Notes from the Pastor

A Place to Belong: The Heart of Front Street Playschool

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:20:58 GMT

In 2011, I began searching for a preschool for my one-year-old son while I was teaching at Highland Elementary. When I asked colleagues for recommendations, one preschool was consistently recommended. Gayle Canaday suggested Front Street Playschool, and I decided to schedule a tour.

From the moment we stepped into the classroom, we felt right at home. My son immediately sat down and joined the other children for snack time, as if he had always belonged. In that instant, I knew Front Street Playschool was the right place for him to begin his preschool journey.

All three of my sons went on to graduate from Front Street Playschool, and our family made countless cherished memories here. It is my sincere hope that every family who walks through our doors experiences the same sense of belonging. We want each family to leave with lasting memories and treasured childhood keepsakes from their time with us.

As we look ahead to spring, we are excited to continue our beloved Front Street Playschool traditions, including our annual Art Show. Families enjoy viewing the artwork their children have created throughout the year. The teachers spend time planning and saving each piece. It is truly a highlight of the year and a day many families remember for years to come.

During this season, we also reflect on the true meaning of Easter. In Chapel Time and in our classrooms, we share about Jesus and the message of His love. We look forward to celebrating together on Playschool Sunday, April 19th, at the 11:00 a.m. service. Playschool families are invited to attend, and the children will share a simple, special song about Jesus.

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with families during these precious early years and to be part of each child’s story.

-Staci Poplin, Playschool Director

Living Into God’s Great Reversal

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:26:09 GMT

These past few weeks, we walked through the Gospel of Luke in our message series, “Misfit’s Messiah”. All through his Gospel, Luke has been telling us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham—and not just for Israel, but for the whole world. Luke is saying, " This is it. This is happening in Jesus."

But it’s not what anyone expected. Even the disciples, right before Jesus’ death, are still arguing about who is the greatest. They haven’t yet grasped how upside-down Jesus’ Kingdom really is.

Jesus’ Kingdom is for everyone— especially the people pushed to the margins .

Jesus is Lord—but not like kings or political powers. His Kingdom is above all those. His authority isn’t built on force or power. It’s built on humility. His Kingdom isn’t violent. It’s marked by peace . The church—that’s you—is called to live this out in a world obsessed with dominance and contro l .

And here’s what’s remarkable: this Lordship doesn’t just change world history—it changes individual lives—that’s you and me. God’s justice isn’t only about nations rising and falling. It’s about the humble, the poor, the overlooked person being lifted up.

We often understand salvation as a purely personal thing. But originally, it was a hope for the whole people of Israel. Through Jesus, it becomes both: a promise for the world and for each person who is humble, meek, and open to God.

Because this Kingdom touches individuals, it calls for personal obedience too. In Luke especially, Jesus challenges our attachment to power, wealth, and status. Again and again, He exposes how easily these become idols. Life isn’t about having more, controlling more, or securing your place socially. God is generous and trustworthy—and faith in Him means learning to value what He values, not what the world does.

It seems we often think Lent is a season to feel bad about ourselves. However, that is not the purpose of Lent. Rather, Lent is a season to tell the truth about ourselves . Where might you be resisting God’s way of humility and peace without even realizing it? Ask God to bring God’s great reversal to life in you.

-Pastor Ray

Shared Joys, Lightened Burdens: Growing Together in Faith

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:39:02 GMT

Before moving to Burlington, I lived in Atlanta while I was getting my Master of Divinity and serving part time as a Youth Minister. After a full week of classes, it is Sunday morning and I found myself in the pews listening to my Pastor preach. In full transparency, I have a hard time remembering most sermons and integrating what I’ve heard into my life of faith. However, there are a few sermons from over the years that have stayed with me and continue to shape me. As my Pastor was preaching on this particular Sunday, I remember one thing he said that has stuck with me ever since: “Shared joys are multiplied joys, and shared burdens are lightened burdens.”

I’ve only been at Front Street UMC for a few months and I am sure y’all have heard me say this phrase many times already! It is a phrase that captures a deep truth and reminds me that we ought not walk this journey of faith alone, and in fact we cannot walk it alone. There is some good news though! We do not walk this journey of faith alone. God has chosen to be with us and to walk with us. Furthermore, we have a community that we can walk alongside.

Since being at Front Street UMC, I have heard a deep yearning for community. Many of us have our connections and relationships, both inside and outside of Front Street UMC, that nourish our lives of faith. Still, there is a desire to go deeper in our relationships with God and one another as we go on our journeys of faith.

Front Street UMC is launching a new Sunday School group called Faithful Families! Faithful Families aims to take seriously this desire to grow in our relationships with God and one another. If you are a parent of children or youth that is yearning for Christian community, we hope that you will join us in Room 301 during the Sunday School hour starting on February 8th. If you aren’t a parent of children or youth but still share this yearning for community, we encourage you to get connected through our other worship, discipleship, and service opportunities at Front Street UMC. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you may have!

-Daniel Polito

A New Year’s Recipe: Collards and Grace

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:43:24 GMT

I have a confession: I don’t care for New Year’s Eve. The parties, the countdowns, the ball drop—it all makes me anxious. I’ve stopped making New Year’s resolutions, and honestly, that might be the best resolution I’ve ever made. They often feel forced and unrealistic.

When I look back over the past year, regret can creep in. I didn’t write that children’s book. I didn’t read the Bible from cover to cover. And exercising? Let’s not even go there.

Still, every New Year’s Day, as I prepare the traditional lunch of black-eyed peas and collards (full disclosure: I don’t actually eat them—I just decorate with them), my mind returns to one of my favorite verses:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.”

—Lamentations 3:22–23

Those words remind me that fresh starts are real and forgiveness is always available. God doesn’t require us to set lofty, unattainable goals or reinvent ourselves overnight. He simply invites us to step into a new day—and a new year—with faith, carrying forward what we’ve learned and trusting Him with the rest.

The road ahead isn’t always easy, but we never walk it alone.

So maybe this year we choose resolutions without pressure—ones rooted in grace, not perfection. Goals that lead to shame aren’t from God. A quote I recently read put it perfectly: “ Perfectionism leads to shame, not spiritual growth. ” God wants our hearts, not our flawless performance.

I may skip the ball drop, and I may never love the gym, but I can choose gratitude. I can seek God daily, trusting that He will carry us when we cannot carry ourselves.

So, shall we step into 2026 with a little more joy? Let’s try—and while we’re at it, feel free to send me your favorite collards recipe.

-Leslie Peavy

The Most Powerful Words on Earth

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:32:38 GMT

What are the most powerful words on earth?

They may not be what you expect—but once you understand them, they can completely transform your life. These words carry the power to shift your emotions, renew your faith, and change your circumstances for the better in every way.

It’s no surprise that these words are found in the Bible. Their story begins in the Gospel of John, chapter 11—the story of Lazarus.

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus knew them well. He loved them deeply, and they loved Him. When Lazarus fell ill and died, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to tell Him what had happened.

The message reached Him, but Jesus did not arrive right away. Whether He chose to delay or allowed the delay to happen, one truth remains: God’s timing is always perfect. It’s never too late with God. Whatever your situation may be, remember—it’s never too late for Him to move.

“Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’” (John 11:38–40)

There’s a powerful lesson here: If you believe, you will see.

That’s the essence of faith—believing before you see, trusting God’s Word before His promises are visible in your life. If you must see it first to believe it, that isn’t faith. But if you choose to believe, you will see.

Then came the moment when Jesus spoke the most powerful words ever spoken on earth:

“Then Jesus lifted His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You…’” (John 11:41)

Notice how He prayed.

He didn’t say, “Father, give Me power.”

He didn’t say, “Father, raise him from the dead.”

He didn’t plead, “Father, help Me,” or ask, “Father, can You?”

No—He simply said, “Father, thank You.”

These are the most powerful words on earth.

The miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead began with a simple prayer of gratitude.

The power of the miraculous begins with the power of thankfulness.

Thank you, for YOU!

-Pastor Ray Warren

Solitude That Bears Fruit

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:44:09 GMT

As apprentices of Jesus, we’re called to live with purpose and intentionality, making the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven our highest priority. This kind of living creates space for generosity to take root in our hearts. Throughout Scripture, we’re urged to give generously of our time, talent, and treasure—especially to those who can never repay us (Acts 20:35, 1 Timothy 6:18, Hebrews 13:16).

So, what does it look like to grow in Christlike generosity?

Obedience in this area isn’t reserved for those with extra time, wealth, or exceptional gifts. No matter how small our offering may seem, every life is a gift worth giving to God and others. No gift is too small. No giver is too broken. And no life is too unworthy to receive.

One way to cultivate a generous heart is through the practice of solitude.

Jesus said, “Abide in me, as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4). One practical way we can respond to this invitation is by regularly stepping away into quiet time with Him.

We tend to become like those we spend time with. Solitude is how we draw near to Jesus and, in doing so, begin to reflect His heart. In His presence, we learn to hear His voice and align our lives with His way.

Over time, the consistent rhythm of meeting Jesus in the quiet place bears the fruit of compassion, empathy, and gratitude. And when these qualities overflow in us, generosity becomes a natural response. Our eyes open to the needs around us, and our hearts are moved to act.

So, what would it look like for you to regularly retreat with Jesus? How might time alone with Him begin to shape your heart in the area of generosity? Today, pause and consider the impact your acts of generosity could have in your corner of the world.

-Pastor Ray

Who Are You—Really

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:37:58 GMT

Is your identity defined by your clothes, your hobbies, where you’re from, or what others say about you? These are the questions that quietly echo deeper ones: Do I matter? Am I valuable? Is there more to life than just getting through the day?

When we don’t have clear answers, it’s easy to cling to whatever gives us a sense of self. But here’s the good news: God sees beyond all the noise and speaks directly to your worth.

From the very beginning, God made it clear.

“Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…”

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them…”

— Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT)

You are not a mistake or an accident. You’re not just biology or instinct. You are created in the image of God—the Creator of heaven and earth. That means you reflect something of Him. And that gives you unshakable value.

You are His masterpiece.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

— Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Even when you doubt your worth, God doesn’t. After creating everything else, He called it good . But after creating humans, He said it was very good (Genesis 1:31).

In our next message series we will be thinking about - Being - Being and becoming Christ's presence in the world.

So, who are you?

You are made in the image of God.

You are deeply valuable.

You are His masterpiece.

Even if you don’t feel like it today—rest in that truth.

-Pastor Ray

Trusting God in the In-Between

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:56:06 GMT

Have you ever heard the term “liminal space”? “Liminal space” refers to a place of transition—a space between what was and what is yet to come. This can be physical, emotional, or even spiritual. The word liminal comes from the Latin limen, meaning threshold. One website describes it beautifully:

“Liminal space is the uncertain transition between where you've been and where you're going—physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. To be in a liminal space means to be on the precipice of something new but not quite there yet.”

We’ve all experienced moments like this—when the familiar is behind us, and the future isn’t yet fully visible. It’s a place filled with both opportunity and anxiety, hope and hesitation. It’s the moment when we’ve accepted that change is coming, even though it hasn’t fully arrived.

How do you feel about being in such a space? Does it excite you—or unsettle you? The unknown can be intimidating, but it can also hold incredible promise.

Right now, I find myself in a liminal space. It feels, quite honestly, unsettling. We are in the midst of discerning our next Director of Music Ministries. I’m also processing the transition of my dear friend and ministry colleague, Pastor Stephan, as he moves on to serve another congregation. These are changes that stir emotions and raise questions about the future.

And yet, I’m reminded of this truth: our Lord already knows what lies ahead. That knowledge brings peace. Because God is sovereign over our transitions, we can rest in the assurance that all will be well.

I’m grateful for our dedicated Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), who are working diligently to fill the music ministry position and are prayerfully identifying next steps for our associate pastor role. They are in active conversation with our District Superintendent and Bishop, seeking the right person for this season of ministry.

As we live through this liminal time together, I encourage you to be in prayer. Pray for those in leadership who are faithfully seeking God’s guidance. Pray also for Pastor Stephan and his family as they prepare for their next chapter in ministry.

We may not yet know what’s coming, but we trust in the One who does. And in that trust, we find peace.

-Pastor Ray

Moving Forward in Hope

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:02:06 GMT

Growth is rarely easy—but it is always a part of God’s story. In Exodus, when God called Moses to lead the people into a new future, it didn’t happen all at once. There were questions, doubts, and hard decisions. But God’s promise remained steady: “I will be with you.”

As we look toward the future God is calling us into, we find ourselves in a season of thoughtful, Spirit-led change. Like Moses, we are being invited to step into something new—not just as individuals, but as a church family committed to growing together.

Over the past several months, our Finance Team, Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), Vision Team, and Trustees have been working diligently to realign our resources so that we can not only sustain our ministry but expand it into the future. These faithful leaders—volunteers from among you—are leading us in a course correction to reduce our budget by $300,000 over the next 12–24 months. That’s a big task, but we believe it is possible with faith, clarity, and shared commitment.

One of the major steps is a reorganization of our staffing structure. Some of these changes are already underway:

• Jackie Long , who has faithfully served as our Facilities Director for over 23 years, will be retiring on August 1. Thanks to a creative staffing proposal, Jackie will continue supporting the church part-time in this next chapter.

• Hannah Reeves will assume increased leadership as our full-time Facilities Supervisor.

• Zack Mace , our part-time maintenance worker, will begin reduced hours starting June 1.

• At The Table , our weekly video series will come to an end beginning August 1.

These adjustments, along with increased giving, represent about $160,000 in annual financial impact. SPRC is also reviewing another $150,000 in possible savings. To be candid, we pray more of that $150,000 will be offset in new and increased estimate of givings for the 2026 budget.

In the area of worship, our Music Ministry is also entering a new chapter. We are actively searching for a new Director of Music Ministry/Organist, a role that will continue to lead and nurture our traditional worship while helping us grow into future possibilities. In the interim, we’re grateful to welcome Tim Baker, retired Director/Organist from University UMC in Chapel Hill, who will help lead us during the transition.

All of these steps are being made with care, prayer, and a strong sense of mission. This is not about simply reducing costs—it’s about investing wisely in a future that is faithful, flexible, and full of possibility.

I’m asking you to do a few things:

• Pray for your church leaders as they continue this work on your behalf.

• Trust that your committees are working diligently with love for the whole church.

• Engage in the life of the church as you are able—your presence and support matter greatly.

In this season of growing, each one of us has a part to play. Some will lead, some will support, some will step into new roles. Together, we will continue to be the church—rooted in Christ, moving forward in hope.

-Pastor Ray

Let's Talk About Growing Pains...

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:25:27 GMT

Maybe you remember when you were little and growing from year to year. Your parent marked the door frame with each new year. Your appetite increased and you could eat a whole rotisserie chicken! Literally! One day you were reaching over the table top with your hands to find the candy bowl, and the next you were looking down into it (empty because your parents started hiding it better). And from time to time you would have an ache in your arms or legs or shoulders. “Growing pains,” you were told. It didn’t make sense, but then again how do you make a bone bigger except by stretching it out. Regardless, it hurt.

Growing pains are a good thing though. They are physical reminders of progress and development. They are tangible signs that you are trying to fill more space in a growing environment. They hurt, but good things often do.

You’ve read the letter by now about our financial challenges, and you’ve felt the changes to our church body. Now I’ll admit, it’s easy to see these as markers of death. We hear about how we live in a post-Christian world; how so may churches are losing members and property and more; and we see a world that doesn’t see the value in church life as it used to. It’s so easy to see these pains as inevitable and a sign of the end…

But that’s human-you thinking. Human-you knows we all have an expiration—an end. Human-you sees pain and tries to avoid it. Human-you doesn’t like this pain. But friends, we just got done celebrating Easter. We celebrate the resurrection and life anew of Jesus Christ, and if you are paying attention, you know that resurrection is for you too. That death is not the end of you either. You are human, yes. But you are also divine!

So church, would you start thinking like the divine being you are? Because divine-you knows pain in a new way, or rather an old, old way. Divine-you knows pain means you no longer fit in the space you’ve been occupying, that you are outgrowing the environment around you. Divine- you knows that you’re about to be asked to do something bigger and you’ll need to be bigger to do it. Divine-you knows that your Holy Parent in God loves you and is creating you new today with as much care as when you were first created. Divine-you knows that these too, are growing pains. Not meant to mark your end, but instead… your new beginning.

Friends, I believe in the future our community will look at us and say with curiosity, “My how you’ve grown!” And we will respond by saying, “Thanks be to God!”

-Pastor Stephan

Navigating Life’s Uncertainties: Trusting God Through Change

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:28:00 GMT

Life often presents us with unexpected changes and transitions that leave us asking, “What’s next?” or “Why me?” We try to predict the future and prepare, but the future remains unclear, filled with uncertainties. For those of us who enjoy solving problems, and detailed plans, this sense of uncertainty can stir up feelings of unease, anxiety, fear, and even distress. To call the season of the unknown “uncomfortable” would be an understatement. It’s a season we can’t simply avoid or predict—it comes to us through our choices or circumstances beyond our control.

I'm sure you've experienced seasons of change, just as I have—especially when making significant life choices and decisions. In those moments of change, relocation, moves or loss, it’s often easy to look back and focus on the people, things, and ideal circumstances of our past. But with a change in perspective, we may begin to see God’s hand in our journey.

Abraham provides a powerful example of faith in the face of uncertainty. In Genesis, God called him to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown destination, revealing only that He would show him the way (Genesis 12:1). Despite not knowing where he was going or what lay ahead, Abraham trusted God's plan. He left behind the familiar—his family, his home—embracing an unknown future based entirely on God’s promise. Along the way, he faced numerous challenges and uncertainties, yet he continued to trust in God’s faithfulness and guidance.

Like Abraham, I have often found myself deep in the midst of the unknown, the unfamiliar, the unplanned, yet somehow sensed God presence with me. My guess is, you have been in the same space.

In the world and culture which we live today, in our own families, through loved ones we no longer have with us here, even here at Church, change is constant. I don’t like change. I want things back to where they were—or at least, the way I liked them. Yet it is these moments of change, I’ve realized some huge God-gifts.

First is that God is my constant—in an ever-changing world. No matter what I’m going through, God is ever present. Too, I’ve learned that if my desire is to grow as an individual, a husband, a dad, a friend, a pastor, a disciple of Jesus the Christ, I must be in the constant rhythm of change. There is no possible way I can grow in any area of my life without my willingness to change. Have you ever thought of that?

You see, our faith grows as we learn to trust that God will guide us and provide for us, just as it says in Philippians 4:19— no matter the upheavals of change in our lives and there’s no need to fear. Seasons change, but God remains unchanging (Psalms 102:27).

Our role in this journey is to:

Stay connected to God and seek God’s guidance through Scripture, and Godly friends.
Be open to God’s voice, even when it isn’t what we want to hear.
Avoid relying too much on others—no matter how close they are—for fulfillment or progress. At the same time, embrace support and care from those around you.
Apply God’s guidance, even when it feels uncertain.

Though the unknowns of change can breed fear, anxiety and doubt, we can know that God is guiding, nudging, shaping and growing us all along our seas of change. Seasons change. The unknown is scary. Yet growth without change isn’t possible. And God is with us, even when we are not so sure…..

-Pastor Ray

New Growth

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:42:14 GMT

God, I am open to new growth in you. Amen . - Those are the words we charged you with at the beginning of the year. For 2025 we’re focused on growth! And we were clear when we said we were unclear what exactly that will look like. Maybe it will be growing in a deeper relationship/ knowledge of God. Maybe it will be growing in our capacity to love our neighbor. But we said we would celebrate the growth we notice along the way, and I want to tell you about some growth that we’re seeing.

Over the last two months we have seen:

+ 16 new faces in worship on Sunday morning (A number of those visitors say they have been watching online and finally decided to visit in person)

+ A group of young adults are working to build a new Sunday School class for Sunday mornings

+ Aldersgate worship is growing in person and online

+ Stephen Ministry is launching soon and has over 20 people applying

+ We have 8 families who are joining our Pathways to Generosity by giving for the very first time

+ The Community Medical Closet is full and ready to support our neighbors in need.

Those are just a few of the tangible ways we can see growth happening. And I’ll speak for myself and Ray and say we have been encouraged by the depth of questions and concerns over Christian matters for the world, and the investment in being a missional community in new ways has been a huge area of growth as well!

Now before I send you off with a question like ‘where do you see growth?’ I want to acknowledge a few places where there might be a need for growth. Our Refugee Resettlement Team is no longer able to do the amazing work it’s been doing because of the changes to immigration from various levels of the government. Are we called to step up in a new way here? Our Afterschool still does not have a director, and Melissa is doing everything she can to keep it going (and she’s doing a great job, btw). Is there something new God is calling us to in this space of ministry?

These are all vital and important questions, and I hope you will take them into this next season, along with your own eye for seeing the growth in front of you. Oh, that next season? It’s Lent! A time for us to sacrificially walk alongside Jesus in service to the world and love for God. If that isn’t a good time for growth I don’t know what is.

-Stephan Margeson

Step Out of the Boat

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:56 GMT

As we begin a new year, how’s your faith doing? Have you ever thought that true faith is about surrendering everything. It’s about putting all your hope in God’s faithfulness to His promises. We often hear the phrase “just have faith,” but in our culture, it’s become a quick fix for situations where we don’t have clear answers. While faith certainly forms the foundation of our walk with Jesus, it’s not enough to merely claim we have it. Faith that isn’t backed by both inner transformation and outward action is empty. Saying “I have faith” is meaningless if our hearts and lives don’t align with that statement. True faith is an active, bold trust in God’s grace—a trust so deep we’d be willing to risk everything, even our lives.

Scripture offers us a vivid example of initiating faith through the story of Peter. Peter, often mocked for his impulsive actions, was deeply devoted to Jesus. In Matthew 14:25–29, we see Peter given the chance to act on his faith by stepping out of the boat and walking toward Jesus, despite the raging storm. While others might criticize him, we must acknowledge the boldness of his decision. Stepping out in faith can sometimes make us look foolish—if Jesus doesn’t show up, we might appear completely misguided. But real faith involves taking risks that only make sense if God comes through.

We all want to experience the miraculous, like walking on water, but none of us is eager to take the first step off the boat. It’s time to put our faith into action, even when it feels uncomfortable. Faith is a vision of the heart that recognizes God’s presence in both the darkness and the light.

Of course, Peter wasn’t perfect. He famously denied Jesus three times, despite his earlier acts of faith—like walking on water with Him! Yet his story didn’t end in failure. After his denial, Peter went on to die as a martyr for his unwavering faith. This shows that faith isn’t a one-time burst of energy; it’s a journey, one that shifts and grows through life’s trials and triumphs. Faith can waver, but it’s important to hold on and continue acting on the faith God has given us.

How is your faith influencing your actions? What changes in your life could better reflect the faith you profess?

-Pastor Ray

A Look Ahead

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:27:06 GMT

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I so hope that this season is filled with joy for you. It has been my absolute pleasure to serve the people of Front Street and the community of Burlington this past year. Can I tell you my favorite part?

Not once, not twice, but actually dozens of times this year I met someone in the community who told me what they think of Front Street. And the things that they say . . . are really wonderful! They tell me how they love the events we’ve put on like the Pancake Supper in February and the Market for Missions in November. They tell me how amazing it is that we serve hundreds of families at Eastlawn Elementary with food and love and support. They tell me they know someone at Front Street who is loving and hospitable. I bet that’s you!

Church, the community sees you and celebrates the ways you follow Christ. Which to me is a look ahead. What will Front Street do in 2025? Well, I think it will grow in its love to neighbor. Why more growth when you already do so much good? Simply put, because the needs of the community are growing. And when the needs of the world grow God’s people step up and meet those growing needs. That’s just how God’s economy of grace works.

So where people are hungry in body or in spirit, we will feed them. Where people are without a home in the world or after the world, we will house them. Where people are sick in their body or their mind, we will heal them. And if that seems like a tall order to you, you’re right. Which is why we will need to grow as disciples. God has always been our source of strength and we will need to learn to rely on God more and more.

I hope you’ll get some rest in this season. You’ve earned it. And you’ll also need it for the work ahead. I can’t wait to hear what people will say next?

-Pastor Stephan

On The Way To Bethlehem

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:25:59 GMT

Advent is a sacred season of anticipation and preparation, a time to reflect on the coming of Christ. While the busyness of the holidays can dominate our attention, Advent invites us to pause and focus on the true reason for the season: the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.

Marking the beginning of the church calendar, Advent is a time to prepare not just our homes but our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth. It reminds us that God chose to step into humanity, taking on flesh to bring salvation and hope to the world. As Luke 2:11 proclaims: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord.”

Advent calls us to reorient our focus. Amid the holiday rush, it beckons us to embrace wonder, awe, and gratitude, experiencing the nativity story with fresh eyes and letting the glory of the Incarnation stir our spirits.

This Advent season, join us as we journey through our message series, On The Way to Bethlehem, exploring the movement of the Christmas story. Let us renew our longing to see God’s glory, seek Him earnestly, and draw closer to Him.

Don’t forget to join us for the conclusion of this advent journey At The Stable: Christmas Eve services at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Together, let’s worship and reflect on the miracle of Christ’s birth.

-Pastor Ray

Frontline in the Back Seat

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:02:44 GMT

Friends and Family of Front Street UMC and Readers of Frontline Newsletter,

Communication and transparency are always a front running goal when it comes to church life here at Front Street UMC. We have always prioritized keeping you up to date on the inner and outer workings of the church; in huge part because we want you to know what good and amazing work you are supporting by your gifts to this church.

The goal of communication remains just as important as ever; as does our goal of being good stewards of the gifts from both you and office personnel. In order to continue being a good steward of those resources the Visioning Committee (Church Council) has approved the discontinuation of our printed Frontline Newsletter.

This printed newsletter will continue through the summer months, and starting September 1 the newsletter will transition to a digital format. There is nothing that you need to do at this time in order to receive the digital newsletter. If you are subscribed to the Happenings emails you will see the changes reflected there. If you do not have an email address please contact the church office and we will make sure you are still receiving information about church life.

If you are not currently receiving emails from the church and would like to, please share your email address with us here or call the church office.

Again, communication and transparency are important tools to keep all of us connected as God intends. We are forever thankful for the ways God has worked through your lives to support this missional outpost of Front Street UMC. We thank God for all the ways we grow together.

- Pastor Stephan

Would You Like Your Change?

Thu, 23 May 2024 14:04:48 GMT

I don’t carry cash much these days, but every now and then I find myself with a little bit. Typically after a birthday or some moment where a loved one gave me cash as a congratulations. On one occasion I was gifted a crisp $100 bill. Wow!

When I finally decided to break it I was paying for lunch for my family. At this point our family of four can easily cost $60 in one outing. The bill was something like $68. When I put the bill on the tray to pay, the waiter came by to collect it. They took a quick glance and asked me, “would you like your change?” What I wanted to say was, “the service was great, but not $32 great!” And what I actually said was, “Yes, please.”

It makes me wonder, though. When we attempt to do good in someone else’s life by giving money or goods either directly or through a ministry like a church donation, do we ever ask for our change? Or do we manage to always give exactly the right amount so that we’re not due any change back? Let me put it another way…

When you share the abundant love of Christ with another person who is in need somehow, do you expect to receive even a fraction of that love back from them? Maybe not. Maybe because you don’t want to be rude. Or maybe because you know that kind of change won’t just go back into your spiritual wallet. That kind of change, to receive love back from someone different than you and someone who seems to need more than you… that change changes you. It makes you realize you also are a child of God in need of love and care. It makes you realize that others have an abundance of what you need.

So as you give generously of your resources to those in need, let me ask you… Would you like your change?

-Pastor Stephan

General Conference Update

Wed, 08 May 2024 12:42:27 GMT

Dear Family and Friends of Front Street United Methodist Church,

Undoubtedly you may have heard that the General Conference of our denomination has removed The United Methodist Church’s ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” — a prohibition that dates to 1984. (The General Conference is the ruling body of our church. Its delegates are elected from every Annual Conference around the world and its delegates are equally laity and clergy.)

Many of you, we are sure, may be asking “What does this mean for Front Street?” It means we, like all United Methodist, will be known as a people on a journey, learning how to be extravagant givers of God’s mercy, grace and love.

We, like many of you, have no idea what it is to be a gay, lesbian or a queer person. But we do know what it is to be excluded, marginalized and made to feel less than others. As Disciples, we desire never to be ones who marginalize people of any race, gender or orientation. The One we follow clearly modeled that he stood alongside those whom culture and religion tossed aside or judged, and commands us to do likewise.

The General Conference action does not require clergy to perform same-sex marriages, nor does it require churches allow same-sex marriages to occur in a local church sanctuary. But it does protect churches and clergy who choose to perform and hold same-sex marriage ceremonies.

We have been asked by some of you, “Will a gay or lesbian clergy be appointed to our church?” In our denomination, appointment of clergy is done “in consultation with the local church [through the Staff Parish Relations Committee], the District Superintendent and Bishop.” We must remember a bishop would not want to appoint a clergy-person to a church who they perceive may not be received well. It would not be fair to the clergy or the church.

We have a long and established reputation of being a welcoming, mercy-giving, grace-filled, loving people in service to the world for Jesus Christ our Lord. We will continue to be so to the very best of our abilities. And, our mission to serve the people of Burlington and Alamance county, just as Christ is serving them, remains the goal and focus for all of us, the people of Front Street.

Here is the United Methodist News post and a letter written to a local church by one of the greatest Bishops we have ever encountered, Bishop Ken Carter. Bishop Will Willimon precedes with a short praise of Bishop Carter’s words. The letter expresses our hearts as pastors better than we are capable of putting in ink.

Bishop Carter has preached in camp meetings, prisons and jails, college and university chapels, megachurches and house churches, and in twenty countries on four continents. He was a local church pastor in the Western North Carolina Conference for twenty-eight years.

Thank you for all you do for the Reign of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In Christ’s Grip,

Pastors Ray and Stephan

Let Go of Control

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:01:22 GMT

Can anyone explain why the more we attempt to control things, the less peace we have? The issue with attempting to control everything is that we become the divine force of our own lives. We attempt to control what isn't controllable—that is the reason control is a deception, a facade. There are great many factors we have zero control over. Try not to be hoodwinked about it!

We endeavor to control our conditions when we want our external day to day routines to fulfill our inward lives. If we desire peace in our lives, it would be tremendously helpful if we can relinquish the things that are really not an option for us to change. Jesus himself reminded us not to stress over what we would eat or wear yet entrust God with everything about our lives (Luke 12:22-26).

Might you at any point control how your children act? Of course, you can lead them into becoming kind and loving persons (and please do), however you have zero control over their souls. They are their own people. We find this as they become teenagers!

Might you at any point control how your friends and co-workers treat you?

Might you at any point control the climate?

Could you at any point control interruptions that happen multiple times a day?

Could you at any point control traffic?

Might you at any point control how a stranger treats you?

Treating your spouse with adoration and regard will pay off. But at any point can you control them? On the off chance that you have been married for any time at all, you realize the response is an absolute “no”! So why do we often attempt to do so?

Knowing we can influence, and not control, gives everyone around us a great deal of liberation, grace, mercy, and joy. Well, that is, IF we give up control. Do want those you love to feel joy and peace? Do you want them to know mercy and grace? Then be loving influencers, and let go of control. Even our Lord God doesn’t control us, only invites us to walk with him, live like him, and experience loving freedom, joy, and peace.

-Pastor Ray

So Many Questions

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:11:06 GMT

For the next few weeks we’re delving into the topic of faith. Why do we have faith? Why should we have faith? What are the basics of our faith? Consider this a bit of a crash confirmation course (CCC for short). We think you’ll enjoy these questions and the discussions we will all have. But I wonder if you’re concerned about all of these why questions. They’ve not gotten any easier. In fact, they seem to be getting more and more personal. First why church, then why God, now why believe? Are we just questioning everything!?!

Well… in a word, yes. But we’re not questioning anything for the sake of questioning. This is discipleship work! And I know it is because the disciples themselves asked Jesus many questions. “Who is the greatest?” “When will this take place?” “How should we pray?” This list goes on and on, but I want to show you a greater truth.

You see, Jesus is our model for living in the world. Jesus modeled for us so many behaviors, and he did not stop here. When you look through the Gospels you might be surprised to see Jesus asked 307 questions (some say 305). So many of those questions were why questions, and many questions were given in response to questions someone else asked Jesus (Don’t you hate it when people do that?)!

What I hope you’re thinking now is… why would Jesus ask questions? (I know… more questions). Doesn’t he know it all, already? Well, probably so. Though statements always convey authority—I know something and I’m gifting it to you. Questions, on the other hand, are something two or more people can hold together. If you share a question with someone, the two of you can work on it together. And when you figure it out together, you can celebrate together! That’s some pretty slick relationship practice Jesus is modeling. Any more questions?

Pastor Stephan

Ordination

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:32:57 GMT

In the United Methodist Church, ordination is understood as one “set aside by the Church for the specialized ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order.” A person who believes they are “called” by God to enter full-time Christian ministry embarks upon years of discernment, guidance, and accountability. Generally a person speaks with their pastor, and their local church must affirm that they too believe an individual is called to Christian ministry. Likewise, the District and Conference must also affirm an individual’s call to ordained ministry.

Ordinands must complete a four-year college degree and a Master of Divinity degree. After completing all educational requirements, a candidate for ordination who wishes to become an Elder must serve as a “provisional member” for at least two (2) years. Provisional membership is a “residency program” designed by the Annual Conference (generally the State in which one resides). The provisional member status is for the continued process of discernment for the individual and the denomination to affirm one’s calling to ministry. This discernment process includes writing and defending one’s theology, calling, and sermons before the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Additionally, ordinands must successfully complete lengthy psychology exams. It takes a minimum of nine years from the time one embarks upon the process of ordination to completion.

It is a massive undertaking to be an ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church and when one completes this process it deservedly should be celebrated. Thus, it is with enthusiasm and excitement that we celebrate our own Stephan Margeson as he has successfully completed all ordination requirements, and has been approved for ordination as an Elder in the United Methodist Church!

Stephan’s Ordination service will take place this summer at the North Carolina Annual Conference in June. The date we at Front Street will celebrate Stephan’s ordination will be announced soon. In the meantime, please join me and congratulate Stephan for this huge lifetime achievement!

In Christ’s Grip,

Pastor Ray

Baptized and Still Dirty

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:24:30 GMT

Imagine this, you’re living in ancient Israel. Your town is small but it’s located along a busy pathway to Jerusalem. All around you are rolling, green hills scattered with rocks of varying sizes which, though annoying, have been useful in building most of the town’s houses and stables and a small house of worship. Just outside of town on the hillside is a flock of sheep being watched over by a shepherd with a long staff standing at the crest of the hill.

Because of the town’s location there are always new people visiting. There’s a group of people who take turns at the town’s entrance welcoming strangers to stop for a rest and a cool drink of water. Hospitality is common place in here, but these people are odd. You’ve never understood why, but this group welcome strangers into town by washing the feet of every person—an act normally reserved for entering a home.

Time passes and you’re invited to journey with a group to Jerusalem. As you enter into the city, the group you are traveling with outright ignores the clangs of bells and drapes of color in the market. They find their way to a large bath located in a small corner of the city.

Once there, the priest of your town begins to talk about baptism, which you’ve heard him talk about many times over. This time though, it’s not an invitation to learn but instead to know. One after one the members of the group step into the pool on one side and emerge from the other where a new white robe is waiting for them. Finally, you step into those same waters…

When you return to your small town there’s only one thing you want to do. You walk to the entrance of the town, kneel beside one of the people you once thought odd, and you welcome the next stranger into town as the dirt falls from their feet onto your new white robes. You think, “everyone should experience what it means to be loved like this.”

-Pastor Stephan

Leaving a Legacy

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 13:57:52 GMT

I frequently meet with congregation members about making funeral or memorial service arrangements, most often when a loved one has died, but sometimes in planning their own service. We talk about their preferences for songs, scripture, visitation or reception, and other elements of the service. We discuss facets of their lives which they have lived, as well as their walk with Christ.

Often I ask, "What is the most important thing you have done in your life?" or "At the end of your life celebration, what are the most important things you want people to hear and remember about you?" These two questions are asked in an attempt for them to think about the kind of legacy they hope to leave behind. These two questions most individuals appeared to find difficult to answer.

The simplest responses to these questions are usually my favorites: "I helped people," "I was a good parent," or "I was kind." All of these responses represent loving lifestyles. And isn't it the reason we're here? To use loving others to help bring earth closer to the kingdom of heaven? I wonder how much more purposefully we could leave a better legacy if we lived our lives with those two questions in mind.

A friend a few years ago said, “When you die, would you rather have people talk about the great things you have done, or have them stand around your resting place telling great stories about you—who you were to them?” I know my answer.

Let’s pray: Almighty God, We are grateful for the legacies left behind for us. Those legacies from our church, our families and friends, who have influenced and molded us into the people we are today. Help us live our lives in such a way, that we too can make a difference in others’ lives. Amen.

-Pastor Ray

Why Church?

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:58:17 GMT

This is indeed a question many in our post-Christian world ask. Many don’t see the need for church, they perceive they have all they desire. However, studies show that people have a deep desire to connect to others, want loving, caring, close relationships with others and to whom they can turn in difficult times. Yet, they find it difficult to find places where those type relationships can develop and grow. Church is where we worship, celebrating what God is doing among us, going out to share what God is doing, and growing in deep relationships with one another. David and Anna are a wonderful, young couple who give of their time and worship here at Front Street and find themselves in a tremendously difficult situation. How will we respond as a people of God?

Many of you may know the Merrill Family, David, Anna, and Caid. David grew up at Front Street with his parents Ellen and Keith. David attended youth group and went through confirmation at Front Street. David and Anna married at Front Street in 2014 and their family grew in 2017 with the birth of their son Kincaid (Caid) who was baptized at Front Street. Caid attends Front Street’s Afterschool program and is making lots of friends in the church.

In February of 2019, David became ill and sought testing at the Mayo Clinic and then Duke to seek answers. He was initially diagnosed with neurogenetic pots and ataxia. When his health continued to decline more tests were run, and Anna and David received the shattering news that David had a progressive form of early-onset Alzheimer’s. To say they were devastated is an understatement. David’s disease continued to progress, and he began to have seizures and hallucinations. In January of 2023, he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. In their most recent doctor’s appointment, they learned that David has gone from stage 4 to stage 5 in six months. There are 6 stages of this dreadful disease.

Anna, a teacher at the hospital school at Duke Hospital, is David’s primary caregiver. During the day, she cares for students who have complex care and multiple handicaps. She is as passionate for her students as she is for her family. David cannot be at home alone because of the seizures and passing out. Anna is in a constant state of worry, but you can’t tell it by the beautiful smile that is always on her face. Her church family, friends, family, and faith are getting her through this tough time.

With everything that the Merrill's are dealing with, they continue to trust in God and greatly appreciate the help from their church family. There are several ways that you can show love to Anna and David. They covet your prayers first and foremost. If you want to do more, you can take them a meal or purchase something from their Amazon wish list . If you want to donate money to help cover their medical expenses or help pay for Caid to attend summer day camp/ afterschool at Front Street, contact Tammy Page or Melissa Miller .

You can find the Merrill’s most Sunday mornings sitting in the back of the sanctuary at the 11 o’clock worship service, and then in the Heritage Center enjoying the fellowship of their church family. Go say hi to them. You won’t regret it!

Grace and Peace,

Ms. Melissa

Why Fresh Mobile Market

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:16:11 GMT

Front Street’s Fresh Mobile Market ministry is making a difference in the community. The following is feedback from one of the clients of the ministry.

