A little less than a week ago, we were blessed to welcome another grandchild into our family and the world.  It’s amazing how small a newborn is in comparison to a two year old sibling.  I had forgotten how tiny the fingernails are along with the hands and feet and everything else - and those sweet little coos that soon give way to cries demanding the next meal.
 
Juxtaposing the experience of holding a newborn with driving from Minnesota out west – I was struck by the wide open spaces and grandeur of the clouds and sky.  Everything seemed so big.
 
Yesterday, I completed the trek from Boise back home.  As I drove into California dropping in above Mammoth it appeared to be snowing in the mountains.  The Sierras looked eerie and menacing as they lie blanketed not with snow, but with smoke.  The fires raging in our state are incredible, showing the power and destruction of nature.  
 
Perhaps there are times in our lives when we feel so tiny in comparison to everything around us.  I turn to verse 5 of Psalm 8 when I feel overwhelmed by moments of insignificance and read these words about humankind addressed to God.
 
            Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
                        and crowned them with glory and honor.
 
That’s the paradox: we are small and we are big, we are like dust and we are in God’s image, we are born and then we die and we go from dependent to independent back to dependent - all as part of God’s plan and ultimately all as part of God.  For by faith, we believe we come from God and we return to God.
 
For me, the tiny and the grand, the big and the small – all remind me of the wonder of life and the awesome God we love who has given us so much beauty and love in the first place.
 
May we continue to worship and serve our God as we continue to care for one another (especially the vulnerable) and this amazing, fragile earth!
 
In praise and gratitude,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

As of this writing, we are in Boise waiting hour by hour for the arrival of our third grandson who is several days past due.  Waiting that is not anxious requires persistence, patience and a calm spirit.

I suspect we are all waiting for something.  Some things we may be waiting for are: being reconnected physically with loved ones, a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a memorial service, the opportunity to travel again, a recovery from illness, a good night’s sleep, a new job, retirement, an election, more justice, overcoming the pandemic, more peace and harmony in our country and the world, and the answer to a long unanswered prayer.  I don’t know what you are waiting for, but I do know that waiting can at times be very hard.

Scripture encourages us in our waiting:

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
     they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
     they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes our waiting is connected to our wanting.  Here’s what was found in the margin of an elderly woman’s Bible after she died at the age of 97.  These words were scribbled next to one of the Psalms: “Wait upon the Lord and He’ll fix your wanter.”

As we mature in faith, a big part of the goal is to get our “wanter” aligned with God’s “wanter” and not the other way around.  Waiting is a significant part of our human condition and the more at peace we are with it, the more at peace we can be with others, with God, and even ourselves.  I need to be reminded of this from time to time and this thought from Johann Christoph Blumhardt is especially helpful.

I beg you, wait for God quietly, and don’t be so religious. To have nothing to show for yourself and to wait for God is better than to be polishing your piety. You shall not become godless by waiting for God. On the contrary, the truth of God’s cause will grow in your heart, and that is all that matters. A true word once in ten years is dearer to God than a daily sermon. It is your genuineness that matters.  A single genuine moment has much greater consequences in God’s kingdom than a thousand religious practices.

As we endure this strange season of waiting during this difficult year of 2020, may you be blessed with something so genuine it will surely be a gift and blessing from God.

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Our world has changed so much since we were last able to worship together. The coronavirus has hit us in ways we couldn’t imagine. Many people are hurting whether it be through health issues, unemployment, or loss of friends or loved ones. Harbor Interfaith Services (HIS) and Family Promise have continued to be a lifeline to many vulnerable people living in the South Bay.Demand for services is greater than ever. However, fundraising and volunteer activity have decreased as fallout from the pandemic. Your generosity through the Easter Offering allowed us to donate $5000 to each of these essential organizations.

The Children’s Center at Harbor Interfaith provides crucial childcare services to families.

Harbor Interfaith clients rely on the organization to provide essential services that include food, shelter, hygiene items and clothing.Their programs are intended to go beyond the immediate needs and empower the homeless and working poor to become more self-reliant. Funds from the Christian Action Ministry budget, as well as those received from the Easter offering, were given to assist the HIS Children’s Center. It has remained open and active during the pandemic to provide care and education for ages 6 weeks through 17 years.Our additional funds are helping the Center extend its services to school age youth, assisting them with remote learning.

Children will be continuing remote schooling at the Family Promise offices through the Fall.

The Neighborhood Church has also invested in the mission of Family Promise of the South Bay.Our support allows families to exit the cycle of poverty and work towards financial independence. We are helping to positively impact the lives of children and families in our community. The Easter offering funds donated will be put towards assisting struggling families in transition and Christian Action budget funds will contribute to the hiring of an additional case manager for Family Promise. We have also continued to serve as a support congregation, with volunteers providing grocery store gift cards and donations that have allowed families staying at Family Promise’s main office at First Christian Church in Torrance to purchase groceries and cook meals.

