Streams of Mercy

A Writer's Prayer

2012-01-02T11:36:00.002-05:00

I am finishing my Doctor of Ministry project and paper, and I have many more pages to write... many. As my Danish fellow student recently posted on Facebook: "Skrive!"

Time for me to skrive... to write... to put into words what I have been reading, reflecting upon, and researching over the past two years regarding mentoring. I long for this to be "holy work," and not simply another deadline being satisfied. And so, I am doing this work in prayer.

I like what Karen Speerstra prays:

"You know my passion. I'm a word-weaver, a thought-shaper. I craft words that become vibrations and set loose powerful ideas. Help me to choose words wisely and aim them with care."

Then after listing some creative prayer petitions, her prayer ends:
"Thank you. Stay close to my keyboard, Great Word-Smith, Amen. May it be so."

This prayer will fill my spirit in the coming weeks.

the After-Christmas Blues

2011-12-26T17:06:00.003-05:00

At our church's Christmas Program a few weeks ago, my four-year old son had a line... it went something like this:
"After Christmas, I feel a little let down. I don't like those after-Christmas blues."

I've now watched my children have three grand sessions of opening presents. That's right: three sessions, in three days... that equals lots of toys and clothes. I remember what it was like as a young child. I remember the feelings articulated in my son's line from the church Christmas Program.

At the risk of sounding grown up, NOW ought to be the time for the most excitement. NOW my sons can actually play with those long-awaited toys! NOW they can have the fun they've been wanting...

My prayer for today:
"Lord Jesus, help me to realize and experience the joy of your presence now."

Psalm 91

2011-12-17T23:49:00.003-05:00

This past week, I visited several of our sick and homebound church members. And something quite curious happened: two different people told stirring stories about the same Scripture, Psalm 91. One woman told me about a difficult time in her life, and how Psalm 91 brought her courage and peace. Then one gentleman told me about storming the beach at Normandy, and how the US Army Chaplain read Psalm 91 to the American soldiers.

Isn't it amazing how these two people told stories about the same Scripture?

Isn't it amazing how God's Word speaks to people in different settings?

Advent Lyric

2011-12-08T07:07:00.002-05:00

I suppose music is mystical insofar as the lyrics stay with the listener far after the song is over... perhaps this is due to the power of the melody mingling with the verse.

Lately, I have been reflecting on these lines from "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Phillips Brooks.

Oh holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us we pray.
Cast out our sins and enter in;

be born in us today.

This image continues to fill my prayer life during Advent this year.

righteousness and peace

2011-12-01T12:49:00.003-05:00

Recently I was in conversation with some friends about this upcoming Sunday's lectionary texts, and Psalm 85 has given me pause... such a great line in verse 10:

Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Advent is a "coming together" season: divinity and humanity coming together in Jesus... love and faithfulness coming together in his Kingdom. And righteousness and peace intimately coming together in the way we live.

Waiting During Advent

2011-11-28T16:21:00.003-05:00

This morning, I finished writing the December newsletter article. The article remembers a Christmas from my childhood, when I was waiting... and waiting... and waiting for the perfect gift.

Coupling this theme, WAITING, with the Old Testament reading for this Sunday (Isaiah 40:1-11) reminds me how we long for comfort during the waiting moments. Israel was waiting for their deliverance from Babylon. And when the time was right, God commanded comfort for the people.

Most Americans are compelled to wait: at the check out line, the DMV, at a traffic light, and the carpool line.

So here are some spiritual questions I'm wrestling with today:

What are expecting to happen when the wait is over?
When the wait ends, are we surprised with delight or disappointment?
How does Advent train us to be people who wait?

May You Grow in His Likeness

2011-11-20T08:40:00.006-05:00

For the benediction -- the words that bless us from corporate worship into the world for service -- I will use a lyric by Randy Vader. I first learned these words nearly 15 years ago while singing in The Maranatha Choir at University UMC in Gainesville, FL.

May you grow in his likeness, Your life his alone.

May you find strength in stillness, May your heart be his home.

May your gifts be surrendered, May his grace mark your life.

Never fearful nor endangered, May your riches rest in Christ.

This morning, BJ, my choir director and extraordinarily special friend, will be in worship with us!

Does Basketball Count?

2011-11-16T13:28:00.002-05:00

Does going to a Duke basketball game count as spiritual growth?

I've been asking myself this question all week. Why? Because my wife and I had the joy of watching the Duke men's team play against Presbyterian College this past Saturday. The win turned out to be Coach K's 902 win as a head coach, setting up last night's win against Michigan State to be #903!

Since Saturday, I have been replaying in my head over and over again our time at Cameron Indoor Stadium... the excited crowd, the energizing music, the terrific play on the court... These are just some of the elements.

I could reflect on this game in a number of directions. A strong part of me continues to admire Coach K. Yes, this is true. But I must admit: I loved watching Marshall Plumlee!

Marshall is the youngest of the three Plumlee brothers playing for Duke. Unless there is a serious injury during the season, Marshall will not play for the entire year. He is practicing with the team all the time, but he's just not playing in games so that he can save his years of eligibility for when he's older and more developed. For now, Marshall gets to watch his two older brothers, Miles and Mason, play for the Dukies.

At one point of the game, I turned to my wife and said, "could you imagine how proud we would be if our two sons played basketball for Duke?" Really, if they did ANYTHING together as young men??? Now imagine THREE children!

Whenever Miles or Mason did anything good on the court, Marshall was always the loudest and most enthusiastic person cheering! He would jump up and down, grab his teammates, and yell loudly. Watching him, I felt inspired to be a father whose children will one day cheer -- to cheer with unrelenting passion and fervor -- for each other.

Insofar as my identity as a father is connected to my spiritual growth, then Saturday's time at Cameron Indoor Stadium undoubtedly inspired me!

Deep Breathing

2011-11-09T01:16:00.002-05:00

I've always heard about meditation, but simply chalked it up to a non-religious, secular sort of prayer. And a few times in my life, I've even received instruction on how to meditate.

Not too long ago, however, I learned something quick and useful, and my life has been blessed. It's the "4 - 7 - 8 Breath" as developed by Dr. Wiel. According to his website, the exercise involves these steps:

Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
Hold your breath for a count of seven.
Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.

Dr. Wiel says that the ratio of the count is important, that something anatomically happens within us when we breathe this way. The breathing practice becomes a natural tranquilizer, helping us to relax and focus our energies.

I've been doing this breathing exercise many times a day lately, and I have definitely found it to be useful. Coupled with my prayer time or Scripture reading has proven to be terrific!

Try it!

praying for a colleague

2011-11-02T10:43:00.002-04:00

Today a good friend and colleague is in surgery. And as I type this blog post, his day is just beginning.

I began my day around 5:30 am. And after I wiped the sleep from my eyes, got oriented, and thought about what today was for me, I remembered what today is for my friend. So I prayed for him -- for calm nerves and, of course, a successful procedure in the operating room -- and I am still praying.

Hearing his voice will be a blessing.

a prayer to begin this Sunday

2011-10-30T06:59:00.002-04:00

O Lord,

In about two hours, we will begin our first worship service of the morning. Let everyone who enters the doors worship you in spirit and truth. Bind up whatever distractions might overwhelm us, and keep us centered on your abiding presence. All the while, keep us refreshed with the surprising and provoking movement of your Spirit.
Reflecting especially on this text from Exodus, thank you for Jethro's bold mentoring of Moses. Help me to hear Jethro's advice for my ministry setting today.
Amen.

a prayer for our church folks in need

2011-10-24T20:44:00.002-04:00

O Lord,
As I think about your grace filling our lives, and I think about our church folks in need, I ask for your grace to connect to our needs in fresh ways. Help us to realize it. Help us to experience it anew.
For the person who recently lost a dear family member, grant her your peace.
For the person whose mother is unexpectedly in the hospital, grant him your hope.
For the people recuperating from surgery, grant them your strength.
For the couples who recently got married in our sanctuary, grant them your love.
For the new people looking to connect with others, grant them perseverence.
For all of us seeking your will in our lives, grant us the assurance of your never-failing presence.

Amen.

Psalm 30 and Joy

2011-10-17T16:34:00.003-04:00

The kind Staff-Parish Relations Committee of Salem UMC gave me an extra Sunday off... So we scuttled up to Lake Junaluska this past weekend. I went to worship at Long's Chapel UMC, located near the Junaluska assembly grounds.

The senior pastor preached a terrific sermon on Psalm 30. It was tied to a larger sermon series while also serving as the congregation's "Commitment Sunday" for pledge cards. The main word for the day... JOY!

So this morning during my quiet time, as the sun rose over the mountains, I read again from Psalm 30. The first few verses capture the status of my spiritual journey fairly well: God has saved me from my foes and has restored my health.

Such a timely word!

Heart and Hands and Voices

2011-10-12T16:49:00.003-04:00

I'm on a "thanksgiving" kick lately -- this theme keeps resounding within me. Maybe because I'm especially looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday this year. Or maybe because I'm genuinely thankful for so much!

I enjoy reading hymn lyrics for devotional time. The opening line alone from Martin Rinkart's "Now Thank We All Our God" has captured my attention...

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices

What a beautifully provocative image! We are usually content with being thankful with our minds. We agree to the idea, "I am thankful," and we move on with our day. Being thankful with our heart is, perhaps, a deeper level of thanks. But what happens if we thank God with our hands and voices, too, as this hymn calls us to do?

Psalm 50

2011-10-10T11:44:00.003-04:00

This morning I spent time reading Psalm 50. Beginning in verse 7, God addresses the people who claim to follow in God's ways. Evidently, these people are quite good at doing religious things, namely offering sacrifices. God actually compliments them on their religiosity, but says that all of those sacrifices were God's at the start. Every forest animal, every cow, every bird... everything! In verse 14, God says, "What I really want from you, my people, is for you to be thankful and to be true to your word."

Wow -- what a terrific word for people like me: our religious efforts are fine and good, but God is looking for so much more, something more significant, something deeper.

Today I am looking for ways to say quietly to God "thank you" in every circumstance and with every conversation. Already today I am thankful for a kind gentleman. He came to visit me in the church office just to encourage me, to tell me how much he appreciates me.

THANK YOU, GOD!

Coming Soon

2011-10-06T23:49:00.002-04:00

I started this blog in the summer of 2008. The purpose was simple: keep a written string of reflections on my life as a pastor. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the endeavor. Writing about fellowship meals, encounters with interesting people, and new discoveries was invigorating. Keeping the blog actually became a spiritual discipline of sorts, because I kept asking myself the question, "Where do I see God in this church's ministry?"

The time has come to give this blog a new look, a new purpose, and a fresh re-start.

So I've decided to blog on the spiritual disciplines in my life and how they are impacting me. I'm hoping to do a few things...

keep myself prodded in the right direction,
expand the imagination of what we can do to grow spiritually, &
encourage others to take the journey as well.

Beginning the week of October 9, let's wade in streams of mercy.

Welcome to Tori!

2011-07-25T16:03:00.002-04:00

When I first arrived at Salem UMC two years ago, I quickly learned that the church hoped to improve its visitation ministry. Since that time, I have done my level best at visiting our sick and home bound members, plus other church folks here and there. Of course, keeping one's schedule balanced with all of the responsibilities of a pastor can be tricky, to put it gently.

So, over the past couple years, I have been keeping my eyes opened to what God might have in store for the church. Perhaps some one to come alongside and help with the visitation ministry of the church?

Enter Tori.

