Messes and Blue Skies
Dear friends,
This week marked a great milestone in my life. After 8 1/2 months of pain, discomfort, very hard work, and significant success, I am returning to my position as General Presbyter and Stated Clerk for Cherokee Presbytery. Since my recovery is by no means complete, I am very thankful that the Presbytery has employed Steve Bacon as my partner and colleague for reentry and adequate functioning.
As I begin work once again, my personal difficulties and challenges seem almost insignificant in light of the incredible human suffering in Southeast Asia. The following is a quotation from a letter written by Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA to the Christian community in that part of the world:
Whatever else you do today, please pray for this desperate part of the world -- and write a check!
Many of you will remember that when Cherokee Presbytery renewed our covenant relationship after my sixth year of service, the Presbytery took action to grant me a "sabbatical leave" at the end of my seventh year. The purpose of such a leave time is for me to create some "space" between me and my "job," so that I can more effectively consider my "calling" and more effective service on your behalf.
On reflection, I have had a sabbatical indeed. The Presbytery paid my full salary for three months in fulfillment of the disability requirements -- and then paid me nothing for the next 5 1/2 months. The first three months of my rehabilitation involved a good bit of meditating on the Word and the Confessions as I remember them from years of reading and hearing. There were times when I was brought down to simply meditating on every breath, because there were times when that was all I could manage!
From these challenging beginnings, I began to realize that God had called me to this great work, and that I would return one day -- but that everything would be different!
My return to work will involve people and places -- and the great mission to which God has called us and continues to call us every day. When a person like myself is flat on his back, or in a wheelchair, struggling for even the simplest bodily movements, political and theological differences inside and outside the church take on a remarkable level of insignificance. What is very significant is our relationships in Jesus Christ, our calling by him, and the trust that grows out of those relationships in the context of God's mission. In this regard, I suppose I am forever changed!
Yesterday's Old Testament lectionary selection was Joshua 1: 1-9.
I certainly needed to hear this. I am still not completely steady on my feet. Also, my hands are not anywhere close to fully functional. If this were not enough, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things that have gone on in Cherokee Presbytery during my absence. In a very real way, my "sabbatical" is over and I am faced with the great challenge of re-entering the Presbytery and its ongoing needs, pains, and concerns.
On the other hand, it is a time of great joy because I am being reunited with people and places that are important to me -- and to us! I just need to be "strong and courageous," and not "frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." With this in mind, Eugene Peterson's introductory material on Joshua in The Message, spoke to me in a special way.
Over the next few months you will find me at my desk in the Presbytery office -- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I will also start visiting churches on Sundays. This Sunday Carole and I will visit the John Knox church in Marietta, were I will serve on a commission to install Fritz Bogar as pastor. The following Sunday, we will visit the Cedartown church for the installation of its new elders. I love Peterson's line that reminds us of our purpose -- "worked out in the messes, storms and sins, blue skies, daily work in our dreams of common lives, working with us as we are not as we should be."
Sometimes, you will find Steve Bacon at my desk in the Presbytery office -- Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am so thankful that God has called Steve and gifted him for this particular time in his ministry, and in ours. I am glad that God has sent Steve our way in a time of missional need. Also, I hope you will invite him to visit your church on Sundays. We are trying to be partners in Christ's ministry in every sense. His presence is my presence -- and my presence is also his presence! The goal through all of this is not simply to get me back to work, but rather that God's mission continues to be carried out in North Georgia and throughout the world. I hope that this will be a model for ministry everywhere!
There is so much more to say, but I must come to an end. Carole and I thank you with all our hearts for your faithful ministry to us throughout most of 2004. It has been a difficult time, but your loving presence and prayers have lightened the load. I hope you will pray for your pastors, elders, and deacons with a similar level of intensity. They, too, are carrying heavy burdens and need your support. Go ahead, make their day!
God's grace and peace be with you.
Jim
This week marked a great milestone in my life. After 8 1/2 months of pain, discomfort, very hard work, and significant success, I am returning to my position as General Presbyter and Stated Clerk for Cherokee Presbytery. Since my recovery is by no means complete, I am very thankful that the Presbytery has employed Steve Bacon as my partner and colleague for reentry and adequate functioning.