What attending the Fresh Mobile Market meant to her:

" Yesterday was our first visit. We got a notice from the social worker at school (Newlin) and were very excited about the “fresh from the garden” aspect. I was also glad to see it listed on the weekly United Way food pantries calendar so I can look for it again in the future. I am the grandmother of 3 boys and I was picking up the food to drop off at their house. Their mom (our daughter, “B”) is at boot camp and our other daughter (“O”) is living with them and parenting them for now. Daughter O has been stressed about spending too much of B’s money on groceries while B is gone. She has already gone through their food stamps for the month. O has been cooking a lot and introducing the boys to new meals and fresh ingredients. They love it and are thriving! So, I was absolutely delighted to drop off the huge boxes of REAL food for them! I photographed the squash and the fruit to send them pics, I was so excited for them! What I really liked about the food from you and the way I described it to the family is, “this looks like stuff you would steal from your mom’s kitchen! And so much gorgeous fresh bread, I feel like Jean Val Jean!” Real fresh food and bread bagged up in zip locks like it was made just for us! I also really appreciated the traffic direction, both when I first pulled in the parking lot and then as the cars merged at the actual pickup spot. Thank you to everyone involved! It was cold out there yesterday (January 17, 2024) and we appreciate you!! "

The children, military moms, grandparents, and many others in the community is why we do Fresh Mobile Market. This ministry is touching lives and giving hope to many families. Fresh Mobile Market is held on the third Wednesday of each month at Northside Presbyterian Church across from Eastlawn Elementary School. Volunteers are needed to pack food, load cars, and direct traffic. If you would like to be a part of this ministry, you may sign up to participate at www.frontstreetumc.org/C4C. For additional information on this ministry, contact Melissa at melissa@frontstreetumc.org.

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’

-Matthew 25:40

See the Light!

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 14:32:51 GMT

Do you still have your gift from Epiphany Sunday? That simple little metal string that’s used to pull lights on and off is a reminder of something not so simple. It’s a testament to the powerful truth that you and I have the opportunity to let the light of revelation work within us and around us. It reminds us that we are looking for AHA! moments where we understand more fully the truth of this word and God.

But HOW we accomplish that is still unfolding. WHAT we do next is still being defined. WHEN and WHERE? Those are great questions too!

I have a strong suspicion that those things will come to us easily as we wrestle with this question of WHY. While we ask honestly “why?” and if we listen well, I believe we will discover our purpose (maybe new or maybe for the first time) and our relation (we’re more connected than we might realize).

We’ve just started this journey, but at the same time we’ve already come so far! Just by asking the question we’re engaging God in a brand new way, and if I know anything about God I know God is all about creating new things of heaven and of earth!

-Pastor Stephan

Turning Tragedies Into Triumphs

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:05:50 GMT

Can you believe that Christmas 2023 has come and gone? How did things go for your holidays? I must tell you about a friend of mine who had some folks over for Christmas Eve lunch.

This friend of mine is a great cook. One of the things that is so unbelievable about her cooking is that she often cooks for many people and her food is always so very, very good. One of the dishes that she is known for, her specialty, is her homemade chicken pot pie. She decided that she would make this scrumptious dish for her family and friends for their Christmas Eve meal.

Because she knew that she would be very, very busy on Christmas Eve, she mixed up her famous pie on the night before (December 23). When she left for church on Christmas Eve morning, she put her chicken pot pies in the oven to cook. After church she arrived home to the wonderful aroma of her chicken pot pies her family loved so much. She promptly went to the oven to pull out her dishes.

As she began to pull her chicken pot pies out of the oven, they looked odd. “What happened to my crust” was her puzzled thought. Dishing out a sampling of her dish to taste, she discovered her crust was a gooey dough, because it had sponged up juices from the chicken. She was frantic! Her family would be arriving any moment and what could she do? She told her husband that they would have to take everybody out to lunch that day, that she couldn't serve that awful dish. Then her children and husband tasted the tragic dish, only to find that it tasted - great!

Still not convinced of the goodness of the dish, she persisted that the family and friends be taken to lunch. However, when her extended family arrived and heard of her cooking catastrophe, they insisted on tasting this new dish. They loved the new variation of chicken pie. No it didn't taste like “normal” chicken pot pie, but it certainly tasted delicious. So they all sat down at a wonderful family lunch, with a new dish and great fellowship! They shared Christmas Eve eating, sharing, and exchanging gifts. What more could you ask for family and loved ones being together?

So... sometimes what you might think a tragedy, could actually be something good. Think about a baby born in a feeding trough. Some would say "how awful." But looking back as we can now, what a grand plan for all of human kind.

Turning tragedies into triumphs is Jesus Christ’s specialty!

-Pastor Ray

Looking Ahead to 2024

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 15:44:50 GMT

Friends, I know 2023 is not over and you are still excitedly waiting for Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve! What a wonderful time that will be. However, there are some exciting things being planned for 2024, and I just can’t wait to tell you about them!

Instead of just individual sermons… and rather than spending time with a simple series of sermons on the same topic… in 2024 we will be spending the ENTIRE YEAR with a single focus! During the entirety of 2024 we will be asking the question “WHY?”

There isn’t a better question in life than why. Why questions reveal two things: (1) they point us to purpose, and lead us to understand why something is the way that it is; and (2) they teach us about relation, and how we are connected to something. It’s these types of questions and revelations we want to discover in 2024.

The first season of our year-of-WHY will be learning from the question, “Why Church?” Join us on January 7th as that question “WHY?” begins to unfold.

Pastor Stephan

Adventus

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:34:49 GMT

I am a big supporter of the unwritten rule against double dipping! Do you know the one that says, “Thou shalt not dip thy chip twice into ye holy guacamole!” At the same time, I live in a household with young children that will use a chip like a spoon; dipping said chip into any sauce, eating the sauce from the chip without biting it, and then dipping that same chip now wet with sauce and spit right back into the container that everyone is supposed to share. So while I like rules, I live with the chaos life provides.

All of that to say: I hope you plan to follow along with the advent devotionals written by so many wonderful people of this church! They are a gift and a blessing that I know you will be inspired by in this season. At the same time, here’s a little more advent devotional thought for you…

Advent is a season of waiting. Waiting for Christmas and all the joys of celebrations in different houses. Waiting, as the people of old did, for the birth of a Savior. Advent is also a season of preparation for both of those things mentioned. However, advent has one more important meaning. The Latin Adventus translates to “arrival.”

Advent for Christians around the world is the start of a new Christian year! Our Christian calendar runs from Advent through the end of ordinary time in November at Christ the King Sunday. While we anticipate the reminder and realization of new life at Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of newness already in the start of a new year specifically for us. With this fresh start in mind for you, Christian, take some time to reflect in this season. How have you arrived to where you are now? How has Jesus arrived in your life? How will you arrive at God’s calling for you in this new year?

~Pastor Stephan

Unexpected Gratitude

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:48:05 GMT

There had just been too many bad breaks for Ken; he had lost his job, a marriage ended, mounting medical bills, and auto repairs had taken the last of all he had. When I met him, a good break had come for him in the form of a new job opportunity. But, according to Ken, there was no money for gas to get him back and forth to work while he awaited his first paycheck. This is where I met Ken. He caught me after worship, I had never seen him before.

“Pastor Ray, may I speak with you in private?” Not knowing him, I knew this was going to be an “ask”. He told me his situation, and I was not really listening, I was hungry and was thinking about what everyone does after church, “What are we gonna eat for lunch?” Then the “ask”. “Can you help me with some gas money?” After hearing Ken’s story, I agreed to meet him at a gas station down the street where I paid for a tank of gas. His departing words were “When I get my first paycheck, I'll repay you. Thank you so much! See ya Sunday! ” My cynicism kicked in, “I’ve heard that before” I thought.

And honestly, would it matter whether he returned and paid me back? The fuel was a gift, offered without strings.

As Luke describes in chapter 17, there were ten people stricken with a horrific condition which had alienated them from everyone, even their family and friends. As they cried out to Jesus for mercy, I’m sure they wondered, “Could he help”? Jesus instructed them to go to the High Priest who had authority to decide if they were healthy enough to return to home and society. As they made their way there, each and every part of their bodies was healed. Life was changed! Yet, one (and only one), returned to Jesus to offer their gratitude. One came back. For whatever reasons, nine did not.

Did it count? After all, Jesus didn't set forth any prerequisites. The mending was a gift of grace. Grace doesn't set rules for how the receiver is to respond to a gift.

Yet one senses there's a bigger question than “Where are the others? Why didn’t they return with thanks?” If you read the story, the one who returned received more than the ones who didn’t return. You see, the one who returned expressing gratefulness, fell at Jesus feet most likely TOUCHING Jesus, being close to someone who was not sick for the first time for who knows how long. So by his heart of gratitude, this man was not only healed but touched. Then he heard the words, “Go, your faith has made you whole.” That word “whole” means “complete”. This formerly sick human, is now whole, mentally, physically, and spiritually and we can only surmise it is because of his heart of gratitude.

Gratitude has great power in life. It moves us to complaining less and celebrating more. It enables us to see more easily the good in all that's around us. With hearts full of gratitude we focus less on what we don't have and more on the cornucopia of life’s blessing.

OH! In case you ’re wondering Ken did come back! He paid for the tank of gas in full. In fact, last I checked, he was still in church at Harbor United Methodist in Wilmington. He provides gas gift cards to be given out to those who ask with no questions. He says he could never express his heartfelt gratitude for that one tank of gas. Who would have thought?

Let’s pray. Lord, continue to develop in me a heart of gratitude. Let every fiber of my being pour out gratitude for you and everyone I encounter every day. May I inspire gratitude in others as I live among your people. May my life be a testimony of gratitude and healing. In the name of The Healer, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

-Pastor Ray

Were You Born Generous?

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 13:41:34 GMT

We’re in the midst of talking about generosity. Pastor Ray is leading us in a wonderful discussion about some profound aspects of generosity. We talk about generosity as an attribute of Christian living. It’s something we ought to do or be as Christ followers in the world, right? But what if generosity as Jesus understood it was more influential and even more audacious than we understand today?

Personally, one of the most profound understandings of our relationship with God is Paul in Romans 8:16-17. He says, “the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs - heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

To be heirs of God! What an honor, and a place of noble standing! I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve heard that it has made me feel like royalty. Being an heir is often reserved for people with some connection to royalty.

So what does that have to do with generosity? You might be surprised to learn the origin of the word Generous in Latin actually referred to people of noble birth. Royalty! People who were noble in both character and status were known as generous people. I imagine people who were noble only in status and not in character were called other names…

Altogether that means acting in generosity is a calling you have as a Christian, and it is something you were born to inherit. Being generous is one of the profound ways you claim your title as an heir of God. Of course, generous people know this. Generosity always leaves you feeling royally blessed.

-Pastor Stephan

Gratitude

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:16:33 GMT

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s continue to express our gratitude. With this gratitude, let’s serve in a way that is pleasing to God with respect and awe.

Hebrews 12:28 CEB

Gratitude begins with our simple acknowledgment that all that we have and all we are, come as gifts from God. As our creator and sustainer, God showers us with blessings. We experience the power of gratitude when we humbly go to God with thanksgiving and return a portion of those blessings to God.

Our membership expectations are that we worship, grow, serve, give, and witness. We give in proportion to our incomes, with the biblical teaching of the tithe or ten percent as our goal. As we express our gratitude by loving, giving, and serving God and others, our lives can be filled with overflowing joy.

Here are a few ways we can demonstrate gratitude:

Praise God with gratitude. Read Psalms of gratitude and give God thanks for all your blessings each day.

Love with gratitude. Offer 100 acts of kindness, encouragement, and witness between now and Thanksgiving this year.

Serve with gratitude. Find a way(s) you can serve between now and the end of the year.

Give with gratitude. Assess your financial goals and priorities and approach to giving. Let your giving be an expression of your gratitude for the blessings you have received.

As you prepare your annual commitment for 2024, consider how you will serve the Lord and invest in God’s work through your church.

Thank you for sharing your gifts with Front Street for God’s kingdom purposes!

-Pastor Ray

At Your Table: A Guide to Faith Conversations

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:37:06 GMT

For those that don't know, my official title here at Front Street United Methodist Church is Pastor of Discipleship. That title has sometimes varied understandings, but at its core it means I am tasked with developing and curating growth opportunities for individual and communal faith. In the Methodist church we say equipping and empowering!

I hope that you have found ways you enjoy growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ in your time here at Front Street through bible studies, small groups, Sunday School, Sunday sermons, At The Table videos and more. But there's something new I want to invite you to!

First, it's worth noting one fact. Your faith development needs more than an hour or two a week. If our task as Christians is to share the gospel with everyone we meet, we need more practice than just Sunday morning.

That's why we have created a new page on the website dedicated to growing your faith. Under the ministries tab at the top of the website you'll see "Spiritual growth." This page includes some ideas for individual growth like daily devotional books and even a daily devotional app. Even more exciting, this page includes a brand-new offering called At Your Table! At Your Table (AYT) is a brand new, weekly faith conversation starter. I've created this to go along with the At The Table videos, but it can be used apart from them. AYT is built for small groups or even families. The purpose of AYT is to show how regular conversations can point us to faith and give us opportunities to practice faith conversations outside of church.

I hope you'll check this out soon, so head over here to read more.

Stephan Margeson

Pastor of Discipleship

A Really Important Question

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 13:04:02 GMT

A Really Important Question

We finished our series called "This Is Us," focusing on Methodism and the history of John Wesley. Tell me, what did you learn through that time? Send myself or Ray an email; we'd love to hear from you!

Our goal was to focus on some of the major points of being United Methodist. With the help of Dr. Daniel Castelo we covered things like abundant grace, being missionally driven, the importance of LAITY (that's you!), Christian growth, and much more. And there is still so much to discover about being United Methodist.

One of you asked me a question after the last session, and it was a really important one. The question was, with everything that we covered, is this who we were before the splitting of churches, or after? And to that question I can confidently say it is both! The United Methodist Church has a strong foundation in everything we taught and more. That was true 20 years ago, just as it is true today and for many years to come. So be proud to say to people, "I am United Methodist!"

Now, we do still have one project ahead of us. Not only are we United Methodist, but we are also Front Street. What does that mean to you? What will that mean in the future as we grow and change? While we figure that out together, continue to invest in this body of believers with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

-Stephan Margeson

Actions Have Consequences

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:55:11 GMT

When I was a teenager, we had a pet squirrel named "Squeaky". I know, I can’t believe our family had a squirrel for a pet! But this little guy was special—he was a flying squirrel! My father found him after he had fallen out of his nest. At the beginning of our caring for him, we had to feed him with an eye dropper. To this day my mom says that at one point Squeaky almost died. However, she says she gave him CPR and revived him! I wasn't there and can't confirm this, so I'd rather think that it was a miracle from God.

In my estimation flying squirrels make great pets! We would often let Squeaky out of his cage and let him run around the house. He loved sitting on your shoulder, or nestling in your shirt pocket. He would even come to you when you called. However, what you might not know is that flying squirrels are nocturnal—they sleep during the day and party all night.

My family generally kept Squeaky in my room because I was away at school. Keeping the squirrel there allowed Squeaky to party all night and my family to sleep. On a weekend trip back home from college, I had to move Squeaky to another room so that he wouldn't disturb my sleep. I put him in his cage in the bathroom adjacent to my bedroom. Well to make a long story short, he got out of his cage somehow. Unfortunately, the toilet seat was up in that bathroom. Let me just say that my sister was very upset the next morning as she looked into the bowl and saw the little furry creature. We buried Squeaky. My sister has never forgiven me.

So... Sometimes...Sometimes, the actions we make or take for our convenience may not be the best thing to do for all concerned. Take time to think about the implications of your actions. Can someone be hurt? Are my actions selfishly motivated? Have I taken time to reflect upon another’s opinion which differs from your own? Do you value them and see them as gifts? Remember some of our actions are irreversible! So don't act too quickly or hastily. How I often forget the words to the people of Phillipi…

"Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:4

Pastor Ray

Change a Life Forever

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 14:49:05 GMT

Daniel Hyers, in my estimation, was a saint. He was a plain man. Probably about 5'11, 175 lbs., and bald. When I knew him best, he was in his late 50's, I would guess. His occupation was a traditional barber of the “Mayberry” era. He was also a mild man, better yet a humble man. Indeed, Daniel Hyers was one of the most powerful Christian men I have ever known.

Daniel was my “Third & Fourth Grade Boys” Sunday school teacher. He would have contests for us. He put wooden airplanes on fishing line that stretched across the ceiling of our Sunday school room. Each boy had a plane assigned to him. For being in Sunday school you moved your plane along the line one mile (about a couple of inches). For memorizing your Bible verse, another mile. For bringing your Bible, another mile. Bring a friend, another mile. Then, as we crossed the finish line, a great reward was given to us. His class was captivating to a third grade boy. But more fascinating than his contests were his words.

Many of you I am sure have heard the expression, “Remember who you are!” That, I assume, always refers to your good name, not wanting to embarrass your family by your actions or words. “Remember who you are.” However, Daniel Hyers would tell the group of boys he taught, “Boys, always remember WHOSE you are!” Coming from someone like Daniel, I knew that this little saying was important for me and the others who heard the words.

He told us about Jesus. About what a difference Christ can make in our lives. I remember his passion for Christ he shared with us. Quiet, reverent, passion for Christ. As he prayed to dismiss the class each Sunday, I would peek and watch him. There, on his face, I would see tears streaming down his face as he remembered each one of us by name.

You see, we were not a pretty, nice, bunch of boys. One of us had been in an orphanage, but now lived with his grandmother. Another of us had a little sister who was deathly ill. Another two of us came to church with only our mothers. One of the boys didn't have a daddy, or at least one he knew. These are the lives I remember as I look back. A bunch of poor ragamuffin boys, that to the world had little, if any, hope of becoming anything.

Daniel Hyers' witness has forever shaped me. I remember WHOSE I am.

So...have you ever thought of changing a life forever? We are now looking for the Daniel Hyers of Front Street. Give a kid,
or an adult, part of your life, your passion and love of Christ. It just may alter the life they never dreamed possible.

-Pastor Ray

I Have a Question...

joanna@frontstreetumc.org (Joanna Strelow) — Wed, 10 May 2023 13:30:34 GMT

This is not a rhetorical question. I am not coming up with a witty or catchy title to an article to get you to read to the end (but hey if it works). This is a serious inquiry and I would love your input. In fact, on this question I would love for you to actually respond to it in one way or another.

You can find me on Sunday morning and let me or Pastor Ray know what you think. Or tell any of our team how you would answer it. You can talk with people in your house and discuss your thoughts together. You can even surprise a neighbor or friend in conversation and say something like, “You know, I was thinking about this recently and I wanted you to know…” If you feel so inclined to post your response on social media and let the world know, that would be a fine way to answer this question!

And there’s no wrong way to answer this question, really. There’s just your way. Your answer may be filled with positivity and excitement and energy, or your answer may be grief stricken and loaded with questions all on its own. Regardless, this question begs an honest answer. So no matter how you answer it, answer it honestly.

This isn’t my question. I’m asking it, but I didn’t come up with it. I’m borrowing it from Barbara Brown Taylor to share with you. A question that is somehow exclusive to a person? Wow! Enough build up? Okay here it is… How is it with your soul?

-Pastor Stephan

Be Careful What You Toss

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:40:13 GMT

It’s graduation time! This is such an exciting time of year! Too, it can be daunting! I remember my college graduation so very well, and not for good reasons.

After all the graduation ceremonies, I went back to my room to finish packing up and cleaning up. As I worked, I remember thinking—finished! Great work, double major, I had done a great job. I was feeling proud, excited, and nervous. I was going to take the summer off and then head to Duke University for some more school. I was well pleased with my college success. And I was very proud of that piece of paper that said I had earned my bachelor’s degree!

Cleaning up after a year of living in the same place was not an easy job. I had a big garbage bag in the middle of the floor into which I was tossing all kinds of junk: old papers, notes, post-its, magazines, posters, a couple of old rugs, tooth brushes, and an orange that had been left under my bed and had begun to grow hair (I bet my roommate left that there). After all was cleaned I threw the two bags of garbage in the dumpster. Then I went back to my room to take the last bit of valuables to my car, some clothes, some last minute gifts I received, and my diploma. However, I couldn't find that piece of paper...where could it be?! I began to panic. Then I thought...the dumpster.

On my graduation day, I ended up in the dumpster looking through mountains of garbage. I finally found my two bags of trash (did you know that all garbage bags look just alike) and began looking for my diploma. Finally, I found it.

There it was, my diploma, it was crumpled up like an ordinary piece of trash. There was the piece of paper for which I had worked so hard and I had almost lost it in the dumpster. You can see that piece of paper under glass on my wall—wrinkles, a garbage stain, and all - and I'm still proud.

So…some of the most valuable things in our life can easily be tossed aside if we're not careful. Look at all the things you take for granted or toss and make sure you really want to throw them away—an old friend, a person you've been on the outs with for years, your tithe, worship, your prayer life....go find them. There may be wrinkles, some worn threads, some stains, but that which is most precious to us always weathers well.

-Pastor Ray

What's Your View

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:45:16 GMT

Several years ago we had a neighbor who was an artist. He was quite a good artist in my mind. He had great paintings and photographs as well. When you get to know Wally (not his real name), it was obvious that he was always on the lookout for the perfect view for the next painting or photo shoot.

One day during a snow storm I heard something outside. It was like someone was out there doing something to our house. I headed to the front door just to take a look. It was then that I saw Wally.

The noise we heard was Wally gathering up our trash cans and putting them away. It was strange. The trash collection had taken place and there was Wally putting away OUR trash cans.

Why would someone go through the trouble of putting away someone else's trash cans? I was not willing to let this question torture me, so I ventured outside in the cold and asked Wally, “Why are you putting away our trash cans?” Wally’s immediate response, "The snow" he said. Then I had to ask, "What do you mean 'the snow?’"

"Well, the trash cans ruined the view. When I was in my living room by the fire, I was watching the beautiful snow fall. As I looked, I couldn't get over how the trash cans were ruining the aesthetic beauty of the snow. Now with them out of my way I can look at your wonderful yard, the bushes and trees and watch the snow fall unfettered." was his answer.

Do you ever look intentionally for beautiful views? I mean have you ever set out to find a beautiful picturesque site? Have you ever moved something that might have been in the way of something truly lovely?

So... Who is it in your life that gets in the way of those beautiful sites? A person at work, or church or perhaps school? Take a moment the next time you see them and instead of trying to overlook them or putting them aside, look at the God given beauty that God has given you in them. Could it be that our own obstacles might be ruining the view? Might it be that THEY are the beautiful sight that God wants you to see?

-Pastor Ray

Choosing Gratitude

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:46:59 GMT

I AM CHOOSING GRATITUDE! As I write this article that first sentence is something I’m telling myself more than I’m telling you. It’s something I’m aspiring to, because I’ve not actually accomplished it yet (but maybe by the end of this letter). I’m willing myself to choose gratitude because I need it, despite my minds attempts to distract me.

It’s really easy to focus on the frustrations in life. Here’s my list: getting behind at work; having an overloaded schedule; getting sick; kid getting sick; taxes; grocery shopping again?!; the other kid getting sick; remembering a meeting as it’s about to start; remembering a meeting… You see? Easy.

So here’s to gratitude. I’m thankful for: Jim Pace, for his gift of teaching and dedication to the church; Melissa Miller, for her caring presence and fun projects (i.e. Easter Egg Hunt!); Josh Abraham, for his passion and strength in leading worship; Sierra Margeson, for her steady trust in me and her gentle corrections of me; You, for every way you show up and remind me that God has called me to do good work. I could be thankful for small things. Still, I think it’s good to see how big the things I’m thankful for can be, compared to how small the frustrating things actually are.

Sometimes I have to force myself to take a more charitable read on the world and my place in it. Not because there is so little to be thankful for, but because I’m human and my connection to gratitude can get clogged up and in need of cleaning. Thanks for letting me do that messy spiritual work with you… thanks… Hey, what do you know? It worked!

-Pastor Stephan

Don't Make Others Do Your Ministry

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:48:14 GMT

I do not like green peas. You know, those little round ones. I have never liked them, as a child or an adult.

I remember as a child that my mother would cook those stinking peas at least every-other-day (I think the older I got the more frequent the times mom cooked them). I hated them. And to make matters worse, mom made me eat them.

My sister, on the other hand, loved those little green things. As I got a bit older, I learned that if I watched mom and dad, while they were in conversation I could put a whole spoonful of peas on my sister’s plate without mom or dad noticing what I had done! My sister didn't mind because she loved them. With this system perfected, it was rare that I had to eat those little green peas.

It amazes me that anyone likes those peas, because to me, they taste horrible. I mean, I really can't imagine anyone liking and eating those terrible peas. Yet, those who love them don't understand why anyone wouldn't like them!

You know what? Sounds like church folk to me. "How can you go to church at 8:45 in the morning?" "I love 11:00 worship; it is so inspiring!" "I think 8:45 worship is the best service that I have ever experienced!" "How can you teach a bunch of preschoolers?" "I can't imagine working at ASP!"

You see, all of us are called ministers. We each have our own special areas which we are gifted and enjoy doing. For others, to do what you are called to do is strange and not very enjoyable.

So... it is imperative, that each of us finds our gifts and passions of ministry and put them to work. Don't make others do your ministry.

Don't make me eat those horrible green peas!

-Pastor Ray

At the Table: Front Street UMC YouTube Series

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:49:30 GMT

Have you heard of this thing called “At The Table?” If not, have you been living under a rock?! (Read to the end for a special request!) At The Table is Front Street UMC’s weekly video series where we explore Christian faith in our daily lives. We see the alter Jesus calls us to more like a kitchen table. Just like yours! Our faith is as common as that table, and we hope to make it as easy to get to.

It has been almost 10 months since we started this journey of a weekly video series and it has been a true blessing! We’ve had hundreds of people watch; with stories of people watching with their colleagues at work, in their classrooms, at other churches' Bible studies, from Burlington to Florida and even a few extended friends in Oregon!

But we know it can spread even further, and that will take your help. In order for this to share further we’re asking for 3 things:

1. Watch the video until the end (there might be spoilers).

2. “Like” the video on Facebook or YouTube (that simple click makes a huge difference!).

3. Send any or all of them to friends and family (this is disciples making disciples!).

Listen, the truth is this whole thing stops with you. If you weren’t as amazing as you already are with watching this far, we couldn’t keep doing it. The opposite is so true. You will be the reason this opportunity to engage in a relationship with God reaches the masses! So maybe make this your Lenten practice! Regardless, Ray and I thank you for allowing us to do this fun and creative work in ministry with you.

See you next time!

-Pastor Stephan

Celebrating Clay Stevenson

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 15:47:50 GMT

Hey friends and family of Front Street UMC. This was told in a recent announcement at both our services, but in case you missed that: our longtime worship leader of Aldersgate contemporary worship, Clay Stevenson, is finishing his time at the end of this month. Clay has been a wonderful worship and spiritual leader for Aldersgate these last 8 years. Above that, he's been a great friend to me, and many others. So, while we mourn the loss of partnership here at Front Street UMC, we lift up Clay and his family in prayers for the next steps of their journey with Christ.

Many of you may not know that Clay is the professor of music production and recording arts at Elon University. He is the primary source of connection that Front Street has had with Elon, leading several students of Elon to participate in the worship of Aldersgate through singing, producing, and management! Clay was instrumental in much of the audio upgrades that our church went through a few years ago, and to which we still are proud recipients. He is also a creative partner that brought many exciting ideas and changes to make worship at Aldersgate a service that many have deeply enjoyed and been moved towards a deeper connection with God. All the while Clay has been a source of spiritual uplift to many people as he cared for the worship leaders through many life stages and transitions. In many ways my goal was to be a supporter to the ministry he was already doing when I showed up, and I am incredibly thankful for that opportunity.

I hope you're beginning to see even in a small sense all that Clay has brought to Front Street UMC. Most of all, I hope this inspires you to pray for Clay and Angie (his wife), and Macy and Rayne (his daughter and son). Pray that this change will continue to strengthen them as a family and that each grows in their relationship with God! I'm sure that God is at work in their lives, as I know that God is at work in ours through this change.

We will have a reception for Clay and family following the Aldersgate Service on January 29. Please plan to join us to wish Clay well and to express appreciation for all he has meant to us. There will be an opportunity to sign a card for Clay at the reception.

In addition, we will collect a love offering for Clay, Angie, Macy, and Rayne. If you would like to contribute, please write a check made out to Front Street UMC with Clay Stevenson in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Tammy Page at Front Street UMC, PO Box 2597, Burlington, NC 27216-2597 this week or brought to church next Sunday. The love offering will be presented to Clay at the reception.

-Pastor Stephan

Ever Been Bitten?

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 15:51:12 GMT

Growing up, my uncle and his family lived at a southern national nature preserve - we called it a swamp. I loved going there. However, there were many hazards associated with living in the South Georgia swamps. There were bugs - I mean BIG BUGS; mosquitoes, bees, and roaches. There are also other fearful creatures like, skunks, mice, wild boar, bobcats, alligators, bears, and of course the occasional rattlesnake or moccasin.

One day my cousins and some neighbor kids were playing baseball in the field next to my cousin’s house. My cousin Joe was batting, made a great hit, and took off running. He rounded first and headed for second. He got almost there when he yelled and screamed and fell. He then got right up and took off running for their house. As he was running home, he was yelling and crying, "A rattlesnake bit me!! A rattlesnake bit me!!" Sure enough my older cousin found the snake and killed it - a pygmy rattler! With departed pigmy rattlesnake in hand my older cousin too rushed to the house with the dead reptile.

My bitten cousin arrived at home, yelled to his mom, and she came out of the house upon hearing the commotion. As she stood in the door to the house, Joe yelled to his mom, "A rattlesnake bit me, get me to a hospital!!" My aunt, his mother, calmly said, "You wait here. Let me fix my hair and make-up and we'll go." And with that she turned and walked back into the house! She had "Snake-shock." It wasn't until my older cousin arrived with the rattlesnake on a stick that she was fully aware of what had taken place. They then jumped into the car, my aunt and boys in a total frenzy, and got my cousin to the hospital (hair not fixed and make-up not on). By the time they had arrived at the hospital, his entire leg was purple from the infectious poison. He recovered in a few days as good as new.

So...it is always vitally important that we listen intently. We should never assume we know what someone’s need might be. We should never put words or needs in people's mouths. We must never assume what another is saying or is going to say. We are called to be patient and listen carefully and ask how we might be most helpful to another. What one might tell you could change your life or their life, if you listen well, respond to another as they are needing.

How might you begin to listen to other’s needs? How might we, as a community of faith, meet that person’s need? Well, gotta go, someone’s banging on my door. Hope there are no rattlesnakes in my yard!

-Pastor Ray

It Is A Merry Christmas!

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:52:10 GMT

Brothers and Sisters of Front Street United Methodist Church, and friends and family connected to us, I want to take a moment to say thank you to each and every one of you! If you have participated in life with us, worshiped on Sundays (online and in person), helped build ramps, read scripture or led prayers, assisted the office staff like Tammy and Joanna and Pamela, volunteered for missions, organized projects, visited or brought flowers on behalf of the church, watched the At The Table series, shared the podcast from Aldersgate, told someone about our church, helped with Playschool or Afterschool with Becca and Katie, served on a leadership team, prayed for your church or your pastors, gave of your time and money to the youth and children programs with Chris and Melissa, pledged to give next year, sat in Bible studies, joined the prayer team, cheered for the beautiful music by Matt and Clay and all their people, invited your neighbors or friends, loved on our Eastlawn children, answered the phone when your pastor called, loved Ross as he retired and welcomed Ray and Jill as they joined, or connected with this church in anyway, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you ran out of breath while reading that list out loud, remember two things. First, that is only a small fraction of how you have participated in this community. Second, if it wasn’t for you none of those things would happen at all. It’s just the truth.

This last year has been full of change and transition for our church and our world. I don’t need to name them, because you already know them. But I will name one thing that has not changed. Through it all you not only stayed strong in, but actually grew in your faith in God. With grace you have taken bold steps forward into God’s plan for this church and community. By a fierce love you have pushed against the anger of the world and chose a better path. To all of which I again say thank you. Thank you for this example of Christian leadership, you people of salt and light!

I give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in my prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

And all of this thanks has me thinking… what will we do together next year! I can’t wait to find out! Merry Christmas!

-Pastor Stephan

Live Generously

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:54:21 GMT

Live Generously! I saw this “slogan” on a t-shirt recently. I wonder what the person believed his t-shirt meant? What does it mean to live generously? “Live” is an action verb; therefore, to live generously requires us to act. Scripture tells us faith without action is dead (James 2:17). Each of us probably has a different response to this question about living a generous life, but all of us who are “followers of the Way,” followers of Jesus the Christ, have the same role model … Jesus. Jesus lived a generous life, even though it was not one of material wealth. Jesus’ generous life was sourced by his father in heaven. Jesus was so generous that his generosity was even questioned by his disciples on occasion because of its overabundance.

In Mark 6:35-44, we read about Jesus feeding the five thousand. When Jesus told the disciples, “You give them something to eat,” they doubted that was possible without spending eight months’ wages on bread to feed the crowds. Then Jesus, taking the five loaves of bread and two fish that the disciples gathered from the people, “looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.” Jesus asked his father’s blessing on the bread and fish that were miraculously multiplied to feed all the people with basketfuls leftover. Jesus modeled his dependence on his father, before his disciples and before us as well, when he sought the blessing of his father by looking up to heaven and giving thanks. Jesus generously provided for the people by asking his father’s blessing and the power of his relationship with his father was demonstrated in the miraculous feeding of all the people.

With Jesus as our role model for living generously, how often do we stop to ask for his blessing so that we may bless others? As we attempt to move past or adapt to our post-pandemic world, live in a world of political and social unrest, and the entire world’s economy uncertain, we may be like Jesus’ original disciples, “Lord, there is not enough!” Be encouraged. Cry out to a generous God to receive his blessing, so that we may live generously sourced by his blessings.

Thank you for your generosity and for sharing your blessings.

-Pastor Ray

The Taste of Generosity

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:55:11 GMT

Oh the lessons we can learn from children! They are born to be mighty philosophers, I think. The work that every little child does to figure out the great intricacies of our world would rival that of Plato and Aristotle. They seem innately capable of discerning great problems like the difference of good and evil, leader and follower, and sweet and sour. Why? Because they do not think with only their developing brains! That’s why! They think with their feet and their hands and their eyes and their mouths. They think with a desire to know more intimately than any of us as adults are comfortable with. As a parent I can attest that this is both the most beautiful thing and the most disgusting thing, all wrapped into one.

We must learn from children none-the-less. What is it that we are learning now? In this current season it is generosity. So let us learn like the children learn.

To see something is to experience it from a distance. To see generosity is to witness the smiles of those who have received greatly from another. What joy it brings us to see the child who receives a gift, an ill person receive care and healing, an orphan receive a family, or even a dog receive a giant bone! And yet we can get closer.

To hear something is to get closer. To hear generosity is much like seeing, except this time we allow the sounds of generosity to shake us from the inside. Maybe generosity is overwhelming and the recipient cries aloud. Those sounds reverberate within us and likely even move us to emotions all our own. And yet, we can get closer.

To touch something is to get very close. To touch generosity is to put yourself well within arms reach of another person. If generosity is moving between you and another person in either direction you are vulnerable to however it is received. We may be embraced by the other, or pushed away at our attempt. And yet, we can get closer.

To smell something is much more intimate. To smell generosity is to take it into yourself in some way. With the same breath that fills your lungs and gives life, generosity becomes more a part of you from the inside. Getting this close to generosity means absorbing its essence, and as scholars agree, attaching it deeply to your memories. And yet, we can get closer.

To taste something is perhaps the most intimate of physical experiences. At this point you probably think I’m crazy. And that’s okay. But I bet you’ve tasted generosity. Do you remember the taste of bread and wine from a recent Sunday? That, dear friend, is the taste of the finest generosity in all creation.

Friends, in this season you are invited to experience generosity as a child. Either in giving or receiving, let generosity abound.

-Pastor Stephan

Generosity

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:56:11 GMT

My guess is as soon as you read the word “stewardship” your eyes glaze over and you move on to something else to read. Do me a huge favor, READ ON!

Typically, we talk about “stewardship” once a year and even then we do so in code. For instance, when we use the word "stewardship," we all understand that we are referring to our financial contribution even if the word itself has to do with managing what belongs to someone else. Words like "commitment card," "pledge," "gift," and "tithe" are used. But we all understand that what we're really discussing is the church's financial operations, fund-raising, and other necessities.

The Acts church took a different stance on everything. It wasn't an annual discussion. Additionally, it wasn't coded. They shared and lived together in community.

The churches of scripture were not concerned with dollar amounts, percentages, or budgets. No one claimed exclusive ownership of any belongings, according to Luke, who also explains that "all they possessed was held in common...and everything was dispersed to each as each had need." Everyone gave their utmost. That's how easy it was, or complicated as it turned out. (Acts 4:32-37)

The duration of the communal experiment is a subject of some discussion. It is undoubtedly impractical for how we live in the world now. However, it appears to me that the underlying premise has something to convey. Giving doesn't depend on tax deductions, percentages, or my financial situation. Not even "how much can I afford?" or "how much does the church need?" Rather, the questions we Disciples of Jesus ask ourselves and pray about are “How much do I desire to be a follower of Jesus?”, "How much do I need to give for my spiritual well-being?” “What does it mean to live generously today?”

We are called to give as a way of life, not as a means to an end. It is a trait of the church and a distinguishing feature of followers of Jesus. We contribute from our plenty so that those in need may have their needs satisfied. We give to show that the Gospel we preach is reflected in our lives. And that happens every day, not just once a year.

Prayer: Most generous God, may I live a life of giving that brings credit and glory to you in thanks for all that I have received. Amen.

-Pastor Ray

What is a Logo?

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:57:07 GMT

When you think of Front Street United Methodist Church, what comes to mind? Take a second to close your eyes and focus on the very first image (not project, but image) you come up with. Is it the green cross at the top of our newsletter? Is it the cross and flame of the Methodist Church? Is it our beautiful stained glass, the rose window? Maybe it’s the steeple that can be easily seen from downtown, or it’s a person or people. Maybe recently it’s midweek messages or for this season it’s the puzzle piece in your pocket. There’s quite a lot of options, aren’t there! And if we can think of so many, I wonder then what the first image is for other people, our community, when they hear the name Front Street United Methodist Church.

I’ll cut to the chase. Parts of our leadership team have started a new project, and that is to create a new logo for our church! This is an exciting adventure for which we ask for your prayers. At the present we have two (sort of) logos. One is the cross and flame. This is a wonderful symbol that we cherish because it points to our connection with the larger body of Methodists around the world! As long as The United Methodist Church has that logo we will shine with our relationship to it. While we celebrate that connection we should also strive to show an image that speaks to our powerful local work in Burlington and Alamance County. This is the portion of God’s kingdom where we have been charged to share the gospel and serve the people. That brings us to our local church’s current logo, the green cross.

This cross was created in the late 2000s and in 2013 was established as the logo to celebrate the 125th anniversary of our church’s foundation. This symbol has been a part of us for over a decade now. Again, we celebrate this and at the same time we wonder if it says enough about our connection to our community. This cross is a wonderful celebration of our history in Burlington, but today it might be time to consider a new image that points us to our future in Burlington.

So, what is a logo? A logo is an image that captures the outstanding work of a group and shows the amazing potential that the group hopes to accomplish. One that is easily noticed when we see it and can say with confidence, “That’s my church!” One that is unmistakably Front Street when our community sees it and says excitedly, “That’s the church that builds ramps/loves on Eastlawn kids/has a triathlon/etc.!” Obviously a logo does nothing to create these qualities on its own. It takes people and actions to make this love a reality for others that look to us. These qualities of love are already a part of us at Front Street, and you know that. Although a fresh logo can be a reminder to us. The logo is simply like a badge or crest that makes it obvious where that love is coming from. Something that people can see and witness to from afar, and hopefully make it easier for them to find us when they are ready to join our work!

What will the logo look like you ask? Well we don’t quite know yet. The work on building it has just started. For now please be in prayer, but you will likely see more information ( and maybe a questionnaire in which you can participate ) in the coming weeks. The leadership team is excited about this work, and we hope you will buzz with excitement too.

Peace,

Pastor Stephan

Luke 19:1-10

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 14:58:55 GMT

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

A few weeks ago in worship, we looked at a guy named Zacchaeus. Even though he was well-known and wealthy, Zacchaeus was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed a tree to make up for his low stature. But because of his mission, Jesus was more eager to see Zacchaeus than the latter was to see him. Jesus disregarded the complaints of the crowd by announcing his very public invitation to a lunch at the home of one of the town's most reviled "sinners."