Actually, Tori has been at the church with her family for most of her life. Tori, the oldest of five wonderful children, is a faithful servant of the Lord, always looking for ways to bless other people. Recently, when I was in a hospital room, Tori came to visit this church member too. As I sat back and watched Tori offer care to this church member, I saw God at work through her life. That sparked an idea inside of me. Now, after conversations with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the Administrative Council, the church has now brought Tori onto the church staff to work as our "Congregational Care Visitor."

I'm really excited about this! Yes, I will still visit church people in the hospital, but so will Tori! We're expanding and growing what we are already doing.

During worship this past Sunday, we said a special commissioning prayer on Tori's behalf. And I continue to pray that God will bless the congregation through Tori's offering of God's care.

On A Mission With God

2011-07-20T14:58:00.004-04:00

Our youth and children are on a mission with God! Earlier this morning, our Youth Ministry was packing up to leave for a mission trip while our Children's Ministry was preparing for their day in mission too.

The youth and accompanying adults will spend the next five days in Myrtle Beach, SC. No, they are not going to get a tan. Instead, they are partnering with "Sea Palms," a local mission agency connecting youth groups with various needs. Every day, they will spend time reaching out to people -- lifeguards from overseas, beachcombers, at-risk youth, homeless families, and adults with handicaps -- to share the love of Jesus Christ. They will also engage in worship and Bible Study. I am so delighted for them to do this trip, and I can't wait to hear their stories and see their pictures!

Some of our children enjoyed a briefer mission trip (only a few hours long) today. We spent time creating hand-made crafts for our home bound members. Then we drove from home to home. While visiting with our home bound members, we delivered the crafts, sang songs, and spread the love of the Lord. I pray that someday these children will grow into active members of the Youth Ministry... and then they will get to go on an overnight mission trip!

I'm proud of these youth and children, and I am so thankful for Salem UMC providing the support and encouragement for them to join God in mission to the world!

On A Mission With God

2011-07-20T14:58:00.003-04:00

I'm proud of these youth and children, and I am so thankful for Salem UMC providing the support and encouragement for them to join God in mission to the world!

The Past Few Weeks

2011-06-15T23:15:00.003-04:00

I am truly thankful for God providing me loving support over the past few weeks... my lovely wife, my brother, my parents, caring congregation members, dear colleagues, and even one of my mentors: God worked grace through them all. Why? Because the past few weeks have been especially challenging.

At the risk of being too succinct, let me share some more...

A few weeks ago, we packed up the family for a trip to Durham and Chapel Hill. My wonderful sister-in-law was getting married to her prince charming! Any overnight trip with the children is a big deal for my wife and me, and this was no exception. The wedding was lovely all the way around -- what a blessing to be there! And then during the reception, we got word about my 19 year-old cousin dying in a motorcycle accident.

This news changed our lives immediately. We quickly began thinking through our next week: consoling family members, how to travel to New Jersey for the funeral, etc. My brother and I made the long drive together. The time with la famiglia was undeniably fantastic, despite the tragic circumstances bringing us together. I only wish that my wife and kids could have been there, too. I hated being away from them; that alone is hard on me.

Meanwhile, two of Salem UMC's finest gentlemen were fading away, crossing from this life to the next. Both Harry and Glenn were remarkable men in their own ways. Both will be noticeably missed by their families and the entire community. Their respective funeral services celebrated their lives within the context of worshiping God. And I hope that their families and the Salem UMC congregation continue to heal...

During the "meanwhile," Annual Conference was held at Lake Junaluska. Inspiring worship, visiting with friends, voting, and so forth... A delightful highlight for me: witnessing three of our former Davidson College students be commissioned (along with a former co-worker from Davidson UMC) plus several friends be ordained. WOW -- how amazing!!! And another highlight... this video.

--> I could easily write a lengthy blog entry on my cousin's untimely and tragic death, leading the congregation through the loss of Harry and Glenn, or about Annual Conference. Perhaps as I continue to process these experiences, an entry will emerge. But for now, my reflections stay focused on praising God, because God has guided me through the peaks and the valleys of the past few weeks. Thank you, Lord! Now I am continuing to seek God's strength and wisdom as I get re-oriented, re-organized, and re-energized for the future.

Welcome home, Rev. White!

2011-05-23T13:25:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Salem UMC's Homecoming Sunday... and it was a terrific day, for sure!

We welcomed back Rev. Jim White, whose father served as Salem UMC's pastor from 1981 to 1985. During these years, Jim sensed his call into ordained ministry! So I was especially delighted to invite him to preach for Homecoming this year.

Jim did an excellent job! Wow -- I am so grateful... His sermon gave us all a broader view of God's work at Salem; that's so helpful. His message, which focused on God knowing our name, was delivered with passion and joy. Jim was gregarious, caring, and engaging all morning long. What a blessing...

We had several children and youth in worship yesterday. I wonder which one may hear that call into ordained ministry, and then be invited to come back to preach at Salem UMC's Homecoming in the year 2041?

It just may happen...

The Coach Approach

2011-05-20T22:31:00.002-04:00

Over the past two days, I have been blessed with training in "the coach approach." I am not a fully trained and licensed coach now, but I and a wonderful group of other Marion District pastors now have the essential skills for coaching another person... a welder, a bee-keeper, a ballet dancer, or a fellow pastor -- whomever!

Quite frankly, I have a loooong way to go before I can claim any proficiency at coaching. I'm not even a novice yet. Perhaps this is because of my passionate interest in mentoring. The definitions and processes that go into coaching, according to our talented resource people, are markedly different than mentoring.

For the past 18 months or so, I have been swimming in mentoring language: books, blogs, websites, and even my own writing... Yes, I'm taking a crack at creating "a Wesleyan theology of mentoring."

With specific regard to Salem UMC, I am pondering this...
How can I coach our staff and lay leaders?

That's a great question: one that is worth serious time and consideration. I suspect that over the next several months and years, I will live into its answer.

Taking my MEDSS

2011-05-09T11:26:00.002-04:00

I recently heard a pastoral counselor talk about the importance of each person taking his/her "MEDSS." He did not say who first coined this acronym, but I wish I knew, because I like it!

Meditation

Exercise

Diet

Sleep

Support

When a person has these five elements together, the chances for health and vitality are significantly higher.

One particular -- SLEEP -- has thrown me for a loop lately. As the father of three small children, I know the value of sleep! But back a couple months ago, I started taking an OTC allergy medicine that made me surprisingly sleepy. I had trouble waking up in the morning. I was groggy during the day. And I even fell into a deep sleep a few times while playing on the floor with my kids!

About a week after I stopped that allergy medicine, I started a course of Prednisone for poison ivy. And those steroids really messed with my sleep in the opposite direction! One night, I woke up at 4:15 and couldn't go back to sleep. Another night, I woke up at 1:15 am! Wide awake... ready to start the day. I watched a documentary, did 40 minutes on the elliptical machine, read quit a bit, and did some computer work all before 6 am!

Tomorrow my steroid treatment will come to a close, and hopefully I can be back on track with normal sleep. For me to energized and ready to be the pastor I am called to be, I really do need healthy sleep patterns.

Here's to my favorite American revolutionary, Benjamin Franklin, who famously quipped: "Early to bed, early to rise..."

New Prayer Garden

2011-04-27T16:16:00.003-04:00

Salem UMC has a large, beautiful cemetery beside its buildings. I write "beautiful" because each grave represents a life created in God's image, and many of their descendants and relatives still live in the Salem community. Some of the graves go back to the early 1800s! It would be fascinating to know the names of all the Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans, in addition to the veterans from wars in the twentieth century.

Many people stop by to visit the cemetery during the week. But there is no place for those visitors to rest, sit, and pray...

Enter one of Salem UMC's youth working toward becoming an Eagle Scout! He specifically mentioned that he would like to do a project at the church. Immediately, we began hatching the idea for a prayer garden. He creatively designed the space, worked up a budget, and pitched the proposal to the church. Our United Methodist Men generously gave him the money needed to complete the project...

And, voila!

Our soon-to-be Eagle Scout did a terrific job! I'm proud of him, and I am thankful for his great work. This Prayer Garden will undoubtedly bless the church and community for many years to come.

Hearts on Fire

2011-04-23T11:28:00.003-04:00

Methodism has a wonderful tradition of lay preaching. In fact, if it weren't for lay preachers, the Methodist movement likely would not have taken off with such gusto, sweeping throughout England like wildfire in the mid-1700s.

The tradition continues within The United Methodist Church today with Lay Speakers. One of the main differences between the lay preachers from 250 years ago and today: freedom of speech! Back then, the lay preachers were sternly instructed to stick closely to John Wesley's sermons and notes.

The tradition of lay speaking is alive and well at Salem UMC. Long before I arrived to serve here, the congregation started sending several people -- including youth -- to the annual Lay Speaking School sponsored by the Marion District. In an effort to provide an avenue for our Lay Speakers to use their calling and gifts, "Hearts on Fire" was launched a few years ago. It is a series of Sunday night renewal services during Lent. This year's series went great, and I'm very thankful to all of our Lay Speakers for their faithfulness!

I continue to pray for people to fees drawn by the Holy Spirit to proclaim God's truth. And as people feel the call, I pray for them to have the humility and courage to stand up, along with a countless number of other faithful servants, to say, "Here am I; send me."

815 Cupcakes!

2011-04-14T08:40:00.003-04:00

This past Sunday afternoon, Salem UMC held its "Egg Hunt and Inflatables" event. Of course, all of the children in the community were invited, and many showed up!

First all of the children could search for eggs. We divided up the church grounds into three zones so that the kids had age-appropriate competition! Then the kids had free reign on four giant inflatables. All the while, we served home made ice cream and cupcakes...

We kindly asked church folks to bake cupcakes... and they sure did. That's right -- we had 815 cupcakes. That's the largest cupcake-to-child ratio North Carolina has ever seen!

From a broader view, we recently wrapped up a five week emphasis on the "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations." Along these lines, I believe this event demonstrates both RADICAL HOSPITALITY and EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY.

Praise God from whom all cupcakes flow!

Review of the 5 Practices

2011-04-08T22:41:00.002-04:00

A few years ago, Bishop Schnase published a terrific book, The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. It has garnered a wide reading and high praise. You would be hardpressed to find anyone speaking ill of this book...

As part of Salem UMC's congregational development plan, we have been focusing on the Five Practices during Lent. After all, Lent is an introspective journey intended to sharpen one's discipleship. So over the past four weeks, I have sent e-mails, preached sermons, and led small group discussion, all based on the five practices. Coming up this week, we wrap things up with the fifth practice, "Extravagant Generosity."

Thankfully, these five areas of focus have resonated well with the people of Salem UMC. No church is perfect -- there is always room for growth in any and all of the five practices. That's just it: it takes practice. Nonetheless, I am delighted to identify excellent examples of all five practices happening at Salem UMC! In the weeks and months ahead, we will do the hard work of improving each area even more... it takes practice.

Let me briefly share why I find Bishop Schnase's articulation so compelling:

In these five practices, he captures the life of a dynamic local church.
I love the emphasis on "fruitfulness," relating to John 15. This language is definitely resonating nowadays.
The descriptive words (e.g. radical, passionate, intentional, risk-taking, and extravagant) have not always been household words amongst God's people. But they are becoming more common, and that's a wonderful thing!
I always enjoy exploring the relationship between God and God's people. It starts with God, not us. God acts; we respond. Each of the five practices, we see, has a theological grounding in God's personhood and God's activity. For example, as I will preach this upcoming Sunday, God is extravagantly generous to us. Therefore we are called to offer extravagant generosity as a sign of our faith!

