It's been a long December, but there's reason to believe...

Did You Know?

Some people attend parties on New Year's Eve, while others celebrate their birthday/new years by blogging!

Every week in Newsweek, the Conventional Wisdom Watch section gives up or down arrows to people and things that have been in the news. So I thought I’d review the year 2006 in a similar fashion. Who was up? What was down? Who was somewhere in the middle? Have a happy 2007!

↑ Beans – I’ve never been too excited about a plate of beans staring up at me from the table. I have been attempting to expand my food repertoire, and have been increasing the amount of beans I’ve been eating. Over the week of Christmas, in fact, I quite enjoyed green bean casserole and refried beans.

↑ Tennessee – I remember last Thanksgiving during an ISU basketball game vs. Middle Tennessee State at the Hulman Center that I remarked to our out of town relatives from Boston that “at least Indiana is a whole lot better than Tennessee.” Well, I ended up living there about 10 months later. I have to say it isn’t quite as bad as I always imagined. So far, I have not been recruited for Klan membership or anything.

↑ Steamers – I’ve always been someone who had trouble stopping myself from getting my normal grande vanilla latte when I go out for coffee at night. When I do that, I end up being awake until 3:00am. Ordering a caramel steamer is my new solution. I’d recommend the soul-warming taste of a steamed milk with caramel syrup to anyone.

↑ Stingrays – I have more respect for these creatures. I will not be attending the stingray petting zoo at Opry Mills anytime soon.

↑ Sycamore Men’s Basketball – The Indiana State men’s basketball team could go nowhere but up after the beginning of 2006, when we lost like 11 in a row after starting last season 8-0. The good news was that last season we beat IU, Northern Iowa (while they were ranked), Southern Illinois (breaking their longest-in-the-nation home winning streak), and Bradley (Sweet 16 team). The Missouri Valley has risen to be one of the best conferences in Division 1—it’s currently ranked third behind the PAC-10 and the ACC (ahead of the Big 10, Big 12, SEC, etc). So far this season, ISU has been pretty good. They have been the only team to beat nationally ranked Butler, and while I’ve been home for Christmas, they blew out Purdue and came back from a 17-point defecit to beat Drake. Plus, the men’s games are now as fun as the women’s ones to attend.

↔ Sycamore Women’s Basketball – The women’s team finished last season 27-6, but nothing went right from about March 1 on. They never made it into the actual top-25 polls (they were usually sitting right on top of the “others receiving votes” section). They lost the tournament championship game (for the third year of the last four), and didn’t get that at-large bid in the NCAA tourney that all the experts predicted. We lost in the 2nd round of the WNIT to IU of all teams. Then, our star point guard Melanie Boeglin, who everybody predicted would be picked in the late 1st or early 2nd round of the WNBA draft didn’t get drafted. The good news is that the new team this season is off to a great start and will be better than the conference championship team from last year that got no respect.

↑ Nancy Pelosi – A woman will be 3rd in line to the presidency in a few weeks. She was villified in countless Republican campaign commercials as some evil liberal from San Francisco, yet the grand new party actually took back both houses of Congress, which I would never have thought possible a year ago.

↓ Republicans – Ha Ha!

↑ The Trinity – Many people were upset at the report on the Holy Trinity that came before the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly this summer because, affirming the traditional Father-Son-Holy Spirit language for the trinity, it suggested some other images that might be used to more fully understand the Trinity. I think being able to imagine a mystery in ways that might include more feminine (gasp!) language is good theology.

↔ Country Music – Although I’m surrounded by country music in Music City, I am not planning to become a fan anytime soon. Okay, so maybe I’ve enjoyed a little bit of bluegrass, though.

↓ Animals – I have little appreciation for them, whether they are cats that throw up all over the place or mice in my office.

↓ Television – Maybe it would be better if we had cable. Really, I’ve only watched the local news since September.

↔ Spiders – Brown recluses are a little bit freaky, but they haven’t killed any of us – yet.

↑ Small homes – I think cramming as many people as possible into small spaces will soon become all the rage.

