“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal . . .” (Phil. 3:13f.)
Someone told me that “Fifty’s Nifty!” I’m not so sure that is really the case. I’m still trying to figure that one out. But fifty is the reality now. I turned the magic number in May. I’ve crested that hill. I’m looking down the other side. I’m receiving lots of advice and hearing lots of catchy phrases, like, “50 is the new 30.” Which makes me wonder if Bob Dylan, who is quoted as saying, “Never trust anyone over 30,” is able to trust himself, anymore?
Fifty is one of those chronological landmarks that can be a pivotal point in a person’s life. It’s a time to reflect and reconsider where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re headed. Some people go through what’s called a “mid-life crisis,” which has always baffled me. If we know we have a tendency to go through these crises at certain times in our lives, shouldn’t we be aware of them and not allow them to disturb our lives?
Mid-life doesn’t have to be a crisis. In fact, it can be an opportunity to recognize our need to periodically stop and reconsider our life direction. It can be a silly thing when we lament the loss of our youth and desperately seek to recapture it. Some quit their jobs and try to become rock stars. Others walk away from a loving marriage to date a younger person. Still others purchase new toys (like motorcycles) and try to return to a wilder season of life. Some start wearing clothes that should be left to teenagers. Not only can this response to mid-life be silly; it can be downright destructive.
But mid-life can be an excellent opportunity to reflect. Am I happy with where I am? Is this where I wanted to be? Have I achieved my goals? Am I still going in the direction I wanted to go? And what can I constructively do to make my life – and the lives of those around me – better? Upon turning 50, I’ve reflected a bit, and here are a few goals I’ve set for myself.
First, make the most of each day. Our Lenten series – Live Like You Were Dying – reminded me to make the most of every day. So many of us get distracted. As a pastor, I find myself putting out fires here, there and everywhere. I am easily distracted from what is really important in my own life and in the life of this congregation. I find myself “majoring” on the minors and “minoring” on the majors. I want to spend more quality time with loved ones doing memorable things. Goal #1 is to make the most of each day.
Secondly, speak the truth in love. I’m tired of walking on egg shells. There are certain people in life who are so easily offended and/or become angry when they don’t get their way. I don’t like conflict, so I tend to avoid potentially volatile situations. I realize I’m not doing them any favors and I’m not being true to what I believe. Goal #2 is to speak the truth in love. If that frustrates certain people, then so be it.
Finally, set goals that matter. On the reality television show, The Celebrity Apprentice, one of the contestants said, “This show is all about friends and charity . . . and that’s what life should really be about.” As a pastor, I would, of course, make one addition: God. Wouldn’t you agree? That’s what the church should be about: God, friends and charity. Our staff, our buildings, our budget should be dedicated to the worship of God, to the deepening of friendships and to the provision of charity. I’m proud of FPCSA as we gain a reputation for service in our community, especially to children. We are making a difference in people’s lives. Goal #3 is to set goals that matter.
Mid-life crises are not limited to individuals. Organizations go through them as well. Churches experience mid-life crises. Those times can be destructive or constructive. They can cause division and dissonance or they can foster positive change. Two years ago FPCSA went through a period of crisis and reflection. As good Presbyterians, we formed a task force to study the concerns and make recommendations. Some of those recommendations had to do with staffing; others had to do with scheduling and programs.
I’m proud of the work that our congregation did to make positive changes that make a difference. Our ministry to Latinos continues to grow. The after school Amigos Program has had a tremendously positive effect in the lives of at-risk young people. In less than year it went from no kids to having a waiting list. And our outreach programs to the community have been wonderful.
The next area I see FPCSA focusing on is youth (Junior and Senior High School age). Since I have served this church (8 ½ years), I have seen a steady stream of families involved in the children’s ministry who left when their kids got into Middle School because the church was not supplying a strong Youth Ministry. Now, we are beginning to see the same thing happen with our Latino members. They are beginning to migrate to other churches that have strong Youth Ministries.
We will need to look ahead at how we might address this concern. This is a goal that matters, not only to our families, but to the life of the church. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead, for myself, and for FPCSA. I hope you will stand with me as we make the most of each day, speak the truth in love, and set goals that matter. That would be pretty nifty. J
May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!
In His Love & Service,
Lance
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
MAKING CONNECTIONS
“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” (I Cor. 9:22b)
Do you ever wonder whatever happened to a certain friend? You were close to them during a particular season in your life and then you just kind of lost track? Perhaps you went to school with them. Or they were part of a group with which you were affiliated. Or you worked somewhere with them. Or perhaps you had a falling out and you never reconciled. Each of us has a history of friendships. Some we have remained in contact with (even if it’s just the annual Christmas card); others we have not.
