A lot of people think that politics doesn’t belong in church. And yet, a text like today’s cannot get anymore political – when God is calling a messenger to speak out about the waywardness of the polis of YHWH and their deaf and blind rulers – one can’t escape the reality of it!
And that, my siblings in Christ, is the weight of saying “Yes” to God.
Speakers
Team Members
Pastor Rev. Francis P. Miller II
Pastor
As “Co-Pastor/Head of Staff,” Francis has the opportunity to work with the congregation in fulfilling its particular way of being a church. He is most often seen at “at work” when leading worship — that is, calling the community to notice and honor the presence of God in our lives. He does so by working with Gene, Colleen, Keith, and Chris to shape the words, rituals, and songs that help us express our gratitude that God loves us and claims us for who we are. During that time he enjoys extrapolating from bible stories ways we can live our lives in a manner that fulfills the greatest commandments offered by Jesus: to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, likewise, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Francis also greatly appreciates visiting with members of the congregation either one-on-one or in small groups or in committees. He finds it amazing when out-of-the-blue conversations turn into something that deepens relationships.
Connected to his work with LCFC, Francis is blessed to participate with the work of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Committee on the Self-Development of People. Through small grant opportunities, SDOP partners with groups of people who are about empowering themselves in the midst of their community. Francis is also a co-founder of the Dougbe River Presbyterian School of Liberia. Founded in 2012, DR
PSL is a pre-K through 9th grade school in a rural area of the country where there was no access to school. The school’s motto, “Education is Light,” pretty well sums up what Francis loves about his work — accompanying people in discovering the hidden treasures of life and in God.
Fancis is married to Celinda, and with her has three young adults, Adrian, Lillian, and Elliot. Their greatest joy is heading out and seeing the world. Somewhere in their house is a checklist of the US National Parks they’ve visited, with an eye on completing the list someday. When not camping in the parks, hiking the trails in NE Ohio does just fine. They love exploring the diversity of natural and urban areas to be found around the City of Cleveland. The family enjoys participating in and watching all manner of sports. Currently, soccer has a hold on the family, and wherever the children are participating in matches there’s a good chance Francis and Celinda will be there. Finally, Francis enjoys seeing things through the lens of his phone camera. Wherever he’s moving about, one of his spiritual disciplines is keeping an open eye for beauty whether big or small.