Church guide

This coming Sunday's scripture reading contains a short verse which says: "See to it that you do not refuse the One who is speaking to you." As I pondered this verse (Heb. 12:25) I was reminded of the following story. About four decades ago I was attending a worship service at a fellowship in eastern Pennsylvania. My wife and I had been going there for nearly a year and many members there were very helpful. In particular the fellowship had given us $900 to help defray the cost of childbirth of our first son, as we had no health insurance. A few days before we moved from our apartment in New Hope, PA, we attended a prayer meeting at this fellowship on Friday evening, when they traditionally met. As I was seated there praying I thought God was telling me to make a contribution to this ministry. What I thought I heard God saying was: “Give ten percent of what they have given you.” That would be $90. That may not seem like much money today, but given our extremely tight budget and the fact that it was 1979, $90 seemed like a lot of money. Indeed it might have almost seemed irresponsible to contribute such a large sum. I told no one about this and decided to wait for further "word" from God. The next day Win Lederer came to visit from his home in Jenkintown, PA. Win and his wife Lyda were members of this fellowship and had been extremely supportive as my wife and I went through months of unemployment, financial uncertainty, and my recovery from a severe fracture to my right tibia in a wood cutting accident in August of the previous year. I had completed my master of divinity at Princeton Seminary in June, 1978, and, after deciding to leave the Episcopal Church, was wondering where God was leading me. In March of 1979, I received a call to serve for the Maine Seacoast Mission in Bar Harbor, which I promptly accepted. My position would be as a “missionary” on the island of North Haven. My wife and I packed our U-Haul with all our worldly possessions with considerable help from family and friends. We were all set to leave the following morning. As Win sat there in our tiny living room he started to speak. “I don’t know why, but I had written this check for a certain amount and left it blank, wondering to whom I should give it,’ he told me. “The other day I kept hearing God telling me, ‘Give it to Steve Row. And so here,” he said, handing me the check. I unfolded it. It was made out to me in the amount of $90.

Folks, here is a much-needed addendum to this sunday's sermon. I will see you then. Pastor Steve Often we get a picture of Christ as a joyless person, given to pedantry and gravity that most of us would find unbearable. It does lead to a question: Would we like Jesus? Obviously he had some magnetic qualities about him that attracted people. Everywhere he went people wanted to be near him, not only to be healed of diseases and handicaps, but also to hear him talk, to spend time in his presence. Even those who might be considered his foes seemed drawn to him. Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to his home for a meal. True he finds Christ’s treatment of the woman who washes his feet with her hair to be disturbing and downright shameful. Yet he listens and is drawn into a conversation about forgiveness. King Herod and Pontius Pilate were fascinated with Christ and wanted to converse with him, just hours before he was condemned to death. Perhaps you have known such people. They were not morose or pessimistic. On the contrary their attraction lay in a certain joy of living, a joie de vivre, as the French say. When we are with such people we leave feeling better about ourselves and more optimistic about this world and our future. The negativity and pessimism that leads us to depression and despair dissipates and we are somehow encouraged that as bad as things may seem, all will be well. For us, Christ is this kind of person. He was, as his mission describes, a herald of Good Tidings, a preacher of the Good News, a teacher who lifts us up and makes us feel better about ourselves and the world. True, he may force us to take a long, sobering look at ourselves, but this is not to lead us to despair and hopelessness, but rather to encounter the incredible love of God and the joy he has in store for us. As the two disciples who encounter Jesus as a stranger on the Emmaus road after his death and rumors of the resurrection tell this stranger whom they don’t know is Jesus himself, “We thought he was the One who would save our nation.” He was the One who would enable us to discover our former greatness, he would restore us and give us a blessed future. He was our hope and our salvation. This is why they were so devastated after his death. This was not how it was supposed to be in their book. Though he told them again and again that he must suffer, they still saw only the light and hope and joy of his sheer presence, his buoyant optimism, his assuring words, his faith. Indeed, Christ faith that all would work out for the best was infectious. He was a winner in the truest sense of the word. He exuded confidence and hope and they were just happy to be in the presence of his light and love for a short while. This was why they were so devastated after his death. This was why at least one was driven to suicide. They had put all their eggs in one basket. They had banked all their hopes on Jesus and he was arrested, tried and sentenced to a humiliation death like a common criminal. And what was worst of all is that no one, not even Jesus himself, seemed able to put an end to this awful nightmare. It is also why the resurrection is such a convincing conclusion to this story. For people just don’t turn from inconsolable grief overnight to joy. Other than some group psychosis, some massive pathology, the only explanation is what the story says, Jesus is alive and has conquered the most woeful enemy of all time - death itself. He was alive. He is alive. And for us, just like for the first apostles, Jesus is our hope and salvation. He is the one who redeems us and will redeem our broken and sad world. He will bring light out of darkness, hope out of despair, joy out of unbearable pain and sadness. This is the Good News. For the joy that was set before him - and before us - Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of God. As our creed says, “He will come again to bring justice and peace, to bring right out of wrong and love out of hate and life out of death. AMEN

