Friends,
It has been some time since I’ve written in the “Pastor’s Pen” section of Contact, and as I was getting read to write this installment of the “Pen” I had a hard time deciding between four different subjects upon which to write. So instead of choosing between the subjects, I’ll try to cover three of the subjects as separate bullet points, and use the fourth subject to tie them all together. So here goes.
First, I am deeply grateful for the way in which the MPC family is supporting the Daniel family as we work through the process of making sure my wife, Anne, gets healthy. Most of you probably know that Anne suffered a seizure during our congregation’s annual retreat at Lake Tahoe. The seizure itself seems to be having no residual effects, but it is taking Anne some time to get used to her anti-seizure medication. Also (and more complicated), Anne will not be able to drive until late September. But during this time the MPC family has been wonderful. We have been flooded with offers to help—especially with driving—and we likely will take you up on the offers, especially in September, when the Daniel kids will be in school and I will be in Europe leading our church’s Geneva study trip.
Second (and speaking of Europe), this week, Montclair Presbyterian Church was featured on the German equivalent of National Public Radio, Deutschlandfunk. It turns out Deutschlandfunk has an international correspondent who lives in Montclair, and he was interested in writing about what churches have done to respond to immigration issues in the Trump Era. It’s worth listening to the radio spot even if you don’t understand German: you can hear our congregation singing, and there are quotes from me and from Martha Smith, one of MPC’s newest members. Here’s a link to a webpage where the show can be heard: http://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/religionen-vom-9-juli-2017-henry-david-thoreau-und-der.1278.de.html?dram:article_id=390570 Click on the audio player under the story called “Es gibt ein Gesetz, das größer ist als von Menschen gemachte Gesetze.”
Third, for the next few months I will be leading the Wednesday Noon Pastor’s Bible Study through the Book of Romans. I’m excited to be starting a new book in the Bible; this also is the first study of a book by Paul that I’ve done in at least a decade. Romans is one of the most important books in the formation of Protestant Christian theology and spirituality, and I expect to be as surprised by Romans as I have been by the Gospels and Acts, which we also have covered in our ongoing study of the New Testament.
Now I’m going to tie these three seemingly disconnected subjects together, by inviting you to join me on Sunday evening when I interview Katherine Ozment onstage at our church. Ozment is the author of a book called Grace Without God. The book explores ways in which nonreligious folk are finding the benefits of organized religion outside of traditional religious organizations. Reading the book I found myself asking why I’ve devoted myself to finding God within organized religion, and the answer can be found in the three points above. I have dedicated my life to church work because I want to be part of a community that cares for it’s members when they need help. I want to be part of a organization that, with faithfulness, is responding to issues like immigration. I want to be part of a group folks who are intellectually curious and who long to learn about great spiritual issues.
Thank you for being such a congregation for me and for my family.
Warmly,
Ben