In remembrance of me…

I’m a proud veteran’s son. Dad was active duty during Vietnam, though his duty stations were stateside. All told, he served twelve years, mostly in the Navy. Military life was tough, he tells me, but he was glad to do it. There’s something profound about giving your talents, and possibly your life, for something bigger than yourself. Especially when it’s something you believe in, as Dad believed in the US Military.

I realize that last sentence elicits many responses. For some, Dad’s good feelings about the Military seem like conventional wisdom- so obviously true, it’s anger-inducing when others feel differently. Nevertheless, others feel differently, and while they may approve of the Military in the abstract, they find most military actions anger-inducing (except WWII, which most everyone seems to respect). Like many, I fall somewhere between those poles, though I do call Pops every Veteran’s Day to tell him I’m grateful for his service. And I’ll pray earnestly for fallen sailors and soldiers next Monday- Memorial Day. For regardless one’s persuasion about the role of the military in our society, that some have thought enough of our nation’s people to die for what they considered our benefit is worth honoring for that selflessness alone. I suspect others in other countries feel similarly.

Have you ever sung, “This Is My Song”? It’s #722 in our hymnal; here’s the first verse:

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true as mine.

I love those words (and the hymn’s pretty melody). “Home,” regardless where it is, is powerful, and often elicits strong loyalty in people. Thus, the anger mentioned above- whether directed toward our military, or toward military detractors- I believe it derives (usually!) from this love of ‘home,’ of “the country where my heart is.” People feel passionately about this topic because they want fellow Americans to honor their beloved home, what they feel are the nation’s best ideals, and they believe or desire that our war-fighting institutions support those ideals.

I love this hymn, though, for acknowledging we’re not alone in this world in feeling strongly about ‘home.’ For, as people of all persuasions recognize, there are many “other hearts in other lands…with hopes and dreams as true…as mine.” God is truly a “God of all the nations.” Hence, the sorrow many feel about war, wherever it happens. For regardless the reason for violence, in war the homes of God’s children get decimated, or destroyed. And I believe it’s saddest when that violence is perpetrated on innocent, vulnerable people.

Last Sunday, we welcomed a speaker from the MN Council of Churches to talk with us about refugees. She mentioned the ‘legal definition’ of a refugee, which is (paraphrase): A foreigner who fears s/he can’t go home because of threats of violence due to her/his religion, ethnicity, ideology, etc., and, in fact, s/he can’t. To someone like me, who loves his home, that notion is disturbing. I feel grateful for those who’ve fought (in war, and myriad other ways) to preserve “the country where my heart is,” and couldn’t imagine being kicked out. Apparently, I’m not alone. America resettles half of the world’s refugee resettlement cases. For whatever reason, it’s part of our society to welcome the “tired…poor…huddled masses, yearning to breathe free” (as it says on the Statue of Liberty). And unsurprisingly, churches often take the lead in this work. Churches like ours…

We had a great turnout last Sunday, so I’m hoping some will lead us to do more. You can tell I found the timing of that visit, in proximity to Memorial Day, meaningful, right? If this issue moves you, let me know. I have details/ideas for what we can do to assist families looking for a new home to love.

And regardless, may your Memorial Day weekend be fun (!), and filled with gratitude. For many gave much so we’d have much to give too.


Grace and Peace,
Shane
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Kickball Questing…

In April, I went on my biannual retreat with a group of young clergy. You might recall that every such retreat, we spend one our days not talking. Having introverted tendencies as I do, I look forward to this Day of Silence. I pray, meditate, catch up on reading. And I play an afternoon game of kickball. In silence.

Well, this past retreat, our usual Kickball Organizer was gone, and his leadership mantle (unexpectedly) fell to me. So the morning Silence began, I had to make impromptu plans to find a kickball store, purchase said kickball, advertise our game sufficiently, all while keeping my trap shut. Daunting, but doable. And after breakfast, I left the retreat center praying the fates would deliver me unto my athletic destination.

