I don’t know of any other pastor who has a fireplace in his or her office! This space was designed in 1913 to be a Lady’s Parlor. The Men’s Lounge was downstairs where the present church office (and another fireplace) is located. These spaces were “re-tasked” as sensibilities changed.
It is time to do some more re-tasking.
I’ll list these in three categories which will be the focus for our church in 2010-2011:
Study.
We have a library that few people actually use. That room is actually more regularly used as a choir room (but with no place to store music), a community meeting room (although the library limits the size needed for these groups) and a Junior High classroom (with nothing on the walls or windows that reflects the age of the learners). What is the best use of that space given our current mission?
We are using a model of Sunday School that divides grades and requires classroom space that we really don’t have. Prior to my arrival in 2007 there was talk of building additions to accommodate that Sunday School model. But there are better models. A workshop rotation model uses space differently and has several other huge benefits: teachers get to work in an area where they feel truly gifted (like drama or music or Bible storytelling) and prepare one lesson taught five consecutive weeks (preventing burn-out!) while kids enjoy Sunday School for the same reasons they enjoy Vacation Bible Camp—great variety. This method can also save money on curriculum! What other models could we explore?
Our one adult class meets in Lamson Hall on Sundays. I would like for that group to use my office instead and free-up that space for large, fun children’s activities on Sunday. And actually, I am not sure my office should be an “office” at all. Could I do my computer work out of the present choir room and allow the office to become a “prayer room” where intimate meetings can take place?
Outreach
When the public enters our church it sure would be nice if there was an obvious reception area perhaps just inside Lamson Hall. Agape Café could use it to welcome guests, Open Door clinic could use it to for more private intake. Imagine how little it would take to provide welcoming space.
Lamson Hall is largely unused six days a week and yet it must be heated. In the winter time residents of the local family homeless shelter could bring their kids out of that home with little room for play and into an expansive play space in Lamson Hall. (In the summer our neighbors could enjoy the playground on our property…just imagine it!)
Worship
We finally cleared the air hockey table off of the downstairs stage and left the altar there instead. Have you noticed the difference in the way that room feels? I have. It is now much easier to imagine worship taking place on the stage…maybe Thursday night after Agape Café? Maybe it becomes a youth stage for their worship services. In fact imagine converting Lamson Hall into a café for teenagers where they could experience poetry slams, live music and, of course, contemporary worship that they would be happy to invite their friends to.
In the main sanctuary the choir cannot see from behind the gigantic wall that surrounds them. So during joys and concerns and children’s message they stand and peek over the wall like Kilroy. Is that full-sized wall necessary or might it be cut down by three feet? And while we are cutting, might we shave-off a few pews so that people who find their way into worship because of our accessible parking lot can likewise find a place for themselves at the center of the congregation rather than on the fringes—the only place wheel-chairs currently “fit”.
I know some of my ideas are radical and will not be adopted. I also know that many of you have similar ideas and have not felt comfortable speaking-up. Well, we have a lot to talk about this year!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
# 4 (of 5) Vision 2012 Goal: Mission Plan Based on Community Need
When our Vision 2012 Team met with a consultant last year we learned that our church did not have a lot of “resiliency”. You might say that the church seemed to have a kind of “flu” bug. The church had experienced division around capital improvements, disappointment at falling short of capital campaign goals and then a rough pastoral transition followed by a worrisome economy. All of these things attacked the immune system of the church, so at the time our Vision Team came together, it seemed to the consultant that our church did not have the strength to even imagine audacious new goals and missions. The focus was on keeping and improving what we already have. When you are sick you don’t want to go outside!
Our Vision Team also exhibited signs of our lack of resiliency. The group named some intriguing ministry ideas such as to begin a Daycare Center, to create a Hudson Bookstore and Café or even to relocate to a storefront out of which Open Door and Agape could operate, leaving worship to take place in member’s homes where better intimacy could be achieved. Intriguing. But when we discussed the importance of really studying the community or reading books to understand the usefulness of these ideas, few among us had the energy. We want to get out of the house, we really do, but we are still under-the-weather.
The Vision 2012 Team isn’t bringing recommendations to the Church Conference that we open a Bookstore or a DayCare center at FUMC Hudson, intriguing as those may sound to some. I think our church is turning a healthy corner and we will soon be able and willing to tackle more audacious ministries for Chirst’s sake, but we can’t move forward on ideas like this without serious engagement with the community and with helpful texts. Still, I am looking for a cadre of dreamers who feel healthy enough to roam the streets of Hudson and Stow and Berlin. Here are examples of what they may be asking:
This summer Dennis and I stopped people on the street at Hudson Fest and asked them to tell us their favorite pizza place and their favorite song right now. Nobody told us that hymns were their favorite songs. Adults in this town like country music and rock music from the eighties and early nineties. Kids like thrash metal, hip hop and country, for the most part. How can we use what we know to meet people where they are?
Later in the summer I set-up a lemonade booth outside the church and asked parents with small children to fill-out a quick survey. The survey asked what opportunity at 34 Felton Street they were most likely to take advantage of. The list contained about fifteen possibilities including some typical offerings like worship and book studies. The three most popular items: 1. A play space for their kids. 2. Gourmet cooking classes. 3. Weeklong-camp during school holidays. How can we use what we know to meet people where they are?
Before Block Party a handful of us walked the church neighborhood inviting folks to join us at 34 Felton. I met with one longtime neighbor of the church who said he had never been visited by anyone from this church before. He was a happy Roman Catholic and so we invited him to Agape Café rather than to worship. I visited one house with a car out front that sported two bumper stickers—a rainbow flag (suggesting to me that the owner of the car is gay) and “Back Off—I’m a Goddess”. A woman came to the door, took the flier and said “Okay I’ll take this but otherwise I’m all set…” The last house I visited brought me face-to-face with a man who said he had only one friend in Hudson, only one person he felt he could trust. Everybody else had stabbed him in the back. He tells me he goes to work and he goes home, that’s it. I suggest to him that there is a third place for him and at least one more friend. He did seem grateful for our thirty-minute visit. None of these three people ever attended Block Party or Agape Café, but I learned much more about how a Catholic, a “Goddess” and an angry, lonely man see our church and community. How can I use what I know to meet these people where they are?
