Monday Morning Afterglow 5/19/2008

Dear Ones,

Monday morning reflection on the previous day's worship at St. Patrick's... Trinity Sunday 2008 led me to think about the readings for the day in light of creation and new creation. The long account of how God created the world in Genesis gives way to the Great Commission in Matthew 28 where God's plan to re-create the world is revealed.

My homily focused on how God made everything in the world--from people, to animals, to plants-- with seed within it in order for his creation to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. That is what the Great Commission is all about. Within every Christian is the Seed of the woman and Seed of Abraham--Jesus Christ--and God is planting us in the world to share Jesus with others. The thrust of the message was once again on evangelism.

The downside to yesterday was it was a cold wet day and attendance was down. In a smaller mission church, each week we have to try and have critical mass. Critical mass is a sociodynamic term to describe the existence of sufficient momentum in a social system such that the momentum becomes self-sustaining and fuels further growth.

If we do not have enough people in church on Sunday, the service lacks the energy and momentum to fuel growth.

In every church, and in every church I have served as pastor, there are circles of commitment. Pastor Rick Warren taught me this 13 years ago when I first read "The Purpose Driven Church." Warren teaches that in every church, the same dynamic Jesus experienced is re-experienced:

In a sense, every church has five different people groups related to the church:

• Community: Those living around our church who never, or occasionally, attend.
• Crowd: Those who attend our church regularly but are not members.
• Congregation: Those who are committed to both Christ and membership in our church family.
• Committed: Those members who are serious about growing to spiritual maturity.
• Core: Those members who actively serve in ministry and mission in your church.

Each group has unique needs, motives, challenges, and POTENTIAL! Our goal is to turn an audience into a work force for God. Which circle are you in at St. Patrick's? Churches gain momentum when the committed and the core circles increase.

The minimum commitment needed for a mission church to grow is CROWD. I invite you to make a deeper commitment to God as we all work together to sustain the critical mass that fuels the growth of our church!

Fr. Kevin

What's Up?

What’s Up?

A few people have written and aked me what is up lately. Good question.

As part of a 2008 strategy to make significant advances in our progress as a church, we are seeking a new home for our church. Our goal for a meeting location is to seek: 1. ) A more sacred space for worship in proximity to where we meet now, 2.) A space that will be more friendly to us to become visible in the community through signage and advertising, and 3.) A place where we can host a variety of gathering events throughout the year such as special services, speakers, seminars, concerts, etc.

Today we visted Amherst Community Church. We ask for the prayers of anyone reading this blog for God to guide us into His will and and provision for worship space.

On the work front, I have been working hard in my role as Director of Finance and Marketing for Monks' Bread and the Abbey of the Genesee. I am currently developing the 2008 marketing plan. Kathie also does a great deal of volunteer work in this regard for the Abbey. Our "free bread giveaway" promotional events we do in the five main markets for Monks' Bread (Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Erie, Binghamton) have resulted in good growth for the product. Our latest promo was at the Dome Center in Rochester at a Motorpsort Exposition on 2/1-2.

It is a joy and privilege to work every day in the midst of a good sized Trappist monastery. Each day, the liturgy of the hours is the hub for the Abbey's work of making Monks' Bread, and running a 2000 acre farm, retreat houses, bookstore, forestry business, online store, and the monastery itself.

I am reading a couple books right now. "The Diary of a Country Priest" is an old classic novel with deep insights into the parish work of a priest. I read this book in quiet contemplation. Narrated in the voice of the idealistic priest it explores his struggle to overcome the lethargy of the people in his parish. As the priest, whose name is never spoken, tells the story of his daily work, his parish becomes a microcosm for the universal struggles, griefs and triumphs of humankind.

I am also reading Kouzes and Posner's classic "The Leadership Challenge." I am ever challenged as a missionary priest to not only grow as a leader, but to train other leaders as the basic infrastructure for further growth of St. Patrick's.

On the personal level, Josh was up from Virginia to take Stephanie to a play for her birthday. They went to see "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the Rochester Auditorium. Kathie traveled to Chicago in December and New York City (Manhattan) in January to help a couple in the church with their business, and came home with the flu and is still recovering.

Last, please pray as I work on a writing project I am calling "The Things I Have Learned So Far." These are a collection of short essays I am writing that summarize the most important lessons I have learned about life and business in my 43 years. This project began when I was thinking about things I have learned in life that I wished my parents and mentors would have told me early on. I decided I wanted to write for my kids, and thus began the project...

Be at peace.

Kevin

The Grief of Dying to Self

Recent events in my life brought me to meditate on a concept I wanted to share with you--the grief that accompanies the spiritual process of death to self.

In the Church, we often use the term "die to self" to describe the decisions and processes we go through to say "yes" to God and His will, and "no" to desires that are contrary to God's will for our lives. In the 24 years since coming to know Christ personally, and in 16 years of ordained ministry, I have never heard a teaching or sermon on the grief that comes with dying to self.

When we say yes to God's will for our lives, there is often a loss involved.

