By the time you receive this week’s edition of the Wave, Michelle and I will have just arrived at our cabin in northern Minnesota.  The water level of our lake is at an all-time high – coming right up to the top of our dock and measuring 3 feet higher than where it had frozen back in early December.  It has been quite a winter and spring there for precipitation!

My excitement for The Neighborhood Church is also very high!  We have seen a steady increase of attendance for our in person worship over the past few months including many new people wishing to journey with us as we grow together in faith.  Slowly, steadily and safely we have been opening up more and more and it is bringing a renewed sense of vitality and excitement to our community of faith.  Thanks be to God!

I am also thrilled to let you know that the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree will once again be our guest minister for all of June and will preach all four Sundays of the month.  She will be available for visits in the office by appointment, do a daily devotional with our children as part of Vacation Bible Camp, write weekly for the Wave, and teach a three week Adult Education Class (look for details elsewhere in the Wave).  She would love to connect with many of you for lunch or dinner – so please contact her to get something scheduled on your mutual calendars.

Davida is no stranger to our church having filled this role twice before – but it has been 3 years since her last visit due to the pandemic.  Davida is a close friend and colleague and along with Michael, you will be in good hands while I am away.  I am so grateful she agreed to be here and you should know she is flying in today.  I trust you will give her a warm Neighborhood Church welcome.  In case you’d like a refresher on her bio, here it is:

The Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree is a United Church of Christ minister who has served in a variety of settings across the Church. Her most recent position was as Interim Vice President for Advancement at Andover Newton Theological School. Prior positions include serving as Interim and Acting Conference Minister in Florida and Missouri Mid-South Conferences, and as Conference Minister for Connecticut (14 years) and for Southern California (5 years). In between, she has served as Senior Consultant to the Collegium of Officers of the UCC nationally for three years, and as consultant to local churches. Before her call to Southern California in 1991, she served as a local church pastor in CT for 11 years. 

Davida has a keen interest in the application of the faith to daily life.  As a result she earned her Doctor of Ministry from Hartford Seminary with a focus on connecting Sunday and Monday in laity’s lives. That interest also has given her a lifelong passion for both contemporary social movements within Christianity and for the history of our life as the United Church of Christ and especially its Congregational heritage in which she grew up.  

Davida lives in a retirement community in Connecticut which is known for its dedication to living green, and that parallels her commitment since childhood to care for the earth, a notion introduced to her by her science teacher mother.  She is stepmother to two Vermonters and grandmother to five.  She is very much looking forward to spending the early summer with the people of Neighborhood Church! 

Welcome Davida!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

So many times in the life of the church, from the Lenten season and Holy Week to our celebrations of communion and many others in between, we speak of Christ “shedding his blood for us”.  Few of us can truly imagine what that means.  We can relate to cuts and accidents - or times when we’ve been with another person who has bled profusely.

For some the sight of blood is enough to make them pass out or get sick.  And yet, how vital it is with each pulsation of our bodily functioning.

For all who follow Christ, it is through his crucifixion and “shedding of blood” that we come to know salvation and just how much it is that “God so loved the world.”

By now, you may be wondering why I would be focusing on something typically spoken about during Lent.  It is because of a deep sadness in my soul over the unnecessary spilling of blood both abroad and at home.  What human beings are capable of doing to other human beings is both sickening and abhorrent.   The war in Ukraine these past months has me crying on the inside.  The recent shootings at a super market in Buffalo, a Presbyterian Church here in Southern California and Robb Elementary School in Texas have me crying on the inside and the outside.

To say that mass shootings in our country are a problem of faith puts the blame in the wrong place.  Faith matters in all aspects of life and individual choices.  However, what we are facing is a societal problem and can only be fixed by political  will.  I certainly don’t have all the answers and I doubt anyone does.  But to do nothing but offer thoughts and prayers will never change this high incidence of mass killings.  For now, I am left with questions.

When will enough be enough?   When will the good and safety of all (especially our children) be more important than protecting “practically every freedom of gun ownership”?  Why do we not have better background checks when nearly 90% of Americans support such change?  Why do people need to have semi-automatic and automatic guns?  With more mass shootings in 2022 than there have been days thus far in the year, why are people becoming more and more numb to the shedding of blood brought about by the piercing of bullets into the bodies of innocents?  When will enough be enough?

I could end there with a sense of despair and hopelessness, but I believe God calls us to do better – and time will tell.  In the meantime our faith calls us beyond the present sadness.  As our text from this past Sunday asks,

“Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise God,
my help and my God.” (Psalm 42:5)

To Life!

Rev. Dr . David D. Young
Senior Minister

About 150 years ago, when he was one of the most well-known ministers in the United States, the Reverend Henry Ward Beecher was serving Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, New York (one of our UCC predecessor congregations). During his ministry there he said, “Churches should be schools of friendship.” All these years later I would not only echo that thought, I would amplify it!