At Church Conference I am looking for people who are not afraid to talk to people about who they are and what they really need. I’m looking for people who have a sense that God wants to do something audacious through our church in this community, people committed to follow the signs no matter where they lead. Are you ready to go outside yet?
Our Vision Team also exhibited signs of our lack of resiliency. The group named some intriguing ministry ideas such as to begin a Daycare Center, to create a Hudson Bookstore and Café or even to relocate to a storefront out of which Open Door and Agape could operate, leaving worship to take place in member’s homes where better intimacy could be achieved. Intriguing. But when we discussed the importance of really studying the community or reading books to understand the usefulness of these ideas, few among us had the energy. We want to get out of the house, we really do, but we are still under-the-weather.
The Vision 2012 Team isn’t bringing recommendations to the Church Conference that we open a Bookstore or a DayCare center at FUMC Hudson, intriguing as those may sound to some. I think our church is turning a healthy corner and we will soon be able and willing to tackle more audacious ministries for Chirst’s sake, but we can’t move forward on ideas like this without serious engagement with the community and with helpful texts. Still, I am looking for a cadre of dreamers who feel healthy enough to roam the streets of Hudson and Stow and Berlin. Here are examples of what they may be asking:
This summer Dennis and I stopped people on the street at Hudson Fest and asked them to tell us their favorite pizza place and their favorite song right now. Nobody told us that hymns were their favorite songs. Adults in this town like country music and rock music from the eighties and early nineties. Kids like thrash metal, hip hop and country, for the most part. How can we use what we know to meet people where they are?
Later in the summer I set-up a lemonade booth outside the church and asked parents with small children to fill-out a quick survey. The survey asked what opportunity at 34 Felton Street they were most likely to take advantage of. The list contained about fifteen possibilities including some typical offerings like worship and book studies. The three most popular items: 1. A play space for their kids. 2. Gourmet cooking classes. 3. Weeklong-camp during school holidays. How can we use what we know to meet people where they are?
Before Block Party a handful of us walked the church neighborhood inviting folks to join us at 34 Felton. I met with one longtime neighbor of the church who said he had never been visited by anyone from this church before. He was a happy Roman Catholic and so we invited him to Agape Café rather than to worship. I visited one house with a car out front that sported two bumper stickers—a rainbow flag (suggesting to me that the owner of the car is gay) and “Back Off—I’m a Goddess”. A woman came to the door, took the flier and said “Okay I’ll take this but otherwise I’m all set…” The last house I visited brought me face-to-face with a man who said he had only one friend in Hudson, only one person he felt he could trust. Everybody else had stabbed him in the back. He tells me he goes to work and he goes home, that’s it. I suggest to him that there is a third place for him and at least one more friend. He did seem grateful for our thirty-minute visit. None of these three people ever attended Block Party or Agape Café, but I learned much more about how a Catholic, a “Goddess” and an angry, lonely man see our church and community. How can I use what I know to meet these people where they are?
At Church Conference I am looking for people who are not afraid to talk to people about who they are and what they really need. I’m looking for people who have a sense that God wants to do something audacious through our church in this community, people committed to follow the signs no matter where they lead. Are you ready to go outside yet?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Vision 2012 Team Goal # 3 (of 5)
Spiritual Formation, Church Wide
The Church offers spiritual formation through worship, education and service. Over time these three practices can transform an individual and by doing so, they transform the world. The Vision Team celebrates the Spiritual Formation that is already taking place at FUMC and yet challenges the church to have greater expectations for church-wide, on-going involvement in these spiritual practices.
Our current approach to spiritual formation is something of a buffet. I think a better model for us is spiritual formation as a box from Angel Food. Let me explain the difference.
I love buffets. I get exactly what I want in exactly the portion I want. As I think about a typical Chinese restaurant buffet I imagine loading my plate with General Tso’s Chicken or Sesame Chicken or Orange Chicken—all basically deep-fried meat morsels coated with sugar-sweet glaze. I skimp on the vegetables so that I get more bang for my buck. It is mostly about loading-up on that glazed chicken. But I don’t usually eat that way at home. At home I am more careful to include good, unprocessed vegetables, higher quality protein without the fat and sugar and higher quality breads than the oil-encrusted flour that blankets the buffet morsel.
By comparing Church spiritual formation to a Chinese buffet I do not mean to suggest that our offerings are unhealthy. Rather I am faulting the cultural pattern of individualism that has crept into most of our program-sized churches in the United States. It seems normative for members to load-up on certain worship morsels while giving scant attention to the broccoli of education and even less acknowledgement that there is mission-work “fruit” at the buffet as well. Churches have lowered expectations to the point where education and mission seem completely optional for adults. I was talking with a Scout leader from another church who shared with me the ways that Scouting has changed in his area. On typical weeknight meetings the group is complete but when they plan weekend camping, fewer than half of the kids attend. He is mystified because outdoor adventure really is at the heart of the program—they are called “scouts” after all! Camping is where the rubber hits the road—where theory becomes practice. Families simply will not commit all of that valuable weekend time to a program like Scouts. They load up on the weekday meetings but miss out on the nutrients. So it is in churches too. Still I wonder if we can shake free of the buffet mentality.
Angel Food delivers a box of essential ingredients to families who place monthly orders. See www.angelfoodministries.com This month the $30 box includes: a bag of onions, dozen eggs, 2% shelf stable milk, Ribeye steaks, pork chops, quick prep chicken fried rice, a fully prepared lasagna, breaded fish patties, ground beef, broccoli, breaded chicken cutlets, breakfast cereal, hash browns and dessert. I can use everything in this box! I can save a lot of money too, which is the point of Angel Food Ministries, but that is not the point I am trying to make right now in comparing the box to spiritual formation. What I want to emphasize is the breadth and consistency of Angel Food. Spiritual Formation requires breadth and consistency.
