Pastor’s Perspective – November 2018 Newsletter

This is arguable, of course, but it is widely believed that the most ignored of all the sayings of Jesus is when he tells us not to judge.

Yet, there it is, right in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:1, followed by the story of the speck in their eye, and a log in your own.

On the face of it, it seems ridiculous. How could we possibly go through life without judging?

I have in mind the hundred or so decisions that have gone into the entrance and hallway renovation at First Congregational Church.

This wallpaper or that? How about the carpeting? Those decisions were all the result of considered judgment. It strikes me as impossible to avoid. And yet, I don’t think we can dismiss Jesus’ admonition so easily.

Two thoughts to share in defense of Jesus’ advice not to judge.

The first has to do with simple humility.

Even though we may feel like we are the most intelligent person around, and our thoughts are the best ones compared to others, and our experience on most matters is the most relevant, and our judgment has always been the most sound, we also know deep inside that is absurd. We actually only have our perspective, our tiny slice of perception which is never comprehensive.

Jane Goodall, the primatologist, put it beautifully.

“There are many windows through which we can look out into the world, searching for meaning …

…Most of us, when we ponder on the meaning of our existence,
peer through but one of these windows onto the world.
And even that one is often misted over by the breath of our finite humanity.

We clear a tiny peephole and stare through.
No wonder we are confused by the tiny fraction of a whole that we see.

It is, after all, like trying to comprehend the panorama of the desert or the sea through a rolled-up newspaper.”

There is a second, equally good reason not to judge.

This has to do with something we all have experienced. Something happens that we then judge as bad, and we find out later that it was a good thing. There are a thousand examples. We initially judged it bad because of reason #1, our perspective was too small, our knowledge too limited, and we weren’t able to foresee the way it could result in good.

“Do not judge!” has some stiff competition for being ignored.

“Don’t cast the first stone” comes to mind, as well as, “Don’t worry about tomorrow”.

But despite the fact we need to make daily decisions, not judging is healthy advice. A sense of humility befits us. And when we haven’t made up our mind about a person or an event, it opens us up to seeing from a wider, and perhaps more godly, perspective.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

Art Suggs

Thanksgiving Feast – Sunday, November 18th

Chris and Tim O’Neill have again offered to organize a Thanksgiving dinner for our congregation. It will follow the morning service on Sunday, November 18.

There will be a sign-up sheet for folks who plan to attend.

You are welcome even if you miss putting your name on the list, but it helps a lot with shopping to have an idea how many potatoes to put in the pot!

The meal is paid for by a free-will offering and the generosity of merchants like Weis Markets who donate the turkeys. Thanksgiving is the most celebrated of all US holidays.

Please put the date on your calendar. The food is great and so is the fellowship.

Decorating the Church for Advent & Christmas – Sunday, November 26th

After the Sunday service on November 26th, we’ll decorate the sanctuary for the Advent Season and Christmas.

As you’ll know if you’ve seen the historic sanctuary decked in its Advent and Christmas decorations, it looks truly beautiful and moves the heart and soul.

Wear ‘work clothes’ that Sunday if you can spare 30-60 minutes to help with the decorating.

Other November News in the FCC Community

Read updates on the following in the full edition (PDF) of this month’s Forecaster newsletter (download below):

• Member Joseph Izzo defends his doctoral dissertation at Binghamton University.

• Armistice and Veteran’s Day on November 11th – That morning at 11:00 AM, Veterans for Peace will ring FCC’s historic church bell – as many churches did 100 years ago.

• Update from the First Congregational Church Board of Trustees.

• Renovations of the parking-lot entrance are heading towards completion.

Says Church Elder Clare Price, “The new doors are in. The concrete ramp and curbs are poured, the inside walls, ceiling and floors finished – the construction is looking great!”