I believe The Neighborhood Church is entering a season of growth. A time when we will grow in our faith as we move through and beyond the pandemic. As we are opening up more and more, we are also seeing more visitors and new people checking out our church. This also brings the potential of growth in our community of faith.

We are being presented the opportunity to embody a renewed and exciting spirit of friendship and hospitality…especially to newcomers. Hospitality has to do with showing love and concern for another human being in a way which for that person represents the care of God in his or her particular life.

About 75 years ago one of the great theologians of another strand of our predecessor churches, H. Richard Niebuhr, stated that the goal of the church is “the increase among human beings of the love of God and neighbor.” As we think of our future growth and extending the warmth, love and light of Christ to others in general and to all who will come through our doors in particular, we would do well to remember that people are not so much looking for a friendly church as much as they are looking for new friends.

Church growth studies have determined this simple finding: “Churches that grow are more loving than churches that don’t grow.” As a new member told me shortly after joining the church, “Your people loved me into it!” What a marvelous testimony to the love and Spirit of God coming alive anew!

A hope and a prayer as we move forward: that we will truly be a school a friendship, where newcomers and visitors will feel the particular care and love of God as expressed through our family of faith. Won’t you in your own special way help answer that prayer and make this hope a reality?

With much affection and excitement,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 
was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, 
“We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark 
of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails 
and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”   John 20:24-25

This is the familiar story of doubting Thomas - characterized by Thomas’ testing touch.  He was a matter-of-fact kind of person, with his feet firmly planted on the ground, who saw himself as a reality tester.  But a most surprising thing happened, which is what the Easter message is all about.

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas 
was with them.  The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood 
among them, and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, 
“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, 
and place it in my side; do not be faithless but believing. 
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”     John 20:26-28

Astonishingly, when Thomas touched Jesus, it was really Thomas who was touched by his living Lord.  Else why the sudden response from Thomas, “My Lord and my God! “

One of the great English Congregational preachers of the 20th century, P.T. Forsyth, said, “Faith is our relation not to what we possess but to what possesses us.  Our faith is not in our experience, but in our Savior.”

Faith then, is our relation not to what we touch, but to what touches us.  And it takes eyes of faith for such seeing, for Jesus says in the closing verse of this passage with Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me?”  And then it is as though the text shifts directly to us - in a resurrection beatitude. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”  John 20:29

Instead of us touching Jesus to know for sure and thus believe, it is when we are touched by his spirit that we know the presence of Christ.  Perhaps we could change the little rhyme we all grew up with in Sunday school to “Jesus touches me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”  And that’s when we are offered the leap of faith.

Now a few weeks after Easter, this text of testing Thomas presents us with a decision between doubt and believing.  As theologian, Charles Simpson, put it, “Believe and receive.  Doubt and do without.”  Since those first Easter days, Jesus has only been heard, seen, and known in spirit. And so the choice is ours.  In closing I share an anonymous poem entitled, “Faith and Doubt.”

Doubt sees the obstacles, faith sees the way; 
Doubt sees the blackest night, faith sees the day; 
Doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high; 
Doubt questions, “Who believes?  “Faith answers, “I! “

As we remember and are touched this Eastertide season, may we boldly say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” 

In that Spirit,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

 “A man came out of his house one Sunday morning 
on his way to church just as his neighbor came out 
with his golf clubs.  
The golfer said, “John, why don’t you come and play golf 
with me today?”  John, with a look of self-righteous horror 
on his face replied,  “This is the Lord’s Day, and I go to church.  
I couldn’t play golf with you.”  
 
After a moment’s embarrassed silence, the golfer said, 
“You know, John, I have often wondered about your church 
and admired your loyalty.  However, do you know this 
 is the seventh time I have invited you to play golf with me, 
and you have never invited me to go to church with you?”
 

Several days ago we celebrated with great joy the resurrection of Jesus and the new life Christ gives!  Easter is always an important time in our faith journeys.
 
The abundant life we experience - that spills over from Easter - is meant to be shared. Perhaps this is as good a time as any to share your faith with a friend.  
 
Who has been waiting for your invitation to visit our church?  Sometimes it is difficult to communicate the joy and love you experience here at The Neighborhood Church with a friend, especially to someone who is unchurched or under-churched. However, it’s such a marvelous opportunity to share with anyone who does not already have a church home and recognizes the spiritual dimension of life.  Here in California, there are many people who say they are spiritual, but not religious. My guess is some of those folks have never known a church like The Neighborhood Church exists.  
 
