The SC ADVOCATE

This week I received the March issue of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate. As the masthead says, it has been "informing and serving Methodism in South Carolina since 1837." It has been important to me since 1980 when we moved to South Carolina and joined Bethesda UMC in Powdersville. The Rev. Larry Salters introduced me to The Advocate as a way of answering the multitude of questions I had about the United Methodist Church in South Carolina. From that day forward, I have used it to keep in touch with what is happening across the South Carolina Conference and beyond. At one time, I served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of this historic newspaper and through that experience really became connected to SC Methodism. Therefore, it will always have a special place in my heart.

How delightful to see the lead story to be about the recent Wesley Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City. Since Tim Koch, Andy Fowler and First UMC choir members were part of this, I read this article with pride and great interest. I can’t wait to hear the local version of this concert at Coastal Carolina University on March 17.

Another curious story on the front page concerns the Methodist home in Orangeburg which will be henceforth known only as The Oaks. However, the descriptive phrase, “A United Methodist Community”, will be included in advertising material according to the Rev. James McGee, CEO and president of the home. I am sure there is good reasoning in this decision, but James better be ready to explain it to the Annual Conference in June. Inquiring minds will want to know and will ask with passion and conviction. Having served on the Conference Board of Health and Welfare, I think our lay and clergy members will be surprised to learn how few Methodist dollars support our homes.

Also, a front page story serves as a reminder that we will be electing delegates for 2008 General Conference at this year’s annual conference. This is usually both fascinating and tedious, but always a good refresher course in Methodist polity. Ken is seeking to be one of our delegates to General Conference in Fort Worth April 23-May 2, 2008. I am also interested in making sure that a deacon is elected. The General Conference is the only official voice of the United Methodist Church, so who we send is very important.

I have discovered that this current front page of the Advocate can be found on-line.

Other Advocate stories this month are about
-Linda Gadsen, a God-fearing, spirit-filled woman, who cares for the impoverished population of the Johns Island area through the ministry of Rural Mission.

-The success of Souper Bowl Sunday across South Carolina including the $2,743.44 given by First UMC for the Homeless Shelter.

-The Nothing But Nets campaign that is buying and distributing insecticide- treated bed nets to protect people in Africa from mosquitoes that carry malaria.

The Advocate remains an important communication link in our connectional system and we need to make sure that Methodists understand its importance in defining who we are. Anyone can borrow my copy if they wish. However, a subscription might be even better. I will be glad to provide the information.

The Political Scene

As the political scene unfolds for the 2008 Presidential election, the candidates, power alignments and pivotal issues fill the news media. Moral and ethical matters move to center stage and once again faith communities enter the picture. However, according to what I am reading there seems to be some shift in this scene. These comments by Jim Wallis seem to reflect a prevalent thought among evangelicals. Personally, I am glad that we have seemingly moved beyond issues of sex (homosexuality, abortion, abstinence) to matters with broader implications. According to Wallis, issues like poverty and economic justice, global climate change, HIV/AIDS, genocide in Darfur and the ethics of the war in Iraq are being highlighted. Maybe this political season will be redeeming for God’s people?

WYSIWYG

In the earlier days of word processing, we had to know special codes and formatting mumbo jumbo in order to make a simple text document look proper when printed. The screen was filled with goobledy gook that was undecipherable to most minds. But one day, the world of “wysiwyg” was born and it was good….very good. What you see is what you get! We could now actually see what text was bold, where the italicized phrases were, and identify underlined words. It was right there! And so goes much of the human experience, we just complicate matters with a lot of mumbo jumbo that we don’t understand. Yet, we do seek the world of “wysiwyg”.

When overwhelmed with the devastation of storms, the ravages of disease, the conflict among peoples and nations and the times of grief that touch our lives, our “screens” seem unreadable. We ask as John asked of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come…?” We cannot see the reality of a faith that offers comfort, direction, wholeness, love and peace through the hearts and hands of the disciples of Jesus. For many, Lent is the time to see the text through intentional study, prayer, worship and outreach. Are we encouraging and offering our congregation the opportunity to know Jesus simply and clearly?

"Day by day, Day by day, Oh Dear Lord, Three things I pray, To see thee more clearly, Love thee more dearly, Follow thee more nearly, Day by day."
- from GODSPELL

Teaching for Faith

I love the title of the book, Teaching for Faith, by Richard Robert Osmer as I am well aware that too often Christian education is presented and understood only as information. With this limited view, the drop-out rate is high and the “test scores” are low. However, the theologian, H. Richard Niebuhr, once described faith as being like a cube. It is a many-sided reality. With that in mind, Osmer focuses on four sides of this cube by saying that each represents an important aspect of a relationship with God and should guide the processes we use as we teach for belief, teach for relationship, teach for commitment, and teach for the mystery. If we accept this premise, the challenge and responsibility of teaching can almost become overwhelming. Yet, nothing is more exciting than when the light bulb comes on and there in a real ah-ha moment in the teaching/learning setting.

Although teaching ministry has long been claimed as an important task of the church, we have not always understood about teaching for faith, learning styles and using various teaching methodologies. Today, most curriculum materials are designed with a variety of options to accommodate learner’s needs. We also have teacher enrichment resources and opportunities. Yet, I feel the need to do more to enhance our teaching ministry and welcome any thoughts about this.

P.S. I will be glad to loan my copy of Teaching for Faith..

Discovery of Self

This week I had the opportunity to care for two of my grandchildren for a few hours. What a treat! To love and be loved unconditionally nurtures the soul. It is especially interesting to observe how each of them is discovering his personhood – physically, mentally and emotionally. I can see evidence of spiritual understanding, also. Yet, I know as their self-discovery continues there will be days of wrestling with God’s grace for us all.

As William and Ethan continue to discover how self and other are mysteriously joined, a healthy sense of self-love can be an important ingredient to their future. Jesus understood this when he says, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Loving the good in oneself strengthens our ability to love and care for those who come into view along the way. It allows the image of God in us to grow toward its mature fullness. As adults, our challenge becomes to consciously measure each word and action so that our children can know this self-love. Perhaps, this is one of the best gifts that we can give them.

The Season of Lent

How did we get from Advent to Lent so quickly? Maybe, this sense of disbelief is related to the reality that I do not want to deal with the personal introspection that validates the season of Lent in my life?

Will Willimon's current blog includes thought's from Barbara Brown Taylor, an outstanding preacher and writer. I am going to try to reflect on this throughout the day and use it as a doorway to this season of wrestling with my faith.

Wesley Choral Festival

My thoughts have been with Tim Koch and our choir members who are in New York for the Wesley Choral Festival. Last night was the concert at Lincoln Center commerating the Tercentenary of Charles Wesley's birth. We will have an opportunity to hear much of this music at Wheelwright Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University on March 17. Andy Fowler has written a new composition based on Wesley's "Directions for Singing" for this year of celebration. It is exciting to have such talented people in our midst.

Beginning February 26, Tim will be leading the study, Praising the God of Grace. This eight- week small group study will explore the theology of Charles Wesley's hymns. After reading much of this text and knowing Tim's teaching abilities, this promises to be a special opportunity for greater understanding of Methodism. Hope I can convince others to be a part of this study.

The Red Barn

We have now returned to South Carolina and Mother is now in a rehab facility. Praise the Lord!

In a variety of ways, it has been an interesting week in Ohio. Finally, the weather allowed us to stay at my parents’ home on Thursday night. It certainly seemed strange for Mother to be absent. However, I knew how to prepare supper, do some laundry and take care of other matters because she has taught me to do these things. Long before it was a popular feature, this home has had a gathering area at one end of the kitchen and once again we gathered there. We remembered, we discussed the present and even talked about the future. However, as I looked out the window, I realized that it was the red barn that announced that I was home. It has been the focal point of life on this farm for five generations, even on snowy days.

Snow, Ice and Cold

The snow and ice seems to be ceasing in Ohio. However, it is 14 degrees with a wind chill of 0 degrees. This cold weather is to persist for the next few days and it certainly makes me anxious to return to South Carolina.

The good news is that my mother is making progress in her recovery and it has been good to be so connected with my family the last few days. It has been an interesting coincidence that NBC Evening News has had an on-going story, Trading Places, that highlights how children help their parents deal with the issues of aging. My Ohio trip and this program highlight the challenge faced by many of us as we seek to honor and care for our parents. It is clear that success stories happen when there is a lifetime of good communication among all family members. Because my family has made a reasonable effort to do so, it feels like this is just another family project where each one shares his/her gift to make it happen. Of course, there are times of sadness, concern, frustration and stress. However, the balance and peace comes when we reach out to one another and to our God.

