At least for a while I am the Village Parson again, even while I am directing an urban-based ministry. Sunday morning and evening we drove out to the village of Byron to assume me new duties as regular pulpit supply until they get their new pastor. The church is a beautiful red brick colonial. My morning message was: “How A Church Can Be More Than Just a Pretty Building.” In the evening we had communion and I preached on “Understanding Love in the Light of the Cross.” The people were very kind and listened attentively. I am going to enjoy our ministry there.
[Read more…] about The Week at the Character Inn (September 29-October 4)
A Church Where Grandpa Would Feel At Home
In 1987 I was called to pastor a rural church a few miles as the crow flies from where my Grandpa Pierpont’s old farm. I have my grandpa’s name: Kenneth Pierpont. One day after driving to Newark on a hospital call and stopping to visit my grandpa’s grave I wrote this essay.
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Kenneth
When Kyle was growing up I was always telling him stories. Now that he is on his own a little when we get together more and more he has his own stories to tell. On the way home from picking him up from his first year of college he told me a touching story about an acquaintance named Kenneth. Kyle met Kenneth when they were paired together for an accounting assignment but they had very little contact beyond that.
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This Week (September 15-21, 2003)
This weekend I preached in South Haven. It was a perfect early autumn-like weekend. On the way over we visited my little brother Nathan’s new home and spent the night there enjoying a long talk with coffee by the fireside before bed.
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What is A Church?
Lately I’ve been doing some thinking about church. A church is:
…a hospital for wounded soldiers
…a resting place for weary travelers
…a guide and outfitter for hearty adventurers
…a training center for disciples
…a place to wash one another’s feet
…a family reunion for brothers and sisters in the faith
…a feast for hungry children
…a fountain for thirsty souls
…a place of sacred song
…a quiet house of prayer to talk to God
…a celebration for those with happy hearts
…a comfort for those with broken hearts
…a life preserver for those in spiritual danger
…a temple for devout worshippers
…a community of forgiven sinners
…a place on the earth to get in touch with things eternal…
A vital church is a powerful thing…And what makes it so? Not brick and mortar as helpful as they are, but people, God’s people in a community of faith together. God has promised to send the blessing of life evermore were brothers and sisters dwell together in unity. (Psalm 133)
A church should be a dynamic place of spiritual vitality. It should be a place where families have been strengthened. Homes are built. Hearts are stirred for things eternal. Missionaries are sent to tell the sweet story of how Jesus loves sinners and died to offer them the gift of eternal life. May it ever be so. Since Jesus died for the church we should be willing to lay down our lives for her too.
Kenneth L. Pierpont
Riverfront Character Inn and International Conference Center
Flint, Michigan
September 22, 2003
Regrets
After Skipper and Yoder we looked for a purebred Golden Retriever. We found a breeder up near Butler, Ohio and talked him into selling us the runt of the litter. We brought her home and she never wore a lead. She never spent an hour in the dog run. She was never put on a chain. Her name was Ginger. At the time we lived on a farm in a valley on a dead-end road and Ginger had the run of the farm. She loved it and we all loved her.
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