CCC Blog

I Got Involved When...

During Lent, our three (3) small groups are telling first-person narratives from their own lives deriving from a weekly prompt that is based on the sermon from the preceding Sunday.  This week the groups will be telling stories inspired by Simon of Cyrene who “stepped up” in the crowd to carry Jesus’ cross.  The prompt for this week is: “Tell of a time in your life when you got involved in something.”  The following is my own narrative inspired by that question. 

“Has there ever been a church softball league?”  It was an innocent enough question, I thought and not worthy of a long, drawn-out explanation.  Besides I knew the answer.  Of course there had been a church softball league.  I was ending my first year in the ministry, fresh out of graduate school.  Among the many stories told me as I got settled in that first call was how, “in the old days” there had been a co-ed church softball league.  Being an ex-baseball player myself, I was certainly interested in putting a team together from First Christian.  So at our monthly Ministerial Alliance meeting, I innocently asked the question.  The ecumenical group always met in the back room at the local buffet – a converted roller rink known for its fried chicken, soft-serve ice cream station and dark brown and gold vinyl chairs.  “Well… let me tell you about the church softball league,” the bearded Methodist (and longest-tenured) pastor said, leaning back in his chair and twirling a toothpick in his mouth.  There had been a league at one point, he reported, but interest waned, primarily due to the commissioner getting burned out.  The league quickly folded after that.  “But… if someone were possibly interested in heading up the league again,” he looked at me wistfully, “it just might witness a resurrection.”  And that is how I came to be the commissioner of the Centralia church softball league – for the next five years!!!

At our team leaders meeting that first year, the rep from First Presbyterian dominated the whole meeting time and nit-picked over every possible rule, only at the end of the meeting to tell us that he wasn’t going to be having a team in the league anyway.  The second year, I absolutely knew that another church was getting ringers to play on their team in the tournament.  But I couldn’t say much.  Because as it just so happened, our team was really good.  We had, as legitimate members of our church, a collection of terrific athletes, both men and women.  So I, as the league commissioner, was in the awkward position of either a) handing out the champions’ trophy to our church; or b) filing a complaint (as a coach) against another church to myself (as commissioner), with the result that my team would have a better chance of winning. 

We always played games on the fields at the western edge of town on Saturday evenings.  One year, at the end of July, we were playing Zion Hill Baptist.  I got there early and so did their coach – who like me, was also the pastor of the small country church north and east of Centralia.   He was a short, roundish guy with silvery hair that was perfectly combed, muscular forearms, a perpetually tanned face and a big, warm smile.  He was genuinely warm, affable, kind and I enjoyed his friendship.  We met at home plate.  The sun was beginning to set.  A gentle breeze blew over the infield and long shadows stretched out behind us.  The heat and humidity of the day was beginning to ease.  Distant birds offered a chorus of back and forth melodies. 

The pastor turned to me and said, completely out of the blue, “Michael… I just can’t wait to get to heaven!  I mean, I can feel those streets of gold beneath my feet” (at which point he did a little jig right there in the batters box).  I was taken off guard to say the least.  Not only have I never been the kind of guy – or Christian – to open a conversation that way.  But in that moment, as I took in the remains of that day, I thought about my young son, resting at home and not even a year old; and how the next day our family of three would be heading north for our annual vacation and I thought, “Nah… not me.  I don’t think I’m quite ready to go yet.  I rather look forward to living on earth, at least for awhile longer.”

I learned a lot from those 5 years – like how to put more stock into the opinions of those who are going to participate than in those who won’t; like how playing dual relationships (especially in the church) is always difficult; like how to be careful about the questions you ask in a non-profit organization, because you just might end up the commissioner of the softball league.  But also, how you don’t have to share the same theology as someone, to respect them, appreciate them and enjoy their friendship.        

Blessings – Michael

“Thoughts on Charities and the New Tax Law”

Two months ago Congress passed a bill greatly affecting income taxes and the President signed it into law.  One month ago I attended a conference of Disciples of Christ clergy on stewardship where this new law was discussed.  Though it is designed to make it easier for people to file their taxes, it’s the ease in filing your tax return that has charities (like Central) concerned.  One major change in the law pertains to doubling the standard deduction from $12,000 to $24,000 for a joint return.  This has the effect of encouraging more people not to itemize deductions.  With the deductibility of state and local taxes capped at $5,000 a year, a couple would have to donate more than $19,000 to charities in a tax year to benefit from itemizing.  While some donors may exceed this amount, most are likely far below.  There is some concern among charities and churches that donations will decrease due to these changes.  

I have to believe that most donors will continue to support their church or  charity because they know the value of its mission.  This is certainly how I perceive our donors at Central.  You/we do not donate simply for the tax benefit.  Still having faith that you will continue to support Central, I want to offer a few suggestions that I’ve learned about how you can achieve greater savings on your tax return.

 1) If you are over 70 ½ and taking required minimum distributions (RMD) from your IRA or 401(k), you can instruct the investment broker that you wish to have the RMD sent directly to Central.  In doing so you are not required to report the income on your tax return nor are you allowed to claim the charitable contribution, unless the deductibility exceeds the $24,000 threshold.

2) A second way of saving on your income taxes is by “bunching” your contributions.  This is combining two years of contributions into the same tax year.  Then in the following year you wouldn’t make any contributions.  A number of Central’s members already do this.  They give their normal donations throughout the year and then make a large donation in December prepaying the next year’s pledge.  In following this concept bigger donors can easily surpass the $24,000 standard deduction and get a tax savings in the year when bunching.

