This morning I am preparing to leave for Ft. Worth, where I'll get to attend nearly three days of the quadrennial UM General Conference. I've only been one other time, in 1996 in Denver. I was pregnant with Joe and working with the National Committee on Hispanic Ministries to get the National Plan passed. My grandfather was there as well (he was 85 at the time), as a marshall (I think they work the doors or hand out materials or something), and that was extremely cool. I was preparing to be ordained that June, and Grandpa bought me my first clergy robe there. We got a loose kind to fit over my growing belly. It was an exciting time.
I had trouble sleeping last night, excited thinking about friends from across the connection whom I might get to see, looking forward to worship tonight and hearing my former pastor, now-Bishop Janice Huie, preach.
I also know that there may be some momentous decisions made. It might or might not end up feeling like these affect us very much here at the local level, but for me both the process and the outcome of these discussions are important. We may well just continue to do what we do no matter what the church delegates decide about global warming, homosexuality or a push to make all United Methodists swear by a certain creed. But whether they impact us immediately or not, our church's pronouncements on this kind of issue do matter. At the very least, they challenge us to look at our own understanding of the faith and how the good news of Jesus Christ as we've heard and experienced it intersects with life in the world.
This gathering will be emphasizing the process we've come to call "Holy Conferencing." This means we get together to decide things, as our Methodist founder John Wesley designed it, but we call upon and trust the Holy Spirit to come and make us into more than just the sum of our parts. Delegates generally go to the conference with opinions already formed on many controversial subjects, and it is easy for those discussions to turn quickly into trench warfare. Holy Conferencing is an attempt to allow ourselves to be convinced or convicted of something new and unexpected. Its intent is to recognize our diversity and respect the worth and integrity of each person, but not to avoid hard conversations. Both the church and our society are increasingly fractured, and polarizing rhetoric abounds--thus the need for civil discourse, rooted in the love and reconciling power of Christ. If you'd like to see a great presentation on Holy Conferencing, go to our annual conference website (www.umcswtx.org) and click on the video. Or for info on General Conference, go to www.umc.org; they'll even have live stream/feed/whatever you call it for some sessions. In any case, pray for our church, that God might do a powerful thing or two in our midst.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
The One He Loved
John 21:20 "Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them"
There are several instances in the Gospel of John where the writer describes himself as the "disciple Jesus loved". I have often thought that perhaps John was a little full of himself in stating that he was so loved by the Messiah. I sometimes thought he sounded like a young child who declares to his brothers or sisters, "Mother loves me best!" It seems so improper that a disciple of Christ, one of the important Gospel writers would get caught in this sort of one-upmanship. I have come to realize that perhaps John was conveying a different message to us, a message of the powerful love of Jesus Christ. A love so powerful it made whoever was in the presence of Christ feel as if they were the most loved person in all the world.
Last week I had the bittersweet occasion of attending a memorial service for a wonderful man of faith who died the weekend before. Reverend Tim Ryan, a retired Methodist Pastor, was not only a friend to me but also was an unofficial mentor in my candidacy for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, a brother in Christ in my Christian walk of faith, and a counselor who I could count on to impart wisdom and a reasonable perspective to even the most difficult situation. Tim had a way of helping me to see life issues as opportunities to encounter God's love and to bask in the glow of that love. I often came away from a meeting with Tim feeling as if I must be his best protege, his best student, his best friend. I knew he must love me more than anybody else.
Displaying that love was one of Reverend Ryan's most wonderful gifts. Whether Tim was preaching a sermon, teaching a Bible-study class, meeting with you one-on-one, or just telling one of his many stories he had a way of making people feel loved. People came away from an encounter with Tim feeling like special creations of God, which of course they are. Tim Ryan made people feel like he loved them and that God loved them. Loved them more than anyone else. He did not say "I love you the most" or "You are my favorite student" or "You are the best person in this church", Tim just made you feel that way. It was jusy one of his gifts, one of the ways God reached out to the world through the touch and words of a mortal human being.
