How Can I Keep From Singing?

When I was growing up in the 60s my mother believed that piano lessons were an essential part of a child’s education. My sister (4 years older) took to the lessons quite well and soon was performing honorably in recitals. During the Christmas season she was soon accompanying us from the piano as we sang Christmas carols. She also mastered “Songs of the Civil War” and a book of Stephen Foster songs. Young people may not believe it, but at family gatherings we would sit around the piano and listen to my sister play and sing songs like “Camptown Races” and “Eatin’ Goober Peas.”  My sister was a “star” at these gatherings.

By contrast, my piano lessons did not progress so smoothly. When were lived in Schweinfurt, Herr Hoffman spent most of the lessons hitting my knuckles with a ruler. When we moved by to Arlington, I struggled mightily to prepare “Animal Crackers in My Soup” for recital with meager results. Finally, Mrs. Raughtabaugh (spelling unknown) told my mother that, “maybe little Mebane (me), could find a better use of this time than taking piano lessons.” I turned my time attention towards my ChemCraft lab set and soon found that burning and blowing things up was a lot more fun than playing the scales.

If I couldn’t play the piano like my sister, at least I could contribute to church and home by singing. Nope. My father, who was well known in church for his resonant singing voice, soon ruled that I “couldn’t carry a tune in the bucket.” Through my whole educational history, I was never asked to be in a choir or singing group. Of course, I never auditioned. I sang in the car to the radio, but never where anyone could hear me. One time, I tried singing to a college girlfriend, Lucille Rita Shimerman, but the results were less than romantic. I think for the next 20 years, the only songs I sang in public were “Happy Birthday” and the “Star Spangled Banner” (at White Sox games). Since I only went to church on Christmas and Easter, I didn’t have much chance to do any hymn singing.

When I returned to my Christian faith almost 20 years ago, my life changed in many ways. What surprised me the most was that my freedom in Christ was a freedom to sing! As a renewed Christian, I picked up that hymnal and sang my heart out. I was (and remain) only semi-trained. I can barely read music. But from the start, I was loud (painfully loud to some) and I was joyful. God was doing a new thing in me. I think it was in about the second year of my renewed church life that a gentleman (the husband of the Pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, now long closed) in the pew in front of me turned to me and asked me why I was not in a choir. This was in a church too small to have a choir.

From that day on, I was looking for a church home where I could join the choir. I was soon a member of the choir at 1^st Presbyterian Church of University City. About half of the members of this choir were professional-level singers who performed with the Saint Louis Symphony. Because of my lack of skill, I struggled and I sometimes despaired, but I did not give up. Since then I have been a member of the choir at Christ Episcopal Church, a sometime member of the Evangelical Church choir, and have joined the Messiah choir and the Easter cantata choir based out of Trinity Lutheran. I took one set of voice lessons, but I am still only semi-skilled in sight-reading. I have only done 3 solos in my entire singing career. I do my best with a strong section leader, and I am a slow learner. I love to sing.

During my life in the church, the words of the hymns have taught me as much or more about God than have Sunday school and Bible study. In my experience those words really reach my mind and heart when I sing them rather than simply listen to others singing. I can sometimes listen to secular music without singing along. But whenever and wherever I hear Christian music, I want to sing.

During the almost 8 years I have been attending Evangelical Church, I have always enjoyed listening to Bev and the choir, singing in the choir, and singing along with the congregation. All aspects of the service—the responsive Psalms, the Scripture, the prayers, the Creed, the sermon, the benediction—are meaningful for me, but the singing is part of service that I fully connect with. Singing is the part of church that involves the whole person: mind, spirit, and body. It is the part of church where I can “get over myself” and give myself up to Christ.

During the second half of 2015 we have been blessed with a wonderful visitor, Annamarie Engelhard. In her gentle and quiet way, she has had a tremendous impact on our choir and congregation. With our Christmas cantata, Bev and Annamarie have shown us that we can do much more than we ever imagined. In 2016 Annamarie will be moving on to start her music therapy career. We will miss her greatly. Her brief time with us has reminded us of how important singing is to our congregation. Let’s prayerfully consider how we can move forward to continue to develop our music ministry. We can be confident that if we are obedient to God’s Will, he will send us the people we need to keep us singing.

The hymn, “How Can I Keep from Singing,” with lyrics by an unknown author, first published in 1868, says it all:   

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation;

Thro' all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul—

How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comforts die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it,

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am his—

How can I keep from singing?

Blessings,

Pastor Dan

 

Pastor’s 2014 Annual Report

When I reflect on the past year, I realized that there are ways in which each year in the life of the congregation is the same as every year, and that is a good thing. The year of 2014 was another wonderful year at the Evangelical Church. We baptized babies, served communion, buried the dead, and visited the sick and disabled. We collected groceries for FISH, rolled dumplings, held meetings, played games, hosted the Teen Challenge Choir, and served the Safe House banquet. We made apple butter and celebrated our 120^th anniversary as a congregation. We cut wood at Shannondale and signed cards for veterans. We did church.

