In this E-pistle
Passing Grade?
The Strangers in Our Midist
Coming Attractions

Passing Grade? Most of you know that Christopher has moved to South Bend, Indiana, and has begun his graduate work at Notre Dame. He’s been visiting churches looking for a church home away from Park and filed this report after last Sunday’s visit (slightly edited for clarity sake): On Sunday, I visited a Reformed Presbyterian Church. It got A+++++++ for friendliness, I think we met at least 95% of the congregation, and sat around talking for a good bit afterwards. The only down sides were that the music was a little different (typical RPC, all Psalms, a cappella, although they were mostly familiar tunes), and the preaching wasn’t amazing, but it was a good message. I’ll look at a couple of other churches, but the friendliness alone makes a great argument for this one! When I got home I had message from one of the congregation members we met inviting me to dinner on Thursday. It’s a far cry from last week (Bill’s note: at a PCUSA church) when the friendliest person I met was another visitor!

Of course, I began to wonder, what kind of grade does Park receive from its visitors? You can’t do much about the preaching (though I’ll take “not amazing, but a good message” any day), but you can do something about the music by singing with joy and about the friendliness by visiting after worship and maybe even giving an dinner invitation. By the way, Christopher says the dinner was a great – a good time with some new friends in a new town.

What is your part in our passing grade?

The strangers in our midst may include new residents who are visiting our church. Increasingly, they also include immigrants from far away who are making a new life in the U.S. Events like yesterday’s arrests in the airline terrorism plot increase our awareness of the strangers among us, and especially those from the Middle East and of Islamic background. No need to pretend that there are not legitimate reasons for our anxiety. It’s not a matter of prejudice to acknowledge the fact that most of the terrorists who have brought such death and destruction in recent years are young Muslim men from the Middle East.

But the vast majority of immigrants in the U.S., including the vast majority of young Muslim men from the Middle East, are in our country because of the dreams that can be realized here; dreams of freedom, opportunity and possibilities. They deserve welcome rather than suspicion.

As I was preparing for Sunday’s sermon from Ruth 2, I thought of noble Boaz who welcomed Ruth – a stranger from hated Moab – into his world and into his life. The grace and generosity of Boaz (the great grandfather of King David) is a powerful model for those of us who follow the One who was born in the City of David.

Maybe one of the dreams that the immigrants to our shores dream is of finding that same One who puts our restless hearts at rest. Maybe He intends to use us to share the good news.

On most Sundays at Park there are two or three immigrants – strangers in a strange land – in our midst. How are you welcoming them?

Coming Attractions:

Next Sunday, August 20 our newest mission partner who has been called to served in Southeast Asia through Pittsburgh Seminary’s World Mission Initiative will be sharing with us. There’s an exciting story to be heard!

Sunday, August 27, is Church Picnic Sunday. Plan on wearing casual clothes to worship and then remaining for the annual picnic in the Pavilion. Always a great time of fellowship, this year’s edition of the church picnic promises to be no exception.

The Family of God retreat is Saturday, September 9. My friend, Pastor Jeff Moore from Jefferson Center Church in Saxonburg, will be our speaker again this year. We’re planning on a great cross generational event. Registration will be available this Sunday!