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December 10th, 2010
Volume 157, Number 15
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Advent begins time of waiting for baby, man
Churches celebrate season with challenges, readings, devotionals
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
First UMC, Johnson City has held a live nativity pageant during Advent for the last 50 years. Outdoor shows are at 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights and are free to the public.
“During Advent, the season of Coming, both Advents—past and future—are there to be celebrated. They are there to be reflected on, prayed over, wrestled with and delighted in. For through the celebration of the seasons we come to know the ways of God. We begin our vigil. We enter into the expectancy, the joy, the wonder of the season of the Coming.”
—Wendy M. Wright, The Vigil
It’s the season of waiting—waiting for the promise of a baby who will become a Scripture teaching boy, a boy who will become a life-healing man, a man who will become a salvation-for-all sacrifice.
It’s the season of preparation—preparation for receiving the baby whose blood covers sin, the boy whose teachings turned to actions, the man whose return will usher in a new heaven and a new earth.
It’s the season of love—love for the baby, the boy, the man…love that knows no bounds, no discrimination, no demographic distinction.
During the season of Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the birth and return of Christ, Southwest Texas churches are embracing both the ancient and new ways to observe Christmas.
For Hope Arise UMC, a new church plant in San Antonio, that means exploring ways its members can spend less and give more to a city, nation and world in which poverty sees no seasonal relief.
“Jesus will bring this message of Immanuel to everyone,” said the Rev. Reese Henry, pastor of the church. “That calls us into action. When we accept salvation from Immanuel, when we come to Jesus and we look him in the face and he looks back at us, we have had something revealed to us. Now that it is revealed to us, we are called to reveal it to others.
“God wants us to be connected with each other. It is not enough to remember the message of Immanuel with a song, to remember it with a prayer or in giving gifts to family and friends like the wise men did for Jesus. It’s not quite enough. Jesus scattered abroad his gifts to the poor. We are called to do Christmas, to do the message of Immanuel. That is our only response to the baby.”
Henry’s teachings are based on the Advent Conspiracy, a movement to “take Christmas back” by giving “presence.” The concept is simple: worship fully, spend less, give more, love all.”
Worshiping fully starts and ends with Jesus and means entering into the “season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest,” according to the Advent Conspiracy Web site (www.adventconspiracy.org). It means reclaiming Advent as a “season where love wins, peace reigns and a king is celebrated with each breath.”
The conspiracy also focuses on spending less, challenging people to buy one less gift this Christmas. Americans, on average, spend $450 billion a year on Christmas.
The purpose of spending less is so that one can give more, the Web site details—“time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom, time to write mom a letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving.”
And it challenges people to love all by loving the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick.
When the Advent Conspiracy first began, four churches challenged their congregations to spend less, give more and love all, and the result raised more than half a million dollars for the needy, according to the Web site.
For Hope Arise, that means buying shoes for kids in the community who can’t afford new ones or a warm winter jacket for those who have none or sharing in digging a clean water well in places where children have no access to clean drinking water.
The Rev. Scott Heare, pastor of Riverside Community, a United Methodist congregation in Spring Branch, is taking his community through the Advent Conspiracy as well—helping those who attend focus more on the world and the community at large instead of giving in to the holiday stress and overspending that typically happens this time of year, he said.
“We celebrate Advent in a way that connects communally a little differently,” he said. “It’s not the liturgical church Advent, although we do observe a lot of the liturgical stuff. But we’re celebrating the Christmas presence, and the picture idea is we’re trying to take Christmas back.”
Back from the commercialism, back to Jesus.
“Each year (during Advent), you’re doing two different things: you’re preparing for the return and you’re remembering the birth of Christ,” Heare said. “You think about it the same way, remembering his coming but also anticipating his coming.
“Advent is like being pregnant in the last months and really preparing yourself, preparing your home, your relationships for this new life. What does it mean to be in a time of preparation? It’s a time of forgiveness and repentance, a way of getting yourself spiritually connected to those things.”
Heare said he has seen some of the ancient traditions coming back into churches because of a generation that’s interesting in learning why traditions were held.
“Without all the hang-ups, there were some really beautiful traditions,” he said. “And maybe we’re only experiencing a sliver, but there’s a real move for the ancient to creep itself back in. The emergent people are grabbing at straws because these traditions don’t have meaning. But if you explain the meaning, it gives them this texture.”
“I think it’s important for us, the church—not just Lake Travis—to always be aware of our traditions and roots in Christianity,” said Colleen Haley, pastor of Lake Travis UMC. “We want to help people remember there’s a reason we do these things.”
Colleen Haley, pastor at Lake Travis UMC, said the contemporary service at her church will be celebrating Advent with special, liturgical readings for the first time.
She herself is writing the Advent curriculum, she said. She’s pulled out five words that embody the season: Readiness, Repentance, Rejoicing, Revelation and Redemption, on Christmas Eve.
In the children’s area, she has written some short devotionals so families can do their own Advent readings at home while they sit around the table, Haley said.
