Friday, November 11, 2016

A Pastoral Word After the Election

Before the election, my prayers focused on work that would begin November 9 - the day after the election. Together with other religious leaders, I knew the divisions of our society would be fully exposed by America's choices. Yet still, like many of you, I was stunned by the tenor and societal outcomes of our presidential election.

So in light of concerns that I see and feel among many in our church and community, I want to offer a word of pastoral leadership on a few counts. Let me be clear, this is not a word I offer on behalf of the Session or any church council. It is a matter of instinct and conviction that comes from my own heart.

We have valuable gifts to share. I believe our congregation is fulfilling its calling to inspire our community and the world. We will accomplish this calling in many ways. But in today's climate, I want to underscore some timely gifts that we offer.

We are a gentle and safe community. Our hospitality extends through the breadth of society: from the unemployed to the corporate CEO; from the homeless to the privileged; from single to married; from gay to straight; from Republican to Democrat and to people of every race and ethnicity.  Do not underestimate the power of this welcome. We transform the world by our gentleness and our care for one another creates a spiritual home in which it is safe to be as you are by the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

We advocate for justice. The human rights and freedoms we enjoy are a privilege we work to share with others. We pray for and stand beside those who feel threatened in our culture today: Persons of color who feel treated as if their lives are of lesser value; Persons of other religions who feel wrongly maligned because of their faith; Persons of the LGBTQI community who fear a tone is being set in society that condones discrimination and could even turn a blind eye to violence; Persons of varied political convictions who feel their conscience is wrongfully attacked or demeaned; Persons who immigrate, whether working in our labs or laboring to serve our tables; Sisters and daughters who feel their dignity and rights are assailed by foul language or violent innuendo.

We speak truth in love. The words that we speak have great power to heal or to wound. It pains me to have to define this so clearly. But foul language and boastful descriptions of abusive behavior are not acceptable in any setting.  It is not acceptable in our church, our homes, or even in a locker room or bar. It is not acceptable for a Christian to pass off such speech simply because "everyone else is doing it."  We speak truth to each other in love. Our congregation certainly does not agree on all things. But we do know how to speak with each other in ways that demonstrate respect and kindness.

The weeks and months ahead may require us to speak or act outside of our normal comfort zones. But we are able to do so in ways that remain true to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our tradition continues to honor those who hold public office. John Calvin believed the most significant vocation was not that of pastor. He believed the role of the politicians and civil magistrates were most greatly to be esteemed. Those vocations have the capacity to do both the greatest good and greatest harm. So we pray for President Elect Trump and all about to assume office who will hold the public trust.

Yet this is not a blind trust. We have long understood that all in this world, from the most humble to the most powerful, will stand accountable to God in the last analysis.  We claim the ultimate sovereignty of God over all life.  Our vision of the world is informed by our prayers seeking God's will.

John Calvin famously wrote to King Francis in his day and quoted 1 Timothy 4:10 saying, "we have our hope set on the living God." So we both carry that as a challenge for the world and a comfort for our souls. Our task is even more crucial today. Have courage, friends.

Frederic Edwin Church - Above the Clouds at Sunrise

I will close with a short Irish poem. I like the gentleness of its words. It was recorded from the lips of a classic bard in Ireland. Anthony Raftery was an underprivileged blind man who spoke with a song in his gentle heart. He offered his words wherever he went. His nation was grateful and honored him with a burial in County Galway's Cemetery of Poets.  This is his song. What will be yours?

I am Raftery the poet
Full of hope and love
With no light in my eyes
With gentleness that has no misery

Going west upon my pilgrimage

By the light of my heart
Though feeble and tired
To the end of my rove.

Behold me now

With my back to the wall
Playing music
Unto empty pockets.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Prayers for Orlando in Light of Mass Shooting on June 12, 2016

A word from our Pastor on the occasion of the mass shootings in Orlando on June 12, 2016:

Please join me in prayer for the families of those who have been killed or wounded in Orlando this morning.  President Obama has identified this the worst mass shooting in American history.  We know it comes on the heels of too many mass shootings over the course of recent decades.  Our hearts grieve and mourn with victims and survivors of all such attacks.  Even as we give thanks for the many first responders who put their lives on the line and are feverishly at work for life.



The President has described this attack as an act of terror and hate.  As a religious leader in our community I feel compelled to underscore the need for courage and love. Our Christian faith bolsters our commitment to turn away from all hatred and fear.  Our faith teaches that all human beings are precious and all bear the imprint of the image of God.  