Snowy Day

After completing an uneventful trip to Columbus yesterday, we were able to spend time with my mother. Everyone seems to feel that she is improving. I was just glad to see her and talk with her. My father is tired, but withstanding well the long hours in the hospital and the disruption of his routine. They are people of great faith and it shows as they deal with these medical matters.

Today, we will be a day of rest for everyone as we are in the midst of a winter storm . Ron and I are in motel not far from the hospital and will try to visit mother sometime during the day. As we watched the weather news this snowy morning; we saw a well-placed ad for Myrtle Beach. The MB tourist industry does have great timing. I predict that as soon as they can shovel their driveways, Buckeyes will be on their way to our beaches.

When lived to the fullest, life can be a real adventure. Thanks be to God.

My Mother’s Daughter

At some point today we are leaving for Ohio to see my parents, especially my mother. Ten days ago she had surgery and what was to be routine has not been so. She left the hospital on Wednesday, but has returned and will have surgery again this morning. We are still assured that she will recover, but the process will take longer. Like for so many families, the juggling of jobs, care giving and other responsibilities has become difficult for my brothers and sister. So, I sense that I need to go and be part of my family. Furthermore, my mother has asked to see me. I go knowing that the prayers of my church family are with me. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

Travel Reflections

I have traveled across South Carolina several times during the past two weeks. As usual, this has been a rich time for conversation with traveling companions and for knitting prayer shawls. However, on Tuesday and Wednesday I traveled by myself to and from White Oak Retreat Center near Winnsboro. My mind seemed to be going in a thousand directions and it was hard to focus on one thought until I turned off the radio, the noise around me. It was then that I experienced a wonderful time of reflection about what I had seen in all my travels. I have seen lots of trash.

During these barren winter months, the clutter along the roadsides becomes obvious. How can people be so careless and irreverent? Don’t the perpetrators know that they are responsible for caring for God’s creation? Fast food refuse, plastic bags, aluminum cans and a variety of other items decorate the sides of our highways and byways. Haven’t the mothers of these offenders taught them to respect what has been so generously given them?

From this pilgrim’s perspective, this trash soon became a metaphor for the garbage in our lives. That is, the extraneous matter thrown indiscriminately along the way and cluttering the path for others. As we look toward Lent, we know that we need to rid ourselves of this trash and that it takes intentional effort on our part to do so. Although sometimes it is just easier to let the weeds cover the trash for some seasons of our lives, we soon learn that the trash doesn’t disappear until we carefully remove it. As painful as this can be, we look forward to Lent as a time to identify and carefully rid ourselves of the things that damage our lives and hurt others along the way. Then, we are able to behold the cross and claim the grace that has been given us through our crucified Lord. Christ’s life becomes our life!

40th Anniversary

It is hard to believe that on a snowy, gray day forty years ago, Ron and I were married in my home church in Jeffersonville, Ohio. This began a journey of back roads and freeways, pot holes and detours, traffic jams and open roads. Yet, it is amazing how easy it is to travel when we know love. A card we received said, “Love is not a destination, it’s a journey.” So it has been for us. The love for one another surrounded by the love and grace of God has brought us to this point.

How did we celebrate? On Friday and Saturday, we visited our son and family in Clemson and celebrated the birthdays of two of our grandchildren. Today, we worshipped with our other son and his family in Columbia. With great joy, I participated in the baptism of Ethan at Union UMC with the Rev. Dr. Patricia Mayfield. (A sidebar to this story is that Patricia did education field experience with me at Shandon UMC.) To know that Ethan’s parents have made a commitment to nurture him in the faith of God known through Jesus Christ marks this day in a special way.

Back to Africa

Because of my interest in the humanitarian efforts currently being focused in Africa, I find myself paying more attention to the political and economic news that emerges from this part of the world. Somewhere in this news must be some sort of solution to some of the woes these countries are experiencing. Unfortunately, Africa's resources have long been used for the benefit of other parts of the world leaving its land raped and barren. The political structures have been for the benefit of a few. Wikepedia once again offers some good general information, but it is the news stories about the emerging relationship between China and Africa that I find especially interesting. The Christian Science Monitor also offers insight. Will the history of pillage repeat itself or will China be able to provide an economic solution to the human needs? In the meantime, we need to be the hands of Christ to the hungry, the sick and the imprisoned of Africa.

Another Ariail Gem

Once again Robert Ariail of THE STATE has peaked my interest with his compelling drawing. I want to know why our cigarette tax has not been increased for this is a proven way to reduce smoking among kids. It is interesting to note that the overall states' average is $1.00 per pack. South Carolina is 7 cents. Certainly our state coffers could benefit from increased tax revenue. We might even spend it on our children.

The Face of Malaria

The Nothing But Nets campaign continues to capture my attention. A donation of $10 provides an insecticide-treated bed net that can protect an African family of four for up to five years from mosquitoes, which carry malaria. The families are also taught how to use these nets. This personal account by Elizabeth McKee tells why this campaign is so important. Most people I know could give $10 to save a life, I just need to find a way to give them an opportunity to do so.

Safe Sanctuaries

I have spent the last two Sunday afternoons at the Marion District Job Function Workshops where I led a session about keeping our churches safe for children and youth. Not only does it dishearten me that we have to conduct such workshops, but also I am amazed at how few persons attend. Each session had four participants. I would like to believe that it is because the other churches have safe sanctuary policies in place. But, when I see church members arrive in 15-passenger church vans at these events, I assume there is more teaching on this subject that needs to happen.

The 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in the church. Joy Melton, a lawyer and a clergyperson, has created the resource, Safe Sanctuaries, that is used widely across our denomination and speaks frequently on this subject at clergy and Christian education events. In response, First UMC adopted Guidelines for Safety of Children and Youth in 2002. This document was updated in 2004 and I will ask the Administrative Board to review it during the coming year. It is an on-going matter of monitoring and adjusting. I feel that we have made great strides in implementing good policies, but conventional wisdom says that it is time to review them. Our guidelines are posted on our website. Please let me know of suggestions for revision.

More Thomas Merton

For over twenty years when I have set up my calendar for the coming year, I paste this passage from a letter written by Thomas Merton on the inside cover:

Do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the truth of the work itself. And there, too, a great deal has to be gone through, as gradually you struggle less and less for an idea and more for specific people. The range tends to narrow down, but it gets much more real. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything….The big results are not in your hands or mine, but they suddenly happen, and we can share in them; but there is no point in building our lives on this personal satisfaction, which may be denied us and which after all is not that important.

These words seem to serve as a reminder of the importance of how I assign the hours of my day. They help me focus "on the value, the truth of the work" not the results. How liberating this can be!

My Daily Prayer

Thomas Merton wrote that when we find our true self we find God and when we find God we find our true self. This finding is a life-long process of transformation that seems to result in a greater connection with the world beyond self. This is not an easy process. With the best intentions, we often encounter a detour and become lost. How do find our way to the road of wholeness? Being part of a community whose purpose is to know God through Jesus Christ and to experience a fellowship that holds one another accountable seems to be a good Wesleyan response. We know that Bible study and prayer are important points on the compass, also. However, there seems to be more to finding our way. For me, the more I name my gifts and use them in my daily living; I sense liberation from my own weaknesses. I find my way. From this pilgrim’s perspective, when I find myself, I find God. So my daily prayer is that I claim my gifts and use them to the glory of God.

Learning to Listen

Several years ago I developed a friendship that resulted in me learning the value of listening. My friend's attentiveness to the detail of a conversation and her ability to synthesize the various elements into astute observations is engaging. I attempt to mimic her skills, but find that I have to be very intentional about this art of listening.

I recently read the following comments about listening by Dan Dick of the General Board of Discipleship and thought them to be important to share.

A critically important work for leaders in local congregations is to learn to listen. There is healing in listening. There is connection and community in listening. And there is learning in listening. We may become most effective as communicators, not by what we say, but by our ability to refrain from speaking. Drawing from a wide variety of sources, consider some of the following instructions for learning to listen:

-Make friends with silence. Spend twenty minutes a day in silent reflection and meditation.
-In conversation, silently count to ten before each response.
-In groups, wait until five other people speak before you do.
-When trying to make a point, ask questions rather than making statements.
-When called on to make a decision, ask for a day to "think about it."
-When calling others to decision, offer a time of silence for reflection before acting.
-Have a conversation with someone, then attempt to capture it on paper, writing the other side of the conversation as close to verbatim as possible.
-Pose questions and make space for hearers to offer their own answers first.

A Nice Surprise

I discovered a nice surprise when I opened umc.org tonight. Tim Koch, First UMC and Andy Fowler are all mentioned in an article about the upcoming Wesley Choral Festival at Lincoln Center. I was also impressed that proceeds will go to UMCOR’s landmine removal project in Angola. Wish that I were going to be in the audience on February 18. Andy Fowler's compositions are always insightful and inspiring. I am sure the choral presentation will be first rate as that is what one can always expect from Tim Koch. It truly is a blessing to be in ministry with such a gifted musician as Tim.

