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Ministry Musings
March 2008
Why does the date of Easter float around the calendar, varying
from year to year? In some ways it really does not make a whole
lot of sense. Unlike Christmas, this most ancient and important
of Christian holidays cannot be pinned down to one definitive date.
When Easter is celebrated very early (like this year), people often
become curious about the origins of this unusual schedule.
This is especially the case when we remember that the "first
Easter" occurred at the end of the Jewish Festival of Passover.
In fact, in most languages the word for Easter is a derivation of
the word for Passover (e.g. Pasque in French and Pascua in Spanish).
Passover this year does not even begin until April 20, so how is
it possible that we can celebrate Easter almost a month before?
The answer to this question entails a long and complicated history
involving astronomy, calendar problems down through the centuries
and church politics. Currently, Easter is designated here in the
West as the first Sunday that falls after the first full moon that
occurs after the vernal equinox (i.e. the first day of spring or
March 21). This was the ancient method preferred by the Church in
Alexandria, one of the most influential cities in the ancient Near
East.
There have, of course, been other methods. The Orthodox churches
in the East always followed the ancient Jewish calendar when it
came to Easter, ensuring that is always fell just after Passover
as it did in the Bible. To this day, that is how the Orthodox Easter
is determined. Passover, incidentally, is always celebrated on a
certain date in the Jewish calendar (14 Nisan). However, since the
Jews follow a lunar calendar with a 19 year cycle and seven (yes,
seven!) "leap months" interspersed therein, the date for
Passover floats around our western calendar, though again always
falling after the first day of spring.
If this is starting to confuse you then join the club. Personally
I have decided that perhaps it makes sense to have a celebration
of hope and resurrection less than easy to predict. Finding new
hope and life is always unpredictable and contains elements of surprise.
Perhaps the ancient "schedulers" were wiser than we thought:
permitting the date of Easter to be elusive and difficult to calculate.
Resurrections both big and small never happen when we might expect
them. Easter is about the possibility that the despair and sorrow
we all sometimes feel in this life can be transformed in a way that
we cannot entirely anticipate. Like life, Easter is slightly complex
and hard to predict.
Easter is about as early as it can be this year, coming only two
days after the first day of spring. I hope you will find the time
to come and be a part of the celebration - even if it involves donning
snow boots and mittens!
See you in church
February 2008
People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is
there any hope for them.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Up until a few years ago driving down a certain thoroughfare in
Salem on Saturday afternoons could be an ordeal. As luck or Providence
would have it, I found myself needing to drive along this street
around 5:00 oclock each week. And as luck or Providence would
have it, there was always a snarl of traffic in one particular spot.
The 4:00 p.m. Mass from a certain Roman Catholic parish was just
getting out at that time, with dutiful churchgoers attempting to
pull out of the parking lot.
It was not the traffic per se that was so frustrating, but rather
the driving. I was always amazed at the aggressiveness and the rudeness
of the drivers pulling out of the church parking lot. At first I
found it kind of funny that people, having just participated in
a worship service, would behave this way. After I while I just found
it ironic and irritating. The goodwill generated during the Passing
of the Peace clearly dissipated by the time folks made it out to
the parking lot. It was a little slice of the human condition served
up each week on Saturday afternoon in Salem.
I describe this scene not to poke fun at a particular church but
rather to illustrate a very real aspect of our spiritual lives.
Religious practices after a while can become rote and uninspiring,
devolving into a mindless habit. Their influence can remain segmented
from our everyday lives. This is a shame since the power of any
spiritual path lies in its ability to inform and enliven ones
life, to push and prod and encourage one towards becoming a better
person, inside the church and outside.
Every once in a while, I think all of us need a slight shock or
change of pace to invigorate our religion. That is why I like the
season of Lent in the traditional Christian calendar. These 40 days
that lead up to Easter are a time in which we are invited to shake
things up in our spiritual life. This can involve giving something
up (such as a bad habit) or taking something on (such as a new activity
or interest). It is a time when we are encouraged to push ourselves
out of our comfort zones to which we have grown accustomed;
to challenge ourselves as a way becoming more aware and conscious.
There are countless ways to do this. Read a book that speaks to
your soul. Take up a hobby or volunteer for something. Try prayer
or meditation. Work for a cause. Forgive someone or ask for forgiveness.
Go to church and actually try to sing the hymns! Or even, heaven
forbid, drive with a little more kindness. There are myriad ways
that we can jumpstart our souls journey. The trick
is to find something that makes you come alive and points you in
the direction of appreciating your life and the lives of others.
Lent begins on February 6, Ash Wednesday. I invite you to consider
adopting a practice for the season. And please, if at all possible,
drive safely and courteously after church!
See you in church,
January 2008
Recently my eight year old son asked me a question that caught
me off guard: Daddy, what is Santa Clause going to do once
the North Pole melts? In the news recently had been reports
about the melting of the Arctic ice sheet. The latest scientific
predictions indicate that it could be fully broken apart (during
the summer) in as little as 4 years, by 2012. This is the same Artic
ice sheet that has been a major factor in maintaining the earths
climate for the last three million years and probably a lot longer
than that. Al Gore calls it the earths air conditioner.
I guess I should not be entirely surprised by my sons question.
After all, he occasionally listens to the news with me and he has
heard me talking with others about climate change. If one hears
reports about the impending break up of the polar ice sheets, its
not too far of a stretch to surmise that Santa will need a new home.
I suspect more than just Santa will.
It has been a year since I first traveled down to Nashville, Tennessee
to train with Al Gore on global warming. I spent three days with
Mr. Gore and 150 people from around the country learning about how
best to present the urgency of the scientific reports in a compelling
way. Our planet is warming at an alarming rate and there is a 95%
chance or greater that human beings are responsible. In the last
twelve months, I have traveled around the greater Boston area doing
presentations on climate change to a variety of business, education
and community groups. I thank the church for supporting me in this
endeavor and giving me the time to do this.
I also thank the church for listening (sometimes tolerating?) my
occasional comments and references to climate change during services
and meetings. I know some of you think it is a bit much
so I appreciate your good will and forbearance. Ministers of this
church have a long tradition of speaking to the major issues of
the day. When I went back and looked at our history, I saw men who
held my office daring to speak out on the evils of slavery, on the
virtues of religious tolerance, and on the importance of womens
and labor rights. At times this church has almost broken apart because
of these stances and there are most definitely instances when some
of my predecessors left as a result of their advocacy on an issue
of the day. So I really do appreciate all of your support and encouragement.
If I am right, the challenge of climate change is going to become
one of the single most important issues for the rest of our lifetimes
and probably the next 100 years. I truly wish that were an overstatement
but it is not. The largest scientific panel ever assembled to study
anything, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, makes such
a prediction, emphatically. (www.ipcc.ch/)
All of us in this church, city, state and country have a patriotic
and moral responsibility to begin to reduce our energy consumption
and our emissions of CO2. This cannot simply be an option for the
well off and virtuous. It must be a countrywide response that enlists
every citizen of our blessed country. According to conservative
estimates, the United States needs to reduce its CO2 emissions by
80% by 2050. We actually probably need to do more than that. And
if we dont? I fear that our children and grandchildren and
great-grandchildren will truly hate us for the world we have left
them.
This is part of what motivates me here in 2008 to risk being labeled
a fool. I want to be able to look my children and grandchildren
in the eye and say that when this country saw the enormous problem
we created, we did something. All of us would benefit from imagining
similar future conversations with our descendants. The golden rule
extends not just across space, but also across time.
In the coming weeks and months, you will find in the newsletter
a variety of information that provides practical tips for reducing
your energy consumption and emissions. I cant think of a better
resolution in 2008 than to find a few specific ways to live more
lightly on our small, beautiful planet. Heres to the New Year.
See you in church,
December 2007
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations
afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and
their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Micah 4:3
I recently came across a report published by the Joint Congressional
Economics Committee of the United States (www.jec.senate.gov). Using
a series of fairly well accepted assumptions, it estimated how much
the United States has spent in its wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan,
most of which is Iraq. The study concluded that these two military
operations have cost American taxpayers some $1,600 billion so far,
double what many official budgets peg as the number. The worst case
scenario has that cost climbing to $3,500 billion in ten years time,
which works out to be almost $50,000 for each American family.
Admittedly, the report is partisan as it was conducted by the Democratic
members of Committee. But the assumptions used to determine these
numbers were well accepted. If you take the total cost of the wars
to date and add to that the current and projected costs of higher
oil prices, interest on foreign debt and costs of veterans
care and services, the numbers in the report start to become comprehensible.
I am not sure, however, that they become understandable.
If you are like me you cant resist asking yourself what else
we as a country could have done with 1.6 trillion dollars
or even half that amount, if you believe that some of what has been
spent was necessary. When we hear arguments against increasing childrens
healthcare and education, when we see cuts in veterans funding,
when proposals are dismissed which provide basic healthcare to all
citizens in this country, one cant help but dream if only
for a moment about what would happen if our country chose to go
in another direction.
