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.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. . . . In the same way, let your light shine before others . . . -Matthew 5:14,16a, NIV
This past Sunday, the light was shining at JCPC. According to what I've been told, our church was first named "Church of the Hills" because we are literally on a hill. But this past Sunday, I think we lived up to our original namesake by letting our light shine from the hill of our campus. Many came by for our first Drive-by Offering, which was more than simply handing in our gifts as we waved. Neal and I greeted each car, checked in briefly, asked for prayer concerns, and offered to pray for those needs or to give a blessing. Many folks shared some deep hurts they, or someone they cared about, were experiencing. Hearing Neal pray for our folks may have been the highlight of the day for me.
Then we invited folks to share their offering, if they had one, with our elders who were holding the offering plates while wearing masks and gloves. I watched as many of those encounters turned into conversations and a time to catch up.
Heidi and Christian then shared the CD of music they had created from our recent online services. They told folks the CD was not only a gift to comfort them, but something they could pass along to someone who needed it. They could also download the music from our website on the Church@Home page link and enjoy it that way.
Then most of the folks who came brought canned goods, pasta, and/or monetary gifts over to the church bus where Brian and the youth received them. They filled the back of the bus with food to support "Hands of Christ" and help those who are really struggling at this time.
More than one person asked if we could do it again soon. Our Stewardship Ministry Team decided last night the answer was a resounding "Yes!" So, if you missed out on this or want to do it again, come Sunday, June 21, from 10:00 a.m. until Noon and join in the joy! I know you will be glad you came.
Prayer for Today
Thank you, Lord, for times when we can be with each in safe ways to connect and give back to your work in the world. Help us to remember that you use your gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
"From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
-Job 28:20-28
I was reading a reflection and considering this artwork entitled, "The Way to Wonder" connected with this passage from Job 28.
Job was trying to seek out wisdom and understanding in the midst of his situation. These past few months have brought many questions, uncertainty, comfort and hope. These words from the artist Lisle Gwynn Garrity in the devotion bring new meaning to our current situation for me. "The Hebrew word for "fear", yirah, literally translates to 'awesome'. True wisdom lies in breathless reverence for God's mystery and expansiveness-for God's presence that is beyond what we can control, or reason, or make far too small."
As I continue to navigate the uncertainty of the coming days, I stand in awe of all that God has created and those that seek to build bridges, bring hope and create peace. What situations have brought you to lament? What has God done that brings you awe? We take time during VBS each summer to consider God sightings where we look for evidence of "God in action everywhere around us, every day of our lives! It's the small things like a smile or a sunset, and it's the BIG things like being healed from sickness, or being rescued from a storm".
Go into your week looking for God sightings and share them with someone when you see them.
Prayer for Today
Creator God, Unravel our need for answers into awe for the wonders of your expansive mystery. In Christ's Name, Amen.
We had church yesterday! Well, sort of, kind of, maybe, well yes! Almost 50 cars of JCPC members and friends arrived on campus yesterday. Here's a picture of Steve Navarro welcoming folks back to JCPC as well as waving to cars passing by.
In conjunction with our online worship service we invited you to return to campus to receive prayers and blessings, receive a CD of songs of hope, to receive your offering and to bring food for Hands of Christ. Gray and I were talking midway through and we both exclaimed we were having church; an alternative worship service to fit the day.
As I reflected upon this church gathering and immediately Jesus' words came to mind:
"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
This teaching of Jesus is found midway through Matthew 18. Since it comes midway through the chapter I wanted to refresh my memory regarding what preceded the teaching. Well I found that the parable of the shepherd who had 100 sheep comes before this teaching.
I thought how appropriate this text is to our day and time but in a different context. Rather than one sheep wandering off from the 100 we have been surviving in a shelter in place phenomena which causes the entire flock to be physically distanced from each other. On Sunday morning, the flock began to return to our church on the hill; JCPC, and it sure felt like church! With the heat building it sure felt like a good ole fashion southern prayer meeting.
Prayer for Today
Lord we look forward to the day when we can all come back to our sanctuary to worship you. Keep us strong in our faith and bolster our spirits as we wait for that wonderful day. In the meantime grant us Your Spirit as two and three gather in your name to do your work. Amen.
This Sunday, Neal is preaching a sermon called "A Dream Dreaming Us" based on the story of Jacob's dream from Genesis 28:10-17. Neal and I were talking about dreaming earlier this week. We talked about the dreams many have had for significant events like graduations or weddings that have been affected by the pandemic. I also thought about those who have had dreams for their businesses or work that have been impacted by this event, or those who dreamed of a certain kind of retirement, only to have those dreams fade. I am looking forward to how Neal will speak to us about all of this.
