Today in the Mission Yearbook - Struggling to right the wrongs of slavery

A ‘justice audit’ puts church on a hopeful path

March 31, 2020

Worship at Caldwell Presbyterian Church Courtesy of Caldwell Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, N.C.

At Caldwell Presbyterian Church, the walls of our sanctuary talk. The voices are those of enslaved African Americans owned by the Caldwell family on a plantation north of our city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Before emancipation, their forced labor, blood, sweat and tears created the fortune that was later given to this church to build its sanctuary in 1922.

Today, the walls of that sanctuary cry out for justice with the prophetic words of Isaiah 58:6: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”

After almost closing its doors in 2006 due to dwindling membership, Caldwell Presbyterian has come back to life as a 350-member, diverse and missional faith community. As an almost entirely new congregation, learning the hard facts of our church’s connection to slavery triggered a long, somber season of study and discernment. We studied how so many southern U.S. churches used Scripture to justify slavery and dehumanize people of color.

We’ve also talked openly, across the diversity of our congregation, racial and otherwise, about how Caldwell’s history makes us feel about the church’s past as well as our present life together. Those conversations are ongoing because they shouldn’t be rushed. These hard truths deserve deep thought and prayer as well as lots of conversations rooted in relationship.

But those voices in the sanctuary walls also call us to act. So, we are asking: How can we tilt the scales away from simple charity that leaves in place oppressive systems in favor of efforts that advance justice?

In 2019, we began examining everything we do in Christ’s name for our neighbor. You might call it a “justice audit.” We are asking new questions of ourselves, such as: How do we understand our identity as servants of God? What are our personal motivations for getting involved in missions work? What perspectives of privilege do we bring to this work that create blind spots for how we view those we seek to help? Are we willing to listen and learn, to let go of ill-informed notions about the causes of our city’s woes? Are we willing to be uncomfortable?

This hunger for justice will have us reassessing all we do. We will educate ourselves about the root causes of local social challenges and how they can best be reversed. We will assess our mission partners for how they view and treat their clients. Do they treat them as partners in the process of their rebound and recovery?

We still bring canned food on Sundays for the food bank. We still make sandwiches for the hungry. We still spend nights with our homeless neighbors at seasonal shelters. Those needs don’t go away. But while doing these things, we are looking to further help, such as using our greatest asset — our real estate — against our city’s affordable housing crisis. We will remodel our 12,000-square-foot education building into studio apartments for those earning less than 50% of the area’s median income. We will put our new neighbors, long on the outside looking in, at the center of defining what community looks like.

We will not stop listening to those other voices, those in the walls of the sanctuary, those forced to labor in the fields to make the Caldwell fortune. We know their names: William, Umphrey, Plum, Cyrus, Phyllas, Caleb, Lethy, Hannah, Henery, Nancy, Custis, James, Sucry and … Easter.

They continue to talk to us — and, as people of faith, we pray that we hear.

John Cleghorn, Pastor of Caldwell Presbyterian Church; Helen Hull, Elder and Chair of Missions and Justice; Lori Thomas, an Ordained Minister, Member of Caldwell and Director of Research at the Urban Institute at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Jeffrey Arnold, Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities
Molly Atkinson, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Lord, give us courage and patience as we become the people you need us to be. Amen.

WCC NEWS: Archbishop Anastasios: “Let us transmit from heart to heart the light of hope”

Interview with the Archbishop of Albania

by Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of Communication

Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania shares his perspective in this E-interview about the way churches are adapting, both in Albania and worldwide, to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we pray for the researchers trying to find a treatment, churches can also emphasize our duty to stay at home while, at the same time, freeing ourselves from fear and anxiety. We must find ways to assist the sick directly or indirectly, as we prepare for Easter, and open our hearts to the light of hope.

In what ways is Your Beatitude seeing churches adapt to life amid the coronavirus outbreak? In Albania, and worldwide.