Recently, I’ve gotten a kick out of the phenomena known as “facebook.” It is an internet website that connects – or reconnects – the user with friends. I first logged on last summer. And since that time, my “friends list” has grown to nearly 300 hundred. There are friends from many different seasons in my life: school classmates; professional colleagues; and extended family.
I’ve reconnected with classmates from Los Gatos High School, Westmont College, UC Irvine, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Some I haven’t spoken to in about 30 years. I’ve gotten in touch with former colleagues from various churches where I have worked and with members of those organizations (some are now abroad – from South Korea to United Arab Emirates – and it’s great to hear little snippets from them). The two youth choirs that I founded have their own web-pages and their own fan lists. It’s great to see how well they are doing. Many of the pastors of our Presbytery are on my list. I’m even on the friends list of Bruce Reyes-Chow, the denomination’s national moderator.
I’m able to keep up with my family, from my nephew stationed in Japan to my second cousins in rural Illinois. People post photos on their profile and I love to see all the new pictures of their children.
There are even members of FPCSA who are on my friendlist. It’s a fun way to see a different side of people. In fact, FPCSA has its own web page on facebook. If you’re on facebook, check it out: First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana. Become a fan! We’re going to try to include occasional updates through this site. Also, look me up. I would love to be on your friends list and add you to mine!
Some of you have heard me quote responses from questions that I have posted on facebook. It’s a casual way to request and receive input without being judged or condemned. There are several reasons I do this. First, people are able to keep up to date with what I am doing here at the church. Secondly, we have had quite a few people visit our worship service because of the facebook connection. And, in fact, last week I had coffee with one of my former youth group members who has not felt comfortable going to church since a certain incident caused him to go sour on organized religion; but because of facebook, he wanted to get together to discuss religion and our congregation. And, finally, people can give input and then feel a sense of connection if they hear themselves quoted in the sermon.
And so, the purpose of this article and the reason I use facebook becomes clear. It’s not just a way to stay connected with friends; it’s a way to draw people into dialogue and hopefully connect – or reconnect – them with their Maker. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” I wonder what “becoming all things to all people” looks like today. If he were alive today, I wonder if Paul would be on facebook. I think he would be. And I think he would be updating on his Blackberry from the local coffee shop. I don’t know why, but I think Paul would have appreciated a good cup of coffee.
It’s a whole new world out there. No longer can we build a church and wait for people to show up. We must reach out to them. And we must follow Paul’s example, using all means to reach out to all people so that some might be saved. The message we share is the most important gift we can offer. Let’s be creative and use of all means available to us.
May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!
In His Love & Service,
Lance
Monday, March 23, 2009
“CHRIST IS RISEN!” NOW WHAT?
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations – Jesus
I recently officiated a wedding. At the end, I announced the couple and presented them to the congregation as husband and wife. They turned and faced their families and friends and then the groom thrust his fist into the air with a look of triumph, as if to say, “Yes!!! I did it! I’ve won!” He was so proud of his new wife. And perhaps, he might have thought at one time that he would never be so lucky as to have her as his wife. The wedding was the culminating moment of all his hopes and dreams. He had won his prize.
I smiled. And I thought, alright, buddy, the wedding isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning.
Among Biblical scholars the study of salvation history is called soteriology. Of course, much of this is tied to Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. And for many of us, the death and resurrection of our Lord is the climax of the story. The empty tomb is the culmination of all of humanity’s hopes and dreams. Jesus had won the prize! I imagine the disciples walking around for days, thrusting their fists in the air, and exclaiming, “Yes!!! He did it! He won!”
But the resurrection is not the end; it’s just the beginning. Christ’s disciples would spend 40 more days with Him, learning from Him, and being instructed by Him. At His ascension, Jesus commissioned His disciples to carry on the work of salvation. Far from being the end, the resurrection was the beginning of a new chapter in the book of soteriology. Most of those disciples wrote new chapters using the ink of their own blood.
Many churches today treat Easter as the culmination of humanity’s hopes and dreams. It is the climax of the story. After we celebrate, the credits roll, the lights go up, and everyone heads towards the exits with warm feelings in their hearts. There’s nothing more to be done. But that is not the message of scripture.
To personalize this a bit, many Christians focus so much on salvation being at the point of conversion, that they ignore the ongoing affect and transformation that salvation is meant to have on their lives. Yes, conversion, or confirmation, is a powerful moment in any individual’s life. But it isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning. Just like a marriage relationship hopefully lasts many years after the wedding ceremony, so our relationship with Jesus Christ lasts a lifetime. In fact, it lasts an eternity!
So this Easter Sunday we will focus on the “Now What?” Yes, we will declare Christ as risen, but we’ll also ask how that affects and transforms our lives individually as well as corporately. We’ll recognize the resurrection as not the end, but the beginning of the story. And just as a marriage takes work and time to grow and stay healthy, so we’ll look at ways to grow in our faith and stay in a healthy relationship with our Lord.
