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.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Groundbreaking worship ceremony August 30
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hungry for God
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.”
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.”
Monday, August 10, 2009
Celebrate Educators this Sunday August 16th
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.
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.
Monday, August 3, 2009
People of the Book
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Disciple: Being One, Making One
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Yeah Lakeview Camp!
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.
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.
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