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)