GRACE...according to the measure of Christ's gift.

8/5

With Elder Geraldine after worship

On a hot and sweltering August day, I made my way to Beverley Church...

Here was my reflection on the day....

It's getting to be that time of year.  August. A very quiet time of year.  The streets are somehow emptier. Most summer camp experiences are winding down. And any one who can leave town has left town leaving things quieter for the rest of us. It's always a good time to be here. There's still Shakespeare in the Park. (Actually lots of parks!) And Lincoln Center out of Doors. Our summer lasts longer than others. I went to visit my brother in Toledo and they've started fall sports practices because their school year begins in about two weeks. So we hold on to summer just a little longer.

It seems like some pretty important communications come from prisons. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letter from a  Birmingham Jail is one of his best known and most important writings. Nelson Mandela sent messages from behind the walls of Robbens Island that sustained his people together in hope. My good friend Peter Heltzel found himself behind bars in Albany this spring during the Poor Peoples' campaign. I've been in a few times myself buy never long enough write a letter.

So if you are wondering, Ephesians is one of Paul's prison letters.
It was during this time that Paul sat in Rome undergoing his first Roman imprisonment (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1), making Ephesians one of the four epistles commonly known as the Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

So he is in prison, writing to Ephesus. I also need to tell you that Paul is usually writing to a church is at a point of crisis with specific answers for specific problems. And when he doesn't, like in this letter, he is seeking to build up the body for when crisis will come.

Maybe that's kind of like where you are.  I mean as I know you, you do have some big picture issues to deal with. But you are not at a crisis point.

(So you know that old story about how if you've got a frog in a pot of water and up the temperature 1' at a time, he won't jump and will boil because each increase is so small? Not dealing with why you'd want to do that in the first place, but.... I have a friend who thinks that's where we are as a nation. One day, one degree at a time.  He wants to write a song about feeling like a frog in the water....)
So what's Paul got to say? Or what if this  was Paul's letter to Beverly Church?

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

My sense is that you all do  bear with one another pretty well...but you might want to answer that for yourself...unity of spirit, bond  of peace...Believe me sometimes it is easier said than done...I have seen churches where people choose up sides over the smallest of things. Next thing you know, people are fighting and saying bad things about each other....somehow thinking that they can continue to serve God while they do that?

We celebrate communion today. We used to have a part of our service where  we declared that if anyone has something against anyone in the community, you were asked to go and not come back until it was taken care of. Could  you do that today?


4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

I love this part.... 7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

So this is where I remind you that each of you has a ministry that is given to you at our baptism, not your ordination...we are, as Luther said,  a priesthood of all believers...

And what are these?

And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
for what purpose?

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

that is the purpose...the building up of the body...
which of these are you? How do you live that out?


13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; 14 so that we may no longer be children, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.

Paul wants us to be mature in faith....not bounced around by every new thing that comes around...

Now you all seem to me to be mature Christians...you have all been here awhile...you're not going anywhere...BUT...IF you have in this room, right today, apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ....what might you be able to do with all of that?

I know how  frustrating it is to have lost what you've lost...but what if you walked in here today and saw what you have? What more might you become?

Can you begin to  imagine?

GRACE...according to the measure of Christ's gift...what is the nature of his gift to us right now? 

That is my question for you today.

We share communion. And Geraldine introduces a prospective new member which would be cause for celebration. And our worship comes to an end for today....

Outside, the sun...and the heat....summer ...is waiting....

An open letter to colleagues and friends following yesterday's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march for Peace and Justice...

Post MLK day thoughts…

First, a thank you to all my colleagues and their congregations for welcoming our 13^th annual march. And for all the prayers and music that was offered. And for the specificity of the prayers. For the young people and children who participated in our event.  For the songs led by Arden. And the continuing presence of the spirit of Father Mike, even in his absence. (I kept expecting to see him at any moment…) And for the visible presence of Captain Mallon of the 24^th Precinct, in uniform. His walking with us was an unexpected “win” and I’m sure a result of our hour and a half conversation last Friday.

And thanks for all the work that went in before the march, including Tony’s challenging email, the hours of conversation and planning and the hard work with the police precinct personnel. I am convinced, that at least in our precinct, we chose the right path. The beginning of a closer relationship of openness and trust that hopefully will serve us in the days ahead if we continue to nurture it. On the one hand, the police were accepting of our need to question and challenge. And they were ultimately trusting enough of our integrity to come prepared to march with us, without any pre-agreements of signs or messaging.  For all this we can give thanks.

But I want to challenge us to go deeper. Given the events of the last several months across the country and here in New York City, this year’s MLK march came at a time unlike any others over these last 13 years. Even confronting the war in Iraq did not walk us into controversial community territory. Nor did demanding food justice. But this year is different. And the recent reminder of the Selma to Montgomery march through the movie Selma is a call to us to not misrepresent who Dr. King was, the reality of that movement and what faithfulness to Dr. King’s dream calls us to today.

The complexity of the moment is revealed in the kaleidoscope of yesterday’s events. At noon yesterday, another group of interfaith colleagues met at First Corinthian and then 2^nd Canaan Baptist with families of those who have lost fathers, brothers and sons. A solemn procession of mourners in funereal black would walk 4 miles to the United Nations, believing we are experiencing injustice of a national magnitude. Worthy of international attention.

In other cities there were die-ins. And around the country several gatherings like ours, including the SCLC’s!...were disrupted by younger activists feeling that the legacy of Dr. King has been coopted and tamed.  And they have a point.

This is our context:

* Last fall, when our church lifted up Ferguson, one of our African-American members, a Korean war vet, went home to get his sign, Ferguson We Stand With You. That was before Eric Garner. It has been and will continue to be true that a death of a black man anywhere in this country will be experienced as a death everywhere in this country, despite differences in any particular precinct or even city wide department.

* When officers Ramos and Liu were murdered, not on any dangerous duty, but simply on routine patrol, our officers felt under attack. Including members of my congregation, two young Latino children of immigrants, seeking to both have good jobs but also legitimately serve a city that they loved, and live out the values they had learned in church.

As tempting as it is to say, in the words of Rodney King, can’t we all just get along, or both sides feel attacked, it’s time to understand one another and move on, …No, we can’t. The family of Eric Garner still awaits justice. And the example of Latin American countries who after dirty wars just declared amnesty and moved on as opposed to South Africa where the Truth and Reconciliation Commission allowed victims to be truly heard is instructive. It’s not simply a matter of understanding. There can be no understanding without analysis of who has the power to do what to whom. Or, in the words of Dr. King,  “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice,  ...” There can be no reconciliation without reconstruction of the basic relationships.

And this too is context:

* Black people today are incarcerated at a rate higher than in apartheid South Africa and the income disparity in the US is greater than in apartheid South Africa at it’s peak.

* There are more young black men between the ages of 18-25 in prison than in college.

* If you are a black male without a high school degree, there is an 85% chance you will be incarcerated.

* At equal rates of use, 65% of drug arrests, 75% of prosecution and 85% of convictions are from the black community.

* Any one convicted of a felony loses their right to vote.

These are systemic issues, and the police, rightly or wrongly, are seen as the agents and enforcers, and most visible face of that system.

So even though, indeed, all lives matter, one can see why voices feel compelled to cry out that black lives matter…

The movie Selma reminds us that Dr. King pursued voting rights not as an end in jtself, but as the best way to respond to the lynchings and murders of blacks (and others who stood with them) because that was the only way to gain entry into the jury system that allowed murderers to go free. For that reason, he was resolute when even a supportive President told him to be patient.

Sadly, we do not yet have a single focus as clearly defined as voting rights. (And even that is no longer secure…)The specific agenda is still being defined.  We in New York City have the opportunity to be at the vanguard of that critical clarification and response.

As we marched yesterday, we sang songs of a struggle. I reflected on that and wondered if we sing in the spirit of nostalgic memory or active engagement? When we respond to What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now. Is that a liturgy of remembrance or a passionate plea?

I don’t have the answers. But I do know this…we can’t wait for another Dr. King. We must ask ourselves, as faith leaders, what would he be saying today, what would he be doing? And find the words and deeds within ourselves to be faithful…

Thanks again for a great day…and may we hold each other accountable

In peace and justice

Bob Brashear

Questions, always questions

1/9

Steven Blane, Marie and Mandola Joe

Time to catch up with Russ. Tell him about spending the morning at a screening of Selma. One of the speakers from the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies noted the names Brown, Ferguson, Martin. Brown v. Board of Education, Michael Brown. Plessy v. Ferguson, Ferguson, Missouri. Martin Luther King, Jr., Trayvon Martin. What we are living through now is linked and tied inextricably to the long road to freedom, justice and equality that spans decades, and more. A long struggle that doesn’t end. We happen to be at a particularly critical juncture.