↔ Advent Wreaths – I get excitement out of celebrating the liturgical year, but we need an edict from the pope or General Assembly or someone about the proper color scheme for the Advent season. I am all into blue—which seems to be the trend. I hear it was Mary’s favorite color (she’s always wearing it—just look at the next nativity scene you see). Others insist that purple is the best color, and some try to throw in that pink candle for gaudete Sunday.

↑ Lutherans (ELCA, of course) – I have been extremely blessed in the past year by the people at Trinity Lutheran in Terre Haute where I worked as music director for three years. They threw a real nice shindig (no, the South is not affecting my vocabulary!) for me when I left, and have been very good about keeping in touch with me since I’ve been in Nashville.

↑ Curb Your Enthusiasm – This show is hillarious. It’s on HBO, and I’ve been watching it on DVD a lot this year.

↓ Movies – I’ve realized I only enjoy movies that fall into two genres: comedies and documentaries. That’s a little strange, isn’t it.

↑ Communion – I didn’t realize how much I loved having weekly communion at church until I came to Nashville and didn’t have that anymore at Second. The Lord’s Supper has historically been the central part of weekly worship, and John Calvin thought it was good to have weekly communion, yet the majority of Presbyterians still don’t do it (though more are all the time). What’s the deal?

↓ Paychecks – I now work forty hours a week, and make less than half of what I did working 15 hours a week at the church.

↑ Smart Alecks – I’ve discovered being one of these is one of my spiritual gifts. It will either make me millions or get me killed (possibly before this year is out!).

HOME

With a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, my Grandpa Moles died on Friday at about five minutes until two in the morning. Brian and I had gotten to Union Hospital about an hour earlier. As we were passing the Vigo County fairgrounds on our way home from Nashville, Sarah called to tell us that Grandpa’s nurse had wisely let the family know that it was time for all of us to be at the hospital.

The man that was lying in the hospital bed, ravaged from the cancer and its treatment and the host of other problems that popped up since last Thanksgiving was different from the always-strong pillar of strength that I had known for the 25 years before. Indeed, Thursday night was the first time I had ever seen him in the role of hospital patient. Aunt Barb has remarked several times that she just assumed, as I think most of us did, that Grandpa would live 100+ years like his mother did.

Though we know that nothing will ever be the same, we will always have our memories of the home that he and grandma together created for those of us in our family and those outside as well. It isn’t only memories of family holidays and frequent evening visits to their house, but the memories of the neighborhood kids always being welcome with Mr. Moles. The family on my grandma’s side has found a true home at their house over the years, and their Uncle Will was just as close to them as their own fathers. A trip to 3017 Putnam Street is a trip home for so many people.

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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE

All this thinking about home has been on my mind a lot lately as I’ve had the opportunity over the last four months to serve and be served by those who are home-less. Something that many of us forget about is that homeless often does not mean just houseless, but truly without a home, the foundation that most of us are privileged to build our lives around. I was reminded of this during the past week when Cricket phones came to the Campus to let people make long distance calls to get in touch with family and friends during the holidays. It was an agonizing decision for many of our participants whether or not to make that call to families that have often rejected them (unfortunately for what are often understandable reasons). I thought about the importance of home when one of our participants proudly introduced me to his young grandson on Thursday morning who was with his mother for a half hour or so Christmas visit in our parking lot. I also was reminded of the importance of home on the occasions in the past month when two of our homeless participants have come to us because they learned of the deaths of family members through the media. The teary-eyed man who showed us his own son’s obituary this week that he had found in the newspaper that morning was a tragic display of home-lessness.

One of the epiphanies I’ve had this year is that I am helping in a very small way to create home for people. This becomes true whenever somebody asks me to be a reference for them on a job application. I usually think something like, “but I hardly even know you,” but then I realize that to them, the staff members at the Campus for Human Development are those who know them best and are the ones that they can trust. People have put the Campus down as their next of kin to be notified at the time of their deaths.

The most amazing demonstration of the power of home that is offered at the Campus came a few weeks ago when we were getting the Christmas decorations out (and no, we never got around to getting them all the way out, though we tried several times). We had thrown some decorations on the tree. Several participants wanted to help, which was nice to see. We had been told that we couldn’t put lights on the tree, because of rules from the fire marshal. By the end of the day, we had a pretty nice tree, though it certainly wasn’t the best in holiday fashion that Music City had to offer.

