Peace on Earth and Good Will to All - Learning to Be Civil

This is my latest contribution to the Pastor's Column which appears in our local Helena newspaper (the Independent Record).

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In these days leading up to Christmas we who call ourselves Christian look ahead with anticipation to the celebration of the humble birth of the one we have come to know as the “Prince of Peace.” “Peace on Earth and Good Will to All!” was the message proclaimed by the angels. And yet, 2,000 years after that message was first heard by shepherds watching their flock by night both peace and good will often seem in short supply. In the aftermath of the recent election the news is filled with examples of blatant intolerance, hostility, incivility, anger, and hatred. Examples include Swastikas painted on walls, screaming at people perceived to be different, threats of violence, and so much more. If I'm not careful I begin to despair that simple human decency and respect are becoming endangered qualities which have fallen out of favor. But then I remember that it need not be so. It is possible to reclaim such practices. It happens one encounter at a time. 

Slow Down

In this season of Advent, which is characterized by watching, waiting, preparing, and anticipating, we are invited to slow down and pay attention to the movement of Spirit in our lives and in our world. But it is not always easy. The culture in which we live our lives is filled to overflowing with influences of a darker sort. The news is filled with stories of fear and violence, intolerance and hate, discord and upheaval. If we are not careful it is all too easy to lose our balance and our way. So, in these days which lead us to Christmas, I invite you to be intentional about making room in your life for God to take up residence. Slow down, remember to breathe, pay attention. Prepare a place in your heart for the Christ to be born.

- Pastor Roger 

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Stepping Into The Future To Which God Is Calling Us

It was more than a year in the making. Even before I arrived in Helena to become your pastor I began thinking about and planning for a visioning process that would help us listen for God's guidance and direction as we looked to the future for Plymouth Congregational Church. That process concluded on October 29th when 40 of us from the congregation gathered together in the Fellowship Hall for an All-Church Visioning Retreat. We worshipped and prayed together, shared stories, laughed and sang, engaged in lively conversations, filled flip-chart pages with ideas, voted with colored sticky dots, and were inspired by the ongoing presence of God's Spirit. In the coming days I will be distilling and organizing the results of our work together. For now I simply want to offer some pastoral observations and a brief overview of the ideas that emerged from our time together. 

I begin by sharing with you my excitement about Plymouth's future. The level of enthusiastic participation in this process inspired me. It is such a joy to be your pastor because you deeply care about this congregation and are committed to helping it to thrive. It is your faithful enthusiasm and the ongoing presence of God's Spirit that will see us through as we seek to transform our vision into concrete reality. We are in this together. No one can make this happen on their own. Each of us will have a role to play. Everyone's gifts will make a difference.

There were three overarching priorities that emerged as our ideas began to coalesce. There is strong buy-in around all three of these priorities. 

1. We want a congregation where our own spiritual lives are encouraged, nourished, and enriched. Specifically this will find expression through a vital worship life, including vibrant music, and through a variety of opportunities for spiritual and intellectual engagement and growth. 
2. We also want a congregation that provides opportunities for hands-on engagement with ministries beyond our walls. This will find expression through an expansion of ministries with which we are already involved, as well as through new opportunities as we become aware of them. 
3. And finally, we want a congregation where children, youth, and young adults are vital and vibrant participants in the life of the congregation. This will begin to find expression as the first two priorities take shape, and as we make intentional efforts to reach out to invite, include, and involve children, youth, and young adults in all of our activities and ministries. 

These are ambitious goals. And I believe that they are very do-able. They will require the participation and support of each of us as we work together, with God's help, to bring these inspiring goals to life. Don't wait to be asked. Pay attention to the leading of God's Spirit and step up to volunteer as you feel led. This is an exciting time in the life of Plymouth Congregational Church. I am convinced that God is calling us into a bright new future, and I believe that God will continue to inspire and empower us as we begin to step into that future together.

- Pastor Roger 

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

The Place God Calls You To . . .

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” (Frederick Buechner)

Plymouth Congregational Church is in the midst of a Visioning Process which is designed to help us explore the place to which God is calling us. What are our gifts? What are we passionate about? What do we have to offer the world? Such questions as these will help us begin to discover the particular ways in which we can live out our calling as members of the Body of Christ. To be clear, there are a great many ways in which we are already doing this. One of the things which attracted me to Plymouth in the first place is that you reach out beyond yourselves to touch the world with love in so many ways. The exploration we are engaged in during this Visioning Process will simply allow us to gain clarity regarding the specific details of our mission and purpose as a congregation. It is an exciting opportunity to listen carefully for God's leading. I believe it will provide us with the inspiration to become even more passionate and effective than we already are. Thank you for the joyous opportunity to be your Pastor at such a time as this.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

What Does It Mean To Be Church?

