Reyes Gibbs Blog

Reflection onThe Morning After...

Reflection onThe Morning After...

I am spending a wonderfully sunny morning  on the deck made of old church pews, having breakfast, reading the paper, picking up good quotes for a sermon and wondering if I did all the "right" things for the Lenten season. Ok, that's it no more wondering can't do much about it now!  (for those who know how I could have done things differently, please email me bethelcommunitypcusa@gmail.com)

What surprised me most  about the Holy Week experience and Easter is how energized I am.  I am very excited about what's next and believe it or not after a good night's sleep, I am energized spiritually and physically.  I can't wait to see where God leads the faith community of Bethel and me.

I am thankful for the faith community of Bethel for participating in new and different ways to celebrate the sacred holy days and worship in the ordinary times.  For every Sunday of Lent, the congregation wrote on rocks their greatest passion and their regrets/sins and laid them on the communion table before taking communion (Yes, we celebrate commmunion every Sunday of Lent).  Most thought writing down their sins six Sundays in a row was a bit much, but the exericise was intended as a moment of personal confession.  Oh, well...most participated.   Don't most churches have a couple "perfect" people in the pews?

Maundy Thursday,  we served a wonderful soup and bread dinner (Thank you to Carol T., Lauren and Carrie)  and then went into the Sanctuary for the re-living  of the  Last Supper.   On the communion table, were 12 vases with candles in them, representing the disciples with the cross at the head of the table.  The "disciples" were placed in the midst of the rocks, placed earlier. (pictures will be posted later when I find my camera!)  A narration of the night with scripture and music provided by the Choir, Praise Team and the Band helped all of us reflect on that evening (Thank you to Mark Unbehagen and all the gifted and talented folks at Bethel who read and shared their music).  We ended the service by having 12 people come stand next to a candle and serve each other communion, we did this till all who were able to come to the table. For those not able to come to the table, were served communion by one of our children.  We left knowing the the next day would be Good Friday.

Good Friday, we built a tomb for Jesus!   We formed a cross made of rectangle glass vases that represented the disciples on Maundy Thursday and placed battery lit tea lights in them.    The sanctuary was dark so the center of the sanctuary was a cross that was both beautiful and eery.   The cross was placed in the midst of the rocks that were placed in the weeks before.   At the end of the scripture reading, people were asked to place the rocks on top off the cross representing their actions in their daily lives that deny Christ and part of the crowd that screamed "Crucify Him."  Also they were asked to write on a paper to write down what they are asking forgiveness for on Good Friday.  They also placed these papers on the cross.    After all was done, the cross's light was dimmed with enough light to reflect, "No matter the darkness, Christ's light always prevails!"

Easter Saturday was a day of cleaning out old stuff, selling usable stuff, and preparing the sanctuary for Sunday.   Thank you to all the people who helped! (Nikii, Dina, Don, Uriik)

Easter Sunday a group of Bethel folks came to help fill baloons with helium! We filled the sanctuary with balloons!  (Thank you to Don, Uriik and Jonelle). A trombone, coronet, bass guitar, violin, saxophone, dulcimer and djembe welcomed us into worship.  We also had a litany and special art work with balloons representing the moving of the Holy Spirit.  We had a full house with many visitors!  I asked, "Why do you come to church on Easter?"  A few good responses but a lot of blank stares. Then went on to talk about transformation. I also asked them to think that every Sunday is Easter! I invited to come next week without the baloons!  We affirmed seven people who decided to formally join Bethel.   Celebrated communion with the largest loaf of bread (I think it weighed five pounds) baked by Carrie.   Then the moment came that all were waiting for!   The Easter Egg Hunt - I called all the children from the nursery into the sanctuary and with other children  gathered around the communion table in eager anticipation of the Big Hunt.  I dismissed them according to age starting at just a year to those over 10.   I did this while the adults stayed in place and watched the children get excited and impatient for their turn.  Then the adults with a sigh of relief got to leave and go to wonderful spread provided by Monika and Robert.

The generosity of the faith community of Bethel was overhwelming with the eggs!  (Thank you to everyone especially Karin and her girls and Kathie who coordinated the hunt and putting candy in eggs!) Every child got at least 20 eggs!  The hard-boiled ones were thrown on the walkway in the front of the church! (so we didn't see them until we left!) Next year no hard-boiled eggs!   Somebody remember to remind me of that!

