Just back from fellowship at Marty and Mona Kanne's with people who will be going on the mission trip to Honduras and several who have participated in past trips. There are some making their first trip outside the country - Cindy is one of them. I certainly anticipate a great trip and am confident lives will be changed.
One thing we ask people to do at Platte Woods UMC is participate in "risk-taking mission." We encourage people to do something beyond their norm at least annually. This year I plan to take a week and serve people in another culture.
Part of Christian growth and discipleship is growing in the grace of serving others. We will be working to construct a school for a village that has none at this time. Some of our members will be travelling to Mozambique later this fall. We are planning our first group to go serve in Joplin later this summer. There will also be a family mission opportunity to South Dakota.
When we go to serve I believe we are following the example of our Lord - "God demonstrates his love ..." We refer to these demonstrations of love as "incarnational ministry." With the Holy Spirit in our lives we join in "demonstrating God's love" to others. It is a great way to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We had a good summer day at church. Thanks to Scott MacDonald for filling in on the piano at 9:30. Kristy Peto stepped up and led us in worship - great job. The Wesleyan Choir always brings worship to life. It was certainly fun to sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing!"
It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Reflections From Sunday Evening
I have a friend who is pastor of a very contemporary church. They effectively use screens in worship and other forms of media to enhance their services. Needless to say they do not use traditional hymnals in their worship.
One day my friend was participating with other clergy at a special service and they stood to sing opening their hymnals. Someone turned to my friend and pointed out the obvious. "This is a hymnal. It contains the words and music to the songs we sing."
My friend was quick to reply: "I know. I've seen them before ... in a museum."
It was all good-natured but it does point out the vast changes and rapid pace of change we experience in worship.
This month we are turning to the hymnal (not singing out of it but using it for a point of reference). We are working with the message contained in the hymns of our faith. In early days of Methodism the hymn book was the "theology" book where Christians found their faith formed. Of course their hymnals would fit in their coat pocket.
We continue to seek ways to form our faith. The music of the church helps us with our understanding of God.
Today we looked at the theme of "JOY." Our hymn was "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." Here is the basic message. When we "trust" the Lord and Christ dwells in our hearts we are being formed spiritually. A key formation comes through the fruits of the Spirit, one of which is joy.
On a foundation of trust in Christ the characteristic of joy is fashioned. When joy becomes our passion we find our mission. This makes us people extending the hope of Christ into our world.
All that from a hymn!
Join me as we continue to allow the Lord to form our faith through all means at God's disposal - even something as traditional as a hymnal.
It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.
One day my friend was participating with other clergy at a special service and they stood to sing opening their hymnals. Someone turned to my friend and pointed out the obvious. "This is a hymnal. It contains the words and music to the songs we sing."
My friend was quick to reply: "I know. I've seen them before ... in a museum."
It was all good-natured but it does point out the vast changes and rapid pace of change we experience in worship.
This month we are turning to the hymnal (not singing out of it but using it for a point of reference). We are working with the message contained in the hymns of our faith. In early days of Methodism the hymn book was the "theology" book where Christians found their faith formed. Of course their hymnals would fit in their coat pocket.
We continue to seek ways to form our faith. The music of the church helps us with our understanding of God.
Today we looked at the theme of "JOY." Our hymn was "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." Here is the basic message. When we "trust" the Lord and Christ dwells in our hearts we are being formed spiritually. A key formation comes through the fruits of the Spirit, one of which is joy.
On a foundation of trust in Christ the characteristic of joy is fashioned. When joy becomes our passion we find our mission. This makes us people extending the hope of Christ into our world.
All that from a hymn!
Join me as we continue to allow the Lord to form our faith through all means at God's disposal - even something as traditional as a hymnal.
It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Reflections From Sunday Evening
It was good to be back at church after being away forAnnual Conference last weekend. Thanks to John Miller for sharing last week. Among many other things that took place at Annual Conference was the "fixing of appointments." We Methodist preachers are assigned to a church each year. All the Platte Woods UMC pastors were reappointed to serve this year. We are thrilled to be in ministry here.
Today we started a new sermon series - Lyrics. We will be taking four different hymns and looking at the messages. In earlier days the hymnal was the book where people looked to understand their theology or the way they understood God.
Today we looked at "Amazing Grace." The next three weeks we will look at the theme of joy - "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" - then "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." (By the end of June we will be looking for a Christmas carol.) Finally "I'll Fly Away."
On another note - one of the highlights of Annual Conference (check http://www.moumethodist.org/ and find the video summary) was our own Brody Smith. Brody spoke during the service our conference youth led on the last day of conference. His witness of faith and mission was totally inspiring.
On another note - Aaron Brown (pastor of St. Paul's UMC in Joplin - a church whose worship center was destroyed in the tornado) provided as inspiring a moment as I can remember from an Annual Conference session. Aaron's witness of faith in the midst of the tragedy had us totally engaged.
On another note - Cindy and I took a side trip to Joplin following conference. There are no words to explain what we saw. Joplin is a good mid-sized town (50,000). We were on the west side of town and could look across to the far east side - no houses, no trees, no buildings - But we are seeing the cleanup and it will be followed by rebuilding. We will continue to receive special gifts to send to Joplin.
On another note - watch for a complete update of the 'Trash & Treasure' sale. Sarah Majors organized the sale this year. She had great help from many, including Chris Sams. Bottom line is the sale has generated nearly $17,000 to this point. (If you need a high chair we are the place to come!) Amazing work - funds go to missions.
That about does it for today. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.
Today we started a new sermon series - Lyrics. We will be taking four different hymns and looking at the messages. In earlier days the hymnal was the book where people looked to understand their theology or the way they understood God.
Today we looked at "Amazing Grace." The next three weeks we will look at the theme of joy - "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" - then "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." (By the end of June we will be looking for a Christmas carol.) Finally "I'll Fly Away."
On another note - one of the highlights of Annual Conference (check http://www.moumethodist.org/ and find the video summary) was our own Brody Smith. Brody spoke during the service our conference youth led on the last day of conference. His witness of faith and mission was totally inspiring.
On another note - Aaron Brown (pastor of St. Paul's UMC in Joplin - a church whose worship center was destroyed in the tornado) provided as inspiring a moment as I can remember from an Annual Conference session. Aaron's witness of faith in the midst of the tragedy had us totally engaged.
On another note - Cindy and I took a side trip to Joplin following conference. There are no words to explain what we saw. Joplin is a good mid-sized town (50,000). We were on the west side of town and could look across to the far east side - no houses, no trees, no buildings - But we are seeing the cleanup and it will be followed by rebuilding. We will continue to receive special gifts to send to Joplin.
On another note - watch for a complete update of the 'Trash & Treasure' sale. Sarah Majors organized the sale this year. She had great help from many, including Chris Sams. Bottom line is the sale has generated nearly $17,000 to this point. (If you need a high chair we are the place to come!) Amazing work - funds go to missions.
That about does it for today. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.
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