“We move into the deepest kind of interior prayer in order that we may be found by God, recognized by the Lord of our lives, and loved into being”

— Madeline L'Engle

I am writing this more for myself than for any of you who may be reading this - because I need to be reminded once again of the importance of prayer in the dailiness of life.  I get caught up in routines and my prayer life and relationship with God can become something I take for granted…and so I give less attention to them and receive less from them.

Just recently, in a conversation, someone was asking about the role of prayer, wondering just how involved God gets in responding to our requests.  In this case, it had to do with praying for a loved ones’ health and healing.  While there are no easy answers, praying for tangible, physical things can be appropriate - but they are most helpful if they lead to deeper spiritual gifts and healings.

If there are times, when you are uncertain of what to pray for or like me find yourself sometimes taking things for granted, begin by giving thanks to God for the tangible things in your life…including whatever good health you do have (physical/mental), loved ones, friends, food, and home.  Over time you may notice that it will become easier for you to see and to give thanks for the spiritual gifts which are within and around you.

The Jesuit theologian, John Wright offers this insight into the nature of prayer.

“Prayer is neither informing or persuading God, 
much less is it a kind of magical spell compelling 
the divinity to satisfy my needs.  Prayer always   
expresses symbolically a personal relationship 
through trust, confidence, praise, appreciation, 
or repentance.”

Gradually, if we are persistent, we will discover that the desires we wanted to lift up to God will be changed.  “Give me, give me,” can become “Make me, make me.”  Prayer makes a difference and can even change us.

To combine prayers of Richard of Chichester and St. Francis,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace… 
May we know thee more clearly, 
love thee more dearly, 
and followed the more nearly, day by day.” 
Amen! 

In such faith,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on January 25, 2023.

“Frequently my life goes around in circles, hard to tell the beginning impossible the end. Sometimes the road I travel is straight as an arrow but then the road intersects and I stand indecisive, hollowness invades, yet cockily I decide what to travel, and how to travel…only to discover that deep down my life is not as full and rich as it could be… as it was meant to be.”

— Penny Tressler

There always seems to be some kind of road construction in our neck of the woods in the South Bay.  Or maybe it’s just that the roads I often take are the ones being worked on.  I’ll confess, I’m not the most patient person when it comes to taking detours or waiting on traffic delays regardless of the reason.  Not long ago, we were coming home from Costco and it took an hour and a half for what otherwise would have been a 20 minute trip.

And it hit me as I was driving to the office this morning that perhaps our spiritual life is like that.  There are periods when we plug along and pay  little attention to it - and then when we’re bumping in and out of the “potholes” and “disruptions” of the daily grind, we realize the road of our spiritual life is in need of repair.

Just as many roads and pathways are in need of repair, so too, is our spiritual path in need of attention and “repair” if God’s spirit is to heal and permeate us at the center of our very being.

These winter Sundays we are exploring a sermon series entitled: “Living the Versus of Scripture” as we look at the tensions, struggles, challenges and ambiguities of life.  The Christian life calls us to renewal and a reorientation to Gospel values as we seek to be faithful in discipleship to Christ.  

We are in a time to remember our connection to God in Christ and re-focus our lives for the next chapter that lies ahead.  One of the great theologians of the last century who is part of our UCC heritage, Reinhold Niebuhr, put it this way:

“All life is selfish when it is not changed 
by some spiritual influence.  Religion can 
change us.  It challenges us that 
we are spiritual beings.”

May this winter season be a time of “road repair” for our spiritual lives – as through our worship we utilize the verses of scripture to live out the “versus” of life with all their pushes, pulls, upsets and uncertainties – all to the end that roadway we follow is God’s and not simple our own.

  In Christ who is the Way,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on January 18, 2023

“Then thought I to understand this: But it was too hard for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God”

— Psalm 73:16-17

To understand purpose, to understand presence, to embrace and be embraced is to participate in worship.  Many who no longer worship regularly in person or online (for reasons other than physical limitation) have most likely simply drifted away.  There are many reasons people can give for not participating in worship regularly.  We live in a free country where everyone is entitled to make choices…and there are now more choices than ever.  And our church respects individual freedom and choice.  It has been well put, “If people don’t want to come to church, you can’t stop them.”

Here is the shoe on the other foot.  An avid spectator at sports events, a minister suddenly stopped attending.  When asked for his reasons, he presented the familiar following explanation.  “Every time I went, they asked me for money.  The seats were too hard, and the people with whom I sat didn’t seem all that friendly.  I went to many games, but the coach never called on me.  The referees made decisions with which I could not agree.  Sometimes, games went overtime and I was late for lunch, and getting home.  The band played songs I never heard before, and games were scheduled when I wanted to do other things.  Anyway, I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.”