Visitors may be surprised by this different approach to Easter, but hopefully they will be challenged as we all will be. Christ is Risen! Now what?
May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!
In His Love & Service,
Lance
I recently officiated a wedding. At the end, I announced the couple and presented them to the congregation as husband and wife. They turned and faced their families and friends and then the groom thrust his fist into the air with a look of triumph, as if to say, “Yes!!! I did it! I’ve won!” He was so proud of his new wife. And perhaps, he might have thought at one time that he would never be so lucky as to have her as his wife. The wedding was the culminating moment of all his hopes and dreams. He had won his prize.
I smiled. And I thought, alright, buddy, the wedding isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning.
Among Biblical scholars the study of salvation history is called soteriology. Of course, much of this is tied to Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. And for many of us, the death and resurrection of our Lord is the climax of the story. The empty tomb is the culmination of all of humanity’s hopes and dreams. Jesus had won the prize! I imagine the disciples walking around for days, thrusting their fists in the air, and exclaiming, “Yes!!! He did it! He won!”
But the resurrection is not the end; it’s just the beginning. Christ’s disciples would spend 40 more days with Him, learning from Him, and being instructed by Him. At His ascension, Jesus commissioned His disciples to carry on the work of salvation. Far from being the end, the resurrection was the beginning of a new chapter in the book of soteriology. Most of those disciples wrote new chapters using the ink of their own blood.
Many churches today treat Easter as the culmination of humanity’s hopes and dreams. It is the climax of the story. After we celebrate, the credits roll, the lights go up, and everyone heads towards the exits with warm feelings in their hearts. There’s nothing more to be done. But that is not the message of scripture.
To personalize this a bit, many Christians focus so much on salvation being at the point of conversion, that they ignore the ongoing affect and transformation that salvation is meant to have on their lives. Yes, conversion, or confirmation, is a powerful moment in any individual’s life. But it isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning. Just like a marriage relationship hopefully lasts many years after the wedding ceremony, so our relationship with Jesus Christ lasts a lifetime. In fact, it lasts an eternity!
So this Easter Sunday we will focus on the “Now What?” Yes, we will declare Christ as risen, but we’ll also ask how that affects and transforms our lives individually as well as corporately. We’ll recognize the resurrection as not the end, but the beginning of the story. And just as a marriage takes work and time to grow and stay healthy, so we’ll look at ways to grow in our faith and stay in a healthy relationship with our Lord.
Visitors may be surprised by this different approach to Easter, but hopefully they will be challenged as we all will be. Christ is Risen! Now what?
May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!
In His Love & Service,
Lance
Thursday, February 19, 2009
March 2009 Pastor's Page
Live Like You Were Dying
So teach us to number our days, so that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom – Psalm 90:12
Imagine, a parent being able to say to an estranged child, “I love you;” or an adult daughter offering forgiveness to her father for abuse; or people taking time to encourage and affirm each other; or a young person stepping across the line of faith as they embrace eternity.
Here at First Presbyterian Church, we are looking at a unique opportunity this Lenten Season. We’ll be going through a 30-day series called, "Live Like You Were Dying," inspired by the Grammy award winning song recorded by Tim McGraw. This series takes a song of the culture, the deepest needs of people, the truth of God’s word, and brings it all together during a focused period of time for spiritual transformation. The Bible teaches that we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. So how should we live? This series will challenge us to:
v Live with a sense of urgency (I Peter 4:7-8)
v Live with a sense of eternity (Psalm 90:12)
v Live with a sense of priority (Ephesians 5:15-17)
v Give up the frantic pursuit of the “good life” (Matthew 16:25-26)
v Make more time for relationships (Hebrews 10:24-25)
v Offer forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)
v Celebrate being released from God’s judgment (Romans 8:33-34)
v Liberate others from your judgment (Romans 14:13)
v Do the unexpected in love (Matthew 5:39-42)
There are three ways you can make the most of this series:
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
Commit to coming to church for the Sunday morning worship. Services and sermons will be devoted to these themes: 1) live like you were dying; 2) love deeper; 3) speak sweeter; 4) give forgiveness; and, 5) embrace eternity. The Sunday morning series will begin on March 1st and go through April 5th. On March 8th we’ll take the day off from the series so that our women might lead us in worship as we celebrate the gifts of women.
SMALL GROUP LESSONS
Inspiring messages, taught by best-selling author Gary Smalley provide small groups with four, short, weekly video teachings based on the themes of the LLYWD series. I will facilitate the discussions for each of these groups. One group will meet on Thursday mornings at 10:00 in the Conference Room (beginning 3/5). Another group will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 in the Underground (beginning 3/10). If there is enough interest, we’ll add a third group on Sunday mornings at 11:30.