When the Bible speaks of dreams, it is often telling a story of God speaking to someone through a dream. In the Bible, dreams are not usually something created in the mind of the person - they are usually vehicles for receiving a message from God. That is the case with Jacob in Sunday's Bible story.
In our time, we have those who dream of a better world. Dr. King was one of those who spoke of his dream - a dream that continues to speak to us today:
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. . . . I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. . . .
Prayer for Today
Loving God, help us to hear your dreams for us and for your world. Strengthen us today, so that together we might make your dreams a reality. In the strong name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
So that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.
-Ephesians 1:18
In the summer of 2009, as I was finishing my seminary training, I landed a summer internship with a racial reconciliation ministry in the East End of Richmond, VA. At the time, it had just moved down the list of Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America from three to eight. There was nonetheless a murder almost every day of our first week working there. We helped to run a summer day camp for the kids, lead worship in the intentionally black/white mixed church, and I taught summer school for English and Math to kids we were trying to catch up to grade level.
A part of our internship was having a mentor in the organization and being one to one of the older kids who were counselors in training. And we also met in a small group as staff for Bible study. A fellow counselor remarked one day of his experiences before this and now, "My eyes had been made small by my choices." Which I wrote in the margins of my Bible and read again this week. In other words, not going out of his way to find people of color, people in poverty, people who were oppressed or rejected, younger kids in need of mentors, his eyes saw less. Choosing to travel far outside his experiences and comfort opened his eyes. For many of us, we have been forced to live in new ways by the quarantine and to see new realities in the news. Our eyes are being made bigger, not by choice, but force.
For me, I could never have imagined online worship, drive-in worship, or virtual Bible study. My eyes were small. I did not imagine school from home, canceled sports and extracurriculars, canceled vacations, families home together on weekends and evenings. My eyes were small. But now I see possibilities. Empty schedules and a greater hunger for Christian fellowship and God's word, for worship. I couldn't imagine a summer without week-long trips, but now it's stirring creativity. I'm appreciating time at home and watching the milestones of my boys as I do this work. I'm observing hundreds of moments that are teaching me lessons for future sermons and reflections. My eyes are becoming larger by the decisions to observe and be joyful, thankful for what is good. My prayer is that you'll find what is good and choose to be embrace that good. And I hope you'll share it with me.
Prayer for Today
Lord, help me make choices that widen my eyes. Help me to see your goodness, my blessings, the needs of others, and how I can help. Amen.
Some of you may remember this children's song if you grew up in the church. It is a simple tune -- easy to sing and remember. The words are pretty simple, too - but they are not simplistic. As good songwriters often do, they speak deeper truths . . . if we are paying attention. Sometimes it takes a long time to figure this out - maybe even a lifetime.
This song addresses two of the more profound challenges we are facing today - how to be the church during a pandemic and how we address and heal issues of race and racism. Both are complex - if for different reasons. First of all, what does it mean to be the church when we cannot yet meet together in our buildings for worship? As the song reminds us -- the church is not the building - it is the people. So, we find different ways to worship when challenged. In a place like China, the underground church flourished while being forbidden to meet together. The church has not stopped being the church - we have just found a different way to worship, connect, and serve others during this time. Like you, I am looking forward to worshiping again with others on our campus as soon as we can.
The other challenge that has recently exploded in our nation is the challenge of race and racism. The song also reminds us that as the church, we are many kinds of people of all races, from all over the world. Christ calls us to come together in love and to work against whatever devalues or threatens anyone - especially those directly affected by racism. Racism is a sin which we must address now. As the church, we should help lead the way in working for a peaceful and just world for all.
Prayer for Today
Thank you, God, for calling us from all places and races to be your church. Sustain us until we can worship together physically. Empower us to be the church wherever we are - working so that your kingdom can come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Amen.
For many of the times I have read Jonah's story, I focused on the lessons God teaches us related to repentance and forgiveness.
These words from a devotion for families, Sing! Play! Summer! put love at the center.
Jonah 2:1-2, "Then Jonah prayed to God from the belly of the fish, saying, 'I called to God out of my distress, and God answered me."
I saw this story of Jonah in a new way as I read the devotion. "Full of twists and turns, the story of Jonah is about at least two things: 1) God's pervasive and persistent love, and 2) stepping up to the challenges that change can bring. Jonah tries to avoid God's call at first, while the people of Nineveh embrace it, changing their lives for the better. The story ends with the idea that the God of love is at work in and through all the twists and turns of our lives, sometimes hidden, sometimes plain- and that God's mercy knows no bounds!" (Salt Project)
"God of love is at work in and through all the twists and turns of our lives". Over the past almost three months we have experiences lots of twists and turns that were not expected. How have you seen our God of love at work in your twists and turns recently? When has someone reminded you of God's mercy?
