I wanted to share with you a lesson that I was already aware of, but apparently needed to relearn recently.
Christmas day I left to go hunting with my dad and returned on Sunday. I was planning on spending the rest of my vacation doing things around the house (including some more hunting locally). Bad idea! I have been home for one day and I am already looking for ways to get away again.
So here is what I suggest. Members of congregations, let your pastors take their vacation (even if that means they are unable to get away)...they will be better for it and in turn, you will be better served by a rested (vacationed) pastor.
Pastors, take your vacations...and whenever possible, get away. This is especially important if you live in a parsonage that is next to the church. If you do not get away and stay at home, experience tells me that it is just far too convenient for parishioners to call or come by, effectively ending your vacation.
I'll chalk another one up to experience and consider it a lesson learned (I hope!).
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Connectional and Missional...Now that's what I call Church
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of working with 6 other pastors and more than 3 dozen volunteers from 7 different United Methodist Churches from our area to host an Advent event entitled Rediscover Christmas. You can find the article about this event by clicking here.
Here are some other pictures from that event:
7 local churches working together for the expanse of the Gospel...that to me is true connectionalism.
Hosting an event to reach the community with the real meaning of Christmas...that to me is missional.
Doing these things unattached to a church building and moving beyond our comfort zones...that's what I call being the church (as opposed to doing church)!
My prayer is that we will continue to be engaged in connectional and missional endeavors and that others will do likewise. At the end of the day it is about connecting people to Christ, not to ourselves.
As Advent is drawing to a close, I hope that your expectant waiting and anticipation of Christ's birth continues to be blessed.
Here are some other pictures from that event:
7 local churches working together for the expanse of the Gospel...that to me is true connectionalism.
Hosting an event to reach the community with the real meaning of Christmas...that to me is missional.
Doing these things unattached to a church building and moving beyond our comfort zones...that's what I call being the church (as opposed to doing church)!
My prayer is that we will continue to be engaged in connectional and missional endeavors and that others will do likewise. At the end of the day it is about connecting people to Christ, not to ourselves.
As Advent is drawing to a close, I hope that your expectant waiting and anticipation of Christ's birth continues to be blessed.
Amazing Grace
I had the opportunity to visit with another pastor this week at a church that was near his own charge. During our visit, we wandered over to another building and witnessed what is no less than amazing grace.
As we entered the other building, I noticed that there were trash bags all around. On each trash bag there was a piece of large masking tape with family names on them. As we stood at the back of the room and watched, we witnessed a woman in tears as she received a bag with her name on it.
What was in the bag you ask...each bag was filled with toys for the children in each of the families named on the outside of the bag.
You see, a church member followed God's calling to help provide for families in need within her community. As this member worked to gather the names of families in need, she soon discovered that this was going to be more than her little church could handle on their own. They ended up developing a non-profit organization called WARM and partnered with Toys for Tots in their area. When the day came for delivery, the donations of toys and funds made by the church and community (as well as the additional resources provided by Toys for Tots), this vision that started with a single woman reached more than 200 families that didn't have the means to provide gifts for Christmas.
While I often wrestle with the consumerist nature of Christmas in our Western world, I am none the less moved by this woman's compassion and vision to reach people right where they are at. I am hopeful, that the love of giving gifts to families to give to their children (when they cannot give their own) will say something about those of us who claim to be Christian. I am prayerful that the tears of joy that we witnessed with this one woman are a reflection of a group of people being Christ to her in a time of need. And I am convinced that this is no less than amazing grace.
Where have you witnessed God's amazing grace this Christmas season?
As we entered the other building, I noticed that there were trash bags all around. On each trash bag there was a piece of large masking tape with family names on them. As we stood at the back of the room and watched, we witnessed a woman in tears as she received a bag with her name on it.
What was in the bag you ask...each bag was filled with toys for the children in each of the families named on the outside of the bag.
