Draft of Stewardship Letter

In seasons past, you have found a copy of a budget (either a ‘Line-item’ or ‘Narrative’) accompanying the yearly ‘Stewardship Letter.’ Using either of the two documents, you’ve been asked to consider the financial needs of 1^st Presbyterian Church of Phoenix as you made your financial plans and commitments for the coming year, and you’ve been encouraged to give generously. This year, in anticipation of 2011, you are invited to consider something quite different: your own particular needs.

This invitation is not intended to be an exercise to assess how much you’ll be able to give the church, whether the particular financial situation you face at home can be flexed to free up some additional financial contributions, or whether the increased expenses and decreased income translates to less contribution in the offering plate for 2011. It is intended to be a reflection, a meditation, a prayerful consideration of your needs: your need to give.

There are many reasons why we give; there are just as many (if not more) ways to give. We can give of our time; we can share the talents, gifts, skills, and abilities with which we have been blessed, and all for the greater glory of God. We can (and do) give to medical research, to charity organizations, to philanthropic causes, to the person standing on the street corner. We can (and do) give to those organizations and causes that impact our lives, help make us better, seek to make the world a better place to live. We give so that people whose lives have been uprooted by tragedy need not be swallowed up by despair; we give so others will know they are not alone. We are a giving people, and the truth is, it feels good to give.

Why does it feel good to give? Because that’s the way we’re internally hard-wired. In creating humanity in God’s own image, God imbued humanity with the best of the Divine’s traits: the capacity to Love, willingness to be in relation with others, and desire to do all things with a generous spirit.

Another way of speaking to purpose is to imagine a cup. The intent of cup is not simply to be full, where it may sit on a table or on a shelf with contents near to spilling over the rim, but to be filled, and then drained, to be filled, and once more drained with the anticipation of being filled yet again. That is the intent and purpose of a cup.

Similarly, God blesses generously; God fills to overflowing, not that we should ever be satisfied or content with just being full, but that we should be fulfilled in living into our purpose by allowing God’s abundance to joyfully flow through our God-created lives. It’s joy we can experience as we render to God from the abundance that God has given us.

In this season of giving thanks for the promise of Life that God shares, you are invited to prayerfully consider the joy with which you will share God’s blessings in the coming year and into the years to come.

October Phountains in Phoenix

‘Come Thou Font of Every Blessing’ could easily be a theme song for our trip to Spain this past summer. Everywhere we went – there were fountains. Big fountain, little fountains, fountains under repair, fountains newly constructed: fountains fountains everywhere – yet not a drop to drink (no I don’t think I’d have trusted the sanitary conditions of the h2o flowing through those pipes.)

Shawn laughed at me for the number of photos that took in the fountain theme – and there are quite a few. Water is a symbol of life, if not the source of life – and in those places where the fountains were empty, sitting devoid of water, there held a certain sadness, even a pall over the setting, as I imagined the once free-flowing coursing though and splashing upon the rocks and stone used in the making of each fountain.

How much water had flowed across each facet of these fountains? How many hundreds of years had these symbols withstood the soft but continually persistent force? From the baptismal fonts in the cathedrals to the aqueduct in Segovia, the wear-marks, the grooves, the slow eroding of the rock tells a story of the life these fountains lived, for the movement of the water is not without consequence. Though it may not be as dramatic an observation as witnessing a raging river shove boulders and rocks and gravel downstream, cutting an ever-widening path though the mountain canyon, time-lapse photography over the centuries would reveal course surfaces smoothed, sharp edges rounded – a visible witness to the impact the water has had over a lifetime.

In a similar way, the Holy Spirit leaves its mark upon our lives, both individually and communally. What residual changes has the Source of Life left upon you? Where are the rough places honed smooth? Where’s the indicative watermark of the Holy Spirit upon your life, letting others know of the freely flowing Spirit moving within your being? Hopefully you don’t scrub it clean so as to remove any evidence that the Holy Spirit had ever left its mark in your life.

There’s a reason for our filling the Baptismal Font each Sunday in worship – to serve as a reminder of what it is that binds us together as Christians – namely the claiming, the cleansing, the anointing, the rescuing that God – by the power of the Holy Spirit- does with each of us. Not a onetime deal, baptism is a lifetime experience, through which the power of God fills, renews, strengthens, emboldens, reveals, comforts, restrains, contains, and explodes the ministries of the Good News that because God is merciful, God forgives – you, me, us, them.

