Letters from the Field

Grateful

2010-06-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Christian friends of Woodville UMC,

This will be my last column written as your pastor. This week, I am attending the annual meeting of Texas Conference Methodists in Houston. During this conference, as happens every year, our Bishop will formally make the appointments that have already been announced in the churches. For several years running, I have been reappointed to Woodville but now after 5 years as pastor of Woodville UMC, the Lord is sending me to a new place for ministry. This Sunday, June 6th, will be our last Sunday in worship with you as your pastoral family. The very next Sunday, I'll be preaching at Westbury UMC in Houston. We go with joy, anticipation and obedience to God's call but with a deep love and gratitude in our hearts for you.
The apostle Paul did this several times in his ministry. Although not who we would call a local church pastor, he did begin, shepherd, and mentor many churches and did itinerate and move around like we Methodist preachers. He was clear as Methodists are today that the church is the people, you, who live, work and serve in your community. We pastors are pilgrims passing through. While feeling every bit a part of this community and fully engaged here, we are much like the Levite priests of the Old Testament who do not take up residence on particular plots, so to speak, but serve the people and rely on your generosity. You have been exceedingly generous with us!
What has meant as much to me as anything else has been your generosity with my family. Bethany, Addie and Samuel have had beginnings here in their lives and their ministry with me. Addie and Samuel were baptized here. Woodville UMC and Tyler County will hold a special place in our hearts because of these beginnings and the way you welcomed and included us with such grace.
Bryan, Carol, Rachel and Brayton Harkness will of course be saying goodbye to Klein UMC on the 6th and hello to you on the 13th as well. One of the unique things about the Methodist way is the continuity of pastoral leadership that it provides. Most all the time, churches do not go without a pastor. Even as difficult as it can be emotionally to say goodbye and hello so quickly between pastors, there is also such a great continuity of leadership and care that provides stability and confidence for the church. I'm grateful for that.
Grateful is what I feel most of all. I share with the apostle Paul his words to the church at Philippi. "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the Gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."
To the past and present staff and lay leadership of Woodville UMC, I am thankful for the ministry we have shared together and for our friendships. To all the people of the church, I thank you for sharing your life and faith with me, for the privileged moments we have shared, for the way you have sharpened my own faith and grown me as a pastor. You have been patient, kind, gracious, affirming and bold. I have already spent much time in prayer over each of you by name and your families and will continue to hold you close in love.
Bryan and Carol are very excited to be coming to Woodville and I know you will welcome them in the same fine way you welcomed us. Your attentiveness to the Lord's work through him will be so vital to your continued growth as God's people in Tyler County.Bethany, Addie, Samuel and I love you and always will. Hold us in your prayers when you think of us and do the same for your new pastor and his family. They are coming to a great church. Continue to Embrace your Heritage, continue to Build your Future, with God's leading. May God bless you and keep you Woodville United Methodist Church from this day onward and forevermore.

Goodbyes and Hellos

2010-05-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Bethany and I want to thank the Young at Heart Sunday School Class for hosting our farewell reception last Sunday afternoon. It was a delightful informal occasion that allowed us the opportunity to share some more lengthy conversation with some of you than we would have otherwise. Your generous love offering and your notes wishing us well, will be treasured for a life time. We can't thank you enough for your extraordinary grace and affirmation of our ministry together. Know that I hold you in my prayers, giving thanks to God for the ministry we have shared, and praying God's blessings upon your ministry in the future. Bryan Harkness' first Sunday here will be June 13th. I encourage you to come that day to worship with Bryan, his wife Carol, and his children Rachel and Brayton. Your support for their beginnings in ministry are just as important as the affirmations you have given us in our endings.
We have two more Sundays to share in worship with you. Our last Sunday with you is June 6th. I hope to see all of you both Sundays or at least one of them so that we can say goodbye to each other. I know that our paths will cross with some of you because of the interconnectedness of the Methodist church and simply the highways and byways of life. Even though sad, I know there are others of you we'll never see again in this life. The joy for me is our common love for God and common love for His church. Your best gift to the world is your love for His church and its mission. One day, we will see one another again, in this life or the next.
My mind has been attracted to poetry lately, I suppose because poets can often give voice to life's realities in unique ways. I've removed this short piece from a long Robert Frost poem entitled, "1916 Mountain Interval, In the Home Stretch." This poem is about many things, but it centers around a person who is moving from one house to the next.

"You're searching, Joe,For things that don't exist; I mean beginnings.Ends and beginnings-there are no such things.There are only middles."

This time in your lives and ours feel like an ending and a beginning all at once. For us, it is the ending of our ministry in Woodville and the beginning of a new one in Houston. For you it is the ending of a pastoral relationship and personal relationship perhaps with me and my family, and the beginning of a new one with the Harkness family. Maybe though, in God, who is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, it is all middle, as the poem says. It is most suredly a place of change and transition with very real goodbyes and hellos, but it is also one place along an eternal journey that has its beginning and ending with God. Thank you for sharing with us in the middle of this eternal journey.

Seasons of Life

2010-05-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, May 16th, we honor high school graduates who are connected with our church. This year, we honor six graduates from Woodville High School, including two exchange students who have spent the year with us. Please note some information about them in this newsletter. I strongly encourage you to be present in worship to praise God for this achievement in their lives and to pray God's blessings on them in the next step in life's journey.
Life is a series of passages. We are born, as Eugene Peterson says, "into a world we did not create, into a life we did not earn" but God graces us with blessings. Along the way, we encounter great joy and great struggle. Sometimes the joys carry us for a long while and sometimes the struggles consume us. Children grow into an awareness of an abstract world, discovering fears and experiencing rejections. They also can learn what it is to love and be loved. Every day, learning of all kinds are taking place. As they pass into young adulthood, they can experience a big, wide, complicated world of victories and defeats, betrayals and acceptance, and hopefully grace along the way. Adulthood is spent working, raising a family perhaps, trying to make a difference, readying oneself for retirement. Older adulthood comes and it's almost as though the life cycle starts over. We begin and often end this life needing the care of others. Life's ultimate passage happens in the form of physical death, when we pass into that unseen life.
Some do not make every season. Sometimes life is cut short. Sometimes we are so consumed with the struggles that it's not death that cuts short life but defeat and fear.
One of my favorite quotes from a saint of the church comes from Iraneus, many centuries ago. "The glory of God is a man fully alive." Are you alive today? Are you really alive? God is looking for people who are full of the Spirit, seeking His grace, searching for opportunities to serve, in good season and bad.
The great Christian hope is that through the various seasons of life, the grace of Jesus Christ is abundant and available for us, not only to survive but to thrive in this life in service as a disciple of Christ.
Join us Sunday as we celebrate the life passage of these high school graduates from this step to the next step. Let's begin praying now that they won't just "make it" in life's journey but that they'll be found by God to be "fully alive" in Him.

Reflections on Discipleship University at Woodville UMC

2010-05-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Discipleship University has been a great joy and enriching experience for me this semester. Since January, a combined group of 15-20 have been reading and discussing challenging Christian books that probe theological issues, and ask what it is to be a growing Christian disciple. We are currently reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book Life Together, exploring what it means to live in Christian community. Let me lift up a few quotable insights from that book for your thoughts and prayers this week.
"He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial." Bonhoeffer is encouraging us to not be overly idealistic in our view of Christian community but rather let it be a place where we can be vulnerable with each other, take away the facades that seperate us, and truly be together.
"Only he who gives thanks for little things receives the big things...How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?" I think of where the Lord's Prayer leads us to pray not for a grand feast or a life time supply of our favorite meal but for "daily bread."
"Just as the Christian should not be constantly feeling his spiritual pulse, so, too, the Christian community has not been given to us by God for us to be constantly taking its temperature. The more thankfully we daily receive what is given to us, the more surely and steadily will fellowship increase and grow from day to day as God pleases." This is a good reminder that it is God who grows us as a church.
Finally, Bonhoeffer writes about the uplifting experiences we have in Christian community and the blessing of that, but he cautions that "we do not live with other Christians for the sake of acquiring them (experiences)." It is not the experience of Christian brotherhood, but solid and certain faith in brotherhood that holds us together...We are bound together by faith, not by experience."
Here Bonhoeffer returns us to the New Testament and reminds us that what the church is, is the Body of Christ. We are formed and held together in Christ and through Christ, and it is our common faith in Him that holds us together, not a string of inspirational experiences alone, but our unity in Christ.
What a good word for all of us.

The Easter Season

2010-05-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying worship with you these days as we celebrate the Easter season. You may or may not know that after Easter Sunday, the Easter season continues through until Pentecost Sunday later in May. Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a year-round, life long joy and this season focuses us on that great victory of God.
In these next few weeks, the school year will close and many of you will be off to travel, vacations, camps, and everything else that summer brings. As you do that, I hope you will make a few things a priority. First, be present to welcome your new pastor, Bryan Harkness and his family. Their first Sunday will be June 13th. Second, take note of all the summer ministry happening at Woodville UMC and shape your family calendar with those dates for camps and Vacation Bible School in mind. Finally, be sure to continue your financial committments to the church. Your giving to general ministry of the church is most important. It is what allows us to have great Sunday school curriculum for adults, children and youth. That giving allows us to give to world-wide missions that support methodist universities, scholarships for young people, and help for the needy. Your giving makes a difference, whether it's keeping the lights bright and the air cool this summer at church or if its sending a child to camp. Your faithful giving is vitally important for us to continue to grow in being disciples and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
While secondary to your general offering, your giving toward Wesley Center's building progress is also important. We are projecting 8-10 weeks for completion of Wesley Center, which means that in all likelihood, that place will be buzzing with activity in a matter of time. Thanks in advance for your faithfulness to welcome the Harkness', your participation in ministry and your giving commitments. Please know that I continue to pray for you and for the ministry of Woodville UMC now and in the future. I share these words from Paul's letter to the Colossians for your reflection this week.
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1: 10-14

Heritage Sunday

2010-04-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

What a glorious Easter season and celebration we have shared together! Our worship attendance has been sky high for three Sundays in a row. We have been close to 200 two of those Sundays and close to 300 on Easter, as you'll see below. Sharon Dominy and I looked back at our records and find that our Easter crowd was the largest Easter attendance in almost 20 years! Truly the Lord is doing a powerful work among us.
I am so thrilled at the continuity of ministry that I trust Bryan Harkness will bring to Woodville. Our lay leadership met him and his wife Carol last weekend. Bryan is a passionate Christian, a good listener and an experienced pastor. He will bring strong and capable leadership to Woodville. He and Carol are impressed with the visionary leadership of our lay leaders and are looking forward to coming to a small community. As you have read, they have two small children, one who will enter kindergarten this Fall here and another who will begin in our Wee Wisdom pre-school. Join me in praying for Bryan, Carol, Rachel and Brayton and their ministry in Woodville come June.
This Sunday, April 18th, we will celebrate our annual Heritage Sunday. Every year, Woodville UMC gives an award to an outstanding lay person for Christian service. This person is selected by ballot among our Church Council. This year, we will also award an honorary Heritage Award. You won't want to miss this celebration as well as the passionate worship we'll give to God together. After worship, we'll enjoy a Covered Dish lunch to honor our receipients and to share in time of Christian fellowship and community.

Transitions

2010-03-30T08:26:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,
By now, many of you know that I have received a new appointment effective June 7th of this year. Our bishop has appointed me to serve as Senior Pastor of Westbury United Methodist Church in Houston. While Bethany and I are genuinely excited about what God has in store for us, our hearts are heavy. It is a bitter sweet time for us because of the great love we have for you.
When Bethany and I arrived here 5 years ago, we had been married just 7 months. Now, we have two children who have been baptized here and loved by you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving me and loving my family in the way you have. This kind of love only comes from God, shared through His people. The people of Woodville UMC are a blessed people and we are blessed to have shared with you in ministry these years. We will always treasure our time here and will anticipate the good work that God will continue to do among you. You are strong. God's church here is strong and has a bright future!
In terms of future, our District Superintendent also announced last Sunday, when he was with us, that your new pastor come June will be the Rev. Bryan Harkness. Bryan is an associate pastor at Klein UMC in north Houston. Klein is a large church where Bryan has done great work and given tremendous leadership. Before that, he served small churches in the Tyler area. Bryan and his wife Carol have two children, Rachel, who will enter kindergarten in Woodville this Fall, and Brayton who is 3 years old.
Bryan had a brief first career in the community mental health field, living and working in Liberty County for seven years and then working at the Denton State School for 3 years before entering seminary. He is an Aggie and then a graduate of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Bryan brings a warm heart, a passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a good deal of experience to what will be his new ministry here in Woodville.
While we spend these last months together, let's talk and share memories and nurture our friendships, because those will never go away. Let's also pray for the Harkness family and their new ministry with you. It is a time of transition for all of us and yet our never changing God remains faithful and true to guide, strengthen and build His church.
I look forward to sharing in Holy Week services with you this week and focusing ourselves on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday and Holy Week

2010-03-23T09:14:00.001-07:00

This Sunday March 28th, we celebrate Jesus' final entry into the grand city of Jerusalem. Our children's choir will sing and we will all wave palm branches just as the people did two thousands of years ago when they welcomed Jesus that first palm day. The story is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 21: 1-11; Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 28-40; John 12: 12-19).
Palm Sunday begins what is called Holy Week or Passion Week. The earliest Christians remembered Jesus' final days with devotion, reverence and worship. We will have worship on Maundy Thursday (remembering the Last Supper with His disciples and Jesus' commandment to celebrate it), and Good Friday (remembering His death on the cross). I've said it many times but it's worth repeating, your Easter experience will not be what it can be without experiencing these holy days.
This year the annual Dogwood Festival here in Tyler County falls on this Good Friday and Easter weekend. It did a couple of years ago as well. Some of you have commitments of involvement in various activities surrounding this great festival that we enjoy. Let me suggest a way in and through it all to focus on Jesus next week.
Enjoy Dogwood as always. Enjoy the Springtime, it's God's reminder of new life. He designed creation this way. We'll hope for good springtime weather but whether its' rain or shine, dogwoods blooming yet or not, God will have His way with this world and resurrection will come. It came in Jesus Christ and it can for you too!
Pray daily. Pray for resurrection in your life. Walk with Jesus, worship on Sunday, Thursday, Friday and Easter. Fast. If your health allows, join me and others in fasting on Maundy Thursday. When you wake up on Thursday morning, abstain from breakfast and lunch, drink water and then come to Thursday service. The first taste on your tongue will be the bread and juice of the Lord's Supper. After worship, go enjoy a filling supper.
Finallly, I encourage you to spend time in God's Word. Read a different version of the palm passage I gave above, choosing to read one Gospel each day perhaps. Let the Spirit reveal insight and wisdom to you.
It is a joy and privledge to share this Lenten journey with you and our Lord.

This Sunday

2010-03-17T09:07:00.001-07:00

This Sunday we welcome two special groups to our worship service. We are celebrating "Scouting Ministry" Sunday. We have some very active girl scouts in our church and a couple of boy scouts. They are encouraged to wear their uniforms. If any of you were an Eagle Scout, you're encouraged to wear your Eagle Scout tie pin. Scouting is a life-changing ministry for young people that teaches leadership, character, team work and skills for life. I am Eagle Scout along with my brother and Dad and count those memories as some of the best of my growing up years. I look forward to the day when I can share that experience with my son Samuel.
The second group coming are our Wee Wisdom children. Your school is thriving! With the direction of our board, chaired by Melissa Castillo, and the leadership of our pre-school director, Mary Nell Rainey, our school is doing great. Their enrollment is full with many already pre-registered for the Fall. They are financially strong because of this strong enrollment and with the support of generous people like many of you. The board is providing good fiscal stewardship as well.
Central to it all, we are being faithful to our mission, to provide "a quality pre-school education in a Christian environment" with an emphasis on the social development of the child and their preparation for kindergarten. We have an excellent teaching staff and involved parents who are very supportive. No doubt, several of our children will not be in worship because many of them will worship with their families in their home church. However, the ones who come will sing the songs we've sung during our Wednesday Chapel Services and we'll enjoy welcoming them and their families to our church.
Make an effort to celebrate with us this Sunday in these ways and walk the Lenten journey together to Easter. I promise that if you do that, your Easter celebration will be all the more meaningful.

The Lenten journey

2010-03-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

I pray that your Lenten journey is transforming you by God's grace this year. Remember that the Christian life is not about trying to be somebody we're not, it's about becoming more fully who God intended us to be in the first place. Be firm and intentional about your spiritual disciplines but be gentle and humble too. If we hold those seeming opposites together, I believe we'll find where God meets. Our Lenten disciplines are not meant to make us heroic but more like Christ. If you have tried some practices and failed, offer that to God too and begin again. If you haven't undertaken spiritual disciplines this season, it's not too late to commit. Name a time of day to pray, if health allows, fast, be regular in your worship attendance and your giving, participate in our Lenten mission - Health Kits, read the Scriptures faithfully, use a devotional. My prayers are with you in whatever your choices have been.
I want to shift briefly to lift up where we are in the "Embrace our Heritage, Build Our Future" Capital Campaign. The year 2010 began the second of our three year pledge committments. The first year was very fruitful in that pledges fulfilled totaled where we needed to be at the end of year one. I encourage you to continue that faithfulness to your pledge. If you did not make a pledge at that time, you can always make a pledge now and give to the construction of the Wesley Center. It is coming along very well and we look forward to experiencing mission and ministry in that space.
Always remember that our pledges to the Capital Campaign, are "above and beyond" giving. They are gifts given in addition to our regular giving to the ministry of the church. We have many ongoing ministries that continue to make a grace-filled difference in the lives of children, youth and adults. Our ministries are growing and need our support to remain strong. By giving, we are "embracing our heritage and building our future" together in ministry. To God be the glory!

Open Table

2010-03-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

I want to celebrate a new ministry with you in the area of missions. Second Friday lunch is a new ministry with the poor in Tyler County. Elizabeth Adkisson, our missions chair, began to feel the call of God to serve a hot meal to folks who need it, and to build relationships. We are beginning this on a trial basis on Friday, March 12th and doing it once monthly through May. At that point, we'll evaluate the program.
As Elizabeth shared her vision with others, she invited prayer. We prayed about it during our Wednesday night prayer time. She solicited input from others and finally came to the Church Council for their discussion and approval. They unanimously approved this new mission.
Second Friday Lunch is a mundane name but a helpful one that communicates clearly what is being offered and when. The spiritual concept here is an open table. The open table captures the heart of Methodist Christianity. It refers to our belief about the Sacrament of Holy Communion as a holy meal, open to all who seek Christ. It conveys our belief that all people are welcome in the church. It also goes further by saying that we too need the grace of God offered at the table. Our servers will be eating with our guests. This meal will be holy and sacred because it comes out of a heart of love for God's people.
When you survey the Gospels, Jesus spent a great deal of his time sharing meals at a table with many. Think about Zaccheus. Jesus called Zaccheus out of the tree and went to his house. I know that they shared a meal there. Think about the Emmaus experience after the resurrection. The disciples didn't recognize Jesus at first but they invited the unknown traveler for a meal. And "they knew him in the breaking of the bread." They recognized him as they shared a meal at the table with him. We trust that we'll not only provide a service but that we will indeed encounter Christ himself at the Second Friday Lunch open table at Woodville UMC. Please continue to pray for this ministry.

