Message from the Pastor

Dear FPCC and Friends,

I have noticed that the topic of authenticity has come up a lot lately.  I believe that people, especially the younger generations, are craving more authentic encounters and more authenticity from one another and from leaders.  Not that long ago there were a lot of subjects that were taboo including religion/faith, sexuality, and mental health, among many others.  In many ways, these topics are still taboo.  I imagine they were and are taboo because it requires a person to be vulnerable.  To talk about such personal subjects means that you have to risk rejection, and lack of understanding on the other’s part.

Vulnerability is hard and scary because you have no idea how the other person is going to react.  Yet, trying to be authentic and opening myself up to my own pain and being able to share with others has actually had the opposite results.  It has allowed others a safe space to say “me too.”  It allows for people to let down their facades and say “I make mistakes and I am not what society would deem perfect, but that’s ok because I’m not alone.” No one out there is perfect, and the more we open ourselves up and are truthful with others, it dismantles this idea of being perfect which takes a lot more energy to uphold.  I realize there a lot of times that I do try to portray myself as if everything is going well and perfect.  I will keep trying.  In the mean time, I wonder if the church as a whole could be included in trying to be more authentic and vulnerable and what would that look like?  Would it include more testimonies, personal or communal confessions?  Maybe it would be just as simple as sitting next to someone you don’t know and asking how they are doing and letting them know you genuinely want to know, while (and this is not always simple)  preparing yourself not to react negatively no matter what the answer is? 

We have a God who displayed massive amounts of vulnerability.  We have a God who turns weaknesses into strength, who turns mourning into dancing, and who turns death into life. We have a God who has been there, done that, understands and will not reject us.  If we could trust in that knowledge a little more, maybe we too can find strength in our weaknesses, dancing after mourning, and new life where there once was death.

Grace and peace be with you all,

Rev. Krista Rasco