Jesus said that he had "come to seek and save the lost" to the complaining multitude. That was Jesus' overarching purpose, which drove him to repair and put right all the damage that evil causes in our broken world, rather than restricting him to a single people.

Again, Jesus declared that it was his purpose to "seek and save the lost." One scholar wrote, "In the New Testament 'lost' does not mean damned or doomed. It just means in the wrong place….A [person] is lost when [they have] wandered away from God; and is found when once again taking a rightful place as an obedient child in the…family of the Father." How has God "found" you and moved you into the family of Jesus the Christ?

"Now is the time! ", Jesus proclaimed as he embarked on his mission. The kingdom of God is here! Change your minds and actions, and believe this encouraging message! (my paraphrase Mark 1:15) We United Methodist believe that when Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, he was referring to the world as it was created to be. How will we make the world more like it ought to be when we allow God's power to operate through us to accomplish our personal goals? What will you do?

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to "seek and save the lost," which includes me. Please make it possible for me to join you in your world-changing purpose. Amen.

I look forward to seeing you very soon in worship! In our divided world, let us be a people who “seek and save the lost” as we show the world how to be one for the cause and purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Ray

“Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones, but Words Forever Change Me"

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 15:00:05 GMT

What happened to the popular trend of learning new words? I remember about 10 years ago when many people around me were learning new words daily or weekly. It was fun to know who was trying to learn new words. I would spend time with them in conversation on the day I knew they would get a new word. I wouldn’t ask them what the day’s word was. I would just sit back and listen for the new word to come tumbling awkwardly out of their mouth – because they we’re taking it for a test run, and the first time they used it was always entertaining.

For most people, and with most words, this was just a simple exercise of the brain or a fun challenge. But every now and then a word would come up that would solidify itself into their vocabulary. For me one of those words was longanimity. (Try saying that three times fast!) Longanimity is having the ability to see through the hard times and envision what the light at the end of the tunnel will hold. I used it in conversation a few times and each time I had to explain that I wasn’t referring to the sea creature where clown fish live. I would spend a week or so trying to use this word and explain it to people because I thought it was interesting. I never thought much of it then, but looking back I noticed something…

Since I learned that word, and since I spent time engaging it in the world I have noticed my view of the future change. Where before I would more often get stuck in the present circumstances; where before I could likely sulk for a while before moving on; where during COVID years I might have easily stayed in fear and isolation, now I am a little more quick to see ahead at the potential for good to come. Today I am more ready to look past the hard times and envision what the light at the end of the tunnel will hold.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to try and see the world through a different lens, and especially if you never figured out how, I have a recommendation for you. Rather than put on fake glasses to see differently, why not try something tangible. Try using a new word, but not just any word. Try using a word you want to enfold into your vocabulary and eventually change who you are for the better. There’s lots of great ones. Here are some of my favorite: grace, mercy, honest, courage, and wise.

Pastor Stephan

Meet Our New Senior Minister

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 15:00:51 GMT

Hey Front Street Family! What a humbling honor to be appointed to serve as your Lead Pastor. I come knowing that many of you are grieving Pastor Ross Carter’s retirement and departure. It is difficult living into loss and transitions. Yet, I believe our Lord has much more Kingdom work for Pastor Ross and for you and me. Too, I’m extremely thankful to Ross in helping me get on board at Front Street.

I come in awe knowing you have been blessed with great pastors, some who have mentored me, and now I am called to serve and lead alongside you. I will need your continuous, daily prayers, for God’s guidance as we go about the worshipful work we are called to do for God’s Kingdom.

Just a few short weeks ago we learned we were leaving a wonderful community I was privileged to serve twice! This last time for ten years, and we thought I would serve that community at least four or five more years. Then I received a call I didn’t expect; “Ray, we want you to go serve and lead the people of Front Street United Methodist.” WHAT? We simply couldn’t believe it. After the shock subsided, we too began to grieve and anticipate with excitement what God might be up to in all of this. Learning I was coming to Front Street, I immediately remembered something a friend, mentor, and boss told me about you. Reminiscing about his time at Front Street, Rev. Bob McKenzie said, “Front Street is the greatest people, greatest church with unlimited potential to be what Jesus wants church to be.” Again, I’m tremendously humbled to be called to serve alongside you.

So, you may want to know a little about the Warrens I was born and raised in Florida, came to Duke and met my wife Jill. Jill is a North Carolina native from Durham. A very interesting piece of history about Jill’s family: Jill’s great-grandparents, Hank and Rebecca Scoggins and grandfather, Lacy Scoggins were members of Front Street (church directory of Rev. D.H Tuttle)! What a small world! Upon meeting Jill, I was smitten and asked her out the first day I met her. She turned me down. Obviously I didn’t give up! Jill and I have been joyfully married for 35 years. She and our boys are the greatest blessings of my life. Our oldest son is Evan, who is 32 and lives in Brattleboro, Vermont. Our youngest son Grant, is 24 and lives in Boone. Our nest is not yet empty because we have two miniature dachshunds, Daisy and Buddy.

My passions are building and leading teams and developing ministries led by gifted laity. I believe deeply in the “priesthood of all believers.” For me, a great, vital community of faith is absolutely dependent upon deeply devoted followers of Jesus finding their passions, developing their gifting, and living into the ministries God has called them.

It is with great joy and anticipation that I come to serve and lead alongside the ministry team and you. My curiosity is heightened to the max, wondering what our Lord is up to.

Anticipating What God is Doing,

Blessings,

Pastor Ray

A Time of Expectancy & Anticipation

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 15:45:46 GMT

To everything there is a season….

– Ecclesiastes 3:1

As you have probably heard, I will be retiring as of Annual Conference this June. First, I want to thank everyone who has responded with such kind words. After 5 years of living in community with you, we have grown to love everyone. We will also miss you as we move into this next season of life. Change is sometimes difficult and can cause anxiety – mainly because we are not sure what the future holds. Such feelings are understandable. I’m sure that not even God is surprised by those feelings – after all, He created us. However, as Christians, in the midst of our anxiety we have the comfort of knowing that the One who holds the entire universe in the palm of His hand also is in charge of the future of His church.

The Holy Spirit has been guiding Front Street in anticipation of this time. Leaders have continued to grow in maturity and ability. Everyone in the church understands that you are also ministers by virtue of your baptism. Think about what that means! Our average worship attendance, including those who participate remotely, is about 315. So, while one paid minister in the church is changing, there are still approximately 314 ministers still forging ahead to do the work of the Kingdom through Front Street church! That’s exciting!

The long-term trend of ministry at FSUMC is a great example of the fact that ministry in a local church should not rise and fall with the coming and going of pastors. Ministry should be owned by the people in the congregation. If the ministry of Front Street ceases to move forward in a meaningful way just because I have gone, then I have failed to adequately do my job, which is to help equip the saints for ministry. However, I feel that you are well-equipped to continue to do great things for the Kingdom...in Burlington and beyond.

As I look forward, I already give thanks to God for the infusion of new energy and enthusiasm that will come with a new pastor who will work alongside you. I pray that you join me with that same spirit of expectancy and anticipation!

Just as you all did such a wonderful job of welcoming Sarah and me five years ago, I have every confidence that you will offer the same loving hospitality to Rev. Ray Warren and his wife. For those of you who have never been a part of welcoming a new pastor into your midst, I read an interesting article recently that offered a few simple ideas that you can do to demonstrate your hospitality. Here they are:

Open your heart and decide that you are going to love your new pastor.
Begin praying daily for your new pastor and family, even as you continue to pray for your departing pastor and family.
Send cards of welcome and encouragement to our incoming pastor (use church mailing address: PO Box 2597, Burlington NC 27216).
Introduce yourself to the pastor… repeatedly! You have one name to learn; your pastor has many names to learn.

I give God thanks for the time that we have had together in ministry, and will continue to lift the Front Street congregation in prayer as you journey boldly into the future!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

DID YOU KNOW...

Tue, 24 May 2022 15:46:29 GMT

The Israelites began their time as slaves in Egypt because Joseph (of the coat of many colors) brought them all there during a famine. In the book of Numbers there is a talking donkey. The lineage of Jesus includes a prostitute. There are psalms that include cursing your enemies. Some of Paul’s letters include songs that he wrote. Mary the mother of Jesus sings a song that is inspired by Hannah in the Old Testament singing a song about her son Samuel. Elisha cursed a group of children for calling him balled, and two bears came to eat them. Two other people besides Moses parted waters for a group of people to cross on dry land. There is a psalm written as an acrostic so that the beginning of lines goes through the Hebrew alphabet. The book of Acts is short for “Acts of the Apostles.”

I wonder, how many of those things did you know? These are just a few things I recall as interesting, yet rarely known facts in the Bible. To be sure, the Bible is something we can read all our lives long and always learn something new. That is why we call it the living word of God. It continues to speak into our lives today, as it has done for people the last few thousand years. You may understand well the power of reading one scripture and understanding one truth, and years later reading the same scripture and learning a brand new truth. But, have you considered how much of scripture there is left to teach you first truths?

Biblical literacy is a waning aspect of many Christian lives today. And that is a sad truth. Scripture was never meant to be something preachers read and then distilled for listeners on Sunday morning. One of the major plots that runs through the whole biblical narrative is God’s desire to cut out the middle man and get right into a relationship with you! The Bible is your best tool at accepting that relationship.

That is why the discipleship team at Front Street UMC is sharing the summer reading plans . This is an opportunity for you to be guided to read the whole Bible in 90 days. Yes! Really! I know it sounds like a lot, but investing in a relationship sometimes is. And here’s the bait and switch: if you really aren’t sure about the whole Bible plan you can choose to do the four gospels (in chronological order) in 90 days. And if you have children you can join them in reading the Psalms in 90 days. There are a plethora of options for you to begin this relationship, and I want to encourage you to try. As I mentioned before, there is no ending to your relationship with God. There is no end to the things you will learn from the Bible. There is only the beginning. Get started!

Pastor Stephan

Choose One Thing

Mon, 16 May 2022 17:41:28 GMT

He lay in bed one night thinking of how off-track his life had gotten. She sat at the stoplight one day and wondered why she didn’t feel as close to God as she used to feel. It happens that they are both lifelong Christians; but over time they have drifted from God. How did it happen? Well, they could blame it on the general busyness of life, growing family responsibilities, job duties…any number of things. Yet, the truth is they just weren’t intentional about their relationship with Christ. They never made a plan…any plan. It didn’t have to be a 50-point Program; it could have just been one thing to do differently.

If any of the above rings true with you then you understand how easy it can be to become a Christian without leading a life of Christian discipleship. The good news is: You can change. Begin by choosing one thing – for example, add a Bible Study, attend worship one more Sunday a month, join a Sunday School Class or small group, engage in a local mission activity (you can find all of these on Front Street’s website, Facebook page, the worship bulletin, or in the newsletters).

You don’t have to add them all, just add one thing and see how God uses it to deepen your spiritual life and lead you further on the path of discipleship. Challenge yourself! Later, add one more thing, and then another. Be intentional. Be reflective – remember to look back and see how the Spirit has been working in you in the last 6 months or so. Be grateful – offer thanks and praise to God for his faithfulness to you on the cross and on the journey.

Please notice that the activities mentioned above all take place in the context of the Christian community. Individual spiritual disciplines are great, but we always need to be intentional about the communal ones. Why? Listen to theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and holy scripture.

“God has willed that we should seek and find God's living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God's Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened because living by their own resources, they cannot help themselves without cheating themselves out of the truth. They need other Christians as bearers and proclaimers of the divine word of salvation. They need them solely for the sake of Jesus Christ.” (Bonhoeffer)

“…You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belon in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Ephesians 2:19)

So…what “one thing” will you be intentional about adding to your spiritual journey this spring, summer, or fall?

Blessings,

Pastor Ross

Group Project

Tue, 03 May 2022 17:42:24 GMT

There was a man named Philip journeying through a wilderness road from Jerusalem to Gaza. On the way he met an unnamed person who held a high position in the courts of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. The unnamed person was reading an old text and seemed to be having a hard time understanding it. As Philip approached he could hear the person reading out loud to them self. The person read the text several times while emphasizing several different words and drawing out the images depicted – all to try and understand even a small portion of what this old text was trying to say. Philip knew the answer to the question he was about to ask the unnamed person, but he asked it anyway. “Do you understand what you are reading?” The unnamed person threw down the old text and let out an exasperated sigh. They responded with frustration, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

You know this story whether you’ve read Acts chapter 8 or not. You could call this the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, or you could call it the story of every Christian that ever lived. As we journey in the wilderness roads between the secular and divine we meet people who are trying desperately to understand the words of scripture. They want to know what these words mean for their lives, how they can grow into better people, and where they can experience the mysterious gospel message of a savior who died and then rose again. If we’re especially honest about our relationship with this story we will acknowledge that the unnamed person is more often than not a mirror of ourselves. We try with all our might to read this old text and understand, only to be left wondering what in the world it’s talking about.

The good news I can share with you is in the exclamation of the unnamed person (“How can I understand unless someone guides me?). That confession is the starting place we all need to recognize.

We were not made to study scripture alone. God gave us the gift of the church, and even small groups of peers to help us navigate this vast and deep Word of God. The Discipleship Team at Front Street recognizes this need and wants to do what we can to support you on this journey. That’s why we are starting Group Projects. Groups Projects are a small group setting where you can read scripture aloud with others so that each of you can be guided to understand more of what God is calling you to be. Group Projects will meet at varying times to meet the needs of its individuals. Studies and discussions will be provided for group discussion. Group projects are being created now. If you are interested in joining a group project find a card in your worship space on Sunday morning and turn it in with the offering or sign up here . One special note about Group Projects. The project of the group is not the Bible. The project is you.

Pastor Stephan

Holy Saturday

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 17:43:22 GMT

But I trust in you, O LORD;

I say, “You are my God.”

Psalm 31:14

Situated between the crushing weight of Good Friday, and the miraculous joy of that weight being lifted on Easter Sunday, is the burden of Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is a day we don’t think about very much. Maybe we don’t know what to do with it, so we just skip over it. It seems to be a time to just get through. So, what is it about the time that Jesus was in the tomb that challenges us?

Most of us are uncomfortable with the notion of death. When faced with it, we fumble for words, and we wrestle with our faith. Death is too heavy for us to lift by ourselves.

But here’s some good news. Our God is not only the Lord over life, he is Lord over death as well. As we think about Holy Saturday, it becomes obvious that not only is God not overwhelmed by death, he doesn’t feel motivated to have to deal with it immediately – to move too quickly. The Father can just let the Son be silent and still for a while. As one commentator put it, “All of human time – and especially this day – is held securely in the grip of its Maker. This is obvious on Holy Saturday, a day when absolutely nothing happens in a graveyard near Jerusalem.”

For us, as people, it’s no small thing for God to be in the grave. And in the face of that reality, we have a choice to make. Will we face the silence of Jesus’ tomb with despair or with hope?

Maybe Holy Saturday could be a metaphor for the parts of life that are difficult for us. There are times and circumstances when we feel that we are alone, and God is silent – nowhere to be found. Such a situation doesn’t have to be brought on by a death; it can be any difficult circumstance we find ourselves confronted with.

In those times we can either choose to rely on ourselves and despair, or we can confess that God is still God and approach the difficulty with hope. Our hope can be found in the assurance that in the right time – in the fullness of the appointed time – the grace of God will burst forth and make all things new. After all, that’s what Holy Saturday led to. Death did not triumph over the creative and redemptive power of God. Instead, at just the right time – in the fullness of the appointed time – the fullness of the love of God burst forth from the silence of the tomb.

If you are in the midst of a trying time right now, and you are hearing nothing but silence from the throne of heaven, I invite you to hang in there. Choose hope. And may the Holy Saturday of your circumstance give way to a new resurrected abundant life, in the perfection of God’s time.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

Good Enough

joanna@frontstreetumc.org (Joanna Strelow) — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 17:44:02 GMT

I was chatting with a great friend recently and we discussed Lenten practices. My practice has been a more robust prayer time in the mornings. That’s something I’ve been better about in certain life stages, and worse about in others. I haven’t been perfect about it during this Lent, but it has been life giving. My friend mentioned the difficulty at first in starting her Lenten practice. She wanted to start with Ash Wednesday and make it all the way through lent, but life became busy right around that moment and she forgot to start on time. After a few days she realized she had not started and at first felt like she had failed. Maybe she could try again next year. So a few more days pass and by this time she is two weeks into Lent not having started the practice she had set out to do. She felt pretty defeated and flawed for a while, until one day she had a realization.

Just because she didn’t start on time did not mean she shouldn’t do it at all. There was no reason why she couldn’t start her Lenten practice now, even though she missed the first two weeks. If God, or even the church for that matter, expected us to be perfect wouldn’t we be practicing these things all year long and for all our life? What then is the difference between spending time with God for 40 days vs 30 days? In actuality there is no difference because all time spent with God is good time. The worse option would be to not spend any time with God at all.

In the opening chapter of Kate Bowler’s new book, Good Enough , she discusses the importance of a Regula, which means a “Rule of Life.” If I were to describe a Regula it might start to sound similar to the style of living we would see in Monastic communities. Saint Benedict tried to instill that way of living for his community. He tried to order their life in such a way so that they were filled with moments with God in all things. Spoiler alert: his community tried to poison him for being too strict. And maybe that’s what it feels like if we are too strict with ourselves in our Lenten practices. Bowler says that a “Regula does not have to be hard; it only has to be regular.” We can interpret regular in two ways. On the one hand it is something that happens with frequency. On the other it is something that is plain or common.

The point that my friend shared with me, and the point of Kate Bowler is the same. Your time spent with God should not be so regulated that it is easy to fail. As leaders of our own lives we must aim to set our selves up for success. So start a Lenten practice now, even if there’s only a few weeks left in Lent. And choose something that is regular for you. In these simple things you are practicing something profound. You are practicing grace. You know that big church we use but maybe don’t know what it fully means? Grace. This is an opportunity to give yourself grace, and thus feel a small piece of the great grace God is constantly pouring out to you.

Grace be with you,

Pastor Stephan

Discipleship: A Lifelong Pilgrimage

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:45:13 GMT

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. (1 John 4:16-19)

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. (James 2:14-17)

A word that we use a lot in the church is discipleship. But what is discipleship really? Well, from the scriptures above we are reminded that God is the first mover in this spiritual relationship between God and humankind. God initiates a relationship with you, and your positive response initiates a journey called discipleship. It is that life-long pilgrimage that begins with a simple profession of faith in Jesus, and continues into a life of active servanthood (see James). It is life fully lived in the Kingdom of God. It is a life we live both individually and collectively as the Body of Christ.

Along the way that journey needs to include training or equipping. That equipping could be furthered through activities such as Bible study, skill development, leadership training or learning one’s spiritual gifts.

The journey will essentially embrace opportunities for deepening your faith and trust in God. Participating in scriptural study beyond simple daily devotionals can help a Christian learn more about the heart and mind of God. Worship, fasting, and meditation are all good ways to reach more deeply into the spiritual life. Life in a small group will certainly lead to opportunities for Christian conversation that opens doors to meaningful dialogue and the revealing of truth by the Holy Spirit.

Alongside equipping and deepening activities are necessarily opportunities made to engage the world in the name of Jesus Christ. James reminds us that faith, no matter how sincere, must be lived out in the lives of our neighbors or it is useless. So, we must always ask ourselves in any situation, “How can I go beyond loving God to loving neighbor?” For when we truly put our hands and feet to work in the name of Christ, not only do we become a witness for the Lord, the love of our Lord grows deeply within us and we find ourselves embodying more and more the person of Christ.

Many people decide to give up something for Lent as a way to focus more on their spiritual life and relationship with Christ. In light of the discipleship activities mentioned above, I would invite you to consider taking on a new practice for Lent as a way to deepen your spiritual life. There are many opportunities to learn, grow, and serve here at Front Street. So, why not seek the leading of the Holy Spirit and join in one this Lent.

Grace and peace,

- Pastor Ross

Lent Season

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:46:01 GMT

It’s Lent! This new season of the church has begun. Have you begun your practice of it? Yes, there are practices! Lent is the season of the church where we attempt to journey even more closely to the ministry of Jesus. Many people will practice this by giving up something of the world (TV, social media, sugary foods or drinks) during the 40 days of Lent. Hopefully we don’t stop there. The point of giving these things up is to replace it with time spent with God. Maybe that’s in scripture reading or prayer. Maybe we give up sleeping in on Sunday to come to church (no pressure, but you are missed).

To be sure, I can imagine what you’re thinking. “It may be Lent, but it’s also tax season and spring cleaning. It’s getting close to spring break for the kids, but before that there’s dance and basketball and band. It’s getting nicer out which means the grass is going to start growing and I’m going to start mowing. There’s so much going on right now that I don’t think I can participate in Lent.” I hear you, and I won’t be hard on you for thinking that. Instead I’ll let Martin Luther do it for me.

When asked about the things that he had to do on a particular day Luther responded by saying, “In fact, I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer to be able to get it all done.” Now if you think this is backwards logic you are right. It is backwards from our regular thinking of work and the placement of spiritual discipline within work. It’s easy to see that spiritual discipline is considered a chore, and thus, when things get busy our first cuts to the agenda of the day is probably these things called prayer and scripture (that’s assuming they made it on the calendar at all).

Luther has it backwards. He considers prayer something that is fueling him for the work today. The more work he has to do in the day, the more time he is going to need to spend with God in order to be ready to handle that work. Spiritual discipline for Luther is not a task to be checked off, it is a thing of necessity for life and grace. You could even argue that Luther is elated to have such a need to spend time with God in this way. Luther has it backwards, but he has it right.

Lent is not meant to be a burden of spiritual practices in our life. It is meant to be something that strengthens us for the work ahead. Consider this: the word Lent can be translated from its old English roots to mean lengthen. Meaning we are lengthening our relationship with God, our time with God, and even our love of God. But I’ll ask you to consider one miraculous possibility. As you practice Lent this season, as you add something on to your daily living, look to see if your day lengthens so that you have room for all things, and especially things of the spirit. It wouldn’t be the first time God stopped the sun for God’s people to see victory. Amen.

- Pastor Stephan

Upcoming Lenten Activities

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:47:12 GMT

It won’t be long before the season of Lent will be upon us. As always, we will begin with an Ash Wednesday Service (March 2 @ 7 p.m.); and, we will continue our observance through Holy Week. Lent is partly a time of self-reflection – a time to take stock and get a realistic picture of ourselves and our relationship with God. Where does our heart truly lie, with the world, with God, or somewhere in between?

The activities at our church this Lent are designed to help us consider how we might turn our hearts and our lives a little more toward God. As you already know, where we commit our time, our energy, and our resources can say a great deal about what is truly important to us. As it says in Matthew, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The following are three activities that will be happening in March. Each represents an avenue through which we can offer ourselves to the Lord a little more fully.

NEW MEMBER CLASS

Becoming a part of the church is a great way to not only make a commitment to God, but also to come alongside brothers and sisters to do the work of his kingdom. If you have joined the church in the last couple of years, or are considering joining the church, please watch for information forthcoming on a New Member Class series to be held during the Sunday School hours in March.

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS

Sometimes, as in our relationships with other people, we begin to take our relationship with God for granted. Our desire for an intimate and meaningful relationship with the one who gave himself for us begins to wane. You are invited to make plans to attend Wonderful Wednesdays beginning the week after Ash Wednesday, and continuing through March. We will gather for a simple meal at 5:15 p.m., followed at 6:15 p.m. with a devotional activity for adults on the theme of Rediscovering Our First Love. There will also be kids' activities with Ms. Melissa. Watch for upcoming information.

ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN

The Lord blesses each of us with material things to manage for the good of his kingdom. Periodically, it is good for us to reflect on our faithfulness in how we are stewarding the Lord’s resources. The Endowment Team will be leading a campaign in March to enable our congregation to support three important areas of ministry through giving to the Endowment: Children & Youth Ministry, Missions, and Building & Maintenance. Leaving a lasting legacy can help the church continue to make an impact in our community and the world for the cause of Christ. Watch for information about gatherings, and about an information session on how to include the church in your will or estate plan.

While there are surely more ways to observe Lent, these are a great way to start. I hope you will consider participating in one or all of these activities.

- Pastor Ross

Celebration

joanna@frontstreetumc.org (Joanna Strelow) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 18:48:06 GMT

Friends!

If you are reading this on Friday, February 4th, it’s my birthday! I thank God for another year of life, and ask for blessings over this next new year in creation. I’m also thankful for those who will celebrate with me, and I want to invite you to celebrate as well. Now, I don’t necessarily want you to celebrate my birthday, although I welcome it. This isn’t about me, it’s about celebration. Did you know celebration is considered a spiritual discipline?

Just this past week the staff gathered together to celebrate my birthday before I left for vacation. Now, I’m not big on celebrating my birthday. I typically ignore it until someone tells me to acknowledge it. My first thoughts in this moment were, “We’ve got too much to do. There’s no need to pause for this, really.” Maybe you love to celebrate birthdays, and that’s great! However, our world is so busy and chaotic that sometimes it may seem like there is no room to celebrate. Maybe we don’t feel we have enough time to get our work done in order to celebrate. Maybe we aren’t sure we’ve earned the celebration. Maybe we feel celebrating is a privilege and it would be inconsiderate. Whatever the case may be, our understanding of celebration should not be thought of as a hindrance to life. In fact, celebration should be the model for life!

As I let my thoughts settle down I realized, this really is less about me. It was a joy to see everyone gathered together with smiles on our faces. My birthday may have been the spark that ignited the fire of celebration, but I’m not the one who kept it going. The one who keeps it going is the Holy Spirit who connects us all. When we gather together to celebrate it is the work of the Holy Spirit in us that brings out that laughter and cheer, because She is reuniting with another piece of Herself in the other people we are with. The Holy Spirit draws us together, and our world tries to resist that gathering in many different ways. But we are created in the image of God, follow the life of Jesus Christ, and are imbued with the Holy Spirit. God celebrates in creation, Jesus begins his public ministry at a party in Cana, and the Holy Spirit is like a fire of celebration longing to act in our lives.

So friends, it’s time to stop putting off the celebrations. No matter what you are feeling called to celebrate, do it and remember that the Holy Trinity is celebrating with you! The rest of life will remain. Amen.

- Pastor Stephan

What Story Will Narrate Your Life in 2022?

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 18:49:05 GMT

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

-Romans 8:28

As each of us enters this New Year of 2022, we have a choice to make. Which story will give shape to your life; and, where do you find these over-arching narratives that can give context and shape to the trajectory and daily activity of your life? Well, some possible sources are the media, career, family, tragedy, COVID, or political/sociological ideology. However, I want to suggest to you that while these are all valid parts of life, and can be truly influential, perhaps they are not the best areas to look for the story that will narrate your life on a day-today basis.

There is a greater narrative into which all of the rest actually fits – God’s story. In the Bible we find that the God who created you is the one who wants to be the source of your story. Once you embrace God as the source of the story that will narrate all of the rest of your life, then everything else begins to take on a different shape. Priorities change. Direction changes. Fulfillment is found in that which transcends this world, instead of in that which ends with this world.

This year why not figure out where you fit into God’s story, and let that be what narrates the rest of your life’s activities. It will permeate all parts of your life – your work, your family, and your leisure time. And as you find a new God-centered direction, may you find peace and blessing as well.

Happy New Year,

- Pastor Ross

Advent

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 18:49:58 GMT

Advent is an invitation. For many, it is the invitation to get into that Christmas spirit, to count down the days to the grand celebration, and let the holiday transform everything around us.

But there is a deeper and more profound invitation being offered in the season of Advent. The invitation is to remember that we are heading for home. Or if we’re not, if we’ve forgotten that there is a home toward which to head, it is the invitation to long for the home we call the kin-dom of God. It is where family resides, where peace resides, where justice abides, and hope will rise. Advent reminds us that we shouldn’t be complacent about the way things are – not that we want to become angrily attuned to every perceived failing in those around us or the world at large; but that we want to be those who look forward to something greater, something more that is just on the horizon.

Advent is the call to come home. Yeah, we called it “Come Home for Christmas” not “Come Home for Advent.” But that was only to catch your ear and the ears of those with whom you worship week by week in this glorious season. We’re not all about Christmas, the holiday, about December 25 with all the jingle bells and tinsel. We are about Christmas, the Mass of Christ, the celebration of the Incarnate one who comes to remind us that we are not alone, and God is with us. We are about the longing for the coming kin-dom, where we will study war no more, where people will walk in the light, where joy will be found, and love will be the tie that binds us together. That’s the home for which we long. That’s the invitation this Advent season to you and the world: “Come home for Christmas.”

The invitation is for you to share too! Sunday, December 19 is a perfect day to invite someone to worship. We will have fellowship and food following the services. So Come Home, and invite another to come with you.

- Pastor Stephan

Gratitude

joanna@frontstreetumc.org (Joanna Strelow) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 18:50:40 GMT

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?

Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

(Luke 17:11-19)

From the moment we put the big bird in the oven till the last of the turkey sandwiches are gone, the focus of Thanksgiving is usually food. To be honest I’m a big fan of the turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce sandwich…with white bread and a slather of Duke’s mayo. So, enjoy the food and the family gathering, and remember why we gather in the first place.

The Bible tells us to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. (Psalms 107:1) Yet that attitude can be lost in our secular-minded, “I deserve everything I have” culture. That may have been the mindset of the 9 lepers who were healed in the Luke passage above. Maybe they thought that they deserved to be healed, so there was no need to thank anyone. But there was one other. Perhaps he realized that he didn’t deserve any of the blessings that came into his life. So when one did fall upon him, he knew it was proper to thank the author of his blessing – God.

When we understand and practice giving thanks for our blessings, we begin to develop an increased awareness of all that God has given us, and a greater sense of contentment with our life. This Thanksgiving, try sharing Psalm 100 with all those gathered and then give thanks to the God who abundantly blesses you. Be the 1, not the 9.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

- Pastor Ross

Stewarship

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:52:34 GMT

We are in the midst of stewardship! What is the first thing you think of when you think of stewardship? Maybe, “oh no, the church is asking for me to give all my money away again.” Part of this is true. No, the church doesn’t want all of your money, but it is a time for each of us to commit to supporting the works of the church through our giving. However, this act of giving should be considered only a small part of what stewardship means. Yes, it is a big act, but stewardship has bigger intentions in our life. In fact, it’s a lot less about giving things away, and a lot more about keeping them.

Stewardship by definition is about caring for and tending to something. In this sense the very first stewards of the world were Adam and Eve. After creating these first humans God tasked them with caring for the Garden of Eden and all the creatures of the earth. In Genesis 2:15 God told Adam and Eve to “dress it and keep it.” This work of dressing and keeping the Garden is the true intention behind stewardship. Sure, the act of doing this involved giving up time and effort, but the purpose God gives the first stewards and us is to keep it. To keep something may seem counter active to what we do during this season, until we understand that keep doesn’t mean "hold on to.”

Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth, for they will perish. You see, holding on to money is letting its value and potential perish. That couldn’t be the “keep” that God told Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve keeping the garden meant they must nourish and grow it. That must be what we need to focus on during this season. It is not about giving our money (that’s only our participation), it’s about keeping the church. The church is our garden gifted to us by Jesus. Let us take seriously the charge to be good stewards of God’s created world.

- Pastor Stephan

Our 2022 Budget: Stronger Together

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 18:00:19 GMT

I want to begin by thanking everyone who has supported the mission and ministry of Front Street this year with your financial gifts. The wonderful ministry that is done out of our church could not be accomplished without us all contributing our resources. We are truly stronger together, which happens to be our stewardship campaign theme for this fall: Stronger Together.

In the next couple of weeks, you will receive a letter and a Pledge Card for the 2022 Budget. As you pray about how the Lord would lead you to support our church next year, I want to share a bit of information about the budget and about pledging at Front Street. History of the budget & pledges over the past five years:

Our goal for this fall’s stewardship campaign is to engage more of our congregation in the support of our mission and ministry. One measure of more families and individuals being involved, that we believe is achievable, is having 200 pledges offered. We can do way more for the kingdom when more of us contribute our time, talent, and treasure. So, as you pray about how the Lord would lead you in responding this November, we pray that you would join your fellow Front Streeters in pledging. For an idea of what your support means to others in the church, check out the fun videos on the church’s social media pages and via the links in the weekly emails.

If you would like a copy of the 2022 Budget, you may pick one up in the church office. However, for those of you who would prefer less detail, here are some of the major budget section totals.

On Pledge Sunday (Nov. 21) we will have the opportunity to communicate our pledges for 2022; and, as always you have a few options:

You can bring your pledge card to worship, if you are comfortable attending in person.
You can mail your pledge card to our Financial Manager, Tammy Page, in the church office (PO Box 2597, Burlington, NC 27216).
You can deliver your pledge card to the Church Office.
You can enter your pledge online . This online method has the same blanks to fill in as the paper pledge card. When you hit “Submit” after the final question, it will send the information confidentially and directly to our Financial Manager, Tammy Page, in the church office.

I pray that the Lord would continue to bless us together, as a church, as we seek to be faithful in how we live, give, and love in the name of Christ.

Blessings,

Ross

'Tis the Season

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 18:01:17 GMT

Tis the season! For what, you ask? Could I be talking about the fall season, where we prepare for change of weather? Time to get out the sweaters at the back of the closet and dust off the cookbook with your favorite soups. Maybe I mean one of the upcoming holidays. Halloween is around the corner so don't forget the candy bowl. Thanksgiving is soon, and it's not too early to start planning for that big meal and the guests you'll have. Christmas is already showing it's face in department stores reminding us to buy our gifts now! This season is also for football and band, travel and decorating, black Friday, and more... Tis the season - but not for any of that.

Throughout our history the world, and even the church, has taken it's cues for living from nature. We examine and learn from God's creation how to best survive the world we experience. How do you think we designed submarines except by witnessing the creatures that swim best, or learned to build sky scrapers that sway the way even the strongest trees know they must? Those are examples on a grand scale. How is it that we have learned from nature these complex designs for living and yet missed (or ignored) a simpler need?

Most of us wouldn't know to use a seal as an example to build a submarine, but we know what happens when fall and winter arrive. The trees around us change color and lose their leaves. The grass in our yard slows it's growth. The birds and squirrels quiet down and hibernate. God's creation has been busy in the spring and summer, and now it is time to rest.

We know that this is the natural way of things, the way God intended, and yet we often act in rejection of this truth. Fall and winter are likely our busiest time of year filled with all of the many things we pointed to above and probably so much more. We don't slow down in this season, but we speed up. We don't learn from nature here, and in a way we don't listen to God.

It's no wonder then why the fourth commandment adds the word remember. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. God knew we would forget, and we have many times. Thank God for giving us seasons to remind of not just growth and flourishing in the spring and summer, but also of rest and renewal in the fall and winter. I hope and pray that you and your family will make time to rest this season.

Tis the season! The season of rest!

Pastor Stephan

See You Sunday

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 18:02:10 GMT

Greetings Front Street Family! Here’s a surprise entry in this week’s "Happenings" email. I was talking with Ross this past Sunday morning about an idea/article/thought that has been percolating in my mind and heart and wanted to take a stab at presenting it to you, so bear with me.

Last Saturday night, Betsy and I had the pleasure of attending a prewedding dinner for a young, engaged couple. The groom and his family are members here at church. It was a really great event including good food and even better conversation. As we drove home Saturday night, she and I were talking about the relationships in that room and how great it was to see the impact of the Front Street church family.

I would conservatively estimate that 75% of the folks there either attend Front Street or attended Front Street. There was a past FSUMYF youth director in attendance, one I worked with, as well as 10 or so former MYF members, all of us laughing and having a big time. There was a Sunday School class extremely well represented and these folks are all long-term friends.

The question I kept coming back to was “Would these relationships have happened without Front Street?”

Sure, most of the folks there could have run in the same social circles, played golf, tennis or bridge together, maybe their kids spent time on soccer or baseball teams, or walked the same school halls, and I can tell you that my kids have done all of that, too but the oldest relationships come from Front Street. It was apparent there, too that without the connection that is Front Street, I wouldn’t have been at that party on Saturday night nor would my predecessor and who knows about others.

Our church is more than an hour service on Sunday. Sure, you can watch online with your spouse or even your family, but what else do you get out of it? Ross and Stephan have been killing it lately with their messages, and since services are not being streamed, well, I don’t mind saying, you are missing out. Come back to church, come back to our family. Bring your kids - I can tell you they need it. We all need it.

Our youth program is bursting at the seams – and it’s exciting to have so many visitors on Sunday evenings! On Sunday afternoon we had 41 kids and 6 adults pack 13,680 meals for Feed the Hunger. We have almost outgrown our high school room downstairs. Why? They want to spend time together. Jesus wants you to spend time in His house, with Him and your brothers and sisters. Why not start this week?

Chris Huneycutt

-Youth Director

Come on Back to Church

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 18:03:34 GMT

I, like you, am a Christian disciple. It’s important for me to participate in worship and the rest of church life. And it’s important for you, too. Why should we keep regular company with other people who profess to believe as we do? Why can’t we just stay home and watch on the internet or TV?

First, let me say that those are fine options for those who don’t have good mobility and aren’t able to travel well to church. And I also realize that COVID has made a few people very cautious about being around other people. Ultimately, there are choices in life that we all have to make, or are forced to make, even though we would actually prefer something different.

For most of us, however, whether we decide to come to church boils down to priorities. Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers the following as a reason for you and me to gather regularly for worship, study, and service in the name of Christ:

“God has willed that we should seek and find God’s living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God’s Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened because living by their own resources, they cannot help themselves without cheating themselves out of the Truth. They need other Christians as bearers and proclaimers of the divine word of salvation. They need them solely for the sake of Jesus Christ.”

And in Ephesians, we find:

“…You are a member of God’s very own family… and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”

Sure. While COVID presents a few challenges and inconveniences, we all benefit from getting together for worship, and for learning opportunities like Sunday School. Surely the benefit of our children and youth learning about Jesus from teachers who love them outweighs the inconvenience of wearing a mask for a couple of hours. All of us need the love and encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ at the church. Allow church to be a source of hope and encouragement in the midst of a chaotic-feeling world.

I invite you to pray about making church a regular part of your life again, beginning this coming Sunday.

I look forward to seeing you,

Ross

Rightnow Media

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:04:18 GMT

Just a few weeks ago we talked about the importance of learning in the discipleship. Certainly we are to learn more and more of what it means to be a disciple, but sometimes that goal can weigh us down. How can we learn to be a disciple? Who is the best model? Is there a degree for this? Maybe we get too caught up in our own actions in this learning process. Is it really up to us, our discipline in learning, to make us better disciples? I’ll be honest, if I was left alone on that journey I would fail.

Thankfully it is never just us on this journey. The first place of solace we should look toward is in Jesus, the great teacher. Remember when He met the disciples for the first time in Matthew? He saw them fishing for fish, and after performing a miracle called them to follow Him with these words, “Follow me, and I will teach you to fish for men.” Hear in these words a promise that God is with you on this journey of learning. Jesus is your teacher.

The truth that you are not alone does not stop there, though. All of us in the church are on this path together, learning and growing towards God. In fact, God gave us the church for this purpose—that we would come together in worship, service, and learning!

We are so blessed to have a body of Christ within our church that loves to learn, and the discipleship team wants to continue to seek new and exciting ways to support our goal of learning. That’s why we have recently expanded our learning resources available for members of Front Street UMC.

We have partnered with RightNow Media to bring a mass of bible studies, parenting lessons, biblical life videos, and more to you. This service is an online database of over 20,000 video series that you can use in your Sunday School classes, small groups, family gatherings, or even on your own.

This service is set to go live on September 19 ^th . Make sure that you keep up with upcoming emails and announcements about this wonderful learning tool, how you might use it, and even some training on how to use it effectively. For now, head over to rightnowmedia.org to learn more about what you can expect to see when it launches.

Until then, let this Psalm be a prayer for us on our journey of learning more about our Creator God:

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. – Psalm 25:5

Pastor Stephan and the Discipleship Team

Square One

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 18:05:04 GMT

As we began our Alive Again sermon series, in the traditional service we closed worship by singing, “Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart; Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.” To many of you that may sound like a very simplistic thought for a congregation that has been around since 1888. However, I would suggest that it’s good for all of us to get back to basics now and again.

I’m reminded of an idea called Square One. I first encountered this idea some time ago at a gathering of the clergy of our Conference where we listened to Bishop Will Willimon speak. As he spoke, he talked about Eugene Peterson’s idea of Square One. He said that as Christian disciples, we need to return to Square One periodically – to get back to basics.

So what is Square One?

I remember playing with our daughters, Rebecca and Mary Catherine, when they were very little – young enough to stay on the little blanket that we set them upon on the floor. I would pick up a little toy – we would both enjoy playing with it – and then I would hide it behind my back.

The same thing happened with both of them. When it was in front of their faces, they were engaged. When the toy went out of their sight, they immediately began to look for something else to play with. They were no longer interested in the other toy. In fact, it was as if it no longer existed. They had not yet learned Object Permanence. If you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist.

Peterson’s idea is that this notion of Object Permanence lends itself very nicely to our spiritual lives. We begin by experiencing the presence of God in visual or concrete ways: we experience the wonder of nature as it testifies to its Creator, we have in front of us the love of a parent as they share the love of the Father with us, etc.

Eventually, though, we must learn spiritual Object Permanence – that God is still there, even when we can’t readily perceive him. It’s a concept we call Faith. In order to build faith, we need to return to Square One over and over again.

Square One is the starting point – it’s the place where we acquire (and then re-acquire) spiritual object permanence. This is the place from which we launch the distinctly human journey of faith.

What do we encounter at Square One that is so powerful? It’s the Word of God. Square One is “God said.” God’s Word is extraordinary: God’s Word makes things happen – he makes something happen in us. The imperative is a primary verb form in Holy Scripture: “Let there be light… Go… Come… Repent… Believe… Be still… Be healed… Get up… Ask… Love… Pray….” And the consequence, the intended result, of God Says? It is obedience.

It is at Square One that we hear the Word of God; and, then we step forth in faith into whatever lies ahead. But, periodically, we need to return to Square One. We used to live there. We heard God there at one point.

Not only do we help children get there, initially. As adults we need to help one other periodically get back to Square One.

You see, it’s not about getting to Square One and staying there. It’s not a place of rest, or a place to stay. It’s a place to listen … and then to respond…to obey.

It is the hub of a life of discipleship. We advance in the Christian life by hearing God’s Word…obeying God’s Word…then returning to Square One to hear another Word…then obeying that Word.

It is at Square One that we learn spiritual Object Permanence over and over again. We go back over and over to experience the Presence of God so that we can again journey forth in faith – confident that the One that we may not be able to see is still there.

As you and I strive to become Alive Again in our Christian faith, we need to invite one another to go back to basics, to Square One, so that we can truly sing, we want to be like Jesus in our heart, in our heart; Lord, we want to be like Jesus in our heart.

See you at Square One,

Ross

Alive Again: A Time to Reignite

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 18:06:19 GMT

Friends and family, brothers and sisters, guests and longtime members. We are moving more and more into a new era where health and safety are less at threat due to COVID -19. You have been patient and kind with our church staff and leadership team as we all have learned to live in a strange world. So first, I want to say thank you. Thank you for living into your covenants as members of The United Methodist Church by supporting Front Street UMC with your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Even in the midst of a pandemic our church rose to meet the challenges and needs of our community.

We are a people of hope. We hope in the promises God has made to be with us in all things. We are also a people of celebration. We celebrate and rejoice the name of Jesus and His acts of grace in our lives. We are also a people that gather. We gather together with the Holy Spirit to show the world a vision of the Kingdom.

In that spirit we are planning a special gathering to celebrate our hope. On August 22nd, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the Webb Ave. parking lot (weather permitting) we will hold an event called Alive Again! Here we will join in fun and fellowship for the whole family. Whether you are a church member or not you are invited to come. On this day we will also showcase some of the wonderful ministries of this church, and you will have the opportunity to answer God’s call to serve.

Please follow us on Facebook and email to hear updates in the coming weeks.

Grace and Peace,

Stephan Margeson

Meet Our New Pastor of Discipleship

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 18:07:17 GMT

The beginning our new adventure in Christian ministry is finally here. When I say ‘our’ I do mean my family, but I also include you. I’m hoping and praying that this new chapter in both our lives will include continued health and safety for us all. Know that I have been praying for you, and I feel sure that our time together will be full of blessings. I am so very excited to meet all of you, and begin sharing life in ministry with you. It may take some time to meet everyone, but I do want to learn your names and stories soon. As we begin to learn about each other let me share a bit about myself and my family.

My name is Stephan (pronounced steh-fon). I was born in Portland, Maine, and raised in Dothan, Alabama. I am a graduate of Auburn University - WAR EAGLE! (that’s our greeting) - and of Duke Divinity School. This will be my second official appointment in The United Methodist Church, although I have served seven churches in a student pastor capacity since 2013. At the present I feel God’s work in my life as cultivating healthy and (w)holy pastoral gifts. That is why I am thrilled to be here at Front Street UMC as I learn from you and from Pastor Ross. I greatly enjoy preaching and teaching, though I am most comfortable in my role as Holy Listener. You are likely to see me in the wild running with my dog or practicing photography.

I am blessed to be married to Sierra. She was born and raised in Alabama. She has degrees from Wallace Community College and Jacksonville State University. She is a gifted and passionate RN who currently specializes in Labor and Delivery. She will be working in L&D at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham. One of her many fortes is meeting people where they are on their medical journey. She has an uncanny knack for explaining large medical concepts in ways each person will find comfort and ownership. She is a lover of all people, and a champion board game player.

We are the proud parents of two amazing girls. Our oldest is Gemma. She is 2 and a half. She loves dinosaurs, playing dress up, and dancing while dad plays piano. She is shy at first, but enjoys making people smile. Ellie is our newest at 5 months old. She is very attentive, yet incredibly serious. She loves meeting new people and studying everything around her.

I cannot wait to share more of my story with you for you to know me deeper. I pray that through me you will see Christ who lifts me up. I pray that together we will look to others and see the Holy Spirit at work within them. I pray that we all grow in our love of God and of each other. I know that God is leading us to do great things together, and I look forward to sharing in those fruits.

Grace and Peace,

Stephan Margeson

Servants of the Lord

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 18:08:20 GMT

A church affected by COVID requires a different approach. Like every other church, the ministries of Front Street have been affected as a result of over a year with COVID. Some ministries, like some of the Sunday School classes, have persevered using new technologies. Even the music ministries used tech to bring music into online worship and other online settings.

However, some areas will need to be rebuilt…relaunched, if you will. For example, the Chancel Choir will need to be almost completely relaunched. Other music ministries, like the Aldersgate Praise Band, and the Bell Choir weathered the storm a bit better. We will also need to work on other discipleship activities and mission events.

Long story, short: This fall we will do our best to reboot, relaunch, rebuild this ministry life of Front Street. And to accomplish that feat, we will need all hands on deck! In other words, we will need YOU!

Sometimes, we tend to want to limit the people that God can use. We think that God only wants to use those people who we think are well-educated and highly-qualified in his service. “He would never choose me to do anything for him. The Almighty Everlasting Omnipotent God of the Universe would never stoop to ask me to do anything for him. He has probably even forgotten that I exist.” Not true! God calls all of us into his service.

Let’s look at Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a young fellow, presumably just hanging out one day in his home town when the Lord God spoke to him. God said, “Jeremiah, I’ve known you since you were forming in your mother’s womb, and in fact, I decided what I wanted you to do for me before you were even born.” And like Jeremiah, God knew each one of us before we were born. He has a plan for us. Some people in the Bible, like King David, John the Baptist, and Paul, had specific purposes. God may have already given you a specific task. If so, do it with His help in a way that will glorify him. He may not reveal what His plan is for others of us at what we would consider to be the most appropriate time, but rest assured He will let you know what you are to do. But it will be when He is ready for you to know. If you don’t feel, at this time, that you know what God has called you to do, then seek to fulfill the commandment that Christ gave all of us in which he said, Love one another as I have loved you. If we follow that commandment, we will always be in God’s will.

But, when God does call you to do something specific for him, you, like Jeremiah, may think that you are not worthy or have the ability to do what God is asking of you. Jeremiah told God that he didn’t think that he had the ability to do what God wanted him to. He gave the excuse that he was too young. What excuses have we given God for not answering His call. You see, we can give God excuses. He calls us, and he gives us the choice as to whether we will answer. God wants us on his team and will offer us a position, but he won’t force us to play for Him if we don’t want to. And some of us may not want to. But oh what a great feeling it is, when you know that you’re playing on the winning team! Think about it! What an opportunity?! How many times do you get to choose to play for a team that you know ahead of time is going to win. What a great deal!

But as I mentioned earlier, you might not think that God could possibly want you. You may think: So, what’s so special about me? I don’t have any great abilities or knowledge that I can use to work for God. But hold on. Let’s think about that line of thinking for a second. Who says that you have to have super-abilities, super-strength, or super-knowledge to work for God. Look whom Christ surrounded himself with. He chose fishermen, tax collectors, and the like to be his disciples. These were common working people like you and me.

It’s during the times that I forget to rely on him that I feel inadequate and incapable of the work that God has for me to do. But then I remember that God will not give me (or you) a job that he won’t equip me to do. He gives us the strength and the resources we need to accomplish the job that he has assigned to us. He will empower us over any obstacle and give us the confidence to go forth for him. In fact, we may be insulting God when we second guess his choice, when he chooses us for a job. He knows better than we do what we are capable of accomplishing - with his help. God will use us to further his kingdom and will walk next to us the whole way, if we will only let him. Remember, as some people like to say…God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

Listen for his voice this fall as we put out the call for your help at Front Street. What is God calling you to do inside the church, and out in our community? It's exciting to think about, isn't it?

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

A Fond Farewell

Tue, 25 May 2021 18:09:15 GMT

As I sit down to write this, I realize this will be my last newsletter article to you, Front Street United Methodist Church. And I wonder, how do I begin to account for the ways God has been so good to us these last six years? To be honest, I’m unsure that any language can provide the words for it. For my family and me, the days have been long at times, but the years seem to have passed by so quickly. And yet, I find myself offering nothing but the most sincere gratitude to God for the relationships we have made in our season of walking together. Each of you matters so deeply to my family and me. Front Street, you have provided us with opportunities and challenges that have taken us deeper into the mystery of God’s love in Jesus Christ. You have met us with a kind of love and acceptance that has sustained us these years and has helped to make Burlington nothing less than home.

When I think of where we started, moving into the parsonage in the heat of late June 2015 to where we are now, on the verge of June 2021, much has passed. You welcomed us like family, and walked with us through unspeakable tragedy when my mom died unexpectedly in June of 2016. You showered us with love and support that was surprising in its beauty and in its timeliness. When our family grew, you shared our joy and gifted us with the means to make Finley’s earliest days comfortable and overflowing with whatever we needed to get by. You stuck by us, and by me, even when we didn’t get it right, even when you disagreed with what I said or preached. Through it all the love of God shined through, and does still.

It has been our privilege and joy to spend these days with you, knowing, growing, and sharing Christ. I have had the honor so many times of walking with you through heartache, to bury a loved one, to sit in a hospital room or by a hospice bed, to listen to the struggles and burdens you carry inside. I have been blessed to have baptized your children, confirmed their faith, preach the Gospel, preside at Christ’s table, and walk with you into ministry in Burlington and indeed into the world. And I do not take any of it for granted. These memories, and the tokens of love you have shared with me and my family are priceless treasures that, rest assured, will carry us forward in ministry for many years.

I struggle to find the words for how we feel, but perhaps the simpler the better: we love you so much. We are filled with gratitude for this season of our lives because we have seen Jesus in the words you speak, the tears you cry, the life you share, and in your hands that serve. We could not ask for more. Brittany, Finley, and I are working through what it means very soon not to spend each day with you in ministry, but then I remember that we are all still the church of Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters who share in the same baptism. We get to carry each other forever.

And so as I write this, I hear the echo of Paul’s words in Philippians: “I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I am thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I am glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. And I am sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace.”

Pastor Patrick

Come on Back

Mon, 10 May 2021 08:59:54 GMT

Worship is something we do together. Over the past year, as a worshipping congregation we have had to create a make-do online worship experience. Luckily we already had the technological means to stream worship. We had been doing it for a while for the benefit of those in our congregation who were not physically able to attend worship at the church. And while this is a wonderful benefit for those who need it, it was never intended to be a replacement for in-person worship. I think if you were to ask someone who has physical limitations whether they would prefer to be present for worship in the Sanctuary, or in Aldersgate Hall, they would say yes.

Sure, you and I can find wonderful preachers on the television who can deliver us a great sermon. But that’s not supposed to be the extent of the worship experience, is it? I asked someone recently why they chose to make their church home at Front Street. They said that it was the people. They enjoy the people. And that’s what we have missed over the last year. We’ve missed the conversations and the laughter with others in the hallways. We’ve missed chatting with someone in the pew next to us before the service starts. We’ve missed the groups of people standing around in Aldergate Hall, catching up about the activities of the previous week. We’ve missed the deeper spiritual conversation with someone who needs to hear how God helped us with the same problem they’re encountering. I’d be willing to bet that you are missing those same things, because you also made Front Street your church home because of the people.

People gathered to share in each other’s lives, and to lift their collective hearts in worship to God, that’s what Sunday mornings are about. Yes, we’ve gotten very comfortable during COVID. We’ve gotten comfortable with getting up on Sunday morning, getting our coffee, and watching online worship in our sweatpants and t-shirt. The kids have the freedom to run around; or, maybe you enjoy being able to run into the kitchen for a snack during the sermon. And while some of you are undoubtedly still uncomfortable being physically present (and we understand that), others have just gotten out of the habit. If you are part of the latter group, I invite you to come back to church. Stop robbing yourself of the joy of the presence of other Christians, and stop robbing them of the joy of your presence. When we come together, God works through you and me to enrich each other’s life in a way that just doesn’t happen online.

“…You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” Ephesians 2:19

I invite you to think about how being present at church might enrich your life, and the life of your family. I hope to see you soon!

Blessings,

Pastor Ross

Our Very Lives

Mon, 03 May 2021 09:02:32 GMT

“We were glad to share not only God’s good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much.”

1 Thessalonians 2:8

This verse has haunted me (in a good way) for years now. Here Paul recalls how he and those ministering with him fell into relationship with the various people who together became the church in the ancient city of Thessalonica. Paul and his companions preached the Gospel and brought others into the knowledge and love of God in Jesus Christ through the everyday labors and activities that marked life in the city. They came not as traveling evangelists expecting pay and praise, but as those willing to get their hands dirty, to work and make their own way as they developed close relationships and entered into the lives of those they met. It was a spiritual life forged in the intimacy of shared space, shared time, shared tables; real life stuff. It happened, we might say, organically.

Here in this one little verse, Paul casts a remarkable vision for evangelism that names our life together in Christ as something much deeper than a sermon, a worship service, or a healthy personal prayer life. We were glad, Paul recounts, not only to share God’s good news in Jesus Christ with you, but also our very lives, for through these shared moments, we have come to care deeply for you.

What Paul names here is the Christian practice of holy friendship, lives that Jesus has intertwined through the ordinariness of life so that love may abound. This is the church at its best, a community held together by the Spirit of Christ, committed to one another in the common mission of lavishing love and transforming needs in the literal space where God continued has called us together. People are not problems to be fixed, and they cannot be reduced needs that we meet and then move on. People bear the image of God, and we meet God in the face of others. The people whom God places in our lives and into our care are equals, potential friendships, game -changers in the journey of faith we share.

Wherever Paul invested himself, he discovered that everyone in and of themselves was a gift from the heart of God, and that every person he encountered possessed gifts that made the love of God real for him and for the wider community in which they lived. Together, their shared life imaged Jesus Christ to the world around them.

As I reflect on these last six years and what they have meant for my family and me, I think about this one verse from 1 Thessalonians. We have become holy friends, invested in each other’s well-being, invested in the mission of Jesus Christ. We have set out into the community to find people whom God already loves who can be gifts to us even as we learn how to be gifts to them. We have worshipped and loved and cried and baptized and met each other at Christ’s table. We have imaged Christ to one another. And I hope in the process we have enlarged that table to include others.

May we as Christ’s body continue to share our very lives because we care so much for each other, because we care so much that others come to the knowledge and love of God that claims us as beloved children and partners in this life.

-Pastor Patrick

The Lord Wants to Bless You

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:04:43 GMT

Do you ever feel as if everyone else is receiving blessing from God and you are left out? The truth is God is faithful to His promises, and He wants to pour blessing into your life. Many times receiving blessing is a result (or consequence) of obedience.

Consider Malachi 3:10-11:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.

Now listen to Jesus in Luke 6:38:

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Tithing and sacrificial giving – it is something the Lord challenges us to engage in. Spiritually, tithing is an act that stretches us as we strive to trust God more. When we obey, we receive blessing. It’s just that simple.

What have you been putting your faith in so far? How has that been working for you? Try trusting God more than you ever have before and see if you get different results than what you’ve experienced up to now. I invite you to make a life change, beginning today, as you offer to God the tithe (of your time, talent, and treasure) as a sacrificial act of worship and obedience. You will be blessed.

I pray that each of you is having a great spring.

Claiming the Promise,

- Pastor Ross

Missional Opportunities

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 09:06:20 GMT

Change has been about the only certainty for us in the last year. But not all of the changes we’ve experienced have been bad. With the rollout of vaccines and (hopefully) the continued adherence to pandemic guidelines, we will slowly change back into a pattern of normalcy, and hopefully with lessons learned over the past year that will keep us closer to God and each other.

That said, the lay leadership and staff at Front Street have been leading us well through these changes in trying to create opportunities for us to continue actively living out our faith through service to others.

One of the big ways we’ve done this is by highlighting one mission focus each month in which everyone church-wide, regardless of ability, can participate. Thanks to Marcy and the children’s ministries, we were able to offer groceries to folks who are currently experiencing food insecurities in our area this month. We want to build on these great moves, knowing that during the pandemic, while we can’t do everything we normally do, we can lean into the good and holy work that we are able to do well and safely.

That said, for the month of April, we will be assembling care packages for the teachers we know and love in the Front Street community, as well as for those who have been doing such amazing work this last year at our Congregations4Children partner school, Eastlawn Elementary. How that will work and what it is that we need from you will be detailed in upcoming Front Street Happenings emails and during announcements at Sunday worship. Suffice it to say for now that we will be looking to YOU to make teacher appreciation a missional priority for the month of April in helping us assemble and transport those care packages. We want to give back to those who give so much to make our children fruitful in their developing lives!

Also, to build further on these acts of kindness and appreciation, in May we will be sending thank you notes and tokens of love to hospital employees, clinic workers, urgent cares, and those who have been front line medical workers over the last year. This show of gratitude was commonplace in the early months of the pandemic, but as with anything we get used to, such gestures fade from view even if we still feel them in our hearts.

Our hope is that in providing these church-wide missional focuses, we will grow more deeply together in the love of Christ. Our prayer is that as the year goes on, we will be able to add more and more back into our life together safely so that, perhaps by the year’s end, we can celebrate a full life of ministry and mission once again. Until then, let us put ourselves to living our faith with open hearts and hands.

- Pastor Patrick

Hope in the Midst of...

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:07:29 GMT

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

– 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

In the passage above, the Apostle Paul is saying that neither he, nor his fellow workers for the cause of Christ, will lose heart. They continued to experience all kinds of suffering as a result of their Kingdom work, but they had something that kept them going. They had a hope that made all the hardships worthwhile – resurrection in Christ. They were convinced that the experiences of this world were to be enjoyed or endured in light of the eternal. Such a hope in the fullness of a life offered in Christ kept them getting up each day with a spirit sufficient for whatever they would encounter.

While this passage wasn’t intended, perhaps, to speak directly to our present situation, I would argue that it has a lot to offer with respect to a helpful mindset. So many people these days seem intent on losing heart. They find themselves confronted with a pandemic that has claimed countless lives, and has altered the way we live. They find themselves confronted with people who are angry and frustrated about societal ills of all flavors. They find themselves in the midst of quarreling factions who seem to have no intent on finding a way forward that is mutually beneficial. Add to those things the everyday challenges of marriage, children, work, maintaining a home, on-going physical ailments, and whatever else you can think of. What do you get? Someone who may feel like giving up hope.

As I listen to Paul’s words, I hear a voice of hope. He seems to be saying that we need to get the things of this world in perspective. He lifts up the afflictions of this world as momentary in light of eternity. He focuses on the transient nature of this earthly life. This world, with all its ills is not our final home; and, if we read to the end of the biblical story, we find that Light wins over Darkness.

If we try to put our hope in this imperfect world, we will be frustrated and sorrowful. But if our hope is in Christ, then we can face the day, whatever it may bring.

As we progress through Lent toward Holy Week, this is a great time to do some deep thinking about how we may have contributed to the imperfections of society in our little corner of the world. And with that reflection should come a resolve to cast some of the Light of Christ into that darkness as only we can. If there is an aspect of society that is inhibiting us from being able to share the love of Christ with another person, or inhibiting that other person from receiving the love of Christ from us, we must seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as to a way forward.

Whether the challenge is physical illness, racism/prejudice, or something else, we who are resurrection people have a joyful obligation to seek a way to inject the hope of Christ into the situation. Christ is our only hope, and our transformative influence for today.

- Pastor Ross

Forsaken?

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 10:09:24 GMT

Read Matthew 27:33-49

“From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock, Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Of everything that Jesus voices from the cross, this question shatters our illusions that Jesus can save us by any other way than his suffering, rejection, and death. His cry isn’t the request for forgiveness or the promise of paradise and community; this is horror. Jesus the Christ, “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,” is abandoned on the cross. Jeered by passersby, abused by Roman soldiers, mocked by religious leaders, and deserted by his disciples, Jesus has already been abandoned by the world. Now, the union Christ has always shared with the Father seems to break down between Gethsemane and Golgotha. The cup Jesus prayed to pass has not, and at the cross, God is silent. Jewish philosopher Martin Buber called this the eclipse of God. How can this be?

Colossians tells us that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God,” that when we behold Jesus we see the fullness of God. So, if the image we have is a man rejected, betrayed, abandoned, crucified, and tortured to death in order to reconcile us to God, then we have to believe that God suffers, or else, how is this the image of God? A naked, battered man hanging from a cross is just not a natural image of God, and certainly not one we’d choose. Yet, Jesus’s cry reminds us that only a suffering God can save. Indeed, the image of a suffering God is offensive to a world that’s desperate to deny death and avoid suffering altogether.

Here’s where it’s helpful to remember that, although Jesus’s words are disturbing to the ear, they’re also an ancient prayer of Israel’s worship. Psalm 22 begins with these words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” Jesus prays the prayers of Israel— his people—while he is being ridiculed and killed because Israel has known what it means to be godforsaken, only, they have forgotten. Many of the Jewish people mocking him would recognize his words immediately. It would be like someone singing, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,” among a group of Christians. Everyone would know that the line finishes with, “that saved a wretch like me.”

Once you’ve suffered, you need a God who suffers with you in order to love and to trust God. We’ve all suffered in some way, whether it’s the death of a loved one, divorce, betrayal, the consequences of sin, homelessness, mockery, loneliness, tragic deaths. It’s all true to the human experience. Even large-scale suffering like racism, genocide, and terrorism are evils confirming the forsakenness that sin produces in the world. This word from the cross is a word that trusts God even when we can’t answer the “why” and the “how” of suffering and how it will be made right. On the cross, the image of God suffers and trusts as all this evil is laid upon him.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” means God refuses to let our sin determine our relationship with God. God hates that which alienates us from him, and so Jesus’s “Why?” carries him to the outermost limit of what sin produces—hell. On the cross, we are remembered and redeemed because God will not have us lost to sin and death; because we belong to God; because life, and not death, will have the last word. It has been said that Good Friday is the most complete and most profound expression of Christ’s fellowship with every human being. In his agony, Jesus cries these words aloud so that they may never be our last words, and that is good news.

- Pastor Patrick

Where are the Holy Places Right Now?

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 10:11:16 GMT

What? Another article having to do with the pandemic?! Yep. Kind of.

In March 2020, I thought this COVID-19 thing would be gone by the end of flu season. Boy, was I wrong. It’s now 2021. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel since people are now being vaccinated. However, life as we used to know it may not return for quite a while. And while we might have a tendency to engage in ministry with a tentative mindset, we think it’s time to embrace where we are and seek the holy in the midst of the trial.

Pastor Patrick’s last newsletter article invited us all to think about ways we can pursue lives of discipleship in the midst of the pandemic lifestyle. I think that’s important for us as we strive every day to live and grow as Christian disciples. Now, I don’t have all the answers to what that might look like. Just like you, I’ve never navigated my faith life, much less the life of a congregation, through something like this. But over the past number of months we’ve learned a great deal. And two of the things I’ve learned are: 1) It’s very easy to have other activities eclipse your faith life; and, 2) many of us are longing, even more than in pre-covid times, for ways to be involved with church life.

Since the virus is still a reality, we must be reasonable and smart about what we do. But we have got to begin to ramp up a bit more so that we find holy places and times in the midst of our present reality. What can we do?

Well, in addition to the activities that we are already offering (e.g., Sunday School via Zoom, Prayer Ministry via Zoom, Bible Study via Zoom, etc.), we must broaden our opportunities for you to be involved. So, over the next month you will begin to see more chances to exercise your faith muscles. For example,

We would love to include any of you in the congregation who are comfortable to assist in worship by reading scripture. We record worship on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. You can come at that time and we will record you leading the Prayer of Illumination and then sharing the scripture, just as we used to do when worship was in person. The Prayer of Illumination is already written, and we will send you the Scripture passage ahead of time so you can practice if you need to. We will record your part of the worship service first, and then you would be free to go while we record the rest of the service. If this is something you would like to do, or ask more questions about, please contact me at ross@frontstreetumc.org . We would like to start this as soon as possible.

We have been offering the Men’s Breakfast Bible Study and the Coffee & Bible Study with a Pastor during the day. For those who can’t participate during the day, we will begin offering at least one Bible study by Zoom during the evening. Either Patrick or I will lead it. Also, we would love for anyone else who feels called to lead another study to contact me( ross@frontstreetumc.org ). We have three Zoom accounts at the church, and can set up the weekly meetings very easily for yoou.

The Missions Committee has come up with a great idea of having a different missional focus each month. Each focus will include something you can do to be involved. This is in response to the felt need that many of us have right now to be engaged in the lives of others in our community. The pandemic has kept us isolated, but these activities will provide us safe ways to engage and serve others in the name of Christ.

You get the idea. It’s time for us to find and embrace the holy in the midst of a time that doesn’t feel very holy. We can’t wait. God is calling us right now. He is still working in our midst, and still wants to work through us – to help us grow as disciples through worship, study, and service.

So, how will you choose to get involved? Watch out for opportunities coming soon!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

A Resilient Church

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:12:47 GMT

Read Matthew 16:13-19

“The Church is in God’s keeping. We do not have the right to be anxious about it. We have our Lord’s word that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The crux of the matter is that we have been chosen to be the bearers of good news for the whole world.” Lesslie Newbigin, a renowned missionary in the Church of Scotland in the mid-twentieth century, shared these words in a series of notes on the nature and mission of the Church. He reminds us of the resiliency that is built into the Church, which is Christ’s body in the world.

It goes without saying that we live in anxious times. I don’t need to name for you those things which have gnawed at us and kept us awake at night for nearly the last year. Recent months have only exacerbated that anxiety with news of more reckless, hateful, and harmful behaviors that have pitted brothers and sisters in Christ against one another, human being against human being, and the truth against the lie.

In Matthew 16, we hear the story of Peter recognizing who Jesus truly is, “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” to which Jesus replies, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because…my Father who is in heaven has shown this to you. I tell you that you are Peter (which means rock), and I will build my church on this rock, and the gates of hell will not be able to stand against it.”

There are many things about which we are worrying right now. Jesus reminds us, however, that one thing we should not worry about is the future of the church. Doubtless you have joined me in your concerns for the vitality and the future of the church as we have come to live it here at Front Street this last year. The reality of the pandemic has caused us to slow down, set some things aside, cease doing some things altogether, and discover new ways to practice loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

But does that mean Front Street and other communities of faith stand on the brink? No! These times mean rather that we need to learn how to be nimble and creative. The church’s future, which is bound to the future of this world, depends on the boundless, persistent love of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and not on our efforts to please God, to fill pews, or to reach a viewership on YouTube. If, according to Jesus, the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, which is his body, then how would or could those circumstances that are unique to our moment now?

Yes things continue to change, and you may have lost some interest in the church because of how different and “lessened” things may now seem. But the Lord has given over to your care gifts and graces that may be employed even now to reach out to your sisters and brothers who are part of our family here at Front Street. God is calling you to live what you say you believe even now. There’s no need to wait for things to get back to “normal,” no need to kick the can down the road so you can jump back in when what you were used to becomes available again. Because there’s no better time than now to embody the love of Christ to others, no better time to be good news than in the midst of troubling times, no better way to show the resiliency of Christ’s Church than to continuing to live your faith now.

As we continue discovering how to be nimble and creative in this season, I challenge you (yes, YOU) to pray and ask how God might be calling you to step out in faith, to lead, to create spaces where we as Front Street UMC can gather, grow, and share the love of God right now. Let us know where God is nudging you.

-Pastor Patrick

What Are You Building On?

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:14:06 GMT

Luke 6:46-49

As we move further into this new year of 2021, I think about all of you, and about my family and me. I have no idea what this year ahead holds for any of us. (I learned that from thinking I knew what 2020 held as it began.) For most of us, this past year was a mixed bag of blessings and trials. But whatever last year held, it is gone now and we have a brand new year in front of us. This New Year is a time for new beginnings. As you look at how you will invest your time, energy, intelligence, monetary resources, etc, in 2021, there are a couple of questions that deserve answering. The first is: What are you building? We’re all “building” something. Also, as you think about what you are trying to accomplish, there is another question that goes hand-in-hand with the first: What am I building on?

In this Lukan passage, Jesus presents two options – building on sand and on rock. But what do those translate into for us today? Jesus talks first about those who build on rock, so I will, too.

I want to suggest to you that the rock represents principles of God that are immovable and immutable. If you choose to build your life on Kingdom principles, then you have chosen to recognize that there are certain ideas that are right/wrong… helpful/hurtful…God-honoring/God-disgracing. The Bible is full of principles by which you can live without falling into simple legalism. These principles help us in our relationships with other people and with God. Consider the following as examples. Jesus reminded us of the two greatest commandments. There are also the 10 Commandments. There is the Golden Rule. There is the word from James that teaches us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. You can also live with the fruits of the Spirit as the measuring stick for your behavior – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You can pattern your life after Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, who shows us what it looks like to love like God and live within the will of God. These are things that you can go to on a day-today basis. They are tools to help you make good decisions. They are God’s principles – a great deep strong rock upon which you can feel safe building.

The sand, on the other hand, could be seen as representing preferences. What are preferences and why are they not good to build upon? Well, preferences are those likes and dislikes that each of us normally has about various things. You have preferences in your diet. Some of you may prefer chicken, some beef; some may prefer not to have meat at all. Some like dogs, others like cats. Some prefer the ideas of liberal America, while others prefer the ideas of conservative America. You get the idea.

There are two main problems with building your life on preferences.

1. Each of us has our own set of preferences. Therefore, as we try to live in society with one another, we will find it difficult – if not impossible – to arrive at consensus on anything if we only use our preferences as the standard.

2. Our preferences tend to change over time. I don’t like the same things to eat now as compared to when I was a kid. I don’t dress the same. My taste in cars has changed. When I was a kid I wanted a ‘66 Mustang convertible…now I drive a sensible safe Kia. (Okay…I still want the convertible.) My point is this…how can we build anything stable on a moving target?

Here’s the thing. Our temptation is to build our lives on our preferences rather than on God’s principles. And for a while that may work – as long as the weather is good. But, as the Palestine of Jesus’ day was known for its sudden torrential rains that could create instant floods that destroyed everything in their path…so also is this world known to deal pain and destruction into our lives when we least expect it.

So, what are you trying to build this year? What are you trying to build it on? The goals that you have for the coming year may seem good to you right now, but have you measured them against Kingdom principles? Have you listened to what Jesus is calling you to do in His Kingdom? Because if your daily activities and goals aren’t grounded in Him, they will be short-lived and useless. Sure, you’ll be tired at the end of the day doing things your own way, but you will also be stressed, unfulfilled, and without true vision and direction.

So as you plan for this year, why not let Jesus be the architect for what you want to build in your life. Ask His advice on where to build it, and then with Him at your side, get busy building a life that will glorify the Father and contribute to his kingdom.

Pastor Ross

The Business of Time

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 10:14:57 GMT

I have seen the business that God has given to humankind with which to busy themselves. Everything God has done aptly in its time. Eternity, too, God has put into the hearts of humankind, without their grasping at all what it is God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing good in it but to be merry and to partake of good things in their lives.

– Ecclesiastes 3:10-12

Here we are, having turned over into 2021. For many of us the dawning of new year signals the setting aside of what from the previous year we hope to leave behind, and the taking up of newer and healthier practices. We brim with anticipation at what a new 365-day span of time may bring to us. But our well-intentioned transformations don’t often stick, and little changes. I wonder if that happens not just because we don’t often handle change well or discover diminishing returns for all our efforts, but also because we fail to perceive time as something in God’s hands.

On what are our feelings and hopes of newness built? 2020 brought for many of us deep sorrow, loss, and anguish related to the pandemic and the muting of life as we have known it. With vaccines becoming more readily available, there are signs of hope on the horizon, but not much will change from what we have known this last year as we roll into 2021. Restrictions remain in place, cases continue to rise, and getting back to anything like what we would call “normal” rests at a distance we have yet to discern.

The book of Ecclesiastes, rich in realism, offers a keen observation about the ambiguity of time, that human beings, living the brief spans of their lives, have no control over when seasons of goodness and grief may overcome them. “There is a time and season for everything,” the writer offers, but we have little to no control over any of it. Life happens, yes, and sometimes cruelly, but never devoid of God’s presence, though we sometimes fail to perceive God with us.

The writer observes that time is fleeting, and that we live often despairing of what feels like time’s scarcity. We busy ourselves with business unrelated to what God desires for us, and so there’s not enough time in our lives to do all we want to do, love who we want to love, or be all we aspire to be, we reason. But perhaps that’s not because something is wrong with time, like us not having enough of it, but rather that something is wrong with how we perceive time.

Ecclesiastes declares that even in our finitude, God has placed eternity within us, despite our inability to perceive and fully appreciate God’s love and activity within time. This seems like a problem, until the writer concludes there’s nothing good in us despairing what we cannot do, only “to be merry and to partake of good things in their lives.”

Does that mean do what you want because you just have this one life? Of course not. I would offer that it means instead that God redeems our time, and indeed all time, so that we can experience its gifts.

We just finished declaring the miracle of the incarnation, that in the flesh of Jesus the Christ, God is with us in life, in death, and in life beyond death. Jesus, then, is the Lord of time in that he confines himself to our perception of time and its seasons of goodness and grief, all the while being the embodiment of the Living God who dwells outside of time. It is Jesus’s life lived wholly to God in time by which our time, all our time, is redeemed before God.

Often we despair time. But our past, present, and future belong to the God who has in Jesus lived our time. Through Jesus we are freed to “be merry and partake in the good things of life,” even in the midst of sorrow and grief. In doing this we don’t ignore the bad, but rather recognize that the bad has no power to overwhelm the truth that God is with us in all things. We can experience joy in the midst of sorrow, life in the midst of death, and still take seriously the ills of our hurting world.

As we give ourselves to this new year, may we not despair time, but rather pray and reflect on how we might decide to live passionately the time we have been given, time that has been redeemed to significance through Jesus Christ who is with us.

Pastor Patrick

The Journey Toward Christmas

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:16:36 GMT

Hope, Search, Follow, Believe, Rejoice

I’ve heard it said, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” As we move into the seasons of Advent and Christmas, I would suggest the real joy is found in the journey. The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.” (Zech 2:10) In those words we begin to experience a sense of Hope in the midst of a troubled world. Our tendency is to look for comfort in the things around us – that which we can see and touch. However, all of the world’s troubles are based in spiritual disease. Who will help us be healed?

“For the time is coming, “says the Lord, “when I will place a righteous branch of King David’s throne.” (Jer 23:5) We hear that one is coming, but who will it be? Who can help us with our real struggles?

We hear the angel, Gabriel, as he speaks to Mary: “You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. …His kingdom will never end!” It’s him – the one we are searching for – the one who can heal us and bind our wounds. We hear the voice of heaven calling to us: find him and follow him. And so we do.

With the shepherds, we hear the pronouncement, “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!” And then with the shepherds, we go. We kneel by the manger and stare wide-eyed at the miracle it contains – God in the flesh – Emmanuel, God with us! How can this be? Do I deserve such a gift? Can such a Savior even be possible? Yes, you can believe your eyes. There he is, right in front of you.

Even if you did not see him in the flesh, Jesus calls you to have faith. He says, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29) This is all you have to do to receive the gifts offered to you through the Savior – Believe! “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29)

The scripture tells us the shepherds “went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.” (Luke 2:20) Once you believe, like the shepherds you can rejoice over what you’ve seen.

Hope, Search, Follow, Believe, Rejoice – What a journey! As you move into this holy time, maybe this year, instead of focusing on a particular date, you can focus on the journey. May your trip through Advent and Christmas this year be a blessing to your spirit.

Grace and peace

Pastor Ross

Leading with Love

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 10:18:07 GMT

Read 1 John 4:7-21

As Christians we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves as an expression of our love for God. If we hope to live these commandments that Jesus named as the “greatest,” then we cannot approach the time in which we are living with preconceptions, presumptions, and conspiracies about the lives and circumstances being made known to us day by day. Christians must lead with love, which always seeks the welfare of those around us, which always seeks to understand others before we seek to be understood ourselves, so that we may, like Jesus, be with others in their pain and see the divine spark alight within them as within ourselves.

In the letter of 1 John, we have it told to us plainly: “We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates a brother or sister, he or she is a liar, because the person who doesn’t love a brother or sister who can be seen cannot love God, who cannot be seen.”

So often these days we subscribe to a phenomenon known as “confirmation bias,” in which an opinion or idea becomes so dearly held that we cease to entertain the idea that our opinion or idea could be wrong. Or, we cease to understand that we may have something to learn and to grow toward from the experiences and insight of another. Confirmation bias causes us to seek only those sources of information which confirm what we already think or believe. Doubling down because you want to be right does not make you right, but rather betrays the weakness of our willingness to love through the receiving of someone’s story, both their pain and their hope.

The Greek word mathetes, which we translate as “disciple,” most closely means “learner,” or one who takes on the life and teachings of another. For us that is Jesus. As people taking on the life of Jesus, we profess a faith that seeks understanding, which thrives on wisdom, and that practices compassionate discernment when face-to-face with another person for whom Christ has died. Without these tools we navel-gaze and become angry, opinionated, and unable to relate to others in the way that Jesus calls us to: with love, peace, and the challenge of the Gospel.

As Christians, we’re not called to operate by presumption or merely to confirm opinions we already hold dear about an issue or situation or people who look, think, or believe differently than we do. As followers of Jesus our faith implores us to seek understanding, to relate to others in a posture of compassion. That does not mean right and wrong, truth and lie, ethical and unethical are ambiguous. The lie must be called a lie, and injustice must be decried as such. But true conversion can only happen when we let love lead us into the life of another. And besides, sometimes it is not others who need to change their thoughts and ways, but ourselves.

Leading with love and listening, we become privileged to the lived experiences of others, and open ourselves to empathy. From a starting point of love, we leave space — and God uses that space to create an openness — so that we and our analogues might experience a change of heart and behold each other with a sense of compassion and understanding, rather than blame and disbelief. May we lead with love, and may we view people first in light of what they suffer, so that we may love God by loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Patrick

Stewardship Time Again

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 10:19:35 GMT

Can you believe it?! It seems like we do this every year. That’s because we do. (LOL)

Some folks don’t like stewardship campaigns as a means to drum up support for the church budget, but I think it’s a good practice. It’s a good exercise for Christian disciples to take some time every so often to consider where they want to place God and his work as a priority in their life. You see, stewardship isn’t just about finances. It’s also about how we spend our time. We talk a lot about tithing our money (and we’re going to give you an opportunity to make a financial pledge for 2021), but what about tithing our time. What would it look like for you and I to tithe 10% of our time each day/week/month/year to the work of the kingdom? I encourage you to think about how such a practice would benefit the kingdom of God, and you, too.