You see, a church member followed God's calling to help provide for families in need within her community. As this member worked to gather the names of families in need, she soon discovered that this was going to be more than her little church could handle on their own. They ended up developing a non-profit organization called WARM and partnered with Toys for Tots in their area. When the day came for delivery, the donations of toys and funds made by the church and community (as well as the additional resources provided by Toys for Tots), this vision that started with a single woman reached more than 200 families that didn't have the means to provide gifts for Christmas.
While I often wrestle with the consumerist nature of Christmas in our Western world, I am none the less moved by this woman's compassion and vision to reach people right where they are at. I am hopeful, that the love of giving gifts to families to give to their children (when they cannot give their own) will say something about those of us who claim to be Christian. I am prayerful that the tears of joy that we witnessed with this one woman are a reflection of a group of people being Christ to her in a time of need. And I am convinced that this is no less than amazing grace.
Where have you witnessed God's amazing grace this Christmas season?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
More Church Closing News
I know that many of my readers are praying for me and the smaller of the two congregations that I serve as we continue to take steps towards merging with the larger church. And since I have already endeavored to track this process on my blog, I thought I would pass along the latest installment.
Within the United Methodist Church, nothing of this magnitude is official until there is a special meeting called a Church Conference meeting where the District Superintendent is present for an official vote. We had such a meeting at the little church this past Monday. The discussion was limited this go round, and the vote was decisive. The motion passed unanimously to merge with the larger church and it passed without hesitation.
This last meeting was much more surreal than the first meeting. Maybe that is because it was just an acknowledgment of the death that has already taken hold. Perhaps it is because we have moved more into acceptance in our grieving and we have less anger and denial. Regardless of the emotion of the moment (either in their pastor or in the congregation), it is still a bit of a roller coaster ride.
From this point on, I am hoping it will be pretty straight forward. I have already had a conversation with the leadership of the larger church and the consensus was that they would accept the merger when it came time for them to vote. We have weighed the pros and cons, examined the assets and the liabilities, and thought through the next action steps as they relate to the stewardship of these resources.
From here, worship services will be suspended (no longer to take place) at the smaller church after January 4th. Anyone out there want to preach this church closing sermon!?!
After the little church ceases services, we will have another specially called Church Conference at the larger church on January 11th to take an official vote with the DS present on the merger. If that vote is a yes, property and assets and memberships will transfer immediately. If for some reason the larger church declines this opportunity, the conference will take over the little church and be responsible for the disposal or transfer of any assets as they see fit.
I expect that the larger church will still welcome the smaller one with open arms...there seems to be too much history between the two churches for anything else to make sense or take place.
Personally, I have been told a dozen times if I have been told once that this is not my fault. The fact of the matter, however, is that it is happening on my watch. There is a part of me that realizes that this is due to decisions that have been taking place for decades. But that doesn't keep the human being in me at complete bay...what if I would have...what if we could have...what if a different pastor had...to say that these thoughts don't cross my mind would be to suggest that there is no humanity left in me at all. That is simply not the case.
I know that there is a lot for me to learn in this process. I know that God still has incredible things planned for my ministry. I know that a lot of good has come from my ministry here at the little church (including a couple of folks professing their faith)...God continues to move, even in the darkest valleys.
I welcome your continued prayers as we trudge this road of faith.
Within the United Methodist Church, nothing of this magnitude is official until there is a special meeting called a Church Conference meeting where the District Superintendent is present for an official vote. We had such a meeting at the little church this past Monday. The discussion was limited this go round, and the vote was decisive. The motion passed unanimously to merge with the larger church and it passed without hesitation.
This last meeting was much more surreal than the first meeting. Maybe that is because it was just an acknowledgment of the death that has already taken hold. Perhaps it is because we have moved more into acceptance in our grieving and we have less anger and denial. Regardless of the emotion of the moment (either in their pastor or in the congregation), it is still a bit of a roller coaster ride.
