A Devotion for the Third Week of Advent

The Revealing Power of Light

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2)

I don’t like going to the doctor’s office.  Rarely do I leave an appointment without feeling embarrassed, ashamed, sick, faint or disappointed.  Is there anything more humbling than to sit in a cold, stale room, wearing nothing but a thin sheet and hear the doctor say, “well, Mr. Parkinson, it appears you could stand to lose a few pounds.”  And yet, I go to the doctor anyway because it’s good for me.

When I was a teenager, my doctor’s office had the brightest overhead lights.  Sitting under those lights exposed every blemish.  I was so self-conscious about the revealing power of those lights that I would spend hours before a doctor’s appointment scrubbing underneath my fingernails, cleaning behind my ears, and applying moisturizer to every patch of skin that was even remotely dry.  If I was going to sit under those bright lights, then I needed to clean up.

Advent is a season of cleaning up in preparation for the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World.  Just like those overhead lights in the doctor’s office, the light of Christ exposes every blemish within us.  And while that may sound unpleasant, it’s not a bad thing.  Only when our infirmities are exposed can they be rightly diagnosed and treated.

John the Baptist came ahead of Jesus to witness to the Light (John 1:7).  His message was simple: “Prepare the way for the Lord” – get ready for the coming of the Light!  How should we get ready?  “Repent,” John says.  Clean up your act.  “Those with two tunics should share with those who have none, and the one who has food should do the same” (Luke 3:11).

In the final days of Advent, what blemishes are in our hearts that need to be cleaned up?  What news years resolutions do we need to make to live godly lives?  What sin do we need to repent of in order to be ready to stand in the Light of Christ?          

A Devotion for the Second Week of Advent

What are you Waiting For?

“God will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the older order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4)

Advent is a season of waiting.  Typically we think of waiting for the coming birth of Jesus, which we celebrate at Christmas.  But Advent is about waiting for so much more than that.  During Advent, we wait for the coming Kingdom of God.  We wait, we hope, we pray, in anticipation of that great and glorious day when Christ returns and true peace reigns in the world.  We wait for the day when God wipes every tear from our eyes – when crying and mourning and pain will be no more.

Last week, I experienced an “Advent moment” – a glimpse of everything we’re waiting for.  I was at “The Neighborhood Table,” the community supper hosted by our congregation in Sharpsburg.  At one point during the meal, I stood and looked over the crowd. 

At one table I saw a member of our congregation eating with an elderly women who often has no one with whom to share a meal.  At another table, I saw a deaf man talking with another member of our congregation through sign language.  At another table, I saw six middle schoolers eating what may have been the only hot supper they’ll have this week.  Across the room I saw old people, young people, rich people, poor people, white people, black people – all laughing, eating, sharing, and enjoying each other.

There was an energy in the room – a spirit of unity and peace.  When the meal was over people didn't want to leave.  Even after the kitchen was cleaned up people continued to linger, talking and enjoying fellowship.

I believe I was witnessing a glimpse of what we’re waiting for.  It was a taste of the Kingdom of God breaking out right there, among us.  That’s what Advent is about.  Advent isn't about waiting for presents or for a few days off to see family.  Advent is about actively waiting, looking, praying for the coming Kingdom of God.  And when we get a glimpse of the Kingdom, Advent invites us to rejoice, for God is with us!     

A Devotion for the First Week of Advent

Emmanuel at All Costs

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel"--which means, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). 

A few weeks ago a member of our congregation discovered that her friend was planning on spending Thanksgiving alone.  Without hesitating, she invited her friend over for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a kind invitation offered with the firm conviction that there are certain times when no one should be alone.

True, each of us needs “alone time,” but none of us want to be alone all the time.  There are moments when there is nothing worse than being alone.  The highs and lows of life are best shared together.  It’s why we gather with friends and family for Christmas dinners, have visitations for persons in grief, throw birthday parties, and stop to see a friend when they've had a bad day.

Since we are created in God’s image and likeness, it should come as no surprise that God doesn't like to be alone either.  Our God is the God who refuses to be alone.  After all, we were created to be with God – to be God’s companions.  We were created to walk with God in close, personal relationship.  Sin is our choice to turn away from God – to leave God’s presence, and try to find our own way.

Advent is a time for us to remember the God who refuses to be alone.  Even though we turn away, God refuses to let us go.  The story of the incarnation is the story of God chasing us down.  On a starry night in Bethlehem God took on human flesh, and entered into the dirty, broken, messiness of life because God refuses to be without us.  Because, despite our sinful arrogance, God wants to be with us - forever.  Advent is a time to remember the God who is bound and determined to be Emmanuel “God with us.”