What does it mean to be Church? The answer, of course, is multi-faceted, varied, and complicated. The specifics also change over time. And it is a good question to ponder on a regular basis. Being Church, the Body of Christ, followers of Jesus, is, by definition, a big deal which is not to be taken lightly. We are more than just another community based non-profit organization (although we share many characteristics with such groups). We are more than just a self-help support group. To be as fully and richly who we are called to be requires that we look within ourselves and beyond ourselves. We need to pay attention to what's happening in the world around us, and allow our responses to be shaped by a Sacred Presence which is beyond our capacity to fully comprehend. Being Church involves recognizing the threads which bind us together with everyone and everything. We are invited to experience the ultimate reality of our unity over against the illusion of our separation. Being Church calls forth from us qualities of compassion, creativity, and caring. It inspires generosity and gratitude. It empowers us to become the very embodiment of Love. Being Church is about so much more than showing up for an hour of worship on Sunday morning. When we take it seriously it is about the choices we make and the actions we take and the qualities we embrace in every single moment of our living. Together may we continue to explore the rich dimensions of this amazing calling.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Together We Make A Positive Difference

I spent last week unplugged from my phone and the internet. That's what happens when you go to Camp Mimanagish. I was the chaplain for the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade camp. For a reflection on the experience you can click here to read my sermon from last Sunday. The short version is that it was a very good week and I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the experience. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.

As fall approaches I invite you to pay attention to articles elsewhere in this Waymarks regarding several upcoming events, including the missionary visit over Labor Day week-end, Recommitment Sunday on September 11th, and the Visionary Process which kicks off in September. Plymouth is an active and vital congregation, with lots of opportunities to get involved. Together we really do make a positive difference in the world.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Summer in Montana

Summer is upon us and with it comes a change of pace. For some folks summer is a time to shift into a slower gear. For others it doesn’t really slow down but it does provide different opportunities. Around the church we take a break from some things, such as less meetings, for example. But one thing that doesn’t change is the importance of staying connected – with God and with each other. Whatever shape your summer takes, whether it is picnics by the lake, time in the garden, or travel with family and friends, remember to be on the lookout for encounters with the Sacred. Savor the gift of slowing down so you might recognize the surprising ways God is seeking to get your attention. Join us for worship when you’re in town, and let us know what you’re up to when you’re not in town so we can hold you in prayer. Make it a spiritual practice to expand your awareness of the many ways in which God accompanies you as you travel through your days. May your summer be filled with holy encounters, and may you notice.

- Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Welcoming Angels - Even When They Are Blue

When visiting my office you might notice an angel up in one corner. She is a product of my late wife’s wonderful artistic creativity. One of the features of this particular angel is that she is blue. A friend of ours once asked, “Why is she blue?” Veronica’s immediate response was, “Because she wanted to be!” I love that. It offers a powerful image for what it means to be the Church. We are called to be a place where blue angels are not only welcomed but also encouraged to shine forth in all of their wonderful uniqueness. Our culture is filled to overflowing with assumptions, expectations, and judgments concerning “acceptable” ways of looking and acting and being. And if the truth be told, none of us fit perfectly or comfortably into that unrealistic and unhealthy mold. Which is why it is so vitally important for the Church to be a safe sanctuary where each unique child of God can be celebrated and affirmed. When that begins to happen then the world becomes a more vital and enriching place for all of us.

In another burst of creativity Veronica wrote a poem about watching for unlikely angels.

~ Inconsequential Details ~
by Veronica Lassen ©2009

I keep saying: “I’ve never seen an angel.”
But I’m starting not to believe myself –
My life is full of angels.
They love me and help me,
Talk to me and challenge me,
Hold me,
And believe in
Me.
I just don’t see wings.
I’m going to try squinting,
And looking out the corner of my eyes,
Quickly.
If that doesn’t work,
I’ll give up on this idea of wings altogether.
Then I’ll see angels all the time.

May we learn to see angels all the time, in all of their multi-colored glory. And may we continue to become a church where such angels are welcomed, affirmed, celebrated, and encouraged.

- Pastor Roger
(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Civil Discourse in a Time of Hate

This column was published on Saturday, May 28, 2016 in the Independent Record newspaper in Helena, Montana on their Religion Page. Click here to view the column as it appears on their page.
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My name is Roger Lynn, and about seven months ago I became the pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church. I am so grateful for the warm welcome I have received here in Helena. People both inside and outside of my congregation have been kind and gracious. Sadly, such kindness is not always in evidence in our world. I find myself troubled by the ways in which we all too often talk to each other these days. Whether it occurs within the political arena, or the on-line comments section following news articles, or on Facebook and other social media sites, public discourse in our society frequently seems to be defined by insulting, threatening, demonizing, and hateful speech. People talk at each other and about each other rather than with each other. Genuine dialogue and understanding disappear whenever lines are drawn and sides are chosen. 

What does it mean to be the Church?