DAILY READINGS
There is a companion booklet that will be available. The Daily Readings, written by John Fischer, will challenge you on a personal level to examine your life priorities and reflect on how to live your “one and only life” each day. The book also includes notes for the four small group sessions. The books are available through the church office at a cost of $7.50. Our reading schedule will begin on March 9th.
Live Like You Were Dying will be a unique opportunity for us. I pray that this series will create moments of thoughtful reflection on what really matters. I pray that it will touch our deepest longing for meaning. And I pray that it will unite our congregation and build a stronger sense of community within the life of our church family.
I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. Attend our Sunday morning worship services. Participate in one of the small groups. Purchase a copy of the booklet and meditate on the daily readings. And may God richly bless us even as God richly blesses others through us.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
So teach us to number our days, so that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom – Psalm 90:12
Imagine, a parent being able to say to an estranged child, “I love you;” or an adult daughter offering forgiveness to her father for abuse; or people taking time to encourage and affirm each other; or a young person stepping across the line of faith as they embrace eternity.
Here at First Presbyterian Church, we are looking at a unique opportunity this Lenten Season. We’ll be going through a 30-day series called, "Live Like You Were Dying," inspired by the Grammy award winning song recorded by Tim McGraw. This series takes a song of the culture, the deepest needs of people, the truth of God’s word, and brings it all together during a focused period of time for spiritual transformation. The Bible teaches that we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. So how should we live? This series will challenge us to:
v Live with a sense of urgency (I Peter 4:7-8)
v Live with a sense of eternity (Psalm 90:12)
v Live with a sense of priority (Ephesians 5:15-17)
v Give up the frantic pursuit of the “good life” (Matthew 16:25-26)
v Make more time for relationships (Hebrews 10:24-25)
v Offer forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)
v Celebrate being released from God’s judgment (Romans 8:33-34)
v Liberate others from your judgment (Romans 14:13)
v Do the unexpected in love (Matthew 5:39-42)
There are three ways you can make the most of this series:
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
Commit to coming to church for the Sunday morning worship. Services and sermons will be devoted to these themes: 1) live like you were dying; 2) love deeper; 3) speak sweeter; 4) give forgiveness; and, 5) embrace eternity. The Sunday morning series will begin on March 1st and go through April 5th. On March 8th we’ll take the day off from the series so that our women might lead us in worship as we celebrate the gifts of women.
SMALL GROUP LESSONS
Inspiring messages, taught by best-selling author Gary Smalley provide small groups with four, short, weekly video teachings based on the themes of the LLYWD series. I will facilitate the discussions for each of these groups. One group will meet on Thursday mornings at 10:00 in the Conference Room (beginning 3/5). Another group will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 in the Underground (beginning 3/10). If there is enough interest, we’ll add a third group on Sunday mornings at 11:30.
DAILY READINGS
There is a companion booklet that will be available. The Daily Readings, written by John Fischer, will challenge you on a personal level to examine your life priorities and reflect on how to live your “one and only life” each day. The book also includes notes for the four small group sessions. The books are available through the church office at a cost of $7.50. Our reading schedule will begin on March 9th.
Live Like You Were Dying will be a unique opportunity for us. I pray that this series will create moments of thoughtful reflection on what really matters. I pray that it will touch our deepest longing for meaning. And I pray that it will unite our congregation and build a stronger sense of community within the life of our church family.
I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. Attend our Sunday morning worship services. Participate in one of the small groups. Purchase a copy of the booklet and meditate on the daily readings. And may God richly bless us even as God richly blesses others through us.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
February 2009 Messenger: "Visitation"
I was sick, and you visited me – Jesus
I would like to write a little bit about visitation this month. One of the rights and responsibilities of being a pastor is the privilege of visiting members and friends of the particular congregation. There are few other vocations where a non-family member can walk into a hospital room without question and move seamlessly into the life of a family. Truly, it is a profound honor to participate in people’s lives this way. My friendships with each and every one of you are a gift to me.
Jesus told His followers that when we reach out in love to those who are hungry, thirsty, to the stranger, the naked, the sick, or those in prison, we are in fact reaching out to Him. (Mt. 25:34ff.) The author of James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (Js. 1:27) We are created to reach out in love to others.
In our Book of Order, the responsibilities of a pastor are outlined. One of those responsibilities is described in this way: “to exercise pastoral care, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, the troubled, and the dying.” Pastoral care is a part of who we are and what we do as ministers. It is also part of who we are and what we do as followers of Jesus Christ.
