Sunday, June 29, 2014

It's been a good weekend and a good day of worship. As I wait to return to church for this evenings NEXT service I am thinking about 3 celebrations that Cindy and I have shared this weekend. There was a celebration of life, an anniversary celebration and a celebration of new beginnings. Yesterday Cindy and I drove to Willard, Mo. (just north of Springfield) for the celebration of life for Rev. Jack Montgomery. Jack was a second career United Methodist pastor who I attended seminary with. Actually there were three of us who attended seminary, served churches near one another and drove back and forth each day. Jack had a great testimony that included an adult conversion experience, the victory of sobriety, and a call to preach. Jack was a great encourager and was instrumental in 10 people hearing and responding to a call to ministry. He was a friend and a person I deeply respected. His was truly a celebration of a life well lived. This afternoon Cindy and I joined with a number of people in the anniversary celebration for Bill and Jean Ohlhausen. Bill and Jean were married in June 1954. Their life together is an inspiration for all who know them. The steady stream of people and the full Memorial Hall are testimony to Bill and Jean and their service in Platte County. It is a great joy to share in an anniversary celebration where we are able to witness the joy of marriage and life together. Bill, Jean and their family are true blessings. The third celebration came this morning as we introduced Jake Schneider and Kyle Butler as our new associate pastors. Their presence in our church represents the celebration of a new beginning. Jake has been serving two churches in Fayette, Mo. and now comes to lead NEXT and our mission program. We celebrate his new beginning and the new opportunities he will bring. Kyle has most recently been serving as an associate pastor in Kearney, Mo. He comes to us to give leadership to our Intentional Faith Development ministries. Kyle will build on the work that has brought us to where we are and provide a new beginning in our discipleship process. So you see it's been a full weekend. A weekend filled with celebrations of faith. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Reflections From Sunday Evening

What if the story of Noah was about God deciding to relate to a corrupted creation and sinful humanity differently. Rather than emphasis upon the judgment of sinners and a corrupt creation could the flood be a means toward restoration, renewal and redemption. In other words, is the Flood an act of grace that promises humanity a second chance? These are some of the ideas we have been thinking about in the current message series. Frankly it has been encouraging as we find our lives intersecting with what God is doing and experiencing our own defining moments. On another note... The celebration for Curtis, Angie and the boys (Andrew & Zach) was great. It was a good crowd. Great sharing. Meaningful moments as we rejoiced in their ministry among us. The cake was pretty good too. I think about it and realize the life of faith we live in the Church is amazing. We are able to hear God's Word read and proclaimed. We worship together. We celebrate changes in life together. We pray together. Sometimes we shed a tear together. Sometimes we laugh uncontrollably together. In Christ we do life together. It is a joy, a blessing and amazing. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too. steve

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Reflections From Sunday Evening

It is a joy to stand before the congregation week after week and see so many faithful followers of Jesus Christ. We may not always feel like it but the fact is we are God's people making a huge difference in the world. We should take heart and trust that God is using people like us to offer a redemptive witness in a needy world. When I think about culture I am convinced that God's people must stand for the best that God provides and against the worst the world produces. In our culture we witness some things that are far from the best God offers. We see a culture of violence. ...a culture of greed. ...a culture of all sorts of "isms". ...a culture of selfishness. ...a culture of death. ...a culture of confusion. ...a culture of exploitation. I could go on and you could list others that detract from God's best. There is good news. God has a people to be light in darkness, salt for savoring and hope in despair. Followers of Christ may be called to build bridges across our cultural divides. Here are a couple of thoughts about how to go about bridging the many divides in our times. First do not be threatened by people who disagree with us. To be non-threatened seek to understand (as best you can) others and be steadfast in that of which you are most convinced as being true. We do not have manuals for living is our specific times and cultures but we do have THE BOOK to lead us on the path of life. Just some thoughts as we rejoice in following, serving and loving Christ. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day as well. steve

Monday, June 9, 2014

Reflections From Sunday Evening (actually Monday - Annual Conference)

Bishop Schnase annually reminds us of the earliest Methodist conference. John Wesley wrote; "In June 1744, I desired my brother and a few other clergymen to meet me in London, to consider how we should proceed to save our own souls and those who heard us. After some time, I invited the lay preachers that were in the house to meet with us. We conferred together for several days and were much comforted and strengthened thereby." My first experiences with United Methodist Annual Conferences did not fit that style. I was introduced to conference as a time of debate, discussion and division. It was more of a legislative session where the best organized ended up with more votes on a number of issues that left some happy, some angry and many confused. Times have changed. I just returned home from Springfield where the Missouri Conference met from Friday through noon today. There was never a debate or argument on the conference floor. The conference budget (which was decreased slightly) and an initiative to reduce the number of districts was passed in less than 5 minutes. In my early days this would take over 2 hours. Times have changed. We did worship. We had outstanding learning sessions. Adam Hamilton offered great teaching. We enjoyed fellowship with one another. We received our appointments for the coming year. Ginger Pudenz, Christine Tucker-Key and Jessica Richard were re-appointed to PWUMC. Jacob Schneider and Kyle Butler were also appointed to serve at PWUMC. And I was appointed for my 10th year to serve as the senior pastor. We represent over 850 churches. There are 1000 pastors, both active and retired. We agree on many things and strongly disagree with one another on others. But we find ourselves engaged in a common mission to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." I felt it was a good conference and furthered our work. My soul was encouraged and in the weeks ahead I trust that many of the ideas and things that touched my soul will be shared so as to touch yours. May we be strengthened and comforted. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Big welcome to Dan and Ashley Cook who joined our church this morning. We always rejoice to receive new people into this faith community. Besides the joy of new people choosing to be part of what God is doing in our church we also have the opportunity to re-think our own commitment and what it means to be part of the Church. We are reminded that we take our place in a historic movement. When we say yes to rejecting evil in whatever forms it presents itself we make a statement of faith that the earliest Christians made. When we affirm the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures we take our place among Christians from every era of Church history. When we affirm our faith in Jesus Christ we stand in a holy line of faithful followers of Jesus through all ages. When we promise to uphold the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness we join with others to live our faith in Christian community. It is a great thing. Today we were reminded of this faith we profess. On another note...This evening at NEXT Dale and Nina Renee were baptized. We encouraged them as they made their profession of faith in Jesus Christ. New life is being celebrated. On yet another note...At the conclusion of our 11:00 service we recognized Dylan Cole. Dylan completed his time of active duty in the Marine Corps and got home to stay on Friday night. It was an honor to thank Dylan for his service and say welcome home. On still another note...Today was Curtis Olsen's final day to preach and share in worship at Platte Woods Church. He and Angie and the boys will be moving to Columbia to serve a great church - Community UMC. It seems like only yesterday I shared in welcoming Curtis to our staff but it has been 7 years! It has truly been a privilege to share in ministry with Curtis these past years and I wish he and Angie only the best as God opens new avenues of service. So it has been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. blessings, steve