September 2004
Bridges Vol. 1, No. 7
All over this Land
As a prelude to more intentional efforts to link congregations
which have a relationship with the ECCB, its seminary, and the
Diaconia, I want to share some “verbal snapshots”
of interested congregations that John and I were privileged to
visit in August and September. If our experiences in Pennsylvania,
Ohio, and West Virginia are representative, it seems reasonable
to conclude that there are Czech connections “all over the
land”¾in “mid-America” and beyond!
Pine Run Presbyterian Church is located on a winding rural road
in western Pennsylvania. The morning we spent with that congregation
was notable for the way that the church musicians supported the
themes of my sermon and John’s slide show. The choir’s
anthem amplified my considerations of what it means to live “For
the Sake of Joy,” and the pianist spontaneously improvised
an offertory using the tune of a Czech hymn that John had sung
at the conclusion of the sermon.
Rehoboth Presbyterian Church is also located in a rural area
in southwest Pennsylvania. John’s slides elicited a number
of questions, which, in turn, led to many interesting conversations
after the worship hour and during a church picnic that was held
at a nearby park. I was particularly moved by the comments of
several elderly people who thoughtfully reflected on the need
for our world to find its way to peace.
Little Britain Presbyterian Church is located near Pennsylvania’s
border with Maryland. Although this congregation is currently
without a pastor, a number of folks gathered at the church to
share a midweek potluck dinner with John and me. This relaxed
setting elicited a fascinating assortment of questions about the
Czech church and our work. We are grateful for the interest and
encouragement that was expressed by this supportive group.
Located in suburban Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
is a large church which has an ongoing relationship with the ECCB’s
Diaconia. At the first of two gatherings organized by this congregation,
members of Fox Chapel described previous contacts with the Diaconia
and anticipated a mission trip to the Czech Republic that was
slated to occur in late August. The people who attended the second
gathering were especially inquisitive about a number of issues
related to the ECCB and our endeavors! Reciprocal learning and
valuable sharing characterized both evenings.
Mount Pisgah Presbyterian Church is a lively congregation that
is also located in a suburban Pittsburgh neighborhood. This church
has a long history of fostering interracial connections on the
local level, even as it contributes to international missions.
Participation in the Eucharist and the receptiveness of a delightful
group of children to a Czech pohádka (story) made
our experiences at Mount Pisgah quite memorable.
Indianola Presbyterian Church is located near the campus of Ohio
State University and is the site of my first encounter with the
intricacies of the Czech language. Thus, it was very meaningful
to be able share with that congregation and to thank its members
for the role that Indianola’s Czech connections played in
furthering my interest in, and involvement with, the ECCB.
John Stewart United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church
in Upper Sandusky Ohio joined together to welcome John and me
to this county seat town in north central Ohio. Our evening with
these congregations was distinguished by a high degree of interest,
which generated a large number of questions and a powerful affirmation
of our unity in Christ. It was exciting to have an opportunity
to foster interdenominational ties, even as we sought to strengthen
international connections.
First Presbyterian Church in Waverly, Ohio, is closely related
to the PC(USA)’s Bristol Village Retirement Community. Thus,
the people with whom we worshiped and shared during our time in
Waverly were exceptionally responsive. We appreciated having an
opportunity to renew ties with people who have participated in
study tours to the Czech Republic and/or who attended the workshop
on Comenius that I led at that church in 2001.
First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg, West Virginia, was
also an exciting place to be! It was an honor to be part of the
start of this fall’s program of Wednesday night gatherings
at that church. The hospitality was grand, the singing was joyful,
the fellowship was warm, and we left Parkersburg with several
tangible reminders of ways that we can foster living ties between
members of First Presbyterian Church and the ECCB.
First Presbyterian Church in Logan, Ohio, is a county-seat church
with a proud heritage of community involvement. Thus, the group
that gathered at the church on a Sunday evening in late September
came prepared to ask a broad range of thoughtful questions about
the ECCB. As a result, absorbing conversations characterized our
entire evening at First Presbyterian Church. There certainly does
appear to be a lot of interest in the ECCB “all over the
land!”
Joyce Michael
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
337
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