It’s the stories of this mercy flowing though community that give shape and distinction our calling as the Church – the body of Christ bearing witness to God’s mercy. As we think about what it means for the Spirit to flow through us, know that your acts of prayerful worship give shape and definition to our life as The Church; know that each decision, observation, and question; each conversation, concern, inquiry, receptive listening and prayerful response; each time we allow the Spirit of God’s Word to shape our life together, God uses us to shape one person, one aspect or dimension of life. God proclaims ‘You are forgiven’ through this body that is 1^st Presbyterian Church of Phoenix.

I ask you to prayerfully consider how it is God’s Spirit is flowing through you and through 1^st PC Phoenix with the Gospel of grace and mercy – and how it will be that this freely flowing Gospel will shape, not only 1stPC Phoenix, but the community of Phoenix, the Rogue Valley, and the whole world in which we are residents.

Rev. Mike

Newsletter Article for FirstPressPhoenix

Our trip to Spain was, well, in a word, Amazing. Flying into Madrid, maneuvering the public transit system – taking a bus to visit the fortress of Avila (and the accompanying churches and cathedrals); continuing the trek to Segovia , physically touching the Roman aquaduct that’s in excess of 2000 years old, witnessing a real, honest to goodness castle (Disney’s castles definitely pales by comparison) and taking in more chapels and cathedral of Segovia; wandering through the museums of Madrid (the Prada, The Thyssen, and Renia Sofia) visually touching the artwork spanning the past 2000+ years; dining in a variety of plazas, one of which saw an array of public spectacles from bull fights to the Spanish Inquisition (I hadn’t expected that.); taking photos of the wonders, the buildings, the people, the fountains (lots of fountains) the sculptures, the waterfalls, the gardens, the stonework, the plazas (we have lots of photos, some 550 digital images); swimming in the pool@ University Europa de Madrid; meditating on life and ministry in the Rogue Valley; praying for the people sitting in the pews of 1^st PC Phoenix, those being served home communion, as well as those declining to be served home communion or who’ve decided to not be present with us in worship, those who partner with 1^st PC in reaching out to impact the Phoenix/Talent communities, those who are impacted by this partnership outreach. It was an active time away in another part of the world.

I need to extend a word of thanks to the kind, compassionate people of Spain who put up with my broken (nonexistent) language skills. I am intrigued by the idea of going through life (well 10 days of life) really not understanding the background noise of what’s being said around me. We spent the 10 days riding the subway and public buses; people talked, laughed, shared, lived – and I was oblivious to much/most of what was going on verbally around me. When you think about it – we spend much of our time dropping eves on conversations around us – hearing tidbits of experience simply by proximity to those around us – the shopping center, the check-out lane, passing by the street; it was almost as though I was on an informational blackout.

This lack of auditory/informational stimulus helped me realize that this venture overseas was very much one of ‘place’ rather than one of ‘relation’. I didn’t get to talk with people – find out about them, who they are, hopes dreams, failures, successes, and fears. I sat with ‘place’ and ‘images’ - to reflect on how these combine to in part meaning, from an outside, uneducated perspective. And in this vein, I can share what I saw, as well as what I did not see.

Notably, I did not see many persons living with obesity (fellow tourist or resident); I did not witness the authorities rousting the street peddlers on the street corners; I did not observe overtly visible reminders of the terrorist subway bombing from March of 2004.

What I did see was stone: lots and lots and lots of stone. From fountains to buildings to walkways and roadways; from constructions handed down through antiquity to those of recent genesis; from the floor coverings in the most lavish palaces and cathedrals to those in a less-than-highend hotel (and even university dormitory). Stone was everywhere and everything I saw – there carried an air of precision, of permanence, of intentional planning for the future.

As the church, we too have a foundation on stone or rock. Jesus is the Rock of our salvation; he is the stone which the builders cast aside, but has become the cornerstone of our life in faith together. How is it that Jesus the Christ, the incarnate mercy of God that is the fulfillment to the Law, the subject and object of the Good News (Gospel) extended to all; how does this Stone draw this same pervasive hold upon all we see, all we do - all we build? Could it be that this Stone, as it gives shape and meaning to life, holds the key to who God hopes (intends) for us to become?

In months to come, the images of permanence, fluidity, and intentionality will enter into my reflections through these newsletter articles. I welcome your thoughts, observations, discussions. Peace,

Rev. Mike

hope and fear of congregational growth.

Upon entering a congregation and waiting and biding the time it takes to gain folks trust to lead in a new direction - my fear is that by the time that happens, I'll become assimilated to the community's sense of value and will no longer care to lead the changes I once thought so urgent.

