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ISSUE #2 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 2013
Threshold C'mon In!!
Pastor's Message
Beloved Community,
The United Methodist Church has a long history of advocating for peace
and justice, but some are still wondering: “What does justice have to do
with the Gospel?” A lot, it turns out.
In our culture, the word justice has come to mean punishment or
retribution. The legal phrase “justice is served” usually suggests a
sentence that fits the crime. But a Biblical understanding of justice is
about restoration, not just retribution. It’s about helping God’s creation
to flourish, to return to wholeness.
Jesus and his followers used the Hebrew word for justice: mishpat, which
has the sense of giving someone what they deserve. Punishment might
figure into it, but so do protection and care. The word mishpat is most
often used in connection with the care of those who Jesus called “the
least of these”: widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor - in other
words, those without a voice or the power to change their situation.
Just as we always do with scripture, we must ask ourselves, “What does
that look like in a 21st century context?” Another way to ask that might
be: Who are the voiceless and powerless in our world? How do we help
bring restoration to those who have been denied safety, dignity, or hope?
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t wait until people are unsafe or hopeless.
When we live in right relationship, we render mishpat unnecessary.
INSIDE:
Pastor's Message 1
Calendar 2
Upcoming Events 3
Open Door News 7
Deb McCaffrey on Music 8
Nancy Kelley on Nature 10
April P-F on Micah 6:8 13
Anne Santoro on Heaven 14
________________________
THRESHOLD is published bi-monthly by the Open Door United Methodist Church of Richmond, California. Please submit material by November 24 for the December-January issue, to Janet Sowers, at [email protected]. To be added or removed from our e-mail list, or to change delivery type (electronic vs. paper), please contact us at 510-525-3500, or [email protected].
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Right relationship. Healing. Wholeness. These are all part of what we try to practice together each Sunday as a
community of faith, and I’m excited that our leadership team has identified reconnecting with our service and
justice roots as a priority for this year. We start with our current worship series and small group study “The
Micah Project” an exploration of our call to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.
This year we will seek out the places where our neighbors have not flourished – have not been allowed to
flourish – and discuss what we can do to change that reality in our own community and beyond. I invite you to
be a part of this extraordinary opportunity to learn how to more fully live out our faith in the world.
On the Journey,
Pastor Mariah
Calendar
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2
6
9
13
16
20
26
27
October
UMW Meeting, 2:00 pm Friendship Hall
Church Council, 7:30 pm Parsonage
Worship & Fellowship 10 am , Coffee Hour Organizational Meeting at 11:30
SPRC, 7:30 pm Parsonage
Worship &Fellowship 10 am, New member class
Finance/Trustees, 7:30 pm Parsonage
Worship & Fellowship, 10 am, New Member Sunday
GRIP Harmony Walk for Hunger
Worship &Fellowship 10 am , Blessing of the Animals
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6
6
10
13
17
20
24
November
All Saint’s Sunday, Worship &Fellowship 10 am
UMW Meeting, 2:00 pm Friendship Hall
Church Council, 7:30 pm Parsonage
Worship & Godly Play 10 am, Stewardship Drive Begins
Charge Conference, 6:30 pm
Finance /Trustees, 7:30 pm Parsonage
Worship &Fellowship 10 am
Pledge Consecration Sunday & Thanksgiving Celebration, 10 am
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Upcoming Events
Choir Rehearsal Schedule Choir rehearsal will take place each Saturday morning at 9:30-noon. the Bells will practice at 10:30 am every
other Saturday. Like this: Sept 28 Choir 9:30-10:30 Bells 10:30-noon
Oct 5 Choir 9:30-noon
Oct 19 Choir 9:30-10:30 Bells 10:30-noon
Nov 2 Choir 9:30-noon
Nov 16 Choir 9:30-10:30 Bells 10:30-noon
Nov 30 Choir 9:30-noon
Dec 14 Choir 9:30-10:30 Bells 10:30-noon
Coffee Hour Organizational Meeting Do you love coffee hour? Of course - we all do! Have ideas about how to make it even better?
Please join us for a brief organizational meeting after worship on Sunday, October 6th. This is
an important part of Open Door’s hospitality ministry. Your input is essential.
