Reflections From Sunday Evening

“Morph” - change smoothly from one image to another by small gradual steps.
This definition would continue by saying - “using computer animation techniques.”
I am using “ morph” in a different way. The church is morphing.
We have read and heard the news that mainline churches are on the decline while evangelical, non-denominational churches are growing and replacing the Methodists, Presbyterians, and others that have been around a long time.
Here is my observation. We (Methodists and the like) are not going to disappear. We are morphing into something new.
Small, gradual changes take place. Things look different. We may need to re-do our worship spaces - oh yes, we did that.
We sound different. We discover new ideas.
At the same time we preach the good news of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moves among us. We re-discover the biblical narrative. And on and on we go.
We are not dying. We are morphing into a new expression of the faithful church.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections a From Sunday Evening

Today I stood in the back of the worship center while Britton baptized two young people. It is neat to be that close and able to hear their heartfelt “I do” to questions of faith.
Will you resist evil, injustice, and oppression?
As I watched these young ladies immersed in the waters of baptism...
I turned to Talya, who was standing beside me taking it in.
Talya is an extremely gifted vocalist. Walter Bryant worked with her at Worlds of Fun. He continues to be a great supporter.
Talya sings professionally. She performs on Broadway. She tours. When she gets back to KC she loves to sing in church. We love it when she shows up. Today was a day she blessed us with music.
Anyway...she and I were watching the baptism.
I told her I remembered her baptism. Talya professed her faith at our church and was baptized here.
She remembered.
One never gets far from where they said yes to Christ and experienced the grace of baptism.
Remember? Remember!
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Competition.
We compete in many ways. Some of us are highly competitive. We want to win.
Last week we watched Uber competitive people play in the Super Bowl. ( That did go well!)
There are many other levels and types of competition.
Yesterday Cindy and I went to an indoor track meet at Northwest Missouri State. Our son, Bobby is a coach for Baker University and had some kids running, so we went to check it out.
These are not world class, Olympic type competitors. But it is healthy competition. They give it their best. They run to win, or beat a personal best, or contribute to the team. They were obviously happy to be doing what they were doing.
Sports is a proper venue for competition. A lesson to learn is at the end of the day you did your best, shake hands with others, and move on to the next opportunity.
There are areas where our competitive nature may not be as healthy. I wonder about politics.
I think about church. It seems churches compete for saints rather than lovingly seeking sinners. We measure by numbers - members, money, buildings. We get bummed when the folks up the road seem to be “winning”.
Might want to reconsider some of this.
I do compete in the spiritual life. But the kingdom values are different. We come in first by taking the last place. We gain by giving. We increase when we decrease. It is an interesting “competition”.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

When I do not have worship responsibilities I like to see what is going on in our church. It amazes me. I miss all the interactions that take place each week. There are people gathered in the dining hall sharing do nuts and fellowship.
There are classes taking place.
Small groups meet.
Worship is inspiring. (I was blessed today!)
My thoughts today as I left church were, “I think I’ll come back here!”
It is good to be part of a Christ-centered church where the Spirit moves in peoples lives.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

SUPER BOWL - Chiefs.
Happy.
See you next week
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Well that wore me out! Of course I am referring to worship and preaching today and not the Chiefs game. Ok, that’s not true. Preaching energized me today. Being with our church family on a snowy, cold day was a great blessing. Watching the Chiefs game was exhausting. But boy was that fun.
Life is full of energizing and tiring moments. Maybe this evening I will just enjoy the moment.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I stepped into one of our adult Sunday School classes today and asked if they had seen the news? They knew I was coming and I spoke to the weekends media announcement about the church splitting.
The reports that the UMC had split are premature. What was announced was basically a proposal that people from various caucus groups had agreed on. Should this proposal survive debate, amendment and who knows what else and become church rule at this Mays General Conference, the denominations position on same sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ persons would change. I would say there is a strong likelihood this could happen.
At that point a new Methodist denomination would come about. This new expression could have a more traditional interpretation of scripture relating to human sexuality. The issues get more complex but at the end of the day there would be two streams of Methodism.
When I picture PWUMC in the next few years I am not seeing the kind of vitriol and animosity I see at larger, structural levels. As a matter of fact I see people of diverse opinions worshipping together and fellowshipping together. People serve together. People unite in significant initiatives.
I see people getting together. Arguing, agreeing and disagreeing, fighting...and going to lunch!
I am hopeful and have confidence in the local church.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve