Dear Church,

This blog returns after a month away, as I needed just a little more time to get back into a regular posting schedule. I am hopeful that, beginning today, these messages sharing the Good News of God’s love and presence will resume on a weekly basis.

Today, however, the message of Good News is tinged with lament. This sadness is primarily based on two incidents in which local Garner schools went on code-red lockdowns—Garner Magnet High School on Friday, September 13, and East Garner Middle School on Thursday, September 19. FPCoG has members and friends who are part of the student body at each school.

In both cases, the reason for the lockdown was reports of a lone student having a gun in their possession. In both cases, school administration, faculty, staff, and law enforcement responded as they have been trained to do. An investigation turned up no evidence of guns present, a small blessing for which we can be thankful.

But still, that this sort of thing is something for which schools have to train and prepare; that the specter of gun violence is so prevalent; that guns can be so easily accessed and purchased by people who are not mature enough or capable enough to handle them safely in Garner and across the United States, is profoundly upsetting to me. The disturbance to my spirit is in no small part because of the way I see and hear Jesus in scripture where he is the Prince of Peace; the one who extolls mercy and compassion; who calls us to turn the other cheek; who on the cross and in his resurrection exposes how violence is nowhere near as powerful as God’s love and hope.

Thoughts and prayers are a central part of following Jesus, but they alone are not enough. And so I pray that my sadness and even anger—and the sadness and anger of others—might take a faithful turn towards action that works to dismantle and overcome the evil we see with good.

To that end, I am planning to look more into “Guns Into Garden Tools”, an initiative started and championed by Christian author and peacemaker Shane Claiborne and other like-minded people. You can read a bit about the project’s purpose here or watch it in the video below. I’ll share more about my research I am sure in weeks and months to come.

Let me close by saying, too: what makes me sad, may not be the things that are heaviest on your heart today. That’s ok. For I pray also that whatever that thing is for each of us, that God might transform it, directing our sadness into courage and determination to add more love into the life of the world. May we do that, particularly when we gather next, this Sunday for worship at 11:00am.

The Lord Bless and Keep you,

Rev. Ben

Announcements

• Friendship Circle: The first meeting of the new year will be Sunday, October 6th at 12:20pm in the Ogburn Classroom. We will be starting a new Bible study book. For anyone interested in joining the Friendship Circle and attending our meetings, please contact the Friendship Circle chair Deb McHenry at darmc@att.net or Vice Chair Jane Knabe at jrknabe66@gmail.com or 919.389.0462 (cell).
• Lillie Circle Meeting: All women are welcome! Our October 14 meeting will be held at the home of Sandra Hodge at 7pm. This year, our programs are based on a book titled “Fruitful Women of The Bible” by Cammie Simpson, a Christian author who lives in Charlotte, NC. October’s lesson focuses on “Joy”. If you need additional information, please contact Sibyl Pedziwiatr at 919-539-0874 (text or call) or email sunnydays4ever87@gmail.com.
• Ida Joy Bible Study: The Ida Joy Bible Study will meet on October 8th when we will be studying Bathsheba and her impact on Christianity and especially on women even today. Ida Joy regularly meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 10am in the Ogburn Classroom. It’s a wonderful time spent together as Christian Women as we discover these women and ourselves! All you have to do is sit back and listen as Regina Alexander or Cheryle Prater lead you in this very special study!
• Thursday Morning Bible Study: The Thursday Morning Bible Study is studying the book of Acts throughout the fall. We meet each Thursday (with a few breaks sprinkled in) from 10-11am. Please consider joining us especially if you desire to know more about the ancient church and the vision that God blessed these bold, faithful disciples with from the very beginning.
• New Church Officer Cycle Begins: Please pray for this annual process and begin praying for those whom you think would serve well as an elder or deacon. You can make your ideas known by filling out the nomination form which can be found in the narthex and dropping it by the office.
• Prayer list: We have begun sending email prayer updates using Relam, our church database program. Continue to share prayer requests and updates with Rev. Acton, Sandy Lee, or Stephanie Taylor. If you are not getting these messages or would like to join the email prayer list please contact the church office.
• Walking Group: The Walking Group meets each Tuesday weather permitting. The walking group has decided to meet at White Deer Park, in the parking lot to the right where the playground is located. They will continue to meet on Tuesdays at 6pm. In the event there is inclement weather, we’ll just gather the following week.