Christian Accountability

2010-02-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

The season of Lent is underway. We are challenging one another to "give up something and take up something for Christ." I've shared with you all what I am giving up and taking up (caffeinated drinks and exercise) and I do that so I will be held accountable. Accountability is what I want to reflect on with you this week.
I don't come naturally to accountability, many of us don't. I am self-motivated, comfortable with initiating new ideas and commitments. I can usually hold myself accountable by giving myself a good talking to when I slip or having a time of confession in private prayer when I make mistakes or don't follow through on commitments. The trick is this. We human beings can become good at staying right where we are. We say things like, "how I pray is fine, how often I worship is fine for me, my relationship with my spouse, children or friends is just as it should be, my physical health is what it is..." and so forth. We are good at consoling ourselves and not always good at challenging ourselves.
Christian accountability invites us to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, together. If we feel led by the Spirit this Lent to try something new like fasting, or praying more or differently, we are more likely to meet that leading of the Spirit if we mention it to others. Because, you see, at the moment we mention it, we become accountable to it. The call for fellow Christians then is to gently inquire with our Christian friends - how is it with your giving up caffeinated drinks? How is it with exercise? This way, we are held accountable and we grow in grace because of it. You all have been wonderful to ask me those questions.
I heard recently a powerful word about what a true Christian friend does. They are one who "hates the sins we love, and loves the gifts we ignore." Christian accountability is not just about harshness therefore, it's not about judgementalism or critique, it's about true love. It's one that also sees the gifts of God in us.
I pray that you all have such a Christian friend. If you don't, pray for the courage to find one, to mention your Lenten commitment to someone. Ask how your friends are doing with theirs. In so doing, we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, we walk the journey to the cross with him and find true and eternal life.

Giving Something Up, Taking Something Up, for Christ

2010-02-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

This week is the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a centuries-old tradition of spiritual preparation for the Easter celebration. It begins on Ash Wednesday with worship centered around repentance and renewal. It continues for 40 days, not including Sundays, until Easter Sunday.
Many Christians are accustomed to living through this time just as any other and then waking up Easter morning to celebrate. While this is maybe the easier path, it is the less fulfilling and meaningful one. Lent is here to empower us to walk the journey to the cross with Jesus. When we explore the depth and riches of his journey - his teachings, his healings, his words of life, Palm Sunday, the last supper, his death - then we more powerfully experience meaning of Easter. Resurrection, new life, hope for tomorrow and forever - all of these cannot be fully realized by us if we just wake up on Sunday and think about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for that one hour of worship.
I want to encourage you as strongly as I know how, to experience Lent this year and walk it with your brothers and sisters at Woodville UMC.
In addition to all the special worship opportunities, small group studies, and mission opportunities, I want to share with you what I am doing as a Christian disciple this season. For Lent this year, I am giving up caffeinated drinks, a tough one for a young parent whose children don't always sleep through the night! However, I will drink decaf! The purpose of "giving something up" is to leave new space for prayer. So when 2pm comes and I am a little drowsy, I will pray, because afterall, God is my true strength!
Second, I and going to "take something up." I've been very neglectful with exercise. I'm not taking care of the body God gave me as well as I could. I've been talking about the need to exercise for a long time, now I'm going to actually do it.
In addition to worship, study and mission, will you join me in -
Giving Something Up and Taking Something Up for Christ?!

The Journey

2010-02-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying the Discipleship University classes which started last week. We have just over 20 enrolled in them. We are reading a new book every 3 or 4 weeks that covers an area of discipleship. This kind of reading deepens our discipleship journey with Christ because it causes us to ask deep questions. We begin to think and discern theologically around essential questions in life. When we start reading the second book, we'll open enrollment again for these classes. Right now, we are reading The Illumined Heart: Exploring the Vibrant Faith of Ancient Christians. Let me share a few reflections from that little book.
In the first chapter, the author, Fredericka Mathewes-Greene talks about our very existence in this wild, unpredictable, exciting, God-created world. Here are some excerpts-"What is this human condition, this timeless question? To take the most global approach, we could say that it is the riddle of why none of us feels truly at home in this world....
It can take different forms in different people. For some, there's a vague, haunting feeling that we're always disappointing others; for others, it's that everyone else is always disappointing us. A lot of us feel like the whole rest of the world is in on a joke we're not getting, and we just smile awkwardly and pretend to go along. Some of us are burdened throughout our lives with guilt for a severe and genuine evil we committed. Others feel peppered daily by twinges over a host of minor offenses, pursued as by a cloud of mosquitos." Can you see your life here? Can you find your walk with God here? I can. At the base of it the author reminds us gently and powerfully "the only really important thing we can do is to live in Christ." Living in Christ means we begin and end each day with prayer, asking God to forgive and transform us by His grace. "God's love is a healing love, and healing is always uncomfortable. It heals in a surgical sense, and the scalpel can hurt."
In and through it all, God desires to see us transformed, day by day conquering sin and moving closer to God. It is a journey that cannot be done alone.
I'm thankful for a church family that seeks to be in authentic relationship with God and one another. God bless each of you this week as you walk with Him.

Wesley Center Update

2010-02-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

Please pray for our youth as they attend the Mid-Winter Retreat at Lakeview camp this weekend, February 5-7. We have 17 youth and 3 adults attending. This Sunday in worship we will enjoy our Children's Choir as they sing praises to God. Yolanda Griffin directs this choir with assistance from Judy Brown. They do a wonderful job.
In this space, I would like to provide an update on the progress of the Wesley Center building. As of the writing of this column, here's where we are.
The metal structure is of course up, framed, walled with ceiling. I understand that the wood framing inside is complete or close to it. If you take a look inside, you'll see a large open space on the east side. This will be our fellowship area. It will have a basketball goal on the south wall. There is plenty of storage on the bottom floor there for tables and chairs. The elevator machinery began to arrive today (February 2nd). On the bottom floor on the west side of the building, you'll find a large kitchen, parlor area and youth director's office. In addition, there are two bathrooms, men's and women's, each with two showers. This will equip us to be a shelter in case of disaster and will also be a blessing for hosting mission camps.
The second floor is located on the west side of the building and it contains four classrooms, two devoted solely to our youth ministry. They can call this space home. There is also a small restroom upstairs.
As you know there is a porte-cache drive through on the south side of the building that is covered for drop off in the Wesley Center. We were able to add this to the project without going over the approved budget, because of cost savings in other areas.
At present, the elevator is on its way, the electrician is beginning his work inside and other utilities are close to doing their work.
The brick work has begun with a great deal of progress made on the north side of the building (Walt Davis Drive) and preparations being made for the other sides. Brick will go up from the ground to just above the first story windows on every side. There will also be brick columns going higher on every side, which you can begin to see on that north side. Just a reminder that the non-bricked area will be covered with a stucco-like finish that will match the brick coloring.
We don't have an accurate "move-in" time. You can understand the contractors hesitancy to put a target date on that but if you drive by the church frequently, you'll notice that all the laborers are hard at work nearly every day of the week. We are grateful for the work of our building committee and particularly Sidney Allison its chair. Great thanks to Otis Fortenberry also, our General Contractor. Otis and Sidney go to extra lengths to make sure things are done right.
At our recent annual Church Council Leadership Retreat, we announced the formation of the Wesley Center Task Group. This group will study and make recommendations for Wesley Center ministry to the Church Council. We want to be ready to transfer exisiting ministries to that space as soon as it's open, as well as plan new ministries that this space makes possible. This group will also work with the Trustees on policies that will govern the use of the building. The Wesley Center Task Group is Gordon McCluskey, Council chair; Stephanie Smith, lay leader; Reagan Pillack, Building Committee, Dixie Jarrott, staff; Grady McCluskey, Trustees; and me. If you have ideas or questions related to Wesley Center ministry, please contact one of these folks.
Please pray for us as we work on putting together some concrete recommendations for Wesley Center ministry.
God bless you this week.

Dying Well

2010-01-19T07:25:00.000-08:00

One of the Christmas gifts I received from Bethany was a book by one of my favorite Christian writers, Henri Nouwen. This particular book is entitled, Our Greatest Gift: Meditations on Dying and Caring. It is a short little book and even this slow reader, completed it quickly. Now you might wonder why a 34 year old young man is reading a book about dying. After all, I feel like I am in the prime of life. I feel healthy, my energy level is high, I have a beautiful young family.
I really wanted to read this book and was enthralled in the reading of it both to help my work as a pastor and to come more to grips with that unknown part of life called death.
Death, I believe, is on a continum of life. It is something dramatic that occurs along that line of life that is a harsh, painful and stark. No matter how we people of faith try to gloss over it being " a passage way" and a "bump" in the road of life, the pain is not eased for loved ones left behind.
With all the advances of medicine, all the knowledge gained, and many mysteries solved in this world, the mortality rate is still holding firm at 100%. We will all die. The mystery of death can be frightening for the person of faith and the person of no faith. It is an unknown.
Let me glean a few points from this little book I read. First, Nouwen says, to "befriend death." Talking about it, discussing it, remembering that you are a child of God. Always know that you can talk with me as your pastor or a trusted Christian friend. Befriending death means to reject fear, to not treat illness as simply a battle to be won or a foe to conquer but period of time where we can demonstrate "grace through powerlessness," like Jesus did in his suffering and dying.
Some will never know the experience of dying. It can come suddenly, or our minds are lost so much so that we may not be aware of our condition. For the young, therefore, reading and thinking about "dying well" is a matter of spiritual preparation that can bring peace.
Nouwen moves in the book to caring for the dying. Many of you are doing that for loved ones and many of us probably will one day. He notes that we are "parents of generations to come." We love the dying as "children of God" and treat them with that dignity. I recommend this book for those who are caring for aging and dying loved ones. It offers spiritual grounding for you in that journey.
Overall, he says, "I stay close to the heart of Jesus, whose life and death are the main source for understanding and living my own life and death."
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, said that "Methodists are people who die well."
I hope this is helpful for you or one you love.

Christian Marriage

2010-01-11T13:57:00.001-08:00

I read a sad fact the other day. While many of us know that the marriage success rate in the United States of America has hovered around a depressing 50%, did you know that among Christians the percentage is the same? Half of all marriages end in divorce and those of us who claim the name of Christ do not have a better “success” at it. Truly a sad fact. I don’t know the reasons for that. I suspect that many of the Christians polled are not active Christians worshipping regularly in a church, studying the Bible, serving their neighbor. With these life practices, our lives and our relationships are nurtured for the glory of God.
Many of you reading this column have experienced the tragedy and hurt of a broken marriage; I grieve for you and pray for others whose marriages are “on the ropes.” The difficult thing is that many are suffering in the shadows. Almost no one outside the home knows what is happening inside.
In this very brief space, I would like to offer some guidance for our marriages, both healthy and happy ones, and ones on the rocks. Marriages of every kind need nurturing. Even if good marriages are neglected, they will be damaged. For all married folks, read these words coming humbly from me and for unmarried folks, try to apply it to relationships in your life. I am adapting some of these pointers from Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. Warren is a pastor I admire in many ways and also disagree with in other ways but his pointers are helpful and I’ll note where I borrow from his writings.
Like the saying goes, “the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence; the grass is greener where you water it.” We must make sure our marriage is growing and developing, or we’ll be susceptible to moral failure. If you want a happy marriage, you’re going to have to work at it.
1. Surround yourself with reminders of your family. Warren keeps a drawer filled with reminders of his family. I keep pictures of my family in my office so that I can both remember them, celebrate them and let their need for me hold me accountable to be present when I am needed as a husband and father.
2. Keep lines of communication open. Keep the lines of communication open. Talk through issues in a way that works for you and your spouse. Some need to talk everything out, others need to “walk away” for a bit after an argument. The main thing is to return to a disagreement if it’s significant to at least one of you, and work it out. It’s very important also to understand what your spouses’ frustrations and dilemmas are, and understand their hopes and dreams.
3. Date your mate. You and your spouse need a regular date night. Put it on the calendar. Don’t let anything get in its way. It doesn’t have to be expensive. If the weather is nice where you live, have a picnic somewhere. There may be someone in your church willing to babysit your kids as a ministry to your family (Warren). Regardless of how you make it happen, you need to do it. For Christmas 2009, Bethany identified dozens and dozens of free things we could do together all over our area. They were both family fun and couple fun. It doesn’t have to be expensive but your marriage is what you had before children and your marriage is what you have after children are raised and on their own.
4. Pray. The most important one. Many folks are in marriages where one spouse is an active church involved Christian and the other is not. Ultimately we are responsible for our own relationship with Christ and with the faith exposure of the children God entrusts to us. If you are a nominal Christian, you could do nothing more important right now than to begin worshipping regularly, and letting study, service and personal generosity grow from there. If you are an active Christian, pray and stay committed.
Please receive these as words from a pastor who cares for each and every one of you. I pray for your church family and I treasure the knowledge that you are praying for me.

Happy New Year

2010-01-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to the Woodville UMC family! I pray that your new year is off to a good start. I feel blessed to enjoy this time with you and I'm looking forward to some special opportunities this Winter and Spring to spend in study as well as worship with you.
At this time we are always making new years resolutions. Mine have to do with exercise, time for nurturing my journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ, renewed dedication to being an attentive and loving husband and father, and spending increased time in prayer for them and you. What are you resolving to do this year?
It's true that most of our resolutions revolve around stuff we will do - diets, exercise, finances, calendars and the like. What would it be like if we would ask this question - "who does God want me to be this year? and how do I start becoming that person this year?" We are afterall human beings not human doings. Being and becoming have to do with prayer, relationships, integrity at work and at home and an openness to God growing us by grace into something new.
The scriptures are full of words from the Lord about the new. In Isaiah the Lord says, "do not consider the former things of old, for I am about to do a new thing." Jesus talks a great deal about old and new. In I Corinthians, Paul says that "in Christ you are a new creation." Jesus also challenges us by saying that "you cannot put new wine into old wineskins," in other words we can't expect to completely hold the new if we are unwilling to let our old selves change.
I would repeat here something I shared in the sermon last Sunday. The author, George Bernard Shaw at the end of his life was asked who in history would he choose to be if given the chance. His response - "I would choose to be the George Bernard Shaw I was created to be but never became."
God's invitation to you and me this and any year is to allow His grace to grow us into becoming the people God created us to be. Do your resolutions respond to this question?
After we ask the question about being and becoming, I trust that the doing will flow naturally out of it.
Please take a look at this newsletter for new year opportunities for Bible study, discipleship growth, and service. This Sunday we will gather to renew our faith together in worship through the Wesleyan Covenant Renewal service and also bless our church leaders in this new year.

Love All

2009-12-21T08:28:00.001-08:00

What a joy it is to celebrate Christmas with you. The Advent season has been one filled with great joy and blessing shared with you. I look around our church and into the eyes of the people and see our faith growing and deepening together. We have had a tremendous year in ministry and mission. We have "Embraced our Heritage" and begun "building our future" in exciting ways. This Fall, 5 Disciple Bible studies took place where people grew in their understanding of God's Word. Missions continued to make a difference in the lives of people serving food, providing material assistance and helping other churches, all in Jesus' name. Our youth ministry has more than doubled in size this year and they have grown deeper in their discipleship. Worship has been a powerful experience each week all year for me and I trust for you as well.
This year we moved forward together to build our future through the Wesley Center, making space for ministry to happen in the decades to come. You responded to all these positive life-changing possibilities with great generosity.
Join with me in praising God for your faithfulness in giving this year. We paid 100% of our missional committments beyond our church. Through what we call apportionments, you supported college campus ministry, scholarships, missions in Africa, missions at home and more. You went above and beyond by also giving to "Fair Share Goals" which are not expected every year. Your giving supported Lakeview Camp, Lon Morris College, and others. On top of all of this, your general giving of course made possible the ministries I mentioned already and we completed the first of a three year pledge campaign to build Wesley Center. We met our general budget, fulfilled these missional apportionment committments and are on track with our Wesley Center committments 1/3 of the way.
Only you know where you are on your personal giving committments for the year 2009. Time still remains for you to fulfill what you feel led to give for this year. If you would like to give for the year 2009 for tax purposes, please mail or bring by your gift before the end of the year. I thank God for your faithfulness and for what He has done in and through us.
Love All. That is the last of the four values for Advent that I lift up this week of Christmas. While that little phrase may sound sentimental and simple, it means so much more. To love all is to take seriously the love of God for all people. In Jesus Christ His only Son, God demonstrated His boundless love for every person for all of time. Young and old, rich and poor, black, white or brown, God loves us all.
Being loved like this causes me to pause this Christmas and gulp pretty seriously and look at others in a new way. Why? Because I'm aware more than ever, that God looks at me with nothing but love and invites me to come to Him and receive the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Of all the gifts we receive this Christmas, may that gift take first place in our hearts.

Merry Christmas to you all,
Tommy

Give More

2009-12-15T08:43:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday in worship was a glorious day of music. The Chancel Choir, with Jim Lazenby's leadership, was a blessing to us all. I know God was pleased by such an offering of praise and worship. I'm grateful to God for Jim, for Jackie Fultz, our organist/pianist, for Shalane Wesley for stepping in on the drums, for the soloists and the whole group. The choir loft was full and the sound was even more full.
This Sunday we'll continue with great music as we enjoy our children's choir leading us in worship in addition to more music from the Chancel Choir.
This week the value I want to lift up for the Advent season is Give More.
First we must understand that to give more this Christmas does not necessarily mean quantity or the amount of stuff one gives. Giving more means giving more fully of ourselves to God through worship, gift-giving, through relationships with family and friends.
In this way, we can all give more.
One of the most common struggles we human beings have is the "just enough" syndrome I'll call it. You know what I mean. We do just enough to get by. We come to worship just enough to feel like we've been. We call or write our loved one just enough or we say just enough or we give just enough to feel temporarily satisfied with our offering. We rarely empty ourselves totally for God or others.
At Christmas God gave Himself fully for us. He didn't hold back, hedge, offer just enough, He gave it all, He gave us His only Son. What would happen if we gave more this Christmas? What if we chose to write a letter to a loved one and poured ourselves out? What if we gave more by saying "thank you" and "I love you" to those who need to hear that from us? What if we gave more of our resources to the ministry of the church to close out the year right?
All of our giving is a faithful response to the God who gave us everything. What would it mean for you and me to give more this Christmas?

Spend Less

2009-12-09T08:35:00.001-08:00

During the Advent season, I'm reflecting on four values with you in this newsletter column. They come from the "Advent Conspiracy" material we are studying in the Creed Young Adult Sunday school class.
Worship Fully
Spend Less
Give More
Love All
Last week I wrote about worshipping fully. This week is one of the harder ones...spend less. One would think that during this period of economic struggle in the country spending less would be easier. I'm curious to see if we spend the average of 3 billion dollars on Christmas gifts that we have as a nation in recent years.
It seems that we are slowly climbing out of the economic hole we are in right now. Interestingly one of the pieces of advice we hear to get the economic machine moving again is to spend. Spending gets the economy moving again, businesses profit, many through the economic food chain receive benefit from a spend-heavy Christmas season.
In personal terms, people's jobs stay relevant and therefore they keep their jobs and can support their families. Livelihood is at stake.
So what spiritual reason might we have for spending less this Advent? The authors of Advent Conspiracy suggest that what we spend our money on is sometimes frivolous and even wasteful. Rather than giving fewer presents but meaningful ones, we sometimes give with the thought that more is better. I agree with the authors that more is not always better. Most importantly, spending less allows the opportunity to give more, which I'll write about next week.
In short, the challenging but ultimately rewarding word is that God's economy might be asking of us something different than our economy might be this Christmas. Spending less could be an opportunity to give more of what truly matters. Let's pray together about this as we shop for Christmas this year.