“So the families can focus not just at church but so they can bring some of the waiting and expectation home,” she said. “The best teacher is your parents.”
In spite of the commercialism that hounds the Advent season, it should always come back to Jesus—his life, his mission, his love, Haley said.
“It’s important for us as Christians to be well versed in who we are and why we do the things we do,” she said. “Whether we acknowledge it or not, as Christians, we’re called to walk a different lifestyle, to be set apart. This is one of those ways, to be mindful of who we are. There’s a certain expectation of who we are as Christians and how we’re going to walk through the world, and when the world can’t tell whether we’re a Christian or not, then we’ve blurred those lines. We’ve lost our identity.”
“How does the world know that God loves them? Because we’ll love them,” Henry said. “We’re called to love in our actions. What if we spent a little less on our expectations for Christmas—one less tie, one less box of ornaments for the tree, one less thing? I’m not saying we don’t do Christmas at all, but what would happen if we did just a little less so we could show God’s love a little more?
“That’s worship. That’s how we show reverence to our diety.”
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2 Bronte churches examine what it really means to be
the body of Christ
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
It’s the story of a town coming together, combining resources, working to meet the needs of its community.
It’s the story of friendships being forged, of denominational lines being erased, of the body of Christ really working, functioning, breathing as the body of Christ.
It’s the story of God’s kingdom awakening and moving and coming alive in the people, in the churches, in the streets of Bronte.
With a populations of 1,000 and between 50 and 60 percent of those not worshiping in a church, two pastors in Bronte, a West Texas town that sits inside Coke County, are working to change the statistics—and, in the process, show their congregations what the true body of Christ looks like and what real community feels like.
And earlier in the fall, members of First Baptist Church and First UMC, Bronte, exited the doors of their churches and met on the intersection of Holmes and Washington—the intersection of the block where both churches sit—and, for the first time, celebrated holy communion together.
“It was hot, it wasn’t well organized or polished, but it was beautiful,” said the Rev. Matt Pennington, pastor of First UMC, Bronte. “It was a clear depiction of two parts of the body that have functioned a hundred yards apart for decades breaking down the walls that served as a fragmenting barrier. The body was joined, and there were few dry eyes, and uncounted hearts warmed by the love of our great God and the ability of the holy spirit to draw us together.”
It all began when Pennington moved to Bronte in January and forged a friendship with the Rev. Corey Cornutt, pastor of First Baptist, Bronte.
Pennington said he saw six or seven congregations functioning separately and he and Cornutt began to pray that God would bring “his body together,” Pennington said.
They “walked intently through the passage that deals with powerful conflict within the church at Corinth,” learned how Paul’s teaching about the body of Christ applied to their congregations and even threw in a contest to see which pastor could lose the most weight during the sermon series—“After all, if we’re part of the body of Christ, we should love and take care of our bodies,” Pennington said.
“It became an all-out attempt to see the body of Christ take this challenge as a joy and enable it to move radically through the power of the holy spirit in our community,” he said. “Love remained the greatest element of each, and we saw lives radically change through engaging the love of Christ uniquely through this time.”
At the end of the series, Pennington and Cornutt switched pulpits and surprised their congregations, preaching about the “importance of the body being a functioning unit together” and challenging congregation members to “celebrate” their differences as they “locked arms and lives for the sake of the Gospel,” Pennington said.
Then they celebrated communion together.
“Windshields were washed, cookies and brownies made their way to those working on Sunday, a free car wash was combined with a prayer station led by youth and children,” Pennington said.
“Countless acts of love and grace happened, and it was clear that this community would never be the same through a practical, simple but radical encounter with the body of Christ passionately living our love of Christ as a rescued bunch of disciples.”
They called it “Church is a Verb.”
“The Church , must be a verb that’s living and actively engaged in being the love and grace of Christ,” Pennington said. “And ‘Church is a Verb’ is, quite frankly a dumb name for an event, which is the point. The church must continue to be a verb daily, not just every so often when the pastors cancel what’s supposed to happen so we can do something out of the box. The Gospel must be lived out. It’s active.”
One idea, Cornutt said, is hosting block parties where neighbors could get to know neighbors and spend time with them. They also have a dream to eliminate hunger in Bronte.
“We’re trying to find other ways to get out in the community,” Cornutt said, “to show our congregations that the church exists outside of four walls or even a denomination. It’s good for people to see that we’re not on separate teams, that we have the same goal.
“There’s a misconception sometimes—or maybe perception is reality. A lot of people think Christians don’t treat each other very well, and if we can, in a small town like Bronte, reduce that perception, I think we’re doing some good work for the kingdom.”
“Most of all, we’re just trying to get the Church to engage in life together and actively live the Gospel in their contexts,” Pennington said.
Pennington and Cornutt said they believe that denominational differences should be celebrated rather than creating barriers.
“If we split up and think it’s our jobs as Baptist or Methodist to do the work, it’s not as effective,” Cornutt said.
