PASTOR'S PEN
Way of the Pilgrim …
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105
This past month, I was in Austin, Texas for a
week of study leave. I was there for an orientation to a program called the College
of Pastoral Leaders at Austin Theological Seminary – a program in which small
groups of pastors are formed into ‘cohorts’ and over a two-year period work on
a ‘project’ together.
A while back, a good friend back from seminary
days contacted me and asked me if I was interested in being part of such a
‘cohort’ – along with 3 other women clergy whom I had known from seminary. We
had all shared our first year of seminary together – which was definitely a
bonding experience! Some of us had not seen each other since we graduated –
which was over 10 years ago – but feeling like it was going to be a great
reunion and adventure, I gave an emphatic ‘yes’.
Our group of 6 female pastors (one person was not
from my seminary, but was a good friend of a friend…) began talking about the
‘project’ that we would be working on. During the process, I didn’t have much
to contribute since I was more excited about just the prospect of being
together rather than the project itself…but as the group came to a decision, I
began to feel a bit nervous. Everyone else seemed really excited about a
project surrounding ‘pilgrimage’ – something which I had almost no knowledge
about!
Well, as we finally met face-to-face in Austin as
the cohort: Way of the Pilgrim, I realized that I did indeed have much to learn
about pilgrimages. The others knew more about them, had books and resources
handy, had suggestions as to what our project might look like. But I also
realized that I had known something about pilgrimages all along: that it is who
you walk with that makes a world of a difference.
I’m sure there are those who have taken
pilgrimages on their own, but from what I know so far regarding pilgrimages,
many were taken in groups. For example, Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120 to 134)
were written to be sung while the ancient Hebrews took a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem. The story about Jesus being lost in the temple in Jerusalem took
place during one of those community pilgrimages (see Luke 2:14ff).
And my pilgrimage experience will be no
different. I am embarking on a pilgrimage towards pilgrimages with my friends.
We will learn about the ancient pilgrimages and those who took them. We will
learn its meaning and translate it to what it may mean to our time today. We’ll
actually have the opportunity to take a pilgrimage physically (Ireland and/or
England maybe?)
But it is also a pilgrimage of our faiths. As in
the Bible verse above, Scripture describes faith as a path, a walk, a
pilgrimage. And of course, it’s the Word – God – that leads us and walks alongside
of us. But as we pilgrimage along the path we call faith, it is the ones whom
we walk with that oftentimes bring about this tangible presence of God to us.
Our ‘cohorts’ tangibly show us that God supports us, loves us and cares for us.
They encourage us and they challenge us.
I believe that our church community is called to
be one of those ‘cohorts’ – a group of people who walk alongside each other,
and bring about God’s presence to each other – as we pilgrimage the path of
faith together. We support one another, love one another, and stretch one
another. As we rely on God and God’s Word as the ultimate lamp and light, we
are called to shine that light forth in our words and actions.
This is by no means an easy task. My ‘Way of the
Pilgrim’ cohort is made up of 6 women clergy – who are great friends, but with
differing backgrounds, ages, ideas and perceptions. I don’t expect all of us to
agree on everything all the time as we journey these next two years. But I
believe it is in the process of journeying together that God’s abundant grace
will be revealed to us, step by step.
And I pray that it will be the same with our
church community. I pray that each of us, as pilgrims on the way of faith, can
walk alongside one another, even when we may be very different from each other.
I pray that we can support, love, care for, and stretch one another – and in
this process, God’s grace will be revealed to us, step by step. I pray that we
all can really take part of the journey together, in this grace.
If you have never thought of yourself and the
church as being pilgrims and taking a pilgrimage together, I invite you to join
in on the journey! I invite you to explore with us what it means to be pilgrims
on the path of faith, as we rely on God and God’s Word so that we can become
good cohorts to each other. Come, let us pilgrimage together!
Your fellow pilgrim and cohort,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
DEACONS' REPORT
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. Our
celebration at church was very nice. We started off the morning bright and
early for a breakfast cooked by the youth of our church. They sacrificed their
Saturday to prepare and woke up early (very early) to start cooking. We were
all appreciative of their service.
This Easer was also special for CUPC because we
had 3 of our youth get confirmed and become members of CUPC. They are 3 of our
high school boys who we’ve seen grow to such mature young men. Welcome boys!
And of course as usual, after service we all
fellowshipped together with an abundance of snacks to munch on. The young
children also excitedly searched for Easter eggs in the courtyard.
Also this month, the Deacon’s had our annual
meeting. We were able to re-group and discuss our current ministries and how we
could better serve this church. We also had a good time of sharing and praying
for those in our community, followed by a faith journey story from a fellow
Deacon. Again, if you have any prayers you would like the Deacons to lift up,
please contact a Deacon or the church.
Please continue to join us in praying for those
in our community and world.
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of April.
Kara Woo, Vice-Moderator
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
You Say
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God Says
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“It’s impossible”
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All things are possible.
(Luke 18:27)
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“I’m too tired”
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I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:28-30)
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“Nobody really loves me”
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I love you.
(John 3:16 & John 13:34)
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“I can’t go on”
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My grace is sufficient.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms 91:15)
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“I can’t figure things out”
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I will direct your steps.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
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“I can’t do it”
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You can do all things.
(Philippians 4:13)
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“I’m not able”
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I am able.
(2 Corinthians 9:8)
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“It’s not worth it”
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It will be worth it.
(Romans 8:28)
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“I can’t forgive myself”
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I forgive you.
(1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
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“I can’t manage”
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I will supply all your needs.
(Philippians 4:19)
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“I’m afraid”
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I have not given you a spirit of fear.
(2 Timothy 1:7)
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“I’m always worried and frustrated”
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Cast all your cares on Me.
(1 Peter 5:7)
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“I’m not smart enough”
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I give you wisdom.
(1 Corinthians 1:30)
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“I feel alone”
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I will never leave you or forsake you.
(Hebrews 13:5)
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ARTICLE OF INTEREST
FAITH INTO ACTION
As I sit in the pew during Sunday worship and
listen to the message, I find the words meaningful and applicable to the season
we are celebrating.
What is lacking is to act upon what is being
preached and prayed. For example, during Lent, we set aside Peacemaking as a
theme. To think of Peace during Lent is welcomed and certainly appropriate.
But why not elicit suggestions about how we can
make Peace, or how we can live peaceful lives during Lent? To identify the
struggle Christ faced leading up to his crucifixion and to understand his
personal agony as he was led to the cross should be part of our faith’s
journey.
What I am leading to, is for us to put faith in
action. If we believe in our faith, we should apply it to our everyday lives.
What we experience during Sunday worship, should be carried forth to our lives
for the week.
When worshippers file out after the service, I am
surprised that many of the worshippers hand back to the ushers the worship
bulletin. I wonder if they could not share the worship bulletin with family
members that did not attend. Can the handing back of the worship bulletin mean
the service is over and we can forget about it until next Sunday? Does the
worship service somehow become an event that has a beginning and an end?
To me, the Sunday worship; is a beginning of the
week, and prepares me for what I do and act for the rest of the week. The
Sunday service should inspire us to live the week with Thanksgiving and a
spirit of service to Christ’s teachings.
Kathy Reyes
