Crises

Two crises have shaken Guatemala this month. In a video shot before his death, a lawyer for a person who had accused the Guatemalan president, Alvarez Colom, and his family of siphoning money off of government-funded development programs that they help run, accused the president of being behind his killing. The lawyer apparently made the statement in case he was later killed, and associates released it after he was indeed killed (May 10). Protests and counterprotests have subsequently rocked the country.

Critics of the president have called for his prosecution, while supporters of the president have defended him. Colom, who won election in 2007 on a rural development platform, is Guatemala’s first center-left president since 1954, when a U.S.-backed coup toppled the then president. Colom and his allies have for months accused people with links to the general whom Colom defeated in the 2007 election and with links to the military and drug cartels of trying to destabilize the country. Colom has also asked the FBI and the United Nations commission investigating lawlessness in Guatemala to investigate the killings. Click here to read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/world/americas/22guatemala.html

Pictured above are protests (with the slain lawyer, Rodrigo Rosenberg, pictured on the banners) and below is President Colom. Click here to see the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC_ODpxMA10

Earlier this week an earthquake shook eastern Honduras, Guatemala, and Honduras. Although the earthquake and aftershocks knocked out a bridge in Guatemala and destroyed at least a couple of hundred homes in the Izabal area, our friends around El Estor have told us by e-mail that the earthquake did not do damage around there. Not sure if that means Livingston and Puerto Barrios (where two Estoreño Presbytery congregations are located) are unscathed too.

-- Perry

Mid-May gathering

A small group of us met as the Guatemala mission partnership task force Tuesday evening. Sunday a week and a half ago we asked people (after worship) to write greetings and messages to folks in Guatemala on a big sheet of paper in the Narthex. About a dozen did so. Tuesday we talked about asking additional people in worship this Sunday (May 24) to add their two cents. Lowell will make an announcement asking people to write greetings on the back of Friendship Register pages and we’ll receive them with the offering. We will ask Ellen or others to translate these messages into Spanish and e-mail them to folks in the presbytery via Rene.

We’ve been praying each week in church and during the week for one Estoreño congregation and its pastors and members. Some weeks Perry has brought a couple of laminated 8 ½ x 11 pictures of the pastor and congregation and occasionally put them up front near the Communion Table (as well as in front of the bulletin board). Other times we have asked Pastor Jane or other prayer leaders to mention the congregation during the public prayers. (It doesn’t sound like posting pictures on Facebook during the week or having posts on the blog about the congregation has caught very mny people’s attention.)

Those at Tuesday’s meeting suggested we continue with one congregation a month, starting over again in mid-June when we have run through all nine congregations. They suggested we check with Ada about other ways to dress up having pictures up front and also have perhaps a thick posterboard – preferably on the wall on the right with the materials for newcomers or on an easel – not back with the bulletin board which people other than visitors are not likely to see – labeled something like – “Praying this week with and for the Estoreño Presbytery’s ___ congregation” (so two sets of pictures would be needed). Folks were less enthusiastic about keeping the bulletin board up in general – although some of what folks suggested essentially involved shifting some of the bulletin board into that front room/hallway.

Perry mentioned requests the group has received in three areas. The group half a dozen of us met with in Nashville the past summer - Amigos de Ke’kchi (friends of the Q’eqchi’) - sponsored a trip through northern Guatemala last month and then, at the end of the month, met in Spokane, Washington. There was some back and forth about the orientation of the group (more for partnership or aid?) and possible resource trade-offs between deepening our Estoreño ties and deepening ties to this group. Roger Marriott had asked that one of us join the Amigos steering committee and be available once every month or so for conference call meetings, perhaps on Skype. Folks generally wanted us to wait and see what others in the group thought and also to see if someone is interested in committing the time to serving on the Steering Committee.

Pastor Jane, Perry, and others have been talking about the possibility of building on our history of Wednesday suppertime Children’s Choir and Fellowship and once-a-month meals before Council meetings to embark on some version of this: once a week, twice a month, or monthly simultaneous youth and adult English as a new language classes, youth and adult Spanish as a new languages classes, and (bilingual?) Children’s Choir and Fellowship, followed by dinner. The possibility of alternating classes with some form of conversation partnering was also discussed. Some people opined that the best way to learn Spanish was intensively (like in Guatemala for six months?) and that we ought to put signs up on Crescent Avenue, Frankfort Avenue, and Brownsboro Road and connect with folks who might know Spanish-speaking families in the neighborhood (like Stephen). The discussion was inconclusive.

Chris and Carlos have been talking about our synod’s Living Waters for the World campaign and concerns expressed about it. One of the concerns expressed was that in Guatemala a beverage company has a monopoly on selling water and, as a result, community and congregational clean water projects are not allowed to sell water, making the projects less economically feasible. Chris had proposed that we might look into how to help get Guatemala’s laws changed so that community groups and church groups could sell water. The group talked about how water in general and clean water in particular seemed like a dire need in El Estor, but this was not something that came up in conversations with the pastors there. The discussion was inconclusive.

