Monday we gave pause to remember in a special way Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an extraordinary minister with a passion for justice and equality for all people.  His passion for peace and justice was fueled by his faith in Christ and commitment to Christ's work.  He was guided by a biblical vision for equality and justice.  He took a stand for what was right, even though he knew the cost could be very great.  In one of his famous speeches he declared, "All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for ordinary people to do nothing."  How true.  What are you doing to work for peace and justice in your world?  As Christ-followers, we are not just here in this world to spread the word of salvation and wait for eternity, we are also here to work for eternal things in the present like peace and justice in a needy and hurting world.  True love stands up for justice.  True love speaks against oppression and inequality.  True love speaks a word of love, gives a hug to the lonely, or reaches out with an act of kindness.  We are the hands of Christ reaching out to a world in need.  Take a moment and share your love and faith in a tangible way with someone in need.  And be willing to take a stand.
 
(verse of the week) 
What does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6.8)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of another new day.  Open my heart and life to your plan and purpose for my life.   Renew and strengthen my faith that I have a firm hope and confidence in your love and power.   Help me to work for things that last for eternity.  May I stand strong for justice.  May I live with integrity.  May I stand alongside the hurting or lonely or oppressed or marginalized.  May I show your love to someone today.  Amen!
Open your heart to God's amazing love!-Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Like so many of you, I continue to be heartbroken by the scenes of violence in our nation’s capitol.  People have the right to voice opinion and even protest but they should be peaceful, orderly and respectful.  Voicing differences is part of democracy, but violence should never be tolerated.  Words matter.  And words of our leaders matter even more.  Our country should not harbor hate or incite violence.   It seems for some time instead of listening to each other we have instead been engaged in name-calling and blaming.  We seem to have lost the art of civil discourse and respect that is such a vital part of democracy as well as civil life.  I hope we can all begin to heal and put aside differences and work together as one nation as we welcome President Elect Joe Biden next week.  Part of this is to learn to treat each person with dignity and respect and work for the good of all.  Our Lord gave us a great guide on how to treat each other which has become known as the Golden Rule that people have treasured and tried to practice down through the years.  I offer it again for all of us:
 
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12)
 
I hope you will join me in praying for a healing of our nation and all of our hearts and lives as we try to unite together and work for the good of everyone.  It is time to put aside differences and work together.  Let us welcome our new president and work toward a new attitude.
 
Join me in praying for our nation:   Most High, grant that we may discover again the value of each person, and help us to put aside the enmity which divides, and work toward the good of all.   Help us to learn again to listen to each other respectfully, to act with kindness, to work for justice for all, and walk humbly as we follow you with a renewed vision.  Amen. 
 
Blessings in Christ—Pastor TJ

Like so many of you, I was heartbroken by the scenes of violence in our nation’s capitol.  People have the right to voice opinion and even protest but they should be peaceful, orderly and respectful.  It seems like for some time instead of listening to each other we have instead been engaged in name-calling and blaming.  We seem to have lost the art of civil discourse and respect that is such a vital part of democracy as well as civil life.  I hope we can all begin to heal and put aside differences and work together as one nation.   It seems that a vital part of this is to learn to treat each person with dignity and respect and work for the good of all.  Our Lord gave us a great guide on how to treat each other which has become known as the Golden Rule that people have treasured and tried to practice down through the years:
 
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12)
 
I hope you will join me in praying for a healing of our nation and all of our hearts and lives as we try to unite together and work for the good of everyone.  It is time to put aside differences and work together. 
 
Join me in praying for our nation:   Most High, grant that we may discover again the value of each person, and help us to put aside the enmity which divides, and work toward the good of all.   Help us to learn again to listen to each other respectfully, to act with kindness, to work for justice for all, and walk humbly as we follow you with a renewed vision.  Amen. 

 The appearance of the Bethlehem Star this year brought a ray of light both literally and figuratively to this year that has seen so much seeming darkness brought on by the pandemic the challenges it has brought with it.  It is well to remember God put a star in the night sky to guide the wise men to where the Christ child lay. God still puts stars in the sky to light our night and guide our way.    On that first Christmas challenges had to be overcome, long distances had to be traveled and a king tried to deceive and misguide them, but through it all God guided the ancient magi with a star.  The star was a sign of God's love to all people in all places that God's love was reaching out to them.  Through darkness and adversity, God will guide you, too.  In your darkest night, through your greatest trial, God will never leave you alone.  God will put a star in the night to break through the darkness and guide your way. Your star may take on different forms, but take hope and know that God will shine through the darkest night to show you love and life.
  How can we trust God's love for us? -Simple, because God cared enough to share all of our life with us in Christ born in a humble manger, and then in Christ to show us the way of love and new life. 
  Whatever challenge you face, however dark your night, take heart!  Follow the star, and kneel before the Christ child, and know the peace and hope and love that only He gives.  Know that in the greatest darkness God's love shines brightest, and God loves you!
 
