Mid-week News 12-19-12

Dear Family of Faith, I just finished my annual Christmas concert on the piano. I’m never quite pleased with my performance, but what did please me was that 80 people came to listen (which is more than were in worship on the first day I began as pastor of the church 4 years ago!). Someone asked me before the concert whether I had stage fright. I always do, but I continue to play for others anyway because I believe that we are called to share whatever talents God gives us. I really appreciate the person who donated the piano in the sanctuary many years ago so that I could have the privilege of using it! Ever since the mass shooting in Connecticut there has been a pall over our Christmas celebrations. Especially for my own family, which lost three children to violence on a single night 20 years ago, the faces of those innocent kids bring back a host of frightful memories. And yet, to slide into despair when such things happen, is to surrender to the enemy of death—something Jesus came to overcome. We need to go on in our lives. Violence and death will not have the last word; rather love and life will win in the end. Some ask “Where was God when this horrible thing happened?” My answer: “With the kids.” Unfortunately, our President, like many others, spoke of God “taking the children.” I balk at such a thought. If I thought God was in the business of taking away our children, our pride and joy in life; then I would have little reason to give such a god glory and praise. But the God I know doesn’t ever take our children from us, either through violent means or disease. The God I know receives our children into an eternal realm when the events of this world destroy their fragile earthly lives. So it is that we need to go on in joy after the sadness of life so that we can be “more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.” Last Sunday’s worship service was something that helped us go on in life. The children’s Christmas Pageant was spectacular—the littlest children were so cute, the older ones so competent, the Junior Choir so strong, and the puppets so colorful. Everything from the young acolyte to the baptism of 7-year-old Emma Chenoweth, to Ryan Netrval’s piano solo, to the pageant was so uplifting! As Meredith Suld put it after the service, “It was redemptive.” Indeed, all the children bringing the message of Jesus in so many different ways seemed to vindicate the CT schoolchildren. Youth and childhood will go on! A big thanks to all the teachers and helpers in the Sunday School who helped to make this first pageant in decades such a smashing success! Anyone who experienced it can tell you that something beautiful happened to those who were in worship. Our hope was truly reborn in that hour. In this holy season when the Light of Christ breaks up the darkness of the world, may your words be encouraging, your thoughts pleasing to God, and your deeds full of compassion, generosity, and love. See you on the other side of ‘the end of the world.’ With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 12-12-12

Dear Family of faith, Happy 12-12-12! Since 12 is the number of completeness and wholeness in a Biblical sense (12 tribes, 12 apostles), this should be our lucky day. Leave it to the pessimists in the world to push up the end of the world to today! So far, so good. I don’t think the North Korean rocket launch today is going to do us in, either; even if the thing is spiraling out of control! I’m thinking about having a cocktail just after midnight tonight to celebrate surviving another doomsday prediction! I suppose by now most of you have heard about the prank that ended in a tragedy. Two Australian radio hosts called up the hospital in England where the Duchess of Cambridge was staying and pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The nurse who ‘got taken’ and told them about Kate’s condition was apparently so embarrassed by the whole prank, that she took her own life last weekend. Now everyone feels just horrible about the whole thing. Perhaps the nurse was going to lose her job over the deception, but I would fault the hospital for having no protocol in place to deal with calls from the palace. Certainly the pranksters didn’t think it would end in tragedy. What it does point out is how fragile some people can be—and there are many such people I have met. It doesn’t take much to make people turn against themselves. Far too many live with an inner voice of condemnation and accusation leading to chronic despair or bouts of misplaced anger. Those who live around such people must “walk on eggshells” as the proverbial expression puts it. But is there a better way? Especially in this often dangerous season when so many people live so close to the edge of hopelessness, can’t we do something? I believe that we can! Sharing the love of God in our words and deeds, pointing out the gifts and beauty of others, caring in tangible ways, and helping others to see that failures and mistakes are human experiences which can make us better—all these serve to help people grow stronger in their spirits and believe in themselves and in their God so that they can let go of criticism, trouble, and even tragedy. If you run into some of these “fragile people” this season, think about how you can help them grow stronger. One of the Christmas cards Jill and I received this week was from the very first pastor I shared ministry with when I was still in seminary. He retired decades ago and is now in his 90’s. He wrote, in part, “I am living in an assisted living facility. I get all my meals and have my own room with a private bath and sitting room. My laundry and cleaning are cared for by the home. If I need help dressing or something else, all I have to do is press my button and someone responds to my door.” Then he adds, “May the love of Jesus always be at the center of your celebrations.” I was struck by the positive tone of what many would see as a very confining life—especially in view of this man’s very active and productive life in the past, not only in the church, but as a handyman and carpenter, too. It made me think about how often I get upset about life when I have so many blessings. This Christmas, be happy for the simple things of life—health and home, family and church, love, and strength for the day. Not all of life is a picnic, but every day is a banquet of blessings. With affection, Pastor Carlan

12/5/12

Dear Family of faith, I didn’t get to serve on the jury this week. As it turns out, the case I was selected for had to do with armed robbery, and when asked whether I had ever been the victim of crime, I had to reply honestly “Yes, I was burglarized three times.” Well, it didn’t take a genius to see the defending attorney’s reaction to that! The fact that I am a pastor and that I have a nephew who is a police officer didn’t help much either! It was an interesting process, though, as far as it went. I hope you all get the chance someday—and maybe you’ll make it to the real trial! My only living aunt (from Calgary, Alberta) has been visiting her sister, my mother (who lives in Minnesota), this past week. Aunt Nettie left for home yesterday. I couldn’t help think about how painful those good-byes must have been since my mother is 89 and in failing health. It may well be the last time they see each other in this world. There were a lot of shared memories, growing up together and being the only two siblings (the oldest and youngest) still living. It made me ponder how fortunate those are who live close to family and how even more blessed are those who share a common faith. It was the playwright Johann von Goethe who wrote, “Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time.” I hold that truth close to my heart in regard to all of you who are part of my family of faith. We will never say goodbye for the last time! Even so, don’t let pass those occasions when you can share with those in your family. They become more precious with each passing year. May this Second Week of Advent bring the blessing of peace to you and all those you love. See you on Sunday! With affection, Pastor Carlan