Without being pushy, I hope you will extend a warm invitation to one or two people you think might be open to joining us some Sunday for worship or for one of our special upcoming activities.  The love, support and mission of our church are meant to be shared with others.  
 
I look forward to seeing you at church - as we all have the opportunity to meet and greet new friends! 

In the Continuing Joy of Easter!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

It is with sadness that I share the news of the death of Bob Huskins.  Bob suffered a heart attack this past Saturday and died on Monday with family at his side.  Bob and Marge have been long time, faithful members of our church and we grieve his passing.  If you would like to send a card to Marge, it would be much appreciated.  Her address is:
 

Marge Huskins
710 West 13th Ave.   G216
Escondido, CA  92025

 
Earlier in Lent I mentioned that a very dear friend, colleague and mentor died on Ash Wednesday.  Our faith affirms that death is never the final word and that Easter is the hopeful antidote to life’s most fundamental losses.  Sunday was such a wonderful celebration of the new life offered now as we can all embrace the Good News of Easter!  It is true for Bob, my friend Rev. Dr. Richard L. Stanger and for each of us now and into eternity.  Dick was a poet and here is something he wrote for the season of Eastertide we are entering for these next 50 days.  It’s called, The Art of Resurrection.

In the joy of Easter!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

“Help us to be the always hopeful gardeners of the spirit who know that without darkness nothing comes to birth as without light nothing flowers.”

— Anonymous

Holy week is here and the images of light and darkness play heavily upon us during this Lenten season.  For we remember that the light came into the world on Christmas morning and “dwelt among us “enlightening the lives of people in a dark world.  Holy Week began by celebrating the life and ministry of Jesus with the joyful notes of “hallelujah” on Palm Sunday.

By today, the mood has intensified as we remember that the Passover meal (Seder) Jesus shared with his disciples was to be his last.  Tonight some of us will gather for a Maundy Thursday service of Tenebrae featuring the interplay of light and darkness and celebrating the Lord’s supper.

The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandare” meaning “commandment“ and refers to instruction Jesus gave to his disciples in the upper room on the night before his death on the cross.  Jesus took the form of a servant by girding himself with a towel and washing the disciples’ feet.  And he said, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you love one another.”

We will commemorate Jesus’ final time with the disciples when we gather at 7 PM tonight, Thursday, in a dimly lit sanctuary.  The sanctuary will have the simplicity of candlelight symbolizing the light of God’s love that came into the world over 2000 years ago.  And then slowly, one by one, the candles will be extinguished symbolizing the darkness that came over the world that night when he was betrayed and the next day when he was crucified.

For three days it seemed as though the Light had been snuffed out and the world lay in darkness.  Thus, we will leave our Tenebrae service from a darkened and dimly lit sanctuary, not to return until Easter morning.  This quiet service of meditation and reflection allows us to look at our own darkness and the darkness of our world -- all pointing to the glorious burst of light and new life coming into the world on Easter!

George Bernanos, the French Catholic writer, put it well in his book, The Diary of a Country Priest: 

“It may be that in the darkness, 
God will light our way.  
Through our doom we see…
what is beyond our doom, God’s love.”

For now, we wait for the glorious bursting forth of new life, light and a love that is eternal and knows not the bonds of death.  Won’t you join us live-stream or in person for Maundy Thursday - and then…the hope and promise of our faith…Easter!

                    In Joyful Anticipation,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. and I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”

— Jesus (Matthew 16: 17 & 18)

“PETER” 

 
            This one Knew dependence on the creation. 
                        He knew that daily life depended on some kind of a catch. 
                                    Fishing was his trade… 
                        but he would trade that in for a different kind of dependence 
                                    and a different way of “catching”. 
 
            “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asked.
                        The weather beaten fisherman said, 
 

“YOU ARE THE CHRIST!” 

 
            The Lord said, “You, Peter, are like a rock.” 
                        And so, he was…or was he? 
 
            “Come to me on the water,” Jesus said.  When “Rocky” got scared, 
                        he started to sink…but then, what can you expect 
                                    from a rock. 
 
            He learned the mathematics of forgiveness: 70 × 7  =  
                        a whole bunch (and then some).  And yet, he had to distill 
                                    its deepest meaning in the depths of his soul 
                                                after he denied 
 

“THE CHRIST” 

 
                                    three times - having said he never wood… 
                                    that wood was a part of the cross or…
                                    at least his crossed purposes. 
 
            Ol’ “Rocky” wasn’t very steady when the heat was on. 
                        They “had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold.” 
                                    And there he declared he didn’t know Jesus.  
                                                                                    (John 18:17 & 18)
 
            And after the rock of the tomb was blown open, He came to them 
                        by another fire there on the beach. 
                                    And he asked Peter three times, 
                                                "Do you love me?” 
                                                "Do you love me?”
                                                "Do you love me?”
                                                
                                                Well…do you???
 