Pilgrim Pines Camp and Conference Center, a ministry of the UCC, has been greatly impacted by COVID 19. This summer camp was not able to provide its typical outdoor camping program. Funds were donated from Christian Action to help Pilgrim Pines maintain facilities in the absence of onsite participants.

Many thanks to all of you for making a difference in the lives of so many.

Mary Ann Friedrich
Chair, Christian Action Ministry

I thought it would be interesting (and perhaps of some historical value) to ask our junior high youth group to document what their lives look and feel like during these unprecedented times. What is it like to be a teenager during a global pandemic? 

I asked the youth group to make a “Viewpoint Board” (kind of like a ”Vision Board”, which if you’re unfamiliar with the term, is: a collage of images and words representing a person's wishes or goals, intended to serve as inspiration or motivation).

The dictionary defines Viewpoint as: a position of observation; an attitude of mind, or the circumstances of an individual that conduce to such an attitude. Exactly what I was after, so a ”Viewpoint Board” is what I called it, and hoped it could reveal a look into what their individual vantage points have been like. 

To serve as an example, I made a Viewpoint Board of my own.  (A truly fun, interesting exercise actually! I would encourage you all to do it!)

Youth Group Director Kat Corbett’s vision board. How many of these items would be on your vision board?

Over the Summer, the Viewpoint Board project evolved a bit, and I had the privilege of "interviewing" four of our youth group members (individually, via Zoom).  It was a really special experience for me to hear their candid thoughts, unique perspectives, and honest answers to my questions. I’m so happy that they have agreed to let me share their stories here with you.

Our conversations were loosely based around these five questions:

1. Quarantine life: what has been the best part, and what has been the worst?

2. What do you miss most about pre-COVID life? 

3. What fills your days? Have you learned any new skills or taken up any new hobbies? 

4. What are your hopes for the future? 

5. If you were quoted in a history book, telling the next generation about what the 2020 pandemic was like, what would you say?

Vivi Cole was able to visit the California Poppy Fields during quarantine.

Vivi Cole will be entering 8th grade this coming school year.  She is a talented, passionate dancer, and prior to quarantine - she spent a LOT of her time practicing with her dance group; excitedly preparing for the upcoming dance competitions. Quarantine brought all of that to an abrupt, disappointing halt. The practices and competitions were all canceled....which tops Vivi's "worst things about the quarantine" list.  She also really disliked the feeling of isolation; not seeing her friends, missing an overnight school field trip...all of the school and extracurricular activities that she was involved with, just erased from the calendar.

Vivi did find some good parts though, too. Her face lit up with a big smile when she described the "best part of quarantine": all the time she was able to spend with her family. She enjoyed all of her siblings being home, and also both of her parents working from home was really comforting and special to Vivi.  In her free time, Vivi has been reading, participating in zoom dance classes, and doing some new art activities, like tie-dying. Her very favorite quarantine memory was going to see the beautiful California Poppies in full bloom. 

In a history book about quarantine 2020, Vivi would say:

"It’s been different for everyone. For adults, it seems like it has been easier; even though they are inexperienced in a pandemic, they know how to keep kids safe. For kids though, it’s more complicated….not being able to go anywhere, having to wear masks, the zoom school…. it's been difficult."

Sofia Tanner and one of her chocolate labs.

Sofia Tanner will be going into the 7th grade. She put together an amazing ”Viewpoint Board” – showcasing all of the things in her life that she loves the most: swimming, surfing, running, skiing, biking, hiking, writing, and pets - especially her two chocolate labs, Lucy and Buckeye, and cat, Holly Molly. When Sofia grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian. 

I love Sofia’s Viewpoint Board because it serves as a wonderfully optimistic reminder that despite these rough times, if you look for it, you can see the love, joy and beauty that God has provided us. 

Sofia’s vision board reflects her passion for swimming and being outdoors as well as her love for animals— she wants to be a veterinarian!

During quarantine, Sofia has really missed her swim practices and traveling the most. She is not a fan of online school, and she also really misses the days when you didn’t have to wear a face mask. On a positive note, Sofia has enjoyed spending so much time with her family and pets, and has been enjoying painting, drawing and reading. 

Sofia hopes to be back at school with her friends sooner than later, and in a history book, Sofia would say this about quarantine 2020: "It gets easier."

Michael graduated from junior high and will be beginning high school— both online!

Michael Marquis was in a unique, unfortunate position during quarantine: he graduated from 8th grade at his junior high school (ending his jr. high experience unceremoniously online), and is now entering a brand new school for 9th grade (also commencing online).  He is disappointed and understandably a bit nervous about not getting the chance to meet any of his new teachers, or being able to get to know the lay of the (high school) land.

