In Our Connection

An e-mail from my friend Cynthia reminded me how important it is that the local UMC church share the stories of our connectional ministries. She had heard of the four areas of focus for the UMC as named at the 2008 General Conference and was excited to know that we are involved in these matters. Over the next quadrennium, the church will seek to focus the work of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world around these areas of ministry:

• Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally.
• Engaging in ministry with the poor.
• Creating new places for new people and revitalizing existing congregations.
• Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.

For further discussion see this UMNS commentary.

This week the Council of Bishops approved a pastoral letter asking church members to participate in the healing. This document, “God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action,” was started by the 2004 United Methodist General Conference. More than 5,400 United Methodists around the world have had input into the final document. “We cannot help the world until we change our way of being in it,” the bishops said in adopting the letter. The bishops recommend that this letter be read to congregations during the season of Advent.

If we understand that the Church exists to serve the world and that the congregations of the UMC connect with one another to effectively do so, we need to be more intentional about sharing connectional news and to be in conversation about it.

Whitefoot

Our grandchildren, Annaka and William, are both great first-grade readers and we are impressed by their proficiency. Parents, grandparents and other caring adults dutifully listen and praise them for their accomplishments. I know that our reading to them has been an important contributing factor to their learning to read and we have enjoyed doing this. However, I also know that reading experts urge us to continue this practice as it will further help develop our young readers’ skills. Vocabulary will be enhanced and imagination inspired as we carefully share good literature with them. Recently, I discovered such a book and can’t wait to share it with them.

Whitefoot is written by one of my favorite authors, Wendell Berry. Berry’s engaging prose takes both reader and listener on a fascinating journey with Whitefoot, a small mouse who lives at the edge of the woods. When the nearby river floods Whitefoot is carried into a strange new world and discovers that she can cope with the challenges - certainly a valuable life lesson. The portrait of this tenacious little mouse is not only drawn with well-crafted words, but also is enhanced by several pen and ink illustrations by Davis Te Selle. There is a lot within this small book for a young mind to ponder.

The Greatest Challenge

As a church professional I spend a lot of time studying and thinking about numbers, finances, programs and ministries. I want to help create a vital congregation that makes a difference to Myrtle Beach and the world beyond. My goal is always to nurture discipleship of Jesus Christ. And, I become frustrated and saddened when indifference and apathy seem to prevail. I become distracted about what is reality. It is not easy being a Christian. So, it was providential that I read the following written by Will Willimon: “Let us remind ourselves in worship this Sunday that our greatest challenge is that which it has always been – loving and serving a living, truthful God!" This is all that really matters, isn't it?

For Everything There is a Season

During the past few weeks the opening words of Ecclesiastes 3 have been part of my being as Ron and I made two trips to Ohio:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what has been planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.”

Our first trip included spending time with my parents who now live in an assisted living facility. It certainly seemed strange to visit them at this new address, but we were most pleased with their improved state of health and pleasant room and to see them adjusting to this new lifestyle. It was with mixed emotions we joined other family members in dismantling the homestead, as we have known it. Tears, laughs and stories were shared as we divided heirlooms and treasures. We also visited my sister and brother in-law who were coping with his last days of a four-year struggle with colon cancer. What strength they both have exhibited during these years while teaching lessons about living into dying to us all. With heavy hearts we returned to South Carolina knowing we would soon be back in Ohio. But, the call came only a few days later and we made plans to join family and friends in celebrating John’s life.

Although the skies were often gray and misty during this second trip to Ohio, Ron and I saw rainbows several times along the way. The light that reflected through tears when acts of love and concern gave comfort and peace seemed to create them. As did carefully selected music and words that offered hope for the days to come. How Can I Keep from Singing still rings in my mind and heart when sadness returns.

During this season, I became deeply aware that it is family, friends and faith that give us the strength and love to continue the journey. It has become a time not only of self-discovery as I admit it difficult to face my own mortality, but also a time to make sure that my own legacy is shaped by the Micah’s admonition to:

Where is Emily?

Several years ago we had a manners class for 3rd-5th graders as part of our children’s ministry. It was our intent to augment and refine a child’s basic understanding of etiquette. Although it was a successful effort in many ways, we were amazed that we needed to teach many of them how to hold their eating utensils before we could talk about proper table manners. Apparently, this is not a prerequisite for fast food or current family dining. So, why does it come as a surprise that many of our families don’t understand what R.S.V.P. means?

Church event after event is planned that requires some indication as to whether the invited ones will be present. A response is requested by a certain date. After limited replies, we start calling the invitees to try to determine who might be planning to attend. In the meantime, a commitment to final plans for food etc. has to be made. I am not clairvoyant, but I often have to pretend that I have this special talent if we are to go forth with the activity. On Sunday, twenty-five third graders are to receive Bibles during the 8:30 worship service. This is to be followed by a brunch for the student and their parents and a time for discovering how one navigates through the Bible. I would think that this might be an important event in the life of a family. Although some have indicated that they will attend, many have been silent about their intent. Others have made other plans. It would seem that Emily Post needs to be required reading in many of our homes or do we need to submit to this cultural trend and order out when the group arrives?

Labor Day 2009

On this Labor Day weekend, I can’t help but think of those who labor during this time of economic uncertainty. The latest Labor Department reports an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. We all know stories of those who are under-employed or have given up. The effects continue to ripple through our lives, personally and as a community. Many of us have to re-think our priorities and to make difficult choices as we try to stretch our resources. However, it is important to remember low-wage laborers who support a culture that still demands many services and to offer justice and compassion where needed.

From the blog of Cathleen Falsani:

"So many of the stories in the Bible revolve around labor and laborers. Field workers. Shepherds. Fishermen. Builders. Weavers. Farmers. Servants. As one Labor Sunday sermon on the United Church of Christ Web site reminded me, Jesus (as a carpenter) was himself a “low-wage worker.” In our society, workers such as child-care providers, custodians, farm workers, day laborers, sales clerks, and housekeepers typically make the lowest wages for the longest hours.

“One-quarter of all jobs in the U.S. pay poverty-level wages,” the UCC sermon says. “In addition, these jobs are more likely to require evening, night, weekend or rotating shifts. They are less likely to provide health insurance, a pension, or even paid sick leave. They are more likely to be filled by women and people of color — marginal jobs for the already marginalized. Just like Jesus.”

Keeping Sabbath

The beauty and rage of the ocean have long served as insightful metaphors for many of life’s experiences. Today, as I sat by the ocean and let the rhythms of the waves take away stress and sadness and bring in a state of serenity, my soul was renewed. Finding peace and understanding through God’s creation once again gave direction for the journey and served as a powerful reminder of the biblical instruction to keep Sabbath as a holy day of rest. Why do I keep breaking this commandment?