Seeing Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection

On Being Stuck on a Snow Day

Psalm 142.7—Bring me out of this prison, so that I may give thanks to your name…

It was about 1 pm yesterday when, through the hushed purple and gentle golden stained glass windows in my study, I noticed the snow. Flakes were falling fast and with purpose as they soared through the sky. A dusting quickly turned into a covering, and streets already paved with ice became consumed by snow.

Despite living mere blocks away from my favorite building in Lincoln, I knew I needed to get home quickly. When your vehicle of choice is a rear-wheel drive Chevy pick up truck, you have just moments between the accumulating inches of snow to get where you need to be. Otherwise, your chances of getting stuck increase exponentially.

And well,

despite my best intentions,

as well as my ability to

nimbly navigate in wintery weather

I made it all the way to my house

before I

got

stuck.

After 30 minutes of spinning my tires, rocking and rolling, I was eventually rescued by a thoughtful neighbor, and was able to free my tiny truck. I waded through the white snow, turned black by this point with the stench of rubber on its surface, and made it the 15 feet into my garage.

That moment of being stuck was frustrating. I was so close, and yet, so far away. Despite employing all the necessary tactics, and taking my time so I could arrive safely, still I managed to get stuck. My adrenaline was pumping and my heart racing as I tried and tried and tried to complete this journey on my own.

Being stuck is no fun. There is perhaps no worse feeling than being trapped or fastened to some facet of life. Looking out my writing room window, I see cars buried in snow; neighbors un-sticking themselves with shovels and snow blowers; and I see something else too. Just beyond the trees that hang heavy with snow, past the intersection glistening with ice, there is a reminder sparking in the soft snow. From the window I see an opportunity to stop:

to stop wanting to be unstuck;

to stop wishing for warmer weather;

to stop pondering how problematic these winter weather patterns have been

and to begin just

being.

Being “stuck” has made me realize that life isn’t so much about progress as it is about process. Spring will have its day. We know that it will come: but winter needs hers as well. Soon the sun will shine and the warmer weather will return, and we will be liberated from being stuck. But we must not hurry these forced days off so quickly. Having to slow down provides us the occasion to engage in activities for which we often don’t have time. We can drink our coffee more deliberately. We can take our time working the crossword puzzle in the paper. And we can do the difficult work of stopping rather than starting; stalling rather than moving—learning that perhaps one cannot happen without the other.

Maybe being stuck is necessary to being unstuck, maybe acting cannot happen without listening first.

When we’re stuck, what is the world trying to reveal to us?

When we’re stuck, what is your soul speaking to your personhood?

When we’re stuck, what is God bringing forth in your beautiful life?

Poet Wendell Berry said this about Winter,

“Suppose we did our work 
like the snow, quietly, quietly, 
leaving nothing out.”

So friends, put your arms around your soul, embrace the anguish that comes with being stuck, and respond to your summons from God. Get ready for the adventure of growing into the next part of your life. Getting stuck is worth whatever angst you must go through just so you can hear God say to you,

"Hang on, you are about to get unstuck."

See you tonight at Kirk Night, friends!

Kirk Night: Ephesians 4-6

Want to know what you missed last night at Kirk Night?  Here is but a blurb about what was covered, discussed, and prayed.  You can pick up the 'hand outs' here at church.  They are located on one of the tables in the parlor.

We also watched this video that can be found by clicking here.

Some thoughts:

• Our gifts are beautiful.  They aren't ours to keep to ourselves.  Rather, we are to share them with others.  
• Ephesians 4-6 is a much needed down-to-earth practical application of how we can live out our call as the church, using our gifts to build up the church.
• From the beginning of chapter 4 the author wants the church to know of this calling.  The allusion to baptism suggests that this [chapter 4] is an early Christian baptismal credo enshrining the chief elements of a confession of faith made in the rite of initiation.
• Ultimately we each of have a unique calling and yet, are all of the same call from God.  What is important to remember about our call and our gifts is that these gifts are to equip others for ministry and to build up the body until unity and maturity are achieved.
• Paul's use of 'the body' as a metaphor for the church is beautiful in that the community of faith is not complete unless all members are present.  Each body part, each person, is a gift and needed to carry out the ministry and mission of God.
• No longer are we to live 'the old life.'  Rather, we are to live 'the new life,' we are to live as Christ.  This new way in Christ, which is imaged by the metaphor of changing clothes and the image of being marked with  seal, reminds us of the mystery which happens in our baptisms.  Baptism then points us back to the grace of God expressed in Jesus Christ, who died for us and who was raised for us.
• We found the video clip of the pastor to be troublesome.  We discussed the importance of biblical interpretation and knowing context and particularities.
• It was discussed how verse 5.21 is often missing in many translations.  This verse is important because it sets into context how we are to be submissive to one another under Christ's authority.
• What is to be remembered is that all Christians are under Christ's headship and are to 'submit' to one another for Christ's sake.

