There should be lines drawn, of course. When we draw it between gay/straight, however, I believe we miss the mark. Our rich Judeo-Christian faith has deep roots in love and covenant. The oldest and most time-tested is the relationship with God, “I will be your God, you will be my people.” The slightly newer covenant from the lips of Jesus, “love the Lord your God with EVERY ounce of your being, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Actually these words were just as ancient as the first round but seems like we have a tendency to get distracted. Jesus said the latter of the two really is all you need to know and do to live that life of fullness and completeness or find “eternal life.”

Covenant.  Words vary on what we promise each other (and God), but those like “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, … forever” are familiar.  More contemporary language like “I take you from this time onward, to join with you and to share all that is to come… as long as we both shall live” seem to paint the picture pretty clearly what the marriage covenant is about.

Some see the covenant of marriage as a protection of an institution. I think it is much, much more than that. Covenants of  faith and of marriage, I believe, are meant to enhance our experience of the beauty and fullness/completeness of life God has intended for us.  Only through long-term, loving, trusting relationships that transcend the wild swings of ups and downs can we truly experience that which might be considered “eternal.”

Human sexuality is an important part of this covenant making. It is truly a gift of God and calls for reverent stewardship. For a couple of decades our culture has taught “safe sex”. We, the church,  have been slow, however, to teach “sacred sex”, human sexuality enriched by long-term, loving, trusting relationships, that enhances our human experience of that which is divine and eternal. Teaching sacred sex to teens (through families, of course) most certainly requires different ethical sensitivities than teaching mature adults. I believe the ethical line is best drawn with covenant.

Christian mystics have long talked of sacred unions. Those are the mystical, beautiful unions between the divine and the human, between the body and soul/spirit, between ecstasy and intimacy. Isn’t it interesting that humanity has attempted throughout history to keep these in separate spheres. The ancient Hebrews would certainly die if the divine and the human ever meet… then they did meet, and in Jesus, we learned a new lesson of intimacy and ecstasy. The Greeks of New Testament years knew that the body was evil and the spirit was heavenly. It seems to me the sacred unions named by the mystics are complementary and simply belong together.

Well, this might not be compelling evidence in itself to justify men marrying men and women marrying women, but I’m convinced enough by Jesus that the ethics are in the covenant and not in the orientation.

As stated in Newsweek’s Conventional Wisdom Watch a few weeks ago, as the court overturned Prop 8, “Finally we may be over this silly debate.”

Not yet, but soon.

Peace – Bill

My interest initially was to fill a gap in our church’s community reach. We have some great neighborhood projects, like community garden and summer reading program, that help us connect with our closest neighbors. We also have some larger community projects that connect us with work on environmental, jobs, and health care issues through MACG (http://macg.org/). What was missing was a connection with NE Portland/Parkrose community. So I ventured a closer look.

What I found was a group of pastors longing for much the same connection. Even though our understanding of how God works in the world differs greatly from one person to another, and we could argue late into the night about gay/lesbian issues and abortion, and many other subjects that surely would send us to our respective corners, we have focused on building bridges, developing community and addressing issues like addictions, homelessness, domestic violence and the poverty that comes with them. God has blessed this community, indeed.

Our first effort to go public with this is coming up on Saturday, August 21. We’re calling it Parkrose Summer Bash. http://parkrosesummerbash.com/, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Parkrose High School.

The Summer Bash will bring community together for some family fun and, at the same time, gather 35,000 lbs of food for City Team Ministries and Shepherd’s Door. Put it on your calendar and plan to attend. God will bless you as well.

Peace – Bill

City Team Ministry – Portland: Joey’s story  http://www.cityteam.org/lifestories/Joey.php

Shepherd’s Door: Emily’s storyhttp://www.portlandrescuemission.org/inside-prm/our-programs/recovery-for-women/

Let me say this first of all – I love living in western Oregon. Its beauty is unmatched. And its people? Our laid-back, generous, eco-friendly, green way of life suits me just fine. One characteristic I find in many, many western-Oregonians, that tickles me no end, is our capacity to grumble when our thermometers stray measurably from that ideal, perfect 70 degrees.

I grew up in the temperate climate of NW New Mexico. And I LOVE the sunshine. We’ve all been holding our collective breaths waiting for spring to come with the hope of summer sun (and tomatoes, and picnics without parkas, etc.) Seems like we missed spring altogether. But summer has arrived!! Yeah! And today the thermometer will reach 95.

I sometimes feel that western Oregonians, and city western Oregonians, in particular, see seasonal changes as problems to be solved rather than a rhythm that entices a dance.