Worship Fully

2009-12-02T08:49:00.001-08:00

In this season of Advent I'm sharing with the Creed Sunday school class some study on something called "The Advent Conspiracy." This is a study that lifts up four values that I want to offer during these weeks of Advent with you in this space. They are to -
Worship fully
Spend less
Give more
Love all
To worship fully is to acknowlege that Christmas is about God's gift of Jesus to the world and the way we recognize that greatest of gift is through worship. If we don't make space and time to worship God fully, our Christmas is being spent worshipping something else be it stuff, shopping, food, toys, whatever. The point that the authors of Advent Conspiracy make is that we worship something the question is, is it Jesus? God gave to us in Jesus, what matters most, His presence. When we worship we give what matters most - our presence.
When we look at the Christmas story we see clearly that it is about worshipping the God made flesh in the Christ-child. Those who came to that manger long ago, worshipped. Lowly, grungy, common shepherds and three wise men. Some came with something in their hands (gold, frankencense, myrhh) but all brought themselves.
Let's bring our whole selves and worship God fully this Advent/Christmas season.
For more info about "Advent Conspiracy" check out the Tyler County Booster community newspaper this week and www.adventconspiracy.org

Confirmation video

2009-11-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

Woodville UMC welcomed 6 youth into the family of faith this Sunday! Check out this confirmation video we showed in worship. It's about 7 minutes long and captures a bit of their journey this Fall. www.woodvilleumc.com

Giving thanks in all times

2009-11-23T13:23:00.000-08:00

Give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:20

I want to share with you a Thanksgiving reflection here from the writings of Dr. Leonard Sweet, professor of preaching.
Back during the dark economic days of 1929, a group of ministers in the Northeast, all graduates of the Boston School of Theology, gathered to discuss how they should conduct their Thanksgiving Sunday services. Things were about as bad as they could get, with no sign of relief. The bread lines were depressingly long, the stock market had plummeted, and the term Great Depression seemed an apt description for the mood of the country. The ministers thought they should only lightly touch upon the subject of Thanksgiving in deference to the human misery all about them. After all, there wasn't much to be thankful for. But it was Dr. William L. Stiger, pastor of a large congregation in the city that rallied the group. This was not the time, he suggested, to give mere passing mention to Thanksgiving, just the opposite. This was the time for the nation to get matters in perspective and thank God for blessings always present, but perhaps suppressed due to intense hardship.
I suggest to you the ministers struck upon something. The most intense moments of thankfulness are not found in times of plenty, but when difficulties abound. Think of the Pilgrims that first Thanksgiving. Half their number dead, men without a country, but still there was thanksgiving to God. Their gratitude was not for something but in something. Their gratitude was rooted not in what they had but in who they were and in who God is. It was that same sense of gratitude that lead Abraham Lincoln to formally establish the first Thanksgiving Day in the midst of national civil war, when the butcher’s list of casualties seemed to have no end and the very nation struggled for survival.
Perhaps in your own life, right now, there is intense hardship. You are experiencing your own personal Great Depression. Why should you be thankful this day?
Dr. Leonard Sweet suggests three things. Reflect on these with me.
1. We must learn to be thankful or we become bitter.
2. We must learn to be thankful or we will become discouraged.
3. We must learn to be thankful or we will grow arrogant and self-satisfied.
Woodville UMC brothers and sisters, Christian disciples are grateful people yes because of blessings like family, friends, and community. However not everyone shares these blessings. Not everyone has a table with plenty of food this week. Many have an empty chair at their Thanksgiving table this week which used to hold a loved one who is gone. So we are a grateful people because Jesus says "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for rigtheousness, for they will be filled." What we have and what we lack is not the measure of our being a blessed people. We are a blessed people when we seek after Christ. We are blessed because we have been created by God, chosen in baptism and yearned after by the Holy Spirit.
Bethany and I count each of you a blessing. God bless your Thanksgiving!

Confirmation Sunday

2009-11-17T06:47:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, November 22nd we will welcome and celebrate new Christians and members of Woodville United Methodist Church. In the United Methodist tradition we take part in something called confirmation. Seven youth have been engaged in confirmation now for 10 weeks. We have learned together about who God in Jesus Christ is, what the Holy Spirit is about, the sacraments of the church (Baptism and Holy Communion) and living a life of discipleship. Of course confirmation represents not an end but a beginning of a life of learning and living with God. It has been a privilege to share in this journey with them.
In confirmation we affirm the good work that God has already begun in each of these persons, the grace that has been at work during their life-times and the new work that God is now doing in them. This Sunday they will have the opportunity to repent of sin, make a public profession of faith in Christ and become full members of Woodville United Methodist Church. Please join me in intentional prayer this week for the following young people –

Dustin Ivey
Haley Wesley
Michael Zhang
Anna Pate
Dylan Hampton
B.J. Hutto
Levi Watts

We owe our thanks and gratitude also to the mentors who have prayed for these young people. They are Doug Libby, Lacey Villa, Jerry Wilson, Amanda Boyd, Ronnie Brown, Clay Hart and Russ Nalley.
This Sunday’s worship will include special music and different elements to worship to focus us on praising God for the commitment these young people are making. It will also be an opportunity for you and me to renew our faith and rededicate our lives to Christ and His church.

Disciple: Being One, Making One

2009-11-11T12:44:00.001-08:00

I hope you have been challenged and inspired by the sermon focus this Fall on Discipleship. We have called it, Disciple: Being One, Making One. We talked last Sunday about how a disciple of Jesus Christ is one who has been transformed and is being transformed by God's grace. This Sunday we will turn to what it means to make a disciple. This is one that we have the hardest time with. Please read Matthew 28: 16-20 this week. In it, Jesus makes clear to the first disciples and to we present day disciples, that making disciples is our business. Being Biblical Christians means taking seriously this, which is known as "The Great Commission."
Before we are overwhelmed with that responsibility, Jesus reminds us in that passage that he is with us, not just now or tomorrow or this year but "to the end of the age," meaning until Christ comes again.
I have a book on my desk I am reading a little at a time called "Making Disciples - One conversation at a time." In it, the author Michael Henderson emphasizes one key thing among others - relationship. Trusted relationships with the people in our lives and building trusted relationships with new people, is the beginning of disciple-making. Of course we remember all the time that while we make disciples, we continue to be formed as disciples ourselves.
I'm grateful to share the journey of discipleship with you.

Offer them Christ

2009-11-03T07:05:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, it's a thrilling time to be a part of the Woodville UMC family. This week the construction of the Wesley Center has taken great leaps forward. If you have driven by the church, you'll see that there is frame up, rafters are being set in place and later this week, walls will begin to be filled in. The expectation is that if rain stays away for a couple of weeks, we will have a "dried in" building by Thanksgiving. The inside work is what will take longest. The workers will spend Winter and Spring getting the inside ready for use. As of now we don't have a target completion time but we look forward to the ministry and mission that will happen in that space.
Now is as a great time as any to invite someone to church. Bring them to worship with you, invite their children and youth to participate in Sunday school and Sunday night youth time. Every Sunday night at youth we average 18-25 youth. We have 7 in our confirmation class, several of whom will be confirmed November 22nd.
Most of all, let's be diligent in our prayer for the ministry that God can do through us. Wesley Center is but a vehicle, an instrument, a space for ministry for the glory of God. It will be a beautiful structure that will tie in to our church campus magnificently. That in itself is a testament to our faith. However we are most passionate about what will occupy that space, the lives that will be changed in that space because of their encounter with God, the joy, the fellowship, the worship, the mission that will happen, all because we are making room for it. That's really what this is about.
As we grow together in Christ, let's invite others to grow with us. Keep your "evangelism antenna" up. Offer them Christ through experiencing this community of faith we call Woodville UMC.

All Saints Sunday

2009-10-27T08:21:00.001-07:00

“My shepherd will supply my need.” These words were sung Sunday in our worship service by the Lon Morris College Masters Singers. We could not have orchestrated better, its resonance with our theme, “Enough.” The Holy Spirit weaves worship together in ways that give me such joy. That sense of joy was very present Sunday in worship and after.
Our Sunday school classes, a Monday night group and our youth are studying the book Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity by the Rev. Adam Hamilton. This study could change your life. It is about life priorities, values and life practices all rooted in the Lord. It is thoroughly Biblical and makes good spiritual sense. I strongly encourage you to come to a class or group and get your hands on this material. There is a video portion to the study that is very engaging. As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, this study is all the more relevant. God desires for us to experience joy in Him. What we have all found is that true joy is not found in the “stuff” we think is important. Those things are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. So how do we discover everlasting joy? Through a life of simplicity and generosity rooted and grounded in Christ.
This Sunday, November 1st, we will also celebrate All Saints Sunday as we do each year at this time. Take a look here and see the names of those we will read and remember before God this Sunday. They are the members of our church family who have died since All Saints last year. We have a special time of remembrance and prayer planned and will celebrate Holy Communion as always this first Sunday of the month.
The name “saint” is one of the most misunderstood words in the Christian vocabulary. We usually think of people like the first disciples, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Mother Theresa and so forth. They are certainly saints but so are all those who have claimed the name of Christ and lived in Christian community through the church. That means those of you and these folks we’ll remember Sunday who lived this life. Saints are not perfect people. They like we are a mixed bag. Sinners one moment, heroes the next, but trying by the grace of God to repent, begin again and live for God each day. As we remember these folks on Sunday, let’s recommit ourselves to the life of Christian discipleship.
See you Sunday,
Tommy

How firm a foundation

2009-10-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

"Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone; chosen of the Lord and precious, binding all the church in one; holy Zion's help forever, and her confidence alone.

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?"

"The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word. From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died."

These great Christian hymns speak powerfully the truth that our foundation as God's people, the church, is built on Jesus Christ. I'm writing this column as the concrete foundation is laid for the Wesley Center. The foundation will be set this week, metal and steel will be here next week and by Thanksgiving we are likely to have the skeleton structure standing. It is very exciting to see God bring to realization the vision that has been in our hearts for years now. As you read this, will you join with me in prayer?
Almighty God, you gave we your church, your Son Jesus Christ, as our one, only and true foundation. We humbly pause now to give you thanks and praise for guiding Woodville UMC to this season of ministry and opportunity. As the physical foundation is poured for Wesley Center, fill our hearts with such gratitude and joy that we overflow in love and service to others. Keep us ever mindful that as this building rises up, You are the rock, the sure and steady foundation on which we build our mission and ministry. Let all that happens be an outpouring of praise that gives you all the glory and honor. We pray joyfully in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

More Holy Spirit work

2009-10-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I’ve been guiding a class on baptism for 3rd-5th graders for a few Wednesday afternoons now. What a great growing time we’ve had together. This Sunday we’ll celebrate some baptisms in church. What a special day for these children and families and for our church. What we have done is to teach these children about God’s love and grace and about the sacrament of Baptism in the Methodist way. Baptism is at its essence an act of God claiming a person as His own and an act that shows the prevenient grace of God that works in us. Prevenient grace is that grace which is working before we are even aware of it. Baptism is one sign of that grace. Before we choose God, God chooses us in baptism. He claims us as His own. I urge you to come Sunday and be the covenant community of faith for these children who will be baptized.
We also welcome our Wee Wisdom pre-school children to sing in worship this Sunday October 11th. Our Pre-school is close to full this year. They are learning and bustling with activity. Mary Nell Rainey, our director, and our teaching staff are doing a terrific job! There is nothing quite like the voices of children singing the songs of Christian faith they are learning. Let them lift your spirits this Sunday.
One of our layman, Clay Hart, shared his heart last Sunday. God led him to witness and to exhort us, particularly men, to mentor a child. He is right that Christian men role models are a high need in our society. We at the church are resisting the temptation to over-organize the movement of the Holy Spirit right now even though there are ways we can assist in its work. Therefore if your heart would lead you to exploring a mentoring opportunity please call Clay Hart. His number is 837-5330. He would warmly welcome your call. Any way the church can facilitate and help, we will.
Finally, I ask for your prayers next week as I embark on a new journey of equipping for my ministry. As I’ve shared before, I am beginning a program called “Advancing Pastoral Leadership.” It involves quarterly educational retreats the first of which is next Monday-Thursday, October 12-15. I will not miss a Sunday but will be away those days. Of course if you have an emergency, please call the church office and Sharon can reach me. You may also call Dixie Jarrott at 283-2003 for immediate prayer and care. I thank you for your prayers and your always faithful support.

Sharing the love of God

2009-09-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, October 4th we celebrate World Communion Sunday. It is an annual celebration among Christian churches around the world lifting up our unity in Christ in the midst of our diversity as people. We will have Holy Communion, we’ll have some information in our bulletin about opportunities to share in world-wide ministry through the United Methodist Church, and ways Woodville UMC already gives to world-wide missions. It will be a beautiful day of worship.
This past Sunday we continued our focus on discipleship. The Gospel word from Matthew was to “bring the kingdom near” to others. We can do this as a church and as individual Christians when we speak and show the love of Christ in our daily lives. Through the gifts we have been given we can offer God’s love in ordinary ways and watch God make them extraordinary gifts to a world in need of His love. We invited everyone at the close of worship to pray and think about ways each one of us could offer the love of God to someone else. Some came forward and recommitted their lives to Jesus Christ. Others came knowing they had a gift to give. Others stood supportively pondering no doubt what they could do. Next to this column, you’ll see here what one family did immediately following worship. The Pate family has been visiting our church; their daughter Ana is active in our youth group and is a confirmation student. What a wonderful response to God’s call!
Woodville UMC is already doing great things for the kingdom of God. Our small groups are growing, our youth ministry is growing in number and depth, missions are outstanding and the Wesley Center can become a vital place for ministry. Keep praying and exploring ways God may be stretching us to reach out and “bring the kingdom near” to people. I feel the fire of the Lord growing and shining in us and through us. Whether its sports, music, cooking, talking, driving, reading or something else, we can offer the love of God in some way. I’m so inspired by the Pate family’s offering of love…I would love to hear about yours. God bless you in your efforts to share the love of God.
See you Sunday,
Tommy

Stewardship and Discipleship

2009-09-21T14:07:00.001-07:00

What a vibrant growing congregation we are a part of!!! Take a scan through this newsletter and you'll see the movement of the Holy Spirit among the people. We are worshipping, learning, growing and serving.
I want to say a word this week about another part of our membership covenant. When we commit ourselves to Christ and His church we joyfully commit to prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Giving of our monetary resources is a natural response to the abundant generosity of God in Jesus Christ. Living as a disciple of Jesus Christ influences all of our lives, including our financial priorities.
What an amazing testament and witness to this truth in our Building Stewardship Campaign. Through economic fears, anxiety and loss, this congregation looked ahead and pledged generously to a future in ministry.
I want to prayerfully encourage you today to stay diligent in your giving to the ongoing ministry of the church. Your ongoing giving supports our children's choir, our youth group, helping the needy, our missions projects for veterans, our United Methodist missions around the world and many many others. Your ongoing giving keeps the air cool and the lights on for pre-school children all week long in our Wee Wisdom school. In countless ways your giving makes the difference in someone's life for Christ. Thank you!
Soon you'll receive a third quarter giving statement from the church. With that, you'll see a word of thanks for your faithful giving. As we enter this final quarter of the year together, please notice where your giving stands and where you feel God is leading it to be at the close of 2009. Join Bethany and me in tithing (10% of income) or growing in your giving this last quarter. We have a wonderful new stewardship team at work who will be sharing and offering opportunities to learn about this part of discipleship.
Giving to the ongoing ministry of the church has positive ripple impact in people's lives every day. Every gift helps...growing in giving strengthens our journey as disciples and our ministry and mission as the church of Jesus Christ.

Standing in the Gap and Revival

2009-09-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday in the sermon, we reflected on the Book of James and God's call to connect faith and works. An alive faith is one that serves and "stands in the gap" between rich and poor. I want to celebrate here briefly ministries at Woodville UMC that "stand in the gap" between rich and poor. Angel Food Ministries is one powerful way we live out our faith by offering discount food for people of all ages and backgrounds. Young families, elderly, middle class, working poor folks, folks of more means - all benefit from Angel Food Ministries. Praise God for this ministry and for those who faithfullly volunteer every month in it. John and Ofeira Gazzaway and Claudia Hiett coordinate that and many others volunteer, thank you!
Whether it is Caring is Sharing, Needle and Thread Ministries, Christmas in July, Angel Tree for children, our toiletry supplies for patients in need at our hospital or the many individual acts of loving kindness that happen, we stand in that place of alive faith that we were called to on Sunday. Again, praise God for all of those who quietly serve and live out that Biblical call.
Please make it a priority to be present for worship on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Monday night. As you will see in this newsletter, the Rev. Keith Tilley will join us for our annual revivial. Keith is a passionate, insightful, preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will continue our discipleship focus and begin our Fall season of sermons on discipleship. Your spirit will be revived, you will be challenged and you will be excited by the Word from the Lord that Keith will bring. I have heard him preach on several occasions and always come away moved. I know you will also enjoy the hymn singing and special music that will lift our worship.

Groundbreaking worship ceremony August 30

2009-08-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

Our church family and community are looking forward to this Sunday, August 30, 2009. We will break ground on Wesley Center. This name chosen by you, represents our roots as we grow into the future with God. Brothers John and Charles Wesley were the founders of the Methodist movement, what was a fresh new breath of the Holy Spirit into the Christian faith and has now become a dynamic world wide church. Two of the most significant contributions to the Christian faith the Wesley's made were their focus on discipleship and grace - the daily, lifetime walk with God that is discipleship and knowledge and growth in the grace of Jesus Christ. It is our prayer as a church that we will grow into this vision of the Wesley's in the building that will bear their name.
We welcome our bishop, Janice Huie this Sunday morning. Bishop Huie will preach at our morning worship service and will pray over our groundbreaking outdoors. Just after worship we will all recess out of the front of the church and make our way to the building site on the Nellius Street side. There, we will offer prayers and share in a liturgy that will consecrate that ground for building. We will have various participants in that from the church and community. Following the groundbreaking, please join us for a light lunch reception.
Bishop Huie is excited to join us this Sunday. From what I read in our church history, it is the third time a bishop has preached in Woodville. Bishop Paul Martin came in 1961 and Bishop Finis Crutchfield preached here in 1982. When our church history is updated one day, Sunday August 30, 2009 will be a highlight.
Worship this Sunday will reflect the special day. As we did on Palm Sunday and Pentecost this year, the choir will process in to begin worship and Bishop Huie, Dr. Jerry Pennington our District Superintendent, and myself will also process in to begin worship. Processionals go back to the Old Testament days of entering the temple for worship. Our Chancel Choir will sing and Jimmy Robertson will also be singing a solo.
It is such an honor to share with you in this holy and historic day in the life of Woodville UMC.

Hungry for God

2009-08-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

This Sunday August 23rd will be student day in worship. We’ll pray for them in worship and send them off into the school year with their church’s love. If you have a child or grandchild entering school this year, please make it a priority to be here this Sunday. We’d love to see you. This Sunday after worship we’ll vote on the name of our new building. Please see inside this newsletter for the ballot.
We are planning the special ground-breaking ceremony for our new building for August 30th and look forward to welcoming our Bishop, Janice Huie for that day. She’ll preach and help us dedicate that building to the glory of God.
I saw a powerful article in the Houston Chronicle newspaper this week that I want to share with you. It connects in with our focus on discipleship.
A Kenyan who was believed to be the world’s oldest pupil has died at the age of 89, five years after entering primary school so that he could learn to read the Bible, his family said Monday.
Joseph Stephen Kimani Nganga Maruge accomplished his biggest goal – being able to read the Bible – but he remained shy of completing primary school. Mr. Maruge became sick with cancer 7 months ago.
“In the morning he used to wake up early to read the Bible before going to school,” Anne Maruge, 18, said. “Even when he felt ill and you found him basking in the sun, often he would be reading the Bible.”
Mr. Maruge enrolled in primary school 5 years ago after the government made primary school free. He wore a school boy’s uniform and walked with a book bag slung over his shoulder. After his village and home was burned down in the aftermath of the violent 2008 elections in Kenya, he was forced to live in a displacement camp with thousands of others who had lost their homes. He continued his studies however until he became sick. “When he became ill, he started to cry because he was not going to school,” Anne Maruge said. “Liberty means going to school and learning,” he said in an interview before his death. “You are never too old to learn.”
What is special to me about Mr. Maruge is his hunger to learn about God. There are so many truths to be taken from his story. His desire to learn was rooted in a hunger to know God. His age did not discourage him or cause him to think he couldn’t learn something. He seemed like a humble man one who would wear a school boy’s clothes. Finally the last quote in the story about liberty speaks a truth to us. So many think and behave as though freedom means we should be able to do whatever we like, be left alone, or be independent, make a living and a life at others’ expense. “For freedom Christ has set us free,” Paul said in Galatians. Our freedom is a gift not just to be used for selfishness, greed or hoarding or for irresponsible living either but for learning, growing and giving. Mr. Maruge seems to have “gotten it.” He understood freedom or liberty as an opportunity to learn – in his case driven by a deep desire to be able to read the Bible. “O God make us ever aware of that hunger to know you and your Word that is in us all. Amen.”