In an odd way that is what this season of Advent and Christmas
is all about: this temptation to dream. If there is any time of
the year when we should let our highest hopes and ideals intrude
upon our daily life and world, it is now. There is behind all of
the hoopla and commercialism of Christmas, this hope that the world
can be better than it is; that peace is not just a ridiculously
silly notion, but an actual possibility, if ever so slight. From
the ancient Hebrews tribes to the Greeks and Romans right down to
the current empire in which we find ourselves, people
have dared to dream of the possibility of a peaceable kingdom in
which war is not learned anymore. This possibility, as naïve
and foolish as it might be, lies as the heart of our Christmas celebrations.
So go ahead: let your ideals get the best of you this season. If
God works in this life at all, it is in people trying to make the
world a better place.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas. See you in church,
November 2007
Some would call it a fierce love of autonomy. Others might label
it arrogance and self-righteousness. All would agree that the First
Church in Salem has exhibited a feisty independence streak that
has been the inspiration for our proudest moments and our worst
failings. As the original Puritan church founded on this continent,
we pride ourselves on our long history of congregational governance.
From our beginnings, we have fervently embraced a belief that we
can improve our world and our selves - and that no one can tell
us what to do!
Every once in while, this has gotten us into trouble. I refer of
course to what most people not from Salem think of when our historic
city by the sea is mentioned in conversation: witches. One of the
darkest moments in this churchs and citys history occurred
during the summer of 1692. We all know the story and perhaps grow
sick of hearing others talk about it and local merchants exploit
it. Often I tell people that the real history of this church and
city can be seen not in the events of the witch trials themselves,
but in how succeeding generations responded.
Ever since this pivotal moment three centuries ago, our community
has exerted its penchant for independence in defense of those who
were persecuted and who needed a voice. In 1793, our own Rev. William
Bentley was the first and only minister in Salem to welcome Roman
Catholics to town. In the nineteenth century, this church would
perform weddings for interfaith couples and baptize babies out of
wedlock when no one else would dare. We helped a local Jewish minion
purchase a building more than one hundred years ago - the beginning
of the local synagogue, Temple Shalom. More recently, we began openly
performing same-sex marriages three years ago with the legalization
of gay marriage in Massachusetts.
Our independence streak is on display this fall, in both historic
and contemporary forms. During November, the First Church will host
a production of Arthur Millers The Crucible, produced by the
Salem Theater Company. This is the first time that this dramatic
rendering of the Salem Witch Hysteria has ever been staged here
at the church. (See inside for more information.)
And just few weeks ago, we hosted a vigil in support of same sex
marriage and families. Billed as a service in which straight families
could come out and show their support for their gay and lesbian
counterparts, it was a night of child friendly speeches, music and
candle lighting. My own children and others attended. The First
Church spirit was truly on display. I was proud we could open our
doors to such an affirming and uplifting program and add our voice
to the growing chorus of communities who are taking a stand for
Gay Marriage across our land. I consider this part of our legacy
and very much in keeping with our history of promoting tolerance
and understanding. Our independence streak is alive and well!
We have a busy few months in store. I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving
and hope that all of us will find a few moments to count our many
blessings.
See you in church,
October 2007
Last spring the church hosted an unusual fellowship hour. It was
the brainchild of Charlene Long. A group of us had gathered to read
The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan, an amusing and all
encompassing critique of our countrys modern food industry.
Pollans describes in detail how large-scale agriculture has
become something of a mechanized leviathan that requires
massive amounts of oil, fertilizer and pesticides to operate. Food
purchased in a grocery store has traveled on average some 1600 miles
from original source to our dinner plates. There is a growing sense
that a food distribution system that is wholly dependent on petroleum
is not a wise long-term plan, especially since we need to reduce
our consumption of oil by some 80% in order to slow down and address
climate change.
So there is a growing movement to do something radical: shop locally.
Buy from stores and outlets that sell local food, thus reducing
the amount of energy required bring it to market. This idea has
slowly turned into something of a movement in the last twelve months.
Certainly this influenced Charlene Longs suggestion that we
host a coffee hour with one simple rule: everything served was to
be local, if at all possible. As a result, we had fresh produce
and cider from Brooksby Farm, milk and cream from a nearby dairy,
cheeses from farms just north of here and bread from a local bakery.
(The one obvious exception was coffee. Alas, God is not finished
with us yet. At least it was Fair Trade!) All in all, it was a fun
morning and a good example of how difficult and how rewarding it
can be to go local with our food.
Thinking about food always leads us to some fundamental considerations.
How we acquire it, from whom we buy it, and with whom we eat it,
are all questions that lead to a variety of social and ethical implications.
I think there is a reason that THE major ritual that Jesus handed
down to his followers centers around a meal. By sharing food, we
are connected and connecting even communing - with our families,
our community and the world around us.
Maybe that is why I like the growing local food movement and groups
like the 100-mile Meal project. (For more information, go to www.100milediet.org.)
It forces us to think anew about the many ways that our personal
lives are connected to one another and to the natural world. I suspect
that if Jesus were alive and preaching today, we might hear him
say something to the effect of Blessed are the sustainable,
for it is they who enable the inheriting of the earth.
Sunday, October 7 is World Communion Sunday. I hope you can come
and be a part of our service and our celebration of food and community.
See you in church,
September 2007
I have a modest gripe about my generation. Actually, truth be told,
my issue is with people my age and younger. Increasingly I think
young adults have forgotten how to be part of a religious community,
at least one that is real and not on the web.
This observation (admittedly subjective) arises out of my ongoing
interactions with young(er) couples who call or email me inquiring
about wedding dates or baptism services. Don't get me wrong, most
if not all of the people who call me are courteous and polite. But
many of them clearly do not appreciate the value of a religious
community like ours. Instead, when they call the church they treat
me like just another vendor for their wedding service or, if they
are calling about a baptism, as if they were making a reservation
in a restaurant. In both cases, they are surprised (and sometimes
a little irritated) when they do not get the date for which they
are looking - and they are puzzled when I want to talk to them and
ask them questions about their lives. Many of them quickly realize
that there is more to "booking" a service than just cold
calling a church.
I regard these conversations not as ordeals but rather opportunities
- I am given a chance to introduce these people to the role of a
progressive minded, engaging church in their lives. I take this
as an occasion to familiarize them with the First Church - this
grand old community that has been a welcoming voice for religious
tolerance and understanding for close to three centuries.
People these days attend church for a variety of reasons, but the
fundamental motivations for coming remain the same I think. Churches
are places where people are invited to remember their best selves
and to act accordingly. Churches are communities that worship something
other than the prevailing gods of the age, be it money or social
status. When each of us comes to church we should be reminded that
there is a presence and power far greater than any of us that sustains
and inspires us at different moments in our lives. We are better
people and the world is a better place when we attempt to harmonize
our lives with this fundamental reality in ways that are compassionate
and life affirming. Along the way, we sing songs together, hear
sacred texts, provide our children with a welcoming and nurturing
environment, have meetings, socialize and support one another during
both good times and bad. In short, as our covenant states quite
aptly, "we walk together."
So, it is very rewarding for me to meet some of these new people
and encourage them to come to church and participate in the programs.
After a while, you can see when some of them get it. They understand
the vital place that this church can play in their lives.
There is an old African proverb that says "if you want to
go fast, travel alone. If you want to go far, travel together."
As we resume our normal activity here after the summer break, I
hope all of you will make time to join us on Sundays or come to
one of our events this month. See you in church,
June 2007
We must cultivate our garden.
Voltaire ~ Candide
I may arguably have one of the nicest office views of anyone I
know. Each day I peer out my window, over the venerable brick wall
and into beautiful European style garden that is behind the Ropes
Mansion and next to the church. It may be one of the best-kept secrets
in Salem, used mainly by neighbors and occasional museum members.
The Ropes Sisters, who lived together and never married, owned the
house and the wonderful garden behind it. Upon their death the property
was left to the Peabody Essex Museum with some funds donated for
its perpetual maintenance and care.
As a result, every spring I sit by my window and watch as the Ropes
Garden comes back to life. The gardeners begin their slow and deliberate
work of planting this magnificent patch of soil. I watch as the
seeds are started in the greenhouse and the soil is turned over
and made ready for the many different plantings: lilies, Gerber
daisies, begonias, tulips, and a host of other plants and flowers.
And of course, I get to appreciate and marvel at how magnificent
the garden looks as it literally comes into full bloom and then
changes over the season.
A garden is a deliberate undertaking that requires care, thoughtfulness,
patience and time. It requires that we try to cultivate something
without the assurance that the flower will bloom or the plant will
mature to fruition. Cultivation is by definition intentional, not
accidental. So it is with our lives I think. One of the enduring
metaphors for the spiritual life is that of a garden. After all,
according to the Bible, we started there. It is an ancient metaphor
that provides a fitting image for our lives and our souls. Indeed,
the inner life is very much about cultivation and intention. Be
it prayer or meditation, singing or dancing, acts of individual
kindness or advocating for social justice, the soul grows through
intentional acts. As we cultivate our souls, we will discover every
once in a while a bloom or flowering in our lives, sometimes where
we least expect it. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "The purpose
of life is to grow a soul." It makes sense he would write that.