At the same time, however, I know that every year in the life of a congregation is unique. Every worship service, every baptism, every funeral, every communion is a unique event, because it is a human event. Because a church is about people and relationships, our relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ and with one another, the church changes as we change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, but we are like fading flowers, here today and gone tomorrow. As people come and go in the life of a congregation and as people grow old, the congregation changes, sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly.

For me, 2014 was a year in which I continued to grow in my commitment to the Evangelical and Reformed faith. I spent a good bit of thought, study, and prayer on what it means to be Evangelical and Reformed. To me, an Evangelical and Reformed Church strives to stay true to the fundamental insights of the original reformers (Calvin and Luther), while following the call of the Holy Spirit in the present moment. Unfortunately, the Evangelical and Reformed dominations have been absorbed into theological liberalism and they no longer adhere to the foundational confessions of the reformation. However, there is a movement among conservative theologians to revive the Evangelical and Reformed movement, developing a Bible-centered theology that combines the insights of the Lutheran and Calvinist traditions. This group publishes an excellent magazine, “Modern Reformation” and its members have published many outstanding popular and scholarly books and articles. It has been a comfort to me to know that I am not alone in believing that the E&R tradition is not dead and that a renewal of the Church can only come from going back to the Bible and the roots of the reformation.

A major change for me in 2014 was that I was called by God to step forward and provide leadership to two organizations that were in crisis, the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission (JCMM) and Love In the Name of Christ of Southeast Missouri (Love INC). In prior years, I had been an active member, but not a leader, of both organizations. When these organizations experienced crises and were both about to close down, I felt called to take a leadership role. In both cases, I believed that the organizations had potential to continue, if they made a fresh start. I believed that if they were to close down, it should be in a careful and deliberate way. Both organizations were working in the Name of Christ, and I felt that it was ultimately up to Christ whether they would continue.

They are currently both continuing with some changes in leadership and strategy. Love INC has a new clearinghouse coordinator and is experimenting with a new model based on collaboration with other non-profits through the United Way’s One-Stop help center. JCMM was unable to go to Jamaica in 2015 due to the lack of a clinic medical director. Instead, we are bringing the Pastor Carlene Walford and some of the Carron Hall Elders to Cape Girardeau in April to help us strengthen our relationship and rebuild the mission. Both organizations (like all human endeavors) face an uncertain future, but I am confident that they have still some good works to perform in Jesus Name.

In 2014, I also worked with the Council to lay the groundwork for some significant changes coming in 2015. We will soon have a high quality church flagpole. We will be visibly identifying ourselves as Christians that love our nation and pray for its deliverance. We also purchased new wireless microphones in order to make sure everyone can hear all parts of the worship service. Moreover, these microphones will help us make better audio recordings of our services. We will soon begin broadcasting a half-hour version of our Sunday service on KMHM 104.1 FM Gospel Radio.

I cannot claim any credit for what I see as the biggest change in our congregation during 2014. However, I welcome this change with open arms. This change comes from consistently having more children in church. Because of the children, something has changed in the atmosphere of our worship service. Thanks to Pastor Dave, we have a children’s message every Sunday. Our kid’s artwork often decorates the back cover of the bulletin. Our children sing more often in worship, not just on Easter and Christmas. There is a new liveliness and lightness at our church that only babies and children can bring.

As we look forward to 2015, let us make it a “year of the child.” Let us all work together in making this congregation even more child friendly. Let us start thinking about how we can use our resources to make our congregation a fun and faithful place for our children. Let us spend some money and take some time to have more special events and programs for our kids. Maybe it is time to renovate and update the education building with new floors, ceilings, lighting, and paint. Maybe it is time to revisit Vacation Bible School. Maybe the Apple Butter Festival needs to become a Fall Kid’s Fair, with a miniature train and a bouncy house. Being child-focused will give us all a chance to be more creative and have some fun.

We have been given this congregation by our ancestors in faith. Our job is to be good stewards in nurturing and strengthening this congregation so that we can pass on something of value to our children. To me this means staying focused on what really matters and staying true to who we really are. I think that God has sent us these children to give us new life and keep us faithful to his call. For this call was not just for us, but also for our children.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts2:38-40)

God bless you every day of this year!