What is our responsibility as people of faith right now? What would I have done in 1965? Would I have gone to Selma?  For those of us who have police officers in our congregations, what is our role with them as pastors? What is our prophetic responsibility? Prophetic without pastoral is empty rhetoric. Pastoral without prophetic is spiritual cowardice. Perhaps even lack of faith. When we have our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. day march next Monday, what exactly is our message supposed to be? What word are we called to speak? The movie Selma goes to the heart of our moment.

We also work on catching up on the life of the church in general. How do we connect with, gather, the Christian left searching for community? Artists and others who have been badly hurt by the church but still have spiritual and social commitments and a longing for Jesus in their life. It’s a heavy agenda.

Thomas R is back from Brooklyn again to volunteer and Leila has a whole folder of activities for him.

Jeremy M and I go to the piano. Baptism Sunday is coming up. What can we sing? Down to the River to Pray, of course. And Wade in the Water. (Yes, God is troubling the waters…). And Take Me to the River. And Jeremy brings back the old Blind Boys of  Alabama song, from his sanctuary days, He gave me water….. We’re at the piano, working out the bass line harmony I’m going to do. Love that gospel bass.

Marc has real concerns about the Internet strategy and a new proposal to offer. Marie has been in the church all day long, as has Geoffrey.

When I come back late from dinner, for Open Mic, she’s till there. And has signed up. I’m in time for Joel, backed by Steve, who leaves for Florida on Monday for 6 weeks.

Joel backed by Steve

He will be missed.  Steve offers a song for Gladys, a Jewish country and western song as RL says. Actually, just a good hurtin song.

Steve and Gladys

Marie gets up. Shy. Seems so much younger than her years. Starts in on an acapella Amazing Grace.  Starts to lose the words. She seems ready to give in, but by the time I give her the hymnal open to the words, Steve’s already at the piano backing her up. Mandola Joe adding his mandolin.  She is beaming.

Marie and Mandola

RL looks on with satisfaction. When Marie thanks everyone, I say, That’s why we’re here. RL nods.

Mandola’s got a song. And Pat O’s divorce song has been upgraded with Steve’s help.

Pat sings of divorce

The damn thing made me almost cry the first time I heard it and still does. By the time I get up for my set between Steve, Pat and me, a theme has been established.

Alex has come in and does some songs from her upcoming ep. She hits a snag in her performance of  Regina Spektor’s Samson. So we invite her to start over, do it again.

And applaud as she gets it. That’s why we’re here…

Alex sings

And RL keeps her at the piano for tonight’s closing Stay Awhile. It is a very cold night. 

Rl and co. closing it out...David Lyons on sound, Pat O on guitar, Alex on piano and of course, RL

1/10

The Session meets and it's a good meeting. Charles has prepared a good report on all our prospective renters. Choices to be made especially among prospective other religious groups.  Questions arise as to maintaining our identity. But as I said to pastor An, at the end of the day, that’s our issue. We wrestle with a request to shelter homeless women. Balancing the potential impact of doing this against impact on other prospective renters. But for me, ultimately, there’s no real question here. I’m a minister, we’re a church.  That’s it. I have to trust. That’s all.

Late in the afternoon. Geoffrey snoring away. There’s a young woman asleep in the back. Seems like she’s got all her worldly possessions around her. I feel like I’ve met her before. She rouses for a moment. Are you OK? I ask. The door was open, she says.

I let her go back to sleep. I have  a place to get to, Ask Stephen to make sure that she leaves. And then for the next hour worry about whether I should have engaged her in conversation. Heard her story. As the temperature has dipped into the teens, (-8 to 10 C), more and more people have been coming into the church to sleep. I’m glad we’re open. But worry about the night.

When I come back late, there’s a birthday party crowd. I’m trying to pick up the vibe and am a little uncertain. I’m glad RL is still here. But on my way home, am asking myself if I should have gone up to talk with him instead of worrying about tomorrow and going home to get ready for tomorrow.

Questions, always questions.

