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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A "Dying" Church

The following is a letter written by Patrick Pillow, a young VMI graduate who declared his intention to become a pastor in the United Methodist Church. Right now he is working as an Assistant to the Pastor at Court Street UMC. His enthusiasm for what is happening at the church he serves is contagious so I thought you might enjoy reading it.

Dear Members and Friends,

We are doing way too much! According to many sources in the Lynchburg area, we are a “dying” Church! We are supposed to have only twenty some members in our sanctuary on Sundays; the extra 90 we had on Palm Sunday cannot happen again. We are supposed to be without any sort of weekly programs, so Bible Studies, Wednesday Nite Alive and Choir Rehearsal will have to be cut. Finally, we are supposed to be on the brink of closing our doors, so the twenty plus ministries we support financially will have to be discontinued. It is time we face the fact and realize Court Street United Methodist is a spent force.

Sorry to disappoint you Lynchburg, but we are back and better than ever! For a church on the “brink of extinction”, I think it is safe to say that we are the most stubborn and brazen Church in the entire Virginia conference!

You cannot help but feel energized when you walk into our halls every day of the week. Many of my VMI friends often tell me how they are suffering from “a case of the Mondays” when they walk into their places of business to start the week. I wish they all had the opportunity to feel the way I do as I climb the steps up to Court Street. The leaps and bounds that we have grown since January is truly mesmerizing.

I was so glad to see so many of you take advantage of our Lenten services, delicious luncheons, and the uplifting worship on Palm and Easter Sundays. Just as Jesus’ death and eventual victory over sin led to a rebirth for his people, so too will Court Street benefit from our willingness to put his sanctuary back on the map.

The late spring is a time of bright, colorful flowers, beautiful green trees, and the birth of new life. We are like the caterpillar in the cocoon, just waiting for a chance to hatch and spread our wings in the gorgeous splendor that God has made.

While the Lenten season has come and gone, let us not forget that our Lord’s resurrection offers us the chance to begin anew and continue on a path towards righteousness. Let us keep building, professing the faith, and reviling in his joyous works that are all around us! If this is a “dying” church, I don’t want to be anywhere else…

May the Lord God bless you and keep you,

Patrick S. Pillow ‘09B
Minister's Assistant

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Easter Prayer and "The King's Speech"

This afternoon, Mell and I watched and were deeply enthralled in, “The King’s Speech.” I know, I know, it’s not a real Easter type of movie but in a way it is.

I found it fascinating that the King was in line to come to the throne. He was born for it and supposedly prepared for it but he had one problem. He had a speech impediment and for someone who would literally be known for how he spoke, this was a huge problem.

If the King who was born to be King could not overcome his speech impediment problem, in all likelihood he would go down in history as an ineffective King or even have to give up his throne.

Here is my parallel to Easter. Just like the King we are born with a mission to serve Jesus Christ. We have hopefully been prepared for it but just like the king we all have a problem or two. It may not be a speech impediment but it’s a problem just the same. If we are not careful, it could turn out to be a huge problem.

If we who are born with a mission to serve Jesus Christ and cannot overcome our problems, in all likelihood we will be ineffective in our witness for Christ or even walk away from our faith in frustration.

OK, so the King hires lots of speech experts to help him fix his problem but none of it seems to do any good. Some yell at him, some have him swallow marbles and do all sorts of weird things but none of it seems to work… until he meets Lionel.

OK, so we often try all sorts of things to find our mission or our happiness. We try various jobs, spending binges, wild parties but none of it seems to satisfy… until we meet Jesus.

Now at first, Lionel seems unable to help, in fact at times it seems like he’s made things worse.

Sometimes at first, our relationship with Jesus is a struggle; at times, it seems things are worse.

But over the months and years the relationship between the future King and Lionel strengthens until the moment comes when the King must be King and thanks to his hard work, persistence and the trust and ability of his friend Lionel, the King is able to carry out his duty when he is needed most.

Could it be that over the months and years the relationship between you and Jesus strengthens until the moment comes when you as a Christian must be a Christian where it counts and thanks to your hard work, persistence and trust in the ability of your friend Jesus, you are able to be a witness for Jesus Christ when it is need most.

Yes, the King was meant to be King but he had to be willing to overcome obstacles and accept a lot of help along the way.

Yes, you are meant to be a Christian witness but you have to be willing to overcome obstacles and accept a lot of help along the way.

Easter is here. You are meant to be here. You have been prepared for this but you’ve had a lot of help along the way. Jesus has been guiding you all along through the Holy Spirit and through the lives of others who have come in contact with you.

