Be Not Afraid

By / March 8, 2013
Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, former Moderator of the PCUSA: Caldwell is honored to be one of four Charlotte Presbyterian churches hosting a group of denominational leaders visiting this weekend as part of a program by Union Presbyterian Seminary. Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, who led our denomination 2008-2010, will preach in worship Sunday, building on the themes of the past two sermons from John. He will also lead an interactive conversation about new possibilities for the church at 9:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in even more, he and three other past moderators will speak "On the Future of the Church" at Union seminary (on the grounds of Sharon Presbyterian Church) at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. Reyes-Chow is currently coach and consultant with The Center for Progressive Renewal, a non-profit, Atlanta-based church development organization and is a blogger for the progressive Christians section for Patheos, the religion section of The Huffington Post and formerly for City Brights on SFGate, the online publication for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Dear Caldwell,

As I write, North Korea is rattling its saber louder and louder, ‘sequestration’ indecision is resulting in real cuts in human services and South Dakota has passed a law permitting teachers to wear guns in class. Yet our Lord says, “Be not afraid.”

By one count, that phrase is the most often-repeated phrase in scripture. Still, we might say back to God: “Well, that’s easy for you to say. Have you taken a look around your word lately?”

On Sunday, we welcome Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow (see the box), a man who is no stranger to the world’s tumult (he has spent this week in New York at a meeting of the UN Commission as the Status of Women).

Bruce is also well-versed in the great questions facing the future of God’s church that we have been pondering these last few weeks. Into all that, Bruce will preach a sermon titled “Birthing the Unknown,” based in part on Matthew 14:22-33 (the story of Peter nervously stepping out onto the water).

First, though, at 9:45 Sunday in Fellowship Hall, we have a chance to talk informally with Bruce. This takes the place of regular Sunday school.

Sunday is a ‘red-letter’ day for the added reason that we welcome Anne Hunter-Eidson as our Music Director. Please welcome her into the Caldwell family. You can read more about her here:

http://www.caldwellpresby.org/docs/resources/AHEbio.pdf

Sunday night, the Caldwell youth are invited to the home of Caroline and Joe Lublinkhof for a game night at 6 pm.

Earlier this week, Presbyterian leaders from across the nation gathered in Charlotte to ask “What’s Next” for our denomination. Several of us, including our great choir, were invited to share the Caldwell resurrection story.

As we continue to ask ourselves ‘what’s next’ here at Caldwell, I am reminded that, as one conference speaker said, “There is no such thing as a passive Christian.” In other words, we are to be active as the body of Christ.

I am grateful for how so many of you are active in our ministries every day. As we continue to ‘wade into the water’ of God’s will for us, let us also remember God’s abiding reassurance: “Be not afraid.”

See you Sunday.

In Christ,

John