In case you can't tell, I enthusiastically encourage the reading, studying, and usage of The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.

Sermon Leftovers

2011-03-07T16:09:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, I preached on the Matthew 7 text (an alternative to Transfiguration Sunday) that closes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says that we need to hear him and act on his teaching. To draw a sharp contrast between a wise person (one who hears and acts) versus a foolish person (one who hears but does not act), Jesus tells the story of the two builders. One's house is built on a rock, and the other on sand.

One main left over thought...

Many children grow up with the nursery tale about "The Three Little Pigs." Our imaginations may quickly draw a comparison, even if we do not realize it, because "The Three Little Pigs" is so familiar. There is a big difference, however, between the two stories. In the nursery tale, the main difference between the three pig-built houses is the construction material. In Jesus' story, the main difference between the two builder-built houses is the location.

Perhaps some people build their life using the wrong materials (like the three little pigs), but I think that Jesus' message really strikes at the heart of why so many Christians find themselves surprisingly dissatisfied with faith and life... because they go through the apparently correct motions, but they never laid their first brick on the Rock.

A person can built the seemingly perfect house, with all the right materials, specifications, and attention to detail. But if the house does not have a solid foundation -- the solid foundation of Jesus Christ -- then the house will soon be vulnerable to the storms of life. Jesus' message is the one people need to hear.

Spirited Life

2011-03-03T14:38:00.003-05:00

I just returned from a three-day retreat at Camp Caraway in Sophia, NC. The retreat served as the introduction to "Spirited Life," the new wellness program offered through the Clergy Health Initiative.

Like most retreats, the program's schedule featured a mix of large group sessions, small group conversations, and free time. The large group sessions focused on worship, prayer, orientation to the program, and instruction on the Williams LifeSkills. The life skills portion of the retreat intended to help people purposefully manage the issues in life that could lead to stress. This is critical, because a clergy person's stress consistently ranks as the main issue behind most health concerns.

Our small group was terrific! Great insight, challenging ideas, and lots of laughter... Our facilitator did a great job guiding the conversation, allowing everyone to engage and take part. But really, we had excellent participants in that small group, too. I look forward to staying in contact with these colleagues and new friends!

I was curious about the food to be served at a retreat on clergy health. Interestingly, there were no restrictions or special diets observed at the retreat. They did however offer sugar-free desserts; the apple pie was OK, but not nearly as good as the gooey chocolate brownie! Yes, I do need to be in this program, don't I?!?!

In the weeks ahead, I will begin "Naturally Slim," a program that focuses on mindful eating. I will also begin monthly conversations with my personal wellness advocate. It will be his job to hold me accountable to my health goals (exercise, eating, etc).

Getting back to the matter of stress, and how that is the main issue behind most health concerns for clergy....
--> Here's what our small group kept wondering: what is the faithful balance between self-care and suffering? After all, the One we follow and serve sacrificed and suffered. This cruciform pattern of living ought to be the framework for any Christian minister. And so the question will most likely remain, because the balance is elusive. And once we find that balance of self-care and suffering, the context changes and we seek the balance all over again.

She Got It!

2011-02-10T09:36:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday, I preached on Matthew 5:13-16. Here Jesus looks to his followers, including you and me, and says that we are salt and light. It looks like one of Salem UMC's littlest ones was listening...

She was sitting attentively in her 1st grade class. Her teacher was talking about health and nutrition. The teacher was sure to include the dangers of eating too much salt in food. Then, the little girl raised her hand and said, "But teacher, my preacher says that I am the salt of the earth!"

The teacher smiled, hugged her, and said, "That's right, Sweetie. You are!"

That made my week!!!

At the Grocery Store

2011-02-04T15:28:00.003-05:00

Just yesterday, my wife and I took our baby to the grocery store to pick up a few items. I wasn't planning to be "on duty," but then again a pastor always is, right?

We bumped into six church members! Not just that, we also stopped and talked with a new person in town searching for a new church!!

I really do enjoy being out-and-about in the community. And it's wonderful to get to talk with people in the real world, to hear what's happening in their everyday life, to share with them what's happening in my every day life.

DMin Dispatch 25

2011-01-13T21:16:00.002-05:00

For the past two years, I have been part of the fourth Church Leadership Excellence track at Wesley Theological Seminary. Tomorrow will be our last day: of this class, of this January term, of our time together as a group!

Starting tomorrow, each student's goal is to complete our DMin project successfully in order to graduate. (some classmates still have electives to take too) Then after the project is complete, each student will write a massive paper with theological inquiry and practical tools. So this entire past week has been devoted to figuring out exactly what our projects will be, the theological contours of that project, figuring out the bibliography, etc.

My project will be on mentoring for pastoral formation. This became clear to me over a year ago... more on this topic, however, in the coming year.

For now, I cannot help but be honest about my emotions regarding this DMin program: this has been exactly what I've needed & wanted.

Someone asked me, "Are you excited to go home?" That's not a simple "yes" or "no" answer.
Am I excited to be with my wife and children? YES!
Am I excited to get back to the comforts of home? YES!
Am I excited to tackle the challenges awaiting me at Salem UMC? YES!
Am I excited to go through items that have piled up since I was away? No, not really...
Am I excited to be done with the classes? No, because I've enjoyed them so much...
Am I excited to leave Washington, D.C.? No, because I really enjoy this great city...
Am I excited to say "farewell" to my classmates? No, not at all...

The individuals in our class truly share a mutual respect and affection for each other. Really -- it's true, even since the first day! To think that we will not be together again until graduation (May, 2012) really saddens me.

Like all educational experiences, however, this DMin program was intended to bring us together for a time, transform us, and then send us back out to lead.

And that is just what we will do.

DMin Dispatch 24

2011-01-09T22:10:00.002-05:00

A weekend review

Saturday
I took the Metro first thing in the morning down to Judiciary Square. I met up with Brandon, a friend and classmate from Birmingham, AL. We saw several excellent museums: National Building Museum, Postage Museum, and the Portrait Museum. I then went souvenir shopping for the kids, and then on to the White House. It was a long day of walking and seeing and soaking up DC culture. I loved it!

Sunday
Again, I took the Metro early in the morning. This time, I was headed to Georgetown, that old historic neighborhood. Since I rarely have the opportunity to worship somewhere else on a Sunday morning, I went to the National Community Church. I won't offer an exhaustive observation here, but let me mention just a couple items:

Their motto "One Church. Multiple Locations" sounds strikingly Wesleyan. Across the country, many local churches are experimenting with this multi-campus model. I'm becoming more and more curious about this being a contemporary interpretation of what worked so well in the early Methodist movement.
When I entered for worship, I was handed a little white satchel bag. What was inside? A tin cup with bread, and a small glass vile with grape juice. That's right: Communion! At the very end of the service, the pastor gave instruction for everyone to take the elements at the same time. Quite interesting...

I walked up and down M Street, visiting the Old Stone House before finally arriving at Georgetown Cupcake. I ordered a half dozen including chocolate birthday cake, chocolate squared, and red velvet varieties. We'll see how many last between now and when I arrive back in Morganton Friday night.

I then walked down N Street, saw the Kennedy's old townhome, and then journeyed on toward Georgetown University. The cobble stone and brick roadways are so beautiful... the whole time, I was humming David Foster's theme from "St. Elmo's Fire."

My day ended by having coffee with Rev. Donna Claycomb, a dear friend from Duke. It's always fun to catch up and hear what's happening!

And now we sit at the beginning of a new week... my last week of DMin classes!

DMin Dispatch 23

2011-01-07T15:25:00.003-05:00

We wrapped up our course with Lovett Weems and Susan Sonnenday Vogel today. So many important themes emerged: the various roles of the pastor (eg visionary, manager, communicator, and funder) plus several spiritual formation themes for a pastor. Along those lines, here is a great quote from Richard Baxter: “Take heed, lest you famish yourself to feed others.”

Now I am going through my notes and handouts, trying to put together a framework for how these learnings apply to my leadership at Salem UMC. And then this needs to translate into writing a paper due within the next month.

Lots of these “DMin Dispatch” blog entries have noted the great new friendships I have made through these classes. Let me introduce you to two of my European friends.

Thomas Risager

Ingrid Svennson (includes a photo from the class chalkboard)

Click on their names to read their blogs!

DMin Dispatch 22

2011-01-05T21:47:00.003-05:00

Our class has revisited some of the themes and topics from our first class with Dr. Lovett Weems. Using the basic concepts as a jumping off point (e.g. the importance of credibility and relationships), we dive deeper into exploring various nuances. Recently we discussed "The Leader as Communicator" and "The Leader as Manager." These are all timely and fruitful lessons for me...

This evening, a large group from the class made our weekly pilgrimage to the "Cactus Cantina" for dinner. I ate a delicious Cuban pork and plantains dish (plus a Coca-Cola). The fellowship with these dear friends is so rich... after experiencing these classes together, we are becoming genuine resources of support and discernment for one another.

DMin Dispatch 21

2011-01-03T23:42:00.002-05:00

Today we started the class entitled "The Person and Role of Church Leader," taught by Lovett Weems and Susan Sonnenday Vogel. Not surprisingly, we're off to a terrific start. This will definitely be an stimulating, inspiring week of classes!

I arrived to DC late last night after the long drive from Morganton, NC. I stopped a few times for gas and to purchase a car charger for my cell phone. Upon arrival at the dorm, I noticed that my room was empty... no roommate! So I started unloading and unpacking my bags, wondering when my roommate from Redondo Beach, CA would arrive.

I come to find out this morning that he is unable to take part in these classes due to health issues. I'm sad not to be with my friend for these two weeks, and he is certainly in my prayers...
I have made so many new friends through this DMin program. Catching up with them, hearing their stories, and sharing my story has been deeply meaningful. Without a doubt, the relationships built with these colleagues is a treasure!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-12-10T10:54:00.002-05:00

I'm willing to admit it: I am a sucker for the cheesy Christmas music we hear on the radio. My favorites include "Happy Holidays" by Andy Williams, "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays" by Perry Como and "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby. And there's another song that gets stuck easily in my head... "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

Listen to those lyrics, and you'll hear about bucolic life where everyone is cheerful. I remember this idealized image of Christmas growing up. As I grow more into adulthood, my impressions of the season have taken on a different shade of green and red. I'm not jaded; simply more realistic. Perhaps I take my Christian faith so seriously that I notice: no, not everyone is cheerful! Perhaps my work as a pastor has grown me to be more sensitive to the needs of people around me...

So I keep wondering... is this really the most wonderful time of the year at Salem UMC?

Maybe... YES!

I look around, and I see so many people participating in the mission of the church:
Children, youth, and adults practicing for the Christmas Program

People gathering for special times of fellowship

A concerted effort on reaching out to those in need

Extra dosages of generosity

Plus, I see lots of new people becoming engaged in what God is doing here! And this very well might be because of the season.

I would love for the next season to build upon the good happening at Salem UMC now, for people to say to one another, "no, this is the most wonderful time!"

Contagious

2010-11-29T21:06:00.002-05:00

Every Sunday during the 11 am worship service, a child brings "The Wonder Box" to the Children's Story Time. She or he gets to put anything in the box (as long as the thing is not dead or alive). And then it's my job to create a lesson on the spot based on the object...