One of the expectations of pastors is that they will visit the members of the congregation. But sometimes those expectations are undefined and ambiguous; there’s a sense that the pastor should be making house calls, but how often and to whom isn’t really well defined. Other times there is a breakdown in communication. A church member is rushed to the hospital and the pastor doesn’t hear about it until the person has been sent home; the church member feels neglected and the pastor feels frustrated. And sometimes there are unrealistic expectations. In my last church one of the members told me the former pastor had visited every member of the congregation on an annual basis. This seemed unrealistic to me.
Let me offer a few personal perspectives on visitation. First, I love being with people. I love seeing where they live – what my Gran used to call, their “digs.” I learn so much about people when I see their home environment. It offers a comfortable and familiar place for people to open up and tell stories about their lives. Often photographs, collectibles or heirlooms that are on display open the way to deeper conversation. I love hearing stories and getting to know people better.
Secondly, I will visit a person in the hospital or after a loved one has died as quickly as humanly possible. To me, these are sacred moments and I feel it is my God-given privilege and responsibility to enter into these situations in the name of Christ with love and grace. At the same time, the reality is that I cannot always come as quickly as I would like. Sometimes I have time conflicts, parental responsibilities or I am too far away. Please know that I will come as quickly as I can or I will contact one of our other pastors to go in my place.
Also, remember that I cannot respond if I do not hear. In a pastoral emergency, please contact the church office (714-542-7253). If you get the voicemail, dial extension 333, leave a message, and then hang up; I should be paged after you hang up. Also, you may leave a message on my office voicemail at extension 301. And if an urgent matter happens during non-business hours, please do not hesitate to call me at home (714-389-1036). I want to hear from you.
Thirdly, if you are concerned about one of our members that might benefit from a pastoral call, please let me know. Sometimes people could use a visit or call from the pastor and the pastor just doesn’t know. Give me a heads-up and I will do my best to follow up. Mary Lee and Ann Niedringhaus are great at this. Leave a note in my box, give a call or speak to me and I will do my best to follow up. Feel free to nudge me a little, too. Sometimes I forget.
Fourth, if you would like a visit from the pastor, please invite him! I was raised in a home where we were taught that it was rude to invite oneself to someone else’s home. So it goes against every fiber of my being to call and invite myself over. Perhaps it’s a bit of a generational thing, too. Younger generations are often uncomfortable if the pastor comes over. There’s almost a feeling like they’re being called into the principal’s office. So please don’t hesitate to give me a call and say, “Hey, we would love to have you over sometime.” You’ll make my day!
Finally, pastoral care is not just for the professional ministers; pastoral care is for all believers. The Book of Order quote above is written both to pastors as well as to elders. James was speaking to the whole of the church when he described “pure and undefiled religion.” Jesus was speaking to all believers when He said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of My family, you did it to Me.” When we reach out in love and compassion to others, we are reaching out to Jesus Christ. That is a gift.
May God richly bless you even as God richly blesses others through you.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
I would like to write a little bit about visitation this month. One of the rights and responsibilities of being a pastor is the privilege of visiting members and friends of the particular congregation. There are few other vocations where a non-family member can walk into a hospital room without question and move seamlessly into the life of a family. Truly, it is a profound honor to participate in people’s lives this way. My friendships with each and every one of you are a gift to me.
Jesus told His followers that when we reach out in love to those who are hungry, thirsty, to the stranger, the naked, the sick, or those in prison, we are in fact reaching out to Him. (Mt. 25:34ff.) The author of James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (Js. 1:27) We are created to reach out in love to others.
In our Book of Order, the responsibilities of a pastor are outlined. One of those responsibilities is described in this way: “to exercise pastoral care, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, the troubled, and the dying.” Pastoral care is a part of who we are and what we do as ministers. It is also part of who we are and what we do as followers of Jesus Christ.
One of the expectations of pastors is that they will visit the members of the congregation. But sometimes those expectations are undefined and ambiguous; there’s a sense that the pastor should be making house calls, but how often and to whom isn’t really well defined. Other times there is a breakdown in communication. A church member is rushed to the hospital and the pastor doesn’t hear about it until the person has been sent home; the church member feels neglected and the pastor feels frustrated. And sometimes there are unrealistic expectations. In my last church one of the members told me the former pastor had visited every member of the congregation on an annual basis. This seemed unrealistic to me.
Let me offer a few personal perspectives on visitation. First, I love being with people. I love seeing where they live – what my Gran used to call, their “digs.” I learn so much about people when I see their home environment. It offers a comfortable and familiar place for people to open up and tell stories about their lives. Often photographs, collectibles or heirlooms that are on display open the way to deeper conversation. I love hearing stories and getting to know people better.
Secondly, I will visit a person in the hospital or after a loved one has died as quickly as humanly possible. To me, these are sacred moments and I feel it is my God-given privilege and responsibility to enter into these situations in the name of Christ with love and grace. At the same time, the reality is that I cannot always come as quickly as I would like. Sometimes I have time conflicts, parental responsibilities or I am too far away. Please know that I will come as quickly as I can or I will contact one of our other pastors to go in my place.
