'Twas The Week Before Christmas

“A child has been born for us, a son given to us…” (Isaiah 9:6)

“‘Twas the week before Christmas when all through the town,
Men, women and children were running around,
Giving left signals and then turning right,
Shopping and spending much money all night.

Elbowing in at the counter of toys,
Buying up gifts for their girls and their boys.
The meaning of Christmas is clear in our city:
Mail carriers and clerks never get any pity.

Father is groaning; his checkbook turns red,
While visions of bankruptcy churn in his head.
Mother is baking cake after pie, saying
“If I see one more pastry, I think I will die.”

Only for children it can’t come too soon.
They’ll talk about next year on Christmas at noon.
With all of the holes in our nerves and our shoes,
The meaning of Christmas we almost will lose.

But then comes the strains of that music so light
And soon we are humming the tune ‘Silent Night’.
Our minds take us back twenty centuries past,
And the meaning of Christmas comes through to us at last.

No hurry, no bustle, no trees with their lights,
No honking, no hustle, no toys gleaming bright.
But Jesus our Savior, in Bethlehem born,
Becomes the true meaning of our Christmas morn.”
       [--Author Unknown, cited from an old Fayetteville (GA) First United Methodist Church newsletter]

How do you and your family experience Christmas? I pray that on you and they will make the difficult but rewarding choice to remove yourself from the stress and strain and rush of the holiday long enough both to remember and actually experience the true meaning of the season.

As part of that choice, I hope you'll join myself and your fellow church family to celebrate Jesus, "the reason for the season." at one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion services, available December 24^th either online from our church’s website HERE any time after 9:30am – please have bread and juice ready for Communion; OR outdoors in our church parking lot at 5:00pm – please wear your mask if you intend to sit in a chair outside, or you can listen from your car radio at 88.1 FM.  Merry Christmas, and always remember that God loves you and I do, too! 

Wanted: The Peace of Advent

 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

In the midst of all the various challenges and crises of this year, there has been a lot of frustration and discontent in our world lately over a variety of different things... all of which have sparked more and more vitriol, hatred, and division all around us.

If there's ever a time when our world needs the peace of "Advent" (the Christian season the four weeks leading up to Christmas day), it's today!  The word “Advent” itself is actually derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming", and references the three "comings" of Jesus in and throughout history:

            1) IN THE PAST ...as a babe in Bethlehem.  We listen to the words of Old Testament prophets who promise a coming Messiah.

            2) IN THE PRESENT ...as the one who comes and meets us in our hearts and lives today,

            3) IN THE FUTURE ...as the one who will come again one day to make all things new and to establish His kingdom of peace and justice upon the earth once and for all.

Since Jesus came as the "prince of peace," then more than ever, Advent is a time for each of us to encourage and promote the kind of peace that is described in the words of Matthew 5:9 (above).  Peace doesn't mean we have to agree with everyone around us, but it means that we seek to listen to each other, to give grace and space to each other when we make mistakes, and (at the very least) to make it our practice not to do harm to others either through our actions or our words.  It means we seek BE the peace that we want to see enacted in our world.  It means that instead of complaining about and pointing out what others are NOT doing to promote peace, we need to first ask ourselves if we are doing things that discourage it, and ask what things we need to start doing to better encourage it.

In other words, Advent is a time for those of us who claim the name "Christian" to live by our own Master's command first to BE peacemakers ourselves. As the old hymn says, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

So this season of Advent (at least), rather than give in to the frustration and pessimism of our world's lack of peace, I pray that you will join me in seeking to be a person of peace yourself.  Always remember that God loves you and I do, too!

Thanksgiving - Recognizing the BETTER, Because of the WORST

“As they left, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.”  (Luke 17:14-16)

 There are a lot of things that – before now – we have taken for granted as individuals and as a culture.  But all that we’ve experienced this year has hopefully also invited and encouraged us to recognize and be thankful for the “little” things of life (that really aren’t so little), and to recognize God’s presence in these things.

Back in March of this year, Roman Catholic author and speaker Laura Kelly Fanucci penned the following that (pardon the metaphor) went “viral” on social media without ever mentioning the source of our problems:

“When this is over, may we never again take for granted

A handshake with a stranger

Full shelves at the store

Conversations with neighbors

A crowded theater

Friday night out

The taste of communion

A routine checkup

The school rush each morning

Coffee with a friend

The stadium roaring

Each deep breath

A boring Tuesday

Life itself.