Fall 2012 Preview

As a new school year approaches, we’re getting ready for an active season of ministry at Faith UMC.  There are plenty of opportunities for you and your family to worship, grow, and serve with us this fall.  Here’s a brief preview of things to come:

Worship

§         Our 10:00 Sunday morning worship service is always the launching point for our ministry.  This fall, services will center around three successive sermon series:

           

1.      “Seven signs of Jesus” (September 2-October 14) - Who is Jesus?  What did he come to do?  Why does it matter to me?  In this series we explore the seven miraculous signs Jesus performs in the Gospel of John.  More than miracle stories, these events are signs that point us toward the heart of Jesus’ identity, message, and mission.

2.      “Beyond the Walls” (October 21-November 18) – In this series, we’ll articulate God’s dream for us to get Beyond the Walls of our church building and into our community, serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.  The series culminates with commitment Sunday, when we pledge to support God’s mission by our prayers, presence, gifts, and service.

3.      “Prepare the Way” (December 2-December 23) – This Advent series invites us to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus by engaging Old Testament prophecy that point to God’s plan for our salvation, and its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus.

§         Our choir will again be leading us in worship each Sunday, and will be sporting new robes this fall!  The choir is open to singers of any and all abilities.  Rehearsals are held each Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

§         This fall, Faith UMC is the proud sponsor of Belle Voci, a new community women’s choir that will be in residence at Faith.  The new choir will sing in our worship services twice this fall (October 14, and December 2).

§         This Advent, we’ll be forming our first Children’s choir.  The choir will meet over a four to six week period and will perform in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  More details are forthcoming.

Grow

Bible Times Theater is Coming this Fall!

§         Children’s Sunday School is experiencing a makeover this fall as we introduce the Bible Times Theater (BTT).  BTT  is a fun, theatrical journey through the great stories of scripture.  Walk in the shoes of Abraham, carry the staff of Moses, touch the robe of Jesus.  In BTT the story of God comes to life – and every child has a role to play!  Designed for ages 4-11, BTT is held every Sunday following the children’s message and begins September 9^th.

§         Four small groups for adults are forming this fall.  They launch the week of September 9^th.  You can sign up for them by calling the church office or visiting the “grow” page at faithfoxchapel.org:

           

1.      Rooted in the Word: Adult Sunday School (Sundays @ 8:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall).  Bring your Bible, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy a deep dive into the scriptures.  This group is for adults who seek a deeper relationship with God through Bible study and prayer.  Weekly Bible passages align with the weekly sermon, so that you'll come to worship prepared to hear God's Word proclaimed.  Childcare is available.

2. Young Adult Fellowship (Tuesdays @ 7 p.m. at the Parkinson’s) Every week, this group enjoys a fellowship meal and Bible study.  Held in the Parkinson home, the group provides a comfortable, safe space to share in conversation.  This year's Bible study will focus on the Book of Acts.  The group is for single adults and parents with young children.  Childcare is provided.

3. Women of Faith (Wednesdays @ 9:15 a.m. at Pittsburgh Mills Panera) Care for body and soul with this group of women.  Each week begins with a brief devotion and then a 45 minute mall walk.  This is a great time for deep conversation in a small group community of mutual support.  Children are always welcome.

4. Faith Book Club (Fourth Saturdays @ 7 p.m. at Jenkins’) Engage your mind and heart by sharing in this book study.  Once a month, the group gathers to discuss a devotional book.  Held in the Jenkins' living room, this small group is a relaxed place to share in meaningful conversation about faith and life and to hold one another up in prayer.

Serve

Serving at the table has become a staple
in our ministry.

§         On August 30^th, and one other date TBA we’ll be serving the meal at The Table, a community kitchen on the Southside.  We’re always looking for volunteers to help serve the meal, cook, and donate deserts.

§         Each month we collect non-perishable items for the Bread of Life Food Pantry.  Bring your items with you as an offering on Sunday mornings.  Here are the collection items for each month:

            September – Bath soaps, hand soaps

            October - Dishwashing detergent

            November – Flour, sugar

                                                                             December – Rice, boxed potatoes, kids cereal

§         On a date TBA, we will send a group to Global Links to sort surplus medical supplies that will be sent around the world to support local hospitals and medical clinics.

The November election will bring large crowds to Faith, which serves as a polling place.  Faith Grilfriends will be running a bake sale to support Imagine No Malaria and will need volunteers to donate baked goods and staff the table.

Fellowship

§         Enjoy a cup of coffee and a light snack every Sunday after the worship service during our weekly coffee fellowship.

§         Stay after worship on Sunday, September 23^rd for our annual Open House pot-luck luncheon.  Details are forthcoming.

Why rush out of worship, when you can grab a cup of
coffee and enjoy a chat during Coffer Fellowship?

§         Our annual Fall Festival will be held after worship on Sunday October 14^th.  There will be plenty of food and games and activities for children.

§         On Saturday, November 17^th at 10 a.m. put on your game face for our first ever Faith UMC Turkey Bowl.  The young, the old, and the in between are invited to a good ole game of flag football, followed by lunch.  Come to play, or just come to watch!