He was, after all, a gardener.
On Sunday, June 10, we will have guided tours of the Ropes Garden
after church. During the picnic, people are invited to take a tour
of the Garden with Chief Gardener Dexter Beattie. I hope you all
will be able to join us as we celebrate the gardens we have in our
midst: both outside and within.
See you in church,
Jeff
May 2007
In 1988, a televangelist from Virginia shocked the country, by
announcing his intentions to run for President and then winning
the Iowa Caucus. Pat Robertson surprised everyone that year with
his early first place finish that was the result of a hard-working
and energized base of evangelical voters in Iowa. While Robertson
would go on to lose, both he and his followers got a taste of the
possibilities of political influence. In fact, after the election
Robertson would return to his headquarters in Virginia Beach and
raise money for his newly formed Regent University, whose whole
mission was to educate biblically based leaders and decision makers
for the next generation. Incidentally, around the same time Robertson
purchased a satellite transmission hookup in Jerusalem so that he
and his Christian television network could broadcast the Second
Coming of Christ when it should occur. He believed it was imminent.
While there is nothing inherently wrong or illegal about any of
this, it should give all thoughtful religious people and Christians
pause. Certainly everyone has the right to influence and lobby their
political leaders and practice their religion as they see fit. However,
when these beliefs seek to have a major influence on our countrys
policy, everyone should pay attention. Amidst the scandals concerning
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the firing of the eight federal
prosecutors, is the report that the Bush Administration has hired
at least 100 graduates of Pat Robertsons Regent University
since 2001. This includes the Attorney Generals chief aide,
who just resigned a few weeks ago and was a graduate of Regent Universitys
Law School.
Many of these graduates have a disdain for the separation of church
and state and believe that this country needs to return to its Christian
origins as the Forefathers intended it - an assertion problematic
on several levels, especially when one considers the actual religious
beliefs of some of this countrys first leaders. Nonetheless,
Regent University graduates have recently been influential in crafting
Iraq war policy and cutting social programs, even as the national
debt skyrockets. It is stories like this that make this years
Bentley Lecture so timely. Kevin Phillips is a longtime political
observer and historian who has written a substantive and provocative
book on the undue influence of the religious right in this country.
He will be here on Sunday, May 6 to present a lecture based on his
book: American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion,
Oil and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century. I hope all of you can
attend.
The First Church has a long history of hosting events and programs
that speak to the larger needs of contemporary society. I am proud
of this legacy and what we have been able to promote and feature
with our annual Bentley Lecture Series. This is a community where
we are all encouraged to bring our minds as well as our hearts to
church preferably in the open position.
See you in church,
Jeff
April 2007
Throughout life one must continue to learn how to live, and, what
will surprise you even more, throughout life one must continue to
learn how to die.
~ Seneca, Roman Philosopher
We temporarily interrupt this normally scheduled monthly column
to bring you a special announcement: your life can change for the
better. Really. Your life as you know it can be transformed
even resurrected into something new and meaningful. That
is what the Season of Easter is all about: finding new life, sometimes
where we least expect it. Ah, but there is one catch to this message
of possibility and redemption: in order to find this new life and
possibility, some part of us might need to die.
Easter is a built-in reminder of this possibility inherent in each
of our lives. Easter and the preceding Lenten and Holy Week cycles
are ways of reminding people that their lives are given to them
for transformation and improvement; and with this transformation
comes the necessity of dying to a part of ourselves.
I once knew a wonderful and wise man who ran a camp program for
children. He and his wife had moved to New Hampshire after spending
many years in New York City where he had been a high powered banker
with a two pack a day habit and penchant for single malt scotch,
to put it mildly. Everyone who met him was surprised when they heard
his background, for truly this was an authentically religious and
kind man. To hear him tell his story, it sounded as if he had experienced
two lives and part of his first life had to die in order
to allow a second one to grow and take shape. In a sense, this is
what the Easter story is all about dying while we still are
alive so as to make room for something new to emerge.
I wish you all a very happy spring and Easter Season. We have a
very active month this April, between Easter events, Earth Day programs
and book discussion groups. I hope you can each find a way to be
part of our growing community.
See you in church,
Jeff
March 2007 - by
guest columnist Michael Mascolo
A Culture of Benevolence
A fish doesnt know its in water until, for some reason,
it is lured out of the water. Until then, the fish has nothing with
which to compare the experience of being-in-the-water.
People living in their everyday culture are a lot like fish in
water. We are not ordinarily aware of the immense importance of
culture in our lives until we find ourselves trying to navigate
our way through a different culture.
Well, something like that happened to me when I began to attend
the First Church of Salem. I have never been a church going person.
I first attended the First Church because of its importance to my
wife; I attended because I wanted to share in an experience that
was meaningful to her. I soon found that it became meaningful to
me.
For me, a culture is a kind of milieu of meaning. Culture exists
whenever any group of people share some way of understanding and
acting in the world. When I first began to attend the First Church,
fellowship hour and sundry activities associated with the church,
I found myself navigating in what was, at least for me, a new culture.
What I experienced was something that might be called a culture
of benevolence.
I remember the moment that this notion occurred to me. It was during
the 2005 Christmas season. Some members of the Church came together
one to embark upon an evening of Christmas caroling throughout the
neighborhood of the First Church. It was a small group. The caroling
felt like an act of collective giving (albeit only intermittently
appreciated by those to whom we sang) but that was not what
touched me. What moved me most was a very small act that occurred
after the caroling, when we came back to Church for mulled cider
and cookies.
It was the smallest of acts -- an everyday act one performed
without any thought of its possible significance. It was the act
of, well, washing dishes.
We drank cider; we ate cookies; we talked. Then the clan began
to clean up. Everyone began picking up plates and dividing the task
of washing dishes. One person collected the cups and saucers; another
washed, another dried and so forth -- all simple everyday activities.
What moved me was not the activity, but the way it was done. Each
person generously assumed responsibility for contributing something
to the collective effort. What stands out most in my mind was J.C.
making it her concerted business to collect those cups and saucers.
All that intensity over cups! Of course, it wasnt about the
cups; it was a genuine expression of J.C.s attitude toward
the group.
In these small acts, I sensed what might be called a culture of
benevolence -- each person acting for the good of others in mind.
Now, one of the important features of a culture is its impact on
individuals. Even in these simple acts, my participation in this
culture of benevolence had the effect of making me want to be part
of this collective effort. It made me want to act in ways that would
bring harmony to the group. I wanted to act with the benevolence
that J.C. exuded.
I was able to say to myself, Well, I should be doing that;
she is the kind of person I want to be! It may seem silly
to experience this sentiment while washing dishes together, but
perhaps the simplicity of the task is part of the emotional lure.
Perhaps it is through such simple expressions of kindness that greater
acts of kindness and compassion germinate en route to being born.
It is within a culture of benevolence that one is able to cultivate
a moral self.
And so, while picking up plates for each other is a good place
to start, this simple expression of good will is emblematic of something
much larger. The process of cultivating a moral self occurs best,
I think, when larger acts of service become as second-nature as
picking-up-plates. As genuine expressions of the self, such acts
would not announce themselves or seek praise. They would become
part of everyday life -- part of who we are and what we do.
Michael F. Mascolo
February 2007
Recently I have noticed a trend on Sundays at the church. People
are lingering. After the service ends (and admittedly this is not
always at 11:30. Ahem.), we adjourn into the Cleveland Room for
fellowship hour. This is always a nice occasion. In fact, I find
that new people who find the courage to come back for
coffee find themselves delightfully surprised with the level of
hospitality.
First of all, there is the spread, which is always nice with occasional
home baked goodies and a few favorites from Trader Joes (so
it seems). There always seems to be a delightful assortment of snacks
and bites - especially if you get back there early. Then there is
the fairly traded (and quite delicious) coffee and tea served up
in plated silver decanters and Blue Danube cups and
saucers, with nary a bit of Styrofoam in sight. Add to this the
glowing warmth and smell of the fireplace and a host of genuinely
friendly people and suddenly, there is a perfect storm
of hospitality. I actually am quite proud of our fellowship hour
after the service. I think it embodies (literally) an important
part of our theology and faith: it is welcoming, pleasant, and very
civilized.
And this warmth and good coffee is having an unintended consequence:
people are lingering. People find that they are having such a nice
time with pleasant food and conversation that they are staying a
little bit longer than they used to. And this is a nice thing to
see too. I must admit I wondered for a while if we should be doing
something with that time. Perhaps we should harness
all this fellowshipping and good will and provide a little structure
for those who want some programs to go with their caffeine and tasty
treats. I still think I might offer the opportunity for some small
group discussion for people who wish to delve deeper after the weekly
service. But even as I propose such an idea, I resist tampering
with the fellowship hour scene that is developing and growing. There
is something to be said for just having the opportunity for pleasant
conversation, for laughter, for sharing and exchanging ideas
all over excellent coffee.