Pastor Dan

Our Birthright

Dear Friends:

            As we prepare for our 120 anniversary celebration on August 10, I took some time to review the anniversary programs from the 50^th, 75^th, and 100^th anniversaries. Reading the stories and examining the photographs left me with a deep feeling of respect and love for all the people who gave so much to build and sustain our congregation. As we follow the story of Christ Evangelical Church from its founding as a German ethnic congregation, the transition to English-language services in the 1920s, the construction of the new building in 1929, the growth of the congregation in the post war years, and the construction of the recreation building in 1974, we see a story of growth and optimism for the future. We can be justly proud of that heritage.

            The past 20 years have not been easy years for our congregation. The neighborhood around Ellis and Merriwether has declined as the center of growth for Cape Girardeau has shifted westward. Most of the churches located in our area have found it difficult to maintain attendance, much less to consistently grow in membership. As our culture has become more secular, the newest generations have drifted away from the Church. Even for those identifying themselves as Christian, the desire to attend Sunday services regularly has weakened greatly. There are too many other fun things to do on Sunday morning, especially for families with children participating in sports year-round. At the same time, the awareness and appeal of the United Church of Christ in Cape Girardeau has, if anything, declined. Despite high hopes, our denomination has never achieved any clear sense of identity in our community, especially compared to the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Methodist Church, or even the Evangelical Lutheran Church. We are still frequently confused with the Church of Christ.

            In these circumstances it would be easy to shift from a feeling of “growth and optimism” to one of “decline and pessimism.” Instead, we need to be a church of “faithfulness and perseverance.”  This past Sunday, our Gospel reading included Mathew 13:52, where Jesus said, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” I think that this applies to the Church as a whole. Christ Evangelical Church is one of the “old treasures” of the Church. If you possess an “old treasure,” you preserve and protect it.

            Many years ago, our churches were rightfully accused of clinging too tightly to “the way we have always done it.” New approaches to worship, mission, and ministry were blindly resisted by most denominations and congregations. However, in the 20^th century, the pendulum swung to the other extreme. The old hymns, liturgies, church buildings, creeds, catechisms, theologies, moralities, and so much more were thrown in the garbage, as congregations and denominations did everything and anything to be progressive, modern, up-to-date, and culturally relevant. What will these churches do when the essence of being “progressive, modern, up-to-date, and culturally relevant” turns out to be a church without Christ? They will have truly sold their birthright for a “mess of pottage.” 

Isaiah 5

20 Woe to those who call evil good

    and good evil,

who put darkness for light

    and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

    and sweet for bitter.

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

    and clever in their own sight.         

            It may be an exaggeration, but there are signs that our culture is entering a new “Dark Age” as the lights of faith go out in our homes, schools, communities, and even churches. In these dark days, a faithful congregation must become a lighthouse and a refuge to those who want to persevere in Christ. To do that, we must be faithful to Christ Jesus, the Light of the World. And we can trust in Christ, for he is the light that will never go out.

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

            Trust in Christ and celebrate all he has done and will do for us on the 120^th anniversary of the Christ Evangelical Church of Cape Girardeau.

Blessings,

Pastor Dan

 

O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?

Dear Friends:

            Like many people, I commute between Cape and Jackson via Kingshighway. On national days, I am always impressed by the flag displays at the county park and at St. Andrew church. St. Andrew also had the flag display up for the recent National Day of Prayer. The flag display at St. Andrew got me thinking about the presence of American flags at churches, including our own. My conclusion is that it is appropriate to display the American flag inside and outside the church. This is an unpopular opinion among mainline pastors, so I guess I need to explain how I arrived at that point of view.

            Our congregation has two sets of flags consisting of American flag and a Christian Flag, one set located in the front corners of the sanctuary at floor level and one set in the worship area of our multipurpose room. The Christian Flag has an interesting history. According to an article on the “Christianity Today” website, “The Christian flag dates back to an impromptu speech given by Charles C. Overton, a Sunday school superintendent in New York, on September 26, 1897. The guest speaker for the Sunday school kick-off didn't show up, so Overton had to wing it. Spying an American flag near the podium, he started talking about flags and their symbolism. Along the way he proposed that Christians should have their own flag—an idea that stayed on his mind long after the speech. In 1907 Overton teamed up with Ralph Diffendorfer, secretary to the Methodist Young People's Missionary Movement, to produce and promote the flag.”

            The designs and colors on both the Christian and American flags symbolize the meanings and values behind the flags. An account of the flag from 1909 states that, “The ground is white, representing peace, purity, and innocence. In the upper corner is a blue square, the color of the unclouded sky, emblematic of heaven, the home of the Christian; also a symbol of faith and trust. In the center of the blue is the cross, the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity: the cross is red, typical of Christ's blood.” Most of us are more familiar with the symbolism of the American flag, “Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies; the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence, and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance, and Justice.” It is hard for me to understand how anyone could object to the values expressed by these flags.

