We Are All Connected--From the Mountains to the Chesapeake

Just a few minutes ago, Max and I passed the highest elevation point east of the Mississippi on I-80. Just after that we passed a sign saying we were then leaving the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Keeping in mind that we are in DuBois, PA, for the memorial service for my friend's father, I was struck by how connected we are in life.

The folks who live and make their living along the Chesapeake Bay by fishing and crabbing are actually dependent on how the people who live just on the other side of this mountain tend the land and waterways up here. Separated by many miles, they could assume that their lives have no connection with each other, but as we have learned through the attempts to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, we are intimately linked to people we have never seen and most likely never will.

The decisions we make in relation to our actions have lasting impact not only in our immediate location, but also in the broader world. This is true in our care of creation and in the ways that we act as the church, Christ's body of grace in the world. While it is tempting to focus on our own backyard solely, ignoring those downstream or upstream from us, what we do is vitally important to the health and well-being of everyone else. This is why our decision to host Falls Church Feeds The World is so significant to the people who will receive the meals that are packed. It is also meaningful to the people in our community who have sufficient means for their lives. We are all connected. 

 Sunday, June 5, 1-5 PM

We can all make a difference because we are all connected.

Let's join hands with our community

"Unanimity Is Not the Same as Unity"

“Unanimity is not the same as unity.” This was a statement I heard while watching the live-

streaming of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, in the context surrounding a statement prepared by our Council of Bishops as they responded to a plea from delegates for leadership in the midst of a difficult conference. Shortly before I heard this statement, I had read a blog post by Jason Micheli (http://tamedcynic.org/disunity-is-not-diversity-schism-is-sin/) reminding us that unity is not something we achieve; it is the gift given to us by our God who is Three-in-One. In these words, I heard echoes from my doctoral paper. The movement of unity within the Trinity is the continual, eternal pouring out of the unique selfness of each Person into the others, and the continual, eternal receiving of the other Persons into the self. In other words, to use traditional language, the Son pours out his self into the Father and the Spirit; the Father pours out his self into the Spirit and the Son; and the Spirit pours out her self into the Son and the Father—as each receives the gift from the others fully and graciously.

What a different way to look at our relationships in the midst of contentious issues. Unity is our starting place as the children of God—the unity of perfect concern for the other. So often we strive for a unity that seeks to make us exactly alike the other. This is a false unity. It stirs up fear, and arises out of fear, that anything not alike is not good, and even evil. We allow something other than the perfect concern for the other to shape our understanding of how we live together.

What does this have to do with me, with you, in our everyday lives? Imagine looking into the eyes of another and knowing that there is already a gift of unity between the two of you. The bars and walls around your hearts are melted away. Your hands can truly be open to give and receive. This is not about striving. It is about accepting; it is about giving.

Ephesians 4:1-3

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Set Your Hearts on Fire

In three days we celebrate Pentecost when the Holy Spirit blew open the closed doors of the room in which the disciples were gathered, and set them ablaze with purpose and courage. We mark this Sunday as the birthday of the Church, not as an institution but as the living Body of Christ set loose on the world to continue the work Jesus came among us to do. As Jesus was the face of God so are we now. We are the visible sign of God in the world.

On Monday, Andrew came to the commencement ceremony at the National Cathedral. He could not stay long since he had to be at his new job. He said he expected to come into a gathering of people who were mostly white. Instead, he was shocked at the amazing diversity. He later asked me if my school was connected with Howard University. I said no, that Wesley is independent from other schools. He was amazed. The family behind him was made up of Indian and Black (he prefers that term over "African-American") members. The faces ahead of him were of almost every hue possible among humans. What a sign to him and others that God is at work through the church, the Body of those who follow Jesus.

Out in Portland, Oregon, the elected delegates of the United Methodist Church from around the world have gathered to discern God's will at this time in history. While it is also a diverse body of many hues that can be seen and languages that can be heard, there is diversity that cannot be perceived simply by looking--that of gender identity and sexual orientation. This diversity makes some people uncomfortable. I can understand that. I confess that it used to make me uncomfortable. I have come to see and understand the persons with these identities and orientations far differently now. How much more rich is the Body at the Table when we are all there. How much more we can be the face of God in the world.

The winds of the Spirit blow open doors and windows; the tongues of fire set us ablaze with purpose and courage. May we be a part of setting the church on fire, building God's glorious Kindom here.

John 14:8-9

 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?

Woo Hoo! Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! What a wonderful day!

I am so stoked! Waves of excitement are rippling off my being! Oh, you say, you didn’t notice that. Well, neither could my first year college suite mates. They thought I was reading the obits or something serious when I was devouring the funnies. I was laughing uproariously inside.

This is better than a kid in a candy shop. Today, my big brother flies in to town; some of my closest friends will drive in on Monday; and Max’s professors are letting him take his Monday exams on others days--all to be at the Wesley Theological Seminary Commencement ceremony to be held at the National Cathedral. I will be wearing an academic gown with three stripes on the sleeves and a puffy six-cornered tam, along with the academic hood in WTS colors. I am getting my Doctor of Ministry degree!

Some have wondered what I plan to do with my doctorate. Big changes are in store! Are you ready for this? Drum roll, please!

I plan to be the pastor of Christ Crossman, that’s what!

And you don’t even have to call me The Rev. Dr. Morris.

I’m still Pastor Mochel, and I am still very much who I have been.

There are changes though. I have learned a lot through this process, and all that has come along with it in the past couple of years. I am ready, able, and willing to help lead C²UMC in our next great adventure—reaching out into the community to be the most amazing part of God’s Kindom that we can possibly be. The ride will be an exciting one, so hold on to your hats. God has great things to do with us and through us.

Psalm 98:4

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.