Everyday Saints

In the south of France there is a unique tradition. During Advent, santons or “little saints,” appear in shoe-box sized manger scenes, or creches, and are placed in the dining room or living room of people’s homes. These santons are clay figurines, just three inches tall, painted colorfully in period dress. Each carries a simple gift for the baby Jesus. These manger scenes do not so much represent the story of the Christmas night, but re-stage it, setting the birth of Jesus in the middle of the people of Provence. Each little saint has a specific role as they offer their simple gifts to the Christ child. They are everyday saints.*

            We think of saints as holy, other worldly figures, martyrs or miracle workers, dressed in white robes, who stand a part from the rest of us. But a saint is actually defined as a virtuous, kind, and patient person, who offers their simple gifts to the Christ child.

            This Sunday we will remember those everyday saints who gave their simple gifts to Christ, the church, and to each one of us. And in the words of the hymn, I Sing a Song of the Saints of God, we will sing to the “Saints of God, patient and brave and true, who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green, they were all of them saints of God and I mean, God helping, to be one too.” **

Rev. Terry Hanna

* The Art of Living in the Season, Sylvie Vanhoozer

** Hymn, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God,” written by Lesbia Scott in England in 1929.

The Five Solas

I Peter 3: 15 states:

...in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience...

What are the reasons for your trust and hope in God?

The 16th century was a time when the Universal Church was challenged to state the essentials of the faith. I am motivated by the Moravian core statement of faith: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, love."

The Reformation sought to unify Christians around five essentials, called the "Solas" (Alone). They are: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Scripture alone is our guide. Faith, grace, and Christ alone are our hope of salvation. To God alone is our glory.

We have discussed our mutual essentials throughout history. The Reformed Church provided Confessions and Creeds to help people understand Christ in the controversies that have occurred throughout the centuries. The Church is a body of believers that covenants to discern together how Christ is still speaking in our culture and in our communities. We have the hope of continued divine presence.

This coming Sunday, we will explore the meaning of being a church that is "Reformed , always being reformed" to the Glory of God alone. Reformation Sunday is a time to recall our salvation history, for: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (George Santayana).

                                                Joyfully sharing our family tree,

                                                Tempe' Fussell

Jean, I have two prayers...

Here is a portion of a morning prayer from a theological founder of our tradition, John Calvin from Geneva, in the 16th century.

...Grant also, that while I labor for the maintenance of this life, and care for the things which pertain to food and raiment, I may raise my mind above them to the blessed and heavenly life which you have promised to your children.

Be pleased also, in manifesting yourself to me as the protector of my soul as well as my body, to strengthen and fortify me against all the assaults of the devil, and deliver me from all the dangers which continually beset us in this life.

But seeing it is a small thing to have begun, unless I also persevere, I therefore entreat of you, O Lord, not only to be my guide and director for this day, but to keep me under your protection to the very end of life, that thus my whole course may be performed under your superintendence... Let your good Spirit conduct me to the land of uprightness.

Stories That Shape Us

Stories that Shape Us
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 
 

          In my office there once hung a picture with these words written in beautiful calligraphy, “I know the plans I have for you.” It was given to me years ago by a friend who sensed my frustration of not knowing where I was going in life with ministry or family. I am a planner. I think five years in advance and this was a time in my life when I didn’t know what the plan was! Yet these words comforted me with the wisdom that I may not know the plan, but God does, and this was a time to be still and trust God. And when I felt anxious, I use to say these words like a mantra, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, I know the plan.”

          This Sunday our scripture is Jeremiah 31: 31-34. It is a time of transition for a nation. In the mist of doom and gloom to a people living in exile, Jeremiah offers a word of hope. God is doing a new thing based not on judgment, but on mercy, accomplished not through our own efforts, but through his love. And in the midst of a transition in the life of this church, as we select a Pastor Nominating Committee, God is doing a new thing. The Lord has a plan for us, to give us a future with hope.

Rev. Terry Hanna

Important Things in Life

           In a local Karate school, there’s a banner which says, “Thousands of hours of training. Countless bumps and bruises. One black belt.” This statement reminds us that important things in life requires commitment, and perseverance. Important things do not come instantly. Nothing significant is ever quick and easy.