Archbishop Anastasios: When we were informed about the spread of the pandemic of COVID-19 in Albania, we addressed our people (on 12 March and 17 March 2020) insisting that we must avoid panic, depression, and despair. We noted that composure, sobriety, and careful concern and constant discipline towards the instructions and health directives of the responsible governments are required of us. We announced that we were canceling all services in our churches, and we advised that the people avoid the traditional embraces, kissing of holy objects in the church, kissing of hands, and any physical contact. Every Sunday as well as on Great Feasts, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the chapel of the Synodical Center with closed doors. These services are transmitted on the radio station of the Church as well as online. Similarly, the ecclesiastical Services will continue in the other Dioceses in small chapels with closed doors. We advised those who are more susceptible, the elderly and children, to remain at home for a period of time. The churches will remain open during the day for personal prayer. Faith and love are the most powerful defensive weapons against the attack of this invisible virus. I know that many other Churches have also addressed their own faithful in similar ways.

In what ways can churches in Albania be a role model for others?

Archbishop Anastasios: We took some initiatives, sharing our ideas with the other religious communities of Albania. But it is too much to say that we are a ‘model’ for anyone. Every Church in the various countries has special needs and situations to respond to. We prepared a more general message (20 March) addressed to the multi-faith society of Albania which was published and transmitted by the mass media of the country. In this message we added that we owe wholehearted thanks to those who are tasked with maintaining public cleanliness, order, and information, and especially to the healthcare professionals who are on the vanguard of the battle for the care of the infected. We emphasized that while remaining inside our homes, let us not permit irritations and conflicts to fester, but let us cultivate creativity, a peaceful disposition, kindness, understanding, affection, and love.

We highlighted that all who are faithful, let us intensify our prayer for the period of this trial to not be protracted, for the recovery of those who are seriously afflicted, and for the spread of the pandemic to be limited. Even more, let us pray that God enlightens the researchers to swiftly determine the proper preventive and therapeutic processes. Something good will ultimately come out of this crisis and we hope that human societies will reexamine their values and priorities.

How can we protect lives? What can we, as church/religious communities do?

Archbishop Anastasios: Primarily we must emphasize our duty to remain at home according to the directives of the government and the healthcare authorities. We have to stop travels and circulation. Let us be vigilant that these measures do not lead to a personal isolation. On the contrary, let us strengthen each other with courage, prayer, words, simple acts, silence full of affection; especially towards those who are at greater risk.

It is important that in the conscience of the community is the awareness that the services are continuously celebrated in chapels throughout all the Dioceses, with closed doors – as symbolic candles. It is not only the coronavirus that is transmittable, at the same a freedom from fear and anxiety based on faith and love must be transmitted continuously with a joyful disposition.

What can we do when safe gatherings are no longer possible or when an increasing number of at-risk persons are unable to attend services?

Archbishop Anastasios: In countries where the Church has the possibility to provide television or radio feeds, we can enhance the transmission of the services though these forms of media while advising our people to follow these transmissions. Regarding Sunday School for the children, lessons and videos can be created online and shared by the parishes. The faithful can also create a type of home church for this period, praying the services in the small group of the family, and perhaps together with a neighboring family, in order that we may celebrate the services together. Another proposal is to create Bible Study Groups. Other opportunities include singing together and listening to Church music and hymns together.

What about 'stigma and discrimination’?

Archbishop Anastasios: It would be a great mistake to discriminate or place a stigma on those who are infected by this disease. On the contrary, this adventure brings them to the status of the ‘least of these’ which Christ refers to in his account of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25). Our attitude towards these new cases of ‘the least of these’ is our attitude to Christ Himself. We must find ways to assist the sick directly or indirectly; to help their families and children if they do not survive. Of course, we also are obliged to support all the healthcare professionals, who come in contact with the virus daily, and continuously express our gratitude to them through prayer and by following their guidelines.

As Albania confronts unprecedented challenges, what can the global fellowship pray for you?

Archbishop Anastasios: The common prayer for all countries is that we may pass this trial with the fewest number of victims. This pandemic creates not only infirmities, but also creates widespread economical consequences, especially devastating for poorer countries like Albania which has also recently suffered from the disastrous effects of a great earthquake. The pandemic is not local; it is global. Therefore, the response must also be with a global solidarity in order to have a ‘globalization of solidarity.’ The richer countries have a responsibility to assist the poorer countries, like Albania, that will suffer more acute consequences of the financial troubles and social problems.

