Epworth UMC

Who

2012-01-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry BBC fans this Sunday will not be about The Doctor (Jesus may be the Lord of Time but he is not a time lord). However, the Doctor or the Lamb of God or the Light of the World or any number of titles might help describe and understand Jesus.

Acts 17:23 ²³ For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

How we name God says much about us and our relationship with the Divine.

O Lord, who are you? O Lord, who am I? Who are we together?

We are glowing fire in a burning bush.

We are master and apprentice.

We are lover and beloved Giving birth to a better world together.

We are artist and work in progress.

We are vine and fruitful branches.

We are partners in this mission.

We are builders of a brighter future.

We are wind in swaying treetops.

We are mother and her child.

We are friends in conversation.

We are dancers who move to joyful music.

We are wide blue sea and leaping dolphin.

We are warm spring sun and growing seeds.

We are poet and living poetry.

We are singers who fill the earth with harmony.

Mclaren, Brian D. (2011-03-15). Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words (p. 47). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this place

2012-01-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

As members of this congregation will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, you gifts, your service and your witness?

A sanctuary is any sacred or holy place. Most commonly we think of the sanctuary as the place we gather for worship on Sunday mornings.

But surely the presence of the Lord is with you in all places – from the burning bush to a winter backyard.

This Sunday by revisiting the spiritual practice of “HERE” we will learn to honor the vow of Presence in more ways than attendance at worship. Any place can become a Sanctuary when you bring into awareness the presence of God.

“A fish cannot drown in water,
A bird does not fall in air.
In the fire of creation,
God doesn't vanish:
The fire brightens.
Each creature God made
must live in its own true nature;
How could I resist my nature,
That lives for oneness with God?”
― Mechthild of Magdeburg, Meditations from Mechthild of Magdeburg

HERE can also mean declaring your presence to God – “Here I am … use me!”

Epiphany

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me …

Permission to throw out that old tree.

Our church year is designed to spend the weeks before Christmas in a season (Advent) of preparation and waiting and then focus in on Christmas and the meaning of Incarnation.

In our American consumer society, however, we have had the decorations up in the stores since October and in our homes since Thanksgiving and we’re tired of them. Even in the church we did all the good Christmas songs early. The Sunday after Christmas is often the lowest attended service of the whole year.

Still, it wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t sing “We Three Kings” on the closest Sunday to Epiphany (January 6^th, the twelfth day of Christmas) and indeed, this week we will reflect in worship on the gifts of the Magi and the star that still guides our journey to wisdom.

VBS

2011-07-29T19:39:00.000-06:00

Thanks everyon for a great week at VBS.
Look for some of the pictures on our web site in the next week as I get them uploaded.

Holy Week, Easter and beyond

2011-04-19T10:41:00.000-06:00

Put it on your calendar:

Church camp clean up day! – Saturday, May 30

(you are also welcome to come on Friday and stay the night) the camp will provide meals and lodging in exchange for your service.

Holy Week:

These last days before Easter Sunday invite us to walk through the last days of Jesus life and see how the story of death and resurrection intersects with our lives.

Maundy Thursday, 7pm – The importance of service – from foot-washing to global mission.

Good Friday, 7pm – A prayer service walking that lonesome valley.
Prayer Vigil from Friday through Saturday.

Easter Sunrise – 7am – Come to the Garden

Easter Worship 9am
Easter Breakfast 10am
Easter Worship 11am

Matthew 28:6-8 ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Places you will NOT find Jesus (Matthew 28:6)

Jesus is not on the cross. Suffering has been replaced by triumph and resurrection. The cross is intended to be a reminder of where Christ has been, not where Christ is.
Jesus is not in the tomb. We do not worship a dead hero but a Risen Savior. It has often been said that there is no place we can go to view the bones of Christ.
Jesus is no longer in Jerusalem. The Savior of the world is not bound by human geography or human limitations. Jesus goes before us in mission in our home communities.

Who Sinned?

2011-03-30T07:47:00.000-06:00

John 9:1-2 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

It is nice that we are past the mindset that earthquakes and floods are punishment from God for our failings. I think we are also past looking at people with physical or mental illnesses as either possessed by evil spirits or suffering the consequences of inherited sin.

We’re not past doubting ourselves, however. “What’s wrong with me? What did I do to deserve this? Why me?”

Jesus answer is the same for us: John 9:3 Neither this man [you] nor his parents sinned; he was born blind [insert your struggles here] so that God's works might be revealed in him [you].

Neither assigning blame nor holding onto the victim status is helpful. Opening ourselves to God’s healing and God’s ability to use our brokenness is the way of eternal life.

Come, worship, and have your eyes opened.

Holy Adventure

2011-03-21T07:28:00.000-06:00

I haven't been posting her as much these last weeks because I am posting every day on our facebook group page on our Lenten Study. Here, however, is my latest post from that page.

Day 12 – letting the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

“If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.” - Abraham Lincoln

In maybe a subtle but important difference I think Jesus would have us say, ‘If you look for the good in people you will surely find it.’

I am aware that I consciously choose to only look at the positive aspects of the Christian church. I don’t feel it is worth my time and energy to dwell on the things I disagree with either in people or in the church at large.

The aspiration is to intentionally choose to see the best in people and life and to look past the imperfections. It's not that we are able to do it perfectly. We still worry and sometimes fixate on our troubles but how much more would the negative aspects of life control us if we didn't seek out the positive affirmations?

2011-03-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Order your book

Join the Facebook discussion group

Lentent Study

2011-03-02T08:14:00.002-07:00

As I look forward to the coming weeks I want to encourage you to get on board with our Lenten Study. Our primary book will be “Holy Adventure; 41 days of audacious living.” The book is available for sale either in paperback cover or electronic edition (which can be read with free software even if you don’t own an e-reader device)

Discussion groups will include a Facebook group (search for “Holy Adventure” under groups. Our full group title is ‘Holy Adventure; Epworth UMC Kalispell Mt.’ We will also have in person discussion groups on Monday mornings and evenings and hopefully between services on Sunday depending on interest and leadership.

This coming Sunday we wrap up the Sermon on the Mount and prepare ourselves for the Lenten season of reflection.

Do not become the evil you resist

2011-02-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

We continue this week working our way through the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Quick note: this is not ‘Be a doormat and take people’s abuse.’ We are definitely called to “resist evil injustice and oppression whatever forms they present themselves.” (baptismal vows) Paul picks up the important nuance: Romans 12:21 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I acknowledge a bit of wistful (nostalgic?) yearning for the days of the civil rights marches. I would love to have been of an age to participate more directly in a movement both to change laws and more importantly to change people’s hearts.

It is from Jesus' words (and his exposure to the practices of Mahatma Gandhi) that Martin Luther King, Jr. developed the practice of non-violence as a means of effective protest. Just as Jesus reinterpreted the biblical laws for his day, King put into practice their relevance for his own day. For King and others, Jesus' words were meant to be taken literally. Though not all Christians have responded in this way, a plan to retaliate evil with love was central to King's mission.

I pray for the people in Egypt that they may find freedom through nonviolent resistance. If they use the violent tactics of their oppressors it will just confirm those tactics. Only love builds ‘the beloved community.’ (Kings favorite phrase for what Jesus called the Kingdom of God.)

No Abuse Policy

2011-02-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Valentine’s Day is coming soon. How good are you at showing love?

Sometimes we pat ourselves on the back for not committing adultery, and yet create primary relationships with work, sports, or even the internet, rather than our spouse. Are we really morally superior to anyone else? Unless you’re better than former president Jimmy Carter you are in no place to judge others.

Matthew 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus has a remarkable way of holding up a zero tolerance for anger, violence and betrayal while taking away our ability to sit in moralizing judgment of others. All are in need of the Grace of God. All are called to a life of perfection in love.

The challenge in this week’s worship is not to get lost in guilt and fear of punishment but to seek that “pathway of personal integrity which joins the inner and outer life. What we think about and our emotional lives shape how we act. Small things – like anger – are in a continuum with dangerous actions such as murder. Jesus is not denying our emotional life or personal attractions, or asking us to repress our feelings, but reminding us that we need to educate our emotions and thoughts – that what we feel and think has an impact on our overall well-being. Integrity involves the integration of the inner and outer life in ways that are life-giving for us and others. We can experience a healing of memories, emotions, and thoughts that enable us to move from alienation to reconciliation and learn to live by love and not fear.” (Bruce Epperly)

Human Relations

2011-01-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

The United Methodist Church worldwide designates this coming Sunday as “Human Relations Day.” It is one of 6 special Sundays of the year. It is timed intentionally to coincide with Martin Luther King Day but this year it seems especially relevant in light of the shootings in Arizona last week. (Also: January 11 is recognized around the world as Human Trafficking Awareness Day and “Call+Response,” a documentary film that goes undercover to expose the global slave trade, will be shown at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, at Whitefish Middle School Auditorium.)

The Sojourner’s faith community (http://www.sojo.net/) is promoting a “Peace and Civility Pledge. (see text below or follow the link)

While these national issues are extremely important they sometimes feel out of sync with the day to day issues of personal life.

Most of my time this week has been devoted to pastoral care with several people in the hospital and preparing for Arlene Barry-Fry’s Funeral this Friday at 11am. We also sent our daughter, Melissa, back to Bozeman for college and had a tense afternoon/evening waiting for news from their minor car accident along the way. (No one appears seriously injured and they did make it into Bozeman finally)

I’m not sure how these two steams of life come together or if they do. Sometimes our society objectives and our personal agendas are very different. Still, it is the journey of Life that God has given us. We just do our best to keep following God’s guiding light.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Peace and Civility Pledge

The church can offer a message of hope and reconciliation to a nation that is hurting and deeply divided. We urge those who claim the name of Christ to "put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

We pledge to God and to each other that we will lead by example in a country where civil discourse and peacemaking are rare. We will work to model a better way in how we treat each other in our many communities, across religious and political lines. We will strive to create safe and sacred spaces for common prayer and community discussion as we come together to seek God's will for our nation and our world.

1.) We believe Jesus' teaching that "Blessed are those who make peace" (Matthew 5:9). We acknowledge that most of us have been guilty of violence in our hearts and with our tongues. We hold ourselves to the higher standard to which Christ called us: to refrain from not only physical violence but violence of the heart and tongue. "Do not commit murder. Anyone who murders will be judged for it," and "Do not be angry with your brother or sister" (Mathew 5:22-23).