The Rev. James Luther Adams once said the Church is the place
where you get to practice what it means to be human. Given
that Adams started off his ministry here in Salem, perhaps he too
experienced mysterious Salem effect when it comes to
Fellowship Hour.
In the coming weeks and months as we begin the conversation about
renovating our building, I hope we will keep in mind the goodwill
and growing sense of community we see on display after church each
Sunday. That is what the First Church is all about: practicing what
it means to be human by reaching out to ourselves, our community
and our world in acts of good will both big and small. Sometimes
this is as simple as handing someone a cup of coffee.
See you in church AND after church,
Jeff
January 2007
On Thursday, January 18 the First Church plans to sell a portion
of its silver collection at Christies in New York City. As
far as I can tell this is only the second time in our 377 year history
that the church has elected to sell items from its collection. The
first time was in 1924, when the church sold a few pieces to raise
funds for the construction of an addition on the back of the building.
The First Church and North Church had decided to reunite that year
after having separated 1772. Part of the agreement was that the
First Church would sell its building (the Daniel Lowe Building,
aka Rockafellas) and move down Essex Street to the North Church
Meetinghouse, our current home. In preparation for the two churches
merging, it was decided that a new social hall and Sunday school
classroom wing needed to be built. The result was the construction
in 1927 of a rear addition behind the original church building.
You know it well since we gather for fellowship hour and Sunday
school in this addition each week (i.e., the Cleveland and Barnard
Rooms and the class rooms above them).
Raising the funds for such an undertaking in 1924 required enormous
effort and significant contributions by members of the reunited
church. As it turns out, it also required the sale a few pieces
of silver.
So here we are today in 2007, with a new set of building challenges
and a growing community. Our building requires some significant
renovations and improvements. We wish to find a way to make our
church universally accessible. We wish to renovate and upgrade Willson
Hall, our wonderful downstairs social hall and stage area. We wish
to upgrade the lighting and sound in the Meetinghouse. And this
will cost over one million dollars easily.
Deciding to sell some part of the silver collection was no ones
first choice here at the church. I was initially opposed to the
idea. However, during a period of discernment many of the needs
and challenges we face in the coming years became clear. We are
literally fighting entropy one day at a time in this 160 year old
building. As a result, we concluded that this was the wisest decision
we could make right now. We have a growing community. We have a
wonderful message and an approach to religious faith that is increasingly
appealing to more and more people. The thought was that we take
a few items from our past and use them to transform our future.
The Deacons realized that the individuals who gave these items to
the church centuries ago would approve of what we have chosen to
do. In fact this decision is in many ways congruent with our deepest
values as a church. After all, the most valuable treasure we possess
is not a piece of silver but rather our community and the people
who are a part of it.
One final item note: several people in the last year have been
instrumental in this decision and I would like to acknowledge their
contribution. Mimi Ballou was the Deacon who first proposed that
the church consider this. Richard LHeureux is a church member
and architect who presented the church with a realistic estimate
of what it would cost to renovate the building in the way we would
like. Steve Palmer has guided this process as a Deacon and as Chair
of the Standing Committee. And finally Peter Copelas, Jr. as the
current Chair of the Deacons, has been instrumental in coordinating
the very necessary logistics for the sale, including the labyrinthine
application process for tax-exempt status under New York state law.
The church owes all of them a hearty words of thanks.
In the coming weeks and months, there is going to be a lot of discussion
about how we can best use the proceeds from the sale to improve
our building. I hope you each will take the opportunity to join
the discussion. A church like ours works best when all of its members
are engaged and excited about the prospects and potential for our
community. So feel free to call me or a member of the Standing Committee
or the Deacons. Ask questions, get involved and by all means please
support your church. That is how our community works.
Happy New Year and heres to the ongoing renewal at the First
Church in Salem.
See you in church,
Jeff
December 2006
Once upon a time there was a wonderful winter festival that celebrated
the birth of the Christ child. Replacing the even older festivals
having to do with the winter solstice, this celebration was intended
to be a time of joy and merrymaking amidst some of the shortest
days of the year.
The festival traditionally began on the eve of December 25 and
continued non-stop through to January 6 (Epiphany), when tradition
has it that the wise men showed up to behold the baby Jesus. Two
hundred years ago in this country, people took seriously the 12
days of Christmas. They would have prepared for the holiday by purchasing
some small gifts a FEW days in advance and making arrangements for
special food and drink. The focus was not on gift giving but rather
on preparations for a 12-day series of parties. People might also
have gone out and cut down an evergreen tree (a German custom),
set it up in their house and decorated it with garland and candles.
Again, all of this would occur on or right before Christmas day.
As I write this, it is not even Advent. Its not even December!
And yet, I have seen at least four Christmas trees just today. The
moment Thanksgiving is done, Christmas is out of the gate.
Christmas forever changed as our society went from being agrarian
to urban. The good will and generosity that were traditionally a
part of the Christmas festival were harnessed and transformed, as
Americans became consumers and producers. Our modern day Christmas
developed between 1820 and 1890. Not coincidentally, this was also
the time of our industrial revolution and the birth of the modern
era.
Dont get me wrong: part of me enjoys the current state of
Christmas, but I do wish it did not start so early. I think holiday
and election seasons have something in common: they are better when
shorter. I must admit that I often wonder if we have lost something
amidst all of the ersatz winter scenes of snowmen and Santas. We
can forget that the purpose of this holiday has nothing to do with
early morning shopping sprees, plastic reindeers in the front yard
and spray-on snow.
We do of course have this remarkable little story in which God
mysteriously enters the world in the form of a defenseless newborn
child. There is the implication that echoes down through the centuries
that the divine pops up in the least likely of places; like a war-torn
dirty town in a second rate province of the Roman Empire. There
is the notion that amidst the turmoil and stress of a sometimes
difficult life, there can be moments of jubilation, visitation and
transformation often when we least expect it.
We have a wonderful December ahead with much fun and frivolity.
I hope to see you in church so I can tell you Merry
.. On principle,
I just cant say it yet.
See you in church,
Jeff
November 2006
I read a story in the Boston Globe recently that four Catholic
bishops in Massachusetts (including Cardinal OMalley) plan
to lead a rally in front of the Statehouse on Thursday, November
9. That is the day that our elected representatives have scheduled
a constitutional convention to vote on whether or not same-sex marriage
in the Commonwealth should be legal. Apparently Catholic parishioners
from all over the state were mailed letters inviting them to this
rally and encouraging them to contact their legislator and urge
him or her to vote yes on amending the state constitution
to prohibit same sex marriage. It was even suggested that parishioners
send a copy of their churchs weekly order of service to their
state representative as a show of local support.
I find myself having two reactions to this: the first one begrudging
and the other full-fledged. My first reaction is to be impressed
that the Catholic Church can muster so much support and put such
a huge amount of energy and resources behind an initiative about
which they feel strongly. This country is amazing in that way. The
freedoms that we all enjoy to assemble and speak out in support
of a cause are great and hard-fought liberties. Any group, be it
a neighborhood association or an interest group or, yes, a church,
should enjoy these rights. So good for them!
This leads me, however, to my second reaction. There are so many
admirable and worthy causes that the Catholic Church could promote
and advance in this state. There are a host of vital and important
problems many of us face that are worthy of the attention and support
of four of the most prominent church leaders in the state. Same-sex
marriage is not one of them. Since the courts made gay marriage
legal in 2004, nothing dramatic has occurred except for the fact
that some 8000 couples who love each other have gotten married.
Some 8000 couples have all the sudden been permitted to inherit
each others property, be covered by each others health
insurance, and visit each other in the hospital without any hassle.
What an outrage.
There are so many worthy causes to rally for in front of the State
House; issues that should matter to people who take their faith
seriously. How about the lack of affordable health insurance in
this state? What about the growing number of homeless families who
cannot find adequate housing? What about the plight of children
lost in the woefully under funded social services system? These
are some of the important social issues that need the support and
attention of people of faith. I wish some of the most influential
religious leaders in the state would lead a rally about them.
Jesus in the Gospels criticized the rich. He said divorce was wrong.
He lashed out against those who treat children and the poor badly.
He spoke up for people who were hungry, in need of clothing and
in prison. Never once, anywhere, does he say anything about homosexuality.
In terms of making priorities, I think churches should follow his
lead.
We have wonderful month planned here at the First Church. I hope
you each will come and be a part of it.
See you in church,
Jeff
October 2006
In the United States, heat waves lasting four days or more have
nearly tripled in the last 50 years. Tropical diseases are migrating
north, with West Nile virus detected in each of the 48 continental
states. The amount of drinking water in the Western US decreased
since it depends on the seasonal snow pack melting and there is
less and less snow. Since 1900, the amount of pollen produced by
ragweed in this country has doubled as a result of warmer weather.
By 2100, it is estimated that one quarter of the known plant and
animal species could be facing extinction as result of changes to
their natural habitat. According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year
ever on record. These are some of the implications of climate change
that usually dont make the headlines.
