Mi Primera Navidad

This was my first Christmas not with my family. It was a bit strange. In fact, there was a lot of things I had to process. Rather than writing, I decided to make a video. Considering I worked really hard on the editing, I highly recommend you take a look when you have a few minutes to spare.

#ReclaimMissionary

Eres La Luz Del Mundo

Every other Thursday Iglesia de San Lucas becomes a little more busy than usual. From 3:00-6:00 pm a bunch of abuelita- like women gather around the table to share in a Merienda. One by one they enter and we greet with kisses to the cheeks. “Como te va?”

“Todo bien?”

“Hermosa!” Greetings take on many forms with varied tones and hand gestures. They march in like ants to honey communioning in one solitary place. They scurry across the church salon in chanclas carry fresh postres and boiling water for tea and coffee. Chatter echoes off the windows. The women sit together facing brightly colored clothed tables talking amongst themselves in small groups like links of chorizo.

Sometimes when they begin to speak rapidly I zone out and imagine some sort of out of character dialogue.
“I saw Enrique entering the house again early this morning.”

“Oh, your neighbor? When is she going to divorce that man?”

“Did you see who came to church this Sunday?”

“I couldn’t believe it either. I don’t know how they still show their faces.”

I imagine some dramatic telenovela scenario is being described to each other to justify the very dramatic clutching of pearls and facial expressions I occasionally notice. In reality, they are simply talking about how precious are their grandchildren and how unbearable the summer days have become. They are too sweet and carefree to say anything malice. They rather enjoy food.

“Que rico!”

“Ay, riquisimo!” Everything is rich. Only some things are supreme rich.

The women’s group is self funded as they pass a plate around for contributions after a lovely Merienda. Pesos land on the table as if they were guided by the hand of God Herself. And just like that, after two hours of talk and chew, the women wander back out into sunlight. One by one they kiss and dip. The Salon empties back out.

Then Sunday morning comes and the pews are still empty. Very few are regular attendees. Most spend the rest of their time at home. I have never asked why more do not attend on Sunday morning. I guess that is not really important. If your cup is filled on Thursday, do you necessarily need to be replenished on Sunday? That is something I see clearly in this context. The mission is not on Sundays, rather it is the days in between.

However this Thursday ran a bit differently as we gathered around to close the year with gifts and a light devotional. I was allocated the power to lead. The scripture chosen was 2 Corinthians 4:6.

“For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out the darkness,” who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Light.

I asked for permission to teach a song from back home that was light to me. Light Of The World.

//Eres la luz del mundo//

Así brilla, brilla donde estes

Eres la luz del mundo

//Eres la sal de la tierra//

Así brilla, brilla donde estes

Eres la sal de la tierra

//Eres la vela en la noche//

Así brilla, brilla donde estes

Eres la vela en la noche

We repeated the scripture and I asked the women, who/ what is your light in the world when you feel far from God? During this Advent season we must remember the star in the sky that led the visitors to the manger. The star of the night was a star of guidance in darkness. Without the star, how else would we have been able to find Christ in the manger? What leads you to Christ?

As we went around the table and shared stories of our grandchildren, nieces and nephews, I noticed a few of the women in tears. In no time there were four being openly vulnerable with the group, sharing about their precious light. Present with us was the Holy Spirit. Whether those tears were joy, pain, anguish, or even gas, the concept of light in this world moved people.

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.”- 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

While we all agree that our light is family in some form, we must also remember that we are the light for others as well. Sometimes we are the light to strangers. You are a star. Be the star that burns bright for others to see. Be the star that people may see the promise of Christ. Be the star that you need when your world is full of darkness.

Devotions ended in full circle.

We sang Light of the World and ignited each other's candles in song.

Before we left a woman complimented me on the way I preached. This was my first time off script in spanish. I was thankful. And suddenly the room was empty again. Dishes were washed and food had been packed away like no one had even been there. It was like a fantasy pop-up carnival under your blankets and when you popped your head back up, you were merely staring at your room. But this was every other Thursday from 3:00pm- 6:00pm at Iglesia de San Lucas. Special.

#ReclaimMissionary

Things To Leave in 2016: Christianity Edition.

Things to Leave in 2016

• Using Christianity to defend homophobia. At this point we have reevaluated the significance behind Levitical Law and also the importance of procreation and life. If you justify homophobia through biblical text but fail to acknowledge why contraceptives and murder are equally threatening based on the same interpretation used above then there is a problem.
• Using Christianity to excuse misogyny. Even considering the reality of women not being seen as equal to men in many areas of the bible, some of the most significant female images are present. Women were the first evangelists of Christ and the last to be created in the creation story. Time and time again we have been chosen by God. Misogyny is corny.
• Deborah- arguably one of the greatest judges.
• Yael- the woman who killed Sisera, opposing military commander against the Israelites.
• Rahab- supported Joshua's spies investigating the Kingdom of Jericho even when her life was threatened.
• Esther- Queen (and wife of Xerxes) who protected the Jews from genocide. 
• White Jesus. Representation does matter and when we glorify an image and call a foreign figure our Savior, we further the enslaved conditioning of a White Male who will make us safe. If there is one thing we have seen in 2016, it is that White Men have generally been more of a threat to the quality of life of POCs in the U.S. than anyone else. You know it's real when I add a link to my blog. 
• "Christianity is Not African". Honestly, you can look up Thomas Oden. He has two significant books, How Africa Shaped The Christian Mind, and Mark the African. The gospel of Mark was written by an African man, something we fail to discuss. Also the women are Rahab, Tamar, and Bathsheba. Kelly Brown Douglass also makes a very clear argument for Mary', mother of Jesus', blackness as well in The Black Christ.  
• Pastors that do not use their prophetic voice. If we are to remain silent in the face of oppression, we are giving power to the oppressor. In 2017 we believe in, see something say something.
• Pastors dont seek new information. Just because you are out of seminary does not validate being lazy. We cannot afford to be stagnant in teaching the Good News to communities that are continuously challenging each other.
• Using Christianity to shame women. Women do not belong to you. Women have agency over their own bodies. It should not be up to the pastor or the congregation to determine whether or not a woman should be able to worship with you due to their paternity status or how they dress. Virginity is a social construct and respectability politics in the church are corny. Respectability politics haven't stopped the Deacon from hitting on the Vicar now has it. 
• Prosperity Gospel. This just gotta go.

#ReclaimMissionary