Reflections From Sunday Evening

We are in the message series where we are remembering, celebrating and anticipating the different phases in our church's development. Today we looked at the second phase of our development when the church constructed the first classroom wing. That was in 1964. Of course we want to keep in tune with the times so we remember some of the culture and music of that era. Today the praise team featured "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". It capped our segment on the culture of the 1960's. Abbey Morris was great! I was a bit disappointed that we did not do a duet with me having the Margin Gaye part! (Well, not really since I can't carry a tune in a bucket but it would be cool if I could.) We use some cultural and secular music to illustrate a basic point. People of faith have 2 basic options when it comes to culture. We can separate from it or engage it. We can curse the darkness or light a candle. I choose to engage and seek to make a difference. I invite you to take a similar step. We anticipate engaging the culture through mission and ministry. On another note... I am anticipating what orange shirt I can wear on Tuesday. I know lots of people wear green on St. Patrick's Day but as much as I admire St. Patrick I lean toward William of Orange. After all he was the historical figure that led England at a time that secured the nation as a Protestant nation. This is your chance to brush up on your history. So if you see me in my orange on Tuesday, now you know. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Today we had a 98% yes vote to proceed with our building project. There was a great turnout for our church conference. The atmosphere was positive. Pertinent questions were posed. Honest conversation took place. Michael Short did a fantastic job presenting the plans and responding to the questions. I could not be prouder of our church. This certainly does not close the book on our work. As a matter of fact the hard work lies before us. Continue to keep us in prayer as we to move forward. Today we begin to re-focus our mission. We GO out to plant seeds of the Gospel through word and deed. We share in ministries of mercy, service and justice. We plant seeds through witness. We OFFER CHRIST in multitudes of ways. We INVITE people to Come and See what God may do in the life that seeks Him. In our Wesleyan terms we invite people to come and experience the New Birth and enter the life of grace and Christian Discipleship. On another note... We began our series on STEPS IN TIME. It was a meaningful remembrance and celebration of those who have worked and served to bring our church to where we are. The music was GREAT. We remembered, celebrated our beginnings and anticipated our future. Next week we remember and celebrate the second phase in our development - the first classrooms and the 1960's! Don't miss it. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

In spite of the snow and cold we had a good day at church. Sometimes "impact" is a better measurement than "how many". Today seemed to me to be a day of spiritual impact. Thanks to Pastor Ginger for leading us in the message and the anointing with oil along with Holy Communion. In our tradition Communion is known as a "means of grace". That means we believe that the risen Lord Jesus Christ is present in the act of communion. Communion is generally recognized as a means of feeding the soul and perfecting us in love. But our founder, John Wesley, also perceived Holy Communion as being a "converting ordinance". There is no reason why a person could not experience the new birth at the Lord's Table. Today we included anointing as a reminder that ours is a God who heals. When we stand in the presence of the Lord His grace stirs our souls. We trust Jesus as our healer. We anticipate that today some experienced greater wholeness of spirit, mind and body. On another note... Next Sunday at 12:30 we will have our Church Conference to address our building project. This is the final congregational vote where we seek your approval to move forward with the project to construct a new worship center, connecting building, youth center and support space. We will also ask your approval for the projects financial plan. This is a great step in the life of our church. We believe that our decisions made now will have impact on generations to come. I hope you will come and be part of this moment in our church's history. I have mentioned that raising the money and building the building is the "easy" part. We are embarking on an adventure where we will be called to reach a new generation for Christ. We can expect God to effect some exciting change in our church. We can expect God to do some amazing things. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

