Breaking Bread, Spring 2023

“Invitation to Prayer.” 

I wonder if you’re feeling some of the same, a rebound (sports term).  As I have returned to in-person meetings, visits, and speaking engagements, across the region and beyond, I’m being asked more and more about how are congregations fairing in this “post-pandemic” period. This is a difficult question, because, it should be couched with, where was the community pre-pandemic?  What was its response amid the pandemic? Were the needed changes addressed for the health, and future of the congregation?  Many of our congregations adapted, and others implemented hybrid approaches. A variety of mixed strategies and efforts have had measures of growth in attendance and ministry reach (online and in-person).  But this has not been every congregation’s experience. We are responding prayerfully and faithfully to an increase in calls for assistance. 

I believe there is a rebound, but I would characterize it as a sense of urgency to the recovering of what has seemed to have been missed in our past effort/s.  Those of us who are familiar with the sports term might be able to visualize, lots of people in the paint (court) rushing for the ball to put it back in the play or in the hoop.  The rush or sense of urgency does not always provide the best results.  Although, someone out there (a basketball enthusiast) may have a percentile to contest this notion.

Since I was installed as your Regional Minister, I have not stopped “working hard to ably break open this new season and chapter, which promises to continue strengthening our region’s ministry for many years to come.”  We are seeing the fruits of this labor, and hope these will reap a harvest for us all. I appreciate many of our clergy, and leaders, who remind us to “Arise, Anew.” As we look to learn, develop, and respond to our congregation’s new/er needs. We also seek as well to live more faithfully our regional life, together.  More to come.  I invite us all, more earnestly, to this season of prayer for each other.  Here is our prayer calendar.

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, Clergy, leaders, and churches joined together, at the invitation of Abundant Life Christian Church in an annual Community Prayer Breakfast. Several of our pastors (Rev. Dr. Darrell Haley, Pastor Ronnie Taylor, and Rev. Eddie Anderson) offered prayers for:

-       the healing and wholeness of the world and international relationships,

-       the healing and wholeness of the minds, bodies, and spirits, and

-       the healing and wholeness of our communities and church.

Rev. Dr. Lisa Tunstall was the invited speaker, and charged the clergy and congregations present, as well as the African American Convocation (she presides), and our Pacific Southwest Region to “a consistent faith and persistent prayers.”

I would like to share with you the following beautiful invocation, prayed at this event, written, and offered by Rev. Sadie Cullumber.  May it be our open opening, and continuing of this season of prayers:  

God of the ancestors,

We come before you this morning with seeking and searching hearts. We come to you as we stand at the edge of newness, the edge of change, the edge of a new way, a new possibility in this world. Our hearts are tired, worn, beaten, broken, and yet, they are open. Our hearts are open, God. And we can feel you, your spirit moving in us, weaving us together as your people, your body. We can feel it, like a whisper, a soft breath.

We call your spirit into this space, we ask you to rise in each one of us today and every day, as we do your will. God we are still recovering as a whole world from so much trauma, so much isolation, so much abuse and harm. And God you know that this trauma is ancient. It is trauma born of violence, abuse, neglect and on and on and on, God.

But as your people, in the face of all this evil, we choose to gather in prayer and communion. We choose to join our hearts that are broken but wide open; we choose to lift up our voices in song and in prayer; we choose to place our vision on hope; we choose to reach out and reach in to find ourselves and one another. We choose to jump right into the living waters that surround us, that are offered to us in love and peace by your precious son, Jesus the Christ.

God we invite your Holy Spirit into this sacred space, this sacred moment. We feel our strong and aching hearts soften as you envelop us with your living waters. And we lay down our weapons, our pain, our anger, and our rage for a few moments as we are held in the lap of your generous spirit. In the peace of these moments, we remember to breathe and to connect to our bodies and to our spirits in the sacredness of breath. In these moments of peace, we are restored and renewed for the work.

We give thanks to you for all of it—for a moment to stand in the sun, faces upturned and hearts open; we give thanks for the lessons we are learning so that we can be your people, even when those lessons are hard; we give thanks for our own bodies that carry us through; we give thanks for the beautiful bodies that surround us and for the spirits too. We give thanks for the ancestors who came before and who are here now, an assembly of the Saints, encouraging us and believing in us, moving in us. We give thanks, we give thanks, we give thanks!!!  Amen and amen.”[1] 

Let us prayerfully, “Arise, Anew.” 

Blessings,
Richie

[1] Cullumber, Rev. Sadie. Invocation Prayer, Abundant Life Christian Church Community Prayer Breakfast, Carson, CA, April 1, 2023.

Breaking Bread, Winter 2023

“Our World is a Neighborhood”

Happy New Year.