There is much literature written in the realm of social science dealing with the emotions of dying and grief. The Kubler-Ross stages--denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are all emotions I have experienced in dying to self. Dr. Roberta Temes in her book "Living With an Empty Chair" describes three particular types of behavior exhibited by those suffering from grief and loss. They are:

• Numbness (mechanical functioning and social insulation)
  
• Disorganization (intensely painful feelings of loss)
  
• Reorganization (re-entry into a more 'normal' social life.)

It is my prayer that my thoughts in this blog will help someone who has been experiencing these emotions within the context of dying to self. Maybe a new Christian who has experienced the joy of salvation is also feeling the loss of old friends and lifestyle. Maybe a mother has become convinced it is God's will to forgo her career and stay at home and raise children and this decision while right has resulted in feelings of grief and loss. Maybe there is a seminarian who is preparing for ministry and under the surface emotions of loss are making you question your call. Maybe someone has left a a large church to become part of a CEC mission and while you know God wants you serving in your church, there are emotions of loss and grief following the changes that come with leaving a church to serve in a new context.

In all of these situations and many more, it is normal to feel the emotions of dying and grief. I encourage you to talk to your pastor and close Christian friends about your grief, and begin grieving the very real losses that death to self brings. The message of our faith is that out of death comes life. May the resurrection power and hope of God bring us to new places of faith as we learn to grieve our way to the death of self.

Peace and good things,

Fr. Kevin

Golden Compass, Dog, No Child Left Behind

Okay--Here's my analysis from a Christian worldview.

Movies: The Golden Compass seems to have raised the ire of conservative Christians for promoting atheism and denigrating Christianity. The media picked up the battle in news pieces like this. Personally, I think it takes as much faith to believe in atheism as Christianity. In America, proponents of worldviews, ideas, and religions are free to express them and people are free to oppose them, accept them, reject them, or care less! Movies like "Narnia" can be sold to one market and "The Golden Compass" to another.

So here's my rub as one of those conservative Christians. Why do Christian activist groups react to some movies and not others? Why one of the ten commandments over another (atheism violates the first commandment, but what about movies that promote theft, killing sexual promiscuity, etc.?)

Why is there such a reaction to an atheistic movie but not to atheism in other forums such as educational institutions? Personally, I think proactive efforts are far more impacting than reactive efforts anyhow.

TV: Dog the Bounty Hunter used the "N" word and the Arts and Entertainment Network dropped his show before The Rev. Al Sharpton's crusade could hurt them with lost advertisers. Dog, begged mercy at the Good Reverend's feet, yada yada, yada. He likes his paycheck and fame. God bless him.If Al Sharpton reaps what he sows, eventually a white crusader will show up to give the Rev. and his cohort a taste of their own medicine. Watch out African Americans in the media, entertainment, and public places. With what measurement you judge, you will be judged. Dog like Imus will be back...

Politics and Education: Is "No Child Left Behind" effective? Educators are on the minds of the 2008 Presidential hopefuls as they debate "No Child Left Behind." I love school teachers. There are four in our church and my son and daughter-in-law are teachers in the public schools. All of these great people are highly trained and capable of educating children, yet "No Child Left Behind" is tying their hands. State programs will not fix why children are having trouble learning. What has gone wrong is a major cultural and social phenomena--broken families and homes--something the government cannot fix by legislation.

While this may sound simple, teachers being surrogate parents and having to socialize children, then have the added burden of "No Child Left Behind" testing is not a solution to our children's educational woes. Education must focus on learning, not babysitting. Families staying together, living responsible lives, parents learning parenting skills, and teachers being free to educate in reading, writing, math, and science will be more effective than "No Child Left Behind.

Parents--you are ruining America when you don't provide a stable home with good solid values and morals at the center. Here is where non-profits, charities, and faith can do a better job than the government.


Kevin Baker

Those Who Walk In Darkness Will See Light

As the fires in California rage on, I am reading a book about darkness and personal growth. For me, 2007 has been a year of darkness with little pieces of light breaking through the dark clouds now and then. Today I am thinking about all those in California walking in darkness.

At Christmas we hear the quote from the biblical Book of Isaiah 9:2 which says, "The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them." Welcome words when we are in the dark.

What is darkness? Author Joyce Rupp says darkness might be any or all of the following:

1. A time in which the energy and focus of life is almost completely funneled into physical, emotional, or psychic pain.

2. An experience of being buried in deep sorrow and grief.

3. A discouraging and empty inner sojourn when nothing seems valuable or worthwhile.

4. A stage of spiritual desolation in which there is no sense of God's presence and little or no desire for things of the spirit.

5. A battle of indecision and struggle, when the unknowns and fears of the future press painfully on decision to be made.

6. A fog-like state when life is confusing, unclear, and seemingly impenetrable.

7. A situation with evil and atrocity which threaten to overpower or annihilate.

8. An excruciating time of helplessness in which one feels paralyzed or powerless to alleviate the pain of another.

9. An on-going negativity which brings with it a constant state of frustration, irritation, and dissatisfaction.

For me, darkness brings anger, grief, and fear. Yet, dark times come whether we want them or not. Darkness has taught me that it can be an opportunity for growth--to become bitter or better. The other truth is that eventually the dark night ends and the light of hope, a future, and better days does begin to shine on us again.

For all in California and for their loved ones around the nation impacted by the fires, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with you in this time of darkness. Let us all give to help those who are hurting.


Kevin+