This past Sunday, a little girl placed her stuffed elephant in the box. On another Sunday, I had talked about elephants never forgetting, and how God never forgets God's promises... But this elephant had red dots all over! Immediately, I thought about chicken pox!!! Anyone who has had chicken pox knows how CONTAGIOUS they are... in the same way, we ought to be contagious with God's love.

You can imagine where I was going with this...

Well, just when I was getting revved up, I asked, "how many of you have had chicken pox?" I was expecting maybe half of the children to raise their hands. But no one raised their hands. I was befuddled. Dumbfounded. I thought maybe some of the kids were playing a trick on me. Surely SOMEONE has had chicken pox, right?!?!?

And then I was reminded from the congregation: "all of those kids have had the chicken pox vaccine!"

HALO

2010-11-15T09:23:00.005-05:00

About 20 youth and adults from Salem UMC joined with another 230 from around Burke County for HALO... Homeless Awareness Lock Out, sponsored by Burke United Christian Ministries (BUCM). The youth spent all day Saturday in service around the community, and then spent Saturday night on the courthouse square in downtown Morganton. They collected donations, lead the entire group in a devotion, and made new friends. And they slept outside in cardboard boxes!

This is all similar to the "plunge experience" Trevor Hudson describes in A Mile in My Shoes. As Hudson would note, these experiences generate true compassion for other people. On Sunday morning during worship, several from our group gave testimonies bearing witness to this reality... They talked about their encounters and how their hearts were broken.

Now how will God continue to stir our hearts?

Family Fall Festival

2010-10-27T22:17:00.005-04:00

Scenes from the Family Fall Festival on Wednesday, October 27th.

Renovation

2010-10-25T20:19:00.002-04:00

FIVE -- yes, count 'em 5 -- bathrooms are being renovated at Salem UMC! Three are located in the Sanctuary building, and two in the Fellowship Hall building. All of these have needed attention, and I'm delighted for these bathrooms to get fixed. The contractors began with demolition today.

When these bathrooms are completely renovated (hopefully by the end of the week), they will all be sparkling and lovely. It's all about hospitality!

But there is another matter at hand...

The church property should always be under renovation. Somewhere and somehow, something ought to be fixed, repaired, replaced, painted, or torn down to build up something new. You can make a fine argument for the church property being "God's House," and as the faithful stewards it is our responsibility to keep it up. True... But I'm thinking about yet another reason why the church property should always be under renovation... because WE are!

This is crucial Wesleyan theology: the Spirit of God is constantly at work within us, sanctifying us, making us who we ought to be. God is perfecting us in God's love. Indeed, somewhere and somehow, something within our lives ought to be fixed, repaired, replaced, painted, or torn down to build up something new.

Seeing renovations around the church property is a joyful reminder of the renovation happening within our lives!

Remembering Ethel

2010-10-13T23:38:00.002-04:00

Ethel Whitener, one of Salem UMC's saintly ladies, died earlier this afternoon.

As soon as I received the call, I jumped in the car and drove to the Hospice House located one town down I-40. Making my way into Ethel's room, I immediately sensed how her family filled that space with love, devotion and gratitude for Ethel's many years as a caring mother. We shared stories, laughed & cried, and began to talk about how we will celebrate Ethel's life on Friday afternoon.

It was asked... "is it appropriate to sing 'Lord of the Dance' at a funeral?" After all, it was one of Ethel's favorite songs!

In a word: YES! I believe that the Lord who received Ethel into his loving arms earlier this afternoon has given her the gift of eternal life. This is the most amazing gift any of us will ever receive! Won't we want to dance when we are welcomed into God's heavenly glory? Just letting loose out a sheer joy...

I can imagine Ethel lovingly thanking and praising her Lord, Jesus Christ -- the Lord of the dance!

Learning from COR

2010-10-11T12:28:00.002-04:00

Last week, I visited The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR) in Leawood, Kansas. They held their 11th annual Leadership Institute on the same weekend they celebrated their 20th anniversary as a congregation.

COR and its senior pastor, Rev. Adam Hamilton, have been the talk of Methodism over the past several years... explosive growth, innovative ideas, several excellent books published. Just about every United Methodist pastor has heard of COR and Adam Hamilton. And more and more churches are using Adam's books for small group studies.

I've read several of Adam's books, and I heard him speak live once. So I was definitely looking forward to seeing their physical plant in person and learning from COR's discoveries...

So what made this church grow into the largest congregation in the UMC in just 20 years? Great question... one that most pastors, district superintendents, and bishops keep asking. I suspect that the answer lies somewhere in the matrix of timing, location, and leadership. There is one aspect of Adam Hamilton's leadership that I find truly compelling: intentionality. He is intentional and adroitly purposeful about the tiniest of details... That's how he launched COR 20 years ago, and that DNA has been encrypted into the lifeblood of COR's staff and congregation.

One of the persistent questions for me remains: How can Salem UMC be more intentional? I have a few ideas percolating...

Blessing of the Animals

2010-10-04T08:28:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, along with other Christian communities around the world, we celebrated God's gift of animals: Salem UMC's first "Blessing of the Animals" worship service. We gathered near the front steps of the sanctuary for a time of joy and thanksgiving, praying for health, safety, and good behavior.

The crowd included a horse, a miniature horse, a mule, a turtle, and nearly two dozen dogs!

Sermon Leftovers

2010-09-26T22:17:00.002-04:00

Today I preached on a portion of Jesus' "bread of life discourse" from John 6. During my exegetical research, I happened upon a fascinating little tidbit of information... and it could definitely get worked into another sermon on John 6 and Jesus' "I am the bread of life" statements.

Do you know the etymology of companion?

com = from the Latin word cum/com, meaning "with"

panion = from the Latin word panis, meaning "bread"

So a companion is a "bread fellow," someone with whom you share bread...

Jesus, the bread of life from heaven, is Emmanuel -- God with us...

And we are invited to be God's companion through Jesus.

A Timely Word

2010-09-21T22:38:00.002-04:00

I heard an inspired message today at the Marion District clergy meeting. The speaker was none other than Jeremy Troxler, a friend from Duke Divinity School.

Jeremy served at Maggie Valley UMC (my grandma's church!) before launching the Div School's programs under the Thriving Rural Communities initiative. In just a few short years, Jeremy has made a terrific impact in this role!

So Jeremy was invited to share a reflection on ministry... Let me paraphrase a few main points:

Most pastors feel the weight of GUILT, and for a wide variety of reasons
SIN and SUFFERING have a way of perpetuating this guilt
When we are faithfully grounded in Jesus Christ, we can experience true FREEDOM

Perhaps most intriguing was Jeremy's interpretive work on the parable of the father and two sons (aka "the parable of the prodigal son"). Jeremy described how we are too often like the "other son," whose identity is tied to the hard work done in the field... even worse, the father is viewed as a foreman. That son didn't appreciate how the father had already given so much.

Such an excellent and timely word for me and every pastor in the room...

Signs of Hope

2010-09-14T17:41:00.002-04:00

There is a common question often asked of pastors: "How are things going at the church?"

As people have asked me recently, my answer has been: "I see several signs of hope!"

Here's a short list...

high school graduates are making strong leadership commitments
a new LIVE praise band has been rehearsing for a couple months and will soon debut at the 9:00 worship service
a new book study (The Power of a Positive Mom) group for mothers
a new Children's Choir led by caring volunteers
Wonderful Wednesdays kicked off with a bang
more people serving as Scripture readers and Communion servers
youth becoming more engaged in their faith
new Sunday morning visitors coming back regularly
and "Magic Juan," a new member of the youth group

Praise God!

Pampered

2010-08-25T16:34:00.003-04:00

Right now, my wife is 37 and a half weeks pregnant. Over the past month, we have focused on her resting more and more. Thankfully she is in terrific health, and so is the baby.

I'm thrilled about this baby girl on the way! No blog post can capture the swirl of emotions through my life... To put things succinctly: I see how God has grown our family over the years, and I see God creating in new and fantastic ways. Since this blog is dedicated to telling the story of "my life at Salem United Methodist Church," I would be remiss if I did not include reflections on my family.

I am always trying to keep in balance my family life and church life. I do not ever want family to compete with church, or vice versa. Ideally, the two join together for the glory of God. Nonetheless, to be realistic, there are times when my attention is pulled in one direction or another.

Recently, I've needed to be more creative with my schedule to make sure my wife is resting, my boys are having a great summer, and that Salem UMC (namely administrative issues, pastoral care needs, and worship planning) is thriving. In the midst of this balancing act, the people of Salem UMC have been so gracious and generous to me and my family. The adult Sunday School classes are providing dinners for us every night. And this past Sunday, the UMW hosted a delightful Baby Shower. Not just that, several days some caring church members have kept the boys so we can visit the doctor. I'm so thankful for everyone at the church... Their support & assistance means so much to me. I see Jesus' love shining through Salem!

Remembering Alan

2010-08-12T13:56:00.006-04:00

A wonderful friend and colleague, The Rev. Alan Wilson, passed away two days ago. Yesterday the family greeted friends and loved ones at the funeral home for several hours. And this afternoon is the funeral service for Alan. As we prepare to worship God -- to thank God for Alan's life and ministry -- I cannot help but pause and reflect...

Alan was born and raised at Salem UMC. His ties to the congregation run deeply. What's more, Alan was so well-loved! The people of Salem UMC and Denton's Chapel UMC, the church where Alan pastored for the past 15 years, will miss him so very much. Words cannot really capture what Alan has meant to these churches and the entire Salem community.

Some of Alan's own words, nonetheless, have run true in my heart recently. In the days following a severe seizure, Alan's conversations did not reflect the person we all knew and loved. The words of Alan's prayers, however, remained powerful and inspiring. Neither the cancer nor the seizure, it seems, could not touch Alan's faith-filled spirit. What a wonderful reminder that illness and not even death, as the Apostle Paul reminds us (Rom 8:38), can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

One other thing... And I mentioned this in the sermon this past Sunday. Even when the medical prognosis was grim, Alan's hope and optimism never went away. His hope in Christ remained a beacon of light in the midst of darkness. This was evident every time guests would visit; Alan would say "we've been blessed" over and over again. Put another way: God is with us, and God will never forsake us. Alan's faith reminds me of John Wesley who, just before he died, said, "the best of all is, God is with us."

I pray for God's full and abiding presence upon Alan's family and the wonderful people at Denton's Chapel UMC.

Youth Retreat

2010-08-07T22:40:00.006-04:00

Our Youth Retreat to Springmaid Mountain (Spruce Pine, NC) was a huge hit! We intentionally formatted the 4 days with loads of time for conversation and building relationships. Much of that time was filled with fishing, tubing down the Toe River, horse back riding, playing games, listening to music... and eating! We also spent a good amount of time helping maintain the playground and landscape of Spruce Pine UMC (one of my mother-in-law's previous churches). Having this service opportunity built into the retreat was crucial. Several of the youth led devotionals after our mealtimes; this stimulated the spiritual growth dimension of the retreat, too.

I'm grateful for the time spent with these wonderful young people. I had fun listening to them, playing card games, gathering in table fellowship, & enjoying with them the beauty of God's Creation. I am proud to be their pastor, and I am hopeful for our youth ministry's future.

Below are some snapshots from the retreat.

A big thanks to all of the adult volunteers serving during the retreat! They were all terrific.

Reports from the Mission Field

2010-08-01T22:35:00.002-04:00

Three of Salem UMC's faithful returned last night from a week long medical mission trip to Haiti. I'm so thrilled that they were able to go, participate, make a difference, and in the process be transformed.