From this point on, I am hoping it will be pretty straight forward. I have already had a conversation with the leadership of the larger church and the consensus was that they would accept the merger when it came time for them to vote. We have weighed the pros and cons, examined the assets and the liabilities, and thought through the next action steps as they relate to the stewardship of these resources.
From here, worship services will be suspended (no longer to take place) at the smaller church after January 4th. Anyone out there want to preach this church closing sermon!?!
After the little church ceases services, we will have another specially called Church Conference at the larger church on January 11th to take an official vote with the DS present on the merger. If that vote is a yes, property and assets and memberships will transfer immediately. If for some reason the larger church declines this opportunity, the conference will take over the little church and be responsible for the disposal or transfer of any assets as they see fit.
I expect that the larger church will still welcome the smaller one with open arms...there seems to be too much history between the two churches for anything else to make sense or take place.
Personally, I have been told a dozen times if I have been told once that this is not my fault. The fact of the matter, however, is that it is happening on my watch. There is a part of me that realizes that this is due to decisions that have been taking place for decades. But that doesn't keep the human being in me at complete bay...what if I would have...what if we could have...what if a different pastor had...to say that these thoughts don't cross my mind would be to suggest that there is no humanity left in me at all. That is simply not the case.
I know that there is a lot for me to learn in this process. I know that God still has incredible things planned for my ministry. I know that a lot of good has come from my ministry here at the little church (including a couple of folks professing their faith)...God continues to move, even in the darkest valleys.
I welcome your continued prayers as we trudge this road of faith.
Monday, December 15, 2008
A Reflection of Grace
For the past 6 months or so, it seems that my little girl has been pushing the boundaries and really becoming her own little person. She has learned how to throw temper tantrums and pitch fits (lovely things!) and she has stubbornly demanded that she get her own way on a number of occasions. This is not unusual for a child of her age (a ripe old 16 months).
What this means, however, is that the days of afternoon naps on my chest have been missing. Evenings of singing and rocking her to sleep have been missing. All the cute, fun, cuddly times of her newborn era were missing.
That was until this past week or so. It is as if she has rediscovered her daddy again. She comes home in the evenings from school and wants to have a book read to her, she is giving more hugs and kisses than before...the other night, at about 2 a.m., she even let me hold her, rock her, and sing her back to sleep.
I have been wondering, after reflecting on these recent moments, if this is anything close to the way that God feels. After all, we all run into times when we say, "that's alright God, I've got this one", or "I think I'll do it my way God." It is not unusual for this human being to even through temper tantrums with God (admit it, you've probably done it too!). Then there are those times that I come running back shouting daddy, daddy!
Maybe this is not making any sense to you, but for me it is just a reflection on God's grace from God's perspective. I see it as a real gift to get even a glimpse of how God might feel when we return to him and climb in his lap and open our arms with the expectation of great big hugs.
I know it sounds corny, but being a parent is giving new insights and perspectives as I think of God as my heavenly Father...it is yielding understanding that I am pretty sure didn't exist prior to parenthood...even if in these early moments of discernment those perspectives are difficult to articulate.
Do you have experiences that vividly alter the way that you perceive God? If so, what are they and how do they affect your understandings?
What this means, however, is that the days of afternoon naps on my chest have been missing. Evenings of singing and rocking her to sleep have been missing. All the cute, fun, cuddly times of her newborn era were missing.
That was until this past week or so. It is as if she has rediscovered her daddy again. She comes home in the evenings from school and wants to have a book read to her, she is giving more hugs and kisses than before...the other night, at about 2 a.m., she even let me hold her, rock her, and sing her back to sleep.
I have been wondering, after reflecting on these recent moments, if this is anything close to the way that God feels. After all, we all run into times when we say, "that's alright God, I've got this one", or "I think I'll do it my way God." It is not unusual for this human being to even through temper tantrums with God (admit it, you've probably done it too!). Then there are those times that I come running back shouting daddy, daddy!