Our region will soon celebrate the life, and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 22, 2023, at 4pm in the Disciples Ministry Center, Fullerton, CA.  It has been wonderful to hear his works, and ministry remembered in pulpits across our congregations and beyond.  Amid these, I highlight a reflection “A Man for Our Time” shared via Facebook by Rev. Brian Daly, Pastor of Pacific Beach Christian Church. Rev. Daly reflected on parts of Dr. King’s last Sunday morning sermon (March 31, 1968) Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.  

 Here is an excerpt: “Our world is a neighborhood. Through our scientific and technological genius, we have made of this world a neighborhood and yet … we have not had the ethical commitment to make of it a brotherhood.  But somehow, and in some way, we have got to do this.  We must all learn to live together as brothers. Or we will all perish together as fools.  We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.  For some strange reason I can never what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured.”[1]

As noted by Rev. Daly, this voice is still speaking to our time/s.  Amen.  Hence, Dr. King is still “a man for our time.”  I wonder if you hear and agree with this voice and vision for our time.  While the masculine terms might jar, in our time.  At heart we know that Dr. King’s vision engendered everyone.  Afterall, his words, “whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”  Some understand the world is changing. Indeed, science and technology has had it “become a neighborhood.”  I wonder if true for you, what has changed greater is you, and I.  We hope for the better.  Amid the changes, challenges, and complexities.  May we recover and renew the flame of our ethical commitments to bring about God’s reign, here and now.  Afterall, we proclaim it is among us.  It is in our daily living, work, effort, neighborhoods, and communities, together, we build and realize the beauty of God’s Kin-dom.  You, and I are important to make this world better for all.

Let us “Arise, Anew.” 

Grateful for Dr. King and for his works! 

Blessings,
Richie

[1] Washington, James Melvin. A Testament of Hope: The essential writings and speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. Harper Collins, 1991. Pg. 269

Breaking Bread, Fall 2022

Assembling our Region on October 14 – 15, 2022, Fullerton, CA

 There is an air of anticipation blowing across our congregations.

 Our Region, like so many others, on the even years enjoys an assembly, it is where we come together, convening our congregations’ delegates for the purposes of conducting business, worship, education, fellowship and serving as a witness to the world. 

 In this Assembly, we concern ourselves with the question, How do we forge ahead, beyond gloom, and discover a new way forward? We need a light. We are being called to Arise Anew. Together, we will take time for business, create space for each other, become inspired by keynoters, and worship in ways we pray all will help us to Arise, Anew.  

 If you have not reported and submitted your voting delegate forms (due October 1, 2022). Please call the office and receive additional instructions.  There is still time to register online: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejde5as72b6751d9&oseq=&c=&ch=

As a result of the pandemic, public health, and safety concerns we assembled and gathered (2020 – 2021), virtually. This year we are grateful to celebrate in a hybrid format, virtually, and in-person. Thank you in large part to the technological advances, and support of First Christian Church, Fullerton. PSWR Disciples will worship and be served in a virtual Regional audience as well as with in-person assembling. We will Arise, Anew.

 Too, as we look to the future, the vision and work of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada inspires our deeper covenant. It is raising the question, How We Do Church in a New Time and Place?  Here is a link to more information about the same: https://disciples.org/covenant-project/ 

 I would like to thank the many volunteers, talents, gifts, and efforts that came from our congregations. Our Region is filled with a beautiful array of diversities in culture, languages, music, worship, social and theological perspectives and much more. Many of these will be reflected in this upcoming Regional Gathering, October 14 – 15, 2022. It has been shaped together with you at heart and in mind.

 Once again, please register and attend, help us witness our strength and support the many efforts of our congregations. We are praying and working to Arise, Anew.

 Blessings,

Richie

Breaking Bread, Summer 2022

May the peace of God be with you.

We have welcomed the summer!  Along with this season, our schoolteachers are enjoying a well-deserved break, and all of us are trying to stay cool amid the warmer temperatures.   Loch Leven’s pool has been a summer camper favorite.  The camper smiles, laughter, and learning about “what’s in a name” has been all the reward we need for a well-done effort by the Camp Ministry Committee, Outdoors Ministry Committee, our Regional Board and Staff leadership.  We are thankful for the ministry and work of Rev. BJ Barlow supporting our summer camps.  PSWR Disciples Camps and Retreat Centers, Loch Leven, De Luz, and Bethany Pines are open! 