Thank you Bethel for accompanying each other on the journey to the cross and tomb!

Christ is Risen!  Christ is Risen, Indeed! 

 

I love serving the church!

Right now I am getting ready for Ash Wednesday by throwing purple all over the sanctuary and setting up the communion table to match our liturgy about our passions, and figuring out what we will do for our ritual for Lenten Sundays--all while listening to Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston through the church's speaker system!  And I am giving thanks that God called me to serve the faith community of Bethel!

On March 1, I celebrate 13 years of serving the faith community of Bethel.  This was a community of faith that knew death was at its doorstep.  They had to make some hard decisions about dying and closing its doors.   In their discernment they decided that they would make one last attempt to "stay alive" and that was to commit to change no matter what.  

When others who want to know why Bethel isn't dead yet? It's because I was called to a church that smelled death, it was real, not a concept but reality!  Bethel now is not just surviving they are a thriving!  A small church who knows that any time in the future they may die but until then they will continue strengthening their relationship with God in Christ through prayer, conversations and service.  And, most importantly, continue discerning what God wants them to do next.  It wasn't easy to get where we are now.   We learned alot from our, "build it and they will come" projects and we also learned to trust God. 

Bethel's budget is balanced with not deficit! We are a small church with 70 members on our rolls.  We have a couple visitors every Sunday that come back! We don't have any committees! No deacons! Our Session and the Executive Team help to make the essential decisions for the church.  We have teams for mission.  If somone wants to feed people who are hungry or homeless, all one needs to do at Bethel is to ask for help and set up a team.  Most importantly, over the years we have learned to worship joyfully sharing the love of God and giving thanksgivings and praise that God in Christ lives in each one of us.  

My journey at Bethel has been filled with great experiences and opportunities that constantly remind me that God is here! I love serving the church!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I speak Spanish!" Maribel, age 2

I love to teach my granddaughters age 4 & 2 big words!  I have taught Ava words like plethora, abundance, and ecclectic.  The other day, Ava and I were in target and I told her to make sure I didn't get distracted from our list.  I went on to explain what distracted meant.   So in good Ava form, she had to remind me often that my lingering in electronics or book or other section than what was on our list, that I was distracted.  You could hear in the store very loudly, "Lola, you are being distracted!"   She's a quick learner.

The other morning, I was teaching Maribel the word, "delicate."  I said, "that toy is very delicate which means you have to be very careful. Can you say the word delicate (in my teacher voice)"  She said:  Lola, I speak Spanish.  Me:  Really!  Her:  Yes, my mommy and I speak Spanish.   Me:  How do you say Good Morning i Spanish?   Maribel looks at me from across the table with a puzzled look and then  she smiles and waves at me!

I learned that smiling and waving is good morning in Spanish.   

I have so much to learn!

 

In memory of my mom, Marie Averas Reyes Acoba

In honor and memory of my Mom, Marie Reyes Acoba from Bruce’s blog a few years ago... 

 If you talk to the Reyes siblings, it all started with our Grandma Reyes (AKA Grandma Acoba).  Lady was caaaaaraaaaazzzzzyyyyyy with a capital CUCKOO!  But in a good way.  I have learned much from all my grandparents, but Gma Reyes taught us . . .    

* Be passionate    

* Wear what you want    

* If you are going to be in the game, be all the way in the game    

* Take care of your friends    

* Eat good food    

* Be there when you are needed    

* Pretend to be crazy    

* Laugh

If Gma were here today, she would point out when I was being a jerk and would make sure I don't turn into total schmuck. 

I am thankful for the parenting tips my mom taught me and very thankful that none of my children turned into total schmucks! Especially the eldest one!  You are missed!

 

Mother's Day

I don't celebrate Mother's Day! Sounds strange but really, shouldn't I be appreciated every day!  Shouldn't my children when they wake up everyday, after giving thanks to God, give thanks for their mother.   Since my eldest started going to pre-school, he has brought home pictures, handprints, etc for Mother's Day and I think I have almost all of them somewhere along with his brother's and sister's mother's day preschool memories.