Now, back to finances. I want to begin by saying a huge THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to our congregation. In the face of a pandemic, a move to virtual worship, Zoom calls for Sunday School Classes and other meetings, etc., you have been extraordinarily faithful in your financial support of the ministries of Front Street. I have to admit that back in March I was scared about what our finances might look like in August or September. But all is well. We are right where we should be at this time of the year, and it’s all because of you! Thank you!

As we look toward our 2021 Budget, you have hopefully already seen the summary that we published. The 2021 Budget is largely the same as the 2020 Budget, only about $5,000 lower. Together we can do as good a job supporting it as we did this year.

We will have our 2021 Stewardship Campaign from November 8-22. The theme for this year comes from the book of Esther, and is For Such a Time as This. By now you should have received a letter and pledge card. Please place the pledge card somewhere you can see it and pray over it for the next couple of weeks. We will celebrate Pledge Sunday on November 22.

On Pledge Sunday (November 22) we will have the opportunity to communicate our pledges for 2021; and, this year you have a couple of options on how to do that:

You can bring your pledge card to worship, if you are comfortable attending in person.
You can mail your pledge card to our Financial Manager, Tammy Page, in the church office (PO Box 2597, Burlington, NC 27216).
You can deliver your pledge card to the Church Office Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
This year there is a new option. You can enter your pledge online . This online method has the same blanks to fill in as the paper pledge card. When you hit “Submit” after the final question, it will send the information directly to our Financial Manager, Tammy Page.

As we look toward the future, I pray the Lord would bless each of you

as you negotiate this strange time in which we live. And I pray that the Lord would continue to bless us together, as a church, as we seek to be faithful in how we live, give, and love. For it truly in the name of Christ, and for such a time as this, that we have been called.

Grace and peace,

Ross

“For such a time as this…”

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:20:34 GMT

2021 Stewardship Reflection

The Book of Esther tells one of the most remarkable stories in the Bible, a story of intrigue, subterfuge, and ultimately salvation. Unfortunately, it also happens to be one of the least read stories in the Bible. God is never mentioned, not once, even though traces of God’s grace can be found throughout the narrative.

The story takes place in Persia, after much of the Jewish people have returned from exile to Israel. However, a cohort of Jews remain, accustomed to their life in the foreign land where King Ahasuerus rules. After shunning his betrothed, Queen Vashti, King Ahasuerus becomes obsessed with a beautiful Jewish woman named Esther and brings her to court. The King is advised by his cunning grand vizier, Haman, who secretly plots to massacre the Jewish population within their borders. Working opposite Haman is a Jewish elder named Mordecai, who secretly advises Esther, helping her to use her plight and proximity to the king as leverage to prevent the destruction of her people and raise them to a better estate.

Near to the climax of the narrative, in a moment of doubt, Esther sends a message of despair to Mordecai, who reassures her, “Who knows whether for such a time as this you have attained royalty?” Here Mordecai implies that perhaps, unbeknownst to Esther, God had some hand in affording her status and power so that she could leverage it for the salvation of her people. With this in mind, might it also be that this same God, who calls us in Jesus Christ to follow him, has supplied us with all that we need to embody generosity as an act of love for such a time as the one in which we’re now living?

This moment in Scripture begs this question of us, living as we are in a season of pandemic, sharp political division, racial injustice, and uncertainty about the future of our community, our nation, and our world. Friends, are we not still the Church of Jesus Christ? Have we not been furnished with abundant life to be shared freely within and outside of the people Jesus has called together to be his body in the world? As we launch our stewardship campaign this year, it’s critical to remember that stewardship implies caretaking, understanding that we have been entrusted with responsibilities greater than ourselves, obligations more important than any one person.

In the fourth century there lived a great theologian and bishop named Basil of Caesarea. He preached extensively on generosity and care for the poor as integral to Christian discipleship. In one of his sermons he admonishes his fellow believers, “Consider yourself, who you are, what resources have been entrusted to you, from whom you received them, and why you received more than others. You have been made a minister of God's goodness, a steward of your fellow servants. Do not suppose that all this was furnished for your own gullet! Resolve to treat the things in your possession as belonging to others.” Stings a little, doesn’t it? I wonder what would change if we were to trust that God has indeed called us, in such a time as this, to embody generosity, and trust that God has given us all that we need to live faithfully —to give of ourselves for others — as the Body of Christ in Burlington, NC.

Whatever generosity looks like for you, be generous, for as Paul reminds the church community in ancient Corinth, “For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have,” (2 Corinthians 8:12). For such a time as this, let’s join in renewing our covenant to live faithfully as ministers of the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Patrick

Election Time

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 09:22:10 GMT

It’s easy to get swept us in the hoopla surrounding elections isn’t it? We live in a fast paced society that is characterized by 10 second sound bites and partial truths (which we don’t recognize as borderline lies because we move so quickly that we don’t have time to figure out the facts - we just accept them as presented).

Lots of times we’re like the Israelites just before they crossed into the Promised Land. They had been wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, and there they sat on the brink of a new day - of a new way of life. They were in such a hurry to get to Canaan that they forgot about something. Hmmm...what could it have been? GOD!

Many of us make decisions in such a hurry that we don’t take time to search out reliable information to base our decisions on. Then we end up making poor choices.

We have to remember to ask someone about our decisions before we make the choice. But who do we ask? Well, who did Joshua make sure that the Israelites listened to? God!

Before we go into that voting booth we need to pray. We need to ask for God’s guidance. Seeking God’s voice, and then listening to it, will remind us that it’s not our political party, nor our nation, nor ourselves that is the central figure on God’s stage - God is.

The only thing that matters is what God wants. His will is perfect and his knowledge is Truth. If we rely on men and women who are centered on God to be our leaders here on earth, and if we remember to make God the ultimate leader of our lives, great things will be accomplished in our midst. If we place ourselves in positions of service to God he will use us for great things.

I invite you to enter into a season of prayer prior to voting in this year’s election. Lift every aspect of this endeavor to God. Lift the name of every candidate to the throne of heaven. Pray how the Spirit leads you. If you need help getting started, maybe use the following as a beginning point:

Lord God, as the election approaches, help me to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country; and, help me appreciate how the Gospel compels me to respond as a faithful citizen in our community.

The Election is November 3. Whether you vote early, or wait until Election day, pray and then vote. May God bless you and our country as you do both.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

You Are Called

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:23:21 GMT

Read Mark 1:21-28

By the grace of the living God, everyone has a gift — something they alone give to the world and express through the communion of Christ’s church. And because everyone has a gift we can surmise that everyone in and of themselves is a gift. Without your being all in, without your recognizing that you are called by Jesus with purpose and giftedness, the body of Christ remains incomplete.

What does it mean to be called? Perhaps something like this. Jesus articulates God’s desire for relationship with created humanity. He comes and invites us into the deep, original state of belonging that God declares over us in our baptism. He reaches out to each of us in our lack, our false appearances we project to the world, our sense of inability or inadequacy, our grief, and lays claim to all of it so that we may come to the knowledge that we are known by God. Jesus lets nothing stand between people and God, and he does this by calling us to follow him into a new way of doing life.

The call to be Jesus’s disciple is first of all about being noticed and known by Jesus. When you are recognized and called by name, it indicates that you belong and that you matter. Jesus came to bring life and to call us into God’s wholeness, and for it he was despised, rejected, and killed. He surrendered all these things so that we may come to know God’s desire for us to be whole and to belong. “Come.” Jesus begins. “Come. Belong. Be. Be known.” But Jesus’s call also begs a response from us. Peter, Andrew, James, and John have to get out of the boat. Martha has to stop being overcome by the expectations of others. Nathanael has to abandon his cynicism about the world. Matthew has to leave his tax booth. Mary Magdalene has to surrender the past life that held her identity hostage and kept her from God. “Come,” is only the beginning. The rest of Jesus’s call demands a response: “Come, follow me.

In the Scripture you just read, Jesus has just called Peter, Andrew, James, and John from their fishing nets to follow him. Jesus now pivots to reveal a bit about himself, about who these disciples are following, by thrusting them into the middle of a cosmic confrontation.

In the Gospels, Jesus’s confrontations with the demonic reveal the underlying struggle of the cosmos between chaos and order, between division and union, between violence and peace. Jesus’s action in these encounters embody the love with which God mends the brokenness of the world and breaks the resistance of people and powers that grate against the force of God’s love.

Being called, then, also draws us into God’s worldview — the way God sees and makes things new. Jesus embodies this vision through acts of mercy toward the poor and sick and broken, and through acts of resistance toward the powerful people and forces that create division and disparity among God’s people. Discipleship calls us to act on what we so easily say with our lips. It calls us to act in the world in ways that are congruent with the mercy and authority of God. It calls us not only to say but to live in clearly visible ways that Jesus Christ is Lord, not just of our lives, but of the cosmos.

Indeed, when Jesus calls us, he calls us as individuals because no one can answer your call but you. You can resist it, you can run from it, you can busy yourself with all manner of activity and distractions, but the call of Christ has been tailor-made for each person in the world. Only you can make the choice to be all-in for this journey. But the good news is that once you answer that call, once you surrender to it, God shows us that we’re not alone but surrounded by people who have place and purpose in this community called Church, woven together like the fabric of a quilt to make something beautiful in this world — an image of togetherness: different images, patterns, textures, colors. Perhaps it’s time for all of us to assess whether we’re all in. Are you following Jesus, or something or someone else?

Pastor Patrick

Humility & Service

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:24:28 GMT

John 13:1-17

The passage from John 13 tells about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. That passage always amazes me. The Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, gets down on the floor and debases himself as he attempts (once more) to demonstrate humility and service toward his followers. Humility and service to others are some of the characteristics that Jesus has been modeling for them over the three years they’ve been together. But they just don’t get it.

How do I know they don’t get the message? Because if we look into the Gospel of Luke at what follows the foot washing, we hear the disciples arguing about who will be the greatest among them. They missed it again. And we still tend to miss Jesus’ message today.

There are those who profess that we live in a Christian society, in a country founded on Christian principles. Yet, we still engage in the same argument the disciples engaged in – who is the greatest among us? The argument takes many forms as we seek to elevate ourselves, and denigrate those around us. Some profess their philosophy of governance is greatest. Others profess that their idea of justice is greatest. Still others profess that they are greatest because their brand of morality is superior to those around them. What’s lacking in all of these folks? The Christ-like characteristics of humility and service. It’s lacking in the country, and it’s lacking in the modern expression of Christ’s Church.

We can do better. Jesus modeled an attitude of humility – a modest view of one’s own importance. I read recently that one way we can demonstrate humility in our own lives is to talk less and listen more. Another is choosing peace over being right. Both of these communicate that we value others over ourselves. Jesus communicated the same thing when he chose to sacrifice himself for our benefit.

Jesus not only modeled humility, but his humble attitude allowed him to be able to serve those around him. Nobody with an inflated sense of selfimportance would ever stoop to washing anybody’s feet, much less sacrifice himself on a cross. And it’s only as we arrive at a sense of humility in our own life that we are able to truly serve other people in the spirit of Christ.

Humility and service. These aren’t only characteristics that we should seek to have the Holy Spirit cultivate in us. They should be characteristics we look for in our leaders. (But that’s another article, entirely.) So I leave each of us with a couple of questions. Whose feet are you being called to wash? And, how open are you to having humility and a servant’s heart cultivated in you so you can engage in that act of service, in the name of Jesus the Christ?

Pastor Ross

We Have Everything We Need

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:25:18 GMT

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

One of the most remarkable scenes of Star Wars: The Last Jedi comes at the movie’s end, when the few surviving Resistance fighters board their ship and escape the devastation brought down on them by the evil First Order. In the cabin of the ship the trilogy’s protagonist, Rey, sits crestfallen alongside Leia, one of the most beloved and courageous characters in the Star Wars universe. Holding the broken pieces of her weapon, Rey looks around and sees the once determined Resistance fighters, relieved, yet utterly devastated by their losses. Her eyes then turn to Leia, hoping the older and wiser leader could offer some reassurance. Rey asks, “How do we build a rebellion out of this?” Calmly and deliberately, Leia takes Rey’s hands, and with a defiant grin assures her, “We have everything we need.”

It takes both resilience and trust to decide that what we have been given, or what we have available to us is enough. Leia’s belief in The Last Jedi stems from her experiences of loss and victory, of pain and hope throughout her character’s story arc. Her story, however uniquely sci-fi it is, contains within it very human elements like loss and hope that we can connect with as imperfect people living in an imperfect world. Unsurprisingly, the reality of imperfection has a way of constricting our vision into one of scarcity — a view that convinces us that what we have is not enough, and moreover, that there isn’t enough to go around. To function in scarcity needlessly pits us against each other, with everyone struggling to insure for themselves what they need, even if it comes at the expense of those around us. It also causes despair over the future and how life can thrive under such circumstances. That to say, scarcity kills — it kills compassion, imagination, grace, and the ability to trust that God will provide.

Not unlike that final moment in The Last Jedi, Paul defiantly insists that what God has given in the way of personality, strengths, gifts, relationships, and experiences is all the raw material that God needs to do redemptive things among and beyond our gathering. He insists this because, as we begin to suspect in this passage, the poison of scarcity had begun to unravel the unity of the church in Corinth.

Paul’s mission in Corinth had everything to do with helping them to see that Christ was already present in the messiness of the city and in the lives of those he encountered. He preached the necessity of gratitude in recognizing how God was making use of everyone’s gifts as they were drawn to Jesus, and treating those hard relationships with patience and love. In a city where all but the few at the top were struggling to survive, a city where appearances were everything, to be invited into a community that says, “No you are enough, and you matter not just to us but also and more so to God,” was virtually unheard of.

But Paul invites them to remember the electric energy and faithfulness of Jesus that brought them together in the first place, an energy of connection, love, and mutual encouragement, a connection marked with kindness that lifts the other up and that engages mercifully with those who are hurting or pushed aside. Many voices today would have us despair life as a struggle in scarcity. But God is not scarce. God has done great things that in Jesus and the fruit of that requires use to recognize the abundance that God’s love creates in our lives. Paul recognized that even in their imperfect messiness the Christians of Corinth had everything they needed to live Jesus’s life right where they were. In the same way we have everything we need to love God, resist evil, and serve our neighbors right where we are, and God will be with us.

Pastor Patrick

Five Steps to Better Relationships

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 09:30:04 GMT

In some ways, this whole COVID mess has separated us from one another. In other settings, it has brought us closer together; and, by closer together I mean in proximity, not necessarily relationally. Some of you have been thrown together inside the house with your spouse, your child, your in-law, in a way you never have been before. In some cases, you’ve enjoyed that newfound closeness. You’ve been able to have conversations that have caused your relationship to grow and flourish. In other cases, the nearness has not been positive. Perhaps, you’ve gotten on each other’s nerves, and you don’t know what to do about it.

As I was going through some old files recently, I ran across an article by Jill Savage. She shares a few steps that can help us move toward healthier relationships in our lives. We can all use a bit of help on how to relate to others in a more loving and Christian way.

One of the things I remember about being at my grandpa’s house (we called him Papa George) was a magnifying glass that he kept on the table beside his chair. He used it later in life to be able to see things in the newspaper, or to read stuff that had come in the mail.

When you look at something under magnification it looks bigger than it really is. The magnified image is no longer reflective of real life because you’re seeing one thing larger than the other things around it. Magnifying something can give an exaggerated sense of how significant something really is.

The people we live with are imperfect human beings. They have faults. They make mistakes. They let us down on occasion. In these days of increased closeness, it can become easy to look at others’ faults through a magnifying glass. I’ll even venture to say that someone – the god of this world – the enemy who wants to steal, divide, and destroy – helps to position the magnifying lens on the actions or attitudes that cause us the most hurt, disappointment, or rejection. (John 10:10 and I Peter 5:8)

Without realizing it, we move from believing the best about our spouse, our child, our relative, or our friend to believing the worst about them. With their faults maximized and their strengths minimized, we slowly close off our heart to them. Before we know it, a relational wall has been erected by our skewed perspective and unrealistic expectations (for example, that they won’t make mistakes, that they should have made a different decision, etc.).

That relational wall begins a process of separation in our heart and mind. It divides our loyalties and moves us away from the relationship rather than towards the relationship that means so much to us. It’s usually not the big things that kill relationships. It’s often the little things that accumulate over time. Looking at faults through a magnifying glass is a little thing that can do damage over the long haul unless we do something about it.

Here are five ways to begin seeing others in a more balanced way:

1) Move the magnifying glass. Move your focus from what they do wrong to what they do right. If you’re finding yourself critical of, or angry, or disgusted, with your spouse, you’ve likely had tunnel vision on their imperfections. Sit down and make a list of their strengths and what they contribute positively to the relationship.

2) Stay focused on what you love. If you focus on what bothers you, all you will see are the things that tick you off. Keep your eyes on what you love so you fill your heart with love.

3) Believe the best about your loved one. Resist the urge to make their mistake a personal offense towards you. Beware of statements you might make to yourself like, “If he really loved me he wouldn’t have done that,” or “She did that just to tick me off.” These kinds of statements are fertilizer to negative emotions.

4) Get perspective. Are you making a mountain out of a molehill? In the big scheme of things, is this really a big deal? When you measure this imperfection, mistake, or disappointment against all the good things about the person, you may begin to see that this situation doesn’t need to define your whole relationship. You need spiritual perspective as well. Remind yourself who the real enemy is (Satan), and what his agenda is (to divide and destroy). Don’t let yourself get sucked into his distraction and deception.

5) Learn to move forward. Sometimes we need to give grace, forgive, and let it go. Sometimes we need to have a conversation with the person, but only after our emotions have calmed down. And sometimes we need to realize that our own pride or insecurity is the bigger issue here, and it’s helpful to move the magnifying glass from our loved one to ourselves for a few convicting minutes. But don’t let it sit there for too long, or you’ll move from conviction to condemnation of yourself in no time.

That old magnifying glass of Papa George’s had its place in this world. It helped him see things more clearly at times. Magnifying glasses in relationships can do the same. It all depends on what you’re looking at.

What about you? Do you need to reposition your magnifying glass toward more positive areas?

Grace and peace

Pastor Ross

Listen More, Speak Less

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 09:31:18 GMT

“Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing their opinions.” - Proverbs 18:2

More times than I can count, I have witnessed or held conversations in which it was clear that someone was not listening to the person with whom they were speaking, but rather waiting impatiently to voice what they planned to say all along, as if presuming to know what the other person had to say.

Too often it seems that we talk past each other and thus fail to listen to the truth that others speak to us. But is this evidence of Christ being formed in us?

I would offer that one of the greatest services we can give to one another is the gift of listening. Indeed listening serves as one of the foundational elements of Christian community. Just as our love for God begins with learning to listen to God’s Word and Holy Spirit, so too is the beginning of love for our neighbors found in learning to listen to them.

In an examination of Christian service in his seminal work Life Together, theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues, “[Christians] forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people seek a sympathetic ear and do not find it among Christians, because the Christians are talking even when they should be listening. But Christians who can no longer listen to one another will soon no longer be listening to God either; they will always be talking even in the presence of God. The death of the spiritual life starts here.”

In these difficult days our inclination can be to “circle the wagons” in order to safeguard our sense of normalcy as well as our particular worldview when faced with new information that challenges how we see or have learned things like history, politics, or faith.

However, to stop listening and thus stop learning undermines the call to be crucified and raised with Christ into newness of life. Bonhoeffer warns sharply that this signals the death of our spiritual life because we cease also to listen to God, prizing more dearly our preconceived notions of the world than the revelation of truth that God may be speaking to us through another.

True listening that seeks understanding honors those with whom we dialogue as beloved children of God, and not first as enemies. Impatient, inattentive listening serves only to dismiss another person, and ultimately reveals more about our relationship to God than what we perceive as the error of their thinking or disposition.

In such a hyper-partisan time as this, it’s imperative that we pray for humility and for the life of Christ to be formed in us so that we may open our ears and hearts to one another, particularly to those with whom we disagree. Of course this does not preclude the necessity of calling a lie a lie or of struggling for truth in a world tainted by injustice and spin. Just the opposite, it calls us as followers of Christ to hone our discernment and patience so that we may hear the pleas of those who suffer, listen to those who share views other than our own, and thus grow closer to God by courageously coming to the end of ourselves.

- Pastor Patrick

A COVID Update

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 09:32:38 GMT

Wow! Who knew when we decided to not have in-person worship for the 3 remaining Sundays in March that we would be away this long! But things like viruses have a way of affecting our lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Many years from now, this time will hopefully just be the subject of hallway stories: “Do you remember the year we watched worship from home?” “Yep, it was strange, but we made it through, and are stronger for it.”

Some of you are probably wondering how long we’re going to live the life of the church as we presently are. Others of you are actually satisfied that you don’t have to think about it, because you have enough other stuff occupying your mind. Either way, I wanted to give you an update on where we are.

I have asked 12 people to be part of a COVID Task Force . The group has met twice so far. Their job is to have conversation about how we can move forward in the life of the church in light of this corona virus. They are considering how we might ease back into in-person gatherings like small groups and worship. Along with those conversations, they are considering what precautions need to be put in place to keep folks as safe as reasonably possible. They will also advise the church’s appointed clergy (Patrick and me) on a suggested timeline for re-starting in-person worship, with related precautions. As we have new information to announce, we will share it with the congregation.

As I write this article, we are constructing a survey that you will be asked to respond to. The survey is not a vote; but, the Task Force does value your voice and wants to hear what you have to say. It should be out to the congregation the week of June 7. Please take a few minutes to respond to the 5 questions. Your input will help guide the group’s work.

While our staff has been doing a great job while working from home, as a first step toward something normal, we will be returning to limited office hours (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) beginning June 15. If you need to come by the church we will be glad to see you. Please take usual precautions, including wearing a mask.

I want to thank everyone who has helped Patrick and me maintain the life of the church, even if in an extraordinary new way. Marcy and Chris have done a great job keeping up with the children and youth. Our music staff, Matt, Clay, and Laura have helped us to have great music for the worship services. John Moran and Stephen Gable have done the technical work to make sure we can get worship online. Our Visitation Minister, Leslie, has been keeping up with our more senior members. The church office staff, Pamela, Tammy, and Joanna, have kept the finances and communication happening. Jackie, Joe, and Zack have been catching up on the project list of things that needed doing in the building. On top of all that, congregation members have done a great job of letting us know about concerns in the lives of other church members, and small group leaders have kept their groups engaged. Thank you to everyone!

Please continue to pray for our church as we discern the right course of action to take as we attempt to move forward. I know many of you wish I would go ahead and give a definite time when we will resume in-person worship, and I would love to be able to say we will resume, for example, on the first Sunday in July. However, you and I both know that this virus situation is fluid, changing weekly. And I hesitate to put a date out there right now that will create a false expectation. My commitment to you is this: we will watch to see if the activity of the Governor’s 2nd Phase increases the spread of the virus. If it does not, we will set the date for resuming in-person worship – probably giving a few weeks notice – and we will communicate the precautions that the church will be taking, and those that we would hope that congregation members will follow. We don’t want to be cavalier and rush things, and at the same time we know that a vaccine may be years away. Our goal is a reasonable middle ground as we seek the wisdom of the Lord, and we are grateful for your patience.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

The Sliding Scale of Agency

Wed, 27 May 2020 09:33:26 GMT

Agency describes the amount of power and control we are capable of exerting in a given situation. It is our ability to act. Culturally we put forward the idea that we have nearly unlimited agency—i.e., we can act to effect change and bring about our desired future because we have at our disposal resources, time, and the energy to accomplish it. “If you put your mind to it, you can do it.” “The only thing standing in the way is you.” Unfortunately many people live with very little agency, either by accident or design. Some of our brothers and sisters live with a chronic or terminal illness, others live under the oppression of racism and sexism, others fight the battles of mental health, and still others find themselves in relationships of violence that deprive them of the ability to escape. These circumstances stifle agency.

However, in truth, agency is not a fixed reality. None of us have unlimited potential to act. Often agency is a very privileged capacity. Just because we think it or hope it, does not mean it will come to pass. Another way to put it is that endless “get up and go” is an addictive falsehood. A better way to think about agency is as my teacher, Dr. Kate Bowler puts it, as a sliding scale. When we wake up, it’s important to do what we’ll call a battery check. How much energy can I put forward today? What is my ability to give? And this isn’t something we should ask not only as individuals, but also as neighborhoods, communities, and churches. In different seasons of our lives our ability to act and bring change and give to the world around us waxes and wanes both as individuals and as a community of faith.

So what can we do?

Well, if agency refers to our capacity to act in the world then we need to view it, perhaps, as that sliding scale. There are moments in our lives in which we have great control and power to make change and see things through in a favorable way, and there are moments when we feel very small, powerless, and weak. Both of these points and all points in between comprise what it means to be human, and it’s okay to be exactly where you are.

The question is, can we be honest about where we are so that we can lift one another up and shoulder one another’s burdens as the body of Jesus Christ?

Living during this pandemic has made many of us keenly aware of this sliding scale of agency. We have come face to face with our own fragility, and seen exposed how systems and institutions have benefited some and excluded others by design. We have been called to a living hope in Jesus Christ, a hope that compels us to keep faith in the midst of our frail humanity that sometimes can act and that sometimes cannot. And in the midst of that, we need to learn to have compassion for ourselves, to do that battery check, to maybe ask as Dr. Bowler does, “What is possible today?” And day to day that will look different. But maybe, just maybe, that gives us a more honest place to start considering what it means to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves,” as Jesus asks of us. I believe that’s the gateway to learning just how much we need each other now and always.

Peace,

Pastor Patrick

Do No Harm

Thu, 14 May 2020 09:35:30 GMT

In the latter part of the year 1739, some new persons to the faith came to John Wesley to see if he would mentor them in their spiritual life. Over time, the number of people seeking guidance grew, and Wesley formed them into small groups. He gave structure to the groups’ lives by providing self reflection questions to be answered, and guidelines by which each person should live. Some of those have become what we today call, The General Rules.

As I have talked with other staff about how we should live out our shared life as the Front Street congregation in light of our COVID-19 pandemic, the first General Rule keeps coming to mind and gives good guidance: “First, Do no harm.”

Recently we have had conversations about everything from VBS to the Mission Man Triathlon, and the first General Rule continues to give us good guidance as we seek to balance our desire to enjoy communal activities with protection of physical health. The following are some of the decisions that we want to share with you:

Music & Mission Camp – This has been cancelled in its present form for this year. We are hoping to be able to have a 1-day event in the fall.

Vacation Bible School – This has also been cancelled for this summer. Instead, Marcy will focus on creating spiritual activities for our children that will hopefully be able to conform more closely to the pandemic guidelines.

Mission Man Triathlon – After conversation with Susan, Amanda, and Pastor Patrick, we decided that it was in our best interest to cancel the event for this year. As you can imagine, some of our small business sponsors are not able to contribute this year due to the economy. Also, with participant numbers projected to be down, we felt cancellation was the most prudent financial decision at this time. We are providing the congregation with a list of the missions that the proceeds normally support in case you would like to make personal donations to help cover the amounts they would ordinarily receive from the church.

We will continue to evaluate the possibility of face-to-face worship. The Conference Office is preparing a document containing suggested guidelines for local churches to consider as we are able to move through the State’s phases of re-opening. I will gather a small steering committee together to help give advice on how we might move forward at Front Street. As the many issues are considered, we will continue to keep the first General Rule to “do no harm” in mind.

I participated in a webinar recently on Wesleyan teaching as it relates to ministry during a pandemic. The question was asked, “What would John Wesley think about churches not meeting in person during our present pandemic?”

The presenter replied that there is evidence in Wesley’s writings that he discussed situations where the obligation to engage in works of piety (such as corporate worship) came into conflict with the obligation to do no harm. When that happened, Wesley took the position that the obligation to do no harm to one’s self, or to another person, trumped the obligation to engage in works of piety. So, in the opinion of the presenter, John Wesley would approve of our pause in corporate worship and in other aspects of corporate church life insofar as we are doing so seeking to protect the health of ourselves and others. I’m glad to know that Brother John would approve of the decision we’ve made at Front Street to move to online worship for a season.

Please continue to pray for all those who are in leadership at the church as we continue to discern what the future looks like for us at Front Street; and, know that we are praying for you, too.

Grace and peace,

- Pastor Ross

What Are We Learning?

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 09:36:12 GMT

These last weeks, living under the shelter-in-place order and wrestling with my anxieties, I’ve begun to reflect on what this difficult season is teaching me. When we emerge on the other side of this pandemic, we will have a choice either to take what we have learned in this crisis and move forward or to continue pining for the way things used to be.

I once heard it said that we don’t learn from experience; rather, we learn by reflecting on our experiences. In spite of the unspeakable tragedy and loss that COVID-19 has wrought, God has been and is still present, and within God’s presence lie opportunities to experience a deepening of wisdom and discipleship. I wonder if you have taken the time to reflect on the lessons that we may learn in the midst of our circumstances? Here are three things that I’ve taken to heart of late.

The first is that we can’t go back. Nothing can be as it was after having experienced this pandemic and its aftermath, and this has parallel in our Christian faith. In Galatians, Paul speaks in a frustrated tone to believers who have been led astray, chasing a counterfeit gospel: “Now, after knowing God (or rather, being known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless world system?” (Gal. 4:9). Having been claimed by God, Paul says, why would you long for a way of life that was killing you? I believe we are learning what we value most in life right now, and perhaps how in the past we have taken advantage of those things to our detriment. We have an opportunity right now to leave some things behind as individuals and as a society, and to take up practices that give us life and that help us to focus deeply on our faith and on what matters most in life.

My second reflection is this: how we respond to this pandemic shows the world what kind of god or God we believe in. The temptation ever before us tells us to circle the wagons and do what’s best for “us” even at the expense of others. Hoarding, ignoring safety protocols, and refusing to help others when and as we are able: all of these panicked and selfish responses betray our fear. That’s not to say it’s wrong to be afraid, but rather that to act out of that fear shows that we have come to depend too much on ourselves to control or to fix what is wrong instead of placing our trust in the triune God. We have an opportunity right now to express in faith who we know God to be through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit: “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” — i.e., generous, loving, and empathetic toward the plight of others. How we act in this time reveals who or what we worship as “god.”

Lastly, I have reflected on how the way we treat one another embodies what we believe about what Jesus has accomplished in his death and resurrection. In one of my weekly videos on Facebook I shared a quote from Dietrich Bonheoffer, a pastor and theologian whose life became involved in the struggle to resist Nazism and counterfeit faith in his native Germany, a struggle that cost him his life. Writing from a prison cell in late 1943, Bonheoffer opined, “We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or what they omit to do, and more in light of what they suffer.” Shifting from judgment to compassion helps us to view people as Jesus does and as Jesus did in Scripture. When Jesus sees the suffering crowds in Matthew 9, he first feels compassion for them such that it wrenches his gut. He viewed them in light of what they had suffered. Such a starting point draws us together instead of divided us, opening the way for God’s love to lead us rather than our rash judgments. We will need that moving forward.

I wonder: what are you learning? What do you hope God will help you to carry forward from this difficult season?

- Pastor Patrick

Write, Call, Share a Devotion

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:37:17 GMT

Hello Front Street family,

I know many of you may be feeling that you lack the ability to do anything grace-filled in this time of social distancing and quarantine.

While it is true that we are keeping to ourselves and caring for one another by being apart, we are neither helpless, hopeless, or alone. We need each other, and we are in this together, because regardless of our circumstances we remain the bodily expression of Jesus Christ in Burlington and Alamance County.

One of the ways that you can help us and be the church in this time of need is by reaching out to members of our church, either those with whom you already share deep friendships, as well as those whom you don’t know as well. Particularly those who are shut in and cut off from family members because of their age or pre-existing health conditions, realities that make these sisters and brothers of ours vulnerable to COVID-19.

Consider opening your church directory, and finding a few individuals and families that are near to your own name, and give them a call. You may even think of writing a letter to them showing your appreciation for them, and sharing love in whatever ways are true to who you are.

You may also consider, like my family is doing, on sending “Thank You” cards to local hospitals and healthcare providers, as well as to your grocery store or restaurant of choice in order to encourage them and show your gratitude for the ways they are sacrificing to keep life as normal as possible for us, supplying us with basic needs to get through this strange season.

You can also volunteer to share a devotion on our Facebook page, either recorded or written. We would love to diversify the voices who are encouraging us and offering spiritual depth to this time apart.

If you’d like to help with any of this, please email any of our church staff, and we will be happy to provide more direction and information.

We are stronger together, and stronger still by our union in Jesus Christ. May God’s Spirit enliven you with generosity and peace in this strange season.

- Pastor Patrick

Fear Not

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 09:38:41 GMT

I’ve never counted myself, but I’ve heard it said that the phrase “Fear not” occurs 365 times in the Bible. How interesting that it occurs once for every day of the year. No matter what’s happening, we are encouraged to be not afraid. Why is that do you think? I think it’s for a couple of reasons.

Let me begin by saying that God wouldn’t communicate the message to be not afraid unless we had a propensity toward fear in the first place. So, if you’re scared. Don’t feel bad. What I have to share isn’t meant to shame you; it’s meant to encourage you.

As you and I encounter life circumstances, we are bound to come across some that are outside of our control – like the COVID-19 virus that’s going on right now. It’s normal to experience uncomfortable feelings when something like a pandemic confronts us. We’re able to take some positive action, like social distancing, but none of us is in complete control of the present reality. But fear not, God is in control. God knows our needs better than we do, and he is highly skilled in the art of redemption. As you read this, God is working in and through people in our own community and across the world to accomplish good out of this seeming chaos. We need to make sure we are not panicking, but keep a reasoned mind, so that we can make ourselves available to God for his use; and, then also watch for the Christ-like behaviors in others, and give God praise for them.

Here’s another idea equal in importance to the one above. You and I do not live as a people who are without hope. We live in the light of the resurrection. In the life that we live each day on this earth as Christians, our actions and thoughts should be characterized by the victory of the resurrection of Christ. But also, you and I have a hope in the next life that others don’t possess. While we’re being assured that most people who are exposed to this coronavirus will recover, some will not. But remember, when we cease to exist in this life we claim with joy that we will live forever in the presence of the Triune God.

You might disagree with me, but I believe that in these modern days, we have almost turned the idea of life on this earth into a god. We spend extravagant amounts of money, time, and worry, not only on preserving life, but on preserving our youth as long as possible. I dare say that many of us are afraid to die.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not offering to lead a load of folks to heaven right now. I like being alive, and I have a lot I want to do. I want to see my girls find godly men and make families for themselves. I want to spend more years with Sarah. And there are an abundance of places in the world that I would like to see before I die. But with that said, I must face the possibility of death with the hope that has come to me through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am called to face life … and death … with the hope of the resurrection burning brightly inside my soul.

The bottom line is this: In the face of fearsome realities, it is natural for us to experience anxiety, even fear. And while the Scriptures tell us … even command us … to “fear not,” those words come to us not to chastise us, but to point us toward our hope. We are pointed toward the God who comes to us in the midst of the chaotic darkness and says, “I am the Light of the world. Don’t be afraid of the darkness, for I have overcome the dark forces of this world, and I have purchased through the sacrifice of my body and blood, a hope for you that is beyond your imagination. Trust me, for I will never leave nor forsake you.” So, do what you are able to do, and are called by God to do, in the midst of something like our present crisis. Allow God to use you in unexpected ways. And at the same time, remember to be not afraid for God is with us in this world, and in the next.

Grace and peace,

- Pastor Ross

Boatloads of Shame

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 10:39:53 GMT

Read Genesis 2:15–3:7

One of my favorite songs by The Avett Brothers is “Shame.” The chorus goes something like this: “Shame, boatloads of shame / Day after day, more of the same. / Blame, please lift it off / Please take it off, please make it stop.” When I listen to this song, it calls to my mind the impact that shame has on people and relationships. In the opening line of the song the brothers sing, “Okay so I was wrong about / the reasons for us fallin’ out / of love I want to fall back in.”

Traditionally, the Church has interpreted the reasons for us “fallin’ out of love” with God as the original sin of Adam and Eve and God’s handling of it. We’ve heard this story before, but if we listen to the heart of this text, we discover sin’s wound lurking in the background. If you haven’t guessed it yet, the wound of sin that distorts how we see ourselves, the world, and relate to others is shame.

Shame stands in the way of falling back in love with God. It convinces us that we need to hide our brokenness and touch ourselves up here and there, so that God will accept us, and maybe then we can be loved by others—but not before.

In the garden, Adam and Eve clothe their nakedness because of the shame that accompanies their sin. From then on, the essence of this story lingers in the background of everything we think, say, feel, and do. For most of us, we’ve been taught that sin originates in Adam and Eve’s decision to knowingly disobey God. Thanks to the serpent, they abuse their God-given freedom as creatures by eating the fruit, taking it upon themselves to judge good and evil, truth and lie. Human relationships hereafter are tainted with the violence of sin.

Since Adam and Eve we’ve been told that we’re nothing but sinful people. But let’s not confuse our identity as creatures with our sinfulness because they aren’t the same thing. Adam and Eve, in innocence, taste the fruit and believe the fantasy that they can know what good and evil mean, like God. Their freedom to trust God, each other, and themselves, and to live in community with God and creation is broken. Their identity ceases to be determined by God’s love for them as creatures created in God’s image. Now, identity becomes something they have to make for themselves without God.

Sin does the same to us. It twists the image of God in us into a fantasy that we can be strong, independent, resistant, and stable on our own—self-made in our own image. Instead of thriving in the life God has made possible for us we struggle to survive death by competing for life. We wound others because we are wounded, we shame others because we are ashamed. Yes. We’re weak compared to God, dependent on God’s grace, vulnerable to sin and being sinned against, and unstable in our words, actions, and commitments. Sin makes us ashamed that we are creatures—weak, dependent, vulnerable, unstable creatures, and not gods. Yet God created us that way and called it good. The truth is, God cannot hate what God has created in love. That’s to say, sin changes our opinion about God, and not God’s opinion of us.

In Lent we remember we are dust, and that in death we will return to dust. But that dust, although weak and capable of falling apart, is inherently valuable to God. In Jesus, God refuses to let sin determine our relationship to God. In the Spirit, God heals the wounds of shame and brokenness that result from sin. And that is good news.

- Pastor Patrick

It's What You Scatter

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 10:42:15 GMT

I enjoyed the following story recently in a devotional book, and thought I’d share it with you:

+++

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

“Hello Barry, how are you today?”

“H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.”

“They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?”

“Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.”

“Good. Anything I can help you with?”

“No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.”

“Would you like to take some home?” asked Mr. Miller.

“No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.”

“Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?”

“All I got's my prize marble here.”

“Is that right? Let me see it,” said Miller.

“Here 'tis. She's a dandy.”

“I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?” the store owner asked.

“Not zackley but almost.”

“Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble,” Mr. Miller told the boy.

“Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.”

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, “There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.”

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts... all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

“Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.”

“We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,” she confided, “but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.”

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral: Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but how we breathe the Spirit into the lives of others. It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter. Scatter the seeds of Christ into the lives of the people you meet, and you will be blessed beyond measure.

- Pastor Ross

Complicated Yet Beloved

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:51:32 GMT

I wonder if you’ve ever spent time reading and studying Ecclesiastes? Aside from the oft-quoted passage that begins, “There is a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens,” I bet you’d have a hard time recalling any of what it says, but maybe not.

I consider Ecclesiastes one of my favorite books of the Bible because of how matter-of-factly it’s author, who identifies himself as “the Teacher,” speaks to the complexities of being human and what it means to live well in the bounds of our brief lives. Of course, God lies at the center of the writer’s work, but God appears only at key moments, like the refrain of a favorite song, crashing in to remind you what it’s all about.