Celebrate Educators this Sunday August 16th

2009-08-10T21:12:00.001-07:00

This Sunday in worship we will continue an annual tradition at this time of year. Even if we are not students or teachers, many of us continue to operate on a school calendar. It's sort of treated like another new year. New resolutions are made, habits are established, goals are set. In our community there is just a different buzz in the air when school is in session. The town is busier and life seems to pick up pace.
The beginning of a school year is an exciting and anxious time. Some teachers are new and others are veterans but all have new classes and new expectations. For this reason we think its important to devote some time in prayer at the beginning of a school year and celebrate our educators. Educators are all those who work in our school system. They may be up front or behind the scenes but in some way, they are a part of the education of our children and we thank God for them. We celebrate them.
We have almost 30 people in our church employed in the school system. Most are members of our church and others are regular guests.
We will pray for our students on Sunday August 23rd, the day before they go back to school. Teachers and others return on August 17th. In this as in other years, they will go with our prayers and with a small gift to remind them of the love of their church family.
Join me in celebrating them this Sunday and in sharing a covered dish meal after worship.

People of the Book

2009-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your prayers while Bethany, Addie, Samuel and I were away on vacation this past week. We saw family that we hadn’t seen in some time and were able to enjoy time in a gorgeous part of our country. Bethany’s family is very generous and we’re grateful for that important time with them. We spent some of our time in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia where John and Charles Wesley spent a short while. The Wesley brothers were leaders of the Methodist movement in England and ambitiously set foot in Georgia to bring the Gospel there. It was a very short visit for them but it is a part of their and our history as Methodists. While visiting there, I did some thinking about our Fall focus on discipleship and what John Wesley said about the Bible as a key part of our formation as Christian disciples.
John Wesley was a "man of one book" and that a Methodist who wants to rediscover some of that "Wesleyan fire" should become very familiar with his or her Bible. Hearing from God through scripture should become as natural as breathing for a Methodist. United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon has said that all great reformations of the church are based in scripture and a fresh encounter with scripture.
One of the frequent questions I am asked is about translations. Which Bible should I buy? Which one should I read? The short answer is, if you don’t have a Bible get your hands on any Bible. If someone is asking you for one, get them one as fast as possible while it’s fresh on their mind and yours. However there are some translations that are better than others. I study with the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). It is true to the original languages and it has some other features I like. Our pew Bibles are the Revised Standard Version (RSV) which is good also. Many of our youth and young adults read the New International Version (NIV). While not quite as close to the original languages, it has a “readability” that is nice and modern. The King James is poetic and beautiful but also takes some liberties with the original Hebrew and Greek.
Bottom line is – the Bible is essential for the formation of Christian discipleship. Private reading and studying with others allows God to speak to us personally and in community with each other.
I am excited about the numerous opportunities you will have for Bible study this Fall, short and long term. Please begin now praying about being in one of these groups. Surprise yourself by committing to one of them and watch God change your life.

Disciple: Being One, Making One

2009-07-21T09:38:00.001-07:00

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment. It is a journey that never ends. When we are baptized we are claimed publicly by God and lifted up by the church. When we make a commitment to Christ, it is not the end or the climax but rather the beginning. It is that time when we are justified by grace through faith, receive the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and commit to a life time of growth. We Methodist Christians believe strongly in lifelong discipleship. We call this life journey sanctification. Sanctification is the lifelong journey to grow towards perfect love of God and neighbor. Worship, Bible study, mission, service, and leadership grow out of a disciple’s journey. Our understanding of them deepens and matures and they become a sign of where we are on that sanctified journey.
You may or may not know that the United Methodist Church’s mission statement is simply and powerfully “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Our own Woodville UMC mission statement highlights the call to “nurture faithful disciples…” All of this discipleship emphasis is rooted in the Great Commission of Jesus found in Matthew 28. Jesus does not send out the 11 disciples to go and recruit church members. He does not say go get people to profess their faith in Christ. He does not start his commission with going and getting as many people baptized as possible although he quickly gets to baptism in the commission. He does not even say go and “save people,” Jesus is pretty clear that He does the saving through us, its not because of us. All of these are important but Jesus’ last words in Matthew to the 11 disciples were to “go and make disciples…” baptizing and teaching all to obey Jesus’ commands (remember that the Great commandment is to love God and love neighbor…see sanctification above). So, the Methodist way is deeply rooted in Scripture.
This Fall at Woodville UMC we are going to place heavy emphasis on discipleship, we’ll call it Disciple: Being One, Making One. I’m not only encouraging you, I’m exhorting you, pleading with you to take your own discipleship seriously. Many of you do that. Many more have the desire. As a church we will help you, as your pastor I will help in every way possible to plug you in to opportunities for worship, study, fellowship and service. Please take notice of all of the small group offerings that will be available starting at the beginning of September as well as Sunday school. When discipleship is a priority in our lives and our church, God is glorified, we are blessed and the world is transformed.

Yeah Lakeview Camp!

2009-07-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

I look forward to being in worship with you this Sunday. Our summer pastoral intern, Stephen Gehring, will preach on a parable of Jesus and we’ll be blessed by his witness. Thank you to Jimmy Robertson and the youth who shared about their camp experiences in worship last Sunday. I heard about their testimonies and can echo them myself. I too had a powerful experience at Lakeview Camp last week. It always inspires me to see the way God can move in the lives of youth of all ages. Stephen was the preacher for the camp I was co-directing and he did a fantastic job connecting with those 6th and 7th graders. Going to Lakeview brings back many memories for me. I spent many summers there from the 6th grade until now. There is nothing quite like the great sense of community and connection that Methodist Christians have with each other. Campers and adults from all around our state gather there and learn about what they individually have in common as well as what is different about us and then lift up our unity in Christ together. Our connection as United Methodists is so real and powerful. We’re united together by belief in the power of God’s grace for all, the radical welcome of Christ, the life-time journey of discipleship and the importance of service in Jesus’ name.
On behalf of all 25 + of us, thank you church family for your prayers and cards while we were away. It was a joy for me to pass out mail in my camp and know that every one of our Woodville UMC campers was receiving something from their church. Thank you! Come to worship this Sunday as we send off one last group to camp. This time we send 8 youth and 2 adults to UM Army High School Mission Camp. They’ll be in Houston next week repairing homes and helping those in need.

Groundbreaking ceremony August 30

2009-06-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Please mark your calendars for an exciting and historic day in the life of Woodville UMC. On Sunday, August 30, 2009 Bishop Janice Huie will preach in our worship service and be present to pray at the official groundbreaking ceremony for our new multi-purpose ministry center! We are honored and pleased to host Bishop Huie at our church and we’ll all be blessed by God by her message that Sunday. She’s an outstanding preacher and a dynamic leader. Please make plans now to be present. By August 30th most should be settled in here at home after summer vacations and travel schedules. School will have begun and routines will return. Note that this is not Labor Day weekend; it comes the weekend after.
Let me share with you another relevant date in the building process. On July 8th, the demolition will begin on the current youth center. It should be completed by the end of that week. Remember that it’s on that spot that the new building will be constructed. Even as we are excited about a new, larger, more accommodating space for all, many have wonderful memories of the Anthony Youth Center and thanksgivings for the ministry that happened in that space for 50 years. With grateful hearts, we are going to give praise to God this Sunday, July 5th for the ministry that happened with special prayers. Kaaren Sullivan is preparing those prayers for us.
Also in worship we will pray for our youth and adults who are headed to Lakeview Youth Camp July 6-10. We have 26 youth and 5 adults who are going to Lakeview. If that’s not a record number, it’s got to be close! Praise God. I’ll be co-directing the 6th/7th Grade camp and therefore will be out all week. If you or someone you know needs immediate pastoral assistance, please contact Dixie Jarrott at 429-4026. You may also call the church office and Sharon, our church secretary, can reach me. After camp concludes, the Williams family is headed to north Dallas for a family reunion. I’ll miss being in church Sunday July 14th but you’ll enjoy hearing witnesses from our youth about their camp experience.
This Sunday July 5th in worship we’ll also give thanks for the freedom to worship God and remember those who do not enjoy this freedom. Have a safe and happy 4th of July celebration this weekend.

2009-06-24T07:12:00.001-07:00

Spirit Wednesday worship is happening again! After a period of hiatus, we are reviving our Spirit Wednesday contemporary worship service. We have experimented quite a bit with alternative worship over the past four years. I am very grateful for every stage and every experience. After much prayer and discussion we feel like this worship experience is one of the keys to discipleship and outreach for our church’s ministry.
Our summer pastoral intern, Stephen Gehring, has particular gifts in leading this form of worship so with his presence here and with the current praise team, we feel like the time is right again. We’ll worship together each week at 6pm in the chapel. This will be a time of music, prayer and message/teaching. Stephen and I and others will alternate preaching during these summer months. I encourage you to come to Spirit Wednesday even if it may be a different experience for you. Invite someone to come with you. We’ll have nursery available for parents of small children as well.
I have to take a personal privilege this week to say that Bethany and I are looking forward to welcoming our family to town this weekend for the occasion of Samuel’s baptism in worship this Sunday. I’ll be preaching but I’ve asked a childhood pastor and special mentor of mine still, Rev. Roy Biser, to come and baptize Samuel. It is a special and sacred day any time we baptize someone into God’s family. The Williams family is certainly looking forward to this day. We hope to be able to experience it with you.

check in time with God

2009-06-16T09:10:00.001-07:00

I am inspired by something that our youth director Jimmy Robertson is doing. For the early part of the summer, he is making one-on-one appointments with our youth. Each of them has the opportunity to sign up for these appointments. If you are a parent or a youth in our church, call Jimmy and make that appointment if you haven’t already. The purpose of these appointments is to check in on their relationship with Christ. They are talking about the Bible, their faith, what questions they have, where they see sin, grace and resurrection in their lives and in the world.
This discipling exercise, I call it, reminds me of Psalm 139. “Lord you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away…where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?...for it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works…search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Because summer is a good time to slow down for a check in time with God, our program staff – Dixie, Jim, Stephen, Jimmy, Yolanda, and myself are meeting each week for an hour and a half to pray together and reflect theologically on our ministry (where we see God working…); we are also reading a book together – Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, a Christian classic.
One of my prayers for you this summer is that you’ll pray psalm 139 with me and let it call us to a check in time with God. Ask yourself where you see God working; where you see sin in you and in the world and then where you see grace at work and resurrections happening. Soon, we’ll create some small groups so you can do this in a trusted small group as well.

VBS week

2009-06-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

As I write this column I’m listening to the sounds of our children at Vacation Bible School. They are singing about following God and letting their lights shine! I am reminded every year how timeless VBS is. It is one of those traditions that have never faded in significance. From the city to the country and everywhere in between, VBS is a big deal. It is an important opportunity to share the Gospel with children in fun and engaging ways. The songs they sing, the lessons they learn now are ones they will never forget. Make plans to be in worship this Sunday. The children will be singing all the songs they learned.
I want to thank Yolanda Griffin and all of the many volunteers that have prepared for this week. We have over 40 children with us. They are many of our kiddos plus children from Sinclair Children’s Center and area daycares. We really opened our doors this year in a wonderful way. Thanks be to God for this opportunity.
For many of the Sundays this summer the sermons will come from parables of Jesus. In a survey of Sunday school classes and church leadership, the parables of Jesus ranked high on the list of topics for sermons. There will be some Sundays where we will diverge from that for various reasons but join me in reading the parables of Jesus this summer. We’ll start this Sunday with the parable of the sower in Luke 8: 4-15.

Yes, Yes, Yes

2009-06-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

At last Sunday's church conference, you voted by a 97% overwhelming vote to build a multi-purpose ministry center for the future ministry of Woodville UMC. We now will proceed towards that project. Praise God for your support and your vision for the future!

This Sunday our summer pastoral intern, Stephen Gehring is preaching. Come Sunday and hear his witness and word from God for us.

Honor Graduates

2009-05-12T13:11:00.001-07:00

This Sunday we recognize and celebrate our High School graduating seniors, Jeni Peterson and Sydnie Hooper. I look forward to standing with them and our scholarship committee and awarding them a church scholarship for their studies beyond high school. Joined by their families, we will have a lunch after worship in their honor.
This Sunday is also the first Sunday with Jimmy Robertson who returns this summer as our youth director. Stephen Gehrings also joins us as our summer pastoral intern. Please be in prayer for both of these young men as they lead and learn about ministry here in Woodville. Stephen and I will be attending an orientation for that internship on Thursday and Friday of this week in Galveston.
Church life experiences seasons just as we do in other parts of life. Worship Attendance fluctuates through the year, giving fluctuates through the year and so forth. Summer is one of those seasons. Children are out of school, family vacations are planned, summer camps are attended, and long weekends are enjoyed. Routines and habits are more fluid during the summer. I mention all of this to say that I hope for your walk with Christ that you will do two things this summer: When you are in town, make a commitment to be in worship and make a commitment to fulfill your giving to the ministries of the church. Our summer ministries like Vacation Bible School, Bible studies and youth ministries will be as strong as ever and in some ways more active. I have found that summer time often allows for more time, not less, to devote to the Lord. When you see Bible studies and fellowship opportunities advertised and announced, take advantage of them; your life will be blessed because of it and you will be a blessing to somebody else.
Thank you for your faithfulness in every way to the ministry of the church. The doors of the church opened, lives transformed, calls to ministry are heard by people because of the gifts you give and the time you spend with God in your church family.

Church Conference Date Set!

2009-05-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

It’s with excitement that I share that our church leaders have scheduled a May 31st Church Conference to have the final vote on our building plans. Our plan is for that church conference to take place after worship on that Sunday. Sunday May 31st, is Pentecost Sunday, the day when God gave the church the Holy Spirit. That Sunday we will also have our annual MusicFest which will feature music from our Joyful Ringers, Chancel choir and others.
Most will remember that last July, a called Church Conference voted overwhelmingly to approve a preliminary building plan for a multi-purpose building to serve ministry needs for adults, youth and children. It would be built on the current site of the Youth Building. That is Phase One. Phase Two and Three include moving the church offices to the current fellowship hall, creating new bathrooms where the current fellowship hall kitchen is located, expanding the narthex and adding parking outside. Full members of the church will be voting on just Phase One at the May 31st Church Conference. Led by our District Superintendent, Dr Jerry Pennington or a pastor representing him, we will vote once on the following items:
1- A Final building plan
2- A Final cost estimate (from the best bid recommended by the Building Committee)
3- Financing Option (from the best option recommended by the Church Finance Committee)
On May 19th, our Building Committee will bring before the District Committee on Buildings, our final plans, the results of our very fruitful “Embrace our Heritage, Build our Future” Capital Stewardship Campaign, and our Financing Option. With their approval the May 31st Church Conference will be on schedule. On Thursday evening, May 28 we will have an open information session to answer any questions. Representatives from the Building and Finance Committees will be present. You will also receive information in the mail prior to this about the final proposal.
Thank you for the vision for ministry that you have already supported so strongly. Thank you for your generosity during our Campaign and of course new pledges and gifts are welcome. Thank you for your prayers as we move forward. I truly believe that this project will propel Woodville UMC even more into the future that God has in store for us. It will prepare us for even stronger ministry by creating space for persons to participate in God’s family here. Please make every effort to be in attendance on May 31st and be a part of this dynamic phase in the church’s history.

The Blessings of New Life

2009-04-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your prayers for our new boy Samuel and for our family. We are blessed to have him and he is blessed to have you as a church family. We look forward to bringing him to worship in a few weeks. Thank you also for the cards, phone calls, emails, meals, kind words expressed. We have been so loved through it all by you.
Bethany and I have been particularly moved by the words that have been said or written to us on the occasion of Samuel’s birth. Many of these have come by way of email or card from friends and family. We’ve been touched by these words of grace and truth and I want to share some of them anonymously with you here.
“New life is God’s opinion that our world is good. Congratulations!”
“Welcome to the world Samuel!”
“This is the first congratulations from Cote d’Ivoire (Africa). Welcome Samuel Fuller to the world. God bless your family now and in the future. – Sent from a pastor friend traveling on a mission trip.
“What a joy and blessing! The world is a better place because Samuel is here.”
“Hail the day that Samuel Fuller Williams entered the world – the newest sign of God’s love and promise towards creation.”

I agree with all of these of course! These words of grace are true for Samuel and they are equally true for each new child, each new life born into God’s world. Every life is sacred and holy.
Bethany and I are going to print these off and put them in Samuel’s baby book. I think I’m going to start passing these words on to others when they have children. They touched me so much and I hope they do you.

Holy Week

2009-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

I know that you have already noticed some changes in this weekly newsletter; we are having fun trying a new format in hopes of communicating the ministry of Woodville UMC in an increasingly attractive, vibrant and spirit-filled way. We will continue to work on it being done well and used as both a tool for ministry and a ministry itself. I hope you enjoy the color photographs here, we won’t have color every week because of cost but we will fairly often. We have also moved some things around and hope to prioritize our “front page” items as those articles that meet the most current needs and the back page items focusing on the long term and the reports we are now calling our “evidences of fruitfulness.” This includes our worship and Sunday school attendance, our giving and our budget figures.
Last Sunday was as moving a Palm Sunday experience as I have ever experienced in my ministry. Thank you to the choir, soloists, instrumentalists and all who offered their gifts to God. You’ll also see highlighted in this newsletter the wonderful confirmation students that committed their lives to Christ and the church on Sunday. I look forward with great anticipation as I know you do, for the worship services this week on Thursday and Friday and of course on Easter Sunday.
I want to share a little about a special portion of our Maundy Thursday service that is new. We will of course celebrate the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples and this year we will also emulate another act that occurred in those last days Jesus had with his disciples – a foot washing experience. After the last supper in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, Jesus turned and began washing the disciples’ feet. Peter protested and said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus said, “you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Jesus’ response reminds us that all of us are called to be servants and share in the ministry of Jesus.
Our Emmaus group will lead us in a foot-washing service. All preparations are being made for there to be sterile cloths, hands and basins for that experience. It will be completely voluntary; you can observe and not participate. More will be said at the service about this but having participated in one before, I will tell you, it can be very powerful, after-all, Jesus did it and I am sure feet and hands were dirty then too. To allow your feet to be washed is a humbling experience and to wash someone else’s feet is also humbling. Again, your experience with Christ in this Holy Week/Lenten/Easter will be increased by the more you intentionally stay close to Christ.

