Dear friends,
September 15 is Independence Day for Costa Rica and all Central America. For weeks we have heard marching bands practicing for the big parades.
September is also the Month of the Bible. My church, la Primera Iglesia Bautista en Desamparados, believes the two celebrations are related.
On September 13, the church planned an Independence Day
celebration during the Sunday school hour. People brought typical Costa Rican
food: gallo pinto (rice and beans), empanadas (meat or cheese pies), queso
fresco (fresh cheese) with corn tortillas, and, of course, café. I brought some
guests that day, a wonderful atmosphere to introduce people to the church.
After sharing food and conversation, we watched Costa Rican folk dancing with
the lively music that accompanies it.
All month we have celebrated in a variety of ways the
importance of God’s Word in our lives. The third Sunday I was invited to
preach. The speakers before me had already emphasized how words and actions
cannot be separated in our lives. I was asked to speak on the power of God’s
word. I realized as I studied that the “word” of God is in fact an extension of
God’s self, an expression of God’s power, character and will. The creation
story says that God spoke and the world came into being. God’s word formed and
guided a people, and shaped the course of history. God’s word became human in
Jesus, and we saw the power of his word to heal, forgive, and restore. Now,
God’s word dwells in us and we have a tremendous responsibility to proclaim
that word with our lives. The country needs people to live out God’s
compassion, mercy, justice, and hope.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is Nehemiah 8: an emotional gathering of the rebuilders of Jerusalem in the public square to hear God’s word, a day filled with tears and celebration. After my sermon, we reenacted that! Our church was invited by the local Catholic parish to participate in a public reading of Scripture in the park in front of their church. They read for an hour and then we read for another hour. This was a huge event; many people in our congregation could still remember the hostility of the the Catholics toward Protestants, and how Catholics were forbidden to read the Bible. We were reaping the careful building of neighborhood relationships by our former pastor and the living out of God's word of reconciliation and friendship.
I feel so privileged to be able to participate in this church. Thank you for making it possible for me to serve in Costa Rica.
September is also a special month for American Baptists: the beginning of the World Mission Offering. This special offering supplements the support given to specific missionaries and provides project funds for the ministries being carried out around the world. Please prayerfully consider your gift to this offering.
Your partner in ministry,
Ruth Mooney