At the end of the next day, I noticed that there was some added sparkle to the tree. There were some new silver icicles on the tree, and assumed that somebody had gotten them out of storage. The day after that, after lunch, I happened upon an older woman and a tall younger man putting some additional mylar streamers and ornaments on the tree. I started talking to them about how nice the tree was starting to look. I asked where they found the decorations that they were adding, and the woman answered that she had bought them at the dollar store because she wanted the Campus to have a nice tree. She had taken what little money she had and bought decorations for the tree that was hers. It struck me that this was these people’s Christmas tree. They did not go home at night to another one like I did. The fostering of a small sense of home is what the Campus is about. Thanks to over 150 churches in Nashville, all will be able to get a taste of home in a warm church building on Christmas Eve or Christmas night through Room in the Inn.

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My family’s home will never be the same without Grandpa there. Nobody will be sitting in his chair, although Grandma is thinking about moving hers to his old spot so somebody can see when a car pulls into their driveway. I probably won’t be called Jeff-a-rey any time soon. I no longer know anyone whose favorite song is “The Red River Valley,” or anyone who can grow tomatoes that taste so good.

In the wee hours of Friday morning when the moment came that we had all been ready for, but dreading at the same time, God gave us the sign that someone new had entered the eternal home that awaits us. As Grandpa took his last labored breath and his body went limp, a flash of lightning lit the dark room and a single comforting clap of thunder rang out. A new voice had joined the heavenly host which once proclaimed to the poorest of those in a small Middle Eastern town a new home-coming of God into human skin. In the birth of Christ, God forever joined the frailty and temporary nature of humanity with the perfect and eternal nature of the divine. Indeed, we rejoice that nothing in life or death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

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Wilfred E. “Will” Moles

Wilfred E. “Will” Moles, 86, of Terre Haute, passed away at 1:55 a.m. Friday Dec. 22, 2006 in Union Hospital. He retired from the federal prison, where he was a teacher of diesel and farm machinery repairs.

He was born Feb. 7, 1920 in Belknap, Mont., to Albert Moles and Sophia Skierka Moles. He married Agnes Smith Moles on Jan. 16, 1949.Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Barb Goltry and her husband Jeff of Logansport; one son, Jim Moles and his wife Cheryl of Terre Haute; three grandchildren, Jeff, Brian and Sarah Moles; and one sister, Altha Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents; and five brothers, Leo, Lester, Clarence, LaVerne and Louie Moles.

He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran, having served in the 607th Tank Destroyer Batallion, Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 972, Wayne Newton American Legion Post 346, Federal Prison Retirees Association and National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Callahan-DeBaun Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave., with the Rev. Lant Davis officiating. Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial is in Oak Hill Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post 972. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Presbyterian Church or Vista Care Hospice.

See Rock City and other adventures

SEE ROCK CITY
Last weekend, we had our first visit to one of our homes. During our first week in Nashville, we made plans to visit Chattanooga during Christmastime to see the “Enchanted Garden of Lights” at the world-famous Rock City, which is situated atop Lookout Mountain, where Chasie grew up. We slid in right at the last possible moment, and got to take the special holiday walking tour. We got to see some cool gnomes and fairies, and definitely saw glow in the dark models of every fairy tale and nursery rhyme ever written. After a late-night dinner with Chasie’s mom, we went to spend the night at her dad’s house on Signal Mountain. She showed us around Chattanooga the next day. It was great to see where Chasie is from and learn more about her.

OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL
We had to cut and run from Chattanooga last Saturday, because we were given free tickets to the Bob Seger concert that night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. We had really great seats. We were only asked a few times about why a group of people so young would be at a Bob Seger concert. AARP definitely should have had a recruiting booth there.

I thought the concert was really good, even though I only knew one song that was sung. Apparently several of them are really well known, but I am a little culturally deprived. The sax player, Alto Reed (great name), was the best part of the show. Well, maybe the best part of the show was seeing all the 50-something baby boomers who were acting crazy, smoking marijuana, and staggering up the steps carrying vomit-filled beer cups. Of course, as seems to happen every time I go somewhere, one of the participants at the Campus saw me at the show, and has been using "hey man, I cleaned up after you at that concert the other night, why can't you do such-and-such for me?"