The group talked briefly about the Saturday morning, September 18 fast and vigil that we are slated to lead in connection with the start of the Estoreño presbytery’s annual meeting that weekend. Lowell suggested we just have the church open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon – or even starting earlier – and then we sign people up so at least one person is in there praying the whole three hours. With the idea that folks participating (including some folks praying and/or fasting at home or elsewhere) then get together after breaking the fast for lunch. Folks thought we were definitely doing it and that it need not take lots of organizing.

Some but not all of those present thought they’d be able to gather again at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, June 6, and Nancy’s Bagel Grounds at 2101 Frankfort Avenue.

-- Perry

Pastor Abelino of the Livingston congregation

Of the two Estoreño Presbytery congregations on the far eastern side of the presbytery, the newest to the presbytery is the church in Livingston, pastored by Abelino Tec Chub. With its mixed Ladino, Q’eqchi’, and Garifuna populations and Anglo name, Livingston is the most multicultural of locales for presbytery congregations. The Livingston congregation is one of two existing congregations that the presbytery incorporated this winter. In January the presbytery welcomed this Livingston congregation (with Pastor Abelino, wife Serafina, and 44 church members). A month later it was the San Jorge congregation, which Mario Xo Ical pastors.

Although mission team members did not get to visit Livingston, they did get a fair amount of time to visit with Pastor Abelino (an outgoing man with a boyish face) and his family (wife Serafina and younger son Isaac pictured above - late Monday afternoon in Rio Dulce). This is the young family that graced the table Saturday night at the dinner at Iglesia Familia de Noe and hung around during our Sunday morning partnership dialogues at Iglesia Arca de Noe. (The Sunday morning (March 29)” blog entry includes pictures of all of the family, including older son Noe.)

This was also the family that was shunted to the side during the final Monday lunch with Serafina glaring from the back (see “Monday morning (March 30) dialogue”). By late Monday afternoon, Pastor Abelino, Serafina, and their children had been sitting in the microbus with us for two hours and were ready to be home (although they had at least one more bus ride ahead of them). Serafina’s brother was also waiting for them, and so they disappeared before the other pastors arrived and we got to invite them to hang out for a few minutes in our Bruno’s hotel rooms.

- Perry

May 6 gathering

Folks interested in Crescent Hill’s new mission partnership with the Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal Presbytery gathered at Ken and Amy Linfield’s house (pictured above) on the South End on Wednesday, May 6.

Ellen led us in a discussion about the second chapter of Acts, the scripture which we are to be studying simultaneously with the Estoreño folks during this month leading up to Pentecost Sunday (May 31). Ellen pointed out that Pentecost was already a Jewish holiday. Jesus’ followers were gathered in Jerusalem awaiting direction, in the weeks after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. At the same time people from all over the world were converging on Jerusalem, some there to celebrate Pentecost (a spring holiday - festival of fruit?).

Ellen, Carlos, and others said that for many people – including Pentecostals – in Guatemala and elsewhere the Acts phrase “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (wording is from the King James Version of the Bible) means working one’s self into a frenzy and speaking in languages no one else can understand. Ellen questioned this approach and suggested that the passage may communicate a different kind of vision in which people from many different cultures are understanding each other despite differences linguistic and otherwise.

Ellen also wondered about what a Pentecost experience would be for us today. Several of the participants in the spring 2009 Guatemala mission trip talked about episodes from the trip that were spirit-filled for them: for Lowell - the two daughters from his host family giving him good-bye kisses, for Ben - witnessing the men play the marimba in church, for Jane - all of us with different personalities getting along, for Ellen - the final coming together and singing of “Unidos, Unidos” at the last church the team visited, and – for me Perry - the partnership dialogues leading up to that song. (Luke?) We also talked a little about what Pentecostal experiences for others in Guatemala and at Crescent Hill might be and could be – including through the partnership.

What we talked about next – how to form the Guatemala partnership task force or working group, how to communicate with our Estoreño partners, and – perhaps most importantly – how the wider Crescent Hill congregation can communicate, educate itself, and engage in the partnership – Ellen said fit into a final pair of questions: what happened in the (Christian) community after the Pentecost experience and what insights into the future of the partnership might this story give us?

Carlos, Ellen, and others stressed that this was not to be a partnership between Crescent Hill individuals (including not just a few mission team individuals) and Estoreño individuals but a congregation-to-presbytery partnership. How to make that tangible, ongoing, and transformative for many people in our congregation (if not also in the presbytery) was a major topic of discussion.

A variety of educational and engagement strategies were discussed: scripture study sessions not conflicting with existing Sunday school classes and other church activities, a revamped and regularly updated Narthex bulletin board devoted entirely or partly to the Guatemala partnership, minutes for mission, newsletter blurbs educating people about different aspects of Guatemalan history and culture, and a DVD screening series (perhaps starting with the Amigos de K’ekchi’ partner’s DVD about Guatemala or the "Cracking the Maya Code" one-hour film shown the previous night).