Palm Sunday and staff news

2009-04-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, April 5th is an exciting day in the life of our church. Palm Sunday will be a glorious day filled with music and celebration. This year our children will lead us in a full processional from the back of the sanctuary to the front waving palm branches along with the congregation. We will hear our children’s choir sing and enjoy listening to the story of Jesus’ last entry into Jerusalem before the events of Holy Week.
This Sunday is also Confirmation Sunday. We have three youth who will be confirmed Sunday. Riley Shaw, Sana Moran and Madison Griffin will make professions of faith and become full members of Woodville United Methodist Church. I hope you will make a special point to be in worship this Sunday
We have exciting news also to report on our staff ministry team. Our Staff Parish Relations Committee has met and consulted with others and has begun to shape our staff in dynamic ways. We have decided at this time to focus on our summer ministry especially with youth. Jimmy Robertson will return to Woodville for a third summer but this time as our summer youth director. We are thrilled to welcome Jimmy back this time to lead our youth ministry for the summer months. Jimmy’s ministry has produced fruit in his relationships with youth and his leadership of Bible studies and participation at camps and retreats. In addition to her responsibilities as Children’s Ministries Director, Yolanda Griffin has agreed to take on additional responsibilities in youth ministry from April-August. Yolanda is going to work with volunteers and get us prepared for all the summer camps. I and the SPRC decided to focus on the important summer youth ministry and wait on hiring a year-round youth director until after the summer.
The third staff announcement is the exciting addition of a summer pastoral intern. Through the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Stephen Gehring is being sent to us for a 2 month period from mid-May through the end of July. His stipend salary is fully funded by the Texas Conference. Stephen is currently a sophomore at Southwestern University. He grew in College Station at Christ UMC and has been involved as a youth in many camp experiences. Stephen is discerning a call to pastoral ministry and participated in this program last summer at a different church. I’ll share with you more about his internship in the weeks to come but we are privileged to have this dynamic ministry team in place for the summer. Join me in thanking God for these blessings.

The Week of Prayer

2009-03-25T09:44:00.001-07:00

In this Lenten season, we are engaged in acts of love that have the power to reconcile us with God and neighbor. This week is the week of prayer. Frederick Buechner, one of my favorite writers, in Listening to Your Life, asks a series of questions designed to help us think about where we have been and where we are going. I am thinking these questions over, and I pass them on to you, hoping that one or more will spur your thinking.
When you look at your face in the mirror, what do you see in it that you most like and what do you see in it that you most deplore?
If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be, in twenty-five words or less?
Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo? Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?
Is there any person in the world, or any cause, that if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?
If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it?
Frederick Buechner goes on to say: To hear yourself try to answer questions like these is to begin to hear something not only of who you are but of both what you are failing to become. It can be a pretty depressing business, all in all, but if sack cloth and ashes are at the start of it, something like Easter may be at the end." That is the hope that can be found if we walk this journey with Christ. My prayers are with you as you pray intentionally this week.

Poll of United Methodists

2009-03-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for your generosity at our Samuel’s baby shower last Saturday. As always we are overwhelmed by your love.
I want to share with you some interesting numbers from a recent poll conducted by the U.S. Religious landscape survey. The following is a sampling of responses from United Methodists. See where you fit in these questions.
• 42 percent say they attend church at least once a week; 14 percent say they seldom or never attend church.
• 59 percent say they pray at least once a day; 15 percent say their prayers are answered at least once a week; 28 percent say their prayers are seldom or never answered
• one-fourth believe the Bible should be taken “literally, word for word;” 21 percent say it’s written by men, not God; 44 percent say it’s the Word of God but probably shouldn’t be taken literally
• 82 percent believe there is more than one way to interpret their religious teachings
• 42 percent believe the U.S. should be active in world affairs; half said we should focus more on problems here at home
• 29 percent say stricter environmental laws would hurt the economy; 63 percent say it would be worth the cost
• 47 percent lean toward or are Republican; 42 percent lean toward or are Democratic
I find all of this interesting but not real surprising. United Methodists are a diverse people and I find that diversity in the right places is a strength. Overall as a denomination, we want to be a people who are every color and economic background. We want to be a people who challenge each other in community about interpreting the scriptures. The question becomes, what unites us? The answer is Jesus Christ. As United Methodists we unite around central doctrine related to the beliefs spelled out in the Nicene and Apostles Creed. We are a people that practice Open Table Communion. We are a people who offer the radical grace of Christ to everyone and believe that the doors of the church are open to all. We are a people that believe in service and public witness and involvement in the community and the nation.
This last piece is clear from this survey. Methodists are people who are concerned with society. In other words we are not a people who don’t care about the community or the world in which we live. Our founder, John Wesley, was fond of saying “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” The essentials and non essentials can be found above.
In the spirit of public witness, I’ve been invited to say the opening prayer for the start of Monday’s State Senate Session in Austin, Texas. Ironically I’ve been invited by Senator Tommy Williams of Conroe. Pray for me as I offer prayer for the leaders of our state.

Week of March 8

2009-03-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

This week I want to share with you the news that Amanda Boyd has resigned her position as Director of Youth Ministries in order to be a full time stay at home Mom. Amanda has been praying about this decision for a couple of months now. It was a hard decision for her because of her love for the youth and for that ministry. After a period of prayer and discussion, she decided to do that and become a volunteer in various ways in our church. She has assured me repeatedly that she is as committed as ever to her church, Woodville UMC. All of us understand and respect the hard but valuable decision that Amanda has made.
This Sunday is our regularly scheduled youth sponsored Covered Dish lunch so we are making that an occasion to celebrate Amanda’s two and a half year ministry with youth. I joked with Amanda that she soared past the average length of service for a youth director, which is 18 months! With Amanda’s leadership, the core membership of our youth group has grown. For the first time we sent a church-sponsored group to Big House Jr High Mission camp and to UM Army High school camp, as well as large groups to Lakeview every summer. We even hosted a UM Army camp. We have much to celebrate about her ministry and we’ll do that together on Sunday. We invite you to write a note to Amanda to thank her; and please make a point to be here Sunday. Amanda has been a thrill to work with. She tread new ground as our first year-round paid youth director. She and I have worked together well and I am personally thankful for her friendship and the love she has for our youth. Our friendship and her love for her church will of course continue.
Sunday morning is Amanda’s last day as youth director. From there, I’ll be engaging parents to be involved even more, along with our youth Council representative, Jerry Wilson. We’ll plan Sunday nights and other youth events and move full speed ahead. The Staff Parish Relations Committee of our Church will meet and discuss the way forward. We welcome your prayers, input, questions and comments. God will no doubt lead us into even more fruitful ministry with youth.
As a part of our Lenten 40 Days of Love, we are making phone calls this week to people we need to connect with deeper. Keep writing letters if you haven’t and make a special phone call this week. It could change a life.

Have you written your letter yet?

2009-03-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Have you written your letter yet? I am planning on doing that today. By week’s end, I’ll be sure to have done it. I’m writing one to Bethany, one to Addie and even one to our Samuel who is on the way. The intention behind this “Week of Letter Writing” is to bring us closer to God and one another. During these 40 Days of Love, your letter could be to anyone. Maybe it will be a letter seeking or granting forgiveness. You know, forgiving and being forgiven is not solely dependent on someone else’s actions. Forgiveness is the work of God in us. It is the grace of God changing us and moving us to seek and grant forgiveness regardless of whether or not it is reciprocated from the other person.
Our confirmation youth are writing letters to God in addition to other letters they may write. Maybe you could write one to God. I am having a great time with our confirmation youth. Please lift them up in prayer during this intentional faith growing time – Madison Griffin, Riley Shaw, Sana Moran and Dylan Hampton. They are all youth who are regular worshippers with us and active in our youth ministry. They are a thinking group, asking questions and exploring.
This weekend is a very special weekend for them. I am taking them to Houston to experience multiple worship services in the Methodist tradition. The Methodist Church is a diverse church. We are rural and urban, every color, young and old, wealthy, middle class and poor. When you walk into a given United Methodist church, you could find almost any type of worship style approach. We do not all worship the same way but we worship the same God. We all practice Open Table Communion and we all believe in the power of God’s grace, along with several other United Methodist emphases.
Our plan is to experience three very different worship experiences. One is in the Woodlands, TX. It will be a service led by a worship leader playing the guitar, with a short spoken message and a drama to illustrate the Gospel story. It will be in a warehouse space with people drinking coffee during worship. The second experience will be in Houston. It will be a very traditional service with organ, choir and lots of liturgy in a gothic cathedral sanctuary. The final service will be with pastors and a congregation which is almost entirely African-American and well over half of the congregation will be homeless people. It will be a very charismatic experience. The point is, all of these people are worshipping the same God, revealed in Jesus Christ, caught up in the Holy Spirit.
I look forward to sharing this experience with them and hearing them reflect on it. This Sunday, you’ll be moved by testimonies from several people who are writing letters like you.

Essential Books for Discipleship

2009-03-02T08:59:00.002-08:00

To all blog readers out there - along with the Bible, which 2-3 books, in your opinion, are essential reading for growth in Christian discipleship?
I'd love to receive your responses for my own faith journey and for the guidance of others in my church.
Thanks in advance!

Lent 2009

2009-02-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, March 1st is the First Sunday of Lent. Lent is that season of spiritual preparation that leads to Easter. Our theme for Lent 2009 is “40 Days of Love.” Each week we will emphasize one way we can move closer and deeper in relationship with God through our relationships with one another. We will search the scriptures together about repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, prayer and worship. This search will involve tangible acts of love shown toward someone else. Each worship service starting this Sunday, will be themed around “40 Days of Love.” We’ll celebrate Holy Communion and hear music and prayers around these Biblical calls to holiness. Our staff and volunteers are preparing special reminders and worship decoration that will open us to the work of the Holy Spirit in worship and for the week.
I ask you to do two things this Lent. First, make worship a priority. I promise you that walking this whole journey with Jesus can be a life-changing time if you will place yourself in a position to experience it, and that starts with worship. Second, invite someone to experience it with you. That someone might be in your household, husband, wife, child, or grandchild. It may be a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker, a stranger. Don’t assume they already go to church somewhere, 50% of our community is un-churched. When you invite them, help make it happen for them – tell them you’ll pick them up on your way to church, invite them to eat lunch with you after church, and when they come, make sure they get information about our church and meet others while they are here. All of this will make it more likely they come and more likely their experience is positive. God’s grace is available all the time but the season of Lent can be an awesome and special time to experience it.
On another note, last Sunday, we introduced our new Director of Music Ministries. Jim Lazenby has many years of directing experience in church and school choirs of all ages, with hand-bells and instruments. Jim has a deep love for God and one powerful way he expresses that is through the musical gifts God gave him. Jim is a lifelong Methodist, growing up in Houston and living in Texas and Oklahoma. He has a Bachelors degree in Sacred Music from Southwestern University and a Masters in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. Jim is excited to take on this challenge and we welcome him enthusiastically. Jim and his wife Glenda are already members of our church as is Jim’s Dad, Jesse. Take a moment to welcome Jim personally when you see him.

Lent is coming

2009-02-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe but the season of Lent is coming soon. We are excited about the spiritual journey that we will begin together that will move us toward Easter. Ash Wednesday is the day which begins that holy season. This year it falls on February 25th. We will have a worship service in the chapel at 6pm that will mark that beginning and we’ll follow it with a sample of a Passover Seder Meal at 7pm. We hope you will begin this season in worship.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning point for the season of Lent that focuses us on life and relationship examination. It is a time for taking stock of where we stand with God and each other. During that worship service, we will sing and pray together in ways that we pray places us in that spirit. There won’t be a sermon; rather the primary “message” of that service will be conveyed through the imposition of ashes.
According to the tradition of the early Christian church, the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration are burned and the ashes are used the next year on Ash Wednesday. We have done that once again this year. I will have someone assist me who will place the sign of the cross on my forehead and then I will do that humbly with you. While doing, these words will be said to each of us, “repent and believe the Gospel.” With that, we begin the Lenten journey in the right spirit. The powerful prayer of Psalm 51 comes to mind. “Create in me a clean heart O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” That is a good prayer for this season.
The Passover Seder meal is a new opportunity for faith learning this year. Even though the Jewish Passover Seder takes place during what we know as Holy Week just before Easter, we thought that after the Ash Wednesday service would be a good time for us to learn. There will be samples of food from that meal. We have been guided on the food and the traditions by Patrick Lam, chef and owner of Texas Star Restaurant in Colmesneil, who is Jewish. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to learn about our faith heritage through this meal. Take a look inside this newsletter for a schedule of Lent 2009 at Woodville UMC. Our theme this year is “40 Days of Love.”
This Sunday I’ll be preaching from Mark 9: 2-9 on the transfiguration experience of Jesus and three of his disciples. The sermon title is “Embracing the Mystery.”

40 Days of Love - Lent 2009

2009-02-17T07:35:00.001-08:00

“40 Days of Love” - Lent 2009 @ Woodville UMC

February 25th - Ash Wednesday – April 25 @6pm
Passover Seder Meal @7pm

March 1 – First Sunday in Lent

“40 Days of Love” – Sermon Series and Congregation-wide emphasis

Week 1 – The Week of Letter Writing
Week 2 – The Week of Phone Calls
Week 3 – The Week of Love Gifts
Week 4 – The Week of Prayer
Week 5 – The Week of Visits
Week 6 – The Week of Worship

Saturday Mission project – March 14th

Palm Sunday/Confirmation Sunday – April 5th

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Worship in the Chapel @6pm

Easter Egg Hunt for Children – Saturday, April 11th

Easter Sunday Worship with Full Choir Musical @10:50am

Week of February 9 column

2009-02-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

I want to share some news with you regarding our church staff. Our Director of Music Ministries, Matt Moody, has decided to resign in order to spend more time balancing his primary work and his family commitments. Matt and Mindy and their young family continue to be members of our church and we look forward to their continued participation in the life of our church. Matt, as we all know, is extraordinarily talented. His gifts for singing and musical excellence have shined in his leadership of our Hand Bell and Chancel Choirs for the past year. We thank God for Matt’s leadership. I am personally grateful for the friendship that Matt and I share and for the “can do” spirit that he has always demonstrated in his work on the staff. Thank you Matt for your service to Christ through Woodville United Methodist Church.
As with any staff transition, our Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is the group charged with personnel decisions and they will work with me to find a new director of music ministries. Representatives from our choirs will be involved in the process as well. All of you are welcome and invited to give input. We maintain our commitment to excellence in all areas of staff ministry leadership including in our music ministry. Meanwhile both of our choirs will continue to meet and rehearse on Wednesday evenings.
On that musical note, our Children’s Choir had their debut in worship last Sunday and did a great job! Yolanda Griffin is directing the choir with assistance from Judy Brown and Jackie Fultz. What a wonderful blessing our children and their leaders are to the church.
This Sunday I am concluding the sermon series on “Biblical Wisdom for the New Year.” I have really enjoyed this series with you and have learned a great deal about the wisdom books of the Old Testament. I hope you have too. This Sunday I’ll finish in the Book of Job. I will be preaching from excerpts of the dialogue between Job and God. One of the famous lines from Job is that verse that introduces God. After a period of silence, God comes to Job, “out of the whirlwind.” Have you ever had an experience of God that comes out of nowhere like that? Maybe we’ll experience God that way together this Sunday.

Looking for a College for someone you care about?

2009-02-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

I have recently begun a term of service on the Lon Morris College Board of Trustees. Lon Morris is a United Methodist 2 year college in Jacksonville, Texas. I am honored to serve because I attended there and had a great experience that prepared me for further study and gave me continued encouragement and experience for my life in the Methodist ministry.
If you have a child, grandchild or know a young person who is considering college and trying to figure out where to go, I want you to let me know so that I can talk to them about Lon Morris. Lon Morris is a small college that offers great individual attention from high quality teachers; the average class size is 12. When I transferred from Lon Morris to Stephen F. Austin to finish my Bachelor’s Degree, there was no drop off in the quality of teaching from Lon Morris to SFA. I was very well prepared for that university and later for graduate school. Lon Morris offers all of the “real college” experiences - sports, art, dance, theatre, music, student activities, student government, and dorm life. Most importantly they offer continued growth as a Christian disciple. They have a new gifted young chaplain. He leads Christian students and with those students reaches others for Christ through worship, missions and classes in church careers for those who are trying to discern a call to some type of ministry.
I was hooked for Lon Morris when I was in the 6th grade. The youth group from my local church visited Lon Morris on one of their youth campus visit days. We ate in the cafeteria, went to a basketball game, toured around the dorms and got a first impression of “college life” that I never forgot. Since that visit, my family moved to Houston and heard about all other kinds of schools. When it came time for me to decide on where to go to college, I always pictured Lon Morris in my mind. So my parents and I went to Jacksonville, met with folks from the school and worked out a way for me to go there. My parents and my church were a great support.
On Saturday February 28th, Lon Morris is holding a campus visit day. If you have a young person from 6-12th grade in your family or know of someone who might want to go, I will personally take them that day. Feel free to call me at the church office, or email me at revtommywilliams@sbcglobal.net
If a young person is a member of Woodville UMC or another Methodist Church, I as a pastor can write one letter of recommendation a year for a youth in my church and they will be awarded a $2500 scholarship to Lon Morris.
Lon Morris College will not be the school for every young person but it will be for some, maybe someone like me.

I'm back

2009-01-28T09:51:00.000-08:00

If you are still out there friends, I'm back after a long hiatus from blogging. I didn't intend to stay away so long but such is life. I'm going to start posting my weekly newsletter columns here that I write for my church's weekly newsletter. I hope they will provide an easy way for church folks and friends to receive reflections, insights and news from me and the church.
I also hope to review books I'm reading and do some more blogging through sermon series' and church wide studies, so look for those too.
Look for all these soon.

For now, I invite any good ideas for studies and sermon series topics for Lent. I'm praying and narrowing down and always invite additional ideas.

Grace to everyone,
Tommy

Dreams

2008-10-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

What were your childhood dreams? What did you want to do when you "grew up?" I was reminded of this basic question while reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Pausch recently died of pancreatic cancer before he reached 50 years of age. He reflected on these questions in his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon where he taught computer science. The more I thought about these the more I recalled about my own inner life as a child - what I thought about, what I dreamed about, what went through my mind at those formative times in my life. So, here goes...here are some of the childhood dreams I remember entertaining and what I thought I might want to do when I "grew up." What were yours?

1. I wanted to be President of the United States. I thought a lot about how I would get there. I loved history, especially presidential history even at a young elementary age and I concluded that a bunch of presidents were lawyers so I should be a lawyer.
2. I couldn't get all that excited about being a lawyer as a kid so I thought about being an historian since it was closer to what I loved but I didn't understand at age 9 what a historian would actually do (I did get to give tours of the US Capitol as a congressional intern during college, I think that qualifies)
3. I wanted to go to Disney World (I've gotten to visit there three times!)
4. Later as I got interested in sports I think the thought crossed my mind that I could be on TV talking about sports (here in Woodville I got to call a few games on radio!)
5. Preacher. I wanted to sit and talk and drink coffee with people all the time and talk about the church because I heard my favorite pastors do that at our dinner table with my parents. (That's how I'm spending my life now!)

What were your dreams? Do you still think about them? Which ones could you still accomplish?

Knowing Jesus through Mark 15

2008-10-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

At this stage in the Gospel, everything points to the cross. Here in chapter 15, we find Jesus "handed over" by the religious leaders to Pilate, the political authority. I would like to look at this chapter through the lens of the characters. Most chapters of course are filled with the actions of Jesus, his disciples and the masses. Often there is a named someone who has a personal interaction with Jesus. (note - Even though I am calling them characters, I'm not implying they were fictional as in a dramatic play)
Many of the characters we find here are new.

