Spirit Soundings, January 23, 2015

“When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows…”

Excerpt from “Where Do We Go From Here?”
Martin Luther King Jr., 1967)

The Source of Our Encouragement

This past weekend, our nation commemorated the ministry and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..  As I reflected on the many celebrations and special community projects held in our region and beyond, I found myself thinking “What is it about a person’s spirit that allows them to be a voice for hope in the midst of injustice and despair?”  “What is it about a person who responds with love to hatred, bias and isms?”  And then I came across this amazing quote.  It serves as a humble reminder of who we are called to be – because of whose we are.

It is clear to me that Dr. King’s identity as a child of God – created in the image of God – provided him with that indefatigable spirit of “possibility” in the midst of the “impossibility”.  It is clear to me that his understanding of the resurrection enabled and empowered him to shout out “life” in the midst of “death.”  In many ways I was unaware of the harsh reality of our nation in the sixties, although I remember the black and white images on the television that would captivate me.  I remember the images of water and dogs, of people marching-arms linked together.  I remember the death of one who caused many in our nation to cry.  Years later as I became a young adult, I would realize that many of us stand where we do because of the faith of those, who like Dr. King, believed that all humanity must be treated as creatures created in the image of the Creator.  His actions, his commitment were birthed out of his profound Christian faith.

So much has clearly changed since the march on Selma some fifty years ago – the truth is I’m not sure that I would  be writing you today had it not been for the cloud of witness that paved the way, building up a foundation for making possible the impossible – both within and outside the church.  But even as much as things have changed, you and I know there is still much more that needs to change.  The images around us are graphic – as violence continues to haunt the fabric of our society.  Race, religious intolerance, isms of all kinds and economic injustice, hunger, homelessness and disease continue to plague the world and our nation in new and subtle ways.  This is however the world to which we have been called to serve –  to be light; to reflect hope; to cry resurrection.  There are moments of exhaustion and discouragement when I must confess I find myself asking “Really Lord?” – but then something stirs within me.  That powerful Holy Spirit breathes new life into my weary human spirit – causing me to remember “who” and “whose I am.’  It is that conviction that serves to encourage me….

And so I am encouraged – not because the road before us is an easy one, but because I am not walking this journey alone – you are my companions on the journey.  I am encouraged – not because I know the answer, but because you and I together can ‘call the question.’  I am encouraged – not because I am in denial of the pain along the way, but because your prayers will serve as salve on the wounds.  Above all, I am encouraged  because I choose to remember – “there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.”

May that force – the God of creation continue to inspire us to be a ‘people of the impossible’ through the power of the Holy Spirit in Christ.

 

 

 

Advent Reflections Lectionary – Week 4, Luke 2:8-11

December 21, 2014
by Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace
(Executive Presbyter)

“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. But the angel said to them
‘Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news
of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the
city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’”

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Advent4_1“Do not be afraid…” Not unlike the “shepherds keeping their flock by night” of 2,000 years ago, this angelic message continues to challenge our human reality today. “Do not be afraid.” Really?  Have you seen all the pain, injustice, brokenness around us God?  “Do not be afraid”  – How often are these echoing Biblical words of assurance, silenced or drowned out by the voices of anxiety, impatience, anger, confusion, disappointment, and you guessed it – fear?

Over time I’ve reflected on the many ways fear often stops us – servants and leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ, from daring to step out in faith. Fear is what often does not permit us to model Christ-like presence in the midst of human dilemmas and human injustice. Fear is what often emotionally and spiritually paralyzes us, causing us to shut down and thus, allowing us to do nothing. Above all however, unbridled fear does not allow us to see what new possibility God has before us.

Yet as we all know, fear is an emotion that is as much a part of our lives as joy. Fear is a signal that something is not comfortable or familiar; that there is something threatening our status quo. I’ve learned that fear itself is not the issue. The issue is how we respond to our fear. Will our faith and actions be shaped by our fears? Or will our fears be shaped by our faith?

TheBirthThis is where the Christmas message enters. Christmas is that moment when we are again called to reaffirm our understanding that it is precisely in this place – the place of fear, that God’s messengers break into and speak to us. It is in this place that we are assured that God will not abandon us. We are reminded that God faithfully acts in the most unexpected way – the way of the infant child Jesus, to bring justice, healing, redemption and salvation for humanity. The Christmas message compels us to be a people of courage and hope. It compels us to see possibilities where once there were none.  That is why we make this pilgrimage to the manger year after year.

