The Four Questions

At last night's Church Council, we discussed and approved the statement coming out of the Visioning Retreat. There was a great deal of discussion around whether it was a mission or vision statement. If we say our mission is simply to make disciples, then this is a flushing out of that, which begins to point at more concrete goals.

To remind you, the statement is:

Calvary United Methodist Church seeks and invites all to become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and our world.

In fact, we could even more concisely summarize this by saying:

SEEK. INVITE. TRANSFORM.

This is just a beginning, and the hard work lies in putting flesh on these bones and making this a reality and continued calling for our congregation.

To begin, I invite you to think around four questions, both for the ministry area(s) you may be involved with, and for our congregation as a whole:

1. What are we already doing that does this?
2. What are we doing that, if changed a bit, would do this?
3. What are we doing that does not do this?
4. What could we start doing that does this?

SEEK

So...I said I would start working through the statement that came out of the Calvary Visioning Retreat. I am leading the devotion for tomorrow night's Church Council meeting, using the first word from the statement (after "Calvary UMC..."): SEEK(S)

Here goes...

SEEK

Merriam-Webster offers the following definitions:
1 : to resort to : go to
2 a : to go in search of : look for b : to try to discover
3 : to ask for : request
4 : to try to acquire or gain : aim at
5 : to make an attempt : try —used with to and an infinitive

Luke 15:3-10 (NRSV)
3 So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTIONS
1. When was the last time you earnestly SOUGHT something? What was it? Describe that experience.
2. Who was the last person who SOUGHT you? Why? Describe that experience.
3. Both Jesus’ parables as well as his life demonstrate the importance to God of seeking the lost. Describe a biblical example beyond this passage that evidences God SEEKING.
4. Who in our community is being SOUGHT? Why?
5. Who is God calling you to SEEK? Who is God calling Calvary to SEEK? Why?
6. What would have to change in your life and the life of our congregation for you/us to truly SEEK these persons?

A FEW ADDITIONAL/RELATED RESOURCES:
• “Leaving Ninety-Nine,” by Audio Adrenaline
• General Board of Discipleship’s Evangelism page (www.gbod.org/evanglism)
• Foundation for Evangelism (www.foundationforevanglism.org)
• Resources from the Foundation for Evangelism (www.evangelismresources.org)
• The Frederick News-Post (www.fredericknewspost.com)
• The Gazette (www.gazette.net/frederickcounty)

When the Going Gets Rough...

In our world, our nation, our community, our church and our lives, each day brings signs of hope as well as concern. In many of these situations, it can be easy to get our heads stuck in a very negative place.

On the flip side, when we change the ways we think about the challenges in our lives and communities, just that change in thinking can signal and cause a change in those actual situations. The change may not (and usually is not) immediate, but just like we often speak of "seeing the writing on the wall" in a negative sense, it is also a wonderful feeling to "see the writing on the wall" when things start to turn around.

In fact, this is one of the ways that theologians describe the life, death and resurrection of Jesus---God's kingdom is not complete, but the writing is on the wall and we know how it ends (even if we don't know when). Some even compare it to D-Day--the war wasn't over yet, but it was clear who was going to win.

I hope you are seeing the writing on the wall for positive changes and outcomes in your life, at Calvary and in the world around us. And meanwhile, if you're still wondering how you can be part of a positive, constructive influence, check out this article from the Alban Institute about "What Not to Do in Turbulent Times":

http://www.alban.org/consulting.aspx?id=8378

In Totally Unrelated News...

If you're on Facebook, you got to see the ongoing long (with photos!) of my husband's ER visit last night after a Kickball injury! Basically, he was running to first, and pulled his right hamstring. His pain and the fact he'd heard/felt it "pop" made us concerned enough to visit the ER. The folks at FMH were great, and we were fortunate to make it into the "Fast Track" area right before they closed.

Chris is fine (relateively) and just has to take some pain meds, muscle relaxer, ice his leg and take it easy for a few days. In fact, this morning, at least he was already feeling a lot better. I couldn't resist, though, a picture of him with his new crutches. :-)

All joking aside (and really, I can only joke because he's going to be okay), as Chris and I were driving home last night (thanks to our friends Steve and Jennie who swapped cars so I didn't have to drive manual all the way home in the middle of the night!) we were discussing how grateful we were to have insurance.

Our visit was pretty basic, all things considered. Other than a co-pay for the visit and meds, we had everything else covered. But we were reminded how different such an injury would be for many other people. Catching this early and getting Chris meds no doubt will speed his recovery. In addition, he is fortunate to have a job that allows his not only to take some time off now, but also to work without straining that leg more. Many people do not have that luxury. Some wouldn't have gone to the hospital because they couldn't have afforded it. Others would have had to work through the pain (likely making it worse) or risk loosing pay...or even their job. We are truly blessed.