When this ends

may we find

that we have become

more like the people

we wanted to be

we were called to be

we hoped to be

and may we stay

that way — better

for each other

because of the worst."

--From Laura Kelly Fanucci’s March 2020 Blog HERE

May we never take for granted the simple things of life, even when our world and our way of living feels threatened by life itself.  Instead, let’s consciously choose to “return and praise God with a loud voice,” and then to live out our thankfulness by the way we live our lives! Happy Thanksgiving!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

I Sing A Song of the Saints of God...

“To the church of God that is in... [Gwinnett County], to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints...” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

“I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
Who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew;
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green;
They were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and his love made them strong;
They followed right for Jesus' sake the whole of their good lives' long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast;
And there's not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn't be one too.

They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus' will.
You can meet them in school, on the street, in the store,
In church, by the sea, in the house next door;
They are saints of God, whether rich or poor, and I mean to be one too."
                                        [--Words by Lesbia Scott, from the United Methodist Hymnal, #712]

Yesterday (Novermber 1^st) was “All Saints Day” -- a day for God’s people to celebrate and remember the lives of all God’s “saints”:  those living now who call Jesus their Savior; and those who’ve gone on to be with the Lord this past year. .

As we celebrated the “saints” of our church and the “saints” of our lives who’ve gone to be with the Lord since All-Saints Day last year, my prayer is that those of us who remain here will learn from the example of the “saints who’ve gone before” how to be people who live by the call of Christ. 

In the words of the hymn, “I mean to be one, too.”  Will you?  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Election Day Advice from John Wesley

 
“For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14)

Next Tuesday (November 3) is Election Day here in the United States, and as registered voters head to the polls to cast our ballot, we would do well to remember the words of wisdom from John Wesley, founder of Methodism, in what he wrote to his fellow Methodists in the 1774 British Parliamentary elections:

“I met those of our [Methodist] Society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them,…

1) To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy;

2) To speak no evil of the person they voted against; And…

3) To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

            [--From John Wesley’s Journal, October 6, 1774]

In today’s politically-charged culture, Wesley’s words are certainly ones we as followers of Christ should heed.  Whoever you vote for, remember that in the end, God is still on the throne, and that His ultimate plans can be neither improved upon nor thwarted by any human leader.

So, pray for our nation, for our candidates, for the eventual elected officials, and for we who are voters. Pray that not only would our leaders be Godly in their leadership, but that we would all allow God to lead us in our daily lives, as well.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

The World Is A Better Place Because...

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,  ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)

From time to time, all of us give excuses for not stepping out and being daring to help win a dying world to Christ. But think about how the world is a better place because of how some people in history said “yes” to God:

    The world is a better place...

            ...because Michelangelo didn't say, "I don't do ceilings."

            ...because Moses didn't say, "I don't do rivers."

            ...because Noah didn't say, "I don't do arks."

            ...because Jeremiah didn't say, "I don't do weeping."

            ...because Amos didn't say, "I don't do speeches."

            ...because Ruth didn't say, "I don't do mothers-in-law."

            ...because David didn't say, "I don't do giants."

            ...because Peter didn't say, "I don't do Gentiles."

            ...because Mary didn't say, "I don't do virgin births."

            ...because Paul didn't say, "I don't do letters."

            ...because Jesus didn't say, "I don't do crosses."

                                                            [--Dr. Leonard Sweet]

Generosity is about saying “yes” to God and answering His call to help “make the world a better place” as we offer to Him use of our spiritual gifts, talents, resources (financial or otherwise), personality, dreams, and even our experiences.  Remember that we are who we are today because others ahead of us were generous with who they were and what they had.  

God has already said “Yes!” to each of us by the giving of His own son Jesus for us – we’re called to say “Yes!” back through the offer of ourselves.  So, how will you say “yes” to Him by helping to make the world a better place through your church? 

In the words of this month’s stewardship focus, how will you “Unleash” your “Potential” (U.P.) and become even more of the person God created you to be by being more generous with your time, talents, money, and other resources that He has already entrusted to your care? Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

(Read more about our “U.P.” stewardship journey HERE – this link also includes a sample commitment card that you can fill out and keep for your records or turn in to the church office, as you choose.  I encourage you to complete it with your family today)

Called to Serve

“Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow....” (Isaiah 1:17)

One of our tasks and callings as people of faith is to touch and make a difference in the physical and material lives of people around us in our community and world.  We’re called to follow the example of Christ by serving others, not simply be served ourselves.  Growing up, I remember singing the words to one hymn that put it well:

     “Look all around you, find someone in need,

Help somebody today

 Tho’ it be little – a neighborly deed,

           Help somebody today!

