Meet The Pastor
Rev. John Houlker is a native Rhode Islander, having grown up in Cranston and graduated from Cranston High School East in 1969. He received his BA degree from Springfield College in 1973, and MA degree from Gordon Conwell Seminary in 1975.He has served churches in RI and New Hampshire, and, prior to his move to WCBC, served as field staff for National Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA, concentrating in areas of discipleship and youth ministry. He has traveled extensively throughout the country, serving as a consultant, seminar/workshop leader, speaker, and conference organizer. Rev. John has been serving as Pastor of WCBC since June of 2006. John and his wife Patty have two grown children, and are presently making their home in Cranston.
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A few weeks back I received an email from a colleague which began with the words, “Well, nothing says Lent quite like Epiphany Sunday!” He was referring to how quickly we are forced to “switch gears” in our thoughts and planning, as Lent looms on the horizon with each ending of the advent season. As was expressed during worship a couple weeks back, “it really isn’t a long journey from the manger to the cross; from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.”
We have quite a bit of help in dealing with the advent season. We have wonderful images of mangers and angels and Magi. We have a marvelous cache of music, in which both lyric and melody work to orient us within the season. We have cultural trappings that keep the season in front of us, and the only way to escape it all is to stay home, shut the blinds, turn off all communication devices, etc.
Throughout lent, we are called to focus on a simple cross: not a beautifully decked out, lit up and decorated cross, but a rough hewn, stark design of wood with no particular beauty or drawing power.
No, the drawing power of the cross, is not in its outward appearance, like so many of the advent symbols. It is in the inward meaning – that place in our souls where the reality of the nails, the blood, the pain intersects with the reality of our need for a savior. The music of lent tells a different story than our advent carols. It is music that marvels at God’s plan: “Amazing Grace”. It evokes humility in the depths of our being: “The Old Rugged Cross”. It calls out emotions from new depths of understanding and thanksgiving: “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed”. It compels us toward deeper commitment to the one who died: “Lead Me to Calvary”. It gives voice to those deepest of human responses to the God who offered his all for us:
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross on which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count as loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.”
In our contemporary Christian music offerings we find such poignant lyrics as in “Above All”…
“Like a rose trampled on the ground, you took the fall, and thought of me
Above all,”
Yes, there is music of the season to aid us in our journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. It narrates, comments on, and offers wonderful opportunities for reflection on the fulfillment of the plan that began in the manger, and reached fulfillment on the cross. Before we gather to celebrate the affirmation “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, may we honor our Savior with the spiritual commitment so beautifully verbalized for us:
“Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Blessings,
Pastor John
2.2012