Soup Season

Finally, it appears that soup season has arrived. With the prospect of a cold, nasty day ahead, I am ready to prepare and eat a thick and hearty soup. I don’t know what it will be until I inventory possible ingredients. But, I am sure whatever it is will not only nourish my body, but my soul as well. The aroma of simmering soup reminds me of my mother’s delicious creations and cold Ohio winters. Good memories always make my heart and mind more receptive to new thoughts and ideas. Perhaps, it is a matter of good stock.

Maybe, I will take the frozen stock made from the Thanksgiving turkey and create something special and unique. I know that I will need quality ingredients for the best results. Also, the seasoning has to be carefully chosen and added. Good soup just doesn’t happen. It takes careful preparation. Perhaps this wondering thought has become a simile. Good soup is like a good life. I better get out the soup pot and be ready to share the soup with others.

The World Is My Parish

It has been an important week to remember Mr. Wesley's response to those who said that he should stay within the boundaries of his parish. We are part of a global community and issues of war, care of the earth, and justice call for a Christian response. However, to frame this response means on-going study and prayer and of opening our hearts and minds to new understandings. It means abandoning many of our secular thoughts about the priority of the individual. So let this be my challenge of the New Year.

Perspectives, the blog by Larry Hollen, continues to be one of my regular reads. His global experiences help me understand Methodism's place in the world community. His last three posts from Zimbabwe are quite interesting and the tug on my heart to this part of the world grows. I encourage others to read Mr. Hollen's reports.

Go, Bucks!

For those concerned about Ron’s state of well being after last night’s Buckeye defeat, he’s okay. I heard words about it being a big disappointment after such an outstanding year and the usual fan reaction, “there is always next year.” The post game analysis has not begun. His photo blog posting probably says it best. Anyway, he is on his way to Columbia for federal jury duty. This might not be the best day for him to determine someone’s fate, especially if they are from Florida. Should I warn them?

I understand that the Buckeyes have a big basketball game tonight. GO, BUCKS!

e-Christian Ed

I have been happy to hear that my blog has been missed these past few days. My thoughts have been muddled by puny health. I am not usually sick, so this has made me ill-tempered and not in the mood for reflective writing. But life does go on while the body recovers.

Once again, I am serving as a teaching assistant for an on-line course that is part of a Christian education certification program offered through Columbia College. While driving to Columbia for our face to face class this past Saturday, I found myself wondering about the kind of experience the class and I would have this semester. Feeling lousy, I will admit that I was not overly optimistic. However, after being with the students and doing the introductory session together, I know why I do this. God has called some very special people to do educational ministry in our churches, but they want and need to be better equipped for this. This program allows these persons to do most of their work on-line on their own schedule. When congregations seriously consider how it is that they are to pass on the faith to all who seek God, called and trained Christian educators can provide important leadership. Therefore, it is crucial that those of us that have an opportunity to fulfill our call to educational ministry provide guidance and direction to those who are to follow us. It is obvious that these students will each offer unique gifts to our common experience. Let the class begin!

The Color is Green

My friend, Tom, reminded me that I haven’t been blogging about polar bears, global warming and other environmental issues. So, for those who wish to begin the New Year by being “green”, I recommend these ten simple tips from the current issue of Newsweek for befriending our environment. Most of them are reasonable and possible. However, I will admit that I am not sure I want recycled toilet paper. Also, I strongly urge everyone to see Al Gore’s documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth, for better understanding of the scope of the issues we face by not taking care of God’s creation.

President Ford

As I watch the funeral events surrounding President Ford's death, I am being given a good refresher course in U.S.history and government. Well-prepared journalists and writers seem to be offering both words of respect and reality. It is giving me lots to think about in the days to come. Along with many others, I am surprised at the emotion that I feel while watching the proceedings, but I will let the commentators analyze this. However, I do know it is a day that we can understand the blessing we have by living in this democracy.

Political cartoons often give us important messages. Such is this one found on Slate website tells today's story. (A review of their 2006 collection is a worthy use of time)

2007 Time Capsule

Today the temperature was 74 degrees.

Three thousand US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the war began in 2003.

The country is celebrating the life of President Ford. After a final visit to the Capitol Rotunda and the National Cathedral, he will be buried on Jan.3 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Saddam Hussein was put to death by hanging during the last few days and now we wait to see how the people of Iraq will react.

Global warming, YouTube, and Ohio State football are major topics in my home.

The Sun-News headlines say Myrtle Beach is on the verge of change with major development projects beginning. Included are the Hard Rock theme park, Market Common and new life for the Pavilon and Myrtle Square properties.

First UMC is planning for the future through the efforts of its Vision Quest team.

New Year's Thoughts

Although I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, I do think this can be a good time of re-commitment to faithful living. Yet, the news stories of war and genocide, abuse of the Earth, greed and human neglect capture my attention and being obedient seems impossible. Once again, this passage from Micah 6:8 gives me direction:

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

So as I begin 2007 I know this to be important - Live simply, be present to the lonely, love and nurture children, study, learn and work. Also, daily pray for the healing of the nations, for God’s holy presence working through people changed by love and for helping to bring peace.

When I read this, I feel overwhelmed by what it means to be faithful. But, I remember our call to be part of a community of disciples who share its gifts for the powerful witness to the coming of the Kingdom. Together, we can allow the Word to become flesh among us. Thanks be to God.

Christmas Memories

The children and grandchildren have gone home. The decorations are beginning to look a little sad. The trash overfloweth. The leftover food is being put in the freezer. However, the Christmas message of love and hope is still fresh in our lives mainly because of these four little ones. We hold Ethan, William, Annaka and Jack in our daily prayers.

It's a Wonderful Life

It is a wonderful life. I don't need a movie to remind me, because I have friends and family that do this regularly. However, during the last few days my life has been special in the following ways:

• Being with my church family on Christmas Eve
• Experiencing the unconditonal love of our grandchildren
• Watching our sons be good husband and fathers and still taking time to play football together
• Realizing that Kristen and Shannon are truly our daughters
• Sharing news and thoughts with family across the miles
• Having Scarlett direct me to Pope Benedict's Christmas message
• Reconnecting with friends through cards and notes
• Knowing that Nothing But Nets and Historic Trees have received gifts because of my blog.

Thanks for the wings.

The Glory of Christmas

"The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory." John 1:14
The glory of Christmas does not come in the abundance of presents and gifts. It lives in the glory of God poured into the world through the birth of Christ, glory that continues to pour out upon us in the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. We glorify and praise God when we allow God to come near and make a home with us. May this abiding grace be known by all.

Christmas Eve

For nearly forty years the special peace that surrounds a late Christmas Eve worship service has been very important to me. Tonight our church did not have such a service and although I could have worshipped elsewhere, I chose not to do so. I felt that I had come to terms with the idea of not having this annual experience. However, tonight my soul was weary and in need of the quiet comfort and peace found in the past on Christmas Eve. Also, I think that I never got beyond the thought that we were depriving others of what is often a binding family tradition. Why wasn't I more outspoken when this decision was made? I am still struggling, but I will find joy in Christmas for I know that the promise of God’s love will be fulfilled in unexpected ways.

Christmas Cards

Well, today I finally mailed our Christmas cards to friends near and far. I don’t know why it took me so long to get this done for I love the whole custom of sending these greetings. It seems to be part of the invitation to make room for Christ in our hearts and lives. As I read the cards and notes, I celebrate the joys, share sorrows and find God’s presence in all of what life brings. Each day since the first card arrived, I take the time to carefully read messages and open my heart and mind to the appropriate responses. Many of the printed verses are written with great understanding and sensitivity to the sacredness of the Advent season. This one keeps lingering in my mind.

Rejoice in the spirit of Christmas which is Peace,
the miracle of Christmas which is Hope,
and the heart of Christmas which is Love.

So, I shared family news with others as I prepared my Christmas cards for mailing. With each one there seemed to be a sense of renewal of an important relationship. In some cases, I chuckled or lamented over memories from our shared past. Of course, I included a picture of our grandchildren. Where have the years gone? What will we write about next year? This pilgrim knows that in the unknown there will be further discovery of God reaching toward us.

An Interesting Read

I enjoy reading the New York Times on-line. Thanks to my son's gift of Times Select, I am able to read all the editorials. Thomas Friedman is one of my favorite writers. Today, he says that the color of the year is green as the general public is finally realizing the environmental/energy challenge we face. He concludes his column with these words:

Because while our embrace of green has finally reached a tipping point, the tipping point on climate change and species loss is also fast approaching, if it’s not already here. There’s no time to lose. “People see an endangered species every day now when they look in the mirror,” said the environmentalist Rob Watson. “It is not about the whales anymore.”