Sharing in worship can be seen as a first choice, not a last chance.  The whole point is this: THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU AS PART OF WORSHIP!

Having the church coax you into participating is not the point.  Having your needs catered to is not the point.  Being entertained is not the point.  Recognizing that God is so much greater than our human perspectives and that worship is not about our petty cares, but God’s glory and purposes - can redirect our reason for being.  In his book, The Well Church Book, Brown Barr, writes, 

“The refusal of many Christian persons to entertain 
for even a moment the idea that the time and place 
reserved for worship are qualitatively different, 
special, sacred, is symptomatic of the exceedingly 
deep and hidden resistance to the divine touch.” 

Many people reserve a regular date night with their partner or spouse.  It is a time to be together, to affirm their relationship and celebrate their love.  It seems to me we could all stand to do that with the God, “from whom all blessings flow.”  Yes…

THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU AS PART OF WORSHIP!

I hope you’ll join us this week in person or online for the worship of our God as we explore the theme “A Christian Celebration or On with the Show” struggling with Entertainment versus Enthusiasm.

That we may all be touched,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

“What’s new?”  -  “Nothing” you say. 

“What do ya know?”  -  “Not much.” 

Oh, there’s new clothes, new cars, new toys, new gadgets, 

new techy stuff and all kinds of Christmas gifts 

(that aren’t all that new anymore.)

But when it comes to our lives, and the real substance of things, 

perhaps we shrug and say the writer of Ecclesiastes was right: 

“What has been is what will be, 

  and what has been done 

is what will be done; 

there is nothing new under the sun.”  (1:9)

Yet, somewhere within the winter of our being (soul) something is yearning 

to be born. 

Incarnational mystery, again? 

The heart is afraid, 

the head resists, 

and the will wonders…

should I take a chance? 

Can we only live if we are not afraid to die? 

New, life invariably means change.

But who wants change, really? 

And for what? 

And into what? 

Somewhere in the far reaches of our longing, God whispers, 

“See, I am making all things new.”  (Revelation 21:5)

And we marvel…”Can it be true?”

Each day comes as gift – fresh and new.

There’s a choice to be made, a journey to make.

But, oh well…

2023 will be just like every other year, right…

OR WILL IT?

New Year’s Blessings,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on January 4, 2023.

“Our birth is but a sleep, and 
a forgetting: 
The Soul that rises with us, 
our life’s Star, 
Hath had elsewhere Its setting, 
And cometh from afar: 
Not in entire forgetfulness, 
And not in utter nakedness 
But in trailing clouds of glory 
do we come from God, 
who is our home: 
Heaven lies about us in our infancy.”    
- Wordsworth.

These days, a great fuss is made on earth about a special birth!  It is what we Christians celebrate as Christmas!

Physical birth is an amazing event.  It happens nearly every second of every day - and yet, to witness a birth is nothing short of a miracle.  Think back to your own birth…that is somewhat of a hypothetical process…because none of us can remember our physical birth.  We may remember what our parents have told us about it…or we may try to envision it based on what we know and have experienced in another’s birth.  But in the inklings of the poet, there is a lot of “forgetfulness.”

In John’s Gospel, there is no mention of Jesus’ physical birth.  Either it wasn’t important or the writer did not know much about it.  Curiously, by the third chapter, John tells us of an encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus in which Jesus says, 

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can 

  see the kingdom of God without 

  being born again (anew).”  

Nicodemus wonders how this can be, “Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”  And Jesus says the key is to be born anew in the spirit…that is the spirit of God.

Jesus’ birth, which we celebrate at this time of year, leads us beyond our physical birth to the importance of inner, spiritual birth.  Without such birth we cannot see God’s purpose is in our life and in the world (God’s kingdom).  Physical birth (as Jesus pointed out to Nicodemus) is a one-time event.  In a very real sense, he was saying that being alive in God is an ongoing and daily process.

Once again, this year we celebrate Jesus’s birth with great joy, and love…saying, “Happy Birthday!” and singing it with a cake at the 4 p.m. Family Service on Christmas Eve.  It has now been more than 2000 years since that first holy night when “Heaven lay about a special infant.”  Equally special is for each of us to say to one another every day, in the spirit of God, “Happy Birthday!” as being born anew is a regular and daily process.

Happy birthday Jesus and Everyone! 

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on December 21, 2022.

“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.”