Dear God, may your Word speak every fresh, in each new day. "Be not conformed to the thinking of this congregation, but be transformed by the renewing Spirit in your mind."

When churches (congregations) retire

Been mulling over some of these dynamics of late -

The building of life - the building of a life -

When a couple starts out their life together, most often (though not exclusively) the early years of their togetherness are spent from paycheck to paycheck. Often there is enough money to make ends meet: roof over their head, food on table, utilities paid - a little for extra curricular expenditures, but not much else. time goes one and they become a little more established - and begin to plan to build a family. There are expenses associated with this process that only begin at the medical costs associated with bringing a child into this world. There's food, clothing, housing, furniture, schooling, activities, recreation, games, providing for their spiritual formation, ensuring ongoing health and wholeness as the child grows. Adding multiple children to this dynamic serves to ramp up the expenses incurred while building the family.

Now, God bless those who were either independently wealthy or sufficiently wealthy enough to be able to begin a savings plan for retirement during this phase of the family building process, but that was not my experience (and believe for a vast number of people, this was not the case, either) during this building phase, establishing a savings portfolio was low to non-existent on their radar screens.

Not until the the family get a little older, kids become young adults and become a little more self-sufficient (although, they'll always need their parents) that thoughts have turned to putting a little away into a savings account: we begin to be a little more focussed on that time when we'll no longer earn a monthly salary and we'll enter into that rest known as 'retirement.'

Now, it seems from folks I hear and observe, that the balancing acts of retirement is where 1) being able to play and enjoy the freedom of not having to work, intersects with 2) ensuring that the funds we saved or receive off of our pension last long enough to see us into our final earthly resting place.

during this phase of retirement, we're no longer concerned with building a family, although we sure like when the grandkids come to visit (but it's also equally nice when they go back home, too.) without the emphasis in 'building' we're freed to financially coast as much as we're able to - hoping we don't run out of financial momentum before our time expires.

I contend that this is the mentality that holds hostage many in the 'church' today (most-likely without respect to denominational affiliation). Many of us are part of congregations that are really only focused on one thing - ensuring that finances last long enough to see us into the grave (and maybe throw a grand marker up so someone will maybe remember us.)

How many churches are trying to grow, wanting to grow, feeling the need to grow, but are attempting to do so through a financial mode more suited to retirement demands than to growth demands.

We cannot sit on the funds we have as thought they're ecclesial nest-egs that will one-day hopefully hatch fully formed younger versions of ourself. We have to be willing to invest, not in the banking system, but in people: the next generation. The stewardship to which God calls us is not a matter of ensuring we're making Xx% on our investment portfolio, as much as it is the building and enabling of persons to rest upon the God of Creation, Redemption, and Sustenance; and to see THAT God, the one who invested Godself wholly and fully, lovingly, graciously, forgivingly, mercifully - experienced through their lives.

If we as congregations, cannot find the joy and excitement about the opportunities available for us to build God's family, then we have hit the retirement age, and the next step is a deep 6. - Are we a people shaped by growth and life? or a people molded by retirement.

Stock Market Evangelism: 21st Century Crash

Ah, the wonder of the stock market. The easiest money every made. Had one's hard earned cash over to someone else (the brokerage firm) and let them work their mojo on it - and in a perfect world - everybody comes out a winner on the other side. We may worry about it, we may kibitz with the brokerage firm, we may questions certain decisions (we may even act on our own behalf as the broker) but truth be known - we do nothing.

We, as the investor, do absolutely nothing. Yes there is a risk involved as far as potential financial loss; but let me say it again, we do nothing whatsoever to cause or to create the opportunity for those funds to multiply. They do so on their own; or they fail on their own - with no real effort on the part of the investor. It's easy money.

Now, from one perspective, I could see this as an example of how Paul described the growth and maturation of faith. "I planted the seed, watered it, but it was God who gave the growth." Well, I'm looking at this stock market dynamic a bit differently. It was easy money - with no work on the part of the investors.

The 'easy' part was what contributed to the collapse in 2008/2009 of Wall Street. Everyday folks, trusting people, people who acted in good faith - perhaps a bit naive on their part when we look into some of the investment schemes that went belly up in this same time frame (Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme comes to mind) - but for the most part these were/are people who genuinely put their trust, their hopes in the promises of what others could do with their assets - And they they woke up one morning to find it had all disappeared. A painful reality for some folks, many folk, to find that what they had worked so hard for, and put away in hopes that it would work even harder - was in one lightening flash of a moment, gone. With little hopes of regain, recovering, re-creating the portfolio. It was easy money; no real work to be done to earn it; and it was gone.

