First Central Family helps those hit by winter storm

I think it is quite a shame that in these days of purported mass media coverage of human needs and national and international crises that I must rely on internet bloggers (but thank goodness for them) to get some semblance of news about our Lakota Sioux brothers and sisters on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations. I have not heard back from CNN after I reported this as a newsworthy story last Sunday, other than immediately receiving a computer-generated reply that CNN would look into it. When I tried to follow up late Monday night I received another computer generated reply that the recipient (CNN) does not receive documents (an e-mail) from this sender (me). Dad watches CNN like an addict and had not seen a report as of this weekend about the situation.

The massive power outage caused by the early winter storm almost two weeks ago had not been fixed after 10 days but the good news is that donations from my First Central family and other like-minded folks around the country did reach the reservations. Thanks to bloggers, I have some idea of what may have been happening on the reservations last week. News is that the Red Cross had arrived about the middle of last week and has been busy trying to get food, fuel and warm clothes to those affected by the power outage. The blog I read about the Red Cross involvement indicated that volunteers were averaging 4 hours a night sleep and are using snow mobiles to reach homes isolated by snow drifts that may even reach 20 feet in some areas. Sadly, too, looting was reported on a second blog. It is reported that many families have put their elder and young in a school converted to a rescue center so the dads and older brothers can return to the dark cold houses, shacks and second hand mobile homes to try to protect what possessions are left. Until I can get better information, I hope that you will take the blog reports at face value. This is second-hand, third-hand or even more distant information since none of the local media or the national media sent journalists to the reservation to accurately report the situation.

A reliable contact of mine called the Bureau of Indian Affairs Friday morning for current information but the BIA rep was not sure what the bureau knows or doesn’t know and would be sure to call her back. She also spoke with someone in the know who tells her that the state of South Dakota now formally recognizes that there is a problem on the reservations. His feelings are that the situation is resolving. I spoke with the office that the BIA suggested I call that is on the reservation this afternoon. All but a very few of the furthest remote homes are back online with electricity. The small propane and kerosene heaters were very much appreciated, some folks were heating their homes with candles. I cannot imagine that. Posted by Rick B.

Thanksgiving Musings

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and the December holidays coming up fast, I wanted to pause and reflect on what this church means to me, and how thankful I am to be apart of such a progressive and open community.

As I walk to the church doors to volunteer for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday, a smile comes across my face. Only in certain parking lots would you find that half the cars have Obama ’08, GLBT rights or pro-choice bumper stickers. As I see these signs my step lightens, because I know the moment I walk in the doors, my past, my faith journey and my views will be welcomed. There is a sense of pride that comes with this knowledge because I know many who walk through our doors are in my shoes too.

I have been a life time member of First Central (all 23 years). I still remember following a colored ribbon from the Sanctuary to the first floor classrooms for my very first Sunday morning church school visit. First Central became my home away from home. Yet, I have struggled with my “faith” for many years; I still question and doubt. During college I stopped going completely. Now, several years after graduating, I found myself needing my “second family.” So I woke up one Sunday morning in the spring of 2008 and went to church; I was welcomed as if I had been attending the whole time. No questions, no judgments, just hugs and smiles.

As I’m working in the kitchen sorting dishes and running food out to our guests, I feel grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community who helped shape who I am today. After things began to slow down and I was working in the back of kitchen, I could hear the workers doing dishes laughing and telling stories; as their laughter waved my way I could feel the stress of the work week dissolving. There is something therapeutic about hearing others laugh and connect, just like when I smell that one- of- a- kind Sanctuary church smell (you know what I’m talking about), I feel at ease and at home. When I was driving home tonight I could not help but think to myself how lucky I am to have this. So, for this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my church family, for hearts that open, minds that understand and lives that serve. Posted by Hanna W.

Ode to Winston

The following is an excerpt from a speech Liz Sharpe made at Pastor Winston Baldwin’s going away party. After which there was not a dry eye in the audience…

“When I think of Winston, there are a lot of things that come to mind … I think of confirmation class in seventh grade, when everything was confusing enough at 13 and it seemed like all of us were out of place no matter what. I never said the right things and I was always too loud and I look back and wonder how I even stood myself. I had glasses as big as my face and bangs that covered my eyes and I towered over everyone awkwardly because I didn’t know how to handle my newly acquired height. But on Wednesday nights, when I would come to confirmation class, I belonged. In the fireplace room on the third floor, sitting in the rolly chairs in one big circle, I belonged. Winston let me know that I was wanted, that what I had to say meant something, no matter how loudly it came out of my mouth. He taught us that faith was not, as much I had wanted it to be, black and white. Faith and religion was not some category we could just passively toss ourselves into, but something to be explored. Winston assured us that questioning and even being confused about it meant that we were thinking and beginning to carve a new little place for ourselves in the church family. And at that age, that was all we really wanted- to finally start finding a place somewhere … Thank you for making all of us feel a sense of belonging and community that everyone should experience at some point in their lives, and for being such a wonderful friend and teacher. I love you to the moon, and am so excited to see what other wonderful things you will do for these new churches. Thank you for everything.”

An Invitation to Dialogue

First Central invites you to the table to talk, share, and express your thoughts. As an open community, we want to hear your feedback and comments regarding our faith community and the issues facing our world today. The goals of this blog are to:

• To inform the local community about events happening at First Central and in the community;

• To highlight the wonderful, inviting, and neat people (and the great work they do) who make up our church family;

• To be a place to voice our concerns and offer solutions to the issues effecting the community;

• To be a bridge between all generations by encouraging intergenerational discussions;

• To have fun and take advantage of the technology of the day!