) commissions both the Triennium delegation and the General Assembly delegation in one ceremony. Beatrix is second from the left. The youth are all going to Triennium and the adults (plus Beatrix) are going to the General Assembly.

Walking with Jesus

In church on Sunday, Mary Hallam's class unveiled Walking with Jesus, their amazing model of Jesus life and ministry. Watch the video to get an idea of all their hard work, and check out the real thing in the lower church hall.

Food Drive a Success

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to CPC's 2010 Food Drive. Click below for a slide show of everyone bringing their food in.

Food Drive 2010

June 6-12 will be CPC's annual food drive week. We'll begin the week by dropping leaflets on all our neighbors' doors. We'll end the week by collecting food from our neighbors and bringing it to the church. Didn't get a leaflet? Bring your food offering by CPC on Saturday, June 12 between 10 and 3. Don't live near Malverne? Join us by making a donation to your local food pantry or soup kitchen.

Here is why we do this:

On the phone today I talked with a neighbor, a well respected leader in Nassau County, where budget cuts by her employer reduced her job from full time to part time. Her husband had a stroke, leaving her the only wage earner. She is afraid she's going to loose her house. She may very well be a client at the Long Island Council of Church's Freeport Food Pantry.

Julie is a client. She works full time in an accounting office. She drives a new car, which she could not afford. The car, and other choices made during an addiction fueled out of control life, left her in debt and struggling to pay her bills. Now she's getting help for her addiction, paying down her debt and retaking control of her life. The food pantry helps her stretch her pay checks; its staff provide moral support and counsel.

Combine the stories and you get the statistics.

In 2008, the LICC Food Pantry served 3642 households. In 2009, almost 1,000 more. These households contained 13,000 individuals. Half were children. Six percent were senior citizens. The remaining adults were mostly employed, or recently laid off. Every month an additional 50 to 100 individuals come to the pantry who have never asked for assistance before.

CPC's annual food drive seeks to stock the pantry before the summer season, when donations drop off and the lack of free or reduced cost school meals increases the strain on family grocery budgets. To help, bring some of the below items to the church on Saturday, June 12 between 10 and 3.

Here is what the Food Pantry needs most to meet this increased need:

• Canned Vegetables (low salt)
• Soup (low salt/low fat)
• Canned fruit and 100% Fruit Juice (not fruit drink)
• Pasta, Rice Canned Beans
• Complete Pancake Mix
• Oatmeal, Grits, Dry Cereal (non/low sugar)
• Canned tuna/chicken/Salmon (in water) Canned Stew
• Nuts (low salt), Peanut Butter/Jelly
• Dry Milk/Parmalat
• Shampoo, Soap, Toiletries
• Clean, gently-used clothing
• diapers (all sizes), Enfamil formula, baby cereal, baby wipes and powder.

For more info:
Life in Difficult Times - How to Make It Through is a series of pod casts produced by the LICC that both inform those in need on how to get help and educate about the best ways to help. The series of three podcasts are available for $1.25 each by clicking the link above.

More on Pentecost

I just learned this about Pentecost - and its really cool.

Pentecost is the Greek for the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which both celebrated the Spring grain harvest and celebrated the giving of the law to Moses by God.

Some parallels which suggests to me that God knows his Jewish holidays pretty well:

Bush that burned but was not consumed -> tongues of fire that didn't burn anything.

God gives Moses the law -> the Holy Spirit enables interpretation and understanding of scripture.

The law created and guided the Jewish people -> the Holy Spirit creates and guides the church.

The law was given on Mount Sinai, the holiest of ground -> the Holy Spirit infuses sacredness to whatever it touches.

Why Pentecost

A long time member of our church confessed the other day that she didn't really understand Pentecost. As Pentecost is not celebrated outside of the church - we don't give Pentecost cards, or get days off from work or school - this is not surprising. Here is a primer for her and others who might be wondering.

Pentecost literally means "fiftieth" and one of the three major feast days in ancient Judaism marking the fiftieth day following Passover. In Acts chapter 2, we learn that the disciples were all gathered together on that day when a "sound like the rush of a violent wind" filled the house and "tongues as of fire rested on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit empowers the disciples, who until then had been passive to say the least, to rush out into the crowded city and talk about Jesus. Miraculously, when they talk, everyone can understand regardless of their native language. Peter preaches what is perhaps the greatest sermon ever and over 1,000 people are converted.

Christians consider Pentecost to be the birthday of the church and along with Easter and Christmas is one of the most important liturgical holidays.

In some Christian traditions, churches are decorated in red for Pentecost. Somebody back in the Middle Ages decided that the color red symbolized the Holy Spirit, and that tradition has been passed down through the churches ever since.