As “modern-day shepherds” leading our many contemporary flocks, we too are invited to again hear and embrace the familiar message of the angel voices. We are invited to let their words of God’s assurance break into the midst of the complex challenges of ministry – of stewardship, discipleship, care giving, evangelism, mission and more. We are invited to let their message break into our minds and hearts so that we might be a prophetic people challenging and working for all that is wrong around us.  We are invited to let their sounds challenge the sounds of our deepest fears and concerns, so that we can be a people and leadership of hope.

My prayer for us this Christmas is that through the retelling of the sacred story, through the words and music of the carols and familiar Christmas hymns, through the welcoming of the Christ Child, that we will join our voices to the voices of God’s messengers. May we loudly and boldly be a witness that breaks into the shadows of fear that exist in this world.

May our voices and lives reflect the ancient message – “Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people”

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Spirit Soundings, November 14, 2014

By Ruth Faith Santana-Grace

Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  This is the greatest and first commandment.  And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

On Grace and Gathering

So here we are – our first presbytery gathering since my arrival where the values of who we claim to be as a covenant community will be tested in a way that is “up close and personal.”  In my early conversations regarding my joining you in Philadelphia, one of the many hopes expressed was that when we would next vote on difficult questions, we would do so with integrity, honesty, and above all –  with a tone of respect and grace.  I heard a deep desire for an affirmation that – regardless of our views, we are all wrestling to faithfully understand the Biblical and theological framework that informs our faith.   I must say I have come to believe true theology – the theology that shapes our daily lives – is simply that: ‘faith seeking understanding.’

As a people of faith throughout history, that “seeking of understanding” has been shaped by centuries of conversations and debates.  Our Book of Confessions speaks clearly to this reality – as confession after confession was historically written in response to the challenges amidst the collision of church and culture.  This is part of our heritage as Presbyterians. We believe that through these conversations, we as a people of faith, continue to be open to where God’s Holy Spirit is leading us next.  We believe that conversations within a covenant people serve as safeguards from the temptation of assuming that we (as humans) know God better than God.  How we engage these conversations however, has often been challenging – often denying a spirit of grace to those with whom we disagree.

In the brief time we have walked together, I have gratefully experienced our commitment to this spirit of grace – in our conversations around tables and small groups.   We have resisted the temptation to demonize and vilify one another.  Most of us have even resisted the temptation to refer to those with whom we disagree as “those people.”  This has been true in our regional meetings as well as in our presbytery-wide gatherings as we have come together to discuss the amendments coming from the 221st General Assembly.  I believe this spirit of grace reflects our corporate understanding of Jesus’ second commandment – loving neighbor as self; or as I would say “seeing one another as we would want to be seen.”

It is this spirit of grace that I believe will shape the tone of our gathering next week. There is no question, next Tuesday will have its challenges – but it will also have its moments of celebration and fellowship.  So as we prepare to come together, I remind us that we are gathering for more than a debate and vote.  We are gathering as a people of faith on a pilgrimage together.  We are gathering to hear of a renewal in Christian camping as we partner with another presbytery.  We are gathering to examine one among us for ordination.  We are gathering to affirm the nomination of a new moderator and vice moderator.  We are gathering to worship and hear the Word proclaimed by one who once served among us. We are gathering to hear how we might respond faithfully in the face of racism and violence.  We are gathering to remember the saints whose lives have touched our own.  We are gathering to break bread together. Oh, and yes, we are gathering to vote on recommended amendments to our constitution.

I imagine we will have some visitors with us next Tuesday – curious about how a people of faith express their views.  I imagine there will be lots of people in attendance I have not yet met – after all, it’s only been nine months.  May they feel the embrace of who we are.  Of equal importance, may they leave our presbytery meeting with the observation – “Oh how they disagreed, but oh how they respected and loved one another.”

May the gathering before us be entrusted to our Lord in prayer and may the peace of Christ be with us all!  I look forward to seeing you at Carmel Presbyterian Church.

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Spirit Soundings, October 31, 2014

“For Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us…So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.  In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.”(Ephesians 2:14, 19-22)

 “May The Walls Come Tumbling Down”

boringwall2It was a day in November 1989 when the images of a tumbling wall swept throughout the globe.  The wall that separated east and west Berlin was to be no more.  After decades, the Reagan-Gorbachev era marked the end of the cold war.  The ramifications of this were significant in more than the obvious way.  A new economy had to be conceived.  A new cultural reality would need to be shaped, with the hope that a once-divided people could be made ‘whole.’  Many believed it would be impossible for that wholeness to occur.  I can still hear President Reagan’s raspy voice – “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall.”   I lived in Italy at this moment and the excitement about a new era was palpable.