            As a Pastor, I am deeply moved by the American flag ceremony at the funerals of military veterans. “A burial flag is draped over the deceased's casket as a pall during services. Just prior to the casket being lowered into the ground, the flag is ceremonially folded and presented to the deceased's next of kin as a token of respect.” This ceremony is very deeply moving for the family and for this pastor. I have never considered removing the flags from our church. In fact, I have given prominent place to the flags by bringing them up onto the stage next to the altar on Sundays where we celebrate national holidays: Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. This seemed natural and appropriate to me.

            Most sources agree that the display of flags inside our churches became common during World War II, when there was a strong feeling that all ethnic groups needed to demonstrate their patriotism (especially true for churches with a German background) and when congregations wanted to show their support for their many family members serving overseas. It was during this period that display of the Christian flag also appears to have become common, as a kind of balance to the American flag. Many of the churches that continue to display the two flags probably do so as a matter of tradition without giving the matter much thought.

            The prevailing viewpoint of Pastors, both those I have known over the years and those who write articles on the Internet, is that the flags do not belong in church. There appear to be many pastors who would like to remove the flags from their churches, but are afraid doing so would put their job in jeopardy. The now-retired priest at Cape's Christ Episcopal Church caused the flags to mysteriously disappear when no one else was looking. There are probably churches where the pastor could remove the flags quietly and nobody would ever notice.

            Those who oppose the flag give a variety of reasons. A representative of progressive American Baptist churches gives a typical list.

1.      At worst, the placement of an American flag at the front of the sanctuary can result in “flag worship” — a form of idolatry.

2.      At best, when the American flag is placed alongside of the Christian flag, it signals equivalence between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Caesar. Christians know that this is not the case. We are citizens of two kingdoms. We are to respect our governmental institutions and pray for our governmental leaders, but that must always be secondary to our commitment to God. Faith in God is superior to love of country; allegiance to God transcends all nationalism.

3.      In any case, displaying the American flag in the sanctuary in America diminishes our ability to reach out to non-Americans. It sends an unfortunate signal to believers and unbelievers alike from around the world that somehow the Kingdom of God and the United States of America are either the same or are on equal footing.

Other flag opponents are much more outspoken in their opposition to patriotism, their disagreements with US government policies, and their rejection of any identification with “shameful” American history and America's “imperialist” role on the world stage. Many flag opponents seem to exclusively identify the American flag with the Federal government and the US Military.

            I agree that the cross, not the American flag, should have pride of place in the sanctuary. I see no need to recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” during church services. I do not think a church needs to match the super-sized flags on display at car dealerships and truck stops. I would even say that the flag displays at St. Andrews are a little over-the-top.

            However, I believe that it is perfectly appropriate to display the American flag both inside and outside the church building. Flag opponents argue that this display makes the Church subservient to the State. I don't agree.

1.      The flag symbolizes the American nation, not the government. Governments will come and go, but “Old Glory” will remain. Loving our country is not the same as loving the government.

2.      By displaying the flag, we assert that the church is relevant to the life of the nation. We are stating that we are willing to provide the values, the citizens, and the leaders that the nation needs to flourish.

3.      By displaying the flag, we are stating that this is a nation “under God.” We are acknowledging that we live in a nation blessed by God's providential care, a nation living under God's laws, and accountable to God's judgment. Our nation was founded on these beliefs.

            Displaying the flag is a statement that the church is not a community that is cut off from the nation around us by a false claim of being “holier than thou.” Christians are first and foremost ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, and members of the Body of Christ. However, there is a strong theme in Biblical Christianity that good Christians carry out their role of ambassadors of the Kingdom by being exemplary citizens.

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

            Peter was writing about life under a corrupt, unelected, pagan dictatorship. Early Christians would honor the emperor, but would not worship him. Many chose to die rather than to worship Caesar as a god. If we display the flag, we honor our country, but we do not worship our government. As individuals and a community, we Christians have to draw a line that we will not cross. There are some things our government may ask us to do that we will not do. However, we must never give up praying for and working for the good of our nation.

            Our nation, like all nations, belongs to God. God is not dead or on vacation. God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit is completely sovereign and everything good in our lives comes from his hand. If we display the flag because we affirm that this is “one nation under God,” then we are doing right by God and our neighbors. Because of this belief, I have asked our church council to consider installing a flagpole and illuminated American flag at the corner of Ellis and Merriwether. God Bless America!

Blessings,

Pastor Dan

Satellite Churches?

                 At a recent lunch with a small group of local pastors from a variety of denominations, one of the topics that came up is the growing presence of “satellite churches” in our area. These satellite churches are the smaller branches of a larger “multi-site church,” that is one church meeting in more than one location. Locally, Cape First has satellite churches in Marble Hill and Sikeston. Someone pointed out that it seems silly to worship at “Cape First of Marble Hill” or “Cape First of Sikeston,” but that's besides the point! In one denomination, when small rural churches decide to close, they may be converted into satellite churches of a large Cape church.