I have given up debating the reality of global warming. The question
all of us should be asking is not IF it is happening but what will
be its extent and what are we as a country and as individuals going
to do about it. Is the science 100% certain? No. That is not how
science works. But if you went to the doctor and she informed you
that you were in danger of having a heart attack and that there
was a 98% chance that your condition was the result of your lifestyle,
what would you do? The same holds true with climate change. The
evidence is overwhelming that burning fossil fuels and the resulting
increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is having a dramatic
effect on the life support systems of the earth.
As thoughtful religious people, this should worry us. We have a
new category of sin all of the sudden: the sin of emission. In a
very real and direct way, the lifestyle of the average American
is stealing the future away from coming generations of people. This
is especially the case since the United States comprises only 5%
of the worlds population, but is responsible for at least
25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Do we have a moral obligation
to address these issues and find ways to move towards a more sustainable
use of natural resources? Is there an ethical imperative to act
now to save millions of people around the world who will lose their
lives if the average American keeps using energy and polluting the
way we do? If we believe in the Golden Rule, the answer is undeniably
yes.
Clearly, there is a place for religion in all this. After all,
one of the most important things that religions do is to remind
us to behave righteously when our inclination is to behave selfishly.
Houses of worship all over this nation need to call the people of
the United States to conscience. I believe this is just now starting
to happen. In fact, I spent part of my sabbatical preparing for
just that.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, the First Church will host a free screening
of An Inconvenient Truth, the documentary film starring Al Gore
that was came out this summer. What is remarkable about the film
is that a 90-minute science lecture can be so gripping. Even if
you are a not a fan of Mr. Gores, this is not a film to miss
since it deals with what will very quickly become one of the greatest
challenges and opportunities the human race has ever
faced. I hope you will consider attending this free event and be
a part of the ongoing discussion about how we as individuals, as
a church, as a community, and as a country will respond to the growing
climate change crisis.
See you in church,
Jeff
September 2006
Written by Reverend Jeffrey
Barz-Snell, Minister of the First Church
Though often not considered, one of the Ten Commandments is about
rest and taking a break. All of the others deal with the obvious
moral rules about theft, murder, adultery and even swearing. But
the fourth commandment is different: "Thou shall remember the
Sabbath and keep it holy." The Commandments, while certainly
inspired by Divine Providence, have behind them ancient wisdom that
accrued over hundreds of generations about the rules essential for
living in a community. That is why the commandment to keep the Sabbath
is so odd and so fitting.
It seems that even thousands of years ago, people found that they
did not have enough time in the day. They, perhaps like some of
us, found that they could get so caught up in the hustle and bustle
of everyday life and survival that they never took the opportunity
to step back and pause and consider the bigger picture. They found
that it was too easy to focus on the little things in life and forget
to pay attention to the grander aspects of this existence. Out of
such a realization, the commandment to remember the Sabbath and
keep it holy was born. ("Holy" in this case meant "apart"
or "separate.") On the Sabbath, the ancient Jews were
expected to attend a worship service and to remember their relationship
to the one true God. They were supposed to do no work and to spend
time with family and friends. The expectation was that the Sabbath
was not just rest but for renewal - and for remembering the blessings
and possibilities inherent in our lives.
I often find myself thinking about the Sabbath at the beginning
of a new church season. As we gather after the summer break, it
seems fitting and natural to think about the ways that we have found
and can find rejuvenation and inspiration in our lives. Part of
what a church does is to encourage this with enlivening worship
services and opportunities for fellowship and community service.
After all, part of what we do in our "walk together" (as
our covenant reads) is to remind each other and ourselves of what
is truly important in this life. As James Luther Adams says, "church
is the place where you get to practice what it means to be human."
I will look forward to seeing many of you again after this summer
season.
See you in church,
Jeff
June 2006
Written by Reverend Jeffrey
Barz-Snell, Minister of the First Church
Five months cannot possibly have already elapsed.
My goodness, that went fast! I guess that is a sign of a good and
productive sabbatical. I certainly have found plenty to engage myself
in even as I took a break from preaching and pastoring.
The last five months have been a true gift for me and my family.
I would like to thank the church and express my appreciation to
everyone who pitched in and helped coordinate the many activities
at The First Church while I was away. Building and creating a religious
community is by definition a group activity. It has been heartening
to hear about the ways that many of you stepped in to help. I hope
you all have found this time rewarding as well.
As for me, I have spent the last five months studying, thinking,
writing and, yes, even playing some. I took a semester of study
at Tufts University. I brought my kids to Florida for a trip. I
attended a conference in New York City. I read some books that were
on my exponentially growing reading list. Because my children are
small and my budget was tight, I stayed mainly near home. Perhaps
during future sabbaticals there will be time and opportunity for
outward journeys. This time my journey was inward. I took it as
an opportunity to study and explore a few of my passions.
The semester of study at Tufts University was part of a certificate
program in Community Environmental Studies at the School of Urban
and Environmental Policy and Planning. As many of you know, I am
keenly interested and concerned about local and global environmental
issues. I am convinced that ecological challenges are going to occupy
an increasing amount of our attention in this country and around
the world. This will be reflected in our society and by extension
our churches. In a very real sense, I took these last five months
to do some preparation for being a minister in the 21st century.
Sustainability has to become a part of our spirituality.
I will look forward to seeing many of you in June when I am back.
Feel free to give me a ring or try my new email address: jeffreysnell@comcast.net.
And don't forget about the Annual Question Box Sermon on June 18.
By next week, the Question Box will be out and looking for your
questions.
I will finish this column with my new favorite quote. It is by
the Rev. William Sloan Coffin who died a few months ago.
The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small
for anything but love.
See you in church,
Jeff
*** Note: Because of
Reverend Barz-Snell's sabbatical, the Musings Columns from January
- May of 2006 were written by members of our Congregation.
May 2006
Written by Max Burbank,
Writer and Member of the First Church
This Easter, my sister and brother-in-law gave me
a four pound chocolate Easter Bunny.
It's my first Easter Bunny and the largest I've ever seen, let
alone contemplated eating. It made me happy to get it, and eating
the one ear I've eaten so far has made me even happier. I always
thought those huge Easter bunnies would be pretty low quality chocolate,
but I have to say my Bunny is not bad. I anticipate eating it really
slowly, making it last as long as possible, maybe even until next
Easter. I anticipate that Bunny giving me a great deal of happiness,
as long as I don't get greedy.
I think God is in that Bunny.
I suppose at best that sounds small, and at worst sacrilegious,
with unpleasantly flippant being in about the middle. I mean it,
though. Sincerely and simply, because I believe God exists in, at
some level actually is, every bit of matter in the universe. I also
believe the only explanation for the simple happiness that Bunny
brings me has to be God. I think the fact that pods from a tree
can be, through some arcane alchemy, transformed into a four pound
chocolate Easter Bunny is as powerful an argument for the existence
of a kind and loving God as anything else. Again, I'm not kidding,
even a little. If you've met me, you probably still think I'm joking,
and yes, I guess I am. But I still mean it. This is the nature of
my religion, and it's a good thing I found The First Church because
now you know and you'll probably still let me stay.
Now, I know the way chocolate is harvested, manufactured and sold
can be a very unpleasant business. I have to say, my Bunny is not
fair trade. But that's not what I'm talking about here. People do
a lot of terrible things with the wonder of God's creation. The
fact they make four pound chocolate Easter Bunnies doesn't make
up for it, but that isn't God's fault. God made my tongue and my
brain and chocolate and the soothing dance they all do together.
I know Easter is supposed to be about a lot more than that. But
I never got a chocolate Easter Bunny before. And this is love.
To other people my Bunny is going to look worse and worse as spring
gives way to summer and I have to find a cooler place to hide it
from my children, who got their own Bunnies. By fall I expect it
will look downright awful, and when winter rolls around again ...
well, the less said the better. But it will be gorgeous to me, right
down to the last bunny toe melting in my mouth.
It was a lovely, thoughtful gift.
Maybe next Easter I'll get another. I kind of hope so.
April 2006
Written by James Tanch,
Deacon of the First Church
As I write this column, early spring is upon us with warm days and
cold nights. Mother Nature was very good to us this past winter
with warm weekends and very little snow after Christmas. With many
in the surrounding area feeling the pinch of much higher heating
oil and gas prices, the mild winter had to be a welcome change.
The First Church family, as we all know, continues to roll along
no matter what the weather. Our Sunday School is busy and our Sunday
fellowship hours prove that the First Church is alive and well.
Last fall, when the Deacons and Reverend Jeff sat down at the church
one weeknight to finalize plans for Jeff's sabbatical, I paused
and wondered what Sundays would be like without Jeff in the pulpit.
The thought of someone new in the pulpit brought a slight feeling
of uneasiness for someone like me who is a bit of a traditionalist.