Turns out, my “Kickball Search” was tougher than I’d expected. I’d tried a pharmacy ¾ a mile away. No kickball. There was a grocery store nearby. Alas, no kickball. Still, I was on a major thoroughfare, so I kept waking. Found a Dollar Store- no kickball. Another pharmacy- no kickball. A Children’s FunWorld- you guessed it. Over an hour passed, walking in the hot TX sun, and I felt an urgent temptation to cut losses. But I knew that Silent Kickball would happen only if I made good on my search. So I kept questing, vowing to try one more store.

Target! That’s right, within three minutes, gloriously red concentric circles appeared, and I felt vindicated for sticking to my search. “Surely, Target will have a kickball. Target has everything!”

Except a kickball, it turns out- not in Toys or Sports. I was heartbroken. But there were soccer balls, I noticed…so a choice loomed. I’d begun my quest expecting one thing (a kickball), and I’d kept pursuing that one thing despite opportunities along the way to settle. But now, at my journey’s presumed end, I could a) Give up, accepting that we weren’t destined for Silent Kickball this retreat, b) Grit my teeth and search for another store, convinced my original goal was what our group needed, or c) Settle for a soccer ball, which wasn’t exactly what I’d set out for, but might do just fine. I chose c).

And it was better than I’d hoped for! After all, I’ve played soccer my entire life, so I kick soccer balls MUCH better than kickballs. I was awesome that afternoon’s game. Even if I do so say so myself…

But before that, as I silently returned to the retreat center with our soccer ball, I began thinking of this ‘quest’ as a metaphor for life with God, and life together with God’s people. All Christians, in various ways, ‘quest after God’ (Matt. 7:7), right? And we want not only to find God, but to discern whatever mission God has for us. As we do this, though, I wonder how often we let our expectations or hopes for where that quest will end up guide our steps, rather than, say, God’s Spirit or hopes. I wonder if ever we expect to ‘find’ God’s mission or God’s character within too limited a set of parameters. We imagine ‘being called’ to something we’ve seen work for others. And sometimes we’re dead-on with those expectations, right?! After all, we’ve been on this quest-after-God for some time now.

But is it possible that sometimes we’ve wanted only a kickball, when God’s got this soccer ball waiting for us? Is it possible we’ve searched for God and took all the right turns, overcome difficulties, didn’t compromise for all the right reasons, but our expected destination was different than what God’s prepared for us? So we’ve been slow to recognize that? Maybe, maybe not. But it seems possible. After all, remember the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt. 25:31-46)? God’s good at showing up in unexpected places.

No answers this week; only that hypothesized metaphor. Let me know if this describes something in your life, or for our church. Or if you’d change the idea in some important way. In any case, may kickballs and soccer balls litter your path this week. And may you kick them a LOOOONG way!


Grace and Peace,
Shane
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Cup o’ Joe…

Contrary to popular myth, not all Christians drink coffee, though I don’t understand you non-caffeinated rebels. As many learned after an unexpected “Starbucks Incident” in the pulpit the Sunday after Easter (thanks again Lorn!), I drink coffee, but not everyone’s like me. Thank the good Lord. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that n’er a Fellowship Hour is complete until the coffee pot is hot and ready, to wash away the post-sermon blues, according to legend. Indeed, the other day, we forgot to plug it in until after service. Oops. Tension was thick to the point of eruption until that carafe o’ coffee was dripping into our mugs (or Styrofoam cups, as it were; alas, the eco-greenie in me still weeps a bit that fact). Of course, it’s possible I misunderstood the situation, and only I felt tense, while y’all calmly waited. Have I mentioned I’ve been recently pondering a reduction in my coffee consumption?