I was reading Psalm 100 this morning that begins with the words, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD." I came to the familiar words in verse three, which most newer translations render, "It is He that has made us and we are His." I always stumble on this sentence, as the King James says, "It is He that hath made us and NOT WE OURSELVES." The difference is based on one letter in Hebrew, לֹא and לוֹ. Both are pronounced "lo", but the first means "not", while the second means "to him" or "his". Some ancient manuscripts have the first. Others have the second. Personally, I prefer "not", maybe because I was raised with the King James, "and not we ourselves", but the prevailing view today is to use לוֹ, "we are His." Albert Barnes (d. 1870), a Presbyterian minister and theologian who wrote a complete bible commentary, admits that either rendering is possible. Yet, like me, he preferred the more traditional translation. He wrote: "We are not self-created; we derive our being from him. All that we have and are, we owe to him."

I thought the members of our congregation would like to see this photo of their pastor with his granddaughter.

Today is Transfiguration Day, the day we remember the scene where Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain and becomes transfigured into a heavenly being bathed in light. Moses and Elijah also appear to the apostles, talking with Jesus. Peter says to Jesus, "Master, let us build three booths, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." Then a dark cloud appears over them and a voice from the cloud says, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!" The holiest prayer in Judaism is the so-called "Shema" prayer. The word Shema is usually translated "Hear", but it could also be translated "heed" or "listen". I was recently told that I have to lower stress if I want my heart to heal. I've read that listening is a way to lower stress. Research has shown that when we listen quietly our blood pressure and adrenaline levels decrease. Conversely, when we talk, our stressors go up. Maybe we need to spend more time listening rather than talking. What is God telling us now? What is Jesus saying?

The shootings in El Paso and Dayton once again leave us in shock. They also leave us numb as we feel powerless and paralyzed to act. “What can we do?” we ask ourselves, particularly in light of the powerlessness of our political leaders in Congress to take measures to stem the tide of this carnage. What is most disturbing is that this has become so commonplace that people seem almost to accept this as the “new normal”. Some are saying also that this is not a time for prayer but a time for action. I am reminded of the story in Exodus, chapter 14, where the Hebrews are backed up against the shores of the sea while the Egyptian army is bearing down on them with horses, chariots and armed soldiers prepared to kill. The people cry out to Moses to do something, to which Moses says: “Do not be afraid, stand firm and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today…The LORD will fight for you. You have only to be still.” God’s response to Moses is telling. The LORD says: “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.” One can almost sense Moses’ feelings at this point. Up till now he has seen many miracles: the burning bush, the ten plagues, the final plague passing over the Hebrews as they put lamb’s blood on their doors. But here God is empowering Moses to do God’s work. It may have seemed silly: using a stick to part the mighty water of a sea. It is almost as silly as the actions of baptism or communion: water, bread and wine take on special significance and become for us the very presence of God in a very ordinary action, as ordinary as taking a stick and holding it over the water, like a diviner holds up a stick to find water under the ground. Perhaps we too need to act in a similar matter, and whether our actions seem ridiculous or not, if they are done in faith and love, they will indeed have the power to move oceans, mountains and most of all, the hearts of people across this hurting and wounded land. I have heard from some of my colleagues in Haverhill that there are tentative plans for a vigil to speak out against the violence and hatred that infects our nation’s communities. Of course there is also the action of writing to lawmakers and even to the President. Whatever we do, may we realize that a small, insignificant action, when done in faith, prayer and love, can have the power to change the hearts of people. May we act decisively and faithfully. And may we not forget the many who have died senselessly in our nation’s streets, schools, shopping malls, and communities. May God act through us and bring an end to this carnage and bring peace to our land.

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families in the wake of today's shooting in El Paso, TX. Here is a prayer from Jill Duffield, editor of The Presbyterian Outlook. Rend our hearts and restore your goodness and mercy in our land. Through you, all things are possible, and yet we fail to claim your power to transform chaos into order, war into peace, and anger into action. We pray yet again, Lord God, yet again for your children cut down in a hail of gunfire, for families devastated, communities decimated, our country reeling from self-inflicted wounds of hate. We beg your forgiveness for our unwillingness to address the soul-sickness of our nation, the idolatry of guns and our infatuation with violence and anger and hatred. Comfort those who mourn. Heal the hurting. Strengthen the helpers. Grant courage to your people that we may not just say enough, but do all we can and everything required to stop the killing in our streets. Amen.