            See you for worship in and from the place built on a “rock” of faith
                        as we celebrate Palm Sunday 
                                    and the beginning of Holy Week!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

First let me express my delight that I’ll be returning to Neighborhood Church this summer! You are a church of my heart and I look forward to being with you for the month of June. 

Forty years of ordained ministry! This is such a milestone for David, perhaps it bears saying a little bit about why. I am never sure that most lay members of churches understand much at all about ordination. You just know that your pastor helps you catch glimpses of God in the midst of life, ministers to you in times of need, and leads your church to be a welcoming, faithful, and stirring witness to God’s love. Michael has asked me to write to you about just this.

Ministers in our United Church of Christ tradition aren’t just grown, unlike in some others. We’re educated, vetted, prayed over and ordained. We follow our bachelor degrees with three years of seminary where we learn how to think Biblically and theologically, how to understand the broad sweep of Christian history, and how to minister, preach and lead effectively. During seminary we begin to practice the arts of ministry by working in supervised ministry and doing at least one semester of intensive Clinical Pastoral Education. Through CPE we learn in a health care context about ourselves and the experiences of people going through health crises. 

All of this leads to one’s candidacy for ordination. Not all who are educated are ordained. A lengthy process of discernment, usually at least three years, is required from the candidate and the Church and Ministry Committee of the regional association where one is seeking ordination. Candidates meet with the committee which includes both laity and clergy, undergo psychological testing, prepare documents, including a substantial paper on their understanding of ministry and their call from God, and are interviewed repeatedly. Extensive reference checks are conducted. And once the committee votes to recommend for ordination, an “ecclesiastical council” is convened from all the churches and clergy of the association where the candidate presents their paper and is questioned about their theological stances, understanding of ministry, and most importantly, their ongoing relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

It's a long process. In the end, though, it means that both the candidate and the wider UCC as well, are convinced that this person is well suited for the holy work of Christian ministry. And here’s how that matters: Because ministry is a sacred trust, our UCC connection and its requirements for maintaining ordained ministerial standing ensure that our clergy are trustworthy. You can know that your Senior Minister was not only once ordained, but remains in good standing because the UCC requires ongoing accountability, continuing education, and observance of safe conduct boundaries in all relationships. In the unusual instances in which a pastor fails to meet those standards, s/he is held to account and can lose their ordained standing. Without this covenantal relationship of pastor, church and UCC, we’d all be left hanging in the wind, so to speak. 

So forty years later, David is still in ministry, still leading, still worthy of that sacred work. He has repeatedly met the expectations of your association and Conference and the wider UCC. Vitality in ministry is hard to sustain, so 40 years is a time to celebrate and express appreciation as you are doing. May David and Neighborhood Church be blessed with many years of vitality to come! 

 Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree

To be or not to be?
To mask or not to mask?
To sing or not to sing?

These are my questions!

“Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And, by opposing, end them?”

With consideration of official guidelines and recommendations, the most current scientific information and consultation with organizations trying to help get us all through these times; with a deep desire to be able to gather in groups and worship in ways that most closely resemble our traditions; with great concern for my husband, myself and all those with whom I interact, I have decided that the way to answer the question is:

To be?
Yes, I want to live in the fullest way possible, even in this crazy world that we have.

So…

To mask?
Yes, in current times, with the best information that we have, it is still more than reasonable to mask when indoors with groups of people. It may even be reasonable to expect others to do the same, especially when gathered as a church family to worship. Within our church family there are very young, very old and every age between, immune compromised people, people whose work revolves around immune compromised people and many others with various challenging health conditions. How can we best create the most loving, safest way to gather as the church family in our beautiful sanctuary? Open the windows and mask!

And...

To sing?
Yes, but taking into consideration the best information that is available, only when using masks. In the past two years, many people have commented that not being able to sing in church and not being able to have a choir leading worship has been very difficult to accept. I have also been eager to leave it all behind. It would be wonderful to have us all singing again as soon as possible. The information that I have has led me to understand that it is currently safe to sing as a group as long as all participants are conscious of distancing and all participants are masked. On Easter Sunday we plan to have a choir of 12 singers. Within this ensemble there are varying concerns about singing in a group but all have agreed to mask during rehearsals and on Sunday morning out of concern for each other. So, is it safe to sing as a congregation? In my search for this type of information, I have been encouraged to know that it is considered safe if the congregation is willing to follow the same mitigation strategies of the choir.

A question for you. How and when do we go about having our whole church family join in singing again?

Thanks for your consideration!

David Sateren
Director of Music

“And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.”

— Mark 1: 35

The Lenten season is one of my favorite times of the year.  It is a reflective time - and a time of spiritual renewal.  Lent is the time for remembering the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, with a special focus on his suffering and the meaning of the cross.
 