NASHVILLE UNLIMITED
Wednesday night was the annual Nashville Unlimited Christmas concert to benefit Room in the Inn. It was extremely well attended, and we raised a lot of money for the Campus. The doors had to be shut with about 45 minutes to go until the beginning of the concert. I took people’s donations at the door for a while, and then sold some greeting cards. The concert was really great—all 2-1/2 hours of it. My favorite part of the night was getting to be in the room when Emmylou Harris was warming up before the doors opened. She was really bad in the warm up, but she definitely redeemed herself in the performance. The best part of the sound check was when she accidentally chastised one of her band members over a live mike in front of several people from Christ Church Cathedral: “you can’t say sh** in church!”

THE VERY IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Tonight was the Second Pres. Christmas pageant. I led the kids in their singing. Everything went very well, as it always does when you have a bunch of cute kids in the front of the church wearing costumes. We did “The Very Important Christmas Pageant,” by Dennis Hartin, which included some pretty funny lines. The little girl who played Mary really hammed it up.

This is a conversation between Mary and the angel:

(knock on the door)
-Yes?
-Is this the home of Mary, the betrothed of Joseph?
-Yes, it is, but we don’t accept door-to-door solicitations—
-But that’s not why I’m—
-So please put us on your “Do Not Call” list.
-Hail, O Favored One! The Lord is with you!
-I’m sure he is. Have a nice day.
-Please don’t shut the door. I’m here to deliver a message.
-The mailman wears a blue uniform.
-I don’t work for the Postal Service.
-Then, who do you work for?
-Look at the wings. What do they mean?
-You work for the Philadelphia Eagles?
-No, no. I’m an angel.
-Yeah, right. And I’m a pop star.

Instead of saying “and I’m a pop star,” the girl had been saying “and I’m Brittney Spears.” It was hilarious when she changed it up today, while striking a pose, to “and I’m Madonna.”

I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
I do get to spend a week back in Indiana for Christmas. This week, my brother Brian and my friends Doug and Michael are coming to see me here in Nashville. Okay, maybe they’re really coming to see the Indiana State women’s basketball team play in a tournament at Vanderbilt on Wednesday and Thursday. Brian is going to stay here with me, and we will head home on Christmas Eve after church in the morning. I’ll be in Terre Haute through New Year’s Day.

PRAYER REQUESTS
An 18-year-old college freshman who is a member of Second Presbyterian fell 30 feet onto concrete at Smoky Mountain National Park a few days ago, and suffered life threatening brain injuries. Please keep the family of Spence Hobson in your prayers.

Also, please keep my grandpa, Will Moles, in your prayers. He will be at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital in Terre Haute for several weeks after spending time at Union Hospital over the last few weeks. He will be finishing his radiation treatments for his cancer this week.

AND FINALLY

We have been using some great liturgical texts during the Advent season here at Second Pres. Here is the closing litany from today’s service.

Among the poor, among the proud,
Among the persecuted, among the privileged, Christ is coming.

Christ is coming to make all things new.

In the private house, in the marketplace,
In the wedding feast, in the judgment hall, Christ is coming.

Christ is coming to make all things new.

With a gentle touch, with an angry word,
With a clear conscience, with burning love, Christ is coming.

Christ is coming to make all things new.

That the kingdom might come, that the world might believe,
That the powerful might stumble, that the humble might be raised, Christ is coming.

Christ is coming to make all things new.

Within us, without us, among us, before us,
In this place in every place, for this time, for all time, Christ is coming.

Christ is coming to make all things new.

Room in the Inn Benefit Concert Tomorrow Night

From The Tennessean: Dave Pomeroy calls on fellow musicians for night of charity, Christmas harmony

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<= Toolshed Neighbor Emmylou Harris

Compassion and Coffee

Stephanie Salter of the Terre Haute, IN, Tribune Star and formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle is a fantastic columnist. Her latest piece is about homelessness.