A decade ago Pam and I took 10-days to explore the southern regions of Greece. It was late September and the tourist season was coming to a close. We enjoyed the very warm days and cool nights of fall on the Mediterranean and returned just as the rains returned to the Greek landscape. The Greeks knew how to dance with the rhythm of hot summers. Shops didn’t open until late in the morning. They closed down mid-afternoon. But by 9 p.m. life picked up as the thermometer settled into the comfort range once again. Neighborhoods would come alive in the evening as people sat outside talking, playing games, with children playing kid-games late into the night.

At 5:30 this morning it was a delicious 60 degrees as the sun poked up in the east. One of my favorite sabbath times is to sit on our porch or deck early in the morning with a cup of coffee and enjoy the dance that happens as the cool of the night gives way to the warmth of the day.

I wonder what would happen if we all decided that business-as-usual (8 to 5 work schedules, demanding shops be open as they always are… and appropriately air conditioned) would make way for life as a dance with seasonal rhythms. I wonder what that might do to our dangerous thirst for more and more energy. I wonder if it would make us healthier, happier people and connect us better with the earth and its rhythms.

Enjoy the summer!

Peace to you – Bill

“Working the Soil-Attending the Soul”
Starts Monday July 12, 2010 6:30-7:30 p.m.
“Community” time in the garden each week together building community and attending to the soul:
◊ Checking in with each other on garden progress
◊ Sharing insights about your favorite vegetables
◊ Sharing poetry/meditations from: our own garden experiences, from creation spirituality resources, from world religion and “hands-in-the-dirt” spiritual practices and sharing resources and action potential around environmental issues.
Please join us Mondays in the garden at 6:30 p.m.

A Noisy Place! Lots of sounds have been coming from inside and outside Miller Hall for the past few weeks. Thanks to your generosity the upgrades are happening! Over thirty thousand dollars was pledged to help begin the renovation. We’re about halfway through the project…the new energy efficient windows are in, walls have been insulated, new gas furnace and water heater have been installed and the new siding is going up. Plans are in the works for a dedication of our new energy efficient Miller Hall this fall. A special thanks to Pastor Don and the PCUCC congregation who have been so accommodating throughout this noisy, dusty process!

Summer Reading Program…Just finished its first two-week program. Seventeen students participated in cooperation with Sacramento Elementary School to help students maintain their reading skills during summer break. Thanks to the nine dedicated volunteers who helped these students. Four more one evening sessions will be held throughout July and August.

Music and Drama Camp… August 2-6, 2010. Still spaces left!! This year marks the fourth summer that Lesley Bossert and Molly Fazio have offered energetic leadership to this popular camp for young people in grades 3 through 8. Campers take group lessons in singing and drama in the morning and use the afternoons to prepare a short musical theater performance that is presented on the last day after a BBQ is provided for the families and students. The camp fee is $50.00, which includes a t-shirt, daily snacks, recreation and family BBQ. Registration forms are available at the church or by email. welcome@parkroseumc.org
We may also have a component led by Ashely Verhulst and Nicole Cerry (youth leader from PCUCC) who will work with younger children in a vacation bible school type format as older siblings and youth spend time in the drama camp…stay tuned for more details as that develops

Coming this Fall-Community Dinner! As part of our 2010 evangelism goal to address poverty in the neighborhood we are exploring the possibility of holding a monthly community meal. Our target population for the meal will be families from Sacramento Elementary, and formally homeless folks through JOIN, but of course everyone is welcome to participate. We are looking at a start date in early fall – right about the time school is back in session. Some of the ideas we are hope to incorporate into these meals include cooking classes that would help families prepare healthy meals on a budget, puppet plays about healthy eating, and an introduction to the community garden. Sacramento school has instituted a healthy eating program and we want to encourage that as much as possible. This monthly meal would be one way for us as a congregation to connect with families that may need some encouragement and a place to find community. Look for more information and ways you can get involved as we draw closer to fall!
I would love to hear your ideas for other ways we can connect with families through food or other community activities. Shannon Starr

Under One Roof Gathering-September 2010-Celebrating our many groups and diverse congregations that meet here on the Parkrose UMC Campus. We are just in the beginning stages of putting together this great evening. How do you envision us celebrating life here on the corner of 111th and Knott?… If you would like to be a part of this “dream team” contact Carolyn Fairfield, Shannon Starr or Linda James,

Unfortunately, we, who grew up in the 20th century, grew up in self-determined mono-optional cultures. There was but one path to community, one path to faith-development, and one path to values of love, compassion and justice. That was the church. Today, church is only one of many, many options. Engaging a mono-culture world asked only that one rode the wave, so to speak, of that culture. Engaging today’s multiple options as a Christian, however, requires much more.

Why Jesus? Why church? Why THIS church?