— Micah 5: 2

Offering an intriguing reflection on this Advent passage, Rev. Ron Parker has written:

“Who us?  No, not possible.  We are not known, have no influence, 
lack the political connections.  We are just a little clan, with limited 
resources, just struggling to survive.  Certainly such a birth could not 
happen here.  Or could it?  Could we draw on the deep resources of 
ancient days, enter boldly into present times, act faithfully on  
promises of a future that few believe?  Could we, acting in consort 
with other ordinary folk, become the womb of some new incarnation?”

Advent is a time of waiting and watching, of looking forward.  But for what?  Perhaps, for renewal, transformation, new life (birth), and peace.  And yet, we have hoped for these things for so long.  Advents have come and gone and so many of our hopes have slipped away.  It seems unlikely that such a birth could happen here.

Or could it?  During advent, we are not waiting for a Messiah to deliver us from our humanity. And so, this Sunday, we will explore the theme: “A Transforming Word” because we wait for him who joins us in our humanity, embracing our humanity, our very lives - with all our joys and sorrows.  We shift our life’s focus toward the One who invites us to be part of the promise – in the mysterious process “As the Word Turns”.

This Christmas season, let’s decorate our homes, enjoy the warmth and cheer of the season’s sights, sounds, and smells.  But let’s also remember that people are more important than things.  Incarnation, Emmanuel (which means God with us), community, and love are the meaning of this Christmas season - and all of life.

“And the Word became flesh
and lived among us…full of grace
and truth.”
- John 1:14     

So…what’s the good word?  You know…and so do I.  Let’s share it, live it and celebrate it!

In Christ’s love,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on December 14, 2022.

“As one department store advertised, “Make this Christmas one you won’t soon forget – charge everything!””

For many in our society, the only meaning Christmas carries is the material one.  It is true that one way to remember Christmas is to buy so many gifts that bills will have to be paid off throughout the entire next year.  And with inflation, some bills won’t even get paid off in the next calendar year.  The news has been running stories of people having already maxed out their credit cards to be able to buy Christmas presents.  But isn’t that a sad commentary on what this season is all about.

Surely, for us as Christians, it is more than that.  So what is Christmas really all about anyway? During this season we talk a lot about Advent being a time of preparation, of getting ready, of anticipation and expectation - as we wait for the coming of Christ.  And we would rightly answer the question by saying that Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ.  It is a time of focusing on the incarnation as we affirm the truth that “God is with us” - Emmanuel! The greatest love gift of all time came into the world through Jesus Christ.

“Love came down and Christmas,

Love all lovely,

  Love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

  Star and angels gave the sign.”

    - Christina Rossetti

Digging around in the Guinness Book of Christmas, I discovered some interesting things about the derivation of the word Christmas.  It is a word that rolls off our tongues with great frequency at this time of year and other than seeing Christ in the word, we probably do not think too much about it.  But did you know that the “mas” comes from mass, which is the right or religious service of worship predominant in the Catholic Church?  

In the early church, the service would end with the words: “Ite, Missa Est” which means, “go, it is ended.”  And “Missa”, which the word mass comes from, came to mean “dismissal”.  The earliest known example of the word belongs to the last quarter of the fourth century, where it occurs in the epistles of Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan.  In addition, it always denoted the Eucharist.  And so the presence of Christ is celebrated both in the Lord’s Supper and at Christmas (Christ-mass).

Christmas, then, can mean all of the following and more: Christ + birth; Christ + worship; Christ + service; Christ + communion; and Christ + dismissal.

What does Christmas really mean?  It means many things - for this is one of the richest seasons of the year - far and above the materialism of our culture.  Each one of us could expand on the meaning of Christmas - that is part of the beauty of Christ’s presence in our lives.

As we prepare for the coming of Christ during this season of waiting, arrivals, gifts and joy – let’s also prepare for our dismissal as transformed people – that we will not forget Christmas as we move into 2023 in new and exciting directions.  Like the wise ones (Magi) of old, let us “worship the child…and depart…by another way.” (Matthew 2:12)  That Way, Truth, Light and Life is Jesus Christ our Lord! (John 14:6)

“Christmas is eternal 

like the love that gave it birth 

like the love that touches others 

as it reaches ‘round the earth.”

- Christina Rossetti

In the True Spirit of Christmas,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on December 7, 2022

“The Father uttered one word: that word is His Son: 

  and He utters Him forever in everlasting silence…

  and the soul to hear it must be silent.” 

- the 16th century Spanish mystic 

St. John of the Cross.