The Sights and Sounds of Christmas

As usual, the lights of Christmas give me joy and peace. I love the light displays, even the tacky ones, which are everywhere. Our Christmas tree especially delights my soul. Its twinkling lights begin my day and provide a calming presence before going to bed. I seem to focus on the rituals of the watch here. The delicious suspense of the waiting and watching for the promise of Christmas to unfold becomes real to me in the reflection of the light. It allows me to believe that the Light will indeed shine in the darkness and that the darkness will never overcome it.

Music, too, is so important to my preparation for Christmas. It allows my imagination to tell the story. I know the familiar words, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” The offerings of our children’s, chancel and handbell choirs have allowed the sacredness of these days to touch my heart. As part of our Advent journey, we also attended the Love Feast at Shandon UMC in Columbia and the Master Chorale concert in Myrtle Beach this past weekend. Both events were wonderful. For me, such music is part of the spiritual pilgrimage we make to Bethlehem. I am convinced that when we let the sights and sounds of Christmas make room for the one who comes to bring the justice, peace, hope and love for which we wait, God is revealed among us.

Nothing But Nets

On Nov. 20 I blogged about Nothing But Nets. Today I read this United Methodist News Brief that might be of interest to others.

"United Methodists can help slam dunk malaria by supporting the global Nothing But Nets campaign through the denomination's second-mile giving program, the Advance for Christ and His Church. An Advance number - #982015 - has been added for Nothing But Nets. One hundred percent of each gift will go to the purchase and distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to protect families against disease-carrying mosquitoes. Partners in Nothing But Nets include the people of The United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares foundation, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative. Gifts can be sent to Advance GCFA P.O. Box 9068, GPO New York, NY 10087-9068 or made online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982015"

Gifts may also be made through our church by contacting the finance office.

Etc.

Rebecca, our Duke intern, visited us this weekend. Everyone was so glad to see her and to have an opportunity to hear about her seminary life. She certainly is becoming more confident in knowing her call to ministry and we wish her well on her continuing journey. What a blessing she has been to us.

Leigh responded to the “Christmas Consumerism” post by telling me about an interesting idea for alternative gift giving – www.historictrees.org. This conservation organization provides saplings from historic trees to those who make donations to their conservation program. As stated by this organization, this effort to preserve historically and botanically significant trees “offers a unique way to connect both our past-and our future.”

So many traditions surround the Christmas story that we can easily forget what is scripturally known about the birth of Jesus. The General Board of Discipleship offers this quiz to sharpen our knowledge.

Nativity

In the beginning was a story. This story of God's relationship with us holds many promises. The promise around which all that we believe in calls us to the manger again and again. Whether it is fine porcelain or rough wood, we display a crèche and let it be a focus of our Advent reflection and meditation on the birth of Jesus the Christ.

Over the years I have collected a number of these depictions of the Nativity. Yet, it is the simple olive wood one from the Holy Land that always has a place of honor. Not only is this done in remembrance of the Holy Family, but also as an act of love for two sons. As I ponder my memories of two young boys playing with the figures and enacting the story, I know that God’s promises are real and have been fulfilled again in our family. So, I have made sure that the homes of my grandchildren have crèches that can be handled and loved. May they know this story of God's promises in their lives.

Christmas Consumerism

About this time each year much conversation focuses on consumerism and Christmas. We try to overcome our habits of overspending and buying of the ridiculous. Yet, we fail and know frustration as Christmas approaches. In an effort to help us make responsible decisions as we prepare for Christmas, our Environmental Stewardship Committee offered some guidelines. I am curious to know if anyone has seriously considered them. When I read this article about how one church addresses this issue, I couldn’t help but wonder if we could do something like this another year. May the conversation about Christmas consumerism continue.

Christmas Cactus

Thirty one years ago Ray Lloyd, a friend in Delaware, gave me a beautiful Christmas cactus. This plant has moved with us and has been used to propagate many new plants over the years. About this time each year, I start watching for blooms. Sometimes I have been careful to put the plants in darkness and limit water in the early fall. This usually results in prolific blooming about Christmas time. Then there are years like this one that I have done nothing special with them. So, I am most pleased to see a few blooms appear on one of the plants. Although the others appear to be healthy, there are no signs of blooming. Perhaps this is like the Advent experience. When we use this time to prepare, we blossom as Christmas approaches. However, if we are like my neglected plants this year, the good news is that through the grace of God we will bloom, but only in God’s time. I know that I will be seeing Christmas cactus blooms from now to Easter. So be it for my spiritual life.

Scottish Blessing

I enjoy the spirituality found in Celtic blessings and prayers. They celebrate God's truth in our day-to-day lives. This one captured my heart today.

"May the blessing of light be on you - light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it. And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in the window of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm. And may the blessing of the rain be on you, may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines, and sometimes a star. And may the blessing of the earth be on you, soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God. And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly. Amen."

Remembering

December 7 is one of those dates that is forever marked in our memories. Pearl Harbor was before I was born, but during my childhood my parents and teachers would retell their experieces so vividly that the events of that day are permanently etched in my mind. I honor it as World War II defined many of the adults I knew as a child. Their stories became my story in many ways. JFK's death on November 22,1963 was a major turning point for my generation. The dream of Camelot was shattered. May the aftermath of this event be known and honored into the future, also.

I think to have dates on the calendar evoke strong emotions and reflections is healthy. It puts us in touch with those times and places that have been important to us. In the remembering there can be new insight and healing of old wounds. Renewed and refreshed we can move forward to shaping our tomorrows. So be it for you and for me.

Keeping Watch

In these first days of Advent, I find myself once again having an uneasy relationship with Christmas. Sentimentality and nostalgia capture my heart and I begin to despair that we will not have the perfect Christmas. It is easy to become cynical. Therapists say that a common experience this time of year is fear and anxiety. However, in reflection I know that the first Christmas was also a time of despair, fear, anxiety and hopelessness. Then the voice of the angel chorus came with the awesome words: “Do not be afraid!” (Luke 2:10) The prophetic words were fulfilled…and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23) With God's presence, the love of God had and does overcome fear. Once again, the babe in the manger is a sign of hope. So, in this time of “keeping watch”, my prayerful request is that the spirit of Christmas full of love, peace and hope capture my heart.

God's Politics

Jim Wallis is the author of God's Politics which has been on many bestseller lists. This has made him an important voice of the moderate evangelicals and of all who want our country to reclaim a moral focus. Therefore, his blogs of the past two days have been most interesting. I have read this book and would be glad to loan it to others to read.

World AIDS Day

A number of years ago I was part of an AIDS care team. This certainly took me beyond my comfort zone, but left me with a sensitivity for those who are HIV/AIDS patients. This experience gave me memories of encounters with persons who were often abandoned by families and were dying. They were persons who needed to know God's love. Our team tried to share this love through acts of friendship during what were often the patient's last days. So it was with interest that I read and heard today's news stories surrounding World AIDS Day. Much has been done to treat and prevent AIDS, but it remains a major health threat throughout the world. It is good to know that The United Methodist Church continues to respond to this crisis.

Interruptions

The experts (and my husband) give grand advice about how to organize oneself so as not to be distracted by surprises and interruptions. However, I have never understood how one can avoid life. As often stated, “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” I often think about how Henri Nouwen, in his book Reaching Out, quoted a friend as saying, “My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions were my work.” It is often in these interruptions that make me ponder my priorities and challenge me to live into my ministry in what are often surprising ways. Of course, as I set the nativity pieces in their place, I remember that Jesus was an interruption to many folks. Jesus came – and comes - in surprising ways.

Thanksgiving Recovery

Feeling like that I had abused my body by over eating and under exercising during the past week, I returned to the gym this morning. Of course, I was not alone in these thoughts as evidenced by the number of persons huffing and puffing through their exercise routines. I looked around and realized that these folks have become important to me over the past two years. In many cases, we know each other only by first names. Yet, when one is missing we are concerned. We encourage one another and give advice. We hold one another accountable.

Of course, I wonder about the stories of the young and the old, the physically fit and the struggling, the newcomers and the oldtimers at Pepper Geddings. I applaud the father and teenage son that share this time together many mornings, the friends that walk the track, the husbands and wives that exercise regularly and the individuals who are dedicated to taking care of their bodies. Physical fitness seems to be a product of a caring community. I hope this community can help me survive Christmas!

P.S. - I miss you, Manny!