Typically, the satellite churches do not have their own preaching pastor. Instead, the sermons of the pastor of the headquarters church are transmitted by video to each of the campuses. The satellite church may have one or more pastors who manage the site, provide pastoral care, and lead youth activities. A worship team of paid musicians provide live music at the Sunday service. These staff are provided by the headquarters church. Members of the satellite are normally encouraged to participate in small group ministries.

Multi-site churches are normally also “megachurches.” Satellite churches bring many of these characteristics of megachurches to smaller communities. “The term megachurch generally refers to any Protestant congregation with a sustained average weekly attendance of 2,000 persons or more in its worship services. Common characteristics of mega-churches include strong charismatic senior ministers, many associate pastors, large staff, robust congregational identity that empowers 100's to 1,000's of weekly volunteers, an identity that draws people from a very large area (sometimes an hour or more) and across parish boundaries, a multitude of programs and ministries organized and maintained by members, high levels of commitment and giving by members, seven-day-a-week activities at the church, contemporary worship, state of the art sound and projection systems, auxiliary support systems such as bookstores, coffee shops, and huge campuses of 30-100 acres.

Nearly all megachurch pastors are male, and are viewed as having considerable personal charisma. The senior minister often has an authoritative style of preaching and administration and is nearly always the singular dominant leader of the church.  Supporting these senior pastors are teams of 5 to 25 associate ministers, and often hundreds of full-time staff.” (Source: Hartford Institute)

As a small church pastor, I unsurprisingly have negative feelings about satellite churches. In an article “10 Ways to Know Someone is Leaving Your Church” by Brian Dodd, number 10 is “A mega church opens a satellite location in your community. This is funny … but true.”

A satellite church looks like a church. There is a building and a parking lot that is full on Sunday morning. But it is really a church?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Are these congregations of believers in Christ members of the true Church, the body of Christ? Part of the answer hinges on what goes on at those churches.  Is the Word of God properly proclaimed? Are the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper properly administered?  It seems possible that from this point of view, a satellite church could be part of the true Church.

Another part of the answer, however, depends on whether these churches meet the Biblical criteria for a church. The Bible does not provide a manual for church organization, but some things are reasonably clear. The churches of the Bible are house churches: “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” “Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.” “Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” A church building does not make a church.

These house churches were small congregations. Worship at these churches focused around the Lord's Supper. Church members actively participated in worship through preaching, teaching, praying, and prophesying. The churches were linked together through itinerant preachers and exchanges of letters.

The Biblical churches were independent bodies ruled by a council of elders. One of the elders, the pastor, might be given primary preaching and teaching responsibility and be paid for that work. Other members might be appointed deacons and were responsible for the poor and the sick of the congregation and the wider local community. By the standard of the Bible, we would expect a local church to have a pastor (preaching elder), a session (council) of ruling elders, and a diaconate. It is pretty clear that satellite churches do not meet the Biblical standard for a local church. Even more problematical is that their parent churches do not always meet this standard.

What are the implications of moving away from the Biblical model of the local church? In his article “The Multi-Site Church Model,” (http://www.cmaresources.org/article/multi-site-model_n-cole) Neil Cole identifies the following issues:

First, it communicates that church is a worship service with small groups attached.

Second, it seems to elevate the preaching of a sermon to the height of what church is about.

Third, it elevates one personality to the status of church leader in the only role that is not reproducible. This of course seems to communicate to all that this one person is the most important person in the entire church.

Fourth, it places a brand on the churches that are all connected to the network making a name for itself much like a business. Churches begin to carry a brand name more like a business than becoming a connected body of Christ.

Fifthly, it fosters a consumeristic mentality among Christians who can only be attracted by the bigger names and more entertaining speakers.

Finally, it is sometimes an attempt to own the churches in a given area….Basically, there really is a desire to have more followers, and keep the money in one account.

Satellite churches continue the trend towards active paid professional leaders and inactive passive church members.  I was shocked to read an article by a big church pastor who was willing to promise to the little church being taken over as a satellite, that

· If you follow me, I will make your life better.

· If you follow me, I will care about you.

· If you follow me, I will take you where you cannot go on your own.

All this through the power of the Holy Spirit!  I thought we were grown up enough to follow and depend on  Jesus rather than other human beings. How far is this from the Apostle Paul! “One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 12-13). A healthy church develops active members who by serving one another make each other’s lives better, demonstrate care for each other, and encourage each other on the road to the Kingdom of God. Being overly dependent on professional leaders prevents church members from growing to be mature followers of Christ.