The problem is it’s soooo easy to get!On my way to church, there’re umpteen coffee houses and drive-through java huts. One closed recently, and then a new one popped up (a stand-alone, risk-it-all small business venture, so I have to support them with frequent business, obviously). Grocery stores now have entire rows dedicated to this Breathtaking Bean. Bob Brown gave me a Newsweek article awhile back, which claimed that coffee is the second-highest priced commodity traded openly in the world (behind oil). It’s big business, and it’s everywhere.

It’s even at church, beyond Fellowship Hour! As you know, we have a stand in the Welcome Center to sell four different kinds of beans, which has become the exclusive supplier of the Isner household. Even you non-coffee Christians got in on the act, and now we sell tea (please let me know if ever there’s a coffee blend, or tea style you want, and we’ll order it!). The reason we do this, of course, is many fold- convenience for the pastor, quality product at low prices, proceeds go to a Week of Compassion poverty reduction fund, all products are fair trade certified. You could say we’ve created a coffee/tea ministry!

But why describe coffee buying as a ministry!? Well, for the reasons I just articulated. 5% of each purchase made through our coffee/tea store aids poor folk. Likewise, because it’s all fair-trade, we’re contributing to the economic well-being of small farming communities. Of course, it’s not perfect. That same article Bob gave me highlights how fair-trade coffee (i.e. coffee purchased directly from small farmers, at higher prices, to help reduce debt and poverty) is just a 7% drop in the great big bucket of worldwide coffee sales. And fair-trade farmers often still live at subsistence level, though less tenuously than they would otherwise. Still, if I’m going to buy coffee (and I’m going to buy coffee!), I’d like what little I contribute to make some positive difference in another’s life. And making a positive difference in another’s life is one way of saying ‘ministry.’

In fact, a few weeks back, one of our members decided we could even use Fellowship Hour to practice ministry to poor farmers. So this member purchased two cases of “Fellowship Blend” coffee from our fair-trade supplier- one decaf, one caf- which is now used to fill our Sunday demand. Perhaps you noticed our Sunday coffee quality has shot way up, and that’s why! This member also purchased fair-trade tea, so you non-coffee Christians could have ministry-based beverage options too. And the goal, of course, wasn’t to do this once, but to get a ball rolling…

So will you consider contributing to our coffee/tea ministry? If you want to offset the cost of our next case of “Fellowship Blend” coffee/tea, let me know. Or put whatever you’d normally spend on Folgers in the Offering plate, labeled coffee. Or find the cost of a case on the sheets next to our display stand, and slip a check under my door. Also, consider purchasing your next coffee bag(s), tea box(es) or chocolate bar(s) through the church. That way, we can tell friends, “Our church even does ministry through beverages!” And I’ll keep working on cutting back…


Grace and Peace,
Shane
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Indiscriminate Hospitality…

My buddy Paul is a Disciples minister in Louisville. We spent a year on staff of the same church, trying to learn together this thing called ‘ordained ministry.’ If you knew Paul like I do, you’d know he’s a bold guy- he’s South Korean and first came to America to attend seminary, he’s since worked at two mostly Anglo churches in Kentucky, he roots for the Dallas Cowboys. And, if you knew Paul like I do, you’d know he owes me one. Big time.

One Sunday, while we worked at Central Christian in Lexington, our boss asked Paul to preach for both morning services. He was excited, since this would be his first time preaching at our church (usually, that was the boss’ job). But there was a snag- Paul’s parents were flying into town that Sunday morning, landing during the second service. And it was their first trip to America, he said, they didn’t speak any English, but he had to preach so please- Shane- will you pick them up?! “Of course, Paul. Just make me a sign with their names on it. In Korean.” Which he did, but didn’t say which way is up for Korean script. I guessed wrong.

Everything worked out fine, by the way, so he doesn’t really ‘owe me one’ (although, I don’t mind making the joke when we chat!). In fact, his parents, who were kind enough not to look horribly scared by the rattling of my old car, even gave me a beautiful tie as a Thank You. But it was a unique experience, as I stood at the airport, holding a sign with names of people I wouldn’t recognize, who spoke another language and would become my ‘responsibility,’ at least until I could hand them off to Paul. I suspect they were nervous too. When you commit to ‘hospitality’, which I believe is the heart of Gospel, you find yourself in unexpected situations!

