What language will you speak?

Communication is everything.  The words we use, the tone we set, the syntax, the language all participate in this thing we call 'communication': not simply how one transfers information from one individual to another, but how that one invites another into a particular thought process or set of ideas and ideals. Communication.  

I've sat with frustration, as have many others, over communication issues, seemingly particular to immigration. You know the rhetoric:  "If those people are going to come to our land, they've gotta learn to speak our language." This ideology goes further then to presume: no it goes on to assume that because another is unable to speak 'our language' that one must be stupid, ignorant, un-worthy, less than deserving of basic inalienable rights. 

This ideology frustrates me; I spent several years working in a Physical Therapy office and saw a number of folk who came in with a variety of work related injuries; one particular individual I'll recount worked for a flagging crew.  He was hit by a car as he was holding one of the warning flags.  He spoke little/no English; conversing thru an interpreter, I learned he'd been a biological engineer (?? is that right?) back in Mexico, but accepted what work he could because he didn't speak the language, and he shared his frustrations with the assumptions that he was less than intelligent based on that qualification alone. Truth is, anybody who wanted to know, wanted to speak, wanted to hear what he had to say was able to spend the time find the avenues to make communication happen, if they thought it was important enough. 

But we, as a society, hold the arrogant mindset that says 'They have to learn our language if we are going to deem them worthy.' This is lived out in rhetoric in governmental paperwork, shopping centers, road signs, and we rail against the ignorance and arrogance; we push against the isolatory exceptionalism. 

Funny how a little thing like language - a willingness to learn another's language can have such an effect on society - on how we view those who are different from us. Amazing how a thing like language can either bring people together or further polarize and isolate. 

Even more amazing is that even within a common language some messages 'speak' while others fail to do so. By 'Speak' I mean - 'to illicit a particularly desirable response'.  I was struck by a particular video this morning - 

Now, it's fairly obvious that this  is a staged scenario - easy to play off as trite or simply aimed at tugging the heart-strings.  But yeah.  It does tug at those strings.  It speaks to the nature of communication and the role the message plays in how we invite others to participate in that message - either as proclaimers or responders.  Do we wish people to respond? People can either respond positively or negatively - they will have a response one way or another, being mindful that ambivalence and apathy are a response as much as generosity and compassion are a response.  The deeper question is - what response is a desirable response?  What response is the desirable response?

How do you find people engage the message you proclaim? Do you find yourself upset that people are not hearing? not listening? not gettin' it? What language are you speaking?  Do you speak the same language to those who 'get it' as you do with those who don't?   Maybe if you just speak louder, that'll help;  maybe if you slow your words down, that will more effectively impress upon them what they're supposed to do; maybe if we call them names and ply them with shame and guilt for their lack of understanding - maybe that will help.  

If the message is really that powerful, that meaningful - I think it's worth the time, commitment, and attention to learning how to better proclaim that message in a way that people can most appropriately engage and respond, even if it means learning to speak a multiplicity of divergent languages.  

What language will we choose?

 

Traitor Joe

sorry, no ill intended toward the fine company that is TJoes  - just couldn't pass up on the play on words.
yeah, we'll show you how we handle traitors around here.

Scripture lesson from Mark 12 for this week (vs.  28-34), as much as they describe a dynamic Jesus lived through his journey on the way, what might they reveal of how this dynamic was lived out in the later 1st century Christian community Mark is addressing?

The account in these verses follows directly on the heals of Jesus encounter with the Sadducees: they set up their straw-man scenario about nature of marriage in death, feeling certain they'd adequately trapped this would be prophet, messiah - this one who most recently had come into town with accolades given to the Son of David. In His proving them wrong, Jesus had nothing more to do than open up the scriptures - "This scripture which you, I, we hold near and dear???/  This is why you are wrong - Oh so wrong. Maybe you should spend a little time reading that which you profess to believe so dearly." (that last sentence was a bit of editorial interpretation that may/may not be directly stated within Mark's missive.)

Enter the scribes - lest we forget (neglect) to note who this scribe represents- what attitude and perspective he brings to the discussion:  I direct you to vs. 18 of previous chapter.  "and when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him." While there was maybe no love lost between the Sadducees and the scribes - they had an agenda which they (he) was complicit in carrying out.  Do away with him. Get rid of Him. By any means possible, do not allow this' One coming in the name of the Lord' (vs.9 of ch.11) - by stealth, (vs.1,2 ch 14)  sneaky sneaky/ deceptively if need be??

Enter this scribe. He comes to Jesus having seen the quick, decisive, authoritative work he'd made of the Sadducees'; he comes with curiosity peaked? with a desire to know? seeking another opportunity to discern a weakness to later exploit?  Who knows what this scribe's motivations were - what it offered up was an opportunity for Jesus to show really how far apart they were not.

Jesus listened to what the scribe was asking - what he was saying, and in the depth of His response revealed a truth that the scribe may or may not have found comforting - his and His experience of the scripture, the truth revealed of God's hope and guidance and affirmation for human interaction are not that disparate, in fact they're likely within the statistical margin for error.

