Rebecca’s Writings

"Bless to me, O God, each thing mine eye sees;
Bless to me, O God, each sound mine ear hears;
Bless to me, O God, each odor that goes to my nostrils;
Bless to me, O God, each taste that goes to my lips …
Bless to me, O God, the Three that seek my heart,
The zeal that seeks my living soul …"

— Carmina Gadelica

Deep within our Scottish Presbyterian heritage lies the stream of Celtic Christianity. It lived alongside its Roman Catholic sister up until the 6th century, when it was pushed underground, considered heretical particularly for its assertion of the original goodness of creation and the body. Perhaps the growing environmental crisis has helped to revive this tradition in recent years.

For it could never truly die. Poets and common folks, theologians and writers kept it alive in the British Isles. Critics see its influence in Christian writers such as Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, MacDonald (The Princess and the Goblin) and Madeleine L’Engle.

To renew our faith, we need the work of the imagination — even as grown–ups. In the 6th century, our ancestors required poet–prophets like Isaiah to confront their despair and captivity in Babylon. Later, amid the stresses of the Roman Empire, it was the consummate storyteller, Jesus our Savior, who reminded folks then — and remind us today — to imagine, to see that “the reign of God is among us.”

Oh dear, I’m getting carried away. But I envision New Year 2006 to launch an increasingly imaginative faith at Stone Church, as we look for a new head of staff, teach ourselves and our children about Jesus, and serve the poor in the world.

I look forward to leading you on January 29 in a “Spiritual Resolutions” workshop. In this Sunday program, you can connect the dots between your spiritual intentions and your day planners and calendars. In May, I look forward to Dr. Philip Newell, an internationally known Church of Scotland minister — and former leader at Iona Abbey — to help us grow the living edges of our Christian faith.

Faithfully yours,
Rebecca

Note: The photo above shows the Rev. Rebecca Kuiken, newly installed as Moderator of the Presbytery of San Jose. Her installation took place at the December 3rd Presbytery meeting, in Hollister. Her term as Moderator runs through calendar year 2006.