That imprint of God is on all people. It is not restricted to straight people, Christian people, or any other subset of humanity. The Creator's mark is on us all. It is firmly placed upon the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-gendered persons (many of whom are active and committed people of faith).  It is on people of every philosophy and religion – including our Muslim neighbors who faithfully live beside us in community. I highlight this common blessing with emphasis on orientation and religion because of the horrible details in this particular attack.

Please join me in prayer for our leaders as America seeks ways to avoid the perpetuation of such violence.  Our nation is certainly in need of vigilance. But we also are in desperate need of calm and wisdom.

Our congregation has learned how to live faithfully together even when there are issues where we find ourselves in disagreement.  But our disagreements have never lead us down pathways of fear or hate.  My prayer is that our model of faithful forbearance and mutual respect will offer some small inspiration for our community. 

Because events such as this cause my emotions to be quite close to the surface, I offer prayers that were previously written and included in our Presbyterian Book of Common worship.  They were written for times of National Crisis and also as a cry for justice.  I invite you into some time for prayer today.  May our prayers be joined with others in a way that heals, calms and strengthens.

Brian Paulson, Pastor of the First Presybterian Church of Libertyville
(This is a timely pastoral letter that does not reflect an action of our governing Session.)

God of ages, in your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through times of peril. Now when our land is troubled, be near to judge and save. May leaders be led by your wisdom; may they search your will and see it clearly. Give us your light and your truth to guide us; through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that the barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease, and that, with our divisions healed, we might live in justice and peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Inspire!

Can you feel God tugging at your heart? Easter is a moment that opens my heart. I am inspired by resurrection to see anew.  An example of this vision inspired me last night and opened my memory to more inspiration.


A little boy ran up to a homeless man on the street corner last night as I was headed to a wonderful dinner with a group of Christian leaders. (It is not this photo, I found this a stock image of inspiration online - but looked just like this!) It was clear the boy's heart was open as he went rushing to put money in a cup.

Then I remembered images of young and old from our community preparing beds and meals for the homeless we house in our weekly shelter. A flood of caring acts filled my memory and my heart. Just as I shared in worship on Easter, I am inspired by our congregation!

Such inspiration is in start contrast to the events of a world that is killing the spirit and numbing our senses. What can we do?  I am inspired by the story of a boy who was discouraged by a man from throwing starfish back into the sea - it would just send them back again. Undaunted, the boy held up another starfish, looked at the man and said, "That may be," said the boy, "but here is one I can save today."


If only we could always have such child-like determination and hope!  But there are many in our world who grow weary from the constant waves of misery crashing against our lives. How can we confront an expression that has developed in recent years: "compassion fatigue."

One of the conversations I had over dinner last night engaged the challenge of equipping and encouraging new generations of leaders who will inspire the world with good. The next generation of adults who currently work to change our world are very idealistic in many new and practical ways that engage specific projects all around the world. I see new kinds of community growing through friendships fostered at work, school, intentional living communities, and various forms of networking.

What I do not see growing is a sustaining base for this altruism that will last a lifetime. This is a gift that I believe congregations have to offer the world.  It is a gift that our congregation seeks to offer each and every day of the week. We inspire!

(Elmore Nickelberry, at left in 1968, he was then a Memphis sanitation worker on strike when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was slain in Memphis at the Lorraine Motel. His son Terence recently displayed a slogan made famous by the 1968 sanitation strike. by Carl Juste / Miami Herald Staff)
Yet some real challenge remains for me and for our congregation in a suburb of privilege.  That challenge is present on street-corners in Chicago just as it should be in our hearts every day.  How can we shift the tide of inhumanity afflicting our world?

A congregation does more than countless acts of charity.  We ground our lives in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the one who taught parables in order to "tease our mind into active thought."  The boy engaging the beggar on the street corner brought to mind Jesus' parable about Lazarus and the rich man. Is the gospel engaging our imagination?  Is our creative soul inspired?

I remember that Dr. King was slain in 1968 while posing challenging questions about the relative worth and dignity of everyone living and working in America. These questions continue to haunt our society as rifts between rich and poor, black, white, and every color grow ever more stark and alarming. I suppose if the answers were simple, they would have been accomplished by now.  But here is a prayer that I make unto God as I return to the desk after Easter morning:  I pray for inspiration - inspiration for action.



The empty cross stands above our church as both invitation and instigation. The image may seem as quaint and classic as a Rockwell painting, but we are an incubator of action. This is the charge and challenge for every Christian congregation.  We must be a source of inspiration for a better humanity.

So go inspire someone.  We can help you start with a wide range of caring acts. But carry that spirit into your daily routines and conversations.  Commit your life to the cause of Christ and let the Holy Spirit flood your heart to change and inspire the world.

Christ is Risen - Let Us Show the World what it Means!

Brian