A newcomer to FUMC might come expecting the buffet. That is the cultural expectation. Yet in addition to an uplifting worship, they are encouraged, from day one, to claim a full box of resources. The box includes an expectation to be in a small group study as well as the assumption that within weeks or months that newcomer will roll-up-sleeves with us in a setting like Agape Café or raking leaves for neighbors who need the help. On the other hand, long-timers who feel that they have “done their time” in service or study—people who often speak to me in terms of “retirement” from church obligations—these folks also receive the box. Their needs are different than those of newcomers. They may need more cereal and less dessert. But older adults most certainly need consistent spiritual formation in all three areas, worship, education and service. A father brings his daughter to Sunday school but then rather than simply expecting that he will drive over to Honey Dew for coffee, waiting for his daughter to finish Sunday School, the dad meets with other dads (or moms) for a Biblically-based parenting class. After their classes the two meet together in worship. After worship, the two take the “Bonnie’s List” of service options with them and talk in the car about how they can best serve one of the needs listed there. When they get home, mom (or dad) is still sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper when the two arrive home with an idea for service. At the end of the month the entire family attends worship together and celebrates the completion of a family goal.
Spiritual Formation exists to help people heal fragmented, divided lives. Our church serves people best when we offer wholistic spiritual care rather than fragmented options. When we meet at our full church conference on November 21st, let’s make a collective decision to raise our expectations for Spiritual Formation. Let’s offer (and receive) the whole box!
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Plan for Retirement of $180,000 Mortgage
I am not a finance expert nor do I have the experience many of you do with home mortgages. I am in the rare and some would say enviable position of having no mortgage because my family lives in a home provided to us by the church. We actually live in the home provided by my wife’s church. FUMC Hudson also has a home set-aside for the pastor. That home is currently rented, the proceeds funding primarily the $180,000 mortgage (used to purchase a new church boiler a few years ago), followed be taxes (the home is tax-exempt when it is occupied by clergy) and one quarter of the utilities for the house I do live in.
Because the pastor of this church is no financial expert, this church is fortunate to have a skilled finance team committed to responsible fiscal management. Leaders have taken the Financial Peace University course and each one lives the principles of the program:
1. Have $1,000 emergency reserve fund
2. Pay off all debt (except housing debt)
3. Keep 3 to 6 months expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% household income in Roth IRAS
5. Fund college for children
6. Pay off home early
7. Build wealth and give it away
(for more information contact jim@mcgowanfinancialcoaching.com)
In addition to working with a team of responsible managers, this congregation is fortunate to have a pastor who does not need to live in the church-owned house. Rent from that house raises $800 a month to pay-off the $180,000 mortgage. Yet the church cannot reasonably rely on that rent to fund the mortgage. The average pastoral tenure is four years in one place. Even if I were to stay in FUMC for seven or eight years (which I hope to do, God willing), it is not always easy to find and keep tenants.
We need a plan to pay-off the mortgage; a plan which requires us to work harder at fundraising and at cost savings. Financial Peace University teaches that 97% of Americans DO NOT seek to pay-off mortgages early. We do not think we have enough money to do so. Our unwillingness to make sacrifices in the present forces us into making longer-term sacrifices that we refuse to fully appreciate. In order to pay-off the mortgage (and to stay out of the habit of borrowing money from savings), we will need to make difficult spending choices. If the mission is worth it to us—if step seven sounds good to us—then we will need to be clear about our objectives and how we plan to achieve that fruitful future. This is as true in the church as it is in our homes.
So I hope you will continue praying for wisdom for your private finances and for our finance committee and other leaders who manage our collective resources. God will direct our way forward!
Saint Paul wrote to the Roman Christians:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Long Range Plan (1 of 5)
Each week leading-up to the All Church Conference on Saturday, November 21, 2009, I will address one of five long-term goals for First United Methodist Church of Hudson. These goals were developed by the Vision 2012 team after consultation with scripture and numerous FUMC members in the fall of 2008. Both short-term and long term goals were brought to a June 2009 Charge Conference Meeting as information only. The November meeting will seek action.
A Comprehensive Plan for the Physical Plant of FUMC
This week we are moving forward on major repairs to the roof over the sanctuary. We have known about these leaks for several years but the question we often ask when faced with such big issues is “Where do we begin?” and “Where can we stop?” Each time we hear how much it will cost to repair the entire roof and drainage systems around the roof (current estimate is $366,000) we are overwhelmed by the magnitude. We have decided to do what we must to stop the leaks, and that is good. But there is clearly more work to be done on our 97 year-old building. We need a comprehensive analysis of our old building and then we need a stage-by-stage plan that answers the questions “Where do we start?” and “Where can we stop?”
Before coming to FUMC I was a member of the Boston District Board of Buildings and Locations. I had unique access to many old church buildings as we worked together on renovations. One church planned to spend over $60,000 on sanctuary upgrades but they had not addressed several roof leaks which would cost over $100,000. And there was no viable plan in place for raising enough capital for either project! The trustees rationale was that the roof leaks were “minor” (there are no minor roof leaks) and that upgrading the sanctuary would bring more people to worship who would pay more money thus generating plenty of capital for the upgrade. That church needed a comprehensive plan telling them what to fix and when to fix it.
When I think of vision plans, I think of things that people get excited to hear: Modernizing kitchens! Building a gymnasium! Buying a van for youth! Buying hi-tech worship equipment for a young adult ministry! I don’t get excited about spending $8,000 on comprehensive analysis or creating a forty-page book with photos that shows when we’ll need to re-glaze the windows, re-stain the exterior woodwork, re-stucco the walls, re-floor Lamson Hall, upgrade our electrical system, upgrade our insulation, upgrade our fire prevention/smoke detection systems, etc. That is the reason many churches ignore comprehensive planning. If they have $8,000 to spend, they want to buy that new piano! But a plan would help them to see that they will need that $8,000 as a down-payment on a new boiler that they may soon need.
At our church Conference on November 21st I don’t expect folks to get excited about this first recommendation—that we pay for a thorough analysis, create a renovation schedule and commit to that schedule. But when the analysis reveals that we may have been a few years away from burning the building down because of one, tiny degraded outlet up in a classroom, I’ll bet that will excite folks!