How to communicate insights from scripture study and other issues in a form that could reach the Izabal area and that we could translate into Spanish was also a topic of discussion. We finally agreed that we would ask Crescent Hill folks on this Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10, to write short (one-word?) phrases about their hopes for the Guatemala partnership – many having sat through the April 26 worship service - on butcher block paper after church in the Narthex. Martha will make an announcement about this as church starts.

The group decided to meet next at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 (during the furlough week) (in the Youth Room in the Education Building). An additional meeting time – at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, at Nancy’s Bagels on Frankfort Avenue – was also discussed – and we may get together then also.

Earlier on individuals discussed the situation of our friend Soila, the Honduran woman who worked with us in 2004 and who helped host the spring mission team in Guatemala City. Soila and her U.S. husband, Jeff, recently went for a “green card” interview at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, where Soila was – for now – rejected for moving to the United States. Part of what U.S. officials seemed to want was for one or both of them to already have a job and for them to have a place to live, which probably couldn’t happen without Jeff leaving for the United States, leaving Soila in Guatemala. (We’ve started suggesting Kentuckiana Spanish teaching jobs for Jeff.)

Also discussed was a tape Stu Bridgman made of the April 26 worship service, which we have transferred to DVD duplicated and hope to spread not only to Crescent Hill folks but also to Estoreño folks.

Thanks to Ken and Amy for hosting our gathering and for all of the others who participated: Jane, Ellen, Ana, Nora, Soni, Janine, Lowell, Martha, Luke, Ben, Stephanie, and Carlos. We’re off to a good start!

-- Perry

Sin Nombre

Currently screening at the Baxter Avenue Theater is "Sin Nombre," an excellent movie that only spends a few minutes in Guatemala, but tries to depict the lives of Central Americans trying to immigrate through Mexico to the United States. Stephanie said it reminded her of the stories she’s heard from some of her Central American students. The movie deserves its R rating.

-- Perry

Cracking the Maya Code

I just watched an interesting program on public TV, "Cracking the Maya Code." It is from the “Nova” series. If you go to the Web site, you can find it as video segments: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mayacode/program.html. It seems to me that some people in the congregation might be interested in this kind of thing. As people learn more about all aspects of Guatemala, I think this will help the partnership to take root.

-- Ellen

Wednesday questions

Here are some possible discussion questions for the discussion about the second chapter of Acts during this evening's Guatemala mission partnership task force gathering:

- What does this verse mean to you, “…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”?
- When you hear the words, “speak in other tongues,” what do you think this means?
- What would be a “Pentecost experience” for you, for us today?
- What happened in the community after their Pentecost experience?
- Does this story give us any insights into our partnership?

Thanks to Carlos, Ellen, and Elmer for their work on these questions.

Scripture and questions

Below is an English translation of the scripture and discussion questions we e-mailed to Estoreño folks last month:

Acts 2: 1-21

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o”clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Questions:

- What was the day of Pentecost? (Lev.23:15,16, Acts 2:1, 20:16, I Cor. 16:8)
- What phrase shows the unity of purpose of the disciples? (1:14, 2:1,46)
- What three impressive phenomena occurred when the Holy Ghost was first given? (2-4)
- What reactions did the observers have? (6,7,12,13)
- From where did the observers come? (5,8-11)
- What four questions did Peter answer in his “sermon”? (7,8,12,37)
- What time of day did the outpouring occur? (15)
- What prophecy did the outpouring of the Holy Ghost fulfil? (16-18, Joel 2:28-32)


Acts 2: 22-47

22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Questions:

- What are six things that Peter said about Jesus in his message? (22-36)
- What prophecy did Peter give regarding the resurrection? (25-27, Psa.168-11)
- What phrase shows that the listeners to Peter’s sermon were deeply affected? (37)
- How did Peter reply to the question “what shall we do?” (38-39)
- Who is the promise of the Holy Ghost for? (39)
- How many were added to the church after Peter spoke? (41)
- What four things did these new converts continue to do? (42)
- What were some attitudes of the early church? (41,43-47)

Discussion Questions for Whole of Chapter 2

- What one word or name helps you remember this chapter?
- How does the interaction between the audience and Peter compare to the interaction between the audience and the speaker in the church services you attend?
- On who did Peter’s “sermon” focus?
- In what state were the listeners when Peter brought the Acts 2:38 message?
- How do your attitudes compare to the attitudes of the early church?

Session minutes

From the minutes of the April 29 session meeting:

Laura Kelleher moved that Session adopt the Guatemala Partnership Working Plan, as described in the minutes of the last meeting of the Outreach Council, namely:

- Regular prayer for each other
- At least monthly email communication, with sharing of celebrations, prayer concerns, and news (possibly supplemented by telephone)
- Joint Scripture study this spring of the second chapter of Acts, leading up to Pentecost Sunday, May 31.
- A Saturday morning, September 19, CHPC will hold a prayer vigil and fast to coincide with the start of the Estoreño Presbytery annual meeting
- Additional travel and visits, as possible.

The motion was seconded by Eva Stimson and unanimously approved.

-- Peter