I wrote about our member Charlie Simmons who died last week as a result of injuries from an automobile accident. On Friday, July 25 we had a visitation at the church and a lot of folks came by. It was good to see all the people that Charlie had affected by his presence among us. People from the Diner where he ate his meals; people from the bank, where Charlie stopped by often for banking but also for coffee and cake (he usually provided the cake!); people from the larger Christian community in the New Paltz - Kingston area; our church members; members of the Bruderhof - what a wonderful turn-out.
The funeral was held at Woodcrest in Rifton, NY - a Bruderhof community. It was a joint service of our church and Woodcrest, and it was held outside on the lawn, under shade trees (for those fortunate enough to sit there) with a nice breeze and not too hot temperature. There was music and sharing, but the most surprising and powerful thing of all was the clip of Charlie saying "Amen!" and "Glory!" and sharing with us his deep love for Jesus.
I felt so blessed to be part of this joint effort of the two faith communities. That is how it should be. We who love Jesus are part of a large church that knows no man-made boundaries. We have one Lord and one faith and we share together as one body. I have enjoyed getting to know my brothers and sisters in the Bruderhof and look forward to a continuing relationship of worship and fellowship. That's what Charlie would want! That's what the Lord wants.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Remembering a friend
Yesterday I received news of the death of a member of our church, Charlie Simmons. Charlie had come to our church several years ago. He was a fixture in Ulster County, having worked in several jobs, coming to know just about everyone in the county. You would know Charlie was in church because of his loud, definite "Amen" coming from the back of the East Room section.
He was a large man who always said, "I keep a low profile." His profile was anything but! I remember one day when I went into the bank and Charlie saw me. He shouted out, "Here comes my pastor! Pastor, I'll get you the prettiest teller!!"
Charlie lost his wife a number of years ago, and he often mentioned how much he missed her. The first thing several people said when hearing of his death yesterday was "He's with Marge now!"
We had some church friends come up to our Greene County home for dinner last night. I learned of Charlie's while our friends were on the road, and called them to let them know Charlie had died, but come on up - there was nothing we could do at the moment. And then I let them know that we would be eating vegetables that Charlie gave me the day before at church. They replied that they had vegetables at their house that came from Charlie.
Charlie Simmons was an incredible man. He always let you know what he felt. He loved Jesus with all his heart, and he let you know that. Now Charlie knows firsthand the love of Jesus. In my mind I can hear the voice of God coming down from heaven, speaking of Charlie's faith, "Amen!"
We'll gather later this week to remember Charlie. I just couldn't wait to pay tribute to this incredibly big-hearted Christian who has gone on to be with the Lord.
Amen!!
He was a large man who always said, "I keep a low profile." His profile was anything but! I remember one day when I went into the bank and Charlie saw me. He shouted out, "Here comes my pastor! Pastor, I'll get you the prettiest teller!!"
Charlie lost his wife a number of years ago, and he often mentioned how much he missed her. The first thing several people said when hearing of his death yesterday was "He's with Marge now!"
We had some church friends come up to our Greene County home for dinner last night. I learned of Charlie's while our friends were on the road, and called them to let them know Charlie had died, but come on up - there was nothing we could do at the moment. And then I let them know that we would be eating vegetables that Charlie gave me the day before at church. They replied that they had vegetables at their house that came from Charlie.
Charlie Simmons was an incredible man. He always let you know what he felt. He loved Jesus with all his heart, and he let you know that. Now Charlie knows firsthand the love of Jesus. In my mind I can hear the voice of God coming down from heaven, speaking of Charlie's faith, "Amen!"
We'll gather later this week to remember Charlie. I just couldn't wait to pay tribute to this incredibly big-hearted Christian who has gone on to be with the Lord.
Amen!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Back Home!
I arrived safely back home on Friday night, June 27. It sounded good when the passport official said, "Welcome home!"
This was the best trip to Haiti for me yet. I've only been three times, but the first two seemed like "get acquainted" trips. This time I accomplished the two tasks I had set out for myself, or were set out for me: to help paint one of the kids' houses and to preach in a local church.
One of the things that became more evident than ever before is the need for the walls between churches to come down. Pwoje Espwa is not a Catholic project, even though Fr. Marc is a Catholic priest. Certainly the Spirit of Jesus is evident at Espwa. But there is no proselytism going on. The church I preached in is evangelical. There was no pressure there either. But both Espwa and the evangelical church bring the gospel of Jesus Christ in uncompromising and clear ways.
