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Newsfeed  -  September 2019

The Power of Remembering and Stories


I find myself writing this newsfeed essay on September 11th (9-11). I went to bed yesterday seeing numerous folks anticipating today on social media with pictures of the Twin Towers and citing statistics about the lives lost on this day in 2001. When I awoke this morning, it was the first thing on my mind. My thoughts went back to the day and I must admit, I have caught myself telling my grandchildren the 9-11 story in terms of “before you were born…”

This morning I also followed a ritual I have acquired over time and I read the blog “The Twelve;” Today it was about the passing of Diet Eman, a brave individual who, as a member of the Dutch resistance in World War II helped save many Jews. I had the opportunity to meet Diet once and was part of a circle where there were a number of Dutch resistance fighters, many with similar stories. These stories were not new to me as I grew up hearing similar stories from my mother and father who lived through the war as teenagers; later my in-laws added to the same.
 
Along with this, I have also been reflecting on an article written a couple of weeks ago by Rev. Marijke Strong. This MFCA alumna wrote a powerful piece for “The Leader’s Journey” telling a story of a Palestinian and Israeli whose life journey’s and suffering brought them together. It provided an amazing testimony about human tragedy and how human beings are innately capable of processing hardship as they define their experiences, allowing them to connect as individuals. Strong illustrates well how this leads to emotional maturity.
 
I strongly recommend to folks to follow the links and read the account of Diet Eman’s story and the piece from the Leader’s Journey by Strong. These two, as well as the events of 9-11, have substantial pain and loss at their center. Human suffering, as scripture makes clear (John 16:33, Romans 8:18), will occur, often at the hand of one human against another. This part of human nature continues to mystify and sadden me. But, it is our reality.
 
What they all have in common is that life events, including the suffering, produce stories. Stories that contain lessons that should be well remembered and learned from. I wish suffering did not have to occur, and yet it does. According to scripture, suffering builds character (Romans 5:3 - 4); and, as we saw after 9-11 and in Marijke’s illustration, it is capable of bringing people together, resulting in healing and unity.
 
Suffering, and the good that can come from it, appears to be an oxymoron or a contradiction of sorts; as well as a mysterious reality. Jaco Hamman, in his book The Millennial Narrativeuses the book of Joel to decipher this phenomenon. He identifies the infestation of “locusts” described in Joel as an illustration of suffering, and notes God’s compassionate response as an illustration of God’s heart and desire for His people. Hamman writes: “Joel’s primary goal [is] to reconnect the people with God.” (Pg. 117). His argument is that suffering will occur in life. This suffering makes us vulnerable and opens us to God’s compassionate love for us. Our Christian walk is one where God walks with us “through the valley of death” and leads us to restoration. 

I encourage all of us to remember the stories and to keep telling them. Some of us have this opportunity to do so from the pulpit every Sunday. Others, as they share with their children and grandchildren. The stories have the capacity to reveal God and His attributes to us. They can demonstrate God’s love for us and His desire to be in relationship with His people. They can illustrate the capacity of humans to become vulnerable, to reconcile, and to restore what has been broken and bruised.
 
Let us remember and not forget!
 

Cor
 

Events & Resources


RCSC Certification Committee             October 10 -11
New Brunswick, NJ
 
MFCA Board of Trustees                      October 22 – 23

 

RESOURCES
 
The MFCA office has updated the preaching and worship leadership evaluation form. It is available online at the MFCA website. If you would like a copy now, please contact Kelly Talsma at ktalsma@rca.org
 
This form is designed for supervisors, church leaders and congregants. More resources are available online, and Mary Van Holst, in her book A Little Handbook for Preachers, suggests regular feedback from those on the receiving end of sermons and recommends that one need only google “sermon evaluation forms” for helpful tools.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 
Our condolences to Rev. Dr. Mitch Kinsinger on the death of his wife Sandra Hoover – Kinsinger. Sandie had a difficult struggle with cancer, as has Mitch himself. Sandie passed away August 22ndin Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
 
Congratulations to Michelle and Rev. Chris Jeong on the birth of Yunhi Jeong, born June 22nd in Myanmar (Burma); where the Jeongs are serving! They are now a family of five!
 
Director's Travel Schedule

Oct. 1 – 3      Chicago, IL
Oct. 9 – 12    New Brunswick, NJ
Oct. 28 – 31  Holland, MI


More trips will be scheduled. If you wish to request a meeting with Cor, please contact Amy White.

awhite@rca.org     562-408-2520

Copyright © 2019 Reformed Church in America, All rights reserved.



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