This evening, they shared their pictures and stories about the experience. Hearing them tell about their week -- especially since they just returned less than 24 hours before -- was truly a blessing. It's obvious that they sensed the movement of God's Spirit so many times during this week. And how wonderful that they were swept up in the service.

One of the participants spent a year in Costa Rica learning, discovering, and doing mission work. She also talked about how she grew through those encounters as well...

I trust that these three servants will continue to process their experiences in the days, weeks, and months to come. As they do, I will certainly hold them in prayer... also, I pray that their Haiti mission experience will spill over into the life of Salem UMC!

--> I am imagining more adults and youth going on more mission trips.
--> I am also imagining more people going out into the Salem community and Burke County at large as God's missional people.

Vacation Bible School Begins

2010-07-26T22:34:00.002-04:00

Last night, we kicked off the week-long Vacation Bible School. The evening came together so well, and we had terrific momentum going into tonight. To say that VBS has a "a few details" is quite the understatement!

I would really love to thank each servant/volunteer by name, though I very well might miss someone. For the nearly 75 youth and children who have taken part so far, we have nearly 50 youth & adult volunteers working hard either leading up front or behind the scenes. I'm truly thankful for each and every one of them.

The curriculum this year is excellent. It's based off Galatians 5:22-23 on the "fruits of the Spirit." The county fair theme brings these elements to life, and it all connects well with the people here in the Salem community. The Bible lessons, drama performances, sing-along songs, crafts, and the recreation all tie back to the theme in a natural, unforced way. I like that! More importantly, the children are loving it! And I'm looking forward to the remainder of the week...

Getting Ready

2010-07-21T19:20:00.004-04:00

Vacation Bible School is a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ with families in the community. Salem UMC takes this mission quite joyfully! With just a few days to go, a large group of volunteers is busy getting ready...

Some of our most faithful servants are our youth! We have wonderful youth, and we are blessed by their faith and fellowship. You can frequently find our youth participating in most areas of the church's life.

Here are some our terrific youth working hard on the VBS stage's art:

I'm grateful for all of our young people, their families, and their desire to grow in Christ through the ministry of Salem UMC. In recent months, I've been spending more and more time with our youth, and I always enjoy listening to them and laughing with them, too. And I look forward to more opportunities in the near future, including our trip to Springmaid Mountain in a couple weeks!

Luke 10:25-37 Sermon Leftovers

2010-07-18T23:29:00.003-04:00

This morning, I preached on Luke 10:25-37. The history of interpretation on this passage would likely point to an emphasis on the parable of "The Good Samaritan." And yes, this profoundly jarring yet subtle teaching must always be remembered. It seems too easy for us to edit this parable out of Luke's Gospel account... to just let it sit isolated, by itself.

Of course, one of main goals of biblical exegesis is understanding the context of a passage. This context includes historicity, geography, etc. Perhaps the literary context, however, sticks out in my mind especially for this passage. Throughout my preparation for this sermon -- and during the rest of this afternoon and this evening -- my mind kept going back to the conversation that prompted Jesus to tell this famous parable in the first place.

The conversation begins with a person well-versed in the Old Testament law. Here's how the conversation then flows:

--> the person asks Jesus a question (v 25)

--> Jesus responds with two more questions, referring back to Scripture (v 26)

--> the person gives the "correct" answer (v 27)

--> Jesus affirms the person (v 28)

--> the person asks for clarity (v 29)

--> Jesus tells a story, and then engages the person (v 30-37)

Is this how our conversations with Jesus go? Does our life of prayer and faith somehow mirror this conversation?

We would do well to dig deeper into the conversation precipitating the parable instead of just routinely challenging ourselves to "be like the good Samaritan." We just might think of ourselves as the beaten & robbed person left for half-dead!

Time with Lena

2010-07-14T23:25:00.002-04:00

One of the people I visited today was Lena. What a wonderful & dedicated woman! When she speaks, her words are trustworthy.

Lena's family has lived in the Salem community for well over 200 years. In fact, it was Lena's great-grandfather who gave the land where the cemetery, buildings, and parking lot now sit. That was back in 1800. Since then, the original log cabin was replaced by a frame building. And then about 60 years ago, the current Sanctuary was built. For sure, Lena's family has witnessed a lot of change in the community over the years!

I'm thankful for Lena and her steadfast devotion to the church and community. I look forward to hearing more stories from her about our Salem heritage!

A New Bible Study

2010-07-05T22:29:00.002-04:00

This evening we kicked off a new three-week Bible study entitled, "The Teachings of Jesus."

This first class began an overview of the four Gospel narratives. We began with scenes from the first chapters of Mark, noting how Jesus' teaching ministry is tied to his healing ministry and his prayer life. We also read some parables, discussing how Jesus invites his listeners to expand their imaginations to make room for God's truth. Next week, we will study the discourses from John. And then the third week's class will focus on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) with parallels from Luke's "Sermon on the Plain."

I'm thrilled with how this first class began! Everyone was engaged in the discussion by offering valuable insight and asking great questions.

I love these kinds of classes. Studying the Scripture together is definitely one of the ways we grow as a community of faith. It's a wonderful way for me to hear what is happening in people's lives and build relationships. And I look forward to more opportunities to come.

Getting Over the Emergency

2010-06-14T19:53:00.002-04:00

One week ago, I was in severe abdominal pain with a fever. A couple days later, I had an emergency appendectomy. Between then and now, life has been a blur. I'm just now getting to a point where I can sit comfortably in a chair. Thus... here I am: at the computer.

It's still a bit too soon for me to reflect meaningfully on the events of this past week. That, plus I'm still on some pain medications.

Nonetheless, I am grateful. I am grateful for my loving wife; my extended family who helped this past week; my doctors; my colleague for hosting the Duke dinner in my absence; and the wonderful Salem UMC people who kept things moving.

One week ago, I would have predicted that this blog post would report back on Annual Conference. Indeed I was recuperating nearby Stuart Auditorium, but I was not well enough to make the worship services or business sessions. That was a bummer. Yes, it's true -- I thoroughly enjoy Annual Conference every year, so I was disappointed this time around. I missed the stirring worship, the "holy conferencing" over important issues, and catching up with colleagues.

Yet, I am still grateful. Thank you, Lord, for getting me through this week, and for the hope of a bright future with you.

Making an IMPACT

2010-06-08T12:34:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday, Salem UMC partnered with other churches in Burke County -- actually, the entire Western North Carolina Conference -- to make an impact on the community. The projects all looked different depending on the locality.

For us, we worked at cleaning up Parker Road Park in Morganton. This is a beautiful place with plenty of shade for the hot summer. So we raked leaves, re-built the horse shoe pits, laid gravel, and pressure-washed several aluminum picnic benches.

To start the day, a lay person from First UMC in Morganton offered an excellent devotion. He reflected on how Jesus sent 70 of his disciples out to serve, and Jesus sent them to places where he himself intended to go. What an exciting thought: people will have the chance to encounter Jesus at Parker Road Park, and we helped to make this happen.

A special thanks to Sally & Todd, two clergy friends in Burke County, who organized the event!

5th Sunday Dinner

2010-05-31T10:21:00.003-04:00

Salem UMC has a tradition of gathering for a covered dish meal whenever the month has a 5th Sunday. Last night, we tried something a bit different: meeting at the Catawba Meadows park!

What a wonderful venue! I'm thankful for the facility rental fee being waived for the church.

Our people and food took up one giant picnic shelter. I'm also thankful for everyone bringing delicious food... it was tasty as always!

Throw in the old "pass-the-ball-over-your-head-then-under-your-legs" relay race, the "carry-an-egg-in-a-spoon" relay race, and the trusty egg toss game, and we had quite the picnic! Congratulations to Fred and Chris for tossing their egg nearly 70 feet!! We also played football and volleyball, and a great time was had by people of all ages.

Earlier that morning, the sermon invited a deeper, more robust meaning of "fellowship," that it's more than just hanging out or baking casseroles. Rather, genuine fellowship is what holds together the Body of Christ. Fellowship is about "holy friends" growing closer to Jesus as they grow closer to each other.

And this 5th Sunday Dinner was a wonderful way for the Spirit to build a stronger fellowship.

DMin Dispatch 20

2010-05-20T09:38:00.005-04:00

Our class on "The Church Leader as Public Leader" continues, and we are moving through the books we read prior to the class. We're now going over A Theology of Public Life by Charles Mathewes. Later today, we will review Forces for Good, a book on high-impact non profit organizations.

I really love the theological conversation. Hope -- what is it? Just mere optimism, or something greater? Mathewes writes, "Hope is vision because it sees clearly the true situation and resists illusion's attempts to anesthetize the intellect." Anyhow, that's just a small taste...

The post-class assignment is a 20 page research paper on a theme related to our final DMin project. So, I'm working toward a "theology of mentoring" paper.

In other news, last night a bunch of us went to the Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets baseball game. The Nats won, 5-3, breaking a five game losing streak. Amazingly, we witnessed an inside-the-park home run. And then the same batter began a triple play... That's the first time such a sequence happened since 1955!

I had a great time last night at the Nationals' game...

But I'm really looking forward to another baseball game this Saturday. I can't wait to watch my lil' slugger!

DMin Dispatch 19

2010-05-17T22:31:00.002-04:00

Our new class, taught by Dr. Shaun Casey, began today. The readings focus on three theologians seeking to articulate a "public theology." Put another way...
What are the public implications for Christianity?
How is the church called to engage the world?
How are we to address social problems in our community and around the world?

I would love to talk with Salem UMC members about their thoughts on these questions!

In other news, I found out that Dr. Casey is a Harvard graduate. And it just so happens that I packed my new Harvard t-shirt. One of our former Davidson College students, Kelli, is pursuing a PhD in biology there (full scholarship!), and she was kind to send me the shirt. So, it looks like I will be sporting the crimson on Wednesday!

DMin Dispatch 18

2010-05-16T09:19:00.002-04:00

The class on "The Cultural Dynamics of Leadership" ended Friday with some fun role-playing and q 'n' a. Now it's time to work on the final project: a cultural analysis of the congregation where I serve. I started Friday night, and worked some more Saturday night. I hope to have it about half-way done by the time I depart for home.

Yesterday, I went sight-seeing around town: the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the National Art Gallery, the National Archives, the famous Williard Hotel, and the White House. I could write much about my reflections at each place... For now, let me mention that my visit to the National Archives gave me an idea for the sermon on July 4th.

Speaking of worship... As I write this (around 9:30 am), I am mindful of the faithful servants back at Salem UMC who are leading worship this morning, and I am thankful! I look forward to hearing how the morning goes, how the Spirit moves through the congregation. As for me, I'm off to the National Cathedral.

DMin Dispatch 17

2010-05-13T22:34:00.002-04:00

Note: I've taken a little hiatus from blogging, though I am intent on posting more frequently. Starting now...

+++++++++++

This week I continued the DMin studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. And our class has been quite different from previous ones thus far. This class has taken very seriously different cultural anthropological terms, models, and strategies. The goal is to describe reality the way life is. For example, we're not talking about the church as "the Body of Christ" or "the vessel of the Spirt," because that would be "normative language." More "descriptive language" considers the church as, for example, a marketplace where goods and services are exchanged. This has all been quite interesting, and a considerable challenge for our theological minds. But my class mates and I are examining the material closely and working toward appropriating it faithfully...

On another note, my cool roommate, Rick, and I are sharing an apartment! Compared to the dorms, we feel like we're in the Presidential Suite: private bathroom and a kitchenette! Pretty fancy, I must confess...