I've gotta wonder what the talk around the local watering hole was like that next morning. When the powers that be met out at the gate to talk of the happenings, to hear squabbles and disputes and render judgements on such matters, what judgement did they render upon this scribe.  "Traitor!!" ? "You and your stupid question - left the door wide open for that rabble rouser to reveal Truth - to speak a Word that does not make him look like a crazed lunatic - to show us in a way that reveals how small and petty
we really are, maybe. Damn you!!"

Was traitor the worst name levied at today's scribal envoy?  Was he able to show his face at the morning gatherings? Did he have to backtrack and walk-back his discussion and revelation in order to appease a particular narrative and agenda? Did he find himself ostracized, shunned, excommunicated - at least until he'd paid the appropriate penance?

How well was he embraced by those who were following Jesus as He journeyed the way?  did they shun him? did they ostracize him because of who he was?  How total was our scribe's alienation?

Jesus listened to those who wanted to kill him; He listened for a hint of agreement, nugget of commonality,  a seed of shared value through which He was able to come along-side this one scribe.  Was there nothing worth listening and hearing from what the Sadducees had to say? Was there nothing within what the other scribes had to share? I don't know.  Did this one scribe's experience of the Son of David leave a lasting mark upon his life? - - dunno - What I do know (we know) is that it left a significant enough of an impression that Mark thought it integral to share with his community. (were they dealing with dynamics of inside and out? Us vs. Them? Who is faithful and who is not? I wonder if Mark was trying to encourage them to be particularly mindful of what the 'other' was saying; to hear and listen for those places where we're not so far off from one another? Maybe it's in this listening posture that we will recognize the ever-present nearness of the Kingdom.

waiting and making space for the other

taking home communion to shut in creates a heightened realization of the space we must, we do make for others:  when praying the Lord's prayer communally- many of our shut ins would finish 30 seconds behind, were we to pray these words of our Lord at our usual and customary pace.

 But, in order to make room for - allow the space for these beloved children of God, these faithful servants of the one whose words they are attempting to repeat - we slow it down. we pause longer than we might otherwise pause.

It's what we do for those who for whatever reason just aren't able to keep up with the fast pace our language sometimes dictates. It's the way we stick together.

we make the space - we allow the time -

for those unable to follow in the steps of those leading from within.

It's this compassion for one another that holds the body of Christ together.

What's that staring back at me?

 Who do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you see if you look in the mirror? Whom do you see when you gaze deeply into those eyes you find staring back at you through the looking glass?

Most likely, you spend as little time as necessary in front of the mirror.  I mean, really, why waste hours (minutes, days) staring at one’s own reflection, what’s to be gained from such a practice? Likely we spend only as much time as it reasonably takes to brush our hair and teeth, wash face, shave, put on make-up, etc. (This seeks to be a bit more inclusive list than my own morning ritual might otherwise afford;)  But I’ll warrant, that even in those brief moments of mirrored gazing, one’s attention is invariably drawn to those personal aspects we wish would otherwise go away. Skin blemishes, warts, moles, pimples, freckles draw our attention like moths to a porch light. We zero in on how we ‘look’. How do these pants make me look? Do they make me look taller? Shorter? Do these glasses make me look smart(er)? These are merely representative of the vast number of insecurities we live with – insecurities that marketers exploit (rather effectively, I might add).

There is no demographic that escapes the fine-toothed-comb of critical exploitation. We want desperately to be seen as beautiful, hip, lovely, likable, fun, charismatic, carefree, more youthful. – More than that, though, we want to see ourselves as all those things and we’re willing to pay whatever it takes to attain that appearance.

Of interesting note: that which is defined as ‘beautiful’ has never been constant, but is always relative to that which is more difficult to attain.  Hence: in times and/or places of mean resources and scarce food supply – a more robust, fleshy person with more body fat is seen as the ideal, which then defines ‘beauty’ to which ‘everyone’ aspires. Whereas in times of plenty, abundance, and ease (relative), the idealized body image gravitates to the skinnier, dare I say anorexic appearing model of ‘beauty.’

The point is – we constantly aim at a moving target; which even if we hit dead-center, moves from beneath our mark, leaving only our feelings more deeply unmet.

Within the industries of fashion, cosmetic, health related industries there is no demographic isolated from the onslaught of negative imagery.  From the young girls wondering if they’re too heavy, to the boys feeling they need steroids to look masculine; from the women to feel they must some how augment their body in order to be more feminine to the man who’s told he really doesn’t have much life unless he’s got a full head of hair: no one escapes.  The underlying fear that is preyed upon is that unless we change, we are unlovable.

Sad to see the church, likewise preying upon this fear.

 How much different would our image of ourselves be if, rather than the recurrent rhetoric of fear and criticism, we heard a steady and genuine chorus of ‘You are fearfully and wonderfully made’ or ‘You are loveable just as you are.’ We sing the song ‘Just as I am’- why should we not extend that same grace and courtesy to include you ‘Just as you are.?’ Or better yet, what if we could affirm for friend or foe, ‘I love you just as you are, because of who you are, because you are made in God’s image.’ Do you think that if we shared this message often enough, people might begin to view themselves as beings created in God’s image, whose love could be taken as a given rather than something that had to be worked for. The affirmation may invite the question ‘What does it mean to be created in the image of God?’ (how would you answer that question?)

