July 2009 Letter from Pastor Caroline:

Dear Friends in Christ,
July brings the County Fair, and Independence Day, and irrigating: three wonderful experiences that mark the “Good Life” we love in Nebraska. Hard work, fireworks, and working together – that’s July.

This July we’re celebrating a special event for the Presbyterian Church. It’s Calvin’s Jubilee!!! On July 10, 2009, John Calvin will turn 500. He’ll celebrate in heaven. Presbyterians will celebrate Calvin’s legacy here in Lexington, and all around the world. At our church we’ll celebrate after church on July 12th – of course, cake will be involved! We’ll invite the neighborhood to “taste” our church’s hospitality on July 26th — the ice cream social will be a birthday party for Calvin! In worship that day, Chuck Olsen will creatively share Calvin’s life and theology. It will be very meaningful! Y’all come! Or, to put it in Calvin’s native language, French, “Venez a notre eglise!” (Which means “come to our church”.)

Why do we care, what is there to celebrate?

We care because on July 4th, 1776, John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian, was the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence; continuing Calvin’s legacy of insisting that all people have rights and leaders are accountable for their actions.

We care because Calvin insisted on education for men and women - in Geneva both boys and girls learned to read and write, for free.

We care because refugees fled to Calvin’s Geneva to escape persecution for embracing Protestant ideas, and the refugees were welcomed and cared for – that legacy of care continues in our congregation and in the American ideal on the Statue of Liberty: “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. We care because Calvin’s thoughts are gaining new interest: a rock-steady God who pours out love and grace, and cares for us: we love because God first loved us.

We care because glorifying God was first in Calvin’s thoughts — he lies in an unmarked grave, so that we would worship a living God rather than a past hero.

When the representatives from South Korea at the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, churches who trace their theological roots to Calvin, were asked what relevance Calvin had for today replied, “If the ideals of democracy and ... matter to you, then Calvin still matters.”

We care, because sewers went underground in Geneva, because Calvin loved lawn bowling and nice clothes, because he died desperately poor because his house was filled with refugees in need and providing for them took his fortune, because he was ill with asthma, dyspepsia, migraines and other ailments yet served the church, because he was a brilliant scholar and introvert who was almost always outside his “comfort zone” in his ministry.

We care, because like us, John Calvin (Jean Cauvin) was a frail, flawed servant of the Lord.

Enjoy the 4-H Café and the fair. “Oooooh, aaaaaah” as fireworks explode. Pray for rain, without hail, this July. And this July, and every month, give thanks for John Calvin, and for our Lord, who continues to use frail, flawed people to accomplish His purpose. Happy Jubilee!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Caroline