I've never been to a Solemn Assembly. I just knew we needed to participate. It felt important and obedient for Tricia and I, as well as some other imagine/Northampton folks to be there. I still had a cold and felt rheumy, and could have opted out with some integrity, but we were summoned.
On the drive down to Plymouth, yesterday, I was a bit anxious, nothing new for an introvert going to a situation packed with people. I also had thoughts of what I'd experienced in Norwalk a few weekends back and did not want that again. I gave the thoughts no quarter, so after getting lost because of bad Mapquest directions we arrived at Memorial Hall smack dab in the middle of Plymouth and on time. We got situated and held seats for our mates, Nate and Ash, Steve and Vicki, and Jess (her mom joined us as well, a nice surprise).
The event in toto lasted 4 hours. However, the folks in charge kept things flowing and I was grateful. There looked to be 5-600 in attendance, and as soon as worship began the room was filled with energy and praise. I have to admit, I miss that.
The day flowed with many speakers, some attention-keeping, others not so much. Shofars were blown announcing the Solemn Assembly. We heard about covenant, sang more than once, shared Communion, had a time of small group prayer, were guided in prayers of confession and repentance, and witnessed all manner of testimony over the centrality of New England in the redemptive Kingdom mission of Christ. It began at Plymouth. In the Hall, there was a sincere desire that the awakenings occurring here in the 17th and 18th centuries would happen again and soon. The speakers spoke of urgency, and the need for a remnant to rise to pray constantly, earnestly seeking God, and calling the Church and nation to repentance and revival. We were also entreated to examine our own hearts to see where they had grown cold because of sin and spiritual malaise. I was moved by the examination of my own heart and felt a renewed longing in me to pick up my cross, die completely to self and follow Christ no matter the cost. My confession and prayer to him was real. I want more of Jesus and less of me.
Something happened, though, which framed the entire event, and answered a prayer. What happened was hoped for, and I was stunned with gratitude when it did. We all were, I think.
About a third of the way into the Assembly, the speakers began to call us to repent for the sins of our people against the First Peoples of America. Because God has graciously opened a wonderful relationship with someone in our church who is Native American, and we've had talks about some of the shameful episodes between our peoples' in the founding of the nation, I hoped someone would address the issue. I was utterly taken by surprise when they did. It began with a prayer and general confession. It was poignant and heartfelt, but what happened next brought tears and a roaring thanksgiving from everyone.
A middle-aged gentleman was called up who is Mohawk and a Jesus follower. He spoke of the pain Native Americans have experienced over the centuries in the taking of their country, and the pitiful legacy of broken treaties - almost 500. At the same time, he humbly extended peace and identified himself as a brother in Christ. Some of the leaders addressed him on behalf of the Church and he graciously received it on behalf of Native Americans. Then, a young, Russian immigrant pastor gave him a gift signifying healing and unity. No one expected what our Mohawk brother did next, including the pastor. Around his neck was what looked like a "necklace" of straw-colored reeds he said he'd made. He said it was wampum. He took it from his neck and gave it to the young pastor as a sign of forgiveness, peace and unity. The silence in the room was thick. This simple gesture signified the power of the Gospel to heal and break down walls. It was sober and profoundly meaningful.
What a gift God gave.
At the very end of the event, the pastor who seemed to be the lead guy, called all the pastor's and leaders to come down to the floor in front of the stage so they could be prayed for. Our mates, on either side of Tricia and I turned and looked at me with a "so, you're going, right?" look. Tricia had gone to the bathroom, but she was returning to her seat at that moment.
I mention it because I've not been willing to call myself a pastor even though I am a leader in planting imagine/Northampton and fulfill a pastoral role - even people on the street call me pastor. I think my reticence has been because I'm one of three on the Leadership Team. By design, we've not formally designated anyone as Lead Pastor. Tricia, Jim and I all have distinct roles to play, and each has a pastoral component to it. Also, I'm a layman. All the ministry I've done in the last 20+ years has been as a layman: counselor, coach, spiritual director, retreat leader, ordained elder, teacher, and now pastor. Also, I've always seen pastors as seminary-trained specialists far more equipped and skilled than I to perform pastoral duties.I still do.
When we went down to the floor to join the other pastors, I asked God's forgiveness for quietly refusing the mantle he's given since I have been up in Massachusetts. Standing there with other pastors, it felt curiously fitting and I gave myself permission to accept the role. I am still one of three, but I'll not hide the fact I'm a pastor.
May God be glorified in this simple gesture of obedience.
So the day was a gift on many levels. I'm grateful God gave us the opportunity to attend with friends and to experience a piece of what he is doing in New England. May what was prayed for all through the Solemn Assembly yesterday become reality in my lifetime, and may I do every bit of what God has given me to do with:
a fierce heart . . . a sound mind . . . a fertile imagination . . . a stubborn faith . . . an uncommon courage . . .
a spontaneous ability to laugh and cry . . . and abounding love for Jesus and all he loves . . .
until my last breath drifts peacefully heavenward.
Maranatha, King Jesus!
12 comments:
I looked for your group to introduce myself but did not see you (only know you from Facebook photo and posts).
I was told that the hall seated 1700+.