What does it mean to be the Church? Over the years countless volumes have been written about this question. I’m quite certain that there is no single “right” answer. Indeed, multiple answers are probably required to even begin to convey the fullness of Church. But beyond all the words that have been written on the subject, I want to tell you that I saw the answer to the question dramatically lived out last week right before my eyes. It was, to say the least, a very full and very emotional week in the life of Plymouth Congregational Church. Our biggest fundraising event of the year (Let’s Talk About It) took place on Thursday, and it was an “all hands on deck” occasion. So many people devoted so much time and energy to making it a success. And that was only the beginning. Two well-attended memorial services and receptions followed over the next two days. So many details required attention. And so many people stepped up and met the challenge. What does it mean to be the Church? Among other things it means people coming together to do what needs to be done to provide hospitality and to bring comfort to those in grief. Thank you for being the Church. Thank you for the privilege of being your pastor.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Boldly Stepping Into God's Future

I have now been your pastor for almost 6 month. We’ve been through Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter together, to say nothing of a successful stewardship campaign. And through it all I have felt welcomed, appreciated and cared for. The joyful enthusiasm which was evident at my installation service, on Easter morning, and, indeed, every Sunday, fills me with gratitude for the opportunity to be your pastor and walk this path of ministry with you. As I meet people around the community and they find out where I work, one of the first things I hear over and over again is what a positive reputation Plymouth has in and around Helena. We have an important role to play and we are well positioned to play it. Which is why I am excited about the upcoming Visioning Process which you will read about elsewhere in this newsletter. It will provide us with the opportunity to listen for God’s guidance and focus our energies towards the areas of ministry where we can make the most difference. I believe you will find it to be an exciting and enlivening experience, and I hope you will choose to participate. Together may we step boldly into the future to which God is calling and leading us.

- Pastor Roger
(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Paying Attention in Each Moment

Winter is slowly (and sometimes not so slowly) giving way to spring. The cycle of the seasons reminds us that the dark and cold will not not last forever. Warmer, brighter days do eventually come again. But the seasons also remind us that even the darker, colder days are a part of the cycle. As we move from Lent into Easter the same lesson is there for us to experience. One of the great gifts of the cycle of liturgical seasons is the way they flow into each other. It takes all of them together to experience the fullness of a year. So I invite you to resist the temptation of wanting to skip over or push quickly past the darker, colder seasons of your life. To do so is to risk missing the blessings which are waiting for you there. God is present in the winter months as fully as in the summer ones, as completely in Lent as in Easter, as profoundly in times of sorrow and grief as in those of joy and laughter. When we learn to slow down and spend time in the “what is” of each moment, rather than always looking ahead to the “what might be” of some future moment, we come to experience the fullness of God’s presence (and thus also God’s abundant blessings). Pay attention to each moment – each breath – each step along the way. I am convinced that it is there you will discover the deep richness of life. Enjoy the journey.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

The Season of Lent Begins

The Church’s liturgical calendar is structured around seasons which flow from Advent and Christmas through Epiphany and into Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, followed by the long period known as Ordinary Time and then back once again to Advent. Each season has its own character and its own themes. One of the gifts which comes with paying attention to such a calendar of seasons is the opportunity to really immerse ourselves in the themes. The truth is that we may or may not be experiencing the realities represented by the various seasons when that season is occurring. The joy of Christmas may not be ours at that moment. The wonder of Epiphany may not resonate with where we find ourselves on January 6^th. The notions of sacrifice and reflection which present themselves during Lent may seem foreign to us. But the seasons allow us a chance to “try them on” so that when we do find ourselves in such circumstances we will have some spiritual resources available to us which can be brought to bear.

On February 10^th we will once again enter the season of Lent, which is 40 days (not counting Sundays) preceding Easter. It is a season which offers us the chance to explore some of the “darker” aspects of life – sacrifice, loss, suffering, betrayal, etc. This year our worship experiences during Lent will, in one way or another, center around the theme of wilderness. I hope you will take the opportunity to allow this season to be a time of spiritual exploration and growth as together we discover what it means to be people of faith even in challenging times.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

A New Year Begins

Welcome to 2016! The beginning of a new year is an arbitrary and artificial point in the cycle of the seasons, and yet we organize our lives around it. It becomes a milestone because we make it so. We are meaning-making creatures and making sense of our lives through a filter of endings and beginnings seems to be a very human trait.

So much has happened in the past twelve months, for you and for me. A year ago we could not have guessed what life held in store for us. Some of it left us laughing. Some of it left us weeping. Some of it left us wondering how we could be so lucky. And some of it left us wondering how to just keep going. Through it all we were not sustained by having enough knowledge or skill or control. We were sustained by the grace of God’s Spirit, often manifest in the form of the love and support of family, friends and partners in faith.

And so we stand at the threshold of a new year, looking back at where we’ve been and ahead to where we’re going. It is a foregone conclusion that where we find ourselves a year from now will be as much a surprise as this past year has been. Life is simply not predictable or controllable. Every moment of life is a transition moment. We are always moving from what is into what will be, and we cannot know what will be until we get there. What will sustain us on this journey is not being smart enough, or strong enough, or in control enough. What will sustain us through whatever experiences come our way is being open to the ever-present Spirit of God and the ongoing support of our partners on the journey. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of walking this path with you in this moment.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)