A weekend of firsts
As the title indicates, this last weekend was full of firsts. On Saturday morning, Amy and I played our very first game of football. Granted, we're playing flag football, and granted it was a pre-season scrimmage -- even so, neither of us would have ever predicted that within a month of starting our lives in Princeton, I would be a wide receiver and Amy would be a linebacker! As one of my very good friends put it, "Hell indeed has frozen over!" The game was rather pathetic on our side, mainly because our defensive team has yet to show up for a practice. Suffice it to say, we lost ... badly. But Amy and I had a lot of fun. This Saturday is our first regular season game. Hopefully I will have better news afterwards.
This weekend was also our first as the official youth ministry/English ministry/childrens ministry pastors at Podowon Korean Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. That sounds like a lot, and that's because it is. Thankfully, however, the size of these groups is rather small, and therefore quite manageable. On the other hand, we are also English tutors for about 10-12 nursing students who need to improve their English skills for hospital work. Altogether, it means Amy and I spend a good deal of time preparing the music (for which we are also solely responsible), sermons, lesson plans, etc.
Which leads me to the other important first: on Sunday I gave my first sermon. Amy says I did well, and my sermon text looks pretty good. So I guess it went all right. I spoke on the call of Abram in Genesis 12 and the corresponding text in Hebrews 11. I even snuck in a passage from Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics (on the doctrine of reconciliation), particularly on Barth's description of Jesus as the One who travels to the "Far Country" on our behalf. Tying all this together is the theme of moving great distances, which I connected personally to my experiences in traveling across country, including most recently to Princeton. Anyway, I know that no one wants to hear me repeat my sermon, but it was a rather momentous occasion for me.
As a side note, let me express my excitement that for once, Amy and I are serving on a completely egalitarian level in church ministry. I have to say that this excites me more than anything else. I suspect that this week Amy will give the sermon, and she'll probably end up giving most of them for now. After past church experiences, this is truly a breath of fresh air. On the down side, however, we do not have the ability to administer the sacraments, and this means I will probably end up looking for a Saturday night service at a nearby Episcopal church. I simply must have the sacraments on a weekly basis. That aside, this church opportunity is incredible; it's really a gift from God.
This weekend was also our first as the official youth ministry/English ministry/childrens ministry pastors at Podowon Korean Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. That sounds like a lot, and that's because it is. Thankfully, however, the size of these groups is rather small, and therefore quite manageable. On the other hand, we are also English tutors for about 10-12 nursing students who need to improve their English skills for hospital work. Altogether, it means Amy and I spend a good deal of time preparing the music (for which we are also solely responsible), sermons, lesson plans, etc.
Which leads me to the other important first: on Sunday I gave my first sermon. Amy says I did well, and my sermon text looks pretty good. So I guess it went all right. I spoke on the call of Abram in Genesis 12 and the corresponding text in Hebrews 11. I even snuck in a passage from Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics (on the doctrine of reconciliation), particularly on Barth's description of Jesus as the One who travels to the "Far Country" on our behalf. Tying all this together is the theme of moving great distances, which I connected personally to my experiences in traveling across country, including most recently to Princeton. Anyway, I know that no one wants to hear me repeat my sermon, but it was a rather momentous occasion for me.
As a side note, let me express my excitement that for once, Amy and I are serving on a completely egalitarian level in church ministry. I have to say that this excites me more than anything else. I suspect that this week Amy will give the sermon, and she'll probably end up giving most of them for now. After past church experiences, this is truly a breath of fresh air. On the down side, however, we do not have the ability to administer the sacraments, and this means I will probably end up looking for a Saturday night service at a nearby Episcopal church. I simply must have the sacraments on a weekly basis. That aside, this church opportunity is incredible; it's really a gift from God.
Comments
shane
(Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans 7:3, A.D. 110).
Your desire for the sacraments is wonderful. May you be so blessed.
Doug
Where did you go to receive the sacraments while you were living here in Portland? I'd like to know what's around, especially if it is anything akin to Church of the Res. Thanks!
Mark
Mark, your question is an excellent one. But as my mom can attest, I was literally starving this past year due to the lack of any real sacramental environment. When Amy and I had communion together, we intentionally amplified the experience by praying together (joyfully, that is, not with the usual evangelical gloom) and sometimes even serving each other. I, in addition, always made the sign of the cross, which carries great signficance for me: in that signing, I identify myself as a person shaped and created in light of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. I identify myself as one who lives out of that event, not out of anything I myself do.
That said, Amy and I did visit a Greek Orthodox church, which was quite an experience. If I had fluent knowledge of Greek (and perhaps even if I did not), I could see myself worshipping there on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the PDX area is not conducive to my concerns. I am beginning to see that the Wheaton area was especially fruitful. Alas.
So you administered the sacraments to yourself last year? After your comments to Erin, I'm quite confused...
As for the lack of a Church of the Res type of environment in the Portland area... I feared that would be your answer. Thanks anyway!
Mark
I am sympathetic to both sides, and I recognize both arguments as valid. I've already mentioned the argument for equality. The most convincing argument for clerical authority, in my mind, is that it emphasizes our position as receivers of God's grace, as those who are passive in relation to God's activity. Since the sacraments embody this passive-active relation between God and humanity, I see the importance for this as well.
Suffice it to say, I will worship according to the tradition of the church in which I am a member. But that does not mean this conversation is over, in my mind. I think it is one the whole church needs to address on a regular basis, and if there is a way to emphasize both sides equally, then I would advocate such a position.
Thanks for the clarification... that makes a lot of sense.
Mark
I'm somewhat surprised that you would attend the Greek Orthodox church in PDX, since they don't have intercommunion with Episcopalians or Protestants/Catholics in general.
Doug