Since we are in the period of preparation for Easter, let us remember that the crucified and resurrected Christ offered to His disciples peace and freedom from fear, promising them that He will remain with them through all tribulations until the end of time. We must increase this confidence in His presence and in the fact that He will not abandon us in our trial. Let us celebrate Easter free of every syndrome of fear and anxiety, let us resist.

This year we shall not be able to transmit the Paschal light from candle to candle - as is the custom of the Orthodox Churches. Let us transmit from heart to heart the light of hope and fearlessness in our Risen Lord.

Christ is Risen!

The WCC interview produced in collaboration with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania

More on COVID-19

Member churches in Albania

Archbishop Anastasios, the science lover who became an apostle of peace, WCC press release 23 December, 2015

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.

Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press
Our visiting address is:
World Council of Churches
150 route de Ferney
Geneve 2 1211
Switzerland

WCC NEWS: With the current challenge, now is the time to say, 'we believe in God,’ says Tveit

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit takes on his new role as presiding bishop of the Church of Norway
from 1 April 2020. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

After more than ten years heading the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit says this is the time to say we believe in God, "our shepherd,” especially in this time of the global COVID-19 crisis.

Following his time as general secretary of the world's biggest grouping of Anglican, Orthodox, and Protestant churches, Tveit will from 1 April officially take on his new role as presiding bishop of the Church of Norway, a church in the Lutheran tradition.

Tveit was interviewed by the WCC News and the Italian news agency NEV of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, the country that has suffered more than any country from the novel coronavirus, with around 93,000 cases and more than 10,000 people killed by the disease.

He describes the job he was chosen for as a "privilege" and “blessing," leading the WCC in challenging times, and says he is leaving feeling optimistic about the ecumenical movement.

"It is extremely important that the churches together are able to say, we are walking, we are praying, we are working together," says Tveit.

In his interview, Tveit speaks of "understanding how much our Christian faith means to people who live under huge challenges, also conflicts, poverty, but also living with lives like my own, but addressing the daily challenge of life wherever we are.”

He spoke of the importance of faith, "as we in these days fear that we will see something we have not seen before. We fear the virus. We fear the pandemic. We fear its effect on many people everywhere in the world, rich and poor."

More to fear for those with less

That fear applies particularly to those less privileged already and with fewer resources, less access to clean water, soap, health services, and also to financial support.

"When this will affect the daily life for many people around the world and even in the sense that it is a matter of life and death," says the WCC head noting that it is not a time to "speak easily and in a superficial way" about our faith either.

"But this is the time to say we believe in God, who is our shepherd, the God that shows his favour to us through Jesus Christ, who came to us and said, ‘I’m the good shepherd. I know mine. I know you.’ "

He notes, "For me, it has been very important to know that we are praying together and that they are praying for one another and also knowing that some are particularly praying for my ministry, and my tasks, for me, and my family."

Tveit observes that this life is the life given through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.

"The life for the world that we are then also called to and can share. I think there has also been a way of going back to the basics, to the basis of the mandate of the WCC, to the basis of our faith, and also to the basis of our human needs as one creation, as one humanity," says Tveit.

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit served as a general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for more than ten years. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

Below is the full interview with the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit:

You are about to embark on a new journey after more than 10 years as general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Can you tell us how you feel about it?

Tveit: I have the privilege to say that this was a blessing. This was a very rich part of my life because it was a call to serve the whole Christian family, particularly the member churches of the World Council of Churches. But also wider than that to serve; the work we can do together as a fellowship for churches in this world, for the one humanity, for peace, for justice, for reconciliation, for everybody who needs the Christian voice, for them to be honest, but also for them to be a voice of hope.

Can you assess this time heading the WCC?

Tveit: I think it can be said this was a time when we emphasized that we are one ecumenical movement, one fellowship of the World Council of Churches. We are one serving in different capacities, but also with different perspectives. But we are serving the same council, the same objective of being here as a ministry to the churches for the unity, and for the common witness in the world.

How did the WCC come out of this period?

Tveit: My personal reflection on this is that we have been through many challenges these 10 years. Some of them were related to the sustainability of the WCC; whether it is needed; whether it has confidence among the churches and our partners in the world. And I feel that we have come through this period with a stronger clarity about our mandate, with new ways of working, new ways of relating to one another, with a sense of mutual accountability to one another; but also to the mandate to the call that is given to us. I see that there is actually more need for the WCC than we thought, some years ago. We are now in a world that is in peril, a world divided in many ways. It is a world also where we see that religion is used as a dividing force.

What is the counter to this abuse of religion?

Tveit: It is extremely important that the churches together can say, we are walking, we are praying, we are working together. Like we did when Pope Francis visited the World Council of Churches at our 70th anniversary. For me, that was a sign of the one ecumenical movement, going through challenges and some would call them even an ecumenical winter towards a time of spring, of new opportunities, new possibilities and another focus on serving God of a life, who is there to create life, to protect life, to serve life, and calling us to do it everywhere and together. This life is the life given in Jesus Christ through his crucifixion, through his resurrection. This is the life for the world that we are then also called and can share together.

How do the churches go about working together?

Tveit: I think there has been also a way of going back to the basics, to the basis of the mandate of the WCC, to the basis of our faith and also to the basis of our human needs as one creation, as one humanity. We see also that in some of the church families, there are a lot of challenges. Some of them related to moral and ethical questions. But we also see a new willingness far beyond the membership of the WCC to say, let us witness together, let us witness in a credible way and let us do it by our words, but also what we do together.

Can that work?

Tveit: In that sense, I'm optimistic about the ecumenical movement at this point, both because we have gone through some challenges and we are finding new ways to move forward. And I think we have also been able to see we have to do this, as disciples of Christ following Jesus Christ, sharing our faith and sharing our faith in what we do together.

What about the ecumenical movement and other religions?

Tveit: The inter-religious dialogue has also got more clarity in this period in the sense that it is a Christian witness and the Christian witness to build relationships, to take care of the other and also to build relationships that the local, national, the international community can live together as one family with people of different faiths. We have seen that in some of the initiatives they have taken, for example, in Nigeria, together with our Muslim partners internationally and nationally to find an expression of listening to the wounded, but also to build hope together, for example, through the centre we established together in Kaduna.

What purpose does such dialogue serve?

Tveit: I think we will see that the inter-religious dialogue and particularly the dialogue that serves justice and peace with a clear mandate is very much needed. It's very much appreciated, if we can do it. And, it will very possibly also be a significant priority in the years to come.

What do the churches need to engage in such work?

Tveit: I've seen that the work needs support; we need resources to do this work. We need partners who have resources, who can resource our programmes and projects. We need human resources and good staff, qualified staff. We need youth; young people to be involved to build the next generation of the ecumenical movement. But we also need spiritual support to do this kind of work.

Can you elaborate on the spiritual support needed?

Tveit: For me, it has been very important to know that we are praying together and that they are praying for one another, and also knowing that some are particularly praying for my ministry and my tasks, for me and my family. That was very clear when I started. And it has been clear throughout these ten years that this gives another strength, but also another motivation to face the challenges. Knowing that we're not alone and that we do this, following the call of God.

Are there any other factors needed in such a quest?

Tveit: And these are also the words of accompaniment and support, I would like to leave to all who continue in these many functions in the World Council of Churches and in our partner organizations. Be courageous; find ways to express that we are really in this together and doing this together and that we're here not for our own sake, you're not here to find what is in this for me and for us. We are in this to find what is in this for others, for hope, and therefore serving ourselves and our communities.

Is that the only accompaniment a general secretary needs?

Tveit: I think there's also the time to say, of course, thanks to God; thanks to God for the call, but also for God's way of supporting us and encouraging us giving us always new opportunities, but also new ways of seeing signs of hope and being able to share signs of hope.

Can you expand more on your personal feelings about heading the WCC?

Tveit: Regarding my personal point of view, as a pastor, I've seen that being a general secretary is really also a pastoral task, to care for my colleagues, to care for what we do, what we say or do, pray together, from the perspective of how do we do this as true witnesses to Christ. But it has also been an experience for me as a pastor, strengthening my faith and strengthening my way of understanding; how important it is that the Church is one - the Church is one in Christ. The Church is a fellowship where we share when we strengthen our faith. And through these years, my own faith has been strengthened. It has come by understanding how much our Christian faith means to people who live under huge challenges, conflicts and poverty; but also living with life like my own but addressing the daily challenge of life wherever we are. The faith really brings a dimension of hope and expressed love. It becomes the way of dealing with life that brings us out of ourselves, but that we also affirm ourselves in the best sense as loved by God. And therefore, so a call to love one another.