This moment was also personally significant for my husband Edward and myself. For years we had worked at bridging the relationships that had been fractured by that east/west reality that the wall had represented.  That had been our vocation, bringing together European leaders of differing political views with leaders in the USA, focusing on the challenges that transcended party politics – education, employment, creation of new businesses, infrastructure, and more.  The question for us was – what now? what next?

A stirring had begun to take shape that would take us back to our homeland.  Our ministry as lay-leaders at the American church in Florence was not insignificant.   We had found a bridge that brought together our many gifts.  After endless conversations and different considerations, we packed up and moved into Roberts Hall at Princeton Theological Seminary – a quaint and lovely two- bedroom apartment on campus.  With that move, we would embark on a journey that continues into today. The tearing down of the Berlin Wall also gave way to the tearing down of assumptions that we had about our sense of call.   As one way of life came to an end, we began to see new possibilities.  Isn’t this the way it often is?  A barrier comes down and new possibilities present themselves.  I’ve learned that as long as the barrier exists, it becomes almost impossible to see the possibilities that might be right on the other side.  So long as the barrier exists, it becomes difficult to see the light that is breaking in through the walls.

Significant historical moments make me reflect on their significance for me.  As I consider all the preparations for our next presbytery meeting, I find myself reflecting on this Ephesians text. I am struck by the power of the words – our wall is “the hostility between us.”  Hostility is a strong word – for me it implies an instinctual reaction that opposes anything that the ‘other’ might be thinking or doing.   There are no good intentions in the word hostility.  As a people of faith, the power of this text is not to be under-valued or glossed over like a ‘Pollyanna’ moment.  Jesus is our peace and has broken down the dividing wall between us.  Wow!  I can almost hear Jesus’ words to us saying “followers of me – tear down that wall.”  It is only by tearing down the wall that we can embody the hope of the Gospel in a world already divided by the many cultural gods of power, money, sex and more.

But how do you and I tear down this wall that not only keeps others out, but keeps us confined (often serving as a kind of prison)?  That’s the thing about walls – at first they look like they are keeping others out, but in the end, their result is often that they confine us to a way of life that is not fully free.  I don’t pretend to know the answers to the complexity of questions before us, but I’ve come to deeply believe that the walls between us must come down – stone by stone, one by one.  This is a slow process, for the wall is kept together by assumptions, hostility, and fear – woven together by a genuine concern and understanding for a faithfulness to the Gospel.  I have however also come to believe that if we are faithful to the Gospel, tearing down the wall is as much a part of our mandate as feeding the poor.

I find myself in a prayerful and reflective place about the challenges before us as a people of faith.  But my dear companions on the journey – there is something about a wall that is unnatural to whom we are created to be by the Creator of it all.  The poet Robert Frost says it well:

“Something there is
that doesn’t love a wall,
that sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
and makes gaps even two can pass abreast.”
 

May we allow the cornerstone and foundation of our very being to be the only structure that defines who we are and who we can hope to be – “built together into a dwelling-place for God.”   May all the other stones – walls and the like – come tumbling down.

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Spirit Soundings, October 17, 2014

stormseaSPIRIT SOUNDINGS

October 17, 2014

Ruth Faith Santana-Grace

Reflections on Mark 4:35-39

 
“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.” Mark 4:35-39

 

Into the Storm – Peace! Be still!

The story is a familiar one – one that I was recently reminded resonates well with the tales of sea-faring sailors. It’s a story that reminds us that life is often filled with storms – rocking waves reflecting the unexpected challenges of life – casting us about, causing us to feel as if we are out of control, on the verge of perishing.  It’s also been the story of the church as it has made its way through history – often finding itself on seas of cultural realities that shake the very foundations on which it stands, causing its crew to wonder if it would capsize.

I frankly cannot remember a season when the storms of life and cultural realities have not tossed believers and the church about.  It would appear that the norm is precisely in this journey – a journey between the people of faith as they consider what it means to interpret that faith in a way that is relevant for the world in which they live.  The New Testament speaks to those challenges clearly as a community of faith is born – as they wrestle with issues of inclusion and exclusion; as they wrestle with issues of power and influence; as they wrestle with the assumptions of their day.