As most of you know, I am scheduled for a cardiac catheterization on Tuesday, July 30, at Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston. My cardiologist is optimistic this will be a successful procedure that will at most require a stent to be inserted in one or more of the coronary arteries. If all goes according to plan, I will be up and around later that day and be able to perform my duties on Sunday, Aug. 4. Your prayers are appreciated. Meanwhile you can reach me through one of the elders, who will have my wife Beth's cell number. Thank you for your kind and loving support. Pastor Steve

My friend and colleague,the Rev. Dr. David Roquemore, said he came across a passage in Simone Weil's book, "Waiting for God" about how she could only say the Lord's Prayer twice a day, as she wanted to find a way to say it with absolute and total concentration on each word. I can't find my copy of the book Perhaps I gave it away, but as I decided to look online for the quote he was referring to, I came across this gem: “To give up our imaginary position as the center, to renounce it, not only intellectually but in the imaginative part of our soul, that means to awaken to what is real and eternal, to see the true light and hear the true silence.” Incidentally, I met David when I was working as director of the Mission at the Eastward. His parish at the time, Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, which is near Harrisburg, PA, had donated a considerable sum so MATE could afford a new truck. I traveled to Harrisburg to deliver a message and thank the congregation for their generosity and dedication to MATE"s housing ministry. At the time David and Robin Morgan were the pastors. David is now at Newtown PC in North Carolina. Robin is a St. Andrews PC in Lebanon, PA. They and the members at Camp Hill were very gracious.

This Sunday we will be studying and discussing prayer. Did you know the Lord's Prayer, which Jesus gives in Luke 11 and Matthew 6, has deep roots in Jewish tradition? It was common in Christ's day for rabbis to give their disciples shortened versions of the Amidah, or Jewish prayer, so they could recite it at work without losing too much time or carrying a heavy prayerbook. Jews were expected to pray three times a day. Please come, worship, sing praise and learn with us! Services begin at 10:00 AM. Pastor Steve

“Take heed to yourself.” That phrase, taken from 1 Timothy 4:16 was the verse used by the Rev. Dr. James Dillon, Executive Director of the American Baptist Churches of Maine, at my ordination ceremony in 1980. Little did I know that in just a few years he would be dead, from an unexpected heart attack. I was devastated. Had Jim survived I might still be a baptist today. He and his two assistants, Lou George and Don Hamilton, were like family to me and offered me love and support during my fledging years in ministry. Don also passed away in 1984. Lou is retired and living in New Hampshire. “Take heed to yourself.” In Greek the words are ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ, words which might be better translated “pay close attention to yourself”. The words, written by the Apostle Paul are lifted straight from Exodus, chapter 34, where God is giving instructions to Moses on the mountain. The prophet is receiving the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments, or in Hebrew, the Ten Words, Moses destroyed the first in a fit of rage after witnessing the people worshipping the golden calf as he descended from Sinai. This time, the second time, Moses heard from God’s mouth those wonderful words which are recited on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. “Adonai, adonai, el rachum …” or in English: “The LORD, the LORD, full of mercy and abounding in steadfast love.” It was here that God shows not only His Law, but His Mercy. In the ensuing narrative God also tells Moses, “Take heed to yourself”, in Hebrew, “הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֗”, HaShemar LeCha”. Take heed to yourself. Jim told me that I should take time for my own spiritual needs, that if I didn’t put this first, I would have nothing to give to my parishioners, my family, or even myself. I would quickly burn out, like a candle without wax or a torch without oil. In a parable in Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus tells a story of ten young maidens who come to await the arrival of the bridegroom The wise virgins bring extra oil for their lamps. The foolish do not. The bridegroom is delayed and the maidens fall asleep. At midnight they hear the herald proclaiming the groom’s arrival. The wise trim their lamps and prepare to usher in the groom, but the foolish realize they have run out of oil. When they ask the wise for some oil, they refuse, and tell them to rush to town and buy more. When they are gone getting more oil, the groom arrives and enters with the wise and closes the door. When the foolish arrive it is too late and they cannot enter. It is a harsh parable and one that has deeply troubled me in the past. Why were the wise so selfish that they could not share? Why did the groom delay in coming? Why did he refuse to grant the hapless maidens entry to the wedding? All these are difficult and troubling questions, and there is but one conclusion I can draw from this story: When it comes to our own spiritual welfare we must “take heed to ourselves.” We must be loving and kind, but that begins with ourselves. Jesus put it this way: What good is it if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul? We must be vigilant but that begins with us. We must “take heed to ourselves.” Paul tells Timothy that if we do this we will not only save ourselves, but others.