How can that relate to where we are now?

Tveit: The Lord God's creation, and most of all, the true love of God; this is very important, as in these days we fear that we will see something we have not seen before. We fear the virus. We fear the pandemic. We fear its effect on many people everywhere in the world, rich and poor, but particularly also on those who are already less privileged; those who have less resources, less access to clean water, soap and health services and also to financial support. We fear when this will affect the daily life of so many people around the world and even in the sense that it is a matter of life and death. Then we should not speak easily and in a superficial way about anything and not about our faith either.

How can we face such fear?

Tveit: This is the time to say we believe in God, who is our shepherd, the God that shows his favour to us through Jesus Christ, who came to us and said, ‘I'm the good shepherd. I know mine; I know you; I see you.’ And particularly when we are called to face crisis beyond what we have seen. We have to remind ourselves, like in times before, that God's promise is the same: ‘I will be with you till the end of the days of this world.’ ”

How will this be in your new job?

Tveit: This will be also my task as a new bishop in my church in Norway and also as a presiding bishop, to be faithful in the call given to me, sharing the core message or faith in what we say, in what we do, in what we pray. But it will also be in how we bring hope to one another, bring courage and a sense of belonging to one another that can really help us go through the valleys of death. We hope that this will be a situation where we all can find new ways of serving one another; sharing in a fairer and more just way; and also build societies locally, nationally and internationally. That is really serving the whole of humanity, loving God's creation. And believing God is with us.

The WCC interview produced in collaboration with the Italian news agency NEV of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy.

A visionary missionary heads home (WCC press release 25 March 2020)

Church of Norway

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.

Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press
Our visiting address is:
World Council of Churches
150 route de Ferney
Geneve 2 1211
Switzerland

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Copyright © 2020 The Presbyterian Church in Canada, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are directly involved with the mission and ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (e.g., a congregation, clerk, national staff, regional staff, committee member, etc.) or you subscribed to the distribution list. Our mailing address is: The Presbyterian Church in Canada 50 Wynford Drive Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7 Canada

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Today in the Mission Yearbook - Challenged by God to do more

The decisions we make do make a difference

March 29, 2020

Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear. … For scoundrels are found among my people; they take over the goods of others. Like fowlers they set a trap; they catch human beings. … Their houses are full of treachery; therefore, they have become great and rich, they have grown fat and sleek. They know no limits in deeds of wickedness; they do not judge with justice the cause of the orphan, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things? — Jeremiah 5:21, 26–29

Jon Tyson/Unsplash

How long, O Lord? This anguished cry flows from the mouths of millions of beleaguered folks in this, the richest nation in the world. We hear reports of the wealth of our richest citizens and see on our streets those who have no place to sleep. We pass beggars at intersections with their cardboard signs asking for a pittance. Our star athletes are offered monumental amounts of money to play the sports we so avidly watch, and even those among them who grossly misbehave can afford fines in the millions of dollars.

We all are beneficiaries of the work of laborers, salespeople, clerks and assembly-line workers, who are paid at a scale that screams “injustice!” when the CEO is found to be paid in the top 1% of corporate leaders. Untold numbers of our neighbors are unable to afford even the most basic health care. Many, in fact, are forced to decide weekly whether they will seek medical help or eat a modest meal.

As Presbyterians — most of whom are at least “getting along,” and many of whom are doing far more than “making ends meet” — we are challenged by God to do more to impact the plight of those around us who struggle. We are called not only to be generous in our compassionate giving, but also to renew our commitment to change the aspects of our economic system that enrich the few and ignore the many. This system, called capitalism, is built upon human labor as capital, to be engaged at the lowest feasible cost, on the same basis that raw materials are obtained. The results are many working folks who are paid hourly and cannot earn a living wage.

And the questions before us are: “Where is the church of Jesus Christ?” Where are the Presbyterians?” Surveys indicate that denominations have lost much ground as a factor in influencing social, economic and political decisions across the United States. Yet our stated commitment to Jesus Christ challenges us to be engaged with the world — even the world of economics and politics.