When my children were old enough to ask, "What do you want for Mother's Day?"  My response was and continues to be "Happy Children."  For some families, Mother's Day becomes more an obligation than a celebration.   I never want my children to be obligated to me.   I want them to love me enough to take care of me when I can't take care of myself-- Feed me, change my diapers, make sure I get enough sleep and the right care! Maybe not burp me! 

My mother, Marie, raised me that way.   If she thought I did something out of obligation she wouldn't hesitate to tell me it wasn't necessary.   My mother was a character and I "swore" I would never be like her or raise my children like her.   Oh, how I was wrong!   As a form of discipline she would embarrass me in front of friends and family when I was not behaving appropriately.   To find out more about my life she became good friends with all my friends.   Even after I had moved out of the house and moved to another town, my mother was out disco dancing with my friends.  My mom enjoyed life! Now I haven't gone disco dancing with my children's friends and I don't think I will. Like my mom, I have threatened to embarrass them and I have become friends with their friends. And I usually end up adopting their friends as my new "sons and daughters."   My parenting style is a lot like my mother's.

My mom was always around when I needed her.  For her those times were her "Mother's Day." When my children were sick, she took time off from work so I didn't have to.    When she was alive, I did my best to "repay" her for all of her help with all my children.   My Mom always felt that whenever she came she would be welcomed!  Even when she came to our home unannounced at 6:30 AM to take us to Reno! (Much to the surprise of my husband!) She was the best!   When she did want a Mother's Day gift, she would take off for a gambling trip and hold out her hand and said, "where's my present?" So I handed her gambling money and off she went without her children. 

I love being a mom and especially a Lola to all my children, their friends and all the babies they bring.  I am a very proud mom and could  go on about all their accomplishments and what each of them bring to this world to make it better but I won't bore you with the details.

I have the best present a mother could ask for, "happy children!"  every day.  And by the grace of God and the love of wonderful children,  I am a happy Mom, Lola and Auntie!  Thank you Bruce, Robin, Deanne, Ron, Lauren, Beadle, Kevin, Jess, Tammie, Ricky, Hamid, Judy and all the babies!

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for people who disappear into black holes!

Bethel has a time in Sunday morning's service for payers for the people--people are encouraged to lift up people, situations and joys during this time.  I tell folks when we start our prayer time that this is the essential part of worship.  We are deliberate in taking our time. We don't rush through this time.  When we really share with each other our hearts and it is a reminder of our work for next week to pray for those people, issues, and joys that are shared.

Everyone participates!  Our children feel very comfortable in raising their hands and asking for prayers!  Some of the prayers have been:

• Prayers for their pet chicken, Sushi.
• Prayers of joy that his little brother is potty trained!
• Prayers for their mother who is in a bad mood.
• Prayers for an auntie that died.
• Prayers for their friend who was in a earthquake.
• Prayers for their dog.
• Prayers for their little brother so that he stops bothering people.
• Prayers for the sick in their classroom.
• Prayers for family in another country.

Our children know that they have a voice and and they feel free to offer their prayers.   This Sunday, an 8-year old asked for prayers for "people who get sucked into the black holes of the universe!"  I lifted that up, while his mother sat next to him shaking her head.  

As this week progresses, I am more certain about that prayer for "people who get sucked into black holes of the universe" was needed this week.    I greeted this morning with a sad heart from hearing more details about the attack on a flotilla bringing aid, the oil invasion in the gulf of our environment, education, the meanness of folks in the discussion of immigration reform and the importance of being "right" at the expense of others.   For me, these issues are the deep dark holes where our children see us being sucked into!  These dark black holes result in adults no longer modeling responsible debate, compassionate listening and most of all acting out our faith that depends on Jesus who models what we need to do and be.

Today I read an article that some "evangelical" considered conservative faith leaders are now supporting immigration reform.  The stressed the importance of making those who are undocumented and have been living here for a while need a way to become citizens.  They cite that it's Biblical to provide help to the alien.   So what happens?   These faith leaders are now being accused of being coerced by the other side into "changing" sides!   So what is it about that folks get sucked into a deep dark hole that they forget that with Jesus there is a light that shows us a way to God's realm?

We all have our "deep dark holes" that we are sucked into.   I just have to believe that our faith is the light of the world and I need the strength and  courage, energy and faith not to be sucked into one!  Thank you to Kyle for his prayer for "those people who are sucked into black holes of the universe."   I think I may be one of those people!

