Pastor Charlie’s Blog

              As I write this I’m still enjoying memories of our Advent and Christmas season together.

I think our church was one of the big “hits” at Templeton’s first A Main Street Christmas, with cake pops and popcorn on the corner of 6^th and Main for all who passed by (and plenty did), as well as a community-participation handbell and chime choir songfest.  It was a delight to see people get up out of the pews and make music in a way they never had before.  Especially touching was what appeared to be a mother and her adult child with apparent development disability issues ringing together and having a marvelous time.

I don’t think anyone left the sanctuary on December 11 who wasn’t blessed by the Faith Factory presentation of Miracle on Main Street.  It was obvious that the children and adults had worked hard to prepare a musical for the worship experience of the whole church, which is a blessing in itself, but the experience was magnified by the message itself.  It was a moment in which we were presented with the truth of the gospel through the singing and acting and speaking of those whom Jesus commanded that we give full access to Him – the children. 

Our Living Nativity enjoyed what I believe was our most successful year to date, both in terms of attendance (over 700), in terms of animals (2 sheep, a donkey Mary could ride, and…drumroll please…a camel!), and in terms of congregation and community involvement.  I’ve already reserved the camel for next year. J 

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services were well-attended and allowed options for people to choose both the time and type of service that would best facilitate their celebration of the birth of Christ.  I was glad that people took “come as you are” seriously, and children were free to come in their pajamas, and adults in their furry slippers.  A personal thank-you to those who were brave enough to recite portions of Luke 2:1-20 for our scripture reading on Christmas Day. 

These events were beautifully surrounded by Sunday morning worship services, Advent at Night, numerous fellowship gatherings (i.e. parties) of various ministry groups, and probably most important of all – the love within each and every family of the church as we lived this season together in our homes, sharing in the traditions, rituals and everyday life that makes Advent and Christmas the special time it is.

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The year 2012 is a special year.  Not just because it is the last year on the Mayan Calendar (get ready for a slew of doomsday scenarios), but because 125 years ago our church was founded.  In our official church records, we read these words,

“…on May 8^th, 1887, the First Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. Francis J. Robinson
with fourteen (14) members whose names appear upon the roll.”

One Hundred and Twenty-Five years is worth celebrating, so we plan to do that.  We have set aside the weekend of May 5-6 (Sat-Sun) to celebrate 125 years God’s faithfulness…125 years of persevering stewardship of the Presbyterian portion of the body of Christ in Templeton…AND this particular moment in time in which God has entrusted the current and future mission of this congregation into our hands – those whom God has called together at this time to be church on 6^th and Main.  I hope you will all set aside Saturday and Sunday (Sunday especially) to be a part of what will take place on those days.  More details will be forthcoming soon.  We are forming a Task Force to help plan the May events, and would welcome anyone who would like to participate.  Please speak to me or Walt Winfield if you are interested. 

As we enjoyed a long and rich past … may this year be full of new signs of the kingdom of God among us – signs of love and power and grace and growth…signs of the presence of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Spirit – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  Amen!

Faithfully,

Charlie

I want to thank you for taking seriously the responsibility to consider the issues at hand for us as a congregation in the Presbyterian Church USA.  I’ve appreciated the feedback and dialogue I’ve had with many of you, and your willingness to hear what I have to say, which to best of my ability to understand, is what I believe God has to say to us through his Word.  I feel encouraged by the spirit in which we have been willing to listen, ask questions, disagree, love and seek to live faithfully under the Word of God and in obedience to His Word.
I think it is important that we are all on the same page, so to speak.  I want us all to understand what I believe and the decisions the Session makes so that there are no unnecessary misunderstandings about what is being said and done.  So please – know that your thoughts and concerns and suggestions are always welcome and encouraged.  I’ve had several requests for copies of the sermons, so Michele is making up extra sets of the four sermons preached from October 23 through November 20.  If we need more, we can duplicate more.  Another option is to listen to them on your computer by going to the website, www.templetonpres.org.  Dates and titles are:

Christ, Culture and the Church – Oct. 23
Sola Scriptura – November 6
And God said, “YES” … and “No” – November 13
And God said, “YES” … and “No”, Part 2 (The Practice of Homosexuality) – November 20
Also, I encourage you to pick up the article, “Homosexuality and the Church – Moving through and Beyond the Debate”, published in Theology Matters.  Both the CDs and article are available in the Narthex and Butler Hall.