 Help somebody today, somebody along life’s way;

 Let sorrow be ended, the friendless befriended,

            Oh help somebody today!

                     [--“Help Somebody Today” (Cokesbury Hymnal #67), lyrics by Frank Breck, 1932]

The founder of Methodism John Wesley is said to have encouraged something similar nearly 200 years before when he wrote the following:

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can,

 In all the ways you can, in all the places you can,

 At all the times you can, to all the people you can,

 As long as you ever can.”

Over the next week, I invite you to look around you and find someone that you can help/serve.  Maybe its someone at your work, a neighbor down the street, one of our church’s homebound members, someone you know that has recently lost their job or had their hours cut back, or perhaps it is a stranger in another state who’s experienced loss from the recent hurricanes and storms. 

Whoever it is, I encourage you to be intentional about sharing your faith by making a difference in the lives of others!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Introducing U.P. (Unleashing Potential)

 “The seed that fell on good soil are those who hear the word and commit themselves to it with a good and upright heart. Through their resolve, they bear fruit.” (Luke 8:15)

NOTE: The following is the content of a communication shared with our congregation about our stewardship journey during the month of October 2020…

While 2020 has certainly been an unprecedented year for everyone, due to the continued support and generosity of people like you, our church is in good overall financial shape, tracking very closely to our original annual financial goals. We know that we’ll continue to have challenges to manage, but our staff and lay leadership are up to these, and we are excited about the future that God has in store for us as we move into 2021! To prepare for this future, we wanted to share with you our plans for this year’s October stewardship journey.

While many people think of stewardship as a way to plan a financial budget for the coming year, it actually involves much more than this because it also includes forms of participation such as prayer,  small group participation, worship attendance (in person and/or virtual), financial giving, service/missions/outreach, sharing our faith, and others.  You may recognize these as our United Methodist vows.  This year’s journey will be called “U.P. – Unleashing Potential”, and through it we’ll all be invited to unleash our potential for God by being good stewards of these and other forms of participation.

So, how will this year be different? Traditionally, we ask every member/family to fill out and turn in a commitment card, used to help formulate a church budget for the coming calendar year.  Due to this year’s unique context and challenges, however, we do not feel this to be appropriate for our preparation for 2021.  Instead, we are inviting you to sit down with your family and discuss your financial commitment to God for next year through McKendree UMC.  Then, print an U.P. commitment card (find and download it HERE) in one of two ways as a personal tool/reminder of that commitment:

            ● You can keep it at home with you as a personal reminder of your promised commitment.

            ● Alternately, if you would like for us to confidentially help hold you accountable for your commitment by including it on your contribution statement, you can still turn it in to the church office.

Regardless of your choice, our staff and finance leaders will use their knowledge and understanding of our church’s current giving patterns to put together a responsible 2021 budget for our church.

In addition to how you choose to use your personal commitment card, we also want to invite you to do one of two things related to your actual financial generosity:

            ● Please continue to give faithfully to the work of God through McKendree UMC through one of the many ways we have (online, text-to-give, bank bill-pay, mailed check, or dropped in our secure church mailbox outside the Fellowship Hall).

            ● If you are able to increase your annual giving to help offset the giving of those who’ve been negatively impacted by this crisis, we invite and encourage you to do that, as well.

If you’ve experienced financial challenges this year, we understand if you feel that you are needing to cut back your financial giving next year.  However, you can still give in other ways:  through your prayers; your “presence” (online or in-person); your service to others; and through how you share your faith with others.  If this is your situation, know that we love you as part of our family, and want to do everything we can to support you (If you have needs, please contact Pastors Brian or Paula to confidentially discuss how we can help you during this time).

Regardless of your situation or circumstance, remember that stewardship is about more than just money.  It’s about unleashing our potential (U.P.) for God through the various ways we participate in the work and ministry of our lives in and through God’s church.  While this is certainly a challenging time in history, we are convinced that God has blessed McKendree UMC, and that – with your support – we’ll continue to have an important and vital role to play in sharing Christ and His love with our community and world. 