Maybe this is not making any sense to you, but for me it is just a reflection on God's grace from God's perspective. I see it as a real gift to get even a glimpse of how God might feel when we return to him and climb in his lap and open our arms with the expectation of great big hugs.
I know it sounds corny, but being a parent is giving new insights and perspectives as I think of God as my heavenly Father...it is yielding understanding that I am pretty sure didn't exist prior to parenthood...even if in these early moments of discernment those perspectives are difficult to articulate.
Do you have experiences that vividly alter the way that you perceive God? If so, what are they and how do they affect your understandings?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
That's Mine
There is something that I just don't understand. If you give something to someone or something (organization, that is), then it is no longer yours, right!?! I mean, if you take it back after giving it away, isn't that what used to cause fights when we were younger and give us a reason to call each other names (as politically incorrect as they may be) like Indian giver?
And certainly, in a church that has been around for more than 100 years, with many of the existing members being lifetime participants in that local church, you would think that they would understand what giving meant, right!?!
As many of the previous posts note, the smaller of the two churches I serve is voting to end services and merge with the larger church. This past weekend, while directing a major Christmas outreach with 6 other churches (I will post more about this separately with some amazing pictures), I received a phone call from one of those life long members of the little church. I was told of all the things that this individual and their family had done for the church...and then the conversation took a turn that was really unexpected...this individual began to give me a laundry list of things that they wanted back. These were things that had been "given" to the church, but since the church wasn't going to be open any more, the individual said "that's mine" and "I want it back".
Let me assure you based upon my most recent experience, that it is futile to attempt any kind of conversation relating to church assets (and how they would transfer to the other church for their discernment of how to steward them) or to try and distinguish between giving and lending.
At the end of the day, all that was feasible was to announce that any personal property at the church had to be removed this week, otherwise it would be considered an asset of the church and would go in the merger. And wouldn't you know, it didn't even end there. I was then told that so and so gave this and so and so gave the microwave and that they may want it back (a decade later?).
I am simply frustrated at our possessiveness and our lack of trust. I am flabbergasted that we don't practice better stewardship than this. I am disappointed that they can't see that these things may end up being a blessing to those who would take this facility over.
It just makes me wonder when we lost our understanding of what it means to give a gift.
It also reminds me of just how grateful I am that God does not give like we sometimes give.
I would appreciate your prayers, both for me and the members of this church, as we navigate this messy highway of church merger.
And certainly, in a church that has been around for more than 100 years, with many of the existing members being lifetime participants in that local church, you would think that they would understand what giving meant, right!?!
As many of the previous posts note, the smaller of the two churches I serve is voting to end services and merge with the larger church. This past weekend, while directing a major Christmas outreach with 6 other churches (I will post more about this separately with some amazing pictures), I received a phone call from one of those life long members of the little church. I was told of all the things that this individual and their family had done for the church...and then the conversation took a turn that was really unexpected...this individual began to give me a laundry list of things that they wanted back. These were things that had been "given" to the church, but since the church wasn't going to be open any more, the individual said "that's mine" and "I want it back".
Let me assure you based upon my most recent experience, that it is futile to attempt any kind of conversation relating to church assets (and how they would transfer to the other church for their discernment of how to steward them) or to try and distinguish between giving and lending.
At the end of the day, all that was feasible was to announce that any personal property at the church had to be removed this week, otherwise it would be considered an asset of the church and would go in the merger. And wouldn't you know, it didn't even end there. I was then told that so and so gave this and so and so gave the microwave and that they may want it back (a decade later?).
I am simply frustrated at our possessiveness and our lack of trust. I am flabbergasted that we don't practice better stewardship than this. I am disappointed that they can't see that these things may end up being a blessing to those who would take this facility over.
It just makes me wonder when we lost our understanding of what it means to give a gift.
It also reminds me of just how grateful I am that God does not give like we sometimes give.
I would appreciate your prayers, both for me and the members of this church, as we navigate this messy highway of church merger.
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