Prayers
Bob Auxier – daughter Erin
June Carpenter – dad Robert
Mary Jones
Les Trail
Anthony Busic
Jerry Viemeister
Today is a historic day for Jackson Street UMC and Trinity UMC. Today they will unite together as one strong church: Jackson Street UMC. I will be there with them as they celebrate.
Today is also our annual District Conference. Like charge conference, it’s a day of reports but also like our charge conference, I hope today to put increased emphasis on ministry and worship. Come if you can and help us celebrate our ministry together. 3 PM at Amelon.
Most of my week was spent talking with many of you. Annually I have the privilege of talking to our pastors about their ministry, their church and whether they want to return next year. As a part of the conversation, I get to re-experience the unique joys and struggles of church leadership. Yes, there are often problems to discuss but those too seem less burdensome when shared with others.
Usually at the end of each conversation, after our prayer together, there is a mutual feeling that progress has been made but more importantly we both feel better because we know that we are not alone with the burdens of ministry. God called each of us as pastors in a unique way but God did not call any of us by ourselves. We were called along with hundreds and thousands of others and together we make up this wonderful family called the church.
One of my favorite illustrations is a story that often goes unnoticed in sermons. Jeremiah 32: 6-7.
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet predicts doom for his country yet…
“At that time the LORD sent me a message. He said, “Your cousin Hanamel son of Shallum will come and say to you, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else.’”
Purchasing land is one thing but purchasing land in the midst of where Jeremiah predicted catastrophe seems… well stupid.
Then you have to wonder: Why is this in the Bible?
In Disciple Bible study, one writer makes a great point. Jeremiah predicts a catastrophe that will forever change everything. It’s as if Jeremiah predicted an atomic bomb was going to explode in their midst but then, he goes and purchases property right at “Ground Zero.” It would seem ridiculous indeed or is it something else?
Financially and politically this makes no sense but Jeremiah wasn’t a stock broker or a politician. He was a prophet and there was a definite message. Within the prophecy of doom, Jeremiah gave us a message of hope.
Someday, even after the disaster that is to come, God will restore the land and it will be useful again. Jeremiah’s land purchase was a clear message that one day, the land, the people and our nation will be restored.
Jeremiah warned us of the consequences of our actions but at the same time Jeremiah offered hope in the midst of our tragedy.
For me, this story, illustrates the unique role we play as prophet and minister:
Like Jeremiah we are often called upon to be a prophet and warn of the potential consequences of our sins.
Like Jeremiah we are also called upon to offer gestures of hope illustrating God’s presence in the midst of the consequences.
If we as pastors and church leaders take our calling seriously then we, like Jeremiah will occasionally weep, will sometimes be in trouble and will often feel lonely and isolated.
But there are also the moments when God tells you to buy a field in Anathoth. For many of you it started with your initial call to ministry. On the surface it made no sense but you stepped out in faith and in the midst of it all, you saw God in a new and fresh way. You were encouraged, comforted and strengthened for the road ahead.
Most important, this week, I learned, I was not alone either. I am surrounded by dedicated pastors, church leaders and laity. After meeting with many of you and traveling throughout the area I believe the Lynchburg District has stepped out in faith and purchased its own field in Anathoth and in the midst of this spiritual and financial crisis we are beginning to see the fruit of our investment.
Today, I encourage you to enter your church with passion knowing that you are called by God. You have confidently purchased your own field and you are confidently anticipating the fruit to come.
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