Jesus himself took time to be alone and to pray.  He knew well the necessity of recharging his spiritual batteries.  Quiet times of solitude bring renewal.  But what is solitude?  Solitude, in part, is meditation - it is seeking out God’s will for our lives.  It is getting away from the fast pace of our busy, busy lives for a little while.  Solitude is being alone, but not lonely.
 
Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, contrasts loneliness and solitude, pointing out how we are prone to confuse the two. 
 

“Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment. 
Solitude is not a place but a state of mind and heart.”

 
Loneliness is feeling totally alone!
 
Solitude is spending time alone…with God.  It is opening ourselves so that God can fill the emptiness within.  There are many ways of being in solitude.  One of the ways I find most helpful is reading scripture.  I like to read at least one of the gospels all the way through during Lent – and pause periodically to sit quietly and reflect.  This year I am reading Mark.  It draws me closer to the life, death, and meaning of our resurrected Lord.  I hope that all of us will take time this Lenten season to be alone with God right in the midst of whatever else is happening in our lives and the world.  
 
With all the violence, war, disasters, and disease pervading our globe – finding a place of stillness in the storm of life is good for our souls and can help us direct our prayer life toward God’s compassion and peace when things seem so helpless and hopeless.
 
A great pianist was once asked by an admirer, “How do you handle the notes as well as you do?”  The artist replied, “The notes I handle no better than many pianists.  But the pauses between the notes – ahh!  …that is where the true art resides”
 
Indeed, it is in the pauses of life that we find spiritual renewal and energizing!  I hope you will pause from time to time during this Lenten season for moments of solitude to be alone – when God might fill you with what is needed in your faith life.
 

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, 
to the soul that seeks him. 
 It is good that one should wait quietly for 
the salvation of the lord.” 

Lamentations 3:25 & 26         

 
In the Fulfillment of God,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

“Lent is a time for meditation and reflection. Lent is a time to focus on Jesus and his great love and sacrifice. Lent is a time for dying to self and Living for God.”

— Anonymous

When you stop and think about all that is going on in our world right now with Ukraine and the global nexus - the tragedies, wars and atrocities in other places as well…there is much to meditate and reflect on and pray for – as we seek to connect with Jesus and his great love.
 
Having spent more time than I would like on the freeways recently, I realize there are some who find themselves hurrying practically all the time, rushing from one place to another such that there is little time to catch their breath.  Perhaps others find themselves with a great deal of idle time on their hands such that they spend a lot of time deciding how they will spend all that time which currently does not have a clear focus.
 
I suspect that while the two poles described above may be a bit extreme, some of us can, from time to time, find ourselves near one or the other.  And in either case, what is often produced is a lack of energy or interest.  This can be particularly true when it comes to participating in church worship services.
 
“Going to church” or “watching online church” is not something we should simply do for ourselves.  Participating in worship for the self is really a secondary focus.  It is a side benefit if in the process we learn, grow, or are uplifted or go away feeling better than when we came. The primary purpose is that God seeks, while not demanding, for us to worship. Worshiping God is our primary focus in participating in church.
 
And, we also participate with and for others…for community.  Did it ever occur to you that your presence, your participation, your support – and if being part of in-person worship - your listening ear, your smile, your positive word of encouragement might be just what someone else needs?
 
If you are able to worship and don’t, it is a decision for self.  If you share in worship solely for what you get out of it, you are making yourself primary.
 
There’s a story of a mother and son in which he says, “I don’t want to go to church…I’m tired and the service is too early.”  And she says, “But you have to.”  And he says, “I just don’t want to go…and besides I don’t think everyone there likes me.”  And she says, “but you have to go.”  Again, he says, “But I just don’t want to go…”  And she replies, “But you have to…because you’re the minister!”
 
In all honesty, there have been Sundays when I wish I could have stayed home…but I had to go.  And I have never regretted it once…after arriving and sharing in worship.  It helps me put God at the center and in the process there is renewal.
 
I know someone who told me how on Ash Wednesday she’d been rushing around all day from one errand and project to another.  And when it came to thinking about the Ash Wednesday service, it would have been easier to stay home as she had had very little time for herself.  But then it hit her that if she had time to hurry for everything else, then she needed to keep hurrying and make time for the worship service that evening.  And so…she went and was glad she did.  That someone happens to be my wife.
 
Her experience and observations are what prompted these reflections.  The whole point is that with all the problems and upside down nature of our world, we need to find time to do what’s really important.  “Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)  Jesus said, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”  (Matthew 4:10)  
 

Whether in-person or virtually…I hope to ”see” you in and as church!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit... was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted...”