National Day of Prayer

Today (Thursday, May 6th) is the 49th annual National Day of Prayer.

A prayer for our nation taken from the Presidential Proclamation marking today as the National Day of Prayer:

On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.

Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those suffering from natural disasters in Haiti, Chile, and elsewhere, and the people from those countries and from around the world who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to render aid. Let us pray for the families of the West Virginia miners, and the people of Poland who so recently and unexpectedly lost many of their beloved leaders. Let us pray for the safety and success of those who have left home to serve in our Armed Forces, putting their lives at risk in order to make the world a safer place. As we remember them, let us not forget their families and the substantial sacrifices that they make every day. Let us remember the unsung heroes who struggle to build their communities, raise their families, and help their neighbors, for they are the wellspring of our greatness. Finally, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those people everywhere who join us in the aspiration for a world that is just, peaceful, free, and respectful of the dignity of every human being.

Read the entire Proclamation.

National Day of Prayer web site

Easter Egg Hunt for the Less than Limber

The Mission Outreach Team continued their wonderful Sunday Afternoon Socials at Malverne Village Hall, this one featuring an Easter Egg Hung for the Less Than Limber. After finding their eggs, the women retired inside to play games and eat candy. Thanks to everyone who helped out and everyone who came. Check out the slide show below:

Hygiene Kits Delivered

Bill Lee and his wife Judy loaded all of the Hygiene Kits made by the CPC Sunday School, Nassau Joint Youth Activities group and Allyce Yang's Cadet Troop - some 550 kits in all - and delivered them to the Church World Service distribution hub in New Windsor Maryland. Judy took some pictures.

View pictures of the Nassau Joint Youth gathering where some of the kits were assembled.

Hedge of Protection

When I first started praying with my colleagues at The Bowery Mission I noticed many of them using the phrase "hedge of protection," especially when lifting up a person or a program going through trying times - a client in danger of relapse, staff faced with unruly clients, etc. It was especially used in situations where the darkness of evil was a real and genuine threat. "God," they would pray, "please put a hedge of protection around so and so."

At first I was puzzled by the imagery and then came to use it myself. It is not biblical, although some link it to the cloud and the fire that God used to protect the Israelites from the Egyptians as they escaped from Egypt.

Hedge of protection language echos the fortress language of the psalmists and picked up by Martin Luther in his famous hymn. I see the hedge of protection as a mess of brambles between us and the evil of this world which threatens us and our faith. I take comfort in God's promise to protect me and keep me secure.

Presbyterian/Jewish Relations

On February 22nd, the Jewish human rights group and anti-antisemitism watchdog Simon Wiesenthal Center ran the following headline:

Presbyterian Church USA Ready to Declare War Against Israel

The attached article referenced a leaked draft of a press release describing a yet-to-be finished statement regarding the Middle East that will be before the PC(USA) General Assembly this summer. According to the Wiesenthal Center, the finished document will contain extensive language threatening to the security of the state of Israel.

Nobody outside of the committee that is writing the statement seems to know what it will actually say, and the Wiesenthal Center has not posted a copy of the press release it claims to have received, so denominational leaders are struggling to understand where this complaint came from.

In response Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) issued a statement reaffirming the PC(USA)'s historic and ongoing support of the state of Israel within secure borders, while also expressing the church's ongoing concern for the violence and human rights abuses by both parties in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Here is my take, and what I would say to anyone who asked by opinion of this mater:
1. The PC(USA) has been one of the longest and staunchest defenders of the State of Israel and has long been a leader in Jewish/Christian relations. Statement after statement by the church has affirmed the right of Israel to exist. Presbyterian theologians, Bible scholars and preachers have been among the leaders in promoting a Christianity that combats, rather than supports, antisemitism.

2. The PC(USA) has very old, historic and close relationships with its sister churches in the Middle East including the Arab Christian communities in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. PC(USA) peacemakers and missionaries are working in those churches and in Arab communities helping them prosper and promote peace within the context of the Israeli occupation. The PC(USA) desperately wants a secular, Palestinian state that co-exists with Israel because current policies by both Israel and Hamas are killing the Arab Christian church.

We are called as a church to stand with our sisters and brothers in Christ and to use whatever political power we have, and whatever power of presence our peacemakers and missionaries can provide, to ensure that they have the right to worship, the ability to pursue an education, build an economy, farm their land, raise their children in the faith.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has long affirmed that support of the state of Israel and support of Arab Christians are not mutually exclusive. Others disagree. I do not.

Your thoughts? Leave a comment.

Grafitti from the Pancake Supper