Aghast, stunned, angry, sad, confused; these are but a few emotions I have experienced watching the chaos in Atlanta this past weekend. Our Solace Sunday meeting was spent processing these emotions and more as we attempted to sort out what Christian responses need to be in the face of this chaos. The answers aren't simple; they never are, yet Christian faith was born into chaos and it is lived to bring reconciliation into the chaotic world. Listen to how St. Paul describes our ministry in the 5th chapter of 2 Corinthians:
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What does reconciliation look like in action? I want to share three pictures which illustrate the power of reconciliation in the face of chaos. The first is a picture from Louisville, KY where a police officer had been separated from his unit and was protected by his citizens he is sworn to protect.
This second picture is one of police officers kneeling in prayer as protesters approached them.
Finally, through prayer reconciliation brings order to the chaos.
We have witnessed too many scenes of violence, chaos, and destruction. God is working to bring about reconciliation in our broken world. Let's share together in the ministry of reconciliation.
Prayer for Today
Breathe your Spirit upon your people, O Merciful God, and convict us to be ambassadors of Christ who heed your call to the ministry of reconciliation so that we will be people of healing, hope, and love. Amen.
In spite of not being able to gather yet for worship, we have some pretty exciting things happening in the near future. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday and we will once again be celebrating communion in the service. I hope everyone will have bread and grape juice or wine ready at home to celebrate The Lord's Supper along with us. We will also be watching a special Zoom video Brian has created, along with many others, to offer one way to hear the Pentecost passage from Acts 2. You won't want to miss it!
On the next Sunday, June 7th, we're trying something new. At the suggestion of one of our church members, Angela Harvey, we are inviting members of the church to drive through and bring their offerings between 10:00 a.m. and Noon. Angela thought this might be a good way for church members to connect, even though we will stay in our cars. Pastors (wearing masks) and some elders will be there to receive the offering and to offer a blessing -- if folks would like one. We will also be collecting for our mission partner, Hands of Christ. Food, clothing, and monetary donations will be accepted. We will be doing all of this taking safety precautions into account.
On June 14, the Rev. Ben Mathes will be our guest Online Worship preacher. Ben is finally retiring completely and asked if he could preach one last time this year at JCPC. June 14 was the only date he had available, so we took it. Ben founded Rivers of the World (ROW) which later became Mission: Hope. Those who know Ben know what to expect . . . or not! Ben always shares some exciting stories from the mission field. You will not want to miss the online sermon that day!
God continues to work through the members, ministry, and mission of Johns Creek Presbyterian Church - even when we cannot gather for worship. As Pentecost reminds us, God's Holy Spirit is never confined to one place!
Prayer for Today
Thank you, God, for your Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of the risen Christ alive everywhere. May your Spirit inspire us to live life fully, whatever challenges we face in life. In the strong name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
-Matthew 18:20
This morning, I was preparing to come to church and record the worship service for Pentecost. Pentecost and the Holy Spirit have been on my mind all week with the video project we worked on, and as I lifted our three-month old from his bed, I whispered, "The Holy Spirit is in you too. Did you know that?" And he grinned the biggest grin I've ever seen. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of joy and sense that my words were more true than I could imagine.
The Spirit is indeed within each of us, from the quietest to the most prophetic. From the introvert to extrovert. I'm alone in my family as being an extrovert, unless that little baby is, and I suspect as much. Even in my extended family. My mom knows every lifeguard at her pool and I can introduce you to half the staff at my Kroger. It's how we are wired. Being apart from society, especially my church family, is painful. I long to be with everyone again, as much or more than anyone. But, like the youth I serve and admire, I understand why this is a time to refrain from gathering and embracing. I'm protecting the wise elder members and the nursery kids, as well as my smiling, Spirit-filled baby.
He reminded me that that Spirit came to people in their houses on Pentecost. It connected people, and it still does. He's never been to our church, the one I serve and love and worship with. He's never been to a church at all. But he's been a part of the Church from his birth. The Spirit filled his lungs, the lungs that caused a nurse to say, "wow, he's the loudest baby I've ever heard," and the lungs that were monitored in the NICU for three days while hundreds of people from OUR church and churches of my friends, the greater Church prayed for his return home, and the lungs I seek to protect at home, grateful that others wear masks.
And those lungs, God-willing, will one day sing out as he is baptized in that Spirit, as he confirms his faith, and as he sings in our chapel. That Spirit connects us as we serve in Mexico and the DR, downtown at the shelters and in Duluth at Hands of Christ. That Spirit connects us in our homes to the homes of foster children and the house of the Lord. It makes us one people, so long as we trust God to unite us and we never let ourselves be divided, even when we are separated. And if we forget that, we need only hold a baby to remember.
Prayer for Today
Lord, hold me as your child, and whisper to me that your Spirit lives in me too, wherever I am and wherever I go. There is the Church. Amen.
