Welcome to the JCPC Daily Reflections Blog. Reflections are daily devotionals authored by JCPC pastors, staff and members and provide insight, guidance and comfort to help you make it through each day. If you’d like to receive Reflections each day via email, provide your email address.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well; Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically; Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.
Today is Labor Day. What does Labor Day mean to you? How do you observe it?
The first Labor Day was Sept. 5, 1882, when 10,000 workers marched the streets of Manhattan to recognize the many contributions of the people who worked an average of 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. President Cleveland signed it into law as a National Holiday to be celebrated on the first Monday of September.
I read a story about a woman who when asked what she did, smiled and said, “I bring hope to people who are hurting.” She was a grocery store clerk, but she didn’t see it as just a job. To her it was a way to use her gifts of hospitality and love God had given her to make the world a better place. She observed her clients and gave special attention to those who looked sad or forlorn and offered them a kind word. “I think it made a difference,” she said.
Labor Day celebrates the dignity and importance we each can take in the callings we’ve been given or the jobs we’re doing – whether as a professional or as volunteers. Our collective works contribute to the betterment of all.
Today ask your self – “What larger work has God called me to do?” Then look for it.
Prayer for Today
Father, may my work honor the gifts and talents you have given me and reflect your love for the world. Please guide me and give me the strength and courage to work every day for your glory. Amen.
This Sunday's anthem includes the text (though not the original tune) of a hymn written by Brian Wren for his congregation in 1968, as the summation of a sermon series on communion. Since the Second Vatican Council, many communion hymns, focused previously on the Lord's Supper as a memorial observance, now shifted their focus to how communion shapes the Christian community as the body of Christ.
I love the words of this hymn!
The first line speaks of a joyful attitude when coming to the table.
I come with joy to meet my Lord,
Forgiven, loved and free,
In awe and wonder to recall
His life laid down for me.
The second verse reminds us that we are not isolated in penitence, but part of a broader Christian community of love, empowered by Christ's shared communion bread.
I come with Christians far and near
To find, as all are fed,
The new community of love
In Christ's communion bread.
As part of that new community of love, we share the feast, and our eyes are opened to see in this sacrament what we have in common, as we lay aside our differences.
As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
Each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one,
And strangers now are friends.
We are reminded that Christ's presence is better known in the friendship shared at the table.
And thus with joy we meet our Lord:
His presence, always near,
Is in such friendship better known;
We see and praise him here.
Finally, we depart from the table, changed by the experience, and go out to live as changed children of God!
Together met, together bound,
We'll go our different ways,
And as his people in the world,
We'll live and speak his praise.
One thing I have learned during this pandemic is we can celebrate communion together, even when we're apart. Whether you are attending in-person worship, are alone in your car at drive-in worship, or are worshiping at home while watching our livestream, when you are taking communion, remember that in this act you are not alone, but part of the whole body of Christ, the Christian church.
Prayer for Today
Christ, our savior, help us come to your feast, departing and living as your changed children. Amen
Christ was faithful as a son over his house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
-Hebrews 3:6
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.
-Hebrews 3:14
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
-Hebrews 10:23
2020 was a hard year to be sure and a lot of tragedy struck. Among our losses was the late Chadwick Boseman. The South Carolina-native and Howard University grad played iconic heroes on the silver screen from Thurgood Marshall to Jackie Robinson. But he will be most remembered for bringing life to the King of Wakanda, Black Panther of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This character is the king of a fictional African nation and a superhero too. As King T’Challa, Boseman embodied courage, compassion, generosity, and forgiveness. Rather than seek revenge for the death of his father, he sought justice, mercy, and peace. Rather than keep his country’s vast resources for the benefit of his own people only, he advocated sharing. In his words, “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build walls.”
The world lost Chadwick Boseman suddenly to cancer. Few knew he had it. No one would have suspected. He remained in otherwise good health and never let up on his acting career, but more importantly, his public appearances of good will and encouragement. Boseman was well-known for visiting children in hospitals, especially those battling cancer. Few knew his own battle. His candle burned briefly, but brightly.
In his Marvel movie role, he had a battle cry to rally his people to defend the nation and our world from those who threatened it. Yibambe. It’s derived from a word that is from a dialect spoken in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It means, “Stand Fast.” In a call and response fashion, he would shout it and the tribe would repeat it back, over and over. On the anniversary of his passing, we are still facing a deadly virus and many still suffer from the illness that took Boseman too soon. Folks have taken to social media to remember his passing, his life, and his inspiration, quoting his rallying cry... #Yibambe!
It would be easy to give up and natural to be discouraged right now. We could be forgiven for giving up in the face of rising Covid cases, the Delta variant, and a return to greater restrictions. But as believers, we have faced difficult times before and offered hope to one another and those in need. We know that the goal is not simply to survive, but to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ and make the best of the time we are given by offering that hope to others. Yibambe!
Prayer for Today
Lord, strengthen me in the days ahead to hold fast, to love greatly, and to be compassionate, even when those days are hard. Amen.