Also, remember that I cannot respond if I do not hear. In a pastoral emergency, please contact the church office (714-542-7253). If you get the voicemail, dial extension 333, leave a message, and then hang up; I should be paged after you hang up. Also, you may leave a message on my office voicemail at extension 301. And if an urgent matter happens during non-business hours, please do not hesitate to call me at home (714-389-1036). I want to hear from you.
Thirdly, if you are concerned about one of our members that might benefit from a pastoral call, please let me know. Sometimes people could use a visit or call from the pastor and the pastor just doesn’t know. Give me a heads-up and I will do my best to follow up. Mary Lee and Ann Niedringhaus are great at this. Leave a note in my box, give a call or speak to me and I will do my best to follow up. Feel free to nudge me a little, too. Sometimes I forget.
Fourth, if you would like a visit from the pastor, please invite him! I was raised in a home where we were taught that it was rude to invite oneself to someone else’s home. So it goes against every fiber of my being to call and invite myself over. Perhaps it’s a bit of a generational thing, too. Younger generations are often uncomfortable if the pastor comes over. There’s almost a feeling like they’re being called into the principal’s office. So please don’t hesitate to give me a call and say, “Hey, we would love to have you over sometime.” You’ll make my day!
Finally, pastoral care is not just for the professional ministers; pastoral care is for all believers. The Book of Order quote above is written both to pastors as well as to elders. James was speaking to the whole of the church when he described “pure and undefiled religion.” Jesus was speaking to all believers when He said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of My family, you did it to Me.” When we reach out in love and compassion to others, we are reaching out to Jesus Christ. That is a gift.
May God richly bless you even as God richly blesses others through you.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Carrying the Great Ends into Advent
The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
During this autumn season, we have looked at the Great Ends of the Church as published in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). As we move into the 2008 Advent Season, let us consider how these purposes of the denomination encourage us to live in the ebb and flow of our lives today. Let us review.
Perhaps there is no better time for our voices to be heard than during the Holiday Season. But our voices are often drowned by the voices of commercialism, fantasy and “busyness”. Take time this season to share the good news of what Jesus means to you. Tell someone why your life is better because you have a relationship with Him. What better way to mark the holiday than to help lead someone to a saving faith in Jesus Christ!
In our rush to be everywhere and do everything, let us take a moment to be with our church family and experience the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the family of God. This might be just what the doctor ordered: a moment of respite in a frenetic world. Take a moment, breathe and experience the spiritual fellowship.
Everywhere we go, we hear Christmas carols. They are played through the store speakers to help loosen our purse strings. But how often do we take time to reflect on the words of these powerful hymns and praise songs. During the holiday season, come to church and truly worship God. Worship the baby in the manger. Worship the man on the hillside. Worship the redeemer on the cross. Worship the Lord, raised from the dead. O come, let us adore Him.
There are many stories surrounding the winter holiday season. In our world of tolerance, we can sometimes “fudge” on the truth of the gospel. We do not want to offend anyone. We don’t want to push our belief onto anyone. But let us continue to preserve the truth. Jesus and Santa Claus are not equals. Let us speak boldly of the nativity story, not as one of many stories surrounding the season, but as THE story of the season.
And let us not forget those in need during this season. As our country faces an economic crisis, let us remember those who are less fortunate than us. In particular let us remember those who have little power, those who are oppressed, those who are exploited. Perhaps this is the year that we are unable to send money, but we can give of our time, energy and talents to the less fortunate. Let us promote social righteousness during this season.
Finally, let us exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. As the angels proclaimed the good news to the shepherds so many years ago, the glory of heaven was manifest: Glory to God in the highest! May everything that we do, everything that we say, every gift that we give, exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to a world in need. In His infinite wisdom, God chose you and me to exhibit the Kingdom to the world. God chose the imperfect things of the world to confound the proud. I feel unworthy, as you probably do, but God came as a baby 2,000 years ago. Now He comes as imperfect people called the Church.
Let us carry out the Great Ends of the Church this Christmas Season. Let us do so as individuals. Let us do so as a congregation. Therein lays our Christmas Joy.
And may God Bless us. Every one.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
During this autumn season, we have looked at the Great Ends of the Church as published in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). As we move into the 2008 Advent Season, let us consider how these purposes of the denomination encourage us to live in the ebb and flow of our lives today. Let us review.
Perhaps there is no better time for our voices to be heard than during the Holiday Season. But our voices are often drowned by the voices of commercialism, fantasy and “busyness”. Take time this season to share the good news of what Jesus means to you. Tell someone why your life is better because you have a relationship with Him. What better way to mark the holiday than to help lead someone to a saving faith in Jesus Christ!