In chapter seven, the Teacher makes this observation: “See, this alone I found: God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes.” The Teacher reminds us of the important truth that we humans are the only creatures who willfully depart from the intentions of God, the only ones who willfully misvalue and misuse the gifts of God.

The thought probably makes your stomach sink. Are we really that bad?

Sometimes, yes we are, which is why when we gather for worship that we always begin in a posture of confession and in remembering how gracious God is to forgive. We live in a complicated world marked by all kinds of terrible choices and actions that directly contradict the love of God and do harm to others.

The Teacher says that even our best-laid and well-intentioned plans have the capacity to do harm and to come up short of the good we imagine. That sounds horrible, but it all goes to say that we often complicate and muddy the desires that God has made plain for us; namely, to live in Christ such that our lives do justice, enact mercy, and maintain humility before God (Micah 6:8). Too often we make things about what serves us, rather than about the gifts that God has given for us to share and to enjoy.

Thankfully the Teacher doesn’t let us wallow in the mire of how we have schemed against God and complicated our lives. He goes on to say, “Go, eat your food joyfully and drink your wine happily because God has already accepted what you do” (9:7).

Wait, what? I thought the Teacher said we’re scheming and complicated, but now God accepts whatever we do? Well, not quite.

Ecclesiastes does well to highlight the tensions in our lives under God, that we can be both sinful and remarkable creatures. The Teacher here draws us back to the ordinariness of life, the things we do every day that show love, gratitude, enjoyment, and that shares the goodness of life with others: a shared meal with neighbors, time spent with family, energy exerted in helping someone in need, spending time to help a child read, preparing food for a grieving family. God accepts that, and God delights in it.

We are “both/and” creatures. We misappropriate God’s gifts and overcomplicate life and do harm. But our lives also show love and gratitude, and express the goodness that God intends life to be. So, the Teacher says, delight in life, live well and for others, be honest about your sin and when you are less than yourself, and leave the rest to God.

- Pastor Patrick

The Gate of the Year

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:52:21 GMT

As I was rummaging through a drawer a few months ago, I ran across a New Year Blessing that was given to me by my grandmother, Mama Tip. Mama Tip died a number of years ago at the age of 101; but, isn’t it wonderful when we run across a little gift that we had forgotten about from someone special.

For years I had labored under the impression that my grandmother had written this poem. However, after a bit of detective work I found that her words were actually a poem written by Mary Louise Haskins, and it was recited by King George VI on Christmas 1939. I want to share its words with you.

Mama Tip’s Blessing for the New Year

(aka “The Gate of the Year”)

I said to the person who stood at the gate of the year

Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.

He replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand

Into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than any light and any known way.

So, I went forth and I put my hand into the Hand of God

And trod safely into the night.

I offer those words to you as my blessing to you for this New Year of 2020. In the face of any uncertainty that may threaten to consume your heart, may you always know that the safest and wisest position to be in is with your hand firmly grasping that of the Hand of God.

With the love of the Savior,

Pastor Ross

Incarnation & Epiphany

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:53:21 GMT

Read Luke 2:22–40

I wonder what people said about you when you were born. Does your family have stories about what people thought or said the first time they saw you? Unfortunately, Scripture doesn’t give us cute memories of Jesus as a baby, though I’m sure there were those. Among the Gospels only Matthew and Luke share a precious few stories about Jesus’s birth and childhood.

One of those stories happens eight days after Jesus’s birth. Mary and Joseph take their infant son to the temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant made with Abraham according to the Law of Moses, and name him Jesus. In the temple they encounter a devout elderly man filled with the Holy Spirit, named Simeon, and a prophetess deeply faithful in her truth-speaking vocation, named Anna. Simeon and Anna lived long on the promise of the messiah, with the Holy Spirit helping them to trust in God even as time eroded the trust of others. Neither Simeon nor Anna gawk at Jesus or pinch his cheeks. Rather they both announce the mystery that through the life and suffering of this weak, innocent child Israel will be delivered and God’s light will illumine the Gentiles.

This passage teaches us that the Christmas miracle — God with us — has two sides, incarnation and epiphany. Incarnation is all about God becoming flesh and blood and moving into the neighborhood, about God willingly entering the limits and vulnerabilities of human beings without losing any of what makes God divine and transcendent. Jesus comes to make us sharers in the story of salvation, so that as his disciples we will learn to extend grace to others and to engage new and surprising relationships. Incarnation teaches us that the good news of the Christ is meant to be lived. But incarnation alone doesn’t get our attention.

Epiphany — the other side of Christmas — is about manifestation, an event that shows us something clearly. Our culture has conditioned us to see flashy signs, melodrama, and big production value as the way to get our attention or to persuade us to purchase something because somehow our lives would be incomplete without it. Always flashier; always more. But I think all the vibrant advertising and entertainment has dulled our spirits because we no longer see the holiness of ordinary things, the simple ways God comes to us. After all, Jesus comes as a baby in a manger in a small town among a small people in an insignificant corner of the world. There’s nothing flashy about it, but in those humble beginnings God calls to us from eternity to see the depths of his love in the same way he calls to us from the suffering of the cross. Every manifestation of Jesus to the world, every moment of grace is an epiphany pointing us to new life.

The Jesus stories we tell at Christmas remind us that the world’s transformation began just by Jesus being born and beheld — incarnation and epiphany. Think about that. An infant has no way of persuading people to love them or understand them apart from cries and screams. No one knows what they’ll do or how their life will turn out for them. They simply are. On the other side, no one can lie to an infant or pretend to be someone they aren’t. Before children all our pretensions and ambitions mean nothing. We can only be what we truly are. Just by being born and beheld Jesus changes everything. Before performing any miracle, calling any disciples, preaching any sermons, or challenging any religious authority, Jesus reveals God’s grace to us even as he rests in his mother’s arms.

The vulnerability with which Jesus enters the world is the same vulnerability he reveals on the cross at Golgotha. It is the same “power made perfect in weakness” and the same “perfect love that drives out all fear,” surprising and unassuming, yet totally transformative. People had many more things to say about Jesus as Bethlehem gave way to Golgotha. They’re still talking about him today. So what do you say about Jesus? Have you seen him? Has he set you free? Has his salvation truly made a difference in you?

Pastor Patrick

Prepare for a Great Christmas

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:54:55 GMT

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light –

a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. – Isaiah 9:2

I was thinking recently that I need to do things differently this year. Over the past couple of years Christmas has seemed to me to be a short breather between times of great busy-ness. It has become little more than a holiday speed bump.

I long for the days when the anticipation of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the 12 Days of Christmas were almost palpable. So, I’m thinking this year I’m going to do things differently. I’m going to focus more on our present season of Advent – the time of preparation.

The Isaiah verse above reminds us that this world can cast a shadow of death on our lives if we get too caught up in it. When we spend too much time grinding at work to the neglect of our families, the shadow of death looms over us. When we expend too much energy embracing the popular notions of Christmas, the shadow of death can block the light. What is going on in your life that is blocking the Light that is in-breaking your darkness?

Our hope is not in this world, it’s in the Light that shines on all who live in it. Maybe you need to do Christmas a little differently this year. A time of preparation is key to being able to fully embrace an event of great significance.

The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.” (Zecharaiah 2:10) Surely you will agree that is an event of utmost significance! So beginning with this present moment of Advent, I hope you will join me in preparing to make this Christmas a most joyous one by readying your family and your life for the Christ.

Anticipating His coming,

Ross

Our 2020 Budget

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 10:59:32 GMT

I want to begin by thanking everyone who has supported the mission and ministry of Front Street in 2019 with your financial gifts. The wonderful ministry that is done out of our church could not be accomplished without us all contributing our resources.

Hopefully, by now, you have received a pledge card for the 2020 Budget. As you pray about how the Lord would lead you to support our church next year, I want to share a bit of information about the budget that has been approved by our Visioning Team. You numbers people will like this information, the rest of you might find this a bit dry. However, there is more about the ministry that has been accomplished in the past year in the letter that accompanies your pledge card.

If you compare the 2020 Budget to our recent peak in 2018, you will notice a drop of almost 6%. Compared to the 2019 Budget, the 2020 number represents a 1.5% decrease. The vast majority of these decreases have come from more accurate budgeting on the part of church leadership. Also, one of our apportionment amounts paid to the NC Conference no longer exists. So that resulted in a decrease in spending as well.

If you would like a copy of the 2020 Budget, you may pick one up in the church office. However, for those of you who would prefer less detail, here are some of the major budget section totals.

Again, thank you for your support of the 2019 Budget; and, I am confident that with everyone contributing we can end the year in strong fashion. As we prepare for Pledge Sunday on November 24, I know we will all seek the Lord’s guidance on how he would have us join in supporting Front Street’s ministry together.

Blessings,

Ross

Living & Giving: Our 2020 Stewardship Campaign

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 10:00:27 GMT

Giving is part of the character of God, and when we give we live in a way that reflects our Creator.

Financial giving is a spiritual practice, as it reminds us that all we have originates with God and belongs to God. We are just the caretakers of God’s property; and, as we give out of what has been entrusted to us, we learn more how to live in a way that shows gratitude to God for all that we have. Living & Giving… they go hand in hand.

“Living & Giving” is our theme for this year’s stewardship campaign. It’s a great theme because it reminds us that stewardship isn’t only about our finances, it’s also about how we live as we share our time and talent. All of it works together to help strengthen the kingdom of God in our corner of the world. Imagine what the kingdom of God would look like if every Christian, in every place, chose to give sacrificially of their time, talent, and treasure for the cause of Christ. Every corner of Christendom would be strengthened.

As you think about how you can give of your time and talent sacrificially, maybe you begin very simply. Perhaps your starting point is Sunday worship where we come together to give our best to God. While you are in the Lord’s house, maybe you choose to be a part of the greeter ministry, welcoming anyone and everyone into the house of God. From there you can discover new ways to grow in your faith, and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Front Street offers a rich variety of programs and life stage ministries. By engaging with our church family and the community, we learn about interesting opportunities, and the gifts we can share…and receive! Serving is not only beneficial for those who are served; but, when you serve you receive joy, happiness, and build up treasure in heaven.

I invite you to browse through the church’s website for opportunities that you may enjoy. It’s up to you to use the time and talent God has blessed you with.

As you think about how you can get involved in the life of the church through service, please also pray about how the Lord would lead you to give to the work of the church, financially.

In the first week of November, you should receive a pledge card in the mail. I invite you to place it in a position of prominence in your home where you can see it and be reminded to pray about it regularly. On November 24, we will celebrate Commitment Sunday. On that day we will have a time in each worship service to offer our pledges to God. After the 11:00 a.m. service we will enjoy a covered dish meal, and an Advent Workshop for all ages. I hope to see you there!

As Christian disciples, we are called to give of our time, our talent, and our treasure as a joyful response to God’s provision in our lives. Thank you for all the ways many of you already sacrificially support the work of Front Street. If you are yet to move toward sacrificial giving and service, now is a great time to start. You will never regret living and giving in a way that helps share the love of Christ with those inside our church and out in our community.

Grace and peace,

Ross

How Are You Changed?

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:01:22 GMT

As we are created in the image of God – the imago dei – each one of us bears evidence of the divine within us. Who we are, in some way, is formed by that image of God within us.

However, there has been the longstanding debate over which is more important in determining who a person will become – nature or nurture. Are we born with certain tendencies, or are we formed by our environment and our experiences? Personally, I think it’s both.

Obviously Jesus had more than just a reflection of the divine in him – as he walked the earth he was indeed God. Yet, as he grew he was surely formed by the people he met and the places he went.

You and I are the same way. We, too, are formed by the people we meet and the places we experience. As you look in the mirror, while your external visage may be the same, you are not the same person you were 10 days ago or 10 years ago. On this pilgrimage through life you have walked in many places, you have met many people, and you have had many experiences.

I invite you to sit for a moment and listen to your spirit. What experience, person, place has affected you the most? How are you different? What insights or transformations have you experienced? How have you been reminded of the graceful majesty that is the love of God for you.

This world is not a complicated place. There is dirt, there are plants, there is water, and there are people. Yet, as you have journeyed from day to day, in the midst of the ordinary I hope that you have sensed the Divine. And that the Holy Spirit of God has cultivated a new heart in you full of insight and longing.

You are created in the image of God. I pray that as you make this earthly pilgrimage your formation enables you to see the world and its people through the Lord’s eyes and with the Lord’s heart.

Peace,

Ross

The Blessing of Fall

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 10:02:36 GMT

The season of fall is upon us. For me, it’s a time to witness great beauty as I watch the trees dress themselves in reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. At the same time, fall brings something that I have never really gotten comfortable with, change. It’s a time of transition. I know that change can be a good thing as I remember the promise in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. I can’t always see what’s around the next bend, but it’s a comfort to remember that God is already there.

I recently found the following poem that speaks to many of the challenges that fall may symbolically represent for some of us. It’s in the form of a prayer, and I think I will find myself lifting it often … finding inspiration in its images. I hope it does the same for you.

A Prayer for Autumn Days by Joyce Rupp

God of the seasons,

there is a time for everything;

there is a time for dying and a time for rising.

We need courage to enter into

the transformation process.

God of autumn,

the trees are saying goodbye to their green,

letting go of what has been.

We, too, have our moments of surrender,

with all their insecurity and risk.

Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves

lying in colored patterns on the ground,

our lives have their own patterns.

As we see the patterns of our own growth,

may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights,

there is always the dimension of mystery

and wonder in our lives.

We always need to recognize your power-filled presence.

May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain,

many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender.

We must wait for harvest in faith and hope.

Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season,

your wisdom enables us

to know what needs to be left behind

and what needs to be carried into the future.

We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers

touched with frost and windows wearing white designs,

may your love keep our hearts

from growing cold in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us,

you enrich us,

you entrust us with the freedom to choose life.

For all this, we are grateful.

Have a blessed autumn.

Ross

We Are Christ's Servants. Thank Goodness!

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:03:55 GMT

It’s so hard to keep from doing it. But it’s so easy to fall into it. After all, it seems to be a favorite pastime of people in our society – inside and outside of the church. Yet, as I reflect on it, I can’t help but think that it’s one of the things that causes the most conflict amongst people, and brings frustration to the people who engage in it. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the tendency many of us have of trying to control the behavior of another person.

I’ve rarely been successful in such an endeavor myself. And trying to control another person can be quite frustrating. I’m not sure why I ever thought I could do such a thing in the first place. Maybe it’s an inflated sense of my own importance. That reminds me of a saying that’s attributed to Will Rogers that can offer a word of advice to me, couched in a bit of humor: “If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, just try ordering someone else's dog around.” Ouch!

My point is this: From a spiritual standpoint I do much better when I focus on the state of my own heart (which, of course, guides my mind, my speech, and my deeds). I do much better as a disciple when I ask the Holy Spirit to bring into the light any places where I am doing well as a disciple, and the places where I need to change and grow. When I engage in this spiritual self-examination exercise, I find that there is so much work that I have left to do on myself! And if I am focused on becoming the person – the disciple – that Christ calls me to be, how will I possibly have time to manage someone else’s behavior and thinking?

Paul offers in Romans, “[Why] do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…. So then each of us will give an account of himself [herself] to God.” (Romans 14:10, 12) Sounds to me like he’s saying I won’t be answering for someone else before Christ. I’ll have to give an account of my own behavior.

It makes sense. I am a servant of Christ, and it is to him that I am accountable, first and foremost. As Paul reminds me of that truth, he reminds me that other people are Christ’s servants, not mine. Romans 14:4 says, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls.” In other words, it is Christ’s responsibility to judge his own servants, not mine.

What a relief! It’s exhausting trying to manage everybody else’s behavior… to my satisfaction. How freeing it is to realize that I don’t have to do that. And what a word of hope it is that the one who has the right to judge me is the same one who chose to die for me! Thanks be to God!

Blessings,

Pastor Ross

Need Peace?

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 10:05:06 GMT

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

If there is one thing in this world that can rob you of the peace that Jesus means for you to have, it’s finances! However, restoration of that peace can be helped tremendously by learning how to handle your finances biblically. After all, God is the source of all we have, so why not look to him for how to manage the resources he has entrusted to us.

Did you know that 89% of the people in a typical American congregation don’t have a financial safety net? Shocked? I was too. But there’s HOPE through FPU! Through life-changing videos, online tools, and resources, and group accountability, our church members will learn how to create and stick to a budget, save for emergencies, pay off debt, and plan for the future. Just imagine the impact we could have on the community if we were all debt-free! Marriages and families would be strengthened. People would be freed up to be outrageously generous. This kind of hope will ignite change in our entire community!

Toward that end…

We are offering Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU) class this fall as a way for us all to grow in our lives as Christian disciples. This 9-week class will provide information on how to effectively manage your money while applying Christian values; and, we are encouraging everyone in the church to include this class in your personal fall discipleship plans! Sarah and I took it a number of years ago, and it changed our lives!

The class will be offered:

Sundays from 4:00-5:30 pm (beginning September 22)
Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm (beginning September 24)

The class normally costs $139 per family, but the Stewardship Team will subsidize the cost for church members. So, your cost to attend this class will only be $50 per family! (Payable at, or before, the first class.)

Along with the video-based class lessons, you will receive one-year Financial Peace membership which includes:

A workbook that goes along with the lessons;
The opportunity to ask trained financial coaches your questions;
The Legacy Journey, Dave's six-lesson course on building wealth;
Smart Money Smart Kids course on teaching your kids about money;
An online community made up of like-minded folds who are working to get out of debt, save and invest for the future;
Exclusive Ramsey event livestreams;
Access to EveryDollar Plus budgeting app; Plus, other amazing tools for tracking your progress.

Financial Peace University class lessons:

1. Build a Starter Emergency Fund and Learn How to Budget

2. Pay Off All Debt

3. Save a Fully Funded Emergency Fund

4. Invest for the Future and Build Wealth

5. Buyer Beware

6. The Role of Insurance

7. Retirement Planning

8. Real Estate and Mortgages

9. Living and Giving Like No One Else

We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible so that we can plan properly for the classes. Sign up online or visit the Welcome Center for a paper form.

I look forward to seeing you all in the class!

Blessings,

Ross

Sacred Rest

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:06:06 GMT

Read Genesis 1:1–2:4a and Exodus 20:8–11

Have you ever heard someone say, I’ll sleep when I’m dead? We jokingly offer sayings like this to indicate how busy our schedules are and how tired we feel because of them. All of our joking, however, betrays an unfortunate truth about how we live with calendars that are so full that they leave little to no room for us to experience the sacredness of rest. I’m not sure any of us want to wait to experience rest once we’re dead, especially not since God has woven rest into the fabric of our being.

Genesis tells of the Trinity speaking the cosmos into existence, uttering words that explode atoms, coagulate planets, and ignite stars. From the starting point of that expansive primordial creativity God envisions the world and the beautiful diversity of flora and fauna that will populate it. And within six days’ time God establishes the building blocks of all the life that has ever lived, all of it deemed good, with creation’s crowning glory being the formation of human beings from the earth itself, which God calls very good. But on the seventh day God rests and observes all that had been accomplished, and God considered it supremely good.

So why did God rest? Was God tired? Did God need to catch God’s breath? I wonder if perhaps God rested as an act of love for creation, as if to model for creatures and people how God intends for us to live in sync with our biology. God’s idea isn’t that we would be defined by productivity or what we choose endlessly to do. God’s vision is rather that we learn to be wise in how we manage a balance of life, work, and rest. Each has its place and each must be conditioned by the wisdom of knowing what is needed or required of us in a given season. How we spend our time says everything about what we value.

I wonder if you have ever realized the first full day of human existence and partnership with God was the Sabbath? Isn’t that remarkable? That small detail in Genesis lets us know that my worth and your worth are not determined by what we accomplish or how productive we are. God loved us into existence before we ever did anything. That doesn’t mean we don’t labor and toil to earn a living or provide for others, but rather that productivity and efficiency are not valid measurements for determining our worth or goodness in God’s eyes or in the eyes of the church. I am not what I do; I am a beloved child of God, and God creates space in my life for rest and relationship.

Sabbath is God’s regular rhythm of renewal that allows us to experience God’s presence and grace. The world will not fall apart if you create space in your life to rest and to take stock of what a blessing life in God is. Because I can’t be a disciple if my life revolves around work. I can’t be a disciple if my life is wholly consumed with what my kids are doing next. I can’t be a disciple if my mantra is, “I’ve already done my time, let someone else do it.” I can’t be a disciple if my family and my church can’t count on me because I’m so burned out by life and the way I’ve prioritized my life. So many of us live lives that flow about as well as a clogged drain. We pile on so many commitments and over-schedule so many events on our calendars and lay so many burdens of expectation on ourselves as parents and families and kids that the Holy Spirit can barely trickle through the clog we’ve created. God has built us to work out of our rest, not to rest from our work.

In other words, starting from sacred rest helps us to recalibrate our lives where we’ve fallen victim to societal pressures to be busy, overwork ourselves, and overcommit our families, and from there to decide afresh what rhythms are giving us the most life for living so that we may pour ourselves into them. A regular practice of Sabbath-keeping builds up those “No” muscles (and however much of a people pleaser you are, you have “no” muscles!) so that our lives may be freer to say “Yes” to Jesus and to each other.

- Patrick Murphy

Summer Giving Matters

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 10:16:13 GMT

Summer may sound like a great time for a vacation, and it is. Lots of people think that summer is a slow time around Front Street, but it’s not. Actually, for some of our ministries it is peak season – and the most expensive. Consider these important ministries that will happen this summer:

* In June, some of our members, Patrick, and I will attend the North Carolina Annual Conference in Greenville, NC, where we will worship, learn and conduct the business of the Annual Conference. Your giving enables us to have transportation, meals and lodging. Please pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit at our Annual Conference.

* June will also see our Senior High Youth head out on their annual mission trip to ASP, where they will serve those in need by performing home repairs and sharing the love of Christ while they work. Your giving enables transportation, building materials, and other aspects of this ministry.

* The same week the Senior Highs are gone, the Junior Highs will go to the Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC. Like the Senior High Youth, they will perform home repairs, participate in worship, and have a little fun!

* The last big event in June will bring about 50 children to Front Street for Mission & Music Camp, where they will learn how to play various instruments, and participate in mission projects.

* July will mean prepping for Vacation Bible School (VBS). During the first week of August we will welcome between 150-200 kids of all ages to a great VBS where they will have loads of fun learning about Jesus and how to follow him. The curriculum, snacks, crafts, and other supplies all depend on your support.

In addition to all of the above activities, we will still have worship, small groups will still meet, mission giving will still go out to fund valuable ministries outside our walls, and many other ministries will continue.

Lives are still being positively impacted for Christ, even through the summer. So, I invite you to make sure you remain faithful in your financial giving through the upcoming summer months, so that our church can remain faithful to the call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Thank you, and have a great summer!

Grace and peace,

- Pastor Ross

Revival

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:17:05 GMT

Read Revelation 2:1–7

What comes first in your life? For many of us, that question seems easy enough to answer. Reflexively, we might say family, children, education, working hard, helping people, or if any of us feels particularly churchy, we might answer, “God!” However, I’m willing to bet that the more deeply you think on it, you’ll begin to recognize that what you desire to be first in your life doesn’t necessarily match what is first.

The difference between what we desire in life and what is true of our lives is symptomatic of how busily we live. Who we want to be isn’t always who we are. How we want to live isn’t always how we’re living. What we desire for ourselves isn’t always what God desires for us. Busy schedules and constant activity leave little room for nurturing our life together in Christ. Sometimes the thought strikes us as just something else on an already long list of things to do. And so church devolves into an activity on the calendar instead of a common life that orders and informs all that we do.

In every generation the church has needed God’s reviving Spirit to hold the church accountable to its purpose, and the early church we read about in the New Testament was no exception. From a prison cell on the isle of Patmos, John pens short letters to the churches he serves in present day Turkey. To his sisters and brothers in Ephesus in particular he declares these words from Jesus: “you have let go of the love you had at first.”

In the first century, Ephesus was a hub of trade, communication, and religion in the eastern regions of the Roman Empire. It was also the site of the temple to Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. According to John, the church had stayed strong in resisting these things, but had become stale in their passion for living God’s message of love to the world. They were more or less going through the motions. “You have let go of the love you had at first,” says Jesus. This church, it seems, needs revival.

Did you just get a chill up your spine? I think many of us are afraid of that word because it sounds too charismatic and old-time religiony. And yet, revival names God’s ongoing work in the world and in our lives. Revival is the ongoing work of grace in our lives.

It’s a major problem when we trade life in Christ for programmed, calendared religion because your busy life and living in Christ are not mutually exclusive realities! During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the disciples that where their treasure is, their hearts will be also. That means whatever we prioritize and do, if we are not immersed in the love of God in Jesus, it amounts to very little. If we compartmentalize the practice of our faith, then we close so much of our lives off to God’s grace. That doesn’t mean God is absent, but rather that we fail to notice it, and thus miss opportunities to connect and grow in tandem with the Holy Spirit.

The faith of Jesus is not something we set down and take up only when we have time and energy for it. Beloved writer Henri Nouwen once argued that Jesus’s question to us is never: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show us some results? Did you make a profit? Are we under budget for the year? No. The question is: Are you in love with Jesus? Do you know the incarnate God? If the answer is yes, then everything else will fall into place. There’s no shame here. Every one of us needs revival. Every one of us needs each other. The only question is, will you seek it?

- Pastor Patrick

7 Ways to Tell if it's a God Thing

Mon, 06 May 2019 10:18:44 GMT

Have you ever wondered if what you are feeling called to do is of God? Sometimes it’s really hard to tell. I recently read a short article by Ron Edmondson on the subject. I have shared some of it below, because he offers some thought-provoking ways to answer the question. I hope it helps you as you seek to discern God’s leading in your life.

And without faith it is impossible to please God…

(Hebrews 11:6)

We live by faith, not by sight.

(2 Corinthians 5:7 )

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.

( 2 Chronicles 20:12 )

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

(1 Corinthians 1:27)

God calls people to seemingly impossible tasks. It gives Him glory when we can’t do something, but He can. We can do all things through Christ who strengths us, but often what He calls us to do can seem foolish to attempt (at least to others… and sometimes to us) at the time. Imagine what the friends of Abraham, Moses, and Noah must have thought when God called them to what appeared to be impossible assignments. But God calls us to walk by faith into the unknown.

If you know God has called you to something, don’t be dismayed if others can’t quickly identify with your calling. In my experience, God is often raising up others with the same heartbeat, but you can’t always see them at the time, so there may be periods when you have to stand alone on God’s calling. That “standing alone” may be for a season, but at times it could be for years. (Consider the case of Noah.) With that in mind…

Here are 7 possible ways to tell it may be a God thing:

Everyone says it can’t be done…
You feel you aren’t qualified…
There aren’t enough resources available…
It makes no rational sense…
People call it (or you) stupid…
It would give God all the glory…
It honors God and is true to His Word…

I’m not saying these thing confirm what you are attempting is from God. What I am saying is that you should not dismiss the call you believe God has placed on your life because it doesn’t make sense to others around you…or to yourself at times.

Are you in the midst of a God-calling? What is it? What are you going to do about it?

Let’s talk.

Blessings on the journey,

Pastor Ross

Love Alone in Credible

Wed, 01 May 2019 10:20:01 GMT

Read 1 John 3:1–24

“The person who does not love remains in death.” These words mean exactly what they say: whoever does not love stays dead. John offers this challenge to his community of believers as they struggle to care for one another and stick together. If you read the letter we call 1 John at length, you pick up on the fact that he’s writing to a church he deeply cares about, but that is also deeply flawed. The language John uses throughout the letter always circles back to God’s love and our living or not living in that love.

Love as a word or concept is something we use loosely to mean many things. When we think “love,” usually we mean love of the romantic variety. Portrayals of love come to us in the form of movies, television, internet, and real life experiences, and most of the time those portrayals teach us to see love in a very particular way. Love, however, encompasses a much broader reality than the practice of our sexuality or the sentimentality we feel in our emotional capacities. John wants us to understand that love as God means it encompasses a much more robust reality.

Yet so many good and so many really bad things are done in the name of love, and that begs the question of how can we trust the efforts of love we put forward?

One of the earliest theologians of the church, a North African named Tertullian, notes the way that critics of Christian faith recognized the difference Jesus made in the way they lived. He quotes them as saying, “See how they love one another. See how they are ready even to die for one another.” Another ancient voice, a Roman Emperor named Julian, wrote roughly a century later about how Christians were taking better care of the poor than his government and pagan priests were sharing meals and resources and medical care with those in need. Amazing! I think it’s wonderful for us to stand in awe of these ancient witnesses so long as we don’t romanticize them. It would be a mistake to think that same love doesn’t also belong to us now since we belong to Christ just as they do.

John casts this same vision of how God’s love grows in us, in our communities, in God’s world: “Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts in God’s presence.” Christians are to love each other with action and truth, each other meaning anyone whom God places in our path, friend or foe. A serious challenge for sure, but the deeper challenge of this Scripture is that we learn first how to rest in God’s first love for us, so that our very imperfect lives might become channels of God’s very perfect love for others. God’s love invites us to slow down and learn first who we are before we learn what we are to do.

Love is God’s only, ongoing mission. Not many people know that they are loved without any conditions or limits. That should trouble us because some of those people are among us—they are us. They are also the people we encounter every day, as well as those suffering whom we ignore. Without God’s shadow-less love leading me, no matter what I say, what I do, or what I believe, I’m bankrupt. Love alone is credible my friends.

- Pastor Patrick

An Invitation From a Friend

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 10:21:24 GMT

A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, ' Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.’

*******

The great theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:

*******

“…You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” Ephesians 2:19

See you in church very soon…I hope.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

Repair My Church

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:22:03 GMT

St. Francis of Assisi, who many of us know from his storied love of creation and of animals, began his life in a wealthy family before an experience with a naked and homeless stranger transformed his life into one of intense devotion as a follower of Jesus. One particularly powerful story from his incredible life happened one day while Francis was journeying near the church of San Damiano, which, being as old as it was, had fallen into decay. Feeling pulled toward the derelict sanctuary, Francis entered it and began to pray before an image of the crucified Christ that still hung above the altar.

As he prayed, Francis became filled with emotion as he gazed at Jesus’s cross. Then out of nowhere he heard a voice tell him three times, “Francis, go and repair my church which is in ruins.” Afraid of the voice he had heard speaking to him, Francis looked around and saw no one. Once he regained his composure he set himself to obey what had been commanded of him, repairing the church around him as best he could, stone by stone. He did this two more times to two other church buildings before it became clear to him that the Holy Spirit had not spoken of repairing a material building at all, but of repairing the wounds of the people God has called together to be the church of Jesus Christ.

The time of St. Francis was also late in the period of the crusades, a time of violence and of movements in the church that ran counter to the God we encounter in Jesus Christ. War in the Middle East had made the church wealthier than it had ever been to that point, and with that wealth came the construction of large cathedrals as well as the power to influence the politics of the day. The church of Francis’s time, rediscovering the simple way of Jesus.

God doesn’t want us simply to worship God; God wants us to love God. And we love God by loving the people around us — our “neighbors,” by resisting evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. We gather not so that we may dwell on love’s meaning, but so that love would become our meaning as we follow Jesus into the world. Our lives are where God has chosen for grace to take on flesh most clearly in the world. We are God’s temple, not members of a dead religion. We’re the bodily presence of Jesus Christ in the world, free to pursue a life activated by love that seeks out the other who is hurting, broken, and robbed of their God-given dignity.

- Pastor Patrick

Photo credit: Formerly attributed to Giotto di Bondone – Public Domain, Link

Oneness Not Sameness

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:23:13 GMT

Galatians 3:23–29

“For you are all one in Christ Jesus,” Paul declares, “And if you are in Christ, you are a descendent of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.” Paul says that we are inheritors of a promise. And what is that promise? It is that God will not abandon the world, least of all humankind. The Galatian Christians have been liberated by their incorporation into the Christ event. It is for them and for all a new, free, and mature reality. Any prior location or identifier — i.e., Jewish or Greek — is an immature confinement of one’s identity. We have been pulled into the risen Christ; all previous categories no longer matter.

Paul’s argument in Galatians is that the faithfulness of Jesus in his death and resurrection has opened up a new way of being, such that everyone who is in Christ has entered into a new relationship with God and the world. This age brings the fullness of Christ, when classism, racism, sexism, all –isms and violent tendencies that divide humankind over and against the unifying work of the Spirit, are destroyed. Yet, the world as we know it insists again and again on propping up divisions that Christ’s death has undone through violence, coercion, and implicit discrimination. These are reminders of the divisiveness that lies in every human heart unaware of the deep love that claims us as beloved children of God in Christ.

Paul writes that now being “in Christ” (which, by the way, is the most used phrase in the New Testament. Paul uses it 164 times!), it is no longer possible for them to be Jewish or pagan, slave or free, male and female. Whatever identifiers have reduced their personhood to less than a child of God have been rooted down in the soil of the crucified and risen Jesus. In Christ, the world has been moved beyond whatever categories by which we classify each other’s worth. Whatever was grounds for status no longer matters because in Christ the nature of the universe is love; everything is in relationship to everything else, from the smallest atoms cycling around, the planets moving around stars, galaxies colliding with one another, people being intimately drawn together in love.

Later, Paul will ask the Galatian Christians, “But now, after knowing God (or rather, being known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless world system? Do you want to be slaves to it again?” (Gal. 4:9). In other words, “Why would you go back under the guard of lies that incite fear of others? Why would you enslave yourself to the guardianship of rules and religion that set you apart from other people for whom Christ has died?”

We are called to oneness, not sameness. The work of the Holy Spirit draws all cultures together as one people as the body of Christ in and for the world. The Spirit of Christ makes unity possible in all forms of relationship, however strange and difficult. The goal of the church, then, isn’t to create a culture where everyone thinks and acts and believes the same. It’s not a community where we stifle diversity and giftedness. Instead it is a common-unity in Christ, a shared identity that draws together our diversities so that God’s image may be seen and God’s call received by others. As we enter Lent, let us do so striving for unity and openness to God’s Holy Spirit!

Pastor Patrick

Financial Giving 2018 Recap

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:25:07 GMT

I want to take this moment to thank the members of our congregation for your faithfulness as you supported the mission and ministry of Front Street in 2018. It takes all of us to accomplish the work of the Kingdom. Below are some bullets containing areas of celebration related to our financial stewardship that I wanted to share with you.

Your 2018 giving allowed us to fund 93% of the Budget. This represents an increase over 2016 and 2017 which were both 90%.
Your giving for 2018 was $69,046 higher than the previous year.
Church leadership and staff were able to hold expenses down to 91% of the 2018 budgeted need, so we ended the year without a deficit.
The amount you have pledged toward this year’s 2019 Budget is $17,631 higher than what was pledged toward the 2018 Budget.

I hope you agree with me that these numbers show a positive trend in our church’s finances, and are something we should celebrate! I know there are a lot of organizations that ask for your support during the year, but I think there is no better place to invest than the work of the Kingdom of God.

I pray that during this year we will continue to grow as disciples, and that our spiritual growth as a congregation will continue to show itself in our financial faithfulness and our trust in God, our Provider. Thank you again for your faithfulness.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

Prayer for General Conference

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:23:58 GMT

The Rev. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, he first sets his people to pray.” That is what I’m asking you to do. Later this month (February 23-26), delegates from all over the world will gather in St Louis for a called General Conference of The United Methodist Church. They will gather specifically to find a way forward through the ongoing forty (plus)-year-old debate regarding the church’s position on homosexuality.

In attendance will be sincere Christ-followers whose biblical study and theological reflection has led them to opposing opinions on the issue at hand. There is much at stake in the decisions made by those who will debate and vote.

As the delegates prepare to gather, as they travel, as they talk, as they make decisions, you and I must join United Methodists world-wide in prayer. We must pray for the safety of all of the delegates as they travel. We must pray for each of them as they discuss, that they would heed the words of James: “be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” We must pray that the Holy Spirit would fall afresh on the Conference and lead the decision-making of the body so that the will of Almighty God is done. And we must pray that God is glorified in all that is accomplished there.

Thank you,

Pastor Ross

Participating in Christ

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 11:25:52 GMT

“Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all. God has given his grace to each one of us measured out by the gift that is given by Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:2–7)

God has designed us to be in relationship. Participation is how we share in the goodness God has gifted to us in Christ and the Holy Spirit. There are a lot of definitions we could use, but participation in our context as the Church means we are called to build up “the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of God’s Son,” as Paul declares to the church in Ephesus. We share one faith and one Lord, through the one hope we have in our shared baptism.

Discipleship implies that we are participants in God’s mission; we actively live out God’s purposes to grow in our knowledge and love of God by showing mercy to the oppressed, welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, and embracing everyone God places in our path as a person for whom Christ has died and risen. It’s been said before that Christian discipleship isn’t a spectator sport; it’s not something we passively consume. When Jesus came he didn’t establish a new religion but brought life, and life is always in motion. Participating in the life of the church in worship and mission is how we embody this life. It’s not something else to do, but finding joy in the grace of a community that helps us navigate life and listen to God together.

The more effort and energy we put into the church’s life, and the more we give ourselves to each other, the more we want to know, the more we want to be together, the more we want to enjoy who God has made each of us to be. In doing this, we reflect the unity of God to the world. Relationship, then, is the operative word at work in a life of participating in what God is up to in the world and in our community.

By design, the church is meant to be a community that enjoys one another and serves through our baptism. We’re meant to help one another discover our gifts so that we can do life together without fear that we aren’t good enough, gifted enough, or haven’t been here long enough to play a significant part in our worship and work. Prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness: everyone has a part to play — your piece of the puzzle — and without all of us working together to make worship and mission happen, the vision and sound and touch of God’s presence in this place and this community lacks its full potential. May we participate, so that we may experience life in God to the fullest.

- Pastor Patrick

What Story will Narrate Your Life in 2019?

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 11:26:35 GMT

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

- Romans 8:28

Is life something that happens to you, or are you actively engaged in giving direction to your life’s path? If I’m not careful a great part of my life can take on the shape of the next crisis or issue that pops up. Now don’t get me wrong, those types of issues need attention, however, they should not be what gives direction to my life. There should be a larger context in which my life is lived.

As each of us enters this New Year of 2019, we have a choice to make: Which story will give shape to your life? What are possible stories that narrate how you live your life? Where do you find these over-arching narratives that can give context and shape to the trajectory and daily activity of our life? Well, some possible sources are the media, career, family, tragedy, or political/sociological ideology. However, I want to suggest to you that while these are all valid parts of life, and can be truly influential, perhaps they are not the best areas to look for the story that will narrate your life on a day-to-day basis.

There is a greater narrative into which all of the rest actually fits – God’s story. In the Bible we find the God who created you is the one who wants to be the source of your story. Once you embrace God as the source of the story that will narrate all of the rest of your life, then everything else begins to take on a different shape. Priorities change. Direction changes. Fulfillment is found in that which transcends this world, instead of in that which ends with this world.

This year why not allow the story of your redemption to be that which narrates the rest of your life’s activities. It will permeate all parts of your life – your work, your family, and your leisure time. And as you find new direction, may you find blessings as well.

Happy New Year,

Pastor Ross

Watercourses in the Negev

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 11:32:55 GMT

Read Psalm 126

Psalm 126 voices Israel’s thirst for God to redeem their circumstances in the way that the rains refresh and nourish the great watercourses of their native Negev Desert. The people of Israel remember how God rescued them from exile and returned them to the land. They confess, “When the LORD changed Zion’s circumstances for the better, it was like we had been dreaming.” In other words, we had forgotten who we were, what our story was, and who God is. But suddenly God broke into our sorrow and loved us by leading us home. God showed up as sure and surprising as the rains that bring water and life to the desert. Life requires radical trust, though often our reactions betray our uncertainty that God will actually flood the droughts we suffer.

Philip Britts was a British poet and horticulturalist during the early twentieth century. He once wrote about the difficulty of trusting God in all seasons of life: “We are so distracted by many things. Our spiritual awareness waxes and wanes in intensity. … We may get lifted up in moments of tenderness but will be cast down in hours of dryness.” Like the desert, human life, as diverse as our experiences are, rarely settles into equilibrium. Dry seasons leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled. Rainy seasons fill us until we’re spilling over with joy and thanksgiving. Being a human being is hard. If only we had the ability to trust God to intervene and transform things!