Interestingly, that wasn’t my first such experience at the Lexington Airport. A few months earlier, Paul and I, and five others from church, gathered there at 11:30 PM. We were meeting a flight from New Jersey, with a couple on it who’d been in London before that, and Jordan before that, and Iraq before that. They were refugees, and when they entered baggage claim, they were tired!

And annoyed. Mohammed, who speaks impeccable English, told me, “They held us in London, and lost bags in New Jersey, and we’ve been traveling for three days, and…” I could hear him finish that sentence in his mind with the universally recognizable- AARGH! Sura, who I came to learn was quite talkative, just smiled silently and nodded along to her husband’s story. What an inhospitable way to enter the country! It wasn’t anyone’s “fault,” but still…

Which is why we were glad that eight people showed up to greet them, say “Hi,” and provide some good hospitality. After all, not only was it a hard travel day(s)- this couple was escaping war, had been living (in hiding, it turns out) in Jordan for a year, praying to leave and restart life somewhere peaceful. And even while they’d made it to a ‘new world,’ there were many stresses and strange unfamiliarities about America that would take help and patience to navigate. Paul and I led a group of church folk to be a community of support for Mohammed and Sura. It was among the best ministry I’ve ever done.

I tell you this because on Sunday, May 23, we’ll be welcoming a speaker from the MN Council of Churches to talk with us after Fellowship Time about refugee ministry. Our Mission Team, a few weeks back, decided this might be a worthwhile outreach project for the church to explore, so I’ve invited her to share about her work with vulnerable refugees, and how church hospitality makes a real difference. It’ll last only 45 minutes tops, but in that time, I hope we’ll learn something unexpected and grace-filled about hospitality. And who knows? Maybe we’ll be challenged to open our arms wider in hospitality to more neighbors in our midst. Paul would be proud.


Grace and Peace,

Shane Read more!

Open doors…

I’m on Cruise! Well, technically, I’m writing in the church office. But as you read this, Sunday May 2, I’m on vacation with my wonderful wife, in the Caribbean! Last summer, when we got married, Tabitha’s dad offered us a cruise as a honeymoon. We responded, “Well, Shane’s parents already gave us a honeymoon.” He said, “So you don’t want my cruise then?” We said, “We’ll take it anyway!” And we had to use it before next month, or lose it.

But I learned recently that this will be news to some of you. It seems I haven’t communicated as well as I should. So I’m sorry if you came to church this morning expecting to speak with me, and I’m off sun tanning. My replacement, Dennis Sanders, Associate Pastor of Diversity and Mission at First Christian, will do a great job, I’m sure!

But in the spirit of good communication, I want everyone to know, if you don’t already, about another two guests we’re welcoming this month:

1. Sunday, May 9- I’ll be in church, doing everything I normally do, except preach. I’ve invited another guest preacher to join us.

This guest is Stephen Haney, co-pastor and planter of Open Source Christian Church in Rochester, MN. You maybe heard that Rochester was getting a new Disciples of Christ church. In fact, it’s already begun! Stephen and his wife Rebecca arrived in January, and have been working hard ever since.

Let me tell you, briefly, why he’s joining us. First Christian of Rochester, of course, closed their doors a few years back, and many of you had ties there. As churches do when the congregation disbands, they sold their assets, and set that money up with the denomination. But FCC Rochester made one demand- In the next ten years, this money can only be used to plant a new church in Rochester, MN. I think that’s a great idea, and because of that Stephen and Rebecca received (some of!) their funding to move here from Oklahoma, and start a new church from scratch, while raising two young kids. I wanted you to hear from them because, a) Their ministry is focused on un-churched young adults in the Rochester area, so it’s unique and exciting, b) In many ways, PCCC was a ‘new church start’ just 30 years ago, so I thought we’d have compassion and wisdom for this ministry. We might even want to support their work. So Stephen will preach that Sunday, and give a short presentation during Fellowship about their vision and emerging ministry.