Time marches on, and the Sundays arrived one by one, and what I
observed those mornings was that each speaker had his or her own
way of delivering a message. Some were conservative in tone and
some would really expound on an issue with raised voice and a good
deal of body language. Contrary to my earlier concerns, I found
most speakers very interesting and also noticed that attendance
has been surprisingly good.
As I mentioned earlier, I have a deep appreciation for tradition,
which undoubtedly is due to growing up in the First Church. My Grandmother
Edith, and Mom and Dad were all very active members and we rarely
missed a Sunday as I recall. We would all sit in pew number 103
with "Uncle Bill" Abbott at the far right. When I hear
certain "traditional" hymns and readings, I drift back
and think of my family and earlier times at the church. Those memories
I will always cherish. The church building to me has always been
a place of solace - where I can seek peace and listen to my inner
self. Having grown up in this church, sometimes just being in the
building can give me a warm feeling of security. If you've ever
sat down alone in the sanctuary on a quiet Saturday morning, you'll
know what I mean.
As for the building itself, we now have some tentative architectural
plans for some much needed renovations and improvements, thanks
to architects Richard L'Heureux and his associate Dan Ricciarelli.
We still need the congregation's support to make this happen, but
there is definite progress in the works. There will be more information
available at the Annual Meeting on May 7th, so don't miss it!
Have a great day and we'll see you in Church.
March 2006
Written by Claire Donaldson
These first two months of Jeff's sabbatical have been
interesting. I have enjoyed helping lead the service and working
with the visiting minister. Each person has their own style, their
own system of getting ready for service. Some arrive nice and early
so they can be ready and comfortable when it is time to start. Others
arrive a bit later, but are just a comfortable to start on time.
It has been a joy to hear a wide range of messages, backgrounds,
styles of delivery and stories from our visiting clergy.
What has been more joyful is to see many members of First Church
come together taking on a variety of tasks to keep our community
going. Individuals taking turns writing this section for the Herald,
Deacons greeting each visiting clergy, making them feel welcome,
the Pastoral Care Committee tending to the needs of church members,
people coming together to put on a spaghetti dinner, etc. This is
exactly what a church community should be able to do. This time
of Sabbatical is a time for Jeff to rest, learn, and grow. It is
also a time for us as a congregation to see what we are capable
of. Look at all we CAN DO! We are doing a wonderful job of keeping
things going, moving forward, and we can continue to grow with this
momentum.
See you in Church.
February 2006
Written by Mary E. Ballou,
Deacon of the First Church
As we enter the second month of Jeff's sabbatical,
I would like to reflect on how much our church has changed in the
last seven years. As a long-time member of The First Church, joining
when my five children were young, we had a busy Sunday School, roast
beef dinners, huge Church fairs, used Willson Hall on a regular
basis for community gatherings and Red Cross dinners. The "Fair
Ladies" were an active group of "younger women" in
the church with The Alliance being equally active attracting the
mature group. I was impressed with the eagerness of everyone to
participate in some way. As the years went by, our leadership changed,
our children grew up, and many of us felt The First Church became
a less exciting place to be. Our membership, or at least attendance
in church, declined and for many the need to participate and contribute
faded. It seemed to take a long time to rekindle the interest and
excitement we had once had. We sold our historic parsonage, trying
to keep up with the trends in ministerial needs, with hope of attracting
new leadership. We had several Ministerial Search Committees, and
each time hoped we had found the inspirational leader we needed.
Finally, seven years ago, I think we did, when we hired Jeff. The
church has revitalized itself. We still have a long way to go with
improvements to Willson Hall and the many needs of an old building,
but I sense the excitement and the interest in activities or at
least church. The Salem community has recognized us as an important
contributor of life in Salem and our membership has increased. Our
Sunday School is active and there is enthusiasm in supporting the
needs of the church and the community. Now our leader is taking
some time to refresh his spirit and learn new ways to keep The First
Church alive and well. We need in the next few months to work very
hard as a united congregation to keep the momentum going at The
First Church as all of us try to fill the many jobs that Jeff has
so ably dealt with in the past seven years!
Please offer your expertise in any fields that you feel you can
contribute and support our vital church with your presence and enthusiasm!
See you in Church.
January 2006
Written by Steve Palmer,
Deacon of the First Church
We at the First Church
are about to embark on a new leg of our shared adventure. Beginning
January 2nd, Reverend Barz-Snell will be pursuing a sabbatical leave
through May. This period will be a new experience for our society
that is at once venerable, yet young and growing.
The Sabbatical is a time-honored tradition among the academic and
clerical professions. It is an opportunity for the practitioner
to grow, to change perspective, to simply recharge, and to return
to the community with new energy. It is also an opportunity for
the community served to hear new voices, and to hear our own voices
in a slightly different way. And many of us will find opportunities
to support the Church in new ways, to perform rewarding tasks that
may not have been very visible under Reverend Barz-Snell's able
management.
The sabbatical is also a chance for us to acknowledge and celebrate
the growth and the successes of recent years under Reverend Barz-Snell's
leadership. Indeed, it has been many years since a sitting Minister
has remained with the Church for the seven years traditionally required
before a sabbatical is granted. This in itself is gratifying.
It is my perception that, during these recent years, the fabric
of our community has been knitted stronger, and if you will accept
the analogy, new colors have been added to the tapestry. This winter
and spring we will have the chance to partake in a festival of preaching
themes and styles. While I know we will miss Jeff's emergent voice,
I expect we will be warmed, enlightened, and, yes, challenged by
the words of our visitors in unexpected ways.
Visiting preachers are drawn in part because of our rich tradition,
but also because of the work Jeff has done, and the relationships
he has forged. Many of us will have the opportunity to welcome our
roster of guest preachers, and make each feel at home. This is our
charge.
See you in Church.
December 2005
I have a new favorite part
of the Christmas Story. Each year I seem to get hooked by one aspect
of the nativity stories surrounding Jesus' birth. One year, I thought
the angels were great. The next year, I identified with the bewilderment
of the shepherds. Still another Christmas, I empathized with Joseph,
imagining the emotional duress he was under. I even one year sympathized
with Mary and her pain and exhilaration.
The wonder of the Christmas stories (there really are two stories
- one from Matthew and one from Luke )- is that there are endless
ways to interpret them and find them meaningful. Some of the greatest
music and art in the Western world has been inspired by them: for
example, Handle's Messiah and countless portraits of the Madonna
with child.
This year, I have found my attention drawn to a less popular or
obvious part of the story. I am fascinated by the stable. Yes, the
stable. Part of it lies in the satisfying irony of the Prince of
Peace being born in a dirty, old barn. But it's more than that.
I like the stable because it is an apt metaphor for our lives and
our selves. Our lives can be messy. They have places and areas that
are less than clean, and need tidying. There can be parts of ourselves
that act like barnyard animals and need to be cordoned off and even
occasionally contained. And it is into this situation, that we find
God wanting to somehow enter the world - into our messy, sometimes
egotistical, less than pretty lives.
The trick of course is to make room in our stables- and not really
a lot room. After all, babies don't need much space. That is in
a sense what we are invited to do each year, make space in our lives
- our real lives - for the divine to work. This could involve a
variety of things or activities. Giving gifts and helping those
less fortunate are two traditional ones. Forgiving someone or asking
forgiveness is another. Giving up a bad or dangerous habit and reaching
out to someone who needs you work well too. People assume that being
spiritual means becoming a saint-like figure. It does not work that
way. Real spirituality involves simply making room for goodness
or God in your life and then seeing what happens as a result.
As we enter this season of contemplation and celebration, I wish
you a very Merry Christmas. See you in church
November 2005
Gratitude is not only
the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
~Cicero
I once knew a man who claimed that he did not believe in God. I
know there are a lot of people like him running around. (If truth
be told, what he really meant was that he did not believe in the
God of his childhood - but who does?) Oddly enough, he still participated
in a religious community on a regular basis - a UU church. He did
this because while he was unsure about the existence of a divine
being, he was sure about his life: he felt blessed. He had gone
through several difficult times in his life: an illness, the death
of his mother, a job loss. Yet he had come through them all and
felt somehow fortunate for his situation. He loved his spouse and
his children. He had a good job that was rewarding and meaningful
(at least most of the time). He owned a house, enjoyed good health,
and even had decent health insurance. In short, he was better off
than 90% of the people on this planet.
The only unusual thing about this fellow was that he seemed keenly
aware of the many blessings he enjoyed. He saw his life as a series
of gifts, not givens. As a result, he felt compelled to give thanks.
His way of doing it was being a part of a church and volunteering
in the community. He was not always sure what he was doing on Sunday
morning, but he knew WHY he was doing it. The universe had been
"friendly" to him and he wanted to say thank you and find
a way to reciprocate.
I always think about this man and others like him as we head into
November and the Thanksgiving holiday. A fundamental aspect of all
religious exploration and activity lies in counting one's blessings
and giving thanks. As the Roman philosopher and statesman said 2000
years ago, "Gratitude is
the greatest of all virtues
and
the parent of all the others." In a sense, giving
thanks prevents us from feeling entitled, from the errant belief
that we have earned our lot in life. All of us, from time to time,
would benefit from remembering this, myself included.