Maybe, instead of hurriedly passing by that mirror, we’d stop and spend a few moments staring deeply into those eyes staring back into us, and in that time, just maybe we’d experience a bit deeper insight into what is means to be a child of God made in God’s image. And maybe, we might catch that same glimpse in the gaze of a stranger we pass on the street. (or maybe we’ll see the glimpse we find in the stranger’s eyes reflecting back into our own.

To my congregation, whom I am blessed to serve – I love and adore each of you and am blessed for being invited to pastor here in Phoenix, Oregon.  Thank you for these past 7 years.

Rev. Mike

Paul as Davidic parallel?

Yeah, I know - that's what I was thinking:  what the what??
But if we look at the sequence of events and dynamics surrounding the rise of both - maybe there is a nugget of some Truth to buy into.
In the search for the king - Samuel brought before the people the biggest, most valiant, strongest, charismatic candidate he could find - Saul.  and we can read God's endorsement as if to say, "well, okay - if that's what you want to do, let's follow this path for a while and see where this leads." And then God chose David, who was, for as much as we want to romanticize him into the perfection of 'godliness' (whatever that means) - he was a scrawny, punk of a youngest child - he was a cocky smart-aleck  who had little to no business in the court of the king, let alone as the King in the court. (at least according to the world's standards of 'kingliness') Nevertheless, God chose him - if for no other purpose than to illumine the weakness of worldly wisdom, strength, and valor.
Similarly - Luke catalogues the very intentional list of criteria the remain 11 engage in order to fill the vacancy in the roster resulting from Judas' demise. As if going thru check list of criteria:  He was one of us: check.  (Okay, check-list of criterion) And I can hear God remarking:  "well, okay, if that's hat you want to do, let's follow this path for a while and see where it leads."  And we never hear from the 'chose' one again.  But God chooses Paul (Saul) who functionally fills that space vacated by Judas - even if he is never really embraced by the other 11.  Saul, that antagonist of the Way:  Saul, the judge, jury and executioner of those who would profess to follow the Way:  Saul, the one thru whom the seeds of the gospel would be sown into and cultivated within the Gentile World. The most un-natural and unimaginable (least imaginable) of roll players. But there it is, God again upending our logical course of action in favor of something wholly (and Holy) other.

MaidenVoyage of the new Frankenbeik

Many thanks to @ihadanidea Frankenbeik has been given a new life, new drive - many more miles to pedal.
review of the first ride - new 105 compact crank (vs. previous ultegra 600 crank 53/39) offer increased transfer of power as well as noticeably increased torque; the consequence of stiffer crank arms and smaller (albeit slightly) chainrings.

In the cassette, the only change made was dropping from 12-25T to 11-25T.   Increase in torque made the 50T-11T combo spin easier that previous 53T-12T, even though it's a higher gear ratio.

 both ft and rr derailleurs functioned flawlessly -
105 Brake calipers much more grabby with less effort than previous Ultegra 600 generation. (I'll lay that at the feet of moving from a single pivot to dual pivot design).
Shifters:  new shifters were awesome. - though having spent the past (almost) 20 years riding butterfly shifters, my thumbs found themselves looking for the shifters before I realized they were no longer there. Thumbs were much happier for their absence.

Don't get me wrong - these butterfly shifters have worked great over the past 2 decades.  Although they're indexed for 7spd suntour cassette -which I never could get to run quite right, on the friction setting (contrary to all professional counsel) they served me from the 6-7 speed transition, into the 8 - and finally into the 10sp cluster.  Paired with the Dura Ace rear derailleur worked flawlessly - just gotta be willing/able to work with a bit of subtlety. (Some of you reading may find irony in that).
There may be a bit of lament, letting go of these shifters;  they've been a part of every bike I've ridden since the Motobecane SuperMirage I came out of college with, thru the days of the giant Trek 800 I purchased after I killed the derailleur hanger on that frame. After several years riding a 63cm bike (that mis-appropriated geometry took its tole on my shoulders, for sure) - downsized to a 56 cm Bianchi frame - what I perceived as 'blue' was infact purple - or a deep lavender.  yeah, the family got a kick out of my colorblinddisability (I'm always good for the comic relief)- but I road the purple bike for 2+ years before getting the red Kona frame which now resides beneath my butt.
Who knows what further manifestations my pedular form of transportation will take - LBS said the headset is a bit pitted and in need of being replaced - I can't tell the difference - seems to steer smoothly to me.
Looking forward to many more miles on these piecepartedbike - how many more 1day STPs does it have in it?  who knows.
Peace to all.

Loving One's Enemies (reposting from PoMoMusings)

(repost from PomoMusing discussion on living into the future of the church)

We live an age that, as tempted as I may be to define as ‘like no other,’ I find I cannot.  We live an age that pits antagonistic forces against one another; these forces may (or may not) be military forces; these antagonists may (or may not) be officially sanctioned forces by any particular governing body. We watch the political parties seek out weaknesses in the opposition, that they might exploit. We watch the liberals take on the conservatives, conservative base chip away at the enclaves of liberalism.  We do not just watch as passive bystanders rubber-necking an auto accident; we engage the fray, whether out there on the front lines risking arrest (or worse) or from the relative safety of our keyboards, iPads, and smartphones—oh we engage, all right. An age like no other?  Hardly—An age like every other is more like it.