Michael shared the same sentiments about the online school experience as each of the others that I interviewed: it's HARD. It is tiring. It is extremely hard to focus. (Let's all say a prayer for the students, teachers, faculty, and parents that this new round of online learning is a lot more smooth, engaging, and joyful for everyone.) 

Until online school does begin though, Michael continues to enjoy all the free time that quarantine has allowed. He has been spending his time watching movies, reading, and staying up late!

Michael is a very passionate, well-educated environmentalist, and his answer to my question about the “best part about quarantine” definitely proves this fact. Michael says: the silver lining of the pandemic has been that carbon emissions have gone drastically down due to drops in traffic, power usage and industrial production.  

Michael’s hope for the future is: “that his peers and future generations will learn more about the planet, and what can be done differently to protect it and not make the same mistakes again.” 

I for one think that Michael will definitely have a great hand in making that happen. 

Headed into seventh grade, Holden misses his friends but has spending time with his family, his dogs and, of course, sleeping!

Holden Withers will be entering 7th grade this Fall. He has not enjoyed quarantine. He has found it to be really boring, and he extremely misses spending time with his friends. He has however enjoyed all of the quality time that he’s been able to spend with his family and two dogs. His favorite part of quarantine: sleeping in everyday. 

Holden had already made a “Viewpoint Board” – a whole book actually! Assigned by his 6th grade History teacher during the first few months of quarantine, this awesome notebook is a compilation of photos and journal entries that detail the days and months of quarantine 2020 through Holden's eyes. It is an historical keepsake for sure!

Holden made an entire quarantine journal as part of a class assignment earlier this Spring. It will definitely come in handy when trying to explain this time to future generations!

Our “Viewpoint Board” project was such an interesting experience for both the kids and myself! Pausing to take time and think about what your life looks like right now might surprise you! I hope you enjoyed this little look into our project and the Youth Group, and that you might consider making your own viewpoint board! Who knows what you might come up with…

Kat

Life is precious and none of us can control the longevity of our lives.  Yes, we can make healthy life-style choices that can enhance the possibility of extended years.  But there are no guarantees that just because we eat healthy foods, exercise, maintain your weight, blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol and reduce stress we will live to a wonderful old age.  Life is fragile and something could happen to any one of us tomorrow. 

For me, the question is: what do we do with the time we have?

Yesterday we were listening to an old playlist that included the song, Seasons of Love, from the Broadway musical, Rent.  I suspect you may know it.  If you would like to, you can hear it by clicking this link.   And if you’d like the lyrics, click here.  Having seen the show on Broadway a number of years ago, it brought back wonderful memories and also prompted some reflecting on the importance of time.

This year has been one of the strangest of our lives.  So many things have not seemed normal - including the gift of time.  At times it seems to have stood still and at others it seems to have flown by quickly.  Whether that has been true for you or not, the song helps us remember that there a 525,600 minutes in the year and then asks the question, “how do you measure, measure a year?”

What do we do with the time gifted to us?  That is what the journey is all about.  And the gospel and the song give us a general guide line that has to be lived out in our own unique circumstances – and that of course, is love.  What are the seasons of love in our lives?  How do we love God, our neighbors and ourselves?  The joy and challenge is that we each have to discover that for ourselves and it will certainly mean different things for each of us.

Even though we cannot be together right now, our appreciation and love for one another can grow.  And whatever season of life you are in, I hope and pray it is a season of love! 

God loves you!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Seeing is one of the greatest gifts and abilities we have – not simply physical sight, but how we see and interpret everything.  There have been times in life when my spiritual eyes were so clouded over I couldn’t really see others for who they truly were and they might as well have been like trees.  Grief, loss, depression, discouragement and futility can cloud our seeing in a way that causes us to feel totally disconnected from others and even life itself.

I have never been touched physically by the hand of Jesus and seldom has healing come instantaneously.  There have been times when I’ve been touched by someone and within a short period begin to see things differently and it’s as if my spiritual sight was restored.  Have you ever been in a bad spot or gone through a difficult time in your life when someone’s presence, empathy and love have helped bring a sense of healing and deeper meaning to your life?
 
I’ve also come to see that being awake impacts what and how we see.  Being half awake in life is as dangerous spiritually as driving while being drowsy.  Going through life by just going through the motions misses the awareness that every moment is a gift.
 
In Leo Tolstoy’s  Essays, Letters and Miscellanies, he writes:
 
“If, then, I were asked for the most important advice I could give, that which I considered to be the most useful to others, I should simply say: in the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.” 
 