There are many reasons for the suffering in Haiti. I would never claim to understand it all. There are spiritual, social, economic, cultural and historical elements to the difficulties in Haiti. There is no one answer to the problems of Haiti. And yet there is one answer: love in Jesus Christ. Love that is grounded in faith. I heard someone say that those who make it for the long haul have faith; the purely humanitarian worker will burn out more easily. Faith looks beyond all the reasons given for Haiti's difficulties and says, "Trust in God, live the gospel - be faithful."
I have come to love the Haitian people. My time with the little church in Guillioux brought me closer to the people than in the other two trips. I pray that God will keep us in relationship through the months until I am able to return.
By the way, I heard through the grapevine that there is someone in Florida who actually reads this blog. Thanks!
This was the best trip to Haiti for me yet. I've only been three times, but the first two seemed like "get acquainted" trips. This time I accomplished the two tasks I had set out for myself, or were set out for me: to help paint one of the kids' houses and to preach in a local church.
One of the things that became more evident than ever before is the need for the walls between churches to come down. Pwoje Espwa is not a Catholic project, even though Fr. Marc is a Catholic priest. Certainly the Spirit of Jesus is evident at Espwa. But there is no proselytism going on. The church I preached in is evangelical. There was no pressure there either. But both Espwa and the evangelical church bring the gospel of Jesus Christ in uncompromising and clear ways.
There are many reasons for the suffering in Haiti. I would never claim to understand it all. There are spiritual, social, economic, cultural and historical elements to the difficulties in Haiti. There is no one answer to the problems of Haiti. And yet there is one answer: love in Jesus Christ. Love that is grounded in faith. I heard someone say that those who make it for the long haul have faith; the purely humanitarian worker will burn out more easily. Faith looks beyond all the reasons given for Haiti's difficulties and says, "Trust in God, live the gospel - be faithful."
I have come to love the Haitian people. My time with the little church in Guillioux brought me closer to the people than in the other two trips. I pray that God will keep us in relationship through the months until I am able to return.
By the way, I heard through the grapevine that there is someone in Florida who actually reads this blog. Thanks!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Painting and Preaching
This morning we went back to the kid's house and painted some more. It was a hot morning, but inside the house there was often a breeze. Hannah, Mark, Choupe and I painted together. Since I am not a giant, I took the lower parts of the walls and let the others climb the ladders and make gigantic reaches to get the higher parts.
I stopped about 11:30 a.m. to get ready to go to the church to preach a third time. Danny had gone to Port au Prince, so I had another interpreter, Louisseul. He did a marvelous job! I spoke on the subject of the armor of God (Ephesians 6) and then tied it all back to Saturday's message on being a prayer center. After today's message we had a time of prayer. There were headaches, neck and back pain, bad knees, high blood pressure, persecution and bad eyes. After praying for them I reminded them that I had no power in myself to do anything; that any healing would be coming from God. And I encouraged them to step out in prayer. I was so blessed by the opportunity to minister to this wonderful congregation. May God bless Pastor Etienne and Eglise Assemblee des Croyonts en Jesus Christ!
The trip out to the church was difficult, because many of the roads had deep ruts and holes filled with water and mud. Haitian roads are rough by any measure, and bumpy. There are people walking, riding bikes and motorbikes and animals tied alongside the road or just out in the road. There is every kind of dwelling along the way, from rickety lean-to's to very elegant houses. The poverty of Haiti is evident and the people feel its pressures, but when one gets to meet the people and spend time with them they are full of joy and love.
This is my third trip to Haiti and I am hooked! I look forward to my next visit.
I stopped about 11:30 a.m. to get ready to go to the church to preach a third time. Danny had gone to Port au Prince, so I had another interpreter, Louisseul. He did a marvelous job! I spoke on the subject of the armor of God (Ephesians 6) and then tied it all back to Saturday's message on being a prayer center. After today's message we had a time of prayer. There were headaches, neck and back pain, bad knees, high blood pressure, persecution and bad eyes. After praying for them I reminded them that I had no power in myself to do anything; that any healing would be coming from God. And I encouraged them to step out in prayer. I was so blessed by the opportunity to minister to this wonderful congregation. May God bless Pastor Etienne and Eglise Assemblee des Croyonts en Jesus Christ!
The trip out to the church was difficult, because many of the roads had deep ruts and holes filled with water and mud. Haitian roads are rough by any measure, and bumpy. There are people walking, riding bikes and motorbikes and animals tied alongside the road or just out in the road. There is every kind of dwelling along the way, from rickety lean-to's to very elegant houses. The poverty of Haiti is evident and the people feel its pressures, but when one gets to meet the people and spend time with them they are full of joy and love.
This is my third trip to Haiti and I am hooked! I look forward to my next visit.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Back in Haiti
Well, I am back in Haiti. Actually, I have been here since June 16. I didn't bring my computer so I have been bumming my son's. And the Internet connection is spotty. And I'm not really a writer. I'd rather pick up the phone than write something.
I'm back at Pwoje Espwa in Les, Cayes. This is a children's home/orphanage/school/farm - lots of things it is, but mainly it is a place where children can come and be loved and taken care of. Right now many of the kids are home for summer vacation. When school is in there are over 600 children here. Now I hear there are 200 - 300.
Fr. Marc Boisvert is the founder and director of Pwoje Espwa. Although Fr. Marc is an Oblate priest and there is a Mass here each Sunday, the program is not specifically Catholic. It is Christian and the Spirit of God is very much here. However, there is room for all who care for kids and want to work for hope in this beautiful country.
I have had the opportunity to minister in a protestant church, Eglise Assemblee des Croyants en Jesus Christ in Guilloux. The pastor there is Gerald Etienne, a lively and committed man of God who clearly loves his people and seeks to extend the love of God in his community. Pastor Etienne works at Pwoje Espwa and I came to meet him through my son. I ministered there last Saturday (6/21) and again today. God willing I will be going back out tomorrow. We have been considering the topic of prayer.
My work at Espwa has been painting one of the houses for the children. There have been setbacks, and the work has gone slowly. I have one more day - tomorrow - to work at this project. One of the older kids - Shupee (sp?) - has been working with me. In fact, Shupee is quite capable of doing the work better than I. I give him great credit.
Haiti is certainly a poor country. It has had a very difficult history including exploitation over the years by so-called first-world countries, including the United States. The Haitian people want a life just like anyone else, and we need to allow them the opportunity. The country is a very beautiful place and the people are beautiful as well. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to visit these three times and look forward to more visits.
It is late and I am tired. Besides, I really don't write very well. I'll try to do some more when I return home at the end of the week.
God bless Haiti and God bless Pwoje Espwa. (http://freethekids.org)
I'm back at Pwoje Espwa in Les, Cayes. This is a children's home/orphanage/school/farm - lots of things it is, but mainly it is a place where children can come and be loved and taken care of. Right now many of the kids are home for summer vacation. When school is in there are over 600 children here. Now I hear there are 200 - 300.
Fr. Marc Boisvert is the founder and director of Pwoje Espwa. Although Fr. Marc is an Oblate priest and there is a Mass here each Sunday, the program is not specifically Catholic. It is Christian and the Spirit of God is very much here. However, there is room for all who care for kids and want to work for hope in this beautiful country.
I have had the opportunity to minister in a protestant church, Eglise Assemblee des Croyants en Jesus Christ in Guilloux. The pastor there is Gerald Etienne, a lively and committed man of God who clearly loves his people and seeks to extend the love of God in his community. Pastor Etienne works at Pwoje Espwa and I came to meet him through my son. I ministered there last Saturday (6/21) and again today. God willing I will be going back out tomorrow. We have been considering the topic of prayer.
My work at Espwa has been painting one of the houses for the children. There have been setbacks, and the work has gone slowly. I have one more day - tomorrow - to work at this project. One of the older kids - Shupee (sp?) - has been working with me. In fact, Shupee is quite capable of doing the work better than I. I give him great credit.
Haiti is certainly a poor country. It has had a very difficult history including exploitation over the years by so-called first-world countries, including the United States. The Haitian people want a life just like anyone else, and we need to allow them the opportunity. The country is a very beautiful place and the people are beautiful as well. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to visit these three times and look forward to more visits.
It is late and I am tired. Besides, I really don't write very well. I'll try to do some more when I return home at the end of the week.
God bless Haiti and God bless Pwoje Espwa. (http://freethekids.org)
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Church
I have been growing increasingly interested in the centrality of the church in the life of the believer. It has been all too long since I last posted, but at least tonight I want to point to this growing interest of mine. I don't know if I'll be able to write much tonight.
I think it was Rick Warren who said that God has a Plan A, which is the church - he has no Plan B. God intends to build his church on earth because the church is the expression of his Son Jesus. The church is the Body of Christ. Until the Kingdom becomes a full reality on earth, God expresses himself through the church.