§         Fox Hill preschool, a ministry of Faith UMC, is always looking for church members who are willing to come read to children, or share about there careers on career day.  Contact the church office for more details.

Summer in Review

As summer vacations begin to wind down and a new school year approaches, we’re wrapping up an exciting and active summer of ministry at Faith UMC.  Since so many have been in and out town, I thought I’d take a moment to catch everybody up on what’s been happening @ Faith UMC.

§         We kicked off our summer with our annual church picnic.  Hot dogs and hamburgers were the menu of the day, and we enjoyed the opportunity to recognize and visit with the teachers of Fox Hill Preschool.

§         In the early weeks of June, 47 children participated in Fox Hill Preschool’s two week summer camp program.

§         On June 7-10, Patti Linder and Pastor Tom attended Annual Conference, where Pastor Tom was ordained.

Tori Konopasek and seven others have spent the summer
serving in Zimbabwe.

§         We commissioned Tori Konopasek for ministry, sending her off to Zimbabwe for six weeks to help develop the ministry partnership between the Western PA UMC and United Methodists in Zimbabwe.

§         On a Sunday afternoon in June, we had an English Tea, which featured a presentation on Pastor Tom’s Wesleyan pilgrimage to England.

§         We began a series of prayer walks in Sharpsburg.  18 people participated in 3 different walks, each with the purpose of prayerfully discerning future ministry opportunities in Sharpsburg.

Breakfast after a brave night camping at Faith!

§         We launched a brand new Cub Scout pack, #617.  Faith is serving as the chartering organization for this pack, which serves boys at Fairview Elementary School.

§         Our summer worship in the outdoor chapel was highlighted by special music from the likes of Devin Arrington (violin), Amy Parkinson (vocalist), Henry Tucker (vocalist), and Averie Shaughnessy (vocalist).

§         In early July, Pam and Ty Konopasek spent the week at the WPA UMC’s School for Mission at Grove City College.  They spent the week in worship, study, and service.  Ty worked hard on a series of community service projects.

§         On July 14-15, we had a Faith family Campout.  Several families enjoyed a hike, BBQ supper, games, family movie, and camped out on church grounds (through a stormy night).

§         On July 15 and 22 informational meetings were held for the congregation regarding the Beyond the Walls outreach campaign that we are considering.

The sanctuary was turned into an ocean as children dove
into God's Word at "Operation Overboard."

§         On July 22-26 we welcomed 41 children to Faith UMC for “Operation Overboard,” our 2012 Vacation Bible School.   

§         In late July, we received word that Bishop Tom Bickerton will remain as our bishop in Western PA for four more years.

§         In early August, we welcomed Rev. Keith Kaufold of Eighth Avenue Place in Homestead who challenged us to be a church that takes risks in order to invest in the lives of those who are poor and hurting.

§         While our plans to pass out watermelon at the 2012 Guyasuta Days Festival fell through, we were able to donate 25 watermelons to the children’s feeding ministry at the Sharpsburg Family Worship Center.

§         On August 19^th, we look forward to wrapping up the summer with our annual Blessing of the Backpacks, and special music from percussionist Vince Wallace, who will play his marimba.

Thanks Dad!

Me and my dad, Jim Parkinson.

Last Sunday, thirteen years of prayer, education, and evaluation culminated in my ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church.  Of all the delightful moments of that service, none was more thrilling for me than to be sponsored by my dad.

When I was seventeen years old, my dad lost his job.  After lots of prayerful discernment, he saw the lull in employment as God’s way of opening the possibility for him to enter full-time ministry.  In an incredible act of faith, my mom and dad decided to change course.  My father went to seminary, my parents took a SERIOUS pay cut, and in so doing they showed me the kind of commitment and dedication it takes to follow God’s call.

Four years ago, I stood and watched my father's ordination.  Four years later, my dad stood before the clergy session and made the motion for my ordination.  He, along with my family, laid hands on me as the bishop ordained me.  It was a moving moment – one that I will cherish always.

Adding to the power of the moment was the Bible I held in my hand during the ordination service.  It was my grandfather’s, who was a preacher and teacher in the Baptist Church.  In one moment, three generations of Parkinson's were connected in this holy moment we call ordination.

As father’s day approaches, I can’t help but share how grateful I am for my dad.  He’s not perfect.  He’d be the first to admit that.  But he’s a great father, and my ordination would not be possible without his love and care.  In a world with so many broken families, I’m blessed to have two great parents.  Happy father’s day dad!  

Taking it One Year at a Time

Itinerate - "To go from place to place, especially in a regular circuit."

Early Methodist preachers, called "circuit riders,"
itinerated by horseback. 

