From the pastors’ Heart & Soul · PDF fileRob Bell used to preach to ten ... From the...
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I missed church on Sunday. And I hated sitting at home. I was on the backside of my bout with the flu, so I was feeling crummy but alive enough to have enjoyed some of that blessed quiet that some say only Sunday mornings (not in church!) bring. But I missed the music – Monty at the organ, a choral interpretation. I missed the participation of a community – congregational singing and the vocal unisons and harmonies of a litany, the solidarity of quietude (do you know how powerful it is to sit in silence – together?), the engagement of a people listening to scripture and sermon. I missed the beautiful act of bringing a new child into the Church, of making promises to be the church with her. I missed listening for a new word from a text (that I’ve probably heard dozens of times before). I missed the ritual of the experience: preparing, arriving, welcoming, settling, worshiping, departing – in a time that calls me to think about what is really important, and in a space which will not allow me the false comfort of my own little world. There’s a not-so-subtle arrogance in some of the “spiritual but not religious” who loudly trumpet the “don’t need church” message these days – and community is the cure. I’m tired of reading of pastors who quit the church only to make a cottage industry out of not being in church any more. Rob Bell used to preach to ten thousand; now he surfs on Sundays and is a prophet in the church of Oprah. Barbara Brown Taylor used to offer Mass; her books on leaving the church and finding God in the dark have now made her a small fortune (from the pocketbooks of church people!). Yes, I’m a pastor. I’m supposed to like church, and I know my livelihood is dependent upon your liking it, too. But there’s more than my livelihood at stake. “Starbuck’s spirituality” or the discipline of the Sunday morning 5k certainly have an appeal, and there is much to be commended in those who take time to create Sabbath, wherever, whenever. But any lone ranger approach, whether in spirituality or any other discipline, though easier and more convenient, will be less fulfilling and will yield a less-satisfactory outcome than one worked out in the crucible of community. Church life can be messy and very frustrating. But, outside the false vacuum of doing exactly what I want, when and how I want it, what part of life is not messy and frustrating? I believe in The Church, and I believe in this church. Being away is just proof of what I feel when I’m here. Our individual lives and the lives of our families and our society as a whole would be weakened without it. But at this point, we may be doing less church next year. Not only have we not received the 3% increase needed to support the recommended Annual Ministry Plan… we haven’t even received enough in pledges to put this year’s ministries back on the table. If you’ve not pledged, would you do so, today? If you can give a bit more, will you let Cason Maccubbin know in our Financial Office? Sunday reminded me that I still need the Church. I believe the whole world does. And our church still needs you to make it a Merry Christmas! From the pastors’ Heart & Soul December 24, 2014 COMING UP Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve 5:00p Candlelight Service Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day Church Office Closed Friday, December 26 Church Office Closed Sunday, December 28 9:45a Sunday School 11:00a Worship 5:00p Youth Activities Thursday, January 1 New Year’s Day Church Office Closed Tuesday, January 6 10:00a Coffee and Kibitz 6:00p Views and Brews, Sir Edmond Halley’s Thursday, January 8 7:00a Men’s Bible Study Remember in Prayer Sara Eggleston Returned to White Oak Manor York, SC for Recuperation Rubye Hodges Recuperating at Home Remembering Our Friends at Home Lexa Taylor 1200 Carlus Drive, Apt. 535 Raleigh, NC 27609-4770 919-334-2513 The lives of our families and our society as a whole would be weakened without The Church. Progressive Theology Traditional Worship Welcoming Community Room in the Inn Winter 2015 Park Road has supported Urban Ministry's Room in the Inn program for several years. This is a great opportunity for your family, for your Sunday School class, for coworkers and neighbors to come together to help some of the homeless in our city. Each night of RITI, our youth building is transformed into a home offering a warm bed, hot shower, laundry facilities and a good meal to 12 guests. This requires a handful of volunteers each night... please find a place where you can plug in to support this ministry. Our next RITI will be January 10. You can sign up here http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0944adaf2ba46-room2 or you may contact Jim Niell, Dan McClintock or Crystal Smyth with any questions.
Transcript of From the pastors’ Heart & Soul · PDF fileRob Bell used to preach to ten ... From the...
I missed church on Sunday. And I hated sitting at home. I was on the backside of
my bout with the flu, so I was feeling crummy but alive enough to have enjoyed
some of that blessed quiet that some say only Sunday mornings (not in church!)
bring.
