Making Space for the Sacred

The season of Advent is upon us once again. It is the time in the church’s liturgical calendar which includes the four Sunday’s preceding Christmas. Traditionally it includes themes of  watching, waiting, and preparing. Advent offers us the opportunity to slow down and be intentional about making space in our lives for the Sacred to take up residence. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this time of year. Every retailer on the planet is screaming at you to come buy their products. The calendar quickly fills up with extra parties and other festive activities. Finding opportunities to seek even a few moments of inner stillness can be quite the challenge. I invite you to take advantage of the traditions which we practice in the church (such as lighting candles, hanging decorations, singing special songs, etc.) to help you prepare your heart. And I invite you to find other traditions in your own life (such as the use of an “Advent Calendar”, or volunteering in the community, or spending special time with your family and friends, etc.) to help set the tone for the season. Come walk with me through this special season. Together may we prepare a place in our hearts and our lives for the Christ to be born.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Remembering to Celebrate and Give Thanks

It is my turn to provide the Pastor's Column for our local newspaper (the Helena Independent Record). 

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We get busy. We get distracted. We get overwhelmed. And we forget to celebrate the blessings of life. The blessings don't stop coming just because we forget. Indeed, it is my firm conviction that we live abundant lives in an abundant world. The bounteous gifts of God are beyond measure or comprehension. But all too often we forget to notice. And in so doing our experience of life is diminished. Our experience of God is diminished. It's a bit like starving in a room full of gourmet food because we were too busy or too distracted to look around and notice that the feast was there. Remembering to celebrate keeps us in touch with the fullness of life and helps us integrate the blessings into our living. 

Confession from a Recovering Grump

There is smoke in the air and I'm grumpy about it. It is clear that I am in serious need of an attitude adjustment. And then I pause long enough to remember some of the many ways in which my life is blessed beyond measure. I have family and friends who love me, meaningful work to do with a whole congregation of faithful and caring people, a beautiful place to live, the resources to travel and do what I want to do, a lovely home in which to live, and on and on the list could go. I suppose that getting grumpy from time to time is a normal part of the human experience, but I find that it doesn't serve me well to let it become my normal response. It keeps me from living into my calling as a loving, caring, compassionate human being. My favorite singer/songwriter, Carrie Newcomer, posted a reflection on her Facebook page the other day. I found it to be a powerful and eloquent reminder that I can always make a difference. But I have to be intentional, and it helps if I'm not grumpy.

- Pastor Roger  

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

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Somewhere someone needs help. 

If you can't get there yourself,

Take a deep breath.

Breathe in. 

Hold that someone in your heart.

Lighten the weight of their troubles.

Breathe out.

Open your heart.

Release what you cannot change.

Send calm and courage 

And human connection.

For the nights can be filled with shadows,

And sometimes the waters rise.

Someone Somewhere needs help. 

Send love.

It matters.

~ Carrie Newcomer

Pastoral Response to the Events in Charlottesville Virginia

These are the words I spoke to my congregation at the beginning of worship on Sunday, August 13, 2017 in response to hatred and violence which occurred in Charlottesville Virginia over the week-end.

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This morning, before we engage in any of the usual things we do when we gather together for worship, I need to pause and call us to prayer. This past week-end in Charlottesville Virginia a large gathering of self-proclaimed white supremacists, neo-nazis, and KKK came together in an open display of hatred, bigotry, racism, and violence. Many of them claim to be Christian. Three people lost their lives. A group of religious leaders who had gathered in a local church to pray and take a peaceful stand for love and peace and faith were surrounded by marchers who were bearing torches and shouting vile threats. We who seek to be people of faith cannot remain silent. This is not about being political. It is about being faithful. I know it can be uncomfortable. It can be easier to be silent. But as those who would practice hatred and violence become more and more emboldened silence becomes complicity. I could not find a statement from the UCC General Minister and President John Dorhauer (it’s probably there somewhere but I could not find it this morning). But I did find one from the newly elected Disciples General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens: Sisters and brothers, my heart breaks at the violence this weekend in Charlottesville – the loss of life, the dishonoring of children of God, the vile insults hurled and the wounds of history reopened. I pray for the family of the woman who died. I pray in praise of the peaceful demonstrators. We cannot take backward steps fueled by hatred. We cannot be silent when the humanity of black persons is being assaulted and terrorized. The commandment in 1 John 4:20 calls us to account: "Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." And so let us love one another as we love God. With such love, we are compelled to stand for justice, and walk in peace."