Happy Thanksgiving

After a nearly thirty year absence, I joined my Ohio family at the Thanksgiving table yesterday. The family gathering was held at my brother's home. He and his family live in what was formerly our grandparents' home. My parents, my aunt, my brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, cousins and spouses of many of these enjoyed a beautiful sunny day filled with endless conversation and good food. Needless to say, it was a special time for me to be with so much of my family and to remember the Thanksgivings of our past. The adult men always wore white shirts and ties and talked of politics, crops and football. Each woman had an assigned task as the meal was prepared. My grandmother's table was covered with white linen and set with china and silver. The children were always seated at their own special table in another room. As time has passed, there have been changes in our day together. We still eat a traditonal fare, but we certainly are more casual about it. The one aspect that is constant is the love of a family who makes every possible effort to "gather together to ask the Lord's blessing" each Thanksgiving. There was a smile over this day and I am sure it was cast by Grandma and Granddad.

Eat Your Peas

I recently heard an interesting podcast of a radio program called "World of Possibilities". The topic was school lunches. We have been made aware in recent years that our children now are served fast food style meals with questionable nutritional value. However, this presentation was about how this trend is being reversed in several large school districts across the nation. This seems to be successful when a comprehensive learning approach is taken. Since many children do not know the names of fresh fruits and vegetables or their sources, they visit farms or markets. In some places they even have a garden. They are taught about making good food choices in a variety of different ways in their regular classroom setting. Most importantly, what they are served in the lunchroom becomes a life changing lesson in itself.

What I see our children eating concerns me. As a former home economist, I understand the importance of good nutrition. I plead guilty to transgressions, but I do make an effort to eat and serve food that is good for the body. However, the statistics quoted by many are alarming for babies born in 2000. One of two African-American and Hispanic children and one of three Caucasian children in the United States will develop diabetes. This may well be the first generation not to outlive their parents. This is something to think about as we eat our Thanksgiving meals. Remember macaroni and cheese is not a vegetable!

Universal Children's Day

Today is Universal Children’s Day as named by the United Nations. Because of the millions of children who suffer due to poverty, disease, abuse and natural disasters, we hear the call to act on behalf of the children. We understand children to be gifts from God and to be entrusted to our care. Yet, when we read that 2 million children have been sold into prostitution or 25 million children under the age of eight are refugees, we become overwhelmed and can’t imagine that we can do anything of significance. Therefore, it is exciting to hear about “Nothing but Nets”. For $10 a net can protect a family of four in Africa from malaria carrying mosquitoes. This is an interesting story about a global effort that could potentially save millions of lives of children. I hope that we can help make it happen.

What a Game!

One more time the OSU-Michigan football game has been played. Always important to Big 10 fans, but this year it was an over-the-top experience. I live with an avid fan and he has been waiting for this since last year. Other games on the schedule are just a prelude to "the game". Of course, who would have thought the #1 and #2 ranked teams would be playing? Then, Bo Schembechler's death on the eve of this game cast a pall over the day. However, the “good guys” prevailed 42-39. Go, Buckeyes!

Memories of The Horseshoe, Script Ohio, Woody Hayes and the Big Game are part of being an Ohio State alumna. I am glad I had the opportunity to graduate from OSU and know that those days shaped me in important ways. But, how did collegiate football become a focus of my life?

The Power of Silence

Ken led the first session of our Advent study - Where Heaven Touches Earth - on Wednesday evening. Through such study we prepare to celebrate God's coming toward us in the appearance of the Christ. During this time we learn to wait as the shepherds did so long ago. In the "keeping watch" we learn to listen for God. It is in the silence that we, like the prophet Elijah (I Kings 19), finally meet God.

However, we are part of a culture that likes noise. We almost instinctively turn-on something when all is quiet. Perhaps we are trying to drown out voices of fear, darkness or hopelessness that might invade any silence. Although I believe that God speaks in and through all of our moments, our hearts can only hear the gentle whispers of divine grace when we allow quietness to surround us. Our times of silence and solitude become an essential factor in listening for the good news that God speaks to us through Christ. We then are able to discern ways we are called to respond. The study says we will be able to see with "Advent eyes".

The power of silence is awesome. Through it may each of us know where heaven touches earth.

Wasted Space

The current issue of Circuit Rider focuses on "Space for Ministry - Barriers, Opportunities, Stewardship." This is a great issue for those who are serving on our Vision Quest Team and I will add it to their basket of resources. The article - "Wasted Space Wasted Opportunity" - makes a compelling case for using our buildings seven days a week. What a wonderful resource for ministry we have in our buildings at both campuses. Although we open our doors for a number of non-profit organizations, there are lots of hours when our lights are off. In this season of stewardship, we need to explore how can we better use our space to enhance our ministry.

Autumn

I have traveled across South Carolina and even ventured into North Carolina several times during the past six weeks. Each trip has given me an opportunity to enjoy some phase of fall foliage. With each experience, I have reflected on what this change of seasons might mean. The following quote captures my thoughts:

"In Autumn's vibrant colors there are reminders of summer's fullness of life, of winter's impending bleakness, and of the prospect of spring not far beyond. Autumn compels us to think about life's transience and continuity all in one."

Allen M. Young, Small Creatures and Ordinary Places

Recently at Lake Junaluska, I heard Joyce Rupp speak of how it is her custom in autumn to evaluate what needs to be relinquished in her life. She said that sometimes possessions weigh her down. At other times it is her character flaws that burden not only her, but everyone who surrounds her as well. She said, "I look into my closet and my heart each autumn and ask if there is anything I could surrender that would help me become a freer person?"

"For everything there is a season" (Ecclesiastes 3:1) so maybe we need to claim the meaning of autumn in our lives.

The Church in the World

I recently read these words of hymn writer, Fred Pratt Green. He wrote them for his church during a time of stewardship emphasis. These lyrics continue to serve as important guidance to us as we seek to be faithful.

When the Church of Jesus
Shuts its outer door,
Lest the roar of traffic
Drown the voice of prayer:
May our prayers, Lord, make us
Ten times more aware
That the world we banish
Is our Christian care.

If our hearts are lifted
Where devotion soars
High above this hungry
Suffering world of ours:
Lest our hymns should drug us
To forget its needs,
Forge our Christian worship
Into Christian deeds.

Lest the gifts we offer,
Money, talents, time
Serve to salve our conscience
To our secret shame:
Let the world rebuke us
By the way it gives;
Teach us, dying Savior,
How a Christian lives!

A number of Fred Pratt Green's hymns are in The United Methodist Hymnal. My favorite one is "When in Our Music God Is Glorified." Such words carry our hearts and minds to a greater understanding of worship. Maybe we need to sing more of his hymns?

Thanksgiving Planning

The calendar, advertisements and conversations remind us that Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Plans are being made for family gatherings and food preparation. However, do we know how we how we are going to offer words of thanksgiving to God on this day? This suggestion found on the United Methodist website gives direction. Just as we write grocery lists and extend invitations, we need to spend time preparing for our acts of thanksgiving. May we spend time in prayerful consideration of what this day means in our lives.

Killingsworth Home

For the past 14 years, a major fundraiser for Killingswoth Home has been a fashion show. Known for its ministry with women in transition from chaos to order in their lives, Killingworth claims the hearts of many United Methodist Women across South Carolina. It is an important part of our missional giving and service. So, on Thursday evening 850 persons gathered at Seawell's in Columbia for this year's Fashion Gala. In honor of the 50 year celebration of the ordination of women, the models were clergy women from across the South Carolina Conference. (The Bishop missed the fun as she was in Africa).

A couple of months ago I was invited to be one of the models. This definitely was out of my comfort zone and I tried to decline. However, Diane Moseley can be very persuasive. Finally, she convinced me that I needed to represent the deacons and the women from the Coast. In the following weeks I had many second thoughts about this, but I fulfilled my commitment. I must admit it was fun getting hair and make-up done and putting on some very nice clothes from Parisian. Soon it was time for us to model and most of us were ready to be somewhere else. As I made it to the end of the runway the first time, I couldn't believe what I saw ....a table of woman from Myrtle Beach plus Ron and my daughter-in-law, Shannon. What a wonderful surprise! I was honored to have them present and so glad that they had a good time. They got to understand more about Killingsworth and our connectional ministries. Thank you, Ken, for sponsoring their adventure. Be assured my modeling career is over and I am ready to return to my clergy robe.

UM Claymation

A short claymation movie about United Methodism has been used for a number of years with confirmation classes. It seems to capture the attention of youth and give them a brief overview of our history. In fact, our current confirmands saw this movie last Sunday. However, I have found that adults enjoy this movie, also. It teaches or reminds us of the highlights of our past. It was a pleasant surprise to find it on YouTube. Hope many United Methodists take a moment to watch this.

New Clergy

I have been participating in another election this week. As a member of the Board of Ministry I have been part of the process of assessing candidates for elder and deacon orders and then voting to accept them. As always, I sense a great responsibility for careful discernment. So I was pleased to see who many of these probationary members have become in the past three years. On addition to being confident and articulate, they expressed excitement about their first years of ministry. I was also glad to see the collegial spirit that had developed among them. This relationship will be important to them in the years to come. I believe that our Board of Ministry is committed to its work and I am honored to be a part of it. As the mantle is passed to those who follow, it is good to know that the call to ministry is being taken seriously by both candidates and the Board of Ministry.