We enter a very active season here at the First Church. I wish
you all a very happy Thanksgiving and hope that each of us will
take time to count our many blessings.
See you in church,
October 2005
One of the things that inspires
me as a person of faith is thinking about the world in 100 years
from now. Doing this forces one to realize that of us who are alive
right now are just "passing through." We in fact are not
owners but merely tenants, even transients. One of the questions
that can come out of this line of reasoning is what sort of world
am I - and can I - leave to my children and to the succeeding generations.
This is especially the case as we think about climate change. In
the last four weeks, two major hurricanes slammed the Gulf Coast.
There is increasing concern that the number and severity of tropical
storms could be related to global climate change caused by excessive
amounts carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere. As I write
this, there is a new study out reporting that the arctic ice sheet
that covers the ocean near the north pole has melted more this last
year than in 25 years of monitoring, again the result of presumed
global warming.
Years from now, I dare suspect, that people will wonder what those
of us who are alive right now were thinking? Didn't we see the signs?
What did we do? Why did we not change our ways quickly?
While there are some who point out that global warming has not
been proven conclusively, their numbers are decreasing. We simply
do not have the luxury of being "innocent until proven guilty"
on an issue like this. It might be too late to do anything by then.
What is clear is that as the climate warms up, those people who
will be most affected and injured will be the poor and uneducated.
We need only consider what happened in New Orleans to see a case
in point. What also is clear is that churches and organized religion
in general could and should have a part to play in addressing this
issue. Indeed, there is a growing movement amongst seminaries and
universities to articulate "greener" interpretations of
religion. I call it the challenge of doing theology on a small planet.
On Thursday, October 20, the local environmental advocacy group
Healthlink is sponsoring a forum entitled "Caring for Creation
and Global Warming- Linking the Religious Communities to Solutions."
It will be a gathering of people from many different religious traditions
all wondering how they might respond to the challenges of climate
change. I myself will be participating as will my colleague, Rabbi
Lee Levin from Temple Shalom here in Salem.
Join us for an evening of exploration and inspiration as we hear
different ways that religious communities are responding to the
threat of global warming. Everything from wind farms to driving
more fuel efficient cars to agitating for change at a state and
federal level will be discussed.
It is high time that people start to see that the global warming
is not just an economic problem, but a moral and religious one as
well. All of us in the coming years and decades are going to have
to come to terms with the difference between ownership and stewardship
when it comes to living on this increasingly small planet.
See you in church,
September 2005
Recently we were reminded
of the problem that can come from fundamentalist religion in this
country. The Rev. Pat Robertson, the longtimehost
of the 700 Club and one of the early televangelists, stated that
the U.S. government should assassinate Hugo Chavez, the controversial
president of Venezuela. Those of us who have followed Mr. Robertson
were not at all surprised by his statement. After all, this is the
man who stated earlier this year that the threat from activist judges
in this country far exceeds the menace of a few Islamic terrorists
flying planes into towers. Years ago, Robertson also took credit
for averting a hurricane that was headed towards the Virginia coastline
where he lives and works.
So his recent words this week were not that remarkable. What was
notable however was the reaction. Robertson's words reverberated
around the globe as various countries and commentators expressed
shock that a Christian minister in the United States would brazenly
endorse the assassination of a head of state (one who had been democratically
elected - three times ). After all, doesn't this fly in the face
of the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus? To his credit,
Mr. Robertson's organization did issue a retraction of sorts on
their website - what they called a clarification.
Still, this is just another example of how the Christian Right
in this country does not always seem that Christian. Rather than
basing their theology on the teachings of Jesus, groups like Robertson's
and others appeal to nationalism, to say nothing of a literal AND
selective interpretation of the Bible. As a result, they can sometimes
promote a mean spirited and politically problematic worldview. And
heaven help us (literally) if their influence continues to increase
in the Halls of Congress.
At times like this, I realize how important a church like this
is, with a religious tradition and practice committed to a thoughtful
interpretation of scripture and to progressive social action. And
this commitment is alive and well this month with our Bentley Lecture.
On Sunday, September 25, the First Church will host the internationally
acclaimed biblical scholar, John Dominic Crossan. The author of
several books about early Christianity, Professor Crossan has distinguished
himself as a person who can bring modern biblical scholarship to
life and show how it can be applied to our modern situation. Crossan
will deliver three lectures on Saturday, September 24 and then the
Bentley Lecture on Sunday. For more information, see inside or check
out the church's website. To reserve tickets, call the church office.
See you in church,
June 2005
You will forgive me if I
take a moment to gloat about the First Church. I went back and looked
at an old church calendar. In June of 1999, we had four Sunday services
and three meetings, for the Archives, Standing and Music Committees
respectively. That was it in the way of church events and functions.
Following longstanding church practice, the slow slide to July break
had begun with Memorial Day Weekend. That was then, however. This
is now.
If you look through this newsletter, you will behold a plethora
of events and items to engage and enliven one's body, mind and soul.
We have a hike in the Salem Woods scheduled. We have a Spring Pageant
performance, Jonah and the Whale, written and directed by our own
Max Burbank. On the same day we have our Folk Choir Service led
by the indefatigable Deb Baker. This is followed of course by the
church picnic (sign up sheet in the Barnard Room). The following
week, we have RE Sunday, the Question Box Sermon (get those questions
in!) and we will be graced with the presence of our First Church
choir. And I am just talking about Sundays!
During the week, we have a screening of a documentary film called
Thirst sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
and the Salem Alliance for the Environment. It looks at the alarming
trend of the privatization of fresh water. This is followed by an
Elizabeth Montgomery Film Series for the last three Thursdays in
June. This last event is sponsored by The First Church and Salem
State College and is a blatant attempt to make "lemonade out
of lemons" regarding the new Bewitched statue that will be
unveiled in Salem center the middle of this month. If the City of
Salem is going to put a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery in Salem,
we thought it only makes sense to look at the issues that she believed
were important.
Yes, we will have our traditional break in July, but not before
a whale of time in June. I wish you all a happy, warm and sunny
month. See in you in church -
May 2005
Imagine, if you will, living
in a house that your family has owned for two centuries, on land
that has been in your family for even longer. That is not such a
hard thing to do here in a place with such history like Salem. Now
imagine that one day you receive a knock at the door and are informed
that someone else is all of the sudden the owner of the house and
land. You are asked to vacate the premises. When you ask how this
could possibly be the case, you are informed that these people are
the descendants of the previous owners of the land and that they
have made a legal claim to owning your house and property as a result.
While it has been several hundreds of years, they have returned
to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs.
The question, of course, is what would you do? Would you cede control
without an argument? Would you argue or fight for what has been
yours? Would it matter that the government was overwhelmingly on
the side of those who wanted to take your house?
What I have just described to you is the sentiment and experience
of some of the traditional people who have lived on the West Bank
and Gaza Strip in Israel. Before Israel became a nation state in
1948, before there were the prospects of a Jewish or Palestinian
nation, there were people living on the lands now occupied in and
around Jerusalem. Most were Muslim. A small amount were Jewish and
a surprising number were Christians. Together the lived on and farmed
the land in what is now known as the West Bank. The only problem
is that now, many of these traditional landholders have been forced
off their property to make way for Jewish settlements. Some of them
have been forced to abandon their centuries old residences because
the Government of Israel claims that they no longer own the land.
This is but one of many different perspectives that we don't often
hear amidst the news reports on Israel and the Palestinians. It
can be very difficult to figure out the complex history and agendas
that drive what happens in that war-torn part of the world. Certainly
no one can blame the Israeli Government for wanting to protect its
people (and I state this as a supporter of Israel), but no one can
blame the Palestinian people for not wanting to lose their traditional
land either.
On Saturday, May 7, the First Church is hosting a half day conference
on Peacemaking in Israel / Palestine. It will be a day to learn
about the history of the conflict and get a better understanding
of what is at stake during the current peace talks. It will also
be an opportunity to hear from people who have first hand experience
with the crisis and have lived in Israel for significant periods
of time, including a Palestinian Christian whose family lost her
property in the West Bank. The conference is sponsored by Sabeel,
(www.sabeel.org) a Palestinian Christian organization dedicated
to non-violent solutions to the problems in Israel. It will feature
several local prominent speakers, including Nancy Murray and Duncan
Kennedy who is a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. The Rev.
Harry Hoehler will be a speaker as well. (Some of you will remember
that Harry his wife Judy graciously served as the interim ministers
here from 1997-1998.
The First Church has a long history of sponsoring events and programs
that address contemporary issues. Our approach to religion invites
us to learn about and engage the world in which we find ourselves.
I hope each and every one of you will consider attending this event.
For more information, call the church or feel free to speak with
me. See you in church,
April 2005
Imagine, if you will, that
you lived on a farm and you had to live completely off of the land.
That is to say, all the food you ate, all the materials you used,
and all the items you made had to come from a square patch of land
around your house. For most of recent human history this was not
an imaginary exercise but a reality. Now, if you had to guess, how
much land would you need? How many acres would you require to support
yourself?
