Pastor's Pen: "Ich habe genug."

Recently, I came across a Bach cantata which is based on the story of Simeon and Anna found in Luke 2.  In the Scriptures, Mary and Joseph in compliance with the Hebrew law make sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem.  Father and mother with the infant Jesus in tow encounter the older Simeon and Anna.  Both were faithful followers of God, and both were awaiting the coming Messiah.  The Spirit of the Lord came upon these prophets, and they recognized Jesus as the promised Savior.  Bach begins the story here, and Simeon sings as he holds the baby.

“I have enough.
I have the Savior, the hope of the faithful,
In the eager embrace of my arms.
I have enough.”

I was surprised that Bach’s reimagining of the biblical story struck me so profoundly.  Poetry and music have long relied upon unfulfilled desires as their muse.  We certainly understand the pain of loss and loneliness.  We long for something more, but here Simeon sings of comfort and satisfaction.  I have enough because I hold the Savior in my arms.  Our restless wants and desires finally find Sabbath in the love that God gives to us in Jesus Christ. 

In a month, the church will be discussing stewardship, specifically financial stewardship.  Perhaps, this is a strange time to declare, “I have enough.”  However, we must remember that all generosity flows from this confession.  Because I have enough, I freely give.  We share precisely because we know that there is no limit to God’s grace.  God freely takes care of the flowers and the birds, and God will take of us as well.  We don’t hide behind walls.  We share with a world unable or unwilling to see.

In times of political and economic uncertainty, these are radical words:  “I have enough.”  However, our Savior is not far from us.  By faith, we hold him in our arms.  We see the joy of the life to come.  In God, we ultimately have peace. 

In Christ,
James

Peacemaking Offering, October 3

Next Sunday, October 3, Ardmore Presbyterian Church will receive donations for the Peacemaking Offering. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Offering supports the efforts of Presbyterians through their congregations, presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly to work for peace by tearing down walls that divide. Congregations receive the Peacemaking Offering as part of World Communion Sunday, when Christians around the world celebrate our unity in Christ. As we receive bread and cup, we celebrate our unity in Christ, our peace, and are renewed to pass Christ’s peace to those around us and across the world.

The Bible witnesses to the centrality of peacemaking for Christian discipleship in three ways: first, the word “peace”—shalom in Hebrew and eirene in Greek—is widely used in the bible and has a wealth of meaning. It is through exploring the uses of the word “peace” in the Bible that we come to an understanding of the meaning of peace and peacemaking. Second, the visions and stories of the Bible offer models for the transformation of individuals and communities into peacemakers. It is through wrestling with these stories and making them our own that we grow as disciples of the Prince of Peace. Third, the entire biblical story shapes our calling to be peacemakers. It is through reflecting on the themes of the biblical witness as a whole that one is confronted by the significance of peace and peacemaking for thinking about God, God’s work in the world, and God’s intention for human persons, communities, and creation.

The Peacemaking Offering supports a variety of peacemaking efforts at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Twenty-five percent (25%) of the offering will be retained by our congregation and the Mission Awareness Committee has elected to have these funds go to St. Luke’s Hospital. Ardmore Presbyterian Church has supported St. Luke’s Hospital for a number of years. It is located in the West Bank of Palestine and provides vital health services without discriminating against patients’ nationality, religion or ability to pay. As a Christian organization, St. Luke’s is a very visible testament to Christ’s love and care for us.

Some examples of what the Peacemaking Offering provides at the General Assembly level are the following:

• Sponsors the Peacemaking seminar “Peacemaking: Still the Believers’ Calling”
• Helps lead workshops on living together in the diversity God creates
• Offers opportunities to work to end the use of children as soldiers
• Organizes and implements the International Peacemakers Program, which brings church leaders from other nations to the United States to share peacemaking concerns
• Creates worship resources on addressing gun violence, working for a nuclear-free world, stopping torture, and other issues of peace and justice.

In 2009, more than $2 million was received through the Peacemaking Offering. Promotional expenses amounted to $261,621 so over 98% of the offering was used for Peacemaking efforts.