(scripture of the week)
The wise men went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.  (Matthew 2.9-11 NIV)
 
Amid the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, open your heart to God's amazing love . . . and the true miracle of Christmas!  And then let the miracle last the whole year long—Pastor TJ
 
(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, I open my heart to your amazing love, let the light of your love shine into my life.  Forgive me of failures of the past, and give me new life through the miracle of Christ.  Fill my life with the true gifts of Christmas--your hope, peace, love and joy.  May I find a new purpose in life and a new promise for the future, through your grace and to your glory.  Amen. 
 
(quote of the week)
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!--Charles Dickens

 As we welcome this special day of Thanksgiving, I want to say I know many of you are fatigued from navigating these unusual times as well as navigating work and school and society as a whole.  There is lots of guidance on celebrating Thanksgiving with safety in mind for you and your family and we encourage you to do so.  Remember it is not how many gather at our tables, but how thankful our hearts remain.  An attitude of gratitude is also one of the secrets to resilience that we encourage each other to practice, so Thanksgiving helps us lean into this great truth as well as enjoy time with those closest to us.  Thankfulness lifts our hearts and those around us.  If you cannot be with those closest to you either because of the pandemic or simply the distance, then remember there is nothing quite like a good call from a family member or friend to brighten the day.
  As we continue to navigate these challenging times, we are reminded that the first Thanksgiving was not simply a big meal but a time of true thankfulness.  Our forefathers and mothers had endured a very challenging winter and even lost many loved ones, but with the help of their Native American friends planted a crop that turned into a bountiful harvest, so they showed their gratitude by sharing with their new Native American friends.  It was a time of unity, celebration and true thankfulness.  May it be for us as well.
  Edward Winslow, one of 53 colonists who survived the first winter of in Plymouth and records events of the first autumn celebration in 1621 records it this way:  "our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
  Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
--Dr TJ

Like so many churches and other organizations, we continue to try to navigate through the current pandemic pivoting to make needed changes for safety and recommendations of the CDC and local government and then pivoting again as we reopen safely as well as continue the innovations that began with the pandemic to provide service for the widest possible audience in the safest manner possible. 
 
A number of friends and associates have asked me to share our plans and reasoning for our reopening plans that might inform and better equip them as they respond to their situation.  Our stages and timetable made sense for our organization in our place and time and would likely need modification for yours.  However, the idea of staged reopening and the principles behind it may be helpful to others, so I offer it with that in mind.
Blessings—Dr. TJ
 
Socially Distanced and Socially Responsible Reopening Plan
 
Theological Principles:

• Great Command-Love God and “love neighbor as yourself” Matt. 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28
• Golden Rule – Matthew 7:12 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
• Submitting to Authority-Romans 13:1-7: Submit to government and those in authority

 
Guidance

• Gov Holcomb Stages & guidelines including Houses of Worship for Indiana
• CDC Guidelines for Worship  

 
IUCC Stages & Guidelines
 
*Online Worship will continue permanently even after we gather for in-person worship
 
Note: Governor Holcomb’s plan allows people to worship responsibly beginning May 8, but we recommend waiting 1 week after Stage 3 of “Back on Track” (May 24) until MAY 31 unless there is a significant change.
 
We are blessed with a large sanctuary as well as a large entrance area and Gathering Space which allows people to practice social distancing.
 
Stage 1 May 31 (Stage 3 of Gov Holcomb’s Guidelines (May 24th but will begin 1 week later) When allowed to meet in groups 100 and under and lessening restrictions for those 65 & older:

• Both worship services will be at standard times (less than 100 in attendance at each)
• Encourage at-risk people to stay home and attend online (online will continue indefinitely)
• Prior to worship, sanctuary and Gathering Space will be disinfected using detailed checklist with increased cleaning protocols for door handles and surfaces
• Use handicapped button to open doors for people coming into the main entrance
• We will encourage people with signs in Gathering Space to practicing social distancing-no handshakes or hugs; maintain 6-foot distance (except for families sitting together)
• Fans will be turned off during service to minimize airflow between people
• We will have people sit in every other pew by color coding pews with painter’s tape and alternating which pews to use for contemporary & traditional services
• We are strongly encouraging people to please wear facemasks (sport a faith logo if you like)
• Leave main doors open at beginning and end of service so no one has to touch door handles
• No Sunday School for adults or youth until July (Sunday School risks – higher risk adults in closed spaces) (youth may get craft kit to take home)
• No Choir until fall due to higher risk individuals and singing
• No passing the offering plate; we will use offering plate in aisle
• No bulletins-all lyrics will be on PowerPoint for both worship services
• We will remove hymnals, Bibles and pew pads from pews
• Use of name tags will be suspended with name tags covered or removed from Gathering Space
• No liturgist other than the pastor to help with social distancing and so no one feels pressured to attend
• Children will not come forward for the Children’s Message (or keep 6 feet apart in front)
• Pastor TJ will not greet people in the sanctuary following worship, but will be in the Gathering Space
• We are encouraging people to keep flow going in aisles while practicing social distancing
• No Holy Communion in June/July. (Later: bread cut with gloved hands; consider looking at pre-packed wafers or elders could walk down every other aisle for traditional service, so people don’t have to pass communion trays)
• No fellowship activities through at least June 14
• VBS moved to July (Sports Camp is already scheduled for July)

