2005-The Long Strange Trip

In the midst of the holiday madness (my Parents have been staying in my apartment since Saturday), I'm a day late on my weekly blog update. Sorry. By the way, the transit strike ended within hours of my last entry... a Christmas gift of sorts.

It's hard to imagine that 2005 is over. At this time last year I was concerned over my Greek grade and if I would actually pass all my classes and graduate from Seminary. Now, graduation has come and gone and I am finally entrenched in full-time ministry and moving forward. The coming year holds great promise. Our church plant anticipates a launch and subsequent growth. Lord-willing, I will be looking at Presbytery examinations and ordination later in the year. And, of course, there are a variety of unknowns ahead as well. I am trusting in God's providence and blessing as we move ahead.

I want to wish you all God's richest blessings for the New Year and remind you to check back here frequently for updates on our church planting ministry here. Take care for now.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

As of midnight Monday, an agreement was not reached between TWU Local 100 and the MTA setting into motion the first Transit Strike in New York City in 25 years. This was the scene Wednesday morning on the street near the Long Island Railroad station in Forest Hills as commuters from all over central Queens scrambled to find alternatives to the otherwise convenient subway service. Meanwhile, across the street on Queens Blvd. striking transit workers, whose illegal job action caused this mess, walk the picket line before a less-than-sympathetic general public.

Borrowing a page from the Al Queida playbook, the union decided to strike at a time when it would do the most harm to the most people... the week before Christmas. Ironically, the union heads are asking for the moral support of the very public they abandoned. New Yorkers, however, are showing their true colors, walking great distances, car pooling with complete strangers, and finding creative methods of getting around. I'm thankful that for the first time in my adult life, I have no real commute. But most people in the city have not been similarly blessed... As of the time of this blog entry, state mediators have stepped in and it looks like the workers may be returning to work as a deal is ironed out. This strike has made the national news scene, so if you're interested in the outcome, please check your media outlets for more information.

I had intended to use this week's blog entry to make a simple Christmas greeting, but I also want it to be informative so I found it necessary to make mention of the biggest issue facing city residents. With the unavailability of our worship facility, combined with the Transit Strike and predictable low attendence expected on Christmas Sunday worship services, we have been granted an unplanned reprieve from an otherwise busy season.

Prayer Concerns: Looking ahead, assuming this strike won't stretch into January, we are planning our broadening worship service for the 15th. Our music program is improving and we expect that to continue through mid-month. We will have our last pre-launch service on January 8th which we hope will re-orient our launch community to worshipping together before we open our doors to more people. Hopefully this two-week hiatus will be helpful to give Michael the rest he needs to get his back in better condition. Please keep all these matters in your prayers.

If any of you have been considering a ministry worthy of year-end giving, please consider the Forest Hills Church Plant. Should you contribute, make checks payable to Redeemer Presbyterian Church with my name on the memo line. Send your gifts to my address: 83-44 Lefferts Blvd. Apt. 3C; Kew Gardens, NY 11415 with a note explaining the frequency of your giving (monthly, quarterly, one-time, etc.). This will help me to track the funds I've raised.

Lastlty, I do want to wish you a most blessed Christmas and pray God's Richest Blessings on all of you throughout the new year.

Learning to Walk

I know what most of you are thinking, I'm about to say something witty about the difficulties of church planting in Queens and how it's something like learning to walk. Well, it is something like that, but when I titled this blog entry, "Learning to Walk," I may be referring to what I'll have to do as far as getting around town if the threatened transit strike becomes a reality.

That's right. As a man without a car, I might have to walk everywhere I go after the midnight deadline for some workable agreement to be reached between the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Fortunately, I can walk to most things directly associated with the Forest Hills Church Plant, but if I want to go anywhere else, hey, what're ya gonna do?

In any event, this Sunday will be our last scheduled pre-launch worship service as we do not have access to the building for Christmas and New Year's Days. We are NOT, however, following the lead of many mega-churches who have voluntarily canceled services these days so people can spend more time with their families. That's an absurd idea. We want to meet... we just can't.

Lots of Christmas stuff going on with the church plant. We are having the small groups host Christmas parties with a featured directed look at Christmas. People are encouraged to invite neighbors... especially ones they don't know. So far, it's been well received amongst the groups who've done it so far. Also, many people in the launch community will be going to a Christmas pageant in Staten Island this Friday evening at the Church where Michael met his wife. And, Sunday will also witness the second annual Christmas party at the Kytka's. Because I've let it be known that I like to bake, I've been asked to do so and plan to bring my famous cookies (those of you who've had them, know what I'm talking about.). It is keeping all of us very busy.