2. Sunday, May 23- First of all, this is the date for our 2010 Spring Choir Festival. Jeremae and the choir, as happens each Spring, are preparing something very cool, that will replace our sermon that Sunday (What will I do with myself this month?! Perhaps visit more, and bug you about discovering creative new ways to do ministry together…!!!). Second, after service, as I wrote about in the May newsletter, we’ll welcome Kristin Zoellner, Resource Coordinator of Refugee Services for the MN Council of Churches.

Why? Well, as you may know, our Mission Team Gathering in March decided to challenge the church to learn about Refugee Ministry. We want to find a church-wide, longer-term mission project for 2010, and while we don’t know yet if this is it, we have suspicions. And besides, this ministry is important ministry- indeed, when I helped lead refugee work at my church in Kentucky, it was some of the best stuff we did together- so it’s worth learning about in general. So after Fellowship that Sunday, 45 minutes tops, we’ll hear about how refugees resettle in Minneapolis, the challenges they go through, and how churches make a difference in their lives.

That’s all my announcing- I promise! I had planned, by the way, to write about a kickball adventure I got into recently. I’ll do it soon; don’t let me forget. But while I’m gone, enjoy the guests, the time apart, and exciting thoughts about all the interesting things we’ll learn about ministry this month. Isn’t it fun providing hospitality when you know you’ll learn so much from your guest?

Grace and Peace,

Shane
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I love to tell the story…

Many of you, I’m sure, recognize the above quote. If not, look up #480 in the hymnal, and you’ll find an old favorite hymn of the Christian Church. The premise of the song is simple: We, as Christians, share a story about Jesus that matters to us deeply, and it’s possible that we love that story so much, we want to tell others. Maybe it’ll matter to them too!

Alas, for all the invigorated passion that comes with singing this song, it’s rare indeed we encounter folk for whom it’s always, everyday true. And if we do, often the passion with which some tell Jesus’ story seems off-putting, or even judgmental. And yet…do you ever feel that you should be that kind of Christian, who loves to tell Jesus’ story to others? And yet, you can’t bring yourself to speak up if the occasion presents itself? I do. And I’m a preacher! I mean, I don’t want to be an obnoxious Christian. But I do believe Jesus’ story can change lives for the better, when told authentically and with an open mind. It changed my life, after all, and continues to still.

Well, a friend recently talked about this dynamic in a way I found helpful, so I thought I’d pass her wisdom along. It involves a citrus peeler. As all good insights of faith do (or not…).

Turns out, my friend bought a citrus peeler awhile back, and WOW, how she loved it! It’s like the culinary world opened before her. And with that minute object, she was master of that world. It cost only a dollar, but it allowed her to peel an orange better, faster and with greater joy than she ever imagined possible. So she bought three more. But her love did not abide solely in the splendid confines of her kitchen (and purse, and office…). She took that love with her when she entered the outside world. She located her friends, and inevitably, the following conversation (or something like it) ensued, “Wow, guess what just happened?!” “I don’t know, what? And why do you smell like oranges?” “I found the most incredible tool known to humankind!” “An Amazon Kindle? A pair of skis?” “NO! Even better. I just got a citrus peeler!” So she regaled her friends with stories of this mythic, yet very real accessory, and all she did with it, and what great fun she had in the meantime.

Turns out, after many retellings of how much she loved her citrus peeler(s), her friends joined the bandwagon, and purchased peelers of their own. They, of course, discovered how it could be useful for their unique purposes. But one by one, the citrus peeler phenomenon grew, until the story wasn’t hers alone to love any longer.