Heritage Sunday 2006

It is the tradition at First UMC to combine All Saints Sunday and a celebration of our church heritage. Yesterday, we not only honored the saints of the past, but looked to the future by having the children plant a new tree. We also enjoyed a picnic on the front lawn following worship as part of this day. What a glorious day! The weather was beautiful, the attendance was overflowing and the spirit was great.

Vote on Tuesday

Because I will be at a Board of Ministry meeting on Tuesday, I voted this past week. I thought that I was prepared, but discovered that I really didn't know all the issues that are on this year's ballot. There is no substitute for being informed on a regular basis and not waiting to the last minute to be educated. Therefore, I encourage others to do their homework before voting.

Jim Wallis of Sojourners reminds us that "Christians have a moral and civic responsibility to participate in the political life of society. " A recent posting lists some of the ethics and values that we need to consider in making our decisions. Instead of a narrow focus on certain issues, it is a set of principles that can give allow us to discern our choices. I believe that this focus on human rights and issues of justice provides a Christian foundation for informed voting.

Soul Food

As this daily devotional states, we need to take time each day for intentional feeding of the soul. Having the e-mail devotion from Upper Room automatically appear each day has become an important reminder of this for me. Although I use other or additional sources, this in-box message often tweaks my conscience and moves me into a time of prayer and reflection.

Since the link currently doesn't fully function, I have pasted today's Upper Room devotion into this posting. However, the web link will allow for subscribing to this free dailly e-mail devotional.

Jesus said to [the crowd], "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." -John 6:35 (NRSV)

In nutrition courses I have learned that what we put into our bodies can either help or hurt us. Many chemicals in our environment can hurt us, too, so it is important to consume nutritious foods that help our bodies withstand the effects of pollutants. Similarly, as we live each day, we come in contact with spiritual pollution. Worry, greed, violence, busyness, and even life's daily clutter can blur our vision of God's loving plan for us. One morning - overwhelmed by daily "clutter" from a family of four, phone calls to make, homework to complete, and what to make for dinner - I began making a list in hope that if I moved fast enough, it would all get done. In the middle of making this schedule, I realized how much I needed spiritual food from God, that I needed to read the Bible and pray. Tempted to just schedule it after all my other tasks, I instead wisely stopped what I was doing, read The Upper Room and my Bible, and prayed. I was humbled and grateful and was reminded that being
with God is what I need more than anything. Paula Erson (New York, U.S.A.)

Dear God, thank you for meeting our deep need for spiritual food. Help us emember to put you first every day. Amen.

God renews us so that we can live fully. "O taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps. 34:8).

Underage Drinking

Because we are aware of the prevalence of underage drinking that exists in Myrtle Beach, the parent roundtable discussion at our Wednesday Night Fellowship focused on this serious matter. Scott Long, a judge, and Carolyn Hills, lawyer, shared legal issues that are involved when minors consume alcohol. Those in attendance soon realized that our youth (and their parents) do not fully realize the ramifications of being convicted on an alcohol or drug charge. This includes loss of Life Scholarships and educational loans, mandatory loss of driver's license and the major financial cost of fines, court and lawyer fees. Youth also do not understand that they can be charged when being in the same space as the real offender. Parents and other adults that provide alcohol and drugs may find themselves in legal difficulties, also. This is so much more than a legal matter. Ask any AA member.

Underage drinking has been the subject of a recent series of articles in THE STATE. This is good reading for all. However, if our attendance at this parent roundtable is any indicator, many adults are hiding their head in the sand about underage drinking. What can we do to help parents address this issue and to support one another as they do it?

More than Candy

Last night as we greeted precious "trick or treat" children, I thought of what beside candy we need to provide for these children. The list includes a variety of things pertaining to their well-being. I also remembered the environmental stewardship article that will be in THE STEEPLE this coming week.

According to the 2006 Living Planet Report from the World Wildlife Fund, we are using Earth’s natural resources 25 per cent faster than the planet can renew them. Measurements of crop yields, carbon dioxide emissions, fishing and the use of forests suggest that mankind's ecological footprint is too big to be sustained.

Using the Earth’s natural resources at a rate that increasingly exceeds what it is able to replenish is the equivalent, in banking terms, of living off capital rather than interest. What are we leaving for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren?

Willimon Returns

I am glad to learn that Will Willimon is blogging again. The Pecular Prophet is almost always thought provoking. The current post re: maintenance or mission certainly is timely as we proceed with our effort to plan for the future. How can we move beyond maintence to mission?

Another Wall

As a nation of immigrants, I am amazed at the hostility and bitterness of many of us as we struggle to cope with the influx of the large numbers of persons who are crossing our borders with hope for a better life. Am I not to love mercy and do justice? However, according to the news we are going to build 2.2 billion dollar wall. The lessons of the Berlin Wall, The Great Wall of China, Hadrian’s Wall and other great walls of history seem to have fallen on deaf ears and numb hearts. Yes, I know about criminals and terrorists and the need for good security measures. However, it is poverty that is forcing most of the immigrants to leave their homes just in order to survive. Much of this poverty is a result of international trade agreements on nations such as Mexico. A large number of our immigrants have been drawn here by the promise of work. And work they have been doing. They have filled in the gaps, and continue to fill in gaps in the labor market, gaps that are unattractive to Americans. They are farm workers and nannies, lawn care workers, construction workers and restaurant workers. We want this cheap labor, but don’t want their children to go school with our children, to live in our neighborhoods, and to receive healthcare and other social benefits. It just doesn’t seem to me that building a wall is the proper response of God’s people who themselves were sojourners for forty years as they sought the Promised Land. Instead, let me be guided by this prayer of the theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr:

O God, you have bound us together in this life. Give us grace to understand how our lives depend on the courage, the industry, the honesty, and the integrity of all who labor. May we be mindful of their needs, grateful for their faithfulness, and faithful in our responsibilities to them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Charge Conference 2006

Last night our District Superintendent, Quay Adams, presided at our Charge Conference. The purpose of this annual meeting of church leadership is to review and evaluate the ministry of the church, set salaries for the pastors, elect lay leadership for the coming year and recommend candidates for ordained ministry. In Wesleyan tradition we are held accountable to one another. For weeks prior to this conference, specific information is compiled in reports by church leadership and the copy machine becomes stressed. Accolades go to Russell and Nita for putting together the final package. In all of this we remember the importance of our connectional system and celebrate the ministry of the United Methodist Church.

When the benediction was given, we departed sensing all was well with First UMC. However, I wonder if we had continued to overlook one of our responsibilities. That is, calling forth persons to be in ordained ministry. Two elders can call First UMC their home church. One is a college professor and the other one is not in active ministry. We have two ministerial candidates that are currently serving churches. I wonder if we are encouraging persons to hear God’s call to ordained ministry. Some churches are known for the number of clergy that have come from their congregations. Why aren’t we one of them?

More Than Joy!

Yesterday, I heard someone speak about the joy that Jesus has brought into his life. After listening to him for awhile, I realized that he knows the “feel good” Jesus. I am glad that he knows Jesus, but there is so much more. I think Jesus came not to make me feel good, but to make me different. And, for that to happen there are often moments of turmoil and agony as I attempt to live a faithful life. If I miss the challenges that Jesus presents to me again and again, I think I distort the Gospel. In the words of the hymnist, "O give me grace to follow, my Master and my friend."

Music of the Night

Last night we enjoyed hearing The Carolina Master Chorale’s first concert of the season, Life’s a Beach...and Then You Sing! Tim Koch is the music director and conductor and Andrew Fowler is pianist and composer-in residence of this chorale . What a talented pair of musicians! Each selection evoked the sights, sounds, memories and emotions of the beach and ocean. We heard the first performance of Andy Fowler’s Over Yonder’s Ocean. This is a suite of six Murrells Inlet spirituals created from a very early recording of these Gullah melodies. Pure delight! The main selection was The Outermost House. The text is from the book of the same name written by Henry Beston about his year long stay at Eastham Beach at Cape Cod. Through his well-written reflections of nature's seasons and the musical composition by Ronald Perera, I could easily sense the power that the beach holds over us. These final lyrics were especially inspiring:

"Hold out your hands over the earth as over a flame. To all who love her, who open to her the doors of their veins, she gives of her strength, sustaining them with her own measureless tremor of dark life. Touch the earth, love the earth, honor the earth, her plains, her valleys, her hills, and her seas; rest your spirit in her solitary places. For the gifts of life are the earth’s and they are given to all, and they are the songs of birds at daybreak, Orion and the Bear, and dawn seen over ocean from the beach."