A couple of things today. Take the challenge to read 4 Gospels in 40 Days. You can download a reading plan from a number of sources. Check #LENTCHALLENGE. That should take you to Margaret Feinberg's page to direct you. Another option is YouVersion and their 40 Days. The point is we will read the 4 Gospels in the 40 days of Lent. Tell your friends. You don't need to pay attention to details. (Not this month.) When you come to a hard to understand passage just move on. Read the 4 Gospel in a broad stroke and look for the Big Idea(s) that surface. I am praying that as we read God's Word the Holy Spirit will surprise us and literally change lives. 4 Gospels in 40 Days. Today in our prayers we prayed for the Persecuted Church. 21 Coptic Christians were recently beheaded by ISIS. We stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for the name of Christ. These courageous Christians bowed before the sword and received the Crown of Glory. We pray against the evil that is rampant in our world today. For a thoughtful resource go to Gabe Lyons Call for Action. Once again our generation will learn the "persecution of Christians wakes a slumbering Church." (Gabe Lyons) Today was a blessing as we gathered to worship. I sensed the Holy Spirit coming to surprise us with His presence. Next week we want everyone to make a special effort to come to church and bring someone with you. We will celebrate Holy Communion and offer healing prayer for everyone who comes. We expect God to move in our midst. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Cindy and I took an opportunity to visit two churches this morning. We drove to Lee's Summit and attended worship at Grace UMC. Jeremy Vickers brought a very good message reminding us to "do something". As a bonus we saw a couple we have known for many years and got to have a very brief catch-up. From there we went to First UMC - The Summit - in Lee's Summit. Rev. Jim Preisig is one of our best preachers and his message was a real blessing today. Both of these churches are doing great things for God. They offer traditional worship and contemporary worship. They reinforce what we keep observing as their contemporary worship provides significant outreach to people and this is reflected in their growth. I appreciate the opportunity to visit other churches and learn what is going on. To top the day off we ate at Fazolis! While it is great to visit other places I come back with an even deeper appreciation for PWUMC. (I already have read a Facebook post expressing great appreciation and affirmation for Kyle's message today!) We are part of a church where God is at work. It is a joy to share in ministry with each of you. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. On another note... Remember to be in church this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for our Ash Wednesday service. We begin the journey to Easter as we enter this season in the Church year we call Lent. I encourage you to reflect on your spiritual life and take a step to deepen your faith and love for Christ. We begin this journey of repentance and faith. Together we walk with the Spirit. May you have a fresh insight that will take you deeper in the love of Christ. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Loved Kyle's illustration about his 5 year old nephew who watched his mother get all her answers from her iPhone. He figured she could ask her phone if he was going to have a new baby brother or sister! Check out the message on line to get the whole story. One reason it spoke to me was the point about five year olds being born into and nurtured in a technological culture. This makes me think. Why can't we bring people into and nurture them in a culture of grace, or a culture of the Holy Spirit. We would learn the language of Spirit/grace. We would expect life to be informed through our Spirit/grace culture. It seems like a worthy goal to me. On another note... I had a conversation with our new district administration person, Megan Hayes. She is in her 20's and shared a conversation she had with a friend. Megan asked her friend what she did for Easter. In the conversation her friend commented that she never connected church with Easter! Wow. It excites me to know there are people to whom I could share the greatest story ever. There are people around us who do not connect Easter with the Church. There are people who do not know that God has defeated death. There are people who will hear the good news of the gospel for the first time. I pray to be able to share with these wonderful people. I pray our church be a church that shares the greatest story ever with people yet to hear. It's been a good day. I trust you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I did things differently today. Cindy and I went to the 8:15 service. Kyle did a great job. Ginger led us in Holy Communion. It was great to share with you in worship today. Then I spoke in the Around 30's class. This is a great group of people who have led and served our church for many years. We had a good conversation. I always enjoy sharing here. After that Cindy and I did something rare. We went home with a short stop at the store along the way. So this is what people do when they do not go to church. I did run into some of our people who had already been to church. Glad they saw me in church before the grocery store! I will do some different things this month. Kyle will be preaching the first 3 weeks. (He does so well I feel like going and freshening up my resume!) I use these times to prepare for the next message series. I also take time to participate in our services. The next series is exciting me. We will be looking at our history with the various building projects undertaken. Each project was done in a specific era and setting. We will look at things from our "beginnings" to our "future". Our music will reflect the different eras. Our application will celebrate the past and find the seeds of future witness. We may even dress to reflect the decade. (Does anyone have purple bell bottoms? But back to the present. This month we are "Making Sense of the Bible." If you have questions about the Bible and how to read it for all its worth, this is a series for you. I see some great insights coming this month. Don't miss it. It's already been a good day. Now enjoy the Super Bowl. (This is becoming a national holiday you know.) blessings. steve