Recently, I experienced actual fear in the midst of danger.
My fear occurred while my husband and I were snowbirding in Florida. We were in church; the children’s sermon had just finished and the children had left for Sunday School. The lay reader began to read the appointed lessons for the day. Suddenly, from the rear portion of the church came a man’s voice shouting that he was a sinner. The church is located where some homeless persons tend to linger. There are times when one of these persons comes into the church, shouts about something, and then leaves. Thus, my first reaction was that was what was happening.
The lay reader continued to read but was unable, even with use of a microphone, to drown out the commotion. She finally stopped reading. The man came toward the front of the church. He was dressed in a beautiful suit and certainly did not look homeless. The pastor came down from the chancel and started walking toward the man and calling him Joseph.
Joseph then began shouting "don’t touch me" and swinging a cane, with the crook end outward. He swung it in violent circles while lunging toward people in the pews. His rant then became toward the pastor — "You told me you could not heal my physical sickness but you could help me heal my spiritual sickness. You did not ……….. you are a fraud." Pastor Hunter continued speaking to him in a firm but soft voice telling him, "Joseph, you do not want to do this."
Joseph then began raging against the former pastor, calling him a pervert and a thief. All the time swinging the cane and moving around and around the outer aisles of the church, continuing to threaten all who tried to come near him and warning them not to touch him.
My husband, who is legally blind, could not see what was going on, only hear the frightening shouts — while feeling fear in the air. He too was fearful.
What were others in the congregation doing in times like these when there have been multiple acts of violence carried out in places of public gatherings?
When they heard all the words, they turned to one another in alarm. Jeremiah 36: 16
Immediately, cell phones came out. Most people, I think, were calling 911. But, there were a few taking photos. Some people seated near the front of the sanctuary, carrying small babies and toddlers, began moving forward and leaving via a side door near the chancel. Most however, like me, sat stone still praying Joseph would not come to their area, would not have a gun and begin shooting, was not wearing a suicide bomb vest, and that this episode would quickly come to an end. Other than Joseph’s shouts, there was an eerie silence.
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling Psalm 27:1a, 5
I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God. My times are in your hands. Psalm 31:14-15b
I feared Joseph and Joseph's actions. As I sat there, however, a calm came over me. I felt God directing me to keep still and avoid eye contact with Joseph. God was guiding me and telling me that he would keep me safe.
A few men stood as if to try to overtake Joseph when he next came down their side of the aisle. Two young girls rose and began shouting for the demons to come out of Joseph while they made voodoo signs with their fingers. The pastor asked everyone to remain seated and continued to speak softly to Joseph who continued swinging his cane and shouting for nobody to touch him. An elderly woman came out to stand in the aisle facing Joseph. He immediately came toward her shouting and swinging his cane. She calmly told him that she would not touch him but that he could touch her –even hug her -- as she knew he needed someone to comfort him. Her brave actions did calm him for a little while as he just stood quietly staring at her. Then one of the women in the choir came out of the choir loft to the front of the chancel and began singing, acapella, "Amazing Grace". One by one the congregation rose, held hands, and joined her in the hymn. Most of us crying – men and women. Again the Pastor asked us all to sit down and he continued speaking calmly to Joseph.
I don’t know how long all of this took but it seemed like a very long time. Finally, some security men came and again Joseph started his rage. They assured him they would not touch him but told him the police were on the way and that he should calm himself. After what seemed an eternity, we heard the sirens and the police were there. Joseph loudly asked them if he were under arrest. They told him they would not arrest him if he would come quietly with them to a place where someone would help him. He told them that if they were not arresting him they should not touch him nor put handcuffs of him. They complied and he left with them. Once he was at the doorway, he began to shout phrases to Allah in Arabic.
At that, the choir came to the front of the chancel and sang their prepared anthem – some still crying and all visibly upset after witnessing everything from their chancel “ringside” seats. The pastor and his wife went into a hallway for some privacy. At the close of the anthem, Pastor Hunter returned to deliver a most moving sermon that certainly was not prepared ahead of time. As part of this, we were told Joseph was a member of the church with an untreatable brain cancer. Recently Joseph had gone through an experimental treatment program which did not help and that he was in a phase of his illness where he was in great pain, very violent, and would not live much longer. We were requested to pray for Joseph and reminded that he had chosen to come to a place – perhaps the only one left – where he felt he could come for help. We ended the service that day witnessing the baptism of a baby.
I don't know what happened to Joseph but I did learn that he later made physical threats against the pastor, contacted and challenged others to join him in disrupting future worship services, and claimed the church would be damaged.
The remainder of our time there this winter, four policemen were stationed on the front porch of the church and in the rear of the building at all hours; a plain clothes man was hired to be present during all services. For our remaining Sundays and Ash Wednesday, this certainly presented a different way for us to come to worship services than we have ever experienced anywhere else.
Please join me in praying for Joseph, others suffering from mental problems and terminal illness, Pastors serving them, and congregations continuing to worship God in the midst of adversity. Also, offer a prayer of thanks to God for bringing comfort to people in times of fear. I pray for you that you too will find comfort from God when/if you are ever in fear.
Contributed by Nancy
Monday April 11, 2016
Liturgical Year C: Week 20
Liturgical Color: white
Sunday Gospel reading: cEaster3
Third Sunday of Easter Sunday