December 2023
Together In Mission
Monthly Reflections from BCC
Walking Upstream: Investing In Church In a World Full of Pain
By Phil Rushton
Lead Pastor
There is a well-known parable about a group of people who head down to a river. Upon arriving, they notice someone drowning. Some of the people rush into the water to rescue the person who is drowning. A couple minutes later they see another person drowning, and then another, and then another. They continue to rescue people, but the number of people in distress keeps growing. The group decides that some will stay and continue to rescue those who are drowning, but some should walk upstream and figure out what is causing people to fall into the river and drown in the first place.
This parable reminds us that we need to respond to the problems of this world in a multi-faceted way. Some of us need to engage in direct relief work for those who are in distress. Others of us need to walk upstream to try and address the injustices that are causing people to fall into distress. Still, others of us need to walk further upstream and create communities that form us to be just and loving people to begin with.
We are entering a season that presents us with many opportunities to support charitable work in our world. If you are like me, your inbox likely filled up on “Giving Tuesday,” with multiple requests for support. We were reminded again of the many needs that require investment and partnership in our community and world.
I have often struggled to discern where I should direct my energy and resources. Should I volunteer at a homeless shelter or teach Sunday school to kids on Sunday? Should I invest my time and money in a local non-profit that is bringing direct relief to those in need, or should I invest in my kids' school or the church?
When I lived down in Longview, I sometimes felt the tension between my volunteer work at the cold-weather shelter and my full-time work as a pastor. I would sometimes arrive at my office after a volunteer shift wondering why I was spending most of my time teaching the scriptures and preparing sermons when people were literally dying on the streets because of the cold weather. The impact of making disciples seems less tangible than engaging in direct relief work. Was I focusing on the wrong thing? Should I have gone into full-time social work instead of ministry?
How we invest our resources and time will differ depending on our gifts, passions, opportunities, and calling. Churches, in general, should balance the numerous ministry fronts of relief, justice, discipleship, fellowship, worship, and evangelism. What I’ve come to believe, however, is that we cannot neglect the upstream work of making disciples. This is what Jesus prioritizes in the great commandment. We are called, first and foremost, to make disciples who are learning to follow Jesus. When this happens, many of the problems that occur downstream will be remedied. As people are formed in the way of Jesus, they will begin to act in ways that create a more just and caring world.
David Brooks recently wrote an article in The Atlantic titled, How America Got Mean. While there are a number of converging factors that have given rise to violence, polarization, and a lack of empathy in our culture, Brooks argues that one of the significant reasons is the decline of institutions that provide moral formation. He writes, “In a culture devoid of moral education, generations are growing up in a morally inarticulate, self-referential world.” Brooks includes churches among the declining institutions that have served an important role in forming people for the common good. His assessment reminded me that we need to continue to invest in the church in the midst of all the other important charitable work that we are called to engage in.
One of the surprises of the Christmas story is that Jesus came as a different kind of messiah than people were expecting. People were hoping the Messiah would come and bring a military and political revolution. They expected the messiah to bring relief to the current political tyranny they were facing. Jesus, however, brought about a bigger and deeper revolution that got at the root cause of the endless cycle of violence and oppression in our world. He didn’t just come to bring practical solutions to current problems, he disarmed the powers and principalities of evil through his sacrificial death on the cross. He didn’t work for a temporary peace through political power, he reconciled us to him and to one another through a radical message of forgiveness and grace.
This holiday season, I hope that you respond to the many needs for help in our world. May we give generously of our time and our resources to care for the poor. At the same time, may we also walk upstream and continue to invest in the important work of disciple-making that we are undertaking as a church. This is foundational work that forms people of compassion. Dallas Willard writes, “The most successful work of outreach would be the work of in-reach that turns people, wherever they are, into lights in the darkened world.” Thank you for your continued investment and partnership in our disciple-making efforts here at BCC. May we continue to be formed deeper in Christ together, for the good of our neighbors!
In Christ,
Pastor Phil
The Songs Of Advent
By Adriele Park
Worship Director
This season, as we once again immerse ourselves in the story of Jesus’ birth, the wonder and astonishing surprise of God coming to us as a humble baby strikes me anew. I love that we are spending Advent soaking in the songs that Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon sing about the good news of the Messiah’s arrival! The fact that songs spring out of these Spirit-filled moments reminds me that music is one of the ways we have of expressing things that are sometimes wonderful beyond words.
It is in this spirit that I reached out to some of the song-writing members of our worship team this year about taking these words of scripture and putting them to music of our own; melodies and chords that speak to and through us, embody the praise, and emphasize the wonder of God’s incarnation and salvation. We offer these songs to you each week in the hope that the words and music together help us to hear the words of praise in a way that touches not only our heads but our hearts as well.
Sitting with the first words that Zechariah speaks after many months of silence, it was meaningful for me to intentionally move beyond thinking about what the words meant, and to try and feel what he might have been feeling. As someone for whom songwriting is new, the process of putting Zechariah’s words to music was a humbling exercise in both letting go and stepping in; letting go of pride, fear, and safety; stepping into creativity, to joyfully offering who I am, to being vulnerable, to opening my heart. I was helped during this time by remembering that letting go and stepping in is what God did when he “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:7) How wonderful that He stepped into our world and that He continually invites us to step with Him into the story of His salvation, as He did with Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon!
I have a deep gratitude that God gave us the gift of song to express our love and worship in a way that transcends words and ideas. My prayer is that these songs of Advent are a blessing to you as they have been to me and that songs of all sorts, new or familiar, well up in each of us as we remember, celebrate, and wonder at God’s love coming to us! Let us sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace!”
Adriele
BCC Artists Show: Call for Entry
January 11th-February 13th, 2024
By Sarah Lane
Calling all artists who regularly attend BCC and create works in the visual arts (2D or 3D, photography and video included)—artists of all ages are welcome. Share one of your unique pieces of art that expresses your love of God and Creation through your creativity. As artists, we do not work alone, but rather, we co-labor with God, our Creator.
We are blessed to experience the creativity of so many who attend BCC, from painters to bakers, gardeners to spiritual directors, videographers to musicians. In the new year, we’d like to offer you the opportunity to share your creativity with the BCC Community on the BCC Art Wall from January 11th to February 13th, 2024—that time between Christmas and Lent. Here are the details:
Submit your 2D or 3D piece of art on Sunday, January 6th, 2024, before or after the service to Sarah Lane (A table will be available in the foyer outside the sanctuary) or on Wednesday, January 10th between 6 pm and 8 pm at Café Fika in the church. If you work in video or other medium that will require more coordination to display, please contact Sarah Lane in December so that we can work together to ensure we can display your work well for all to see!
Please ensure that your 2D piece of work is ready to hang on the art wall. This means that it must be framed or mounted and wired for hanging—or have a sturdy sawtooth hanger on the back. If you are in need of assistance with mounting or framing your piece, please contact Sarah Lane at 360-632-2372, and she will provide assistance.
Please complete a label (see below) and attach it securely to the back of your artwork.
NOTE: Artwork must be appropriate for all audiences. Please, no nude figures, even if tasteful, so that our youngest viewers can enjoy the show. We also reserve the right to turn a piece of artwork away if the content is inappropriate for all audience members who will view the show at BCC. Thank you!
Up Next…
Prime Timer’s Potluck Luncheon
Thursday, December 7
12:30 PM in the Dining Room
*Prime Times is for those in the empty nester/retired phase of life
Office Closed
12.25
*Closed for Christmas