The spirit that whispers

Notes from the Pastor...

When I was a child there was a natural anticipation that promptly took hold as my father and I embarked on our annual ascent into the dark attic to retrieve the Christmas decorations.  Before the tree was illuminated and before the stockings were set in place, my entire being pulsated;  like the pre-tremors of an earthquake I
could hardly stand the patience necessary in the delayed coming of beautifully wrapped presents.

Biblically speaking, “to wait” is to manifest the kind of trust that is willing to commit oneself to God over the long haul.  It is to continue to believe and expect when all others have given up.  It is to believe that something better is going to happen in God’s time than for it to happen on our initiative and in our time.

In Psalms we hear our call to waiting:

Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

[and]

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

It is my desire that we adults regain our childish anticipation for Christmas day.  After all, this is the adventure of Advent – it is a season of waiting on the coming of a beautifully unwrapped presence. It is our annual ascent from dark existence into the light of Christ!  It is the pulsating spirit that whispers within our being: “hope”, “peace”, “joy”, and “love”.

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

"Uh Oh!" gratitude

Notes from the Pastor...

The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice.  It is he who is most thankful to God, and who has a heart always ready to praise God.  This is the perfection of all virtues.  Joy in God and thankfulness to God is the highest perfection of a divine and holy life.
- 17th century churchman, William Law

On Monday night, Jack said his first prayer all by himself.  Since he was just a baby, Kristyn and I have always said his night prayers, hoping to form within him a spiritual habit, and before he could talk we would provide our interpretation of his nightly thanksgiving; praying things like: “Dear Jesus, thank you for Mommy, Daddy, and my teddy bear.”  But last night, upon our prompting, Jack independently said,

“Dear Jesus, thank you, uh oh.”  

In a brief moment of parental wisdom, I took it as a learning opportunity, and replied, “Yes son, sometimes that’s how prayers go.”

At this time of year, when we adults are prompted to gratitude we often have so many “uh oh’s” that we fear uttering any prayer what so ever.  However, if my inspired son is correct, we need not delay in distress; we can hold both confession and gratitude in the same thought.  As Shakespeare asserts:

Poor soul!  God’s goodness hath been great to thee:
Let never day nor night unhallow’d pass,
But still  remember what the Lord hath done.
- Henry IV, Part II

and so…

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the Earth.
… For the Lord is good;
       his steadfast love endures forever,
       and his faithfulness to all generations.
- Psalm 100

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

Happy Anniversary to Us, FCC!

Notes from the pastor...

On Tuesday, November 15, 2011,  you and I celebrated a milestone:
we have been wedded as pastor and congregation for one year – Break out the frozen cake!

The following are my first year observations and corresponding 2012 goals (as a preacher all things must come in threes):
1. First Christian Church holds a  distinct place in the Ruidoso communities.  Our congregation is neither conservative nor liberal; we are disciples who affirm Christ in the conservative, the liberal, and everyone in-between.  Our membership is inclusive and open to anyone who confesses Jesus the Christ; yet we declare the Bible as normative, respect Church tradition, and are informed by the sciences.  We say, “You can be a person of your time and place and be a Disciple of Christ.”  I believe our distinct place is appealing to many in our community, most of our neighbors are tired of divisions, and many are seeking a community that affirms their spirit while partnering with the growth of the Spirit in their life.
My goal for 2012:  May we embrace, celebrate, and exercise our congregation as an open, inclusive, and Christ-centered community of faith.

2.  First Christian Church is a growing congregation.  I perceive three factors to our growth: a) the
continual invitation of friends and neighbors, b) a warm welcoming atmosphere, and c) focused worship
and teaching events.  The pastor can only truly affect the third factor; therefore, the growth we are experiencing is truly the work of God and your receptivity to the Spirit’s initiative.  I do not accept that our
growth is a result of my first year in this community; rather, I believe that you and I will continue to be
stewards of the Spirit – utilizing each one’s gifts to better proclaim our Christ in word and deed in the
Ruidoso communities.
My goal for 2012: May we actively participate in God’s movement within our community – being
Christ to our neighbors.

3. First Christian Church  lay leadership is mostly derived from the core surviving group of longtime members.  This is both good and bad; it exposes a deep commitment and love, and yet this small number is excessively expected to fulfill the current ministry model.  Nevertheless, over the past two years, our membership has grown to include devoted attendees with unspoken ideas of ministry.  I believe that we are entering a time calling for expanded lay leadership.  I fully expect that congregational initiative will drive First Christian Church into new models and ideas of ministry that work with our core strengths and facilitates change within our weaknesses.
My goal for 2012: May we empower our expanding leadership so they may lead us in reclaimed, recycled, and renewed avenues of ministry.