Will you continue to be part of that work?

A Discernible Wobble

 “In  the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

A few years ago, the pastor of my home church shared an article in their newsletter that want to pass on to you today:

            “I read a while back the excited announcement of a group of astronomers who had discovered 10 more planets circling neighboring stars, the closest of which is 10.5 light-years from earth. That's a long way but probably still close enough to interest some of our more ambitious real estate developers.

            The astronomers couldn’t yet tell us whether any of the newly discovered planets might sustain life. In fact, aside from their existence, not much can be said about the planets at all. You see, no one has actually seen them. So, you might reasonably ask, if we can't see them, how do we know they exist?

            It works like this: The gravitational pull of the planets causes the parent stars to wobble back and forth. That wobble, in turn, causes a slight wobble in the wavelength of light coming from the stars. And that wavelength of light is indeed measurable from here on earth. And so, from a wobbling light, scientists can reason their way back to the presence of a planet.

            Makes sense to me; not that I know anything about astronomy, but I do understand the logic. It is, after all, central to our Christian theology. Call it “Wobblology,” if you will.  We talk about it all the time in the church.

            It works like this: If you follow the movement of Christians in the universe, you should discern a certain wobble - an alteration of course that implies the presence of another force. That wobble might be a word of grace here or an act of compassion there or a stranger welcomed as friend or some unmerited kindness in an unlikely place that sets the Christian apart from the rest of humanity. "There, do you see?" I can imagine some objective scientist noting. "There is definitely something different about the movement of those Christians and the light they emit." Reason your way back and you will discover the cause - the presence of Christ and the gravitational pull of his love.

            In the end, there is no greater evidence for the existence of a divine love than the people who dwell in that love and no greater evidence for a Savior than the people who have been saved. So, wobble on, and in your wobbling bear witness to the Christ whose love changes everything.”

            (--Thanks to Rev. Mark Westmorland, former Senior Pastor of Fayetteville First UMC, Fayetteville, GA for his

               words from that church's newsletter)

Wow!  What a great reminder of the power of our influence on others!  I pray that as you live out your faith in your home, your workplace, your school, at the grocery store, online, on social media, and even on vacation, you'll have a “discernible wobble” about you that points others towards the reality and power of Christ!  Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

My Racial Autobiography

 “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48)

This past summer, our church began a task force to explore what we can do as God’s people to begin addressing racial injustice and inequality both in our community and world.  The first fruit of this effort is something we’re calling “The Story Project” – a forum for members and others to be able to share and listen to the personal stories, experiences and testimonies of each other regarding race.  You can read all the stories HERE.  However, as part of my blog for this week, I wanted to share my own racial autobiography that will be included in “The Story Project” initiative:

“Growing up in the 1970s multi-racial community of East Point, GA (near the Atlanta airport), racial discrimination, inequity, and injustice just weren't on my radar, much less concepts like “white privilege” or implicit bias.  After all, some of my best friends and playmates in school were African-American (one of whom is now Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court!), so consequently I thought of myself and my family as very open in terms of race relations.  And by the standards of the day, perhaps we were.

What I failed to recognize or understand at the time, however, is how the experience and life of most of my African-American schoolmates was very different from my own (and not always in  good ways), and how – despite my desire to be “color blind” (which I mistakenly then thought was a good thing) – I lived a very insulated and privileged life.  Growing up, I rarely wanted for anything material, never witnessed crime or violence immediately around me, never experienced discrimination because of the color of my skin, and my parents were never pulled over on the road for that reason, either.  All the people I remember my family socializing with were White, as was my church and my neighborhood.  Yes, I occasionally had my African-American friends over to my house play, but afterward, we went back to our own separate existences. 

Throughout my childhood, youth, days of college, and even my early years of ministry, I continued to have African-American friends, and considered myself (I thought) a champion for racial equality and justice.  Yet, in one of my later church appointments as Pastor of a nearly all-White church, I found myself surprisingly ostracized by many members for even suggesting that we as a church needed to look hard at our role over history in supporting (perhaps unintentionally) the inequities of that community. 

The good news was that, despite these challenges, with excellent leadership from our civic and religious leaders like our Mayor, Police Chief and Sheriff, Pastor-colleagues, and others, over several years that community made significant strides towards acknowledging its racist past and embracing a new inclusivity upon which to build a better future (more about this in a future story).