Pastor Doug
Saturday, May 30, 2009
TOP PIZZA In Hudson
At Hudson Fest on May 30th we asked 52 people to name their "Favorite Place to Order Pizza". Seventeen pizza places were named but there was one clear favorite--Brothers Pizza on Cox Street. Here is the tally:
Brothers 11 votes
Lando's and Pizza Hut 5 votes
CJ's, Papa Gino's and Domino's 4 votes
Main Street 3 votes
Checkerboard, Juliana's, Bertucci's (Marlboro) 2 votes
Serrentos, Clockwork, Post Road, VFW, Bolton Roadhouse 1 vote each
Brothers 11 votes
Lando's and Pizza Hut 5 votes
CJ's, Papa Gino's and Domino's 4 votes
Main Street 3 votes
Checkerboard, Juliana's, Bertucci's (Marlboro) 2 votes
Serrentos, Clockwork, Post Road, VFW, Bolton Roadhouse 1 vote each
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
What Do You Believe?
The 2008-2009 Confirmands were invited to think about historic Christian creeds and then write their own. The following guidelines were offered to help the teens begin to think about the traditional categories of God, Jesus, Church, Bible, Heaven, etc. How would you respond?
1) Why would a person choose to be Religious?
“I don’t think there is a god. There is no proof. Science explains everything.”
Your RESPONSE?
“What difference does Jesus make? He’s just a dead guy like Abraham Lincoln.”
Your RESPONSE?
“Churches are boring and the people who go to them are losers.”
Your RESPONSE?
The Lord’s Prayer asks “Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. What do you imagine the kingdom looks like in heaven? What do you imagine the kingdom looks like on earth?
How can you be part of God’s kingdom in heaven?
How can you be part of God’s kingdom on earth?
ONCE you have answered these questions, try linking all of the ideas together to form a statement of faith. It could be prose or poetry; song or story. Just make sure it expresses what you REALLY believe and not what simply sounds good.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
Most of you have little idea how much pain I suffered on the cross.
The Roman nails were not like the nails you use when you build homes in East Machias—thank you for doing that, by the way. No, Roman nails for crucifixion were six inches long. The nail was pounded into my wrist hitting my median nerve. Terrible pain. The nails didn’t go through my hands as many of you have been taught, but through my wrists. And through my ankles. They turned my legs sideways, placed my feet between a block of wood and the cross, and hammered one nail through the wood. The terrible thing about this Roman torture was the way crucifixion forces one to press against the painful ankle nail in order to breath. Five hours of this. How does one endure such pain?
By the time I was 25 I already knew that my Father was within me—that I had special abilities. I could heal other people, for one thing, and I did everywhere I could. You might say I was a social worker. But then I became more and more aware of large-scale suffering and I felt a calling to move from being a social worker to being a “social activist,” you might say. That kind of change leads to pain. It wasn’t easy accepting that change and its consequences. I accepted the challenge and the risk during my time with Satan in the desert.
The Spirit pushed me into the desert. I was there for forty days and nights—the same amount of time Noah endured rain in his Ark, the same amount of time Moses was on the mountain. This was my trial. I faced Satan. Don’t accept the argument that there is no Satan just because they have seen no red man with horns, they are kidding themselves. Satan knew I was hungry and tempted me to turn rocks into bread. I wanted to make the pain go away. I really did. And I could have done that, I think. But then I remembered the Torah—the Holy Scriptures from Deuteronomy “Man does not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God”. I was able to look Satan in the eye…and tell him “No.” There is a power stronger than pain. I felt it that day. And I felt it on the day of my crucifixion.
We do not live by bread alone, but by God’s great power which sustains us in times of trouble.
Front Porch for Maundy Thursday
One More Country Song!
One more week of country music and then I am free to reset my car radio from country music stations back to my favorite oldies and NPR stations. I have shared with the church that I choose this “discipline” for Lent to help me feel the depth of human suffering. Maybe you’ve heard this joke about country music:
What happens when you play a country record backwards?
You get out of prison.
Your wife comes back to you.
Your pickup truck is returned.
Your dog comes back to life.
That’s country music; the broken human condition, the broken family, the broken road. So I listen, I relate and I understand why I need God in my life. I hope your Lenten discipline has helped you too.
On this Holy Thursday of Lent I was listening to a song by Rascal Flatts and it reminded me of why we are following Jesus
o to the table at Passover Seder (tonight at 6pm)
o to the garden of Gethsemane (Friday at 6am)
o to his trial and sentencing (Friday at 11:30am)
o to his crucifixion (Friday at 7pm)
o and of course ultimately to his resurrection from the tomb (Sunday at 6, 8:15 and 10:45)
The song goes like this:
Tell me 'bout your mama, your daddy, your hometown, show me around
I wanna see it all, don't leave anything out
I wanna know everything about you then
And I wanna go down every road you've been
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live
Where you keep the rest of your life hid
I wanna know the [one] behind that [loving] stare
Take me thereI wanna roll down Main Street, the back roads
Like you did when you were a kid
What made you who you are
Tell me what your story is
I wanna know everything about you then
And I wanna go down every road you've been
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live
Where you keep the rest of your life hid
I wanna know the girl behind that pretty stare
Take me there
Rascal is singing about a girl he loves, showing her that her life interests him. Infatuation doesn’t care where a person has been, only what they can do for me in this moment. But true love retraces the steps, it remembers, it cherishes the road that brings two people together.
It is time for us to “go down every road you’ve been” with Jesus.
I’ll see you at the table, at the cross and at the tomb. So will Jesus.
-Pastor Doug
One more week of country music and then I am free to reset my car radio from country music stations back to my favorite oldies and NPR stations. I have shared with the church that I choose this “discipline” for Lent to help me feel the depth of human suffering. Maybe you’ve heard this joke about country music:
What happens when you play a country record backwards?
You get out of prison.
Your wife comes back to you.
Your pickup truck is returned.
Your dog comes back to life.
That’s country music; the broken human condition, the broken family, the broken road. So I listen, I relate and I understand why I need God in my life. I hope your Lenten discipline has helped you too.