Stephanie Salter: Compassion and Coffee in Chicago

Also, I've been meaning to post a link to Lant Davis' sermon at Central Pres. in Terre Haute from when I was home over Thanksgiving. Here it is:

"The Last Words of David"

Music City, USA

We NEPers are in the midst of a pretty musical couple of weeks. We've seen Doc Allen and the Heartstrings and Leslie McClure in the last two nights. Saturday night, we're going to see Bob Seger at the Gaylord. Then, I wanted to tell everyone here in the Middle Tennessee area about two very special opportunities to support the Campus for Human Development by attending (and making donations at) two Christmas concerts next week.

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BLUEGRASS BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE HOMELESS

Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 7:00pm

The Station Inn, 402 12th Avenue South

Artists expected to perform include:

Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio

Thom Bresh, Merle Travis' son

Sam Bush; Kenny Baker; The Larry Stevenson Band; Alison Brown; Leroy Troy; Tim Graves and Cherokee; Jimmy Bowen and Santa Fe; Randy Waller; Roland White & Co.; The Jackson Gang; The Moron Brothers; Dr. Terry Comer & Friends; Eddie and Martha Adcock, plus special suprise guests and special guest emcee Charlie Lutz from WDVX.com

Suggested donation at the door is $15.

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ANNUAL NASHVILLE UNLIMITED CHRISTMAS CONCERT TO BENEFIT ROOM IN THE INN

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 7:00pm

Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway

with

Emmylou Harris

John Prine

John Cowan

The Nashville Mandolin Ensemble

Three Ring Circle

Jon Randall

Lorianna Matera

Will Smith

Don Henry

and some exciting mystery guests.

The concert is free, with a suggested donation of $15 to Room in the Inn.

It's beginning to look a lot like Advent!

Here are some pictures of what's been going on around here lately.

The beginning of the procession into the new church building, as led by the cross that survived the fire intact.

Cathy Hoop, director of children's ministries, giving the children's sermon. We started rehearsals for the children's Christmas musical yesterday morning.

The balcony has seating for congregation and choir. A new organ will be installed this Spring.

Creative uses of the word "second" are always in order when that's the name of your church. Second Life (new building campaign)...Second Generation (youth)...Second Story (newsletter)...Second Stages (talent show)...



One of the coolest things in the new church building is the mural that is still being painted in the "Peacable Kingdom" (Sunday School) gathering area. The people in the mural are actual church members.

A reception was held in the cyber cafe after worship.

The most Presbyterian pulpit I've ever seen.

The new font.

Chasie and Tara led us on a cleaning rampage yesterday after church! This is the way they usually look at me.

We decorated the toolshed!

And I helped!

Patrick and I having a great time getting our tree out of its original stand!

Our homemade Advent wreath, made by Jeff, Tara and Chasie at the 2nd Pres Advent Workshop.

Giving Day

Friday at the Campus was a day everyone was dreading a little bit. There was a lot on our plate. Two big special events were set to take place: “More Than a Toy,” our opportunity for participants to send toys and gifts to loved ones, and a big fundraising luncheon downtown. There was some lack of clarity on how many volunteers we had for More Than a Toy, and how staffing would work. The video presentation for the fundraiser wasn’t done, and much of the administration team was stressed out over that event. In addition to all of this, the first of the month is always a busy time. It’s when we have new funds to help people with getting their ID cards, birth certificates, and prescriptions. It’s also “check day,” when government checks come in the mail. The checks increase attendance for a day while people try to convince us to give them out early. Unfortunately, much of the money that comes in the mail goes to buy drugs, booze and cheap motel rooms, but that’s another story.

The story of Friday, December 1, was not one of taking, which is so often the story. It was of giving.

I was able to attend the fundraising lunch as a guest (though not a very profitable one!) at the table Susan Brantley was sponsoring. Five women from church and I sat at the table in the back of the packed Renaissance Hotel ballroom. This suit and tie crowd included many Room in the Inn volunteers, business people, government officials and community leaders. While we ate grilled chicken salads, several people spoke. There were musical offerings, including a harmonica solo from one of our Odyssey participants and a beautiful rendition of Poor Wayfaring Stranger. The highlight of the day was a very moving video presentation about what Room in the Inn and the Campus have meant to people. The video featured three people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the good things that go on at 532 8th Avenue South and in churches around the Nashville area. The three took the stage at the conclusion of the video, which was a very emotional moment for everyone. One of them, Melvin, who is now a staff member at the Campus stole the show as he spoke about how thankful he is for what he has been given in life.