Chief priest, elders and scribes (professional interpreters of the Jewish law and repeatedly Jesus' opponents in Mark)
Pilate - Roman governor, ruling political authority who is portrayed by Mark as a reluctant participant in the trial and execution of Jesus (vs 14) Pilate served in his office from 26-36 AD.
Barrabas - in prison because of his apparent involvement in a rebel insurrection (vs 7) It's not clear which one Mark is referring to because they were many around this time but that detail doesn't seem relevant. He was a criminal who it seems is justifiably incarcerated (as opposed to Jesus).
The crowd - remember its Passover time so the city is full. Were some of the disciples in the crowd?
Soldiers - mock and humiliate Jesus by stripping his clothes, spitting on him and showing outright contempt. The "whole cohort" was a regiment of soldiers of about 200-600 troops. That might be an exaggeration. It doesn't seem like you would need that many for one prisoner but Mark seems to want us to understand the gravity of the situation.
Simon of Cyrene - "passer-by" to help Jesus carry the cross. No doubt journeying to Jerusalem for Passover. Cyrene is in present day Libya.
Bandits - no conversation is found here as in Luke's Gospel between Jesus and the others being crucified on eithe side of him. Again, I think the emphasis is his innocence with others guilt.
Others passing by while Jesus hangs from the cross - religious leaders again - mocking and humiliating Jesus
God - Jesus prays to his Father in the words of Psalm 22:1
Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome - were present it seems along with other women who Mark notes, cared for and traveled with Jesus from Galilee. Although not one of 12 disciples, clearly these women were disciples in the broader sense, as we are. It's impossible to know if Mary mother of James is also Jesus' mother but could be.
Joseph of Aramithea - we don't know which council he was amember of but Mark indicates he was "waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God." He was a "respected member of the council" but Mark still notes that his approaching Pilate for Jesus' body was a "bold" action. He has Jesus entombed with dignity.

What do we learn about Jesus from this chapter?

Knowing Jesus through Mark 13

2008-10-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

It is first important to note with this chapter the probable composition period of Mark's Gospel - mid to late 60's AD.
Therefore what Jesus and his disciples discuss here is to be read in light of the probable cultural context of the 60's AD which I will briefly describe here.
- During the 60's AD, Christians experienced evil and harsh persecutions by the Roman empire, most notably led by the Emperor Nero. Christians were beaten, tortured, and executed. One Roman historian's comments seem to summarize the mindset - Christians are "notoriously depraved" and "are holding on to a deadly superstition."
- The Jews begin an active revolt against the Roman occupiers in 67 AD which lasts until 70AD at which time the temple in Jerusalem is destroyed. It is never rebuilt.
- The Jews are revolting against the Romans, they also turn inward and fight viciously among themselves.
- Jesus warns about the disciples reacting hastily at first (vs.7-8) about all that will happen (Mark here is recalling the words of Jesus that are prophesying what he is currently experiencing in the late 60's AD).
- Jesus soon tells his disciples that at the right time they should leave Jerusalem (vs14-16)
- This passage often invites discussion about the "second coming" of Jesus (see opening comments).

Updated Mark Schedule

2008-10-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Derrick Noble preached with passion and insight on Mark chapters 9-12 during our Revival. It was good to have a fresh voice and varied approach to our study focus. We are now in the "home stretch" of our study. Here is the remaining schedule:
This Sunday morning, October 5th - Mark 13
This Sunday evening - Mark 14
Sunday morning, October 12th - Mark 15
Sunday evening - Mark 16

The series will conclude on October 12th. Check back in on this blog in the next 24 hours and you'll find brief sketches of chapters 13 and 14 to give you a preview of this Sunday.

Knowing Jesus through Mark 7

2008-09-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

*In order to follow these notes, you'll need to be reading the chapter along with it. I pray that after studying this chapter, you may know Jesus better and in a deeper way than before. Amen.
Verses 1-23
- This section is a back and forth exchange involving Jesus, his disciples and some local Pharisees and scribes
- At issue here specifically is ritual cleanliness; but the broader issue is the continued conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities
- As with any conflicts there is the "presenting issue" as psychologists would say; here it is the disciples eating with unwashed hands (vs 2).
Jesus quickly identifies the deeper issue shrewdly by quoting Isaiah, thereby demonstrating his own understanding and intrepretation of the prophet, in front of these guardians of the Hebrew scriptures. "You leave the commandment of God and hold fast to the tradition of men" (vs 8).
- Jesus goes on to teach that the commandments of God, the law, exists to change our hearts and to purify that which "comes out" of us.
- Jesus gives examples (vs 21-22) of the evil things that come out of people
- There is often confusion on what some of these things are, a few words about a few of these -
Coveting - comes from a Latin word that means "to desire another's possessions."
Fornication - voluntary sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage
Foolishness - lacking in sense, judgement or discretion
Licentiousness - means lacking personal discipline usually in the area of sexual relationships
Deceit - the concealing or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading

- Jesus sums up this conversation by saying in verse 23, "all these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."

Verses 24-30
- Jesus tries to continue to operate somewhat in secret (vs 24) as he enters a house in Tyre or Sidon
- He is in Greek territory and Tom Wright suggests that perhaps Jesus is intentionally trying to "lay low" for a while after making the controversial and confrontational interactions with the religious folks. Perhaps this Greek area of Tyre/Sidon a ways up the coast from Galilee, was a place to go under the radar for a bit?
- It's unclear from the text but it seems that Jesus was trying to hide but then makes his way out into the community where he encounters a woman
- Mark makes sure to note that the woman he encounters is Greek, not Jewish
- Jews often thought of Gentiles as "dogs" and Gentiles had unkind names for Jews as well, Tom Wright notes.
- Her response to Jesus' questioning and arguably, his slight, was to say that even dogs (Gentiles) eat crumbs under the tables of the children (Jews, Israelites) - is this a way of saying that even the non-Jew is "hungry" for healing
- Whatever this odd exchange meant, Jesus responds redemptively and removes the demon from daughter of the woman.
- It seems Jesus' encounter with this woman is outside in the open because after their visit, she goes home and finds her possessed daughter well (vs 30).
Verses 31-37
- Jesus goes to the region of the Decapolis - ten Greek cities evangelized by the "man of the tombs" described in chapter 5 verse 20
- Jesus, in private, heals a man who is deaf and dumb (recalling and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 35: 5-6)
- Again, Jesus "charges" them not to tell about it but "the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it (vs 36).

*this last account in Mark 7 reminds me of the 6th verse of the great Charles Wesley hymn, "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
"Hear him ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.

Catching up - Knowing Jesus through Mark 6

2008-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Because of one hurricane scare and one hurricane reality, we are somewhat behind in our church-wide focus on the Gospel of Mark. This Sunday and Monday, September 28-29, Rev Derek Noble will be here. Some time ago, I asked him to preach Mark 9-11 because that's where I planned to be by now. He has prepared those chapters and you don't want to miss those sermons. Thus far, we have made our way through chapter 5 in worship.
So to be faithful to our study, I will briefly sketch chapters 6-8 here on the blog. By exploring 6-8 here, we'll be ready for Derek to jump in Sunday with chapter 9. It's a lot to take in but here goes. I'll do seperate posts for each chapter through this week.
Chapter 6: Verses 1-6
- Jesus goes home. His disciples join him as he teaches in the local synagogue but Jesus is quickly questioned by the locals who knew him in reference to his family. Jesus is clearly disappointed that the locals, many of whom he clearly knows from childhood, belittle his ministry.
- Jesus "marvels" at their unbelief. Disappointed, surprised, who knows exactly what was going through Jesus' mind and heart at this moment but he expected a different reaction from those who have known him all their lives. Many of them were the religiously faithful of the village but in this crucial moment, they did not believe.
Verses 7-13
- Jesus moves on
- He sends the disciples out two by two: Ministry is done in partnership with others
- Note the simplicity that Jesus instructs the disciples to maintain on their journey (in food, clothing and finances etc.)
- No drama (as the popular phrase goes) Jesus tells the disciples to "dust off" rejection and move on - much like Jesus just did in his hometown
- Mark describes the fruit of their journey - preached repentance, they casted out many demons, anointed and healed the sick
Verses 14-29
- Mark describes Herod's fear of Jesus by recalling his treatment of John the Baptist
- in past tense, Herod recalls his arrest and execution of John the Baptist
- He recalls it because people are saying Jesus is John returned or maybe Elijah. Herod's fear grows.
- Foreshadowing of Jesus' death and resurrection in verse 29.
(Read Tom Wright's commentary on this section especially)
Verses 30-44
- After this active ministry (verses 12-13), Jesus calls the disciples to rest in a "lonely place" (RSV)
- They are followed again. Jesus has compassion on the crowds and teaches them "many things."
- Feeding of the 5000: my favorite phrase here is Jesus' retort to the disciples when they tried to send the people away at dinner time - "No, you give them something to eat."
- There was enough food to go around, no there was more than enough!
- 12 baskets full: that number 12 is always significant (12 disciples, 12 tribes of Israel) signifies completeness, restoration, and even abundance
Verses 45-52
- Jesus finally makes it to a quiet place to pray (Jesus shows us that the needs of people and the need to pray are not exclusive of each other. Too many times, many people, most notably pastors, feel like prayer gets pushed off and becomes impossible in the face of human need...Jesus shows us that we are the ones who make prayer a priority, we can always come back to prayer)
- The disciples are in the boat with the "wind against them"
- Jesus walks on the water but Mark notes that he "meant to pass them by" !! Which begs the question - where was he going?! Bishop Will Willimon says that it indicates that maybe Jesus is up to more in the world than just the concerns of the church (disciples in the boat)! Jesus is about saving the whole world!
- "They did not learn the lesson of the loaves" Interesting to see Mark connect this last story with the loaves story - so do we miss the lesson of the loaves? So what is the lesson of the loaves?
Verses 53-56
- It's day time, Jesus and the disciples come ashore and are immediately bombarded again with human needs
- "Touching the fringe of his (Jesus') garment" and being healed reemerges (recall Mark 5: 27-29). Power goes out from Jesus' person

*Please read about chapter 6 in Tom Wright's Mark for Everyone. If you don't have a copy, attend a Sunday school class this Sunday and borrow one or order one from www.amazon.com

Back on Track

2008-09-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Two weeks and a hurricane later, I'm writing again. Hurricane Ike destroyed, damaged and disrupted many. Last Sunday in worship, with no electrical power we gathered and worshipped God for seeing us through it, caring for us and just being God through it all.
It was Sunday, September 21st when we jumped back in to our study of Mark. We explored chapter 5.
This week I will blog highlights and study for chapter 6 and then on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Monday night September 28-29th we welcome Dr. Derrick Noble to be our Revival Preacher as he carries us into Mark 9-11. Derrick is founding pastor of Impact UMC in Pt Arthur which is set to launch in early 2009. Before moving to Pt Arthur, he served the Abundant Life UMC in Lufkin, where that church experienced dramatic growth in worship and in the making of new disciples of Jesus. If you are a Woodville UMC member and participated in the home small group study on the 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations book, Derrick and Abundant Life Church were featured in the DVD section on Passionate Worship. Derrick is a gifted preacher, teacher and overall spiritual guide. I'm looking forward personally to hearing him preach and coming to know Jesus in a deeper way through Revival 2008.

Knowing Jesus through Mark 4

2008-08-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

Well, with evacuation confusion during the hurricane scare, we will pick back up this week in Mark chapter 4 and cover it this Sunday, September 7th. Come get back in worship and study gear.
A highlight reel of Mark 4 -
- Mark 4 is a chapter of parables. Parables are often misunderstood. Many times they are seen simply as allegories, moral lessons, or ethical teachings. When described in this way, parables become lessons about life rather than stories about God. They are very particularly, stories about the kingdom of God. Jesus uses everyday items to use as comparisons for kingdom understanding.
- Jesus leaves hanging in the air, a very mysterious quality about these parables. "With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything" (verses 33-34).
- Finally in chapter 4, Mark's version is given for the evening at sea on the boat with Jesus and the disciples. "A great wind arose and the waves beat into the boat." Jesus is peacefully sleeping below when he is awakened by the scared disciples. He soon calms the sea, saves them and challenges their faith.
- For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus demonstrates power over the forces of nature and the people are amazed and begin to see that Jesus is more than a teacher of morals.

Knowing Jesus through Mark Chapter 3

2008-08-20T13:23:00.001-07:00

This week in Sunday school and worship we are seeking to know Jesus through Mark Chapter 3. As with each chapter there are sub-sections here. However we have to be careful not to read them in isolation from each other. Even as I break these sections down, try to look for the places of continuity between stories and points of connection between themes that emerge from story to story and chapter to chapter. For each section I'll offer tidbits that I hope will wet your appetite for study and for worship this Sunday.
Verses 1-6: Jesus heals a man with the "withered" hand. It takes place in the temple on the sabbath day in front of people, including the Pharisees.
- The ministry of Jesus clashes again with the religious authorities over the meaning of the Sabbath. We saw this in chapter 2.
- On Sunday we'll dive deeper into the meaning of "Sabbath" for Jesus era Jews and the ways Christians have "converted" as well as distorted it.
- Jesus "restores" the man with the withered hand. The original Greek word here is apokathistemi, which simply means for something to be returned to its original intent and purpose. Mark's use of "restoration" foreshadows for later in chapter 3 as well as the rest of the gospel, where restoration themes abound (verses 7-19 - see notes below)
Verses 7-19: Large Crowds are following Jesus
- Word is surely spreading that Jesus is healing people so one can imagine the abundant demand for Jesus' power. Jesus retreats in order, it seems, to call, recruit and empower disciples who he calls apostles also (apostolos, meaning messenger) to do three things:
1- to be with him
2- to proclaim the message
3- to cast out demons
Jesus authorizes and commissions trusted apostles to go in his name and do ministry. The authorizing of persons for ministries of various kinds in the life of the church is rooted well Biblically and this is a prime example. Jesus clearly wants to meet the needs of the people and perhaps? he is physically limited in doing that. After-all, he can only be in one place at one time.
- Restoration. In choosing the twelve disciples Jesus makes what must have been an obvious connection to his hearers. He is signaling the restoration of the people Israel rooted in the historical lineage of the twelve tribes of Jacob. Because 10 of those tribes had been conquered and carried away by the Assyrians 700 years before, the Israelites were waiting for a restoration of everything. Through this commissioning of the 12 apostles, Tom Wright notes that Jesus was signaling that "this was more than a great healing mission."
Verses 20-30: Jesus and Beelzebul
- Jesus' family is wondering about Jesus' sanity (verse 21) because of his healing work and what he is saying.
- The authorities, not even his family understand what Jesus is about. Because they don't understand, they revert to a caustic label. Beelzebul was an "arch-demon" as Wright describes it. We'll talk more Sunday about the reasons we label and the dangers of doing it
- Jesus is angry. We are used to thinking that the temple cleansing episode is the only place where Jesus gets angry in the Gospels...not true, we see that he gets angry here. Jesus is serious about the work of the Holy Spirit.
- We have to be extremely careful not to discount work that we may not understand but might be the work of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 31-35: Jesus' Family
- Again, Jesus' family tries to get Jesus to come outside.
- Wright wants us to understand how shocking the words are that Jesus speaks about his relatives. In the modern West, we are used to distance between family members. Even if we don't like it, we know that jobs, school and relationships take people far away from home sometimes. In Jesus' day there was rarely such mobility and the interdependence on one's family was strong. To ask, "who is my mother and who are my brothers?" would have been shocking to the hearers.
- Jesus calls for first loyalty among those who "do God's will." These are family.
Therefore our loyalty and devotion to our biological families becomes an outgrowth of our first loyalty to God and the family of faith.

*Wright says and I agree that Mark calls his readers to "stick with Jesus, whatever the cost."

Knowing Jesus through Mark Chapter 2

2008-08-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

This week we move to chapter 2 of Mark's Gospel. It opens with the occasion of Jesus' preaching and teaching "at home" (verses 1-12). Tom Wright notes in his commentary, Mark for Everyone, that there is a strong possibility that this home might have literally been Jesus' home. He notes that Jesus had moved to Capernaum from Nazareth. After preaching and teaching in surrounding villages (1:38) Jesus came home to Capernaum. Much like a famous athlete or rock star, the Jesus paparazzi was crowding in.
Here are key elements and questions for verses 1-12.
- Jesus' first confrontation with the Pharisees and religious authorities in Mark. There are a string of these in chapter 2, beginning in verse 6 during the story of the healing of the paralytic. This time it seems subtle. The scripture says, they were "questioning in their hearts..." about Jesus' authority to forgive sins after his forgiveness of the paralytic man who has been lowered through his roof. (Wright jokes that maybe Jesus is forgiving him for cutting through the roof of his home). Jesus perceives that there are questions in the crowd and he addresses those in verses 8-12.
- Jesus' first issuance of forgiveness in Mark
- Jesus responds to an interruption when the paralyzed man is lowered into the room - come on Sunday, this will be a key question for us during the sermon.
Key elements and questions for verses 13-17
- Jesus continues calling disciples to follow, this time its Levi, a tax collector. Chapter 1 its fishermen, chapter 2 its a tax collector. In both cases, the scripture takes note of the family heritage in the business they are leaving. In chapter 1, verse 20, it notes that James and John are leaving their father Zebedee in the family business to follow Jesus. Here in Chapter 2, it is Levi, son of Alphaeus. Jesus finds them in the tax booth.
- Jesus eats dinner with Levi and other sinners in Levi's home. Jesus responds to the criticism of the scribes by saying essentially that he will be found with those who need him most. Note also that he is on their turf, in Levi's home.
- A key question on Sunday is discerning where we might find Jesus if we looked for him in our community.
Key elements and questions for Verses 18-28
- The confrontations with the religious authorities continues...here it is out loud and about the Jewish laws related to fasting and the sabbath
- Jesus uses common everyday examples to teach. Verses 21-22 use old wineskins and new wineskins. Tom Wright replaces that with bottles in order to illustrate the obvious - "new wine in old bottles will result in broken bottles and wasted wine." Wright goes on to say that "what Jesus is doing can't be fitted in to the existing ways of thinking and living."
*The following is a link to an article written after a powerful sermon given on Mark 2: 1-12 by Rev. Peter Storey. He was the main preacher at the 2008 gathering of the Texas Annual Conference meeting in the Woodlands last May. It has some of his stirring reflections on this passage and what it might mean for churches. Don't be surprised if I quote some of it Sunday!
http://www.txcumc.org/news_detail.asp?pkvalue=627

I invite your thoughts on Mark 2. Scroll up to the top here and click on "comments." Check out a Sunday school class for further study also.

Detour - Book Review

2008-08-12T12:48:00.001-07:00

For all the Woodville UMC readers out there, I'm going to take a quick detour here from the Mark study to mention a few things about a book I just finished reading. Legacy of Ashes: The Secret History of the CIA is a thrilling, frightening, sobering book. This 514 page volume is a chronicle of the CIA from its inception just after the conclusion of World War II, through the Cold War to 9/11 and ending at the reorganization of national intelligence services in 2004-2005. This book won the Pulitzer Prize and its easy to see why. The scope of his sources is amazing, yes because of who they are (all the living former directors, including fmr. President Bush, scores of assistant directors and field agents) but more amazing because they are all "on the record." He has not a single anonymous source cited in this book. They are all on the record interviews and open archival records released under the US Freedom of Information Act or records that were set to be released in a certain year anyway. A couple of observations:
1- Democracy as we know it in the US is a precious and messy thing. The CIA's mission is essentially to gather and analyze information for use to protect the US and its interests. Under this mission, the CIA has engaged in activities and support of activities that are inspiring in many cases, daring to be sure, and illegal and immoral in others. Many of these directors admit all of this on the record in this book and given some of the events described and verified in the book, I agree.
2- There is lots of gray in the world. Attempts to paint a black and white picture of American moral superiority and the "others" as morally inferior is uninformed, arrogant and sinful. Leaders around the world including our own of every political and ideological stripe, are mixed bags. They make hard, life impacting decisions no doubt. The same leader will at times be quite courageous and in another instance cowardly. In one instance make decisions driven by the morality one would hope for and in another instance authorize some of the most heinous behavior one could think of.
In short, they are like any of us - we are a mix. The major mistake we can make is be either completely cynical about our country and its leaders or in complete denial about our own fallibility.
The book was a real page turner but there were lots of pages to turn. I look forward to reading something shorter next.

Intro to Knowing Jesus through Mark

2008-08-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

We are embarking on a journey through Mark starting this Sunday. Each week I'll post here some background material on the chapter we are covering in worship the coming Sunday. Three of our adult Sunday school classes and our youth classes are covering this study too. Our prime resource is Mark for Everyone by N.T. (Tom Wright). Our goal here is to know Jesus through Mark.
Snapshot introduction to Mark:
1. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel recorded. It is dated between the years 64-68 AD. There are indications within Mark (13:5-23) that date it to the time of The Roman Emperor Nero's intense persecution of Christians which happened about 64 AD. The Jews revolted against Rome (their occupying authority) between 67-70. The revolt was put down and the temple in Jerusalem destroyed. In Mark Jesus emphasizes a great deal the hardship of the disciples. It would make sense given these historical occurences.
2. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was a source for Matthew and Luke. I encourage you to draw some of those parallels in your own study.
3. Mark does not contain the birth story of Jesus. Therefore, there is no incarnation, virgin birth here. It also does not contain the experience in the temple at age 12 recorded in other Gospels.
4. Mark begins with John the Baptist and the prophecy of Isaiah that announces the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist plays a critical role here by proclaiming this "good news." He begins with baptism and the need for repentance of sin. He proclaims the good news of the forgiveness of God.
5. John the Baptist points the way to Jesus "who is more powerful than I..." John has been baptizing with water but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit
The following is a brief outline of Chapter 1 - we will walk our way through these on Sunday August 10th -
Verses 1-8: The Proclamation of John the Baptist
Verses 9-11: The Baptism of Jesus
Verses 12-13: The Temptation of Jesus
Verses 14-20: Beginning of Jesus' ministry and calling the first disciples
Verses 21-45: Exorcisms, Healings and Preaching

I sense great urgency with the Gospel of Mark. This is a Jesus who moves and calls and heals. This is a Jesus whose power marvels and whose life changes the lives of others.

*Next week we'll break down Chapter 2 a little more specifically than I have chapter 1. I wanted first to share some background on Mark's Gospel as a whole.
*Attend Sunday school to learn more and come to worship this Sunday

Coming Soon...study on the Gospel of Mark

2008-07-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

The First – Knowing Jesus through the Gospel of Mark

Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel recorded on paper, probably between the years 64 and 68 AD. It was likely used as a source by the writers of Matthew and Luke. Mark therefore contains the earliest written recording of Jesus’ life and ministry.
For 10 weeks, Woodville United Methodist Church is going to focus on knowing Jesus through the Gospel of Mark. Through sermons and through study during the Sunday school hour, from adults through youth, we will seek to grow in our knowledge of this Gospel. We trust that God will use this dynamic time to strengthen our knowledge of and love for Jesus and increase our confidence to share the story of Jesus with others.
During Sunday morning worship, I'll be preaching our way through Mark. Each Adult and Youth Sunday school class will focus on the Gospel of Mark. Our prime resource will be Mark for Everyone, by Tom Wright. In this blog space, I will post each week an outline of my study in preparation for the following Sunday's sermon. I invite and welcome your comments.
Let’s start the journey together! Beginning Sunday, August 10 – (I'll post the first entry the week leading up to the 1oth)

Leadership 2

2008-07-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

After the completion of our pastor/church exchange in England, we traveled to London and spent 5 days there. 3 of those days we spent racing around London seeing everything we could. For three of those nights we had the privledge of staying with a family in Sussex, which is about 45 minutes south of London by train. They are relatives of Woodville church members. Russ is an executive with American Express International. They are about to move to New Jersey/New York but have lived in Sussex for 3 years. Russ and I shared some wonderful conversations about leadership. He has been an active lay person in his local church at various times. Russ leads a team at AEI. In London he has basically been team leader for a European division and by virtue of his move to New York is becoming the global leader of that division. He is about 40 years old. Clearly he is a talented leader who they recruited and fast tracked into leadership. They regularly send him to leadership trainings and expose him to continuing education.
Our conversation was so helpful. Let me summarize some main points of it for you here.
1- Good Leaders are nimble. Russ' experience as a team leader has taught him that different members of the team need different things from you as a leader. One single leadership style is problematic. Many of us tend to fall into a natural style, for example; some are hands-on, some are hands-off. Some leaders involve themselves in the nitty gritty details and some are total big picture leaders. Some coach and stay close to their team members and some give them distance. Russ' counsel was to know your team members and what they need from you as a leader for success to happen. Some will need hands-on and others need some distance in order to work well. Good leaders discern the differences between their team members and are able to lead team members according to what they uniquely need to be successful.
2- Good leaders communicate expectations clearly. AEI has a master plan and an ongoing evaluation process in place. In the church, things often change dramatically when a pastoral change occurs. Some of this is to be expected but Russ said that evaluation of staff should be consistent throughout changes. Example: Staff at any church should expect to have a mid-year and end of year evaluation. In between these evaluations should be ongoing check-ins with staff.
3- Good leaders establish openness early and model it consistently. Regular conversations and the formal evaluations are virtually the same every time in terms of the questions asked. Ie. "What went well? What needs to be improved? Did you meet goals? Are you (team member) getting what you need from me (team leader)? Here's what I (leader) need from you (team member)."

*Thanks to Russ for this great conversation

Leadership

2008-07-23T14:53:00.001-07:00

It has been several days since I blogged last. I have returned from a Jurisdictional conference of the United Methodist Church where we elect bishops, leaders for the church. I had the opportunity to serve as a reserve delegate and as it turned out was able to vote for about half the ballots taken as one of our clergy had to leave early and I got to take his spot permanently.
The subject of leadership is one I have been challenged to think a lot about lately. My observation of and participation in the Jurisdictional Conference was eye-opening. Several observations -
1- Different generations have dominant leadership tendencies. Post WW II, Boomers, Xers and Millenials each have distinctively different styles of leadership and expectations of leadership. Most of us (including this Xer - me) are a hybrid. However, I observed some interesting generational differences. I'll try to hash these out in a later post as soon as I can articulate them well.
2- Leadership is not assured by an election or a title, it is given by those who would follow. A person may hold the title or have the powers to lead a group or organization but the extent of their influence, impact and effectiveness is solely dependent upon their ability to build trust, relationships and cast a vision. In terms of pastoral leadership, it is again given...but given by God through the church. So as it relates to bishops - we don't yet know if these new ones will truly be episcopal leaders. We'll see signs as they serve in this new role.
3- Leaders lead. The popular quote I have heard lately is "leaders are not managers, they are leaders." Management wreaks of status quo and maintenance. Leaders lead people to new horizons with vision. One caveat - sometimes the day to day work of a leader will feel like management but if a leader can cast those more mundance items in the light of the horizon a team is trying to reach, then the leader is leading not managing. In a church like ours, the challenge is understanding how to be a leader in a role that traditionally expects management.
4- I am most concerned with spiritual leadership. Spiritual leadership is most occupied with the movement of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leadership frames every conversation and decision in the language of faith. If a spiritual leader continually calls folks to the things of God - wisdom, understanding, discernment - then folks will be more apt to think in those spiritual terms. If leaders revert to secular language, folks are more apt to think in those terms.
The task for bishops, pastors and lay leaders is there.

Young Adult Focus 3

2008-07-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

I would like to offer three insights related to young adult lay leadership in the church as I have gleaned them from my British and American experiences and conversations thus far in ministry. The second and third are more pragmatic in nature:
1- Listen to their hopes and dreams, and struggles (not in a manufactured kind of way but in the course of relating with them in daily life) Listening actively is the best way to learn about their love for Christ and His church and for discerning the heart and gifts of a person.
2- Accelerate the pace of young adult's moving into lay leadership roles in the church. The church doesn't have time to spare, thinking that young adults can "pay their dues." If they have the gifts and graces for leadership roles - pledge to support, train and equip and then give them leadership roles now.
3- Don't give young adults jobs/offices in the church that have no specific responsibilities. Generation Xers and Millenials (people generally 40 and under) get frustrated quickly when they are given a role with unclear expectations. Example: don't make them an at-large member of the Church Council unless you can assign a task to them. The responsibility of an at-large member is typically to just show up to a meeting - might be the quickest way to bore a young adult.

*Main lesson is for the church to not be afraid. It has been my experience that in every congregation there are church veterans that are ready to pass the reins of leadership to a younger person and to begin to serve the role of mentor and encourager. There are healthy people in nearly every congregation that will do this if given permission. Find those folks and lift them up.

Something fun and interesting

2008-07-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

At the end of his show, "Inside the Actors Studio" host James Lipton asks a series of quick questions for quick response by his guests. They are fun and can be very insightful. For an icebreaker before small groups or Bible studies, I have often used a modified version (seen below) to help a group of people get to know each other. So, I'm inviting you now to respond with the first thing that comes to mind. Post your responses, I'll post mine.

What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
What turns you off?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you not like?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Home

2008-07-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

My family and I are back home in Woodville after our adventure across the pond. We had an amazing, unforgettable experience. While we take time to get used to the time change and all, we are definitely feeling some culture shock. It may sound strange after being in a country where language is not the challenge but we are definitely aware that life is different in some ways here than it is in England.
We discovered most of all that people are people and that human beings share the same hopes and dreams and struggles no matter where we live. However it is a different country. The role of the government, the status of healthcare, the work of law enforcement just to name a few are different. As I have reflected on here throughout - the churches have many similar struggles but different starting places for their tasks.
We haven't quite put our fingers on everything but we know we have met and lived with another slice of God's world. It makes us all the more mindful that God created a big world and He is continually creating. At the same time, God loves you and me very personally. It boggles the mind and delights the heart.
We are excited to be home and thankful for the experience we just had. I'm looking forward to keeping this blogging conversation going. I'm hopeful that those of you in the UK and the US will continue to read so that the exchange will continue and we will learn from each other. As always, pass along the link to others so that our sharing can be broad and deep.

London

2008-07-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'll continue to write more on the young adult ministry focus but for now take a detour again to describe our current travels. The official exchange has concluded and we are now in London staying with relatives of a church member from Woodville. We spent Thursday in London. St Paul's Cathedral was bigger than I ever imagined and breathtaking. We climbed to the top via stairs and looked out on London from a terrace/balcony. We spent about 3 hours altogether there. We also witnessed the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. My favorite part was the procession of the royal band into the courtyard of the palace. Hearing those brass instruments and drums play as they marched up the street and into that courtyard was awesome. It made me remember my days in the marching band and rekindle an interest in seeing some marching bands perform back home. Whether military bands like this one or good ole college marching bands (like the one I was a part of at SFA) they're all exhilarating. Fall is coming and that means football season back home. I hope to catch a college game this Fall and see a good university band at half-time.
We spent an all too brief time at the British Museum Thursday to close out our day. The artifacts are basically the result of the "spoils of war." The Brits have all this stuff because they conquered those who possessed them. Anyway, we saw the Rosetta Stone, mummies, greco-roman artifacts, and much much more.
Today is Friday July 4th and we have spent it with our host family. They are Americans, so we will celebrate Independence Day together. They've bought watermelons!
We also enjoyed some traveling around the British countryside today in Sussex where they live, with a hop over to Brighton. We stepped on to the beach on the banks of the English channel and toured a palace that King George IV had built while he was prince.
I'm sure we'll be home before I'm able to post pictures here but will do when I get the opportunity. We've got two more days in London before heading home.

Young Adult Focus 2

2008-06-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

There was a study released released recently in the U.S. of United Methodist lay and clergy. One of the questions was something like - would you like to see more young adults in your church, and the result was of course over 90% Yes! A follow-up question was asked - are you willing to make some changes necessary in your congregation to attract them? 40ish% answered yes. There is obviously a disconnect between our desire and our will in this area.

There is so much to say here that I'll reflect on this in several posts in order to make easier the conversation. I really hope this conversation can help my friends in the British and American churches come to grips with the most challenging and exciting issue facing the church today.
Young people and all people need to know Jesus, love God and have the joy of serving God in the world.

I have the privileging of serving on the Texas Conference delegation to Jurisdictional Conference in July 08 where we will elect bishops. This last Spring we have interviewed candidates for bishop on of whom was a man named Steve Rankin. Steve is a chaplain at a Methodist college in Kansas. He works with young adults all the time. When asked by our delegation, how do we bring young adults into the church, he replied, "well, first we don't start by bringing young adults into the church." We didn't know what to think of that but he quickly went on to say that young adults are looking for authentic relationships and Christian church folk must first engage young people right where they are. We must talk about what life is all about, what is important to them, get to know them at a personal level. Tell them about Jesus and where we came to learn more about him, what a difference he makes in our lives and what a difference he makes in the world. The key is and always has been - Relationships, relationships, relationships. We must pray and work at having real authentic relationships with people and not just within the walls of the church but anywhere people are. This is what our God did in Jesus - He sought relationship with us so intensely that he sent Jesus, Himself incarnate in the world so as to connect even closer with people. What we need to do as the church is essentially the incarnational ministry of Christ in this age.

Young Adult Focus

2008-06-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Last Monday night, I gathered with three young adults (three adults 40 or younger) to discuss life, faith and church. I asked questions, tried to listen to their responses and followed up with other questions where appropriate. It was a fascinating discussion.

In short, these are some of the questions asked and responses given - all of them offer important insight that I find helpful in my ministry and I hope you, whether you be lay or clergy, find helpful in yours.

- Question: How important is the physical worship space or the church building to your worship experience? All three quickly responded that it was not important at all. Although two then commented that if someone were to come in one day and remove the pews from the sanctuary of their church and change the environment, they would "defend" it.

One "emerging" worship experience was cited as an example of a worship service that "could have been held out in a field and it would have been just as powerful."

- Question: How important is the style of worship to your being a part of a particular church? If the people and the sense of community are positive experiences, this often trumps a style of worship that might not be their first choice.

- A conversation took place around the places and times where they most experience "God-moments." Retreats; worship experiences that allow for testimonies and personal sharing; music that appeals to the heart conveys a powerful sense of God's presence. "God-moments" happen when people can be real, vulnerable, share struggles and know the struggles of others.

- Question: What does the phrase "calling to ministry" mean to you? In terms of ordained ministry, most responses were that they didn't have much of a reflection on someone becoming a minister because no one they knew as a youth went into ordained ministry. However two of them knew someone who went in later as a second career. They share the same challenge the American church has - recruiting young pastors.

A Night at the Orchestra

2008-06-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

Bethany and I love orchestra concerts. As grace would have it, we were invited for dinner one night a few weeks ago here in England, to the home of a young couple in the Whitefield Church. The Fischers also invited a young couple that live across from them. Tom and Jenny live there with their two young children. Tom is a professional musician and plays in the Halle Orchestra, the premiere symphony orchestra in Manchester and one of the top in all of England. Tom plays the french horn. A few days after our dinner, he graciously made arrangements for us to attend a concert with the Fischers. My parents were here at that time so they kept Addie and enjoyed time with her while we spent the night at the orchestra. It was wonderful. The music for that night was of all things, the music of Frank Sinatra. The orchestra played (strings, winds, brass and percussion) and a guest soloist sang the tunes of these famous songs. I have to say it was really cool to hear "New York, New York" sung by this soloist and this orchestra in England! They were terrific. The orchestra is one of the best I've ever heard and the singer totally hit the mark on Sinatra. It's funny that when people sing, you can't discern an accent. I've noticed it at church and at this concert. Maybe they can hear mine but I can't hear a British accent when they are singing. Maybe that confirms the saying that "music is the universal language."

Circuit Praise

2008-06-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

Wow! I had the opportunity to preach at the twice monthly Sunday evening worship Circuit Praise. It rotates churches and last night was at Heaton Park Methodist Church. I felt like I was experiencing Pentecost. Our worship leader (a candidate for ministry here) led us powerfully. It was truly a Spirit-led service in that the band was prepared to play certain songs and there was to be a sermon time but in and through it the worship leader guided according to the movement of the Spirit. Between songs, someone from the congregation would spontaneously recite a psalm. Another would stand and speak as he or she felt led. I preached from John 2, Jesus' cleansing from the temple. It became a "family chat" among Methodist Christians as we talked about the state of the church and the urgency of the moment. I feel that perhaps Jesus' anger should be our own - maybe we need to get righteously upset about the declining state of the church and do like Jesus and intervene. Jesus in this passage both cared for and showed respect for the temple and the common people who were being blocked from accessing it, but simultaneously he reminded us that God is not first about the temple, for that could be torn down and raised up again in 3 days - most importantly, Jesus is the temple of God. It is about Jesus.
So, we went into a time of prayer, action prayer - how can we be interventionists at a time of crisis for the church? How do we keep the focus of our ministry about Jesus first and not about our church buildings?
People prayed about what God was calling them to do specifically. Teaching, praying, unlocking the doors, giving generously, communicating to the community what the church is all about, being in relationship with young adults. People offered themselves, and we sang more and more. The service all together lasted over 2 hours. People lingered and talked and shared. We talked about ministry and where to go from here. The entire time felt like Pentecost revival. We covenanted to pray for our churches, British and American and for the need for revival in our churches and our commitment to be active parts of that revival.
I met some wonderful people and felt like God did something great in and among us Sunday night. I will continue to pray about this revival.

Travels and Highlights

2008-06-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

This past week we traveled with my parents to the Lakes area in Northwest England. We didn't stay long on this trip but we are going back this week with Bethany's parents. We did see Windermure Lake, one of the main attractions and ate at a small cafe there. It was raining on us that day. The lake was beautiful. It sits in the valley between high hills.
After dinner at the cafe, we traveled on to Carlisle, England and stayed in a bed and breakfast there owned and operated by the parents of one of our young Whitefield members. Carlisle is an historic town that was the northern border of the Roman Empire at its height of imperial expansion. In fact, a wall was constructed across the town to keep out northern invaders - who I guess would be the Scots, the Norweigans and other Scandinavians. The next day we went to Edinburgh, Scotland and toured the Castle and walked part of the Royal Mile. The castle was amazing. In that fortress was a chapel built in the 1100's.
This grand castle is built high up on a rock hill and the city has grown around it. I stood looking at this monstrous construction trying to imagine how they built it without the modern machinery we use.
We spent one night in Edinburgh. On the second and last day we saw the palace of Holyrood, where Mary Queen of Scots lived and where to Royal family still comes to vacation. Adjoining the palace are the ruins of an abbey where Roman Catholic monks lived many centuries ago. This was one of Bethany's favorite spaces. Finally we saw the University of Edinburg. I wanted to see it because one of my favorite professors at Lon Morris College was Scottish and received all her degrees through her PhD there. Madeleine Ross is her name.
There is much much more to share about this trips and many pictures. I will try to post some pictures here as soon as I figure out how to do that. Bethany's parents visit this week and we are going back to the Lakes area and to Edinburgh to see more of these places.

Cultural Contexts for Evangelism

2008-06-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Some thoughts are beginning to crystalize in my mind as to the starting place for evangelism in various cultural contexts. For a local church seeking to reach out and connect people to Christ through the church, that church must pray and assess the cultural norms and realities around it. I am starting to get a glimpse of the cultural starting places here in England which has therefore helped me to better understand the cultural starting place in Woodville, Texas when it comes to God, faith and church. By the way, my purpose in blogging thoughts like this, is to discipline myself first to reflect on this things and second to enter into a conversation with you that will sharpen my reflections, give you an opportunity to bounce back your own thoughts or push back on some of mine. Any and all comments are welcome.

In Woodville, it seems that the cultural starting place (among those not in the church)when it comes to faith is that faith is a good thing, the expected thing, the cultural norm. If a poll was taken, my guess is, most folks would profess a basic belief in the existence and power of God, generally speaking. Further, I think most folks would acknowledge a belief in Jesus (what they believe about him would no doubt vary). Even beyond that most folks would lay claim to a denominational loyalty (ie. I'm a Baptist, Methodist or Catholic...) Many would be on the membership role of a church (not often active members however).