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One action the Session has taken in response to denominational decisions is to review its policy with regard to per capita payments to the General Assembly.  Per Capita is the annual assessment to each congregation that pays for the administrative costs necessary to run the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly.  It is not money that goes to mission, at least not directly, but to administration and overhead.  Each year we publish what that amount is and invite members to pay it separately (over and above) from their annual pledge.  Because we have made a commitment in the past to pay the entire amount regardless of how much we receive from individuals, we include about 50% of the total in the budget.  That means if anyone does not pay it, for whatever reason, we pay for it out of the General Mission budget.  Based on conversations with members and the conviction of the elders, Session voted to change that policy with regard to the General Assembly portion ($6.63 for 2012). 
It became clear that many people were uncomfortable contributing to the General Assembly given the current departure by the denomination from scriptural authority.  They were also concerned that if they chose to pay only the per capita for Presbytery and Synod, the church would go ahead and pay it anyway, using General Mission budget money.  The Session was very sympathetic to that concern, and after much discussion, voted to no longer pay the GA per capita portion for all who, for whatever reason, do not pay it themselves.  We will explain how this will work in more detail once we actually get into 2012, as well as publicize all the per capita amounts for Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly.

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Some exciting IMPACT news – Miriam Lomelino will be going to Haiti in January as the doctor in residence.  In September the IMPACT Council was concerned we would not have an M.D. as part of the team, so the Council was charged with finding a doctor.  I spoke with Miriam at the Church Picnic, and after much prayer and conversation with her family, she felt God was leading her to go.  More details about Miriam’s trip are in the Missions article on page 7, including information on how to support her financially if you so desire.

Faithfully,

Charlie

As I sat down to write this, I found myself full of various thoughts and sentiments regarding our life together as Christ’s body – both for the sake of our fellowship and our witness to the world.  Some examples…

             …Great time together at the All-Church Retreat this past weekend!  It was good for me to get to spend the whole weekend out at the camp this year.  Wish I could be in two places at once, though!  Congrats to Ric Gahm and Trago Wallace as our Horseshoe Tournament champions, edging out the team of Dean Woodruff and Charlie Little, 6-5, in a time-shortened finale.  We had some pretty awesome hoe-downers dancing up a storm to the Texas Star and Virginia Reel, though in some cases it did resemble a bit of orchestrated chaos!  Still, a good time was had by all… even for little Dexter Wallace who spent the entire time suspended in mom Leslie’s baby sling.  The Jellyfish grabbed a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the San Francisco Dodgers (don’t ask!), 19-18.  It would have ended in a tie were it not for a critical Easton Weir RBI in the top of the last inning.  The play of the game, however, was a charging shoe-string catch of a Robert White screaming line drive by Elizabeth Magie, worthy of one of those ESPN defensive gem replays.  We had a wonderful turnout and mix of all ages, and hope to see even more out next year!

…I appreciated the conversations we had on Sunday the 23^rd following my first sermon dealing with the current changes in our constitution with the passage of Amendment 10-A.  Most of the questions and concerns related to what our future relationship to the PCUSA might be.  There were some concerns regarding contributing financially in good conscience to something that does not align with one’s beliefs.  Session is currently discussing our current per capita contribution policy as part of our response as a congregation.  Session also approved funding to pay for my attendance at the Fellowship of Presbyterians’ conference in Orlando in January.  If you did not attend worship on October 23^rd, I encourage you to get a copy of the sermon CD, as that sets the foundation for what this means and does not mean for us as a congregation.

…Thank you for all the responses to the Outreach Feedback form. We received 63 responses.  Assuming that they represented families and not just individuals, we estimated that it represents a majority of those active in the congregation.  The results were interesting and illuminating.  For example, we learned that:

+ Only one sheet marked “Wouldn’t be here” if they hadn’t received the card, 3 said it was important, and 14 said it helped influence their decision to attend here.