Seeing truly is a precious gift – seeing in all the ways we can.  Just typing and reading these words is a gift.  Jesus tells us to stay awake, to listen, to see – such are part of our responsibility as his disciples.   Today, I’m trying to do a lot more looking and seeing…
 
Here is how Maya Angelou put it,   “Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” 
 
What are you seeing?  Whatever it is - I hope you are wide awake, fully present and truly looking to discover all that life has to offer…all you have to offer…all in a spirit of gratitude.
 
This is one of the strangest summers we’ve ever known, but we can still be part of the trip and journey of life…sight-seeing with eyes of faith.
 
Summer Blessings and Healing,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

I’ve been thinking a lot about beauty lately – in the creation that is all around us, in life itself and in our relationships both casual and intimate.  God, our faith, and the church help put us in touch with beauty.  There is so much to see and discover if only we will open our eyes and spiritual senses.  Beauty is truly a gift!

In my devotional reading I rediscovered this poem by Mary Oliver entitled “Evidence” which shows and says so much in so few words.

Where do I live? If I had no address, as many people
do not, I could nevertheless say that I lived in the
same town as the lilies of the field, and the still
waters. 

Spring, and all through the neighborhood now there are
strong men tending flowers.

Beauty without purpose is beauty without virtue. But
all beautiful things, inherently, have this function -
to excite the viewers toward sublime thought. Glory
to the world, that good teacher. 

Among the swans there is none called the least, or
the greatest.

I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in
singing, especially when singing is not necessarily
prescribed. 

As for the body, it is solid and strong and curious
and full of detail; it wants to polish itself; it
wants to love another body; it is the only vessel in
the world that can hold, in a mix of power and
sweetness: words, song, gesture, passion, ideas,
ingenuity, devotion, merriment, vanity, and virtue.
Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.

Here’s to seeing and being grateful for unimaginable beauty!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This passage was part of our recent reading in the 5 x  5 x 5 New Testament program many of us have been participating in these past months.  When Peter cries out for help, he articulates a cry of the Psalmist which is a universal sounding we humans have when we’re in trouble. 

One of the reasons I love scripture is that whenever we re-read a text there is an opportunity to hear or see something new.  This text offers a new lens for seeing how we care for one another.  Because we cannot be together physically, we are adapting to new and different ways to express our caring for one another.  At first, it may have been frustrating, but as time has gone on, I have been encouraged at the ways so many have demonstrated their care and concern. 

There are times in our lives when we can sail on with only the prayers and well wishes of others.  There are other times when we go through storms and may want someone to walk with us until it passes.  And there can be times when it feels like we’re sinking and practically drowning and need to be rescued.

When I learn of the ways many of you reach out to one another with your caring, concern and compassion, I am so inspired and grateful.  The phone calls, emails, texts, cards, letters, physically safe visits, food deliveries and prayers are too numerous to count and what they mean to our community of faith are impossible to measure.  When we (literally and metaphorically) reach out our hands to one another, we are doing it in the way of Christ and bringing his healing ministry into our very midst.

The beauty of this gospel story is that when Peter is in need he asks for help and Jesus doesn’t test his faith or ask a question, he simply responds to Peter’s need and reaches out his hand to help.

The Neighborhood Church is a community of great care.  When we ask for what we need, when we listen to what others tell us, when we respond with sensitivity and when we extend unconditional love – we are truly being the body of Christ with and for one another.

Please accept my gratitude for all the acts of kindness, caring, compassion and healing you are extending to others – all in the way and spirit of Christ.   To be blessed and to bless – is this not who we are created to be…

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

As with most of the rest of the world, our Youth Group’s weekly meet-ups had to move from the breathtaking cliffs of the Neighborhood Church to the strange land behind screens, our faces together in little boxes like the Brady Bunch, “Zooming” together, glitches and all. 

It obviously does not compare to meeting up in person…I miss our obstacle courses, games, painting together on the grass while hearing the waves and seagulls. I miss cooking and eating cookies and bags and bags of Chex Mix…but mostly I miss our candid conversations, laughs and our final prayer together as the sun settled into the sea.  

But until then, Zoom it is! We’ve been ”meeting” most Sunday evenings and playing games like Pictionary, Danger Word (like Taboo), and the unanimous favorite: Bingo!

Kat Corbett
Youth Director

Some nights when standing out under the stars, I ask myself a very similar question.  We are so small and seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things and there are so many people and creatures in the world – how can God care for us all?  And yet, by faith I trust that God does care for each and every one of us - always.

Last Sunday I mentioned the Neowise Comet and the very next night after videotaping the sermon we saw it in the western night sky.  Since then we have seen it two more times with all of the sightings being spectacular.  One in particular appeared so bright that it reflected perfectly in the still, dark water of the lake. 

As part of our 5 x 5 x 5 Bible reading program, we recently read the book of James and here is what the author wrote:  "Who is wise and understanding among you?"  James 3:13

That is another good question. "Who is wise and understanding among you?"

