September Newsletter Article

In my effort to post more often, here is my newsletter article for the September edition of the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Parish Messenger.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Earlier today (Wednesday, August 25) I received an email from the office of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ. This email is a 2 times a week newsletter that discusses current events, celebrations, opportunities, etc. of Minnesota UCC churches. Usually the main article is by Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Karen Sellers Smith. However, the last few issues have been discussing the call process UCC churches go through when they need a new minister. The first question and the first paragraph of the answer caught my attention today.

Q: You said that Search Committees shouldn't look for the "Perfect Pastor" but for the perfect fit - what does that mean?
A: Congregations are often looking for someone who can do it all and has no flaws... but none of us is good at everything and all of us have flaws! A good minster usually excels at three to five things, and that's really about how much a productive pastor can accomplish at one time. For example, a congregation might want someone who preaches, plans good worship, leads in the wider church, is a crack administrator, and is great with young people, and is growing the church... whoops! That's six - and we can pretty realistically predict that at least one of the six would consistently become a low priority - and pastoral care isn't even on the list! (COMMAntary, August 25, 2010)

“None of us is good at everything and all of us have flaws!” That line really hit home because lately I have been thinking about one of my weaknesses in ministry.

First, let me start off by saying that I know that I have those three to five strong areas in ministry that I really love doing: preaching, leading worship, teaching, administrating (keeping records, filing reports, etc.), and leading funerals and weddings (ministering to families at times of mourning and celebration).

The flaw I see in my ministry is typically called “visitation”. In my ten years of ministry, I have never successfully devised a plan to improve my visitations. Don’t get me wrong – I love to visit and I really feel good after spending time with someone. I just find it hard to do the visits.

There is an order to the types of visits that I do, from the most likely to the least likely: people in hospitals (when I know of them), nursing home, assisted living, home-bound, and everyone else. If you are someone who feels I haven’t visited enough, I apologize. The best remedy is to do one of two things: 1) pick up the phone and call me or 2) tell someone who sees me regularly at church or at meetings that you would like me to visit. Maxine R. called me fairly often and Elda K. told her brother. Both ways work for me and either way, I will come for a visit. Your help in this matter will help me keep on track in an area of my ministry that I know is weak.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Gary

Wow, I really need to post more!

I notice that I haven't posted since early December, 2009. I am very delinquent in my duties. I now resolve to post at least weekly. To do that, I will post here some lectionary notes that I send out weekly to the people of the churches I serve. I will also post my monthly newsletter column that I write for "The Messenger"

The intent of the lectionary notes is not to give in depth commentary or interpretation, but to stimulate you to read the passages.

Here are the lectionary notes for Sunday, August 29, 2010.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 - Think of this passage as a courtroom scene. The Lord is the plaintive accusing Judah and Jerusalem of breaking their contract (covenant). Verses 4-11 is the Lord's direct accusations and questions. Verses 12-13 is an appeal to the heavens (the judge or the jury?) to listen to the Lord's case against his people.

Psalm 81:1, 10-16 - Verse 1 is the Psalmist's praise of God and verses 10-16 is God's plea for Israel to listen to and follow him. Verses 14-16 include an incentive for Israel to follow.

[Alternate readings: Sirach 10: 12-18 and Psalm 112. Sirach will be found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in Protestant and Jewish scriptures. Verse 18 in Sirach is interesting: "Pride was not created for human beings, or violent anger for those born of women."]

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 - You might just as well read the entire chapter. There is no central theme of this chapter just a series of admonitions of things all Christians should do: love, hospitality, remember prisoners, honor marriage, don't love money, remember your church leaders and imitate their faith, watch out for strange teachings, [a short comparison between temple sacrifice and Christ's sacrifice], look for the coming city of God, praise and confess God, do good, share what you have, obey leaders, and pray for us. Good things for all Christians to remember.

Luke 14:1, 7-14 - Verse 1 sets the who, what, when and where of the following section: Jesus and the leader of the Pharisees, a dinner, on the Sabbath, and at the leader's house. The skipped verses are very similar to last week's reading from Luke 13:10-17 which is a healing on the Sabbath. You would think that the subject of verses 7-11 is about how to make yourself look good at a dinner party, but note that Luke calls it a parable. Is this a parable on "the first will be last and the last will be first"? Verses 12-14 are about true hospitality. It is easy to have a banquet for friends, but what about inviting the homeless and hungry to dinner?

May these readings enliven your interactions with our Lord. Praise be to God!

Personal Vestments or Not

Small Town and Rural (STAR) Churches are often very informal. The congregants often come to church in what some may describe as everyday clothes. Some may come in their "Sunday Best". I think that this wide range is wonderful. I would rather have people in church with whatever clothes they feel comfortable in then either no people in church or people in church with no clothes (laugh).

What about clergy in STAR churches? How well should they be dressed? I think this is a personal decision of each clergy person based on the traditions of their denomination and the expectations of their parishioners. Some denominations such as Lutherans and Catholics (which is not technically a denomination) generally wear robes, albs, and stoles every week. Other denominations such as Baptist and Assemblies of God do not generally wear those things. My problem: I'm United Methodist and we do and we don't.

Here is what I have settled upon: for most Sunday I wear slacks, a (hopefully) pressed shirt with a tie (or occasionally a quality pullover closed neck shirt), dark socks, black shoes, and a blazer (I have a couple). Occasionally I will wear a suit. I know that clergy women have a tougher choice of clothes because congregations can be more judgmental about a woman's choice than a man's.

On special Sunday's I wear an alb with a stole and cincture appropriate to the church season. Those Sundays are Communion, Baptisms, Christmas, and Easter. I also wear them for funerals and weddings.

My choices reflect both my congregations and my respect and commitment to Christ's Bride, the church. On the non-special Sundays, I try to look good in my work for God but not too distant from the people in the pew. We remember that Jesus' and Paul's ministry were to the common people and their dress was no different then theirs. On the special Sundays, the office of the minister is important and my choice reflects the importance of those services.

There is a little controversy over the use of stoles by non-ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church. While it is not dealt with in the "Book of Disciple of the United Methodist Church" (the document that governs the church) tradition as been that only ordained clergy (Elders) are to wear stoles. (Deacons have a different type of stole to wear, one that crosses the chest and is closed at the side.) According to many Elders, non-ordained clergy, such as Local-Licensed Pastors and Associate Members, should never wear a stole. I understand the tradition, and I follow it at Ordination Services at Annual Conference, but I also know that we are appointed to serve our parishes with all the authority of an Elder including presiding over Communion and Baptism. Therefore, I feel that it is appropriate to wear one. This is a decision that each Local-Licensed Pastor and Associate Member must make for themselves.

There is a alternative for Local-Licensed Pastors and Associate Members to the stole: a scapular. If you are interested in what a scapular is or in buying it, I recommend Gail Bird Vestments where I bought the one I own, a red one I use for Ordination Service at Annual Conference.