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.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Week of March 8
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Have you written your letter yet?
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.
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.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Essential Books for Discipleship
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!
I'd love to receive your responses for my own faith journey and for the guidance of others in my church.
Thanks in advance!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Lent 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Lent is coming
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.”
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
“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
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
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