On this Holy Thursday of Lent I was listening to a song by Rascal Flatts and it reminded me of why we are following Jesus
o to the table at Passover Seder (tonight at 6pm)
o to the garden of Gethsemane (Friday at 6am)
o to his trial and sentencing (Friday at 11:30am)
o to his crucifixion (Friday at 7pm)
o and of course ultimately to his resurrection from the tomb (Sunday at 6, 8:15 and 10:45)
The song goes like this:
Tell me 'bout your mama, your daddy, your hometown, show me around
I wanna see it all, don't leave anything out
I wanna know everything about you then
And I wanna go down every road you've been
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live
Where you keep the rest of your life hid
I wanna know the [one] behind that [loving] stare
Take me thereI wanna roll down Main Street, the back roads
Like you did when you were a kid
What made you who you are
Tell me what your story is
I wanna know everything about you then
And I wanna go down every road you've been
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live
Where you keep the rest of your life hid
I wanna know the girl behind that pretty stare
Take me there
Rascal is singing about a girl he loves, showing her that her life interests him. Infatuation doesn’t care where a person has been, only what they can do for me in this moment. But true love retraces the steps, it remembers, it cherishes the road that brings two people together.
It is time for us to “go down every road you’ve been” with Jesus.
I’ll see you at the table, at the cross and at the tomb. So will Jesus.
-Pastor Doug
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Jesus Provokes Authorities in Jerusalem
Jesus believed that a new day was dawning. He recruited people to spread the message that God’s Heavenly kingdom would soon be present on earth as in heaven. What would it be like? It would start small, like a mustard seed, but then grow, and grow, and grow! Small acts of kindness-- a person healed here, a person forgiven of committing adultery there—compassion would grow. Then social justice would grow—the whole caste system of rich and poor, lower and higher class will end, the empires of this world will no longer burden the common people with oppressive taxes and violence meant frighten people into submission. Compassion, social justice then Jewish Law—a perfect love of God and neighbor becomes the beautiful new law in the new Eden, the new Kingdom of God!
Jesus started that movement. And the empire didn’t like it. As Jesus was teaching and healing in village after village, the Pharisees warned him that Herod, the ruler of the region, heard what he was up to and had set a bounty for Jesus, dead or alive. Jesus did not want the bounty hunters to kill him in a small village where no-one would know about it. And he didn’t want to be dragged into Jerusalem quietly, like a common thief. No. Jesus knew that Jewish people expected a Messiah to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. That would be a sign that God’s reign was beginning—that the Kingdom was beginning. They would sing “Hosanna” to welcome the new era! They would lay palm branches at the foot of the messiah!
Jesus would enter Jerusalem, knowing full well that Jerusalem was the place of the Temple—the seat of power. Like Martin Luther King Jr. marching into Birmingham Alabama, the very seat of racial bigotry. Like Mahatma Gandhi marching to Dandi to defy Salt Laws. Jesus would enter the place with a reputation for killing dissidents. He would march straight into the Temple and expose the corruption there. He told his disciples “Listen carefully. We’re on our way to Jerusalem. Everything written in the prophecies about the Messiah will take place. The Messiah will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, tortured and they will kill him. In three days, the great Temple of human hands will fall and a new temple—the Kingdom of God will rise up. That will be the beginning of a new era.”
It happened! Jesus entered Jerusalem during the time of Passover. The Temple was corrupt as ever with fat-cat priests taxing peasants and Roman flags and money changers making the once sacred site look like Las Vegas. Jesus marched right into the Temple and shouted:
OUT OF THIS TEMPLE, YOU BUNCH OF SNAKES! YOU HAVE TURNED GOD’S HOME INTO A JUNKYARD! GET OUT!
No, Jesus wouldn’t be killed quietly in some tiny village. They would have to take him down in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of people! But make no mistake about it…they would take him down.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Was Jesus Lonely?
People were standing all around me on the day of my crucifixion, but only at a distance. The days that I wandered from city to city there were crowds of people shouting for me and when I came to Jerusalem this last time, people lined the streets and waved palms. Where did they go? They were like sheep scattered when a wolf arrives. “Every man for himself.” Where was Peter, my Rock?
I kept thinking about the name people called me from the time I was young: “Mamzer.” A mamzer is the name for a child born outside of wedlock. It comes from the Law, from Deuteronomy. It says that any child conceived outside of a recognized marriage is “mamzer” and is prohibited from worshipping in the assembly. I snuck into a Synagogue one day when my parents were at the market in the neighboring town. Those people didn’t know I was a “mamzir”. But everybody in Nazareth knew it. They teased me with the name “mamzer”. I couldn’t even play with them. And the law says that if I ever had children, that they would be “mamzer” too. That is part of the reason I never even thought about getting married and having children. Who would want their children to go through what I did? Before my crucifixion soldiers spit on me and teased me. It was just like I was eight again being called “mamzer.” You may wonder how I endured that feeling of loneliness at the time of my death.
You may not know, because the Gospel writers didn’t write about it, but my dad died when I was a teenager. Joseph, my step-father, was a “tecktoon”—what your scholars have often called a “carpenter”. Really, we were construction workers, not carpenters like the cabinet-makers you sometimes imagine. We didn’t have wood for such things. When I was young dad had to leave family farming and walk five miles to the town of Sepphoris on a construction site started by the local governor Herod Antipas. Huge project. When I was twelve, I left home to work with him. Eventually we just stayed in Sepphoris in a work camp similar to the shacks where your modern day migrant workers stay. Construction work was dangerous. Guys were hurt and killed every day. Dad died when I was seventeen. I didn’t go home. I kept working for my family. So you see I left home when I was very young. I learned how to survive without family when I was pretty young. That is why one day, when my followers came to get me telling me that my mom and brothers were in town I pointed to my friends and said “These are my mother and brothers—however joins me in this mission, these are my family.”
Was I a just a drifter, a loaner? A drifter, yes. A loaner? Not at all. I love people and befriended everyone with whom I came in contact. They became my “family.” So at the time of my death, my heart was so open to people that everyone standing there was my family. Even the Roman guard at the base of my cross. When you are a “mamzer,” an outcast, you make your own family. And of course you know I always experienced God as “My Daddy”. I had a loving Father and hundreds of brothers and sisters! So do you, my brothers and sisters.. In fact you may call me brother! I am your brother! You are in my family!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Was Jesus Afraid?