In their moment Israel decidedly remembers the intimacy of God. They remember how God restored their circumstances in the past, a history that tells them to expect and recognize God’s faithfulness now. God will come just like the waters come rushing down the mountains and into the dried watercourses of the Negev in due season. The intimacy they have shared with God prepares them to face an uncertain present with rejoicing hearts.

We don’t always emphasize how the longing and anticipation of Advent is meant to expose the parched places of our personal and communal lives, spaces that need the nourishment of God’s healing presence. Psalm 126 sings of joyful relief because the people know what to expect from the God who brought them out of slavery in Egypt and who restored them from exile. They trust the Lord to be as faithful and timely as God has always been.

Psalm 126 doesn’t say that God will act from heaven to remove all our tears and sorrow so that joy may come. No, it says, “those who plant tears will reap the harvest with joyful shouts! … Those who go out, crying and carrying their seed, will come home with joyful shouts, carrying bails of grain.” When suffering comes, God gives the one thing we need, the one thing we cannot produce ourselves: grace and divine presence. And so in due time, God’s son is born into the world, not because the world is ready and willing, but because it’s parched, cracked, and pitiable; because nothing can stop the roaring waters of joy from bringing justice to a world still divided and hurting; because nothing can keep Jesus from seeing us, loving us, and wanting to heal us from everything that has wounded and parched our souls.

May the waters of God’s grace course through our lives and the lives of all who long for the nourishment of God with us.

- Pastor Patrick

Advent Resurrection

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 11:33:30 GMT

In his work, The Long View, Don Underwood writes, “The disciples had been sitting around Jerusalem for three days. The crucifixion had wiped out all their hopes and dreams. In their understanding, Jesus was dead and buried, sealed forever in a tomb. It’s not that they were struggling to find some thin sliver of hope. They were totally hopeless, finished, wondering what to do with the world in which they had been left. Then suddenly, Jesus was alive. The whole world looked different.”

I hadn’t thought about this until recently. If you read the Bible carefully you will discover that, for some reason, God chooses to bury things before resurrecting them. There was no reason why Jesus couldn’t have just come down off the cross instead of being buried. But God chose for Jesus to stay in the tomb three days, just as God chooses for the wheat seed or the tulip bulb to stay buried in the cold winter ground for a period before it germinates and grows.

Perhaps you have noticed in your own life that the sense of resurrection does not come easily. It usually follows a period of despair and hopelessness. New life springs out of the darkness of winter.

It may seem odd to talk about Easter and Advent together, but in fact they are inexorably linked. The open tomb is the reason we know that our wintertime waiting is not hopeless. The coming of the babe of Bethlehem is our reminder that God does, inevitably, come. In the end God will come to restore earth to the perfection that was intended in the original creation. It will be the perfection of the Garden. And so the liturgical seasons are all linked together in one great salvation drama. And our prayer, in each season of life, remains the same: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Advent Blessings,

- Pastor Ross

Remembering Creation

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 11:34:30 GMT

Read Genesis 1:24–31

The stewardship of our bodies, our relationships, and our resources play pivotal roles in whether we care for or neglect the larger world that God has gifted to us as our home. “God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good,” (Genesis 1:31). The world, from its beginning, has had the potential to display God’s goodness and grace in every way imaginable. In this vastness, humankind occupies a unique and medial space in Creation: God has tasked us to care for the very organism on which we depend to sustain our livelihood—Earth, our small corner of the cosmos. This means that God and creation share a unique relationship, and within this relationship, humanity is given the responsibility of being Creation’s stewards—caretakers of a world that doesn’t belong exclusively to us, but that is God’s first gift of life in space and time.

Notice that Scripture doesn’t begin with the fall of Adam and Eve or the calling of Abraham and Sarah. It begins with God creating the universe out of a formless void, blessing it, and calling it “good.” In the beginning God speaks, the Spirit breathes, and life explodes.

God is creative; God is creator. And humanity is called to join God in the work of caring for the world. Israel’s history is always tied to the land. Jesus himself tells numerous parables to the disciples using images of soil, seed, trees, vines, farmers, bread, water, and animals. In the Gospels he compares himself to a vine that nourishes its branches, and the disciples to plants that bear good fruit.

I lament the fact that most of what I learned about the world, its creatures, and how to take care of the earth took place outside of the church. Little did I ever hear that part of our salvation means being reconciled with the earth. It always came from school, 4-H, or Boy Scouts. Sure, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” isn’t in the Bible, but it does hint at the gentleness with which we are to relate to the world. Responsible gardening isn’t detailed in any book of Scripture, but gardens and gardeners play a huge role in God’s story from Creation to the Resurrection. Sometimes we learn about God outside the church because God fills everything in every way, from soil and stratosphere.

God’s touch and presence can be found in all things if we but look and care for the world around us, which is why it’s unfortunate that we’ve allowed issues like caring for creation to become so politicized that they no longer factor into our theology and daily practices. For far too long, politicians and religious types have held gridlocked debates in air-conditioned rooms unconcerned with the degradation of the world taking place outside their doors. Businesses and people have defiled and plundered the very lands that make their lives possible. Entire species go extinct for the sake of pipelines and private property.

But we followers of Jesus have already been given a vision for how to relate to the earth in Genesis 1:28, which says, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and soothe it.” In other words, “take charge and responsibility for the earth so that it fulfills God’s vision for life!” Human beings are given dominion, not domination; we are called to be caregivers, not exploiters. Psalm 24:1 reminds us that, “The earth is God’s and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants too.”

Humanity’s fundamental mistake—even in the church—is that we forget that we are not the Creator, but creatures made in the Creator’s image, intimately related to the diverse life that flourishes and struggles on this pale blue dot in the vastness of space. The God we worship is a God who delights in the dirt and the living things birthed from it, so much so that the Creator entered it and became a creature so that we might know Love. May it be so!

- Pastor Patrick

Thankful Giving: November Stewardship Campaign

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 10:36:15 GMT

Read Luke 17:11-19

The Bible tells us to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. (Psalms 107:1) Yet that attitude can be lost in our secular-minded, “I deserve everything I have” culture. That may have been the mindset of the 9 lepers who were healed in the Luke passage above. Maybe they thought that they deserved to be healed, so there was no need to thank anyone. But there was one other. Perhaps he realized that he didn’t deserve any of the blessings that came into his life. So when a blessing did fall upon him, he knew it was proper to thank the author of his blessing –God.

When we understand and practice giving thanks for our blessings, we begin to develop an increased awareness of all that God has given us, and a greater sense of contentment with our life.

November is a great month for offering thanks to God, and for his abundant provision in our lives. One beautiful way we have to express our trust and gratitude to our Heavenly Father is in how we give; and a significant way we give is financially.

This November we will have our annual Pledge Campaign toward the cost of mission and ministry for 2019. We talk a lot about trusting God and deepening our relationship with him, and a major way of doing both is by bringing our finances under his authority.

In invite you to pray about taking your relationship with God to the next level; and, for many of you that would mean beginning the spiritual practice of tithing. A 10% tithe is biblical, and is a practice that God has said he would bless.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10

If you are not ready to move completely to a tithe, then I invite you to commit yourself to taking it in steps. Perhaps increasing your financial gift to God by 1% of your income each year until you reach 10%.

Another way to work toward a tithe would be to increase your financial gift to God by 10% (or some other percentage of your choice) over what you have previously given. For example:

If you are presently giving $125/month, then you would increase your giving by only $12.50 / month for a total of $137.50/month.
If you are presently giving $225/month, then you would increase your giving by only $22.50 / month for a total of $247.50/month.

By the first Sunday in November you will receive a Stewardship Letter and a 2019 Pledge Card in the mail. I invite you to pray about this spiritual issue, and respond in the way the Lord leads you.

We will come together for worship on November 18 for Pledge Sunday, and lay our financial pledges on the altar rail. It will be our chance to join with the one leper who returned to give thanks. Let’s join together as the church and thank our Heavenly Father for what he has done for us through Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,

- Pastor Ross

Greeter Ministry Struggling to Get Off the Ground

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 10:36:59 GMT

“And he said, ‘Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for your camels.” Genesis 24:31

So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Romans 15:7 (MSG)

Thank you to the folks who have faithfully participated in the new Greeter Ministry at Front Street. Your presence at the doors of the church has meant so much.

The feedback I have received from those who are greeting is that they have enjoyed interacting with the folks who walk through the doors of the church on Sunday morning. The feedback from church attendees is that they have loved having someone at the door to offer a welcome.

Hospitality is such an important part of our ministry here at Front Street, and we truly need more people to be a part of it. Perhaps you could sign up once a month? Or maybe once every two or three months is what you are able to do. We’ll take it! You will be helping your church, and I guarantee you will have fun, too. If you are newer to the church, it’s a great way to begin serving.

Here is what we are trying to accomplish, and what we ask of you (the short version):

Serve during one of the three Sunday morning shifts. They begin at 8:15, and each shift is one hour and 15 minutes.
We are trying to staff multiple doors and the Welcome Center (although we haven’t had enough people volunteering to be able to accomplish that yet). I know we can do it, with your help.
Offer a warm greeting to anyone who comes in the door.
If they seem new to the church, ask if you can help them find where they are going. You can usually spot visitors by the slightly nervous look on their face.
We provide you with a map of the church that includes the locations of all Sunday School Classes, nursery, etc.
If a community member in need comes looking for assistance, get them to the Welcome Center, or find a Pastor. Invite them to a worship service.
In addition to welcoming people, we are also asking our Greeters to help with the security of the church. Greeters can do this by just keeping an eye out for anyone who may appear suspicious. We will instruct what to do on the off-chance that someone is coming to the building to do harm. This security aspect is a nice side-effect of having people stationed at the doors. It’s also something that doesn’t happen when we have no volunteers.
Most of all, we ask you to just be joyful and make people glad they came to church.

Sign-up is easy. Click here or follow the directions below:

Go to www.frontstreetumc.org .
On the right-hand side under the heading, “Ways to Serve,” click on the link for “Greeter Ministry.”
You will be taken to the page that lists all of the shifts for each of the Sundays.
Click in the box beside all of the shifts you would like to sign up for.
Go to the bottom of the page and click, “Submit and Sign-Up.”
You will be asked for your name, email address, and a password (so you can go back in later and make changes, if you need to).
Reminders will be emailed to you prior to your day of service.

I hope you will consider helping with this truly fulfilling ministry. We need you to help make sure our church is always a warm and welcoming place. Thank you, in advance, for your service.

Grace and peace,

- Pastor Ross

Love Alone is Credible

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:37:51 GMT

Read 1 John 3:16–24

"The person who does not love remains in death.” John offers this challenge to his community of believers as they struggle to care for one another and stick together. If you read the letter we call 1 John at length, you pick up on the fact that he’s writing to a church he deeply cares about, but that is also deeply flawed. The language John uses throughout the letter always circles back to God’s love and our living or not living in that love.

Love as a word and as a concept is something we use loosely to mean many different things. But when we think “love,” it’s usually of the romantic variety. Portrayals of love come to us in the form of movies, television, internet, and real life experiences, and most of the time those portrayals teach us to see love in a very particular way. Love, however, encompasses a much broader reality than any of these.

What we call love is but an incomplete reflection of the love God offers without pretense and condition. Henri Nouwen once said, “Jesus’s heart is the incarnation of the shadow-free first love of God.” In Jesus we see the inclusion of unsavory and unloved people in God’s salvation. We see enemy love as he forgives those who condemn him and nail him to a Roman cross. We see the lengths and depths to which God is willing to go so that love will prevail, even over death. Shadow-free, unconditional love.

Tertullian, an important figure in the early church, notes the way that critics of Christian faith recognized the difference Jesus made in the way they lived. He quotes these critics as saying, “See how they love one another. … See how they are ready even to die for one another.” What if that was what we were known for?

John casts this exact vision of how God’s love grows in us, in our communities, in God’s world first: “Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts in God’s presence.” John’s pleas for Christians to love each other with action and truth means to love one another silently and spiritually, but actively as the Spirit puts us in contact with other people.

Active love: I think that’s John’s point to a fractured church filled with broken people taken in by Jesus’s love. Love alone is credible, my friends. And love is God’s only, ongoing mission. Not many people know that they are loved without any conditions or limits. That should trouble us because some of those people are among us — they are us. They are also the people we would call other, those outside our circles of trust. They are those who think, look, vote, and believe differently from us. They are those who would be our enemies. And who needs love more than an enemy?

The eyes required to see the people around us lovingly are only given through the faith of Jesus Christ at work in us. We stand at a crossroads in our country and in our church. That’s why this one-and-only mission is so urgent. May we choose to love?

- Pastor Patrick

Choose One Thing

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 10:51:13 GMT

If any of the above rings true with you then you understand how easy it can be to become a Christian without leading a life of Christian discipleship. The good news is: You can change. Begin by choosing one thing – for example, add a Bible Study, attend worship one more Sunday a month, join a Sunday School Class, engage in a local mission activity (you can find all of these on Front Street’s website, Facebook page, the worship bulletin, or in the newsletters).

“…You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Ephesians 2:19).

So…what “one thing” will you be intentional about adding to your spiritual journey this fall?

Blessings,

Pastor Ross

Notes on Various Things

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:38:36 GMT

Invitation to New Member Gathering with Sarah & Ross

Would you like to ask some questions about joining the membership of Front Street? Have you joined the church in the past year, and would like to learn more about how to get plugged in?

On October 21, at 7:00 p.m., my wife, Sarah, and I would like to invite those who have joined the church during the past year, and those who are considering joining the church, to our home for dessert. During that time we will share some information about the United Methodist Church, and Front Street, in particular. (Think of it as a mini new member class.) There will be time for questions, and of course, you will get to meet others who are relatively new to the church.

Our address is 205 Driftwood Drive, Gibsonville. If you could let us know you are coming, it would be helpful. My email address is ross@frontstreetumc.org . See you then!

Columbarium

The long-awaited Columbarium is now in place on the Front Street side of the church. It contains 60 niches, each able to contain up to two sets of cremains. The Policy and Reservation documents are presently being finalized. By the end of September everything should be in place. At that time, those who are interested will be able to proceed with reserving a niche. We will publicize how to make your reservation once all forms are finalized. The prices approved by the Church Council are $1,000 for the first set of cremains, and $500 for a second set. Thank you for your patience.

Financial Stewardship

Just look over this newsletter and notice all of the activity going on through Front Street! Whether you are a kid, youth, or an adult, there are opportunities to engage your faith inside and outside the church. And it all happens because you give.

Yes, right now we are a bit behind because of the summer slump. However, I believe that if the ministries of the church are important to you, your financial giving this fall will show it.

FYI, as we begin to finalize our planning for the 2019 Budget, I invite you to lift our church’s budget in prayer. Also, be praying about how you will respond to the opportunity to support the ministries of our church in the new year. Our Stewardship Campaign will be in November this year, and will center around the theme of Giving Thanks.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support the ministries of the church in a sacrificial way. We couldn’t do what we do without you!

Blessings,

Pastor Ross

Learning to See

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 10:39:21 GMT

Read Acts 28:16–31

“If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.”

– James Baldwin

James Baldwin was one of our greatest novelists, social critics, and leader for the promotion of civil rights in the United States. He made quite a stir in his life with his outspokenness in the pursuit of social justice and racial reconciliation, coming through most clearly in his written works like Go Tell It on the Mountain and Notes of a Native Son. In this particular quote, Baldwin reflects on his creative process as it pertained to his work. He relates his often pointed, challenging tone to the act of loving another person. “If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.” Baldwin’s entire adult life was dedicated to helping people of various racial, sexual, and political identities come to grips with the things they could not see due to their privilege or particular experience of the world.

As I reflected on this quote recently, I was reminded of the final account we have from Paul’s life in the book of Acts. Here, Paul finds himself on house arrest at the end of his long journey to Rome. While on house arrest, Paul hosted many folks from local Christian and Jewish communities who were curious about his understanding of the faith. Every day from morning until well into the evening, Paul shared with them interpretations of the Hebrew Scriptures, stories of his travels, and the truth about Jesus. Some believed him. Others walked away arguing amongst themselves the truth about it all.

As one particular group was leaving, Paul quotes Isaiah 6 to them, which Jesus once quoted to his disciples years before, “You will listen but never understand, and you will look but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes.” Sometimes we miss what is going on around us because we’ve grown too accustomed to particular ways of looking with our eyes and listening with our ears. The world we see with our eyes is colored by many influences and voices, and over time those influences grow less apparent to us. Things blend into the background: racist thoughts or comments shared in jest, untruth being touted as fact, attitudes of “not my child, not my neighborhood, not my people, not my problem.”

Paul’s entire ministry, however, was to help non-Jewish people to see themselves as beloved by and belonging to God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ — that is, the truth about who we are because of who God is. Paul wanted us to see that in Jesus, we are all intimately, eternally connected. Many people turned away from this message because it was too radical, too dangerous, and too dismissive of tradition. Those who turned away could only see the world as how they’d always seen it: God couldn’t be including these Gentiles. God couldn’t possibly allow those who live differently and outside of our hallowed traditions to be called our sisters and brothers. Paul spent his life as an apostle of Jesus Christ helping others to become conscious of what they couldn’t see or accept.

Paul continues quoting Isaiah. Yes, the people have shut their eyes, closed their hearts, and sealed their ears, but God can still work with those things. Paul says that this is, “so that they might learn not to look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn — and I would heal them.” With God there’s always the possibility of turning. The Holy Spirit teaches us to look more closely with our eyes, hear more accurately with our ears, and understand more deeply with our hearts. The challenge that Paul and Jesus share in Scripture is the same as Baldwin’s so wonderfully worded challenge, “If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.” It’s my prayer that as we worship, pray, serve, and search the Scriptures together in this new season of ministry, we would be made conscious of the things we don’t see, so that we might be living examples of God’s grace and mercy to all people, without exception.

- Pastor Patrick

Come on Back! We Miss You! More Importantly, God Misses You!

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 10:40:13 GMT

Bring gifts and celebrate,

Bow before the beauty of God,

Then to your knees – everyone worship!

Psalm 96:8

As I look around at worship I am delighted by all of the faces who are a part of the Front Street UMC worshipping congregation. It’s uplifting to be with people who are here to praise God!

I also know that there are some faces that have disappeared or have become irregular in making worship part of their life. Please know you are missed. If you are part of this group, receive this as your invitation to reactivate your faith and your relationship with God through worship at Front Street.

We all need God as a regular part of our lives. Those of you who are skipping out on worship are robbing yourself and robbing God. (I say that with all the pastoral love I have for you.) You are robbing yourself of the opportunity to be part of something larger than yourself – something committed to honoring the One who is our Source. You are robbing yourself of the comfort and spiritual richness that comes to you through being in relationship with other Christians. And you are robbing God of his worship – that which He is worthy and deserving of.

You were created to worship God. Ephesians 1:12 says, God's purpose was that we … who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. Before you engage in any other activity in your life, your first duty and mine is to engage in worship. Now you might say that you can worship by yourself, and you would be right…to a point.

Consider the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer though: “God has willed that we should seek and find God's living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God's Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened because living by their own resources, they cannot help themselves without cheating themselves out of the truth. They need other Christians as bearers and proclaimers of the divine word of salvation. They need them solely for the sake of Jesus Christ.”

“…You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” Ephesians 2:19

How is your life going right now? Is it tough? Have circumstances gotten you down? Are things hard at work or relationships difficult? If so, I want to suggest to you that your life may be out of order. Without even noticing, your priorities may have slowly shifted away from God and toward the things that burden you.

Come back to Him and He will share your burden. Come back to Him, find delight in worshipping Him, and He will give you joy and peace. Come back to Him and lift your heart in praise – it will do you good, and it will strengthen your relationship with your God.

If you have not been participating in the life of the church on a regular basis, now is the time to re-ignite that flame of love you have for your Lord. Now is the time to come back into the fold and enjoy the company of brothers and sisters in Christ. Now is the time to simply recommit yourself to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

He sacrificed himself for you…join the rest of us in thanking Him through worship. He is waiting … patiently … for you.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

Our New Youth Minister

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 10:40:59 GMT

As you have no doubt already heard, we have a new Youth Minister at Front Street. As we began the search, we shortly realized we already had the perfect person right here inside the church. Chris Huneycutt officially began his duties on July 1, and I’ve asked him to share a bit about himself so that those who don’t already know him can become acquainted with him. I invite you to meet Chris in what he has shared, below.

I am Chris Huneycutt, long time member of Front Street, and I will be leading our youth program. My family and I moved to Burlington in 1980 when I was five, and we have been here ever since. I am married to Betsy, and have two wonderful children, Mary Elizabeth, a rising high school freshman, and Graham, a rising 5 ^th grader. Of course, everyone knows my sweet mother, Betty, icon of Front Street. My dad was Scott.

I grew up in the church, and I can unequivocally say that it has been a constant in my life. From Sunday School to VBS, to years of YMCA basketball and softball, and most importantly, youth group, these things have played a vital role in my life. They influenced me so much that when Betsy and I were first married in 2001, we hosted small groups of youth – those kids are now married with children.

I returned to a volunteer role with our youth group somewhere around 2010 because there was a need for help and I wanted to help youth realize how impactful the experience can be

We have a fantastic group of young people with more on the way. We also have a great group of adult volunteers. I am looking forward to seeing what great things we have in store, but we will need your help. As the saying goes, it takes a village. If you want to help, do not hesitate to let me know. I want our youth and adults to interact as a community as we spread the love of God because we are all ministers.

Some things about me:

Favorite TV Shows – Seinfeld and Andy Griffith

Favorite Musical Genre – Beach Music

Favorite Current Band – The Avett Brothers

Favorite All Time Band – Led Zeppelin

Favorite Sports Teams – The Braves, Panthers and all things Tar Heels

Favorite Food – Steak

I am honored by the opportunity to serve the church and our youth. My door is always open and I am just a phone call (336-213-2895), text, or email (chrishuneycutt75@gmail.com) away.

Chris

I know you join me in praying for Chris as he enters this new area of ministry responsibility. If you would like to be in ministry with our youth, please let him know. And, in that same spirit, if you would like to be in ministry with our children, please let our Children’s Director, Marcy McAdams, know.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

God in the Ordinary of the Summer

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 10:42:26 GMT

Read Matthew 13:31-33 , 44-52

X-Treme sports!

Super Blu-ray 3D movies!

Action packed video games!

Faster cars on the racing circuits!

We have become part of a society that craves excitement…power…16 million colors…faster performance. We want to be like the fellow in the commercial a few years ago who sat in a chair in front of his television with his hair blowing back because of the realistic sound and picture. Our society says, “Impress me, or lose me!”

Now, before you say to yourself, “I can’t believe that this bozo is against fast cars and exciting movies,” let me just say something. I like action packed movies just as much as the next person. I already have some noise-induced hearing loss from concert-speakers and music turned up a little too loud in my car. And I enjoy the feeling of going a little too fast in a boat on the lake. (I quit going too fast in my car… for reasons that I’d rather not relive now that my insurance rates have come back down.)

As fun as those things are, sometimes they can keep us from experiencing something great – GOD. The passage from Matthew, above, invites us to find God in some of the common parts of life – maybe even in places we hadn’t thought of before.

As summer arrives, I invite you to slow down a bit and look for God in the ordinary. When we take notice, the ordinary can become the extraordinary.

When was the last time you slowed down enough to notice God in some of the small things of life?

A child’s face as she sleeps…

The sunlight as it twinkles through the green leaves of a tree …

The feel of dew on your bare feet in the cool of the morning…

The wrinkles in the face of a loved one from years of laughter and smiling …

The subtle colors of a blue, pink, orange, and green sunset at the end of a beautiful summer day.

This summer, as you travel, or as you stay around home, notice the ordinary places in which you catch a glimpse of God and his love for you?

Take the time each day to look for what is good and simple and pure around you…and most likely you will find God there. It was the pure, simple love of the Father for you that caused Him to allow His Son to die on that cross. God’s love is not complicated, nor is it hidden from view from those who will see it.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Remember the wonders and miracles he has done,

Praise the LORD. - from Psalm 105

Summer blessings,

Pastor Ross

Turned Outward

Tue, 22 May 2018 10:44:19 GMT

Read Acts 2:1–21

When the day of Pentecost arrives the disciples of Jesus have been waiting and praying some days for the Spirit to come, just as Jesus commanded them before he ascended into heaven. They waited and they prayed, but nothing could have prepared them for this. The Holy Spirit bursts forth unbridled in power like a rushing wind turning these reflective, waiting disciples outward to their new mission: to be joined to their neighbors and their enemies through the common goods of food, prayer, language, and mutual respect and submission to one another.

On Pentecost Jesus’s disciples become preachers in “other tongues” among a diverse people that think the disciples are drunk. People hear the gospel in their own languages. They’re caught up in the intimate union of God the Spirit with human flesh. And out of this ecstatic moment comes much fruit. Peter, for example, goes against his better judgment at the behest of the Spirit to meet the presence of Jesus in a Roman, Gentile family and baptizes them. Philip gets pulled away from the work he’s doing in Samaria to encounter an Ethiopian eunuch on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Stephen, new to the faith, finds himself on trial before the Sanhedrin, and preaches a sermon that gets him stoned to death. Paul goes from being a murderous, rampaging Pharisee to Jesus’s primary messenger to the nations. Lydia is pressed to use her business acumen to lead and fund the ministry that establishes the church in Philippi. The Holy Spirit of Pentecost — the same Spirit that fills us with Jesus today — is wild, blustery, and pushy, knitting people of all kinds together as the community of Jesus.

Pentecost is a miracle that employs mouths and bodies, God joining strangers in an experience of togetherness that for a moment expresses his peace in the bonds of love and justice. Estranged peoples understand one another, hear one another, touch one another. Jew to Jew, Jew to Gentile, Church to World.

One of my favorite teachers explained what’s going on in Acts by observing that in the course of the narrative almost no one is doing what they want to do. In fact, everyone is being led by the Spirit to do exactly what they don’t want to do and to desire the very people they want to despise. And it all begins with the revolution of intimacy that erupts on Pentecost.

The Spirit doesn’t come as a whisperer asking for permission to act on you, “Are you ready, Peter?” “Does this work for you, Mary?” No. “A sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting.” There’s no permission, no checking readiness, no consideration of comfort, only the rushing, the pressing, and most importantly, the empowering. The same Spirit calls and presses and draws on us the same as with the first apostles: toward the future that God desires, a future in which we the body of Jesus are turned out to the world.

The wind of the Spirit turns us out into the uncomfortable, the unknown, the unimaginable, yes. But the good news is that it’s the Holy Spirit who turns us out: God’s powerful, abiding presence with us, upon us, in us. When that happens, walls of segregation can become tables of grace where people gather to share in the greater gift of life in Christ.

Where is the Spirit-wind blowing you?

Pastor Patrick

For Such a Time as This

Wed, 09 May 2018 10:45:05 GMT

Read Esther 4:10-14

In the year 479BC a Jewish woman named Esther becomes queen in Persia. As a result of some devious plotting by the Prime Minister, the king issues an edict that all Jews are to be killed. At that point, Esther has to decide if she will stand quietly in the wings, or will she step up and do something to prevent this atrocity from happening. In the scripture above, her cousin places before her the thought, “…perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this.”

We all have times that we would rather step aside and let others do what needs to be done. It is particularly easy in the church to get lulled into this mindset – especially if there are paid staff around. As we think about this, let me begin by saying that at Front Street we have one of the best staffs around. The staff of this church works hard each week to ensure that ministry runs as smoothly as possible. They give great leadership, and are always coming up with new and exciting ideas. I would encourage you to stop them when you see them and express your appreciation; or, drop a note to communicate your gratitude for their faithful service to God and to our church.

In addition to a great bunch of staff members, our church has fantastic congregation members who give of their time and talents to make ministry happen. In my own thinking I am moving from calling these folks “volunteers” to referring to them as “servants.” I think this better reflects the way that each person views their involvement in the church. Christ gives to us, and in turn, we serve Him by serving his church. These numerous servants serve because of their love for Christ and for his people. They serve in areas that are visible and in areas that are not so visible. For example, some step up into big noticeable roles like helping with Vacation Bible School. Others come by the church almost unnoticed on a week day and replenish the sanctuary pews with envelopes and other information. Just think of all of the ministries you see (or are a part of) in this church, and begin to imagine all of the activities that might go into making them happen. (For example, just think of the time that goes into preparing this newsletter.) There are people at work all around the church, in a myriad roles, because of God’s call on their life. I invite you to thank them for their service.

Maybe you have been feeling a tug on your life lately. Maybe you are hearing the same words that Esther responded to: “…who can say but that God has brought you into [this place] for such a time as this.” What role can you play in our church’s ministries? How can you faithfully serve in response to the Lord’s love that overflows your life. Is it in an area, like the role Esther was called into, that scares you a little bit? If so, embrace the uneasiness and see it as an opportunity to lean more on the Holy Spirit.

As we journey together as disciples, I encourage you to find the name and contact information of a ministry leader at Front Street and ask them how you can serve. There is always something to do for the benefit of the Kingdom in Burlington and in the world beyond. And the truth is, we have all been placed here for such a time as this.

May you be blessed as you serve,

Pastor Ross

Words Create Worlds

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 10:45:53 GMT

Read Genesis 1:1–2:4a, and Matthew 28:16–20

Words create worlds. They affect us when people speak well of us, and sometimes even more so when people speak ill of us. God’s words, conversely, have created the world we inhabit, all that we see and don’t see. And brilliantly, we have been fashioned in God’s image and likeness, as Genesis tells us. That means our words also have the power to create. For example, watch the world turn upside down when someone says, “I love you” or “You make me so proud” or “I’ll never trust you again” or “It’s malignant” or “We’re having a baby.” For good or ill, words create worlds that we have to navigate carefully in order to live and thrive and overcome.

In our day misinformation and fake news culture rule the day, and so our words matter very much. The words we trust shape us. The words we speak alter the world we inhabit, the reality we understand. They wound. They judge. They divide. Sometimes, the truth is, we get lost in the headlines, lost in the many words of our chatty world, and we miss the word of God meant to shape our life: Jesus Christ. This Word, this enfleshed God, speaks life and dignity into every person, a word of salvation and of hope, a word to pull us together and heal us into unity.

Notice how carefully God speaks as the world unfolds, the rhythm: “Then God said, ‘Let there be…and it was so’…And God saw that it was good…there was evening and morning…” Each part of creation carries within it the DNA of relationship, the imprint of God’s grace, and all of it to God’s delight. And when it comes to us — humans, that is — God reveals something very special. “Let us create humanity in our image to resemble us…” There’s something about God’s self-identifier that speaks to the divine mystery of who God is as Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit. “Let us…” As Trinity, God is inseparable in the work of creating and loving and redeeming. Beneath everything we know and think we know about God lies this hidden communion that defines all life. Everything exists in relation to something else, atom to atom, person to person, galaxy to galaxy. All life has been patterned after the in-folding love God shares as Trinity.

And so God’s words create a particular world, one Jesus reminds us that is filled with God reconciling and healing its brokenness. And in that holy endeavor, Jesus calls us to be partners: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I’ve commanded you. Look, I will be with you always until the end of this present age.” Words create worlds. And Jesus’s words send the disciples into the world not as solo believers, or individuals struggling through life alone, but as a community, baptized in the name of the Trinity. You are not alone; your words are not uttered in isolation; your actions affect many. You exist in relation to a community of believers in God’s world.

May our words join God’s and take on flesh in the healing of this world.

- Pastor Patrick

Strengthening our Hospitality Team

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 10:46:42 GMT

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

- Romans 15:7

Imagine with me. You’ve decided it’s time to find a church. You’ve been putting it off because you find it a little intimidating to go into a new place full of people you’ve never met. But, this Sunday you’ve worked up your courage to do just that. You drive up and find a place to park. You pick a door and walk inside. The people look friendly enough, and they’re all talking with each other in the hallway. Nobody has noticed you, and you don’t want to interrupt any of their conversations; but, you don’t know where to go. You notice a Welcome Center and go over to ask some questions. Oops, nobody there. So, you start to wander, hoping you’re heading in the right direction to find the Nursery for your child and then to figure out where worship is happening.

On the other hand, what if that same person came to Front Street and a trained Greeter met them at the door with, “Good morning! Welcome to Front Street! I don’t think we’ve met before. We’re so glad you’re here. Can I help you find anything?”

What if there were two trained Greeters at multiple doors, one of which could escort a visitor to the Nursery, or wherever they are trying to find? What if we had Greeters at our wonderful Welcome Center ready to answer questions and talk to folks about our church’s ministries?

The season of spring brings new life to nature, and we’re looking forward to it bringing new life to our Greeter Ministry here at Front Street! I want to invite you to consider becoming a trained Greeter so that we can re-build our hospitality ministry. I can’t stress how important this ministry is to the overall health of our church.

People who study this kind of stuff agree – we have a very short time to make a good first impression. Here is what church ministry coach, Nelson Searcy, says on the subject of hospitality:

Seven minutes is all you get to make a positive first impression. In the first seven minutes of contact with your church, your first-time guests will know whether or not they are coming back. That’s before a single worship song is sung and before a single word of the message is uttered.

Obviously your guests aren’t making a logical decision based on the integrity of the preaching, the character of the church staff or the clarity of your doctrine. They are not weighing pros and cons of worship styles and theological viewpoints…. Instead, they are taking clues about your church’s atmosphere and the people’s friendliness on a much more rudimentary level. Their subconscious minds are working overtime to evaluate their compatibility with this new environment.

Please contact me if you are interested in being trained as a Greeter. This is a truly important ministry as we welcome new folks to Front Street.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

You will Understand Later

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:47:17 GMT

Read John 13:1–20, 31b–35

The movie Hotel Rwanda tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina, whose courage saved the lives of over 1,200 Hutu and Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. As the story unfolds, terrorism, political corruption, death threats, and the horror of genocide play out as Paul’s family struggles with his decision to shelter refugees while appearing to continue the normal operations of his hotel. The words of Jesus to his disciples in this reading from John echo throughout the story: “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.”

The genocidal massacre of so many people caused a deep fracture in the heart of Rwandans for many years after the crisis was stilled. However, at the 2004 Forum on World Evangelization a dramatic foot-washing ceremony brought together members of formerly divided communities of Hutu and Tutsi, on the ground, washing one another in the love of Jesus. The same thing happened in 2006 when a former official of the South African government washed the feet of antiapartheid activists in an act of repentance and reconciliation. Pope Francis, too, just two years ago, became the first pope to ever stoop and wash the feet of women and inmates in a dramatic break with papal protocol. When people can tell a story together it can be beautiful even if it isn’t happy. Genocide, apartheid, mass incarceration, betraying and denying Jesus in our own ways: none of these stories are happy in themselves. Yet, reconciliation wouldn’t be possible without the Lord Jesus drawing fractured people to himself and to a table where God’s love is communicated by us serving one another. This is our story.

Jesus washes the disciples to show the depths of God’s mercy and love, to tell the story of redemption that in a few short hours would reach its climax. He stoops low and touches their feet as if to say, where your feet have been does not matter as much as where they will now take you. Nothing can separate you from the Father’s love, a love that is also mine; a love that will take me all the way down to the depths of this world’s suffering and into death itself — for all, even Peter who denies him, even Judas who betrays him, even me, even you dear sisters and brothers.

Through the table fellowship of Jesus we become the body of the crucified and resurrected Christ. At the table, we remember—we bring the past to bear on the present—and we anticipate what will be, a reality made possible by the towel-girded Christ who laid down his life and took it up again by the power of God. As we live again through the rhythms of Holy Week, let us dwell on Jesus’s words: “Just as I have loved you, so you also must love one another. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples…”

- Pastor Patrick

My Preparation for Easter

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 11:48:16 GMT

On February 14 we will have joined together for the Ash Wednesday service as we intentionally enter into the holy season of Lent. Lent is a time to prepare for Easter. It is a necessary prelude. The death and resurrection of Christ are true whether or not I prepare. However, without my heart and life being ready, I may not experience the depth and power of Christ's death and resurrection.

Many people choose to give up something for Lent. The sacrifice gives opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ. However, you may also choose to take on a practice. Below is a list of suggested practices that you may find helpful as you seek to cultivate a deeper relationship with, and appreciation for, Jesus Christ. I invite you to join me in taking up one or more of the following practices.

(Check the ones you desire or feel prompted to do; perhaps you can place the list in your Bible or on the refrigerator as a reminder.)

Inward and Personal Disciplines

___ Spend time in solitude focused on God each day.

___ Begin to keep a Prayer and/or Gratitude Journal.

___ Focus on thanksgiving, rather than on asking, in prayer.

___ Give yourself a gift of three hours to do something you always say you don't have time to do.

___ Make a list of people with whom you need to be reconciled. Pray for them and let Jesus guide you in your thinking and feeling toward them.

___ Go to all of the Holy Week services as an act of love and waiting with Jesus.

___ Take one hour to inventory your priorities and plan how you will reorder them.

___ Give up a grudge or a rehearsal of a past event.

___ Forgive someone who has hurt you.

Outward and Social Disciplines

___ Take on some loving task.

___ Write a letter of affirmation once a week to a person who has touched your life.

___ Listen and respond to Christ's call to a ministry of service.

___ Go to coffee or dinner with someone you want to know better.

___ Give blood and recall the cross.

___ Say "NO" to something that is a waste of money and time.

___ Pray to God to help you resist racial prejudice and to give you courage in opposing it.

___ Decide to become a member of the church.

___ Rebuke the spirit of criticism and your own tongue when it is out of control.

Prepare now for a meaningful Lent,

Pastor Ross

The Mission in Azalea Mobile Home Park

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:49:22 GMT

Read Revelation 7:9–12

A few years ago God gave us a dream of beloved community like we see in the New Testament. The journey began when sisters and brothers from our partner church in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Iglesia Metodista “La Resurrección,” spent two weeks serving alongside of us in July of 2015. During those two weeks we made connections with local ESL teachers, who then connected us with the people of Azalea Mobile Home Park.

Initially, we began by showing up on several randomly chosen afternoons to canvas the neighborhood and reintroduce ourselves as friends of the Puerto Rican missioners who had just been with them, explaining that we hoped to continue building relationships in perpetuity. It was a risky move, and at first we were met with some resistance, but as my friend Carlos Valera would continually remind us, “You have to keep showing up to these people, Patrick. You have to show them you’re serious about keeping your promises and serious about walking with them.” His words were a prophetic challenge to us. And as time went on, the Spirit continued to press us outward to the communities of Azalea, Traveller’s Rest, and Plaza mobile home parks.

Little by little, as we showed up, our neighbors shared their hopes and dreams and the struggles of their neighborhoods. Several visits later, we had learned that dreams included tutoring for their children, E.S.L. classes for adults, other enrichment programs for youth, and general ways to encourage community among the families there. These dreams were not small, but they were honest.

While working toward the tutoring and E.S.L., we began monthly gatherings on Saturdays to play with the kids, and allow space for the adults to get to know each other on equal terms. Often there’s a reading and craft element to our time, as well as games, learning, dancing, and food. Thematically, the activities shift based on the time of year. A regular rhythm of “being with” our sisters and brothers has slowly grown trust between us to the point that the children come freely and with excitement when we show up, and the parents are more and more becoming involved as well.

But we need your help. With my shift in focus toward discipleship within the church family here at Front Street, the Azalea ministry needs strong partners who have a heart for children, mission, and cross-cultural partnership.

The vision of this ministry begins with Revelation 7:9–12, which you have just read. John beholds an innumerable crowd held together in Christ from every nation, tribe, people, and language. What a vision, indeed! The Church believes that the Kingdom of God is present to us now in the work of the Holy Spirit, and that we, Jesus’s disciples, are not exempted from participating in the work of justice, redemption, and love wherever we sense God calling us to be.

We hope to empower our sisters and brothers to come together in faith to realize their dreams for their neighborhood and residence in Burlington. A strong sense of community helps people not only to belong, but also to organize and advocate for themselves as people with dignity and place. Please check your hearts and consider helping this ministry thrive. We need you to carry this partnership to the next level.