“People in Bronte need Jesus Christ,” Pennington said. “What is happening is enabling people to know the love of Christ because it’s being lived by a body that is increasingly functioning as a unified body.
“As more and more disciples of Christ become a part of his movement here, I foresee an eruption of the Church in every facet of our town. I see the Church becoming a daily endeavor where people engage intimately in life together through the loving power of spirit-infused living.”
Pennington said what is happening in Bronte is a picture of “people engaging in radical discipleship and worshiping together through doing life together.”
“This means the Gospel becomes viral in our community and our world,” Pennington said. “The love of God needs to be lived, and the body has the privilege to join together to enable such love to be lived out.
“We must realize that each facet of the body is uniquely equipped and absolutely necessary for the work of the Lord on earth, in spite of the name on the sign in front of the buildings. What’s happening in Bronte is a clear example of the Church breaking out of the walls and allowing the life-changing love and grace of Jesus Christ to penetrate the lives of the people in and outside of these congregations.”
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Leaders express commitment to local church vitality
Friends, in past issues of the Witness, you’ve had the opportunity to read about the recent meeting of the Council of Bishops. The 50 active bishops in the United States, the 19 bishops in the Central Conferences around the world, and several retired bishops gathered in Panama City, Panama. We also met with Bishops of other Methodist denominations. It was a long, but inspiring and productive meeting.
The most important matter the United Methodist Bishops considered was a review of the status of the whole church. Based on extensive research regarding the United States church, the report presented several interesting findings and recommendations. You have read and seen some of the conclusions. You will be continually informed and updated.
The primary recommendation presented and unanimously approved by the bishops was a clear, long-term and finely focused commitment to “local church vitality.” We have reaffirmed our long-standing Wesleyan notion that the primary work of the church takes place in our 35,000 local congregations. All other aspects of church life must be focused on resourcing and supporting our local churches.
This commitment, of course, is not new. It is now sharply re-focused. This renewed sense of purpose will have behavioral implications across the church. In everything we do we must ask, first, whether or not our actions contribute to local church vitality.
The title of the report and recommendations is “A Call to Action.” An interesting and appropriate name for our efforts. Indeed, it is time for action, not just good intentions, complacency or cynicism.
Interestingly enough, this season of the year reminds me that some time ago our God reviewed our condition and determined that something needed to be done. The time for action had come. Our God’s choice of things to do was curious. He sent his Son, a baby in a manger. From that one act the world was forever changed.
In response to God’s action, are we now called to act that Christ’s body in our world, the church, may be all it can and should be? I thank God that he is still acting among us. It’s time for us to move forward, guided by the Light, which burns forever!
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The United Methodist Church
needs vital congregations to change world
The Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table of The United Methodist Church have now jointly endorsed the idea that the main goal of all UM efforts beyond the local church should be to help local churches become “vital.” In support of that goal, the first recommendation of the Call to Action Committee was that, for at least the next 10 years, the Church focus on key drivers of vitality to ensure that our resources are directed in support of that at the local level; those key drivers, as identified by the research of the past year by the Committee, are 1) effective pastoral leadership, including aspects of management, visioning, and inspiration; 2) multiple small groups and programs for children and youth; 3) a mix of traditional and contemporary worship services; and 4) a high percentage of spiritually engaged laity who assume leadership roles.
Absorb that for a minute: how basic is that? Our clergy leaders must manage, vision and inspire us, as has always been true. We need to provide groups and programming for children and youth, to create the base for the future of our congregations. We need to live in the now in worship, feeding both our traditionalists and those seekers who are touched by worship developed out of today’s societal trends. And finally, none of these things work if we the laity don’t rise to the challenge of leading the Church.
This is not a simple thing to do, no matter how basic the prescription seems. I guarantee that our clergy brothers and sisters would say to us that this is the same list of requirements they have always held, and what do we expect them to do differently now? Good question, for which we hope to have several answers in the spring as the Interim Operational Team starts its work. The “IOT” will consist of nine members, most of whom will bring strongly-pedigreed resumes from other fields as an indication that they can help us think through the necessary steps to progress toward our hoped-for goals. How indeed will our clergy be asked to change? I hope that one answer will be that our clergy will be “freed up” from whatever constraints many of them feel are keeping them from passionately preaching their own concepts of a grace-filled Gospel, constraints that have arisen from the laity demanding comfortable sermons (all of us that feel some guilt about that can raise our hands silently here).
A major problem that all of the leadership at the top of the denomination has acknowledged is that we (including both clergy AND laity) are no longer the denomination that leads in enthusiastic devotion to telling the Gospel story; where once Methodists were those who could not be made to sit still while there were people who needed to hear the story, we are now settled in our places, hidden in our back-street locations, satisfied to welcome anyone who happens upon us while the doors are open and the organ is playing. We are no longer the best witnesses to the best News there is.
