Zombies on Ash Wednesday

Notes from the Pastor...

At Lent our minds and spirits are better aligned to the tragedy of life and salvation that comes through the God who so loved the world that he could not stay away.  Through spiritual disciplines of confession,
prayer, and fasting we examine our existence to find something beyond ourselves; desiring the growth of faith within ourselves.  Wilfred Cantwell Smith defines faith as “an orientation of the personality, to oneself, to one’s neighbor, to the universe; a total response; a way of seeing whatever one sees and of handling whatever one handles; a capacity to live at more than a mundane level; to see, to feel, to act in terms of, a transcendent dimension.”  More simply, faith is pledging love and loyalty to God.  Therefore, if God so loved the world, then our love and loyalty, while aimed to God, is faithfully directed to the world, or at least the small portion of the world in which we inhabit.

Ever since George A. Romero's 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, zombies have a popular role in North American folklore.  A zombie is an animated corpse brought back to life through mystical means.  Irish theologian Peter Rollins defines a zombie as “a person devoid of anything but desire.”  It is something less than human, something that lives solely for the object of infatuation.  Without faith, we are zombies.  Without an orientation to something beyond ourselves we can only live for ourselves – devoid of anything but desire.

Yet God so loved the world that he could not stay away; taking on the form of true humanity, Jesus infected us zombies with humanity.  By means of Jesus, Godincarnate, we are no longer left to wonder through the tragedy of life, arms outstretched, desiring things, people, and ideas to fulfill our infatuated zombie hunger.  Now, through God’s love, our total response, our world-view, and our ability to see, feel, and act are set on faith – pledging our love and loyalty to God.

At Lent, we examine our lives, find the tragedy of our zombie-like existence, and confess that we can do nothing on our own to fix it.  At Lent, the humanity of Jesus’ fidelity infects us with human faith and the world we inhabit is changed.

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

Identity, Work, and Worship

A note from Pastor Ryan...

We are First Christian Church, an open, inclusive, Christ-centered family of faith.

How do we live into our identity?

The full power of a congregation, who embodies a family of faith, is released when the whole church has ownership to include and embrace all ages, from 2 months to 82 years, into the full life of the congregation.  This is the work of worship.  This is proclaiming, as we did in our reading and singing last Sunday: “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” (cf. Psalm 103); not: “Bless my soul, O Lord.”

The worship of Almighty God is one of the few, if not the only, foundation of our fellowship as Christians. Our worship events include song, prayer, The Lord ’s Supper, reading, and listening; all of Sunday morning is meant to draw us with the Spirit’s tether to one another and to God.  This is why First Christian Church will soon practice multigenerational worship.  Our music genre does not change; neither do our sacred texts, but everything we do must include and embrace all ages.  Distractions of any sort, whether they be coughing, cell phone ringing, children whispering, or babies crying, do not keep us from worship, as if external circumstances have that power.  If the followers of Jesus can worship in chains, in hiding, in sickness, in jungles (without air conditioning), in prison or in peril, First Christian Church Ruidoso can learn to worship with multiple generations.

Central to worship of Almighty God is active discipleship in the life, teachings, and passion of Jesus the Christ.  Static faith is akin to no faith at all.  Our spirits are forever inflaming in desire for what is hidden, by means of what is already grasped.  One sure way for the next generation to grow into devoted faith in Christ is by intentional practice and observation of discipleship in adults.  Worship cannot be taught, it must be caught.  Therefore, we all must engage in active discipleship; realizing that arrival will only happen when, in death, we come into Glory.  Discipleship is always self-sacrificing (cf. Luke 9:23) and multigenerational discipleship is no different.

Through the work of worship, the self-sacrifice of discipleship, and the healing of hopelessness, we participate in the Kingdom of God.  This is what First Christian Church does.  We are an open, inclusive, Christ-centered family of faith.  This is who First Christian Church is.  For our congregation to live into our identity we need you to be part of the family!  We need your prayer, your passion, your devotion, your stewardship, and your leadership; simply, we need you!

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

Celebrating Identity

Notes from the Pastor...

Who is First Christian Church?  

