I Saw Jesus

(Written by Allison)

The theme for this year's Assembly is from Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

It's probably obvious why a city like Detroit would choose a verse like this for the theme. But in case you're wondering, check out this awesome video:


Sharing the Spirit of GA: Part 1 from Office of the General Assembly on Vimeo.


While you may hear terrible, terrible things about Detroit (which are all true, by the way) rest assured it is not ALL like that. Some parts ARE working to blossom and strive. And the church--OUR church--is a part of that. Beauty can carry folks through difficult times. Here's where I found beauty and hope and Jesus this morning.

Hear these words again, this time from "The Message:" 

"Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, 

fill you up with peace, 

so that your believing lives, 

filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, 

will brim over with hope!" 

I Saw Jesus

Commissioned Ruling Elder Eva Barr

Before Eva ever left Pennsylvania, she saw Jesus.

She arrived at the airport at 7:30AM, in plenty of time to catch her flight which left at 10:00AM. Not being a frequent flyer, she was relieved to see that her flight was on time.

But then it was delayed.

And delayed.

And delayed again.

And THAT meant she was going to miss her connection. So they put her on another flight, one which left at 5:39PM. She would be late arriving in Detroit but better late than never, right?

Then THAT flight was cancelled. Finally, finally, finally she was booked on another flight, this one leaving at 7:07PM.

It was around this time that the ticket agent at the United counter started to look an awful lot like Jesus as she went out of her way to make sure that Eva was going to make it to Detroit on this flight. (She walked Eva over to the counter she needed to get to as well as double-checked with her once she was done.)

Next thing Eva knew, she was really on the plane, not really much worse for wear but definitely not in the best of humor. All of a sudden, Eva said, "As I was frowning, I faced a smiling flight attending who assured me that I would soon be where I was going--just like she knew what I had gone through the entire day." Jesus started to look a little bit like a flight attendant for Eva.

Then He morphed into yet another person, a wonderful COLA (Committee on Local Arrangements) volunteer in the Detroit airport. He told Eva that he had walked 12,000 steps that day but, as she says, he was still smiling and "walked another I don't know how many steps with me to the bus that would take me to the hotel. I was never to so glad to see a friendly face like his, which looked a lot like Jesus at that moment."

First Full Day

Want to read about Mark's "First Full Day" at #ga221?

Check out his personal blog, The Plumb Line. 

Tell Me About Jesus

Apparently we're not the only ones looking for Jesus at #ga221!! Check out this blog post...

Tell Me About Jesus

By Christopher Brown

Originally published: http://christopherbrown.wordpress.com/2014/06/14/tell-me-about-jesus/

It was a hectic morning. I’d overslept, our sixteen-month-old daughter had awakened early, and our small family was grasping for order amid the chaos of what promised to be another busy day. Trying to occupy her attention, I said,  “Why don’t we read a book?” She pointed at the bookcase, said “Book!” and proceeded to grab a copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible. I opened the pages and started reading aloud. Most of the language was still far above her head, but it went straight to my heart. With a sigh of relief I thought, It’s refreshing to simply be told a story about Jesus.

Then I had a flashback. Ten years ago, I was working in a cafe in Boulder, CO. One weeknight during my closing shift, I was sweeping the floor and preparing to clean the sparsely filled cafe when I overheard a conversation between three customers. They were college-age women having a Bible study. One, who appeared to be the leader, was talking to the others who both listened attentively. As I tried to hear more, I noticed that all she was doing was telling them stories about Jesus. And the women she was speaking to kept asking questions curiously. They wanted to hear more about Him. It was beautiful. I could have continued sweeping for hours while eavesdropping on that conversation.

These two experiences stand in contrast with most of the conversations I overhear in the Churchat large. We talk about a lot about things related to our life together, but it’s been a long time since I heard (or sadly, preached) a sermon that was only about how magnificent Jesus is. We have lots of good theological conversations at the seminary, but we constantly run the risk of reducing Jesus to a distant historical figure or a moral principle, instead of the compassionate divine lover of humankind that He is. This distancing of our conversation from Jesus seems to happen even more in the higher levels of the bureaucracy of denominations.

This weekend I’ll go to Detroit for the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I’m not a delegate; I’ll be there to represent and promote Pittsburgh Seminary’s Church Planting Initiative. There will be a lot of talk at General Assembly, good and bad, about a lot of different issues. I’ll even engage in some of those conversations. But I think we’ll all be better off – our hearts will be more joyful, the Church will be edified, our decisions will be more faithful – if we take moments this week to set aside those debates and instead focus upon Jesus. So here’s my suggestion:

If you’re attending General Assembly, try speaking about Jesus more than yourself and more than your agenda. I want to hear you tell me about Jesus. If you’re using Twitter or Facebook throughout the Assembly, hashtag your posts with #TellMeAboutJesus. For one example of a possible tweet, a member of my congregation whom I recently asked to simply tell me about Jesus responded with, “He’s the sort of person who, when he speaks, you want to hear more.” I’m thinking that if we at GA share such holy thoughts with one another, we’ll find ourselves caught up in surprisingly beautiful conversations. Perhaps we’ll even recognize Jesus’ presence with us more clearly. I pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire our words, and guard us against any blasphemy.

So here we go . . . Tell me about Jesus.  

1

One!
One day left!
Muah-ah-ah!

As we count down to the final day before #ga221, let's take a look at one of the first (and most important) things the Assembly will do as a group: elect a Moderator.

You can spend time perusing their individual websites: Kelly Allen, Heath Rada, and John Wilkinson.

OR (or maybe in addition to) you can check out the post from a former Moderator himself: (the man, the myth, the legend) Bruce Reyes-Chow.

