Taking Time for Worship and Reflection

It was my second daughter’s birthday!  So, the first order of business that Sunday morning, was to send her birthday greetings in the family chat. 

As previously planned, my husband, son, and I made our way to Hope City Presbyterian Church, where the pastor’s last name was Wesley.  We had our eye on that church all week because it was located right across the street from the Airbnb where we were staying; very convenient, I might add.

We also met Pastor David, who was the pastor of Oak Valley Presbyterian Church, where the church operated for two weeks and was closed for two weeks. This bi-weekly service reminded me of the History of the Black Church course I took while I was working on my Master’s at Howard University.  Churches shared pastors for many reasons, one being financial constraints.  Pastor David said this was the situation for him, but he and his wife were still extremely optimistic about the future of the newly founded church.

The day’s scripture was Luke 2:41-52, and the sermonic topic was “Faithful in the in-between.”  Pastor Wesely began by asking the question: “What now? After the wonder of Christmas, is the story slowing down to just life?

He spoke of the panic that a mother feels when a child is missing for days. The mother he referenced was Mary.  What is extraordinary is that Jesus already knew who he was and what he was doing.  The minister wanted us to focus on Jesus’ in-between years of being separated from parents/studying as a child, and doing ministry as a young man.

His words immediately brought the message home to me as I briefly thought of incidents in my recent and past history.  I remembered that moment of panic I felt when my daughter was lost when we were in Disney World on vacation, and all the in-between times that we experienced.  Was it just life?  I wondered as I returned my focus to the minister.  Below, I offer some bullet points to summarize his message:

• How to faithfully know God's purpose for us. When life seems ordinary. How to trust God in the waiting.

• Jesus knows who he is and why he has come.

• Luke wants us to know that Jesus is brought up a family that is steeped he following the worship of God.

• At the moment of transition from baby to child, Jesus seeks to know God by engaging with the learned elders and priests of the temple. 

• The leaders were amazed by Jesus understanding.

• Jesus models for us how wisdom begins.

Liz's question. Why were Joseph and Mary confused about God's statement? Angels spoke to them, right? Did it matter?

• Confused and unsettled. Even faithful believers can have moments of confusion as it relates to who God is.

• Misunderstanding doesn't mean that Jesus is not making sense and being clear.

• If you find yourself confused but still trusting, Jesus will carry you through.

• Following God does not mean perfect understanding.

• Jesus trusts God's timing. Although Jesus is God and Jesus knows who he is, Jesus goes home and is obedient to his earthly parents.

• Jesus is misunderstood but still remains faithful.

• Mary treasured these things in her heart. Not with full understanding but with complete trust in God.

• Don't let the in-between years be wasted. Move on through the season after Christmas with greater trust.

• Enjoy the spectacle of Christmas but make the ordinary count.

• Prayers of admiration, supplication and assurance

After service, my son spoke to a visiting Pastor named David.  He spoke of the tranquility of vacationing in a place where unrest is a breath away.  David spoke of the normalcy of living with tall fences. Fearmongering propaganda? Inherited fear?

We went to brunch after service.  The décor was African/European.  It dripped of the African culture while holding on to remnants  colonial occupation.

I even took a moment to reflect on some of the many ways words are used differently in South Africa. For example take away means take out or to go; Toilet means restroom or ladies or men's room; they sometimes say cheers to greet you.

The dark-skinned workers are called runners or busboys. Fair-skinned people are the servers or waitresses. I was not surprised because I knew that was the way things were. My son asked a runner if she preferred being a runner or whether she would want to be a server. The beautiful glowing deep brown skinned runner said yes she would want to be a runner, but  they would have to promote her or she would hopefully find work elsewhere. My son encouraged her to keep the positivity going and that he was praying for her.

When we first arrived in Ethiopia, a man greeted my son.  I wondered whether the welcome was because he recognized him as a visitor or a fellow Ethiopian returning home.

While in Cape Town, there would be many opportunities to reflect on the history, the present, and the future of brown-skinned people.