Through this experience, I came to realize that racism – which I thought had died back in the 1960s, and to which I had been oblivious in the 1970s and 80s – was alive and well in many subtle ways, and had instead merely gone underground, awaiting a new crisis to expose it once again (as the events of this past year have shown true).  I also learned that ALL people (including myself) are “privileged” in some way – racially, economically, socially, politically, materially – because ALL of us live life better than some others at least to some degree or another.  The question is not whether or not we are privileged, but what do we DO with that privilege?   Do we use it to help bring about a better world? Or do we use it to justify our denial about the differences and inequities of our world?  

In the Bible, Moses, Samuel, King David, the Centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Gamaliel, Paul, and many others were all people of “privilege.” But they used their privilege to make a difference for the kingdom of God.  My prayer is that I would be able to do the same in my life.”

Always remember that God loves you and I do, too!

Parable of the Lobster

“God is our refuge and strength.... Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change....” (Psalm 46:1-2)

As we continue to navigate the challenges of our health crisis, each of us is experiencing many changes.  Changes in the way we live, work, worship, interact with others, and other things. Even as we begin to venture more out into the world again, it’s likely that life will not return to “normal” anytime in the near future, if at all!

All of this highlights the fact that CHANGE is something we are all very uncomfortable with.  And yet, change is a natural part of life, and can be something that helps us experience the “new things” that God wants to teach and show us.  Highlighting this, the following modern day parable comes from Rev. Carolyn Wittwer of the New York Annual Conference by way of Rev. Doug Smith, former Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Morristown, Tennessee:

[NOTE: this parable was shared at the beginning of my sermon during online worship several weeks ago. If you missed it, click HERE to watch)]

“Long ago, when the world was very new... there was a certain lobster who determined that the Creator had made a mistake.  So he set up an appointment to discuss the matter.  “With all due respect,” said the lobster, “I wish to complain about the way you designed my shell.  You see, I just get used to one outer casing, when I’ve got to shed it for another; very inconvenient and rather a waste of time.”  To which the Creator replied, “I see.  But do you realize that it is the giving up of one shell that allows you to grow into another?”

“But I like myself just the way I am,” the lobster said.  “Your mind’s made up?” the Creator said.  “Indeed!” the lobster stated firmly. “Very well,” smiled the Creator.  “From now on, your shell will not change... and you may go about your business just as you are right now.”  “That’s very kind of you,” said the lobster, and left.

At first, the lobster was very content with wearing the same old shell.  But as time passed, he found that his once light and comfortable shell was becoming quite heavy and tight.  After a while, in fact, the shell became so cumbersome that the lobster couldn’t feel anything at all outside himself.  As a result, he was constantly bumping into others. Finally, it got to the point where he could hardly breathe.  So with great effort, he went back to see the Creator.

“With all due respect,” the lobster sighed, “contrary to what you promised, my shell has not remained the same.  It keeps shrinking!”  “Not at all,” smiled the Creator.  “Your shell may have gotten a little thicker with age, but it has remained the same size.  What’s happened is that you have changed inside, beneath your shell.” The Creator continued: “You see, everything changes... continuously.  No one remains the same.  That’s the way I’ve designed things.  And the wisest choice is to shed your old shell as you grow.”  “I see,” said the lobster, “but you must admit it is occasionally inconvenient and a bit uncomfortable.”

“Yes,” said the Creator, “but remember, all growth carries with it both the possibility of discomfort... and the potential for great joy as you discover new parts of yourself.  After all, you can’t have one without the other.” “That’s very sensible,” said the lobster. 

“If you’d like,” offered the Creator, “I’ll tell you something more.” “Please do!” encouraged the lobster.  “When you let go of your shell and choose to grow,” said the Creator, “you build new strength within yourself and in that strength you’ll find new capacity to love yourself... to love those around you... and to love life itself.  That is my plan for each of you.”

During this time of challenge and change, how is God calling you to stretch… in your life?  in your faith?  What new thing(s) is He challenging you with through it all?  In what ways is God calling you and our church to be more than you/we have been?  Whatever transformation challenge you and I are facing, my hope and prayer is that even though change is often difficult and uncomfortable, we will all welcome it as a tool from God to help us become who He wants us to be.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Never Give Up!

“Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

I’m sure you’ve heard it many times before:  “Good things come to those who wait.” This is certainly true.  However, “waiting” does not necessarily mean that we are (or need to be) passive or inactive during our time of waiting.  That’s why “active waiting” is just another way to describe the concept of perseverance, and it’s something that truly makes a difference when we practice it.

Perhaps you know the true story of the man who lost his job in 1832.  In that same year, he ran and was defeated for State legislature, as well.  His business failed a year later (in 1833), and was finally elected to the State legislature in 1834.  His sweetheart died in1835, and he suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836.  He was defeated for Speaker of his State House in 1838, defeated for nomination for U.S. Congress in 1843, and then elected to Congress in 1846.  He lost his re-nomination for Congress in 1848, was rejected for Land Officer in 1849, defeated for U.S. Senate in 1854, and defeated for nomination for Vice President in 1856.  He was again defeated for the Senate in 1858.  But in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected 16^th President of the United States.  Now that’s perseverance!

The scripture above reminds us that no matter what challenge, difficulty, obstacle, or negative mindset we face, perseverance will usually enable us to achieve what we set out to do.  This is especially true when we trust in God to see us through -- “God plus me make a majority,” I’ve also heard it said.

So, what seemingly insurmountable challenge are you facing in your individual, family, or church life that needs perseverance?  Is it all the challenges, obstacles, and frustrations of our current health crisis?   Is it the loss of your job?  Challenges in your family or marriage?  A medical or health issue that you or someone you love are facing?  If you ask, God will give you the strength and resources to persevere if you will but trust in Him.  We need only to have perseverance to see the victory of God in and through whatever it is! So, hang in there, and always remember that God loves you and I do, too!

Be Still, My Soul

 “’Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge’ Selah” (Psalm 46:10-11)

We are all living in a time and season of extreme, rapid, and radical change – change in our world to the way we live, eat out, do sports, and even in how we worship and do church.  And while changes such as these usually are uncomfortable, awkward, and unwelcome, they nevertheless need not be things to fear. Instead, as I’ve heard it before, God uses the changes we experience in life to prepare us for a “new normal.”

In 1899, Jean Sibelius read the lyrics of a poem by Katharina von Schlegel from a century earlier and was led to set them to a famous tune that ended up creating one of the most enduring Christian hymns – one that we still sing today:

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;

bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

leave to thy God to order and provide;

in every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

to guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

all now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice, who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

and all is darkened in the veil of tears,

then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

from His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

when we shall be forever with the Lord,

when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

[--Words by Katharina von Schlegel (1752), Tune “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius   (1899), found in The United Methodist Hymnal #534]

May you and your soul “be still” and know that God is with you (and all of us) through all the changes occurring all around us, and that – as the hymn says -- “in every change He faithful will remain!” Whatever change or transition you are facing today, trust that God is with you!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

A New Church In the Works

“Behold, I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)

Several weeks ago in my blog I described the concept of a new of Church – one that that is at least as focused out where people are scattered (i.e., digitally SENT) as one that focuses on having people come to us (i.e., physically GATHERED).  If you missed that article, you can read it HERE.  While we at McKendree UMC have in our history done a better job than many churches in balancing these two biblical realities, today’s health crisis has highlighted – or should I say, forced – us to be even more intentional about this balance.

So, with that in mind, your staff and lay leadership has been hard at work creating a “new” kind of church for our current “scattered” context.  Some of these initiatives are totally new, while others take existing ministries and “retool” them for our current situation.  Consequently, we not only want you to be aware of them, but also to invite your friends and neighbors to be part of them, where appropriate:

1) All-Congregation Check-In: A team of caring volunteers and staff will be contacting all active families of our congregation over the next month or so to see how they are doing, if they need anything, and see how we can pray for them.  While Pastor Ryan and I made close to 150 similar phone calls to various segments of our congregation during April-May, the availability of a wonderful and dedicated group of caring volunteers will now enable us to check in with our whole active congregation.

2) Digital Learning Ministry (DLD Solutions) for Children of Working Parents: In light of Gwinnett County Schools’ recent decision to go “all digital” to begin the new school year, we are in the process of creating a new ministry called "DLD (Digital Learning Day) Solutions" to provide a safe, supervised space for digital learning for Elementary students whose parents work during the day.  Be on the lookout for more information about this very soon.