In our Presbyterian Church, those of us who are ordained are actually described two ways in our Book of Order: Teaching Elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament. A teaching elder is different from the ruling elders who are members of our congregation and elected to serve on our Session. I like the fact that our Presbyterian tradition holds high the role of teachers.
In the New Testament book of Romans, it lists “teaching” as one of the spiritual gifts bestowed upon the church to build it up. And throughout the New Testament, Jesus is called “Teacher.” One of my tasks as a Presbyterian pastor is to teach. Over the years, more than one person has described me as a “teaching preacher.” I think that makes sense because my preaching has always been tied into helping us understand scripture and what God is saying to us today through those words.
This Sunday I begin teaching our “Pastors’ Class” at 10:00 a.m. in Room 112/the Small Dining Room across from the Great Hall. We will be wearing masks as required by our Session indoors and we will be socially distanced. This fall I plan for us to revisit some of the topics I have covered in recent years by asking these questions: Have these topics and truths been affected by the pandemic? If so, how have these insights changed? What have we learned that can help us move forward with our lives? This Sunday’s topic is “12 Bad Habits to Stop Doing After the Pandemic.”
Here are some of the other topics:
Is God a Democrat or Republican?
Intergenerational theory
More Polarized than Ever?
The Smaller Faster Stronger Church
The State of the Church
The Wisdom Pyramid
Crisis and/or Opportunity?
Spirituality Types and Personality
Polarity Theory
I think - I feel - I believe: What’s the Difference?
The Sixth Stage of Grief: Finding Meaning
So, come try us out this Sunday. See you then!
Prayer for Today
God of all truth and wisdom, we thank you that you sent Jesus to teach us. As we begin a new time of learning, fill us with your Spirit -- that we might be open to all you would have us learn at this point in our lives. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus, the preeminent Teacher, and our Lord and Savior. Ame
As many along the Gulf Coast have been experiencing hurricane Ida, I am getting updates from many friends. When natural disasters like this hit, we are filled with questions.
I would invite you to take a moment today to listen for God. The words of Psalm 46 often come to mind in times like these.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Be still and know that I am God. -Psalm 46
After reading this scripture, I would invite you to find an image from this week’s storm that serves as a reminder to you of the message of Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Take time to lift up in prayer those in along the gulf coast that have already been affected by the storm and those that will experience effects over the coming days, weeks and months.
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, you are our comfort and strength in times of sudden disaster, crisis, or chaos. Surround us now with your grace and peace through storm or earthquake, fire or flood. By your Spirit, lift up those who have fallen, sustain those who work to rescue or rebuild, and fill us with the hope of your new creation; through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer. Amen.
JCPC elder commissioners to the recent Presbytery meeting shared about the new initiative - “7 Marks of a Vital Congregation."
July operating revenue totaled $79,261. July operating expenses were $89,405. Year to date operating revenue totaled $592,796. Year to date operating expenses were $576,910. This is a positive difference of $15,886.
The Session approved the recommendations of the Health Team which included requiring masks for all indoor activities. There is also an in-depth discussion of whether anyone singing in worship should wear a mask, including the upcoming Timothy Miller concert. After much discussion, it was decided that everyone singing in worship indoors must wear a mask for now.
Third quarter financial support of JCPC missions will be sent to our mission partners, as well as one half of the JCPC per capita commitment to the ongoing work of Presbytery.
$15,000 had been raised toward the retaining wall Sprinter Campaign.
Roy Davey has been hired as the new JCPC bookkeeper affective August 17th.
Video conferencing technology has been purchased to facilitate hybrid meetings.
The Blood Drive was successful with 15 donors.
The Preschool is considering moving the start of preschool back one week due to new COVID-19 considerations.
The Connecting Ministry Team is investigating a “digital directory” for church members. There will be a survey inviting input from the congregation about this.
Gray is serving on the board of CanCare. There is a search for a part-time Executive Director and partnership churches are being asked to help fund CanCare in 2022.
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, we thank you that we can come together as brothers and sisters in Christ and do your work in our church, our community, and around the world. Bless the efforts of our ministry teams as we seek to serve you and share the love of Christ. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus our Lord and savior. Amen.
“Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!’”
-Revelation 19:5
In order to live-stream the Timothy Miller concert this Sunday in the Great Hall at 10:00 a.m., we had to pay for an additional license so that the composers and arrangers of the music he will sing would get paid their royalties. This new license allows us to live-stream music outside of worship services, but it also covers some music for worship that we have been unable to use in our online services thus far. One of those is the opening hymn for this week, Morning Has Broken.
The tune, familiar to many of you and written by Scottish composer Mary M. Macdonald, is based off of a Scottish folk tune, and the words were written by English author Eleanor Farjeon. Farjeon was asked to write text for a hymn that offered praise to God each and every day. The first stanza is full of imagery from nature:
Morning has broken like the first morning;
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
The chirp of cicadas is a common sound around the world in summer, but the Japanese are hyper aware of this and other seasonal markers. Before I moved to Japan almost a decade ago, I never really noticed that characteristic and often ear-piercing sound, but now the sound of the newly-emerged cicadas screaming their little hearts out instantly instills a sense of summer nostalgia in me.
