Ice Cream Social Gathering: A Letter from Pastor Gene

When I was a kid one of my favorite shows was Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. At that age, I didn’t really appreciate the sneakers, or the cardigans, or the fact that Fred Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian pastor. All I knew was that his friends were amazing and the song he sang, with the refrain “Won’t you be my neighbor?” just made me feel good. As an adult, I realize that each episode contained some great messages that were definitely related to Fred’s faith and now as a pastor myself, I really love his desire to make a safe space for kids. It probably doesn’t hurt that my daughter still has a Tigey in her bed which is from the more modern spinoff known as Daniel Tiger. It also occurs to me that you and I live in a time when it’s never been more important to figure out what Jesus means when he tells the Disciples to take care of their neighbors.

So, who is that really anyway? Well, from where I sit, your neighbor is quite literally anyone who isn’t you. Sure, in my neighborhood, I have neighbors to the literal right and left of my house (your experience may be different), but as I said, I believe what Jesus is speaking of isn’t limited to that. And that’s sort of the rub, isn’t it? If our neighbors are truly people we don’t know, that can lead us into some very deep waters and those waters can be truly uncomfortable. Every week, Fred Rogers spoke into a TV camera and was beamed into living rooms around the country (not just in Pittsburgh), and with re-runs who knows how far his face, sneakers, sweaters, and catchy tune have gone.

But wait…we’re Methodists too, right? That means we’re connectional…on our best days. Aren’t we all neighbors as well? YES! Further, I think church is a great opportunity for us to practice our neighborly ways on people, in situations that ought to be a little less fraught than the grocery line, post office, school pick up/drop off… (I could go on but for the sake of this letter I won’t). Church, and the people we eat with at dinners, serve with on committees, and sit next to in pews are the perfect neighbors to practice treating people like…well…our neighbors. That is precisely why I am excited to be back with North Canton Community UMC and Copper Hill (along with Deacon Deb of course) and practice being neighbors again for the next year.

With that in mind, I’d like to invite you to an ice cream social on Wednesday night, July 31, at 6 p.m. at North Canton Community UMC, where we (SUM, North Canton Community UMC, Pleasant Valley, and Copper Hill) will gather. What could be better than ice cream in July (maybe puppy dogs)? This will give us a great chance to get started by reacquainting ourselves as neighbors, slightly separated by geography but united by the love of Jesus. Won’t you be my neighbor?

OTJ,
PG