Which Side Is the Other Side?

After 28 years in ministry I will be starting my first Sabbatical. It's funny, everyone keeps calling it a vacation. I guess I don't see it that way. I see it as a way to do others types of ministry and to take a little time to renew my love for ministry.  One of the things I will be doing is taking a silent retreat. Being an extrovert people see this as an almost impossible event. I always feel renewed when I take time to step back and try and hear the voice of God. Jesus did this many times as he took time to step away from life's journey to renew his Spirit. Its very important for everyone to take time away and try things that will help them to refresh their spirit's and see God's love more clearly. One of the places I am looking forward to looking for God is this church pictured above.  (St. Peter's United Church of Christ) This congregation was founded by one of my ancestries many years ago. Down the road from this church is a family h...

Today is Maundy or Holy Thursday. This Holy day is all about remembering. Christ tells us, "Do This in Remembrance of Me." I believe this day to be one day were Jesus struggles with his own humanity.  As the story continues Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane were he asks God to "take this cup from him," meaning don't make me go through this event causing my emanate death.   The majority of theologians wants us to act as if Jesus was always superhuman, but while on earth with us, he struggles as we struggle. Jesus being both human and divine gives me a source of comfort knowing that its normal not to have all the answers to all the questions.  Everyone wants to be remembered, and Jesus is no exception. So, tonight at 7:00 pm the people at Immanuel United Church of Christ will do just that. We will have a dinner before @ 5:45 pm and then celebrate Jesus' love for us in the sanctuary after dinner. PLEASE join us for this event of forgiveness, grace an...

Sorry I haven't written in awhile, but my doctoral project changed. I am now interviewing church members about how they grew up and how they see things in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. I do so appreciate each person who joined this blog to help me out. I will be blogging later, but not right now. Thanks again and shalom to all. Dan

God places high value on staying connected I believe that everyone has the need to belong. We meet this need through fami­ly, school, church and other community places of connec­tion. Even this weekend, we have the Venetian Festival to gives us an opportunity to connect with people. We stay connected with cell phones, the Internet and even smart­phones that can achieve both. With all of these options available to us, why do we feel so lonely? We are so busy going our own separate ways that we have discon­nected in a gigantic way from those around us. I was on a college campus the other day and I saw a cou­ple of students walking side by side. As they approached me I could see them both talking on their phones to someone else. They were to­gether but not totally present with each other. How many times do we say “How are you?” and are not interested in the answer? It is not about age or technical advances, but about simply disco...

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul… Psalm 42:4a (RSV) Are you a Baptist? United Methodist? Presbyterian? Episcopalian? An Adventist? Or maybe a Non-denominational Christian? Or maybe not a Christian at all. Are you Republican or Democrat? Liberal or Conservative? Pro this or pro that? Do you believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus or maybe even Peter Pan? All of these beliefs and thoughts make us who we are. The problem with all this diversity is that we can start to build fences and not celebrate our differences. God made us all unique and special, but do we really celebrate that as well as we could? I have been a pastor for over twenty years. During this time I have served a diversity of congregations. Each time I meet a congregation they want to know where I stand on many issues. How do you serve communion? In the pews or do you have people come forward? Do you read your sermon or are you able to use an outline and be comfortable? These questions lead up to what they re...

The Process Benton Harbor and St Joseph are known as the “Twin Cities.” This name is not very accurate to the true picture of these cities as you can see by the following Census information. Benton Harbor Caucasian 5.49% African American 92.40% Household Income $17,471 St. Joseph Caucasian 90.31 African American 5.11% Household Income $37,032 (Census 2008) My congregation in St Joseph is not racially diverse. They struggle with the differences of the communities. Because of their fears and differences they have only engaged the community of Benton Harbor in very nominal ways. They tend to see little value in a connection with the people on the "Other Side of the River." 1. Statement of Core Problematic In living out my call from God to model social justice and racial reconciliation within the larger community I anticipate there will be lines of tension between that call and my call as pastor within a homogeneous congregation. 2. The Learning Goal: I will engage my sen...