Now, if you think about it, we probably have things that are similar to her citrus peeler. For me, it’s my favorite ski mountain (Winter Park, CO!), or the Indian food restaurant on 494 and Rockford Road (Royal India). And her spiritual insight about this was simple: maybe sharing the story of Jesus is like her love of the citrus peeler. After all, what Jesus did for the world- his death and resurrection, his profoundly courageous moral and spiritual teachings- matters to many of us in ways much greater than even a citrus peeler ever could. So why don’t we treat Jesus’ story like we treat these other things that matter to us?

Good question! Maybe it’s because Jesus’ love is so personal, it’s harder to put in words. Or maybe it’s because we confuse “church” with “Jesus,” and so think telling the story isn’t about sharing our love of Jesus, but rather getting more people to come to church. Which somehow feels devious, or like we’re simply marketing a product. I don’t know. I’m sure you have ideas of your own. But one thing I do know is y’all love Jesus. So my prayer for all of us this week is we feel that love even greater, perhaps so much so we’re inspired to tell others we love why our Jesus love makes our lives so fun.

Grace and Peace,

Shane
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From the President…

No, not the guy in Washington; this is something more local. An oft-unmentioned joy at Plymouth Creek, this past year, has been the leadership of our Board President, LeAnn. In terms of leadership style, hers is not bombastic or confrontational. She leads with dignity and deep listening, always seeking to accommodate others’ best hopes for their church. I’ve learned much by watching her operate.

Personal accolades aside, there’s another powerful leadership tool she’s used this year, but that few have witnessed- Her monthly President’s Report to the Board. Now, from the two Board Presidents I’ve worked with (both great and unique leaders!), it seems PCCC does these reports differently. Rather than just list what’s been happening, or necessary decisions going forward, our Presidents’ reports take on spiritual tones. They guide us in faithfulness; help keep our eyes on the prize- by encouraging us to reflect on the mission of God in the work of the Board and Church. Truth be told, it’s inspiring! It’s like having multiple preachers amongst us! And because they so consistently and powerfully wrap our Board’s work in the garment of God’s Spirit, we’re a more faithful and focused Board, which is great news for the whole church.

So I wanted you to witness this in action. This week’s ‘pastoral letter’ will be from our Board President, not me. What follows is April’s President’s Report. I pray you find it as moving and inspiring as we did last week, and that you enjoy this word of challenge and encouragement from our church’s very capable leadership:

Shall I dare say, even though it’s the middle of April, that Spring has sprung! College basketball season is over (sorry Shane – maybe next year) and baseball season has begun. The Twins won their season opener in their new home – and didn’t have to worry about being snowed out. The grass is green (and probably needs watering), and the plants, trees, and bushes are showing signs of new life! The sounds of birds singing in the morning fills the air and makes one realize how much you missed not being able to have the windows open the last 6 months or more!

Spring does have a way of making you feel like there is new life in you with all of its promises. It’s much like what promises are held with Easter – the promise of new life through our resurrected Lord. We just need to believe in him and do our best to live our lives in the way in which he taught us.

Part of this is also reaching out to others. Reaching out to those not only in our church, but more importantly, to those outside of these walls. To those people that we have yet to meet. Jesus told his disciples – as well as us – to go out and become fishers of people. This is also what we need to do in order to grow – to go and reach out to our neighbors, near and far. Even though I have a feeling that the disciples didn’t think that they had the means and resources to go into the world and teach a new way of thinking about God, they found a way to spread His word far and wide. We, too, sometimes think that we don’t have the means and resources to go out and spread His word either, but I think that if we look deep into ourselves, we will find the wisdom and the strength to do it.

Growth is not something that will happen overnight (as much as we wish it would). It is slow and needs nurturing and care. We can do this – we just need to take it one-step at a time. If we hit a bump in the road – we just need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving one-step at a time. With God, all things are possible and remember, if He leads us to it (and I do think we have been brought to this time of seriously thinking of growth), He will get us through it!

Blessings,

LeAnn

P.S.- See what I mean! Grace and Peace this week and always- Shane
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