Just a few years ago Melvin was on the streets. Thanks to those people at the Campus who believed in him and showed him the unconditional love due everyone, his life has been completely turned around. Melvin has now gotten married, purchased his own home, and become a deacon in his church. He works as a shift coordinator in the Guest House, which is the residential component of the Campus. He is also preparing to get his G.E.D. As Melvin was speaking, I was imagining what it would be like for some of our current participants to stand in front of a group of 500 “important” people in a hotel ballroom to tell his or her success story. That is the hope that drives what we do.

Back at the Campus, More Than a Toy was in full swing. I only had a few chances to go upstairs and get in on the action since I had to help keep things running downstairs. I couldn’t believe what I saw when I first went into the chapel the day before to see the toys that had been donated. They were all brand new, very nice toys (very nice!)—over 700 of them in all. Participants could “buy” vouchers to attend More Than a Toy using the points they had been earning by going to classes and coming to the education center each day. I sold the vouchers during the morning store time on Friday, and I was astounded by the generosity of people. We weren’t actually deducting points from peoples’ accounts, and we weren’t really sticking to that necessary minimum of 100 points. Participants nearly came back in a panic that some of their friends didn’t have enough points to buy a voucher, or didn’t have enough points to get what they needed. One man had been going to classes to earn points just so he could give them to someone that needed them since he didn’t have any kids to buy for. One man wanted to have his points transferred to another man’s account. His acquaintance had his bags stolen and needed a new hat and gloves. I assured all of these people that I would take care of everything that people needed, and that they didn’t have to give away all of their points. What a humbling thing to see such generosity by those who have nothing.

Upstairs, after people had enjoyed some cookies and hot chocolate, they got to go into the store, with the help of a personal shopper and choose toys that were appropriate for their children. Many of our participants have several children, and most of them have not been in contact for a long time. Often, they will pick toys for much younger children, because they don’t realize that they have grown up. After picking toys out, they were able to head to the art room to do some wrapping. They could also have their picture taken to enclose in a card. The cost for shipping was covered by volunteers, or participants could take the gifts with them. Without fail, each person was very grateful and generous.

The dread that many of us felt toward last Friday was completely gone by the end of the day. We still talked today about what a phenomenal day it was. The housed community was generous. Nearly half a million dollars was pledged over the next three years to the work of the Campus for Human Development. The homeless community was generous. Hundreds of gifts were sent to families and friends who probably aren’t expecting anything from the absent father and mother living on the streets. It is in giving that we are blessed and in loving that we open ourselves to be loved.

Rugged cross signifies new birth for church

an article from today's Tennessean:

Rugged cross signifies new birth for church: Presbyterians mark post-fire reconstruction
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061204/NEWS06/612040373

This way you'll have some pictures, which I could not successfully upload last night. The cross they base the article around is not the one from the steeple, but the old wall cross, which did survive the fire unharmed.

Second Life

Today was the day that members of Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville have been waiting for. It was a day to remember what happened just over three years ago, a fire that destroyed most of the church’s building. But mostly, it was a day to celebrate the journey that this particular piece of God’s kingdom has taken through the wilderness, and that journey’s completion in the promised land of it’s new church building. This morning, a sanctuary that was being used for worship for the first time was filled to the rafters (almost literally with those in the balcony) with church members, friends, neighbors, staff, and the media. Oh yes, I’m sure hardly anyone noticed the camera guy going up and down the center aisle for the first half hour of the service.

The very large congregation processed inside the new building from the front driveway to the music of the handbell choir, which Chasie and I have been participating in. Once everyone was inside, the choir began things with a dance-processional and a song of praise from Cameroon. The executive presbyter spoke, we sang “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” and worship began. Together, we experienced God’s presence in the singing of Advent hymns, the reading of scripture, the hearing of sermon, and the great feast of the Lord’s supper. Lots of special music, much of it composed by church members and friends (we are in Music City, USA, after all) was sprinkled throughout the service. There were lots of pictures being taken, and memories being made.