But I’m not sure I’ve ever praised God for all those little cicadas! I often find myself overlooking the immense abundance of praiseworthy things in my life because of my busy schedule. Maybe you are the same way. We often talk about taking time to “smell the roses”, but how many of us actually do that, literally or figuratively? When was the last time you “pressed pause” and said a small prayer of thanksgiving for something small and minor, yet quite miraculous? In all of the expansive galaxy, we’ve only ever found life on our home - planet earth. Something as simple as the noisy vibrations of a cicada’s wings are a rare miracle that God has given us a chance to experience. Take some time and praise God for something ordinary in your life today.
Prayer for Today
God of unending blessings, thank you for this life and all the beauty around us. Help us to calm our minds from time to time so that we may praise you for anything and everything. Glory to you, God of all creation. Amen.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
-John 13:34-35
Saturdays are slow, when we can take one away from the busyness of our typical weekends. That’s usually my day to get the boys up and going. Last Saturday, I hollered up for the teenager to join the land of the living after a late night for marching band at the football game. Sleepily, he wandered downstairs to his favorite person in the house... the fluffy cat next to me. He leaned over the back of the couch and rested his hand on her head and his face on her body, burying his face in her long white fur. His toddler brother came racing over, stood on his tiptoes, and did exactly the same from the opposite side. The cat seemed to enjoy the warmth and didn’t stir. Our toddler would giggle and grin, stand straight up to look at his brother, and then copy it once more, gently resting his face on the cat’s side.
It’s been said that kids do what we do, not what we say. I think we sometimes let ourselves off the hook when we don’t have our own kids or they’re grown. But there’s almost always some child watching us and seeking to learn by imitating, experimenting, especially when it comes to how we interact with others, with animals, with those smaller, weaker, or in need of care and compassion. The way we model love and compassion, tenderness and gentleness, far more so than what rules or expectations we communicate in speech, is what children, or new believers, will emulate.
Adults are fond of joking about how children and teenagers have selective hearing or tune out what we try to tell them, but far less often do we talk about how much they copy our actions. This week, be mindful of the things you do as others may observe you and see if it communicates the same lessons your words do. What we do, and how we treat others is always a teaching moment, even, or especially, when we don’t mean for it to be. And if you have time, stoop low, cuddle someone fluffy, and delight in God’s creatures, great and small.
Prayer for Today
Lord, make my actions consistent with the love I seek to show with my words, and an example for those who see me. Amen.
This week I'm on vacation with my family at St. George Island in Florida. This is the first family vacation we've had at the beach since the pandemic hit in March of 2020. This will also be the first time that our adult children will be able to join us, as well. I am looking forward to this time, and hopefully we'll be able to dodge the hurricanes.
We have been coming to St. George since our kids were young. We like it because it is quiet and filled mainly with beach homes. There are a few restaurants, a supermarket or two, and a couple of hotels -- but the rest are homes and white sand. From the very first time we went there, we would rent bicycles for the week. I can still remember when our kids were small enough to be pulled along behind our bikes. Most days we just hang out on the beach, rest, read, walk, eat shrimp fresh out of the gulf from the night before, and decide which day trips along that part of the Panhandle we will take this year.
We are heading back Saturday in order to be there Sunday for the “Welcome Back” Concert with Timothy Miller at 10:00 a.m. in the Great Hall. I am looking forward to this very much. In my conversations with Timothy, I have discovered he's a really interesting guy. His father was a preacher. He attended Morehouse where he is now on the music faculty, and we found out we know some of the same folks in the music world.
I have asked him to sing “God Bless America” during the 10:00 a.m. concert, which he has agreed to do. As we have said, many of you will know Timothy from the Sunday Braves’ baseball games when he sings “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch. However, he is creating a wide range of music for our enjoyment. He will also be singing during the 11:00 a.m. service before he heads to the Braves game that afternoon. So, invite your friends, and if you cannot make it, we plan to simulcast the concert online at 10:00 a.m. Just go to the JCPC website to find the link. See you Sunday!
Prayer for Today
Thank you, God, for the beauty of nature, the rest we can find when we need renewal, and the gift of music to soothe our souls. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Do you have a favorite insect? I wondered about this after reading a story from an author I enjoy, Rachel Macy Stafford. She shared about a time when her daughter asked her this question. Her daughter said, “You can’t choose butterfly, everyone chooses that”. As they continued their conversation Rachel learned that her daughter’s favorite insect was a firefly. As they considered that for a little while, Rachel noticed with her daughter what a beautiful choice that was, as fireflies shine from within.
You may know some people who seem to have that light within. Maybe they aren’t noticed for the big or obvious things, but as you get to know them you realize they have a deep, unique light within them. I would encourage all of us to consider ourselves as fireflies as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, The Message)
Notice the light of Christ in those around you. Don’t wait for someone to hand them an award or a give them a certificate to make their talents and gifts “official.” That day may never come. So say it now. Consider someone who opens up and shares the light of Christ. Tell them what you notice and encourage the ways they are sharing their light with the world.
I see your light. I see it when you…
Prayer for Today
Creator God, thank you for the gift of light all around us and deep inside of us. Open us up to share it today and notice it in those we encounter. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