So many things are happening in our world, with such rapidity, change and uncertainty - that it is needful for the soul to take moments of quiet to hear what is really at the center of things.  Sometimes, nothing speaks more loudly than silence.  And what is at the center is a word, the Word become flesh…and that Word is love.

As we turn the seasonal calendar to December and Advent, I can hardly believe we’re already focusing on Christmas.  Each year it seems to come faster and faster (but that may be because along with each of you, I’m getting older and older).  I used to wish I could slow things down and keep people from putting up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving, but I gave up that desire long ago.  When I began to see signs of Christmas going up in stores and on people’s homes a few weeks before Halloween, I realized it is a losing battle altogether.

Advent is a time of waiting, preparation and anticipation.  And I remind myself that I can’t change the world around me anymore than I can change things on the other side of the globe. But I can attune my spirit to a word which was uttered beyond time for all time…and my world can be changed.

This year our Advent Sermon Series is called: “As the World Turns” and will include the following:

Dec. 4 “Snow that Grows”

Isaiah 55:10-12 and Psalm 147:5, 8, 15-18

Dec. 11 “Receive the Power”

John 1:6-13 and Colossians 1:15-20

Dec. 18 “A Transforming Word”

John 1:14-18 and Philippians 2:1-8

Dec. 24 “Were You There?

(Christmas Eve)     Luke 1:1-20     Candle Light, Lessons, Carols and Special Music

Dec. 25 Celebrating Christmas Day

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth…”  And so it was.  And so it is!  This Advent let’s take time amidst the chaos, confusion, and concern of our world and the busyness, bustle, and bombardment of the season to quiet our souls to hear the silently uttered word…and remember…that Word is a part of us as well.  From the insight of the Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton:

“God utters me like a word, containing a partial 

  thought of himself.  A word will never be able 

  to comprehend the voice that utters it.  

  But if I am true to the concept that God utters 

  in me, if I am true to the thought in him 

  I was meant to embody, I shall be full of God’s 

  actuality and find God everywhere, and find 

  myself nowhere.  I shall be lost in God.”

Shhhh!

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on November 30, 2022.

“Music is a means of trans-verbal praise, both a way of evoking expressive responses from the congregation, and a particularly felicitous way of proclamation to the congregation; music is a stimulant to devotion, a lubricant to piety, and a powerful evocation of an appropriate mood.”

— Joseph Sitler

Hymns are very much a part of church music and as such play an important role in the life of the church.  Hymns help shape the theology of a congregation over time.  Due to the pandemic we have not been singing congregational hymns for the past 2 ½ years.  Consideration has been given recently to slowly reintroduce it back into our Sunday morning worship.

The Church Council asked the Task Force that helped us move to in-person services to reconvene and make a recommendation regarding hymn singing.  After careful consideration, the recommendation is to sing one hymn during worship and see how it goes.  Over time we may  be able to sing more.  The guidelines are simple and as follows.  If you would like to participate, you need to wear a mask while singing.  The hymn will be sung at the conclusion of the worship hour to minimize the time we spend in the space immediately following the singing.  As always, no one is compelled to sing and for those not singing – a mask is not required.  Our goal is to keep our congregation safe by keeping risk factors at a minimum. 

We will begin singing a closing hymn on Sunday, November 20th.

The last time we sang a hymn as a congregation was in early March of 2020.  It may seem like we’re doing something new because it has been so long.  Here’s how the Psalmist of old encourages us:

“O sing to the Lord a new song
for God has done marvelous things.”

- Psalm 98:1

This cautious approach makes sense.  I have really missed singing and many of you have as well, but out of love for each other and especially those with health concerns we want to continue to use an abundance of care and caution in our public worship.

I look forward to November 20th when we can begin singing together again – it promises to be a joyous and meaningful part of our worship that day.  As Ernie Campbell, a past Senior Minister of Riverside Church in NYC once observed,

“One good hymn can put you
in touch with more reality than
five hours of television.”

Here’s to doing it in a new way as we “come into God’s presence with singing.”  (Psalm 100:2)

Singing our hearts out…with the heart of  God,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on November 9, 2022

Bob Dylan grew up about an hour from our lake cabin in northern Minnesota and the title to one of his most famous songs echoes back through time and reverberates into the future.  They are especially true as I write these words today,

                      “The times they are a-changin’.”

Change is coming again for the Neighborhood Church and for me personally.  Last night I met with the Church Council and the Board of Trustees to announce I will be retiring in the spring of 2023.  My decision has not come easily.  I have prayed and meditated about it for the past several months and believe it is the right decision for Michelle and me.

