Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-Super

Over the last week I have had a handful of opportunities to talk about our church.

Okay, okay, I’ll be honest:  over the last week I have had a handful of opportunities to brag about our church.

Now, I’m not one to boast for the sake of boasting…except for when it comes to Tom Brady and his 1 2 3 4 Super Bowl rings!

Anyway, I digress.

Talking about our life together is an easy thing to do. Why? In this church, where the faithful have been gathering for over 150 years, there is a noticeable feeling of love. That is what I have been sharing with people lately:  how our church believes in the power of love.

So, without further ado, here is a late “Tuesday Ten:  10 Ways We Show Love”:

1.    Sunday’s baptism! What a beautiful moment in the life of our church to have baptized Lam as he heads back home. What makes Sunday more special is Lam’s request and desire to be baptized in our church because he came to know us as his family of faith.

2.    Food For Thought! I’m grateful to be a part of a church that recognizes the importance of healthy meals and education. Thank you for continuing to serve the community through this ministry!

3.    Fresh Veggies! Y’all aren’t afraid to get your knees and hands dirty. The result from your willingness to get in the mud? Fresh veggies we share with the food bank!

4.    The Food Bank!  We are one of the only, if not the only church, that provides toiletries and other personal items to the Food Bank. Speaking of which, DON’T FORGET TO BRING IN THIS MONTHS ITEM!!!!!

5.    Tough Talks! Not too many churches are willing of have discussions around difficult topics. This past Sunday we were able to think about and prayerfully consider the gift of sexuality! And we did so using the Bible of all books! Thanks be to God that God gifted us with our bodies and has encouraged us to embrace them to better experience God’s very good gift of life.

6.    Music! We know how to sing…and play music…and write music…and well, we do music well here. Our love for God comes through in our joyful singing. How grateful I am to be a pastor of a church that loves and values music as a prayerful and worshipful response to God’s love and grace! (Also—our musicians are incredible as well! So thank you to all of those who have played and will continue to play. Especially Debbie, Roger, and Julie!)

7.    Our Kids! We have a great group of kids that remind us of what love looks like in their willingness to serve, their involvement with their schools, and their desire to grow in their faith. We love our children here at 1PC and are so glad that they and their families call us ‘home!’

8.    YOU! If you are reading this, what is great about our church is YOU! Your presence and your story make the life of this church and the story of this church, better! We love you!

9.    Parties! I love this church because we know how to celebrate…and often with cake! For all of you who have made a cake, baked a pie, stirred some soup or served a meal, THANK YOU! Your kindness is a tangible display of the love of God in the world.

10.                  The Legacy of this Church! That is right. I love this place because of its rich history and the ministry is has been involved with here in Lincoln. We have had some remarkable people serve this church throughout the years in many capacities. I enjoy hearing stories about Mildred Holland and Kate Abbott, Bruce Allison and John Burns, and the history we share with Lincoln College and our minister who was into making counterfeit coins!

There is one more way we have showed love:  Rev. Col. Paul Salansky.

Rev. Col. Paul Lloyd Salansky, 90, of Batavia IL passed away Sunday, August 30^th, 2015 at his home to be with his Lord following a short battle with lymphoma.

        

The Rev. Col. Paul Salansky was born October
23, 1924 and completed his baptism August
30, 2015. Rev. Salanksy was the pastor here
at First Presbyterian Church from 1965-1975.

Rev. Salanksy’s family had this to say about him, “. His lifetime of pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) began at two small churches in Wales & Red Oak IA. He then served a church in Reinbeck IA before moving on to IL, where he served churches in South Shore, Lincoln, and Downers Grove. He received a Doctorate of Divinity from Lincoln College, as well as earning a Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary. Throughout his ministry, Paul faithfully served his country in the Army Reserves for 33 years and obtained the rank of Colonel. After retirement, he served many other churches and ministries as interim and pulpit supply pastor, guest speaker, and bible study leader. All who met Paul were left with God’s love impressed on them.”

Indeed, we have come to know the love of God and what it means to share that love because of people like Paul Salansky. Thanks be to God for him and all those who are now apart of the communion of saints, on whose shoulders we now stand.

Have a great weekend, church!

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-Silent

It doesn’t ever seem to stop, does it?

Today I sit with this image. Today I hope that as God was once
held by Mary, so we too find ourselves in Her care.

The violence.

The layoffs.

The pain.

The hurt.

The confusion.

The sadness.

The hunger.

The politic-ing.

Some days it is hard to pray. Some days it is find the things to be grateful for. Some days….