Notice of Annual Church Conference Wednesday, November 13 6:30pm – Friendship Hall Open Door UMC
Presiding Elder – Rev Linda Prendergaast, Pinole UMC
Church Conference is the annual business meeting of the church. It is an opportunity to celebrate the previous
year, and plan for the year to come. Everyone is welcome to attend. Members may vote.
Church Chair Special Offering
Our church is growing and we need more places for everyone to sit! Help us purchase new
chairs for the sanctuary. So far we have raised over $2,500. Please turn in your promise
card to the offering plate or church office as soon as possible.
Walk a Local Labyrinth Music and a meditative journey are offered at the Labyrinth Walk and Concert from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Grace North Church, 2136 Cedar St. in Berkeley.
The free walk events are held by the church on the last Friday of each month and are "open to people of all faiths, ages, and orientations."
The labyrinth is surrounded by 97 candles as a way to encourage walkers to have a feeling of calm and hope. During the walk musical group Winding Way will perform songs and chants from a variety of religious traditions, accompanied by guitar, piano, violin, cello, mandolin, concertina, and other instruments.
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United Methodist Women
All women are invited to come to UMW meetings the first
Wednesday of each month in Friendship Hall. We will have a
short program, then a business meeting. The next meetings are:
o Wednesday, October 4 at 2:00 pm
o Wednesday, November 6 at 2:00 pm
Tea and light refreshments will be provided after the meeting for a chance to socialize.
Catch a Football Game!
Frank Butera announces the football games for Contra Costa College. Be sure to check out a home game this fall!"
Home Games for Contra Costa College:
o October 19, 3:00 pm against Yuba o November 9, 3:00 pm against Redwoods o November 16, 3:00 pm against LMC
Blessing of the Animals, October 27
Bring the special animals in your life to church for 10 am worship service.
This event is held once a year. Weather permitting, we will worship outdoors.
For everyone's comfort and safety, be sure your animal is on a leash or in a
kennel or cage.
If your animal is not able to participate, do bring a picture if you can.
God loves me, too!
CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION
Open Door United Methodist Church
6226 Arlington Blvd.
Richmond, CA 94805
(510) 525-3500
www.opendoorumc.org
Pastor Mariah’s new email: [email protected]
Church office email: [email protected]
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GRIP Harmony Hunger Walk Saturday, October 26 It's time to walk again! Join Team ODUMC for this great community event benefitting the Greater Richmond
Interfaith Project (GRIP). This is a 5-km walk through Richmond. Each walker is responsible for getting
sponsors who will donate to the cause. See Caitlin Hamilton to get your packet.
Good luck!
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Japanese American Religious Federation
of San Francisco
2140 Pierce St, San Francisco, CA 94115 長
寿
August 16, 2013 Long Life
Dear Friends,
On Sunday, October 13, at 2:00 PM, we will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara speak to us on the subject of Healthy Aging. At 102 years of age, being the world’s oldest practicing physician at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo, he certainly knows what he is talking about! The lecture will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco.
Tickets are for a donation of $15 each ($5 for seniors and students). The lecture will be in Japanese, and translation headsets are available for English speakers for $5 each at the door, though there are a limited number of them, so please request yours ahead of time! Free parking is also available at the Cathedral.
There will be an opportunity to meet and speak to Dr. Hinohara and his traveling group from Japan at the reception following the lecture.
We would also appreciate your donations to help defray the costs of interpreting service, headsets, and refreshments at this event.
For further information, please call (415) 239-4517 or email: [email protected].
Thank you for your support.
Kei Nagai
The Dr. Hinohara Lecture Committee
Japanese American Religious Federation of San Francisco
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I would like ________ tickets at $15 per person = $_________
________ senior and student at $5 per person = $_________
I will need ________ headsets for English translation at $5 per headset = $_________
I would like to donate the following amount to help defray the costs of
interpreting service, headsets, or refreshments: $_________
Total: $_________
Please make check payable to JARF, note “Hinohara Lecture” in the memo line, and send along with this form
to: JARF, 2140 Pierce Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.
After October 4th
, we will send you a confirmation that your ticket(s) will be held for you at will call.
Name _________________________________________ Email:_________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
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Open Door News
WELCOME SEMININARY INTERNS!!
Caiti Hamilton is a current student at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. Caiti is originally from Modesto, California. She graduated with a B.A in Religious Studies from CSU Chico. Caiti has previously worked as Director of Youth Ministries at Aldersgate UMC in Chico, and has spent a number of years working for Sierra Service Project, a Methodist affiliated organization providing service learning experiences to youth. Caiti currently lives in Berkeley with her dog, Freddy.
April Perryman-French is in her second year as an intern at ODUMC. For April, her soon to be five-year-old son is the best gift God has given her and she takes bringing him up in a loving home and providing him with a foundation of faith her ministry of priority. She is currently a third year seminarian at Pacific School of Religion seeking ordination in the Methodist Church as an Elder, however she has entered a discernment process over hearing the Lord lead toward Chaplaincy and so is exploring this possibility more. Over the past year as an intern, April has learned much and is starting to feel the benefits of the growing pains of her first year of ministry here in Richmond. Her goals for this year are to open her heart and mind to the possibilities God has to offer, to learn from everyone at Open Door UMC and to learn how to live within the boundaries of God's call to ministry.
GODLY PLAY REPORT
Several parents from ODUMC attended a teacher training workshop held at Epworth United Methodist Church in Berkeley. EUMC has been using the Godly Play curriculum weekly in its Sunday School for many years, and has considerable expertise and a great setup of materials. April, Cindie, Jackie, and I attended, and became much more familiar with the philosophy and techniques. Near the end of the workshop we each practiced delivering a story to the group. Expect to see more Godly Play sessions in the ODUMC Sunday School. Many thanks to Epworth UMC for organizing and leading the workshop!
OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY PICNIC A HUGE
SUCCESS!
Thank you to everyone who helped with the community picnic. It
was a great day. Over 165 people attended! Wow! If you missed
it, the church band entertained us with great music, kids could get
their wiggles out in the bounce house, or have their faces painted,
do art, or compete in the basketball shoot out. We met many
Crestmont School families and neighborhood families. It was a
wonderful way to re-Launch Open Door and celebrate our
community connections. Your hospitality was a blessing to many.
Thank you.
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Listening Through the Cracks by Deb McCaffrey
Last time in
Listening Through the Cracks, and also in my
sermon, I talked about the importance of music
in the Methodist faith. It helps to instill a sense
of community during the service and lets
everyone have some active participation. With
that in mind, I thought I’d start with one of the
praise band’s favorites, “He Never Failed Me
Yet.” This one came to mind because, even
though it isn't a congregational piece, it's still
easy for the congregation to sing along, and
some do. It kind of represents inclusion into our
community to me. "Oh, you've picked up our
favorite songs and are singing along now?
Welcome to the party!" This is actually a
characteristic of the gospel style. Gospel songs
tend to have repetitive phrases so that even
people who can't read can learn the songs. They
also tend to be syncopated, which often
translates to being catchy and upbeat, which is
further incentive to learn them. Most
importantly, they tend to feature loud,
dominant vocals, which makes it easy to sing
lustily and with good courage.
Now that you have a bit of background, let's
look at the words.
I will sing of God's mercy
Every day, every hour he gives me power.
I will sing and give thanks to Thee
For all the dangers, toils and snares that
He has brought me out.
He is my God and I'll serve Him
No matter what the test.
Trust and never doubt
Jesus will surely bring you out.
He never failed me yet.
It reminds you right away of why you should be
singing; because God is good. Basically, God
rocks! Let's jam in his name. There is a
declaration of faith in there, that you'll remain
loyal. It ends with an affirmation that Jesus will
always get us through our troubles if we just
trust in him. As a whole, this section describes
the give and take of a relationship with God.
The first verse has a similar theme.
I know God is able to deliver
In times of storm
And I know that He'll keep you
Safe from all earthly harm.
One day when my weary soul is at rest
I'm going home to be forever blessed.
The first lines are another promise that God will
be with you in the dark times. The particular
wording here reminds me of Psalm 23:4. "Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." I know
this chapter is comparing God to a shepherd,
but this verse makes me picture someone like
Gandalf. Don't things seem more bearable
imagining God standing between you and your
troubles, saying, "You shall not pass!"?
Something new in this section of the song is the
mention of eternal life through Jesus. It strays
from the here and now to project into the
future and give hope during all stages of life.
The second verse is more of a history lesson
turned into a pep talk.
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Didn't my God deliver
Moses from King Pharaoh?
And didn't He cool the fiery furnace
For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
When I think of what my God can do
He delivered Daniel
I know He will deliver you.
Hey! Look at what God did for these guys! He
can do it for you, too! These aren't just any old
examples of deliverance, either. These are the
exciting ones where God delivers with a BANG!
God helped Moses and the Israelites escape
Egypt with a pillar of cloud and fire, he helped
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego escape a
fiery furnace, and he helped David survive a den
of lions. I think these examples were chosen to
set off some fireworks, but also to give some
perspective. With all luck, we won't ever run
into anything as bad as a den of lions, but even
if we do, God can handle it.
In the end, it's a simple song, but a powerful
one. This is part of what makes the song
accessible to even those who are not musically
inclined. If I had to sum up this piece in one
sentence, it would be "In God, all things are
possible." Remember that the next time you
have to face a Balrog.
__________________________
Editor's Note: Deb is a member of the
ODUMC Chancel Choir, Praise Band, and
Bells Cerrito.
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Escape from the Concrete Jungle (and the Kindness of Strangers)
PART I – THE BEGINNING By Nancy Kelly
Whenever the pressures of everyday life start
to drag me down, I head for the hills. A respite
or getaway - Where I can commune with GOD.
A place where the sights and sounds of nature
beckon to me, replenish my energy, awaken my
senses and restores my Soul. Like a drop of rain
in the desert, my mountain retreat totally
refreshes me – it uplifts my spirits and makes
me feel freer than a dove on the wing.
I cast off my regular business style clothes and
pack up my most comfy, casual clothes; some
food, my camping gear and then hit the open
road. During the 3-hour drive – as I whiz past
all the concrete buildings, asphalt roads and
shopping malls – I reflect upon the happy
memories that I have accumulated over my
lifetime from visiting the mountains. I recall
learning to swim in a cool, clean, clear river;
hiking and horseback riding to places yet
unknown; and climbing to the top of a
mountain peak to bask in the glory of GOD’s
wonderful artwork. I remember the feeling of
camaraderie while singing songs to my dad’s
guitar with my family surrounded around a
campfire at night, and the peacefulness of
reading a book while lying in a hammock –
swaying in the warm and gentle breeze of the
hot afternoon – waiting for our daily trip to the
river’s edge.
The memories tug at my heart as I pass through
the old familiar places…North San Juan, Middle
Fork Yuba and Oregon Creek Camp (long ago
made into a day only site). I continue to my
destination….Fiddle Creek, which is located
about 12 miles south of Downieville along the
North Fork Yuba. I have been going there since
the mid-90’s, taking my son, Jeremy and a
collection of his friends and mine, but I have
been going to the general area since I could
walk, I think.
Pulling off the familiar winding, two-lane
highway onto a dirt and tar/gravel access road, I
look for parking - noting what campsites are
seemingly available, and their proximity to the
few amenities (fresh spring water, garbage and
bathroom). I exit my vehicle and stretch, then,
walk about – scouting for the best campsite.
The entire facility only accommodates about 20
tent campsites (and I prefer tent camping to
others, as they keep the quiet after 10pm to
6am, and no RV’s, Quad’s/Motorcycles, or gold-
mining equipment to disrupt the peace and
quiet of the day).
On this particular trip, I walk around the
campsite, inhaling deeply to take in the fresh
mountain air that is so clean and pure I almost
get a head-rush. I walk slowly around to all the
sites, noting what is “reserved” (new to me),
and note where foot-trails appear to the river,
bathroom, etc. While I am walking, I take in the
shadows that the trees cast in the afternoon –
creating a canopy. I close my eyes and feel the
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afternoon breeze – hearing it whisper through
the trees – and gently casting dry leaves and
pine needles drifting down to a soft carpet
beneath my feet. My inner spirit begins to
smile as I lift my eyes to the dappled sunlight –
peaking, sparkling and shimmering like
diamonds through the treetops. I imagine that
GOD is beaconing to me to venture further. As I
“listen” to the silence, I could pick up the
sounds of squealing and shrieking of children’s
laughter coming from the river nearby. Then,
my attention was diverted to teens – soaked to
the bone and casually observing me – while
carrying tubes slung over their shoulders –
heading back to the rope swing a mile up the
road. In the distance, I could hear the muted
laughter of adults sitting in the shade – playing
some game of chance – and thus my trance is
broken, and I am reawakened, so with crystal
clarity, I begin to unpack my truck to site #10.