I love the Neighborhood Church and all of you very much.  It has been a blessing and a gift to serve as your Senior Minister for now nearly 10 years and I will miss you greatly.  At the same time, I am really looking forward to spending more time with my family and especially our grandchildren.  There are so many things Michelle and I want to do while we are healthy and in good physical shape.  

For me, this time of change is a mixed bag of sadness and excitement.  Saying good-bye to you and letting go of nearly 50 years of professional ministry will be very hard.  And yet, exploring new opportunities will bring joy and renewed enthusiasm for what the future holds.

The Neighborhood Church is a wonderful church thanks to God’s goodness and grace - and to all of you.  I am confident the next chapter of the church’s life will be vital and strong – and that is exciting!  

Thank you for the gift of allowing Michelle and me to share in the ministry of this portion of Christ’s body.  We look forward to journeying with you during the coming months of change and growth and we ask God’s richest blessings upon each of you and the Neighborhood Church as we do.

In the words of the Psalmist,

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.    
Therefore, we will not fear,
though the earth should change…
“Be still and know that I am God!”
The Lord of hosts is with us.
Psalm 46 (excerpts)

With deep love and appreciation,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on November 2, 2022

Guilt can be one of the most gripping feelings.  It is usually a very personal thing that is felt deep within.  Like many things in life, guilt can either be a strong prompter of change or a great force for stagnation.  As some jokingly say, “Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving!”

Guilt is a normal feeling when we have done something wrong.  It is a healthy mechanism for living and being responsible.  However, if we continue to be weighed down by guilt and guilty feelings, it can be unhealthy.

I can think of a number of times when I felt guilty for something going on around me either at home, at church, or in the world.  Such feelings were experienced as a very heavy burden and it wasn’t until closer examination that I realized in some cases I was not responsible for what was going on (perhaps you have experienced someone trying to lay a guilt trip on you – parents are good at that with kids and vice versa).

There can be a big difference between “feeling guilty” and being guilty.  It seems to me that when guilty feelings arise, we would do well to sit down in prayer and/or with another person to really examine what is going on.  And if we discover it is simply a matter of “feeling guilty” when we in fact, are not guilty, then we need merely to let it go.  It’s what a seminary professor of mine described as “the guilt trip trap.”  But if we are, indeed, guilty for some wrong, then we stand in need of grace and forgiveness.

Unresolved guilt leads to despair - whereas forgiveness leads to hope.  Guilt is only a provisional assessment of who we are and can best be dealt with when we realize that it is not a final assessment of who we are.  The beauty of the gospel is that God through Christ stands ready to accept and forgive us rather than leaving us to the morbidity of brooding despair.  God loves us more than we dare imagine and that is good news, indeed!

“I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions 
for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” 
- Isaiah 43:25

Friends, we are God’s own and as such a community of grace.

You are loved,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on October 26, 2022

Tree at My Window

Tree at my window, window tree,
My sash is lowered when night comes on;
But let there never be curtain drawn
Between you and me.

Vague dream head lifted out of the ground,
And thing next most diffuse to cloud,
Not all your light tongues talking aloud
Could be profound.

But tree, I have seen you taken and tossed,
And if you have seen me when I slept,
You have seen me when I was taken and swept
And all but lost.

That day she put our heads together,
Fate had her imagination about her,
Your head so much concerned with outer,
Mine with inner, weather.

Robert Frost

Trees are such amazing gifts of nature.  They remind us of the outer and inner nature of life.  Deciduous trees offer resplendent, technicolor scenery in the world of nature.  All the while, their roots grow ever deeper, never seen but providing rich nutrients for gifting the world.

So many in our world focus so much on the outer…outer appearance, outer performance, outer perception and image.  The poet reminds us of our unique ability to be concerned with more than the outer, but also inner growth and depth…the life of the spirit.

Here is a picture friends sent recently of our lake in Minnesota which prompted this sharing and reflections.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on October 19, 2022

On our way rejoicing,
people called in love.
Serving one who touches
Earth from heaven above.

There are many ways to serve in the life of our church and one of those is sharing your gifts on ministry teams, committees and with many other groups as well.  Now that we are transitioning toward more in-person events and worship, many of these teams, committees and groups are considering having meetings at the church along with Zoom options.

I was at retreat once where the question was asked, “What dampens your spirit?”  I have never forgotten the answer that welled up in me, “For me it its long meetings that don’t accomplish much.”  Since then, I have often joked that if it weren’t for all the meetings, I would love the ministry.  Having to be part of a plethora of meetings is one of the hazards of being a clergy person.  Interestingly, one of the other retreat participants said, “Being around people who don’t have any joy is what dampens my spirit.”  And I thought…”Wow, meetings which are frustrating, boring and tiring and that often dampen my spirit are ones that don’t have any joy.”