In our time the word “understanding” has come to mean grasping something so that you have it figured out.  Understanding can give a sense of control and knowledge can be used as power.
But in earlier times "understanding" meant something different and more literal – it meant to stand under something too large to fully see.  When you stand under the clear, night sky you realize that so much more is out there that remains hidden and unknown.  In this sense, understanding is more like wonder.
We understand God (finitely) in a similar way. We stand under a reality, a power and a presence that we do not fully grasp, completely know, understand, or control.
True wisdom is an awareness of our limits such that we know we don’t know completely. We stand beneath truths too great to fully grasp or control.

In these times of fear and uncertainty, there is so much we do not know and who can know for sure what lies ahead?  As we go through the coming days, let us understand God by standing under God in reverence and awe trusting that God cares and walks with us in this strange, dangerous and beautiful world.

In Wonder and Gratitude,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Through thick and through thin we are the Lord’s and in all circumstances we can bless the Lord.  Life changes and we adjust.  Life changes and God calls us to use our resources to adjust.
 
The last few days have seen a renewed call from the state of California to shut businesses and activities that heighten the risk of contracting the coronavirus.  Just when things seemed to be opening up a bit, the number of cases and deaths has been going up again.  It feels like a roller coaster – and as I said a few weeks ago, we don’t know how many cycles like this we will have to go through moving forward.
 
For those of us in southern California the following must close:  gyms and fitness centers,  places of worship, indoor protests, offices for nonessential sectors, personal care services, like nail salons, body waxing and tattoo parlors, hair salons, barbershops, and indoor shopping malls.
 
As we continue to be the church with our various activities and services, one of our highest priorities is the health and safety of our congregation.  Balancing the desire to reopen with our need to ensure the well-being and safety of our membership and friends is one of the challenges we face as we plan in the midst of an uncertain future.
 
On Monday night, the Board of Trustees appointed a task force to begin planning for our eventual reopening when the time comes.  The goal is to develop a phased in approach that will include all the detail for protocols and procedures necessary to comply with state and county guidelines and take into consideration the needs of all our members from the youngest to the oldest.  We want our facilities to be sterile and clean and our volunteers equipped with materials and training to ensure the activities we offer are safe.  In other words, we are being proactive in preparing for the future in thoughtful and thorough ways.  The task force will include two members of the Board of Trustees, 1-2 representatives from the Worship Ministry Team and two staff members.
 
If you have any thoughts, concerns or questions – please feel free to contact me, Lauren or Setta.

Be well…and know that you are loved…and in all things, let us bless the Lord.
 
In Christ,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

 Vacation Bible Camp this year was held virtually from Monday, June 29th through Friday, July 3rd from 9:00am to 10:30am. Eighteen wonderful children Zoomed! 

 All of the crafts, materials, supplies and even snacks were provided for each day; these were placed in labeled bags and made ready for pick up, on the Friday before V.B.C. began. 

Every morning Dr. David Young (from his cabin in Minnesota) talked to the children about the Beauty That Is All Around. There was a perfect, natural scenery in the background while he discussed the Bible verse of the day. 

Allison Schmitz started Movin “N” Groovin with the children for a good twenty-minute workout. What a talent those kids have, and what a bundle of energy Allison is. 

After Movin “N” Groovin, Shannon Ebers introduced the fun craft of the day followed by the children’s choice of snack from their bags. Mary Lou Jackman would sing their favorite songs. Every day, together we end with peace, love and blessings to all. 

On the last day of V.B.C. (July 3rd) the parents paraded to church with their children in the car. We decorated the parking lot with red, white, and blue, and gave each child a beach bucket filled with goodies. 

We surely miss your children very much; thank you, parents for sharing them with us. It was really fun, especially when we asked them daily to write messages to each other on the white board. It was a rewarding experience to see the children connecting with one another again; together, even if apart. We are looking forward to having them zoom “live” in the church again! 

Peace, love and blessings, 

Myra Ghabrial, Director of Children Ministries 

Shannon Ebers, Preschool Teacher (104) 

Allison Schmitz, Movin “N” Groovin and Mommy/Daddy and Me Teacher 

I’ve been thinking a lot about communication lately.  It is such a wonderful gift for human beings.  Most animals and species communicate – but we are blessed uniquely with the gift of words.  Words can never say all there is to say but they are always opening up the future as new words are made up and words give rise to new thoughts and create new meanings.
 
How do we use this gift that is so easy to take for granted?  How do we communicate with God – do we talk more than we listen?   How do we talk with each other – do we use more love than judgement?  How do we speak to ourselves – do we fritter our time away with mindless conversation or do we invite beautiful thoughts that prompt us toward fruitful, faithful living? 
 