Tonight a large group from our class ate dinner again at the Cactus Cantina, a Tex-Mex kind of restaurant. That was great... As always, we had fun with each other! Without a doubt, building these treasured friendships with colleagues (who share similar interests and passions) is a great joy!

I look forward to seeing what else unfolds in the days ahead.

Easter Blessings

2010-04-06T21:49:00.002-04:00

Easter is not just a single Sunday... The joy of Easter ought to permeate the entire life of the church every day of the calendar year. We are "Easter people" all year long...

Nonetheless, Salem UMC enjoyed some special Easter blessings leading up to Easter Sunday: special worship services, youth and adults working together for the children's Easter Egg Hunt, and of course Easter Sunday morning.

Salem UMC traditionally shares a Sunrise Service with St. Matthews UMC. So this was my first year participating in this, and I truly enjoyed it. I'm grateful for their warm hospitality; I look forward to Salem UMC offering hospitality next Easter.

The church's Administrative Council voted to change up the morning schedule a bit for Easter Sunday. Following the Sunrise Service and breakfast at St. Matthews, Salem held Sunday School at 9 am and then worship at 10 am. Taken all together, it seems to have worked well; lots of families were thankful for the slight shift. This upcoming Sunday, we will return to the usual schedule (Worship at 9 and 11, Sunday School at 9:45).

We have so many Easter blessings... too many count!

Were You There?

2010-04-02T10:36:00.002-04:00

"Were you there when they crucified my Lord?"

The words and melody of this hymn are haunting, daring us to imagine... What would it have been like to watch passively as Jesus offered himself up for us? Or when he was beaten and scourged? Or when he was hung on the cross?

"Were you there..."

During our Maundy Thursday worship last night, we meditated on the Scriptures, hoping to imagine. And this evening, during the Good Friday worship, we will reflect on more Scriptures; we will literally walk through the story of Jesus' suffering and death.

I pray that God uses these special worship experiences to enrich the life of Salem UMC. As we draw closer to the cross, we look longingly for the daylight of Easter.

Remembering Jane

2010-03-27T12:53:00.002-04:00

On Monday morning, one of Salem UMC's living saints was promoted to "the church triumphant."

Jane had been suffering from cancer after already beating cancer a few years ago. She faced these last moments with dignity and grace. Faith continued to guide her steps, even when she remained still. When people would ask Jane about her health, she would respond: "I'm in a win-win situation. As long as I keep living, I'm with my family friends who I love. When I die, I will be with the Lord who I love."

What a wonderful outlook!

On Thursday, we gathered to celebrate Jane's life. I personally enjoyed witnessing old friends re-uniting, telling nearly-forgotten stories, and giving thanks to God for Jane's lovely life. I will continue to remember Jane, praising God for the impact she continues to have on her family, church, and community.

Work Day

2010-03-18T20:41:00.002-04:00

Like every church facility, Salem UMC has some areas in need of touch up paint, cleaning, fixing, and re-organizing. As our Trustees chair faithfully says, "This is God's house, and we need to keep this place in the best shape possible" (or something like that). So, this Saturday (beginning at 8 am), the church will have a WORK DAY to get some projects done. I'm hopeful to see some people there to lend a hand, & enjoy serving alongside each other.

Confirmation Retreat UPDATE

2010-03-14T15:37:00.002-04:00

The Confirm10 retreat was excellent. Ed & Kathleen, Chris & Gloria all did a fantastic job leading the event.

Prayers, presence, gifts, service, witness, Sacraments, identity, commitment... these were the main themes impressed upon the Confirmation students. All of the music, worship, workshops, and presentations tied together so well. All of the students and adult chaperons created stoles to be used during on Confirmation Sunday at the respective churches. I am definitely looking forward to placing these stoles around the necks of the students, laying hands on their heads, and confirming them all in the Christian faith.

I'm so delighted that some of our Confirmation students were able to enjoy such a special, meaningful time at Junaluska. I had excellent retreat experience, too; hearing Ed and Chris sing their songs does my soul good.

Two side notes:

+ The group from Pleasant Union UMC in Liberty, NC had a strong representation. I was their seminary ministry intern in 2002 and 2003. All of their Confirmation students come from families that recently joined that church in recent years... isn't that wonderful!

+ When Mary Allen and I were newlyweds, we had the idea to take the Disciple I Bible Study together... you know -- building our marriage on reading the Scripture! We took the class at West Market Street UMC in Greensboro, meeting several absolutely wonderful people. One of those people, Steve, now attends Gibsonville UMC with his family. Anyhow, that church (co-pastored by my friend Jonathan Marlow & his wife) had a strong showing, too... and Steve was a chaperon.

--> How wonderful it is to re-connect with church friends from years ago!

Confirmation Retreat

2010-03-11T22:08:00.002-05:00

This weekend, I (and an adult chaperone from the church) will lead four of our Confirmation students on a weekend retreat. The event will be held at Lake Junaluska, the holy grounds for Methodists in the southeast. And the event will be led by Chris Hughes and Ed Kilbourne and the team from The Foundation for Christian Formation. It will undoubtedly be great...

Retreats and camps are special, especially for young people. How is it that God works special wonders in these settings? I am excited and hopeful for our Confirmation students from Salem UMC... If they let down their guard and open their heart just a bit, then they will experience the movement of the Spirit in a wonderful way.

Please keep them -- plus the other 2 Confirmation students -- in your prayers... that they discern God's movement in their life, and that they make a solid commitment to Christ and the Church.

Children's Ministry

2010-03-07T21:27:00.002-05:00

A few months ago, the church voted to create a new Children's Ministry Team to create, implement, and oversee all of the ministry opportunities for children (5th grade and younger). Our first meeting was supposed to be 5 weeks ago, though it was postponed due to recent snow and ice. So today the group met for the first time... and I'm delighted to report that the meeting went quite well!

We met for two hours, and the conversation never lagged. We began by sharing memorable stories of growing up as children in church. Then we read and reflected on Matthew 19:13-15, when Jesus welcomes the children. Some adults in the crowd tried to shew the children away, yet Jesus welcomed every one. We talked about how this biblical story translates into the Children's Ministry at Salem UMC.

After we laid a foundation and looked at big picture goals, we began talking through details... This new ministry team is on the right track! I look forward to working with this group in the future and witnessing how this collaborative effort bears fruit.

The UMW Lunch

2010-03-02T22:32:00.003-05:00

The United Methodist Women hosted a delicious lunch Sunday. All of the proceeds, of course, will benefit the various mission projects the UMW supports.

So I was delighted to join with church friends for a baked spaghetti lunch. Yes, I ate my salad. And I also ate two desserts: an Oreo and whipped cream thing plus banana pudding.

I'm always thankful for these fellowship moments when I can greet and catch up with church members. There's the young couple with a baby sitting over here... the new couple sitting right there... the long-time family over yonder. Yet, by God's mercy, we are all united together into one Body. That's a beautiful thing.

Covenant Peer Group

2010-02-25T15:05:00.002-05:00

No pastor is an island unto her/himself. Like all Christians, pastors need trusted peers for conversation, prayer, problem-solving, and support. That's why the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC officially endorses all pastors under appointment to join a Covenant Peer Group (CPG).

The programmatic trajectory of the CPG program has changed considerably since its inception. Now, the program is somewhat self-guided, although the annual conference did hire Rev. Russ Moxley (a supremely talented leadership consultant) to oversee this program. At a recent organizational meeting, Russ gave the green light for groups to form themselves.

And so, today over lunch, a new CPG was born! I met with a group of other pastors within the conference to imagine what a new group might look like. So far, so good... We will meet again in three weeks to continue sharing our stories and building trust with each other. Most people in the group met each other for the first time today!

For me to be the most fruitful pastor possible for Salem UMC, I need this group! I need these peers to challenge me, affirm me, and proactively pray for me, too. So I look forward to seeing how this group coalesces for the Kingdom.

Now Tweeting

2010-02-23T20:51:00.002-05:00

My brother convinced me: it's time to tweet.

So you can now follow what's happening on Twitter (Salem_UMC).

My brother also convinced me to do something else: to start a Facebook fan page for the church.

So you can be a "fan" of the church!

I'm hopeful that both of these avenues will provide a means to share the story of Salem UMC. That's what I hope to do on this blog! This forum is such a wonderful space to reflect, imagine, and ask questions. Twitter and Facebook, it seems, can give brief snippets of what's happening, to keep people hooked into the life of the church between Sundays. And that's a good thing.

A part of me is still hung up on the term "fan." Why? My mind goes back to a sermon I've preached once or twice: are you a disciple of Jesus or just a fan? If you're a fan, then you're sitting in the bleachers cheering for Jesus. That may sound nice, though Jesus is calling us to get up, walk down the bleachers, and join Jesus in the action. That's being a disciple. (doesn't this seem like something Kierkegaard wrote?)

Nonetheless, the opportunity is there. Follow the tweets or become a fan of Salem United Methodist Church on Facebook, and you can stay current on what's happening!

Special Sundays

2010-02-19T13:23:00.002-05:00

Last week's Sunday morning worship was led by our youth. They planned and led the service, and did a fantastic job with it all! For this upcoming Sunday, some ladies from the United Methodist Women (UMW) will do the same. And I'm confident that they will faithfully lead the congregation in worship...

The timing of this is a bit funny: two special Sundays in a row. But maybe the timing is just right, because this shines a spotlight on two of Salem UMC's strongest ministries.

Wouldn't it be great for the youth to play music, dance, read, and share messages on other Sundays as well? I hope that the youth can lead worship on more Sundays throughout the whole year... and for more women and men to read Scripture, serve the Eucharist, pray, and even share a witness or testimony, too. I certainly don't want any person to feel like he/she only gets one Sunday per year. Every Sunday ought to be "Youth Sunday" and "UMW Sunday" and "(fill in the blank) Sunday."

Perhaps the time has come to crack open the door of possibility and explore what this might mean at Salem UMC...

Two of a Kind

2010-02-16T09:58:00.003-05:00

Within the span of a few days, I officiated two funerals. The two, however, were quite different from each other...

My heart and mind has been consumed with these two situations -- the funerals and the related families -- over the past week. I'm still seeking to sort through my emotions, and I suspect that I will continue to do so in the weeks ahead. Actually, I feel inept typing this blog post! I'll keep on typing nonetheless because I am hoping to work through some reflections.

The first funeral was for a tiny newborn baby boy. I've been hugging my two sons a bit tighter this past week... This boy's parents will never get to hug their son. In fact, those parents will never do any of the things with him that I take for granted every day with my sons. And perhaps that's where the bulk of the grief lies: in the loss of what could have been.

The second funeral was for a older women. She lived a full, wonderful life, although one senses that she, too, had more potential. Her fight with cancer lasted for 10 months. She hugged her son every day of his life, not to mention her three grandsons... I wonder how many more hugs there would have been (and even with great-grandchildren) had this cancer not been so treacherous.

On the surface, these two funerals looked quite different from each other, yet they were two of a kind. Both lives were and are gifts from God. The mercy and grace God offers through Jesus Christ is for both people and their families. And, in completely different ways, we mourn the loss of a future.

Our moments together wisp away like the wind. I am believing more and more that now, not later, we tenderly hold our future in our hands.

Chattanooga Boys Choir

2010-02-14T22:37:00.004-05:00

Even though a couple inches of snow threatened the evening, the Chattanooga Boys Choir delivered a stirring concert at Salem UMC on Saturday night. Everything came together so well: the travel, logistics, the pre-concert meal for the choir... it was all lovely!