I have to admit I am not an expert on the health care debate. There's no good excuse...all I can say is I've been busy with life and haven't had the chance to really look at all the difference policies. But I do wish that everyone had the same opportunity Chris and I had last night--to get help when a problem is still small, and to start getting healthier without also having to worry about loosing money or making the injury worse.

I hope our nation's leaders can find some sort of plan (even if it's not perfect and, like anything, needs to be constantly revised) that offers everything this same opportunity.

October Newsletter Article

So, this applies both to the newsletter and this blog. Below, I've pasted in the October newsletter article I've written. I suspect it's too long, so once Joyce lets me know how much too long, I'll fiddle with it, but since I posted my July article, I figured I can just keep this going!

Also though, during October, I'll be doing a number of my blogs in relation to this new statement we came up with--providing the Church Council likes it too of course--so I invite you to check in frequently to see some of my thoughts on the various aspects of the statement (mostly how the words become actions) and to share your own thoughts and ideas!

___________________________

In early September, nearly two dozen leaders and members of the Calvary UMC family gathered to discern together where God is calling our congregation to go. Who God is calling us to be.

We knew that no such gathering is ever complete. Indeed, to try to determine some path for a large group without every single voice is necessarily inadequate. But we needed to start somewhere. Many of you took the time to complete a survey about your experience at Calvary. These results helped us identify both areas of strength and also areas for growth. A great deal of work remains to be done.

I wanted to share with you, however, what we did discuss and agree upon.

We learned some interesting things as we looked at demographic information about our area. Our retreat leader, William Chaney (our Annual Conference guide) provided us with four Percept demographic reports: 1 mile radius from the church, 3 mile radius, five mile radius and ten mile radius. Here are some highlights:
• We live in the midst of a community that is more diverse than most of the United States.
• Within a 1 and 3 mile radius of our location, we are surrounded by a large population of “Young and Coming” persons, generally between the ages of 25 and 48. These persons are not only younger, but also more educated and more affluent than the national average. Within the mile closest in to Cavalry, this difference is extreme.
• As the reports extend out into the 5 and 10 mile radius areas, the population looks more like traditional families, but still the report classifies a disproportionate segment of the population as “Affluent Families.”
• Our community’s focus seems to be mostly on “Hopes and Dreams” and while they do have some preference for a slightly traditional church style, they primarily seek recreational activities from a religious community.
• In all four of the reports, the largest age-class is that 25-48 group.

From the surveys that about fifty members of the Calvary community took, we were reminded that we have a lot more to do to improve communication within our church family. Many responses indicated that we have not helped the congregation be well-informed about what we are already doing. The surveys also identified some other areas for growth, including on-going discipleship growth and focus for all persons as well as actively and wisely pursuing the development of new programs that reach our congregation and our community. We have already begun developing plans to address these areas in the coming year, and we will share those ideas with you as details emerge.

Since beginning my time at Calvary, I have spoken with many of you who are excited about all the Calvary has to offer and who are anxious to see us really coordinate all our ministries well with a common vision and direction. Our discussions at the Visioning Retreat were a start. We came up with a new mission statement for Calvary. Benjamin Franklin is said to have declared, “Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning.” We are to be a people of actions, not just words. The statement we came up with summarizes, we feel, the sense of the congregation. However, it demands not emphasis on its words but rather serious prayer and discussion about its implications for all that we do. I invite you to join us during the month of October in prayer around these words as together we discern how God will make these words come alive in and through us.

Calvary United Methodist Church seeks and invites all to become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and our world.

To read and join in an online dialogue around this statement, visit Pastor Sarah’s blog: http://divinepassive.blogspot.com.

What We Don't Talk About Enough

...Okay, that could mean a lot of things. Really...there are a lot of things I think we ought to talk about more...though for many of them, there are good reasons, like they're difficult...

This week, my heart sank when I learned about a very good friend who has experienced some light bleeding 6 weeks into a pregnancy. Right now she's on bed rest, and waiting (unless there is a major change) to go back to the doctor next week. I hadn't know she was pregnant till I heard she was on bed rest (she and her husband were waiting till after the 8 wk appt to tell most people). As I sat with her yesterday, I could only imagine how she must be feeling---this excitement she's waited for (we all have!) is now marked by anxiety.

The good news is the baby had a strong heartbeat in both ultrasounds she had done this week. All things considered, the doctors sound optimistic, and I pray (fervently) that this all resolves and the rest of the pregnancy goes well and smoothly.

This has made me recall a luncheon discussion I attended while at Duke, though. The topic was miscarriage--we'd had a classmate who was pretty far along then miscarried. She and some of our professors formed a panel to talk about their experiences. I had NO idea how common complications (like minor bleeding) or beyond that, miscarriage are. Many of the women said they hadn't either, and they felt very alone.

This doesn't just affect the mothers either. Fathers are deeply affected, and all people are affected in different ways. I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I just wanted to bring this up, so we can all think about it, perhaps learn a bit more, and when we have opportunity, be there to support those in our lives who have faced any of these circumstances.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/bleedingduringpreg.html says:
-Studies show that anywhere from 20-30% of women experience some degree of bleeding in early pregnancy.
-Approximately half of pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages.
-Approximately 15-20% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage, and the majority occur during the first 12 weeks.

Those are pretty high statistics--much higher, I think, than we generally think they'd be. The fact is, all around us are people who have suffered the loss of a child. And often, we have not, in the church, done a great job supporting them. We don't know what to say (as if there are any words that could take the pain away), and memorializing those children lost before birth is often not done well. I have heard, though, of churches who have memorial services once a year, specifically inviting those who have lost children, including especially through miscarriage. This, if done well, can provide a meaningful time for the families. It also, I would imagine, opens the conversation a bit at the church about both the joys and challenges or pregnancy, and perhaps could help support those couples who may or may not face miscarriage, but at least, like my friend, do face anxiety when complications arise.

What do you think?

September 11, 2009

So I have to admit that each year, September 11 sneaks up on me a bit more stealthily. September 11, 2002, I was anxious, like, I think, many others. I wondered if there would be copy cats. Each year since, the events of that September day have gotten further and further from the forefront of my mind. Except when it comes up. I wondered how I would be affected this year. I didn't have to wait long.

On my way into work, I was listening to Hot 99.5, and they did several pieces about the anniversary. And right as they played one tribute audio clips, I drove past the Frederick News-Post headquarters, where they are flying a large flag from a tall crane. I started to tear up, and all of a sudden, the memories came back. They came though, this year as each year, with a little less emotional force, but nonetheless, packed a punch.

I remember that morning. I was a senior at Gettysburg College, and I was working in Residence Life, in charge of one of our freshman/sophomore buildings. I walked out into the commons room, as I often did, to say hello to our housekeeper. She was taking a break, watching a morning news show. The first plane, I think, had already hit, and once I saw, she and I both expressed sorrow for the pilot. We remembered the small plane that had hit the WTC before, and it was only as details came in that we learned otherwise. We said, "What a horrible tragedy." And then the second plane hit. I remember that the anchor on the network we watched said, "Were we replaying that clip, or did another plane just hit?" Like the rest of the world, that was the moment we realized this wasn't a terrible accident.

The rest of the day was a fury of meetings, talking to students, etc. I walked the halls, catching students as they returned from their classes, or woke to head out. First I asked if they'd heard what happened at the WTC. Then, because I quickly learned we had so many students from the NY/NJ area, I asked first if they knew anyone who worked at the WTC.

I remember that one of the RAs I supervised was devastated till about mid-afternoon. Her fiance and his brother both worked for the same firm, whose offices were above where one of the planes hit. They were new, maybe even interns. They were always in the office, and always by that time. It wasn't till later in the day that she could finally get ahold of him and learn they had, for the first time ever, been sent out of the office to a meeting in Brooklyn that morning.

I remember another RA in the building beside mine who we learned, days later, had been the emergency contact for her aunt and uncle. Her father was out of the country, and they'd only been able to get a hold of her. Her aunt and uncle were on one of the planes.

I remember all the stories of people who shouldn't been at the WTC that day but weren't. I remember hearing the accounts of the emergency personnel through their children and neighbors who were my classmates.

Most of all, I remember my astronomy lab that evening. You see Gettysburg decided to let teachers make their own decision about classes, thinking people maybe needed some routine. And so my regular lab went on a scheduled. And for the first time in decades, we got to see the sky without planes. It was bittersweet. And honestly, I hope it never happens again. But it was quite a thing.

I hope you are all remembering, and celebrating all who have and continue to sacrifice to make our freedoms possible. And I hope we continue to strive to embody all the ideals we proclaim at our best. This ought not be a day of anger, but one of remembering loss, remembering we are not alone, and committing to live and lead so that our children never have these memories.

Waves

My husband and I just returned from a few days down near Assateauge/Chincoteague. For those of you who didn't have to read Misty of Chincoteague in elementary school (sadly, my own husband suffered such a fate), Assateague is home to wild ponies who roam the wetlands and beach. Generally, you're lucky if you catch a glance of them on the road heading on to Assateague's beach front, but the hoof prints you'll occasionally see in the sand evidence that the horses (probably when the tourists have done home for the day) also roam the waterfront.

My grandparents have a little place in a trailer campground on the mainland, so I've been visiting the quiet beaches there since I was a child--and once even got to see the pony swim!