10 questions with each candidate for Moderator.
(Click on a picture to read their answers.)

Each Moderatorial candidate also has a Vice-Moderator tapped to run with him/her.
John Wilkinson:  MaryAnn McKibben Dana
Heath Rada:  Larissa Kwong Abazia

Kelly Allen:  Leslie King 

(It used to be that a Moderator was elected and then selected a VM. But that has changed this year.)

(See?? We CAN change!)

2

Two days. Can you believe it?








Already, Detroit is starting to fill up with PC(USA)-related folks who are settling in for the week.

And many more will be joining their ranks. 

We commissioners will be busy with meetings and such but there are lots of other things to do and to see in the Motor City for family of commissioners or visitors and observers.

One of the great parts of our church is that we DON'T meet in fancy, expensive places like New York or LA. But rather, we pick cities (like Pittsburgh and Detroit) that can use the influx of cash that comes with an Assembly. (Usually close to $2 million PLUS what folks spend on their own.)

Right in front of our very eyes, we see possibility of redemption is unfolding--we see a city struggling to rebuild like Corinth and Jersulaem did after being destroyed.

It reminds me of this:

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Eva Barr

I am a ruling elder at Mill Creek Presbyterian Church in Hookstown, PA. I am also a commissioned ruling elder but I am not currently serving a church. Instead, I work in the Central Valley High School in the Learning Support Program, mainly with seniors in the science program.

I am serving on one of the committees that's receiving A LOT of attention at #ga221--"Middle East Issues."

I am most looking forward to seeing how decisions are made at the national level, and how involved Scripture and prayer are in these decisions.

Where will I look for Jesus? I expect to find Jesus in the hearts, voices, and attitudes of many of the participants.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Mark Plumb

I am an EMT, a grandfather, and a commissioned ruling elder pastoring  the Fountain Park Church.

I will be spending a good deal of time and energy working with Committee #5: Mid-Council Issues.

Of all the things about #ga221, I am most looking forward to the times of worship and seeing many old friends.

Where will I be looking for Jesus? I know it sounds naive, but as a gathering of the Body of Christ, I expect to see Jesus reflected in every aspect of GA.

If you'd like to read more about my reflections on #ga221, feel free to check out my personal blog: The Plumb Line.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Allison Bauer

I am the Teaching Elder currently calling the Frankfort Presbyterian Church home. I am also the 2014 Moderator of Beaver-Butler Presbytery.

In preparation for #ga221, I have spent many hours sifting through (and having conversations with others about) the overtures for the committee to which I have been assigned: #9 "Social Justice Issues."

This will be my third official General Assembly--I was a YAAD in Fort Worth, TX and a Theological Student Assistant in Denver, CO--so I have a little bit of experience with this process. Of all the parts of GA, I have to say that I am most looking forward to the AMAZING singing and music that happens when thousands of people worship together in one big room.

Where will I be looking for Jesus at ga#221? Well, a wise guy once said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am with them." So I guess any time I'm gathered with others, I'll be looking for Jesus. (I should probably also spend a little bit of time making sure people see Jesus in me ... instead of always looking for Him in others.)

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Mauri Smith

I am a Teaching Elder currently serving the North Sewickley Presbyterian Church.

The good folks of Committee #11 (Peacemaking and International Relations) and I will be spending lots of time together at #ga221.

I am looking forward to meeting brothers and sisters in the PC(USA) from across the country and getting firsthand experience in being a part of the work of the national church.

Where will I be looking for Jesus? I expect to find Him in our times of worship and prayer, and in the relationships with fellow believers in our denomination.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Josh McElhaney

I am a member of the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Aliquippa, PA.

I am a YAAD (Young Adult Advisory Delegate) currently enrolled at Slippery Rock University.

At #ga221, I'll be serving on the Committee #6: "Church Polity and Ordered Ministry."

This is my first General Assembly, and I am looking forward to hearing the different opinions on these issues and working through them.

Where will I be looking for Jesus? Everywhere--I expect to find him everywhere and in everything.

3

(Written by: Allison Bauer)

THREE. DAYS. LEFT.

Suitcases are being dusted off, snacks are being purchased, and last minute questions are being asked ... even if it is taking a while to get some answers! 

Soon and very soon PC(USA) commissioners and advisory delegates (PLUS legions of support staff and volunteers) will begin the journey to Detroit for #ga221. 

But it's not just those chosen by God and elected by their Presbyteries who are preparing for GA. Even folks who will be watching from afar are preparing and reflecting. 

Jack Haberer (editor of The Presbyterian Outlook) has written an editorial entitled, "In the Lions' Den" which describes our philosophical identity as Presbyterians and historically what has been important to us. 

Haberer adopts the story of Daniel being thrown into the lions' den and the miraculous "shutting" of the lions' mouths as a narrative for #ga221. 

(Did they fall asleep? Were they knocked out? Did they turn into over-sized housecats? What happened??Inquiring minds want to know!)   

Part of our heritage as Presbyterians is speaking truth to power, like Daniel spoke truth to King Darius. He writes, "Where some other churches shun all matters political, we read the biblical commands both to love neighbors and to break chains as requirements to engage the public square." And, "We Presbyterians also have been people of superior education, of high scholarship and often (but not always) of profound wisdom." 

These days, I'm not so certain the Presbyterian Church has the kind of clout that Daniel had though--he held a position of great power in the king's government and so had the king's ear on many matters. The PC(USA) may have at one time had that same sort of power and influence, but our influence is waning as our reputation for being such bitter disagreers grows. How effective is our voice today? Will the overtures calling for letters and petitions being written and sent to the President, the Congress, and the Senate really do any good? 

With God, all things are possible, I suppose. (But we're certainly not helping much, though.)