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University of Minnesota Ministries

It was my good fortune to visit our two congregations closest to the Universtiy of Minnesota Main Campus this past week.

Stadium Village Church is right in the heart of the campus, across the street from student housing and a stone's throw from the new Football Stadium now under construction. The creative energy and presence of the Spirit is so evident when talking with our Pastor Kathleen Macosko, Lay Pastor Lowell Busman and the Student Worker Mary Krogmann. The conversation was like attending to a popcorn machine. Stories of experiences with the congreagtion and students, many of whom are intenational, was encouraging and exciting. Given their vision and energy they are a tear with God's leadng to change the world.

Just on the east side of the campus is Andrew Riverside Church. Five years ago this congregation had the misfortune of having their building literally collapse. Now operating out of an office in Dinky Town with worship being held in the local YMCA they are not only surviving but are about ready to launch a redevelopment on the site of the old church building. Harry and Judy Maghakian, pastor and wife, are the dynamic duo. Both in retirement years, Harry in his 80tys, they feel like a couple coming out of Seminary in their first pastorate. The new develpment has great potential for coupling Senior Hiousing with the Church facility. Once again this congregation is an International Community. Andrew Riiverside might have had a building "knocked down" but they are far from "out."

The Spirit is working. All you have to do is look and listen!

Hey, some days this job is too much fun!!!!

Bumper Sticker

While driving around the Presbytery the last few days I saw this bumper sticker:

God is Not  a

Republican

Nor a Democrat

After a second "take" I thought how fitting. There is such a danger in this "political year" of wanting to claim that our candidiate, candidates or party are the truest to God. Such behavior must give God a good laugh.

When John Kennedy ran against Richard Nixon I preached a sermon stating clearly that I thought it inappropriate for any person to vote for either candidiate simply because of their church affliation. Word spread quickly through the small town about what I had said.  My reward--the Ministerial Association, made up of only Protestant Clergy was quite upset and told me so.

Faith is important in how all of us live out our lives. However, I for one still hold dear our separation of Church and State.

The Aftermath

Carolyn and I sat glued to the TV last evening as we watched the violent storms rage across the northern suburbs. A bit later we saw the views of the damage caused by the storms in the Hugo area. Our hearts go our especailly to the family who lost a child. Beyond that we feel so badly for those who were injured and those who have had damage to their property.

Tornados are very real to us. While serving as organizing pastor of a new congregation in St. Louis, MO, during the 1960tys we felt the full brunt of tonadoes. One evening two subdivisions close to our chuch were leveled. After the storm passed through I was called to help in the aftermath. I found one of our members with her two small childtren in her arms, walked down the highway, soaking wet, in a state of shock. She had just begun to descend the basement stairs when her home was blown away. She and the two children had been saved by a split second.

For weeks after we dealt with the trama of members who had made it through the storm. One family had huddled in their bathroom. After the storm, it was the only room left with them inside. The children were especially afffected by the experience.

So my heart goes out even further today to the town in Iowa that was leveled last night. Then on to China in the devastation of the earthquate and yesterday's aftershock. Even further to Myanmar where tens of thousands are suffering after the typhoon with a government that fails to respond in an appropriate way

On this Memorial day as we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom. May we also honor those first rersponders who moved so quickly to help those in need last night.

Communicant's Class

Today at worship serveral young people were Confirmed. This is always a very moving experience for me. I am more and more impressed with the maturity in the faith of so many of today's youth. They have a much better grasp of their fauth than I did when I was Confirmed more than three score years ago.

The Pastor who works with the Confirmation Class always requests that each student prerpare a statement of faith which is presented to the Session. That statement can we either in writing or in an art form. Well this year one of the yong persons took the suggestion of the art form seriously. This morning that art form was displayed during worship.

Andrew, a high school sophomore, presented a collage of one inch square picrtures of people who were in his life. Up close you could identify over a one hundred personal individual photos. Standing back from the collage you could see the larger view which was a portarit of Andrew. His own creation.

As Andrew spoke to the congregation about the art form. he said, "These are the people in my life who have helped me develop my personal faith."

What a message Andrew brings.Since this morning, in my mind I have been creating my own personal collage. I'm going to need a whole wall to include all of the people who have helped shape my faith. How about you?

Communicant's Class

Catching My Breath

Almost three days now since the Presbytery meeting. Thus I have had time to let the highs and lows of the meeting flow through my thinking process.

Some of the highs for me:

The energy felt in the discussion time at the start of the meeting

Kara's outstanding and insightful sermon

Worship as led by members of the CAD Team

The approval of Dean's Call to a Drama Ministry

Moving forward on Immigrant and International Fellowships

Concerns for People with Disabilites TF-- givihg us a tool to inventory each congregation

The highlighting of the agenda items using Powerpoint

The excellent way in which the officers ran the meeting.

Some lows for me:

The time it takes us to do some of the routine business

The style of how we examine our Candidates on the floor

Disappointment that we still have many committee oppportunities still left vacant

Our inability to hold the interest of more people to the end of the meeting.

Look I have more positive than negatives. That's a good sign.

I am sure there are ways we can improve the meetings. The Council is working on this. Any ideas you have please feel free to Email me.

Bottom line for me: there was opportuinity for Personal and Spiritual Growth at the Meeting.I hope you experienced that like I did.

Presbytery Meeting

Today is the second time I will be at a meeting of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area since my term as Interm Transitional EP began. There is no doubt that I am much more famaliar with a lot of people and I am somewhat acquinted witht the processes used in this organization. Still I am a bit apprehensive about how the meeting will progress today.