3D Glasses - A lesson in perspective

Over the past few months, I have seen three 3D movies.   At every movie, I am always playing with the glasses.   I already wear glasses because if I didn't I would be considered partially sighted.  Without my glasses I can see clearly if the object is less than six inches from my face.   But even then, when I put my 3D glasses over my "real" glasses, I start looking at the screen with the 3D glasses off and then on--Blurry and far then very near and clear.   My perspective changes every time.   I don't do this with my "real" glasses because I know that I can't see.  But with my 3D glasses, over my real glasses,  I am impressed about how they work to make the movie character practically sit in my lap.   I took both pair of glasses off and looked at the screen and saw a bunch of beautiful colors with dialogue which doesn't help much!

As a pastor, I am very sensitive to my perspective on a lot of issues and how it does or does not agree with many in the congregation I serve.   I believe my job is to help people put on "3D" glasses in order for others to get a different perspective for at least 20 minutes. Figuring out Christ's perspective seems relatively easily:  "Love God and Love your neighbor!"  But again, some folks need clarity about what this all means.  So when I share my story  as a child of God, a divorced, married three times, single parent and woman of color, I have a lot of perspective about what it means to me to be looked at differently and as a result treated differently in this world God created good and created me unique.   For many in my congregation, they see my story as "another social justice issue" and others relate my story to theirs.  But perspective is everything.  The reality is that one cannot walk around with "3D" glasses but we all walk around with "3D" perspectives that color, change, embellish and say whose and who we are!

The challenge for me is that I wish sharing my story and spreading the good news was as simple as handing out 3D glasses on Sunday morning.  Yes, our lives are unique and often blurry and we need Christ to give us some clarity in our perspectives but it can only happen if we set aside  our perspectives for just a bit and let the other perspective sit with us.  My  life 3D glasses are what help me see the perspectives of others more clearly not that I agree with their point of view but I can understand where they are coming from.  Understanding is a beginning.

My parents immigrated here and with them came hundreds of years of Filipino culture and beliefs all in their DNA.  Being colonized by the Spanish, Japanese and then the United States, helped them to assimilate in the American culture and still keep their culture in tact.  But they learned quickly that being brown and having an accent put them in their place by the  white people in their neighborhood, jobs, schools and the world. My mom would tell us that every man in a police car was our uncle and part of the family.  I thought strange but extended family was the norm for us so it was nothing to have a "white" man be our uncle.   My mother came here as a war bride, married to a Jewish-American Lt. Col.  He brought her here and then realized that his family nor his world would accept her as his wife.  He deserted her in Arkansas in the 40's.  (How I found out about this is another whole story!)   She only shared a bit with us about her life at that time.  The one story she told us repeatedly was the time she boarded a bus in Arkansas.  The sign said, "Colored sit in the back."  She went to the back to sit and the driver told her that she didn't belong back there.   She told the driver as she pointed to her brown skin, "I am colored!" and sat in the back.   She didn't know that Asians were considered "white" and till the day she died, she believed that only white people were described as "American." Both my parents became American citizens.  They knew more about the history of the US and still...  The United States history of a few hundred years doesn't compare with their history of hundreds of years of colonization.  Of my dad's many stories, this one stays with me.  My dad and his friends drove to Sacramento to apply for warehouse jobs for the defense department.  All of them were Filipino.   They went to the employment office and were given forms to fill out which they did and turned them in.   My dad noticed a group of black men having difficulty filling out their forms.   He was shocked that they didn't read or write very well because they were citizens of the United States. So he and his friends helped them fill out their applications and he left that place wondering why they didn't get as good an education as he did.   But he soon realized that it was because the United States took over everything in the Philippines, he was better off.   He often wondered aloud why the US didn't do the same for people in their own country.  My church family started the first farm workers union to provide rights for Filipinos in the fields.  My faith roots are grounded in a faith community that provided child care for the poor, sidewalks for South Stockton and built homes "just like in North Stockton" around the church.   This small church took on government, banks,  racism, and biases because Jesus said they were to go out and serve.   So if someone came to visit this church, they would need to take off their own 3D perspective glasses for just a few minutes and learn how Christ called them to make a difference in Stockton, California. 

