As a result of a surprising turn of events, the Osbornes moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1980. Almost immediately we became interested in the history and culture of this part of our country and began claiming it as home. However, Ron’s employer, NCR, called us to Columbia in 1983 where we lived for the next eighteen years and in 2001 we moved to Myrtle Beach so that I could serve at First UMC. During the intervening years since we discovered the red clay and textile world of the Upstate, lots has changed in Greenville. Last week we spent a day enjoying the updated version of the downtown area even on a rainy day. The new picture on the banner is of the bridge across the Reedy River Falls and this pilgrim remembering an important part of her life while looking forward to the future wherever the bridge might take her.
We visited the new Upcountry History Museum which depicts the events and resulting culture that defines this part of South Carolina. Several films and multimedia presentations provide good insight into the who and why of today’s stories. The film, “Pocketbooks, Prayer Books and Datebooks: Stories of Ambition in Upcountry South Carolina,” is excellent and a great introduction to one’s visit to the museum.
We encourage others to discover Greenville in her newest version. Then retreat to some of the hiking trails through the thousands of acres of the Upstate that have been so thoughtfully and carefully preserved. This is another story of vision by the leaders of the this corner of South Carolina that we all should applaud and emulate. Twenty-four hours in Greenville provided us lots to think and talk about as we returned to the beach.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Teaching Ministry
I have been immersed in Christian Education theory and practice as the result of some of my extracurricular activities. (I am a teaching assistant for a Columbia College e-college class and have been doing some church and district workshops about educational ministry.) As a result I have been taking a hard look at how we teach and learn at First UMC and have come to these conclusions:
Pro: Our classes are welcoming and are important fellowship entities.
Con: Our classes are territorial and do not welcome new classes which is the most effective way to grow this ministry.
Pro: We have some great teachers/leaders in our classes.
Con: We have teacher/leaders that resist growing in their understanding of faith issues and teaching methods.
Pro: We present a lot of good information through curriculum and teachers.
Con: We struggle to share it in a way that is transforming in the lives of class members.
Pro: Our classes present a variety of faith topics and issues.
Con: Much of class discussion is based on secular based thinking.
Pro: We continue to offer in-depth Bible study in small group settings.
Con: Many of the participants are the same faces year after year.
Pro: We have many families that consider Christian education to be important.
Con: We have many families that fail to regularly participate in Christian education experiences.
Pro: We have classes and groups for those interested in nourishing their mature faith.
Con: We do not offer classes for those who are seeking basic understanding of faith matters.
This analysis of our Christian education ministry could continue, but I think that I have enough to think about for now. I encourage others to further define this list and help me to get rid of some of the “cons”. What do we need to be doing to enhance our teaching ministry?
Pro: Our classes are welcoming and are important fellowship entities.
Con: Our classes are territorial and do not welcome new classes which is the most effective way to grow this ministry.
Pro: We have some great teachers/leaders in our classes.
Con: We have teacher/leaders that resist growing in their understanding of faith issues and teaching methods.
Pro: We present a lot of good information through curriculum and teachers.
Con: We struggle to share it in a way that is transforming in the lives of class members.
Pro: Our classes present a variety of faith topics and issues.
Con: Much of class discussion is based on secular based thinking.
Pro: We continue to offer in-depth Bible study in small group settings.
Con: Many of the participants are the same faces year after year.
Pro: We have many families that consider Christian education to be important.
Con: We have many families that fail to regularly participate in Christian education experiences.
Pro: We have classes and groups for those interested in nourishing their mature faith.
Con: We do not offer classes for those who are seeking basic understanding of faith matters.
This analysis of our Christian education ministry could continue, but I think that I have enough to think about for now. I encourage others to further define this list and help me to get rid of some of the “cons”. What do we need to be doing to enhance our teaching ministry?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Naming
In this season of name calling I remember what we said as children, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” I’m no longer sure of that after years of observing the pain of such naming experienced by many of God’s children. It has become obvious that the name we give to someone shapes our attitude toward him or her. Children do resent being called “Piggy”, “Four Eyes” and other demeaning names. But, how much worse to be called “nigger” or “fag” - names of ridicule all your life.
We give life to things and make relationships with them by the act of naming.. This offers identity, direction and character. It is a tradition as old as the Old Testament itself. When Moses asks God, “What is your name?” God says, “I am who I Am.” After Jacob steals his brother’s birthright and wrestles with the angel, God calls him “Israel,” the one who has striven with God. Sarai becomes “Sarah,” the one who laughed at the thought of being able to have a child in old age.
Our son, Robert Ronald, is named for his grandfather and father and his son is Jackson Robert. Daniel Taggart carries forth my grandmother’s family name as does his son, William Taggart. William is his Grandfather Amick’s name. We use family names to remember who we are and what we’re expected to be. It keeps our history alive in us.
Naming is clearly a holy act, an act of creation. It gives identity. But it can also destroy relationships. It’s a powerful device that deserves to be used with caution and sacred trust. Calling someone by name can be a mark of worth. “Hey you” is not naming a relationship of value.