There were many beautiful, solemn moments that shook the ground yesterday. Quiet, powerful God reconciliations between man and man and man and God.I was profoundly moved. There were some empty pauses-vessels dry, but trying to pour.It reminded me very literally of what life next to lifelessness looks and feels like.I was convicted of my own heart of duplicity and prayed for forgiveness and a singleness of heart devoted to His passions.
The acceptance of the pastoral title has been long coming , Kit. I pray that you walk in His gift and His strength of call in this particular stride. You have been pastor to those I love, and , unmistakeably, to Steven and me in our searching for Christ in the celebration of marriage.Tricia has also been a pastor to me- pointing out the reality of Jesus in the midst of pain and loss and recovering the beauty of joy in Christ.Shepherds are not easy to find.We need and long for pastors. I know that I do.For those of us who have deep scars related to people we have been in caregiver roles for us need you. We are not looking for perfection, merely acknowledgment and reaffirmation that God still cares. You are gifted counselors, but God has called you both to the pastorate however that looks to you, from this side it is very visible. I pray that, again and again, He refreshes your eyes with the water of His spirit to see you as clearly as the rest of us see you...as Pastor,as well as counselor and friend.God bless you as you lead as you are called.
Great report Kit... good to hear. So often these events include so much politics (our nation needs to do X)and scapegoating (anti-gay, anti-Islam, anti-semitic, etc) -- that I am probably too much of a skeptic of these things... I have just seen too many become more Glenn Beck rallies than solemn assemblies... I am encouraged by your report.
And by the way, like it or not, you are a church planter and pastor! (and a faithful/good one at that!)
Pastoral roles come to many and seminary is not necessarily the only path. As one who has a terminal degree in my field, reaching advanced status is as much about jumping through hoops as it is about gaining knowledge. I'm not knocking the knowledge I've gained as a result of my graduate training, but learning and study don't necessarily need to be driven by the hallowed halls of academe.
Although I am not a pastor and I work in a secular context, I find myself pastoring as a leader and shepherd of 3,000 people from the age of 3 to their 60s. What I have learned is that I need to be grounded - grounded in my faith - grounded in obedience - grounded in wisdom from the study of God's Word and through others who have a greater depth of knowledge that can lead me to true wisdom.
Kit - you are well-equipped and ordained by God to pastor in the place that you have. The mantel comes with its share of burdens, but Jesus promises that, when yoked with Him, those burdens will be easy and light.
My prayer is that as you grow in this new awareness of your true self, that God's glory will continue to be made manifest in you!
Hi Kit,
I'm glad you got to experience the presence of God in such a powerful way in this assembly and that he enabled you to see yourself as a pastor. I see you in that way and have referred to you that way. I've been reading Peter Wagner's book on Finding Your Spiritual Gifts (and how it can help your church grow) and I find his definitions of the gifts bring clarity to me. I appreciate how he speaks of a spiritual gift as "a special ability" that God gives to sometone to perform the gift and how this is different than performing a role in the church. I believe there are pastors who are gifted by God to serve his church though they were never formally ordained as a pastor. I liked his definition of a pastor, too: someone who is concerned about the spiritual welfare of a group of people for a long time. I think you would be placed in that category. I hope you feel better soon. I had a bad cold and needed antibiotics and I hope Tricia feels better, too!
Jeanne
I went to college in Southampton,NY...right next to the Shinnocock Inlet, named after the Shinnecock's who are now on the reservation across the street from the school. It's odd, everyone knows of "the Hamptons" but not the dirty little secret of the res. Anyway, I had a friend while in school named Ruben who was Shinnecock and years later, after my coming into my new life with Christ, I ran into him again. I knew he was a Christian so I asked flat out how he could accept a God given brought to him by folks who did such horrible things..."bry-bry, Jesus is the only good thing the white man ever gave us!" ...so I guess I've been at peace with this for awhile. I do agree that cooperate confession and repentance is the key to communial spiritual awakening.
Hey Raymond, we were sitting in the first tier of seats on the left as you came onto the floor in the Hall. One of these days we'll cross paths.
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words, Victoria. I'm glad you were similarly moved at the event. May Jesus continue to convict us of our roles in making peace, breaking down walls, healing wounds, righting wrongs and building bridges for his glorious Kingdom!
Hey Ben. Sometimes I struggle with great expectations, but little lasting effect from these events as well. Window dressing with all sorts of emotion seems to pass for the real thing sadly. My hope is that this one was different and substantive change will occur from the surrendered lives of the people there. Time will tell.
I hear you on the pastor-role- acceptance deal. It has never been easy for me, but I stepped over the line on Saturday.
Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement Judy. What you say is true. And thank you for the prayer. May it extend God's hand of enlivening grace toward my heart and feet.
Thank you for your thoughtful words of wisdom and encouragement, Jeanne. I have always suspected I was gifted this way, but never declared it. Saturday, I did.
I am glad you are over your cold!
I love what your friend Ruben told you, Bryan. He's got it right! Much confessing, reconciling and forgiving still needs to transpire between Native Americans and the "white man." There is bitterness and fear in the way. May Jesus use his followers to love and serve the First Peoples community so they might come to know trust Jesus, the Great Peacemaker.
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