Last Saturday, Bishop Tom Bickerton appointed me for a third year of ministry at Faith UMC.  It was a joy to hear my name called to return to a place I love.  While my return to Faith was expected, it is never guaranteed.  In the UMC pastors itinerate, which means we are appointed to our places of service one year at a time.

Itinerancy is one of the most misunderstood aspects of our denomination's ministry.  To many church members, it can seem like a cruel way to treat pastors and their families.  To others it seems like an antiquated method of deploying pastors - a remnant of eighteenth century America.

I believe that itineracy - at its best - is a vital missional strategy of the church.  Rooted in the itinerant ministry of Jesus and the apostles, and the calling of the Holy Spirit, itinerancy allows bishops to move clergy to places where missional need matches clergy gifts.

While the bishop has the ultimate authority over appointments, no bishops acts alone in the process.  Each appointment is the result of the prayerful discernment of the bishop, the cabinet, clergy, and church members.  The great gift of itinerancy is that it allows space for communal discernment that can open up ministry possibilities that may have been thought impossible otherwise.

If I had been required to apply for a pastoral position, I probably would have thought myself under qualified to serve at a place like Faith UMC.  Further, if Faith was looking for its own pastor, they certainly would have looked for a pastor with more experience than me.  Itinerancy opened up the possibility for someone like me to serve at a place like Faith.

That said, itinerancy also means that we are working together one year at a time.  Every year we know that there's a chance I will be called to serve elsewhere.  While such uncertainty can be uncomfortable, I believe it has the ability to strengthen our congregation.  When we make plans for our long term future, we must always work together, so that ministry is the work of the Spirit by the hands of the congregation. Our ministry cannot be centered on a pastor.   Itinerancy is a reminder that ministry belongs to God, not to the pastor.

I'm honored to have a third year to serve at Faith.  I recognize that each year we have together is a gift, and my desire is to do everything I can to serve Jesus in this place...One year a time.

We've No Time to be Impatient

Pastor Mike Slaughter

Several weeks ago, I had the joy of returning to my home church for a leadership conference.  Among the many blessings of the day was the opportunity to hear from Mike Slaughter, Lead Pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio.  Over the past 33 years, Mike has lead Ginghamsburg Church from a typical small town congregation of 90 worshippers to a vibrant, missionally-focused congregation with several thousand worshippers.

In his presentation, there were two phrases Mike repeated over and over that captured me: “I don’t have time to play church.” and “There are no quick wins.”

“I don’t have time to play church” means that there ought to be an urgency to the church’s ministry.  We don’t have time to waste with institutional structures and church programs that hold us back from reaching the world Christ came to save.  Now is the time to get serious about reaching the least, the last, and the lost with the radical grace of Jesus.

With this sense of urgency in mind, “there are no quick wins.”  In other words, reaching the world with the good news takes patience.  Disciples are not made overnight.  Congregation’s are not revitalized in one month.  Vibrant, faithful, fruitful ministry takes a long-term commitment – in the case of Ginghamsburg Church, about 33 years.

As I’ve been reflecting on these phrases, I’m realizing how true they are.  Jesus’ own ministry began with an urgent plea, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17).  Jesus didn’t have time to play games.  He was about the work of the Kingdom and would not allow anything – especially the religious institution - to distract him from that work.

At the same time, Jesus’ ministry exemplified patience.  “There are no quick wins.”  Jesus demonstrates an amazing amount of patience with his disciples, who are very slow to realize what the Kingdom is all about.  The Kingdom movement that Jesus began with urgency doesn’t really take off until after Jesus has risen and ascended into heaven.  In short, Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom now, but knew that realizing the Kingdom in fullness would take patience and long-term commitment.

As we move forward in ministry at Faith UMC, I hope that we can sense the urgency of God’s mission.  There are people in our community who are hurting and who need the good news of Jesus RIGHT NOW!  We don’t have time to play church!  We’ve got important work to do!

At the same time, I hope that we will be patient.  The fruit of our ministry will not appear overnight.  Seeds sown today may not take root for years.  It’s okay.  As long as we’re being faithful to the work of the Kingdom, we can stay the course.  We’ve no time to be impatient.  

Kids Worship

“Jesus said to them: ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” (Mark 10:14)

Our children's message has become a central part of
weekly worship.  This Sunday, Kids Worship takes the
children's message to a new level.

When I was in seminary, I got to spend a summer interning at a church in rural North Carolina.  On my first visit to the church I was greeted by a church member and her six year old daughter, Hannah.  Hannah was full of life and energy, and she enthusiastically began giving me a tour of the church building.  She showed me her Sunday School room, the fellowship hall, and the playground.

When we came to the end of our tour, I was surprised that she hadn’t shown me the sanctuary.  “Aren’t you going to show me the sanctuary?” I asked.  “Oh, I don’t go in the sanctuary,” Hannah replied. “That room is for grown ups.”

As I got to know some members of the congregation, I realized very quickly that no one ever told Hannah she wasn’t allowed in the sanctuary, or that the worship space was for grown ups only.  No one needed to.  Actions speak louder than words.

