From the News Times May 9, 2014: If I were to the mention the word Puritan or Pilgrim to you, is the first mental image you get some kind of visual cliche from an old Thanksgiving card -- joyless, straight-laced individuals dressed all in black, with buckled hats, clutching their muskets? And are they going into one of New Englands historic Congregational meetinghouses, preparing to sit through a mind-numbing three-hour church service? If so, you might have wondered as youve wandered past lovely Connecticut town greens if those ancient white churches labeled Congregational are still that way. My church here in Danbury, First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), is a downtown landmark, with its gleaming, exuberant white-and-gold tower that was just repainted last year. Looking at that, you probably wouldnt connect our building with anything puritanical or prudish. And you know? Youd be right. First Congregational Church of Danbury, just across from City Hall, is anything but prudish. Our beautiful tower is a symbol of whats going on inside, both with the building and the people who care for it. You see, everything old is new again. We believe that whats going on inside the building and the people is joy. Were joyful because were old -- the oldest church congregation in Danbury, first gathered in 1696. Were also joyful because were new. We believe weve found new ways to bring Gods love to growing numbers of children and families -- through trips that connect nature with its Creator and its kids, and through Sunday morning Bible magic that helps youngsters see Scripture for the first time in a way that makes sense for them -- and injects some fun. Congregationalists are back to basics kinds of Christians -- evoking those first-century communities of believers where just listening to the word of God was at the center of their worship. We believe that hearing God doesnt require a hierarchy of bishops to tell people how to do it -- that every believer can feel the presence of the Spirit lighting up ones heart. We believe its the people in a church who help create the community of believers, who are on an equal footing with their minister, who is their teacher. The power of decisions rests in the people. Congregationalists believe that God is involved in every aspect of life, that God is not somewhere way out there, but in here, among human beings. One of the greatest minds of Congregationalism was the 18th centurys New Light minister, Jonathan Edwards. He described Gods indwelling presence in the hearts of believers, illuminating each person with Gods love and created beauty. This inner light fills the individual as the music, the scripture and the message come together inside. Every faith community, regardless of denomination, has its symbols that point us toward Gods presence. And at First Church, we have our own. Our church tower is a symbol, with its pineapple-shaped finials, symbols of hospitality beckoning all inside. We have a tradition at our church of inviting anyone to arrange to honor the memory of a loved one or a special anniversary by lighting the tower to shine over Danbury in the evening. The homeless shelter in our basement is also a part of our tradition of hospitality to our wider community. One of the oldest and most important symbols of our faith and connectedness as a community is our baptismal bowl, the Comfort Starr bowl, over which every person at First Church has been baptized since 1753. The bowl was a gift from Mr. Starr in 1753 after the tragic deaths of some of his children. On Mothers Day, Sunday, another little baby girl will be baptized over that sacred bowl. And so it remains a symbol of faith, renewal, and everlasting community. Finally, something new -- the future. At the heart of every faiths journey toward God is a sense of profound mystery. God, Jonathan Edwards said, is meant to be deeply felt. Edwards particularly noted how young people were softened by their encounters with God. Children love a mystery. For the last year we have chosen to use Christ-centered Bible magics mystery most Sundays before church school to illustrate for our children the meaning and power of the Gospel -- a moment enjoyed as well by the Big Kids in the pews. At First Church, thats what we believe its all about -- putting Gods joy into the way life is lived. Rev. Pat Kriss is pastor of First Congregational Church of Danbury, 164 Deer Hill Ave. She can be reached at 203-744-6177 or [email protected]. Visit danburychurch.org.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:08:54 +0000
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