“In order to shift a culture, the culture must be brought to consciousness and identified. This is tricky precisely because it is unconscious.” J. Russell Crabtree, “The Fly in the Ointment”

These three simple questions are huge! Consciousness about purpose and identity allow a full engagement of our world today. So I thought I would take a brief stab at each. I encourage you to do the same.

Why Jesus? Because he changes my life!

Jesus spent most of his time in the “swamps” of life: hanging with those who were dejected, rejected and cast out. Whenever I dare to risk following him into the realms of the most vulnerable, and those who are outsiders in our day: the poor, the immigrant, the powerless, I tend to have my eyes opened. Jesus opens doors, in those realms, of mystery and beauty I had no idea even existed. And I experience being a little more whole and much more connected.

Why church? Because church, at its best, is a covenant community of love, compassion and justice!

Not long ago I belonged to a local canoe club. It was a community that allowed me some whitewater canoe experiences in an environment of safety and collaborative effort. We had potlucks, committees, and every weekend, where two or three were gathered, there would be worship (they would never have called it that)… of moving water and creation and fellowship. Sounds a lot like church. But the Christian church has a higher calling.  For me, church is a place where, at its best, we practice the values of unconditional love and accountability. Many places practice one or the other. Not many communities practice both, together. The church has that calling. And needs a lot of practice.

Why THIS church? Because THIS church is AMAZING!

And by this church, I mean our collective relational culture of four fellowships (United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Hispanic, Oromo), with David’s Harp and Lilyfield Montessori school. This church is taking on neighborhood poverty – trying to figure out how to witness to God’s Good News in the midst. This church marched in Portland’s Gay Pride parade yesterday. This church is engaging un-churched new immigrant families from Central America in a community of Christian faith. This church is amazing.

Crabtree says, “Mono-optional cultures tend to create cultures that actively or passively discourage risk-taking.” And the first risk seems to be awaking to consciousness and identity.

Every response to “Why Jesus? Why church? Why THIS church?” is going to be different. That’s the beauty of the rich tapestry of colors, textures and shapes God has created. So how about it?

Sign in – and weigh in on this.

Peace – Bill

To be sure there are significant differences between our mission campus today and that of 40 years ago; today most of the children are Hispanic, some are African, most are bi-lingual. And our “unchurched” friends? Many are showing up in our community garden with their own spiritual journey well on its way. Many of the “unchurched” finding connection here are Hispanic, new immigrants seeking to get connected with their Spanish-speaking brothers/sisters in a culture that would embrace them. And worship? With four fellowships we have well over 200 faithful worshipers each week. FULL indeed! And the cool thing is that we are beginning to look a lot like the community around us. Praise the Lord!

Kairos is an ancient Greek word used in times of Jesus and the emerging church of the 1st century to mean “the appointed time of the purpose of God.” The Apostle Paul is interpreted in English as saying, “in the FULLNESS of time” as a reference to that appointed time of the purpose of God. Today is Kairos time at our mission campus at NE 111th and Knott St.

One blessing of that Kairos time is the opportunity to do some much needed construction to our campus to make it mission-ready for the years to come. Our construction budget is still somewhat fluid as we set our course, but within a couple of weeks we will begin spending just under $100,000 on an upgrade to our Miller Hall.

Included will be energy efficient upgrades like new furnace, windows, insulation and siding; new lights, ceiling fans and new doors. Miller Hall was constructed in the mid- 1950’s as a “temporary” facility… it’s time to move forward. The canopy between main building and Miller Hall will get some structural and cosmetic attention. The congregations have kicked in over $30,000 of new money.  We have funds stashed away from the sale of a house last year and we have current operating funds that will help with current construction as well as build a Maintenance Reserve Fund to help fund the vision of God’s mission as times continue to change.

This is an exciting time to be in ministry in NE Portland and the Parkrose neighborhoods. There is much to do, of course. Stronger connections among our diverse fellowships, the Lilyfield Montessori School, the community garden folks… are always a challenge. Addressing poverty is a slippery but worthwhile pursuit. But today is the day, the appointed time of the purpose of God.

Peace to you – Bill

In recent weeks there has been an abundance of  outrage directed at British Petroleum, Halliburton, the Obama administration, and God knows who else, for the oil drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. And I’m right in there with my righteous indignation. The mess created has and will continue to dole out destruction to wildlife, livelihood, and environmental integrity for years to come. As I drive my daily commute of 15 miles one way from SW Portland to NE Portland, I begin to get a little queezy stomach that sometimes happens when I realize I may be part of the problem more than part of the solution.

Evil – Wikipedia contributors define it as “the violation of the most basic moral or ethical standards prescribed by a society, philosophy, or religion.”  Problem is that our Western society has set “basic moral and ethical standards” that look more like “I want it all, and I want it now!” (market drivers) more than “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air,…” (Creation story, Genesis 1, The Message).