After my ankles and wrists were nailed to the wood there on the hill outside of Jerusalem, a soldier nailed a plaque above my head. The plaque said “King of the Jews.” It wasn’t some official sign, just something these young soldiers carved right there in front of me. They were young and naïve, they didn’t know what they were doing. But when I saw that word “King” it reminded of a time when this huge mass of people surrounded my followers and me. We taught them. We healed them. And then we fed them. Once we fed them food, the people became a sort of mob. They wanted more and more, pressing us back, back, back toward the water’s edge. Then they began shouting “Our new king! Our new king!” I told my closest followers to get on one of our boats and sale to the other side. They couldn’t wait to leave! “Thank God,” one of them shouted. I just laughed at that. As they sailed away I heard one say, “Jesus is laughing! Isn’t he afraid of all of those people?” Should I be afraid of getting stepped on? Maybe so. It was a lot of people! Or should I be fearful that they might actually make me a “king”, expecting me to dole out food whenever they need it? Expecting me to be a kind of warrior-ruler who would use sheer power to get things done? Well, that is not what I was sent by God to do, so I can see where the “our new king” chant might make a person fearful.
You might be wondering, “Was Jesus ever afraid?” I was human—I felt anger, I felt love, I felt sadness, and yes, I felt fear. But perfect love actually casts out fear. When God enters the very core of who you are, there is much less room for fear. Let me tell you the rest of the story about that day when we fed the crowd.
A storm kicked-up right after my friends set sail. You can imagine how scared they were. I walked out to them and got in the boat with them. Now they were freaked out not only by the storm but because they couldn’t figure out how I got all the way out there to them. I just said “Do not fear, I am.” When these guys talked about it later, they mixed-up what I really said. They reported me saying “Do not fear, it is I.” That’s not what I said. I said “Do not fear, I am”…the Greek words I used were “ego amee”. It was God speaking through me! God was using the same two words—ego amee—on my followers in their fear that God used with Moses in his time of fear…God told Moses “I Am.” At that point, Moses calmed down and was able to listen to God. And after I spoke those words, my followers calmed down too. Be still and know that “I Am”, God says to us all when we are afraid.
So, was I afraid of the mobs, the trials, the torture, the nails…dieing even? Yes, but only for a short while. Perfect love casts out fear. That’s what your Bible will tell you in 1 John 4:18. Peace to you, my new followers!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
LENTEN WORSHIP EVALUATION
We received twenty-eight responses to questions about our experiences with Lenten worship at FUMC Hudson! Results are listed below and will be used by the summer worship team (listed below) as they plan for meaningful worship. If you would like to be on the team, please e-mail info@hudsonfumc.com. If you have comments about these questions or results, please feel free to comment below so that others can read you remarks.
What is the best time in the morning for summer worship? 8:15 9 9:30 10 10:45
1. 8:15 (11 votes) 9:30 (11 votes)
2. 9 (6 votes)
3. 10 (3 votes)
4. 10:45 (1 vote)
And the best summer day for worship? Sunday Wednesday Thursday
No votes for Wednesday or Thursday
In the season of Lent we incorporated unique elements meant to foster intimacy with God. Please rate the following on a scale of 1 (not helpful) to 5 (very helpful):
A) Visuals such as the banners, the footpath and potted plants. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 119 out of 140
B) PowerPoint Slides for announcements. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 67 out of 135
C) The “gospel” song “Over My Head” with clapping. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 101 out of 140
D) Sermons on topics like “Pain”, Loneliness” , “Fear” etc. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 122 out of 140
E) The printed program format. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 119 out of 140
F) A song after each concern/prayer petition is shared. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 72 out of 140
G) “Scripture” was a dramatic reading each day. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 103 out of 140
H) Guitar and bass with “God of Wonders” song. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 103 out of 140
What changes might we make to the sanctuary, the schedule or the program that would make worship a richer, fuller experience for you?
Keep worship traditional, reverent and respectfull
More duets and solos
Loved the trumpets, but did not like choir "play" Palm Sunday
Start on time (2 responses)
Love worship as it is (2 responses)
Keep to one hour
Use better mics
Like choir at communion
More contemporary hymns, please
Would like to be part of a team to work on summertime worship plans:
Dennis Sherman
Ron and Connie Banfill
Evelyn Rein
Donella Siktberg
Terry Johnston
Non Okarma
Julie Berard
Pastor's NOTES on data:
Thank you for taking the time to complete this short questionnaire. It obviously omits areas of worship about which we all care deeply--the importance of scripture readings, children's messages, sharing joys and concerns, etc. We can evaluate those at other times. The intention here is to allow the congregation to reflect on a few newer practices that we experienced through the season of Lent. Each category represents what I feel are potential growing edges in our church.
A) The question about visual helps me assess the congregation's interest in the Arts in worship.
The response here was uniformly strong. The congregation likes such things as flowers, potted plants, banners, creative altars and may also enjoy other forms of visual arts in worship.
B) The question about PowerPoint software used to project images for announcements helps me assess the congregations interest in visual cues such as projected hymn lyrics, outlines for sermons, video clips fro sermons and of course slides to announce upcoming events.
The response was uniformly low, suggesting that technology may feel intrusive to most people gathered for worship at FUMC.
C) The question about singing the gospel song "Up Above My Head" and being encouraged to clap helps me assess the congregation's interest in the physical expression of worship such as clapping hands, raising hands, dancing and, to a lesser extent, gives me a clue about how much congregants value participation in worship.
The response was generally positive, but there were three '1' responses (not at all helpful to worship) while there were also eight '5' responses (quite helpful). This is common in churches. Introverts and men tend to really dislike clapping and even standing and singing in worship while extraverts and women tend to enjoy it.
D) The question about sermon themes during Lent was less to help me determine whether or not I am doing a decent job of preaching (that evaluation can come later) and more to help me assess the congregation's interest in thematic preaching as opposed to preaching that follows the lectionary of prescribed readings which carry very different messages from week to week.
The response was was uniformly positive. This was the highest ranking attribute of Lenten worship reminding me that the congregation appreciates messages that apply to real life conditions and suggesting to me that future messages my cluster around themes from time to time.
E) The question about the program helps me evaluate the value of our bulletin or program.
The response was uniformly positive telling me that we do not need to switch to a different format antime soon.
F) The question about the prayer song "Stay With Me" which we sang together after each prayer petition helped me asses the congregation's interest in more ancient Christian practices such as chants.
The response was generally low at 72 with only five people answering '4' or '5'. This tells me that the music somehow detracted from the congregation's ability to be connected with God and perhaps with each other in prayer. Our traditional pattern generally includes sharing joys and concerns and then offering a pastoral prayer with the Lord's prayer afterward.