I was born in Stockton, California. I know for many that is another country! (Passports are not required to enter the city limits!)  My nationality is "American" and my ethnicity is Filipino.   I bring into this society hundreds of years of Filipino culture and am affected by a couple of hundred years of American life and experience.  In my short time in this history, I have been patted on the head for being a "good brown girl" when a secretary for the Legislature, told that I need to know my place and learned that because some people considered me "white" I was accepted. However, I continue to see my children treated differently because of their skin color.  Some people just want to tell me to just let it be...Others say I am too sensitive...but when did they last walk in my journey, live with my parents and learn the Gospel from an immigrant church.  Okay so I am sensitive! 

So I see the world with 3D glasses made up of experiences of my parents, my church and my own life time.  If I didn't have them, my life would be a bit blurry and difficult.   I try to take them off sometimes so I can see why others don't understand the struggle of people who are different in so many ways because God created us unique.  I can hear some folks saying that its not that way anymore but until folks can really see people as different and acknowledge that every person is a child of God with expectations of nurture, affirmation and acceptance, I am going to have to walk around with my 3D glasses that God gave me to see life a bit more clearly so that I am be able to serve as Christ calls me to those whose lives are affected greatly by the perspectives and actions of others. 

If this didn't make sense to you, I am still trying to figure it out, 3D glasses on and off, your perspective and mine, and how does Christ fit in all this?

Peace be with you!!

Sarah

Bethel News - April 2010

Download Bethel news april 2010

How do you choose a church?

A colleague of mine sent me this article about a talk show host on Fox news who says a lot of things I don't agree with.   He says that churches that share the message of social justice are really communists or nazis in disguise.   He believes that "social justice" is a code word for communism!

As a pastor who serves an inclusive, open, creative and opinionated faith community, I wonder what do folks say about the faith community of Bethel?   Don't go there because 1) The pastor is Filipina-American. 2) The pastor is a woman. 3) The pastor is not over 5'. 4) The church only uses the screen and no bullletins. 5) The church is too small.  6) The building needs a make over or 7)The church makes you think!  All of the above have been reasons people have told me that Bethel isn't the right fit!  Okay maybe the "over 5'" is a exaggeration. 

When people ask me about other churches, I say, "I have never worshiped there, you will have to go visit to find out."  If I know of a church's particular theological lean, then  I say, "I understand that this church is against the ordination of women but don't let that stop you from visiting the church to find out for yourself." 

What this article does is encourage people who already have a church home to stop going. I am blessed to serve a faith community that thinks and acts  and have individual thoughts and  believe that God through Christ works in their lives helping them discern and to serve.  

This article really has no impact on those persons who are attending church who preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I just get perturbed people like this talk show host say really stupid things, especially when they brand themselves righteous!    If folks take this media person's point of view then Jesus was rightfully crucified because he was SOCIAL JUSTICE! 

I just wonder sometimes why God makes me pray for the other! 

The Invisible Wall

I was rushing around trying to get chores and work done the other day.  As I was driving around town, the little gas pump light came on  saw that my gas tank was on "E"!   I didn't want to but I had no choice I had to stop.   I drove to the nearest gas station and all the pumps were occupied except for one.   The one gas pump that was available required me to maneuver around other cars!   I saddled up next to the one free gas pump.  I did the usual things, undo the gas cap, acknowledged my neighboring gas tank fillers, and proceeded to pump gas into my car. 

Then I sat in my car waiting for my tank to fill.  When I looked up, I  realized that all the cars were gone.  I was in the station by myself!   And suddenly, I saw a man in the island next to me.   He had a couple of trash bags filled with cans (I could hear them when he moved). He proceeded to clean himself by using the hand sanitizer next to the window washing water.   I didn't want to stare so I looked straight ahead but watched from the corner of eye!   He washed his hair, his arms, and face.   He straightened up his shirt and then walked off.

It was if were were in two different rooms with an invisible wall between us.   Neither of us acknowledged our existence.   I felt like I was watching someone taking a shower.  Wierd!!  Then as he walked away, I realized that he was just as unsure of me as I was of him and wondered was he watching me?

The problem with invisible walls Is that you can see through them-see things that make you uncomfortable in this case and it provides the barrier that many of us need or want when being with people we don't want to be with.  I know that I should have acknowledged him with a simple hello, but that wall stopped me!  So what invisible walls do you build?