"Keeping the X in Xmas" by Rev. Thomas Schade

Tue Dec 12 13:23:32 CST 2006

M I N I S T E R’ S   M E M O
“Who Answers Prayers?”
When I think of mosques, I remember visiting the Blue Mosque in Istanbul; a
magnificent architectural structure with exquisite ceramic tiles and vast
interior space and light. I think of beautiful minarets and graceful domes
and ornate Persian prayer rugs.
Thus, I did not recognize the photograph of the mosque in my son’s village
in Africa. In Kanfarandé the mosque is little more than a medium size shed
with a corrugated metal roof. Here a few dozen men gather to direct their
prayers to Allah. It seems that for the last year they have been praying for
my son; not for him to be a good physics teacher for their children, or that
his Susu (the local language) might improve. Their prayers were that this
young man from the West, who knew people with resources, might somehow raise
the money to pay for a water pump that would bring clean water to their
village, and keep their children from needlessly dying. Robert was the only
person they knew who had any contact whatsoever with the international
community. So as they said goodbye to him in June, several of the village
elders told him of their prayers and sent him forth into the world to do his
best.
When Robert injured his knee in September his return to his village was
delayed by two months. I don’t know what kind of doubts the old men
entertained when their Peace Corp volunteer did not return. (Though in this
part of Africa, without phones or any form of high-speed communication,
there is remarkable patience when it comes to schedules.)
I can only imagine what his return to the village was like last week
(because he won’t be close to an email for awhile.) He did tell me that he
won’t be doing what I, myself, would want to do. The grand announcement! The
triumphant return! Robert explained to me that in village culture this would
be neither appropriate, nor wise. Instead, he will quietly inform his two
honorary grandfathers that the financial resources have been obtained. This
weekend engineers will be visiting the village to locate the well and make
the preliminary specifications and equipment assessments. Because these
pumps can only be drilled at the end of the rainy season, the actual work
may have to wait a few weeks.
Enough money was raised so that two neighboring villages (even poorer
communities than Kanfarandé) will also be receiving wells. About half the
money for this clean-water project came from members of our parish. Family
and friends donated most of the rest. But the truly surprising gift came
from a Catholic Parish, St. Mary’s in Southborough, MA. I have no idea of
how they even heard of the Peace Corp Project, but they decided that their
tithe from their Sunday offering should go to this work, and they sent us a
check for $225.
Imagine, if you will, Roman Catholics donating money to help Unitarians in
assisting Moslems in three small villages on the West African Coast. That’s
about as close to the kingdom of God as I’ve seen in a long time. Ordinary
people are answering the prayers of strangers.
We all know people who prefer miracles. They worship a God who is supposed
to intervene in the course of the natural world, with fire and smoke and
marvelous acts. God is expected to keep the people you love from dying. God
is supposed to keep the innocent from suffering. And God’s promise is to
bless you and yours with good health, wealth and serenity.
When God doesn’t perform according to the dictates of the mind, when God
doesn’t answer these prayers, some people lose faith. But I can’t help but
wonder whether such disillusionment is not so much with God as it is an
argument with human existence. We live on a planet where everyone dies,
where innocent suffering is a given, and where what we want does not
necessarily happen. So our frustration and anger may not actually be
directed at the divine. We might just be quarrelling with reality
ordinary
reality.
Here is where religion becomes interesting. In the words of Thomas Merton,
the idea of God walking the earth in flesh, of God being born at Christmas
in the person of Jesus, is not really a miracle story. Merton writes, “God
took on the weakness and ordinariness of man, and He hid Himself, becoming
an anonymous and unimportant man in a very unimportant place. And He refused
at any time to Lord it over men, or to be a King, or to be a Leader, or to
be a Reformer, or to be in any way Superior to His own creatures. He would
be nothing else but their brother, and their counselor, and their servant,
and their friend.”
And to his disciples Jesus taught that when we do the ordinary work of
feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked, and visiting the sick we are
serving God. We have also been sent to earth to answer the prayers of those
in need.
This is the season when, as Charles Dickens wrote, “Let us by one consent
open our shut-up hearts, and think of people as if they were our fellow
passengers. Let Christmas be once more a kind, forgiving, charitable,
pleasant time. The common welfare is our business; charity, mercy,
forbearance are all our business. Let us go forth while it is day and turn
human misery into joy."
To that end (you are invited to bring to church):
1) Hats and mittens for the mitten tree (to be given to children at Elm Park
School)
2) Long underwear (especially X-large sizes) and warm socks to be
distributed to shelters.
3) Non -perishable groceries: there is currently a food shortage crisis in
Worcester. On the morning of December 17th through the morning of Dec 24th
we will be collecting canned goods, peanut butter, pasta, cereal, and other
non-perishable items. We will sort them as one of the activities at the
10:30 a.m. Christmas Eve morning Service project.
4) A dish, or volunteer on the clean up crew. The Christmas dinner potluck,
Monday, December 18th, is hosted by the Monday night at the Church
"Christmas Spirituality" group and is for all ages. You can sign up on the
bulletin board for specific food or tasks, but no reservations are required.
Afterward there will be wonderful Christmas music, and a fire in the
fireplace in the Bancroft Room. The festivities begin at 6:30 pm.
5) Your generous financial contribution at the 5:30 p.m. Candlelight
Christmas Eve Service. Our collection this year will once again go to
homeless children and their families in Worcester County, through the
Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Any questions? Speak to either of your ministers, or to Ted Messier, Heather
Souare, or Liz Gustavson.
                                                Barbara

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