We are in a critical time, when our political system is in turmoil. The question of how decisions are made by our political leaders is under scrutiny, and there are decisions to be made regarding how we as citizens hold our elected leaders accountable. These are faith decisions!

These challenges are not just national challenges. They face all of us as we work, as we order our personal and family lives, and as we join with our partners in faith to make the lives of those less fortunate more like what our compassionate and loving God wills for them.

Vernon S. Broyles III, Volunteer for Public Witness in the PC(USA)’s Office of the General Assembly

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Ruth Adams, Board of Pensions
Simone Adams, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Gracious God, we thank you for the faithfulness of your servants who seek opportunities to serve one another in love and with action. We ask you to bless their efforts and multiply their service. Amen.

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Today in the Mission Yearbook - Taking the road not taken

Step out in faith and be amazed

March 28, 2020

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.— Robert Frost

I hadn’t read this poem in years and so, when a friend recently included it in an email, it brought back memories.

It was during my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Manhattan that I was introduced to the work of Robert Frost. My supervisor, realizing — as I did — that I didn’t have a call to chaplaincy work, but was there to fulfill my presbytery’s ordination requirement, would refer to the poetry of Frost during our weekly check-ins as I grappled with where God was leading me. “The Road Not Taken” was his favorite poem to quote.

As if the daily grind of hospital chaplaincy weren’t emotionally draining enough, I was also interviewing with churches. As the weeks went by, most of my supervisory meetings were spent talking about the churches I began courting. Halfway through my CPE training, the church search was down to two suitors. And boy, they couldn’t have been more different.

The first, outside of Washington, D.C., offered great facilities, a healthy budget and a robust membership. The other, a rural church somewhere in the Northeast, was surprisingly forthcoming about its aging building, shoestring budget and graying membership. I couldn’t believe when my supervisor asked which church caught my fancy.

As I continued exploring the future possibilities with these churches, I discussed the pros and cons of each with my supervisor. Frustratingly, he never once offered advice. He just listened and asked questions.

As my time at the hospital came to an end, I was no closer to making a decision. One last time, I walked into my supervisor’s office for my evaluation. I was prepared for the typical scorecard detailing where my strengths were and areas to work on. Instead, I was given a heartfelt affirmation of my call to parish ministry. There was also a bonus. I finally received my supervisor’s answer to my question of “Where should I go?” The answer, though, wasn’t what I expected.

He affirmed a ministry I didn’t even recognize as a ministry, encouraging me to keep writing. No matter how busy life as a parish pastor would get, “keep on writing,” he typed in bold and underlined. He then advised me to never be swayed by what popular opinion might be.

“Trust your heart, even when your heart leads you to places that do not make sense to anyone else,” he wrote. He didn’t have to say anything else. That rural church was tugging at my heart.

He then put the evaluation down and, as if delivering a benediction, he sent me on my way with the words of Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

I left the crowded streets of Manhattan and placed my feet on a dirt country road that was foreign to me. It led to a rural church that many had said “no” to serving. I took that road and it has made all the difference — in my faith, my ministry and my life overall.

The roads less traveled are the ones that really do enrich your life. They are the roads where you meet the most amazing people and make the most precious of friends. They are the roads with little churches often ignored that, when given a chance to shine, can be a powerful testimony of how God can create something out of nothing. They are the roads where God moments are abundant.

I pray that all our churches have the courage to step onto the roads of ministry not often taken.

I took the road less traveled and it led to a life I never had imagined, that of a country pastor. I took that road and find myself now walking the same woods that inspired Frost when he lived in Vermont. And every time I see a fork in a road, I make sure to take the path I have yet to be on.

Donna Frischknecht Jackson, Editor of Presbyterians Today 

Let us join in prayer for:  

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Rachel Anderson, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Shelby Andrews, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

God of love and life, may we have the faith to dream big and not be swayed by popular opinion. May we not fear the potholes or the dead ends or the roadblocks that we will encounter. And may we remember you, the One who calls us and never stops guiding us safely onward to a destination we never envisioned. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Constructing a beautiful box to hold precious memories

Just what might that box look like? And what goes inside?

March 27, 2020

It’s been Ken Rummer’s joyful task to construct six keepsake boxes by Christmas. (Photo by Ken Rummer)

A box to put memories in. That’s my current project in the wood shop.