This article is both informative and invitational.  We must build First Christian Church in 2012 together.

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

Pulpit Swap - an exercise in grace

Notes from the Pastor...

On September 3, 1827,  Alexander Campbell, a father of the Christian Church and Church of Christ movement, confessed a “deep and solemn conviction that the [Assembly] is the house of God  – the temple of the Holy Spirit  – and that [Christians] are, especially and emphatically, in the presence of the Lord while we are engaged in his worship.”

While First Christian Church and Gateway Church of Christ may have two different assemblies, we are brought together in the same Holy Spirit  – the motivator who prepared and enabled prophetic words delivered by Pastor John Duncan last Sunday.  I too sensed the Holy Spirit at work within my preparation and delivery to our brothers and sisters at Gateway Church of Christ.

The fact is our pulpit swap was an exercise in grace.  The “one Church” in Ruidoso may be divided by congregational style or worship and emphasized points of biblical interpretation; however, we must not be divided by an egocentrism that finds our tribe as “right” and another as “wrong.” A more open view of our brothers and sisters of different traditions leads to truer Assembly of worship and a clearer understanding of the presence of the Lord.

Church of Christ theologian, John Mark Hicks suggests that unity among believers follows from three foundational truths:
1.  Unity is a divine initiative, created by and located in the relationship of God to creation.
2.  Unity is enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
3.   Unity is the experience of heaven on earth.

Therefore, when the congregations and Christian individuals of Ruidoso practice unity, we become means of grace to one another and agents of grace to our community.  After all, First Christian Church Ruidoso affirms: “We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.” (Disciples of Christ Statement of Identity)

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

Guess What?!

We have had a full weekend of "2". Jack just celebrated his 2nd birthday and we simultaneously were celebrating the beginning of our 2nd trimester!

Approximately, May 3rd we will become a family of 4! We do not know yet whether Jack will have a sister or a brother, but we can't wait to find out!

One Church in Ruidoso

Notes from the Pastor...

Dearly beloved, brethren, why should we deem it a thing incredible that the Church of Jesus Christ, in this country, should resume that original unity, peace, and purity which belong to its formation, and constitute its glory?
Thomas Campbell, Declaration and Address, 1809

In the early 1800’s, two men  – Barton W. Stone of Cane Ridge, Kentucky, and Alexander Campbell of Washington, Pennsylvania, independently came to the conclusion that people could and should put away all denominational creeds, read the Bible without prejudices, and come together in Christian unity.  The harmonious message became a rapidly growing movement, and by the year 1860 the fourth largest religious body in the United States.  The congregations were known as Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and Christian Churches, and the terms were used interchangeably.

Sadly, the Civil War, and events between 1860 and 1930, splintered this unity movement into three distinct groups, and the three names come to define unique beliefs and practices for each of these groups.

Pastor John Duncan of Gateway Church of Christ and I, as Pastor of First Christian Church, with the support of our respective Elder boards, recognizing our common Christ and historical ties, will swap pulpits on Sunday, November 6.  Both Pastor John and I admit there are ideas, theologies, and practices that divide our two congregations; yet the things that divide are not greater than the One who unites! We affirm: There is one Church in Ruidoso, many congregations, but one Church.

I encourage you to worship with First Christian Church this Sunday; without hesitation, I assure you that Pastor John’s message to our congregation will, with the same breath, bless and challenge.  And if I find any of you at Gateway Church of Christ this Sunday, I will assume you are there to join Gateway in membership, and I will be the first to celebrate your congregational transfer.

May God bless his one Church in Ruidoso, and may our congregation embrace and be instruments of that blessing!

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

2 Years Today!

Be still my heart. 

This great love of ours is two years old today!

 He is showing you how old he is;
this is actually two fingers contrary to what it may look like.

Jackson Forest Arnold,
Every time you grow into a new stage of life,
we think we have reached the most fun, most enjoyable, best-laugh stage.
And then you continue to grow and take our breath away even more.
We could not have possibly imagined the great joy that would exist in our lives
because of you.
Also notable, this is the only time in your life you will be able to say you are twice
as old today as you were one year ago : )
We love you, Son!
Happy 2nd Birthday!