3) Racial Reconciliation Team Update:  This recently-formed team has met twice to pray about and brainstorm about the best way for our church to address the challenging issues of racism and racial injustice in our community and world.  Consequently, while our work will eventually include a partnership with other churches, they have felt led that their first initiative will be the creation of an emotionally safe space to share our members' “race stories.”  Look for more information soon about how you can be part of this initiative.

4) Online Worship Enhancements: Since we’ll probably not be reintroducing in-person worship again for a while, look for upcoming improvements and enhancements to our online worship experiences, including more interactive elements, new virtual fellowship opportunities (made possible by moving online worship availability back to Sunday morning), and the possible addition of Facebook to the digital platforms where online worship will be available.

5)  Additional Online Worship Reminder:  look for an additional fun video and/or post in your in-box or Facebook page near each weekend reminding you about the focus of that weekend’s upcoming online worship services.

6) Weekly “Got A Minute? Videos”:  Also look for a new, creative, 1-minute mid-week inspirational video from our pastors and staff designed to help you make it through the week.  These will be shared via our church Facebook page, as well as being sent out to our weekly eBlast distribution list.

7) "In the Word" Scripture Posts: Featuring regular short scripture posts in your Facebook and Instagram feeds to inspire and give hope. 

 8) P.P.V. (Pastor's Porch Visits): In this time of social distancing, many of our church’s members and friends have not been able to have company in their home due to health concerns. That’s why Pastor Brian is introducing P.P.V. (Pastor’s Porch Visits) – a medically safe way for you to visit with your pastor(s) at your home.  If you’re interested in a visit, contact the church office and we'll make an appointment for him to bring his own lawn chair to set up to visit with you on your front porch, front lawn, driveway, or another outside space of your choice at the appointed time.  All visits will include him observing proper social distancing and the wearing of a mask/face shield.  He can also bring individual Holy Communion, Upper Room devotional booklets, and Pastor Paula (beginning in September), as requested. 

9) Sermon by Phone: a new way for those who are technologically-challenged to be able to join in for “worship.” Each week, people can call a dedicated local phone number to listen to a portion of each week’s Sunday worship service (the scripture, sermon, ending song, benediction, and “Old Irish Blessing”).  There’s no need for an ID number or password.  They simply dial the number from any phone and listen.

10) McKendree Parents QUARAN-TEAM: a new private Facebook group providing a safe place for parents to share spiritual and emotional encouragement and support during these challenging times.  Click HERE to request to join.

11) McKendree Online Webpage:  a new page on our church website that will list all of our church’s currently available online opportunities in one, easy-to-find location HERE.

As you can see, your church is hard at work to provide you and those around you with the emotional and spiritual tools you’ll need not just to survive, but to thrive through our continued healthcare crisis.  This list is by no means complete – there are other ideas that we are kicking around but have not yet been fully developed.  And you may have further suggestions or ideas to help with any of these opportunities (or new ones) that will help us “be the church” not just for you, but for our entire community.  If so, please contact me HERE.

In the meantime, know that God loves you and I do, too as we seek to be “People. Doing (virtual) life together. Connecting all through Christ”!

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

          

             “A mighty fortress is our God,

                        A bulwark never failing;

            Our helper he amid the flood

                        Of mortal ills prevaling. 

            For still our ancient foe doth 

                        seek to work us woe;

            His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,

                        On earth is not his equal.

            Did we in our own strength confide,

                        our striving would be losing,

            Were not the right man on our side,

                        the man of God's own choosing.

            Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus, it is he;

            Lord Sabbaoth, his name, from age to age the same,

                        And he must win the battle.

            And though this world, with devils filled,

                        should threaten to undo us,

            We will not fear, for God hath willed

                        his truth to triumph through us. 

            The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

            His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;

                        One little word shall fell him.

            That word above all earthly powers,

                        No thanks to them, abideth;

            The Spirit and the gifts are ours,

                        thru him who with us sideth. 

            Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

            The body they may kill; God's truth abideth still;

                        HHis kingdom is forever.”

                   [--Martin Luther (1529), from The United Methodist Hymnal, #110] 

Though the words are old, they are as timeless as ever: God, and God alone, is the only source of true security and strength that will not let us down in life.  

So, in the midst of our global health crisis -- with all of its unknown consequences for our schools, businesses, churches, and life, in general -- what (more importantly, in WHOM) are you placing your ultimate trust?  Remember that God loves you and I do, too!