Life In Greencastle

Way back in September, when I was just digging into commentaries on Isaiah , I remember reading that it is very likely Isaiah - the prophet - intended for his vision to be performed.   Isaiah wasn't just something to be read in the quiet hours of the evening, but a drama to be enacted and enhanced by music.  Yes, Isaiah even intended parts of his vision to be sung in the context of a believing community, for his messages to fill the cavernous space of the Temple that he imagined standing again in renewed glory. I imagine Isaiah would have been very pleased had he been present for our Cantata this past Sunday.  I was more than pleased.  I was moved and moved deeply.  Sitting in the front pew between the choir before me, Brady and Rebecca reading to the right, Cheryl and other players moving us through the various songs and announcements, I found myself finally realizing the fullness of Isaiah's vision.  I heard and experienced the Word of The Lord come to...

"Advent is the time where Christians stand on their tiptoes." -   #advent retweet Everything is set and in place again.  Thanks to many who came in before worship and stayed after yesterday, the sanctuary is now prepared for this season of Advent - this season when we bring out our old Christmas ornaments and untangle the mess of lights, the season we unpack our most fundamental hopes and clear space enough to hear God's amazing promises all over again.  The purple liturgical cloths are hanging from table and pulpit.  The Advent candles stand in silent testimony to the four illusive and longed-for gifts:  hope, peace, joy, and love.  And the Christmas tree stands laden with our many family ornaments. I know some of you have experience with Advent, but I also know that Advent is a fairly new or even foreign idea to many of you.  The quote above expresses what this season is all about succinctly and sufficiently.  It is the time of year...

This sign stood outside of Regina Mundi Catholic Church in the heart of Soweto, South Africa - marking the entrance to the church's sanctuary.  It was an especially inviting sign to our small band of American pastors who had traveled many miles from home and were on the tail-end of our journey through South Africa.  We were that.  Pilgrims.  Traveling and visiting, on our way from place to place, but always with the expectation that we would be returning home soon. I wonder if the parishioners of Regina Mundi pay much attention to this sign outside of their sanctuary anymore.  After a certain amount of time, if you spend enough time in one place, you don't feel much like a pilgrim.  You can begin to feel fairly settled, which isn't entirely a bad thing.  There is a certain degree of comfort and peace in the security of being a settler.  It's nice to know what to expect, nice to know the faces surrounding you when you walk into a roo...

Ah, my friends, greetings again!  My trip to South Africa was truly an incredible experience, and I look forward to sharing with you about in the days to come.  Right now, though, it is also very nice just to be home in Greencastle.  30 hours of travel will do that.  But, it's not just that.  As Anna, the kids and I drove through Greencastle late Wednesday evening, I found myself with refreshed eyes and heart for our city and community.  I suppose being able to see God at work in a distant land has reminded me God is always at work in our own community. I hope you have been well, and I am looking forward to seeing you and worshiping with you this Sunday.  Lo and behold, I picked a good Sunday to return.  We are highlighting our commitment to the mission of Heifer International this Sunday.  If you were to ask me, "What can we do to help the people of South Africa?" In all honesty, I would say purchasing a chicken or goat or cow would be...

Thank you Pastor Wes for everything you do.  As the kids wrote to you this past Sunday, "You are our shepherd."

This week in the Word Before Worship our conversation will turn towards an aspect of the prophets that is often ignored:  their role as artists.  Most of the Old Testament books of prophecy are full of vivid imagery, haunting poetry and songs that were meant to fill hearts and minds of the people of Israel. Throughout history, it has often been the artists (song-writers and poets, novelists and playwrights) who have served the role of prophet.  This should not surprise us, for the prophets of the Old Testament used almost every type of dramatic performance to get God's message across.  The prophet Nathan told King David an elaborate, chilling story of betrayal and cruelty that got past David's own arrogance and caused him to see the error of his ways (1 Kings 12).  Jeremiah and Isaiah both employed a type of staged-performance.  Isaiah stripped himself of robe and sandals, walking naked around Jerusalem in order to portray the shame and h...