— Luke 4: 1-2

Lent is traditionally a time for spiritual discipline, a time for self-examination on the maturity of our faith and how we can grow in our discipleship with Christ.  This season is based upon the story of Jesus’ extended period of temptation in the desert.  Lent has also been associated with a time to “give things up”.  While that still holds value, Lent can also be a time when we, as Christians, “take something on”.  For instance, as was lifted up in last Sunday’s sermon – we can take on one additional commitment and action in the pursuit of justice.
 
Tonight we begin the Lenten journey with our Ash Wednesday service at 7:00.  If you have never experienced this service, let me encourage you to come for a time of quiet reflection as we consider the temptations and struggles of Jesus during his 40 days in the wilderness leading up to the beginning of his public ministry.  We will have the imposition of ashes on our foreheads in the sign of the cross signifying our penitence and mortality.  And we will partake of communion sharing in the suffering and passion of Jesus and his leading to new and resurrected life.
 
Please consider nurturing your prayer life by being more intentional and frequent in your conversations with God.  Upping your game in this discipline offers the potential to deepen your relationship with God, others and even yourself.  Prayer may not change things and circumstances, but it can change us in the process.
 
And finally, please continue your Lenten journey by joining us for weekly worship either in-person or virtually in real time through our livestreaming opportunity or the recorded version of it.  Throughout Lent we will track with Peter’s discipleship and journey with Jesus.  Our sermon series is “The Peter Principles.”  Here’s what you can expect:

March 2                  “Climbing the Ladder of Success”                
Ash Wed.                              Luke 4:1-13            
 
March 6                                 “The Catcher and the Guy”                           
                                               Is. 6:1-8 & Luke 5:1-11
 
March 13                                “Who Is that Masked Man?”                         
                                              Isaiah 53:1-6 & Matt. 16:13-20
 
March 20                                “When Your Footing Is Uncertain”              
                                              Psalm 26 & Matt. 14:22-33
 
March 27                                “Now, That’s a Biggie!”                                  
                                              Gen. 4:23-24 & Matt. 18:21-35
 
April 3                                    “Cocksure Ignorance”                                   
                                              Matt. 26:30-35 & Matt. 26:69-75
 
April 10                                  “One Foot at a Time”                                     
(Palm Sun.)                            Luke 19:28-40 & John 13:1-17
 
April 17                                  “The Lucky #3”                                              
(Easter)                                  John 20:1-10 & John 21:1-19
 
                                    

Blessings for the Lenten Journey,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This Sunday marks a transition in our online worship opportunities as we move from pre-recorded, edited services to livestreaming. This means that those participating in worship online will be able to do so in real time virtually at 10 AM with the service on our church’s YouTube channel.  Through this technology our online community may feel more connected to the rest of the congregation during worship.
 
We began our first online services at the end of March 2020 shortly after the beginning of the pandemic. One of our primary goals throughout the past two years has been to keep our church family connected to God, each other, and our faith. Worship is at the heart of our community at The Neighborhood Church. Making and having connection is what the spiritual life is all about. Being in right relationship with God, neighbor, and self is what faith is all about. Our adaptive worship services have helped keep us connected and alive in our faith.  The new transition to a live virtual service will help us continue to be connected in many ways.
 
Most of you know that Lauren Hardin has been doing the editing of our pre-recorded services. And we are very pleased she will be continuing on as the technician and producer of our livestreaming platform as well.  Here’s what she had to say recently.
 

It is hard to believe we’ve wrapped up our final pre-recorded service. Almost two years, and over 100 services later, it’s hard to put into words what this experience has taught me, as a professional and as a person. The biggest thing is that it has brought me closer to the core of what we do at the Neighborhood Church, and I’m excited to continue supporting our Ministry with the switch to livestreaming.

When we began online worship we had zero technological capacity – but thanks to the ingenuity, hard work, flexibility and perseverance of a dedicated staff we have done well in meeting our goal of staying connected in spite of all the challenges we have had to overcome.  A special word of thanks to Lauren Hardin, Hyunju Hwang, David Sateren, Doug Falzetti, Setta Lytle and Michael Moorhead.  What a blessing their ministry is to our church family!
 
A few practical words are in order as the shift begins this weekend.  For those participating from home, you will be able to tune in a few minutes early at about 9:55 AM for pre-service music just prior to the welcome.  After the 10:00 AM live-streamed service has concluded a recording of the service will be available to watch.  

To access the recorded service, please visit our YouTube Channel. A bit before 10AM on Sunday morning, we will enable the livestream. It will appear as the first video under "Videos" and will have a small icon that says LIVE. The words to hymns and special music will not be available initially, so I encourage you to print  the bulletin ahead of time as the words can be found there. The Order of Worship will be available on our website, and will be posted each week on Thursday afternoon. We will continue to send Sunday morning emails with the link to the bulletin and the YouTube Channel for the next several weeks.
 