The lay leaders of the conferences in the South Central Jurisdiction ( including the states of Texas, Olahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana) have decided to do something about that, and to ask the conference lay leaders of all the UM conferences to join them in their effort. They have endorsed an organization of UM laity called “Witnesses All,” which will seek commitment for change in the Church along the lines of the recommendations of the Call to Action Committee and commitment by lay persons to be bold witnesses to their beliefs. Friends, we need to live into our vows; we need to give our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness 24/7, 365 days a year. It’s what God has asked of us.
A general announcement of the organization of “Witnesses All” will come in the new year; watch for it.
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10 lessons learned during the
first conference Methodist Youth Tent Revival
Thirty churches and 150 participants gathered for a 24-hour time of prayer, worship and fellowship at the Southwest Texas Conference Methodist Youth Tent Revival Nov. 6-7 on a 200-acrec ranch in Spring Branch. It was the first annual event, and after a very wonderful weekend, I wanted to share with you 10 lessons I learned from this incredible experience.
Lesson 1: Sleeping in a suburban isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Tent Revival was non-stop from noon Saturday until noon Sunday. So, when I finally went to bed at 2 a.m., in 32-degree weather, I figured my wife’s suburban would be cozy. It was not. I woke up a lot in anticipation of the sermon I was to preach at 6 a.m.
Lesson 2: Worship can happen anywhere. We hired a rental crew to set up a 40-by-70-foot tent, which we called the Tabernacle, for our worship sessions. However, there was a time when the warmest place was around the fire. Worship moved to the huddled group of youth and adults trying to keep warm. Worship can happen anywhere—even outside the church building.
Lesson 3: God has a way of bringing things together. When I first received the vision to conduct a 24-hour tent revival, I had no way of knowing everything that it would take, or everyone who would be involved in making this happen. But God knew. He brought together all the helpers, resources and supplies to make this one-of-a-kind event a great success.
Lesson 4: God is worth our greatest efforts. Out of all the events I do and have done, Tent Revival was one of the most rewarding as well as one of the most labor-intense. It took days to set up for a one-day event and our budget was stretched to its limit. I kept telling God what it was going to take to pull this off, and I heard the voice of the Lord telling me—“It’s ok Rusty, I am worth it.”
Lesson 5: Starbucks coffee tastes extra good at 6 a.m. I normally don’t wake up this early, but as I was preparing to preach, my sweet wife made sure I had coffee in my hand. However, the greatest thing was watching the sunrise, from a beautiful hill country ranch, while gathering with the Body, and singing songs to the Lord.
Lesson 6: The greatest worshippers are young people. I will argue with you all day in favor of this point. Children and youth understand the heart of God like we adults never will. They haven’t lived as long to be tainted by the world. They worship with innocence, a naiveté and with a genuine pursuit of the things of God and the person of Jesus. It’s my highest joy to join them in worship, to listen to them pray and to watch them respond to a God who loves them deeply.
Lesson 7: Our individual worship reflects God’s heart for the world. The prayers in the Tabernacle at Tent Revival were not focused upon us alone. Inside the building we hung 20 nations’ flags. From Nicaragua to Kenya, from Egypt to China—these flags helped us focus our prayers on what it means to be a global church. To realize God’s heart for the world is bigger than just us.
Lesson 8: Shofars are not easy to blow! Weeks before the event, I ordered from Israel a shofar (a horn made from a Greater kudu) to be blown at the beginning of each worship session. And let me tell you, that thing is hard to blow! Despite that difficulty, I love the image of the church using this to trumpet in the glory of God (Lev. 25.9, Ps 98.6, 1 Cor. 15.52).
Lesson 9: It’s not about me. If you’ve read my articles before, you recognize this continual theme. I have to keep stating it because I am so ego-centered and self-focused that I must remind myself everything I do is about God. The Lordship of Jesus must be the proclamation of my life and ministry. Tent Revival is about God and the glory of the Son—and it’s not about my personal success or failure.
Lesson 10: Revivals are intended to be contagious. I challenge any church, youth group or campus ministry to follow up the Methodist Youth Tent Revival with a revival of their own. I’m encouraging all you to talk to your churches, pastors and lay leaders, to return to the roots of early Methodism and camp meetings and spark revival again. The future of our Church might just depend upon it.
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San Antonio District news
How well do we prepare for the time when Jesus is coming?
With those words, my mother initiated an 8-day season of excited anticipation and chronic anxiety. Growing up in a Methodist parsonage, it did not happen too often and it never mattered who the Bishop was at the time. “The Bishop is Coming!” dictated focus for my mother and for all four of her children.
It seems the Bishop always came on a Sunday. The “season” of preparation and anxiety began the preceding Saturday. The assignment for my older brother and me was the yard. I was never privy to what my mother, sister and younger brother were doing inside the house on that Saturday because I never entered the house (except for a sandwich lunch) the entire day! No matter the season of the year, there was always something more to be done in the yard to get it ready for the arrival of this most auspicious guest! By the end of that Saturday, there were no weeds in the gardens and the soil had been lightly turned; the grass was cut to its appropriate length and a 2” trench lined all the sidewalks; and all clippings were swept from the porch and walks as well as the gutter along the street. If it were a time of year when grass was not growing, then leaf-raking took over.