I'm seeing a real connection within the life of the church congregation and how we feel about the stock market; some may believe I'm reflecting the congregation in which I serve, but as much as I've talked with, listened to, and gleaned information from others - I think this is a present reality for many parts of the church from coast to coast and demographic to demographic.

That reality? We treat evangelism like we treat the stock market.

Churches, congregations, leaders, parishioners understand the idea of evangelism and church growth (numerical at any rate) the same way we understand the stock market. If we contribute to the church funds, if we spend our time, if we invest what we can - then naturally, it's gonna grow; it always has. 'I' don't have to do any real work, I don't have to change, or be changed - I can simply keep living my life as I always wanted to and the church will just grow. (I don't know how, God gives the growth) -

so, is it any wonder, with this understanding of church growth and evangelism (or evangelism and church growth - or ??) feeling as though we could invest anything less than our full selves - the hard work, the long joyous struggle of sharing the gospel - that the church, like the stock market is experiencing a crash: a crash of membership, crash of purpose, a crash of meaning and identity.

It's always been easy - easy membership. Someone else has done it for us; I haven't had to think about what I believe and how it's lived out in the public arena. The gospel gets shared, people join - and 'I' never have to be bothered with the whys and wherefores. It just happened.

Well, we're in an age where we now have to be conscious about how our lives reflect the gospel.

(At this point in writing - the number of directions the next 27 pages could take are vast and numerous - would entertain others' thoughts and perspectives - Blessings.)

The Joy Foot Club

As some out there may know FootJoy is a brand of golf shoes (may have some other outlets in the sporting and/or non sporting realms as well, don't know). As the name implies, or rather hopes, in wearing this said product upon one's feet, said feet will feel an overwhelming sense of joy at the prospect of wandering for 18 holes of golf, seeking that which is lost (namely a little white ball). This perspective on 'Footjoy' has nothing to do with the nature and direction of this pontification. This piece of writing will encompass the nature of only Christ-like leadership, but Christ's Lordship in its truest form.

We, in the christian tradition, live with paradoxical claims and tensions that to a rationally minded world may not make sense. The nature of the trinity, the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus the Christ we easily explain away with the great turn of phrase - "It's a mystery."

Now, really, for the most part, I'm okay with tension, ambiguity, paradoxes in a variety of different forms, but one in particular, I believe to be particularly troublesome in a way that presents, not a paradox of the gospel, but an outright bipolar expression of the gospel; this would be the nature of the power, glory, and majesty the Lordship of Jesus the Christ.

When I hear descriptions of the second coming of the Christ, the images shared combine to paint a picture of gold covered walls, pearly gates, God and Christ sitting atop what can really only be described as Mt. Olympus (Christ slightly lower -holy Spirit's there somewhere) with a parade of people awaiting to have their divine visa stamped for entrance into the Kingdom. The 6 winged cherubim from Isaiah flying above the assembly - with two wings they were flying, two they were covering their face, with two their feet. for some reason, they didn't see fit to cover their 'regles', but that's for another conversation.

With all the Glory, Majesty, Might, and POWER of God on display in these combined images, one cannot help but see every knee bowing and every tongue confessing to the glory of the Lord . . . . This obviously is what the power of God's leadership and might and majesty of the Lord God Almighty is about and progressing toward.

But we have a problem if we think to portray this as the full and complete (or even partial) vision of the Lordship of Jesus the Christ. If we wish to espouse that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow; if we wish to uplift the fullness of God dwelling within this man of Gallilee; that Christ is/was fully Creator and fully creation; that who God is - Jesus the Christ is; - - - then I think we need to bring to this image of the second coming, of the triumphal re-entry of the Christ with trumpets blaring and knees bowing - the image John shared in his gospel account of the last time Jesus met with the disciples - where he shared the true expression of leadership/Divine Lordship - that being expressed through kneeling down and washing the feet his followers.

Where in our triumphal, power-hungry narratives of human history and action do we have space for this expression of what the Living Word of God said was the truest act of leadership? I have a hard time visualizing many (any) of our leaders, whether secular or religious from embracing this aspect of the gospel vocation of leader.

In seeking to be faithful, in holding our leaders (and ourselves) accountable to their (our) espoused faith (for those who purport to be xian, at any rate) encouraging that they (we) live out this divine directive (and to do so with joy not out of some sense of duty and obligation) will be a right step in living into a fuller expression of God's present but not yet kingdom.

Welcome the joy in washing another's foot.