Honestly friends, I have no words. No wisdom to dispel. For once, as one who works with words weekly, I have nothing. My heart is heavy for the world today. So all I can offer up, on behalf of the world, the church, our own nation, Lincoln and Logan County, and for First Presbyterian Church are my sighs and a noticeable silence.

So today, I lean into these words:

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

And these words:

28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

And this is the prayer I pray:

Almighty and merciful God, Father of all [people], Creator and ruler of the universe, Lord of all history, whose designs are without blemish, whose compassion for the errors of men is inexhaustible, in your will is our peace. Mercifully hear this prayer which rises to you from the tumult and desperation of a world in which you are forgotten, in which your name is not invoked, your laws are derided and your presence is ignored. Because we do not know you, we have no peace. From the heart of an eternal silence, you have watched the rise of empires and have seen the smoke of their downfall. You have witnessed the impious fury of ten thousand fratricidal wars, in which great powers have torn whole continents to shreds in the name of peace and justice.
 A day of ominous decision has now dawned on this free nation. Save us then from our obsessions! Open our eyes, dissipate our confusions, teach us to understand ourselves and our adversary. Let us never forget that sins against the law of love are punishable by loss of faith, and those without faith stop at no crime to achieve their ends! Help us to be masters of the weapons that threaten to master us. Help us to use our science for peace and plenty, not for war and destruction. Save us from the compulsion to follow our adversaries in all that we most hate, confirming them in their hatred and suspicion of us. Resolve our inner contradictions, which now grow beyond belief and beyond bearing. They are at once a torment and a blessing: for if you had not left us the light of conscience, we would not have to endure them. Teach us to wait and trust. Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace. But grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs and that the very storm of power now raging on this earth reveals your hidden will and your inscrutable decision. Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to [all people]. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found. In your will, O God, is our peace. ~Thomas Merton

Amen.

Hope is the thing with feathers, friends. Let us never give up on that…or each other. Let us not be robbed by some of the great and good gifts this world has to offer.

My prayers with and for you this day. Everyday. 

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-Essentially

This morning over a cup of coffee I’ve thought a lot about life.

Not necessarily “What is life’s meaning?” but more

What does it mean to live a life of meaning?

I have read a lot of Rilke lately. And Parker Palmer.

Today they spoke to each other:

“Our lives participate in the myth of eternal return:  we circle around and spiral down, never finally answering the questions “Who am I?” and “Whose am I?” but, in the words of Rilke, “living the questions” throughout our lives.”

I like this.

This idea that our lives are like the eternal cycle of the seasons does not deny the struggle or the joy, the loss or the gain, the darkness or the light, but encourages us to embrace it all—and to find in all of it opportunities for growth.

If we are to live our lives fully and well, we must learn to embrace these opportunities, to embrace the opposites of life:  to live in a creative tension between our limits and our potentials.

Essentially, we must honor our limitations in ways that do not distort our true selves, and we must trust and use our gifts in ways that fulfill the potentials God gave us.

Interesting, yea?

Doors open.

Doors close.

Perhaps when a door closes, what we need to do is, rather than pounding on the door in frustration and bitterness, we turn around and begin again. In doing, as Parker Palmer says, we welcome the largeness of life that now lies open to our souls.

The door that closed kept us from entering a room, but what now lies before us is the rest of reality.

Saying ‘yes’ to this reality is where a meaningful life is lived, I think.

Maybe then, where we need to begin, is exactly where we are.

Our lives will gain meaning once we engage life with our whole selves.  We need to embrace this journey toward the discovery of our true selves—the journey towards God.

Remember, we are here not only to transform the world but also to be transformed. We are participants in a vast communion of being, and if we open ourselves to the cycles, rhythms, and seasons of life, we can learn anew how to live in this great and gracious community of love!

Slow down today. Engage a different rhythm. Be at peace in the world. Be at peace with yourself. 

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-Solitude

(Hall of Mirrors/Galerie des Glaces at Le Chateau de Versailles)

Peace.

Quiet.

Silence.

Solitude.

These are the things I love about Lincoln. One needn't go far to find one of these in their own home, neighborhood or in Logan County. The traffic isn't awful and the crowds aren't either. Small city life isn't so bad.

Paris--everywhere I go I bump into someone. Everywhere I go there is some expression of creativity. Everywhere I go, even in the churches that request silence and the museums that encourages being quiet, there

is

noise.

Sirens. French. Laughter. Horns. English. Crying. Trains. Languages. Emotions.

Yes--all of that--everywhere--at any time of the day.

And it is, well,  beautiful.