Through the week, each of us children cleaned up our rooms. Given the German heritage in our home, suffice it to say that everything would be picked up off the floor and organizationally placed on shelves or in drawers. Honestly, I sometimes wondered if it mattered to the Bishop that my underwear was neatly stacked in the appropriate drawer!
The Saturday morning before the Bishop’s arrival was for laundry – Mom handled the machine, but we hung the clothes on the clothesline in the backyard and, when dry, folded them for delivery to respective rooms. I never quite understood why I had to fold the sheets as they came off the line, just to unfold them to replace them on my bed! I think my mother liked to see the creases created by the folds! Again, I wondered if the Bishop had any interest in looking beneath my covers to see if there were creases in my sheets!
Saturday afternoon we dusted. My job was the baseboards – throughout the entire house! I don’t remember who ran the vacuum or who had the broom or who worked the dust mop or who dusted the shelves and door frames; but I certainly knew my job. I would begin at just about any spot in the house and methodically dust the baseboards. If it were under a bed, no problem, I would just squeeze under the bed and press on. If it were behind chairs, desks or the couch, I would crimp and make just enough space to “scutch” behind the object. Of course, as I laid down for most of this job, with the clothes on my body I would also be dust-mopping the hardwood floor immediately adjacent to the baseboard! It crossed my mind if the Bishop would ever know whether the baseboard behind the couch was dusted; but with excited anticipation and chronic anxiety I dusted on – confident that should the Bishop ever look at the baseboards behind the couch or under the bed or around the desk, the Bishop would not find any dust!
A final point of importance, the Bishop always came. I do not know if the Bishop ever noticed the baseboards or the coiffed dirt trenches along the front sidewalk or whether my sheets had creases; but I do remember that every time my mother announced, “The Bishop is Coming!”; that every time we prepared for the Episcopal epiphany; that every time we prepared for the event, the Bishop came!
In these days, Christians around the globe are preparing for the Advent of God. “Jesus is Coming!” Advent begs questions of us. How will I prepare for the coming of Christ; will I prepare for the visitation of God’s presence; how well will I bother to prepare? Will I even remember to tend the places in my life which I think I could keep hidden from notice of the Almighty? Will I prepare in such a way that I will notice the arrival of the Promised One?
Beyond the questions, Advent also makes a powerful affirmation. To my knowledge and in my experience; from my reading and discernment of scripture; according to our tradition and the sermons I have heard preached, Christ will come – not for a day; not just for a season of 12 days – but, quite frankly, every day, 24/7! With the ancients we make our affirmation that the Promised One of God is come; has come and will come again! So, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we sing, “Prepare the Way of the Lord!” and we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!” and we proclaim, “Thanks be to God!”
District happenings
An Ecumenical Gathering of Pilgrims on Oblate Hill
Oblate School of Theology will present their second annual contemplative retreat, entitled “People of Pilgrimage: The Gift of Sabbath,” beginning March 27, 2011 and running to noon, March 31, 2011. This event is open to all who share a desire for a Spirit-led life and companionship on the journey. The retreat will explore time as a gift of the Spirit and will include the concept of Sabbath and about ways of “making Sabbath.” For additional information about the retreat, including costs, suggested reading and how to register please contact the Continuing Education Department at Oblate School of Theology, (210) 341-1366, ext. 226; or visit the Web site at www.ost.edu.
P/SPRC Training to be First “Sacred Saturday” held in 2011
The San Antonio District will once again be offering our “Sacred Saturday” series beginning Jan. 29 with Pastor/Staff – Parish Relations Committee training. The series will continue throughout the spring with training for Trustees and for Finance Committees and Treasurers. The dates for these additional opportunities will be made public as soon as all arrangements are complete.
The “Sacred Saturday” series was born out of our “Equipping the Saints” training events of the past. Traditionally, “Equipping the Saints” provided a broad spectrum of workshop topics with depth of information limited by time constraints. “Sacred Saturdays” have been designed to provide an opportunity to dive deeper into a more focused topic as well as offering adequate time for discussion and q & a. There is never a charge to attend a Sacred Saturday training event; however, pre-registration is encouraged to ensure adequate space and materials for those in attendance.
Our first Sacred Saturday of 2011, P/SPRC Training, hosted by Oxford UMC, 9655 Huebner Road (between IH10 and Babcock Rd.) will take place on Jan. 29. The schedule for this and all “Sacred Saturday” events, begins at 8:30 a.m. with sign-in and gathering and runs to 3:30 p.m. Session I begins at 9 a.m., there is a lunch break at 11:30 a.m. (lunch is on-your-own) and Session II begins at 1 p.m.
To pre-register or for additional information, please contact Terry McCandless at the District Office, 210-408-4533, or by e-mail at tmccand@umcswtx.org.
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Victoria District news
How do you see Advent in this world?
Dr. Abram Sacher said, “We have inherited new difficulties because we have inherited more privileges.”