This Sunday morning people will come at first because it’s a tradition but we can make it so much more. You have been prepared for this. You have overcome numerous obstacles to be where you are today.

Now remember what happened and allow the power of God’s Holy Spirit to make the Easter story be transformed into so much more than a story… let the Easter story become Easter Faith.

Christ is alive and ready to work miracles in your life and in the lives of everyone who come in contact with you or your church.

Easter morning is here…

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” 

Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. (Luke 24:1-9)

The time has come. Easter is here. The resurrected Christ is with you.

As the King gave his speech, his friend Lionel was protecting him, helping him focus providing helpful advice and encouragement along the way. At one point he said: “Give the speech as if you were talking to me, your friend.”

Wouldn’t it be great if you could picture Jesus, talking to you the same way? “Talk to others as if I were walking beside you and guiding you, your friend.”

Easter is here. The resurrected Christ will be with you.

Amen.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Help a Marine Returning from Afghanistan

Sargent Nathan Zello with the US Marine Corps has been fighting in Afghanistan for the past year.

His father Keith has been a member of Timberlake UMC and as a master carpenter has led and helped with many building projects, locally and in Mississippi following Katrina.

While Keith's son, Nathan was away, his wife left him, his baby is now being raised by Keith and Carrie. In addition the house was badly trashed. As you read the email below, you will see that Nathan is coming home soon. Nathan has seen extreme action and will have difficult adjustments to make. He also may have to go back sometime soon.

Nathan needs our help. Would you read the email below and pray about ways we could get involved. Keith needs one group to join him at the home in North Carolina and help clean up the mess and do light jobs such as painting. Another group can help with the more serious repairs listed in the email.

Just so you know the house is approximately 4 to 5 hours drive away from Lynchburg in North Carolina.

Read the email below and if you can help, please let me know.


From: zello1@aol.com [mailto:zello1@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 5:58 PM
To: larrydavies@sowingseedsoffaith.com
Subject: Sargent Zello's home repair

Larry:

Thanks again for your assistance in this manner.

His home needs all the carpet replaced, interior doors replaced, drywall work to patch holes in the wall, inside of the whole house needs painted do to the filth on the walls, the yard cleaned up due to all the trash left astray, loose toilets reset, front porch rail painted, curtains and blinds replaced from the dog damage, all the kitchen appliances deep cleaned and hopefully saved, if time permits put siding on the shed in the back yard.

I will get a portable storage unit to put his belongings in while the work is being done, I will have my tool trailer there, and I will be at the house until the job is done. I will go down there on the 29th or the 30th.

He is expected back between the 9th – 13th of May.

No service member should ever have to come home to such an awful situation. I have hard copy pictures of the house. Let’s welcome him home with a blessing from God.

Keith Zello

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Prayer for Palm Sunday: A Bigger Picture

Prayers

Mission team in Jamaica
Palm Sunday starts our Holy Week
Pastors and Churches in the midst of leadership change

------------------------------

During this past week… a lot of important decisions were made by the Bishop and the District Superintendents of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. All week we participated in worship together, prayed together and finally made critical decisions together concerning our pastors and churches throughout Virginia.

Most pastors will not be moving and will be offered another year to continue their ministry where they are. Using what they have learned in the past to help their congregation move toward a future filled with God’s grace.

Most churches will not be receiving a new pastor so they are challenged within their stability to look for new opportunities to be the church in the midst of a hurting world.

Some pastors will be moving to another church and will leave one ministry behind to start anew.

Some churches will be saying good-bye to one pastor and will be looking toward a new pastor and a new future.

Most pastors will be very happy about the decisions made. Some will not.

Most church members will be very happy about the decisions made. Some will not.

On a more personal level, as I drove home, I knew that overall many of our pastors and church members will be pleased.

I also knew that some of our decisions would not be popular and that a few of our pastors and church members will not be pleased.

But, I have the opportunity to see a bigger picture.

Overall, I know we made the best decisions that could be made under difficult circumstances. I will face the smiles and the tears confident that we are creating the best possible opportunities for our pastors and our churches to offer the grace of Jesus Christ to our community and to our world.

Why am I writing this?

Because this morning as I read what all of us will be using today as we prepare our churches for Palm Sunday, I saw the Scripture with new eyes. I was reading the same verses but because of what I experienced, I understood what happened in a different way.

Jesus knew.

Jesus knew what was going to happen next.