+ Only one sheet marked Living Nativity as the time of their first visit, 3 marked Christmas Eve and 3 marked Easter.  So, after 3 years of Christmas/Easter mailings, only 7 are here after a visit during those times. 

+ 53 marked “Regular Sunday” as their first visit, by far the highest category.

+ In the “PRIMARY MOTIVE” section, the highest category marked was “Presbyterian” (29), with “Templeton” next (18), “People I knew” (14), and “Heard about ministry” (10).  “Cute building” actually got 7 – so kudos to the building committee that “built” the new sanctuary and CE building!

SO…what does all that mean?  Though we’ve had some positive results from the mailings, it is questionable if  our money is best allocated there.  With “Regular Sunday” as the highest response at 53 and the Christmas and Easter seasons combined only at 7, our advertising dollars may best be spent locally throughout the year.  This Christmas instead of mailing 15,000 cards, we are purchasing 2,500 cards for selective mailing, handouts during Christmas on Main St., distributing to businesses in Templeton, and making available to the congregation to personally give to friends as part of an invitation to attend something at our church during Advent and Christmas.  We’re also purchasing banners that match the postcard design for displaying on the front lawn, all of which, in the end, will save us over $2,000. 

…Heads up on our participation in the Templeton Chamber of Commerce “Christmas on Main Street” this year.  This is a new community celebration they are trying, which will take place on Friday night, December 2^nd.  Our Adult and Handbell Choirs will be a part of the festivities as we open up our church as one of the ‘stops’ for people strolling up and down Main St.  More information will be forthcoming as the event takes shape, but mark the calendar for an early Christmas mini-concert in support of our church’s participation in this community Christmas activity.

Faithfully,

“God, give me a heart for prayer…”

Recently I read a blog entry on my daughter Shannon’s blog on her upcoming mission trip to South Africa for the year 2012.  http://shansouthafricastint.wordpress.com  It was about prayer.  The bulk of the blog was actually copied from a Mars Hill Church blog she had read that spoke powerfully to her.  It did to me as well; so much so that I copied it as an ongoing word from God to me.  In hopes that it may speak to you, I have copied the portion of her entry below that quotes from the Mars Hill Church Blog:

“Prayer is a declaration of war on self-sufficiency, as we become more and more dependent on God.”

• “It’s war on independence because you have to admit that you can’t do it alone.

• It’s war on self-importance as you praise something greater.

• It’s a declaration of war on anxiety as you trust that God will provide.

• It’s a war on the temporary pleasures that the world has to offer around us, as we praise the Giver of all gifts above his gifts as an end in themselves.

• It’s a declaration of war on the frantic pace of life that all of us fall into as we take time to be still and to think and to listen and to try to hear from God and what he has for us.

• It’s a declaration of war on justification by results as you have to acknowledge that it’s God who works in you.
• It’s a declaration of war on cynicism and unbelief as we step out in faith that he hears and answers.

Prayer, as I’ve been convicted, is a declaration of war on this self-centered, short-term, whatever’s-in-front-of-my-face kind of living. Living for my own kingdom. 

Apart from prayer, I am convinced—I know at least it’s true in my life—I’m convinced that apart from prayer, we live life as if whatever seems most urgent and whatever is right in front of our face is the best and most important thing in all eternity and in all the universe. In prayer, when we take minutes to withdraw and to be still and to listen, we become remade in the image of Jesus. In prayer, our priorities get bent to his, our mission gets realigned to his and we get convicted about where we’re building our own kingdom and we get changed to be part of his.”

In the hope that we are ever-growing to become a congregation and a people of prayer.