Before coming to Paris I read in the book City and Noise:  Sound and Nineteenth Century Paris by Aimee Boutin, that in order to understand the city, one must engage Paris as a melodious space that orchestrates different, often conflicting sound cultures. Herein lies the beauty of Paris, while the same noise that drives unnerves an introvert like me to the core, the sounds of a busy city are refreshing in their own way. The humming of the streets indicate life. My inability to understand most, if not all people, reminds me that the world is much larger than Lincoln, Illinois and that English isn't necessarily the language of love.

One must give themselves over in order to fully experience and understand whatever the other might be:  person, place...even our own self.

The world is so big. So marvelous. Sure, we have our moments. But some 1000s of miles away from home I've felt nothing but the goodness humanity has to offer. From the hospitality to the folks I'm staying with, to the waiter who chuckles with patience as I order in French, the mercy of God is all around us.

Merton once said, in regards to encountering God in life, "It is simply opening yourself to receive. The presence of God is like walking out of a door into the fresh air. You don't concentrate on the fresh air, you breathe it. And you don't concentrate on the sunlight, you just enjoy it. It is all around."

 At one point I was reluctant to admit the possibility of finding the divine in raucous cities. Perhaps my favorite city Chicago is too familiar and I know how to navigate it. But Paris has taught me cities have a peace of their own, the pulse of an uncontainable Love; they have a solitude that only enhances the silence our spirits need; to be quiet may take more of an effort but the few moments there are indeed define grace.

My feet are tired. But I'm feeling good. Paris is the most beautiful place for reasons I know not how to articulate here. Know I am well and will be seeing you soon!

Have a great Saturday. 

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-celestielle

Old churches fascinate me.

More than that, they comfort me.

There are times in life when I know not the words to pray.

Nothing seems adequate. 

Even the 3 basic prayers, Help, Thanks, Wow, can at times not be enough.

I know they are. I know I am. I know prayer is as much listening to and for God as it is 'speaking' to and with God.   

All that added unnecessary pressure can make prayer more problematic than in needs to.

That's where the old churches come in.

Le Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris, for example.

This is where I spent my morning. Everything about this cathedral I loved. From the stained glass windows to the beautiful art depicting the story of faith throughout. More than anything, I enjoy places like Notre Dame because it reminds me that faith is an action.

Faith is not only something we have but it is something we do.

Most days we are better at faith-ing than other days.

Often, we have enough to move mountains, or enough to simply get out of bed.

That is the beautiful thing about being God's people. Collectively, we as a community have enough of everything to get us through each day. Or to paraphrase Paul, "When I am weak you are strong. And when you are weak, I am strong."

Standing at the entry way of this century old cathedral reminded me that my faith isn't actually mine at all. Rather, I stand on the shoulders of those who faith-ed before me. We as God's people are a part of the communion of saints, the great cloud of witnesses; we are a people who says, "While things may look bleak now, we have faith that God has, is, and will do something beautiful and good."

When I sit and reflect before the crucifix or the 3 beautiful stained glass windows at church, I remind myself that prayer, that worship, is not my way to influence God or get on God's good side. God's love isn't transactional. 

Prayer is making space for God to make God's way into those places where we say "no" or "can't."

Old churches are my favorite.

They help me in my faith. If not by providing a place for me to encounter the living Triune God. Then definitely by showing me that at some point in time, a LONG time ago, people had faith that God would show up and meet them there.

I have 13 more days here in Paris. Know that I miss and love you all. Today, in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, I prayed for my favorite people of my favorite community.

That's you!

Happy weekend to you.

Bonne suoirée

Adam

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-speak

speak

Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words.

Pablo Picasso said this about pictures, “Every now and then one paints a picture that seems to have opened a door and serves as a stepping stone to other things.” 

The same can be said about photographs.

Like this one: 

So much is communicated in this photo.

What do you see?

What do you feel?

This image has become the image of the church for me. This is what we are to be about. This is how we are to live and be in the world. This is our mission.

While there are some of us complaining about making cakes and others about what is or isn’t love, this is happening.

A visible display of God’s love, Christ’s trust, and the Spirit’s presence captured in a simple moment between 2 people.

Beautiful.

And I want you to know this:

You

                  Yes you.

                                             Stop what you’re doing for a moment.

Listen.

                  Be still.

                                             You are loved like this.

Welcome.

                  Home.

                                             Child of God, you are enough.

Christ waits for you with arms open and with a tenderness to calm your fears.

You belong.

You are loved.

You are wanted.

You are not alone.

God loves you, exactly as you are.

Look again at the photo.

If you are hurting, let us hold you.

If you are not feeling well, let us heal you.

If you are down, lets us help you up.

If you are lost, let us walk you home.

You are not alone.

You

         Are

                  Loved.