The Messenger - November 3, 2010 -- Reclaiming Our Identity

Pastor's Corner

"Reclaiming Our Identity"

Now you are the body of Christ, and individually, members of it.    (1 Cor 12:27)

About 5 weeks ago, I had the great privilege of accepting an award on behalf of this church from Harbor Interfaith Services. This award recognized our long history of commitment to that organization, including the pivotal role we played in their early years. A few members of this church were true catalysts for its creation, and we hosted their food pantry for undernourished citizens in our basement for several years. Meanwhile, other members of our church were heavily involved in the creation of Hoffman House, a half-way home for inmates on terminal island, while still other members of our church helped our city launch San Pedro's Meals on Wheels program for the elderly. This was an amazing era both for our city and for our church, but it wasn't the first cycle of community commitment for members of First Pres, and it wouldn't be the last one, either.

Our church began when 6 women were inspired by Rev. William Fackler of Calvary Presbyterian Church to launch a new congregation in San Pedro. These women were appalled by social conditions in our city, including very high levels of violence often fueled by alcohol. They couldn't tackle the problem directly, and several drunks that they knew were "too far gone," but they could try to save the children, and they did--creating a Sunday School program that was unrivaled in our town. Even when adult membership of our church was less than 30 persons, these women brought children in for catechism every single week.

Now, flash forward 30 years. Stewart McClellan, a fiery young preacher with an enormous heart for youth, begins to host youth rallies for young women and men throughout the city of San Pedro, and many of those young people come to our church--along with their parents. Because of their commitment, church attendance triples within 4 years, and our congregation becomes a major force for social change.

Now, flash forward another 70 years. Thanks to the work of Alcoholics Anonymous, San Pedro and other cities began to realize that alcoholism is actually a disease. Nonetheless, it is very different from cancer or heart disease, and it must be treated in a very different way. Father Art Bartlett of Saint Peters Episcopal church decides to take this battle on, and several members of our church stand with him. Together, they create the Beacon House, a residential treatment facility for alcoholic men, and together, they design a program with one of the highest success rates in the nation.

Now, flash forward still another 15 years. Brent Howell and a team of men from First Presbyterian Church attend a "Promise Keepers" during which they are admonished to "make a difference" in the communities that they serve. Inspired by this challenge and resurgence of malnutrition for poor children in our town, Brent launches a Thanksgiving Basket program from our church. Starting with just a few dozen baskets in that late 1990s, that program grew to more than 1000 baskets within the last few years. Now, our church is known as the "turkey basket" church--not only in San Pedro but throughout the United States, and other churches have begun to call us and ask how this is done.

In some churches, community service is a minor theme of their history--sort of like a single viola in an large orchestra. In the theme song of our church, community service is a trumpet that can and must be heard. And you can help us play it supporting the general fund of our church. This is not just a means of preserving a great old building in San Pedro--though some of it must be used for maintenance. Nor is it just a means of paying salaries for our staff--though some of it must be used for that purpose, too. This is means of reclaiming our identity as a people called by God to make a difference in the city that we serve. Almost every week, I meet a young adult who tells me how thrilled he was to participate in some ministry of our church, from Vacation Bible School to Friday Night Hangout to Saturday Sports Teams to Wednesday night Choir Rehearsals at our church. Now, he might attend another church--or no church at all. But we were a blessing in his life, and that blessing has endured. My prayer is that God will help us to take this great legacy and build something even better for the years to come.

I'll see you Sunday!

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