This is an interesting question since it involves thinking about
food, about fuel usage (you are planning to cook, heat and drive,
aren't you?) and about travel. In essence you are trying to ascertain
what ecologists call your "footprint," the amount of land
necessary to generate and grow everything that you need to live
- and to live your life.
Recently I went to a website that helped me calculate my Ecological
Footprint (www.my footprint.org). It is basically an electronic
questionnaire that calculated from my responses how much land was
needed to support my lifestyle. It turned out that my footprint
was much bigger than I thought it would be: 16 acres. In other words,
I require a minimum of 16 acres of usable land to provide all the
food and resources I need in my life - and that is just for myself
- if I then added the other four people in my household, the acreage
would increase almost five-fold.
I thought this was a big number until I read that the average American
needs 24 acres to support his or her lifestyle. This number is especially
significant when we realize that the rest of the "First World"
(the G-8 nations) get by on 10-12 acres per person in terms of resources.
And this is to say nothing of the 2 billion poorest people on the
planet who eek by on 4-6 acres or less. Indeed, according to www.myfootprint.org,
if everyone in the world used the same amount of resources as me,
we would need 3.7 planet earths to provide the necessary acreage.
April 22 is Earthday and we will be celebrating it here at the
First Church on Sunday, April 24. While this is not exactly a major
holiday now, I dare suspect that in the coming decades that will
change - since we will need to change. We live in a world that can
provide approximately 4.7 biologically productive acres of land
for each person now living. At 24 acres per person, we live in a
country that uses far more than its fair share. At some point, this
will have to change and Earthday is one day each year when we can
celebrate and honor the changes that we all need to make. Starting
now and from here on out, sustainability must become a part of our
spirituality. Maybe we should have a new corollary to the Golden
Rule: Consider others, even as you consume those things that you
use for yourself.
We have a great month in store here at the church. I hope you all
can be a part of it. See you in church,
March 2005
I have a new appreciation for the meaning of Easter this year and
the way that resurrection can inform our lives. On Tuesday, January
25, my wife gave birth to our third child (Jonah Max), a beautiful
baby boy. We had known since last August that he had a congenital
heart defect, a condition called Transposition of the Great Vessels
in which his aorta and pulmonary artery are reversed, coming off
of the wrong ventricles of his heart because of an miscue in early
embryological development. Historically these babies were called
blue babies because they were born and quickly became cyanotic.
(Their bodies were not getting enough oxygen.) Most often these
children would die within a few weeks.
That was then, however. This is now. Starting in the mid 1980's
a new surgical procedure was developed in which the two main arteries
coming out of the heart were cut and switched, thereby restoring
the heart to its normal anatomy and function. This was possible
because of advances in microsurgery techniques and new pump technology
for the heart and lung machine.
So on January 28, when our son was just three days old, we kissed
him goodbye and sent him out for open-heart surgery, knowing full
well the risks involved with such a procedure. As I understand it,
the surgery calls for cooling the body down to around 40 degrees
Fahrenheit after the anesthesia is administered. Then the incision
is made in the chest, the heart and lung machine is connected and
the heart is stopped. Unbelievably, the surgeons then shut off the
heart and lung machine for 40 minutes while they perform the actual
surgical procedure. In essence, my son was clinically dead for a
short while. Then, after they had reattached his coronary arteries,
his heart was re-started and he was slowly warmed up to life - to
new life.
It amazes me even now the powerful remedies we enjoy here in the
21st century. My son died for a short while and was then brought
back to life - to a new life full of promise and possibility he
never would have had otherwise. In some ways, it is a perfect little
Easter story. Where once there seemed only the prospects of death,
there is now new life.
This existence of ours can often be difficult. Lord knows, there
are so many travails and indignities and tragedies that many of
us endure. Even so, every once in a while the consternation and
despair transforms itself into a joy we cannot possibly predict
or anticipate. There are many little moments of Good Friday in our
lives, but there are also minor instances of Easter as well.
Easter is very early this year. We might even have a "White
Easter" given the recent weather. Still, it is a time to celebrate
the possibility for new life and the transformation that can arrive
or appear in our lives in many unpredictable ways. I invite you
all to come and be a part of the celebration. See you in church,
February 2005
We are never more asleep
at the switch than when we believe that we are in control of the
switch at all.
~ Annie Dillard
I am feeling kind of small at the time of this writing. What with
record setting snow falls bearing down on us and stories of Tsunamis
still fresh in my mind, I temporarily have a modest estimate of
human action in this world. Dont get me wrong: I am sure it
will go away. I am sure my optimism about the human enterprise will
return. But for now, I remain impressed with powers in our world
that truly remain outside of our control. I remain impressed with
how much we take for granted and how much of our lives depend on
the benevolent effect of forces and processes completely outside
of our realm of influence. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and snowstorms
and the birth of children - will do that to you.
Each of us in this life swings between the opposing viewpoints
that we are in complete control of our lives and that we are at
the mercy of external forces and events. I suppose there is enormous
danger and folly in believing either option for too long. The truth
lies somewhere in between. In a very real way, spirituality can
be described as the process in which we negotiate between these
two poles. Spirituality has to do with our senses of power and powerlessness
and the choices we make as a result. Each of us can take steps to
enact so much good and good will in this world. Each of us also
must face experiences where there is little or nothing we can do
to change the situation. We can, as always, choose how we will respond,
however.
As the season of Lent begins this month (Ash Wednesday is on February
9) I would invite you to consider ways that you can cultivate your
spirit. Lent traditionally is a time for spiritual development.
It is a time that people commit to a discipline that will awaken
their awareness of their place in this world. Some people pray.
Others meditate or read a devotional book. Still others volunteer
or go on a diet or quit smoking. The trick is to find something
that reminds you- in the words of Annie Dillard above- neither to
be asleep at the switch nor believe that we can control the switch
in the first place. Both are dangers in this world and life. Lent
is a time to do something that feeds your soul and helps you come
alive.
This will be a fun and stimulating month at the First Church. I
will be on paternity leave for the first few weeks. If you need
to reach me, feel free to call my direct line. I will be checking
messages. As a result, we have some fine guest preachers who will
be here with us on Sunday morning. These are all people I personally
have enjoyed as preachers. I am sure you will too. Happy February
and heres to feeling small! See you in church.
January 2005
Many years ago, I saw a special on PBS about men who had been to
the moon. (No women have been
yet). The program consisted of
a series of interviews with former astronauts talking about their
experiences in space and how it had changed them. As would be expected,
some were quite practical in their reflections about traveling into
space. Others waxed somewhat mystical in relating the effects of
space travel on their lives. The one interview that struck me the
most, however, was the astronaut who gave a simple, almost childlike
response to the question. He reported that the first time he was
up in orbit, he looked down at the earth through the window of the
capsule and exclaimed, There are no lines.
Most of us, when we think about the fragile globe on which we live,
consider it by country and by continent. We think of our home as
the multi-colored globe that might sit on our bookcase or adorn
our desk. But while the shapes of the landmasses and oceans are
fixed (somewhat), how we choose to divide them up is a human convention.
Looking down from space, there are no lines. There are just swirls
of water and clouds and masses of land.
I thought of this interview yesterday with the news of the tsunami
that struck in South East Asia. The largest earthquake in almost
forty years occurred off the western coast of the island of Sumatra
setting off a series of tidal waves of epic proportions. At this
writing, some 80,000 are reported dead in 12 countries, and the
number will undoubtedly go up from here. This could turn into one
of the largest public health crises in recorded history, according
to the International Red Cross. (See inside for information about
making a donation to the relief effort.)
According to one seismologist I heard interviewed, the earthquake
that caused this destruction was so big that its effects were felt
around the world. It even altered, if ever so slightly, the earths
rotational axis. It has been heartening to see the outpouring of
concern and support from around the world. In a very odd way there
is this sense many of us have that we are really all in this together.
This tragedy has become a world tragedy. All of the sudden, just
like the astronaut in space, people are viewing the world as without
lines, if only for a moment.
While I am sure this moment of clarity will pass, I cant
help but take heart in this sort of worldwide reaction. If we are
ever to find the way to peace in this world, we will need a lot
more of these realizations about living in a global village. There
are so many issues and crises across the planet where small actions
on the part of billions of people could make an enormous difference.
Quite often we can get overwhelmed when we think about the enormity
of the worlds problems. I find it helpful to pick just a few
causes and try to work for them. As a new years resolution,
why not support the relief efforts in Sri Lanka or Indonesia or
India. Consider contributing to an AIDS program trying to help the
most devastated in Africa. Let our government know that we want
them to do something to stop the genocide that has already killed
300,000 people in the Sudan. Sometimes, being a good neighbor in
this global village involves simply clicking on a website or writing
a small check or a brief letter.
John F. Kennedy once said, Our most basic common link is
that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We
all cherish our childrens future. And we are all mortal.
At times like this, we are reminded of how true this is. Happy New
Year and see you in church.
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