Lastly, my birthday is this Friday (Dec. 16.). Other than my birth in Queens, the only other noteworthy New York happening on this day was 20 years ago. On December 16, 1985, Big Pauly Castellano was wacked as he was getting out of his car in front of Sparks Steak House in Manhattan. The hit was allegedly ordered by John "the Dapper Don," Gotti, who essentially ran the Gambino Crime Family from that time until Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano ratted on him to send him to jail. Gravano is currently in the witness protection program. Gotti died from cancer.

Prayer concerns: Michael has been undergoing physical therapy for his back and there appears to be progress made. This is a real answer to prayer, but he will continue to need the therapy and not strain his back to continue the progress. My parents will be coming up next week for the holidays. Please pray for their safe travels. As I said last week here, we will be broadening our worship community on January 15. Please keep this matter and all others in your prayers. Until next week, take care and God-bless.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Okay, it's getting a little crazy these days. With the Christmas Season upon us and our Church launch scheduled for January 15th, there's little time for mundane activities like grocery shopping, laundry, showering or shaving. Strangely enough, I have prioritized these things and they get done or I would be a hungry, grubby, smelly bearded man trying to encourage people to come to my church. That wouldn't work well.

This week we had a double blast of winter weather. That's right boys and girls... SNOW! The first round hit overnight on Saturday opening the Lord's Day to a winter wonderland. Monday evening brought the second wave around 8:00. By Tuesday morning the scene outside of my apartment building resembled a Currier & Yves painting (with the exception of the busses, traffic lights and gypsy cabs). There's more snow in tonight's forecast helping me to readjust to living in New York after three years in Mississippi.

My readers in the Deep South deserve some kind of explanation here. Snow is frozen, crystallized water vapor that falls from the sky, dramatically (though temporarily) modifying an otherwise dull and lifeless winter landscape. There, now that's out of the way.

With that context established, I was called upon to preach again this past Sunday. Michael has a herniated disk and couldn't stand without tremendous pain. I had to step in.. it's my job.

Each of our Home Fellowship Groups is hosting a Christmas-themed activity to which they can invite their neighbors. We want to instill an inviting atmosphere amongst the people in the launch community for the sake of our efforts to share our faith with neighbors and the Forest Hills area in general. Once we broaden, these efforts will intentionally increase.

Prayer Concerns: Please pray for Michael and his back. This is a critical time in the life of our church plant and there is much for him to do (and only so much help I can provide). This is a major concern as we are on the verge of broadening (we are calling it "broadening" because we are opening our doors to individuals outside our launch community. Following this broadening, we will be seeking a more public launch nearer to Easter) our ministry on January 15 (ALERT! Last week I told you that we were doing this on December 18, but because Christmas and New Year's fall on Sunday, the school from whom we are renting space may not have any staff available to let us in the building. We can hardly welcome a broader representation of the community to our church and tell them that we'll meet again in three weeks. January 15 will not pose this problem). Pray for our Home Fellowship Groups and the other Christmas activities we have planned. As you might imagine, my dance card is quite full at this point as well. Pray that I will be disciplined and effective in the various responsibilities given to me. Until next week, may God continue to bless you all.

Let's Talk Turkey

As promised, here is a picture of the enormous Lazy Susan on the table at the Thanksgiving festivities at my sister's brother-in-law's house. It was quite impressive... two levels, about two and a half feet in diameter (rough estimate). The biggest temptation I had was not to eat too much (that's not a consideration at Thanksgiving). No. I had to overcome the urge to spin the Lazy Susan really fast to watch all the food fly off all over the room. Alas, as a guest who wishes to be invited back next year, this child-like inclination had to be surpressed. The second picture, by the way is of me with my sister Charlene and brother-in-law Alex after Thanksgiving dinner.

Big News! At long last, we are announcing the launch of our church. Dec. 18th is the big day. Some of us in the church plant will be meeting soon to discuss the new name of the church which we expect to have in a week to a week-and-a-half. The launch will be followed by a Christmas reception at Michael and Roseann's house. Additionally, each of our home fellowship groups is planning a Christmas gathering hoping to invite neighbors and friends.

Prayer Needs: With our launch date now set and the Christmas holiday drawing closer, please keep our church plant in your prayers. Additionally, with the new year on the horizon, my plan is to get a car (I have come to the conclusion that a car is more of a necessity than a luxury for me), and my year-end fundraising efforts will be increasing. To that end, any of you who have been considering support or perhaps considering increasing current suport should make checks out to Redeemer Presbyterian Church with my name on the memo line. Send them to my address at 83-44 Lefferts Blvd. Apt 3C; Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Please include a note with any check explaining the frequency of your giving (one-time, monthly, quarterly, etc.).

Until next week, may God continue to bless you and grant you His riches during this Christmas season.