Sunday, September 11, 2011

Don't forget to remember...

I will always remember that cool, crisp Tuesday morning, low humidity, clear blues skies with puffy white cotton balls.  I was relishing in the fact that autumn, my favorite season was fastly approaching.  It was also the day of my first test of the year for my students.  I had first period planning and around 8:50 my colleague Tina Bartlett, frantically asked me if I had heard what happened at the World Trade Center.  She continued to tell me that a plane flew into one of the towers and I laughed out loud and told her to stop playing.  I only wish that she were joking.  We quickly ran over to Ava Closs's classroom to watch the coverage.  For the next thirty-five minutes, we watched with horror as the second plane flew into the other tower.  Later during the course of the day, we would learn of an incident at the Pentagon, a plane crash in Pennsylvania, and the indelible shock that plagued our hearts and minds.

Beloved, here we stand ten years later, still broken, maybe even more confused that we were before these acts of terror plagued our nation.  Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, many of which were doing what I was doing that same day, simply going to work.  But God, who is rich in mercy and compassion, whose love fails not, thought it not robbery to perserve and sustain us for such a time as this.  I cannot imagine the loss that the survivors of the 911 victims have experienced and continue to endure. 

However, in this time of reflection of tragedy, let's remember that there is triumph.  There were people in the Twin Towers who escaped and may be plagued with guilt as to why they were spared.  In God there is no failure, and yet bad things happen to good people.  In just a few moments, President Obama will address the survivors and those gathered at Ground Zero.  He will lead them with a recitation of Psalm 46.  The opening line of Psalm 46 is "God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble."  Let us not lose sight that even as we reflect upon this tragic time in our nation's history, that God has turned our mourning into dancing and prasise.  Gospel singer Donald Lawrence, recorded a song a few years back "Don't forget to remember."  As we reflect on this tragedy, let us not lose sight of the triumph that we have in Christ as he has given us beauty for ashes.

Peace,
Karsten

Monday, September 5, 2011

Why Church??

I think that one of the best things that some churches could have discovered recently, is the ability to stream live into their worship services via the internet.  I admit that I periodically have a St. Mattress worship experience with Rev. Slumbers from time-to-time.  Some of my favorite pulpiteers to drop in on are Rev. Floyd Flake, Pastor of Greater Allen Cathedral (NYC), Rev. Jamal H. Bryant, Pastor of Empowerment Temple (Baltimore), Rev. Otis Moss, III, Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago) and Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church (Chicago).

I am so appreciative of my church home, St. Ambrose Episcopal Church: Raleigh, NC and other churches in which I was enriched and have grown spiritually.  I believe that church worship is a multi-sensory journey in which all of our senses are engaged in worship and thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, and will continue to do for us.  Often times I encounter people who are interested in church, but may have been over exposed to it growing up, may have been hurt by a spiritual leader, or even afraid of God.  In a quest for a perfect church, mosque, synagogue or temple, we have to be mindful that the perfect one does not exist.  There may be a community of faith that is perfect for you at this season in your life.  Beloved remember that we are all imperfect beings, broken and marred that are in pursuit of perfection.  We run to the end of the rainbow, only to discover that the glimmery, shining pot that we were running toward was filled with fool's gold.

As I have my St. Mattress worship sessions, the one thing that I cannot experience, is the love of my parishioners, a touch from my pastor, a word of encouragement from my adopted mother, or passing the peace (unless I shake my own hand).  The building is not the church, we who name the name of Christ are the church and the church should be in us.  At times church people don't act like church people.  When you encounter those types, my grandmother said "You just gotta love the hell outta 'em." 

A community of faith is a vibrant place for you to tap into your gifts amd potentially make sense of God's plan for your life.  Any time you have more than one person in a room, there is the potential for disagreements and discord.  We worship to be strengthened and empowered.  At the close of our worship service, my priest dismisses us with this charge, "Go forth into the world to love and serve the Lord."  If you are not connected to a community of faith, find one.  You may have shop around, but when you find the right one, it will fit you just like Cinderella's glass slipper.

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
Karsten