My soul was fed. The only disappointment of the evening was that there were not more present to hear this music performed so very well. My guess is that the World Series and college football games are tough competition. The need to support the cultural arts is certainly another topic for another day.

SMC Board Meeting

On Thursday I made my Fall pilgrimage to Spartanburg Methodist College for a Board of Trustees meeting. Although it was a foggy, gray day, our gathering was filled with lots of clear and bright reports. The Fall enrollment is 779 compared to 716 in 2005 and the average high school grade point average was 3.09 and the drop out rate continues to decline significantly. New construction on campus is a sign of a growth and well-being. Administration and faculty are focusing on the reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. What an interesting process! We learned that the basis for assessment is SLOs – Student Learning Outcomes not just grades. The six SLOs that SMC have identified to date include: written communication, oral communication, research, critical thinking, quantitative skills and computer information technology. The definition of each is part of the assessment.

I am always interested in the report of Dr. Hartzog, Dean of Students. For the past few years, “helicopter” parents have added a new dimension to his work. Parents are very reluctant to let their youth transition into young adults without their close scrutiny. Roommate anxiety has also demanded a lot of attention. Many students have never shared rooms with another person. He also reported that they are dealing with a higher number of psychological/mental health issues.

The role and viability of a two year institution continues to be discussed. However, SMC currently seems to fulfill its mission to its students. I am proud that the UMC continues to support this college.

Healthy Living

Clergypersons are becoming increasingly aware of the health issues that impede effective ministry and our Conference Board of Ministry is attempting to address this matter in a variety of ways. However, this is a congregational concern, also. We are abusing our bodies by the lifestyle choices we make even though as Christians we know that we are called to a wholistic care of body, mind and soul. John Wesley would say that we need to hold one another accountable in doing this. Bishop Sally Dych of the Minnesta Annual Conference has created a Spiritual Pyramid as a guide to holy choices. It would seem that if we used this guide, healthy eating, environmental and exercise choices might not be so hard to make. Just a thought.

The Head of Christ

For many of us, the image of Christ that first comes to mind is the painting by Warner Sallman known as "The Head of Christ." It was everywhere in our formative years... Sunday schools, churches, publications and our homes. So, I found this story to be most interesting.

God and Money

Waiting room reading can be very interesting. This morning I got to read a recent issue of Time. The cover story about God and money was thought provoking. I learned some new terms - Prosperity Theology and Prosperity Lite. These are being defined by Joel Osteen and some of the others that preach that if you give money to God, God will bless you. What could be more attracting to a flock than to say that God does not want you to be poor? It appears to be one more time that God is being called on to serve humanity instead of humanity serving God. It intrigues me how folks are attracted to personalities and are not discriminating in what is being presented. What and why we believe needs to be asked repeatedly if we are to be faithful to God through Jesus Christ.

Home Sweet Home

We returned from a wonderful few days at Lake Junaluska today. I even attended a Family Outreach board meeting in Conway on the way home. The rituals of returning are as interesting as those of leaving... checking the house, checking in with family and checking mail, e-mail and phone messages. With the assurance that all is well, I then began the unpacking process. There were clothes to be laundered, books and papers to go to the office and souvenirs to be shared and put away. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

However, the special moment of today came when I saw the For Better of For Worse comic strip in the accumulated newspapers in which April is praying for her grandfather who has had a stroke. I do certainly encounter God in the most unexpected places.

The School of the Pilgrim

Thirty years ago I knew a young music therapist named Brett Webb-Mitchell who was being called into ministry. Through mutual friends I have known parts of his journey since those days in Delaware. Also, I have read some of the Christian education books that he has written, but our paths had not crossed since 1980 until today. What a joy to be in his workshop and feel reconnected.

The School of the Pilgrim is now his ministry. Believing that the Christian life is a lifelong pilgrimage, he has created a Christian education model in which the learner participates in an intentional pilgrimage that allows God to break into his/her life in transforming ways.

As the metaphors of pilgrim and journey have been important to the understanding my own spirituality, I was enthralled with Brett’s presentation. However, I am not sure that I am ready to embrace all of his thinking. Nevertheless, the idea of the Christian life as a pilgrimage is an important one to me and one that I want to further develop. I plan to continue to be in dialogue with Brett about this.

Sabbath Thoughts

From Bach to bluegrass, the music has been an important part of this Sabbath at Lake Junaluska. As it often does, it has acted as a key to the heart allowing the Spirit to dwell within. And, with the image of the banquet table ever before us, the message becomes clearer. We must do what is necessary to go through the "narrow gate" so that all may be seated at the table. For Christian educators the answers are found in a variety of ways as evidenced by our diverse experiences these few days. Lots to process in the days to come.

A Community of Learning

Together we are discovering what it means to be a sojourner as we teach and learn. Sharing in the wisdom of those who know so much about vital educational ministry is enhanced by processing it through the experiences of others. The conversations within the sessions or at mealtimes often give us new insight and affirmation. It reminds us that learning is a community effort. I am glad that Jeanne, Cindy and Jim are part of this community, both at Lake Junaluska and in Myrtle Beach. We are excited about some possibilities of enhancing our teaching/learning ministry at First UMC.

P.S. Joyce Rupp has given us spiritual direction this week. Her prayer for the tizzies is now a new favorite.

A Mountain Top Experience

The liturgy of worship has called us as sojourners to a place of honor at the banquet table. (Luke 14) The richness of word, music and image has called us to journey with the stranger. Our participation in the Christian Educators Fellowship Conference is affirming our call to a teaching/learning ministry. However, through Bible study and reflection we are being challenged to be attentive to those missing at the table. The question is asked, “Who is it that makes us the most uncomfortable to invite?”

Workshops on a multitude of subjects are being offered and I enjoyed two of them today. Tonight I am thinking about several points made in these. They include:

- Do we feed the popular Christian writers and preachers approach that presents a God that exists to serve humanity or do we maintain our theological integrity by reminding our congregations that humanity exist to serve God?

- A Robert Frost quote – “ I gave up fire for form until I was cold.” Have we done this within our churches?

- “The greatest enemy of the church is sentimentality” according to Stanley Hauerwas.

- Perhaps we should separate girls and boys at times so that learning styles could be more effectively accommodated?

- We must encourage our congregations understand how their theological thought may have been shaped. Then we need to be willing to do the hard work of helping them create a firmer foundation on which to understand matters of life and death.

So much about which to think and pray.

On the Road

The desk is relatively clear, the suitcases are packed and the plants are watered. We are ready to go to Lake Junaluska. Cindy, Jeanne, Jim and I will be attending the national conference of the Christian Educators Fellowship. (Ron will be our chaperone) From past experiences, I look forward to this event. Through speakers and workshops I usually sense renewal and excitement about using what I gleaned into the future. The setting should be inspiring, also.

So as with any trip, prayers for safe travel are on my lips. I ask that our hearts and minds be open to all that is before us. I also give thanks for a congregation that thinks this is an important thing for us to do.

The Cost of War

A couple days ago I saw the news headline that indicated that the Iraq war is costing taxpayers nearly $2 billion a week. The meaning of that keeps haunting me. “I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints.” (Psalm 77:3)

Underage Drinking

This article about underage drinking in THE STATE caught my attention as this topic is being discussed among our parents. One of their main concerns is that parents are present at parties and supply the alcohol. Of course, there are a whole host of other issues related to this matter, also. Parents of teens are invited to participate in the next Parent Round Table on November 1 at the Brittain Center on the North Campus. As part of our Wednesday Night Fellowship, parents are invited to discuss how they can influence other parents to be part of the solution and not the problem. We'll also talk about how parents can help their youth to understand the ramifications of underage drinking.

However, I am concerned that there will be few voices heard in this discussion. How can we change the culture of our youth unless we are willing to step forth and try? We owe our youth our time and energy to create a safer, healthier community. How can we as a church encourage this to happen?

Do This in Rembrance of Me

When our older son was about three or four years old, the matter of his participation in Holy Communion became the focus of family discussion. Ron had been a Lutheran and felt that one did not receive communion until catechism classes were completed. He felt that it was a matter of being able to understand the sacrament of communion. In response, our minister quietly asked, “Do you understand it?” What an important moment for us both. What had really been just a ritual of worship now became a time of living into the questions of this holy mystery.

Today as we celebrate World Communion Sunday I want our children to experience the time at the Table as a celebration of the sacred. Together, may we remember the sacrifice, fellowship, and care Jesus provided to all sorts of people when sharing a meal. May we give thanks for God’s love in our lives. May we pledge to share this gift that God gives us through Jesus. The clergy will wear their Children of the World stoles as signs of God’s grace known to peoples throughout the world and our connection to them through our faith. I will go to Little Church to talk about Holy Communion. Like Robert many years ago, they won’t understand much about this service. However, if they learn that that Christ welcomes them and that the bread and cup help them remember God’s love, I will know that another chapter of their faith story is being written.