We give life to things and make relationships with them by the act of naming.. This offers identity, direction and character. It is a tradition as old as the Old Testament itself. When Moses asks God, “What is your name?” God says, “I am who I Am.” After Jacob steals his brother’s birthright and wrestles with the angel, God calls him “Israel,” the one who has striven with God. Sarai becomes “Sarah,” the one who laughed at the thought of being able to have a child in old age.
Our son, Robert Ronald, is named for his grandfather and father and his son is Jackson Robert. Daniel Taggart carries forth my grandmother’s family name as does his son, William Taggart. William is his Grandfather Amick’s name. We use family names to remember who we are and what we’re expected to be. It keeps our history alive in us.
Naming is clearly a holy act, an act of creation. It gives identity. But it can also destroy relationships. It’s a powerful device that deserves to be used with caution and sacred trust. Calling someone by name can be a mark of worth. “Hey you” is not naming a relationship of value.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Winter Realities
While traveling the highways and byways of South Carolina this past week, I was struck by how the stark, barren landscape of winter reveals the reality of what many persons now understand to be our relationship with the Earth. A hardwood tree here and there dots the horizon, decaying structures are everywhere and roadside trash abounds. We realize that we plunder and rape the Earth for our own purposes and fail to live in partnership with it. If we are to live in sacred community with the Earth, we have to rethink how we use the natural resources which we have been given.
Often these days of winter reveal the landscape of our souls, also. Lifeless and barren, we give no evidence of new growth and our spiritual life seems dead. Then comes Lent and we have the opportunity to be in a season of reflection and new life. Through study, worship and prayerful discernment we can reclaim faithful living and know that we are part of a sacred community with the Earth. We can restore that which we have wasted and neglected and the Earth and its peoples can flourish.
Refer to First UMC’s Lenten calendar for guidance.
Often these days of winter reveal the landscape of our souls, also. Lifeless and barren, we give no evidence of new growth and our spiritual life seems dead. Then comes Lent and we have the opportunity to be in a season of reflection and new life. Through study, worship and prayerful discernment we can reclaim faithful living and know that we are part of a sacred community with the Earth. We can restore that which we have wasted and neglected and the Earth and its peoples can flourish.
Refer to First UMC’s Lenten calendar for guidance.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The Value of Child Care
We are blessed at First UMC with the quaility of our Child Development Ministry. Many factors come together to create an excellent nurturning center for preschool and afterschool children. However, my personal opinion is that the director, Jeanne Voltz Loomis, is the key player in making it all happen. This morning I was most pleased to see her thoughts about the value of child care expressed in the Sun-News. What do you think?
Friday, February 01, 2008
Amish Grace
Amish Grace is the second book that I have read recently that gives understanding to those folks known as the Amish. This one is focused on the October, 2006 school shooting in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania and how the Amish responded. Their spontaneous act of faith, forgiveness, caught the attention of those who were reporting these senseless murders and much conversation about it ensued. The authors, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven Nolt and David Weaver-Zercher, have written extensively on Amish culture and the media used them as resources in the days that followed this tragic event. Again, I have found the telling of the Amish story to be interesting and one that asks us to reflect on our understanding of living in faithfulness.
In addition to the insights into the Amish habit of forgiveness, I find their rituals which surround grief to be interesting. Although public grief is often restrained, the authors report that tears do flow freely and deep anguish is felt among the whole community. This grief is acknowledged through specific practices such as daily visits to the family for the first two or three weeks by community members. This is followed by a year’s worth of Sunday afternoon visits. Women wear black when they are in mourning which serves as a sign to the community to respond with care. Memorial poems are written expressing the depth of grief and the thanksgiving for the deceased person’s life. All of this leads those in grief to “a new normal.” How often we seek to rush through our grieving so that our lives can return to normal. The Amish recognition that death changes lives and that the healing of emotions is a process leads me to believe that they are better prepared to accept the next season of grief, and if need be to extend forgiveness, than many of us are.
The Amish community is bound together by strong ties of family, faith and culture. They readily adhere to the biblical commandment to bear one another's burdens. Living into the Word can truly be powerful.
In addition to the insights into the Amish habit of forgiveness, I find their rituals which surround grief to be interesting. Although public grief is often restrained, the authors report that tears do flow freely and deep anguish is felt among the whole community. This grief is acknowledged through specific practices such as daily visits to the family for the first two or three weeks by community members. This is followed by a year’s worth of Sunday afternoon visits. Women wear black when they are in mourning which serves as a sign to the community to respond with care. Memorial poems are written expressing the depth of grief and the thanksgiving for the deceased person’s life. All of this leads those in grief to “a new normal.” How often we seek to rush through our grieving so that our lives can return to normal. The Amish recognition that death changes lives and that the healing of emotions is a process leads me to believe that they are better prepared to accept the next season of grief, and if need be to extend forgiveness, than many of us are.
The Amish community is bound together by strong ties of family, faith and culture. They readily adhere to the biblical commandment to bear one another's burdens. Living into the Word can truly be powerful.
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