I personally believe that the worse characteristic of satellite churches is that they continue the trend of making church member passive consumers of religious products and services. This is about as far as we can get from the Biblical call for a church to be a place where all members of the body serve one another by the gifts of the Spirit. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8)

In our lunch time discussion, when I opposed the conversion of small rural congregations into satellite churches, I was asked if I had a better alternative. My answer was that the congregation should close itself down, sell its assets, and give them to a ministry for the poor. In the early church, as John Calvin notes, whatever the Church possessed, either in lands or in money, was the birthright of the poor. Calvin approvingly quotes Ambrose, “He who sent the apostles without gold has also gathered churches without gold. The Church has gold not to keep but to distribute, and give support in necessity.”

In my view, the very idea of satellite churches is too worldly. Big churches would do better to help plant new independent congregations. And for a small church to become a satellite? As always, Jesus said it best.

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Dan

Salt and Light to Jamaica

            I want to thank the congregation for allowing me to go on the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission  (JCMM) this April, especially the Diaconate, which paid half my airfare. This trip the mission had three clinics: medial, eye, and dental. All three provide quality medical care at no charge to the people who live near Carron Hall, St. Mary, Jamaica. All three clinics worked at full capacity—over one hundred patients—each of the 4 days of the clinic. This was my third trip and my third time working the clinic pharmacy (a storage room in the church). Four days of nonstop pill counting! Although our usual pharmacy crew was unable to make the trip, we had an excellent team, including the 10-year-old daughter of one of doctors. Joci took on any job we gave her, including counting vitamins and making labels, and lifted our spirits with her youthful energy. Although I was “stuck” in the pharmacy during the clinic, I did receive reports that our dental and eye clinics were especially successful this trip.

            Even though the JCMM is a relatively small mission trip, it is still a complex and expensive operation. We were blessed repeatedly with on-time flights, a quick trip through customs, and relatively little holiday traffic on the bus ride up the mountain. As always, the host church, Carron Hall United Church, did a magnificent job of providing us with housing and food. Especially the food, with all the wonderful Jamaican variations on chicken—jerked, barbecued, curried! Inevitably, there were also some problems. The Jamaican government did not approve the qualifications of our audiology team, and we were unable to have a hearing clinic this trip. The medical clinic was understaffed and there were personality conflicts that soured the trip for some mission members. Finally, on our rest and recreation day in Montego Bay, some of team members acquired truly remarkable sunburns!

            For whatever reasons, for many of us on mission, this trip was a time for reflection on changes we have seen in Jamaica, on changes in the medical needs of the population we serve, and on the purpose and future of the JCMM. Jamaica seems more prosperous in some ways, but poorer in others. I am not an expert on Jamaica, but some changes are obvious, most notably the increased number of cars driving the pot holed roads around Carron Hall and common use of cell phones. Crime and fear of crime seems to be greater. All windows on the church and houses have steel bars, everything is carefully padlocked, and the Carron Hall High School is under 24-hour guard. Carron Hall used to be a center for growing bananas for export, but the industry has collapsed due to low prices and hurricane damage, apparently permanently. Jamaica just proudly celebrated the 50^th anniversary of independence from Great Britain, but a crushing national debt to the International Monetary Fund and pervasive government corruption and incompetence clouds the future.

            Turning to health issues, social change has had good and bad consequences. Jamaica has been experimenting with a national health system and many folks from Carron Hall get basic medical care from a government clinic in nearby Highgate town. High blood pressure and high blood sugar are the most common chronic serious health problems for Jamaicans. Most of the people we see at the clinic are already receiving prescription medications for these conditions. However, locals report that the number of people seeking services overwhelms the government clinic and the clinic frequently runs out of free medications. Patients do receive a pharmacy discount card, but often have difficulty affording co-payments. Jamaica also has public hospitals that provide free care, but the doctors in the government health system were on strike during our visit.

            Our medical staff reported that compared to earlier clinics, the Jamaicans seem more aware of the need to get regular health care. However, the increased availability of cars for transit has had a major negative consequence. When we started the clinic more than ten years ago, the Jamaicans at Carron Hall walked everywhere. Now they hitch a ride everywhere, especially the young people. The consequence of this lack of exercise has been more high blood pressure and high blood sugar at younger and younger ages. At the same time, the Jamaican diet remains very high in salt. On the dental side, the habit of chewing sugar cane and the failure to brush teeth regularly still leads to widespread bad dental health. On the vision side, Jamaicans have a high level of cataracts and glaucoma, but little macular degeneration. Cataract surgery is still not available to the population we serve at the clinic.