Tomorrow, I'll be talking about the passage where Jesus says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God." As you may expect I am going to be talking some about farming. I hope and pray you will come and worship and study God's word with us. Services begin at 9:30! See you then!

NEW WORSHIP TIME BEGINS JULY 7. JOIN US AT 10:00 AM

Last Sunday was Father's day, but it also happened to be Trinity Sunday, the day we celebrate and commemorate the Holy Trinity. As I said last Sunday, I love this holiday, probably because I spent years struggling with the idea of the Trinity and when I finally "acquired" an understanding of what it means, it was a major epiphany for me. I hope the next several weeks to discuss this all-important aspect of our faith. But before we do we need to answer the question: "Why is it so important to us?" The church spent over 300 years trying to hammer out a concise and explicit statement of the Trinity. The result is the Nicene Creed, which was adopted by the Church in about 350 AD. We still struggle with it today, as our Book of Confessions, which I said is over 200 pages long, attests. I hope you will come to worship this Sunday as we discuss, "Why is it important 'what we believe about God' and not simply that we believe in God? Our service begins at 9:30, as we shift to our summer schedule. I will see you then. Blessings, Pastor Steve

Learning to accept help from others is as important a lesson as offering it. I have been helped by my wife and people at my church. It is humbling not to have my independence but it has been invaluable, not only in discovering the love others have for me, but also the sobering fact that we need each other. And of course, I am grateful to God who makes all this possible.

Members of First Presbyterian Church: Below is a list of upcoming events in Haverhill. You are invited to participate. * Friday, May 3, 7 - 9 PM at Temple Emanu-El, 514 Main St., Haverhill: Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah: Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust. A pot-luck dinner at 6 PM precedes the service. * Saturday, May 4: Jericho Walk to help victims of addiction. The one-mile walk will begin at Gar Park, 108 Main St., Haverhill, and end at Granite United Church, 284 Kenoza Ave. Schedule of Events: 10 AM: Registration at Gar Park 11 AM: One-mile walk to Granite United Church 11:30 AM: Music, food and fun for the whole family. For more information contact event coordinator Jenn McAninch at [email protected] or Tina Croteau at [email protected]. * Sunday, May 5, 4:00 PM at Temple Emanu-El: Benefit concert for our Neighbors in Merrimack Valley. Featuring Koleinu, Boston’s Jewish Community Chorus. Singalong included. Funds will go to support the Greater Lawrence Gas Explosion Fund and will be administered by AMEDAL. Suggested donation at door: $18 individuals/$40 families For more information contact Nancy at [email protected] * Thursday, May 9, 7:30 PM at Temple Emanu-El: Meet Marius: Marius is a Togolese asylum seeker currently being hosted in Lowell by the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network. Welcome Marius and hear him share the story of his journey from Togo to the US.

A little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness. We need a lot of light now. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein speaking today to CNN reporters. Rabbi Goldstein lost an index finger in the shooting at Congregation Chabad in Poway, CA, yesterday. His mentor and close friend, Lori Kaye, was killed in the shooting. Describing how Kaye was a pioneering member of the congregation and heroic caregiver to those in need, Goldstein said: "She was the ultimate woman of kindness and it's unfathomable, why this beautiful, beautiful, wonderful human being would be shot down."

Our prayers go out to members of the Jewish community in Poway, California, in the wake of an attack Saturday that resulted in the death of one woman and injury to several others at the Chabad Synagogue in that town situated about 20 miles from San Diego. Police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime. They are reviewing a social media posting allegedly tied to the suspect. Authorities say the posting in which the suspect discusses planning today's shooting, mentions the shooting six months ago at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh which resulted in at least eleven deaths and the shootings a a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. It also mentions an arson fire that occurred on March 24 at a mosque in nearby town of Escondido, CA. The rabbi was also one of those wounded in the attack. According to a CNN report, the rabbi continued speaking and praying, even after being shot himself. "Rabbi said, 'We are united,'" Minoo Anvari, a member of the congregation told reporters. The mayor of Poway called for unity in the wake of this attack. "The Poway I know comes together," Poway Mayor Steve Vaus said, according to a CBS report. "We always walk with our arms around each other and we will walk through this tragedy with our arms around each other." We also at First Presbyterian Church join hands and arms as we hug our Jewish brothers and sisters and people of all faiths. May our love and the love of God overcome this hatred. We also will be investigating ways we can be a safer worshipping community here at FBC.

My lovely wife Beth, our dog Lovey, and I relax after Easter services last Sunday