We live in the Burger King age that says, “If you won’t give it to me my way— I know a place that will.” And if that place does not exist, I’ll create that place/space where I can have life on my terms and bring other like-minded persons to join me in creating this space.  How many times this has been replicated through history? The pilgrim’s venture to live out their days under the guise of “freedom of religion” quickly turned into “freedom of my religion” as religious persecution of those who practiced something different seemed to become the law of the land. I’m skeptical that those who desire to plant an utopian community will do little other than restack the deck in their own favor.

And yet, it’s this age, through this age, into this age that the Church as the Body of Christ seeks to live faithfully. What will it mean for this body to be faithful to the calling spirit of the Christ? What is one belief, practice or element of Christianity that we must hold onto and live out more fully so that Christianity can move forward and truly impact the world in the next 100 years? The ways we can honestly, truly, fully love our enemies will determine how well, how faithfully we will live out our calling as the Body of Christ.

“You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor,’ ” and we can all remember reading countless blog posts and hearing sermons too numerous to count expounding on this question, “and who is my neighbor?” We are good at loving our neighbor, and we willingly redefine who our neighbor might be to avoid leaving out anybody we are supposed to love.

“You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, ‘Love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:43-44).” In Luke’s gospel Jesus takes this a step further, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who persecute you, pray for those who abuse you (Luke 6:27-28).”

Paul, in his letter to the Romans says this, “God demonstrates divine love in this way; while we were sinners (enemies, antagonistic, persecutors, haters, nay-sayers) God reconciled us to God’s-self through the Christ event (Romans 5:8).”

The Psalmist wrote of the reality he experienced of God’s love, “ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with me . . . You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies – my cup overflows (Psalm 23)”

Scripture seems replete with examples of what to do with and how to treat one’s enemies, yet we seem content to follow the world’s example, and either destroy them or insist they be transformed before we sit down to dinner with them.  Amazing how willingly we will sit at table with those with whom we disagree, so long as we we’re able to pluck the slivers from their eyes (so long as we are able to transform them into something more like us).

So, how do we go about this ‘loving my enemies’ thing? A starting point may be with being willing to name who they are – who the antagonists, haters, those with whom we disagree; who are those who are disagreeable? Who are the ones who refuse to see life as we believe it should be seen?  How do we view them? How do you view them? Do you see them as the world sees them, as mere throwaways, individuals you’re really better without? Or do you see the image in which they were created? And then how will we love? Why will we love?  We love because God first loved us (while we were (and are) enemies) –

While this self-giving love may not change the behaviors of the individual, the target, the recipient, I do believe this self-giving love does hold the power to transform our relationship with one another, and ultimately deepen our relationship with, our reliance upon, our faith in the One who brings life through the most seemingly lifeless of possibilities. This is the power of the resurrection made known in the here and now.  

2011 in Review

The following is Annual report for 1st PC Phoenix, OR

Pastor’s Report

Would like to thank the members and participant for the opportunities ministering in this corner of the Rogue Valley has offered me.

Among the highlights (and frankly the more important aspects) of ministering here at 1stPC Phoenix has been extending, widening if you will, the Communion Table to include those who otherwise would not be served.  Each time communion is served to our home bound members (usually 1x/month)- I travel with another one of our members and visit 4-5 persons, and feel the blessing for being able to sharing the sacrament. Typically, it’s Deacons or Elders who serve along side me, but as session had decided, it could be anyone of our members who could serve. I’m grateful for the assistance of the Deacons in organizing the home communion visits.  Part-way through the year, they took on calling the people to be visited and served, arranging for the elements, inviting someone to help serve, and/or serving themselves if nobody else was available.  If you would like to be included among the people who help serve home communion, please contact one of our Deacons.

This year, 1^st PC Phoenix experienced the loss of 3 of our members.   Services were held celebrating the lives of Betty Klimek, Ken Amundson, Jody Workman, and Lois Ulman.  A service was also held in early August for Donald Mitchell, a beloved member of the Phoenix community and former member of 1^st PC.

Early in 2011, we offered a ‘Men’s Breakfast’ on the 2^nd Thursday of the month.  Although we had some good conversations, after a summer hiatus, the limited attendance led us to direct my time in other directions.

Throughout the year, there have been some one-time things opportunities that have presented themselves:  Jury duty this past summer, supportive/encouraging conversation with John Wren (presbytery COM liaison), yearly prayer breakfast for the Phoenx/Talent School District administration/staff, and our Annual Christmas Open House at the manse.

This past year, I had the opportunity to worship elsewhere when a month had a 5^th Sunday. Was insightful to see what others are doing, partly; but more so, was refreshing to be in worship somewhere that I was neither leading nor preparing. Afforded an opportunity to see aspects of the worship liturgy in a different light.  The use of singing in lieu of a longer, spoken responsive Call to Worship – came from worshipping with the folks at the Ashland Methodist church.  In another setting (has not been implemented here at 1^st PC Phoenix), experienced an intentional one on one prayer time that followed the service: members would come forward to be prayed for by either pastor or one of the Deacons.  Thank you to the Session and to the Congregation for the opportunity for 2011.