As your Pastor,

Charlie

I “love” it when Plan B turns out (seemingly) far better when Plan A falls through.  (See Proverbs 16:9)    Case in point is our Mission Sunday last week.  Plan A was for Nita Hansen to come and speak, along with the entire Ukraine Team, and for our worship to highlight God’s Hidden Treasures.  And as terrific as that would have been (we still hope to get Nita sometime early in 2012), it felt far better to highlight our own “hidden” treasures at Templeton Pres.  How exciting it is to see how God works specifically, independently, patiently, creatively and persistently with us to call us and lead us into his purposes.  What we saw on Sunday was not one mission enterprise, but five!  We saw how God is speaking and working in the lives of various people from our congregation in bold, challenging ways, in which they are stepping out in faith – knowing by faith that they are supposed to do something…but not entirely sure how it will all work out.  I can’t even begin to explain how that blesses and excites me as your pastor.  And I see it in other ways as well…
… a family opening their home to children who desperately need security and love, believing they are called to do so (so much you can’t predict and control in this one).
… people embracing a call to serve in ministry capacities, ranging from a Stephen Minister to a Deacon to an Elder to whatever the new and never tried may be, and believing that what they don’t know and have never done will become that which they know and do with faithfulness and fruit.
… couples and families facing crisis and trauma – financial, medical, professional – in which they walk with faith and trust and hope through job loss, money woes, relationship worries, lifestyle changes, sickness and death.
We pretty much live our lives with a Plan B God.  Not that God ever has to scramble around and come up with Plan B; it’s just Plan B from our vantage point.  God is a Plan A God.  Nothing ever surprises God; it only surprises us.  But just knowing that God is not surprised, ever, means that I don’t have to be afraid or despairing of what the future holds, no matter what the present looks like…ever.
 

Wasn’t that an terrific picnic two Sundays ago?  Kudos to Fellowship and Children’s Ministry in particular!  Great to see so many of us all come out.  And my burger meat was cooked to perfection.  Hopefully we all had a chance to meet someone new or get better acquainted with someone we already knew or had recently met.  And next year, someone needs to dethrone the reigning champs (two years running now) of the egg toss (that would be Mick and Ryan Lebens).  J
 

It was great to see a nice turnout for the Ukraine Mission Trip presentation Sunday night.  We all left with a profound sense of the power of the Ministry of God’s Hidden Treasures, of Nita’s faithfulness and impact for the kingdom of God, of the blessing Bill's and Rose’s leadership provided the people and children there, and how their hearts were transformed in just a week.  Check out the picture of the quilt map of Ukraine we now have as a reminder and testimony of their trip (a small picture is on page 5).
 

On October 7-8 the session will be devoting their annual retreat this year to addressing the recent constitutional change regarding ordination standards.  We have been studying the question of homosexuality from a Biblical perspective and will be considering how to respond as a congregation – articulating what we believe and how God has called us to be faithful, both in obedience to his Word and purposes, as well as in love for one another.  In the near future we will schedule a time for some congregational conversation to discuss this as a body and share the Session’s work on this matter.
 

Last, please take note of the question regarding our Post Card outreach we’ve done the last three years at Christmas and Easter (see page 6).  We need input to make a good decision about cost vs. benefit – is this good stewardship of our financial resources as we seek to reach out to the community in which God has placed us?

Faithfully,,

UPDATE ON MY IMPACT MISSION TRIP:  I announced before worship a couple of weeks ago that in order to maximize participation in the parenting classes I will be teaching in Turkey, they have requested I come next February instead of this July.  I readily agreed.  Obviously I want my time out there to be most effective, plus it gives me more time to do additional translation and hopefully recruit one or two people to go with me.  All the money that has been contributed and raised toward my trip will be applied to when I go out in February.  Rose, Bill and I have been delighted and grateful for the support of so many making it possible to participate in what God is doing in other parts of the world.  One extra special support gift was for the purchase of two Apple computers for work with the video editing.  That was amazing!  Once the videos are done, the computers will be passed on to the church, replacing our 10-year-old computer in the balcony for audio/visual use, as well as upgrading the computer used by Robert for the youth ministry.  A truly multiple blessing!

I know that many, if not most of you, have heard or read about the recent voting results from the presbyteries of our denomination (regarding ordination standards) which ratified an amendment to our constitution (10-A) passed at the General Assembly last year.  This amendment removes the “Fidelity and Chastity” clause which stipulated that those ordained to ministry in the PCUSA were to live in faithful marriages between a man and a woman, or chaste if single.  The full text of the now-removed portion of our constitution (G-6.0106b) reads as follows:

“Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church.  Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.  Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as ministers of the Word and Sacrament.