During the minister’s prayer, there was a loud whistle from the congregation. Gary’s mother was horrified. Later she asked, “Gary, whatever made you do that?” Gary answered soberly, “While praying, I asked God to teach me to whistle, and just then he did!”
At the dawning of Advent world cultures seem overwhelmed with reasons and excuses to hate and to blame others for their circumstances. With the advent of social media there would seem to be more understanding. Transparency is a clarion call but there is no privacy. No one can be a private person anymore. Everything is profit motivated and so intimate details are learned and sold about you to tell you what you like and don’t like.
National Public Radio reported last week that there is a vending machine in Japan that evaluates your looks so they can assess the type of soft drink to sell you. Sales and profit motivate our spending, our looks, our eating habits, self perceptions and how we judge and perceive others. Sales companies, due to the Advent of social networking, know our spending habits and, with the Advent of the information we freely give our computers, these companies can track our highest or our lowest preferences.
Our physical health and our mental health is for sale and sales motivated. Do you need a little self-confidence? There is a drug for that. Do you need smoother skin, weight loss, better sexual enhancements? We can shock your nervous system, make you more potent, and intellectual sound. We are told what to think and how to think. And we buy it with credit cards and cash; no checks please, “paypal” is acceptable. We are even told why we think like we think.
I believe that with God we can all be competitive but not life threatening. I believe in a non-cynical Christ. The more I talk about the detriment of human kind the more I debase myself and the Culture of Change. The future is bright. I must devote myself to what moves me to action emotionally. I want to inspire the human spirit to perform the actions of love and love toward one another. I enjoy the unbridled joy of children’s laughter. I enjoy the Peace of merely sitting in my wife’s presence when nothing needs to be said. I enjoy the patience of my sixteen year old when it takes me longer and longer to get out of the house. I love seeing and receiving the kindness of persons in traffic. I want to walk in ‘faithfulness’ and talk in gentleness, and show self control even when I am mad as hell. Goodness goes beyond anger. Goodness redeems us from hell.
It is not just because I am clergy but because I am compelled to be better and to be different but we who claim to be Christian are compelled to be different by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I want to be known as energetic, confident, compelling and enlightening about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to acknowledge and be acknowledged as having and recognizing the fruits of the Spirit.
God taught us how to whistle and how to pray. Pray for your enemies. I will never forget the atrocities of war, in South Africa, or the lynchings, racial slurs, fires, rapes, beatings, genocide within my own beloved country that I have experienced from white people and black people. These things are not going to stop me from loving people.
I have come to know, even as I am known, how to work and cope effectively with pressures, tensions, turbulence, anxieties, annoyances and the coolnesses of my friends to realize that the only one that can allow my inner disruption is me. I quickly eliminate my trouble spots with prayer.
If I run into a minister whose motive I don’t understand I face that person and ask what the issues are between us. The one thing that I feel that I am compelled to do is to promote an effective climate for the return of Jesus Christ. I have brown spots in the front yard of the parsonage. But I know the Master Gardner who will help me with the right products. And so my call for unity is not Futile but as laity and clergy I would ask that you would stand for righteousness sake. Don’t be a part of the silent majority. You are called to be Christ’s Armor Bearers!
District happenings
A New Beginning
Altair Wesley UMC
Approximately, three and a half years ago under the leadership of Rev. Charles Purnell , Jr., the members of Wesley Chapel located in Altair, reached and agreed to rebuild their existing church which had fallen into ill repair. After petitioning and receiving permission from the District Office, the members set forth in motion their vision. Utilizing various fundraisers and with financial assistance from the community, friends, and sister churches the goal and vision are becoming fruitful. After the transfer of Rev. Purnell and with the appointment of Rev. Debra M. Brown, they continued to build on this dream. With the appointment of our current pastor, Rev. Robert C. Waddle, the dream is becoming a reality. The old church structure has been demolished and the framework for the new church has started. Presently, we are worshiping in a local church. We here at Wesley Chapel are stepping out on faith to accomplish this task and will continue with our efforts to meet our goal. We know that with God all things are possible.
Vacation Bible School where each child received a T-Shirt, gifts and gained a greater knowledge about the love of Jesus Christ. Thanks to all of our teachers, staff and volunteers who made this event a success.
Keeping Connected
Lori Koonce,CLM
When I was a Hospice Nurse I got in the habit of keeping my cell phone under my pillow at night where I could hear it ring if I were called to a patient. I still do that. I’m usually pretty good at making sure it is charged, but last night was one of those times when I made a big mistake.
Early this morning I heard the familiar tone that tells me I am losing a charge. However, I lost it completely. It was dead; black…….no light; no life. I had to plug it into the charger and knew that it would take several hours before it would be recharged.
In the meantime, I was without a connection to “my world”; no way for me to reach anyone and no way for anyone to reach me. I was “lost”.
What a lesson God was giving me! “If you do not keep yourself charged with God, you, too, will be without life. He tells me “you will have no light, no power, and no energy to do My work.”
