When the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell was asked to speak at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium last year, he knew it would be both challenging and extremely personal.
The Rev. Crawford Brubaker has been to the town he pastors only once, for an interview. It occurred pre-pandemic at nighttime, in the small community of Buckley, Washington, the home of Community Presbyterian Church. At the end of the interview, Brubaker said the pastor nominating committee told him to come back in three weeks to preach so they could “see the goods.”
Congregations looking for ways to be the church together during and even after the pandemic might well find what they’re looking for in the early church practice of house churches.
Peacemaking is active not passive, doing not waiting.
Let’s let that sink in for a moment: Peacemaking is active, not passive; doing, not waiting.
And this is A Season of Peace when we, the church together, are focused on seeking peace and reconciliation. Together we are building God’s house of peace where all are welcome, where all can find compassion, peace and justice.
After a successful first outing looking at the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on communities of people who are Black, the “COVID at the Margins” series returned May 18 with a look at a community experiencing overt racism due to the virus: people who are Asian and Asian-American.
One of the long-term effects of COVID-19 in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries will be widespread famine. In Madagascar, where the average person lives on less than $250 a year, the FJKM (Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar) fruit tree center at Mahatsinjo will help offset the impact of hunger in one of the poorest countries in the world.
The senior pastor’s phone rang at 9:15 p.m. It was Dr. Paul Greenman, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale and the Broward County Medical Association. Greenman made a plea for help during the COVID-19 pandemic — not for himself, but for thousands of other medical professionals and first responders in Broward County, Florida.
Rendall Memorial Presbyterian Church is a small-in-numbers yet large-in-mission, Christ-centered, aging, progressive congregation in central (Black) Harlem. Its mission is to serve those in the community through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evangelism happens at Rendall as a “by-product” of intentional, gospel-focused ministry that is relational, personal, spiritual and missional.
In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we set aside this week to be reminded of the importance of Christian education and those leaders who teach, plan and above all nurture our faith formation. In years past, we have celebrated with kickoff Sundays and large rally day celebrations across our churches. This year, we are navigating an entirely different fall and beginning to our Christian education year. Christian Educators and church leaders have weathered a difficult spring and summer already, and looking ahead to the upcoming program year seems insurmountable at times. And yet, the energy, imagination, intelligence and love are abundant in these leaders as they have pivoted to the reality of virtual, hybrid and anything but normal settings for Christian education and faith formation. Let us take a moment to express gratitude, lament losses and frustrations and rest in the knowledge of God’s abundant grace.