The thrashing about on us and the church continues today as it is experienced in the waves of violence crashing in the streets of our cities; as it is experienced in the waves of racism and every other ‘ism’ imaginable as we remain silent before the ‘de-humanizing’ of brothers and sisters; as it is experienced in the waves of isolation and alienation that plague our society; as it is experienced in the waves of socio-economic disparity; as it is experienced in the waves of hunger and poverty; as it is experienced in the waves of an education system that is failing in our cities.  The thrashing about on us and the church is experienced over and over again; causing us to despair, causing us to call out to Jesus in desperation.  Although he might appear to be sleeping, he is indeed with us on this journey.

This week I was reminded that it is precisely into these storms that you and I are called to serve.  I was touched deeply by the sermon of one of our minister members, the Rear Admiral Rev. Margaret Grun Kibben, Deputy Chief of US Navy Chaplains- as she reminded us of this truth.  It is precisely into these storms of injustice, pain, terrorism, immigration, spiritual and economic poverty (and so much more) that we – servants of the Church of Jesus Christ – are called to witness and embody the grace and love of our Lord.

And friends, as you and I know, this is not easy work – it is often difficult work.  We will often be tossed about.  We will often feel as if we are perishing when faced with the tsunami-like waves before us.  But the one who invites us to enter the other side; the one who journeys with us will speak into the storm – “Peace, Be Still”.  And for another while, we will together experience the calm of the sea.

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Spirit Soundings, September 26, 2014

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So Moses cried out to the Lord,
“What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 
I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb.  Strike the rock, and water will come out of it,
so that the people may drink.”
Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.  He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying,
“Is the Lord among us or not?”
 
Exodus 17:4-7 

Is the Lord Among Us or Not?

Now this lectionary story is familiar to all, if not, most of us.  There they are – the people of God on one of the ‘biggest detours’ (as one of our colleagues calls it) – 40 years in the wilderness with all that implies.  This wilderness paradigm is one with which we resonate over and over again in our lives – as we find ourselves in times of uncertainly.  At this particular moment, we find the faithful children of God really struggling with the road they are on.  In true human style, they argue with their leader Moses – they accuse him of bringing them to a place to die.  They wonder “Is the Lord among us or not?”

They somehow forget how oppressive the life of being a slave in Egypt had been. They somehow forget that they voluntarily went forth on this journey with Moses.  They somehow forget that they had already seen the miracle of the parting of the seas.  They somehow forget the cloud and the pillar – a constant presence before them.  They are thirsty and the prospect of water is nowhere to be found – and so they somehow forget.  In their forgetting and fear for immediate survival, they are unable to remember that God has faithfully journeyed with them.  In fear and frustration; in awareness that they cannot control the world around them, they whine and complain.  And as with all whining and complaining, when it becomes unbridled – they come dangerously close to hurting or destroying the one whom God has used to help release them from bondage.

And then there is Moses – the one God had called.  Obedient to God’s call through a burning bush, Moses embraces to challenge to lead a people out of the bondage of Egypt.  I suspect the miracle of the parting Red Sea was enough to encourage any leader.  But now he finds himself in the wilderness – frustrated and threatened by the very people he has been called to serve.  I imagine he is just tired – this gig was clearly more than he bargained for.  And so he cries out to God in frustration and I Imagine, some fear.  When God responds and directs Moses to use the staff he had used before – Moses obediently strikes the rock from which water will come.

There were several things that struck me in new ways, but the one that really has challenged me was the last question in the periscope – “Is the Lord among us or not?”  I had never really seen this line before.  I mean – I have seen it, but not really.  It is a profoundly important question for a people of faith – perhaps it is the ultimate question – Is the Lord among us or not?  Said differently, in what way do we see or recognize the Lord as being among us?

Well, last week we held the first of our presbytery-wide gatherings at Valley Forge Presbyterian Church to discuss the recommendations of the 221st General Assembly.  I must confess that I always enter these forums with great trepidation.  Gratefully, at this first forum we were reminded of the gifts and humility of our commissioners as they shared their experience in Detroit.  We were reminded of how a young woman’s experience as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate at the General Assembly changed the trajectory of her future dreams, as she affirmed her hopes to pursue the ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament.  Her testimony touched the hearts of the 100 adults present in that room. There was no doubt in my mind – the Lord is clearly among us!