This year, I only used one of my two weeks of study leave.  For the first couple of days of the week, I participated in the Lectionary Retreat offered through Cascades Presbytery; the rest of the week, I spent preparing services for the upcoming calendar year.  I currently have services for the 1^st 3.5 months blocked out.  On my study leave coming up at end of February 2012, I hope to have services thru the summer blocked out.

This year has been a year of taking on and setting aside some responsibilities and obligations I’ve committed to.  For much of the year, I worked with the FORD Leadership Program (FILP). We are a collection of Phoenix/Talent residents whom the Ford Foundation awarded a grant to learn about leading community building. We met fairly regularly for training exercises, and then were set to the task of planning/implementing a project.  Phoenix/Talent FILP, being as we’re two communities, we chose a project that would have two foci; for Talent – downtown murals depicting community attitudes and hopes of the city: for Phoenix – a bandshell in the BlueHeron Park.  After working with some grant writing in September/October, I felt it best to step back from those responsibilities til the beginning of the 2012, stepping back in on a more limited basis.

The Phoenix Phestival (August 20) was another project that I began in leadership capacity, but became apparent quickly that I would be over committed, were I to fulfill this opportunity. Am grateful for the community exposure the Phoenix Phestival afforded the Community Kitchen – and hope that in years to come they’ll continue to consider the Kitchen as a recipient of proceeds from the Phestival.

In both the Chamber greeters and the SMART Reading program I have been involved since I first came to the Rogue Valley.  These have provided a wonderful means through which I can be in service to the wider community around 1^st PC Phoenix.

This year saw my involvement in the Interfaith Care Community of Jackson county increase.  With the executive director retiring, and board member participation dwindling, I was asked to serve as a temporary Board President.  This was no easy assignment, as there were two major issues that presented.  I was grateful when another member stepped up and relieved me in September from this ‘temporary’ assignment.

I am continuing to enjoy my service to the presbytery through designing worship services for our 3 yearly meetings.  There is personal joy and a sense of satisfaction (hopefully not prideful) with the positive feedback many of these worship services have engendered. I continue to serve as the regional representative for the Theological Education Fund (TEF), which means that as folks in the Rogue Valley and Klamath Basin have questions about TEF and have requests for resources, I stand a good chance of being able to assist them.

As Spring 2011 was drawing to a close, the retiring Synod Coordinator for TEF invited me to prayerfully consider whether I might welcome taking over his duties at the synod level. After weighing, seriously considering, prayerfully listening, and ultimately not deciding – the director Theological Education called me up to talk, wherein she invited me to step into the roll of Synod Coordinator for TEF.  At that point, I felt led to decline the invitation.

This past year has been a busy year here at 1s PC Phoenix. Session has been functioning with 2 session members:  Jack Harmon and Bob Roden.  Many thanks to these two for their willingness to serve the church, though in ways they might not have felt entirely comfortable.  We have met each month (except for July and August when we ran dark) for purpose of reviewing finances, bringing each other up to speed on anything

This year, although we have not had a Clerk of Session, we are fortunate that Bob Roden agreed to take the minutes, which will make the task of getting them copied into the Record Book easier, for certain. In the absence of an elected Clerk of Session, we did not submit the Clerk’s Annual Report to the presbytery and the Annual Statistical report, which goes on to the denomination, nor did we have an orderly set of session records to be examined this past fall. In some near time to come, we can expect contact from the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery with encouragement to meet these expectations.

The reports to follow are a summation of the prayerful work your Session, Deacons, and Presbyterian Women have helped bring about over the past year. I commend them to you for your reading.  May God bless you as you consider the ways your ministry seeks to faithful live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Worship, Music, and Sacraments

I love the way that our worship experience continues to grow and expand the ways we as 1^st PC Phoenix lend our voices to the praise and thanksgiving for a God who creates, redeems and sustains us. I feel blessed for the ways folk are willing to be engaging with questions, comments, and observations following our Sunday morning worship services. These are one of the ways you help me prepare and craft worship services that offer a blend of comforting and challenging expressions of the gospel: comforting in the sense that folks worshipping with us might hear and actually believe that God loves them; and challenging, that in believing we are loved by God, we might feel led to step outside our comfort zone in order to share that good news with others.

This year we’ve been blessed to have Katie Anderson accompanying our singing;  her playing has been a both a blessing to sing with and to hear as she leads through more meditative aspects of our services. Early in 2011, Brent Williams joined Katie on guitar and me on the bass. For some special services (Palm Sunday and Easter), I’ve enjoyed playing the trumpet along with Katie as she plays the organ. And for those times that Katie hasn’t been available, we have been blessed to have Aleen Bessonette share her gifted piano playing with us.  We give thanks to God for the musical blessings we have within 1^st PC Phoenix. 

**If anybody has musical gifts you’d like to share, please talk with one of your session members; we will be blessed for hearing your offering.