Kirk Night in October

[Below is the article that will be published in the LINK for October.  You will also find out what schedule of events for each Kirk Night in October below the article.]

Kirk Night:  A Celebration

            Lately my study has been a bit of disarray.  In addition to those spilling out of their temporary box homes, sprawled across my desk and table have been books some of you are familiar with.  These books are filled with pictures:  pages and pages of pictures evidencing how you, as a community of faith, have collectively lived out God’s calling in your lives.  While clothing styles and hair-dos have changed, it is quite clear that the ethos, the spirit, of First Presbyterian Church has not changed.

            While pictures help us put faces and capturing those holy moments of life, they cannot tell our entire story.  Thankfully, a few years ago, the church complied a book closely detailing the history of our church.  This history has become an invaluable resource for me to learn the beautiful story of this congregation.  I’ve enjoyed ‘getting’ to know the former pastors by reading past LINK articles and bulletins, especially Bruce, and by listening to each of you share stories about our pastors from Burns to Blackburn.  Our history is rich, our stories are compelling, and the love of God is noticeably present.

            Gearing up for fall, and inspired by my predecessor’s faithful work, I recently voiced some wonderings about our Wednesday night activities. This conversation went a little something like this.

            “Hey, what is the Wednesday night gathering called?”

“Well, Celebration.  I think.”

Another person chimed in. “No, I thought we changed it to ‘In-Joy.’”

Still another, “I honestly don’t know what the Wednesday night is called.  Probably just Wednesday night.”

I appreciated this honesty, and in fact, welcomed this confusion.

            Our church history book, put together by the History Committee a few years ago, tells us quite a lot about this particular weekly gathering. The first note about a mid-week gathering came during Rev. Salansky’s tenure. In 1977, this Wednesday gathering for children gained the name “Celebration.”  While the structure and content of our Wednesday nights has evolved, the purpose has remained the same.  Education and spiritual formation both lie at the heart of the Wednesday gathering. 

Eventually, this question was turned on me. 

            “What do you think it should be called?”

After some reflection, I considered a term that is as much a part of Presbyterian history as a pitch-in or potluck: “Kirk Night.” 

            As if we needed yet another name, the puzzled face indicated to me that I my pronouncement required some contextual commentary.  In Scottish dialect, the church is called the ‘Kirk.’  Found in the Book of Confessions, part I of the Constitution of the PC (USA) is the Scots Confession.  This confession, written by influential Presbyterian minister John Knox, denotes our connection to the word 'Kirk.’  Thus, Wednesday Nights, a night of Celebration, is called Kirk Night, or, Church Night.

            While the name we use for our gathering is important, nothing is more important than our time together.  We are reminded in scripture that when we gather as a family, even if it is just 2 or 3 of us, Christ is present. 

            And that my friends, is reason enough, to have a celebration.

See you at the Kirk House,

Adam

_________________________________________________________________________________ 

October 2:  Kemmerer Village Night—Adult Mission Night

October 9:  A Hymn Sing

October 16:  Food for Thought:  A Night of Sharing Dishes

October 23:  Our Columbarium and the Hope of Resurrection

October 30:  Celebration Through Story Telling:  A Night of Re-membering

October 2^nd:  In Matthew Jesus says, “What you do to the least of these you do unto me.”  This Kirk Night, we will have the opportunity to explore how Kemmerer Village in Assumption, Illinois is doing just that.  You are invited to learn more about this Presbyterian ministry, and how you can get involved in the upcoming Adult Mission Trip to Kemmerer Village on Saturday, October 19.  (You can learn more about Kemmerer Village by clicking here.]

October 9^th:  Has it been a while since we sang your favorite hymn?  Is there a particular hymn of which you just can’t get enough?  This Kirk Night, we’ll sing our favorite hymns and share stories about why they mean so much to us.  Whether you’re a skilled vocalist or can’t carry a tune in a bucket, come for a night of singing and sharing songs!

October 16^th:  Are you interested in how food relates to justice?  Do you have a favorite recipe for those green beans from your garden? This week at Kirk Night we will give thanks for our food and our church garden, while exploring the importance and impact of ‘food justice,’ both globally AND locally.  We will also discuss the Food Bank, and how they are working to end hunger in Logan County. You are invited to bring a local dish to share for supper.

October 23^rd:  Adam and the Columbarium Committee invite you to Kirk Night as we hear more about the Columbarium Ministry of First Presbyterian Church.  We’ll learn more about our Columbarium located in the Union Chapel here at church, and will have a brief theological discussion of cremation and resurrection. 

October 30^th:  We get to know our friends and neighbors by sharing intentional quality time. This Kirk Night, we’ll extend this practice to our church! Exploring our church photo albums and years of church directories, we will share our stories about First Presbyterian Church, and what we love about this place and one another.  Adam cannot wait to hear about how each of you came to this place, and what this community means to you! Bring your stories, your photos, your memories, and most importantly, yourself!