For example, change the wording and we have, “Thousands of hours of studying. Countless exams and attention to details. One diploma.”

Or, “Thousands of hours of nurturing. Countless bumps and conversations. One child raised.”

Or even, “Thousands of hours of striving. Countless ups and downs, with joys and worries. One life lived.”

            Perhaps it is too much to reduce our life to a single statement. Yet, this formula captures the essence of what we know so well: a genuine life requires determined effort. A genuine life does not come instantly. It takes commitment, and perseverance.

Too often though in spiritual matters we think matters can be settled instantly. People will advise us to “just pray about it,” or “just give it to God.” How I wish that matters of faith in God could be settled with such a quick and easy solution!

Of course, praying and giving to God are essential actions. Yet, praying and giving to God alone cannot remove the demand for us to commit and to persevere in matters of our life with God.

One day Jesus said to his disciples that God required them to do some difficult things, such as watch how you treat vulnerable people, and always be ready to forgive. The disciples responded to Jesus, “Increase our faith!”

Certainly, with such a demand it would help to have our faith increased, to have instant faith. It would be wonderful to be able instantly to treat others as I would have them treat me. It would be wonderful to be able instantly to forgive as God forgives. A quick and easy faith would be nice to have. “Yes, Lord, increase my faith!”

However, God does not give us quick and easy faith. In truth, God does not need to give us more faith, because it is not necessary. Rather, God wants us to practice and exercise the faith which we already have.

Now, if you don’t think you have enough, think again; you do! It is not really a matter of how much you have. What does matter is this: how much will you trust and exercise the faith in God which you already have?

Perhaps a better request than, “Increase our faith,” is this: “Lord, give me the perseverance to do what is right in your sight. Because I know it takes: Thousands of hours of praying. Countless times of standing firm and being gracious, for one goal: faith in You.”

Rev. Curtis Fussell

The Quilt

My grandmother once taught me a valuable lesson in life. One day, she hung a quilt up on a rack and asked me to step way back, and then she asked me a question: “What do you see when you step back from the quilt I am working on?” From a distance, I described what I saw: a large piece of fabric, the colors, and patterns. She then said, “Get up close and tell me what you see.” Up close, I saw something different: it was not a single piece of fabric, but smaller individual blocks of fabric that were hand-sewn together with intricate stitching, which together made the larger quilt. She said, “A quilt is not a single item. It is a collection of a whole lot of smaller fabric blocks that, when stitched together, form the quilt. And the quilt is only as strong as the stitching that binds the blocks together.”

She went on to say that people are like that. They are not a single item, but a collection of life experiences, philosophies, education, journeys, people, places, and things. If you stay far enough back, all you ever see is what is on the outside, and you miss a valuable opportunity to grow. To grow, you have to get close to people and see the individual things that make them who they are: their faith, dreams, desires, successes, failures, love gained and lost, compassion, and values. And by getting close, you allow the things of value to shape you.

But getting close to someone has its risks. Years ago, as I sat through a memorial ceremony for a fallen Soldier, her words came back to me as I watched a team reflect upon the impact their fallen team member had on their individual and collective lives. These were not people who sat back and observed each other from a distance. These were people whose very lives were held in a delicate balance on every mission, and they needed to know, trust, and understand each other. With time, their individual lives became intertwined as they trained, conducted missions, and socialized. With his loss, the realization was clear that the manner in which he chose to live out his life had impacted everyone. His laughter, sense of honor, commitment to the mission, and personal values changed those around him. Like the quilt, his life became connected to the lives of those around him. And their individual lives were better for it. 

And that is a risk we take when we let others in. Sometimes, in the most unexpected places, we find exceptional individuals right next to us at the office, at the table, in the classroom, and wherever our lives intersect with those of others. And with the passage of time, some of those lives build strong and valuable connections. Some become friends, mentors, and life partners. Their story, life journey, hard-earned experience, determination, love, inspiration, joy, and strength thread themselves into the fabric of our lives and change us. And it is a risk. But I believe it is a risk worth taking. And I think that, if taken, it makes us stronger and life more vibrant and richer. Valuable life lessons from a Kansas grandmother and her quilt, a valued part of my fabric of life.  

Rev. Dennis Hysom