Is our reputation and identity the same?  

When I talk with visitors and people in our community I attempt to succinctly provide our congregational identity.  The statement I have settled on is as follows:

We are First Christian Church, an open, inclusive, Christ-centered family of faith.

Even though this statement is well received; sadly it is often a surprise to people who know us only by our reputation.  We’ve been called “the country club church,” “Alto Christian Church,” and “the old people church.”  Such statements may, or may not, have been true in the past; however, they are not true today.  From my assessment, we are more than our reputation  – We are Frist Christian Church, an open, inclusive, 
Christ-centered family of faith.

It is that last clause in our identity that is the most often misunderstood by our neighbors: “family of faith.”  In congregational life, we seem to naturally inhabit “brothers and sisters in faith,” or “friends in faith” more than “FAMILY of faith.”  With very little exception most of our congregation is of a single generation; thus, we fall short of the desired “family of faith.”

In the coming weeks, we will be discussing what it means to be a “family of faith.” Seldom do I directly request your attendance, but over the next two weeks,  February 12th and 19th, I sincerely desire everyone who considers First Christian Church their spiritual home to please come, worship, and see what God is doing in this place. I especially invite all the parents of children attached to our congregation; when we talk about “family of faith,” we have you in mind.  Further, I draft you, our faithful members, to invite families who crave spiritual formation in their child’s life.  

It is time for our congregation to proclaim and live out our identity  – we need to celebrate who we are, and our neighbors desperately need us to be ourselves.  We are First Christian Church, an open, inclusive, and Christ-centered family of faith.  Through the work of worship, the sacrifice of discipleship, and the healing of hopelessness, we participate in the Kingdom of God!  

Grace, 
Pastor Ryan

What if...

Notes from the Pastor...

Throughout January I was involved in the online continuing education course “Disciples History and Polity” through Phillips Theological Seminary.  Through course readings, class assignments, and online discussions we investigated the context and formation of the Stone-Campbell movement along with its contemporary interpretation in worship practice and church governance by means of its three related traditions: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Independent Christian Churches, and Churches of Christ.   I found the following narrative compelling to our congregation.

When you read the writings of Barton Stone, Thomas and Alexander Campbell, and Walter Scott you find within each a deep understanding and application of Scripture.  Eugene Boring says, “From the beginning, Disciples tradition has been public and populist, encouraging the investigation of the Bible in the clear light of [contemporary ideas].”  Yet in a concise survey of Disciples congregations today one finds a great lack of Biblical literacy.  Assumptions on why Biblical literacy has declined include: aversion to fundamentalism and televangelism, proliferation of affordable books of other genres, and the growth in easily accessible visual stimulating entertainment.  Consequently, while we have never thought of the Bible as only a book for private devotion, we have become individuals and congregations lost to the ebb and flow of culture with no “rule of
faith” to rudder our journey in community life.

It leads me to envision what First Christian Church Ruidoso will be like when we adopt a desire to know Scripture.  How will our individual lives be changed when we read the Gospels at the family table?  I wonder how appealing our congregation will become when we celebrate our existence as a safe place where diverse views can be discussed openly.  What will it look like when we become a church that is a sign and anticipation of what God intends for all creation?  Not simply a campaign for peace and justice, but a demonstration of shalom in the way our members live with one another, encouraging spiritual development, and providing credible and compelling affirmation and care to one another.  I am reminded of John Wesley’s prayer:
“What we need is a desire to know the whole will of God, with a fixed resolution to do it.”                      

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

What we most need is prayer!

Notes from the Pastor...

The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) begins with an affirmation of faith of the church throughout all ages; afterwards, we find these words:

Within the whole family of God on earth, the church appears wherever believers in Jesus Christ are gathered in his name.  Transcending all barriers within the human family such as race and culture … All dominion in the church belongs to Jesus Christ, its Lord and head, and any exercise of authority in the church on earth stands under his judgment.