Regardless of life's difficulties, struggles, and tragedies (of which there are many) we are encouraged to rejoice in the goodness and joys of life (of which there are also many).  Sharing the joy of our faith and the ultimate goodness and love of God which energize and sustains the universe is one of our great responsibilities as Christians.

Here is how the Apostle Paul put it,

“Rejoice in the Lord always;
again, I say rejoice.”

With this being election time, it is interesting that most politicians of every party lift up the “American dream” of being better off in the coming few years.  Happiness and better yet, fulfillment, are not tied to greater material prosperity, though that is part of the myth.  As people of faith we are called not to look for joy simply in better circumstances, but in the fullness of life which God offers us.  Being connected to Christ and his body (the church) offers shared joys, meaningful relationships, and helpful service.

Whatever ways we meet together going forward, I hope we will celebrate our common life with shared joy as we serve others and God, such that our spirits are lifted (not dampened).  

One of our greatest joys can be known in worship!  This coming Sunday we will focus on the fourth commandment: “Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy.”  When we do that, we truly participate in the joy of God. 

Whether online or in-person, I look forward to your participation in church!

With Joy,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

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

Dear Neighborhood Church,

On behalf of Family Promise of the South Bay, I would like to thank you for continuing to host and support families. Thank you for believing in our mission to help families seeking stable housing in the South Bay achieve sustainable independence through a community-based approach.

As you may know, Family Promise of the South Bay offers a lasting solution to families with children who are experiencing homelessness. We enable families to remain whole by providing temporary housing and supportive services. Children continue to attend the school in which they’re enrolled, while parents develop job skills, secure steady employment, and obtain stable housing in order to effectively rebuild their foundation.

The small amount of government funding we receive does not fully support our efforts to assist these children and families. We rely heavily on private support from caring members of the community. A big thank you for helping four families:

Family 1: Single mother Zoraya, and her two children, Kenneth and Kameron
Family 2: Single mother Amana and her daughter Alana
Family 3: Single mother Providencia and her two children James and Deloy
Family 4: Sing mother Katherine and her children Kamilah and Keynay

They are so appreciative for this support and share with their case managers how grateful they are! This week you and your congregation raised $900. We are so thankful for your connection and providing the much needed support for the families going through this difficult time. Thank to your generosity and partnership, we can positively impact the lives of children and families in our community together. Thank you for all that you do for the community!

With great appreciaton,

Jocelyn Fermin
Operations Coordinator
Family Promise of the South Bay

Worship is one of the most important and significant activities of the church!

“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in the sanctuary!”
- Psalm 150:1

Regular worship is one of the most significant experiences we can share…together. During the first portion of the pandemic, when we provided a pre-recorded online worship service (as the best way to continue being church given all the constraints) - without barely realizing it, we played into a notion that the 19 th century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard commented on many years ago.

“The trouble with the church is that it is too much
like the theater: the preacher is the actor;
the congregation is the audience; and God
is the prompter. No, the congregation is the actor;
God is the audience; and the preacher is the prompter.”

We have slowly been finding our way back to worship that resembles pre-pandemic forms and traditions. Being together has been wonderful, but as one who loves to sing – not doing so has left a slight void in my spirit. We are exploring ways to reclaim congregational singing in the near future, which will allow us all to be participants (actors) in our worship.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the lord with gladness; come into God’s
presence with singing.”
- Psalm 100:1-2

For those of you who have been worshiping in person, it has been great to see you and even more inspiring to see your participation. And for those who have not come back to in person services, we look forward to seeing you when you feel comfortable doing so. Either way, we can all sing to the Lord – in the shower, on a walk, lying in bed, in the car or wherever. And hopefully, we sing together in the sanctuary in the very near future. This coming Sunday is World Communion Sunday and I hope you will join us either in the sanctuary or Live-stream as we affirm our oneness as a family of faith and as children of God.

Hope to see you in church soon!

And on that “note”, I wish for you many Fall Blessings,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

The people of God have always been challenged to look beyond what is seen in the world around them with the inner eye of faith.  The light of Christ not only penetrates the deepest corners of our beings to reveal and redeem, but also casts a radiance on all existence such that there is joy and love beyond which the world can ever see.

