A Good Spiritual Scrubbing for Lent

Lent – the word means “spring”, the ideal reminder of rebirth and renewal as we look to our joyful celebration of the resurrection of our Lord on Easter. It is fitting that Lent this year begins on March 1, as our thoughts turn to spring, even if they were already there with our unseasonably mild February.

Lent is a time of preparation, 40 days, not counting Sundays, that lead us to Easter. Lent is not about giving up pizza or ice cream or Facebook.  Lent should be a time for serious, somber, sober reflection and renewal. It should be a time for each of us to do some spiritual housecleaning. It should be a time for us to remove the clutter— all those things that get in the way of faithful discipleship.

We’ve all got spiritual clutter in our lives. The apostle Paul even provides us with lists to help us identify the clutter: envy, greed, lust, anger, strife, quarreling, factions “and things like these”. Unhappily, the past year has revealed how easily we add to the clutter hatred, racism, bigotry, sexism, and intolerance, as well.

It is time to clean up, time to clean out. It is time to sweep out the detritus of our sinfulness, all those ways we turn from God. It is time to rid ourselves of clutter to make room for what Paul calls “the fruits of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness and self-control. These are the characteristics that mark a faithful disciple of Christ. These are the things we are called to work on during Lent, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the new life we’ve been given in the resurrection of our Lord.

It was the Psalmist who prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin… Create in me a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51) The Psalmist understood his need for a good spiritual scrubbing. His words provide us with a reminder that we too need a good scrubbing.

Giving up chocolate or texting for Lent won’t do it. Rather, we each need to step back, take a long, hard, honest look within, and let the light of Christ show us those places that need cleaning. Barbara Brown Taylor has written, “In the presence of Christ’s integrity, our own pretense is exposed; in the presence of Christ’s constancy, our cowardice is brought to light; in the presence of Christ’s fierce love for God and for us, our own hardness of heart is revealed.”

It is Lent. It is time for a good spiritual scrub. It is time for us to come humbly before God and acknowledge our waywardness, our lukewarm faith. It is time for us to pray with the Psalmist: the Lord “instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Blessings for a most Holy Lent,

Pastor Skip

"Let Us Say What We Believe"

We hear the words regularly in worship: “Let us say what we believe, using the Affirmation of Faith printed in your bulletin.” Together we then recite words that the bulletin tells us come from the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the Brief Statement of Faith. What are these statements? Are they things our denomination requires us to say? Are they statements the Lectionary assigns on certain dates? 

The answer is that these are confessional statements found in our Book of Confessions. And what is the Book of Confessions? It is part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, USA. It is Part I of our denominational Constitution, with Part II the Book of Order and Directory of Worship.

Our Book of Confessions contains 12 confessional or creedal statements that span the centuries. The earliest is the Apostles' Creed, which dates from the end of the second century and was modified from time to time over the next few hundred years; its present form dates from the 8^th century. The Nicene Creed was adopted in the year 381 and is the most ecumenical of our creeds.

Four confessional statements grew out of the Reformation: The Scots Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession, and finally, The Westminster Confession of Faith, with its companion Shorter and Larger Catechisms. The Westminster Confession, with its catechisms, served as our denomination’s primary theological guide for the better part of 300 years.

The 20^th century saw the addition of the Barmen Declaration, the Confession of 1967, and the Brief Statement of Faith. The most recent addition is the Belhar Confession, which has its roots in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and speaks powerfully to our call to ministries of reconciliation, peace, and justice.

There is a logic to the way we use our Confessions in worship. We typically use the Apostles' Creed when we receive new members, celebrate a baptism, or ordain officers. We usually use the Nicene Creed, which we share with the Eastern Orthodox church, Roman Catholicism, and many other Protestant churches, on World Communion Sunday. We tend to use different parts of the Brief Statement, with its very specific Trinitarian focus, other times of the year.

Our Book of Order tells us that, “The Presbyterian Church states its faith and bears witness to God’s grace in Jesus Christ in the creeds and confessions in the Book of Confessions. In these statements the church declares to its members and to the world who and what it is, what is believes, and what it resolves to do.”

In other words, our confessional and creedal statements help us to articulate our faith. More important, in articulating our faith, the words of the confessions then call us to action and guide us as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Our confessions and creeds, words written decades, and even centuries ago, can still guide us to more faithful lives as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ. This we believe.

Grace & peace,

Pastor Skip

Christmas Stories

'Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

Who doesn’t love this classic poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, written almost 200 years ago by Clement Clarke Moore. Moore wrote the poem for his children, presumably, to tell them a story – tell them a wonderful story of a jolly elf who flies through sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, his sleigh loaded with toys for girls and boys all over the world.

Moore may have found his inspiration in another story, one written in 1809 by the author Washington Irving, in which Irving wrote of St. Nicholas “riding over the tops of the trees, in that self-same wagon wherein he brings his yearly presents to children.” And Irving was, no doubt, inspired by stories about the first Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 4^th century and served the church as a bishop in what is now Turkey.

We love stories, especially during the Christmas season. A Charlie Brown Christmas has been a favorite story for, amazingly, the past 51 years. Families gather every year in front of the television to watch Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, and of course, Snoopy, prepare to tell the beloved story of the baby Jesus born in a manger.

It is this story that we all turn to so eagerly this time of year, the story that Linus tells so movingly on stage: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”

This is the story we wait all month for. It is, as Linus reminds Charlie Brown and all their friends, “what Christmas is all about”.

And so we will turn again to the story of the baby born in the stable, the shepherds keeping watch in the field, the Wise Men following the star, Joseph and Mary obedient and humble. It is a story always fresh, for it is a story grounded in hope, joy, grace, and love – “what Christmas is all about”. “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.”

May your Christmas be filled with joy and your New Year abound in God’s blessings,

Pastor Skip

Living Thankfully

After such a blistering summer, I am very thankful for the cooler temperatures that come with Fall. I am thankful for the brilliant colors Fall brings as God’s creation prepares itself for winter. I am thankful for pumpkins. And yes, I am even thankful for pumpkin spice lattes.

The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. There is so much wisdom in Paul’s words. How easy it is to get caught up in things that are not all that important. How much more joyful life is when we approach it in a state of gratitude, from a state of thanksgiving. When we live life thankful and grateful for all God’s blessings, we can understand why Paul calls us to respond by “rejoicing always.”

In our Year of the Bible readings, we’ve been working our way through Paul’s letters, and he reminds us again and again to live thankfully, in harmony with one another, turning away from quarrels, dissension and strife, and working to build the body of Christ. “Be filled with the Spirit,” Paul says, “and… give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

As we near the end of our 149^th year, I am thankful for so many things around our church: the magnificent music we have every Sunday in worship; the unbounded energy and enthusiasm of our young people; the smiles and laughter of our children; the dedication and commitment of our church staff and the teachers in our Early Learning Center; and the way we work, pray, and worship together, showing the world how we live by the fruit of the Spirit in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

 

What are you thankful for in your life? What are you thankful for here at our church? What will you do in our 150^th year to grow in discipleship, spirit, and faithfulness? What will you do to grow in thankfulness? What will you do to build the body of Christ that we so thankfully and joyfully call Manassas Presbyterian Church? 

 

With profound thanksgiving,

Pastor Skip

Celebrate 150!

It is almost here – our 150^th year! Our 150^th Anniversary Committee has been hard at work for months developing ideas and plans for celebrations spread throughout the year. Co-chairs Laurel Ulrich and Bruce Tuckerman, along with Melissa Kirkpatrick, Mary Ann Ledman, Deborah Panell, JJ Rosario, James Short, Dave Williams, Hannah Yelanjian and I are excited about all the things we have planned!

We’ll begin the New Year very fittingly with a joyful worship service on Sunday January 1. Norm Weaver will lead us with the scurl of bagpipes as we process into our Sanctuary for a service that will feature music reflecting our history. We’ll also celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

On Sunday February 26, we will welcome the Reverend Mary Boyd Click as our preacher and worship leader. Mary Boyd was pastor of our church from 1998 till 2004. It was during her tenure that we undertook a major renovation of our Sanctuary that has given us the exceptional worship space we have.

On Sunday March 26, author and scholar Dr. Diana Butler Bass will be our guest. Dr. Bass is one of the country’s leading experts on trends in religion, with a special focus on mainline Protestantism. She will preach at both services, teach the Adult Education class, and lead a workshop after the 11:00 am service. She’ll share with us her insights on trends in religion today and what the future holds for the church. You can learn more about Dr. Bass at her website: http://dianabutlerbass.com/

The Reverend Dave Snyder will return to our church as our guest preacher and worship leader on Sunday April 9, Palm Sunday. Dave was pastor from 1980 until 1996, a time of great change in the life of our church.