In its place the language now reads,

Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.  The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation.  Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confession in applying standards to individual candidates.”

It is easy to get lost in the maze of words and their meaning and implications, but the key changes are:

1. The moral and ethical standard of refraining from non-marital sexual intimacy has been removed.
2. The moral and ethical standard of living faithfully in a marital covenant defined as one between a man and woman has been removed.
3. The call to live in “obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards” has been replaced by the call to be “guided by Scripture and the confession” (italics mine in both cases).

Clearly, the removal of something that has been fundamental and unquestioned by the church for nearly 2,000 years, and for the Israelites for well over 1,000 years before that, marks a significant shift in our denomination’s attitude toward the authority and interpretation of Scripture.  That is comes in the midst of one of the most radical and time-compressed cultural shifts in attitudes and behaviors regarding sex and the family raises grave concern that as a church we are less and less “in the world” and more and more “of the world.”

The media is trumpeting this vote as one in which the Presbyterian Church USA has voted to allow for the ordination of practicing homosexual persons.  Technically, it is a vote that removes the prohibition for such ordinations, which gives individual presbyteries latitude to ordain whomever it deems fit, including those in homosexual partnerships or, depending on the state, marriages.  It does not require such persons to be ordained should they be otherwise qualified. Still, I cannot but recall Richard John Neuhaus’ famous quote, “Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed”  In other words, what is now permissible will someday be required.   What that means for the future of the PCUSA in unknown, but some kind of change seems inevitable.

For many of you reading this, the question is, “What does it mean for the future of Templeton Presbyterian Church?”  I do not know the full answer to that question at the moment, as the Session has yet to fully explore the issue and its implications.  We will be doing that over the next few months.  In addition, our future will be influenced by decisions made by the Presbytery of Santa Barbara, of which we are a member.  But there are a few things I can say about who we are and what our future will look like.

First of all, both our congregation and the presbytery will continue to be guided by the previous language of the Book of Order.  Our commitment to what Scripture clearly, consistently and emphatically defines regarding human sexuality and the covenant of marriage between and man and a woman has not changed.

Second, this is not as issue of hatred, intolerance, discrimination or a refusal to be loving and welcoming to all who are created in God’s image – wherever we are in our relationship with God or on our redemptive journey to wholeness and health in Christ.  Those of us who believe that God’s design does not allow for homosexual partnering do so out of faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word, sensitivity to the fallenness of our humanity, and, by God’s grace, love for all people.  It is, at its most basic, not a condemnation of anyone, but an echo of God’s loving “No” to that which he declares to be sin.

Third, Templeton Presbyterian Church is not the PCUSA.  We are not defined by everything that the larger denomination does or even believes.  I know that for some of you, it is hard to be a part of a church in which the denomination’s beliefs and actions run counter to your own deeply held convictions.  And for others of you, it has been hard to be part of a congregation in which you have disagreed with some of its policies and beliefs.  As a pastor in this denomination I have struggled with that tension for years.  But as long as I have been free to disagree and pastor in faithfulness to my own convictions, and the requirements of the denomination have not inhibited the effectiveness of my ministry, I have chosen to remain in the denomination I was raised, discipled and called to ministry.   I hope that we can all embrace a similar conviction as members and servants within this, our own congregation – for those who are distressed by this change and those who welcome it, since we are not all of the same mind over this issue.

This is a most serious development in the life of our denomination, and our response needs to be informed, thoughtful, compassionate and faithful.  I anticipate some kind of forum or seminar to discuss and study this in the future.  We will keep you informed of developments as they unfold.  If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss this for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.   