The new building is a really great expression of the church’s faith. Mission is built in, with much of the space being devoted to use by outside groups. Room in the Inn will have some new spaces beginning this week, where a dozen or so homeless women will spend their Thursday nights in the activity center, with access to the new laundry and shower facilities that haven’t been available in the past few years.

As the procession into the new space began, Jim reminded everyone to think about the memories they had of the old sanctuary, and the way they had felt when they saw it burning in September of 2003. Although I certainly was not around for any of that, and have only been a part of this church for three months now, it was truly a wonderful moment to see the cross from the old sanctuary that survived the fire lead the way into the new building, and to see new friends pass by into our new home of faith.

Jeff Crossan wrote and sang this song for today’s worship.

“This is Our Prayer”

Here may the door be always open,
may the word of God be spoken
May the truth be brought to light,
here may the seeker find salvation
And by graceful transformation,
may the blind be given sight.

Here may God’s wisdom be desired,
may the dreamer be inspired
May the tearful be consoled,
here may the doubtful find assurance
May the prayerful have endurance,
may the broken be made whole.

This is our prayer, Lord hear our prayer.

Here may the sinner be forgiven,
may the needy find provision
May the weary find their rest,
here may injustice be rejected
May all people be accepted,
may our gathering be blessed.

Here we are gifts to one another,
as we live to serve each other
As we listen for God’s,
here may the offerings we’ve given
Help preserve the world we live in,
and bring peace to one and all.

This is our prayer, Lord hear our prayer.

Here may Christ’s followers be grateful,
and endeavor to be faithful
Asking guidance from above,
here may our eyes be graced with vision
May our hands be granted mission,
may our hearts be filled with love.

Thanksgiving 2

Here is the second set of gratitude reflections from the Campus women's group.

Note to those who read the blog via e-mail: You can visit the http://jeffmoles.blogspot.com and click on the pictures to see full size versions. Also, the post from last Tuesday did not e-mail for some reason. Visit the blog on the web if you want to read it.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I am back in Nashville now.

Thanksgiving 1

This was to be my Thanksgiving Day post, but I forgot to bring my camera cord home with me. So, here it is.

The women's group at the Campus discussed gratitude on Wednesday. I am posting their comments as they wrote them down.

WHAT IS GRATITUDE?










The rest will be posted in a second post.

Christ the King

One of the things that I kept hearing when people would tell me about the job I was about to start working with the homeless was something like this: “It will be a tough, tough job, but you will see the face of Christ every day.” I’ve found out they weren’t lying.

A week or so ago, I was sitting in the day room with Anniece. The crowd was starting to build, and we were laughing about the fact that everyone in the room looked like they were ready to gang up on us and kill us on the spot. Except for when our growing group of hardened street people was giving us the death stare, there was a lot of noise and chaos. People were talking loudly, the big screen TV was blaring at about 150 decibels. In the midst of all this, one person raised his voice. It was a gentleman who we had been dealing with for a few weeks who is very mentally ill and was refusing help. When he wasn’t obsessed over getting a bus ticket to Georgia, or Alabama, or wherever his home was at any given moment, he was railing at us about something, or talking about going to Montana to hunt owls for their claws. He is one that usually shows up at just the wrong moment and is a good test for that oft forgotten fruit of the Spirit, patience. His voice called out over the noise of the day room like he was paging someone—and I guess he was. He just looked up and said, “Jesus? Is Jesus Christ here?

After the two of us who were working looked at each other and started laughing, I think we said something like, “I don’t see him anywhere!” The volunteer who was with us from a local university said, “Well, I sure hope he is!”

Though my initial response was to laugh at the insanity of the situation, which there are many opportunities to do, this man’s paging of Jesus served as a moment of clarity for me. Jesus Christ is present in even the most hidden, ugly places of the world. Christ is there in the midst of the chaos and fear of life, bringing hope and peace to situations that the world would call beyond repair.

