A monthly column for the church-at-large by The Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) This month, the column is written by the Reverend Dr. Byron A. Wade, Vice-Moderator of the 218th General Assembly. 

What happens when the bush stops burning?

March 2009

I remember very well the day of commencement from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary. I was graduating with honors. I had a master’s degree from Union Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian Education. I was definitely ready to serve a congregation and was energized to do ministry.

The commencement speaker that day was the Reverend Dr. Renita Weems, former professor of Old Testament at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her message was entitled, “What Happens When the Bush Stops Burning?” from the call of Moses in Exodus 3. She asked us, “What will you do in-between the first time you heard from God and the next time you do?”

In her message, I was reminded of the “burning bush” moments when God is present in our lives – ordination and installation of pastors, marriages, births of children, formation of friendships or relationships, and so forth. Those are the times when God’s presence burns brightly in our lives.

But as life goes along, things happen – church conflicts, broken relationships, loss of loved ones, periods of economic recession, loss of employment, and more. In those times, we cannot feel the presence of God, and we don’t know when we will hear next from God.

Rev. Weems ended her message that day by telling the story of a time when she was invited to be a guest preacher. She recalled that she was going through some difficulties in her personal life that particular Sunday. As the choir sang, she heard the most beautiful voice. She wanted to see who was singing, so she turned around to look at the choir. The voice was coming from a man whose face was totally disfigured. She knew then that God used that man to speak a word of comfort to her in a time of need.

What happens to you when the bush stops burning? What do you do in-between the last time you heard from God and the next time?

For me, it is helpful to remember Rev. Weems’ message, especially during this Lenten season. God speaks to us in unexpected ways to let us know the “bush is still burning.”

A monthly column for the church-at-large by the Reverend Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

A place where peace truly abides

March 2009

I traveled recently to Israel/Palestine/Jerusalem on your behalf. Victor Makari (coordinator for Middle East, Asia Minor, and Jinishian Memorial Program), Randy Ackley (coordinator, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance) and I were there to show our pastoral support for the Palestinian and Jewish people who had been impacted by the Gaza violence.

This was my first trip to the Middle East, and it left me with many impressions. For example, seeing the actual geography of places like Bethany, the Mount of Olives, and the road on which Jesus rode a donkey on Palm Sunday had me wondering at a new level what it was like to be in Jerusalem in those early days.

Perhaps the greatest impression is that the struggle of those in that region reminds me so much of our struggle to live together in this country. We are still learning that people have basic common needs, regardless of race or creed.

People need a secure home – one in which you can put your child to bed at night without fear of some violence from the sky. They need the ability to earn a living – not very possible if you cannot get to work safely. And people need a sense of future for their family, which is left in question when your children leave your country to find a better life.

The season of Lent provides us with a time of prayer and introspection as we prepare ourselves for Easter morning. This year, I want to invite you to add a regiment of daily prayer for the people of Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine. They are all people who are trying to live their daily lives in the midst of a huge relational struggle. It is a struggle that inflicts a thousand little hurts into hearts and minds on an all-too-regular basis.

Perhaps first, though, we need to pray that we will continue to learn our own lessons about living together in a common land. Then, let us pray that we will find a way to share what we have learned, so that the geography of the Holy Land will be a place where the peace that passes all understanding truly abides.