I hope you will consider a donation to this important mission on World Communion Sunday, October 3.

Ardmore Presbyterian Church in Center City

The Ardmore Presbyterian Church is not a building, but a community belonging to God. Wherever you are, there's the church. As a result, for many during the week, APC is at work in Center City. Come join us as we take APC on the road.

James Hodsden, Nan Clarke, and Jen Herbst will be hosting a luncheon for APC's Center City commuters (and any other interested folks) at Arch Street Presbyterian Church at Noon on September 23rd.

We will be joined by the Arch Street pastors -- Rev. Carmen Goetschius, Rev. Bill Golderer (also of Broad Street Ministries), and Rev. Becky White Newgren. Lunch (sandwiches, salad, beverage, dessert) will be provided by Arch Street ($5 donation requested).

We are only asking for one hour (12pm - 1pm). A rough schedule is as follows:

• Meet in the Arch Street Presbyterian Church sanctuary at 12pm.
• Greetings by Rev. Bill Golderer (10 minutes)
• An elder of the Arch Street Church shares the history of the congregation (10 minutes)
• We retire to the Social Hall for lunch.
• Conversation led by James and Nan about APC's presence downtown.
• Closing Prayer at 12:55pm.

We see this partnership with Arch Street Presbyterian Church as the perfect opportunity to have a conversation about vocation. How does our faith impact what we do from day to day? Does Jesus have anything to do with our careers?

In case you're not familiar with the church downtown, Arch Street is one of Philadelphia's most majestic worship spaces ‐‐ a 1850's‐era massive, domed sanctuary next to the new Comcast Building at 18th and Arch. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century, Arch Street was one of the most prestigious pulpits in the country ‐‐ and it played a big role in the fundamentalist‐modernist controversy that rocked American Protestantism in the 1920s. You might recall that Prince Charles visited the place on the royal visit to Philadelphia several years ago, in homage to the church's Welsh tradition.

You have probably passed Arch Street Presbyterian Church countless times while driving or walking around Center City and may have assumed it was a shuttered church. Actually, it never closed, but in recent decades, the congregation had dwindled to a "faithful remnant" of a few dozen. In 2009, the Philadelphia Presbytery made a major commitment to resurrect this church, with new staff, a new administrative body that replaced the former session (of which Jen is a member), and a midweek ministry to the thousands of souls in the surrounding office buildings. In the past year alone, Arch Street has welcomed over thirty new members and Sunday worship attendance has grown in leaps and bounds. The church has a midweek lunch/Bible study (12:10 to 12:40 pm on Wednesdays), midweek services during Advent and Lent, and has sponsored the "Why Series" ‐‐ a breakfast series providing conversations with inspiring artists, activists, and business leaders. Check out the church's website.

Join us for lunch at noon on September 23rd. Please feel free to forward this to any members or other friends who may be interested. Let me know by e-mail by Friday (9/17) if you are coming.

(Philly Skyline by Massimo Catarinella)

SAVE THE DATES!!

The new school year has begun, and we find our calendars filling quickly. The Fellowship and Outreach Committee wants all of our young adults and families to know about the great things being planned this year at APC. Save the dates! Place them in your calendar!

Also, check out the APC website at http://ardmorepres.org/calendar.html . You can look ahead and see what the church is planning.

10/16 - Hayride w/ Pumpkin decorating (Families)
11/6 - Adult Social (Adults)
11/21 - Community Outreach (Families)
12/5 - Advent Night (Families)
1/9/2011 - Churchwide Birthday Party & Games (Families)
Feb 2011 (TBD) - Couples Workshop (Adults)
3/5 - Dinner for 10 w/ dessert at church (Adults)
3/18 - Family Movie Night (Families)
4/16 - Easter Egg Hunt (Families)
May (TBD) - Minor League baseball game outing - i.e. Reading Phillies, Camden Riversharks or Wilmington Blue Rocks (Families)
May (TBD) - Prepare dinner at Ronald McDonald House (Adults)
June (TBD) - Pool Party (Families)
July (TBD) - Canoeing on Brandywine River (Families)