            Before the trip, I was talking about the mission with someone who went on one of the earlier trips and who continues to support the mission. He stated that the problem with JCMM is that it is “too much medical and not enough Christian.” I think there is some truth to that comment. On the plus side, Pastor Loren Boettcher and I said grace before each meal and presented a Bible reading and devotional each morning after breakfast. In the pharmacy, we had a new helper, William, on the staff of Teen Challenge International of Mid America. William took the prescriptions out to the patients and after he gave them the medication instructions, he offered to pray with them. On Sunday, we attended church at Carron Hall United Church. The new pastor, Carlene Walford, seems to be making a difference in the church. The church has been spruced up and the atmosphere at the church is very positive. The three-hour long service included a tree planting for environmental awareness, Holy Communion, traditional hymns, and a praise team. Jeremy, another Teen Challenge staff member, gave the children's sermon. I delivered the sermon. That morning, as I was going over sermon one last time in my head (no notes!), William came over and asked if he could pray with me for a Holy Spirit filled message. What a blessing!

            On the negative, I do feel that the Christian spirit of the mission has progressively weakened over the three times I have participated. Fewer pastors are going on the mission than in prior years. Some passionately Christian non-medical volunteers who were on the prior two missions I attended were unable to go on mission this time. They were sorely missed. Without them, the trip seemed even more “medical” and even less “Christian.” Although things went well in the dental and eye clinic, in the medical clinic, the “salt” Jesus spoke of seemed in short supply this trip:

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

            JCMM needs to continue its good work. Carron Hall continues to be medically underserved. We provide a needed addition to local sources of health care, especially in dental and vision, which the Jamaican national health program does not provide. The relationships we have established with the folks at Carron Hall are life changing, for both the Jamaicans and the team. Personally, my preaching at Carron Hall is one of the high points of my year. And the food is so good and Jamaica is so beautiful!

            However, the mission is at a turning point. It does need to become more Christian, if not less medical. The work of fund raising and planning the mission has been borne by a core of volunteers that is shrinking rather than growing. Some of those who have led the mission in the past are approaching burnout. JCMM needs more volunteers willing to be active in planning and fundraising, and needs an infusion of fresh ideas on how to make the mission more effective and harmonious. I have always felt that JCMM is an ideal mission opportunity for members of smaller churches that cannot sponsor their own overseas missions. We need to broaden church support of the mission beyond Evangelical and Emmanuel. We need to creatively expand our relationship with the United Church in Jamaica and look for ways to collaborate with Jamaican medical personnel to provide follow-up care after our visits. These kinds of partnerships might even enable us to bring a cataract surgeon on the mission!

            I appeal to everyone reading this to take a more active role in the JCMM. You do not have to go to Jamaica to get involved in recruitment, fund raising, and planning. Please spread the word that JCMM needs more medical and non-medical volunteers. Please pray that the members of the mission team might receive a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit that they may approach the challenges facing the mission with creativity, power, and love. The JCMM is one of the many ways we can thank God for all he has given us through serving our neighbors. We need to share the time, talents, and love that God has given us. After talking about salt, in the quote given above, Jesus said something even more famous about light:

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Don't hide your light under a bushel! AMEN!

Pastor Dan

 

 

Pastor’s Annual Report

This year, instead of the usual laundry list of activities and attendance statistics, I decided to share my reflections on the role of the pastor.

Works of Service

I recently preached on how Jesus’ miracles were signs that pointed to who he is: Son of God and God. They also revealed his character—someone who always responds to the real needs of those around him. Jesus became a servant to those around him, meeting their needs without regard to his own. The greatest need of those who met Jesus was the need to have their sins forgiven. In response to that need, Jesus died on the cross for them…and for us. In the same way, the things a congregation does—works of service—are the signs of our closeness to Christ. Works of service make us the church, a body unified by faith in Jesus Christ.

Equipping the Church

One of the primary purposes of church leaders is to equip the congregation for those “works of service.”

Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

In this passage, Paul does not mention the most common congregational leaders in the Bible, the elders and deacons. The elders (overseers) govern the congregation and the deacons (“waiters”) care for the material needs of congregation members in distress. Instead of these “practical” leaders of the congregation, he mentions those who would be considered “spiritual” leaders. Instead of guiding and serving the congregation, these leaders “equip” the “people for works of service.”

In practice, a pastor functions as both an elder and a deacon. As an elder and deacon, I participate in meetings of the church council and diaconate, although I do not chair the meetings or vote. As a deacon, I visit the sick and the homebound. [I would also add that, simply as a member of the church, I participate in worship, fellowship, and fundraising activities in a variety of ways, including singing, listening at meetings, rolling dumplings, and eating!]