Politics and Ethics

The Sun News editorial this morning reminds us one more time about the estranged relationship of politics and ethics. Too often such stories feed our cynicism and make us reluctant to take our voting privilages seriously. Instead, they need to fuel our indignation and make us hold our leaders accountable. Remember the story of David and Nathan.

Another Perspective

Perspectives by Larry Hollon is one of my favorite blogs. Today's offering especially spoke to me. I hope others find it thought provoking, also.

LRP Revisited

The conversation continues about a long range planning committee that is to meet on October 2. How we will proceed is to be discussed. Some have suggested a change in committee name. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a vision task force for the planning really comes after the vision is cast. This task force would lead the congregation in the process of hearing God’s Spirit to speak to us. However, we know that “the road is hard that leads to life.” Matthew 7:14. Birth always involves pain. Change always brings stress. The task of leaders is to watch for God’s new creation to emerge instead of being caught up in conflict and compromise and to remember that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18.

Mentors

As I prepared for meeting with our confirmation class mentors this morning, I couldn’t help but think of those persons who have been so important to my faith journey. Each one has respected me, yet challenged me to have a meaningful relationship with God. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, their wisdom and spiritual maturity have helped me know God’s will. What a gift! I need to say thank you to each one of them again. In some cases, this means honoring a memory of a mentor by being a mentor to others along the way.

Mentors can be an important part of the confirmation experience as all of us need spiritual guides. However, it is my responsibility to create a framework that allows this relationship to be a nurturing one. Each year I try to listen and learn how a sacred time and space needs to shaped for this to happen. I think the time spent together this morning was a good beginning. Confirmands and mentors shared interests and entered into a covenant relationship with one another. May our mentors and confirmands be blessed as they journey together.

In the Moment

On many liturgical calendars we are in the midst of Ordinary Time. This season teaches us in worship the same thing that we may learn from everyday activities - that the ordinary contains the extraordinary. In a culture obsessed with chronos time we often lament that we don't "have enough time." We wrestle with God's timing, kairos. Where do the two intersect? Perhaps it is in the every day when we allow the kingdom to blossom in our midst.

I recently found the following that I had saved from the July/August 1994 Alive Now:

Hallowed be thy Name in Recreation.
God be in my limbs and in my leisure.

Hallowed be thy Name in Government
God be in my plans and in my deciding.

Hallowed be thy Name in Suffering
God be in my pain and in my enduring.

Hallowed be thy Name in Commerce
God be at my desk and in my trading.

Hallowed be thy Name in Home
God be in my heart and in my loving.

Hallowed be thy Name in Education
God be in my mind and in my growing.

Hallowed be thy Name in Industry
God be in my hands and in my making.

Hallowed be thy Name in the Arts
God be in my senses and in my creating.

*From plaques on the walls of Old Coventry Cathedral

Say You're Sorry

Recently, Ken asked the staff to read The One Minute Apology by Ken Blanchard and Margret McBride. This quick read reminds the reader what most persons were first taught by their parents - "say your sorry and really mean it." However, this bit of wisdom is too often absent in the workplace and thus relationships are strained. Careful attention not only to words of apology, but also to actions that suppport it can be a powerful dynamic among co-workers. Also noted is how incorporating heartfelt apology into our life can be redeeming of our soul. This is a little book with a big message.

This and That

Last week's Newsweek and yesterday's Slate offerings questioning the value of homework should be read by parents and teachers. I hope such offerings encourage healthy discussion about this issue. When I see children dragging stuffed book bags to and from school, I have to wonder about all that this means. I do know that more often than not, it incites homework wars and tense family times.

I have enjoyed the news releases this week about the new South Carolina Encyclopedia and have ordered a copy of it. Randy Akers, executive director of The Humanities Council of South Carolina, has been very instrumental in its publication. Through our friendship I know what a major project this has been and congratulate him and all those that have made this happen. What a great resource for the many newcomers to South Carolina as they seek to know more about people, places and events of their new home. After twenty-six years in South Carolina, I still have much to learn.

Life Is Short, So Read This Fast!, the new collection of Ann Ipock's writings, has given me some laughs this past week. I am fascinated by the way Ann sees her world. We all need to be able to see the events in our lives, especially the foibles and missteps, with a sense of humor. Of course, since I work at the church with her husband, Russell, I especially enjoy her accounts of their married life. We laugh at and with Russell at the church, also.

A UMC Survey

I just finished a survey relating to the state of the church that is on the UMC website. It would be interesting to know how others in our congregation would respond to these questions. As indicated it takes about 15 minutes to complete and gives one an opportunity to express personal thoughts. It also provides food for thought.

Nobodies

This UMNS commentary by Rev. Clayton Childers* introduces some new thoughts about an old subject, treating one another with dignity and respect. His comments are based on a book, All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies and the Politics of Dignity, by Robert W. Fuller. The author uses a new "ism" to define this issue. "Rankism" is treating people as if they don't matter, as if they were nobodies. I especially appreciated the observation that eradicating rankism will come through cultural sensitivity and change and not legislation.

*The Rev. Clayton Childers is a member of the SC Annual Conference.

Brian McLaren

My Sunday reading included a story in the Washington Post about Brian McLaren, a name I see more and more. Known as a progressive evangelical and a leader in the emergent church movement, he is also the author of The Secret Message of Jesus. It is interesting to hear some of these new voices and to study what effect they are having on the Christian church.

Christian Education Sunday

As we celebrate Christian Education Sunday, we remember people, places, and events of the past that have shaped our understanding of our faith in God through Jesus Christ. But, just as importantly, we examine our personal and congregational commitment to a lifelong process of teaching and learning.

Christian faith becomes a reality when the stories of the Bible and our personal experiences of God’s love and grace empower us to trust God’s guidance as we make decisions in our daily lives. As Christians we want to grow in our understanding of God’s purposes and recognize that it is in community that the revelation of God’s presence in our lives becomes known.

Sunday school is an important setting for teaching and learning, but not the only setting. Worship, small groups, and one-on-one relationships are places where teaching and learning also occur. I believe that as Christians, we are all called to teach and that our teaching depends on continued learning. Not all of us are meant to be Sunday school teachers, but we are all called to help one another grow in faith.

Together, we share a sacred responsibility to make sure that the lessons of Christianity are taught and explored so that we may be better equipped to go forth into the world sharing God’s grace and love. We must continually renew our commitment to the ministry of Christian education.

Game Day!

I live with a nut, a buckeye to be precise. Ron is a OSU Buckeye sports fan win or lose. The Internet age has enhanced this because he can have up to the minute news about coaches, players, recruiting, etc. Before daylight this morning he was checking on game day news. However, I have been glad to learn that there are OSU fans around the country that definitely have too much time on their hands. Yesterday, some were even tracking the team flight to Texas via the Internet. Forty thousand OSU fans have gathered in Austin in hopes of seeing the game. Only four thousand tickets were allotted to OSU. It is reported that OSU flags are flying all over the country this mornning and even Bagdad. Needless to say, I won't be asking my sweetheart to mow the lawn or take me to a movie today. An OSU football game is an all day event. He will have to monitor ESPN Game Day and various websites prior to the game. Afterwards there will be phonecalls and e-mails to family and friends to replay the game. I just stay out of his way and pass the food to him occasionally. Today will be an interesting experience for us both. Go, Bucks!

Wednesday Night Fellowship

April cooked, Scott gave the announcements, Ken prayed and we all enjoyed the food and fellowship. This Wednesday night ritual is once again part of the life of our church. It was good just to visit with folks and to look ahead to the coming weeks. Next week our on-going studies - Disciple Bible Study I and III, Companions in Christ, Christian Believer - begin. The Neighborhood Bible Study will meet at Shelby and Bob's after our meal. Also, Scott is going to lead one of Andy Griffith Bible Studies for a drop-in class this next week. Children's vocal and handbell choirs will also start. This year, Jim will have the youth center open so that youth can have a place to do homework and hang out. And, there are those who join us for dinner and then go to the downtown church for chancel choir practice. Wow! I am tired just thinking about all of this activity.

Each year there is one cloud that hangs over our Wednesday Night experience for those who are responsible for making this all happen. Our folks don't understand the concept of making or canceling reservations. We guarantee April a reservation number on Monday night. A number of persons each week will call after that or appear on Wednesday night and expect to be fed. Or, others will not show up to eat and we have to pay for their meal. At times, one of these situations takes care of the other. However, there are many weeks that the church has to pay for meals not served. Dabney is now responsible for keeping this reservation list. I hope our folks will help keep her from becoming frustrated.