In our rush to be everywhere and do everything, let us take a moment to be with our church family and experience the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the family of God. This might be just what the doctor ordered: a moment of respite in a frenetic world. Take a moment, breathe and experience the spiritual fellowship.
Everywhere we go, we hear Christmas carols. They are played through the store speakers to help loosen our purse strings. But how often do we take time to reflect on the words of these powerful hymns and praise songs. During the holiday season, come to church and truly worship God. Worship the baby in the manger. Worship the man on the hillside. Worship the redeemer on the cross. Worship the Lord, raised from the dead. O come, let us adore Him.
There are many stories surrounding the winter holiday season. In our world of tolerance, we can sometimes “fudge” on the truth of the gospel. We do not want to offend anyone. We don’t want to push our belief onto anyone. But let us continue to preserve the truth. Jesus and Santa Claus are not equals. Let us speak boldly of the nativity story, not as one of many stories surrounding the season, but as THE story of the season.
And let us not forget those in need during this season. As our country faces an economic crisis, let us remember those who are less fortunate than us. In particular let us remember those who have little power, those who are oppressed, those who are exploited. Perhaps this is the year that we are unable to send money, but we can give of our time, energy and talents to the less fortunate. Let us promote social righteousness during this season.
Finally, let us exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. As the angels proclaimed the good news to the shepherds so many years ago, the glory of heaven was manifest: Glory to God in the highest! May everything that we do, everything that we say, every gift that we give, exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to a world in need. In His infinite wisdom, God chose you and me to exhibit the Kingdom to the world. God chose the imperfect things of the world to confound the proud. I feel unworthy, as you probably do, but God came as a baby 2,000 years ago. Now He comes as imperfect people called the Church.
Let us carry out the Great Ends of the Church this Christmas Season. Let us do so as individuals. Let us do so as a congregation. Therein lays our Christmas Joy.
And may God Bless us. Every one.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
Thursday, October 16, 2008
An Act of Worship
“and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him; then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts” (Matthew 2:11)
I remember six years ago. The Angels were playing in the World Series. And Paul McNeff had scheduled a special guest for our Moment for Ministry in the worship service: Steve Physioc, the “Voice of the Angels.” The Sunday Steve was with us just happened to be the day of Game 7. The excitement was palpable.
Following the service, I was surprised to see one of our members. She had been in the hospital and I didn’t think she would be back in church so soon. I mentioned how glad I was to see her, and then I remembered that she was a big Angels’ fan. Jokingly I said, “Hey, wait a minute, you’re here to see Steve Physioc!”
“Oh, no, I’m here because it’s the right thing to do. I ought to be at church.” She then craned her neck to look around me and asked, “Where is he anyway?” We both shared a good-natured laugh.
It’s always fun to see people we esteem, whether they be great athletes, famous actors, favorite politicians, deep thinkers, popular musicians, or foreign dignitaries. We get butterflies as we anticipate them entering the room. We are filled with delight when we catch our first glimpse. We position ourselves to be close to them. We might even ask for an autograph.
When important people visit a community, the group often presents the visitor with a gift. This is a way to share ourselves with them. It is a way we show appreciation and respect. It is also a way to build relationship. A gift is a way to show we care.
Imagine if someone told you that Jesus was coming to church on Sunday. Imagine if you knew that He would be physically in the building. Would you be excited? Would you dress your best? Would you come early? Would you wait in anticipation? Would you crane your neck to see Him? Would you bring a gift?
Hopefully, each of us understands that Christ is present with us in worship every Sunday. But sometimes it’s good to consider what it would be like if we could actually see Him, actually hear Him, actually touch Him.
November 9th is Consecration Sunday. It is the day we dedicate our 2009 Faith Pledges to the Lord. This is not something we do haphazardly. For our community, this is an act of worship. Following the sermon, a praise song will be sung. During that song, members and friends of FPCSA will walk forward and place their faith pledges in our wooden box. It is an act of worship.
I love the story of the magi who travel from a distant land to see the new born King. After a long journey, they enter into the home of Joseph and Mary. When they see the Baby, notice what they do. They fall prostrate to the ground. They worship this little, fragile One. Then they open their treasures and present their gifts to the Lord. Wow. What an image! These noble and respected dignitaries kneeling before the Christ Child.
In the same way, the members and friends of FPCSA will physically come forward and present their gifts to the Lord. When you come to church on that Sunday morning, bring your faith pledge to church with you. At the appropriate time you will be invited to present that pledge to the Lord.
It is an act of worship. I encourage you to use your imagination. Imagine not the pastor nor the musicians nor the singers in the front of the sanctuary. Imagine Jesus standing before you. Imagine His arms outstretched. Imagine His smile of welcome. Imagine His look of love.