Toward a greater representation of the kingdom of God on earth,

Charlie

Some notes on Holy Week…

…A few people (and maybe more) wondered if I made up the story about almost running over a bunny rabbit on my way to church on Easter.  So, for the record: I did not make it up.  It really happened.  I do know that pastors at times have been known to stretch the truth on their stories, or make them up, or put themselves into someone else’s story as if it was their own, or take credit for something they did not write, say or do.  I DO NOT.  I do my best to authenticate anything I say from the pulpit that comes from a source other than my own knowledge or personal experience, and when I describe something that happened to me or done by me, you can be confident that what I say is true and accurate, at least to the best of my understanding.  One of the convictions I have had since my ordinations is to honor the integrity of the pulpit.  No exaggerations…no fabrications…no misappropriations.  Just wanted to let you know.

Not that I don’t inadvertently make mistakes, such as the recent impromptu reference to Solomon foolishly taking the advice of his older advisors when it came to taxing the tribes of the north.  Turns out it was the younger advisors whom he listened too.  The other time it happened was in the first sermon I ever preached in church, one in Tustin, CA where I had been interning during my first year in Seminary.  In one illustration, I referred to πr² as the formula for the circumference of a circle.  Several math students and a high school math teacher all let me know afterwards that it was the formula for the area of a circle.

…I’ve appreciated the feedback many of you have given in response to the Maundy Thursday “Living Last Supper.”  Whenever we something for the first time, especially something with a decidedly unknown outcome – it really helps to hear from you what your experience was. I’ve been blessed by how meaningful it was for so many for you; thank you for sharing that with us.  One question was whether this would become one of our “holiday” traditions along the lines of the Living Nativity.  That certainly is a possibility, though whereas the Living Nativity is a stand-alone outreach, the Living Last Supper is part of an evening with other activities.  It’s hard to predict if it is something that would work well every year.  But, as with many things we do, I have already thought of ways we could do it “better” the next time.  For one thing, nine of the disciples and Jesus, had beards (well, according to Da Vinci), so we need to recruit sooner next year and give the men time to grow some facial hair!  Plus, I don’t think Jesus had gray hair and glasses…

…Special thanks to Vern for his vision for the music on Easter, and everything he did to bring it all together (and the choir for the extra work they put in, including sitting through both services up front).  And the same for the Bell Choir…and Iris.  She’s done an amazing job bringing the ringers along.  The learning curve has been steep for them, especially now that we have a third octave due to a special memorial gift.  We are so blessed to have Vern, Iris and Robert leading us musically in worship.  And lead us they do.  I feel, week in and week out, that they are NOT performing for us, but that they lead and assist us in our worship, pointing us to God through sensitive integration into how the Spirit is leading, guiding and organizing our worship.  The mix of choral anthems, hymns, hand bell music and contemporary worship songs helps create, week in and week out, and blend and balance of the rich range of the church’s musical heritage – both “traditional” and “contemporary.”  (I put them in quotes because much of what is traditional is very contemporary because the gospel IS contemporary…and much of what is contemporary is very traditional because the contemporary message of the gospel is rooted in the history from which it is indebted.) Some weeks we may have a bit more of one particular musical style…some weeks a song or two will feel more repetitive for some…some weeks it may feel too loud…in other words, some weeks it will feel more to our liking than others, but then on those weeks that it is not primarily according to our preferance, it is likely according to the preference of someone else.  And since we take to heart (I hope!) the exhortation of scripture, Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others, (Phil. 2.4), I would encourage you that on the days you may feel a bit disappointed with the music, to be grateful that probably for others, they were blessed by it. 

Also, I want you to know that I will be out of the office on study leave Monday – Friday, May 2-6, attending the West Coast Presbyterian Pastor’s Conference at Mount Hermon.

Toward a greater representation of the kingdom of God on earth,

I remember vividly one Saturday night, early in 1992, praying in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of La Junta, the church for whom I had just begun my first stint as a solo pastor. I was acutely conscious of the potential for me to great good…or great harm to the people God had called me to serve. I was aware of leaders in the Bible who did one or the other. Moses, for example, did great good. Ahab did great harm. Saul, David and Solomon did both. Humbled by the responsibilities before me and the legacy I would leave, a prayer took shape in my heart that I literally cried out to God that night,

“Lord, don’t compromise your sovereignty because of my sin and unfaithfulness,
And don’t sacrifice my integrity on the altar of your mercy and grace.”

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