Precious Savior, you went out along the highways and by-ways of life to meet people where they lived. You taught on mountainsides and the plains, in homes and in the midst of community. You sent out the twelve and the seventy. Never let us become captive to our church buildings instead by your Holy Spirit lead us out the doors among the people to share the Good News of your life, death, and resurrection. Amen.
For about four years I have been practicing a bar stool ministry in two local sports bars. It has included mystery, a tragedy, blessings, and many, many more things. What it does do is lead me into relationships with many wonderful people, people who are saints and sinners, broken and healing.
I, frequently, issue invitations to join me and the people of Messiah at worship and on occassion those invitations are accepted. Most often they are not. People underestimate how hard it can be to walk into a church for the first time or the first time in many years.
I listen to people and I talk with them. We exchange our stories and tell great lies, the kind that are often more honest than the truth. Once in awhile I buy someone a beer, sometimes they have bought one for me but mostly I simply try and be a presence.
When I am there I have a beer or two and most often something to eat. When I leave it is in part to share a witness that it is ok to do so without having 6 or 8 beers. Afterall, the scripture is not critical of having wine but rather is concerned with a life broken and wasted in drunkeness. In Luke, chapter 7 Jesus notes he himself had been accused of being drunk. I consider it a great responsibility to model or preach healthy behavior without words as well as with them. I waste little to no time in criticizing the behavior of others, my life is filled with enough struggles and sin of its own.
Over time my presence has led to numerous requests to sit down and talk. Some would label these talks as counseling but often it is just a more private conversation surrounding something that emerged while I sat on a bar stool. Expressions of sadness and struggle are often revealed and prayer and words of grace, forgiveness and hope ensue. None of this looks anything like the images of ministry we discussed in seminary but which I sense are something Jesus blesses with his presence just like the wedding at Cana where he turned water into wine.
One of the great gifts I receive is people's trust. Something that must be held firmly and gently at one and the same time. Early during the second year on my bar stool a regular was killed tragically late one night while riding in a truck returning home very late from another bar. His name was "Burke" and we had spent a lot of time talking. He admitted to having to work hard to clean up much of his language when I was around and when he slipped up on occassion he was quick to apologize saying like, "Oh, hell, pastor, I'm sorry."
When Burke died I spent much of the next day in the restaurant/bar as people came in. Many people were either hearing the tragic news for the first time or emotionally needing to know details of what or how it had happened as word spread. Burke was deeply loved by many. The wounds were raw and real. There were many stories told with copious amounts of tears and laughter. There was anger released and there was prayer. There was healing in the small community that flowed in and out all day.
I attended Burke's viewing and there was a big crowd. I entered the building in my usual black garb and clergy collar, something that gives away the role many of us play among those whose traditions include such trappings.
A gentleman probably 10 years my senior and who was clearly part of the family saw me and immediated made his way across the room. Introducing himself as Burke's father he said, "You must be Pastor Bill, you will never know what you meant to Chris. He told us all about you many times. He really liked you. Said you were easy to talk to, Thank you. Thank you so much for being a friend to him. He had his demons."
That was the day I was became convinced that the ministry I had taken up on that stool was one of the important places to be. Jesus ministered everywhere he went. He ate with sinners. Most often his ministry was among people that others around him refused to notice or if they did it was to notice with disdain. To me it is all just ministry, conversations about Jesus, and the kingdom of God breaking in. BTW, I have a beer mug at that restaurant and bar. It says "Pastor Bill." I pray that I can do the label justice.
On December 22nd from 7-9pm we will be holding a "Carols and Brews" event inviting everyone who will join us to a time of music, story and prayer and the grace of God.
For about four years I have been practicing a bar stool ministry in two local sports bars. It has included mystery, a tragedy, blessings, and many, many more things. What it does do is lead me into relationships with many wonderful people, people who are saints and sinners, broken and healing.
I, frequently, issue invitations to join me and the people of Messiah at worship and on occassion those invitations are accepted. Most often they are not. People underestimate how hard it can be to walk into a church for the first time or the first time in many years.
I listen to people and I talk with them. We exchange our stories and tell great lies, the kind that are often more honest than the truth. Once in awhile I buy someone a beer, sometimes they have bought one for me but mostly I simply try and be a presence.
When I am there I have a beer or two and most often something to eat. When I leave it is in part to share a witness that it is ok to do so without having 6 or 8 beers. Afterall, the scripture is not critical of having wine but rather is concerned with a life broken and wasted in drunkeness. In Luke, chapter 7 Jesus notes he himself had been accused of being drunk. I consider it a great responsibility to model or preach healthy behavior without words as well as with them. I waste little to no time in criticizing the behavior of others, my life is filled with enough struggles and sin of its own.
Over time my presence has led to numerous requests to sit down and talk. Some would label these talks as counseling but often it is just a more private conversation surrounding something that emerged while I sat on a bar stool. Expressions of sadness and struggle are often revealed and prayer and words of grace, forgiveness and hope ensue. None of this looks anything like the images of ministry we discussed in seminary but which I sense are something Jesus blesses with his presence just like the wedding at Cana where he turned water into wine.
One of the great gifts I receive is people's trust. Something that must be held firmly and gently at one and the same time. Early during the second year on my bar stool a regular was killed tragically late one night while riding in a truck returning home very late from another bar. His name was "Burke" and we had spent a lot of time talking. He admitted to having to work hard to clean up much of his language when I was around and when he slipped up on occassion he was quick to apologize saying like, "Oh, hell, pastor, I'm sorry."
When Burke died I spent much of the next day in the restaurant/bar as people came in. Many people were either hearing the tragic news for the first time or emotionally needing to know details of what or how it had happened as word spread. Burke was deeply loved by many. The wounds were raw and real. There were many stories told with copious amounts of tears and laughter. There was anger released and there was prayer. There was healing in the small community that flowed in and out all day.
I attended Burke's viewing and there was a big crowd. I entered the building in my usual black garb and clergy collar, something that gives away the role many of us play among those whose traditions include such trappings.
A gentleman probably 10 years my senior and who was clearly part of the family saw me and immediated made his way across the room. Introducing himself as Burke's father he said, "You must be Pastor Bill, you will never know what you meant to Chris. He told us all about you many times. He really liked you. Said you were easy to talk to, Thank you. Thank you so much for being a friend to him. He had his demons."
That was the day I was became convinced that the ministry I had taken up on that stool was one of the important places to be. Jesus ministered everywhere he went. He ate with sinners. Most often his ministry was among people that others around him refused to notice or if they did it was to notice with disdain. To me it is all just ministry, conversations about Jesus, and the kingdom of God breaking in. BTW, I have a beer mug at that restaurant and bar. It says "Pastor Bill." I pray that I can do the label justice.
On December 22nd from 7-9pm we will be holding a "Carols and Brews" event inviting everyone who will join us to a time of music, story and prayer and the grace of God.
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