 
Stage 2 June 14 (Stage 4 Indiana “Back on Track”) When allowed to meet in groups 250 & under

• Continue with above measures but consider adding some fellowship activities
• Consider adding youth activities that would allow for social distancing
• Continue practicing social distancing-no handshakes or hugs; 6-foot rule    
• Continue not passing offering plate; use offering plate in aisle; no bulletin & no liturgist
• Continue to encourage people to wear masks

 
Stage 3 July 4 and following (Indiana Stage 4.5/5 of “Back on Track”)

• Start with vision for "new normal" which is currently including distancing with alternating row seating, wearing masks, and no bulletins or hymnals
• Also currently have no handshakes or hugs
• Online Worship will continue permanently so that options continues 
• Adult Ed and Sunday School will tentatively start on Rally Sunday SEP 13 except for Adult Ed Zoom classes which can start any time.
• VBS & Sports Camp with Social Distancing
• Holy Communion offered through prepackaged cups & wafers
• Consider Having a Homecoming Picnic sometime 
• Revisit measures taken in Stage 1 to see what needs to continue and what measures might be relaxed depending on current scenario

 
We continue to use Operational Risk Management (ORM) Principles in looking at above stages:

• Analyze-look and total operational risk at all levels
• Identify-look at each of the components of risk
• Evaluate-assess risk/reward for each component and total
• Mitigate-implement measures to reduce risk by eliminating and/or minimizing
• Monitor-continue to check effectiveness of practices and measures

​ Over the past weeks our hearts were broken by the cruel death of George Floyd by a police officer.  Recently we have also witnessed the death of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor both African Americans who appeared to have been targeted at least in part by race.  Many communities have had several incidents of KKK fliers being distributed.  As followers of Christ, we want to stand firmly and say clearly that we stand for racial equality and want to work for racial equality.  We also want to say that are blessed to have the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech which we should use to work peaceably for justice and equality.
  One of my heroes is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, a great minister and humanitarian who took a stand for justice.   He had a biblical vision that peace and justice were possible together, but the pathway there might be marked by challenge and adversity.   Let us look deeply at our own lives and challenge ourselves to follow Christ's command to love our neighbor regardless of race or place, and to build bridges of peace and understanding, and to take a stand for justice anywhere and everywhere.   Dr. King once said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 
  Let us dare to believe that all children are God's children and dare to act as if all children were our children.
  Together we can make a difference--Dr TJ

If ever there was a time for leaders to be able to navigate a crisis now is the time as we cross uncharted waters of the current pandemic.  But if ever there was a leader in the past who experienced navigating unchartered areas, even if more in the desert than at sea, it is Moses.  Although Moses did not have any of the online options we have found so helpful in our current situation, Moses was faced with responding to a plague, facing an unjust situation, crossing a sea in a new way, leading a group of people through a challenging wilderness and mentoring a new generation of leaders for new challenges that lay ahead.  Why not create some space in your wilderness to spend some time walking in the footsteps of this great man of faith and discovering how wisdom from the past can help you grow in new ways in the present?  
 
May God bless you on your journey.  We will all get through this together –Dr TJ

  Crises always show the true character of a leader.  Like so many other crises, the present COVID-19 pandemic shows the true character of so many leaders.   Some leaders are using this moment for personal gain or partisan politics.  But other leaders are taking this moment to call on others to unite for the good of the community, the country and the wider world.   Let's work together to be those who bring people together for the greater good.  We are practicing "social distancing" for the greater good of all, but it is also time to offer "spiritual connection" and working toward the common good of all.  Now is the time to bring people together.  Now is the time for leaders to unite people rather than divide.  Let's join together and work for the good of all--Dr TJ

This week we celebrated the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, a great minister and humanitarian who took a stand for justice.   Not unlike Moses, Dr. King was willing to face the powers of oppression and injustice and raise a voice for freedom and justice.  Like Moses, he caught a vision of the Promised Land, even though he himself would not live to see its fulfilment.  He had a biblical vision that peace and justice were possible together, but the pathway there might be marked by challenge and adversity.  He had a deep faith in Christ that empowered him.   Psalm 85.10 casts a beautiful vision: 
  Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet,
  righteousness and peace will kiss.  
  As we give pause to honor a great man who worked for a better world, let us look deeply at our own lives and challenge ourselves to follow Christ's command to love our neighbor regardless of race or place, to build bridges of peace and understanding, and to take a stand for justice anywhere and everywhere.   Dr. King once said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 
  Let us dare to believe that all children are God's children, and dare to act as if all children were our children.
  “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that” --Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
  Let us be emboldened by that great vision—Dr. TJ