The choir is directed by Mr. Vincent Oakes, better known to his close friends as "Vic." He and his wife, Dawn, are dear friends of mine from college. We were active at University UMC and Student Center in Gainesville, FL. Part of that ministry included serving on the Upper Room Staff and singing in the Maranatha Choir, too. Witnessing Vic in action was a true delight... He's so amazingly talented!

A lovely night was enjoyed by all... Now if I can only figure out how our boys can commute to Chattanooga to sing in the choir. Thankfully we have a few years to figure that out!

Finally... The Staff Christmas Lunch!

2010-02-10T16:17:00.002-05:00

Our Staff Christmas Lunch was delayed two months due to weather, travel plans, and the like. So today we finally were able to enjoy some time together at Yianni's in downtown Morganton.

Salem UMC is blessed with wonderful, dedicated people who work faithfully at the church. And the congregation should be grateful! I sure am...

From left to right: me, Sue (Pianist), Mildred (Administrative Assistant), Shirley (Custodian), Kim (Youth Minister), and Virginia (Music Director)

A prayer for the Salem UMC Staff

"O Lord, we thank you for the work of your Church, and we are grateful for the ways you call us to serve. Each person is part of the Body of Christ, and each person has a way to participate in your mission. So we thank you especially for the church staff members, for their unique roles, for their giftedness to serve, and for their desire to work for you. Grant them, we humbly pray, with renewed passion, keen insight, and blessed assurance. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

A Big Birthday

2010-02-08T22:08:00.002-05:00

At the 11:00 worship service yesterday, during the announcement time, a kind older gentleman sitting in the back of the sanctuary raised his hand. I can tell he wanted to speak. I called on his name, "Bob?"

Bob is the Scout Master Czar. Over many decades, Bob led a countless number of scout meetings, camping trips, and educational endeavors about the benefits of scouting. And, of course, he led several young men to become Eagle Scouts. For a time, Bob even served as our Annual Conference's Scout Coordinator. Bob always has a scouting story to share... So you could imagine his disappointment when the scout troop at Salem UMC was transferred to another church a few years ago.

So Bob made his announcement: "Tomorrow, February 8th, is the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts, and I think everyone here ought to know that."

This struck me... First, my heart leaped over the pews to Bob. Second, 100 years is a long time for any organization, let alone a volunteer group. Much could be said or written about scouting, how children have changed over 100 years, the vast options now available to young boys and girls, and so forth. Nonetheless, it's evident to me that an uncountable number of men are thankful for their scouting as boys.

Seeing all the cool things scouts do, I'm not surprised one bit that our oldest son wants to be a scout. By the way, today -- February 8th, 2010 -- is also his birthday. He turns 5!

Snowy Sunrise

2010-01-31T15:03:00.003-05:00

These scenes were captured this morning around 7:00 am.

the view across Salem Road

The icy roads and even icier driveways kept many people at home this morning. Nonetheless, the congregation was mighty in spirit!

Clearing the Snow

2010-01-30T18:33:00.003-05:00

Just before Christmas, it happened. And it happened again this weekend: SNOW, and lots of it!

But here's the thing... once again, there is so much snow that needed to think through getting the parking lot and sidewalks cleared for Sunday morning.

Thankfully, the precipitation stopped falling by dinner time on Saturday. So we can clear the snow and not worry too much about more snow covering up our work.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jared and Jim helped me shovel the snow. Both worked hard and did great work on behalf of the congregation. Right now, Fred is using his tractor to clear the snow on the parking lot. He is quite experienced and skilled at doing this sort of thing. Apparently, he's been outside clearing parking lots since 7:30 am. I sure hope that he can finish soon and get back to his warm home with his family.

First thing in the morning, I will spread "ice melt" on the sidewalks and handicap ramp. With the Lord's blessing, Salem UMC will be ready for worship, education, and fellowship tomorrow morning!

Health Kits for Haiti

2010-01-27T14:44:00.002-05:00

Salem United Methodist Church does not exist on an island by itself. We are in connection with other congregations for the mission of the Church. Together, we can do so much. When congregations put their resources together, the greater good of God's Kingdom comes more clearly into focus.

And this happened over the past several days...

United Methodist congregations from the Marion District created and gave Health Kits for our neighbors in Haiti. I estimate a grand total of approximately 1,200 Health Kits were collected.

Here is the collection site in the Salem UMC Fellowship Hall. I'm delighted that Salem UMC can serve as a geographically central site!

Here is what one real live Health Kit looks like!

Today, two giant trailers visited all 15 districts to pick up the Health Kits. I'm thankful for these United Methodists, gentlemen whom I had never met before, being in ministry with us.

The Marion District Health Kits will be combined with thousands more from across Western North Carolina, driven to the Sager Brown United Methodist mission response depot in Louisiana, and then taken to Haiti.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

District Leadership Conference

2010-01-24T22:42:00.004-05:00

The Marion District Leadership Conference (DLC) was held this afternoon at First UMC, Morganton. The event began with a brief worship service in their gigantic sanctuary. The place was packed! A big emphasis was given to support Camp McCall, located in Rutherford County. The year 2010 marks 50 years of ministry for Camp McCall, and their leadership is hoping to raise $50,000 this year for campground improvements.

Following the worship, people went into different classrooms for training events. Like most of the other pastors, I went into the District Superintendent's session -- "Watching Over One Another in Love" -- on the the important work of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. I attended the session with our new PPRC Chair... That was great, because this gave the two of us much-needed time to talk through some crucial matters.

The DLC events not only provide useful training for laity and clergy; they also remind us our church's connectional nature. Salem UMC's challenges may be unique to our context, though other United Methodist congregations are asking similar (if not identical) questions. We share a common faith heritage, common core convictions, and a common mission. And so, as today's DLC reflects, we continue to rely on the strength of our connection for being faithful and fruitful.

Repairing and Cleaning

2010-01-19T22:19:00.002-05:00

About four or five Sundays ago, one of the ushers waved me over and said, "I'm smelling smoke in the vestibule. I think it's one of the lights!" And sure enough, he was right! After some investigation, we found out that rain water was leaking into the steeple and causing some electrical damage. Further investigation revealed that, due to years of decay, the wooden beams holding up the giant bell (weighing approximately one ton) had the structural integrity of a toothpick. That needed fixing right away, too!

Thankfully, our trusty Trustee Chair was on the case. So today a hard working crew of men began the repairs. Since the crane was on the scene, the crew also did some needed power-washing and scrubbing of the steeple's exterior.

The estimated cost is between $3,000 and $5,000. With safety as a prime concern, the congregation should feel good about these needed repairs.

Hearts for Haiti

2010-01-17T21:21:00.005-05:00

My heart is broken over the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and I believe God's heart is broken, too. As people of faith, we are called first to mourn with our sisters and brothers in Haiti; this involves praying with them and other faithful people all over the world. We are also called to respond by giving...

This morning in worship at Salem UMC, an offering was received to support the work of UMCOR. Also, nearly 200 zip lock bags (with printed instructions inside) were given so they could be transformed into Health Kits. As a side note, I'm delighted that Salem UMC will be the centralized drop-off-point this week for other United Methodist congregations to give their Health Kits.

Ever time my heart is drawn back into the relief effort in Haiti, I keep asking, "What about the untold stories that will never be heard?"

I personally know several people who have spent significant amounts of time in Haiti... Just to name a few: Jamalyn and David, Peter, Pam, Ken and Lisa. Bot Jamalyn and Pam were leading church trips in Haiti during the earthquake! Their teams are safe and back in the US now. I am personally grateful for their faithful ministry in Haiti, and I'm confident that their resolve has only strengthened over the past several days.

Home Again

2010-01-15T21:49:00.003-05:00

After driving in the car for seven hours, I am home. The ride was easy with minimal traffic. No biggee...

When I pulled into the parsonage garage, Mary Allen was there to greet me. But Grady beat her to me! I loved hugging my lovely wife after being away for nearly two weeks... how wonderful! Then I raced upstairs to see the boys. They were sitting on the sofa watching "Curious George" on the TV. I jumped in front of the TV and said, "Hey, boys! I'm home!!!" Connor said, "Ohh -- I missed you!" and Tyler said, "Daadddyy!" That was wonderful, too...

This morning in class, everyone seemed to be feeling the same: genuine gratitude for these two weeks of study, but sheer excitement to get home! So as I greet my family, I know that my classmates are hugging their families, too.

And now the work of translating my new insights into my context at Salem UMC begins...

DMin Dispatch 16

2010-01-14T14:13:00.002-05:00

Here is a clip from today's class. You'll see our lead professor, the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, speaking and her partner, the Rev. John Janka, seated in the background.

DMin Dispatch 15

2010-01-11T17:03:00.002-05:00

Our next class, "Leading Diversity in the 21st Century," began today. The course is taught by the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis and her husband, the Rev. John Janka. John is a United Methodist pastor, and Jacqui is the pastor of Middle Collegiate Church in New York City.

The subject of diversity is quite fascinating, and one that I hope to explore more with Salem UMC. As the church has heard me say already, embracing difference and other-ness is embracing how big God truly is. Of course, diversity is more than just "black & white," and it's even bigger than race and ethnicity. It's easy to think that everyone else is like us, than our culture (even our church culture) is monolithic. But it is not!

Within Salem UMC, we have some diversity: different education backgrounds, different family origins, different work experience, different political perspectives, different views of the Bible...

WHAT ELSE???

DMin Dispatch 14

2010-01-09T19:23:00.002-05:00

Today is Saturday: a day of rest from the DMin coursework. It's also a day of opportunity...

I did lots of site-seeing: Ford's Theater, Smithsonian, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, FDR Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. Along the way, I picked up a few souvenirs for the family.

And then this evening, I already went to worship! Metropolitan Memorial UMC, known as the National Methodist Church, has taken under their wings two (and possibly a third) United Methodist congregations. The result is an interesting cooperative parish. Now, St. Luke's UMC is under MMUMC's care. St. Luke's launched Crossroads, a new church led by a Wesley Seminary student. And I must report... they are doing an excellent job with that worship service! The music, the leadership, the space, the usage of technology... it's all done quite well. In a couple years, I hope to hear about this church having several hundred regularly in worship.

Tomorrow morning, I and some other DMin students will worship at Zion Baptist Church, pastored by one of our fellow students. That should prove to be an exciting and inspiring service!

DMin Dispatch 13

2010-01-08T14:00:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures taken during class this past week.

DMin Dispatch 12

2010-01-08T08:38:00.003-05:00

As forecast predicted, our nation's capital received an inch of snow over the evening. As a native Floridian, I always love seeing snow... the little boy inside becomes overwhelmed with excitement!

Here are some pictures taken around the Wesley Seminary campus a few minutes ago (with my laptop's webcam).

I'll try to get higher quality photos here.

Today is our last day of "The Missional Church." When class ends this afternoon, I'll spend a decent amount of the weekend beginning this class' final paper and also reviewing materials for next week's class. In between, I hope to visit a couple churches and some national monuments along the way.

DMin Dispatch 11

2010-01-07T19:28:00.004-05:00

Below is a brief clip from this morning's class. Thanks to the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile, our professor, for allowing me to post this.