For anyone attending in person who is uncomfortable with the possibility of being included with the live-streaming of the service, the side chapel will be available as an “off camera” area.  For those who are comfortable joining us in person this Sunday, February 27th will also see the return of our coffee hospitality time out on the Terrace.  It will be a joy to resume our fellowship time together as we engage in conversation following the service!
 
My heart is grateful for our worship team and the entire congregation as we have stayed connected to God, each other and our faith in our worship life together and beyond.  May we continue to be blessed as a faith community as we move into the next unfolding chapter of our life in service and the praise of God.
 

Joyfully,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Where do we put our focus in a mixed up, shook-up, up for grabs kind of world? How do we nurture right relationships with God, others, self, and this creation we find ourselves in?

Most of us are very adept at tuning in to our televisions, computers and smart phones for information, stimulus and entertainment - but have we been tuning in to the interior level of the life of the spirit?

We are engaged in a winter sermon series: “Journey Inward…Journey Outward…Spiritual Formation and Ethical Action” as we sense the interplay and balance of the inner and outer realities of our living. Such a time provides an intentional opportunity to consider:

- pondering priorities

- igniting imagination

- relaxing reflection

- deepening devotion

- practicing prayer

- offering outreach

- living lovingly

- restoring relationships

- journeying for justice

- and glorifying God!

Could it be that what we tune in to is tied to what we are becoming? What we fill our lives with is largely up to us.

Tuning in to and being tied to God is a good thing as we seek to be faithful and integrated in our life with God, self, neighbor and creation.

May ours be faith-filled focusing for today and forever!

Blessings for the journey (both inward and outward)!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Whether you agree or disagree with that statement, how you see the world and how you see the church will affect your assessment.  As one steeped in the work of the church, I can tell you that the values and preferences of our culture have done more than creep into the life of many churches.  In some cases, they have swept into churches setting a tone for the way things are done in terms of community and group life as well as worship.  And many of those churches have grown rapidly.

So… What does it mean to be the church and grow as we look at our future and the future of our world?  Could it be that part of our task is to guide people into a fuller life with God?  A classic understanding of our purpose is to help people know, enjoy and glorify God with their bodies, minds and spirits. And it is also to grow in wholeness as Christians, which invariably leads to building a healthier society and a more just world.  This is exactly the challenge of our current winter sermon series, “Journey Inward…Journey Outward: Spiritual Formation and Ethical Action in the Christian Life.”

The contemporary trend (which comes right out of our culture) that the church exists to help people feel good and be comfortable with themselves - while understandable - is anemic. To quote a friend of mine, “It fosters churches that feel like Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.  It results in clergy without courage and congregations without challenge.”   

Can our task not be a better and more interesting one - to lead people into fellowship with God, with the re-forming of life that follows for all God’s children?  The great commandment of Christ says it’s simply and straightforwardly, we are to love God first and foremost - and secondly, to love our neighbor as our self. 

Putting God first means our feeling good, getting what we want, and being comfortable are not primary concerns within the community of faith.  The Neighborhood Church is about increasing the love of God and neighbor - and if our numbers increase in the process then we will be growing for the right reasons, rather than growing by merely accommodating people’s preferences and helping them to “feel good.” 

My hope and prayer is that we will be a church on the grow as we go with God, the One who fulfills our promise and potential and leads us into the unfolding future.

Blessings for the Journey,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and we struggle in the daily grind of things. But with eyes of faith we can look to the future with a sense of promise.  Such is our hope here at The Neighborhood Church.  This past Sunday we held the Annual Budget Meeting of the church after taking a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Our theme for the gathering was “On Our Way Rejoicing” as we gave thanks for the past year and set our sights on the unfolding year of 2022.  
 
The Neighborhood Church holds much promise in our present life and as we move into the future.  We rest our trust on the great promise - that the future is God’s.  I truly believe we are growing in faith as a community of grace.  And for that I give thanks and rejoice!
 
Our promise and potential are gifts of God enabled and strengthened through past faithfulness and current sharing of our pledges and financial contributions to the church.  We have reason to rejoice.  Through unexpected revenue, we were able to end 2021 in the black.  And with generous increases and sustained support, we adopted a balanced budget for 2022.  All this while dealing with the “ups and downs, twists and turns” and struggle of the past two years.
 
The goal of the church according to theologian, H. Richard Niehbuhr, is “the increase among human beings of the love of God and neighbor.” Part of the practical working out of that goal is done through the budget of the church.  Budgets are not very exciting – but what they undergird and give expression to through the ministries of the church are.  It is what gives support and life to our ministries – such that our vitality and enthusiasm are contagious and impactful.
 