These words are a powerful force in the narrative of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) tradition.  Through these words we promote a bold humility toward our beliefs and practice; knowing that the Church of Jesus Christ is found in varied structures, sizes, cultures, and disciplines.  Yet, like the disciples of old, we often dispute over “who is the greatest.” (Mark 9:34)  Jesus’ reaction to self-promotion is quite clear: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)  It is difficult to look on someone whose values and beliefs about Jesus differ and say, “You are my brother; you are my sister in
Christ.”

In fact, it is so difficult that throughout history we have resorted to violence rather than mutual respect.  The segregated hour of Sunday between 10:00 and 11:00 am is not only limited to racial divisions. Likewise, we are segregated by generations, socioeconomics, and ideas.  In the midst of our divisive practice of denominational Christianity we are reminded that we are called to a bold humility; to be “servants of all”.
For you and I to be promoters and practitioners of Christian unity, what you and I need most is prayer!

Therefore, this Wednesday, please join with Christians around the world, who in different languages and traditions will pray for Christian Unity.  By way of joint venture, the World Council of Church and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in the Catholic Church have selected 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 to guide our collective prayers.  Please join in!
Find out more at: www.oikoumene.org under: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

If this is true...

Notes from the Pastor...

It is fascinating that you can look at the life of Moses and say that the burning bush story is not all that strange.  In case you haven’t read Old Testament narrative lately, I think those who follow Harry Potter or the Twilight series would find Exodus and Numbers equally entertaining.  There are supernatural plagues, the peaceful passing of a waterway with the pursuing army drowned, the healing of those who look on a serpent lifted on a stick, and miraculous feeding of a nation on food that appears from the sky.  Like I said, it is fascinating that Moses’ burning bush story is not all that strange.  In fact, if all things are relative, then Moses at the burning bush could be compared to you in your home in an intense moment of prayer.

Maybe if we humanized Moses, saw him as our mirrored image, then we would find immense value in the stories of Exodus and Numbers.  The burning bush then would become a potential narrative in any of our lives…
A discrete sheep rancher finds in nature a beautiful happening.  She notices something that others may simply pass by, and she walks toward it only to sense its inherent holiness.  In a moment of mental clarity, she removes her boots and kneels, and without expectation the beautiful happening momentarily reveals God.

Yes, that moment is possible.  Yes, that happening takes place in peoples lives; regardless of profession – somehow, someway the holy intersects the human.  Church Father Gregory of Nyssa, when commenting on Moses at the burning bush, tells his listeners that Moses’ posture, along with Divine revelation, are possible if “we are established in this peaceable, non-combative condition; [then] the truth will shine upon us, bringing light to the eyes of the soul with its own rays.”

If this is true, and I think it is, then what will be the result?  Will you, like Moses, arise from the momentary intersection of the human and the holy, and go out to your family, to your neighbors, to your community and participate in changing the world?

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

A wise one once said...

Notes from the Pastor...

On Sunday, January 1, 2012, I ended my sermon with a New Year’s hope for our congregation.  Emily Dickenson said, “Hope is a thing with feathers.”  Sometimes when we stand back and look at the state of the economy, of politics, of world affairs and the lack of humanitarian resources, it is easy to let go of hope; to avail ourselves to saturating despair.  Then again, when we engage with others, looking our neighbors in the eyes and listening to their story with our hearts, it becomes easy to hold to smaller  -- individual 
hopes of reconciliation, redemption, and relief.  

Twentieth century American poet Harry Kemp says, “The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.”  As I look into 2012, I find myself dreaming, but unlike childhood fantasies, my dreams are small and relationship oriented; they have feathers.  After all, someone much wiser than I once said, “We can do no big things, only small things that make a big difference in someone’s life.”  How will you make a difference in the life of your neighbor in 2012?  In 2012 how will you be Christ to your son, your daughter, your sister, your brother?  How will you engage in intentional, life-changing relationships in 2012?

My New Year’s hope for you comes from Luke 2:22-35 and it is that:

You would come to realize the true and ever-challenging identity of Jesus.  That your narrative would be formed by the heritage of the One who brings salvation to all peoples, the One who is the light of revelation, and the One who is the glory to his people; simply said:

In 2012 may a Sword pierce your soul too.


Grace,
Pastor Ryan