We were also reminded of our theological differences. These differences bring with them the danger of discounting and discrediting the one with whom we disagree. That is a temptation I believe we must resist – for the very sake of the Gospel.  Our disagreeing is not the issue – healthy disagreements help us grow.  It is about how we choose to express those disagreements.  Will we stereotype the other as an unintentional way of ‘dehumanizing’ them?  Will we vilify or ridicule the other as an unintentional way of ‘devaluing’ them?   Do we hear our words when we speak them to others?  Do we see ‘the other’ when we speak to them?  For the truth is that wilderness seasons often tempt us into behaviors that are not of Christ.  They often tempt us away from seeing the face of Christ in our brothers and sisters, thus causing us to wonder with those in the wilderness – Is the Lord among us or not?

There is no question that my ministry among and with you can be complicated.  And yet there is one amazing gift I receive from our life together – it is the gift of a view not unlike the one we get from Google Earth.  I get to see the corporate heart of a people I have already come to cherish.  I get to hear the faithful wrestling of our church leaders as they consider how to be relevant in those places where they are called.  I get to benefit from the courage and conversations of leaders sharing their hopes for the ministries of their churches.  It is from this optic that I can say with all integrity – the Lord is clearly among us!

As to the first presbytery-wide gathering in Valley Forge, I think we did remarkably well.  I am grateful for the patience and thoughtfulness of those who shared the concerns, their joys and their questions.  It was not always easy.  That being said, I am also deeply aware of the complex journey before us because of the votes we must take in November.  I don’t pretend to know how it will all turn out, but I will remind us that we are so much more than an afternoon of votes. There is so much more that binds us.  I will remind us that in a world of polarization, we are bound together by “blood” – I was recently reminded that we are in essence blood brothers and sisters (the wisdom of yet another colleague).  It’s not an image I would have naturally used, but it is pretty compelling.

Finally, I will remind us that the very power of resurrection that we claim to believe in – is powerful enough to enable us to walk through this stage of the journey together into a continued time of renewing, abiding and dwelling.  For the truth is that the Lord is indeed among us!

Please click here for a downloadable PDF: SantanaGraceSpiritSoundings26SEPT2014

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Spirit Soundings, September 5, 2014

 By Ruth Faith Santana Grace 
The hand of the Lord came upon me; and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord
and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were dry.
He said to me; “Mortal, can these bones live?” 
 I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them;
O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord…..
I prophesized as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and  they lived, and stood on their feet a vast multitude.
(Ezekiel 37:1-4;10)

A New Season of Ministry – A Call to Renewed Life as an Exilic People

As I think about a new season of ministry, I resonate with the prophet Ezekiel and the complexity of the call God has placed upon him.  I resonate with the fact that the children of God are an exilic people – wrestling with their identity in the culture wherein they live.  I’ve come to understand that it is from this very place of exile that the church is called to proclaim and embody the Gospel.  Two observations strike me as I reflect on this familiar text.  The first is that it is the hand of God that led Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones.  It is not the hand of Ezekiel that led God to that place.  It is God’s hand by which we are to be led – even when that means we don’t know what that means.  I don’t know about you, but  I wrestle greatly with this temptation.  I like knowing where I’m going – I like having a neat list with check marks indicating when I’ve accomplished my tasks.  I suspect that more than once, I have mistaken my leading God with God leading me.  I’ve mistaken my hopes and agenda for God’s.  I don’t believe I’m alone in doing this.  I believe this is a temptation for many of us in the church – with our good intentions and hopes for the Church of Jesus Christ – local, regional, national and international.  This text reminds us again that the source of inhuman possibilities and real hope lie only in God.  It does not lie with our clever five-year plans or building expansions.  It does not even lie in our creative strategic designs for the future.

The text reminds us of something even more powerful – it seems to be a simple truth, but clearly one that is challenging to embody.  Wherever we proclaim God’s word; wherever we invoke God’s Holy Spirit, there will be new life.  This is what we claim to believe.  New life doesn’t simply come from our good thoughts or words. It does not come from our good works.  It too comes from God.  We are not the source of possibilities for the church.  We are vessels – encouraged, equipped and empowered by God.

As I have visited churches near and far, I’ve concluded that the primary challenges to the growth of our churches are not denominational issues and internal disagreements. These of course, don’t help, but I do not believe they are the primary cause of our numerical decline or of what some believe, is our spiritual malaise. In fact, I’ve come to believe they often become a deflection or distraction from addressing our own internal disappointments or shortcomings.  I believe we have allowed the despair of the world around us to shape a kind of despair within.  And friends, that is easy to do – as we consider the sounds of unrest and injustice surrounding us – racism cloaked in new ways, unbridled violence, immigration, Middle East challenges, Ukraine, ISIS, and so much more.