In Hannah’s experience every time she walked into the sanctuary she was told to sit quietly, and was always given something else to do – like a coloring book – while the grown ups worshipped.  Hannah believed that the sanctuary was for grown ups because she never felt included or valued in anything that happened in that space.

From that day forward, I decided that I wanted to be the kind of pastor who made sure children understood that the sanctuary is for them, and that worship isn’t just for adults – it’s for the whole people of God.

This Sunday (April 29th), Faith UMC is having its first ever Kids Worship service.  Our 10:00 service will engage children in every aspect of worship.  The kids will not be dismissed part way through the service for Sunday School, and there will be no nursery care.  The children will be part of the entire service.

My hope is that such a time of worship will be inspiring not just for our children, but for our entire congregation.  Together, we have the opportunity to make sure our children know that the sanctuary is not a “grown ups only” space.  It’s a space for the young, the old, and everyone in between.

If you’re an adult coming to worship this Sunday, I hope you’ll come with a child-like spirit, ready and willing to surround, encourage, and support our children as they learn how to sing praise, pray, and engage the scriptures.  If you’re a parent, I hope you’ll let your child know ahead of time that they’re going to have the chance to participate in the service.  They don’t need to prepare anything, but they do need to know that their participation will make God (and the rest of us) smile.

I’ll see you in Kids Worship!

Music for Life

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant referred to music as the “quickening art.”  Music has the incredible ability to bring us to life.  In music we find sounds that capture human emotion, tell our stories, express our feelings, and shape our memories.  It’s amazing how a song learned 20 years ago is so easily remembered when we hear only the first few stanzas.  Music is powerful and life-giving, and without it our lives would be impoverished.  Don’t believe me?  Watch the video above and see for yourself how music brought this old man to life.

            At Faith UMC, we are blessed to have lots of opportunities to be shaped by music.  Whether it’s our choir singing God’s praise on Sunday mornings, or an evening piano recital on our beautiful Steinway, music is one of the primary ways that we experience the presence of God at Faith. 

            Beginning this Sunday, April 15^th, we have the opportunity to use life-giving music to extend the gift of life to others.  “Music for Life” is a three-part concert series at Faith UMC that uses the blessing of music to be a blessing for others.  There is no admission to the concerts, but we do want those who come to make a donation to a life-giving ministry.  Here’s a run down of the series:

1.      April 15^th at 2:00 p.m.  The AeolianWinds perform “Honey I Shrunk the concerto!” to benefit Imagine No Malaria.

2.      May 6^th at 2:00 p.m. The Morningside Trio performs “It’s Beethoven!  I Promise!” to benefit Autism Speaks.

3.      August 19^th at 2:00 p.m. The Rainier Trio performs “The Mozart Effect” to benefit Imagine No Malaria.

I hope that you (and your family, friends, and co-workers) will join us for the concert series.  I think it’s going to be a great way to be “quickened” while supporting these life-changing ministries.

For a more detailed description of each concert, click here.    

Honoring the Family Name

"Pray in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name" (Mat 6:9)

One of the first things parents do when a child is born, or when an adoption is finalized, is to give the child a name.  While there are many approaches to naming a child, one thing is standard in most naming practices: the child is given the family name (which we call a last name), and becomes a representative of that family lineage in the world.  The same is true for those of us who are adopted as God’s children in baptism.  When we are baptized, we are named as God’s children – members of God’s family.  As such, we bear the very name of God, stamped upon us by our Father.

           

            What is God’s name?  God’s name has always been shrouded in mystery.  When confronted by God in the burning bush, Moses asked for God’s name.  God’s response was baffling:  “I AM WHAT I AM,” (Exod 3:13-14).  From this phrase came the tetragrammeton -  those four letters that express the name of God: YHWH.  There are no vowels, and so they are unpronounceable.  God’s name is mysterious.  So mysterious, in fact, that no human being has ever uttered it.

           

            Yet, while God’s name is unpronounceable, it is not unknown to us.  God’s only Son, Jesus our Lord, took on flesh in order to reveal to us God’s name (John 17:6).  Just as a son carries on the name of his father, so Jesus, God’s Son, carries on the name of God.  Jesus demonstrates that God’s name represents God’s being and character.  And so God’s name is love, peace, mercy, forgiveness, hope, power, healing, grace, and kindness.  Yet, above all these things, the Bible tells us that God’s name is holy (Isa 6:3).  God’s name is the only name whereby human beings receive salvation (Acts 4:12).  It is the name that will one day drive all people to their knees in worship and confession of God’s lordship in Jesus Christ (Phil 2:10-11).

The unpronounceable name of God,

called the tetragrammeton.  In the Bible, this word

is translated as "The LORD."