This year, our worship services have felt a technical enhancement, due to the addition of power point displayed by an LCD projector.  We can give thanks for the generosity of Cascades Presbytery in allowing us to borrow their projector week after week; the times we’ve not been able to, has left a bit of stutter in following the order of service; those sung responses, and responses that are typically viewed on the overhead – we fumble to locate, as we’ve become accustomed to the words being on the wall. (not everybody, I’m sure; but a number of people miss the projector when it’s not there. J

This year, the Lenten/Easter services have been a priority; beginning with Ash Wednesday, continuing through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Seder dinner), Good Friday and Easter morning.  Throughout the season of Advent, we created a new banner.  Each week we hung a new square on the banner; the images on the squares coincided with the liturgy for lighting the week’s Advent Candle. (thank you to those who brought these banner squares to life.)  For Christmas Eve this year, we invited a number of people to tell the story of Christmas, as interpreted through Gospels of either Matthew or Luke. For Christmas morning, we gathered to hear the story read, shared in the Joyful Feast of the people of God, rejoicing in the gift of Light God gifted to creation.

Am thankful for the computer miracles of Jack and Clarene Harmon, ensuring we have a bulletin each week, for Shawn Foster and Liesa Bratcher for coordinating the pulpit supply, for Bob Roden for his willingness to periodically accept the mantle of ‘teacher’, for Sue Seymour and her encouraging the ushers/greeters/worship leaders/acolytes/sound tech people to share their gifts in service to the church, and for the ushers/greeters/worship leaders/acolytes/sound tech people for sharing their talents with 1^st PC Phoenix.

I am beginning my 3^rd time through the lectionary cycle (I’m into my 7^th year as your pastor – 1 cycle takes 3 years).  I’m excited, anxious, curious to know if sermons and services are able to stay fresh, pertinent, and appropriate to the texts and the challenges of the day.  Let me know what you think; I would appreciate the conversations.

From Stewardship and Finance

a combined committee of session

The Stewardship and Finance committee works under the guidelines of a 2010 document approved by session.  In addition to general committee tasks the document also defines the interrelationship and responsibilities of the treasurer and the money counters.  Jack Harmon continues as treasurer and provides us with very helpful financial reports monthly.  Clarene Harmon is our lead money counter.

At the end of 2010 we invested the Carol Ernst bequest with the Synod of the Pacific.  During 2011 we closed out our Smith Barney account and moved the funds to the synod account.  At the end of 2011 the synod account had about $200,000 in it.  We keep our checking account at the Bank of the Cascades.

We sent $1,520 to presbytery as our per-capita apportionment.

In November we presented the opportunity to pledge for the coming year.  We did this through moments for stewardship, newsletter articles and finally a mailing with a message from Pastor Mike.  We encouraged members to think of proportional giving with the biblical concept of tithing as the goal.  We received 15 pledges totaling $27,520.  When we add other sources of income from rents, dividends, other offerings and building use donations we expect about $50,000 in income.  With a 2012 budget of about $100,000 we will be drawing down our reserves by about $50,000.

We maintain a Community Kitchen fund which serves as the collection and dispersal accounting for the CK.

God has blessed us through the faithful giving of our members and friends.  We owe a special thanks to Jack and Clarene Harmon for their significant work in the financial area and wish them well as they face new health challenges.

See the attached year end financial statement for 2011 budget details.

 From the Mission Committee

            We gave to the mission activity of the larger Presbyterian Church by our support of the Presbytery’s Mission Partnership giving program.  We pledged and contributed $3,000.  We were also faithful in supporting the larger church by paying our per capita apportionment for most members active or not.

            Session determined to tithe the money received from the Carol Ernst bequest and in 2010 we gave half of the tithe ($10,000) to the mission work of the larger church through the presbytery.  The other half tithe was distributed in 2011.  We gave $1,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Phoenix, and $9,000 to the Interfaith Care Community to support their staffing of the Community Kitchen and Food Pantry that operate out of our church.

            We as a church took on providing scholarships and uniforms for the Phoenix High Marching Band.   Toward this end, we spent $724.

            We publicized and received the One Great Hour of Sharing before Easter.  Our offering this year was $549.  This offering supports three Presbyterian charities:  Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Hunger Fund and the Fund for the Self Development of Peoples.

            Through our budget we contributed $500 to the Presbyterian Theological Education Fund.

            The Christmas Joy Offering was received in December.  We contributed $448 to help special clergy needs and to support Presbyterian related ethnic and minority schools.

            Jonna Reeder, a Presbyterian mission worker, was in our church in December telling us about her work in central Asia.

            Moments for Mission were given on many Sundays during the year.  The Mission Yearbook of Prayer and Study was helpful in learning about mission activities all over the world.  Other groups in the church are encouraged to use the Moment for Mission time to bring their concerns to the congregation.

Evangelism/Outreach Report

If we have hope that people should know God’s saving faithfulness in Christ, it’s important that we show God’s saving faithfulness in Christ.

In some regards, the outreach, the way 1^st PC Phoenix has positioned itself in the community has not changed over the past year. Through our facility being open and accessible to groups like the Narcotics Anonymous, and Alcoholics Anonymous, and Al-Anon the Phoenix/Talent (and wider Rogue Valley) communities experience grace and forgiveness, repentance, support and encouragement.  Many within our community see the church facility as a place of safety from the pressures (in many cases addictive pressures) they face; in attending these midweek meetings, they’re able to love, warmth, acceptance from others and of themselves.

