Reflections From Sunday Evening

We finished this month's message series - "My Bad Church Experience." We got the idea from North Point Community Church several months ago and adapted the idea to our church. As we went through the month people would mention a bad church experience or refer to someone who had an experience that fit the category. This series has helped me resolve to reach out to people with a renewed commitment to helping connect or re-connect people to Jesus Christ through the church. I hope we will all recognize the basic types of people who gather to worship with us each weekend. We have "regular attenders" many of whom have been long-time members or participants in the church. Secondly we have people making "first steps" toward a relationship with God and they take those steps through the church. Thirdly we have people "returning to the faith" from which they have been absent for a season of life. They are taking returning steps to a life of faith through the church. I invite you to join me in walking with people past their "bad church experience." We will not always have all the answers for people. We do not make prescriptions for people to follow that will "fix" their bad church experience. What we may do is walk alongside people in their first steps or returning steps. The other thing we are challenged to do is order our lives in ways that DO NOT contribute to the bad church experience of another. It is very hopeful to recognize that God uses imperfect, flawed people like us to encourage people taking steps to God through faith in Jesus Christ in the context of the church. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Our building committee geared up following the Christmas season. We will be working on refining plans and getting everyone on board for various components of the project. We will be working with audio-visual people soon. I continue to pray that God lead the project. My prayer is that in the same way God provided detail of design for the Tabernacle with Moses in the wilderness and Solomon in building the Temple, God will give us detail of design for this project. That may be a little pressure on our architects. I continue to pray this project be a great vehicle toward fulfilling our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ. On another note... Next Sunday we have our "State of the Church" meeting. In addition to hearing what we have experienced in the past year and where we are today we will also look to the coming year. A little hint; we will talk about staying focused on our mission during a building program and look at generosity. We will also share some reports and elect leadership for the next year. I expect our District Superintendent to share about a conference initiative; "Imagine No Malaria." It should be a well spent hour next Sunday at 4:00 p.n. Today was another good day at church. Good weather sure does wonders for our spirits (and attendance). It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I spent the past week leading a class on Methodist History. Generally my life is lived in the moment. Like you I plan my week and together our staff puts together plans for the next several weeks and even months. We do practice long range planning but that becomes less essential with the rapid pace of change in our times. It was refreshing to think of things historically. I think about John Wesley's Aldersgate experience where he felt his heart strangely warmed. We consider this a watershed event in John Wesley's life and faith. This took place May 28, 1738. In an historical context Wesley sent his mother a letter 13 years earlier stating his intention to "make religion the chief business of his life." A number of years elapse between commitment and significant faith breakthrough. American Methodism was initiated at the "Christmas Conference" beginning on December 24, 1784. 229 years have passed. What is it like to put things in their historical setting? About 1771 the Methodist people began debating and arguing over the issue of slavery. Finally in 1844 the church divided into the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South. It took roughly 75 years to make a decision to move in separate directions. Then in 1939 the Methodist Church came back together. It took 95 years to re-unite. A lot takes place over time. When I look at our history it puts current events in a different perspective. Whether we are talking about the United Methodist Church or a broader look at faith we might see that God is always at work. Furthermore God is a God of history and will continue to work through all our ups and downs. Even greater, God is a God of eternity. It tends to put my current issues in a different perspective. We had a great day today. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

It was so cold I saw two dogs with jumper cables trying to get a rabbit started! That is the "cold" joke for the day. I think I first heard that from Bill Gaither or someone in his group. I tell you that because it makes me think of several things. In the 1970's I first heard the music of the Bill Gaither Trio. That was "contemporary" for the time. About the same time I was introduced to Maranatha Music - Jesus Movement music from the 1960's. Later in the 1980's Integrity Music brought the Hosanna Music to enhance worship. The trends continue to this day. I grew up with the hymns of the church. I find that all these types of Christian Music feed the soul. I told you that because I was thinking about different churches I have been part of. On this cold, snowy day our attendance at the 8:15 service reminded me of the little church in Oklahoma where I first started preaching. If we had 12 people it was a good day! Many people have a church experience that includes small membership congregations. They give us some great foundational memories. Like music changes so do churches. We continue to discover the new ways God uses to reach and care for people. It is an exciting time to be involved with what God is doing at PWUMC. Times change but cold is still cold! Over the next day or two take care. We know the thaw will come and we will soon find ourselves gathered together to worship and experience the "new thing" God is doing. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve