​I've learned a lot about congregational leadership over the last few weeks, as our Finance Team is considering options for our upcoming Capital Campaign. I look forward to making an announcement this Sunday about our big steps forward, as we continue to build strong foundations for ministry and mission to the community here at Hillside. 

I recently enrolled in an online course through the Ministry Training Program at Phillips Seminary. It's a class about congregational leadership and administration. So naturally I'm thinking about that topic a lot these days. I'm reminded of the strong lay leaders of Hillside's past and present. Our governing bodies, the Finance Team and the Board of Directors are policy and decision-making bodies. Our Circle of Elders are spiritual and pastoral care leaders. Healthy congregations have clear roles for various leadership groups. These distinctions grow clearer as we continue to develop our ministry teams for their specific roles. 

As for the season of Lent, it never really starts for me until after the Ash Wednesday service. The morning is spent in preparation for a day and evening of marking with ash. There's something on this side of the imposition of ashes that is divinely humbling. You've entrusted your spiritual care to me, and I in turn work at training up a volunteer group for the work of congregational care. Our Elder's are truly an extension of the pastoral care given by clergy. The Care Clusters are one way we make that happen. This work of caring for the spiritual needs of one another is not something I take lightly, it is perhaps the culmination of the work of congregational ministry. 

After the service Ash Wednesday service I was taken aside by one of our Elders. They mentioned that I hadn't had the opportunity to receive the mark of ash myself. They escorted me to the table, laden with last year's dried palm branches and a single white candle. We held hands, and they imposed the ashes on my forehead - a gesture that in that moment I took as a reminder of the tall order we ascribe to as disciples of Jesus; we are here for one another to journey along a path toward Jesus. 

My eyes water a bit in remembrance of this act, now just 14 hours in my past. Even as we're just a day into the season of Lent, I cannot help but proclaim an Easter theme: "I know my redeemer lives!" because I've seen and experienced the divine presence in the genuine care of a friend. 

Open yourselves, dear friends, to the caring acts shared with you, and recognize therein the Christ of our faith who walks this journey from shadow to light with us. What a holy way to ... 
Be Excellent To Each Other! 
- Rev. Andy Beck
​

[This article first appeared in the March edition of the 'Hillside Good News' monthly newsletter. it is reprinted here with permission.] 

The Hard Work of Being a "Movement for Wholeness"
by Rev. Andy Beck

​As I write, representatives from the United Methodist Church are debating and voting on issues of same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

Most mainline protestant denominations including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have faced these questions in the recent past. The 2013 Disciples General Assembly resolution 1327 calls for the church to “become a people of grace and welcome to all”, giving clergy and congregations the power to answer these questions themselves.

Our own history as a movement challenged the church of its day. Early Disciples pushed back against the suppressive practices of the Scottish Presbyterian church. In our call to unity as Disciples, congregation by congregation, the DOC remains unsettled on questions of inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ folks.

I’ve served 5 congregations in 20 years of vocational ministry & I know how easy it is to grow more concerned about the institution & survival of church, rather than the people who make up the Body of Christ. I know how readily folks can retreat into protectionism, especially when challenges arise within their fellowship.

We can be proud of Hillside, & our history as a welcoming congregation in practice, and our faith in Christ who spoke no word of exclusion to the marginalized. I am proud that we are living into his way of love, rather than a way of segregation. Join me in prayer for our sisters and brothers in the UMC. I pray for those LGBTQ clergy that are hurt by their leaders. To paraphrase a comment I saw recently: “It’s not good news to have someone else vote on your identity. God has already claimed me as beloved.”

Hillside is in a tangential discussion. Not whether we will affirm LGBTQ folks – we already do, and with great joy. Our conversation is about how we communicate & let all people know that Hillside is a safe place to worship. One option is to vote to become an “Open and Affirming” congregation. Another is to simply adopt policies that nurture inclusive practices in communication, mission, and worship.

I have an intentionally limited role in the work of the Welcoming Committee, but I encourage your participation in the Welcoming Assessment. It can still be completed online at www.hillsidecc.com/assessment. I look forward to our work together, on behalf of the Gospel, by continuing to feed all people in mind, body, spirit and community.

​Be Excellent To Each Other! <>< Rev. Andy Beck

The author of the wisdom book Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible ("Old" Testament) knows a thing or two about the ongoing cycle of life. Transitions are a constant reminder that we're transient people, here in this place for a time then among another place. The Byrds song notwithstanding, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 depicts the ever-churning nature of life. 

1     There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

​I wrote the following note to the Elders of the church recently, and it also appeared in my regular "Pastor's Perspective" article in our weekly newsletter. I recall that even in a season of great grief currently in the congregation I serve, there is an abiding presence of God always working among us. 

"Congregations are built on seasons. We live through seasons of all kinds. Our worship is largely built around liturgical seasons. Lent is about repentance, Advent is about anticipation, Pentecost is about growth. The cycles of the congregation’s worship life is akin to the cycle of life & death that congregations have experienced for thousands of years. It’s no surprise that Hillside is not unique in this. Yes we’ve experienced a concentrated season of deaths in our congregation. And together, we have faithfully loved one another, we’ve rightfully given thanks to our Creator for the lives of loved ones, and we’ve comforted our friends with calls, cards, and condolences.

Even as we’re preparing for another couple of funerals in the coming days, we’re also in the beginning of several moments of joy in the lives of people in our congregation. We’re preparing for baby dedications and baby showers over the next several months. We’re preparing for weddings and baptisms and the joys of new adventures in life. We grieve together, and we share joy together. We move in and out of seasons, with God amid all of it for us.

The letter to the believers in Thessalonica (5:15-18) reminds the faithful community about one of our most important responsibilities:

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I am confident that we’ll make our way through this season as well, by the grace of, and in great thanksgiving for, God our Creator.

Rev. Andy Beck

The Apostle Paul is either appealing or appalling, or so says biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan. Come find out for yourself during our upcoming Challenge of Paul Sunday morning Education class. It's 8 weeks of the Apostle, learning his context and how the Roman Empire influenced his practice of Christian Judiasm. 

Challenge of Paul Sunday morning class begins July 8th in the Koinonia Classroom, just down from the church office. Class begins at 9:20 am. 

​

The following post originally appeared on Rev. Beck's personal Facebook page. 

The biblical story of Joseph and his brothers, which spans many chapters in Genesis, offers insight to how Christians should respond to folks seeking better lives in new lands. (Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version.)

Genesis 45:4-11. Joseph, a man of influence in Pharaoh’s court, invites his father and brothers (and their families) to come to Egypt and escape the famine that had befallen the region. Joseph says it was God who initiated the plan for their safety.
45:7 “God sent me [Joseph] before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.”
45:10 “You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, and your children, and your children’s children…”
****
Genesis 46:1-7. God encourages Israel (Jacob) to sojourn to Egypt. Pharaoh also welcomes Jacob and his family by providing assistance for their relocation.
46:5 “Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.”
****
Genesis 47:1-6 Joseph presents his brothers to Pharaoh. Pharaoh invites them to live in the best part of the land and gives them jobs.
47:4-6 “They said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to reside as aliens in the land, for there is no pasture for your servant’s flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Your father and your brothers have come to you . The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know that there are capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.’”

The long arc of the Joseph story is one of provision, welcome, and care. When given opportunities to help the alien and immigrant, Christians have many examples from scripture of how to faithfully respond.

Of course, the challenging next step in this story is that when the famine fully reached Egypt, Pharaoh bought all the land and enslaved the people. (47:20-26) 

Perhaps American Christians should examine the immigration practices of our states and communities for ways that "enslavement" is still perpetuated. Such areas include:

• systemic poverty
  
• anti-immigrant bias in law enforcement and the courts
  
• lack of access to basic resources of education, rights and healthcare

Let's strive to be better, Church. 

​The first epistle (letter) of John in the Christian scriptures is a reminder for the reader to take on the attitude of love. And during Eastertide, when our reflection on the resurrection of Jesus moves us toward our own actions, we should rightfully practice new ways of love and kindness. This can be for faithful Christians, an opportunity for growth in likeness of Jesus, and for the nurturing congregation.


What is required of us when we take a stance of love? What attitudes must we shed in order to more fully and genuinely love one another? What example of this love do we see in the resurrection of Jesus, and how do we encourage that same type of dynamic and powerful change in others?

This is not lightweight rhetorical questioning, for us to only ponder. We are called to examine ourselves, repent and change direction. And the author of First John is encouraging their readers toward that path.

This Sunday we start a new 6 week worship emphasis through the book of First John. As our surroundings warm and signs of new life continue to emerge, and as we continue to reflect on the meaning of Jesus' resurrection, let us be encouraged toward a renewed love of neighbor, stranger and sojourner. 

Be Excellent To Each Other, 


Rev. Andy Beck