While I was reminded this week of how different things can seem when you're a child and when you're an adult, one thing I did realize was that playing in the sand, and watching what water does is fun...well...any time.

While our stay was marked my clouds, wind, and even rain, we did manage to make it to the beach a few times. Wednesday, we headed out, pails and shovels in hand, to build a sand castle. Five minutes in, as we both realized we had no idea where to begin, we both admitted we couldn't remember the last time we'd built a sand castle! We made a good go of it, but the biggest fun of the day was when we gave up the building part, and just worked on digging holes, seeing the water fill it, and watching what the waves could do.

Today, as we packed up, we headed back to the beach one last time, since Chris was sure that the high winds would mean big waves. Boy was he right! It was crazy! In fact, driving into the parking lot at the beach, it almost looked like the waves would wash over the sand and we'd get to see how well our Matrix would float!

It was pretty incredible to watch the waves. I could do that all day. To see what the water had the power to do. See see that the waves were so unpredictable, but unrelenting. There were at least a dozen sermon illustrations right there in front of me! Even just leadership illustrations--like how a wave that crests too early may look cool but as little effect on the shore. Or how the biggest waves were preceded by the largest flowing out of the water. On and on.

All of this made me think about the Visioning Retreat we had last weekend for Calvary UMC. I thought it was pretty awesome, and has the potential to have INCREDIBLE impact on our ministry. It's just a start, but it's an important one. And like the waves this morning at Assateague, I know the greatest force will come from our constant, and continued efforts to focus our energies and keep our momentum.

Last weekend, we came away agreeing:

Calvary United Methodist Church seeks and invites all to become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and our world.

It's a simple statement, and there are a lot of questions that we have yet to flesh out, but I'm really excited to see where this wave takes us, and how each wave will build upon the next as we seek to live out God's vision for Calvary, and indeed, for each of our lives!

Kickball and Getting Old

My husband Chris and I are officially members of a kickball league. Really! Jerseys, game schedules, umpires and all. I thought it would be fun, and a way to meet some people from the Frederick area. I'm sure it will be.

But after two practices and with our first game tonight, we're also finding that all of a sudden, we're not 18 anymore!

Now don't get me wrong. We're very blessed, and that's for sure. But I think everyone has that moment where they realize they won't always be in their twenties. And as I turned 29 in July, and Chris approaches the same fate in October, we're definitely face to face with this.

What really brought this home is kickball.

Last week, our team (of mostly inexperienced players who last played kickball in second grade and had no idea there was such a thing as a regulation kickball) gathered for our first practice. We had a good time, though it was already evidence that knee and hip injuries would affect our team. But even our practice took it's toll.

Let's just say that I bought our first even heating pad after that. And the good news is Chris' back is now pretty much better...for now. We spent the week bemoaning getting old. Wondering when it was that our bodies couldn't instantly recover from a beating, and being sure we were the only ones!

Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, as our team gathered for practice again this past Tuesday, we found that at least half the team had been struck by something. One guy had his fingers taped (I could've guessed that...he made one catch we'd all winced at). Others were sore. Others, well, we were a regular bunch of walking wounded. And those that weren't already injured mostly pulled something during THAT practice. My leg is still tweaked, and one woman pulled her groin so bad she just stood in the outfield for the rest of practice hoping that ball would come directly to her.

It's pretty funny, really, and everyone is a good sport. Our team just wants to have fun, so we'll make the best of it.

But it really got me thinking about (at least my perception of) how I used to be able to bounce back so much easier. Take more chances. Not be worried a sprint to grab a kickball would affect my walking for the next week!

I also realized, though, that this increased chance of injury also probably helps protect us from doing stupid things. Now there's a fine line between making wise choices and just not ever taking any risks, but there's also a (perhaps not even so fine) line between doing dumb stuff just because and making thoughtful decisions.

There has been a direct correlation, in our house at least, between our need to keep Tums stocked and our thinking twice about what snack to have at 10 pm. I drive slow at night, because I darn well know the deer like to stand in the road. Even, as I learned with the help of a guard rail and at the cost of totaling my car, on 340. Grown up still have to wake up for work, so shows on late are just better when DVRed. Dishes don't clean themselves.

We could all list the lessons we've learned over the years. Many of them are ones we've learned the hard way. And you know, as time goes by, you just realize that with some things, there's just no reason to take a risk ("Is it expired?" In our house, if you have to ask and an answer is not easy, then the answer is YES).

So...perhaps the very thing I thought would get us active and meeting people and staying young is also the same thing that has most powerfully reminded us that we're getting older. That's okay though. We are. And we know enough to play hard enough to be proud of our effort, but not find pride in limping around the office because we ran head-on into the short-stop. We'll leave that to the younger folks. And we'll remember to bring water, a first aid kit, and perhaps even some Bengay and ice to tonight's game...:-)