This is really no different an experience than what people enjoy Thursday evenings at the Phoenix Community Kitchen.  Twice a month (2^nd and 4^th Thursdays) anybody who wishes (everybody is invited) to come and have a hot meal served to them at the table. For many who come, dining out is not an option; they’re unable to enjoy the feeling of being served; it’s a treat that shares to them their worth and value as a human being. We serve people who cannot afford food at home, let alone dine out. The Phoenix Community Kitchen may folks who are able to afford to dine in and dine out, but come for the fellowship the sense of community they’ve grown to experience at the Phoenix Community Kitchen.  Everybody is treated to being served, to being warmly welcomed, and a genuine appreciation for their presence. Twice a month, the Phoenix Community Kitchen is feeding 125-150 persons from the Phoenix/Talent community with a hot meal and an experience of what it can mean to be in community. For those being served – as well as those serving – there is true blessing happening.

Much thanks for the organizational emphasis can go to Jibril Muhammad, the Community Resource Advocate employed with 1^st PC Phoenix through Interfaith Care Community (ICC).  For much of the year, he took the responsibility for seeing to the necessities of the bi-monthly meals:  that they were planned, purchased, and prepared. Yoko Ono and Gloria Roden have been faithful in the task of helping prepare the meals.  Later in the year, Mark Davis lent his talents in the kitchen to relieving Jibril of some of that responsibility. The ‘staff’ of the Phoenix Community Kitchen is evolving to help meet the needs.  Paula York, Jerry and Shelley Doran have been committed to serving at our meals, purchasing necessary items, preparing signs, and being a visible presence of the body of Christ at this meal hosted at 1^st PC Phoenix.

But the Phoenix Community Kitchen (PCK) is not a project solely of 1^st PC; it is inherently a community endeavor. Jibril has worked well to bringing together a collective of persons invested in the community Kitchen’s continued and growing success. Ray’s Foods, Debby’s Diner, Phoenix Pharmacy, Roscoe’s BBQ (and others) have shown generous support. The city’s mayor and manager, former council members Mike Stitt and Mike McKee have been a constant support for what’s happening with the PCK. We have volunteers helping prepare and serve each meal.  At the end of 2011, Jibril helped arrange the purchase of a cow from The Butcher in White City – we’ll now have a ready supply of meat around which we can plan the meals.

Also in 2011, with the Phoenix Phestival Phoundation and later ICC, we had a grant submitted to upgrade kitchen equipment and purchase flatware and silverware, our hope, to serve meals that convey worth and dignity to our diners, in as sustainable a way as possible.  The acquisition of a commercial dishwasher is being paired with the purchase of the flatware. In late 2011, we started working with an independent grant writer, Susan Ladue who, in addition to helping prepare and serve our meals has been writing grants in the Rogue Valley for some time.  A member of St. Marks Episcopal, she is generously offering her talents for the use of the PCK.

Housing the Phoenix Food Pantry is another way 1^st PC is reaching out into the Phoenix community. Beginning in early 2011, in order to expand the assistance we’re able to offer to those with food anxieties (not sure where the next meal is coming from), 1^st PC teamed up with the Talent/Phoenix Green Bag program.  2^nd Saturday of each even numbered month, area volunteers pick up green bags from participants who have filled them with canned goods.  Those green bags collected in Phoenix are brought to the Phoenix Food Pantry.  When the collects first started, we were pushing 400 lbs of canned goods/nonperishable food items. In October, we received greater that 1000lbs, which was largely gone by the end of November.  For the December collection, we saw in excess of 2000lbs stocked onto the shelves- which will again be virtually empty by the beginning of February.

In many ways, the 1^st PC congregation is being a faithful presence in the Phoenix/Talent community.

We again hosted the VW Shine & Show in May, June we saw bunch of people stop by the church as they drove their cars in the 3^rd Annual Phoenix Poker Run. In August, we welcomed the Rogue Valley Peace Ensemble to both share in worship Sunday morning and perform a mini-concert for the Thursday PCK.  Later in August, 1^st PC housed a back to school clothing give-away. We’ve opened our doors for the Urban Renewal coordinators as well as the FORD leadership team to make use of the Fellowship Hall as a meeting location. It’s exciting to see the ways this church and congregation are integrating into the community around us, shining with the light of the gospel.

From the Deacons

The Deacons for the year 2011 were Clarene Harmon, LaMae Hughes, Yoko Ono, Roberta Reyes and Gloria Roden.

We met on the first Sunday of the month with Pastor Mike attending.

The News Letter and bulletin prayer list were sent to ones who are unable to attend church.  Birthday and anniversary cards are sent to all that attend our church.  Make sure your name is on our list.

Gloria Roden is collecting information on cards and this information will be used in case of an emergency if we need to call a family member.  This information will be kept private and will be filed in a locked container in the church office.  This information has already proved helpful.

Ruth Papineau is making the beautiful shawls that are blessed during one of our church services.  I am sure she would appreciate a help in acquiring yarn.  These shawls go to ones that have had surgery, are ill or just need comfort.

Many requests have come for help with housing, power bills, transportation, medical and food; between the Deacons Budget line and the Deacons’ Fund, nearly $5000 was disbursed in 2011. The pantry has helped many with food, as does the community kitchen serving dinner twice a month.

Deacons helped with five Memorial services held in our church.