G) The question about using the narrative "dramatization" of scriptures helps me assess the congregation's openness to voices of wisdom in addition to those shared through the Bible.
The response was generally positive, although there were numerous '3' answers suggesting a good deal of ambivalence about the scripts. I do not know whether this is a response to the way the texts were written or to hearing scripture in worship, in general. People often confide to me that they tend to "tune-out" when the scripture is shared and just wait for the interpretation in the message. The results coupled with private comments lead me to suspect that it may no longer be enough for readers to simply stand in the lecturn and read the scriptures of the day.
H) The question about using bass and guitar to execute "God of Wonders" in worship helps me assess the congregation's interest in contemporary music and instruments in worship.
The response of '103' out of '140' possible suggests a positive feeling about contemporary music in worship. One rated the experience as a '1' (not helpful) and another rated it as a '2', but fifteen rated the song and instrumentation as '4' (nine responses) or '5' (eight responses). This suggests to me that there is an interest in diversifying instrumentation in morning worship and having songs like "God of Wonders" become a more regular part of morning worship.
I realize this was a simple multiple choice questionannire and the results may be filled with numerous personal caveats. For example I do not assume the congregation, because question 'H' received a 103, is ready for a band to play jazz at the 8:15 service nor would I completely rule-out use of POwerPoint in worship juts because responses were mostly negative. Rather, these results, tempered with written responses will be useful for a small group to consider as we consider summer worship.
Summer worship time was also addressed in the questionnaire. We have a quandry here. In 2007 summer worship times were 8:15 and 9:30. I assume the 10:45 time was changed because there was no Sunday School at 9:30 in the summer and because the un-air-conditioned building heats-up through the morning. In 2008 the summer worship combined the two services into one at 9am. This gave us the chance for a fuller congregation (at a time when many people vacation on weekends) and better stewardship of the staff's time. Informal feedback after last summer suggested to me that 9am was too late for 8:15 participants and too early for 10:45 participants. The survey suggests that people still favor the two seperate service times of 2007. Six prefer the 9am time. It is interesting to note that three of the 8:15 participants are more interested in the 9am time than the 8:15 time for the summer.
Thanks, againm for your input. Please feel free to comment below or send requests to be on the summer worship team to info@hudsonfumc.com.
What is the best time in the morning for summer worship? 8:15 9 9:30 10 10:45
1. 8:15 (11 votes) 9:30 (11 votes)
2. 9 (6 votes)
3. 10 (3 votes)
4. 10:45 (1 vote)
And the best summer day for worship? Sunday Wednesday Thursday
No votes for Wednesday or Thursday
In the season of Lent we incorporated unique elements meant to foster intimacy with God. Please rate the following on a scale of 1 (not helpful) to 5 (very helpful):
A) Visuals such as the banners, the footpath and potted plants. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 119 out of 140
B) PowerPoint Slides for announcements. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 67 out of 135
C) The “gospel” song “Over My Head” with clapping. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 101 out of 140
D) Sermons on topics like “Pain”, Loneliness” , “Fear” etc. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 122 out of 140
E) The printed program format. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 119 out of 140
F) A song after each concern/prayer petition is shared. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 72 out of 140
G) “Scripture” was a dramatic reading each day. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 103 out of 140
H) Guitar and bass with “God of Wonders” song. 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL: 103 out of 140
What changes might we make to the sanctuary, the schedule or the program that would make worship a richer, fuller experience for you?
Keep worship traditional, reverent and respectfull
More duets and solos
Loved the trumpets, but did not like choir "play" Palm Sunday
Start on time (2 responses)
Love worship as it is (2 responses)
Keep to one hour
Use better mics
Like choir at communion
More contemporary hymns, please
Would like to be part of a team to work on summertime worship plans:
Dennis Sherman
Ron and Connie Banfill
Evelyn Rein
Donella Siktberg
Terry Johnston
Non Okarma
Julie Berard
Pastor's NOTES on data:
Thank you for taking the time to complete this short questionnaire. It obviously omits areas of worship about which we all care deeply--the importance of scripture readings, children's messages, sharing joys and concerns, etc. We can evaluate those at other times. The intention here is to allow the congregation to reflect on a few newer practices that we experienced through the season of Lent. Each category represents what I feel are potential growing edges in our church.
A) The question about visual helps me assess the congregation's interest in the Arts in worship.
The response here was uniformly strong. The congregation likes such things as flowers, potted plants, banners, creative altars and may also enjoy other forms of visual arts in worship.
B) The question about PowerPoint software used to project images for announcements helps me assess the congregations interest in visual cues such as projected hymn lyrics, outlines for sermons, video clips fro sermons and of course slides to announce upcoming events.
The response was uniformly low, suggesting that technology may feel intrusive to most people gathered for worship at FUMC.
C) The question about singing the gospel song "Up Above My Head" and being encouraged to clap helps me assess the congregation's interest in the physical expression of worship such as clapping hands, raising hands, dancing and, to a lesser extent, gives me a clue about how much congregants value participation in worship.
The response was generally positive, but there were three '1' responses (not at all helpful to worship) while there were also eight '5' responses (quite helpful). This is common in churches. Introverts and men tend to really dislike clapping and even standing and singing in worship while extraverts and women tend to enjoy it.
D) The question about sermon themes during Lent was less to help me determine whether or not I am doing a decent job of preaching (that evaluation can come later) and more to help me assess the congregation's interest in thematic preaching as opposed to preaching that follows the lectionary of prescribed readings which carry very different messages from week to week.
The response was was uniformly positive. This was the highest ranking attribute of Lenten worship reminding me that the congregation appreciates messages that apply to real life conditions and suggesting to me that future messages my cluster around themes from time to time.
E) The question about the program helps me evaluate the value of our bulletin or program.
The response was uniformly positive telling me that we do not need to switch to a different format antime soon.
F) The question about the prayer song "Stay With Me" which we sang together after each prayer petition helped me asses the congregation's interest in more ancient Christian practices such as chants.
The response was generally low at 72 with only five people answering '4' or '5'. This tells me that the music somehow detracted from the congregation's ability to be connected with God and perhaps with each other in prayer. Our traditional pattern generally includes sharing joys and concerns and then offering a pastoral prayer with the Lord's prayer afterward.
