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.

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)