3) A third way of saving taxes is by donating assets (i.e. stock) to the church that you have held for more than one year and which have gone up in value.  In doing so you are able to claim the full value of the appreciated asset as an itemized deduction while avoiding having to report the    transaction for capital gains tax purposes.  Selling the asset and giving the cash to the church would require tax to be paid on the capital gain.

Of course, I am not a tax professional.  You should definitely discuss theseconcepts with your tax advisor if you are interested in following any of these strategies.  And if you choose, there is someone in our financial office here at the church who is likewise willing to discuss these with you in more detail. Central has been very blessed over the years of having many generous donors.  And I don’t believe a change in the tax law will result in a reduction to our individual or collective generosity.

Blessings – Michael

“The Faces of Lent”

Face.  F-A-C-E.  A four letter word with at least that many meanings and connotations.  As a noun, the word “face” represents our identifying mark.  Like snowflakes or stripes on a zebra, no two faces are alike.  Your face is uniquely and singularly you!  Now, there may be things about your face that we don’t like and wish we could change or cover up.  But our face bears the imprint of God, who created each of us with a loving touch and delights in our individuality. 

As a plural noun – as in faces – we are meant to think of crowds.  Faces in the crowd.  Faces make up the crowd.  Faces shows that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.  Each of us being one part of many, sharing a common humanity with all the others.  Faces in the crowd can sometimes get lost in the crowd, like a stadium full of spectators at a sporting event.  The sea of humanity is so large that it becomes easy to lose the individuality of any one, particular face.

As a verb, “face” refers to our posture; how and in which direction we are standing.  It means to look at; to see; to gaze upon – as when we face the mirror and see our reflection in it.  But the verb “face” can also mean to confront; to call things for what they are; not to deny the truth but to admit and accept it, no matter how difficult that might be.

The season of Lent is about the word “face.”  It’s about facing the cross – seeing and gazing upon the sacrifice of Christ; his death and resurrection.  It’s about confronting our own sin – for which Jesus died to save us.  Sin is about “missing the mark” of perfection; failing to adequately live by God’s Word and will.  The vast majority of sins are committed not because we mean to, but rather in spite of the fact that we don’t.  We certainly don’t try to miss the mark, but even in spite of our best efforts, we fall short of the glory of God.

Lent is about confronting that reality; accepting that we are part of a crowd – a common humanity, whose nature it is to do the very thing we shouldn’t do and to fail to do the very thing we should.  Lent is about not hiding our face in the crowd and hoping we don’t have to admit this truth.  Rather it is about accepting the responsibility that we all have – as unique individuals – to examine ourselves and admit our need for Christ; his forgiveness; his grace.  No one can do that work for us, but us.  And Lent is God’s invitation to accept this important and saving work. 

Which is why we wear ashes on our faces on Ash Wednesday, which signals the beginning of Lent.  To remind us of our brokenness; our need for Christ; and our willingness to keep facing the cross throughout our life of faith.  For it is “In the cross, in the cross, that our individual souls will find their ultimate rest.”      

Blessings – Michael

“Faces at the Cross – Small Group Opportunity”

There were many faces in the crowd that witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus.  Many of them are well known.  Of course, there was Judas (who betrayed),  Peter (who denied) and Pilate (who washed his hands).  But there were many others as well.  Lesser known, perhaps, and more likely to be “lost in the crowd.”  As we journey through the season of Lent at Central, toward the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter Sunday, we will look at some of these faces and be invited to see ourselves in each.  And throughout, we will be reminded that through each of those faces – as through our own – the face of God shines.

Feb 18 Introduction – The Face of God

Feb 25 The Crowds (who exalted Jesus one day and cheered for his

Crucifixion the next)

Mar 4 Simon of Cyrene (who carried Jesus’ cross with him)

Mar 11 Roman Centurion (who confessed Jesus as he died)

Mar 18 Two Thieves (who were crucified alongside Jesus)

Mar 25 Many women (who stayed near Jesus as he died)

Each of the Faces at the Cross of Jesus’ crucifixion represents a story.  A story so important, each was chosen to be part of the story of salvation as it was written through the life, death and  resurrection of Jesus. During our Lenten sermon series, we will be exploring those stories in greater detail.  

In that same spirit of storytelling, we are inviting you to be part of a Storytelling Small Group experience.  Each week, three (3) small groups will be led by different leaders but all will be covering the same material.  Participants will be a given a “storytelling prompt” ahead of time, based on the story we’ll be emphasizing in worship that week, and in the small group will share a story from their own life.  We believe that stories are sacred, for God dwells in the stories that define us.  And we believe there is transforming power in stories, both to unite us and change us.  Moreover, we believe that there are more stories within us than we probably realize and the goal of this small group experience is to put us in touch with those stories. 

Sunday, February 25 4:00 p.m.

All small group participants are asked to attend an opening orientation session

Tuesdays    1:00 p.m. Rm 240    Don Martin           (2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27)

Tuesdays    4:00 p.m. Café    Scott Woolridge   (2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27)

Thursdays  5:30 p.m. Café    Tina Miller       (3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29)

At the opening orientation session, we will hand out the storytelling prompts for each week.  But here’s a sample of what a prompt looks like: 

Week 1 – Theme: the Crowds who welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday and turned on him 5 days later

Minister’s Article Continued on Page 3….

Describe a time in your life when you “turned on a dime…”

Tell us about a time in your life when you “followed the crowd…”

Hope you can be part of this Lenten experience. Sign up in the Welcome Center for the small group of your choosing!!! 

Blessings – Michael