The Clock Tower is Back

I'm happy to see the Williamsburgh Bank Building's Clock Tower is back. Originally the building was owned by the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, then later its parent,Republic National Bank, then, via a merger, HSBC. For years the building contained offices, notably dentists' offices; the once called it 'The Mecca of Dentistry'. Now HSBC has relocated across the street to 118 Flatbush Avenue. In early 2006, Magic Johnson began converting the building to luxury condominiums. The clock on the tower disappeared when visible construction on the tower began. Many (including yours truly) thought that we had lost the iconic clock tower for good, but it is back!

At night the dial sports a new red luminescent glow. Aside from being a beautiful Brooklyn Landmark its always provided me with a point of reference for the various times I realized that I had "misplaced myself." It's always good to have a guide...Amen?



I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.-Pr. 4:11

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Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

For many of us holidays are just time off. Days that we take a break from work. In England when you go "on holiday" its just that. It means you're going on vacation. It seems that we become far removed from the significance of the day. I suspect MLK Jr. 's holiday will become just another day of unless we hear his words and let them sink deep into us so that a tree of hope flourishes and from that tree the fruit of justice and righteousness.

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Out of the Rabbit Hole

I've been in the "rabbit hole" for a while. The holiday has given me a chance to take a breather. I'll be catching up in the next few weeks and getting back at my regular pace.

I'm almost finished with "Everything Must Change" by Brian McLaren . I'll share some of my reflections on the book soon, but I thought I might share this picture that I took in the Dominican republic last month. It goes well with the following line from the book.

"I think about where the path of gross inequity leads - globally, nationally, locally. I think about the streets of Latin America and Africa, where every widow must be protected by iron gates and every wall topped with razor wire or broken glass to keep out desperately poor people who have found robbery the only way to survive."pg 248


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Unexpected Surprise - Fooling the Pastor

Dear Park Slope Family,

I want to thank you for that unexpected surprise yesterday. You really got me! The gifts and words of encouragement really touched my heart. As a matter of fact I was a bit speechless. Thank you Missionettes for creatively disguising your award service and thank you leaders for putting it all together. The special Dinner was excellent. Thanks Emma & Ariel for lending us your beautiful home.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 1:2-6

Big Hugs

Pastor Luis

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C.S. Lewis on Leadership

"Authority exercised with humility, and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live."

-C.S. Lewis

Balance

I just finished a preaching series called "Balance" and these folks took me seriously (LOL). There's Deacon Noemi leading the pack with Gilbert right behind her. These are a few of the pictures from our annual Apple Picking Saturday in Battleview Orchards, New Jersey. Though it drizzled off and on, God gave enough time to pick apples, have a picnic and enjoy an epic game of whiffle ball. Deacon Jon got lucky and struck me out once. Would you believe that?

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Metro Hope Church: First Preview Gathering

Church Planters Jose & Mayra Humphreys had their first preview gathering on Sunday, September 23. The gathering took place in Harlem's National Black Theater. There was a fantastic turn out of well wishers and those seeking a unique church experience.

They incorporated media and arts into the gathering. Leslie Rios, an artist from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, did spontaneous painting while Pastor Jose preached on Mark 2, the story of the paralytic.

Jose and Mayra are committed to a wholistic praxis of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Last week they were able to collect canned goods and gently used clothes to be given to the African Services Committee, an organization in Harlem that works with African refugees and immigrants.




Jose and Mayra have been long time friends. I can attest to their heart for the city and a heart to serve people in an authentic way. Metro Hope is positioned to be a catalyst for revolutionary change in the city as well as an model for urban community.

Metro Hope Church is one of the churches that we support at Park Slope Tabernacle.

Let's continue to pray them....

Check out their blog CrackPots
For more info about Metro Hope check out http://myspace.com/metrohope

"Adelante como un elefante"

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