There are many people who have done a lot of work in preparation for the meeting. Most of them are volunteers. There are very few of us now who are paid to work for the Presbytery. Therefore like in most of our Presbyterian Church we run on the back of volunteers. I want the meeting to be successful, that is meaningful, for all of those who have worked so hard.

Thinking about that reality--our great dependence on volunteers-- I was marveliing this morning that we do so well. For all the indifference to the "larger" church, that is to Presbyteries, Synods and the GA, there is still tremendous commitment to the mission, ministry and organization of the Church.

It is most obvious to me that the vast majority of persons want the Church to work. They know there is not only need but worth in doing things together on a larger scale than in just one congreagtion or by one individual. Our faith was not discovered in a vacuum it was discovered in the context of the Church. Also historically, it is true individuals have made a difference  but it takes a critical mass to achieve a major impact on society.

With a group of friends Carolyn and I have been reading and reflecting on the "Fereralists Papers." You may recall these papers were written in the 18th century by a few of the Fathers of our Nation--USA. I ran across this quote from Paper Number Seventeen written by Alexander Hamilton:

"It is a known fact in human nature that its affections are commonly weak in proportion to the distance or diffusiveness of the object. Upon the same principle that a man is more attached to his family than to his neighbor, more to his neighbor than to his community at large."

Hamiltion, of course, was showing that it took hard work on the larger body (Federal Goverment) to attract the efforts and commitment of the individual persons. For persons by nature are more attacted to family (Congregation) than to the neighborhood (Presbytery) or to the community (Synod) or to that even further away (GA).

Knowing that we are working against the "natural' tendency as Hamilton said it is important to do a good job in making our Governing Body meetings meaningful. With a very large and diverse body this is no easy task. So my hat is off to all those who have spent much time working to make today's meeting make a difference. Hopefully there will be opportunity for personal and spiritual growth and then the business will take care of itself.

Out on the Porch

The last two days have expanded my horizon about the Christian Church particularly in Minnesota but even  further. On Thursday My time was spent in various meetings of the Minnesota Council of Churches. Today I had lunch with the Minnesota "Heads of Communions."

To be honest I was not very excited about either day as they approached on my calendar. But, let me tell you I was mistaken. For these have been two of the most positve and meaningful days I have spent since coming on board as the Interim EP. Here is you one reason why I feel so good about these experiences.

First about today--The lunch table included the broadest spectrum of the Christian Church I have ever sat with in 53 years of ministry. Denominational leaders from Pentecostal to Roman Catholic were around the table. Two very different persons shared their personal faith journies. A season of prayer included many appeals for unity in the Church of Jesus Christ. Aa I learned on Thursday, "unity" does not always mean "agreement." However it does mean no matter how we differ we are still all part of the one Church of Jesus Christ

A most remarkable part of today's gathering was one pastor from north Minneapolis telling about the ministry of the church he serves. It reminded me of the great work being done by our Kwanzaa Congregation.This pastor made clear how we must take the church out to the community. Then he told how on one Sunday when coming to church he noticed a crowd on the porch of a house across the street from his Church. This was a "House of Prostitution and Crack." During the worship he told his flock he was not going to preach in the church today. He said, "I'm going to preach on the porch of the House of Prosititution across the street."

Most of his congregation followed him out across the street. When he arrived on the porch the "Madam" cursed him out. He went on and preached anyway. By the end of the service the Madam came out and was crying. Today the :"House" is closed and the Madam a member of the church.  "God makes a difference," is what he said.  What a statement.

That's enough for today. I'll tell you about my Thursday with the Minnesota Council at a later time. It is just as  amazing! I can feel a sermon coming "Get Out on the Porch!"

Change

Last night Carolyn and I took our Senior Citizens Safe Driving Course for the fifth time. No! we have not failed it four times---you must get a refresher course every three years to stay current.

Like most other people who take this course we originally signed up to get a 10% saving on our automobile insurance. Yes, that still is a great motivator. However over the years we have come to appreaciate the new things we learn each time we take the course. It is important as we get older that we are aware of the loss in our reaction time, sight, hearing and patience.All of this "maturing" can make it dangerous not only for others but for ourselves on the roads.

At the beginning of the night the instructor asked us, "How many of you think you are a good driver?" Most everyone knew they were a good driver at the beginning of the night. However by the end of the night it was obivious we had a few things to learn. Or as the Instrutor said we all need to change at least one thing if we are going to be safer drivers.

Reflecting on the three year driving skill update I began to wonder if such a refresher course would also be a good thing for all of us in our faith. If we are really going to be good at our faith and keep up with our current society the word "Change" also should be one we know. Change means growth and understaniding not only about ourselves but also about that which is going on around us.

Yes, Change in a positive way so we can be more effective in how we live our faith and share it with others.

I also hope I will change a least one thing be be a safer driver! That too is a Christian responsibility!

Come On Spring!

I don't know about you but I'm ready for some nice Spring weather. Looking out my Home Office window I can see the buds begnning to pop on the trees and there is even some visible popping up of shoots from the flowers in the ground.

When growing up in Buffalo, NY Spring was always my favorite season. I loved to ride my bike a few miles out in to the countryside. As the snow was melting, the streams flowing and the grass beginning to pop out. My whole mind and body would feel a joy and a burst of enengy.

Spring is the reminder of the strength and formitable drive of life. This world just pulsates with the gift of life in so many forms.

Yes, Spring is in the air.

Thanks God for letting us live in such a wonderful place.