“I am the light of the world!”
Jesus (John 9:5)

“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.”
John 1:1

For us as Christians, Jesus Christ is the light of the world and the living Word!  As such he holds the potential to illumine all of our living.  We have always taken the Word of God (in both the scriptures and Jesus Christ) very seriously and they are always lifted up in our worship. This past Sunday, September 18th, we did something very special by presenting Bibles to our children as one of their rights of passage - and as part of their encouraged growth in the faith.

“Train up a child in the way he/she
should go, even when he/she is old
he/she will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6

After our presentation Sunday of the Bibles, it occurred to me that since returning to worship this past year we have not had Bibles in the pew racks (which is why the scripture lessons are printed in the weekly program).   But as I said, the Bible is our book – and there’s nothing like reading from a book.  The days are coming when our Bibles will be restored to the sanctuary for our use.  But in the meantime, I want to invite you to bring your own Bible to church to read from an actual book.  Both formats are good, but if you like holding the weight of a book in your hands, then by all means, bring your Bible to church.  The version we use on Sunday mornings is the New Revised Standard Version and whatever version you use will add to the richness of our various expressions of faith.

Helping our children understand the centrality of the living Word in their lives is one of the best gifts we can give them…and it is one of the best reminders we can give ourselves.  Come, consider bringing your Bible, and whatever medium you use, let’s share the gifts of faith, light and love with one another and the wider world around us!

            Grateful for the Word,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

Myra Ghabrial presented Davida with a birthday cake on her first Sunday with us.

As I’ve spent this month with you, I’ve reflected a bit on the way the lives of churches have changed in these past two and a half years. There are so many of you I’ve missed seeing! My guess is that among you there are many who have not yet felt safe returning to corporate worship, and others who’ve found it convenient simply to stay home and view the service online. Yet, I want you to know that you are missed, and not just by me.

Neighborhood Church has an opportunity now to embody its name in new ways. While many are still concerned about indoor spaces, more are open to outdoor occasions, and no church has a better campus for a variety of outdoor settings than you! The first Summer Sunday Sounds this past Sunday was a huge event, filled with conviviality and congeniality.

Richard Smith put on a show for a full house at our first Summer Sunday Sounds concert.

If any institutions in our society can play a role in restoring community, rebuilding relationships, and reweaving the social fabric of our cities and towns, it is churches like yours and mine: churches that are genuinely welcoming, open to doing things in new ways for a new day, and see outreach to their surrounding communities as natural ways to express care.

I want to encourage you to think outside the box. What occasions might you create that will draw people back into community? How might you offer times for the more vulnerable and cautious among you to return under safe conditions? How might you personally reach out to someone who hasn’t ventured back yet, just to let them know you miss them? What does this beautiful peninsula and its surrounding cities need now? Cultural events, spiritually focused occasions, times for support and learning, intergenerational gatherings – all can help rebuild our social world.

I say all this not simply because being in community is warm and nice, but because strong social relationships are crucial to democracy and our general wellbeing as a nation. Scripture teaches this at every turn. We would do well to take some risks, experiment a bit, and see how we can make a difference in this messy, hurting, fearful world of ours.

Davida

---

Friends, a word of appreciation for Neighborhood Church, for each of you and for your staff. You are a church with a great generosity of spirit. Your welcome of this “outsider preacher” is remarkable in itself, and that is only enhanced by all the wonderful lunches and dinners and conversations with so many of you. Your willingness to share so much of your lives with me has made me an “insider preacher” and there is no greater compliment than that. I want you to know that I also cherish my time with your staff, whom I’ve experienced over these years as one of the best staff teams of all those I’ve worked with. They care deeply about each other and Neighborhood Church, give their best, and work well together. And from what I’ve seen, the same is true of your leaders. If I do return next year (depending on your needs and desires and my health), I will do so with bells on! God’s blessing on each and all of you!

As we come to the end of our Pentecost sojourn, amidst the peculiarities, powers, prophets and ponderings, this week we’ll take a look at the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance in our individual lives. 

Part of the reason I am an avid Trinitarian is that the three dimensions of the Holy (God, Christ and Holy Spirit) enable us to connect to the Divine in different seasons of our lives and according to our own personalities and experiences. The rich diversity that Pentecost reflects is resident in the very being of the Holy.  

It is this diversity in unity/unity in diversity that enables Christianity to be accessible and valuable to every person throughout all those seasons.

For many whose personalities are oriented toward facts and figures or toward the practicalities of life, Jesus can be a crucial way to come to a depth of understanding God’s intent for us. Those who are drawn to the grand themes of life, the overarching conceptual ideas that move and motivate them, God the Creator is compelling. And for those for whom the Holy is far more attractive as a discernible yet unknowable spiritual presence, a feeling, a sense of being led in one’s life, the Holy Spirit is attractive and powerful. 