With this cultural reality people don't need to be convinced about the existence of God, the power of God, or the importance of the work of the church. The challenge this cultural reality produces though is communicating to people that a professed faith in God and membership on a church roll doesn't constitute real discipleship. The challenge for evangelism is to convey the truth that a real, true, living, faith has to be lived out actively in community and our faith must shape how we spend our lives.

I am beginning to understand that the cultural context for evangelism in at least where we are in England starts in a different place. For a church here to connect with new people and bring them to Christ through the church, I think the church has to start by talking about why we need God to begin with. That a person you pass by on the street is a person of Christian faith is not a basic assumption here. It does not seem to carry with it any social favor (faith as a favorable social status indicator is not necessarily a good thing). So, I think with evangelism, its not a matter of savy advertising or mass mailers about Vacation Bible School. Evangelism has to first address the questions - why do we need God, what difference does it make, what is the church all about? The challenge of evangelism in England perhaps is to be in conversation about these questions, talk about radical commitment to Jesus and making a difference in the world for God.

Of course neither of these cultural realities are better or easier than the other, both require prayer, discernment and creativity. Bottom line is that deep evangelism seeks to address the core challenges in both of these contexts. We always need to testify to the need for God, whatever our context and we always need to call people to live out their faith in community.
We are living in a rapidly changing, dynamic, and interconnected world and our own commitment to Christ and community calls all of us to wrestle with all of these realities for ourselves.

The Methodist Church in the UK and the Church of England have joined together in an effort to think creatively about ways to "be and do church." Check out this link to find out more

www.freshexpressions.org.uk/

Send Urban/Rural Missionaries

2008-06-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

As I experience the ministry here in this urban setting and reflect on some of the realities back home in the US, I am wondering if Methodism's belief in "sent" ministry may need to take on new form in some places. We do believe according to The Great Commission of Jesus that disciples are sent out to be in ministry, "go...make disciples of all nations." John Wesley modeled sent ministry in the early Methodist societies, the early American Methodist circuit preachers lived this by being sent by superitendents and bishops to go and preach from community to community. Now, in a very different socio-cultural context we continue this belief in "sent" ministry through modern day appointment making.
There are many debates brewing about the usefulness, sensibility, relevancy or effectiveness of itinerant ministry in today's context. I don't want to cover the landscape of those arguments here but only to suggest one...urban/rural missionary.
In many of our urban contexts, American, British or South American (the only places I've traveled), the cities are an urban jungle sprawl of secular busyness. I'm afraid that the institutional church on some of our street corners have become simply a piece of the landscape of our cities. While in some places, churches continue to be relevant, engaged, and very much a staple presence in that community - many, many more are not. In many of these cities, what I think would be much more appropriate and I think more fruitful would be the sending of missionaries to these cities. They would meet in homes, coffee shops and other places, sharing the Methodist expression of the Gospel, meeting people where they are with the grace of Jesus, witnessing, sharing and forming faith communities that transform lives by the Holy Spirit.
This sharing and witnessing can happen with the church on the corner, don't get me wrong, but right now in many of our cities, our churches have so much to overcome and impactful ministry is very very challenging in their situations as they are. For bishops and superitendents to send seminary trained, ordained persons with a missionary's mindset rather than a local church pastor or chaplain mindset, might change the face of the Methodist movement in a positive way, in a short amount of time. Many times all it takes is a mature, gifted and graced leader who is willing to be sent. With a leader like this and God, anything can happen.
I know there is much to think through with this kind of approach but sending out missionaries to our urban (and rural) outposts could advance the kingdom of God in a radical life-changing way. We can afford to try radically different approaches. The relevancy of our church, some argue, our very survival as a movement, depend on it.
In Houston, a Superitendent of the Church, Jim Welch secured through the UM General Board of Global Ministries, a Vietnamese missionary from Vietnam to come to Houston and be a missionary to the Vietnamese community in Houston. He is literally an urban missionary in Houston. In his case, he came from Vietnam to be a missonary here. We may need to do more of this and as I am suggesting, send us to be missionaries to folks who are right next door.

Similarities and Differences in our Church Organization

2008-06-13T04:46:00.001-07:00

While spending this time in England among British Methodism, I'm learning a lot about their leadership structure at the local church, the circuit and district levels. The British Methodist Church is a different entity than the United Methodist Church.
I have now attended a Church Council meeting and a meeting of "local preachers" on the circuit. The Church Council functions in similar ways as ours in giving oversight for the church's ministry. The way it carries out this function probably varies a bit from congregation to congregation and in that we would find some of the more concrete difference with UM Churches.
For example, the pastor or superitendent chairs the Church Council meetings and has a vote on the council, as well as other committees I think. In the UMC, the pastor has voice but no vote on any committee except the Lay Leadership Committee, one he/she chairs. This is the only committee the pastor chairs in the UMC. The chairs are all lay people.
The local preachers I mentioned earlier are lay persons who have gone through a quite rigorous 5 year program and a period of supervision to prepare them to preach in the churches of their circuit. The circuit I'm serving within has 8 churches, with three full time ordained ministers. So, these local preachers are used every month to preach at the services when the ordained pastor is elsewhere. These people are highly capable. One of the questions that arose in the meeting is the challenge of continuity for the churches. How do the individual congregations and especially new people know what to expect when coming to worship and how do they build a relationship with the preacher? That being said, the use of the lectionary is seen as a unifying element for worship and again, the local preachers are well-trained and well-utilized.
Anyway, I have shared a little about the American models of a local pastor and lay speaker with them. These local preachers are sort of in between these two in terms of responsibility and authority. We are trying to share some of our similarities and differences here so that this exchange can truly be an exchange - of ideas, of experiences etc. Woodville is also learning from Derek in the same way I know. I pray that all of this sharing will be seed planting that bears the fruit of new approaches for all our churches.

Dialogue on Ministry

2008-06-10T01:54:00.000-07:00

I want to open up a conversation with blog visitors about 21st century ministry. If you will take a look at my reading list for while I'm here, you'll notice that I'm reading "UnChristian." It is based on a broad survey and study of young adults 18-29, related to their perspectives of the Christian faith and the church. Some of the responses to the survey are predictable, I've read them elsewhere and heard them in conversation but some of the responses are somewhat surprising. I'll share some of them later because I don't want to prejudice the conversation I am inviting here.
I am in the process of scheduling some gatherings in the two churches I'm serving here in England this month. Those gatherings are with church folks and particularly people under 40. I am hoping for them to be round-robin discussions on Bible, theology, faith and the church's ministry. I am sure I'll learn a great deal and hope that we can share ideas for how to reach a new generation of people with the Gospel.
So, to you blog visitors, a question to kick off our discussion - what should be a local church's essential tasks?
To paraphrase Henri Nouwen (Christian spiritual writer) "If we do not understand that which is essential to ministry, we might spend most of our time doing the merely important."

National Methodist Anthem of Great Britain

2008-06-09T03:25:00.000-07:00

When picking hymns for June 8th worship I ran across "And Can it Be That I Should Gain." It is a great Charles Wesley hymn (brother of John, founder of the Methodist movement). When I talked with the pianist at the Bridge Church, he commented that it is sort of like the British national Methodist anthem. I loved that and now after singing it at both the Bridge and Whitefield on Sunday morning, they sang like it is the national Methodist anthem. The men sang a base part underneath the last two lines of every hymn and the organist/pianists played with lots of gusto. When we sang the last verse, they really bore down on the keys and let it soar. Youth, young people and older ones alike sang it with power. It was awesome. Here are the powerful words of that hymn, verse by verse it tells the Gospel story.
1. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me! 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Psalm 131 Keeps Showing Up

2008-06-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Psalm 131 (NRSV)
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.

Over the past year, Psalm 131 has shown up for me in all kinds of places. The first time this psalm came to grab my attention was in seminary. The class was taught by Paul Escamilla, a pastor in Dallas and an adjunct professor at the seminary. He commended the psalm to the class as one that we should pray when we are "getting ahead of ourselves" or feeling too important maybe, or when we feel like the weight of the world or the church is on our shoulders. Anyway, that's when God first spoke to me through this psalm.
Every May, I usually have an individual spiritual retreat, usually for 2 days. I spend the first day in prayer for my own walk with Christ, prayer for my family, extended family etc. The second day I spend in prayer for the church, for our plans and our future ministry. It was on one of these retreats in May 2007 that the daily lection psalm was Psalm 131. I used the daily lection from the Book of Common Prayer to guide me and discipline my scripture reading for these retreats. I journaled about reading that Psalm that day and how it touched me at an important time in my life.
On my last Sunday in Woodville before leaving for the exchange 2 weeks ago, the lectionary psalm was, Psalm 131. I don't often use the lectionary to guide my preaching these days but I did that Sunday because I had finished a sermon series recently and after reading this psalm I thought it presented the right message for that day. I know that daily lections and the lectionary rotate so it is not a surprise that 131 came around again but it is divine that I chose to preach the lectionary on that Sunday and chose to have my spiritual retreat the week it was listed in the daily lection.
There's one more. Last week, while visiting a home group meeting of the Whitefield Church, we opened with some time for meditation, just reflecting on a scripture passage before beginning. I did not lead this group, I just participated. The leader of the group had selected Psalm 131 as the scripture on which to meditate! So, the Lord, at important times, reminds me that He is God and that my hope is ultimately in nothing but Him. For this pastor and person who loves life, wants to save the world, be everything that is needed in a leader for the church to thrive, and be the husband and father that I want to be, Psalm 131 does not let me off the hook on these desires but reminds me that God does the saving and He is the one in whose bosom the world can rest and hope.

Playing Cricket

2008-06-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

Last night I learned a little about playing cricket. Cricket is a popular sport here in the UK. Most people assume, as I did, that it is like baseball. It does have a small ball, a bat, and is played outdoors but after that the similarities soon end. The ball is smaller than a baseball, the bat is larger with a ridge on one side and flat on the other. The playing field is in a circle instead of a diamond. No one wears a glove except the one playing the position we would call a catcher. After playing a little "catch," I am especially thankful for our gloves. When you pitch, you throw it overhand in sort of a windmill motion, letting it bounce just before the batter. Therefore, the batter most times must hit it off the bounce. We all know that when a ball of any kind bounces it can go just about any direction from there. That makes it tough to hit.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be learning on a night when the "senior" team plays and that I thought this was an especially good group to learn with (thinking they were older folks). Wrong. What my host (from the church) meant by seniors were seniors in high school 17-19 years old. It worked out okay, they were gracious, let me mix in and "ball" (pitch) a little and then do some catching (catching fly balls basically), remember you catch with your bare hands, ouch!
Their coach for the summer is a professional player with a team in South Africa, a guy named Wayne, he was cool and taught me the basics.
One of the players/assistant coaches was a Sunni Muslim guy, about 35-40ish who lives here in the UK. We had some interesting conversations out in the field.
Oh, one last thing. A single game of cricket can theoretically go for five days and still end in a tie. I don't quite understand why but Wayne and others say its possible. We Americans have a tough time with ties. Remember the Major League Baseball All-Star game that ended in a tie a few years ago because of pitching shortages and the commissioner calling the game? There was a national uproar in sports America. I even thought it was crazy. No ties for us but in cricket, it can happen.
Anyhow, lots of fun, I'm pretty sore but learned something new.

Interesting Tidbits

2008-06-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to jot down a few interesting tidbits and observations while I am thinking about them. If you have ever traveled in England, you will probably recognize some of these. These aren't earth shattering, they are just interesting to this Texan who has never been to England before.
1- Traffic lights - of course in the U.S. red means stop, green is go and yellow is slow down or yield. The progression from go to stop is a green, yellow, then a red. But of course, the light then turns directly from red to green (still to go). Not so in England. The yellow light (actually they call it amber here) happens on both sides. Green, amber, red (go, slow down, stop) and then red, amber, green (still, get ready, go).
2- The Manchester Evening News is the local newspaper (Manchester is the 2nd largest city in England). There is a basic headlines section that is free if you are in Manchester proper. If you buy it where we are, out in a suburb basically, you have to pay for it but you get the full edition. The word is that the gas (petrol) costs too much just to drive the free version out to the suburbs so the paper charges in order to reimburse itself for the gas it takes to deliver it here. However the one that gets delivered here is the full version. It is interesting first that the main newspaper of the second largest city in all of England has a significant section that is free in that city and second it is a commentary on how dire the gas situation is or is perceived to be that just a drive out to that city's suburbs is that costly. (gas is the equivalent of about $9 a gallon here)
3- People are very interested in the American presidential campaign and it is covered widely in the press. The end of the Democratic Primary Campaign was front page top headline in one of the major London newspapers.

*I drove the car a little more today. A neighbor from across the street rode shotgun and guided me to places that were good practicing areas. Brave souls, Bethany and Addie sat in the backseat. God bless em'.

No Favorite National Past Time in the U.S.

2008-06-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

Okay so there is no single favorite American past time, sports speaking. Of course for decades we Americans have been fond of saying that baseball is the favorite American past time but seeing how thoroughly inculturated football (our soccer) is in the lives of British youth, I have realized that no single sport occupies that place in the U.S. I guess "favorite past time" is subject to one's own definition but I would define it, in the sports world, maybe as a game that is so widely played, admired, and embedded in a culture that from childhood to adulthood, it is the default sport for everyone. For example, last night (Monday night) I headed over to the Bridge Methodist for their Monday youth open recreation night. I took Steven, a young adult from Whitefield Church with me. There were probably 25 youth there in all, nearly all were boys ages 11-14. We played a pickup game of basketball with about 4 on each team. The rest of the guys played on computers in a lab they have there and the rest sort of wandered around. Then one of them said, "let's play football" and you would have thought that boys came out of the walls to be a part of that game. In a small half basketball court 25 boys divided into teams and we played football (again, we're talking American soccer here). These boys were awesome and intense.
At one point, one of the adult volunteers, maybe 50ish age, attempted to cross the court to go to another part of the building. The ball happen to come his way and he instinctively tapped the ball with the side of his foot, and did some other fancy foot trick like it was no big deal. No doubt an instinctive reaction from years of football inculturation. Football is the British past time. In the British newspaper, the Guardian, the first seven pages of the sports section are devoted to football. Cricket and tennis get a page or two each to round out the section. Some locals here are fans of Manchester United. Many more are fans of the Manchester City Team , also a professional team. Football is the favorite national past time of England.
In the U.S. we have any number of sports that could qualify as a favorite past time - American football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR or even golf; but since all of them could qualify as a favorite national past time, then none of them can. Only one sport can occupy that space to be the favorite. So I've concluded, we have lots of entertaining sports that occupy the passion, attention, and money of Americans of all ages, but the day is gone that just one can be called our favorite American past time.

PS. I announced at church in both places Sunday that I also wanted to learn to play cricket. So, I was invited afterward to go one Thursday very soon, to a local seniors league (good place to start) with a guy in the Whitefield church. There is an African professional player who coaches them. Pretty cool.

First Sunday reflections Part 2

2008-06-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

Please see the earlier post for reflections and impressions of our first experience at Whitefield church. In the evening on June 1 we made our way to The Bridge Methodist Church. It is in a district of Manchester known as Radcliffe. The church is located in the heart of that community and used as a community center for many activities. Its congregation is a bit of a mixture of ages and its worship style was very different from what we experienced in the morning at Whitefield. While Whitefield used very traditional liturgy for its worship, The Bridge utilized power point to project its hymns on a screen. The worship space has been modified from its previous state. It was a large sanctuary seating 1000 people with a three story pipe organ. About 20 years ago they did something I have never heard of and might have difficulty describing. If I don't paint the picture well, comment back and I will try to clarify. They enclosed the upstairs balcony area and made a portion into a mini-gym (about a half court basketball size). With the other portion of what was the balcony they made classrooms. Today, those classrooms house some computer labs for student work and tutoring. The Bridge has a youth ministry as well.
The downstairs part of the sanctuary was also divided with one portion made into a fellowship area and another the new revised worship space. The worship space now has modern sorts of pews (rows of hard plastic seat and back with cushions) and the space altogether seats probably 100-130. There is now an electric organ and a piano which serve as the accompainment. The old stairwell to the balcony connects all of this but they have also added an elevator.
The musicians are very good. In worship, there was clapping and singing that was "rousing,", a common British descriptor.
There was not as much structure to the service as in Whitefield and much in the way of worship order is left to the preacher or speaker for the evening (the circuit does have several lay speakers that rotate in regularly).
After evening worship we headed to the once a month community youth service that our Methodist youth attend. It is multi-denominational and rotates from church to church each month. Held in Christ Church (Anglican), a beautiful sanctuary that reminded us of St Paul's Houston, worship was led by a praise band and a speaker who was converted to the Christian faith in the Bridge Youth group and is now a youth leader at another church.
There is so much more to share but I'll leave it at that for now.

First Sunday Reflections Part 1

2008-06-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

It is Sunday night here and we have just completed our first full Sunday of worship in England. We are serving two churches these weeks so I alternate between them. This morning I worshipped, preached and celebrated Holy Communion at Whitefield Methodist in the heart of the Whitefield District of Manchester (Whitefield is like a burrough of Manchester like Brooklyn is to New York City). They are dealing with many of the issues our urban churches struggle with in the U.S. Metropolitan influence is growing around them including a new shopping mall being built across the street. In fact, there is no access along the street that faces the front door of the sanctuary because of the construction. Like many American churches, the congregation is made up largely of faithful people who have been part of the church for a long time. There are some new people who have come within the last few years including a new young family who they are very excited about. Most seem to live within a mile or so of the church.
The people are as kind and gracious as any I have ever met. They were very friendly and love their church.
As we walked up to the church this morning, our eyes were caught by something (we only live about 1/4 mile so we walked). A long line was forming on the far side of the church from the side we were approaching. They were people of all ages, nationalities and economic class, men and women. As I got closer I realized that at 10am on that Sunday morning they were standing in line at an office next door, looking for a job. I will investigate later but it seems that the church's neighbor is some type of employment agency. I wanted to go up and down the line and invite them in to the sanctuary. It was rainy and a little cold so I wonder what it would be like to make plenty of coffee...and tea, and offer it to them while they wait and tell them about the church and the love of God. We might try it one Sunday.
When we gathered in the sanctuary I very much felt that the place was like a safe haven for the faithful and literally a sanctuary for the sojourner. There were a few folks who sat alone and seemed to slip in and out, soujourners in the city. I hope to talk with them some.
The sanctuary is beautiful and the worship service is guided by the traditional liturgy of the British Methodist Church. It resonates quite a bit with the American Methodist liturgy for worship and Holy Communion.
In the evening we worshipped at The Bridge Methodist Church which is a couple of miles away in the Radcliffe District. I will write about it maybe tomorrow. They were also extremely welcoming.
Oh, before I go, the lay minister that assisted me in Whitefield greeted everyone at the lunch meal after worship with a good "hi y'all!" It was great.

greetings from England

2008-05-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my inaugural launch into the blogging world. My brother Guy is a blogger extraordinaire and my sister Mindy is the techiest one in our bunch. I decided to jump in so that I can journal the experiences here and have your interaction along the way. The title of the blog, "Letters from the Field" just came to mind one day. Pastoral ministry is of course my calling and my chosen field. Further, I also I think of our ministry and this time in England particularly as time in the mission field of the Lord.
We arrived in Manchester, England at about 7:45am on Friday, May 30th. Addie did great on the plane ride but we are feeling the 6 hour time difference now. We were met with great Christian hospitality by three people from the churches we'll be serving here. They gave Bethany a bouquet of roses and took us to the manse (parsonage) where we are now. Our greeters were sweet, warm, hospitable people. They were just like the Methodist lay people I have known all my life.
We are catching up on sleep now but looking forward to tomorrow. We'll learn to drive on British roadways!
I'll share more later. God bless,
Tommy