Reyes Gibbs Blog

The Power of the Pastor

See the blogs of Bruce Reyes-Chow and Monte McClain for their reflection on the message Barack Obama gave on Tuesday.  I agree with both of them and on their site you can get the actual video.  I have yet to learn how to do that.

I find it very scary when opposing views of Obama's message find such petty ways to criticize.   I saw one televison program expert say, "He read the whole thing, used a teleprompter!"  WHAT??   Barack Obama wrote the message and he did an amazing job.   Obviously they were more concerned about him reading his message than getting any of the content of his message.  I wonder what this man does in church when Pastor preaches  Is it more about how the message is delivered or what the man says?   And then if this man disagrees with the pastor says, does he leave the church to find a message he likes!

Pastors are meant to be prophetic.   They are given the gift of discernment that says, "Things are not going well here.  We need to do something!"  All our prophets in the Bible and in our life today, aren't received very well because they tell the hard truth and require us to sacrifice our lives and our comfort for the benefit of others.    I understand the criticisms of Obama's message.  He told the truth, from his heart, life experiences and his hope for this country.   The Truth hurts or at least makes one squirm. 

This journey of faith is not meant to be easy.  It requires thinking, sacrifice, and following the most difficult commandment, "love one another" (even those who disagree with us!).  When the pundits say,Obama should have left the church, they obviously don't understand that the pastor is NOT the church.  The church is the faith community that makes up God's family.  Perhaps, because I have never been part of a fundamentalist, narrow thinking faith community, I don't understand this dynamic.    One couple came to Bethel after a pastor of a church they were attending told the parishioners that they "cannot allow their children to read Harry Potter."   No questions asked just do it    They walked out!   God called them to Bethel so they have the opportunity to ask questions and  if they disagree with what I've said, there is an opportunity to engage in a conversation.  I believe that in these conversations God steps in and I step out.

I imagine that  membership in a "no harry potter" congregation requires strict adherence to whatever the Pastor says.  Kind of like the Pope.   I can't understand leaving a church because the Pastor said something.  You judge people by how they act.   Under Jeremiah's leadership, Trinity UCC is an amazing community involved faith community.  They have more people and programs that are aimed at the community in which they reside.  The people in that faith community know that they are called by God to do something for those who are poor, marginalized, sick, and disenfranchised.   And by the way, the majority of the people who live in that community are Black and the worshiping/serving community is multicultural.  So because the pastor says something you disagree with,  you don't walk out because you have God's work to do in your faith community that acts out the commandment, "love one another."

Today is Good Friday.  Take some time to reflect on this day (if you are Christian) that we celebrate the life and death of Jesus.   Jesus died because of our sins.    Was his sacrifice worth it?  IF we continue putting up walls between each other whether it be because of race, class, culture, or gender orientation.
It seems that since we have been "saved" through the blood of Christ, we have not "walked with" Christ but "walked out" on those who  need to know that God's love is abundant!

Have you worshpped at Trinity UCC in Chicago?

I had the opportunity to visit and worship Trinity Church in Chicago The church that Barack Obama has been  member for the past 20 years.  This church is amazing and the recent news stories of Rev. Wright has overshadowed the wonderful faith community of Trinity that has become wonderful under the leaderhip of Rev. Wright.

The church worship I attended was filled with a diverse community of colors, cultures and lifestyles. At least 3,000 were in attendance for the second service and the choir number 200.  The music was amazing and the congregation reflected God's kingdom!   Yes, the church is focused on the life of the black community in South Chicago and beyond.   This faith community has several programs for education, music, pastoral care and more.   They have four different choirs for each of their services and each choir numbers around 100 or more.  That's not to mention their other musical groups.   They a number of programs helping families in the community from child care to how to find a job.  When I visited the child care, there were more than just black children benefiting from Trinity's committment to serve the community.

The sermon I heard that day from Jeremiah Wright was powerful about what success is in this country and how God views success in our lives. God views success in our lies by how we care for the oppressed, marginalized, sick, disenfranchised and how we love.  Pretty simple, nothing Un-American about that except if you happen to be a greedy corporation or a very rich person who enjoys tons of loopholes to avoid paying taxes that support programs to help support education, health care, and seniors. 

When I accidently turn on Fox News and I hear how Barack Obama should have left the church, I am saddened that Fox News and their constituency haven't a clue what it means to be a part of a faith community that does God's work.  Leaving Trinity would be turning one's back on the good work that God has called Trinity to do....So which is unAmerican  staying and following God's call or leaving and turning one's back against God's all? 

An Empty Nest!!

Our chick flew away within the week that I first noticed her/him.   The chick fluffed up pretty quickly and yesterday afternoon was on the ground with one of the parents.   Oh, how time flies.   I get pretty sappy when I think of babies leaving the nest.

Yesterday, I took Kevin to the airport for a two week trip to Korea.  His first international flight.   When I left him at the security section, I got a little weepy.  He is 22 years old and a very big boy!! but.....

We aren't empty nesters yet and somehow I don't think we will ever truly be empty nesters!   I want all my children to come home most of the time.   My life brightens up every time my children and grandchildren come to visit.   So they have an open invitation to always come home.  I know some of you are thinking, I wouldn't live with my mother (and I think my children feel the same way!!) but in my "wish" time.  I wish I could build a great big house that all my children could come live with us.  A mansion of types with a room for every child and a huge kitchen and dining room for weekly meals.   That's my dream housel!

So when I see a chick fly away on his/her own, I am sad but happy it found its wings and able to fly away.  It's so confusing, this parenting thing for me!!

I looked again!

I came home this afternoon and told my son all about my empty nest.   He said he couldn't help but hear me lament before I left this morning. (I woke him up!)  He went out to look and he said, "Mom, look there is a baby bird in the nest.!"   He was right, there were two eggs in that nest  and one hatched.   But I haven't seen a parent around.   So tonight, if a parent doesn't come around, I think we might try and feed it something.  I am praying that a parent returns.   stay tuned....

The Man Didn't Do His Job!!!

You might think that from the title of this blog its about the Governor of New York but it isn't.  Its about my empty nest.  In a previous blog I shared how we have doves who have come to our porch to nest.  So far we have had three chicks.  They came back in February.  Every day we would say good morning or goodnight!  This morning, I walked out to an empty nest!   I was sad but more sadder when I saw that the egg had dropped out of the nest.

I ran back into the house to tell my husband and in a state of saddness.   I was ready to blame a cat or some other predator.  Then Ranger Rick, my husband, said, "She probably pushed it out because it wasn't going to hatch. That's nature!"   I hate nature!!! (for this instance).  Ranger Rick then proceeded to explain that the egg wasn't fertilized, "The man didn't do his job!" (okay that's for another blog!) 

I am sad!  But I am hopeful that the doves will come back and nest again.  Hope is good!! 

I am not Catholic!

Don't get me wrong.  Some of my best friends and family are Catholic.  When I say I "believe in the holy catholic church"  I mean the universal church, all brothers and sisters in the faith.   But I have been a Presbyterian pastor for almost nine ordained years, involved in the Presbyterian church for 20 plus years and baptized a Presbyterian, so I am very loyal to my denomination and protestant faith for whatever that involves

The other day, a member of the congegation I serve, asked if I could help a dear friend.  The friend's spouse had died and had no one to help plan the service.   So I went to the home the other day,   greeted at the door by a spouse who was  89 years old.  The spouse that died was 91.  They had been married 20 years.  That story is for another blog.

As I sat and planned, I asked what scripture, stories, etc would she like to share with the community who would come to celebrate a life of a dear parent, grandparent, etc.  The response was, "anything you want, just throw in a few "hail mary's".   I said, "I am not Catholic, I don't know the liturgy."  The response, "That's okay, just say a couple of "hail mary's or something like that."   I repeated again, "I am not Catholic."  and I added, "But I will put in something that might the people could respond to."  The response, "That'll be good, most of the folks aren't Catholic anyway.  I asked, "Are you Catholic?"   The response "No, I'm Episcoplian, I thought you were.  AMEN