As I looked at the crowd at the memorial service, which was a service of celebration of how Tim Ryan had touched so many lives, I felt I knew what the writer of the Gospel of John was telling us. I knew that if any of the four hundred or so attendees of that service were asked to tell a story of how Tim had touched their lives we would be there all day hearing story after story of how person after person had been blessed in knowing him. Each would tell how they felt special and loved after talking to Tim, each could relate how something he said or did got them in touch with God's love and helped them to feel closer to Christ.
The next time I read the Gospel of John and come across a part where the writer calls himself, "the disciple Jesus loved" I will know it was because Jesus had a way of making each person feel special and loved. I will no longer think the writer was being arrogant, I will know it is just the powerful witness to the effect of Christ's love in a person's life. I will know that one can not truly encounter Jesus Christ without being affected by God's love.
And that is my prayer, that each of us finds a way to make someone feel special on this day, that we impart God's love to someone else. I pray that we seek to get in touch with the gift of Christ's powerful love and become an instrument of that love for others. God used Tim Ryan to touch me, and others, with the powerful love of Jesus Christ many times. I pray that God uses me to reach out in love to others, to make someone feel like a special creation. Because that is what they are, that is what all of us are. We are, each and every one of us, special creations of God loved with the powerful love of Jesus Christ, a love that knows no bounds.
May God bless you and touch you with His powerful love today.
There are several instances in the Gospel of John where the writer describes himself as the "disciple Jesus loved". I have often thought that perhaps John was a little full of himself in stating that he was so loved by the Messiah. I sometimes thought he sounded like a young child who declares to his brothers or sisters, "Mother loves me best!" It seems so improper that a disciple of Christ, one of the important Gospel writers would get caught in this sort of one-upmanship. I have come to realize that perhaps John was conveying a different message to us, a message of the powerful love of Jesus Christ. A love so powerful it made whoever was in the presence of Christ feel as if they were the most loved person in all the world.
Last week I had the bittersweet occasion of attending a memorial service for a wonderful man of faith who died the weekend before. Reverend Tim Ryan, a retired Methodist Pastor, was not only a friend to me but also was an unofficial mentor in my candidacy for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, a brother in Christ in my Christian walk of faith, and a counselor who I could count on to impart wisdom and a reasonable perspective to even the most difficult situation. Tim had a way of helping me to see life issues as opportunities to encounter God's love and to bask in the glow of that love. I often came away from a meeting with Tim feeling as if I must be his best protege, his best student, his best friend. I knew he must love me more than anybody else.
Displaying that love was one of Reverend Ryan's most wonderful gifts. Whether Tim was preaching a sermon, teaching a Bible-study class, meeting with you one-on-one, or just telling one of his many stories he had a way of making people feel loved. People came away from an encounter with Tim feeling like special creations of God, which of course they are. Tim Ryan made people feel like he loved them and that God loved them. Loved them more than anyone else. He did not say "I love you the most" or "You are my favorite student" or "You are the best person in this church", Tim just made you feel that way. It was jusy one of his gifts, one of the ways God reached out to the world through the touch and words of a mortal human being.
As I looked at the crowd at the memorial service, which was a service of celebration of how Tim Ryan had touched so many lives, I felt I knew what the writer of the Gospel of John was telling us. I knew that if any of the four hundred or so attendees of that service were asked to tell a story of how Tim had touched their lives we would be there all day hearing story after story of how person after person had been blessed in knowing him. Each would tell how they felt special and loved after talking to Tim, each could relate how something he said or did got them in touch with God's love and helped them to feel closer to Christ.
The next time I read the Gospel of John and come across a part where the writer calls himself, "the disciple Jesus loved" I will know it was because Jesus had a way of making each person feel special and loved. I will no longer think the writer was being arrogant, I will know it is just the powerful witness to the effect of Christ's love in a person's life. I will know that one can not truly encounter Jesus Christ without being affected by God's love.
And that is my prayer, that each of us finds a way to make someone feel special on this day, that we impart God's love to someone else. I pray that we seek to get in touch with the gift of Christ's powerful love and become an instrument of that love for others. God used Tim Ryan to touch me, and others, with the powerful love of Jesus Christ many times. I pray that God uses me to reach out in love to others, to make someone feel like a special creation. Because that is what they are, that is what all of us are. We are, each and every one of us, special creations of God loved with the powerful love of Jesus Christ, a love that knows no bounds.
May God bless you and touch you with His powerful love today.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Spiritual Identitiy
I recently had the opportunity to work at a conference for Christian men in San Antonio, Texas. One of the purposes of the conference was to confront the issue of confusion as to our spiritual identity in today's times. With all the different messages about religion and spirituality currently in the media, we are sometimes confused about who we are as men in Christ and what our roles should be in the church and community of today. Particularly with the recent occurences that have brought negative attention to religion by the misuse and abuse of spiritual authority in some factions of the church universal, it is important that Christian men of the church display positive role modelling for the world to see. Much of the erosion of positive family structures and morals in today's society has been attributed to the absence of men as positive role models as husbands, fathers, and leaders in the church and their communities.
At the conference it was discussed that Christian men can not afford to let society define their roles and purposes; we must face the reality of our brokenness, move beyond the past, and claim and be proud of our identity as men who have been called by God to witness to the power and grace of Christ's love in our lives. The overwhelming majority of the men in attendance either gave themselves to Jesus Christ for the first time or rededicated their lives to Christ. Over one hundred men made the commitment to be more intentional in representing Jesus Christ in the way they live their daily lives and in how they relate to their families and communities. These men have committed to make a better attempt in how they exemplify Jesus Christ and his love to the world.
I celebrate and pray for these men and their families. May God bless them as they try to live the message of Christ each and every day.
At the conference it was discussed that Christian men can not afford to let society define their roles and purposes; we must face the reality of our brokenness, move beyond the past, and claim and be proud of our identity as men who have been called by God to witness to the power and grace of Christ's love in our lives. The overwhelming majority of the men in attendance either gave themselves to Jesus Christ for the first time or rededicated their lives to Christ. Over one hundred men made the commitment to be more intentional in representing Jesus Christ in the way they live their daily lives and in how they relate to their families and communities. These men have committed to make a better attempt in how they exemplify Jesus Christ and his love to the world.
I celebrate and pray for these men and their families. May God bless them as they try to live the message of Christ each and every day.
Friday, April 4, 2008
An Unlikely Experience of Grace
I recently received a letter from Becky Harrell, the missionary we help support in Iquique, Chile. It served as a lovely devotional reading for me, and I wanted to share it with you.
Peace, Laura
------------------------
¿Qué tal?
Have you ever been asked to do a chore that you agreed to, volunteered for, yet suddenly regretted having done so? The Board of our local church decided that in-between the time of hiring a new person to handle the “aseo” or cleaning of the church building, we as church officials would alternate in pairs and take on this duty. Without knowing why, my mouth opened and yes, I volunteer.
The Saturday before Easter was our designated day of cleaning so just before midday I toted in my bag of supplies and mop and began organizing where I would begin first. My coworker had something come up and couldn’t make it, so my regret in volunteering seemed to double. Here I would be, most of the day, cleaning. I began in the kitchen, the place where most of our boards meet because as good Methodists we have learned the value of sharing bread with one another (smile)…and it is the place where the children of CEREIMI gather for lunch each and every day. My head was filled with thoughts of what time I needed to be finished so that I could go home, clean up, return to the church to pick up all the kiddos from Sunday School that would be participating in the Saturday night vigil at Juan Wesley church and giving their presentation of “Panes y Peces", etc, etc, etc.
Scrubbing the sink, organizing the cabinet tops, clearing off the tables…I began to think of all of the nearly 40 children who run into the churches front door, drop their backpack and head straight to the bathroom to wash up before lunch each day (another smile). Folding a tablecloth reminded me of all the guys who meet each Sunday morning for the Methodist Men’s group and the prayers that have passed over the top of this cloth. Wiping down each of the chairs I remembered the women of the Methodist Women’s group who bring homemade treats each Monday afternoon to share with their tea as they make plans for community assistance.
Before I knew it the kitchen was done and I had moved into the main sanctuary, passing my cleaning cloth over the pulpit, remembering Pastor Rojas and all of our Laity who have given God’s Word to us…passing over the altar and feeling the overwhelming Presence of our Lord as each movement was in His Honor. Mopping up the tile floor on the altar and recalling the little feet that had trodden this area as they presented their Sunday School lesson to us all.