But I missed the music – Monty at the organ, a choral interpretation. I missed the
participation of a community – congregational singing and the vocal unisons and
harmonies of a litany, the solidarity of quietude (do you know how powerful it is to
sit in silence – together?), the engagement of a
people listening to scripture and sermon. I missed
the beautiful act of bringing a new child into the
Church, of making promises to be the church with
her. I missed listening for a new word from a text
(that I’ve probably heard dozens of times before). I
missed the ritual of the experience: preparing,
arriving, welcoming, settling, worshiping, departing
– in a time that calls me to think about what is
really important, and in a space which will not allow
me the false comfort of my own little world. There’s
a not-so-subtle arrogance in some of the “spiritual
but not religious” who loudly trumpet the “don’t need church” message these
days – and community is the cure.
I’m tired of reading of pastors who quit the church only to make a cottage
industry out of not being in church any more. Rob Bell used to preach to ten
thousand; now he surfs on Sundays and is a prophet in the church of Oprah.
Barbara Brown Taylor used to offer Mass; her books on leaving the church and
finding God in the dark have now made her a small fortune (from the pocketbooks
of church people!).
Yes, I’m a pastor. I’m supposed to like church, and I know my livelihood is
dependent upon your liking it, too. But there’s more than my livelihood at stake.
“Starbuck’s spirituality” or the discipline of the Sunday morning 5k certainly have
an appeal, and there is much to be commended in those who take time to create
Sabbath, wherever, whenever. But any lone ranger approach, whether in
spirituality or any other discipline, though easier and more convenient, will be
less fulfilling and will yield a less-satisfactory outcome than one worked out in the
crucible of community. Church life can be messy and very frustrating. But,
outside the false vacuum of doing exactly what I want, when and how I want it,
what part of life is not messy and frustrating?
I believe in The Church, and I believe in this church. Being away is just proof of
what I feel when I’m here. Our individual lives and the lives of our families and
our society as a whole would be weakened without it.
But at this point, we may be doing less church next year. Not only have we not
received the 3% increase needed to support the recommended Annual Ministry
Plan… we haven’t even received enough in pledges to put this year’s ministries
back on the table. If you’ve not pledged, would you do so, today? If you can give a
bit more, will you let Cason Maccubbin know in our Financial Office?
Sunday reminded me that I still need the Church. I believe the whole world does.
And our church still needs you to make it a Merry Christmas!
From the pastors’ Heart & Soul
December 24, 2014
COMING UP
Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve 5:00p Candlelight Service
Thursday, December 25
Christmas Day Church Office Closed
Friday, December 26 Church Office Closed
Sunday, December 28 9:45a Sunday School
11:00a Worship
5:00p Youth Activities
Thursday, January 1
New Year’s Day Church Office Closed
Tuesday, January 6 10:00a Coffee and Kibitz
6:00p Views and Brews,
Sir Edmond Halley’s
Thursday, January 8 7:00a Men’s Bible Study
Remember in Prayer
Sara Eggleston Returned to White Oak Manor
York, SC for Recuperation
Rubye Hodges Recuperating at Home
Remembering
Our Friends at Home
Lexa Taylor
1200 Carlus Drive, Apt. 535
Raleigh, NC 27609-4770
919-334-2513
The lives of
our families and our
society as a whole
would be weakened
without The Church.
Progressive Theology
Traditional Worship
Welcoming Community
Room in the Inn Winter 2015
Park Road has supported Urban Ministry's Room in the Inn program for several years. This is a
great opportunity for your family, for your Sunday School class, for coworkers and neighbors to
come together to help some of the homeless in our city. Each night of RITI, our youth building is
transformed into a home offering a warm bed, hot shower, laundry facilities and a good meal to
12 guests. This requires a handful of volunteers each night... please find a place where you can
plug in to support this ministry.
Our next RITI will be January 10. You can sign up here http://www.signupgenius.com/
go/10c0944adaf2ba46-room2 or you may contact Jim Niell, Dan McClintock or Crystal Smyth
with any questions.
NON PROFIT
ORG
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CLT, NC
Permit #979 Return Service Requested
Phone 704-523-5717 Fax: 704-523-8481 www.parkroadbaptist.org email: [email protected]
So many wonderful and poignant memories of 2014 at Park Road . . .