8/28/63 remembered

8/25

                                          Martin Luther King, Jr. 8/28/1963

Do you remember me? the person asking looks familiar. And then simultaneously we say Sarah...It’s been many a year. I ask where she’s been. Living five years in  Nyack with a new husband. In town to visit her son, same age as my Nate. We exchange the sons news reports. Ask if she’s still singing. No, more writing music and children’s books. Had warm memories of being here. Wanted to check in.

And the memories come flooding back. Bittersweet. Her coming to us years ago was special for me. She brought her son who hung out with Nate. One of those who was slowly, cautiously trying to find her way back to church. Wanted to share her voice. Had been a singer-songwriter for awhile. And she did. Singing in the choir. And then most special of all, she made liturgical  stoles for Katherine and me. Matching. With special scraps from her sewing box and pieces that had been with her for a long time. Even from home. And she wrote a beautiful letter describing what she had done, where the pieces came from. 

Sadly, it came to an end when she was accidentally copy-alled into what was one of innumerable West-Park squabbles carried out via e-mail. Someone making their way back in doesn’t want to find the stress and tension, meanness, that drove them away in the past. Or that they want a break from in their regular life.  A key to a church being able to grow is not getting sucked into drama. Much as those already in seem to enjoy ..or even want that, anyone new will be driven away. .

                                                      Bob Dylan sings Blowin in the wind

We’re remembering the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington today. I pull out my guitar. Sing blowin’ in the wind...a song of the era...and people sing along. We read our scriptures, starting with Jeremiah. Who protests about his youth, remembering that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a young man in 1963.  Only 43. And we can see the connection to Jeremiah 1: 9  Now I have put my words in your mouth. Hebrews 12 speaks of ...a voice that shook the earth...(25) and how it was was that kind of power that came through Martin Luther King, Jr. on that day. A nation was shaken to its core. We recall how it was the dogs of Bull Connor  that convinced the Civil Rights establishment to commit to the march. And a few weeks later, the bombing of the church in Birmingham. And the next summer, Freedom summer...and the murder of Goodman, Cheney and Schwerner. Earth shaking indeed.   Maybe even heaven shaking.

And finally Luke 13:10-17 with its exploration of the law and breaking the law for the greater good. We talked about the whole use of civil disobedience in social change. And how every time I’ve been arrested, judges were willing to consider the duress defense, that is, breaking a law in order to prevent something worse from happening, and every time found not guilty. 

Then we watch the video of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech that day in Washington, DC at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. What some have called the second greatest speech in American history. Second only to Lincoln himself. And then we reflect. How King’s speech was rooted in the American dream. Calling America to its best sense of itself. Granting it the trust in its capacity to be true to its ideals. With the  use of the words of My Country ‘tis of thee...let freedom ring! and use of the prophets Amos and Isaiah. 

I’m one of the few who actually remembered seeing it live. How it struck deep into my heart. Brought tears to my eyes. (Still does.)  Deacon James remembers growing up on Long Island, Freeport. (Where Andrea grew up, and my parents in law..) And serving in the Korean War. How King helped him transform his anger into something else. We all have our own reaction. Some remember the  assassination of Malcom X and that the two were moving closer together .

So where are we today? So much left to do. Some ways better. Some ways worse. I remember when my friend Uli from Germany was with us when we poured into the streets to  celebrate Obama’s victory. Broadway closed. Celebration everyhwere. Uli said it reminded him of when                                                                     the Berlin Wall fell. I said that today for us another wall had fallen.

Disappointed though we are, a page had been turned. There would be no going back. The voices of that day in Washington, DC echo still.

After services, a family from Spain has com into visit.  I greet them in Spanish and Arcadia comes up to greet them with her usual grace and hospitality.

Later, Session will approve a term sheet. Next week we will begin actual leas negotiations. I think I can see light ahead....I want to believe it...

Blowin in the Wind

Bob Dylan

How many roads most a man walk down

Before you call him a man ?

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand ?

Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly

Before they're forever banned ?

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many years can a mountain exist

Before it's washed to the sea ?

Yes, how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free ?

Yes, how many times can a man turn his head

Pretending he just doesn't see ?

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky ?

Yes, how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry ?

Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows

That too many people have died ?

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

America Lyrics (first verse)

Katherine Lee Bates

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!