           

            Our first request in the Lord’s prayer is that God’s name be hallowed – that is, that God’s name may be made holy.  Now, God’s name is already holy.  There is no sense in which our prayer – or our failure to pray – will affect the holiness of God’s name.  Our prayer, then, is not that God’s name would be made Holy, but that God’s name would be made holy in us who bear this name. 

            From the very beginning of God’s relationship with Israel, there is testimony to how difficult it is for human beings to hallow God’s name.  Rather than giving praise to God’s name, human beings tend to defame it by their sinfulness.  Instead of bringing glory to the name of the Father, human sin places shame on the family name.  In response to our fallen condition, God gave us the third commandment, “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God” (Exod 20:7).  Jesus’ instruction that we pray for the hallowing of God’s name is not new teaching.  Rather, it is the continuation of God’s call to Israel to live in a such a way as to bring glory to God’s name.

           

            Therefore, when we pray “Hallowed be your name” we are praying that our words and deeds may reflect and bring glory to God’s name.  Since God’s name is holy, it follows that our prayer is that we too would be holy – that our lives would reflect the holiness of God.  To be holy is to be like God.  To be holy is to be in tune with Holy Spirit.  To be holy is to let our lives be a song that sings with the angels their unending hymn:

                       

                        Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might

                        heaven and earth are full of your glory.

                        Hosanna in the Highest.

                        Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

                        Hosanna in the Highest.

           

            The next time you pray the Lord’s prayer, consider what a great gift and calling it is to be a bearer of God’s name.  Reflect on who God is, and then consider whether or not your life is a faithful reflection of God that brings glory to God’s holy name.  Then pray for God’s grace and strength to make you holy.  Pray that God would shape and form you to live and be like Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection reveals God’s name.

Our Father

In my Lenten devotions this year, the Lord’s Prayer has played a prominent role, as I have been thinking about the meaning of this prayer that I have offered thousands of times.  In last Sunday’s sermon, I spoke about the prayer’s fourth petition, “Forgive us our sins.”  Now, I offer this reflection on the prayer's opening.

“Pray in this way: Our Father in Heaven...” (Matthew 6:9)

Jesus teaches us to begin our prayer with a most blessed gift: we get to call God our Father just as Jesus calls God his Father.  This implies our brotherhood with Jesus.  Our Father is the same Father of our Lord, which makes us Jesus’ siblings.  This tells us something about our relationship with God.  We are not first and foremost to think of ourselves as criminals in God’s courtroom, but as God’s children – family members in the household of God.  We are given confidence to pray boldly and honestly. Our prayer is being offered in the family room of God’s household, not in God’s courtroom.  We do not address God our judge, but God our Father.

           

            There are two primary ways in which God is our Father.  First, God is the Father of all creation.  Each of us is created in the image of God (Gen 1:27).  Since God is the one who formed us and knew us before we were even in the womb (Jer 1:5), it follows that each of us is a child of God and can rightly call God our Father.  So, when we pray “Our Father” we are immediately reminded of our unity with all human beings.  God is not “my” Father, as if I bear some special privilege that others do not.  God is our Father, and we are all brothers and sisters by virtue of our status as persons created in the image of God.

            Yet, for those who are incorporated into Christ’s body (the church) through baptism, there is yet another way in which God is our Father.  When we are baptized, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit, which marks us as adopted children of God (Rom 8:15-16).  In the act of baptism we participate in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus (Rom 6:1-12).  Our old sinful life is drowned in the baptismal waters, and we are reborn (John 3:3-8), arising from the waters a new person – a child of God.  We enter the waters as children of Adam, heirs of sin and death. We arise from the waters as children of God, heirs of God’s kingdom and eternal life.

            While calling God our Father is indeed a great gift of grace, it is also a great responsibility for us who have been adopted as God’s children.  In our baptism God calls us to lead lives that are worthy of the children of God (Rom 12:1).  This means that we should submit to the commands of our Father, who calls us to walk before him in holiness and righteousness.  Our lives should testify to the goodness and love of our Father who formed us in his image.  To pray “Our Father” is both to remember the gracious Spirit of adoption we received in baptism, while also proclaiming our responsibility to live as children of God.

           

            The next time you pray the Lord’s Prayer, pause and reflect on the significance of calling God your Father.  If you have already been baptized, remember your baptism and the great commitment God made in adopting you.  If you are yet to be baptized, consider what a gracious gift we have in being created in God’s image.  Once you have reflected on these things, ask yourself if you are living a life worthy of a child of God.  Do you bring honor and glory to your Father through the way you live?  What areas of your life miss the mark when it comes to living faithfully as God’s child?  

One Great Hour of Sharing

With General Conference on the horizon, United Methodists across the globe have been spending a lot of time praying over and discussing all that is wrong with the church and how to fix it.  I want to take a moment to highlight something that is absolutely right about our denomination: The United Methodist Committee on Relief, better known as UMCOR.

UMCOR is the humanitarian aid organization of the UMC.  In over 80 countries around the world, UMCOR is working to alleviate human suffering caused by natural disasters, war, and desperate poverty.  Rooted in the compassionate love of Jesus, UMCOR offers grace, healing, and dignity to those who in many cases have lost everything.

UMCOR was one of the first relief organizations on the scene following the tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Katrina in the U.S.  What is more, UMCOR continues to serve in all those places, and has a reputation for sticking with recovery efforts all the way to the end, long after many disaster areas have faded from public consciousness.

 What is more, 100% of every dollar given to an UMCOR relief effort goes directly to the project.  This is possible because of the annual “One Great Hour of Sharing” offering, which we’ll participate in at Faith UMC this Sunday, March 18th.

By giving to “One Great Hour of Sharing” you support the administrative costs of UMCOR and free the organization to focus on its mission and ministry throughout the year.  This Sunday, we’ll have special envelopes available for you to support UMCOR.  If you aren’t able to join us in worship, you can give at this link.  I hope you’ll join me in supporting this vital ministry of our church.

On Hines Ward and Following Jesus

Just look at those pearly whites!

Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they will release Hines Ward, marking the end of Ward’s 15 year hall of fame worthy career with the team.  Ward will be remembered for a lot of things in Pittsburgh: his devastating blocks, fearlessness over the middle of the field, and MVP performance in Super Bowl XL, to name a few.  But the one memory that may rise above the rest is Ward’s ever present smile.

Whether he was waltzing into the end zone in the third quarter of the Super Bowl, getting leveled over the middle by Ray Lewis, or completing his fitness testing on day one of training camp, the cameras always caught Ward with a smile on his face.  I don’t know Ward  personally, but it seems pretty obvious that this guy loves football.

Ward  has never been known as a great athlete.  He’s not the biggest, strongest, fastest, most skilled receiver to don the black and gold.  What made Ward great was his willingness to submit himself to the disciplines of the gridiron.  He worked hard to run precise routes, block with great technique, read defenses and find soft spots in the coverage.  Every catch, block, and touchdown Ward achieved was the result of hours of disciplined study and training – all done with a smile on his face.

It may be a stretch to jump from a tribute to Hines Ward to a reflection on the Christian life, but I’m going to give it a whirl. 

When Jesus gathered his team of disciples, he didn’t draft men with the most natural gifts in godliness.  These disciples were rough around the edges, and weren’t the brightest and best that first century Israel had to offer.  One day, as Jesus began to teach them that he must suffer and die, Jesus said to his disciples “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).         

You don’t have to be perfect to follow Jesus.  You don’t have to have the sharpest mind, or the most spiritual disposition.  But you do have to be willing to submit to the disciplines of the Christian life: to deny yourself and take up the way of Jesus.  After all, the root of the word “disciple” and the word “discipline” is the same.  To deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus, means being willing to enter into training in the self-giving, sacrificial love that Jesus came to demonstrate.

Lent is time for training camp.  The Lenten season calls us to the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and biblical study, with the understanding that by submitting to these disciplines, we become better Christians.  We become better followers of Jesus because through these practices, God works in us through the Holy Spirit.

This Lent, I hope you’ll submit yourself to the disciplines of the Christian life.  And (like Ward)  I hope you’ll do so with a smile on your face, because even though disciplines can be hard, they are a means of God’s grace.  Besides, wouldn’t it be cool if others could see the smile on your faces and say “It seems pretty obvious that you love Jesus!” 

What's Ordination Anyway?

            I’m a pastor.  On a day to day basis I do the things a pastor does.  I visit the sick, lead Bible studies, pray with the hurting, preside at Holy Communion, conduct premarital counseling, prepare sermons, baptize babies, attend church meetings.  And so for many it is surprising to hear that I am not ordained.

            In the United Methodist Church, ordination is understood to be a gift of God whereby baptized Christians with particular gifts and graces are called forth to lead the church in its mission and ministry.  Based on the example of the apostolic church in the book of Acts, ordination is the act of setting apart persons with a particular calling and giftedness to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, model the servant ministry of Jesus, and order the life of the church.

            The reason I’m not ordained yet is because we also believe that ordination is not a gift to be taken lightly.  Ordained ministers make a conscious commitment to live out the whole gospel, and proclaim the truth of Jesus with their lives.  The call to ordained ministry cannot be discerned alone or with haste, but requires the entire Christian community to spend time in prayer and conversation, discerning who the Holy Spirit has gifted and called to ordained ministry.

            12 years ago, I began to sense that God was calling me to ordained ministry.  I began talking and praying with my pastors and other members of my church.  In time, my home church named the gifts of God within me and formally recommended that I become a candidate for ordination.  I then spent seven years in schooling, studying the scriptures, learning Christian orthodoxy, discovering the art of pastoral ministry.  During that time I met regularly with Methodist lay and clergy persons, who helped me discern God’s call and gifts in my life.

            Upon completion of my schooling I was commissioned for ministry and sent to serve my first pastoral appointment.  For the past two years I have been surrounded with a community of prayer and support.  I have spent time with clergy mentors, received continuing education, and been permitted time to write and reflect deeply on the Christian faith.

            And now, after years of prayerful discernment, I find myself two weeks away from my final ordination interviews. 

            The ordination process has been long, but I can’t help but be thankful for it.  More than a bunch of hoops to jump through (though there are some hoops along the way) this process has helped me take my own discipleship to a deeper level.  It’s amazing what happens in your life when people are constantly surrounding you in prayer, asking you to think about what God is up to, and challenging you to faithfully live out the gospel of Jesus.

            In the midst of it all I have discovered that ordination is not about receiving some special standing in the Kingdom of God.  Ordained ministers are sinners in need of God’s grace just like everyone else.  Rather, ordination is about learning to follow Jesus, so that others might be shown the way.  My prayer is that as an ordained minister, I can be part of the discernment process with others, praying with them about what God is up to in their lives and how Jesus is challenging them to “follow me.”    

Out of the Ashes we Rise

Ash Wednesday Worship at Faith UMC:
February 22nd at 7:00 p.m.

This coming Wednesday, we will mark the beginning of Lent by coming together to put ashes on our foreheads.  Ash Wednesday worship is one of the least attended services in our congregation’s life and ministry.  The reasons for this vary, but I think a prominent one is that many find the imposition of ashes strange, and even depressing.  Yet, if we take a moment to think through the meaning of the ashes, perhaps we can be freed to see the beauty of Ash Wednesday.

The ashes take us back to the beginning, when God formed the first human being from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7).  When we place the ashes on our foreheads we remember that we are dust.  We have been created by God, and our very being is dependent upon God’s gracious, creative, life-giving presence.  

The reason we need ashes is because we often forget that we’re creatures of God.  Perhaps the best way to describe human sin is our tendency to forget God, and to think that we can determine our lives.  That’s what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7).  They chose to compete with God for dominance, and to choose their own path in life.  They forgot that they were nothing more than dust, and that their lives depended on God.

The result: “you are dust and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19c).  When we compete with God for dominance we lose.  We die.  We return to the dust from which we were created.  And so the ashes not only remind us that we are dust, but also that we will return to dust.  The wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23).  The ashes are a chilling reminder that without God, we are nothing.

The ashes remind us that we are human and destined to die, unless God should choose to save us.  They invite us to turn toward God in repentance, to cry out for mercy, and to confess that we need a new path in life.  We need God to lead us out of the dust and into new life.

In sum, the ashes invite us to confess our sin and turn to God for mercy.  It may not be the most pleasant thing to do, but it’s necessary.  It’s like taking out the garbage: if you don’t remove the trash from your kitchen, not even a fresh baked apple pie will smell good.  Ash Wednesday invites us to take out the garbage so that our hearts might smell the goodness of God’s mercy and love.  It’s only when we root out our sin that we can see the goodness and mercy of God.

This Wednesday (3/5) at 7:00 I hope you’ll join us for Ash Wednesday service at Faith UMC.  We’ve planned an evening of deep personal reflection.  It’s a service that I hope will invite us to see that it’s okay –even a good thing – to put ashes on our foreheads.  After all, since the very beginning God’s been in the business of raising us up from ashes. 

     

Put on Your Running Shoes: It's Baptism Time!

Several years ago I came across this video of a young man, about 12 years old, doing a cannonball into the baptismal pool at his church.  Take a moment to watch the video by clicking on the picture above.

I love this video.  Not only is it quite funny (my favorite part is seeing a pastor rendered speechless), but it also points to a great truth.  When it comes time to celebrate a baptism, we shouldn’t just mosey on over to the church.  We should run!  We should jump right in!  We should be knocking down the doors to get a front row seat!

Why?  Because in baptism the saving power and grace of Jesus are on full display.  More than a touching ritual, baptism marks our adoption as the children of God.  The water that is poured over us symbolizes the overwhelming flood of God’s grace that cleanses us of sin and nourishes us unto eternal life.  Baptism marks the beginning of each Christian’s journey of salvation – the journey of healing, wholeness, restoration, and forgiveness.  There is nothing more exciting than that!

This Sunday at Faith UMC, we get to come to the baptismal waters.  We’ll be participating in the baptism of 5 month old Raegan.  While I don’t expect her to come running and jumping into the baptismal font, the excitement of her baptism is no less real.  If you’re coming to worship this Sunday (and why wouldn’t you?), then I hope you’ll come running, filled with excitement and anticipation!  The very power and presence of God will be on full display.

Oh yeah, and by the way, there’s going to be a pretty awesome pot luck luncheon after the service too!!!!