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Circuit Writer - Pastor David's Article

A violent and turbulent season has griped our nation. Protests have called for injustice to be addressed both in systemic and cultural realities. We find the same racial conflicts seen in the early church between Jewish and Gentile audiences continue to manifest themselves in modern communities. The acts of aggression, separation, and unequal balances of power ravage the relationships we share in Christ.

 The Council of Bishops are asking United Methodists to read about anti-racism and speak with children, youth and adults about the subject. They also request that United Methodists join in prayer for at least 30 days at 8:46am and 8:46pm for 8:46 minutes, the length of time a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on the neck of George Floyd, killing the 46-year-old African American.

Tragic long histories of murders that are the product of racist systems that devalue lives of color and dehumanize all of us. Just this January and February, we used a study on: The Gospel and Race. This series of sermons is still available at our website with audio files. We have included four weeks of study guides to expand your conversations and study.

There were also some thoughts for meditation provided during this series: Gospel & Race Resources

• “While it’s rarely necessary to die for the sake of another, genuine love usually involves some level of sacrifice. As Christians, we are to show unconditional, selfless love to others—just as Jesus did for us.”—Charles F. Stanley
•  “Learn to know Christ and him crucified. Learn to sing to him, and say, ‘Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.’” —Martin Luther
• “If you judge people you have no time to love them.” —Mother Teresa
• “Frequently there appears on the stage of history individuals who have the insight to look beyond the inadequacies of the old order and see the necessity for the new.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Lastly, I would offer into this conversation a piece on YouTube that speaks to the anger and pain of our nation. Phil Vischer — creator of “VeggieTales” and voice of Bob the Tomato in the popular Christian animated series — posted a now viral video called “Race in America” that attempts to answer the question: “Why are people so angry?”   

Join me in a season of prayer and action. Hear the direction of the Prophet Isaiah when he says:

 Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.  Isaiah 1:17 (NRSV)

There is no more important moment for the church to bridge the unspoken pain of racism, to support those within law enforcement given the nearly impossible task of being a voice of calm and equality, and judicial systems that have too often been a double standard of justice instead of equal justice for all.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor David

United

God calls the people of faith to live in unity with one another, so it is important to make every effort to live together in harmony with other fellow believers. Three key quotes from the New International Version of Scripture read:

1 Corinthians 1:10 
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Colossians 3:13-14
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Unity is more than a philosophy or a posture.  Unity, according to Jesus in John 17, is the reflection of the nature of the Father and the Son.  In Paul’s letters, he uses the illustration of the body: Romans 12:4, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,” and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit...”

This unity is not something that we must work to achieve or attain. It already exists. It does not refer to organizational unity, but rather to the organic unity which the Holy Spirit produces when He baptizes us all into the one body of Christ through the new birth. Christ broke down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles and brought them together in the one new creation. Paul makes a bold declaration when he says: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”—Galatians 3:28 (NRSV).

There will be much discussion about unity as we approach the Special Session of the General Conference to be held on February 23-26 in St. Louis. See more information of this gathering of the UMC.  My prayer is that we will not lose sight of the Biblical mandate of unity and the power such collective strength will reflect from the church to a world that is often fractured and easily divided. In Christ we are One!

 Grace and Peace,

David

Advent Coming

Advent means “Coming.” It has been a mark of the beginning of the Christian year and the season to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Advent is a time to celebrate that even in the midst of exile, darkness, and despair that “God is with us—Emmanuel.” Advent consists of four Sundays before the 12-day season of Christmas. The colors are purple and/or blue for mourning and repentance. The only exception in some congregations has been the third Sunday known as “Gaudete” (Rejoice Sunday) when a rose or pink colored candle is used. An Advent wreath is a common symbol of this season. One candle is lit each of the weeks up to Christmas Eve when the Christ Candle is lit.

This year we will explore the messages of “How to Find…Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.”  We have become a DIY (Do It Yourself) culture. Our spiritual lives are more than weekend fixer-up projects. There are seldom quick fixes for any of our spiritual conditions. We begin to look for practical ways to engage our faith and to use the spiritual disciplines of prayer, scripture, means of grace, fasting and generous giving to discover the foundations of this season. 

• Hope is more than wishful thinking.
• Love is beyond the kindness shared with family or stranger.
• Joy is the song that sings even in the darkest night.
• Peace is the tranquil stillness before the God of all creation.

 How do we find these gifts? How do we encounter the living God who seeks to transform our lives by the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ? Come to worship on December 2, December 9, December 16 and December 23 to gain the tools to help you know How to Find. You may also discover that your family, neighbors, or friends might be more open to an invitation to join you in church during this season of the year than any other single time. Take the chance to invite them to come. Invitation cards are available at the Connect Desk for you to mail or drop off to a friend.  Be prepared to learn new ways to be obedient to the power of God with us.

 Praying for an Advent Blessing,

Pastor David

Information on everything happening for Advent and Christmas can be found HERE.