CONGREGATION + COMMUNITY NEWS
PEOPLES PRESS
Joyfully Defiant for the Sake of a Just World
A congregation of the United Church of Christ, the Alliance of Baptists &
the American Baptist Churches
“Sing to our God with Thanksgiving; sing praise with the harp of our God –
who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth,
who makes grass sprout on the mountains and herbs for the service of the people,
who gives food to the cattle, and to the young ravens when they cry.
God does not thrill to the strength of the horse, or revel in the fleetness of humans.
YHWH delights in those who worship with reverence and put their hope in divine love.”
Psalms 147:7-11 (The Inclusive Bible)
We have, for too long, entrusted the development of church doctrine to those who had a vested interest in codifying God’s Word. That is, to people who were very good and making rules and “constructing” theological systems. For several hundred years, seminaries required their students to take “Systematics” or “constructive” theology. It was all supposed to fit together neatly in a way that could guide the thoughts and actions of believers and keep them from committing sin. And it was all very academic. Which is not to say it wasn’t important or relevant, but rather that it focused the rational and the logical.
What got neglected in this approach was the heart and the spirit. And what got undue emphasis was the idea that humans have “dominion” or “rule” over what God has created. When the environmental movement began to gain traction, through Earth Day and legislation establishing the EPA, churches were caught flat-footed. We couldn’t construct a Creation Theology that would negate the role of humans in following the rules, and we had no rules about taking care of creation. We thought that the land and the people on it were ours to dispose of as we wanted. Even now, we are often confronted with understandings of religion that give us carte blanche in the decisions about natural resources.
That’s why I like turning to the Psalms periodically. The Psalms make it clear that what we see around us does not belong to us, at least not unconditionally. In the passage above, the Psalmist makes it clear that it is God who provides for creation, it is God who sustains life, it is God that keeps it all in balance. And our role? To worship this God in reverence. To sing praise to God with thanksgiving. To put our hope in this God’s divine love. There is nothing logical about this. We cannot create a rule-based system that will induce our thanksgiving. It is something that must spring forth from our hearts. And our hearts will not generate this kind of praise by means of an academic exercise. In my experience, it is most likely to happen when we join a community of believers who tell their stories of what God has done for them.
When that happens, the heart swells! When that happens, the songs burst forth! When that happens, the only explaining we need to do is that we have put our hope in God’s divine love, and we have not been disappointed. We may go through tough times. It may be hard for us to keep faith. But just look around at all that God is providing! Think about the possibilities that lay before us in this neighborhood among God’s most vulnerable Children! And what do we have to offer? Divine Love. And if God’s love is at the heart of all that we say and do, then how can we fail? So sing to our God with thanksgiving! Amen.
Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor
Pastor Dave’s Schedule
Pastor Dave will be in the office on Saturday, Nov. 18, Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 22. He will not be in Flint the week following Thanksgiving Due to an expected arrival of another grandchild. Please keep all involved in the delivery in your prayers. Always call to make sure he’s around before coming to the office because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.
If you would like to make an appointment to speak to Pastor Dave in person, please call the church office at (810)767-4911 between 10:00 and 2:00 M-F, or email him at davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.
Good Things Happening in and around us
Upcoming Affiliate & Community Activities
IN THE CONGREGATION
Links are on the church calendar. Need more info? Just ask!
Links are on the church calendar: t.ly/ALHB. Need more info? Just ask!
Adult Forum, meets at 9:30 am on Sundays. We’re currently reading Tears Dry & Wounds Heal by Leon El-Alamin. Join us either in person at church or just click HERE to join us virtually.
Vigil for Racial Justice is still gathering 1-2 pm Thursdays on the Genesee Courthouse lawn.
Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!