If I am not aware of my source of energy and ignore it, not recharging as necessary, it will die. Being constantly aware, being on guard, being available to respond, being alive and being a source of light is a responsibility God has given me. To do this I must stay recharged by His Word, by His Sacrament of Communion, by His Sabbath. Advent is a good time to recharge.
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The why, how of United Methodist Women
By Marsha Priesmeyer
Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation
United Methodist Women not only support mission through their pledges and other channels of giving, they also educate themselves about mission work, the places where it is being done and the issues that impact that work. The special concern of UMW are those situations and needs that impact the lives of women, children and youth at home and in more than 80 countries around the world.
Each year, women in annual conferences all across the country gather at conference Schools of Christian Mission for this purpose. Three studies are offered each year, one of which is a repeat from the previous year. Every year one study is presented for the purpose of spiritual growth. Often this study uses a book of the Bible as its focus, but recent years have seen studies on prayer, beliefs about Jesus and the relationship of food and faith. A second study is geographical, providing background and understanding about a specific country or area of the world where mission work is being done. The history, culture and political situations influence the ways in which mission is carried out and creates the need for specific kinds of mission work. Recent studies have dealt with Israel and Palestine and Sudan. Next year’s study will focus on Haiti. A third study targets a social issue that impacts mission work and the lives of people in all countries of the world, such as globalization, world hunger, and education. After participation in a school of Christian Mission, women are certified to teach the study in their own church or others.
Studies are not static. They move women to action in ways that reflect what they have learned about mission and where help is needed. This past year, in the Southwest Texas Conference, 71 churches participated in 110 studies. In nearly all cases, the members of these units were inspired to positive, concrete action. After the study on Food and Faith, many donated to local food pantries or world hunger initiatives. The study on Sudan resulted in many gifts to UMCOR, Imagine No Malaria, or specific ministries in Sudan. Gifts to Native American schools and missions followed the study on Native Americans. Many units made additional undesignated gifts to mission. Others offered additional support to local ministries that they already support, such as women’s shelters, day-care centers, community centers, and food banks. Others become personally involved in these ministries as well and become active advocates and volunteers in their communities.
Behind this education and action is always prayer—for those in need and for the strengths of our efforts to fulfill those needs. We ask God’s help and blessings on all we do and offer thanks for what has already been accomplished. For it is for His sake that we do it all.
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2010 conference UMW mission project: layette kits
Every year, during the School of Christian Mission, the UMW selects an UMCOR kit to focus on. During 2010, that was “birthing kits.” At the School of Christian Mission, 500 birthing kits; 68 health kits; about 17 layette kits; and one box of layette supplies were gathered and sent to UMCOR. This year, the “layette kit” has been selected. Anyone desiring to help with this project should contact a member of the UMW in their church or go to the UMW Conference site: gbgm-umc.org/swtxumw/ and contact any of the officers. Instructions for the kits follows:
• Layette Kit Items Value: $35 per kit
• six cloth diapers
• two shirts or two one-piece body suits
• two baby washcloths
• two gowns or sleepers
• two diaper pins
• one sweater open in the front
• two receiving blankets
Bundle the items inside one of the receiving blankets and secure with the diaper pins.
All items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, so it is important that kits contain only the requested items and nothing more.
Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.
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UMW join for annual meeting
By Terry Schoenert
Southwest Texas Conference UMW President
The United Methodist Women of the Southwest Texas Conference held their annual meeting at First UMC, Lockhart, Oct. 1-2. The participants had a great time thinking about the theme—“Generation to Generation.” We remembered those who helped us get where we are today and thought about those who will follow in our footsteps. The guest speaker, Harriett Jane Olson, deputy general secretary of Women’s Division, shared thoughts and stories of women and places in our past and led us to thinking about what United Methodist Women will look like in the future.
This year has been busy for United Methodist Women, with many events going on in our districts and at the conference level. We are especially proud that we exceeded our 2009 pledge to mission to Women’s Division of $210,000. We hope to do that again this year.
The future holds so much for us, and we look forward to finding new ways to be in mission to women, children and youth in our own communities, in our state, in our nation and around the world.
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29 women load UMW bus to St. Louis assembly
By Loretta Schultz
On April 26, 2010, 29 women loaded on the bus to the United Methodist Women’s Assembly in St. Louis that meets every four years. Along the way, we visited various missions supported by UMW Mission Giving. The first one was Wesley-Rankin Community Center in West Dallas. It was organized in 1902 and serves a low income neighborhood of Hispanic families. They have a Head Start program, a tutoring program and an open door policy to partner with 50 to 75 other agencies in order to serve the people’s needs. They are working to promote ownership of houses and encouraging people to take pride in upgrading the neighborhood.
The second mission that was visited was Better Community Development at the Theresa Hoover UMC, which used to be Black Community Developers in Little Rock, Ark.. It is a mission-minded church. The church’s Jobs for Life program trains people for employment, the Youth Initiative Program works with gang intervention, the Home Buyers Program helps people who are first time buyers and the Residential Outreach Program all are used to serve their community.
Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock was started in 1947 with 120 acres and seven cabins. Today it is a camp for those with medical disabilities, where they teach them to be all they can be. They stress abilities, not disabilities. There is swimming pool that can be used even with wheelchairs. They do scuba diving, bonfires, fishing, crafts, archery, games, boating, dancing and zip sliding. They work closely with the children’s hospital and doctors in the area.
The last mission stop was Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center at Fayetteville, Ark., which was organized in 1922 with 400 acres. It now has 46 buildings and is used for many training sessions such as retreats for pastors, care planning groups, Volunteers in Mission, Leaves of Gold Senior Event and health and drug work shops. They are presently working to restore and renovate some of the older buildings and put in paved roads.
Arriving at assembly, we were given opportunities to meet women from all over the world engaged in mission. We learned, sang and worshipped together and left more determined to be God’s hands and feet helping women and children all over the world.
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Briefs
Coker UMC holds
special Christmas concert Dec. 12
Coker UMC, San Antonio, will host its Christmas Pops concert Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., a musical event featuring Dave Collett, Duane Hoff and David McCutchan as conductors; Nancy Laine as organist; The Coker Chancel Choir, Coker Orchestra and Celebrate Band led by David Stone; Moving Spirit Dancers and Bentley Manor Quartet; and Bill Mitchell as narrator.
Admission is free. Coker UMC is located at 231 E. North Loop Road (off 281 between Bitters and Nakoma).
Contacts needed for several Witness stories
Several series are planned for future issues of The United Methodist Witness, but we can’t write them without you! Please let us know if you have any contacts for the following themes:
Four areas of focus—what is your church doing to engage in ministry with the poor and to improve health globally?
Generosity—focusing on generosity as the giving of one’s time, talents and treasure. Do you have individuals in your church who deny the “American dream” and instead give their money/time/talents to following Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations?” Has the faithful generosity of members changed your church or enabled your church to be more effective in ministry? Let us hear from you!
Health and wellness—what does your church do to promote health and wellness (including physical health, financial health, spiritual health)?
Marriage—what does you church do to promote healthy marriages among members? (This could include marriage classes, seminars, date nights, babysitting services, etc.). Do you have couples within your church who have exemplified good marriages, either by their longevity or their obvious love? Please send us names and contact information.
Passing it On—focusing on parents and children, what parents do to pass on their faith to their children. Do you have any multigenerational families in your churches? Children or youth who are following their parents’ footsteps? Families who volunteer for church events together? Send us their contact information!
Ordinary Radicals—Similar to the generosity focus, this series will focus on individuals who have traded their comfort and stability to engage in ministry with the “least.”
Send information, including contact names and numbers to rtoalson@umcswtx.org
or call (210) 408-4524.
San Antonio District
The San Antonio District staff has compiled
the information for Page 3 and paid to use
the space as a district newsletter.
Carl Rohlfs
Superintendent
carlds@umcswtx.org
Kathy Kafora
Admin. Assistant
ksk@umcswtx.org
Terry McCandless
Program Director
tmccand@umcswtx.org
Address:
16400 Huebner Road
San Antonio, TX 78248
District Office
(210) 408-4520
Fax: (210) 408-4521
Program Office
(210) 408-4533
www.unitedmethodistsadistrict.com
District Calendar
January
18 District Professionals Meeting, TBA.
29 Sacred Saturday, P/SPRC Training,
Trinity UMC
Victoria District
The Victoria District staff has compiled
the information for Page 6 and paid to
use the space as a district newsletter.
Terrence Hayes
Superintendent
Linda Curl
Admin. Assistant
Judith Johnson
Program Director
judith@satx.rr.com
Lori Koonce
District Editor
lflemingkoonce2003k@yahoo.com
Address:
5606 N. Navarro, Ste. 217
Victoria, TX 77904
District Office
(361) 573-4233
Fax: (361) 573-4392
Program Office
(361) 573-4233
New District Web site
www.umcvictoriadistrict.com
District Calendar
December
20-28 District Office Closed.
United Methodist Women
2011 Events
Mark your calendar
All women of the Church Welcome
January
23-25 Legislative Event in Austin
March
26 A Day Apart at Lake Travis UMC, Austin
April
2 Spiritual Growth Event at Cathedral Oaks
9 A Day Apart at First UMC, New Fountain
June
9 Luncheon at Annual Conference in
Corpus Christi
July
14-17 School of Christian Mission at Mt Wesley
October
7-8 Southwest Texas Conference UMW annual
meeting at First UMC, Corpus Christi
Special Note
Ilda Vasquez, president of the South Central Jurisdiction UMW and past Southwest Texas president, asks all women of the Church to remember to save April 22-24, 2012, for the South Central Jurisdiction UMW Quadrennial Meeting in Abilene, Texas. Women’s Division Directors and Jurisdiction Officers will be elected, and everyone is encouraged and welcomed to attend.
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