Let’s look to the future joyfully and with gratitude - as we are On Our Way Rejoicing.  In the words of the apostle Paul,

 “We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, 
brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith 
 is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you 
for one another is increasing. Rejoice in the Lord always. 
And again, I say rejoice!”

 
 Pursuing the Promise,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

We ’ll be moving beyond the playoffs this coming Sunday here at The Neighborhood Church as we hold our Annual Business Meeting setting our course for the entire calendar year ahead.  We will adopt the 2022 budget and vote on two important amendments to the by-laws.  This Annual Meeting will be our first such gathering in two years.
 
Transacting the business of the church is always vital for undergirding and providing the resources of our ministries.  Business meetings can often be boring, but they can also be the occasion to launch us into an exciting future! 
 
Here are adapted words to an old Methodist hymn, “On Our Way Rejoicing”.
 

“On our way rejoicing, covenant people stand 
For Christ’s call to service all throughout this land. 
Is there need and struggle for the way of peace? 
Let God’s kingdom move us, caring never cease. 
Chorus: On our way rejoicing, people called in love. 
Serving one who touches earth with heaven above.”

 
I’d like to suggest we adopt “On Our Way Rejoicing” as our theme for this year’s Annual Business Meeting. We have so much to be grateful for – and so much to celebrate!  These past two years have certainly caused a great deal of pain, struggle and sadness…where discouragement has abounded.  And yet, our faith affirms that ours is also a way of rejoicing.  The Apostle Paul knew tremendous hardships and disappointments and yet he could write, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!”
 
If you feel safe enough to come to worship this Sunday, January 30th (when we will all be masked) – I hope you will join us afterward in the sanctuary for this brief and important meeting.  A quorum will require 50 voting members and your participation will make a difference.
 
My hope for the year ahead is that we will faithfully follow the Lord – On Our Way Rejoicing!

“I love to live rejoicing,
I cannot live lukewarm.”
 - Anonymous (which could be any and all of us)
 

  Joyfully,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece first appeared in The Wave on January 27, 2022.

Following up on our two most recent sermons on inner and outer peace, I’d like to share this poem by a retired colleague and dear friend, Rev. Dr. Richard L. Stanger.

Blessings for the journey!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

“Far from being essentially opposed to each other,
interior contemplation and exterior activity
are two aspects of the same love of God.”

                                          - Thomas Merton

With 2022 well underway, the rhythm of weekly worship opens a two month period in our life together before the coming of Lent.  Ten days ago, we began a Winter Sermon Series with the intriguing theme: JOURNEY INWARD…JOURNEY OUTWARD…(Spiritual Formation and Ethical Action in the Christian Life).

There are two essential energies which pulsate through the Christian life.  The first is the need to be inwardly formed…to receive a sense that we are rooted in the grace of God and God’s love expressed to us in Jesus Christ.  The second energy is the movement towards self-giving service and ethical involvement.  We live in a world that is “out of sorts.”  We sense that the Christian vision prods us to moral concern and ethical involvement.

This Sermon Series will help us struggle with four great themes, exploring on successive Sundays their “inward” and “outward” dimensions.  We began with the introductory sermon, “Light Living in a Dark World” and are now looking at inner and outer peace.  As the successive three pairs of Sundays come we will also explore ecology, prejudice and justice.

Here is what the schedule will look like.

Jan. 16                         “Other Lords and God’s Peace”  (Outer Peace)
                                                Isaiah 30:8-18 & Luke 1:67-80

Jan. 23                         “The Vessel and the Vision”  (Inner Ecology)
                                                Gen. 1:24-31 & II Cor. 4:7-18

Jan. 30                         “When the Land Mourns”  (Outer Ecology)
                                                Hosea 4:1-10 & Rev. 21:22-22:5

Feb. 6                          “Exploring Your Inheritance Clause”  (Inner Prejudice)                    
                                                Zechariah 12:8-10, 13:1 & Gal. 3:15-29 

Feb. 13                        “The Genealogy of Faith”  (Outer  Prejudice)
                                                Ruth 2:1-13 & Matt. 1:1-16 

Feb. 20                        “Living the Promise”   (Inner Justice)
                                                Gen. 15:1-6 & Rom. 4:13-25 

Feb. 27                        “Searching the City Streets”   (Outer Justice)
                                                Jer. 5:1-9 & Rom. 3:21-26

We hope you will journey with us in worship either in-person or online for this important exploration together.  In the words of the poet, W. H. Auden,

            “There are two atlases: the one the public space where acts are done,
              in theory common to us all…the other is the inner space of personal
              ownership, the place that each of us is forced to own like his or her
              own life from which it’s grown.”

                                                                        In Peace and Love, 

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on January 12, 2022