In news, we’re learning about fluctuation in the costs of gasoline, other products / services, and an overall inflation.  We are aware of the constant changes all-around.  A pew research article writes, “the public, for its part, appears to recognize that a swift return to life as it was before the pandemic is unlikely. (As) one-in-five (Americans) predicted their own lives would never get back to the way they were before COVID-19.”[1] Despite these, the airline industry is reporting a demand and a rise in travel.  I expect some desire to visit with loved ones who were far away because of the isolation.  I wonder if others want to get back to the way things were.  In this pandemic, we have learned so much about our creative and resilient spirits.

Many of our congregations, clergy, and our region wrestle with what the “new normal” will be for us all.  Recently, in a reporting, I had a “Freudian slip” – the revealing of a subconscious feeling or something from deep in the heart as I noted to those listening, a growing list of congregations were looking for our help and instead said, our hope.  I looked at those hearing my voice saying, I believe we are being sought for a little of both, help and hope.  But, truly, I believe, in each other’s eyes, our covenant, mutual support, and in the stories of our overcome, our hearts will be filled again, with smiles, laughter, and learning that we all have help and hope in a name, for us it can be found in the name of Jesus.  The one who lived for us to find life and that more abundantly.   We have much to do together. 

Let’s keep praying and Arise Anew!

[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/2022/03/03/two-years-into-the-pandemic-americans-inch-closer-to-a-new-normal/

Breaking Bread, Spring 2022

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60: 1 (NRSV)

“Levántate, resplandece; porque ha venido tu luz, y la gloria de Jehová ha nacido sobre ti. – Isaías 60: 1 (RVR1960)

May the peace of God be with you.

As we arise, from the pandemics, injustices, inequalities, racism, and so much more.  Let us continue growing in our individual and collective power to change this world.  It is the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who encouraged everyone to do that “little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” 

I am inspired by all the good, our congregations, clergy, regional, and general church staff members and partners are carrying forth, in resilience, using resourcefulness, and creativity to serve our communities together. I think we can easily agree, we have been marked by the pandemics, in some ways inexplicable and others unimaginable.  Yet, we continue “the Way” pressing forward, not forgetting our call to continue serving each other and this world.

As I look back, these first two and a half years of service as your regional minister.  I remain humbled and grateful for the privilege of your call.  We are braving one of the most unusual times ever witnessed in our current generation.  When I arrived in our office, we were charged with a long list of concerns and dreams.  With “safer at home orders” issued only 5 months into my arrival.  Some of our clergy and congregations have had more experience with me virtually than “in-person.”  It is difficult, to acknowledge that by the end of 2020, we endured a workforce reduction, and the public closure of our Loch Leven Camp & Retreat Center.  We continue to maintain economic stability.

During my time, we have seen several congregations conclude their visible ministries: First Christian Church, Whittier, Church of the Chimes, Fontana, First Christian Church, Riverside, Antioch Christian Church, Los Angeles and most recently Missiongathering – Pasadena (formerly known as Pasadena Christian Church).  Each congregation has entrusted the PSWR with their church buildings, to help support our regional ministry in varying new and living ways.  In faithfulness, each encouraged us to continue supporting our Disciples legacy, helping to support new churches in their stead or in other places. Some have imagined reinvestment with their proceeds from sale, addressing areas such as capital improvements to help designated congregations and at Loch Leven including camp and retreat program support, and much more. 

It was 80 years ago, All Peoples Community Center, South Central Los Angeles, was founded and launched by Disciples with this same yearning and goal in mind and at heart (meeting the changing needs of its community).  In this same Spirit, we watched the birth of Eastmont Community Center, East Los Angeles and Project Impact, Lynwood, Los Angeles.  These centers are just a few of the many pillars in our region, reminding us, that something new and beautiful is always ahead.  Especially, when we keep our mission and community’s needs paramount.    

In the past few months, the Executive Directors of each center have been meeting with our Regional Leadership to build mutual relationship (synergy).  While, new and living ways are being imagined and planned, to replicate these centers and services all throughout our region.  Among the newest, with the approval of the former First Christian Church – Riverside, a new model will emerge continuing with Disciples presence, ministry, and their beloved pre-school for years to come.

We are happy to announce that Loch Leven Camp and Retreat Center has reopened to the public, having hosted their first few events under the new UCCR camp management.  We’re working to schedule an open house date for all to come and see the new experience at one of our beloved homes.

As we arise anew, our upcoming 2022 Regional Assembly Theme, based in part on the scripture of Isaiah 60:1 (NRSV).  I have been resourced by our Regional Board to hire a consultant that will walk with us to create a new regional leadership type and experience for our Regional Board.  This will be a journey of 18 – 36 months.  I look forward to introducing more of our plans at this year’s Regional Assembly.  We trust in God’s mission for our collective future. 

There is so much more to come. Let us keep each other in prayers as we Arise Anew.

Blessings,
Richie