2.) We commit that our dialogue with each other will reflect the spirit of the Scriptures, which tell us, in relating to each other, to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (James 1:19).

3.) We believe that each of us, and our fellow human beings, are created in the image of God. This belief should be reflected in the honor and respect we show to each other, particularly in how we speak. "With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God....this ought not to be so" (James 3:9,10).

4.) We pledge that when we disagree, we will do so respectfully, without falsely impugning the other's motives, attacking the other's character, or questioning the other's faith. We will be mindful of our language, being neither arrogant nor boastful in our beliefs as we strive to "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

5.) We recognize that we cannot function together as citizens of the same community, whether local or national, unless we are mindful of how we treat each other. Each of us must therefore "put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body" (Ephesians 4:25).

6.) We commit to pray for our political leaders - those with whom we agree or disagree. "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made -- for kings and all who are in high positions" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

7.) We believe that it is more difficult to hate others, even adversaries and enemies, when we are praying for them. We commit to pray for each other, those with whom we agree and those with whom we may disagree, so that we may be faithful witnesses to our Lord, who prayed "that they may be one" (John 17:22).

Affirmed and signed by,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State ZIP]

By Another Road

2011-01-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

It seems the new year never fails to bring with it opportunities for generosity. Last year it was the earthquake in Haiti. This year we have already seen an earthquake in Chile, given generously to make Christmas better for many families and intensified the reality that the newly acquired properties are significantly underwater and costing a additional 15% to the church budget. These are current needs. And then a week from Sunday (Jan 16) is Human Relations Day, one of the six special Sundays with offerings in the United Methodist Church and on Jan 23rd are sponsoring a pancake breakfast to help Phil and Judy Lundquist’s grandson, Koby, have a van that is adapted to take a wheelchair.

For me the word "opportunity" is the key word. We're not called to have shakedowns on Sunday morning, nor are we called to lay a guilt trip on ourselves. On the other hand, I learned long ago that it wasn't my right to deny others the opportunity to give to these special circumstances and projects. It was my responsibility simply to tell the story and offer the invitation.

This Sunday’s worship theme will lift up the story of the magi and their gifts in response to their overwhelming joy, but the major focus will be on their insight to go along their way ‘by another road.’

By another road - Steve Hermes

I knew the way ahead.
     I studied the maps.
     I planned out the route.

Then I plugged in the destination into my GPS (God’s Pointing Star)

                       Recalculating …

How dare God suggest an alternative route!

I am in control!
I already put down a deposit on the motel along my route.
My route is quick and direct and arrives at my desired destination.

             Recalculating …

How do we recognize when it is time to turn down a different road or how do we adapt when the road ahead has changed on us (at least from what we expected). Our trust is that God is the road builder. Maybe the scenic route is the point of the journey. We might end up where we thought we were going. We might end up at a surprising destination of God's choosing.

Follow that Star.

In the Beginning

2010-12-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

From time before time theologians, philosophers and poets have caught glimpses of the wonder and awe of creation and tried to express it in mere words. Awe can be either fear (will the floods come and wreak havoc?) or amazement (how many stars there are!)

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

Some 13.7 billion years ago, the Universe as we know it flashed into existence. Time, space, and energy became the gifts of existence. The universe expanded and cooled rapidly. Energy condensed into matter, sub-atomic particles, radical new beings with new powers, and they in turn transform into atoms of hydrogen & helium, new beings with new powers. – The Cosmic Walk

Mere ‘words’ are never adequate. Creation is not a static thing. It is continually changing and coming into being in new ways. The first Sunday of the new year we celebrate the awe and wonder of the living and creating WORD of God.

Also we affirm that just as the world is continually being created and recreated so too we have the opportunity to become a new creation in Christ.

John 1:12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Come and be filled with Awe. Come and be transformed.

Looking for Peace

2010-12-01T09:36:00.002-07:00

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

At the risk of sounding like a Miss America contestant do we not all pray for peace in the world?

During the Advent season the messages are simple while profound; Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.

This week we lift up the Prince of Peace and ask both how we find peace on our own lives and how we can be peacemakers in families, communities and world.

Here are some suggestions from the UMC’s Rethink Church web page:

• You can refine inner peace through outward action. Practice peace. Where you hear gossip, offer a good word. Where people experience brokenness, do what you can to heal. Where sickness and death prevail, offer a moment of life’s joy. If you have tumultuous relationships in your life, do what you can to bring about peace (Romans 12:18). Pray for your enemies that they may be blessed and find peace by trusting that God knows their deepest needs.

• Listen to others. To find peace, people need to feel heard and to know they are not alone in their suffering. Infuse the conversation with God’s grace, perhaps sharing today’s Scripture. Let the hope and peace of Christ assure you that no matter the situation, peace can prevail.

Signs of Hope

2010-11-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Advent begins this Sunday, November 28th.

To prepare for this first Sunday in Advent look for signs of HOPE in the world. How is God at work? Can you remember a time when God got you through something that, at the time, may have seemed hopeless?

If we are to be sent out in ministry this season then we need to bring hope to others weather they are followers of Christ or not.

Send a card to someone in a nursing home, write a note to a youth who may be having a tough time, or call someone and reconnect. If you do not think you’ll get around to sending cards to a long list of people this year, think of those to whom it may mean the most. Invest your love and energy in sending those few cards. Share Christ’s hope, and your hope will be increased as well.

Peace,
Steve Hermes

Continually creating an inclusive and accepting family of God by modeling our lives after Jesus the Christ.

Don’t forget:
Christmas Choir Concert and Children’s Christmas Program will be combined on Dec. 12. One service at 10:00.

Afterwards there will be a pot luck. Please bring a casserole or a salad as we already have a big cake for dessert. See you there!

From Jerk to Saint

2010-10-28T10:07:00.000-06:00

Do you want to be really scared on Halloween? Answer these questions that are a pat of the historic questions asked to those seeking ordination:

1. Have you faith in Christ?
2. Are you going on to perfection?
3. Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?

The answer is supposed to be “Yes!” although we often add, “by the Grace of God.”

We know our own failures much too well to name ourselves as perfect but on this All Hallows Eve Sunday as we celebrate All Saints Day we name the saints in our lives (some of them just as much sinner as saint) and claim our place among the saints of God, disciples of Jesus the Christ.

I sing a song of the saints of God,

patient and brave and true,

They lived not only in ages past;

there are hundreds of thousands still.

The world is bright with the joyous saints

who love to do Jesus' will.

You can meet them in school, on the street, in the store,

in church, by the sea, in the house next door;

they are saints of God, whether rich or poor,

and I mean to be one too.

We move from looking at ourselves in last week’s text (Luke 18:9-14) of the tax collector and the Pharisee and saying, “What a Jerk!” to this week’s Ephesians 1:4-5 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will.

We move from jerk to saint through the grace and forgiveness of God and our whole life from then on is one of sanctifying grace – going on to perfection.

Faith of a Mustard Seed

2010-09-30T08:18:00.002-06:00

How many of us find ourselves praying, “O God if I just had a bit more faith …”
We feel inadequate. Am I good enough? Am I tall enough? Am I good looking enough? Do I have enough Faith?
Luke 17:6 The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
When insecurity has hold of us we easily hear Jesus’ words as judgment – “O Ye of little faith!”
But Jesus is usually more hope than judgment. We can also receive these same words as assurance: You’re more than enough just as you are! – If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, [and you certainly have at least that much] you could [do anything!]
I never want to hear excuses from people about being inadequate. So you’re not Jesus. Paul wasn’t Jesus either. Nor were Matthew, Mary, John or Dorcas. We are more than enough for the tasks of life God sets before us. John 14:12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.
We are enough just as we are. Let us be content with ourselves even as we seek to grow in love and faith all the days of our lives.

Success from Youth Homes in Kalispell

2010-09-25T18:19:00.003-06:00

With five children of their own, the house was full. More than full. But Sarah and Michael felt called. That is the way they describe it. Michael’s work brought him in contact with a lot of brokenness and the biggest hurt that caught him at the heart-level was kids without families. Michael knew a bit about families. He had experienced first-hand how siblings and parents are core in the formation of kids’ lives and without that core, kids often floundered through life.

Michael and Sarah don’t do anything in small ways. They are wide open and gracious; full of life and energy. In their life together, they have cared for over 60 foster children. They’ve taken in kids that have been determined ‘unadoptable’ - sometimes because of age but more often because of a physical, emotional, or mental issue that made them high needs.

The past several years have taken their toll. It has been a series of programs and professionals, institutions, counseling, and incarceration. The knowledge that loving like that – opening your heart and home, over and over and over again, can also mean having your heart broken. Still….Michael and Sarah continue to say ‘yes’.

Success stories

2010-09-23T07:46:00.000-06:00

Epworth UMYF began sponsoring Wendy in March of 2002 when she was 8 years old. She is now 16 and a sophomore in high school. We are committed to sponsoring her through her graduation. She lives with her mother and siblings in Honduras. Our monthly contributions support her through educational and Christian learning opportunities, health care and hygiene training and supplementary food if needed, as well as educational supplies. We also support her through our letter writing, Christmas and birthday gifts, and with our prayers. She supports us as well with many letters, drawings, and her prayers for us. If you are interested in supporting your own Compassion child, you can find more information about Compassion International at compassion.com.

Listening to Moses and the Prophets

2010-09-22T09:23:00.000-06:00

This week’s Scripture text is from Luke 16:19-31 in which we have the story of the rich man (unnamed – any or all of us) and the poorest of the poor, Lazarus, “covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.”

There are lots of statistics out there demonstrating that fact that humankind still tends to be hard hearted and self centered - not necessarily mean, but simply blind to those beyond our gated communities and countries. Some of them are embarrassing for the U.S.:

On that league table, the US ranks twenty-second of the 22 most developed nations. As former President Jimmy Carter commented: 'We are the stingiest nation of all'. Denmark is top of the table, giving 1.01% of GDP, while the US manages just 0.1%.

In Jesus’ story it is too late for the rich man to change but it is not too late for the rest of the world.

Luke 16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Guess what. We not only have Moses and the prophets. We have someone risen from the dead! And we can and are listening.

Our focus this week will be on the good news of the ways we are responding. I commend to you our own United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor) for stories of success and as you come to worship we will lift up many others.