Instead I’ve come to believe that we are generally not bold about proclaiming God’s Word with a sense of belief and conviction.  We tend to be shy about inviting friends to join us.  We are even more reticent about asking our own members to ‘step up’ to new levels of discipleship and commitment.  I’m not saying we are called to stand up on soapboxes – that’s not my idea of evangelism.  I am simply saying that if we believe we have something worth saying, we need to do so with a combination of boldness and grace.  That boldness and grace needs to be observable by others in our daily witness – by those outside the comfort of our churches.  I often cringe when I think about what the outside world sees in and through us – the people of the church.

Notwithstanding these reflections, I believe we are at the cusp of an exciting new chapter for the church – in the greater Philadelphia area and beyond.  At a time in history when people of all ages are desperately seeking authenticity and spirituality, we – ambassadors of the Church of Jesus Christ – have a unique opportunity to proclaim the good news in refreshing ways.  We have the opportunity to creatively think about the relevance of our presence in the world.  But that means we need to be focused on our “Gospel” mission in the world.  We need to be focused on equipping our leadership and the next generation.  We need to find ways to partner with one another – across congregations and ministries.  We need to explore ways to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.  And we need to be doing these things while simultaneously struggling with the challenges within.

We can choose to blame Louisville, the presbytery, our elders, our pastors, even our buildings – but ultimately, we need to own our part of the journey.  The blame game will ultimately just continue to deflect our energy from the centrality of our call to be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We need to wrestle with a serious question.  What can you and I do to reflect more fully the God of hope that we claim to believe in – so that those who have been wounded by the church; those who have never experienced the church; those who are hungry to be embraced – can experience new life?

What makes Ezekiel such a compelling leader is that in the midst of exile before a depressing valley, he finds both the faith and the courage to obediently and faithfully do as God has commanded.  His call does not make sense.  It is a valley of dry bones.  There is nothing hopeful about where he is standing – especially if Ezekiel believes that it’s his job to bring life to the bones.  Instead Ezekiel is somehow able to accept that God’s plan for that valley of dry bones is far bigger than his human ability to understand or even imagine it.  If it were simply up to Ezekiel, those bones might still be dry and dead today.  But it was never about Ezekiel.  It was and continues to be about God.

It is clear to me that we are an exilic people.  We live at a time when the values of the culture often collide with the values of our faith.  But I’ve come to believe that the church was always meant to be made up of an exilic people.  That is the role of the church – to prophesy; to proclaim resurrection hope against human despair; to model an alternative “God life”.  The church was never envisioned to be a place of status quo and cultural norms and comfort.  We are to be a counter-cultural presence of hope.

As we think about a new season of ministry for our congregations; as we pray about denominational challenges and the desolation of the world around us, I remind us of what happens when Ezekiel is led to this valley of dry bones by the hand of God.  It’s pretty amazing. Listen carefully – could that be a wind blowing upon us?  I think I hear some rattling.  May our ministries be rich with the transformation of God’s powerful and Holy Breath.

 

 

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS REV. RUTH FAITH SANTANA-GRACE?

Ruth_6months_AOur newly called Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, is quickly shedding the “new” label as she immerses herself in the life and ministry of the Presbytery of Philadelphia.  Her first six months among us have taken her to a Black History MonthRFSG_Preaching Celebration at Cedar Park, a retreat center on the Main Line, the new President’s inauguration at Eastern University, General Assembly in Detroit, Regional and Presbytery meetings.  She has been preaching in our worship services, attending our installations, and gathering us as colleagues in ministry.  Perhaps equal in importance is her journeying with us into our story, hearing about the joys and pains of our past, and the hopes and dreams for our future.

“I therefore…beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling…”

Ruth_KirkwoodCroppedOur Presbytery is blessed with a rich diversity of gifts, talents, dreams, and ideas.  Ruth experienced a new model for doing ministry at Beacon, the hopes of urban pastors at a fellowship gathering, the passion for youth and camping during a visit to Kirkwood Camp and Conference Center, and the imaginations of younger pastors during a 40’s and under pastor’s gathering.

“The Presbytery of Philadelphia has been blessed! Our first six months have been filled with energy, love  and hope, and we look forward with anticipation and excitement as we experience ‘new things’ within our congregations and leadership”. Wonjae Choi, Moderator

“…making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” ga former moderator 

Ruth faithfully supported our Commissioners to the 221st General Assembly and gathered us together after important, impactful decisions were made in Detroit.  Two roundtable meetings were held for pastors to support their work of conveying GA decisions to their congregations and caring for those who felt deeply the impact of such decisions.

Ruth_LC_Retreat“The gifts he gave…for building up the body of Christ.”

One Wednesday in July Ruth was found gathering the Presbytery’s leadership at a retreat center, who spent the day dwelling with one another as Regional leaders.  Providing the space to reflect, pray, and use their creativity, our Presbytery leadership imagined how the Holy Spirit may be using our regional structure to build up the body of Christ through connectional ministry.

“You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self…and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds…”RUTH_Preach

The Presbytery is blessed to have Ruth lead us in this new day, as we discover with the Holy Spirit where we as the Presbytery of Philadelphia will join Christ out in the world as congregations united together in ministry.  God’s timing is encouraging us to let go of our old self, our old identity as who we used to be as a Presbytery, and embrace this new day with renewed wisdom and hope.

RuthCommunion“So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.”

Gathering together colleagues in ministry, Ruth continues to host forum after forum to encourage dialogue and collegiality in an often times lonely profession.  Interim Pastors, Pastors Under 40, Self-identifying Evangelical Pastors, African-American Pastors, Pastors in Validated Ministries, and Multicultural Pastors each had their own gatherings with Ruth at the Presbytery office to share their stories, engage with one another, and unite in hope for the future.  Add Ruth’s gathering of small, medium, and large church pastors, and we must proclaim that we, as the Presbytery of Philadelphia have been gathered together, our stories have been heard, the seeds of our dreams have been planted!

“I don’t want this to sound too ‘over-the-top’, but I began my year as vice-moderator when Ruth came to our Presbytery. So, we were both new – me to my role and Ruth to our Presbytery.  From day one, Ruth has shown energy and honesty. She has supported Wonjae and me and expressed her gratitude for all that we’ve done.  Ruth also likes to have fun! Above all, however, I think it is Ruth’s spirit that has infused our Presbytery and leads us to a new place”  Mike Henry, Vice-Moderator

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up…be kindRWM to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you…live in love, as Christ loved us…”  Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus mirror those of our Executive Presbyter, as she, too, employs us to use our gifts and talents for the building up of Christ’s church, to speak the truth in love as we work together, and to dream big dreams for how the Holy Spirit will unite us in ministry.

WITWIRFSGWhere will Ruth show up next? 

Her gifts of wisdom, energy, enthusiasm, and love for the church will continue to lead her to the edges of the Presbytery and everywhere in between. 

Let us rejoice and give thanks for these first six months of Ruth’s ministry with us!

“Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.”multicolorbar web

 

 

Spirit Soundings, August 1, 2014

“Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise the Lord in the heights!
Praise the Lord, all his angels;
Praise the Lord, all his host!
Praise the Lord, sun and moon;
Praise the Lord, all you shining stars!
(Psalm 148:1-3) 
 

Praising the Creative Creator

Over the past few summers, I have ventured into the Psalms as part of my devotional time – it has been a way of engaging the sounds of the faithful throughout the centuries.  In them I find a celebration of the beauty and majesty of creation.  Yesterday I spent part of the day up at Kirkwood Camp and Conference Center.  The quiet image of the lake, the vastness of the meadow, the rush of the water as we walked across the wooden bridge brought a sense of solace to my soul.  By now most of you may understand that I am a person of the water – one of my favorite sounds continues to be the breaking of ocean waves; that sound is like a lullaby by which my spirit is calmed.

SS1AUGRedeemerI can assure you that notwithstanding the west-east location shift, we have still found our way to the ocean in the past few months.  Actually if I think about it, I have always found my way to the ocean – whether it was living in Italy walking along the Mediterranean or visiting Hawaii, watching the daunting waves on the north shore of Oahu.  Perhaps it’s the swelling and rolling of the sea combined with the sounds of the tumbling water meeting the beach, but the presence of this natural melody makes me smile.

The perfection of this natural beauty renews my awareness of the grandeur and splendor of God’s creation.  The perfection of the lights that illuminate the evening rising faithfully into the night sky; the perfection of an ocean that seems to understand where it is to stop; a ‘tired’ sun setting in the west, causing an explosion of color – all of these images take me to a deep place of thanksgiving for the creative spirit of our God.  And so, after a day in the outdoors, I was again reminded of a gospel song by Nicole Mullen.  The following words capture the sense I experience when I allow myself to embrace the beauty of creation.

 Who told the sun where to stand until morning?

And who told the ocean ‘you could only come this far’?

And who showed the moon where to hide until evening?

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

 

Well I know my redeemer lives;

I know my redeemer lives.

All of creation testifies;

this life within me cries

I know my redeemer lives.

 

The very same God that spins things in orbit

runs to the weary, the worn and the weak.

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken

They conquer death to bring me victory

 

Now I know my redeemer lives;

I know my redeemer lives.

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know my redeemer lives. 

As we enter the second half of the summer season, may you experience and be reminded of the grandeur of God in your comings and goings.

Please click here for a PDF of Ruth’s Spirit soundings: SantanaGraceSpiritSoundings1AUG14

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Spirit Soundings July 18, 2014, by Ruth Santana-Grace

“Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’  Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.”  (Mark 4:38-39)

In Times of Restlessness – Peace, Be Still!

SS18JUL14BAs I write this, I find myself thinking about the Malaysian commercial plane allegedly shot down – taking the lives of almost 300 innocent people.  I find myself wrestling with the reality of the violent unrest in the Middle East that seems to have no resolution in sight.  I find myself thinking of the thousands of refugee children at the border of our own nation.  It is frankly overwhelming to allow myself to enter the reality of the brokenness that is all around us; a brokenness that feels ‘so beyond our control.’

And then add to this, the restlessness within our own denomination.  As the dust settles from the decisions and recommendations coming from the 221st General Assembly, our congregations and leaders are wrestling with what it means to be a faithful witness at this time and this place – especially in light of our theological diversity.  At times, it just feels like the brokenness around us and within us is too much, even for the most faithful among us.  The temptation to ignore all outside forces and just tend to the mini-world in which we primarily exist, is all-too-real and present.

At times like these, I’ve learned to appreciate the importance of creating intentional space to reflect on my faith, my leadership and the inner life and health of my soul.  However perhaps like many of you, this dimension of my life – the nature of my “spirituality” has not been the easiest one for me to comprehend or embrace.  Earlier in my faith journey, I thought it was because I was an extrovert (perhaps you had not yet noticed); or because I enjoy movement and sounds – after all, I am a product of our American pace.  Looking back, it is clear that I had developed a limited “monk-like” caricature of Christian spirituality.  My understanding was limited to images to which I could never relate – i.e.  a person is ‘spiritual only if they can spend 24 hours in total silence – reading the Bible and in prayer’.

I must admit that I now have come to cherish, and even yearn for, that space of silence and prayer.  But over time I have learned that spirituality is ultimately that place where one makes the space to meet and experience the God of creation.  Healthy spirituality is that space where we can hear God’s voice through the Holy Spirit stirring within us, prompting us into transforming action in our lives and in the lives of others.

So today as the world seems to be spinning out of control, the question for us as disciples of Christ in this contemporary culture becomes – In the midst of all the noise, where is it that you create that space that allows for God to touch your heart and mind?  Where is it that you push the “pause” button of the speed and noise around you in order to allow God….. well, to do what it is God does?

For some, it is retreating away from people.  For others, it is rising early in the morning to read God’s word.  For me. it is most often found in music – all different kinds of music.  I can literally ‘hear me’ singing Handel’s Messiah at Princeton or singing a gospel song with the Gospel choir.  Through the sounds (and words) of that music I have found myself transported to a place where I meet the sacred.  And it has been in those spaces, where I have been able to hear the voice of Jesus in the midst of the chaos and the windstorms, saying “Peace, be still.”

And it has been in the hearing of these words that I have found the strength to push forward.  It has been in that place that the repeating echoes of the words of God ‘Do not be discouraged’ speak to me.  It has been in that place that I have joined my cries to the cries of the psalmist.  It has been in that place that I have found the strength to gather with others to discern how to best respond to the winds of unrest and restlessness that throw me off balance, causing me to ‘wobble’ and question all that is within me. I am grateful for this humble truth in my life – that profound awareness that in the midst of it all – good, bad and indifferent, God’s voice can and will break in.

And so today, as my heart is deeply saddened by the violence around us, as I am overwhelmed by the nature of our brokenness and disregard for human life, I invite you to recall those places where you have met God.  Embrace those moments and spaces that leave you with an inner sense of peace – where regardless of the storms around and within you, you are able to hear the voice of Jesus breaking through it all, saying – “peace be still.”

May it be that ‘peace’ that provides us with the courage – both as individuals and as a community of faith –  not simply to push forward, but to bring transforming hope out of the ashes through the promise of new life in the resurrection.

Please click here for the downloadable PDF: SantanaGrace_SpiritSoundings18JULY2014

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