As you place your pledge in the box, remind yourself that you are not simply giving support to the church. Remind yourself that you are presenting a gift to the Lord. Perhaps in your own heart, whisper, this gift is for You, Jesus. The size of the gift does not matter in the least; the heart of the giver matters a great deal. God loves a cheerful giver.
Sometimes making a faith pledge can be a little scary because we’re not sure if we can afford to keep this pledge. Don’t worry. God knows our circumstances. That is why we call it a faith pledge. It is a pledge made in faith, trusting God to protect and keep us in the days ahead. And remember, that every good gift comes from the Lord, so that the presentation of our gifts is really a giving back to Him. It is an act of worship.
Steve Physioc will probably not be in church with us on November 9th. The politicians you supported in the recent election will probably be absent. Your favorite movie stars will not be with us. But know this: Jesus Christ will very much be present on that day. And you have the good fortune to come and be with Him. Come fall before Him in worship. Open your treasure to Him and present Him with your gifts. It is an act of worship.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
I remember six years ago. The Angels were playing in the World Series. And Paul McNeff had scheduled a special guest for our Moment for Ministry in the worship service: Steve Physioc, the “Voice of the Angels.” The Sunday Steve was with us just happened to be the day of Game 7. The excitement was palpable.
Following the service, I was surprised to see one of our members. She had been in the hospital and I didn’t think she would be back in church so soon. I mentioned how glad I was to see her, and then I remembered that she was a big Angels’ fan. Jokingly I said, “Hey, wait a minute, you’re here to see Steve Physioc!”
“Oh, no, I’m here because it’s the right thing to do. I ought to be at church.” She then craned her neck to look around me and asked, “Where is he anyway?” We both shared a good-natured laugh.
It’s always fun to see people we esteem, whether they be great athletes, famous actors, favorite politicians, deep thinkers, popular musicians, or foreign dignitaries. We get butterflies as we anticipate them entering the room. We are filled with delight when we catch our first glimpse. We position ourselves to be close to them. We might even ask for an autograph.
When important people visit a community, the group often presents the visitor with a gift. This is a way to share ourselves with them. It is a way we show appreciation and respect. It is also a way to build relationship. A gift is a way to show we care.
Imagine if someone told you that Jesus was coming to church on Sunday. Imagine if you knew that He would be physically in the building. Would you be excited? Would you dress your best? Would you come early? Would you wait in anticipation? Would you crane your neck to see Him? Would you bring a gift?
Hopefully, each of us understands that Christ is present with us in worship every Sunday. But sometimes it’s good to consider what it would be like if we could actually see Him, actually hear Him, actually touch Him.
November 9th is Consecration Sunday. It is the day we dedicate our 2009 Faith Pledges to the Lord. This is not something we do haphazardly. For our community, this is an act of worship. Following the sermon, a praise song will be sung. During that song, members and friends of FPCSA will walk forward and place their faith pledges in our wooden box. It is an act of worship.
I love the story of the magi who travel from a distant land to see the new born King. After a long journey, they enter into the home of Joseph and Mary. When they see the Baby, notice what they do. They fall prostrate to the ground. They worship this little, fragile One. Then they open their treasures and present their gifts to the Lord. Wow. What an image! These noble and respected dignitaries kneeling before the Christ Child.
In the same way, the members and friends of FPCSA will physically come forward and present their gifts to the Lord. When you come to church on that Sunday morning, bring your faith pledge to church with you. At the appropriate time you will be invited to present that pledge to the Lord.
It is an act of worship. I encourage you to use your imagination. Imagine not the pastor nor the musicians nor the singers in the front of the sanctuary. Imagine Jesus standing before you. Imagine His arms outstretched. Imagine His smile of welcome. Imagine His look of love.
As you place your pledge in the box, remind yourself that you are not simply giving support to the church. Remind yourself that you are presenting a gift to the Lord. Perhaps in your own heart, whisper, this gift is for You, Jesus. The size of the gift does not matter in the least; the heart of the giver matters a great deal. God loves a cheerful giver.
Sometimes making a faith pledge can be a little scary because we’re not sure if we can afford to keep this pledge. Don’t worry. God knows our circumstances. That is why we call it a faith pledge. It is a pledge made in faith, trusting God to protect and keep us in the days ahead. And remember, that every good gift comes from the Lord, so that the presentation of our gifts is really a giving back to Him. It is an act of worship.
Steve Physioc will probably not be in church with us on November 9th. The politicians you supported in the recent election will probably be absent. Your favorite movie stars will not be with us. But know this: Jesus Christ will very much be present on that day. And you have the good fortune to come and be with Him. Come fall before Him in worship. Open your treasure to Him and present Him with your gifts. It is an act of worship.
In His Love & Service,
Lance
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