DMin Dispatch 10

2010-01-05T19:09:00.003-05:00

Our second day of classes in "The Missional Church" is now complete. So far, Dr. Zscheile's presentations and class discussions have all be insightful and lively. Geoffrey Wainwright would be quite pleased: the class is thoroughly Trinitarian. I really appreciate the emphasis on 1) the Trinity as the source of our understanding for missions, and 2) the role of the Holy Spirit as the leader of the church. This class is a synthesis of rigorous systematic theology and organizational theory. The theology component has taken up the past two days and will continue tomorrow as we shift toward integrating the theology into organizational theory.

You know that EATING -- either table fellowship with friends or enjoying some "alone time" -- is a major part of my day... Last night, I ate at Chicken Out with three fellow DMin students. The class' conversation spilled over into our dinner conversation, and we had a great time continuing getting to know each other. Tonight I ate dinner at the dorm (microwaveable Healthy Choice meal), but I did manage to walk down the street to Wagshal's Deli for a chocolate cupcake. Tomorrow, I will eat lunch with students from the on-line class I recently finished. And then dinner will hopefully be with an old friend from college.

DMin Dispatch 9

2010-01-04T12:56:00.002-05:00

(Click here for DMin Dispatches from May, 2009)

Today is my first day back at Wesley Theological Seminary to continue my Doctor of Ministry studies.

After driving all afternoon, I arrived last night around 7:30 pm. A seven hour drive is easy compared to the flying most of the other students needed. Most students are from the continental United States, but several are from far-flung places! The student from Odense, Denmark traveled for 30 hours. And another (from Dresden, Germany) took nearly two whole days due to delays, security checks, etc.

More on the international flair... It's always amazing to listen to the other students talking before and after class. Most times, I can hear conversations in English, Swedish, German, and Korean all at the same time! Amazing...

This week's class is on "The Missional Church." The readings done in preparation for the class were sensational. After orientation this morning, we had our first morning class. Now that I finished lunch, I am working on an in-class assignment in the seminary library. The afternoon class will begin around 2:15. This week should prove to be an excellent, formative opportunity for me. And I'm confident that this will translate into my leadership at Salem UMC!

Stay tuned for more dispatches...

Christmas Wrap-Up

2009-12-26T00:36:00.006-05:00

Most years, the week leading up until Christmas is surprisingly quiet for a church pastor. Typically church members are busy with last-minute details, and most Christmas parties have come and gone. Plus, most of the planning for Christmas Eve has been done, too. For me, this past week was amazingly fast-paced and wonderful, too. Here's a wrap-up on this past week...

Sunday

While many other churches closed due to the weather, we remained open! Our District Superintendent and his wife even came for worship. The evening's festivities (the choir cantata and the youth Christmas shopping) needed to be postponed.

Monday

Salem UMC held its first "grief worship service" for those who are bereaved. While many people sing of this season being "the most wonderful time of the year," for many this time of year stirs up memories, unresolved feelings, and a renewed sense of loss. Only five of us gathered for prayer, Scripture, silence, reflection, and candle-lighting... though I truly believe those in attendance were truly blessed!

Tuesday

Our car needed immediate attention, and Chris at Garrison's Shop saved the day... again! The UMW Christmas Party was this night, though we were only able to pop in for a quick visit.

Wednesday

"Breakfast With Santa" was rescheduled to this day, again due to the weekend's weather. The event went great: lots of people, great breakfast foods and snacks, fun crafts (see below), and time with Santa! That night, some families with children went Christmas caroling to shut-ins.

Thursday (Christmas Eve)

At 9:00 am, the Men's Bible Study class gathered for the beloved tradition of making "treat bags" for everyone in the church. In just 30 minutes, these men created 275 bags filled with fresh fruit, candy bars, gum, and nuts. The men personally donated the money to make sure everyone in the church would receive a treat bag.

Later this same day, we held two Christmas Eve worship services. Both were well attended (an estimated total of 230 to 240 people) with spirited participation in singing the old carols and hearing the ancient story of Jesus' birth. People were able to gather for worship on Christmas Eve at a time that suited their family, be reminded of what Christmas is really all about, and pick up their treat bag, too. From my vantage point, the time slots of 4:00 pm and 11:30 pm worked well... Let's do it next year, too!

Now that the season of Advent is over, and we begin the season of Christmas, I offer this prayer for the Salem community and Salem UMC:

"O Lord, who came to dwell amongst us, we trust that you continue to be with us. You are within us and between us. You are out in the community, calling us to join you in your work! So grant us, we humbly pray, the faith and hope needed to bear your light into this world, so that all people -- especially in our Salem community -- may experience the joy of Christmas every day. AMEN!"

Salem Under Snow

2009-12-20T22:10:00.003-05:00

On Friday, Morganton was hit with the snow storm that ravaged a decent amount of the American east coast. We received approximately 12 inches of snow, the most Morganton has received all at once since the early 1990's!

taken before lunch this past Friday

Interestingly, as early as Friday afternoon, other area churches began cancelling their Sunday services. Salem thankfully has the tradition of never cancelling Sunday worship. I like that! At the risk of linking the entertainment world to church life, "the show must go on," for Christ's sake...

As I watched the snow start to fall, some sort of instinct triggered inside of me. "I must make sure that the church is ready for Sunday morning!" That thought kept replaying over and over inside my head. I had never seen this much snow in my entire life, much less pastor a church buried under the snow. What was I to do? As far as I could tell, no "Snow Plan" had ever been devised. The time had come to create one!

One gentleman scrapped the church parking lot Saturday morning, and then, after the sun melted some ice, another gentleman finished off the entire parking lot Saturday night. I spent most of my Saturday shoveling snow off the church walkways. Thankfully, a young couple and their cute little preschooler (who I baptized last month) came to help shovel. That was terrific!

So this morning, we were fully operational and offered Christian hospitality to all worshippers... including our District Superintendent and his wife!

As I reflect back on this snowy weekend, I can't help but be amazed at this instinct that triggered inside of me. A new side of my pastoral calling emerged. "I must make sure that the church is ready for Sunday morning!" I wonder how this will happen again in the future.

Christmas Program

2009-12-16T20:53:00.002-05:00

Every year, the children and youth of Salem UMC participate in a Christmas Program. Our youth director, Kim, picked out all the music, wrote the script, ran the rehearsals, and led the performance.

I was truly delighted to see so many children and youth (nearly 30 all together) up on the stage helping the adults appreciate the Christmas story. I always love it when young people have the opportunity participate; that provides the space for authentic learning. The theme of the program was "City on Our Knees," based off a Toby Mac song. The Worship Team (youth performing interpretive movement) ended the evening with a stirring rendition of Toby Mac's song.

Thanks to Courtney for supplying these pictures!

A Unexpected Day

2009-12-11T13:25:00.004-05:00

Every once in a while, a pastor's typical day of visiting, reading, writing, programs, and meetings is unexpectedly changed. It cannot be predicted, and rarely can preparation make the pastor ready. This happened this past Tuesday...

I received a phone call shortly after 10 am, letting me know about a congregation member whose house caught on fire. I immediately left my desk, hopped in the car, and drove to see this church member and the house. I spent the rest of the day communicating the family's immediate needs and collecting donations. And that night, our families eventually met up for dinner together at McDonald's.

Without getting too far into the details of this crisis, let me simply share how amazing it is to see God at work through the local church! Many families have come forward with generous contributions, and the family has been blessed. Salem UMC has stepped up to the plate, and I am confident that the congregation will continue to support and care for this family. We are committed to being together as the Body of Christ!

It's also amazing to see God at work in this family. Coming up this Sunday, I will preach on the Isaiah text for Advent; the theme is, "faith during hard times." With God's guidance, I feel compelled to reflect briefly on the family's faith during this exceptionally hard time... because they are serving unexpectedly as an example to the rest of us.

The Story is Alive

2009-12-07T12:59:00.007-05:00

Last night, Salem UMC hosted its first Live Nativity. The idea sprung up a couple months ago, and in short time we were able to put together a terrific evening. Costumes were made. A stable was built. And a script was written.

Several excellent leaders, including my talented wife, helped to make the Live Nativity so wonderful. The cast consisted of nearly 30 people (including youth and children) and several "friendly beasts." Having so many live animals -- including Mary riding into Bethlehem on a mule -- was a special touch. At least 15 volunteers helped with costumes, snacks, hospitality, and other on-the-spot needs. We're not sure how many people came to see one of the four showings last night, but I would guess that we had well over 100 people total, many of whom were from the community.

I'm proud of how so many people worked well together to make the old story come alive. Many people have already e-mailed me or messaged me on Facebook saying, "let's do it again next year!"

The Wise Men pay homage to baby Jesus. And if you look closely, Mary is holding a baby cow (our son).

A real calf with our little cow

One of our fierce Roman guards

The star that led the Wise Men

Our lead shepherd caught one of the goats eating his costume... twice!

Three shepherd boys

A Letter to Some Neighbors

2009-12-04T10:16:00.002-05:00

The Salem UMC church buildings and cemetery sit on Salem Road, a fairly busy road. Behind the church property is a community with about two dozen single-family homes. As far as I know, no members of the church live there. Maybe a better way to phrase it is: "no one from this community is part of Salem UMC."

Either way, I felt compelled in recent months to begin building friendships with our neighbors. As a start, I wrote the following letter and hand-delivered it to each home...

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Hello, neighbor!

Over the summer, my family and I moved into the house beside Salem United Methodist Church (UMC). Since then, we’ve enjoyed getting settled in the community and meeting new friends. The holiday season is officially upon us. So this seems like a good time to offer greetings to you.

Part of my hope is for Salem UMC to continue being a meaningful, relevant part of the Salem community. We are taking steps to strengthen our connection to Salem Elementary School, and we are looking forward to other kinds of partnerships as well. Moreover, we hope to connect with more families in our direct vicinity, offering a safe space for people to belong, believe, grow, and serve.

In case no one has officially invited you before, please allow me…

I warmly invite you to check out Salem United Methodist Church!

Perhaps you already are connected with a different church; if so, then I sincerely encourage you to continue. If not, then maybe now is the right time to give Salem UMC a chance. During my brief time as the church’s pastor, I have discovered that this church is filled with wonderfully loving people dedicated to helping others. I’m confident that you would find the same.

Over the next several weeks, we have some special opportunities leading up to Christmas. This weekend, we have the Outdoor Live Nativity on Saturday and Sunday. Come take a stroll and check it out (6:00, 6:30, 7:00, or 7:30 pm). On Christmas Eve, we have worship at 4:00 pm and 11:30 pm. Again, we would enjoy welcoming you that evening.

I would love to hear back from you! If I can be of assistance, please let me know. Until then, I pray for God’s blessings upon you and yours. Take care!

Grace and peace,

Rev. Mark Conforti
Pastor, Salem United Methodist Church

The $10 Challenge

2009-11-30T15:23:00.002-05:00

I'm hopeful for the children -- indeed, the entire congregation -- of Salem UMC to enjoy a holy Advent season. Children, of course, seem programmed to receive; maybe this is due to a combination of natural selfishness and savvy marketing. It seems like every year, we all need to re-learn the lesson of giving.

Toward this end, we have just begun a fun experiment, "The $10 Challenge." During our Children's Time at Sunday's 11:00 am worship service, each child was given $10. Thanks to one of our Sunday School classes for their generosity to make this experiment happen. The instructions are simple: give away or spend this money however you choose, as long as you help other people. Perhaps this will spawn some fruitful conversations between parents and children. And some fruitful actions, as well.

Each child was also asked to write down how they used the $10. As I receive back these response cards, I will share with the congregation and probably some on this blog, too.

I'm excited to see how the Spirit will urge these young people to become generous, giving, and more loving.

Happy Advent!