G) The question about using the narrative "dramatization" of scriptures helps me assess the congregation's openness to voices of wisdom in addition to those shared through the Bible.
The response was generally positive, although there were numerous '3' answers suggesting a good deal of ambivalence about the scripts. I do not know whether this is a response to the way the texts were written or to hearing scripture in worship, in general. People often confide to me that they tend to "tune-out" when the scripture is shared and just wait for the interpretation in the message. The results coupled with private comments lead me to suspect that it may no longer be enough for readers to simply stand in the lecturn and read the scriptures of the day.
H) The question about using bass and guitar to execute "God of Wonders" in worship helps me assess the congregation's interest in contemporary music and instruments in worship.
The response of '103' out of '140' possible suggests a positive feeling about contemporary music in worship. One rated the experience as a '1' (not helpful) and another rated it as a '2', but fifteen rated the song and instrumentation as '4' (nine responses) or '5' (eight responses). This suggests to me that there is an interest in diversifying instrumentation in morning worship and having songs like "God of Wonders" become a more regular part of morning worship.
I realize this was a simple multiple choice questionannire and the results may be filled with numerous personal caveats. For example I do not assume the congregation, because question 'H' received a 103, is ready for a band to play jazz at the 8:15 service nor would I completely rule-out use of POwerPoint in worship juts because responses were mostly negative. Rather, these results, tempered with written responses will be useful for a small group to consider as we consider summer worship.
Summer worship time was also addressed in the questionnaire. We have a quandry here. In 2007 summer worship times were 8:15 and 9:30. I assume the 10:45 time was changed because there was no Sunday School at 9:30 in the summer and because the un-air-conditioned building heats-up through the morning. In 2008 the summer worship combined the two services into one at 9am. This gave us the chance for a fuller congregation (at a time when many people vacation on weekends) and better stewardship of the staff's time. Informal feedback after last summer suggested to me that 9am was too late for 8:15 participants and too early for 10:45 participants. The survey suggests that people still favor the two seperate service times of 2007. Six prefer the 9am time. It is interesting to note that three of the 8:15 participants are more interested in the 9am time than the 8:15 time for the summer.
Thanks, againm for your input. Please feel free to comment below or send requests to be on the summer worship team to info@hudsonfumc.com.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The story of Saint Patrick that most of us remember has to do with driving snakes out of Ireland. That’s the legend, anyway. What do we know or care to know about the real Saint Patrick? Patrick’s father was an English clergy man. Patrick memorized all of the Psalms as a youth. Tragically, Patrick was abducted in England and brought to Ireland as a slave. In the midst of his slavery, Patrick writes that he heard God tell him to walk across Ireland all the way to the coast where he would find a boat waiting to return him to England. It seemed like a dangerous long shot—he would be returned to his master and killed if anyone heard his Irish accent—but Patrick followed the Lord’s advice. He found the ship. The crew was not inclined to help him until Patrick shared the memorized Psalms which had sustained him through his captivity. The crew of the ship assumed they were helping a clergy man (and thus would receive blessings) and so obliged Patrick in his quest to return home.
However, once Patrick arrived safely home he felt God calling him back to Ireland, this time as an apostle of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the largely “Druid” population. Patrick is credited with converting all of Ireland to Christianity. He is also credited with spreading literacy and with abolishing the slave trade which had interrupted his own young life.
Fascinating! But all I ever hear about the man is some unbelievable story about snakes. Meanwhile I am confused about the other stuff that has grown up around Saint Patrick—green beer, pot-o-gold and Soda Bread. No-one ever told me that the shamrock was used by Patrick to teach non-believers about the concept of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. All I knew was that there was supposedly some “Luck of the Irish” (which seems unlikely given the abundance of green beer).
What do people know about Jesus? Some “unbelievable” stories as wild as the story of Saint Patrick persuading thousands of snakes to follow him out of Ireland? Are they confused about what all these traditions which have grown up around Jesus have to do with Jesus' reason for being? How are we Christians helping non-believers with their questions and assumptions about all of this Jesus stuff?
Lent is an excellent time to get real about Jesus. Jesus was a real man with real temptations, real courage and real faith. Our friends may not be able to make the leap to the miraculous teachings about Jesus. That is fine for now. There is plenty of good material to teach people about him without asking people to believe “snake stories”. Start with the Matthew chapters five and six and the “Sermon on the Mount” teachings. Follow that quickly with sharing what you know about Jesus. Of course it won’t matter what you say about Jesus if your life doesn’t reflect the Sermon on the Mount.
Need some help remembering what Jesus is all about? I’ll look for you Sunday and we can remember together.
However, once Patrick arrived safely home he felt God calling him back to Ireland, this time as an apostle of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the largely “Druid” population. Patrick is credited with converting all of Ireland to Christianity. He is also credited with spreading literacy and with abolishing the slave trade which had interrupted his own young life.
Fascinating! But all I ever hear about the man is some unbelievable story about snakes. Meanwhile I am confused about the other stuff that has grown up around Saint Patrick—green beer, pot-o-gold and Soda Bread. No-one ever told me that the shamrock was used by Patrick to teach non-believers about the concept of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. All I knew was that there was supposedly some “Luck of the Irish” (which seems unlikely given the abundance of green beer).
What do people know about Jesus? Some “unbelievable” stories as wild as the story of Saint Patrick persuading thousands of snakes to follow him out of Ireland? Are they confused about what all these traditions which have grown up around Jesus have to do with Jesus' reason for being? How are we Christians helping non-believers with their questions and assumptions about all of this Jesus stuff?
Lent is an excellent time to get real about Jesus. Jesus was a real man with real temptations, real courage and real faith. Our friends may not be able to make the leap to the miraculous teachings about Jesus. That is fine for now. There is plenty of good material to teach people about him without asking people to believe “snake stories”. Start with the Matthew chapters five and six and the “Sermon on the Mount” teachings. Follow that quickly with sharing what you know about Jesus. Of course it won’t matter what you say about Jesus if your life doesn’t reflect the Sermon on the Mount.
Need some help remembering what Jesus is all about? I’ll look for you Sunday and we can remember together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)