The church is the first sacrament. I read that somewhere last summer and it has stuck with me. None of the sacraments have meaning apart from the church.
There is no salvation apart from the church. I don't mean the Roman Catholic Church, or any other formal expression. I'm talking about the host of believers. The Roman Catholic Church is historically the center of the movement of God's church, but all the other denominations and fellowships that are located in the life of Christ are the church - the church is made up of every believer on earth in community. Community is the essence.
I am rambling. It is late and I've been up a long time today. I will be more coherent in further posts.
I think it was Rick Warren who said that God has a Plan A, which is the church - he has no Plan B. God intends to build his church on earth because the church is the expression of his Son Jesus. The church is the Body of Christ. Until the Kingdom becomes a full reality on earth, God expresses himself through the church.
The church is the first sacrament. I read that somewhere last summer and it has stuck with me. None of the sacraments have meaning apart from the church.
There is no salvation apart from the church. I don't mean the Roman Catholic Church, or any other formal expression. I'm talking about the host of believers. The Roman Catholic Church is historically the center of the movement of God's church, but all the other denominations and fellowships that are located in the life of Christ are the church - the church is made up of every believer on earth in community. Community is the essence.
I am rambling. It is late and I've been up a long time today. I will be more coherent in further posts.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I'm at home today (was here yesterday) with a sore throat and sinus infection. The doctor put me on antibiotics. I'm going to miss the fire department banquet tonight and church in the morning. I hate being sick. Oh, it's nice to be home, but not when I have places to go and things to do.
I noticed that I haven't done an entry since before Christmas. In the time that has elapsed I've been to Haiti, done a Tres Dias weekend and a whole lot of other things. Lots of stuff has happened and none of it has been recorded. Nor have any of my thoughts.
Being sick lets me know how vulnerable I am to my humanity. It's easy to let the guard down and allow an infection in. Lack of sleep, not eating correctly, being exposed to a virus at just the wrong time when my immunity is low - whatever allowed me to get sick exposes my vulnerability.
For the past few months we have been doing a course called Foundations, which was created from the folks at Saddleback Church in California. It is a wonderful (though not perfect) course in Christian faith and doctrine. For the past few weeks we have been dealing with evil and temptation and sin. Again, our vulnerability is exposed as we think about the enemy of our souls and his ability to trick us when we are weak. Satan knows just where our vulnerabilities are and if we are not vigilant, he will exploit those weaknesses.
One thing that has become so very important to me is the Christian community I belong to at Clintondale Friends Christian Church. I have to tell you, these folks are my human lifeline. The fellowship and encouragement that I receive from my brothers and sisters in Clintondale is enormous. We are truly the Body of Christ. While I have been sick I have had good brought over, offers to shovel the walkway from the house to the driveway, someone to preach for me in the morning. God provides through my brothers and sisters. Thank God for them!
So, I'll stay home another day and hopefully I'll be well enough on Monday to go back to my routines. And hopefully I'll be able to learn from this time of forced rest.
I noticed that I haven't done an entry since before Christmas. In the time that has elapsed I've been to Haiti, done a Tres Dias weekend and a whole lot of other things. Lots of stuff has happened and none of it has been recorded. Nor have any of my thoughts.
Being sick lets me know how vulnerable I am to my humanity. It's easy to let the guard down and allow an infection in. Lack of sleep, not eating correctly, being exposed to a virus at just the wrong time when my immunity is low - whatever allowed me to get sick exposes my vulnerability.
For the past few months we have been doing a course called Foundations, which was created from the folks at Saddleback Church in California. It is a wonderful (though not perfect) course in Christian faith and doctrine. For the past few weeks we have been dealing with evil and temptation and sin. Again, our vulnerability is exposed as we think about the enemy of our souls and his ability to trick us when we are weak. Satan knows just where our vulnerabilities are and if we are not vigilant, he will exploit those weaknesses.
One thing that has become so very important to me is the Christian community I belong to at Clintondale Friends Christian Church. I have to tell you, these folks are my human lifeline. The fellowship and encouragement that I receive from my brothers and sisters in Clintondale is enormous. We are truly the Body of Christ. While I have been sick I have had good brought over, offers to shovel the walkway from the house to the driveway, someone to preach for me in the morning. God provides through my brothers and sisters. Thank God for them!
So, I'll stay home another day and hopefully I'll be well enough on Monday to go back to my routines. And hopefully I'll be able to learn from this time of forced rest.
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