Paul's well know writing talks about us all being parts of the body of Christ and each having our role to play, each role just as important as another's.
Tonight the pastor of First PC, Bluffton, Indiana talked about that reading the next to the last night of our Village as we looked at the four timbers holding signposts for each church that has come to Orange Grove. We thought about each of those churches, many you would find a connection. We did, Winston Salem, Greensburg, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Fairfax, VA, London, Ontario, New Bern, SC, and on and on.
Some one I would have never expected voiced a prayer that good Christian people will find their way back to help those of the families who are yet to be helped after we close the Village tomorrow, the poor, the widow, the alien in our land. The calls for help continue to come in day after day.
Our work, your work, is not done. I hope you will come on anyway. You can call one of the churches, UMCOR, or Salvation Army, or me to locate a place to stay. We can probably find a place for you, but it might be like it way the first few weeks and months after Katrina in tents somewhere. You'll have to bring tools, and maybe your tent.
A couple folks from UMCOR dropped by today. We began talking. I find one is a Presbyterian, he has joined up with the Methodists because no one in his church can get fired up enough to come.
"Fired up." Wow! It is near Pentecost.
Parts of the body...
Today I learned the Louisville organization is going to force us to take a week unpaid furlough in May or June because the Louisville budget is so short. They never thought to ask us if we'd all share the shortfall. Of course they do say they will not make the mission workers take it, if they work overseas. I guess we don't count here in America. But if I want to work anyway...
They tell us "No!"
"You can't use your phones, you can't use our tools, you can't even lift a finger to help someone."
You cannot conduct any "business" (of Christ), even if you want to work on your own time.
They call our work "business." They still don't get it. It is like they have never read Matthew. They probably will fire me for my opinion, or not look to see me back.
The funds that support us were given and designated long ago. Many of us are here because we felt a calling to serve at whatever price is demanded of us. I guess our effort in the Gulf to fulfill Christ's teaching doesn't count as mission work in some one's eyes...
A week of Sabbaths has been declared! No work, not even you goyim may work. It sounds a little like the rules of the Pharisees, doesn't it?
Now comes our challenge.
The church is healthy but parts of the body show signs of serious illness. I remain convinced that by act and deed many in the church bureaucracy, especially those who see the church as a place to climb the organizational ladder, have not fully grasped what has arisen in PDA, if they sense it at all.
Since we all are parts of the body and are all ministers, we can only heed the words, "Heal thyself, physician" and make it right.
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