³³“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? … ³⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” (Matthew 12:233-35)

I’m comfortable enough being called a snake. When Jesus calls you something, what are you going to do? All humanity, each and every one of us, is a mess of jumbled up good/bad trees. Our redeeming factor, of course, is that of grace and a second chance at a right relationship…  we have choice.

So I’m riding the bus, today. And waiting for this blasted rain to stop so I can get on with biking to work. (OK, I am a confirmed fair-weather rider). Part of the solution means helping to form society’s basic moral and ethical standards.

“It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer.”

Peace with Justice – Bill

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5914545&ct=8157571

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/c.frLJK2PKLqF/b.2808967/k.B565/Peace_with_Justice.htm

http://www.emoregon.org/earth_concerns.php

I would  like to host a weekly meditation/conversation time for gardeners and others in the garden. Maybe starting in June. But for now… just planting seeds.

Here is a meditation from A Mystic Garden: Working with Soil, Attending to Soul, by Gunilla Norris. Enjoy

Peace – Bill

First Planting –

Here is the moment for which I have been waiting so many months. The packet is open. The seeds lie inside full of promise, dry and potent. Some are so small they can hardly be handled. This is the season for arugula and lettuce — the daring early crop that can tolerate wet, cool weather.

I make shallow furrows, sprinkle in the seeds. Then they are tamped down with a thin layer of earth. Here’s the lettuce bed, full of intention and hope.

Can we remember that every thought we have is seed also and that we plant seeds inside ourselves all the time? Our inner gardens have thistles and ragweed as well as marigolds and sunflowers.

Our thoughts may seem small to us, almost insignificant, not unlike the lettuce seeds put in the ground. But they can grow into significance. Our lives develop from them and in many ways they determine our existence.

How can we realize what we plant daily? How do we bare this responsibility?

Seeds germinate in the dark, sink their roots, develop stems. It is the way of thought also.  Only when what has been invisible breaks the surface can you see what to weed, what to feed and water.

The GUT is one of five chakras (an Eastern spirituality term) Matthew Fox uses to talk about in-body manifestations of spiritual experiences. The gut is where we experience anger and moral outrage. And oddly enough, says Fox, the gut is where compassion and grief are born. “Anger is a kind of wake-up call”, says Roger Gottlieb, in A Spirituality of Resistance: Finding a Peaceful Heart and Protecting the Earth.  ”It demands that attention be paid. In the first place, anger can teach us about the quality of our most important relationships, about what is lacking, and about what needs to be done.”

I’m convinced anger is neither good nor bad. It is simply an emotion we all have. While neutral in nature, it is never silent for long. It will manifest itself either negatively as violence (overtly as  physical or verbal violence but also in a passive/aggressive violence that you may not recognize) or on the positive side as non-violent resistance.  If you want an example of non-violent resistance at it’s best, just take some time to deeply study Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5:38-48 (eye for an eye, and loving enemies).

Some say anger and love are opposites. Certainly hate and love are opposing values. But anger is a companion of love, just as anger can be a companion of hate. We have a choice.

But, oh my, do we in the church run from anger! And it’s no wonder. Just look at our scriptures. The Apostle Paul lists anger as one of the sins of the body to be rid of. There are only twelve references to “anger” in the entire New Testament and the Gospels refer to anger only twice; Mark 3:4-6 (Jesus is angry), and Matthew 18:33-35 (Jesus uses anger in a parable).

Hebrew scriptures? Anger is everywhere. My quick Google search of anger in the OT turned up about 260 references. God is angry, Moses is angry. I was surprised, too, to find that anger was most prevalent in their poetry and liturgy. There were 26 references to anger in Psalms.

The difference between testaments is, I suspect, a matter of culture. The Hellenistic culture of the NT, particularly by the end of the first century, had spiritually  separated soul from body and heaven from earth. I suspect the ancient Hebrews would have found that strange. God’s promise of their salvation was in that which could be embodied; land (earth/dirt), and family/tribe/community.  They would have been quite comfortable with God displaying normal embodied emotions including love and anger. An angry God would have just meant God loved them so much that their behavior had kicked God in the gut. We are created in the image of God… hmmm.

Remember Sir Isaac Newton from science class? “Every body continues in its state of rest,…unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.” Anger and love are compelling forces for change.

Here are a couple connections that help keep my fires of anger and love for environment, immigrants and homeless kids moving in a positive direction:

• Environmental Action - http://www.environmental-action.org/
• Oregon New Sanctuary Movement - http://www.oregonsanctuary.org/
• JOIN PDX - http://www.joinpdx.com/
• Parkrose School District - http://www.parkrose.k12.or.us/

There are many, many more. Sign in, comment and add your favorite connections.

Peace (and an abundance of  non-violent resistance) – Bill