We cannot do it alone. We must join with each other and we must call upon strength and courage and inspiration from God. And so, we must begin with prayer. Will you join me in prayer.

O God of peace and love and compassion – O God of all humanity – O God of all creation – shine your Light into the darkness of our world. Heal the wounds inflicted by hatred and violence. Empower us to join in the healing work. There is much to be done and it is so easy to become overwhelmed. Make your presence felt among us and remind us that we are not alone and we are not on our own. Send us forth as beacons of your light and agents of your love. In the name of Jesus who was proclaimed to be the Prince of Peace we pray. Amen.

Interdependence Day

This is my latest contribution to the Pastor's Column which appears in our local Helena newspaper (the Independent Record).
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For more than 240 years now, we Americans have been celebrating Independence Day. Being fiercely independent has become a defining American virtue. Unfortunately, I fear we have wandered way too far down that path. We lift ourselves by our own bootstraps. We don’t need any help from anyone. We protect our own against all our enemies (defined as anyone not just like us). We don’t want to be beholding to anyone. We have become so focused on our independence that all too often we forget about our interdependence. Our vision is so turned inward that we lose sight of the reality which is all around us.

Hospitality on Display

Wow! As I write these words I am still a bit bleary-eyed from a very intense weekend spent at the 2017 Conference Annual Meeting for the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference UCC. We hosted the event this year and I want to spend a few moments singing your praises. You stepped up in a big way and the hospitality we extended was on full display. Throughout the weekend people came up to me to express their deep appreciation and admiration for the ways in which Plymouth contributed to a rich and fulfilling Annual Meeting. The Local Arrangements Committee (Lynn Bolin, Pat Buell, and Pete McKinley - with assistance from Conference Moderator Gus Byrom) set the bar high. They started their work many months ago, and spent lots of time and energy right up to the last minute paying attention to the myriad of details that contributed to making it a successful event. And then they spent the entire weekend on site making sure that all of those details played out smoothly. They have my undying gratitude and appreciation. But they were not alone. Many of you volunteered to help with that long list of details. More delicious cookies emerged from your ovens than I could even comprehend. Tables were set up, taken down, and then set up again. Rooms were arranged and re-arranged. Equipment was picked up from the rental store, and returned the next day. Friendly faces greeted our visitors and answered their questions. The collective result of all those efforts from all of you was an event that glowed with warm, rich hospitality. The theme of the event was “YES!” and our congregation took up that challenge with gusto. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be your pastor and work with you on such a project. Thank you!

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Challenging the Gatekeepers

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 the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “This is my commandment – that you love one another.” Whether you are a follower of Jesus, or simply someone seeking to live as a decent human being, it is a challenge worthy of our very best ongoing efforts. Now, more than ever, our world stands in need of the healing balm of such all-encompassing, welcoming, accepting love. But it is not always easy and we frequently fall short of the mark. There is usually lots of room for improvement. A sign on my office door asks the question, “Which part of ‘love one another’ don’t we understand?”

This Is What A Healthy Congregation Looks Like

I have now been with you for two Christmases, two Easters, and two Let’s Talk About It events, along with a whole lot of other events and activities. Through all of it I remain convinced that Plymouth Congregational Church is a vital, healthy, and faithful congregation. You take seriously the UCC slogan, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” You do an amazing job of opening your arms and opening your doors in support of people and organizations in our community who need a place to feel welcomed. On Easter, when we were joined in worship by about 25 children from Intermountain, I watched with deep gratitude as they were met by a warm and sincere sense that they truly belonged here, no questions asked. When our doors were opened to a large and enthusiastic crowd for our 11th annual Let’s Talk About It dinner, those in attendance shared an evening that reflected a great deal of planning and attention to detail, along with a sense of genuine hospitality. Groups like World Montana and Montana Human Rights Network regularly make use of our facilities for their events, and always they express deep appreciation. The impact that Plymouth makes in our community far exceeds our size. It is a joy for me to be the pastor of a congregation that practices such welcoming hospitality and lives out its faith in such generous ways.

- Pastor Roger 

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

The Drama and the Lesson of Holy Week and Easter

Spring is here and Easter is upon us. In just a couple of weeks we will, once again, hear the story of Jesus’ resurrection. New Life will be the theme of the day. But to get there we must continue through Lent, including the drama of Holy Week. The liturgical calendar of the Church is drama. It lifts up themes and images and understandings which offer us the opportunity to reflect on our faith in new ways. 

The drama of Holy Week begins with a parade and ends with a death. Nothing is as it appears. The celebration and “triumph” of Palm Sunday prove to be fleeting. The hero being greeted by the cheering crowd comes riding in on a donkey and will be executed as a common criminal before the week is out. Most of the crowd, including even his closest followers, will abandon him. Over and over again his message of love and peace and connection with the God who is always present will be misunderstood or ignored. In the end he is buried in a borrowed tomb – a tragic conclusion to such a promising start. 

Except that it doesn’t end there. The true message of the week is that things are seldom as they first appear. We must look beneath the surface and beyond the obvious. We must see with our hearts instead of merely with our eyes. God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus was not distracted by the parade, not dismayed by the misunderstandings, and not silenced by the violence. Through all of the worst that the world could throw at him he remained faithful and steadfast in his mission, his message, and his confidence in God. And in so doing he revealed the path which leads us beyond the apparent tragedy of the week to the ultimate Truth which awaits us when we dare to trust in God. On the other side of the fleeting excitement – on the other side of the misunderstandings – on the other side of the violence – on the other side of the death – there is wild and abundant LIFE. Will you dare to embrace it – dare to be embraced by it – dare to LIVE it?

- Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Paying Attention

This is my latest contribution to the Pastor's Column which appears in our local Helena newspaper (the Independent Record).
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It's Spring and Easter is now only two weeks away. For those of us who claim Christianity as our faith tradition Easter is one of the key celebrations of the year. The central message of the day is that in God life always triumphs over death. Theologians and preachers have been unpacking the powerful truths to be found in the Easter message for centuries, with no indication that the exploring will be complete anytime in the foreseeable future. There will always be more to thoughtfully and faithfully ponder. 

Today I find myself reflecting on the formula which is used to determine the day when we celebrate Easter. You may have noticed that it doesn't happen at the same time every year. In fact, it can vary from year to year by almost a month. Last year it occurred on March 27th. This year it will occur on April 16th. The reason for this seemingly odd behavior has to do with the aforementioned formula. Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. 

Lent: Learning to Live Faithfully in All of Life

March 1^st marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. It is the 40 days (not counting Sundays) which lead us to Easter. Traditionally, the season of Lent is one of the more somber of church’s seasons, including as it does themes like sacrifice and penitence. One of the benefits of paying attention to the cycle of seasons in the church is that taken together they offer us perspectives and resources for living faithfully in all of life’s circumstances, including those which are painful and challenging. God is with us in the shadows of life as well as in the sunshine moments. I look forward to being with you in worship during this rich season as together we explore themes to enhance our journey of faithful living.

~ Pastor Roger 

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Do All The Good You Can

Appearances-to-the-contrary-notwithstanding, Spring is coming! In this particular moment the snow is coming down hard, but it will not remain this way forever. Sometimes it is helpful to remember that even when the way ahead seems dark and we don’t have a clear sense of what to do next, the dawn in coming. And in the meantime, we can take the words of John Wesley to heart. “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” There is a lot of turmoil and upheaval in our world right now. It can seem pretty overwhelming. There is more to do than we can possible accomplish alone. Which is why it is such profoundly good news that we are not alone. We have each other. And we have the eternal presence of God. We are only called to do what we can do. We are only called to attend to what is in front of us. Together we have the power and the responsibility to touch the world with God’s Love. What are you being called to do today?

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

Stepping Into A Bold New Future Together

Late last fall, following our Visioning Retreat, I outlined some of the prominent themes which emerged from our work together. And then, almost immediately, the holiday season was upon us and the visioning process was temporarily placed on the back burner. Now the holidays are behind us, the new year is before us, and it is time to bring the visioning work back into our awareness. In particular I want to lift up two of the goals, and invite you to give careful and prayerful consideration to the ways in which God might be calling you to get involved in implementing these goals in the life of our congregation.