However, the Ephesians passage points to another way in which the pastor leads and congregation. It seems to me that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers all have the role of transmitting the Gospel, God’s Good News, to the congregation. Apostles, prophets, and evangelists had a historic role in bringing the Gospel to the entire Church through the words, signs, and wonders recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts and the Epistles. Moreover, some of them had a major role in the recording of the New Testament scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles, prophets, and evangelists delivered to the Church the incomparable riches of Christ in the New Testament. Then it became the job of the pastors and teachers to transmit the Good News to the Congregation. Moreover, they transmit the Good News to the congregation with specific purpose of equipping the congregation for works of service.

To equip is “to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning; to dress, array; to make ready; or to prepare.” The original usage was relating to loading a ship for a sea voyage. I would interpret the Ephesians passage to say that the pastors and teachers prepare the congregation to go out into the world do works of service that build up the body of Christ. The elders and deacons keep the congregation going, but the pastors and teachers prepare the congregation to go out into the world in service.

Equipping the Church as Preacher and Teacher

Looking back at 2012, I see that, as your pastor, I am doing some of the things I need to equip you. However, I also see room for continued change and growth. I hope that my Sunday morning preaching and administration of the sacraments equips the congregation for works of service by drawing them closer to the Spirit of Christ, who always said “yes” to real needs. I also hope that my teaching in Sunday school classes, confirmation classes, and Wednesday night programs also equips the congregation to serve.

I realize that I need to ask myself constantly whether I am properly using my developing knowledge of the Bible and reformed theology preparing the congregation for good works. I believe I need to listen more closely to church members to see if my preaching and teaching is actually giving them the Biblical foundation they need to help their neighbors in need. I need to reach out to church members and get honest answers whether the way we present the Good News at Evangelical Church is feeding them spiritually, making them strong for the difficult job of serving a fallen and broken world.

Equipping the Congregation as Encourager

Besides preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments, I serve as a pastor, an “equipper,” through encouragement and example. I have tried in my role as an ex-officio member of the council and diaconate to encourage EUCC to continue serving our neighbors in whatever ways God has enabled our congregation to serve. I have been a cheerleader and supporter of using our apple butter tradition to reach out to the neighborhoods around us through the Apple Butter Festival. I have encouraged the council to let groups in the community including the Mental Health Coalition (Mental Health First Aid), the Red Cross (blood drives), the Community Caring Council (Missouri Mentoring and Building Stronger Families), and others use our wonderful facilities to the benefit of the community.

However, I believe that I need to be more active and creative in my role as encourager in the year ahead. I think I need to do more to encourage church members to share with the congregation how they serve their neighbors. I know we are all modest and unwilling to brag on ourselves, but there are ways in which I could do more to recognize all the works of service church members have done at nursing homes, in their neighborhoods, and in the community at large. By recognizing what we have done and are doing through daily life and volunteer activities, we can encourage ourselves to new efforts and greater achievements.

Equipping the Congregation as Example

I also am evaluating whether the kind of work I am doing in community provides an example to the congregation that equips members for works of service. I have tried to play out my professional role as pastor in a way that serves the community and builds up the Body of Christ. I have provided my time and talents to Love INC, the Samaritan Regional Clinic, the Sprig of Hope (homeless shelter), the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission, and the Community Caring Council by volunteering and serving on boards of directors. I have also participated in and sometimes led the activities of the Cape Ministerial Alliance and the Downtown Council of Churches. I have to admit that I am involved in some of these activities simply because I cannot say “no” when asked to represent the Church on these boards.

As an individual Christian, God has called me to use my talents and gifts in works of service. However, when I am serving as your pastor I need to choose works of service that are truly useful as examples to the congregation. Does my going to Jamaica truly inspire the congregation to works of service? Are there ways I can make the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission more relevant and meaningful to the congregation? Which, if any, of the boards I serve on provide a meaningful example of service for congregation members? Some boards and committees require only a few hours a month, so this is not necessarily a major issue. However, others require me to make a significant investment in time and energy. Should I be using that time and energy on something more relevant to the congregation?

Working Together

The next few verses of Ephesians 4 help tell us where we need to go from here:

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

These beautiful words describe the Universal Christian Church, but they also describe the local congregation, even our own Evangelical United Church of Christ, Cape Girardeau. Each of us must do our part to help the body grow towards unity and maturity, as we do the works Christ has prepared for us to do.

As pastor—rather than elder, deacon, or member—my primary role is to equip the congregation by delivering the true Gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments. I will prayerfully strive to continue to grow in that role. However, I also can help to equip the congregation in the roles of encourager and example. To fulfill those roles better, I need the help of the congregation. As a body, we need to explore why God has placed this congregation here on Ellis Street in the Year of Our Lord 2013. We need to discern the works of service God has prepared for us and I need your help in being more effective in equipping each of you to play your part in those works. Let’s pray, talk, and get to work!

God Bless You and Yours In This New Year!

Pastor Dan