As I find inspiration in others I’ll also be placing them on my blog page.

Hearts and Hands

2010-09-15T14:27:00.000-06:00

This Sunday at Epworth we will be reflecting on one of John Wesley’s (the founder of the Methodist church) often quoted line from 2 Kings 10:15 “If your heart is as mine, then take my hand.” And the scripture from Matthew 22:36-40 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

The national slogan for the United Methodist Church is “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.” If we are to do more than simply pay lip service to this ideal then we need to think carefully about what it is that holds us together even when we hold diverse ideological, political or theological ideas.

The following is from Wesley’s sermon, “The catholic spirit”:

Everyone, of course must have opinions and believe that their opinion is true or they would change their opinion, but we must know in general that we are mistaken about some things, we just don’t know in particular what they are.

A wise person, therefore, will allow some liberty to others that they hope will be extended back, that is they will no more insist on their embracing his opinions than he would have them to insist on his embracing theirs. One has to be patient with those who differ from oneself, and only asks those with whom you desire to unite in love that single question: "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?"

Do you truly seek a loving life?

It's welcome home week at Epworth

2010-09-08T18:25:00.002-06:00

Luke 15:8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'

Both Sunday School and Choir begin again this week at Epworth. Summer sabbatical at the lake is over for many people (some will have a few more Sunday’s away I am sure.) Youth Group, Bible Studies, UMW circles all surge back into life.

The sheep is returned to the larger flock; the coin is found and we’re looking forward bringing out the fatted calf for the welcome home party.

Repentance can mean the need to change from harmful/sinful behavior or it can simply be a homecoming. Invite someone who has been away for a time; welcome them to come home. No guilt necessary – just the acknowledgment that we are strengthened by their presence.

Humbled and Exalted

2010-09-02T11:42:00.000-06:00

William Sloane Coffin said "Even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat"

Luke 14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely.

But Jesus was quite a people watcher himself. Whether at the temple steps or at dinner parties he often comments about the life of faith based on what he observes.

Luke 14:7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, …

This week we listen to Jesus and ask ourselves the question, “Where does our sense of self worth come from? Is it outward status and recognition or the assurance of our sacred worth the springs from God’s unconditional love for us?”

See you in worship on Sunday and hopefully at our congregational meeting on Tuesday night.

Beyond the Valley

2010-08-23T10:03:00.000-06:00

Rev. Bob Reasner will be leading worship this coming Sunday. The following is his reflection in preparation for this coming week:

Psalm 23 is called the “Nightingale of the Psalms” by Henry Ward Beecher.

The Nightingale sings it sweetest when the night is the darkest. In life’s dark hours most of us find it hard to sing. Verse 4 suggests the attitude we need in times that leave us unsure of life’s events. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for Thou art with me;” …..

Many around us are faced with uncertain times today as jobs are gone, money is hard to come by and life ahead of us is uncertain. As a child of God we need to hear again the reminder that as God sees even the sparrow that falls, even so he sees and knows who we are, where we are and what we need as clouds may obscure our path ahead. The awareness of God’s presence makes the difference.

In Proverbs 3:6 we read, “I all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”

And in Isaiah 40:30: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Worship offers us that time of renewal in outlook and spirit! Join us Sunday

“A church is only two things. It is either a hospital for the sick and needy or a Gas Station for the weary traveler.”

Stand up straight

2010-08-17T15:54:00.000-06:00

Luke 13: 10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

18 years is a long time. 18 years being bent over. 18 years unable to look people in the face. 18 years known only as that crippled woman.

18 years is enough! Not one day more!

Luke 13: 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

Whatever spirits of weakness cause us to be bent over Jesus says, “Enough! Come daughter or son of Abraham. You are freed this day.”

Come and worship. Come and praise God who helps us to stand upright.

Does God ever get tired of our religion?

2010-08-11T11:21:00.000-06:00

Peterson’s “The Message” paraphrases Isaiah 1:13-14 in this way:

"Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings - meetings, meetings, meetings - I can't stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out!“

Isaiah’s challenge is that worship alone is never enough. You have to let the Spirit change your whole life. Faith must inform the way we live our lives every day:

Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

As fall approaches we are about to begin the work of our church through committees. We know they are necessary and helpful for the continued ministry of the church but they are a means to the end, not the ends themselves. We won’t meet ourselves to death as long as we keep the transforming work of Christ at the center of all that we do.

Join us for worship on Sunday as we try not to wear out God but rather let God empower us to new life.

Continuing God's Dream

2010-08-05T10:22:00.000-06:00

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Christian faith does not ask us to be Alice in Wonderland and believe three impossible things before breakfast. Instead it asks us to remember that God is greater and life and death itself and that the creative and loving spirit of God is still at work transforming our world.

When our dreams and visions are not fulfilled as quickly as we would like them to be we can grow weary and discouraged. But as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”

We are called to be faithful to Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God - faithful, not successful. God will be successful. We live the vision as best we can each day knowing that wemay or not see the results the Spirit dreams in us but we can know that assurance that even in the midst of pain or doubt or suffering, God is good.

“Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind. … I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! … Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!” - MLK

Peace,

Steve Hermes

Continually creating an inclusive and accepting family of God by modeling our lives after Jesus the Christ.

“What, me worry?”

2010-07-29T12:36:00.000-06:00

Luke 12:24-25 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

Those of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s may remember the ”What, Me Worry?” catch phrase from Alfred E. Newman, the poster-boy for Mad Magazine, with his raggedy smile and his boyish-looking face.

The intrigue with Alf red E. Newman was the goofy pose he struck as he asked this question: "What? Me Worry?" We could never quite tell what his question meant. In asking "What me worry?" was the point was that Newman was too dumb to know he should be worried? Or was he too smart to bother worrying?

This Sunday we reflect on worry and its root cause of our need to be in control.

When Scripture becomes Sacrament

2010-07-22T10:46:00.000-06:00

For many people who have been the church for a long time there are certain prayers and hymns and rituals that are especially meaningful. Hearing someone sing “Amazing Grace” on the radio can bring our spirits back right back into worship. Saying the Lord’s Prayer around a hospital bed can be a sacramental moment.

This Sunday’s text is the basis for the Lord’s Prayer. (Luke 11’s version) Just reciting the prayer at different times can bring us peace. In this way it is sacramental – it mediates the presence of God to us. Or we can breeze through it as fast and unthinking as we can and it becomes meaningless muttering. This week we’ll look more closely at the prayer and see if we can hear it with new ears.

Also: Vacation Bible School – Baoabab Blast will have its celebration and program. Come and hear the kids sing God’s praise!

Check out our church web page at: epworth.yacumc.org - See Pictures of VBS

What are you reading this summer?

2010-07-13T11:57:00.002-06:00

Luke 10:38-39 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.

In the midst of tubing on the lake, mowing your yard or and hiking into the wilderness, don’t forget to take some time to be holy. Find a book or two to read and recommend on to your friends.

I’m in the midst of “Faith and Fragmentation” by Philip Wogaman. I think I’ll reread Borg’s “The Heart of Christianity” and I might look into Ortberg’s “Everybody’s normal til you get to know them.” (I don’t know anything about this last book but the title is intriguing.)

Send me a note about what’s on your reading list this summer. Take time to be holy and let someone else do the dishes.

Praise God for paradoxes.

2010-05-25T07:57:00.000-06:00

Matthew 10:39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us.

I don’t want to lose my life. I don’t seek suffering. I don’t believe Jesus sought out death. But I have learned that the greatest life comes in working for Christ not self. When suffering does happen and we learn from its lashes, so to speak, then the gifts that suffering brings into our lives are of incredible richness. Even the worst the world can deal out, the execution of Jesus as a criminal on a cross brings forth the Resurrection and birth of the Church.

Thanks be to God.

Mr. Jesus, tear down that wall!

2010-05-19T08:25:00.000-06:00

Imagine a young child sitting around a campfire in ancient days asking why there are so many different languages in the world. The Storyteller responds with a lesson on arrogance and pride by telling the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11.

This Sunday we share the story of Pentecost which is a reversal of the Babel story. Through the pride and arrogance of trying to be gods the languages of the world are confused. In the Resurrection and power of the Holy Spirit the peoples of the world are brought together.

Acts 2:7-8 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

Acts 2:17 I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts 2:21 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

This Sunday we reflect on these stories in dialogue with Ron Klusmeier, and Walter Farquharson song, “Walls that Divide.”

Though ancient walls may still stand proud and racial strife be fact
Though boundaries may be lines of hate. Proclaim God’s saving act

Walls that divide are broken down
Christ is our unity
Chains that enslave are thrown aside
Christ is our liberty

This broken world seeks lasing health and vital unity,
God’s people, by God’s word renewed, Cast off all slavery;

Call no one unclean

2010-05-03T18:58:00.000-06:00

In our vows for baptism we are asked:

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?

One might think that the church has always been opened to people of all ages, nations and races but that is not the case. The early church struggled hard with opening itself to the non-Jewish populations that were invited in by Jesus and Paul. New people bring new customs and don’t necessarily value time honored traditions.

Acts 10-12 presents a key moment in the life of the church. Would it turn inward and remain a Jewish sect or move outward to become a world faith? The other apostles had good reason to be concerned: they knew deep down that welcoming the Gentiles as equals would change their theology, ritual, and emerging church.

We still struggle with diversity today. There is both a richness and a threat when opening our lives to new people and cultures.

I do want to make something clear about my involvement in the events of last Thursday evening’s demonstration at the library. I was not protesting anything. I believe in the right for people to speak their mind and assemble freely. I was instead lending my voice to the message that “we believe we have been called to show respect for all humanity, bring love to our neighbor, and show compassion for those who suffered unspeakable horrors.” and “Even more important, we believe we must stand together to support a vision of a Flathead Valley where people are unified in diversity, living with respectful mutual understanding, and affirming all people as sacred.” My participation was intended to raise the voice of Jesus’ love louder than any voice of anger, fear or hate. We don’t need to be in direct conflict but we also cannot remain silent.

Unconditional Love

2010-04-26T09:04:00.000-06:00

The season between Easter and Pentecost is the time when we try and wrap our minds around the concept of the radical natureof God’s unconditional love for us. The cross reveals the extent God will go to in order to demonstrate that love.

God’s love is a gift – a free gift. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. There is nothing you can do to make God love you less. Before we can talk about any other aspect of our faith we have to fully integrate this knowledge into every aspect of our being.