Seventeen gift bags of cookies, breads, crackers, cheese and fruit were delivered to our shut-ins.  We also helped a mother and five children with Christmas gifts of toys, clothing, food and cook-ware, thanks to a very generous congregation.

An average of 36 people were served communion monthly in 2011 for a total of 567.

Christian Education

This past year the Horizons Bible Study has, again, been a major component of our Christian Education program here at 1^st PC Phoenix. Early last year, Bob Roden lead the group through the study on Revelations.  And this fall through the end of 2011, Bob has lead the study on The Beatitudes. This is the Horizons Bible study series, and although written for the Presbyterian Women of the PCUSA, the study we offer the 3^rd Wednesday of the month is open to anybody and everybody who wishes to study The Beatitudes.

The Soup, Study, and Song (Tuesday evening study group) has been seen a wide array of study and conversational topics.  Last winter and spring, we looked at lyrics of popular (and not so popular) songs, listened to them, examined them, explored how they might shine light into the question of faith; or how they didn’t. 

This fall, the Tuesday study time was occupied by the new member class, where, as part of it, we took a look at church history, through the reformation, through to contemporary times; but didn’t go very deep into the history.  When the new member class concluded, we decided to take a closer look at  the history of the church through the lens of the Book of Confessions;  we looked at the interplay between the historical settings and how it was the church experienced God in the midst of whatever crisis it was enduring at the time.

Following that, we embarked in a story-telling adventure. We learned, explored, and practiced different story-telling techniques in preparation for telling the story of Christmas during the Evening service on Dec. 24. Thanks to Shawn Foster and Bob Roden for their respective gifts of leadership through the Soup and Study series.

Building/Property Report

The following summation shares that there’s been quite a bit that’s happened around the church properties this past year.

One of the more noticeable accomplishments was the re-surfacing of the parking lot.  Well, not a resurfacing as much as a sealing, but it made the asphalt black again, and we had  the lines repainted.  The sealing was donated by Bill Davis from the Bavarian Inn/Good Night Inn – he brought his company equipment and did the work and provided the supplies to make it happen.  When you drive by these two motels in Phoenix and Talent – offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for his generosity.

Care for the shrubs and flower beds happened by various people who’d received some financial assistance from 1^st PC Phoenix. This was nothing the session mandated, but by way of saying thanks – when folks offered to do yard work, when we had work to be done, they were taken up on their offer. Turns out there should be some closer supervision of some of some of the work to be done, but the wonder of shrubbery - - mistakes grow out. 

Lawn care has continued to be done by Dean Chapman.  We’re on a 9 month (give or take) cycle with his services, anticipating that the winter-months should not need much in the way of mowing.  Although with the weather we’re experiencing this year, we may want to rethink that presumption, should this warmer weather cause the grass to grow any more. Dean’s been faithful in taking care of the mowing and fertilizing services for the congregation properties.

An ongoing preventative maintenance we’ve been blessed to have a variety of people take on over the years, is the changing of the furnace filters. Faithful/timely changing of these elements has helped to keep our heating/cooling system functioning very well.  If you know of anyone who would be willing to consider this aspect of building maintenance, please let one of your session members know.

This year, we had three of our fire extinguishers rolled out of circulation:  they were beyond being able to be recertified.  That doesn’t mean they are no longer functional, though.  So, the three that were rotated out of circulation, were relocated over to the manse, where – as long as they hold pressure, are good to go.

With the colder weather upon us, rodents (or evidence of rodents) was observed over at the manse – and with the food storage we have for the Phoenix Food Pantry and the Phoenix Community Kitchen, there was concern that they may have migrated over to the church building as well. The Community Resource Advocate (Jibril Muhammad) contacted All Natural Pest Removal – and they agreed to come inspect and eradicate the problem, pro bono. They came and assessed where access points may be, sealed them up, and implemented protocols to drive the pests away. There never was any sign that rodents were at the church, but the ones observed at the manse (under the manse) have left the building.  So it’s good to know that the buildings get a clean bill of health in that regard.

There was MUCH activity at the manse this past year, not the least of which is the shed in the back yard, against the garage.  You may notice that it has a new look. The roof was leaking, and was in need of being replaced.  We did so, and went a bit further in putting up siding to enclose the structure, and we painted it.  Funds for this project did not come from church finances, but our own.  It was something that has been needed for a while, and now provides a functional space for storage.

The biggest activity at the manse was in the front bathroom. With mold around the shower surround, the floor in and around the toilet, the flooring pealing and curling up, the paint on the tub chipping and pealing (causing sharp edges on the bottom of the tub – the bathroom got a make over.  What was naively slated to be completed in 3 days, ended up being a multi-week project?  With the help of JD Bratcher and Mark Davis, we gutted the interior of the bathroom back to the studs, replaced sheet rock, wallboard behind the shower and the sink.  (In process of disposing of the old sheetrock, we had to have it tested for asbestos. Thankfully we were given a clean bill of health, and did not need to do any abatement protocols.) We installed a new shower/tub combo (the design of which is supposed to help eliminate the caulking where the mold tends to grow).  Installed new sink with all new fixtures. Under all that, we laid new ceramic floor-tile. There is still some molding around the floor that needs to be figured out, but we’re thankful for the new bathroom.