April 20, 2006

Proclaiming Easter to a New World

For several years now Beloved's pastor, Clifford King Harbin, and I have been talking with folks at Beloved about the reality that Christian culture in this country has ended.  We share with those who attend Orientation how Beloved's Mission, Values and Principles reflect this reality by offering a worship service that doesn't assume Christian knowledge of the participants but instead, like Jesus, "moves into the neighborhood" by meeting people where they are.  Even though I can quote you all the statistics (like "half of all American under the age of 40 have never been in a church anytime in their lives"), I found myself emotionally unprepared for the reality of the post-Christian world of Charlotte on Good Friday this year.

Other than the sign that appeared in the bank window declaring it closed for the Good Friday holiday, there was no indication that the day Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world had any significance anywhere...not in the paper, not on the radio, not on the television and not in the plans of most people I encountered.  The Charlotte Knights baseball team held its opening night game on Good Friday with a franchise record-breaking crowd.  The radio was advertising a spectacular Easter egg hunt, to be held on Holy Saturday, where young children would hunt among thousand of eggs, dropped from a helicopter, holding prizes of Apple iPods, home theatre systems and other technological goodies.  And, in direct contrast to the enthusiastic and joy-filled crowds Beloved hosted on Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil/Day services, our Good Friday celebration drew the lowest attendance since the first Sunday Beloved began offering worship-a faithful remnant of only 45 people.

However, my Easter joy began that night, as our family broke our Good Friday fast with some soup from McAllister's Deli.  As we numbly looked out the window over the parking lot toward the Harris Teeter, the movie theatre tower from Ballantyne Village across the street caught our eye.  Normally its metal "crown" is lit in a kaleidoscope of fiber-optic color; on Good Friday it simply was illumined briefly in dark purple and then faded to total darkness.  (We were told that the American flags at the theatre's entrance had also been replaced by purple flags with gold crosses on them.)  I was so grateful for this simple but intentional witness of faith from a Christian business owner. 

I think that I "get" post-Christian culture in a way that I did not before this Holy Week.  No one notices because no one sees the relevance of Jesus' Passion and Resurrection for their lives.  Helicopter egg hunts and ball games carry more interest than a brutal death on a cross and an empty tomb.  As one person bluntly stated some years ago, "What does any of this have to do with me?  I wasn't there and I didn't ask Jesus to die."  It's really a new kind of world.  How will you...how will I...how will Beloved introduce the risen Lord of all, who has conquered the Evil One and death forever, to a world that is looking in a different direction?

J. Derek Harbin, priest

Thank you...to each and every one of you who worked diligently behind the scenes to make our Holy Week and Easter worship possible and so memorable. From setup to teardown, from cleaning to cooking, you offered yourselves truly as living sacrifices to God!  At Beloved, we strive to celebrate this holiest week of the year with an integrity and richness that reflects our commitment to Jesus Christ and our passion to translate these ancient and experiential liturgies in ways that are accessible to spiritual seekers.  Special kudos go to:  Dan Hood, for his exceptional musical and video editing skills, and the Beloved Band (Chris Allen, Shana Blake, Brad Link, Scott McCloud and Chris Garges, substitute drummer) for their incomparable musical offering; Nancy Montagnino and Lynn Skrobot and the Sacramental Receptions Team who coordinated the hundreds of details required to offer the beautiful Maundy Thursday Agape Meal and Easter Vigil reception; Jim Skrobot, Ben Copeland, Frank Reid, Dick Reif and Tony Hodgson who lifted and hauled tables, dishes and liturgical furniture; Terri Herring and her able partner, Martha Stone, for their continuing joy and willingness to beautifully accent our worship and hospitality areas with flowers and greenery; Kris Leinenkugel and her dedicated bread baking team; Michelle Dezzutto and Barbara Jackson for their culinary talent with pork tenderloin and willingness to make the early Easter morning doughnut run; and to Jane and Bob Wydra for their continuing gifts of pastry-chef prepared wedding cakes.   Of course, a huge thanks to the staff and leadership at Community House Middle School for being willing to open the building on their holiday break so that we could worship in a familiar location on these holy days.  And for all those who gave "above and beyond" to be readers, offertory basket passers, lay eucharistic ministers, acolytes, volunteer angel army team members, powerpoint operators and linen cleaners at extra mid-week services.

Around Beloved...Sunday Christian Formation continues this Sunday...Beloved's Worker Bees (youth 9-12) and metamorphosis (youth 12-15) each have a Movie Night coming up this week; the younger group on Friday (4/21) and the older group on Saturday (4/22) beginning at 6:30pm at Beloved Garden.  Don't forget to bring $3 and a friend...In Beloved's continuing transition to financial self-sufficiency, the Beloved Advisory Team has approved the appointment of the following Beloved Servant Members as our 2006 Finance Team:  Todd Atwood and Dick Reif (co-chairs selected by Finance Team members), Kris Leinenkugel, Sherrill Lowder, and Anna Moore.  This team is already hard at work and will begin communicating regularly with our congregation in the near future....Holy Week Attendance: Palm Sunday, 135; Maundy Thursday, 93; Good Friday, 45; Great Vigil and First Celebration of Easter, 162; Harris YMCA Sunrise Service (with Fr. Derek, Celebrant and Preacher), 135; Easter Sunday, 117. 

Serving at God's Altar this Sunday...Angel Army Team 1 (Captain: Wes Nichols; Pastor: Catherine Atwood; Convener: Toni Reif); Acolytes: Sarah Stone, Rachel Herring, Brian and Jack Sanniota; Reader: Susan Miller; Presenters: Tony and Nancy Hodgson; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Kris Leinenkugel and Betsy Fox; Offertory Basket Passers: Joey and Madison Haarstick, Clare Harbin, JR West; PowerPoint: Cyteria Knight

In our Prayers...for Jennifer Sanders who is recovering from multiple fractures of her arm...for Richard, Ginger Leppert‘s father who has returned to the hospital...for Jessie Powell, Reid Gibbs, Janie Lownes, Dan Blackwood who are recuperating from surgery or hospital stays...for those serving in Iraq, especially Scott, Dan Hood's brother...for Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter, Emily...for Marilyn Doyon, Marie Duty and Jennifer Marsico who are expecting babies this upcoming year...for Dorothy, Mary Reid's sister who is fighting lung cancer...for Ruth, Shana Blake‘s cousin...for Ed and Jean, Dick Reif's parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma...for Bill, Lee Frickhoeffer's uncle who has terminal cancer...for Brian McCarthy and Lauren Skrobot as they continue medical testing.