Christianity has been through its own culture wars of a sort over the centuries with certain sects and movements emphasizing different doctrines and persons of the Trinity. It sometimes seems that each has its own fundamentalism. Yet, in truth, understanding the way the Triune Holy One creates pathways to the Divine for everyone is crucial. All three persons of the Trinity are important for all of us, yet occasions arise when differing aspects offer us comfort. 

So this weekend we’ll ponder the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Its empowering, comforting, guiding and challenging ways will feature in Saturday’s “Living Legends” as well as Sunday’s worship. I invite you to think about moments when just maybe the Spirit led you, or perhaps coddled you through a tough time, or enabled you to do something that took courage and persistence. I might even tell you about one of those in my life

Davida

A Note from Davida:

Last Saturday, Davida told the story of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, an African American and Native American civil rights and feminist icon who late in life became an Episcopal priest. She showed this short film clip celebrating the nomination of the film “My Name is Pauli Murray” for the Peabody Award and believes others of you may wish to see this and learn about her: https://vimeo.com/715820864. The 1.5 hour movie can be streamed for free on various platforms and she encourages you to see it. A copy of a biography of Dr. Murray, Jane Crow, is available in the Palos Verdes Library system.

As we approach this Sunday, our reading of the scriptures surrounding Pentecost will continue. This week we encounter a reminder of the signs and portents that call us to a different future than the past we have known. It fits marvelously with a new secular federal holiday that many have not yet caught up to: Juneteenth, a commemoration of the day formerly enslaved people in Galveston finally learned of their emancipation, two and a half years after the proclamation. 

As with so many holidays, this one is full of pathos. How on earth could it have taken so long for the word to reach them? What kept enforcement at bay? It’s true that it was partly Texas’ distance from federal/union troops. Yet it’s also true that although the white enslavers knew about the emancipation proclamation of January 1, 1863, they made sure those enslaved in their region never heard. 

The earliest commemorations of this day took place in churches. Of course they did! Church was one place where unfettered joy could be expressed. Spirituals and the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” were sung everywhere there was a celebration. I remember attending my first Juneteenth back in the 80’s, and being inspired and overwhelmed by the power of remembrance to give hope. 

Many may think of Juneteenth as an African American holiday. It is, of course, particularly special! But, let’s be clear: Juneteenth is now a holiday that belongs to all of us and can begin to shape our future together as a future of remembrance and hope. We’ve been caught in the midst of contemporary signs and portents, events we must pay attention to. Some are scary, some are hopeful. All are important in shaping who we are choosing to be as a nation. Just because something is scary doesn’t mean God isn’t working in the midst of it to call us to new visions. As a matter of fact, over my long years I’ve come to the conclusion that God is more often at work in the scary stuff than in the fields of daisies that lull us into complacency. 

So I invite you to learn more about Juneteenth and about slavery, racism and contemporary efforts to build a beloved community that moves us closer to God’s hope for us. Do so with joy in your heart, openness in your mind, and salvation in your soul! 

 Davida

Like you, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the impact of Covid on our spirits, souls, hearts and communities, never mind our physical well-being. I am convinced that its impact will be felt for decades and that we have a lot of work to do for the restoration of relationships. 

During this month of my time with you, we’ll be exploring the meaning of Pentecost and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I know that sounds like doctrinal teaching, but that is far from where I’m headed. Indeed, the theme of our gatherings on Saturday mornings, Living Legends, is largely about the work of the Spirit in ordinary people’s lives – and their extraordinary impact as a result. 

Over my almost 50 (!) years of ordained ministry, I have come to believe that most of us are more inspired by story than by didactic or doctrinal teaching. Frankly, those bore me. The Bible’s “peculiar” stories attract me because I find depth of meaning in them. Somehow predictability just doesn’t grab me. And the Holy Spirit is anything but predictable. 

So I invite you to think about who you have known who has inspired you, who you’ve met in your life who overcame great odds, whose life-witness changed life for others. I’m not talking about famous people, but about the person who surprised everyone, or at least you, with the outcome of their presence among us. 

After all, the disciples were anything but extraordinary when they started out. They came from many lines of work, and stood out because of the questions they asked and the commitment they were willing to make. Isn’t that true of us today? 

It’s my hope that through our time together we will contemplate ways of rebuilding the social fabric around and among us, ways of listening more deeply to one another, ways of speaking with care, and imagine life as we might hope it to be in five years or so. It’s not going to turn around fast, so let’s pace ourselves and do this well and right.

Davida