He knew that he would receive the adulation of the crowd as he rode into Jerusalem. He knew the same crowd now singing “Hosanna!” would soon be shouting, “Crucify him!”

Here is the story from the Gospel of Luke.

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When they reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD!

Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to weep. (Luke 19:36-41)

In the midst of the adulation, Jesus wept because he knew what was coming.

So, why did he do it?

Because he too, saw a bigger picture and believed in the decisions that were made. Jesus knew that Palm Sunday, the last supper, the agonizing prayer in the garden, the betrayal, the arrest, the trials, the whipping, the crown of thorns, the carrying of the cross through the city streets, the nailing of his hands and feet to the wood, the agonizing hours of not only physical pain but the emotional agony of being abandoned all leading to a seemingly senseless death.

He knew. Jesus continued to see a bigger picture.

Today, this week, I more fully understand the depth of what Jesus must have endured during the final hours of his life.

So, I now more fully understand why Jesus wept.

I also more fully understand why Jesus did it? He knew but he did it anyway.

Jesus endured the agony of the cross because he knew resurrection would not be far behind.

Seeing the bigger picture would cause Jesus to weep in the midst of Palm Sunday.

Seeing the bigger picture would allow Jesus to endure the cross on Friday.

Seeing the bigger picture allows me to celebrate the joy of pastors and churches.

Seeing the bigger picture will cause me to weep in the midst of pastors and churches who will struggle.

Here is the biggest picture of all.

In the midst of our joys and yes, our pain Jesus Christ is working miracles.

So, at times we celebrate over Palm Sunday.

At times we weep over Good Friday.

In the end, we anticipate – Easter Sunday.

Next Sunday morning, just like we do every year, we will all remember that our celebrations and our joys all serve a greater purpose.

Easter Sunday makes it all worthwhile.

Jesus knew so in the midst of the celebration, he wept.

Jesus knew so in the midst of the cross, he endured.

Jesus knew so on Easter Sunday – he arose.

This morning we sing Hosanna but we also prepare to weep.

Next Sunday we celebrate what it really means to be a Christian.

As I pray this morning, I pray as someone who sees a bigger picture.

As I pray this morning, I pray you will join me in lifting up pastors and churches as they prepare for the future.

As I pray this morning, I celebrate and weep over the decisions that were made.

As I pray this morning, I am filled with eager anticipation of the Easter that is promised for us all.

May God fill you with the power and grace of the Holy Spirit so that Palm Sunday and Good Friday all lead to a glorious Easter morning.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Missions not Worship may be What Attracts New People

Mission as the Emerging Entry Point for New People by Lovett Weems

It is intriguing that the first connection people have with a congregation tends to change from time to time.

For churches with struggling adult Sunday Schools, it may be hard to imagine that for a long time the Sunday School was the most likely church entry point for most adults, as well as children and youth. Well into the 1950s in many denominations and regions, the most common invitation church members gave their new neighbors or co-workers was to attend their Sunday School class with them. It was not uncommon for church school attendance to run higher than worship attendance. In fact, the Sunday School sometimes seemed to receive more loyalty than the worship experience. This was particularly true on circuits where the Sunday School was an every Sunday experience while "preaching" occurred on a rotating schedule among the churches on the charge.

Most of us are more familiar with the pattern that came next, in which the most likely first connection with a congregation was a worship service. People looking for a church on their own no longer came early to ask which Sunday School class they should attend but came first to a worship service. And church members inviting others to attend their church would now more likely invite newcomers to "worship" with us at our church. In this period the worship attendance in most churches pulled ahead, sometimes well ahead, of Sunday School attendance.

We may be on the verge of another change, in which the entry point to a congregation for more and more people is through service and mission. This seems especially true for the young. For many young people, inviting their friends who don't attend church to "come to my church" may not be the most comfortable invitation to make or the one most likely to receive a positive response. On the other hand, few young people would be reluctant to invite any of their friends to join them for a service project sponsored by the church, and few young people will turn down such an invitation. The sense of commitment to help others among young adults is as strong as their excitement about most churches is weak.

It is too early to know if mission as an entry point to church will take hold in the way that Sunday School and worship did in prior times. But we do know that for increasing numbers of persons with a passion to serve and some disillusionment with the church, mission may be their most likely entry point – if churches are actually serving others and including new people in such service. We also know that, in this time when "belonging leads to believing," it is often only after a person comes to trust a community and to feel accepted by that community that there is much interest in what the community believes.

Lovett H. Weems, Jr.