Christ was there when we heard an unusual noise outside when we were closing for lunch one day. Our participants were outside singing Happy Birthday. One of our women had gotten a cake so one of the men could have a birthday party.

Christ is there on the long, well worn path to the Guest House, where those who are heavily intoxicated are taken to get a warm place to sober up.

Christ is there with the sick, as the hospital drops them at our door after often major medical procedures that would require many weeks of recuperation for those of us fortunate enough to be housed.

Christ is there when forgiveness is sought. When a heartfelt apology is given to me to make amends for a wrong first impression, or words that were said in anger, the reconciling work of God is being done.

Christ is there when someone needs a pair of socks from the store, and on occasion 30 points somehow stretch into 50.

Christ will be there this Friday when the homeless choose Christmas gifts to send to the children who they miss so deeply.

Christ is there, suffering along with a woman whose eyes are blackened and whose body is bruised.

Christ is there when a young man’s restlessness is stilled by the creation of something beautiful in the art room.

Christ is there every night when people wait outside the gates wondering if there will be room for them in the inn. Will they get a coveted spot in our Room in the Inn program, and get to spend the night in a warm church, surrounded by friendly faces and generous meals, or will they face another night staying at the crowded mission, or under a bridge somewhere?

Jesus Christ is here with all of us. The lectionary text for Christ the King Sunday sometimes takes us to that passage in Matthew that places Christ with those who are the least of these. It is only by placing ourselves along side the suffering of this world that we are able to truly see the face of Christ each day.

* * * * * * * *

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

More Light

All of the liberals in Tennessee gathered last Tuesday night in the sanctuary/activity center (or as it will be known as of Decmber 3 only the activity center) of Second Presbyterian, yes all 200 of us or so. Okay, so maybe not all the liberals were there. Some of the 18.7% of the state’s population that voted against the anti-gay marriage amendment to the Tennessee constitution a few weeks ago were probably not in attendance at a lecture and book signing by Jack Rogers, who served in 2001 as the Moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), but a good chunk—probably 250 or so—were.

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians has been sponsoring a book tour to promote Rogers’ newest book, Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Exploding the Myths, Healing the Church. Second Presbyterian was the last stop on this tour. During his lecture and question and answer session, Rogers discussed how his views on the issue of homosexuality changed when he really studied what the Bible had to say. Moreover, he does not consider himself to be a liberal Presbyterian, but an evangelical. I had read fomer Moderator Rogers’ book this fall, and I have found his arguments for the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, as well as same-sex marriage to be among the most sound I have seen.

Second Presbyterian is unique among churches in this area, which I’ve found out is known as the “buckle of the Bible belt.” This fall, Second decided to become a More Light Presbyterian Church. It is the only one in Tennessee. More Light churches are those that actively work to promote the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the life and leadership of the church. A new welcome statement proclaims that “Second Presbyterian welcomes you to join us in our journey of faith, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, economic or family status, ethnic background, mental or physical abilities.”

So, why would Second, along with many other Presbyterian churches, take this kind of a stand when the Bible so “clearly” names homosexuality as a great sin? Well, if one really takes a look at the passages that reference homosexuality, one will find that many of those passages do not reflect at all the modern reality of monogamous non-exploitative same-sex relationships. As Jack Rogers argues, the modern concept of homosexuality was just not known in the times when the Bible was written. Also, Presbyterians read the Bible through the lens of the life and activity of Jesus Christ. We do not think (at least most of us do not think) that every sentence in the Bible is directly applicable to our modern lives. The dual law of love for God and love for neighbor is primary in Christian life. Rogers has studied the ways that the church changed its mind about women, and African Americans along the way. Despite what some say, the church can be wrong, and it often is—even for thousands of years.

I’d encourage everyone, no matter what side of the debate you’re on, to read Jack Rogers’ book, which is centered around sound, logical study of the Biblical text, along with study of the destructive patterns of human society that the church has perpetuated through the centuries. It is only with study, prayer and disernment that God's will is going to shed "more light" on this topic that is the source of such division, anger and fear in the church.

Jack Rogers Website

Second Presbyterian More Light Press Release