We Believe . . . .
This page presents viewpoints from Pastor Dave. These thoughts are also published in the current issue of our newsletter, The Pillar. We welcome your comments and questions. You can send these by e-mail to buccpastor@sbcglobal.net .
July 2010
. . . I WONDER WHAT OUR FOUNDING MOTHERS WOULD SAY?
Pastor Dave
The Declaration of Independence proclaims that "all men are created equal," which at that time meant White Men, but we have made some progress with that since 1776. It also asserts that all [people] "are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." If that assertion is correct, it would mean that you and I, and every person alive, has the inalienable [non-transferable, undeniable] right to pursue our own happiness. So, a question which we might ponder is, why do there seem to be so many unhappy people in this Land of Liberty?
Perhaps it’s because we are pursuing the wrong things. We pursue fortune, fame, power, success, entertainment, excitement, even trivia; but we often neglect pursuing genuine happiness. I have an idea of why that may be. When we talk to our children, friends, or even strangers about "Rights," we inevitably add the statement, "but, of course, rights also mean responsibilities!" And that is correct. So maybe one reason you and I avoid pursuing our own happiness is because we are afraid of that basic responsibility.
If I am responsible for my own happiness and peace of mind, then I cannot blame my parents, my partner, or my parishioners for my unhappiness. It is truly up to me to decide whether or not I want to be happy with my life as I chose to live it. Certainly, there may be things from my past, or possibilities in my future, that could hinder my pursuit of happiness, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try today. If I’m not happy with a relationship in my life, I can strive to make it better. If I were not happy with my work [actually, I thoroughly enjoy it], I could begin to pursue other career options.
In many ways, the choice – whether to be happy or not – is up to us. God has blessed us with the gift of Life; and in this nation, we still enjoy tremendous Liberty. We can use that Life and Liberty in the Pursuit of Happiness, or we can squander them foolishly on more trivial pursuits. And one final thought for those who may be thinking, "but I must put others’ happiness before my own." There certainly are times when that is a necessary and admirable thing to do; however, have you ever really seen an unhappy person spread joy to others? Probably not. Another way to think about this is by remembering Jesus’ Declaration of Inter-dependence: that we should "Love our neighbor as we love our self." If you and I don’t think that our own happiness is worth working for, it’s doubtful that we will be able to do much in helping others pursue theirs.
Here’s wishing you all a HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY and a great summer!
Pastor Dave
June 2010
. . . TO THE CORE
Pastor Dave
In my May 16th sermon , I referred to the process that our Church Council and other interested members went through to help clarify our Church’s Mission Statement, our "Core Values," and some of the ways that we approach our overall ministry.
As I delivered that part of the sermon, it struck me that about half of the people sitting there weren’t even members here in the Fall of 2006. I also realized that some of us who were members back then [including me] probably hadn’t thought about those Core Values for some time.
Our Mission Statement: Loving, Serving, and Accepting All People with God’s Life-Changing Power, is printed on the front of each Pillar and on every Sunday bulletin, so it should be familiar to us all. Those Core Values that we identified to help us formulate that Mission Statement are cited less regularly, so I raise them here for our consideration and reflection:
1. Inclusiveness in All Things
2. Creative and Dynamic Worship
3. Reaching-out To and Welcoming the Community
4. Community of Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness
5. Environment of Learning and Spiritual Growth
6. Unleashing Peoples’ Gifts of Ministry to Help Them Grow through Serving Others
Every time I review this list, I am struck by how much these values truly do form and inform a great deal of what we seek to do in and through our congregation’s ministries. And now that summer is about to begin and we are entering that long Church Season of Pentecost [marked by that eco-friendly liturgical color, green], I’d invite us all to take some time to reflect on these Core Values – to let them kind of "grow on us" and to stimulate our thinking about what truly matters to us as a community of faith.
As you go over this list, consider which of these values seem particularly meaningful to you as a member or friend of BUCC. Think about what other values, or hopes, you might raise up for our congregation. Try to envision the various ways in which we might work together to live out these values and bring them to life through our different ministries and programs. And please feel free to share your ideas with me and with other members, so that we can continue to evolve and grow as a unique and important Church presence within our larger community. Those of you who have become a part of this church family since we first went through this process were probably drawn to BUCC because you hold essential values similar to the ones listed here. I believe that there are many other people in our area who feel the same way, and who would be delighted to know that there is a community of faith near them that value these things. I know that I am extremely grateful to be involved in a church like this – one that throughout the generations has embraced and advanced such noble, Christ-like ideals. And I also look forward to our continuing to work together, in carrying forward the mission and ministry of this wonderful congregation.
With you in Christ’s Service,
Pastor Dave
