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?