Just as soon as I have unpacked the “beast”
(Lazarus, named for the resurrection of many
engine issues), when lo and behold, the Camp
Host, Art, arrives to ask how long I intend to
stay. Indicating that I would be staying (nights)
of Thursday (same date I arrived) leaving at
check-out time (2 pm) on Sunday…his face
darkened a bit. He proceeded to indicate that
“Wu – party of 6” had reserved this spot for the
night of Saturday, which meant I could stay two
nights, but would have to leave by 2 pm on
Saturday, a day/night earlier than I had
planned. As I contemplated whether to set up
or not, and just take my chances on finding
something else, Art escorted me around to the
remaining “first come, first served” sites hoping
to find me a place I could stay without having to
move, but all were already seemingly taken.
As I sat pondering my situation (to cut and
leave, or hope someone would not show – thus
allowing me to stay), my neighbor from the next
campsite came over and introduced himself as
“Tony”. After some dialogue about where we
were from, occupations, etc. – he indicated that
he had a rather large group expected to arrive
Friday night, and since they had more than
enough spaces reserved, they could certainly
squeeze me in for one night, so I wouldn’t have
to leave a day early….(Kindness from a Stranger
#1). I sat, wondering if I should leave, since I
came up for peace and quiet, (and it might
prove to be noisy with his group), but then I
resolved that perhaps that was not what GOD
intended for me. I could either sit in misery, or
join them. GOD must be telling me to be more
open to others….welcome them in (as it
appeared they were attempting to welcome ME
in.)
Feeling all could be worked out, if I could only
leave it in GOD’s hands, I unpacked and set up
my tent (alone), and the rest of my “Home-
Camp-Home”.
Now, anyone who has been camping and
performed the tent thing, can skip this part, but
for those who haven’t – here’s the deal:
Emerging from its tight cocoon wrapping, the
tent emerges wrinkled and slightly sprinkled
with the leaves and powdery dust-like dirt from
the previous camping trip. Pitching and staking
the tent requires some tenacity. The object is
to connect two 15 foot stick-like rods – joined
together by an elastic umbilical cord and
inserting these two poles in opposing directions
through loops which criss-cross over the dome
of the tent and down the sides into little
grommets at each corner. Fine.
Just as it seems one grommet/pole is connected
and the rods are nearly through, the rods pull
apart, or the poles snap back and the entire rig
collapses while trying to reposition the tent
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itself in order to avoid the numerous rocks that
lay in wait below the ground. Eventually JOB
steps in, and you succeed, while falling back in
exhaustion and elation, hoping that Mother
Nature will be kind and gentle for the duration,
but just in case, you struggle with the rain fly as
well.
Once the tent is pitched, I go about setting up
my sleeping area. The inside of the tent is
about the size of a Queen bed, plus 1/3 and the
dome is just tall enough to sort-of stand up in
(particularly important while peeling off wet
bathing clothes). I have just learned that the
Indian Valley Outpost (1/4 mile down the road),
is closed for the day, and since I was planning
on using their air compressor, I ponder how to
blow up my air mattress. Without a word, or
indication to my neighbor Tony, he has
magically appeared with the means to blow it
up with his jeep’s battery and a gizmo that
inflates things. (Kindness from a Stranger #2)
Despite his efforts to inflate everything, his fuse
blows out, and I must inflate my river inflatable
myself, which is fine, since it is a bit too late
now to get soaked and then warm again while
the mosquitoes feed in the cool of the evening.
Altogether, setting up my tent and camp took
about 2 hours, and I felt I should check in with
my mother, so I headed about 5 miles up the
twisted road to Cal-Ida, where I could gather
wood for my fire and get cell phone reception.
By the time I returned, it was time to start
dinner, so I wouldn’t be cooking in the dark and
have time to enjoy my fire very long enough
before sleepiness took over (which for some
reason, is earlier up there than down in the City
area).
As dinner was starting (Salmon in foil over the
fire, with asparagus and wild rice on the
cooktop), Tony came over and invited me over
to join him with his meal (also fish – Note to
Newbies: Always cook your fish first, then
chicken, then beef – they spoil in that order.) I
declined, as I didn’t want to waste my food, nor
take any provisions from his stock, but I
couldn’t help but think...(Kindness from
Stranger #3). Tony informs me he is “agnostic,
or even atheist” (perhaps because I announce I
am a Christian), but I tell him, “Don’t worry, by
the end of the weekend, you WILL believe in
GOD in some way” (and I left it at that).
For some reason, I enjoy cooking in the great
outdoors more-so than in a kitchen. Maybe it is
the hiss of the lanterns and the propane stove,
or the coordination/balance of it all. I know I
need to keep it fairly simple, and perhaps that,
in itself, puts me in a closer connection with
GOD.
As I sit after my meal, poking the fire, and
contemplating all of GOD’s wonders, and as I
gaze up into the black-blue velvet of the night’s
sky, scattered with the glittering sparkle of the
stars, Tony appears again – this time with his
friend Jeff – who has been coming up at least as
long as I have…as we talk and the fire dies
down, I think how nice it is to make new
friends. Eventually,
each of us retire,
and with the next
morning brings new
possibilities.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
What does it mean to walk humbly with your God?
By April Perryman-French It seems a lot of focus is placed on the part of
this verse that speaks of doing justice and loving
kindness, but what does it mean to walk
humbly with your God? Humility is often looked
at as a weakness in our society. It is sometimes
likened to timidity and cowardice and
juxtaposed with courage. And yet, to walk
humbly is actually more courageous than
walking boldly. To walk humbly is the Biblical
premise that is the strength of any non-violent
justice movement. It requires one to face
danger, evil and enemies head on; to turn the
other cheek and be kind in the face of an unkind
world.
“And to walk humbly with your God” is an
important part of this verse that is often
forgotten or mumbled through as if it has little
power. Maybe we think it is the easiest part
because we think it requires less of us. To
simply walk in a humble manner with God does
not seem hard. It seems much harder to “do
justice.” It seems much harder to “love
kindness” in a world filled with anger, violence
and fear; in a world filled with strangers.
However, when you really look into what it
means to walk, not just humbly, but humbly
with your God, something happens. A shift
takes place when you think about the power of
the words “with your God.” Questions come to
mind that change the meaning of this verse for
me. Does the word ‘with’ imply that I am
walking humbly because God is walking boldly
in front of me? If this were true would the verse
have read “walk humbly as you follow your
God?” Or, does this verse imply that God is
walking humbly and therefore we should walk
humbly with God? Does it mean we are walking
side by side or are we in God’s shadow?
Whichever it is, God requires us to do two
things in this walk: to stick close to God; and to
take ownership.
“To walk humbly with YOUR God” carries an
important distinction. One may claim that the
use of the word ‘your’ was important in the
time simply because of the polytheistic society
in which the Prophet lived. This may be true
and yet it still asks us to take ownership in the
way that we take ownership of our parents or
our friends. “Go ask your mother” would most
likely not lead a child to a complete stranger to
gain permission to eat a cookie or go out and
play. A complete stranger could not grant such
a permission. To walk humbly with your God
carries an implication of a bonded, loving
relationship with some sense of authority. This
is true of our parents as well as our friends from
whom we seek advice. If you want to know the
truth, you might ask your friend who will be
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brutally honest in their love for you. They carry
the authority of truth for you.
Walking humbly with your God takes on a
powerful meaning when you realize that you
cannot do justice or truly love kindness without
walking humbly beside your God. Humbleness is
difficult in itself. It requires us to strip away our
pride in a world that believes wholeheartedly in
accomplishment. God is requiring us not to take
credit. God is requiring us to do in secret those
things others do proudly for reward. God is
requiring us to stop crying out for justice and to
actually do justice. God is requiring us to meet
anger and rage with kindness and to love it. God
is requiring us to realize that walking humbly
with our God is enough for us. God is speaking
to us through the prophet Micah and the
message is clear. These are God’s requirements:
Do Justice; Love kindness; Walk humbly with
your God.
We must be more fully honest when we pray
“your will be done.” The opportunity to use our
passion to help God’s kingdom come excites me
and gives me reason for much hope.
After I had written this I shared it with a group
who had all written their own essays and I
found that while I really learned a lot from
writing mine, I learned even more from hearing
other people’s essays. I heard deep truths
about my beliefs from other's essays. Sharing
faith with one another can be such a deep
experience, and is an important one as we
share this wonderful journey with one another.
The Rapture: If Jesus is coming to
Earth, Why are we going to Heaven?
My uncle Bob died when I was eight years old. I
remember asking my mother what that meant.
She said that angels came for him during the
night and brought him to heaven. I imagined
four angels, one at each arm and leg for
support, carrying uncle Bob through the ceiling,
outside into the dark of night, and up into the
clouds to meet God. This calls to mind the
rapture. I have trouble envisioning dead bodies
arising out of graves to meet Jesus in heaven. I
know Catholics believe in the rapture. Up until
recently, my mother was worried that I’d be left
out of the rapture (since I was a non-believer);
she didn’t like the idea of her family not being
together. I’ve just begun to take a look at this
concept. One thing I’ve noticed is that there is
no such term in the bible. So, now I have to
ask: “Where did it come from?”
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Rapture is defined in a few ways: a state or
experience of being carried away by
overwhelming emotion; a mystical experience
in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of
divine things; an expression or manifestation of
ecstasy or passion. How did this get stretched
to mean “When Christ takes his followers from
earth to be with Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)?
This definition is used in the New Living
Testament. There are a number of biblical
references to being “caught up.” In 2
Corinthians 12:2-4 and Revelation 12:5, people
are “caught up” into Heaven, into Paradise and
unto God. In Greek, caught up means to seize,
be gripped, a seizing. This can be synonymous
with rapture, thus begging the question: How
do we read the bible? With our head, literally,
or with our heart, figuratively?
I like to think “caught up” has more to do with
being touched by the Holy Spirit, where,
through a particular experience, one becomes
elevated to a higher spiritual plane. Ephesians
2:4-6 makes reference to being saved:
“God…hath raised us up together and made us
sit together in heavenly places in Jesus Christ.”
I don’t think these individuals flew up into the
clouds to be with Jesus. The few times I’ve
heard people testify to being touched by the
Holy Spirit, they had been in extreme situations.
The end result was a deepening of faith, a new
relationship with God. Being caught up is a
metaphorical term. Even if one were to be
seized with rapture, I imagine one would be
carried away (not up in the clouds) in some
state of spiritual passion and ecstasy.
In the Lord’s Prayer we say “thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” If
the Lord is coming to earth to establish a
theocracy, then why will dead bodies be raised
from graves to ascend to Heaven? And what
about those who have been cremated? I find
this all very puzzling if I read these passages
literally. If we listen to ourselves or to other
people talking on a daily basis, we’ll hear the
words heaven and hell used a lot. They are
states of mind, not places. When someone
suffers, he/she is in a state of hell. When we’re
in love, we’re on cloud 9, we’re in heaven. We
can move in and out of these states depending
upon our emotions at the time. If heaven and
hell are states of mind that we live in, why then,
do they become places we go to (or not) when
we read the bible?
Being raised up or caught up to be with Jesus
means one’s spirit being elevated to “a higher
realm of love, peace, joy and victory in the
spirit.”* Our spirit ascends, not our bodies.
“We do not ascend in direction, but dimension.
We grow up to God, not go up to God.”* We
are caught up into a new relationship with God.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing…” (John 6:63). In Luke 17:20-
21, Jesus said, ”The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo
here! Or lo there! For behold, the kingdom of
God is within you.”
Now when I read the book of Revelation I will
no longer envision Jesus descending from
heaven on one escalator as the remaining
human population and the deceased are
ascending to heaven on another. Will my spirit
be at one with God on the day of the Lord?
That is the crux of it.
*Richard H. Morton, 3/98
Anne Louise Santoro
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THRESHOLD
Open Door United Methodist Church 6226 Arlington Blvd. Richmond, CA
Dated Material: October 1, 2013 Sunday Schedule:
Worship: 10 am Contact us! www.opendoorumc.org Office (510) 525-3500 Ministers Everyone Pastor Rev. Mariah Furness Tollgaard Director of Choir & Bell Choir Evan Alparone Church Administrator Barbara Arriaga Threshold Editor Janet Sowers Threshold Publisher Thair Higgins, Marge Elliot District Superintendent Schuyler Rhodes Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr.