Here at the lake, when the air is still and the water is perfectly calm, you can hear the conversation of two people in a canoe over a quarter of a mile away as if you were right beside them.  When the wind is blowing and a storm is brewing, you can’t even hear such sounds 100 yards away.  I wonder if that is a small parable for us today – that in our spiritual lives when the waters of life are choppy and the winds of threatening storms are stirring all around us – it is hard to catch God’s communications.  But when we can be peaceful, even in the turbulence, chaos and stress of life – we are more inclined to be able to sense the nearness of God and what God might be trying to communicate to us.
 
Sometimes silence gives opportunity to hear something very deeply – something that goes beyond words.  There are times of peace and contemplation when I sense the grandeur and awesomeness of God that can’t be found in the scurry of everyday living.  At such times I affirm in my innermost being just how great God is and by contrast, just how small and insignificant I am.
 
Hear again the familiar 10th verse of Psalm 46:
 
            “Be still, and know that I am God.”
 
If you want a simple meditation tool, pray each of these phrases for at least 30 seconds.
 

• Be still, and know that I am God…

• Be still, and know that I am…

• Be still, and know…

• Be still…

• Be…

 
And then as if in antiphonal response, these words of Psalm 8,
 
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
            the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
    mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 
            and crowned them with glory and honor.
O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
 
Enjoy all your conversations this summer – and may they bless you and be a blessing to all you are in communication with, even if it’s yourself!
 
And that’s the good word,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Taking time to look at and appreciate creation is a good thing to do – taking time to look at creation through the eyes of a child is a wonderful thing to do.  Early this morning I took our two year old grandson down to say good morning to the lake.  It was a beautiful, warm, sunny beginning to the day.  Had it not been for Elias, I would have missed the spider, ants and bugs along the way.  It took a little longer to get to the water’s edge, but it was worth every moment.  And once we did, we saw a fish swimming around a rock, a loon resting nearby and lots of sea gulls.  We heard birds tweeting (much better than twitter tweets) and chipmunks chattering.  It was a time to soak it all in and see more than I could have ever imagined - this time through the eyes of childhood wonder. 

The clouds seem bigger and the sun brighter at this time of year with Minnesota daylight lingering on the horizon until 11 p.m. and picking back up around 3:45 a.m.  Sunsets and sunrises are on an equal par, both shining with such radiant colors of red, pink and orange in the sky and water’s reflection.  And there’s nothing like the breeze blowing through shimmering birch leaves as their shadows dance on the ground like pixie dust.  Experiencing nature in all its splendor and wonder is a gift to behold.

Barbara Kingsolver in her book of essays, Small Wonder, shares these thoughts: 

There once was a time when Thoreau wrote, “I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” By the power vested in everything living, let us keep to that faith. I’m a scientist who thinks it wise to enter the doors of creation not with a lion tamer’s whip and chair, but with the reverence humankind has traditionally summoned for entering places of worship: a temple, a mosque, or a cathedral. A sacred grove, as ancient as time.

Nothing can replace our sacred space and place of worship at the Neighborhood Church, our beloved sanctuary.  And yet, perhaps this time away can help us see the beauty that is all around us – things in the everyday of life that we might have missed if not for the eyes of wonder and mystery.

The web of life is beyond comprehension when we consider the vastness of God’s incredible creation.  How God has tied it all together, how God sustains everything, how God cares and loves – these are things to ponder and appreciate.  But never in a million years will we ever comprehend it all.  So let’s give thanks to the One who makes it all possible – and yes, let’s share in loving and caring for this amazing gift.

In Wonder and Gratitude,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Just when we think it’s safe to let our guard down a little, the virus rears its ugly head again.  There’s no telling how many cycles we will have to go through until it will be safe to get back to some semblance of normalcy.  It has seemed strange, indeed, to be apart from all of you for so long and I have missed being together at our beloved Neighborhood Church.

Being the church never ceased because of the coronavirus pandemic, in fact, in some ways we have expanded and grown as a serving church.  While we have not been able to be in each other’s physical presence, there has been a lot of connecting and caring through phone calls, email, texting, food sharing, Zoom gatherings and meetings, the Wave and weekly online worship services.  Many in our congregation have a heightened sense of gratitude for the value and place of church in our lives. 

The risk to public health continues as some folks across the country continue to push for churches to reopen.  But friends, church has never closed.  We have been challenged into new and different ways of being church.  Could it be we are meeting more people where they are spiritually?  As God’s people we choose to respect each other’s safety and well-being while at the same time discover new ways to love one another and show our care. 

Here is how Poet and Author Madeleine L’Engle puts it in her book, A Stone for a Pillow:

“Sometimes the very walls of our churches separate us from God and each other. In our various naves and sanctuaries we are safely separated from those outside, from other denominations, other religions, separated from the poor, the ugly, the dying.…The house of God is not a safe place. It is a cross where time and eternity meet, and where we are – or should be – challenged to live more vulnerably, more interdependently.”

Sometimes I don’t see gifts until living with them for a while and such has been the case during our time of separation.  I now see needs and concerns slightly differently and technology can offer new tools for ministry, communication and worship that reach people where traditional ways couldn’t.  I am sad at the enormous loss of life and the inordinate amount of energy that the pandemic has caused.  And I am not happy about all we have had to go through in enduring it.  But there are good things coming about in spite of everything - and God draws us on to a good and promising future…in faith.

Prayer
God, keep us in your love and while our building remains closed, keep our hearts open, our hands reaching out to others and our minds open to see the larger connections of all life.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Patience is a very personal matter for me these days.  Without going into the details, life has demanded a great deal of patience and rather than devolving into a firestorm of frustration my prayer has been for patience.  Of course when one prays for patience – what should one expect but more experiences which require even more patience.

A wise woman observed that if you want to grow in the spiritual life you can’t have any D.U.I.’s (and it’s not what you’re thinking).  In these times when we expect things to happen quickly, if not instantaneously, we can’t have Demands, Urgency or Insistence.  Think of how life changes when we eliminate that kind of D.U.I.  Things slow down, expectations of circumstances and others change – and even expectations of ourselves change.  We can take the deep breaths necessary to travel the road of life at God’s speed and not keep our foot so heavily on the accelerator.  

Michelangelo, who for many was an artistic genius, defined genius as having eternal patience.

If anyone knew patience in creating – he probably did.  Think of the time needed to discover the master piece David in a huge chunk of marble.  This David is particularly grateful that God is patient in letting me continue to discover more and more who I am created to be.  And I’m learning more and more in turn to let patience be the outgrowth of my gratitude.

There are dozens of virtues we can aspire to in the life of faith and I am coming to see that if we can grow and be gifted with a certain degree of patience, most of the others will follow close behind.  This is even true with the greatest of all, which is love.  Think of how love is enhanced and enriched when tempered with patience.

You may not be needing as much patience as I do right now, but I suspect there have been times during the recent months of quarantine when your patience has been tried and tested.  And some may be wishing we could be back worshipping in our sanctuary sooner rather than later – and I can only encourage patience – it will come. 

May God grant us all the gift of patience whether we are waiting for something or someone or whether we simply need to slow down and travel at God’s speed rather than our own.  Trust in the slow work of God…in God’s good time we will discover the beauty created within us and in others…and we will know the fulfillment we are meant to have.

With Patience and Peace,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young

Senior Minister

As if the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t enough, now we are confronted with the demonstrations and fallout in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd.  The violence, fires, property damage and looting are not consistent with our core, traditional Christian values of nonviolence and neither is the taking of black lives at the hands (or knees) of police upper-handedness. 

I am deeply saddened by the chaos and violence being unleashed by some when so many truly are protesting non-violently for justice and the fair treatment of people of color within our society.  At times I wonder where we’re headed in the coming weeks and months as the pandemic fear is exacerbated by a growing fear from the unrest of daily (and nightly) civic life due to curfews and uncertainty.  I wish there were easy answers, but know such crucibles always require struggle.

In her book Beyond Apathy: A Theology for Bystanders, Dr. Elisabeth Vasko, writes,

It would be easy to think there’s nothing we can do in the face of all this due to the limitations of curfews, pandemic quarantine and the need for public safety.  But as people of faith, the least we can do is pray for justice and the loving, respectful treatment of all God’s children.  In addition, we can work to support and promote change in our public systems to eliminate injustices – so that we can not only embrace the truth that all people are created equal but that all people are treated equally. 

We live out the teaching of Jesus to love our “neighbor” as ourselves when there is not “betterness” between how we are treated and others are treated.  Privilege should not have to do with how some are treated and others are not – it is a God given identity that all people are equal and loved by God.  We follow in the way of Christ when we give of ourselves and serve others rather than seeking to be served - and when we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others.

As we move through this time of uncertainly,  let us put our trust and faith in God and seek to follow Gods’ will knowing that good will come even in the midst of whatever pain and suffering might come as well. 

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, 
who are called according to God’s purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)

A closing prayer that has long been offered in the midst of social injustice:

Lord, help us to realize the peace that is not the absence of tension,
but the presence of justice.  Amen.

May God’s peace come in our lives, our society and our world so that the sanctity of each and every life might be truly valued and celebrated.

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

The world can change very rapidly.  The situational context of churches seems to be in a state of flux as well.  
 
There are many opinions about whether or not churches should reopen.  Some Evangelical pastors are calling for churches to be opened by this coming Sunday.  Some politicians are doing the same , while others are urging caution and not considering reopening for a while.
 