The pews were an honor to dust and clean, as we have all been guilty of returning to that same pew each week and I knew who sat where…sometimes I think it is because our first time in that place is where we met the Lord and we feel drawn to return there. At the back of the Sanctuary I turned and saw a shining that reflected the cleaning that had just taken place…it was beautiful. The trip upstairs to the classrooms did the same for me…especially when I picked up gum or candy wrappers (bigger smile).
What had I dreaded? It became another worship experience that I never expected, and I was blessed beyond words. When was the last time you had such an experience? How much there is to do in this world for our congregations, our brothers and sisters, and those in this world we have not even yet come to know. Don’t let the dread of what you have never experienced keep you from coming into a deeper relationship with our Lord. Do it, say yes to Him, no matter what has been presented to you…say yes to Love. There will be no regrets (overwhelming smile).
Con mucho cariño,
Becky
Becky Harrell,
MissionaryGeneral Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
Missionary Advance Code #15141Z
The EMANA Project, Advance #14791T
www.emana.org and www.7villages.com/chilemissionumc
Peace, Laura
------------------------
¿Qué tal?
Have you ever been asked to do a chore that you agreed to, volunteered for, yet suddenly regretted having done so? The Board of our local church decided that in-between the time of hiring a new person to handle the “aseo” or cleaning of the church building, we as church officials would alternate in pairs and take on this duty. Without knowing why, my mouth opened and yes, I volunteer.
The Saturday before Easter was our designated day of cleaning so just before midday I toted in my bag of supplies and mop and began organizing where I would begin first. My coworker had something come up and couldn’t make it, so my regret in volunteering seemed to double. Here I would be, most of the day, cleaning. I began in the kitchen, the place where most of our boards meet because as good Methodists we have learned the value of sharing bread with one another (smile)…and it is the place where the children of CEREIMI gather for lunch each and every day. My head was filled with thoughts of what time I needed to be finished so that I could go home, clean up, return to the church to pick up all the kiddos from Sunday School that would be participating in the Saturday night vigil at Juan Wesley church and giving their presentation of “Panes y Peces", etc, etc, etc.
Scrubbing the sink, organizing the cabinet tops, clearing off the tables…I began to think of all of the nearly 40 children who run into the churches front door, drop their backpack and head straight to the bathroom to wash up before lunch each day (another smile). Folding a tablecloth reminded me of all the guys who meet each Sunday morning for the Methodist Men’s group and the prayers that have passed over the top of this cloth. Wiping down each of the chairs I remembered the women of the Methodist Women’s group who bring homemade treats each Monday afternoon to share with their tea as they make plans for community assistance.
Before I knew it the kitchen was done and I had moved into the main sanctuary, passing my cleaning cloth over the pulpit, remembering Pastor Rojas and all of our Laity who have given God’s Word to us…passing over the altar and feeling the overwhelming Presence of our Lord as each movement was in His Honor. Mopping up the tile floor on the altar and recalling the little feet that had trodden this area as they presented their Sunday School lesson to us all.
The pews were an honor to dust and clean, as we have all been guilty of returning to that same pew each week and I knew who sat where…sometimes I think it is because our first time in that place is where we met the Lord and we feel drawn to return there. At the back of the Sanctuary I turned and saw a shining that reflected the cleaning that had just taken place…it was beautiful. The trip upstairs to the classrooms did the same for me…especially when I picked up gum or candy wrappers (bigger smile).
What had I dreaded? It became another worship experience that I never expected, and I was blessed beyond words. When was the last time you had such an experience? How much there is to do in this world for our congregations, our brothers and sisters, and those in this world we have not even yet come to know. Don’t let the dread of what you have never experienced keep you from coming into a deeper relationship with our Lord. Do it, say yes to Him, no matter what has been presented to you…say yes to Love. There will be no regrets (overwhelming smile).
Con mucho cariño,
Becky
Becky Harrell,
MissionaryGeneral Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
Missionary Advance Code #15141Z
The EMANA Project, Advance #14791T
www.emana.org and www.7villages.com/chilemissionumc
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