The vision came from a friend who was sorting through her late husband’s drawer of keepings. She wanted to pass some of them on to family, along with a few items she had saved over the years. 

And she wondered if I would I build a box to put them in. Well six, actually. One for each of the grandchildren. And for Christmas, still months away.

A box to hold memories — what might that look like? A jewelry box? A pirate chest? A strongbox for the Magi’s gift of gold?

She wasn’t thinking fancy. More along the lines of solid and hard-working, like her growing up on the farm.

We settled on a design inspired by woodworking legend James Krenov. Frame and panel hinged lid. Sides joined at the corners with dovetails. American black walnut for the wood, like the trees they had planted on their farm.

Laying out the parts on the boards with sidewalk chalk. Rough cutting. Jointing and planing. Trimming to size. Joinery. Hardware. Assembly. Smoothing. Applying the finish. The journey of a woodworking project is a path of a thousand steps. 

Cutting to the chase, or to the line (as woodworkers try to do), I delivered the first box . The friend’s response? Tears and a hug.

I still have some work to do. But as I trim parts to final size for boxes 2-6, I’ve started to wonder what I might put in such a box. What objects of memory might I select to hand on to my children and grandchildren?

From the treasures in my old cigar box, I retrieved some possible candidates: a silver tie clip with my high school mascot on it, commissioner pins from the two General Assembly meetings I attended, a scrap of shirt embroidered with the logo of the Great American Main Street Award our town won with a decade of effort.

I also found two second-place ribbons from the science fair, a Hopalong Cassidy pocket knife, and the Rip Van Winkle sculpture I carved from a bar of soap when I worked on the summer staff of a church camp.

The ribbon I received as a judge for Jesse’s Community Annual Pie Contest was in there, along with an advertising magnet featuring the dog listening to the old Victor record player and recognizing the master’s voice, a classic image that reminds me of my call to ministry. 

No final choices, but it’s a start.

How about you? What would you put in a memory box? 

Are there objects that have the power to make your past present? Are there links to your life you’d like to pass on to those who follow? Stories crammed into a physical form?

While you are thinking that over, it’s back to the shop for me. I have boxes to finish. For the memories.

Ken Rummer, Retired Pastor, writing for the Presbyterians Today blog 

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Andrej Ajanovic, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Monty Anderson, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

Let us pray:

Gracious and loving God, grant that our hearts may be filled at all times of the year with joy for the gift given to us through the child of Bethlehem. May our voices join the chorus of the saints in all ages who declare the wonders of your blessings. Amen.

Lent Devotional Week Five

"Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:31-33 LENTEN THOUGHT Through Jesus, we have the ability to access peace no matter what our circumstances are. While there will be suffering in the world, there is already victory. Every one of us has been affected somehow by COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. Starting with Wuhan, China, from an unknown origin, the speculation and uncertainty has caused people to be scattered and fear has at times taken over any sense of logic. As Christians who are facing this same sense of unknown we have a mandate: BE COURAGEOUS. This is the time to take authority over fear (Luke 10:19) and allow perfect peace to reign. It is an opportunity to show God's love to those who truly are suffering, those who have no relationship with Jesus and have given into fear. We can be a light in the darkest of areas and the darkness has to flee. Fear can not exist where love is. That is power that we have because of Jesus. CHALLENGE Let's reset our hearts and our minds towards victory. Let's allow God to talk to us about any uncertainty that we are feeling and ask him to put our focus on what a good Father He really is. So many people need the message of hope right now. Let's recognize that we are called to this time and place for that very reason. COVID-19 has no bias to race, creed, color, origin or financial status. It affects us globally for a season. Jesus' effect is both now and eternal.   PRAYER Lord God, you are the creator of the universe and yet you know exactly how many hairs there are on each of our heads. You are the author and finisher of our faith and we thank you that we can place whatever fears we have in your hands. Please open our ears to hear the promises that you have spoken over us since the beginning of time. Open our eyes and bring awareness to ways we can see you more in our every day. Help us keep our hearts open as you bring to mind those who desperately need protection and care. Help us keep our hands open so that you can use us to share hope and peace as we walk through the days to come in the victory that you have established for us.   *This week's devotional was contributed by Dori Donnell, MBF Marketing Manager. Thanks for reading.

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