We want to let you know our thinking and decision for the Neighborhood Church at this particular point in time.  For now, we cannot tell you when it will be safe for us to gather as a congregation - but it will not be anytime soon.  As circumstances change, we will monitor them and keep you appraised of what’s happening.
 
Once the state and county indicate it is safe for churches to resume full services, we will add an extra layer of caution.  This will include consulting with medical professionals in our congregation as to when they recommend us reopening based on relevant risk factors and the age demographic of our members.
 
We are actively planning now to be ready for reopening in a careful and thorough way which takes into consideration all governmental guidelines, the specific needs of our particular congregation, and the physical constraints of our building.  It will be complicated and involve proper training of volunteers, providing  PPE, and ensuring appropriate cleaning and sanitization protocols.  The well-being, safety, and protection of our church family will remain a very high priority.
 
The following statement expresses well the position of many churches who care about maintaining their integrity as the body of Christ as well as ensuring the welfare, safety and health of their church family.

If you have any questions or wish to share any concerns, you may contact David or Michael here.

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young, Senior Minister
Michael Moorhead, Licensed Minister
Joe Cutcliffe, Moderator

The 17th century poet, George Herbert, captures the seasonal reminders that change and even death are ever present in this “sweet” and beautiful world of ours.  The rhythms of nature are like that, reminding us of the ever-rolling cycles of life and death.  In this “season” of pandemic, we are especially aware of the possibility of death.  And at the same time, I am pleased to report that as far as we know – no member of our congregation has had COVID-19.  It has touched some of our families through in-laws and other relatives – reminding us that the threat is always close at hand, but so far, our Neighborhood Church family has been spared.

Watching the news can sometimes seem like a rollercoaster – at time we feel encouraged and at others, very discouraged.  Sometimes we wonder if this will ever end and at others, we glimpse a light at the end of the tunnel.  Sometimes like those who marched around the walls of Jericho we feel like it’s just plodding along putting one foot in front of another day after day and at others, we know the walls will come tumbling down.  Sometimes our spirits are up and at others, they are down.  We hold onto our gratitude – even when so many things remind us that our lives are not permanent.

Yet, our faith and the poet remind us in a more profound way, that a good and “virtuous soul, like seasoned timber…chiefly lives.”  The Apostle Paul tells us that God in Christ is always offering renewal in the case of difficulty - and rebirth in the face of death.  That love is stronger than evil and life stronger than death.

With all we are going through during what seems like an interminably long “season” – let’s chiefly live…with joy, gratitude, zest and love!

In the strength God gives,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

I came across the following quote in my daily devotional reading this morning.  And because our worship theme recently was boredom, it struck me in a particular way.  Whether or not the author’s vision of heaven is correct, it got me thinking about our use of time and our perspective relative to God.  So often we want God to understand how we feel, but how often do we try to understand how God might see things?

“ “If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing God, sharing God’s cares and burdens, weeping and rejoicing with God, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in God’s presence with no TV, movies, or retreats? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!

How could God invite you to heaven, where the most exciting thing to do all day is gaze upon God’s glorious face, if you’re not in heaven right here on earth when you’re alone with God? Do you think that after you die, suddenly you’ll be in heaven and “presto!” all at once you’re not going to like worldly things anymore? All of a sudden you’ll love more than anything else just to hang out with God, when you couldn’t stand being alone with God even 20 minutes a day?””

— Keith Green

Being alone with God - especially in our boredom and down time - can be such a precious gift.  Developing an empathy with God from a divine perspective may be impossible – but to catch glimpses and partial views can help us to have a bigger heart for the problems of the world and a heightened sensitivity to the pain and suffering of others. 

God is sad for the 84,000 + deaths (as of this writing) in the U.S. – but God’s concern doesn’t stop at national borders nor does God favor one country more than another – God’s compassion, mercy and love are for the whole world.  

In a family with several children, the one who is most successful may think they are better than and more deserving than their siblings – but not in the eyes of the parents – each child may know different expressions of love from a parent – but they are all loved completely.  So, it is with God – only more so! 

There is a temptation to hear voices encouraging us to think that the number of deaths is normal or not that bad - and that as long as our family is safe and healthy everything is okay.  But that doesn’t ease the pain and grief of family members and friends of those 84,000 people – each of whom had a name and a life just like all of us.  And the number is approaching 300,000 world-wide.  Each life a precious life and each one a child of God.  I can only imagine the breadth of God’s heart of compassion.  The Bible is full of crying and suffering, lament and anguish, sighs and longing.  And the God of our parents and ancestors, and our God promises to be with us. 

May these challenging times provide us a time to feel more and see more that connects us to the heart of God and to one another and to the world God has created.  For as the Apostle Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 12:26,  

                        “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it.”

In God’s Love,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister