Advent - a time for quiet waiting

There is an old joke that says, “Time is God’s way of making sure everything doesn’t happen at once.” The truth is that we can’t pay attention to everything all the time. We simply don’t have the capacity. The liturgical calendar of the Church offers us the gift of  perspective. It allows us to focus on particular aspects of the human experience in this season and other aspects in another season. In these days leading up to Christmas we enter into the season of Advent, with its themes of watching and waiting and preparing. It is a time to slow down and be intentional about taking a break from the hectic pace of our lives and our world. In so doing we create a little space for God to enter in and take up residence. We allow for the possibility that we will notice. As you move through this holiday time, with all of the festivities and activities which seek to lay claim to our time and attention, I invite you to also find some time to nourish your soul by basking in the quiet and the stillness which is also a part of this season. In the words of the psalmist (46:10), “Be still, and know that I am God!” May the blessings of this Advent season be yours.

- Pastor Roger  

 (keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

What Does It Mean To Be Faithful?

As I sit at my desk pondering what to write, I look out the window at the Sleeping Giant off in the distance, silhouetted against the morning light, and I find myself reflecting on what it means to be a person of faith. The answer which keeps coming to me is that it involves a richly woven tapestry of things. In part it has more to do with being than it does with doing. Sitting and watching the clouds float over the Giant, and allowing that beauty to nourish my soul, is a profoundly spiritual practice. But the faith which is enriched by such contemplative practices also calls me to action. In a world filled not only with amazing beauty but also with fear and violence such as we have witnessed in recent days in the mail bomb situation and the shooting which took place at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, faith calls us to stand up and speak out. Faith challenges us to be in solidarity with the vulnerable and the oppressed in our world. Faith inspires us to proclaim that the God of life calls us to embrace values of love and justice and hospitality and community. Faith means striving to live into the words of John Wesley when he wrote, “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.” It means pondering the words of the Talmud, “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” It means taking whatever small and not-so-small steps we have it within our power to take that will make a difference in the world. On November 6th we in this country have an opportunity to vote. It is sometimes tempting to believe that our vote doesn’t matter and won’t make a difference. But the message of our faith is that it is one of the ways we can make our voice heard, and speaking out is a faithful act. On November 11th we in this congregation will have an opportunity to make a financial commitment to the ministry of Plymouth Congregational Church. It is sometimes tempting to believe that what we can afford to give doesn’t matter and won’t make a difference. But the message of our faith is that giving is an expression of gratitude, and gratitude is a faithful act. What does it mean to be a person of faith? It means slowing down enough to experience the presence of God, and then allowing that experience to inspire us and empower us to make a difference in the world. May we learn to be faithful like that!

- Pastor Roger  

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Celebrating the Gift of Transformation

Fall is upon us. The autumnal equinox occurred just a few days ago. I find that I am attracted to transition moments - sunrises, sunsets, the changes of seasons. They help me pay attention to the ongoing process of transformation. The truth is that every moment is a transition moment and the whole world and all of us in it are always and forever in the process of change and transformation. But most of the time we are so busy paying attention to something else that we fail to notice. Which is why I appreciate those occasions when it is so dramatic that I can't miss it. The setting sun paints the clouds with amazing hues of yellow, orange, and red. The trees use that same palette to paint their leaves. Then my only response is to stand in breathless awe. Then I stand a chance of remembering that every moment is a gift of as yet unrealized potentiality just waiting to be unwrapped. I saw a quote the other day. “The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.” I can cling tightly to the way things are, or I can let go into the promise of the way things are becoming. Change will occur whether I like it or not, whether I notice or not. But when I notice and surrender I get to enjoy it. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of God as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) I invite you to join me in paying attention to the amazing process of transformation that is happening all around us and within us in every moment. It is an ongoing gift from God. May we notice it. May we celebrate it. May we enjoy it. May we participate in it. 

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Celebrating My Gifts . . . And Yours!!!

I am a poet, a photographer, a flute player, a dancer, a preacher, a dad, a grandfather, a partner, a grateful human being. All of these things bring joy and a sense of purpose to my life. And whenever I start comparing myself with someone else I say things like “I’m not a very good poet” and “I’m a mediocre photographer” and “I wish I could play the flute like my brother” and . . . You get the idea. It’s never a helpful path to follow, and it never leads me anywhere useful. I just end up feeling bad, and the joy and purpose are nowhere to be found. But when I manage to remember that any such comparisons are inherently false then I begin to find my way back into the light where joy and purpose flow freely. I am not simply a poor imitation of someone else. I am wonderfully and uniquely myself, with my own God-given gifts, touching the world as only I can. And the same is true for every other person on the planet. When we compare ourselves with others we generate an “us vs. them” energy. When we simply celebrate who we are and the gifts we have been given then we begin to generate an “all of us together” energy. We are freed to really appreciate our own gifts and the gifts of everyone else as well. Plymouth Congregational Church is a vital and vibrant congregation not because we are all the same, but because we choose to celebrate and share our individual uniquenesses so that God can shine through us and touch the world. Together may we learn to celebrate and shine.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

A Little Kindness Makes a World of Difference

A couple of weeks ago I had the delightful opportunity to see the remarkable documentary film “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” about Fred Rogers (the man responsible for the PBS children's show “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.” I knew of the show, but I'm not sure if I ever actually watched it. Which may have been part of why I found the film so compelling. Going in I didn't have any emotional investment in the subject matter, and yet I found myself absolutely enthralled and inspired. As one reviewer put it, “On paper, all that low-key positivity ought to be tricky material for a documentary filmmaker. But watching “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” was a profoundly emotional experience.” There were several things which grabbed me. First, here was this quiet, gentle, unassuming man who was absolutely driven, by his faith and by his deep concern for the well being of children, to do something to make a difference in the world. He ran against the grain of cultural trends. His show wasn't flashy, it was slow-paced and gentle. And his message was profound in it's simplicity. He wanted every child to know that they had inherent value. “I like you just the way you are.” He took children and their feelings seriously. He respected them. 

Sometimes in the church we try to get fancy. We think we need to get on board with the all of the latest cultural trends. We fall into the trap of believing that if we just do this, or that, or some other thing that we heard about, then we will be successful. We worry that our message always needs to be exciting and flashy or else people won't be interested. But the truth is that we don't need to be flashy, we just need to be real. We need to be kind and caring. We need to be open and honest. We need to practice hospitality. We already have an amazing message. “No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.” My experience at Plymouth is that these are more than just words. They speak to a reality which we embody and live out on a regular basis. In our own quiet, gentle ways, may we continue to reach out beyond ourselves and touch the world with the power of God's love and acceptance. 

- Roger Lynn

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

We Are The Church Together

There is an old Sunday School song that begins, “I am the Church. You are the Church. We are the Church together. All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we are the Church together!” We who are part of this particular corner of the Church known as Plymouth Congregational UCC do a pretty good job of exemplifying this truth. There is diversity among us, and it takes all of that diversity to truly be the Church. Some among us have lived a long time, while some are just beginning life's journey. Some have been in church their whole life, while some are very new to the experience. Some have enough money to be very comfortable, while some struggle financially. Some are gay, some are straight, some are transgender. Some are more liberal, while some are more conservative. Some were born in this country, while some were born in another part of the world. Some are loud, while others are quiet. Some are active in social and political causes, while others seek to make a difference in one-on-one encounters. Some are very clear about what they believe, while some are searching for answers. We are not all the same size, shape, color, or gender. We do not fit neatly into one category, one description, one box. And yet, together we are the Church. The message which is printed in our bulletin every week continues to be the reality we strive to embody. “No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.” Thank you for the part you play in making Plymouth the remarkable gift that it is. “Yes, we are the Church together!”

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Summer Brings a Change of Pace

In astronomical terms, summer begins with the summer solstice on June 21st. But in cultural terms, summer began last Monday with Memorial Day. Summer brings a change of pace, with backyard barbecues, concerts in the park, weekend getaways, and family vacations. The summer effect finds its way into the church as well. Things slow down a bit, with generally lower worship attendance and fewer mid-week activities. A few special events also get added to the calendar - including Breakfast on the Pass and Church Camp. Summer can be something akin to Sabbath – a time for us to experience rest and renewal for our weary souls.  When you are in town I hope you will join us for worship on Sunday mornings, and wherever your life takes you in the next few months I hope that you will have the opportunity to be refreshed. And whether these days find you traveling or at home, please remember to continue supporting Plymouth with your prayers and your financial contributions. Summer may bring with it a slower pace, but the bills still need to be paid. Thank you for being a part of this vibrant community of faith which we call Plymouth. 

- Pastor Roger  

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Beyond Our Enemy Images

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

- - - - - -

In ways both subtle and blatant, across all aspects of our life and culture, our lives have been and continue to be shaped by enemy images. There is an understanding of “how the world works” which operates at a deep level and assumes that the world is divided into “us” and “them,” and that “they” are out to get “us.” We hear it from our politicians. We see it in the news. We find it on our Facebook pages. We watch it unfold in the midst of our own community. Sometimes we hear it preached from the pulpit, and we even read it in the pages of scripture. It is a world view which is so ubiquitous and pervasive as to be almost invisible. It hides in the shadows, flies below our radar, and slips past our awareness. All too often we tend to think it simply is the way things are and the way they always will be, because it is the way things always have been.

The Example of Our Life Together

On a fairly regular basis people ask me about Plymouth. My standard reply is to tell them about the faithfulness of the people (you). I tell them about the wonderful energy that is present on Sunday mornings when we gather together for worship. I tell them about the ways we are involved in the community. I tell them about the fact that our building is so heavily used it is sometimes challenging to find a space to hold a meeting. And I tell them about all the ways in which I feel supported and cared for by the congregation. Sometimes I have the opportunity to listen while other people talk to me about the many ways in which they appreciate Plymouth. The other night at “Let’s Talk About It” several people approached me to share their gratitude for our congregation. In the two and a half years I have been your pastor I have come to understand that Plymouth has a (well-deserved) reputation around Helena for being a safe, open, welcoming place for people to gather. May we continue to live in such a way that people don’t need to ask us what we believe because they can see it spelled out in bold letters through the example of our collective life together. Thank you for being who you are, and for the privilege I have of serving with you as your pastor.

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

What Comes After Easter?

Easter at Plymouth was a very good day. It was a reminder of what it means to be the Church. There was excitement in the air. We shared a meal together. We practiced hospitality and welcomed guests, including children. We sang and prayed together. We gathered at the Communion Table and experienced God’s presence. We celebrated New Life. It was a very good day to be the Church.

The temptation is to walk away smiling, while at the same time thinking to ourselves, “Yes, but that is the exception. Next Sunday the crowds will be gone and it will be back to normal.” It is true the numbers will probably be lower. But the essence of what we experienced is not dependent on numbers alone. We can still share excitement when we gather together. We can still eat meals together. We can still practice hospitality and welcome guests. We can still sing and pray together. We can still gather at the Table. We can still experience God’s presence. We can still celebrate New Life! Easter was a more dramatic than usual reminder of what it means to be the Church. And it is good to have such experiences. But the story doesn’t end there. The experience doesn’t stop being true just because the head count goes down. We are still the Church. God is still present. We still have a message to proclaim and a mission to fulfill. It was fun to worship with you on Easter morning. I look forward to continuing to worship with you on the other Sundays as well.

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

Congregational Vitality

Last week Gus Byrom and I participated in a retreat which focused on the theme of congregational vitality. It was a lively and inspiring experience which included pastors and church members from several UCC congregations around Montana. Our guest leader was Rev. Courtney Stange-Tregear, Minister for Church Vitality with the Pacific Northwest Conference UCC. She introduced us to a model for developing vital congregations which is based on Micah 6:8. “God has told you, O people, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” The basic idea behind the model is that “vitality” is not something that can be developed directly. Instead, it is one of the natural by-products which occurs when the elements of Micah 6:8 (doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God) are consistently and intentionally practiced within the life of the congregation. I found it to be a simple model with profound possibilities, and I believe it holds the potential to be transformational for our congregation. In the coming weeks and months I will be working with the Church Council to find ways of making use of it in our life together at Plymouth.

- Pastor Roger 

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

The Journey of Faith - The Season of Lent

Lent begins in a couple of weeks. It is the season of the Church year which is comprised of the forty days prior to Easter, not including Sundays. And since the date of Easter is defined by a rather archaic formula (the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox), the beginning of Lent varies from year to year. This year it begins on Valentine's Day and ends on April Fool's Day - an interesting quirk of the calendar that makes a bold statement about what it means to be a follower of Christ. We begin the journey in love, and the path we trod will frequently seem foolish when measured by the standards of our culture. But along the way, if we remember to stay open to Sacred Presence and seek to be faithful to the guidance of Spirit, we will discover a life filled with meaning and purpose and joy.

So, in this Lenten season which is about to open before us, I invite you to pay attention to where God might be leading you. Who is God calling you to become? What new ministry might you be called to take on? What new adventure might be awaiting you? What habits and practices might be getting in your way? What opportunities for growth might you begin to notice? Together may we walk this path with faith, hope, and trust. Together may we become ever more fully the people God is calling us to be.

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

The Foolishness of Following Stars

This is my latest contribution to the Pastor's Column in our local paper (the Helena Independent Record). It will appear in the paper on Saturday, January 6, 2018.

- - - - -

Today is Epiphany, a holy day in the Christian calendar. It is the twelfth day of Christmas, and is traditionally celebrated as the commemoration of the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child, as told in the Gospel of Matthew. Luke gave us the shepherds - simple, down-to-earth, easy to identify with. They are our kind of folk. Matthew gave us the magi - exotic, mysterious, difficult to understand. We aren’t quite sure what to make of them. We don’t really know if they ever even existed, or were a plot device created by Matthew to dramatically illustrate the gift of God’s Light coming into the world for all to see and follow. And I’m not sure it really matters. Because either way we still need to ask the important theological question - “So what?” What do the magi have to teach us? What do they tell us about what it means to follow God’s Light?

They’ve been called wise men, but much of their story doesn’t seem very “wise” (at least in terms of how the world usually understands that term). They had a passion for seeking after meaning in life. The path they chose was in the stars - watching for patterns and portends. It was an occupation which required careful attention, a keen intellect, and lots of patience. And so they watched and waited. But then one day something happened - something that would change their lives forever - something that wouldn’t have seemed very “wise” at all. They saw something that caught their attention - a star which seemed to proclaim something powerfully new coming into the world. But they did more than just watch it. They did more than simply study it. They did more than merely discuss it among themselves. They decided to follow it. They packed their bags. They collected gifts. They said goodbye to family and friends. And they set off to follow a star. They had no idea where their path would lead them, or how long it would take. They only knew that something important was happening, and they needed to be a part of it. Their passion for seeking after meaning suddenly became very real and very personal.

Welcome to a new year!

In one sense it is all a bit arbitrary. The calendar tells us that 2017 has ended and 2018 has begun. And so we mark the occasion as  a time of transition and change. The reality is that not much changed between 11:59pm on December 31st and 12:01am on January 1st. Except, of course, everything changed. Not because we turned a page on the calendar, but because everything is always changing. Everything is always new, in every moment. There is an old saying that you can’t step twice in the same river. Each moment of our life offers us the opportunity to be refreshed and renewed. We need not wait for New Year’s Eve. We can begin right here and right now. But it can be difficult to remember that sort of thing all the time, so we take advantage of occasions such as New Year’s to remind ourselves. We make resolutions. We seek to pay attention to our dreams and aspirations. We open ourselves to fresh new possibilities in our lives and in our world. And God is always there waiting to guide and inspire and empower us to live more fully and completely into our potential – 365 days a year. I look forward to walking with you through this new year as together we experience all the opportunities and wonders which will unfold before us.

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