As I begin work once again, my personal difficulties and challenges seem almost insignificant in light of the incredible human suffering in Southeast Asia. The following is a quotation from a letter written by Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA to the Christian community in that part of the world:
"I write to let you know that the hearts of your sisters and brothers in Christ in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are reaching out to you as you seek to minister amidst the unspeakable tragedy and tremendous suffering brought to your people through the recent earthquake and tsunami. Presbyterian churches throughout the United States lifted you up in prayers yesterday in Sunday worship.
I also want you to know that Presbyterians are actively involved through ecumenical efforts in offering immediate relief to those who survived but lost their homes, their family members, and their livelihoods.
Beyond the prayers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and on behalf of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, I want to assure you of prayers of intercession for you from the entire WARC family. Our prayers for you will continue throughout the many long months and years of rebuilding that lie ahead."
Whatever else you do today, please pray for this desperate part of the world -- and write a check!
Many of you will remember that when Cherokee Presbytery renewed our covenant relationship after my sixth year of service, the Presbytery took action to grant me a "sabbatical leave" at the end of my seventh year. The purpose of such a leave time is for me to create some "space" between me and my "job," so that I can more effectively consider my "calling" and more effective service on your behalf.
On reflection, I have had a sabbatical indeed. The Presbytery paid my full salary for three months in fulfillment of the disability requirements -- and then paid me nothing for the next 5 1/2 months. The first three months of my rehabilitation involved a good bit of meditating on the Word and the Confessions as I remember them from years of reading and hearing. There were times when I was brought down to simply meditating on every breath, because there were times when that was all I could manage!
From these challenging beginnings, I began to realize that God had called me to this great work, and that I would return one day -- but that everything would be different!
My return to work will involve people and places -- and the great mission to which God has called us and continues to call us every day. When a person like myself is flat on his back, or in a wheelchair, struggling for even the simplest bodily movements, political and theological differences inside and outside the church take on a remarkable level of insignificance. What is very significant is our relationships in Jesus Christ, our calling by him, and the trust that grows out of those relationships in the context of God's mission. In this regard, I suppose I am forever changed!
Yesterday's Old Testament lectionary selection was Joshua 1: 1-9.
"Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you; be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
I certainly needed to hear this. I am still not completely steady on my feet. Also, my hands are not anywhere close to fully functional. If this were not enough, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things that have gone on in Cherokee Presbytery during my absence. In a very real way, my "sabbatical" is over and I am faced with the great challenge of re-entering the Presbytery and its ongoing needs, pains, and concerns.
On the other hand, it is a time of great joy because I am being reunited with people and places that are important to me -- and to us! I just need to be "strong and courageous," and not "frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." With this in mind, Eugene Peterson's introductory material on Joshua in The Message, spoke to me in a special way.
"What we often consider to be the subject of religion -- ideas, truths, prayers, promises, beliefs -- are never permitted to have a life of their own apart from particular persons and actual places. Biblical religion has a low tolerance for 'great ideas' or 'sublime truths' or 'inspirational thoughts' apart from the people and places in which they occur. God's great love and purposes for us are worked out in the messes, storms and sins, blue skies, daily work in dreams of our common lives, working with us as we are and not as we should be."
Over the next few months you will find me at my desk in the Presbytery office -- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I will also start visiting churches on Sundays. This Sunday Carole and I will visit the John Knox church in Marietta, were I will serve on a commission to install Fritz Bogar as pastor. The following Sunday, we will visit the Cedartown church for the installation of its new elders. I love Peterson's line that reminds us of our purpose -- "worked out in the messes, storms and sins, blue skies, daily work in our dreams of common lives, working with us as we are not as we should be."
Sometimes, you will find Steve Bacon at my desk in the Presbytery office -- Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am so thankful that God has called Steve and gifted him for this particular time in his ministry, and in ours. I am glad that God has sent Steve our way in a time of missional need. Also, I hope you will invite him to visit your church on Sundays. We are trying to be partners in Christ's ministry in every sense. His presence is my presence -- and my presence is also his presence! The goal through all of this is not simply to get me back to work, but rather that God's mission continues to be carried out in North Georgia and throughout the world. I hope that this will be a model for ministry everywhere!
There is so much more to say, but I must come to an end. Carole and I thank you with all our hearts for your faithful ministry to us throughout most of 2004. It has been a difficult time, but your loving presence and prayers have lightened the load. I hope you will pray for your pastors, elders, and deacons with a similar level of intensity. They, too, are carrying heavy burdens and need your support. Go ahead, make their day!
God's grace and peace be with you.
Jim
posted by Pierce | 12:00 PM
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