“There is nothing you can or must do to earn that relationship of solidarity with God. It has always been there. It is always there. It was there before we were old enough to do anything but cry when we were hungry or uncomfortable. It has been there through our lives. It is there when we deny it. It is there when we ignore it. It is there when we go astray and behave in ways that are painful to God, when we harm ourselves or others. It is there when we are not capable of perceiving it, as in the dementia that often accompanies old age. It is there because God has determined that it will be there. God’s presence and solidarity with us is God’s decision, demonstrated on the cross. It has nothing to do with any decision of ours. We can’t earn it. We don’t have to.

The matter is very different when we look at the divine-human relationship from the human side.

God does not force Godself upon us.

The real issue before us humans is not whether we are saved. It is whether or not we will acknowledge our salvation and work to live into it, to incorporate it into the way we live, to reap its benefits for our lives and for the world. [Liberating Christianity, Thomas C. Sorensen, p 137]

Feed my Sheep

2010-04-15T07:43:00.000-06:00

While the research on happiness covers a lot of ground and is certainly nuanced at points, much of the data seem to overlap at a deceptively simple conclusion: whatever else may be helpful – health, wealth, and what not – two things are absolutely essential to feel happy: 1) a sense of belonging to a community and 2) the belief that what you do matters. Those are the two key predictors of fulfillment and productivity: belonging and purpose.

Isn't that just what Jesus offers Peter in these verses: he is brought back into the discipleship community and he is given meaningful work to do.

Sunday morning worship is connecting to the community. What meaningful feeding of sheep do we do?

Do you Love me?

2010-04-13T10:42:00.000-06:00

John 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.”

"Love means never having to say you're sorry" is a line from the novel and 1970 film Love Story.

I think John Lennon may be been closer to the truth when he said, "Love means having to say you're sorry every fifteen minutes."

Hate means never having to say you’re sorry. Love means you’re willing to sacrifice your pride and make amends even when you’ve both been in the wrong. Love means hanging in with each other and working through the hurt.

How many times must we seek to restore the relationship? 3 times? 7 times? 70 times 7 times?

Thank you Jesus for reaching out even to those who betrayed and abandoned you. We’ll try to continue to tend your lambs.

Some late thoughts on the Hati and Chile earthquakes

2010-04-08T17:42:00.000-06:00

As earthquakes and other natural disasters continue to occur around our world we need to remember some of the more peace giving portions of Scripture. Among my favorites is Isaiah 54:10:

‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Now that’s what I call getting it right. (thanks to Jon Stewart for reminding us of this passage written to the people returning after their exile in Babalyon)

Here is another approach to the doubting Thomas story:

2010-04-08T10:50:00.000-06:00

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

If we want to experience the resurrected Christ we have to put our hands on the wounds made by the violence of our world. How might we do that here in Kalispell?

Engage God in dialogue surely, but engage God in practice as well. Get your hands dirty.

Here is one way to help

In-Kind Donation Requests for the first Flathead Valley Project Homeless Connect which will be held June 9th.

Diapers
New socks
New underwear (highly requested)
Sleeping bags/blankets
Duffel bags/backpacks, old or new
Nail Clippers
$5 phone cards
$15 gas cards
Toothbrush/tooth paste
Shaving cream and razors
Shoes (gently used)
Infant/Children’s Clothes

Bring them to the church or donations can be received at the Samaritan House Administrative Building, 1110 2nd Street West in Kalispell from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Doubting Thomas

2010-04-06T08:27:00.002-06:00

Sometimes people are surprised when I say I would rather do a funeral than a wedding . Now don’t get me wrong – in general life I would rather attend a wedding than a funeral but as a pastor I would rather conduct a funeral. Why? Because weddings are often show off events where the church is just a pretty building and couples spend hours going over the decorations and minutes considering the vows. As a general rule at a funeral the games are dropped. People just need each other and care for each other. The shock of death helps to reevaluate the meaning of life. From a pastoral perspective it seems more productive time spent.

In a similar manner, I would rather have conversations with people about what they don’t believe. These conversations always seem more productive and faith has a chance to grow when we name what we struggle with. When people simply give me testimonies of their faith I am sometime left wondering if they are trying to prove themselves to me as if my approval is necessary.

So give me Thomas who says:

John 20:25 "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Give me Abraham in Genesis 18 who will argue with God or Job who will defend himself

Mark 9:24 "I believe; help my unbelief!"

Question Authority! Question God! The Truth will always be able to stand its own ground.

Palm Sundy followup

2010-03-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

Did you think that the Palm Sunday parade was simply a thing of the past? Check out this article from this year’s Palm Sunday parade in Jerusalem

Separation wall of Jerusalem breached

BETHLEHEM – Palestinian Christians, along with international and Israeli supporters, gathered at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem for Palm Sunday prayers and then marched to East Jerusalem. Marchers demanded their right of worship for Holy Week at sacred sites and pushed their way past the separation wall checkpoint at Gilo into Jerusalem.

Fifteen persons were arrested, including a U.S. student. Reportedly a donkey one person was riding was also detained.

Israel only allowed a limited number of Christian Palestinians to enter Jerusalem for Easter week.

Demonstrators reportedly remained peaceful throughout the protest.

Pilate was doing the very same thing – limiting gatherings of people for fear of unrest in the city. If you missed Sunday’s sermon on this topic visit our webpage and listen to it there.

Check out our church web page at: epworth.yacumc.org

Palm Sunday

2010-03-25T10:38:00.000-06:00

Three processions entered Jerusalem on a spring day in the year 30. It was the beginning of the week of Passover, the most sacred week of the Jewish year. In the centuries since, Christians have celebrated this day as Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. With its climax of Good Friday and Easter, it is the most sacred week of the Christian year.

From the South came Caiaphas with the sacred procession of the sacrificial lamb – the leaders of the church in spiritual splendor with robes and incense, sacred music.
From the west came Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, entering Jerusalem at the head of a column of imperial cavalry and soldiers. This is the parade of the power of empire.
From the East, riding down the mount of Olives on a donkey surrounded by children waving branches from the trees is a peasant procession led by the Galilean teacher Jesus.

Join us this week as we tell the Palm and Passion story and choose:

Which procession shall we join? Whom will we follow?

Prayers for Peace

2010-02-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Conflict and violence are a continuing reality in our world.

Even 2000 years after the coming of the Prince of Peace we engage in fox like deception. Our own Jerusalem of Washington D.C. is threatened by prophetic voices.

How we deal with conflict says a lot about the character of our faith. Jesus is warned that Herod finds him a threat and we know that Herod will follow through having already had John the Baptist beheaded. Jesus, however, does not either cower from the threat or return evil with evil. Jesus maintains his course of action even as he laments the state of the world

Oh, [people of earth], how often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! – Luke 13:34

During Lent we don’t sugar coat our world. It continues to be violent. We do remain hopeful, however, because through the strength of convictions of modern day disciples a day is coming when we too can shout, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' Luke 13:35

Lent

2010-02-18T18:31:00.002-07:00

The following is by Daniel Benedict and helps us continue in our Lenten season:

Lent is a time to prepare for Easter. It is a necessary prelude. The death and resurrection of Christ are true whether or not I prepare for Easter. However, without my heart and life being ready, I may not experience the depth and power of Christ's death and resurrection. So with my brothers and sisters, I commit myself to disciplines for conversion from sin and death to love and life in Jesus Christ. With the aid of the list below, I make the following commitments to discipline and growth for the next six weeks:

(Check the ones you desire or feel prompted to do; circle the ones you then decide to do.)

Inward and Personal Disciplines

___ Spend time in solitude each day.

___ Read a book for inner growth.

___ Begin to keep a journal of prayer concerns, questions, reading.

___ Focus on thanksgiving, rather than on asking, in prayer.

___ Give myself a gift of three hours to do something I always say I don't have time to do.

___ Find a way to go to bed earlier or sleep in so I get enough rest.

___ Make a list of people with whom I need to be reconciled. Pray for them and let Jesus guide me in my thinking and feeling toward them.

___ Go to all of the Holy Week services as an act of love and waiting with Jesus.

___ Take one hour to inventory my priorities and plan how I will reorder them.

___ Give up a grudge or a rehearsal of a past event.

___ Forgive someone who has hurt me.

Outward and Social Disciplines

___ Take on some loving task:

___ Plan to visit a "shut-in" neighbor or church member weekly.

___ Write a letter of affirmation once a week to a person who has touched my life.

___ Listen and respond to Christ's call to a ministry of service:

___ Go to coffee or dinner with someone I want to know better.

___ Begin to recycle waste from my home and workplace.

___ Give blood and recall the cross.

___ Say "NO" to something that is a waste of money and time.

___ Pray to God to help me resist racial prejudice and to give me courage in opposing it.

___ Decide to become a member of the church and speak to a pastor or lay leader.

___ Rebuke the spirit of criticism and my own tongue out of control.

___ Find a way to live out the baptismal promise to "resist evil, injustice, and oppression" in the power and liberty God gives us.

Love Never Ends

2010-01-25T10:13:00.001-07:00

There are times in the cycles of our lives that some things get put on the back burner and fail to get done not because we don’t value them but because other things have been deemed more important at this time.

I haven’t blogged or written much in the past couple of weeks only because I chose to focus more time in that hospital calling and getting started in Stephens Ministry training. At least the weekly emails are important to me and I’ll try and keep up on them more regularly.

In worship this week: 1 Corinthians 13 – Love is patient, love is kind … love never ends.

If Love never ends then why do marriages fail? Why do relationships fail? To borrow from Paul’s language structure:

If I were to say I love you each day … if I were to bring flowers every week
But strike you when I am angry … then this is not love. This is not a marriage.

When a relationship is lacking in patience and kindness
When it has become envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. When one partner consistently and forcibly insists on its own way; is irritable or resentful;
When we find ourselves actually rejoicing in wrongdoing, love is gone.

Love never ends, but our ability to act in love is not perfect. Let us come an rededicate ourselves to living in God’s love.

Open Hearts

2010-01-14T10:21:00.001-07:00

From IALAC (I Am Loveable and Capable) to Luke 4:18-19 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Our faith is a balance of personal piety and social concern.

