Pastoral


Reflections Rev. Dr. Jack Haberer


Beloved FPCA Friend, It has been an eventful season of Lent, and the season of PentEasterCost will bring even more. Te season, launched on Ash Wednesday, sent the congregation through a consideration of spiritual disciplines that can help cultivate our ability to listen to the voice of our Lord … to help hear God’s call upon us. Have you more clearly heard God’s callings to you? I sure hope so.


For seven of us FPCAers, nestled in Lent was the journey to Honduras to dig a well in a little village of 200 families (see page 6). Drilling on the playground of an elementary school enabled us to play games with and teach the many children and their parents about God’s love, and about health, nutrition, and hygiene. Unfortunately, our valiant efforts to drill through powerful rock left the water well in the on-deck circle. Our time ran out before anyone could drink the fresh water that’s begging to supply the village, but local staff members of Living Water International will be completing the effort soon. Watch for the good news to follow.


Just five days after returning, I was suddenly stricken with acute appendicitis that led to an appendectomy and a slow process of recovery. Tankfully, no tropical diseases accompanied, and really bad things like the appendix bursting or leaking did not, either. As I convalesced, the other pastors and member-leaders pressed on with great skill and care. Stephen and Dallas filled the pulpit through Holy Week, and I returned to preach again on Resurrection Sunday.


In the process of the Easter sermon, I introduced a concept not much discussed: the fact that Jesus’ resurrection


from the dead was not the end of the story for his earthly sojourn but one of several essential steps toward doing something more ultimate—pouring the Presence of God upon the people of God so that we could become the temple(s) of the Holy Spirit.


You’ve probably never heard it put that way, but indeed, that is the final conclusion of a massive body of biblical research in which I have been engaged since I was barely 19 years old. Over those years, I’ve earned three academic degrees in theology, served thriving pastorates, preached 1,000-plus sermons, and published hundreds of faith-based editorials and three books. But the one gift I consider most valuable, and hope will outlive me, will be the widespread personal discovery of the meaning of Paul’s promise to us as quoted in the Benediction, “… the fellowship the Holy Spirit be with you all.” My prayer is that you, in particular, will discover what it means to be Living the Presence of the Spirit (as my first book is titled).


Based upon the research in my doctoral dissertation (Te Presence of the Spirit: Elusive or Abiding? … Toward a Teology of Spirituality) and written at a very comfortable reading level, that book tells the biography of the Holy Spirit that runs through Scripture alongside that of the other two members of the Trinity. Te historic church has studied the unfolding drama of redemption— and the bestowal of grace—made possible by Jesus the Christ. Te church has plumbed the depths of meaning around the first member of the Trinity, called “Creator,” “Father,” “Mother,” “Yahweh,” “Jehovah,” “Elohim.” But the


third member’s role has usually been relegated to an afterthought, a mystical accompaniment, a flighty feeling.


Nothing could be more understated than those impressions. Te Holy Spirit is the member of the Trinity who puts into action the grace of our Lord Jesus and puts into our experience the love of God. Te Spirit empowers us to carry out the life of gratitude-in-service through which Christ’s Kingdom comes to reality in the world. Te Spirit turns shallow people into deep people, turns weak believism into bold faith, turns acquaintances into warm friendships. Te Spirit is, in summary, the dunamis—dynamic, dynamite power—of Christian living.


Over these weeks between Easter (April 21) and Pentecost (June 9), commonly called Eastertide, I have invited you to mark this as the season of PentEasterCost. I’ve prepared a daily devotional (given free in the church offices and available on the church’s website, fpcallentown.org), and assisted by copies of Living the Presence of the Spirit, available at cost ($10) in the church office. Pam Weiss and I are leading a Bible study group on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the church chapel to dig deeper—please join us.


By all means, please avail yourself of the event-filled possibilities that await you by living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It truly is the best gift I have to share with you. It comes from the depth of my heart.


Jack Haberer Lead Pastor


3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12