The Reverend Nancy Jo Dederer will be our guest preacher on Sunday May 7. Nancy served this congregation as Associate Pastor from 1991 until 2000, overlapping the pastorates of Dave Snyder and Mary Boyd Click.

We’ll have an especially festive day on Sunday June 25, with worship outdoors, followed by a picnic and games played over the past 150 years. We’ll invite others who have served God and this congregation over the decades to come join us as our special guests.

Hannah Yelanjian created a wonderful logo that captures our history of faithful discipleship. You’ll be seeing more of the logo and hearing more about plans and activities throughout the Fall. And then come celebrate!

Joyfully,

Pastor Skip

Roots Almost Everywhere

The results are in, and while I may not be able to say, “I’m from everywhere”, my DNA shows that I am from many more places than I ever imagined. Where we Fergusons thought our roots were firmly and deeply planted in Scotland and England, my roots are not only in those countries, but also in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, even Eastern European countries. I suspect if the trace went even further back in time, I would find I have ties to the Middle East and Africa.

Most of us are from “somewhere else”. My ancestors came here in the 18^th century – but for what reasons I don’t know: Opportunity? To escape persecution? Perhaps even to escape prosecution. Were they welcomed or were they shunned, encouraged to return to where they’d come from?

When the children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land following their 40-year sojourn through the wilderness, God reminded them that even as they lived on the land, they would not be the only ones there – that there would be travelers, strangers, and aliens among them. Some would simply pass through the land, while others might decide to settle among the people.

In all cases, God, speaking through Moses, taught the Israelites the importance of welcoming the stranger and loving one’s neighbor: “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33) As God reminded his children: “you know the heart of an alien for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)  In God’s world, there is no place for hateful, divisive talk, much less violence against another person because the person differs from us.

Jesus reinforced God’s lessons with his simple prescription we call the Golden Rule: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12) In one of many apocryphal books, this advice is put in such simple terms: “Judge your neighbor’s feelings by your own, and in every matter be thoughtful.” (Sirach 31:15)

That’s good advice for us as we begin a new school year and start a new program year at our church. We are a diverse group sharing a common faith, all of us a community and communion of saints.

If you are interested in learning more about your roots, go to the www.ancestry.com website. You can order a DNA kit directly from www.dna.ancestry.com. You might be surprised by what you learn!

Grace & peace,

Pastor Skip

I'm From Everywhere

One by one they look into the camera and talk of their family, their roots, their heritage. “I’m British”, “I’m Pakistani”, “I’m Icelandic”, “I’m Cuban” we hear them say.

They are part of a large, diverse group gathered in an auditorium to talk about their nationalities and heritage. At the end of the conversation the moderators ask all those gathered, “Would you dare to ask the question as to who you really are?” The moderators then invite the participants to have their DNA sampled to provide a more complete picture of each person’s roots.

One response was typical: “what could you possibly tell me that I don’t already know?” But then, two weeks later, when that same person read the results of his testing, he was stunned. He had been adamant that his roots were firmly, almost exclusively British, but the DNA testing showed that he was only about one third British; he had roots that came from a host of other countries, cultures, and nationalities.

That man’s results were typical. As one respondent said in amazement, “I’m from everywhere!” They realized that for as different as they all were, they were, in a way, all related, all cousins. They realized they had more in common than things that separated them.

The name “Ferguson” has a long history in Scotland; my family and I have always spoken proudly of our Scot heritage. Clan Ferguson –or more properly, Fergusson - has both an ancient and a modern tartan, a crest, and a motto, “Sweeter after Adversity”. 

Yet now the question is before me: what would my DNA testing show? Would it show what we’ve always assumed: that we are a mix of Scot and British, or are we a broader, deeper mix? The obvious answer is that I should have my DNA tested. So that is what is what I plan to do. I’ve ordered a kit from a service and I look forward to learning the results later in the summer. I’ll certainly share them with all!

We are all of us proud Americans, and we are all of us proud of our roots from other cultures. But the woman in the video who responded, “I’m from everywhere” had it right. We are all from everywhere, and we are all, ultimately, tied together, all of us cousins, if we trace our roots back far enough.

A participant in the video gazed seriously at her results and then looked at the moderators and said, “This should be compulsory. There would be no such thing as extremism if people understood their real heritage”. She’s right - we would see that we are all indeed part of God’s family.

  

Grace & peace,

Pastor Skip