The Night That Was Church

Last night, we had a birthday for Jose (pronounced Jo-say), a boy from Congo. He got here with his family almost 3 years ago. What changes! He was so traumatized in those days. He saw horrible things in the war, in fleeing for his life, not knowing if he would be reunited with family. Then some years in a refugee camp in Gabon. Then here, a new culture... but a good church family.

People have rallied around him and his family.

LG and John wondered if we could make Friday night's dinner a birthday party for him. Of course!

It was one of those bittersweet moments. It was so good to be with everyone, but that was the problem. It was church, and I wonder why that's rare, why Sunday is not like that, why church gets bogged down in organization and structure and money? There we were, eating together, playing together, laughing together-- white, African, Hispanic, young, old. The gifts ranged from sports equipment and money to some salted fish, an African delicacy that put a pong in the house!

See, even really bad news was ok. Unfortunately the Africans think that I have some pull and knowledge as a pastor. One of our flock is just totally beat down and might be losing her kids. She is distraught, unable to understand how it is that she could come here and have her kids taken away. So I get to be the one to say it will probably happen, find the way to help her understand that we can work on getting them back... it really pisses me off when they don't make any effort to translate, can't get the kids' name or sex right and then expect anyone to understand what they're talking about... they told her in English that she could get a lawyer or have one appointed. She is poor (and the poor are forced into decisions that got her where she is, about to lose her kids), and would have the court appointed attorney. The refugees' experience with court appointed lawyers is not so good... Misty and James, we need you down here!!!

I can handle being "Papa Pasteur," and all the outrageous demands and expectations that come with that when we're all together loving and eating. But too often church isn't church. We should have taken up an offering and preached a sermon... but then, I guess we did.