The cycle often operates like this: God touches our lives and we come to see ourselves as loved children of God. Then we respond because our eyes have been opened in new ways and our hearts have been opened. As a line from this past Sunday’s movie, Call and Response, noted, “Justice is What Love Looks Like in Public”

We think globally because the world is our parish but for the most part we act locally. We have to act locally if we want real substantial change to occur. Acting locally is acting personally and once again it is our lives that are engaged in the movement of the Spirit and our hearts are healed.

Peace,
Steve Hermes

Continually creating an inclusive and accepting family of God by modeling our lives after Jesus the Christ.

God does not cause earthquakes. Physics causes earthquakes. God causes compassion. Work with God. Pray and donate. Give to UMCOR at umc.org. They're already there, and the best.

The United Methodist News Service has already posted stories on the tragedy and will have ongoing coverage about United Methodist mission teams that are in Haiti, response efforts by the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and what local churches are doing to provide aid. Stay tuned to http://www.umc.org/haiti for more information.

United Methodists have had a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti. The strong ties between the Methodist Church of Haiti and The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) helped in facilitating the opening of the UMCOR Haiti field office in 2005. 100 percent of Advance gifts made will go to support relief and development efforts due to emergencies in Haiti.

Support for relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 418325 (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=pmLZKcM3KtL8JtJ&s=8pKLLZOwH8JNI1PyHmH&m=llIXLkN2ImJ7E)

The Work of Christmas

2009-12-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

While the Hermes family is still in the midst of giving thanks for the generosity of Epworth in the Christmas season (including personal thanks for the gift from the congregation) we are also looking forward to the possibilities of the coming new year. Visions of what God can be doing in Kalispell through and with us are overwhelming in the most positive and exciting sense. It is hard knowing that we have to balance the beginning of our year with looking at some serious cuts in our spending habits to bring ourselves into line with the tithes and offerings that we have had committed but as long as we keep the work of Christmas before us I am sure we will find incredible joy in the coming year.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…
And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.

-- Howard Thurman, adapted

My Soul Magnifies the Lord

2009-12-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to me that as adults we occasionally lose vision for our future. We get to a point where we can’t imagine things changing for us. We’re too old to start over (although quite often there is less truth to that than we imagine.)

When a baby is born that spark of life fills us again with greater vision. The vision is not just for the baby but for our whole world and ourselves in particular as we dream about the difference we can make with God’s help.

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Luke 1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

At Christmas we try and regain that spark of hope and vision for how the world can be.

Think back to your dreams for your own life or for our world. Remember that God is not some distant judge watching from afar. God is the very power of being itself still made flesh among us today. New life, new possibilities are constantly created among us. Rejoice!

More symbols of the Christian tradition

2009-12-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

This one who God sent to redeem us was called in the Hebrew tongue, the Messiah: In Greek he was called the Christ. Thus the church used the first two Greek letters in the word Christos for the Chi Rho, a monogram for the Savior who would bring in the rule of God. This Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Likewise, early Christians took the first three letters in our Lord’s given name, Jesus, to form the monogram of IHS or IHC.

More Chrismons

2009-12-02T11:35:00.002-07:00

Faithful, over hundreds of years, the Hebrews awaited the day of God’s salvation. Never did they entirely lose hope. Their symbol of faith was the Creator’s Star (also know as the Star of David) that symbolized one God who acts in the world in creation and the six days of creation. It also represents the heritage God chose for Jesus to be a part of.

Again and again, the Hebrew prophets foretold the joyful time of the Lord’s deliverance.

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. Isaiah 31:1

Hence the symbol of the Christmas Rose. But what kind of events would herald God’s act of redemption? Would there be great disturbances upon the earth? Would a heaven-sent King vanquish the armies of powers and principalities?

No, in one story there was only a star seen by some wise ones, foreigners at that. In another story the announcement comes to some humble shepherds, and a newborn babe in the manger of a Bethlehem stable.

God works in surprising ways to bring us to the warmth and joy of forgiving love.

Symbols of the Christian jouney - Chrismons

2009-12-02T11:33:00.002-07:00

The tree itself, green throughout the year, is a symbol of eternal life. The lights speak to us of the Light of the World, the Christ who came at Christmas.

Our first Chrismon is the Orb – a symbol of the earth. It also represents all of us who are earth-dwellers. Circled in gold, the Orb promises a glorious day for tired, old earth and its burdened people – the day when God shall come and dwell among us, and humankind shall live as God intends.

A season of Hope or a season of Dread?

2009-11-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

Better watch out! 2012 is coming soon. (At least to a theater near you.)

The doomsayers, the fear mongers are already working up their next end of the world scenarios. Like the 1970’s “Late Great Planet Earth” or the more recent popular “Left Behind” series the mood proclaimed is that Jesus is coming soon and this time he’s really cheesed off. Sometimes our theology come across as Jesus as the great Santa from whom you better watch out, you better not pout, you better not cry. I’m telling you why … He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good so …

Luke 21:25-36 25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.

For my money there is enough real threat in the world without people with hell and damnation if they don’t believe just right

When people are still losing their jobs or can’t find adequate employment
When mounting debts cause some to choose between feeding their family or paying the doctor’s bills
When farmers are struggling with a decade of drought (whether as a result of human caused global warming or natural cycles of our planet)
When hurricanes and Tsunamis devastate coastal towns
When addictions and/or violence ruin families
When cancers and life threatening blood clots, car accidents or worries for our children fill us with fear and depression

Advent is the time to loudly proclaim the Good News and the Hope of the Christmas season. It is precisely when things look their worst the God is most noticeably with us!

Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

Christ the King Sunday

2009-11-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

I can easily preach a sermon on the general theology of what it means to name Jesus as king/lord and the good points of that metaphor and the potentially dangerous misinterpretations of the king language.

It’s another thing (and a more important thing) to really ask what does it mean to me personally? When I say Jesus is my King what specifically does that mean? How does it affect the way I live my life. That’s the real question that I’ll try and take more intentional time to articulate on Sunday.

Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords

2009-11-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is a familiar phrase to church folks especially at both Christmas and Easter but what does it really mean to us?

This Sunday, Nov. 22, is the last day of the church year. (Nov. 29 is the first Sunday of Advent which is the beginning of the church year.) The question is raised for those who have been through the church year cycle, “Now that you have heard of Jesus’ life and teachings, death and resurrection is your allegiance with yourself or your government and its status quo or is you allegiance going to be with Jesus?”

Consecration Sunday was one of the ways we demonstrate our allegiance.

What does it mean for us to say that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords? The closest any of us have probably come to a king is the King of Spades in a deck of cards or to a boat load of fries at Burger King.

There are dangers in the use of King language. It is too easily taken literally as political power and the power of control and manipulation. Jesus has to actively reject and flee from that notion of king:

John 6:15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

I Pledge Allegiance …. To whom? To what?

As a church we do make the declaration that Jesus is our Lord and then once again throughout Advent and the rest of the church year we will again explore what that really means to the way we live our life. What kind of King is Jesus?

Join us for this great ADVENTure!

Consecration Sunday

2009-11-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

We will have a single combined worship service this Sunday at 10am. Dinner following. Hope to see you there!

What do we see in our neighbor?

2009-11-05T08:41:00.002-07:00

As I tried to actually see people yesterday I noticed fathers and mothers dropping off their children at daycare. Some come in tired just moving through the start of the day. Some come in energized feeding of the energy of youth. One young man even helped his son get back in the minivan so he could take a larger more dramatic leap out of the door into the parking lot and then they raced up to the door. Sometimes there are tears in separation. Often there is a crowd at the waving window as the parents go off to work. Family is so important.

Later in the day I was in the doctor’s office getting some vaccinations so I could volunteer in the hospital chaplain’s program and while there I observed a man about my age barely able to get out of his chair and walk to the back even with the aid of his wife and a cane. There but for the grace of God go I.

On the way down from the hospital I stopped in to visit Olive Simpson in Buffalo. Her daughter Bev was there whom I had met more than once but never really had a chance to talk to individually. Lesson: Olive is ready whenever her time is ripe. We are not designed to live forever and at some point we recognize that and embrace the fullness of the cycle.

Later that night youth group and choir I was pleased to see them helping to get ready for this weekend’s bazaar and also noticing that I don’t know all of them. I hope that will always be the case assuming that they are bringing in new friends on a regular basis.

Jesus observed everyone from the wealthy to the poor widow and made sure the disciples knew that God valued each of the just as they were. The only condemnation in Jesus’ teaching is set aside for those who take advantage of others while making a show of their faith.

On trying to see as Jesus might see

2009-11-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

Mark 12:41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

It is easy for me at least to be caught up on my own thoughts so much of the day that I don’t see people in any deep sense.

My goal tomorrow is to be a people watcher. I know I will see families bringing their children in to Daycare. I have a couple of appointments of people dropping in to see me. I’ll be at Toastmasters and the up at the Summit to get my shots so I can be a volunteer chaplain on call in the ER or ICU at night. Then I might go over to the mall or some other public shopping area and try and see people as they are.

Before we can learn anything about ourselves or our society or make any judgments about our lives we have to take the time to sit down and look around.

Family Fun

2009-10-29T10:29:00.000-06:00

We had in the neighborhood of 150 people attend the All Hallows Eve event last night.

1 Corinthians 15:54 "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

Here is a direct link to some of the pictures.

http://epworth.yacumc.org/Hallows.html

Riddikulus!

2009-10-28T10:31:00.000-06:00

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me.

One of the first times I took my son trick-or-treating we only made it to 3 houses. At that 3rd house a teenager was lying on a lawn chair dressed as a straw filled scarecrow. After going past him and getting up to the door he would jump up and come over with the candy to give out. It scared Sky so much we were done for the night.

I remember the discussion we had afterward about how vampires and ghosts and zombies are not real and the trick to making us less scared of them is to learn to laugh at them.

The idea of mocking Satan is not new. Martin Luther said, “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn” and Thomas More said, “The devil…the prowde spirite…cannot endure to be mocked”. It is no wonder C.S. Lewis uses these quotes in his epigraph to The Screwtape Letters.

For All the Saints

2009-10-27T10:09:00.002-06:00

This Sunday is All Saints Sunday and we will be honoring especially those of our church family who have died in this past year. We'll have a candle lit for them

Please remember in your prayers:
Harold Van Dusen
Clark Fontaine
Kay Wheeler
Don Zerbe
SuEllyn Campbell
Keith Albright

Outlaw Christmas and Haloween?

2009-10-26T09:55:00.000-06:00

Did you know that Christmas is a Pagan holiday? Its origins are a festival called Saturnalia. Beginning on December 15th, the Romans held this seven-day celebration in honor of Saturn, god of agriculture. The winter solstice often fell around December 25 on the Julian calendar—following these seven days of feasting, revelry, and merrymaking. To commemorate the lengthening of days marked by this solstice, many Romans also enacted rituals that glorified Mithra, the god of light from ancient Persia.

Maybe we should outlaw Christmas in our churches

The Roman Catholic Church had the habit of absorbing pagan traditions into Christendom, soon converting this holiday commemorating the birth of the sun god into Christ Mass, a ceremony honoring the birth of the Son of God, whose actual date of birth is uncertain.

Halloween or All Hallow Eve is a similar story. The Celtic festival of Samhain (sow en) was a festival marking the beginning of the winter or Dark half of the year. The day before Samhain is the last day of summer (or the old year) and the day after Samhain is the first day of winter (or of the new year). Being “between” seasons or years, Samhain was (and is) considered a very magical time, when the dead walk among the living and the veils between past, present and future may be lifted in prophecy and divination.

You can begin to see some of Halloween’s traditions.

The church again chose to absorb and transform the holiday rather than fight it outright. It began as a tradition of honoring those people who gave up their life for their faith – the martyrs. All Saints Day or All Hallows Day. The Night before All Hallows Day thus becomes All Hallows Eve or Halloween.

Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are going to absorb Halloween by laughing at death and other things that cause us fear. At our Wednesday night dinner and party and again on Sunday with our recognition of the saints in our life that have died in this past year.

What do you pray for?

2009-10-22T08:16:00.000-06:00

Today’s “Bliss” comic shows a grown man kneeling beside his bed in prayer “What part of ‘Porsche 911 Targa 4S with direct fuel injection and VarioCam Plus’ don’t you understand?!”

As I visit in the hospital I ask people what they would like us to pray for. Not surprisingly I never hear requests for fancy cars or fame. When the illusions of control are gone we are humbled by the simple requests for strong legs, simple breathing and the chance to be at home with our loved ones. In this very insight we are made well regardless of whether the fever goes down or the cancer goes into remission.

Mark 10:51-52 51 Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." 52 Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Lord Have Mercy

2009-10-21T08:42:00.000-06:00

Mark 10:49-51 And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?"

What do you want from Jesus? Do you have the courage to ask?

Sometimes we don’t ask because we are afraid of appearing selfish. (Other people are in more need than me.) Maybe we are afraid we might actually get what we pray for and then our lives will change. (If our troubles define us we might unconsciously choose to remain as we are.)

I don’t believe that prayer will heal every cancer or eye disease but I do believe that if we bring our real problems along with our fears, doubts and anxiety to God then we can be made whole through our faith.

Will you come and pray with us this Sunday?

P.S. Look for the latest newsletter on “Current News” tab of our web page: epworth.yacumc.org

Lay Leadership

2009-10-21T08:24:00.002-06:00

It’s time for us to look at the leadership of our church for the coming year.

Mark 10:43-44 but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.

How will you be in ministry this year?

This coming week the Lay Leadership team of our church will begin its work of nominations for church offices but more than that it will attempt to help each of us articulate a call to ministry.

Isaiah 6:7-8 "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

Just as we are asked to give a portion of our income to God’s work so we can also tithe our time.

Your ministry may or may not be directly in or through the church but it is a Call in the service of Christ. Still, the church does need people’s help and your dedication is what moves us beyond the One-Man-Band model and into the beauty of the Orchestra working together for Christ.

Where are you going to be in ministry this coming year? Don’t necessarily wait to be asked. Volunteer!

One Man Band or an Orchestra?

2009-10-13T20:00:00.002-06:00

A one man band can be quite an entertaining novelty but no matter how talented the single musician might be the combined richness of sound of a 100 piece orchestra is in a class of its own.

Pastors and lay leaders of the church sometimes are tempted to be a one man band for Christ but in doing so we actually do a disservice to the church. The church should be about helping people find their calling in service and ministry and giving them opportunities for expression of that call.

Mark 10:43-44 whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.

This coming week the Lay Leadership team of our church will begin its work of nominations for church offices but more than that it will attempt to help each of us articulate a call to ministry.

Isaiah 6:7-8 "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

Your ministry may or may not be directly in or through the church but it is a ministry in the service of Christ. The orchestra of God depends on the harmony of all of the voices under the direction of Jesus woven together into the composition God is writing.

Where are you going to be in ministry this coming year? Don’t necessarily wait to be asked. Volunteer!

Called to ministry

2009-10-12T20:49:00.000-06:00

I’m spending the early part of my week at the Board of Ordained Ministry meeting in Three Forks Mt. Here we are listening to the faith stories of three people in the process of being ordained as pastors in our church. Each candidate gets to preach before the board, discuss papers they have written on their overall theology, and discussing their experiences in practical matters of serving local churches.

Candidates for ordained ministry must write responses to a variety of questions from “How do you understand the following traditional evangelical doctrines: (A) repentance; (B) justification; (C) regeneration; (D) sanctification? What are the marks of the Christian life?” and “What effect has the practice of ministry had on your understanding of humanity and the need for divine grace?”

This afternoon we heard Mark Calhoun (serving in Polson) preach for us. Tomorrow we’ll get to talk to him about his papers, his preaching and the practice of ministry. Then we’ll either recommend him for ordination or refer him back for more study/reflection.

If anyone is interested I’ll share the whole list of questions candidates have to respond to and you can do some thinking about how you might respond.

From Birth to Death

2009-10-08T08:37:00.002-06:00

Even as I have been praying for children this week I had the blessing of meeting some of those on the other end of the journey. I was privileged to hear stories from Bernie Alt who is at the Veterans home in Columbia Falls. He comes alive as he speaks of his life with the Forest Service.

While the Children’s Sabbath is important we need to be careful not to fall into the trap of worshipping youth at the expense of those grown. This includes the things we do around the church. Not everything should be geared towards the youngest generation. One of our visitors this past Sunday was a woman who is looking for another church because her home church offers nothing but a contemporary worship music experience.

Learning from Children

2009-10-07T10:50:00.000-06:00

As we continue to reflect on the Children’s Sabbath recall this book by Robert Fulghum.

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned:

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don't hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don't take things that aren't yours.
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Children's Sabbath Sunday

2009-10-06T16:11:00.000-06:00

Our new website is being fleshed out more each day! Check out our new online calendar link: epworth.yacumc.org

This Sunday we will celebrate Children’s Sabbath. Our new Cherub choir will sing at both services.

Of course we will welcome the children and be glad for their presence but welcoming them is not enough. We must protect them. Let’s start just by being aware of some of the problems:

Each Day in America
2 mothers die in childbirth.
4 children are killed by abuse or neglect.
5 children or teens commit suicide.
8 children or teens are killed by a firearm.
33 children or teens die from accidents.
78 babies die before their first birthdays.
201 children are arrested for a violent crime.
404 children are arrested for a drug crime.
928 babies are born at low birthweight.
1,154 babies are born to teen mothers.
1,240 public school students are corporally punished.*
2,224 babies are born without health insurance.
2,367 high school students drop out.*
2,479 children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
2,583 babies are born into poverty.
4,184 babies are born to an unmarried mother.
4,520 children are arrested.
18,493 public school students are suspended.
* Based on calculations per school day (180 days of seven hours each)
From the Children’s Defense Fund website, http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Let’s celebrate the ministries of our Kalispell churches:

2009-09-29T07:31:00.002-06:00

First Presbyterian Church is active in various Habitat for Humanity projects and has a newly revitalized Care Team ministry which goes beyond simple visitation to help with such things as rides to doctor visits and meal support in times of crisis.

Bethlehem Lutheran is excited about their participation in a statewide Montana Synod Prison Ministry at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Whoever is not against us is for us

2009-09-28T07:28:00.000-06:00

Mark 9:40-41 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

This coming Sunday, October 4, we celebrate World Communion Sunday.

I’ll be soliciting information this week on the favorite ministries of other churches around our area. I would invite you to post comments on some of important ministries that you have seen/participated in at different times in your faith life.

Check the pastor’s blog regularly during the week and see what I am learning. epworth.yacumc.org. (This is a link to our new web page! Pastor’s blog is a link off of it.)

Peace,
Steve Hermes
Continually creating an inclusive and accepting family of God by modeling our lives after Jesus the Christ.

Blogs and Web pages

2009-09-25T09:23:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the limited blogging these past two weeks. I've been developing our main web page. Check it out at epworth.yacumc.org

A Definition of Sin

2009-09-23T08:32:00.000-06:00

For some people sin means “breaking the rules” for which you deserve punishment. The weakness of this definition is that all one needs to do is to change the rules and then you’re OK. If the church says its OK or you can find a passage of scripture to support your position then you act without guilt even if it harms someone else.
A better definition of sin is “broken relationship.” Broken relationship between yourself and God, yourself and another or within your self. Even if we are not technically in the wrong, if broken relationship is experienced, sin is present.

John 3:17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Look for further discussion in the coming days and on Sunday, but is divorce sin? I would say that by definition it is sin. It is broken relationship. The divorce itself is likely not the sin, however. The brokenness is the process leading up to the divorce. Indeed, sometimes the divorce is the step towards healing the brokenness. As they say, all marriages may be born in heaven, but many of them are currently living in hell.

Who do you say I am?

2009-09-19T17:24:00.000-06:00

From “Hello” and “How are you” to “Where do you live?” “Do you have family nearby?” and “What do you do for fun?” we get acquainted with each other.

To move from acquaintance to friend we must seek insights into values, behaviors and character. And even in a relationship of 50 years there can be surprises and insights to be gained.

First Jesus asks, “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27)

But the deeper question is “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29)

Getting to know Jesus is similar. We are introduced by friends or family. We learn basic information in worship or Sunday school. But the real relationship develops over a lifetime. One of the challenges with Jesus (as well as our long term friends) is to be open to the idea the Jesus is more than we first thought or imagined. If we try to keep Jesus in a tightly defined box of our theology we may be surprised when he turns to us and says “Get behind me Satan for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” (Mark 8:32)

Join us in worship Sunday and we’ll talk about the many faces and relationships we have with Jesus.

A Pastoral Letter to the Whole Church

2009-09-11T16:38:00.001-06:00

I loved the firefighter's tribute today to remember 9/11 and thought I'd review our Bishop's response from 8 years ago. Here it is for your reflection:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace be to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The sad and terrible events in the United States of America, on Sept. 11, 2001, and beyond, compel us to speak words of hope and peace to United Methodist people in the 120 annual conferences in more than 50 countries of the world. Stunned and shattered by terrorist attacks in the United States and the threat of bioterrorism, we, your bishops, call upon the church to join us in seeking solidarity with victimized peoples throughout the world.

Our fervent and constant prayers are for those who grieve because they have lost companions and loved ones; for military chaplains and for those persons who are providing the ministry of presence, comfort, healing and hope; for public servants and countless volunteers who have demonstrated selfless generosity; for all who are redemptively reaching out to those persons who have been erroneously connected to terrorism; for the people who have been placed in harm's way and their loved ones; for President Bush and the leaders of all the nations that they may have wisdom and courage to lead people toward justice and peace. We pray for innocent victims who have experienced injuries, loss and death. We also pray for those who wish to do harm. We pray that violence, terrorism and war will cease. We ask you to join us in prayer.
We are extremely concerned for the thousands of people who live in fear and terror and those displaced by war and poverty. We sincerely believe that every conceivable effort must be used to protect those who are innocent and most vulnerable. We are persuaded that we must use the spiritual and human resources of The United Methodist Church to respond in a loving and caring way. We commend churches around the world for their contribution to the appeal, "Love in the Midst of Tragedy," and all other humanitarian offerings.

We, your bishops, believe that violence in all of its forms and expressions is contrary to God's purpose for the world. Violence creates fear, desperation, hopelessness and instability. We call upon the church to be a community of peace with justice and to support individuals and agencies all over the world who are working for the common good for all of God's children. We also call upon the church to study and work toward alleviating the root causes of poverty and the other social conditions that are exploited by terrorists.

As people of the resurrection, we believe that peace has been achieved in Christ; however, this peace is yet to be fully realized in human relationships. The message of the resurrection is that love is stronger than all the forces of evil. Furthermore, it is only sacrificial love, not war, which can reconcile people to God and to each other. We call upon the church, leaders, nations and individuals around the world to make room for love so that the patterns of our common life might reveal God's justice.

We offer this letter with the wondrous promise of Advent ringing in our ears: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing to you good news of great joy for all the people.'" (Luke 2:10)

Peace
Bishops of The United Methodist Church

2009-09-08T17:47:00.001-06:00

Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my Mouth

Will you help teach Sunday School?

2009-09-08T14:36:00.000-06:00

James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Isn’t that a great way to start out the Sunday school year? “Thank you for volunteering your time to be the spiritual leader’s of our youth and by the way … watch out!”

“Don’t you know, pastor, that it is hard to find people willing to teach. You can’t afford to scare them away and be careful how much you ask of them because they can and will just quit. ”

There is some possible truth to that worry. We are all very busy people. The last thing we need is grief and guilt about the things we volunteer for. But I also think that we tend to underestimate people. I do believe that God calls us to service and we both can and will rise to the level of expectation God has for us. Teaching is an important job. We are planting the seeds and defining the image of God for people that they will have for a lifetime.

Companions in Christ study

2009-09-08T08:24:00.001-06:00

I am going to be blogging this week (and consequently preaching on Sunday) from a third text from James

James 3:8-9 8 but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.

But I want to use this first post to advetise a a study I am goin to lead called “Companions in Christ” This is not a Bible study in the direct sense. It is a small group experience in Spiritual Formation in which we wil explore classic spiritual practices and develp new daily patters that will open our lives to a deepening relationship with God and with each other.

In an initial round of sign ups I got mostly requests for Monday evenings although I am willing to also lead a segment on Monday mornings if there is adequate interest. Give me a call if you would like to hear more about it.

Peace,
Steve Hermes
Continually creating an inclusive and accepting family of God by modeling our lives after Jesus the Christ.

What is the good of that?

2009-09-03T08:50:00.000-06:00

James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

When someone says “I’ll pray for you” one of my common internal reactions is a kind of sarcastic “that’s nice.” I suppose it’s because I often don’t believe that the person is really going to stop and spend any real time in prayer for me. What I hear in the statement is not “I’ll pray for you,” but rather “well, good luck with that.”

As I am honest with myself my cynical attitude is mostly addressed to my own inconsistency in following through on prayers for others and making prayers turn into concrete help.

Lord, continue to move me toward authentic living.

Blessed are the Poor

2009-09-02T08:20:00.001-06:00

James 2: 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

I first met George Baldwin in the 1980’s when I was in Seminary at Drew Theological School in Madison NJ. At that time in his life he was living in Nicaragua with a farm co-op. Because he as American and spoke good English he had been sent to lobby congress to stop funding the Contras in their terrorist war against the people of Nicaragua. While he was in the area he toured the local seminaries telling his story of life and ministry.

Rev. Baldwin had been raised in Montana and served in local churches there for a few years before going on to teach at the seminary level. A spiritual crisis hit him in his midlife and he began to see that his faith and his life were not in harmony. He decided that he needed to be the rich young ruler who sold all his possessions and gave them to the poor. So he moved to live and work with the poor of Central America.

"It’s easy being a Christian in Nicaragua. It’s up here in the U.S. where it is hard. In Nicaragua no one has much of anything and what they do have they share freely with their neighbors. It is only up in North America that we are so protective of our wealth that we can’t live into the Kingdom of God."

Luke 6:20 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Not just hearing or knowing

2009-09-02T07:55:00.000-06:00

This from Robin Meyers:

Knowledge is not redemptive. Indeed, sometimes we can know the truth, and it will not set us free. Ask a smoker, for example, if he knows that tobacco is addictive and death-dealing, and he will say yes. Ask a cheating spouse if he or she knows what the affair could cost, and the answer is yes. Ask a teenager if she knows what drugs and alcohol can do to destroy her future, and she will almost always say, “Yes, I know.” Obviously “knowing” is not enough, and one of the great divides in the church could be overcome if we got one thing straight: the truth of which Jesus speaks is wisdom incarnate, not intellectual assent to cogent arguments made on behalf of God. Indeed, a quick glance around this broken world makes it painfully obvious that we don’t need more arguments on behalf of God; we need more people who live as if they are in covenant with Unconditional Love, which is our best definition of God.

Faith and Good Works

2009-08-26T10:17:00.000-06:00

From John Wesley:
"We are doubtless 'justified by faith.' This is the cornerstone of the whole Christian building . . . but [good works] are an immediate fruit of that faith ...So that if good works do not follow our faith, even all inward and outward holiness, it is plain that our faith is nothing worth."

Many people are quick to quote Martin Luther’s calling of the book of James as the “Epistle of Straw” but they don’t know the context in which Martin Luther said this nor do they know that he defended James at other times in his life.

Paul wrote, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith," and we are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:8, 10 New International Version). James summarized this concept simply and concisely, telling us that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20).

How is the relationship between faith and good works played out in your life?

Doers of the Word

2009-08-25T11:50:00.000-06:00

James 1: 19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.

It is easy to complain about things. It is much more challenging to actually do something about it.

It is one thing to want to do something and another entirely to know what to do and how to do it.
One of the roles of the church is to provide a place and a structure to be in active mission. We provide opportunities to serve.

Here is the challenge for this week. If someone asked you how they could be in service through our church this next week – what would we tell them?

Help me out – leave a comment on the blog or email me back:
10 ways to be in ministry this week

A morning prayer

2009-08-24T07:30:00.001-06:00

This is the prayer I quoted in Sunday's sermon which is credited to Edward F. Markquart's mother:

“O God, this morning I come into the stillness of your presence to begin this day with you, so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity and strength to last me all day long. I have come to find wisdom, so I do not make any foolish mistakes. I have come to find peace, so that nothing would worry or upset me all through today. I have come to find love so that nothing would make me bitter, unforgiving or unkind. I have come to find justice, so that I would always work for the poor and disadvantaged in the world. I have come to begin this day with you, continue it with you, and end it with you, so that this would be a day which has nothing to regret. Here this morning prayer, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Peace and Faith

2009-08-20T11:33:00.001-06:00

Ephesians 6 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Peace: In the Christian Way we don’t vanquish our enemies; we love them until they are won over. Our enemy is not the flesh and blood person but the harmful ideas and actions. We must not ever return evil with evil but return evil with good thereby dismantling the patterns of anger and violence that are directed at us.

Faith: Faith is not ideological belief. Faith is trust and allegiance. You can believe in UFO’s. You can believe in Jesus and not follow. When evil is assailing us the defense is to let God defend us. Trust in the way of Jesus even if it looks like the cross is coming because even if it does, the resurrection is also coming. Better to die under attack and let the power of resurrection rebuild us than to live but leave the way of Jesus.

Struggles with evil

2009-08-19T13:38:00.001-06:00

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Baptismal vow #1: “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world and repent of your sin?”

Let’s face it, there is evil in our lives. We all do face struggles on a regular basis. How will we persevere?

Ephesians 6: 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Truth: Telling the truth may not keep you out of trouble but it will keep you from unnecessary and even worse trouble. When it comes down to it you can’t stop people from attacking you but you can choose to be truthful always. Then at least you have your honor and you inner self of integrity will keep you from deep soul wounds.

Righteousness: Right living. Enough trouble comes our way naturally without it being caused by our own self damaging behaviors.

Help me out this week: When has Truth protected you from evil? How about righteousness, proclaiming the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, Spirit (word of God).
My devotional time this week will be on this list from Ephesians. Leave some comments on any one of these aspects of the spirit and how they protect you from the evils of this world.

Thank God for the ministers of the church

2009-08-19T13:02:00.000-06:00

I can’t say how grateful I am for people like Marvin Northcutt who has a personal and pastoral relationship with the Fontaine family and is willing and able to preside at Clark’s funeral this Thursday. Or how wonderful it is to know with complete assurance that Pat Freebury and others have the hospitality ministry handled. Or how nice it is to trust that the training of people in Stephen’s ministry also equips the general church folk to be caring listeners.

As you can imagine it is very strange to be the pastor and be 2500 miles away during this important time in the life of the church. But it is a humbling reminder that ministry is never solely about the appointed pastor. It is the whole church family and the Spirit of God working through all of us that really makes the difference.

Life, death and resurrection are with us constantly both literally and metaphorically. While I will certainly be in prayer tomorrow you will be the resurrected body of Christ for the Fontaines and each other. Thanks be to God.

Comfort Food

2009-08-13T07:56:00.000-06:00

There is nothing like a slice of freshly baked bread, toasted and then covered with cheese and melted in the microwave to remind me of the farm in Paradise. Every culture and every family probably has their own version of comfort food whether its mashed potatoes and country fried chicken or creamy chowder and biscuits.

Sunday morning worship has an element of comfort food: good music, faithful friends, beautiful sanctuary. But faith goes beyond simple comfort and provides real meaning a purpose to life.

John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

The soul food that we have in Jesus is available to us in prayer and study, mission and service.
We’ll be thinking this week about the ways we are spiritually fed.

Join us for worship on Sunday morning.

CANNIBALS?

2009-08-10T07:25:00.001-06:00

John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Bruce D Prewer writes:

In all developed civilisations, the eating of human flesh has been regarded as repugnant. You may recall that true account of a plane crash in the high snows of the Andes, where the survivors only kept alive by finally agreeing to eat their dead companions. They achieved it by overcoming violent feelings of revulsion. Some of their first attempts ended with much vomiting. The very thought is repugnant to us.

There was an unfortunate rumour circulating around the Roman Empire in the 1stC of this era. It was a rumour which led people to despise Christians, and made it much easier for authorities to launch vicious persecutions against them. This rumour had it that Christians were cannibals. It was reported that when they met early in the morning of the first day of the week for their religious observances, they ate human bodies and drank human blood.

It is not difficult to see how this rumour started and took off. Anyone who listened in on a Christian service, even standing outside the door, might well draw that conclusion. They might hear a person reading the words from a letter of Paul about the Lord’s Supper: “This is my body......eat this remembrance of me. This is my blood....do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Or later on they may have listened to them reading from John’s Gospel: “I tell you plainly: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ” You can understand how such words may have shocked outsiders.

Also there is no surprise that Jesus shocked his listeners when he first used similar words. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” It sounded like cannibalism to those critics who were present that day.

Fruits of the Spirit

2009-08-04T11:30:00.000-06:00

Only one posting this week as I am away at the family farm in Paradise. I will be in worship on Sunday we will be reflecting on the Fruits of the Spirit.

If your faith generates strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions … then one has to ask if we are truly living in the spirit of God.

Galatians 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.

For comments I would suggest sharing with the rest of us some of the things in your faith journey that bring you love, joy, peace … etc.

For the Building up of the body of Christ

2009-07-30T15:51:00.001-06:00

Ephesians 4: 7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.
11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Many Gifts – some sing in the praise band, some in the choir; some work on work with children and youth, some visit those who are ill; some bake cookies for VBS. All are called to use their gifts for the building up of the body of Christ.

I think we can expand our thinking a bit as well. You are God’s gift to the world! Do you use it to build people up or tear them down? At the office do you manipulate things to make yourself look better even at the cost of a coworker? In politics do you find yourself rehearsing all the things the government is doing wrong or do you ask yourself how you can help make things better. Negative campaigns do work in politics and in organizations. You can get your agenda through but only at the cost of your integrity.

Ephesians 4: 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

Anoymous Postings

2009-07-28T08:11:00.002-06:00

Don't feel you have to go through the process of creating an account to be able to read and post here. If you're cautious about such things or simply don't want to wade through the electronic paperwork then don't.

It is polite, however, to sign your name on any comment. What we want to avoid is the use of this blog format to post ideas that we would not be willing to say in love and in person. Also, when someone contributes an especially thoughtful comment it would be nice to be able to follow up with them in person and hear more!

P.S. - no we haven't gotten any negative comments yet - just heading off potential situations.

Unity not Uniformity

2009-07-28T07:12:00.002-06:00

This morning I am praying through these words from Susan Hylen - Mellon Assistant Professor of New Testament , Vanderbilt University:
In Ephesians, unity is not the same as uniformity. The mystery of God that is revealed in Christ and results in the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles does not obliterate the distinctions between these different groups. Instead, what is made known through the church is "the wisdom of God in its rich variety" (3:10). Part of the call of 4:1-16 is to tolerance, or "bearing with one another" (4:2). The assumption is not that all distinctions will cease, but that even with the persistence of differences, the church may nevertheless grow together as a body.

I don’t think I would even want uniformity. The only way we learn and grow is by listening to others who have different experiences. (OK, if I am honest with myself I do want people to agree with me for the most part or at least agree in spirit, but that's for comfort and assurance that I am at least generally on the right track.)

The key to hearing each other in our differences is the use of “I” language. “I think…, I believe…, Here is my experience …” When we start saying “Thus says the Lord …” we cut off dialogue. The challenge is trying to hear our own attitudes that can be saying “thus says the Lord …” even when we don’t mean to be quite so dogmatic.

The solution (as usual) is to maintain the humility and patience of Jesus.

Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

People of Sacred Worth

2009-07-27T10:31:00.001-06:00

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Is there anyone who really likes conflict? Certainly there are some people who seem to live in it more regularly than others but I doubt if anyone really enjoys it. Still it is a reality in all relationships in our lives.

I think back on the last Communion service we had at Drew Theological School where I went to Seminary. During a normal chapel service I would tend to sit toward the front just to the left of the altar area. This particular service, however, I arrived late and found myself in the back row. I recall watching my classmates going up to the front for Communion and was suddenly filled with a joyful insight. There, going up for Communion and preparing to disperse across the country to serve as pastors in churches, were people I had lived with, studied with, prayed with, sometimes argued with and disagreed with for three years. I was especially struck by a few people with whom I had frequently disagreed with. As I watched them take the Bread and the Cup God filled me with Grace and I did know that there was one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

The key to maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is to act with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love. If we can truly see each other as people of sacred worth then we will find love even in our differences.

Listen for this song this coming Sunday:

I can see the God in you
In every single thing you do
God is love and love is true
And I can see the God in you

Can you see the God in me?
I know sometimes it’s hard to see
But if you look you will agree
That you can see the God in me

Celebrating God’s Abundance in Times of Recession.

2009-07-22T09:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 6:41-43 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And all ate and were filled; 43 and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

The current recession may (hopefully) be coming to an end according to those who watch the leading economic indicators. And while I don’t think we can compare these last two years to the Great Depression there are some spiritual connections.

In times of economic stress our inclinations for self protection get enhanced. The fear is that there will not be enough. (Enough for retirement, enough for college tuition, enough to live the comfortable life we are used to.)

The Good news of God’s Abundance is that even small amounts can be blessed by God and made into more than enough. Scarcity is a negative emotion that comes out of fear and the idolatry of self preservation. Learning to give generously in the face of uncertainty can be a spiritually growing opportunity that blesses everyone.

The truth is we may have had to adjust our lifestyles. Even in the church we may have to adjust the way we do ministry. But we will always find a way to be the body of Christ for each other. We will always be reaching out in concern and service to the world and celebrating the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Too many good stories

2009-07-20T08:39:00.000-06:00

This happens to me sometimes:

Monday morning I’m sure I know the Biblical text that I’m going to reflect and pray and preach on for the next Sunday (this week it’s the story from John 6 about the little boy who shares his loaves and fishes). Then in my opening studies an alternate text presents itself that is also wonderful. (The Old Testament reading for this coming week is the story of David and Bathsheba.)

David and Bathsheba is an engaging story full of intrigue, lust, deceit, corruption of power, repentance. The loaves and fishes is a great story that reminds me that with God’s help in opening our hearts there is always enough.

So I guess you’ll have to follow the blog throughout the week and see which story ends up capturing my spirit for our worship on Sunday.

In the meantime how about dropping some comments on the topic of ‘How is it with your soul?’

How is it with your soul?

2009-07-20T08:37:00.001-06:00

This post is less for my reflections and more for yours. Post a comment with an anecdote that has lifted your spirit - or - an “I’ve always wondered about …” question - or - a prayer request.

Share your spiritual journey with us this week.

The purpose of Rest

2009-07-16T08:51:00.001-06:00

Sometimes one’s planned rest periods don’t work out.

Mark 6:33-34 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

I give thanks for the nature of God revealed in Jesus that puts compassion as one of life’s highest goals. Multiple times in the gospel Jesus is moved to action by compassion; compassion for people’s physical suffering, for their hunger, for their times of mourning, for their spiritual feelings of being lost and cut off.
Still Jesus continues to seek times of rest and solitude. Why? Because he knows that even the most compassionate among us can suffer compassion burnout.

I try and take Fridays as a day of rest. If there is a funeral or other significant crisis in people’s lives, however, I will always make that a priority. Then I am careful to find some other time both for myself and my family.

For a nice laugh, check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyNyHLCppMA

Give it a Rest

2009-07-15T13:14:00.000-06:00

Mark 6:30-34 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while."
Resting is not easy for many people Our self worth is dependent on what we produce – how may things we can get done. But can you have a “productive” day of rest?

Exodus 20:8 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.

Intentional/planned/regular rest periods are much more effective than working till you’re exhausted then trying to play catch up.

I remember a long hike I took with my son when he was 11. He was running up the trail ahead of me and having a great time – a true bundle of energy. A couple of miles into the hike, however, he hit the wall. He was tired, he “hated hiking” etc. We stopped for a long rest and lunch but in truth he never regained his joy.

The next time we went hiking I was smarter. I told him 20 minutes into the hike that I was getting old and tired and needed to rest and he would have to humor me and wait for me. That day we hiked 6 miles altogether and he never broke spirit.
Even in the pursuit of something as wonderful as service to others in Christ’s name we have to watch and plan for the care of our own spirits long before we get tired. Then we shall mount up on wings like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.

So what are we doing?

2009-07-14T07:40:00.000-06:00

Would you help me put together a laundry list of all the various things we do in the name of Christ through Epworth UMC?
Here is a start from things just this last week:

• Stephens Ministry visitors
• Smith Memorial Day Care
o Grandma Pat’s story Thursday
o Pastor Steve’s singing time
• Youth on Mission trip
• Praise Band
• Hospital Calls
• Prayer Chain
• Emmaus Gatherings
• Intermountain Children’s home offering

This is only scratching the surface – add a comment about the various things you are doing or things you know others are doing!