Pastor Patrick

Our New Pastor of Discipleship

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 11:50:14 GMT

Front Street has been worshipping God and making disciples of Jesus Christ for a long, long time in Burlington. It would be interesting to know how many people have been able to attribute their Christian walk to this church over the past 130 years. It’s a tradition, and a work, that we want to continue for the sake of the Kingdom.

With that in mind, after prayer and conversation, we have transitioned our Associate Pastor’s job description to enable us to put more focus on discipleship. With the approval of the SPRC, Pastor Patrick Murphy has had his title changed from Pastor of Outreach to Pastor of Discipleship. As a result of this new focus, Pastor Patrick will help guide our discipleship ministries which will include small groups, adult Sunday School classes, Bible and topical studies, and hospitality. (View a copy of his job in the church office.) Of course, he will also continue to have primary responsibility for the Aldersgate worship service, and he will take part in the 11:00 traditional service as well. While he will not be involved in the details of planning some of the mission activities, he is tasked with ensuring that mission activity is available for Front Streeters to engage in. After all, hands-on service is vital to the life of a disciple.

Pastor Patrick is excited about this new focus, and so am I. We believe this shift will benefit the church immensely. It is our hope that his ability to give attention to the area of discipleship will enable Front Street to help everyone grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. I know you join me in praying for Patrick. Please feel free to direct questions to Patrick or to me. Thank you.

Blessings,

Pastor Ross

Do Not Fear, Only Come.

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 10:52:36 GMT

Read Matthew 14:22–33

You know the story. Peter, called out by a water-walking Jesus, finds himself in real danger on the storm-churned waters of the Galilean Sea and needs the rescuing hand of Christ. Water of the sort Matthew describes always represents chaos in the Bible’s language, but it is also understood as a kind of womb for new life. Right away that lets us know that this is a story of transformation for Peter and the disciples. Unlike an earlier episode in which Jesus calms a storm in response to the disciples’ terror, this time Jesus calls Peter into the storm. And Peter obeys. He steps out to face the chaos, enter the struggle, and meet Jesus where he stands; an image, perhaps, of what discipleship means.

So why does this miracle matter? Well, truth be told, it wouldn’t matter much without what happens next. Walking on the water to meet Jesus, Peter is suddenly overwhelmed by the raw, chaotic power of the storm. In fact, Peter succumbs to fear so completely that it eclipses the presence of Jesus standing before him. Suddenly, he begins to sink, and as he does he begs for Jesus to save him. Take note the order here: Peter doesn’t begin to sink and become frightened. Peter becomes frightened and begins to sink.

Losing sight of Jesus in the chaos of our present moment means that like Peter we will plummet into the dark, suffocating waters of fear where we can’t long survive. As with a body of water, the deeper you sink, the more oppressive its pressure becomes. When we doubt that Christ can really transform our world, or when we can’t understand why tragedy and violence seem to blot out God’s presence, our existence can feel dark, cold, and sequestered. But those experiences, while very real, are not because God has abandoned us, but because we mistake doubt and fear as obstructive to life in Christ. Sure, we know what Paul says in Romans, that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus. Even still, we sink because we are frightened, and fear is a powerful god in our time.

The good news, however, is that the dark, cold, crushing water — the last place we expect Jesus to show up — is exactly where Jesus’s hand reaches down to Peter! The Jesus who calls us to step out into the chaos also provides the means to emerge from the waters to new life. The hand of Christ reaches down into the depths of our doubting, our anxieties about the future and about God, and our sinfulness in whatever forms it takes (personal or systemic), so that we become agents of God’s mercy. Jesus is reaching into us this very moment to pull us from the cold, isolating waters of racism, political divisiveness, self-righteous posturing, and our insistence on ignoring the storm that rages around us when Jesus is actively calling to live toward a different future.

All Jesus asks is that we leave the boat; that we realize our place is with him, engaging the chaos of the world by loving our neighbors, praying for our enemies, and witnessing to a God whose name is mercy. Amen.

Pastor Patrick Murphy

Thoughts on Charlottesville

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:53:57 GMT

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the wake of the activities like those that took place this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, we may tend to struggle for handles on the situation. I don’t think I need to insult your intelligence by telling you that what took place was wrong. You already know that. Hate in any form is shameful; and, the violence that sometimes follows hate is also worthy of condemnation, whether that violence is physical or verbal.

Jesus said, “It’s not what goes into the mouth that contaminates a person in God’s sight. It’s what comes out of the mouth that contaminates a person. … What goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight. Out of the heart come evil thoughts…and insults.” (Matthew 15)

The questions for us as Christian disciples are not: Is hate wrong? Should violence in deed or word be condemned? Should Christians stand against evil in whatever forms it presents itself? We hopefully already know the answers to these questions.

The questions for us are: What does a Kingdom response look like? How do we, as Kingdom people, respond in ways that are different than the world would respond?

I would offer that name-calling and acts of violence are not the ways of the Kingdom. Disciples are called to walk in the footsteps of the One who led the way down an alternate path. He said troubling and challenging things like, “…love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” And he inspires us toward a different way with, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

I’m not going to presume to tell you how you should respond to acts such as were imposed on the city of Charlottesville. Instead, I would encourage you to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pray and listen. Make room for this prayer and listening. Talk with your families around the dinner table. Have conversations in your small group settings. Let the conversation take a turn toward the substantial over a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

The fullness of the Kingdom is not yet come, so we will continue to experience such things as hatred and violence in this world. Knowing that, how can we who call ourselves by the name of Christ help to birth a bit of the Kingdom into the part of the world that we have been called to influence. How can we respond in a way that points toward Christ?

If you would care to read the statement from our bishop, you can follow this link: https://nccumc.org/bishop/charlottesville-let-us-remember/

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

Discipleship: A Lifelong Pilgrimage

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:01:28 GMT

A word that we use a lot in the church is discipleship. But what is discipleship really? Well, from the scriptures above we are reminded that God is the first mover in this spiritual relationship between God and Mankind. God initiates a relationship with you, and your positive response is called discipleship. It is that life-long pilgrimage that begins with simple faith and continues into a life of active servanthood (see James). It is life fully lived in the Kingdom of God. It is a life we live both individually and collectively as the Body of Christ.

If you are interested in learning more about this amazing pilgrimage called discipleship, please contact me or any of our other wonderful staff members here at Front Street. Any of us can help you find a place to live out your faith through service.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ross

Live Him

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:02:06 GMT

Read Colossians 2:6–23, or else none of this will make sense!

In Colossians, Paul argues, “Live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught.” Or, to use The Message’s paraphrase, “Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him.” Live him. What a brilliant understanding of faith! You have been given life in Christ, set free from the need to please God and constantly grasp for control of your life and your loved ones and your enemies and your life plans. You’ve been set free to live Christ, to be his loving, reaching, Spirit-filled community of grace in the world, and not to be peddlers of a quality religious experience.

In so many words Paul tells us, Give up your “good Christian life” and follow Jesus. Stop trying to live by a checklist of good and bad, or by moral/ethical rules that work for you but not others, or by standing in endless judgment of others by standards we don’t even follow ourselves! “I'm saved; you're not. This is holy; that is not. This is right; that is wrong. I'm good; you're bad.” That kind of dual thinking prevents us from seeing the potential that all people and all things have to radiate the glory of God. Stop trying to be “good Christians” because there’s no such thing. Christians follow Jesus Christ alone and in that following, we worship him by loving the people for whom he died.

Jesus doesn’t call people to a new religion, but to life, and that’s both the difference maker and the good news. Our job, instead of condemning folks and laying burdens of expectation and rule-following on people, is to actually put ourselves to walking alongside them in all their mess because we love them as Jesus loves them. Where religion seeks “order,” faith seeks only to “love” your neighbor as yourself. “My counsel for you,” Paul encourages us, “is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him.” Let bad religion and even your “good Christian life” die so that you may follow Jesus.

- Rev. Patrick Murphy

Thank You!

Wed, 03 May 2017 12:02:49 GMT

Dear Front Street Church,

Two of the hardest days in the life of a United Methodist minister’s family, is the day they first arrive and the day they leave to move to a new appointment. What makes this year’s move so unique is that I will not be taking a new appointment but will instead enter retirement. Diana and I will begin a new and very different adventure together. In some ways it is bittersweet. We will leave behind many wonderful people we have grown to deeply love. I will especially miss working with Patrick, our associate minister, and our wonderful staff. But after thirty seven years I will finally be able to devote more time to the person I love the deepest, my wife Diana. Together we are planning some wonderful adventures that include travel and spending time with our children and grandchildren. And the best news is that we will not need a mover since we will finally remain in a home we love.

After receiving word that your new minister will be the Reverend Ross Carter my heart is at peace with my decision. Ross brings a unique skill set that Front Street United Methodist Church needs. He and his family will be a blessing to you. My prayer is you will accept them with the same gracious spirit that you extended to us.

I have never liked saying good-bye but the fact that we will remain in Alamance County makes doing so a little easier. I am sure we will cross paths again. Some of you have asked where we intend to worship. For now we plan to join our daughter and son-in-law at First UMC, Graham, but with two clergy in our family and a daughter who attends one of our former churches we also plan to worship with them.

You will always be in our thoughts and prayers. I am proud to be one of the former pastors of Front Street United Methodist Church. And I am thankful for the opportunity to have shared this experience with you. We will carry with us the many wonderful memories of our time with you, and pray that our time with you has strengthened your faith.

Thank you!

Ray & Diana Wittman

Rolled Stones

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 12:03:29 GMT

Dear Front Street Church Family,

According to Greek mythology, there is a figure named Sisyphus, a man who was doomed by the god Zeus forever to roll a large stone up a hill in Hades. Just before the stone reached the top, it would roll backwards, against every effort of Sisyphus. Forever straining at pushing this mighty stone, Sisyphus would spend eternity never accomplishing his task, entirely without hope.

I imagine we have all felt that sense of endless, hopeless, grinding in our life and that a good portion of life consists largely in rolling a huge stone uphill, an effort in which you are entirely alone and dare not stop. That stone may have one label or many: filling all the requisites for each rung in the corporate ladder, lest you be left behind; being all things to all people at work or at home, so you’ll be loved; trying to do something worthwhile to make up for a past sin; struggling for achievement so as to be noticed.

Maybe one or more of these is yours; maybe your stone has a different label on it. The point is, you’re rolling it uphill, and every day, every week, every month, every year, it becomes heavier and heavier.

And you would like to stop rolling it, but that seems hopeless and impossible. Then one day, out of sheer exhaustion, you slip and the old stone comes crashing down. And it becomes the stone that seals your tomb.

I know you have met people who are living on the borderline. They continually confuse survival with life. I believe one of the biggest stones we roll is fear. Fear that our life in the end will have no meaning. Fear that failure will have the last say in our life.

The God, who rolled the stone away that first Easter morning, entered the burdened lives of the disciples. Someone has said that the early disciples, the early church, made no attempt to explain the resurrection – it explained them. They were no longer a huddled lot of frightened people, but a people who moved forward courageously with a message of undying hope. No longer enslaved to their fear, they awaited the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and then moved forward to be the living triumphant church.

The message I want to leave with you today is: you no longer have to mourn or struggle to roll that stone uphill for you have a God who knows your condition and has conquered death, which so often makes dry bones of our lives, and sin, our alienation from God, our aloneness that keeps us forever fearfully rolling the stone uphill. Because of Easter, you can stop pushing that stone. You can take your hands from it and turn with them outstretched toward God. That’s where faith comes in; the faith that God will not let you be crushed.

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Ray Wittman

Forsakenness and the Cross

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 12:04:17 GMT

Read Matthew 27:33–49

“From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock, Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” Of the words Jesus voices from the cross, this question from Matthew’s Gospel shatters our illusions that Jesus can save us by any other way than his suffering, rejection, and death. Jesus the Christ, “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,” is abandoned on the cross. Jeered by passersby, abused by Roman soldiers, mocked by religious leaders, and deserted by his disciples, Jesus has already been abandoned by the world. Now, the union Christ shares with the Father seems to have broken down between Gethsemane and Golgotha. Jewish philosopher Martin Buber called this the eclipse of God.

On the cross, in Jesus’s flesh, God takes into himself our suffering. The Jesus who ate with sinners, healed the sick, called tax-collectors, challenged the religious and political powers, and revealed God’s vision for life bears all of the world’s sin and violence on himself. It’s truly disturbing that Jesus, who comes to save us, would submit to suffering and death as one rejected on a Roman cross, not just by the world but also by the Father. Where is the power and mightiness of God in this moment? Where’s the Jesus who came to save? Matthew tells us that God’s power to save is revealed in the broken body of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus’s words are disturbing, yes, but they’re also words from Israel’s worship. Psalm 22 begins, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” and ends, saying, “For God did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.” Jesus prays these words not only to voice his suffering and abandonment, but also to confess his trust that God will give redeeming love through his death to the world. This is why he came.

Each of us has suffered forsakenness in some way: divorce, betrayal, the consequences of sin, homelessness, mockery, loneliness, tragic deaths. Even large-scale suffering like racism, genocide, and terrorism are evils that confirm the forsakenness that sin produces in the world. And once you’ve suffered, you need a God who suffers with you in order to love and to trust God. It has been said that Good Friday is the most complete and most profound expression of Christ’s fellowship with every human being. If we want to know what God is like, then we need look no further than Jesus. “From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock, Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” In agony, Jesus cries out this last word from the cross so that it will never again be our last word in life. Amen.

~ Rev. Patrick Murphy

Membership has its Privileges

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 12:05:18 GMT

Dear Front Street Church,

Membership has its privileges when you join a local gym or golf club, or you buy season tickets for your favorite basketball team, Duke, State or Carolina, but not in the local church. People sometimes get a little confused when they join the local church. They think now that they are members, they should get special perks like preferred parking or seating, or that the pastor and staff should somehow meet all their needs. The truth is that when you join a church, it is the exact opposite – in contrast to being served you are called to serve.

I believe in church membership, but not in a way that most people think. I don’t lose sleep over people who attend and never join. It’s not about numbers. It’s all about heart and discipleship. To me, church and worship are more than a spectator sport. Church and worship should inspire people to pursue God and deepen their heart connection with others in the church so that their first love is God, and their second love is other people. For this to happen, people must feel embraced, accepted, and loved by the church. Our mission and doctrine are important, but lose their value if people lose sight of God and are not experiencing genuine and meaningful community with each other. That is one of the reasons we want to create more avenues of fellowship like our “Midweek Refresh.”

My passion is to make sure the leaders of our church are in meaningful relationships within the church. If someone says to me they want to lead, but they don’t want to be on the team, I struggle with that. It’s like a young man saying to me “I want to live with your daughter but I will never marry her.” I want to explore with that person the reasons why.

Membership in the church does have one privilege. Members don’t have to do ministry, they get to do ministry! You are encouraged to find joy and meaning in a servant role of your choice and calling. Soon you will discover that there are many avenues of getting involved in the life and ministry of Front Street Church.

Abundant Blessings,

~ Pastor Ray Wittman

Boatloads of Shame

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 13:06:09 GMT

Read Genesis 2:15–3:7

Since Adam and Eve we’ve been told that we’re nothing but sinful people. But let’s not confuse our identity as creatures with sinfulness because they aren’t the same thing. Adam and Eve, in innocence, taste the fruit and believe the fantasy that they can know what good and evil mean, like God. Their freedom to trust God, each other, and themselves, and to live in community with God and creation is broken. Their identity ceases to be determined by God’s love for them as creatures created in God’s image. Now, identity becomes something they have to make for themselves without God.

And that is good news.

~ Pastor Patrick Murphy

A Quiet Trust

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 13:07:08 GMT

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have claimed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;

My soul is like the weaned child

That is with me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time

and forevermore. –Psalm 131

Dear Front Street Church Family,

As we make our journey through Lent to Easter, I am reminded of an expression my father used when I was growing up. Whenever he could see that I was discouraged, or when I confided in him that I was losing hope, my dad would ask, “Where is your faith?” Now, if this came from anyone other than my father I might have dismissed it. But my dad knew about faith. He had grown up poor, lived through the “Great Depression,” fought in the South Pacific during World War II, and raised a family, so he could talk about faith.

Sometimes I don’t think we really know the meaning of the word faith. Some of the difficulty comes, I think from the elastic way in which we use the word. It’s used to express confidence in many things, from family to automobiles. Many times we use it to describe great, childlike gulps of faith, when a person swallows the impossible. Do you remember David, when he strode out to meet Goliath? He exercised this kind of extravagant faith, as did the Roman centurion whom Jesus commended in the gospels. It is said that Jesus was ‘astonished’ by the man’s unflinching confidence. But that’s not the only kind of faith.

If you journey through the book of Job, or find yourself in Hebrews 11, you will discover a different kind of faith, the kind that remains although the miracle hasn’t happened. It’s called “fidelity” or, as one person calls it, that hang-on-at-any-cost faith. This is the faith my dad was talking about when he saw I was ready to give up. This is the kind of faith he lived by all of his life. It’s the kind of faith breathed by all of the saints.

Indeed, life may include both kinds of faith…times when we experience God’s closeness, when he is intimate…and times when God seems to stay silent and nothing seems to work our way, when all our striving seems like “filthy rags,” and the Bible’s promises seem oh so distant. But fidelity involves learning to trust, that; beyond where the eye can see, God still reigns and has not abandoned us. It is a quiet and lifelong trust.

Kierkegaard was probably right when he said Christians reminded him of school children who “want to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the book rather than work them through.” Unfortunately, life does not work that way. We grow by striving and overcoming the obstacles in our way. It is one of the reasons for the spiritual disciplines. Persistent prayer, and fasting, and study, and meditation are designed primarily for our sakes, not for God’s. And so here we are on this life long journey that is going to take faith. Not just any kind of faith. We will need my dad’s faith, a hang-on-at-any-cost faith. Surely we can do this. Remember, when the end of history finally comes, there will be one question that really matters; “When the son of Man Comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

He is not far from each of us-

Grace and Peace,

~ Pastor Ray Wittman

Beloved-ness

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:09:17 GMT

Read Isaiah 42:1–9 & Matthew 3:13–17

Did you read the passages? If not, stop and read them first!

Baptism marks our entrance into this shared life of grace, love, and service to others we call the Church. In baptism, we recognize the gracious action of God to seek us out when we’re lost in ourselves, trapped in the dark of trying to figure out who we are. The sacrament of water and Spirit reminds us who and whose we are. Whether we baptize infants or adults, or that we simply pause to remember our baptism, we declare the abundant grace of God that simultaneously washes us of sin and incorporates us into the done and ongoing work of God’s deliverance through Jesus Christ.

In this text from Isaiah, the prophet draws our attention to God’s power at work within humankind, particularly Israel. Through the lens of Christ, we may surmise that God’s work in the world is to be enacted by God’s people. That is, God wants us to be part of what God is doing to heal the world, to participate in it. According to Isaiah God will transform Israel’s way of relationship away from privilege and toward compassion as God’s people. They will become God’s agent of mercy and justice.

Enter Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan River by John. This is an incredible moment in the Gospels, in which John, seeing Jesus approach, rightly recognizes his need to be baptized by Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Jesus, however, tells John that he must be baptized in order “to fulfill all righteousness,” (Matt. 3:15). Jesus, the agent and embodiment of God’s justice and the law of Torah, submits to these things so that we might be recipients of God’s justice and mercy. Jesus’s baptism gives us a foretaste of this Christ who in loving solidarity will submit death and so conquer death once and for all time. Jesus, declared by the Father and anointed by the Spirit, is unleashed into the world.

Consider this: What is said of Jesus is said of you and me. “This is my son, my daughter, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” This is my beloved son, my beloved daughter, who, baptized in my name — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —I have also called to the work of compassion and justice for the oppressed (Isa. 42:1–4). This is my son, my daughter, whom I have sent into the world as carriers of the good news to those who need healing, who are bereft of community and provision — those on the outside looking in. You and I have been given a new way of relationship, the way of family that includes brothers and sisters beyond our reckoning, and a Father who draws all people to himself.

The Church is God’s vision, not ours, and baptism reminds us that our life together depends totally on God’s grace going ahead of us even as it works through and in us. Yes, you and I sin though we have been washed. True, we may not remember the moment we were baptized, but when we remember our baptism in worship, we remember not the sentimental moment, but that God’s grace in baptism is stronger than a lifetime of miserable failures and weak moments. We remember that even you and I have been called to be living embodiments, imperfect though we are, of God’s perfect love.

Remember, then, that you are God’s beloved, as is your neighbor, and that in Christ God has “called you for a good reason,” (Isa. 42:6). Most of all, allow God to delight in you simply because you are.

~ Pastor Patrick Murphy

Holy Waiting

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:08:02 GMT

Dear Fellow Sojourners,

Waiting has never been one of my strong suits. Even as a child I had a hard time waiting for Christmas. Learning that Advent was a season of holy waiting in preparation for the coming of Jesus didn’t at first make it any easier. But now that I have grown older, and hopefully wiser, I have discovered the importance of lingering in Advent as a way of preparing for Christmas. The journey toward Christmas has become more important to me than the destination.

We are more familiar with the commercialized Christmas that has less and less to do with Jesus’ coming and more and more to do with instant gratification, than we are with the holy waiting. The thought of celebrating a season of waiting doesn’t excite a culture that is always in a hurry. But I am tired of being in a hurry, and maybe you are too. If Christmas has become more of a chaotic consumer ritual than a nurturing spiritual one for you, maybe Advent is the season for you, a time well spent with God.

Now that I am a grandfather, I cannot help but reminisce of times long gone. I remember the last few weeks leading up to the birth of our first child, Nathan. He was two weeks overdue. Anticipating that he would arrive early, his soon to be grandparents came to visit only to leave a week later disappointed. Diana was convinced the child she was carrying would arrive already grown up and ready for college. But I found the time to be extremely exhilarating. The “not yet” of something sure to come excited me more than anything else. Like so many things in life, the wait can be more meaningful than the final outcome if we truly focus our attention on the deeper meaning of life. All wonderful things are worth waiting for and the certainty of meeting Jesus is one such event.

For all Christians, the Advent is a time to linger and practice the spiritual discipline of waiting in creative ways. We will light our Advent wreath and sing our hymns of expectation. We will join our sisters and brothers in the ritual of hopeful, joy-filled expectation looking back to his birth so that we might look forward to Jesus’ second coming.

My prayer for you and your family is that this Advent season will be one where you take this gift of time that God gives each of us and rediscover the meaning of holy waiting.

In God’s Holy Time,

~ Pastor Ray Wittman

What Now?

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:10:22 GMT

Read Colossians 1:1–14

The opening of most of Paul’s letters provides these wonderful portraits of life in the earliest Christian communities. With the exception of Galatians, Paul always includes a celebratory account of the good work that was taking place in these early church communities. Almost always, there is brief mention of the origin of their faith, but even more so is an account of their lives since that moment of awakening in Christ. This is the case in the opening of the Colossians correspondence.

For Paul, and most of the New Testament writers, what’s at stake isn’t as much whether a person is “saved” but whether now, in light of Jesus’s death and resurrection, you’re engaging life in continual response to it. So many people waste so much of their lives wondering if they’re “saved” instead of trusting in the infinite love of God by taking finite steps in discipleship. Eugene Peterson offers this great translation of Colossians 1:14 in The Message: “God has set us up in the Kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” Boom. Jesus was crucified and risen, and now we’ve been made part of that corporate life. The question is, are we being adequate witnesses?

Paul says that God in Christ has already transferred us into a new life, from darkness to light, from what was to what is. Your baggage and your past don’t matter beyond the fact that they show how far God has brought you into the fold of grace. What matters now is allowing those past relations and repeated sins to be crucified so that they no longer prevent you from embodying God’s grace. The question isn’t whether or not God has acted in your behalf — Christ stretched out his arms on the cross so that ALL could come within reach of his saving embrace, once and for all for all time. We have been freed to live in God. The only question posed to us is, what are we going to do about it?

I’ve found that the two words “so that” add purpose and expectation to what we say and believe. For example, we don’t go to Azalea Mobile Home Park because a Hispanic/Latino-focused ministry sounds good or trendy or gives us something to do. We go to Azalea Mobile Home Park so that we may embody the grace of Jesus Christ alongside our Hispanic/Latino neighbors and receive it as we work to transform our community together. Paul offers a “so that” to the Colossians. “We’re praying,” Paul says, “so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; and by giving thanks with joy to the Father.”

Paul tells us that we learn to trust the infinite love of God by taking finite steps in the world with our neighbors. In the darkness of our moment, we must take finite steps to live the hope of reconciliation and redemption in Christ even if it is not yet our reality, or that of our neighbors. “As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work,” and we have good work to do.

~ Pastor Patrick Murphy

Extending the Table

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 12:11:10 GMT

Dear Front Street Family,

The season of Thanksgiving is upon us and soon Advent and Christmas will follow. Although our culture may undervalue Thanksgiving as compared to Halloween and Christmas, nevertheless for many of us it still remains one of the wonderful highlights of the year. For me it has come to signify the importance of family and the ritual of eating together at the table. In our busy fast food culture eating a focused meal together is becoming a lost ritual, all except during this special season.

Growing up we always had our mealtimes together, especially at supper time. No one left the table without permission from dad, and that was rarely given especially when we had company. Table fellowship was important because it was a time of conversation and sharing, especially during the season of Thanksgiving. Mealtime always began with a prayer giving thanks to God for all He had provided and it always ended with a prayer for those less fortunate.

I always knew it was Thanksgiving because our table became literally larger. Mom would go into the hall closet and pull out extensions that would add to the length of our table to accommodate the many guests that would join us for Thanksgiving. Dad had a number of co-workers who did not have families, and they would always be invited to join us during this season. It was not uncommon to see a stranger or two eating with us. Then you add the countless aunts and uncles, and you get the idea.

Grandma had a table that extended from her dining room into her living room during this time of year to accommodate her seven children and their families. In fact, at mealtime we would fill sofas and chairs, every nook and cranny of her house. I sometimes think that is what it must be like in God’s house. God prepares the table for us and he keeps adding extensions so that more and more of his children from all over the world can come to his table.

This Thanksgiving consider extending your table and invite someone to dinner, someone who might have nowhere else to go. Join us as we extend the invitation to “Come to the table” as we invite others to join us at Front Street United Methodist Church.

Grace and Peace,

~ Pastor Ray

Real Discipleship

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 12:12:14 GMT

Read Luke 9:51–62

Discipleship doesn’t mean following an idea about Jesus or a set of moral values. Neither is it another activity to add to our already-busy lives. Discipleship means following Jesus on a lifelong journey of transformation, in which our lives increasingly take on the shape of Jesus’s life.

In Luke’s Gospel, as Jesus travels with his disciples to Jerusalem—and to the cross—he comes across three ordinary people with fairly ordinary demands on their lives. He calls them to be disciples, but each one misunderstands what it means to follow Jesus.

The first wannabe disciple runs up to Jesus enthusiastically: “I will follow you wherever you go.” This one has undoubtedly heard about Jesus through stories about his miracles or by witnessing them himself. But this guy has no idea what he’s signing up for. Jesus replies, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus is set toward Jerusalem, toward the cross, toward suffering. No reasonable person would desire that for him or herself. And that’s the difference. The young man has no reply; he wants to follow Jesus as long as it makes him look good and—for the perks—but not if it requires him to sacrifice something to follow Jesus.

So Jesus keeps moving. Another person catches his eye, and Jesus says, “Follow me.” This one replies, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” I hear this and think, “Well, that seems fair.” This second wannabe disciple has obligations he must fulfill before he can give himself to follow Jesus. But those are the key words, “First let me…” Something else has taken priority. Jesus replies, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and spread the news of God’s kingdom.” Sometimes we’re guilty of getting so caught up in the rituals of life that we think our affairs have to be in order before we can be Jesus’s disciples. “First let me…” But when we answer Jesus’s call, our obligations are determined and flow out of our life in Christ instead of simply adding another thing to our list of things to do.

Jesus continues onward until a third wannabe comes to him , “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those in my house.” Nothing seems wrong with the third disciple’s request at first either. But Jesus’s reply provides us with some insight into what’s really going on: “No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s Kingdom.” This third wannabe disciple wants to hold two lives together: the life Jesus is calling him to, and the life he has made for himself before encountering Jesus. He wants to follow, but he wants to set the terms and limits, to follow when it’s convenient for him; he puts his former life ahead of Jesus. Again, a “but first let me” stands between this person and Jesus. He doesn’t want what Jesus wants. He wants to follow Jesus from the comfort of his former life, but Jesus wants him to give up his former life to follow him.

I’m sure all of us can identify on some level with one or more of these wannabe disciples. The good news is that Jesus’s call isn’t a call to go on a solo mission or to burn out trying to save the world. Jesus calls us to be serious disciples on mission together who love each other with God’s love so much that it spills over into everything we do and onto everyone we encounter. It’s a love that puts us beside other people for our salvation and for theirs. Together.

~ Rev. Patrick Murphy

Earning to Give

Fri, 07 Oct 2016 12:13:13 GMT

In the opening decades of the twentieth century, my Great-Grandpa Tilley was a businessman, and a well-to-do one at that. He and his brothers had made their bones as butchers, owning the corner market on Front Street in downtown Wilmington. Life was good for my great-grandparents and their seven children: they owned a house with plenty of space for nice things, stores of provision, and extra help in the form of maids and caretakers that managed their home. The Tilleys weren’t considered social elite, but they had garnered a strong reputation among the wealthier families of Wilmington because the brothers had earned their wealth instead of simply inheriting it.

All of that changed in 1929 when the stock market crash claimed the livelihood of all but the wealthiest Americans, leaving ideas about wealth and savings as distant memories and fantastic dreams. Great-Grandpa Tilley witnessed the painful effects of the Depression in the faces of the people who came into his grocery store, many of whom once had gainful employment and no lack of anything. But many of these people found themselves now unable to afford even the bare minimum they needed to feed their families, and were reduced to begging. Seeing this, my great-grandfather made a decision that would change his life forever.

Over the worst years of the Great Depression, the Tilley brothers began opening lines of credit so that folks could eat, knowing that most of them would never be able to pay off their debts. Little by little they lost profits, all the while gaining a reputation for being genuine and non-discriminate caretakers of their neighbors. But this was not without its consequences. Things at home became tight, and life for my grandmother and her siblings changed forever.

Late one night during those difficult years, my grandmother awoke to a frantic knock at the door. A young child at the time, my grandma leaped under the dining room table, not knowing if someone was trying to break in. Quickly and calmly, her father answered the door to discover a young African American man standing on their stoop. He was, like everyone else, desperate to feed his family, but was too ashamed to beg during the day because of discrimination. Not knowing what else to do, he had come to my great-grandfather’s door because he had heard of his generosity. True to form, Great-Grandpa Tilley went into the cupboard, and gave him two armloads of food to carry home to his family.

According to the laws of business, my great-grandfather’s methods could be considered irrational and even idiotic. But Great-Grandpa Tilley did not cling to conventional wisdom. Instead he saw wealth not as something that gave him status and set him above others, but as a God-given gift that enabled him to provide for his neighbors. And though this took its toll on his health and wealth, my great-grandpa’s decision embodies the kind of transformation that Jesus desires in those who would follow him. We are called to see our resources as gifts that, if we employ them selflessly, will bring us closer to God’s Kingdom.

Jesus says in Luke’s Gospel, “Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Possessions are not meant for self-interest and pleasure; they won’t take us where we want to go. Neither is life about getting ahead. Life is a gift, and we are meant to live our one life in gratitude for the things God has given over to our care for the sake of others. What are you earning and who is it for?

~ Rev. Patrick Murphy

A Victim of our own Success

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 12:14:06 GMT

Dear Front Street Church,

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, observed that the Methodist people had become prosperous as a result of their discipline, frugality, and diligence. Although this was not a bad thing, he saw the potential that one day such wealth would lead us to become “a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power.” Wesley observed that as Methodists increased in wealth they seemed to decrease in grace. Self-reliance replaced dependency upon God and one another. Self-discipline gave way to self-indulgence.

I recently came across an Indian parable about a guru who had a star disciple that illustrates Wesley’s point. The guru was so pleased with the man’s spiritual progress that he left him on his own. The disciple lived in a little mud hut. His only clothing was a loincloth, a small covering around his midsection. He lived simply, begging for his food. Each week, the disciple washed his loincloth and hung it out to dry. One day he came back to discover the loincloth torn and eaten by rats. He begged the villagers for another loincloth, and they gave it to him. But the rats ate that one too. So he got himself a cat.

That took care of the rats, but now when he begged for his food, he had to beg for milk for his cat. So he got a cow to feed his cat, but now he had to beg for hay to feed his cow. So, in order to feed his cow, he decided to till and plant the ground around his hut. But soon he found no time for contemplations, so he hired servants to tend his farm.

Overseeing the laborers became a chore, so he got married to have a wife to help him with the farm. His wife didn’t like the mud hut he lived in and demanded a real house. So the man had to grow even more crops and hire more servants to keep his wife happy. In time, the disciple became the wealthiest man in the village.

Years later this man’s guru was traveling nearby, so he stopped in to see his old student. He was shocked at what he saw. Where once stood a simple mud hut, there now loomed a palace surrounded by a vast estate worked by many servants. “What is the meaning of this?” he asked his disciple. “You won’t believe this, sir,” the disciple replied. “But there was no other way I could keep my loincloth.”

So in order for the Methodist to avoid decreasing in grace as they increased in wealth, Wesley came up with a prescription for the use of material resources. He admonished the Methodists to increase in grace by “earning all you can, saving all you can, and giving all you can.” Wesley understood that how we earn and use our resources as individuals and institutions determines our future vitality as God’s people.

Still in One Peace,

~ Pastor Ray

Stewardship

Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:14:39 GMT

We hear this one word, and immediately our minds jump to capital campaigns, managing our finances, and the discipline of tithing. Indeed, there are few things in the church that people fear more than conversation and preaching that concerns “stewardship.”

I get it. The word and the idea seem to conceal an agenda bent on getting you to open your wallet and support the ministries of the church (and its operating expenses). Year after year the call comes, and year after year the language of stewardship crashes against us like ocean waves on rocks. Historically, the church hasn’t done a great job of teaching stewardship, and you wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that the church needs to repent of the ways it has used tactics of guilt and shame to increase giving and fulfill the demands of its annual budget. In fact, I’d join that movement myself, were there one.

However, the call going out this year is a call to embrace stewardship as a holistic way of living in gratitude to God. In Romans 12, Paul encourages his sisters and brothers: “because of God’s mercies, present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is.” Stewardship, as it were, encompasses a transformed way of seeing and living in the world—not according to the patterns of the world, but the pattern of Christ. Instead of serving only ourselves, we seek instead to be self-giving disciples of the One whose grace makes all life and gifts possible.

God created humanity to care and guard the gift of life in all its forms, to hold our possessions loosely lest they become our god, and to be open-handed to those in need. John Wesley beautifully captured this in his famous sermon “The Use of Money,” in which Wesley casts a vision of stewardship centered on three principles of earning all we can and saving all we can, so that we may give all we can in a posture of love. This October, we will focus on Wesley’s model of stewardship with the hope that we learn to handle money and resources before they handle us! We’re calling it, “Earn. Save. Give.” Stay tuned for more!

~ Patrick Murphy

Read John 14 First!

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 12:15:21 GMT

Normally, we hear Jesus’s words in John 14 read and preached at funerals because it strikes us first as a future promise. However, I’ve come to read this passage also as the triune God’s gracious promise of love for us in the present. Jesus tells his disciples to trust in God because the Father’s household has room to spare, and in fact, room for everyone who comes to know and to love Jesus by taking up our crosses and following him. He says the only way to experience what it means to belong to our heavenly Father is to follow Christ into the world as the Holy Spirit fills us with his mercy and compassion.

The love I have come to know in Christ and through the Holy Spirit is a love that makes room for people from all walks of life to come into the Father’s household and discover their true identity as God’s sons and daughters. Of course, I don’t mean a literal house (or “mansion” as the King Jimmy puts it), but a community of belonging rooted in our shared faith.

Consistently, the Scriptures describe God’s nature as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and willing not to punish. God’s household of mercy and belonging expands ceaselessly to include, or house, those whom Christ draws to himself. Through the power and companionship of the Holy Spirit, the triune God has made room for many people to know the holy promise of having a place in God’s family and at his table.

What a vision for life! God has chosen to share an incredible bond of love that creates endless space for everyone to find their place in God’s radical, ever-growing family. The love we lavish on one another is how we love God. This is what it means to be the church.

I wonder who God has placed in your life that is in need of space and belonging? How might you reach out to them and practice radical hospitality? Who needs space to worship, to eat, to be heard, to express themselves, or to be loved? As it turns out, according to John, making space for the least and the last may be the deepest expression of Christ we can give in this world.

~ Patrick Murphy

Thank You!

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 12:15:57 GMT

Dear Front Street UMC family,

Your generosity and deep love have lifted us in the weeks since my mother’s sudden and unexpected death. The overwhelming grief we feel has been softened by calls, texts, emails, gifts, food, and visits, the kind of hospitality that shows us the face of Christ. It is impossible for us to express our gratitude in a way that matches your thoughtful care. No small show of love has gone unnoticed.

My mom, Debbie, was the best of what it means to be a wife, a mother, a dear friend, and a disciple. She lived a life of self-giving love, shaped as best she could manage like the life of Jesus. To us, no one ever had a better mother or model of what it means to share life with others. Indeed, she colored our lives with the deepest hues of love, wisdom, and generosity, not to mention countless memories and life lessons that give us strength even as we grieve.

In our time of loss we are sustained by the prayers of our family and dear friends, and we hope that you will continue to share your love with us in tangible ways, as often grief takes a tighter hold in the weeks and months that follow a loved one’s death. In the spirit of Paul writing to the Philippian church, we thank God every time we remember you in our prayers, and we hope that God will continue the work he has begun in you and that each of you may experience God’s abundant love.

Thank you all so very much.

With love in Christ,

Patrick and Brittany Murphy

I Believe...

Wed, 25 May 2016 12:16:34 GMT

Dear Front Street Family,

From the earliest time I can remember, we as a family have stood on cue in worship to recite the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” In the churches I attended, it was always done in unison, thoughtlessly by some, or with some intensity by others. I witnessed the most bold and exhilarating confession while visiting a Ukrainian Baptist Church, in Kiev, Ukraine; when a church packed to overflowing stood and said the creed as if it were the pledge of allegiance being recited by those who were about to go into battle. It is the creed I memorized as a young confirmand in order to become a professing member of the Dutch Reform Church.

There is something in the creed to offend virtually every contemporary sensibility. In many ways it is subversive, especially in a culture that no longer believes in absolutes. And yet, at the same time, it communicates a compelling vision of the world’s destiny and humanity’s role that challenges the accustomed idolatries and the weary platitudes of our current world order.

A legend circulated in the early church: after the Spirit descended on the disciples at Pentecost, Peter said, “I believe in God the Father Almighty.” Andrew added, “And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord.” And so they went around the table, a dozen disciples, a dozen sentences forming the Apostles’ Creed; a lovely (if not fabricated) legend. “What the scriptures say at length, the Creed says briefly,” says Nicholas Lash.

Every time we say the Apostles’ Creed, we step into a long steady river, the great two-thousand year story of believers, missionaries and martyrs. When we say, “I believe in God,” we become part of something bigger than ourselves; something that forms the center around which we live and move and have our being.

In an age that no longer trusts ancient, established authorities, to stand in church and say the Apostles’ Creed is indeed a subversive activity.

Just a thought,

Pastor Ray

Brief Thoughts on Conflict

Tue, 10 May 2016 12:17:42 GMT

For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.

– Matthew 18:20 (CEB)

Dear Front Street Family,

We often use Jesus’s statement in Matthew 18 as his promise to be present whenever only a few of us (two or three) can gather and agree on something, I guess to help us feel better if the sanctuary is empty on Sunday morning, or if folks don’t take discipleship seriously enough. It’s an affirming understanding: Jesus will use whoever makes themselves available to his call, even if as little as two show up!

However, within the context of the larger narrative, Jesus has just summed up his discourse on addressing in the community. Here he challenges the disciples to care for one another by seeking out those who have wandered off, by leaving the community of ninety-nine to find the one sheep who has gone astray. They must be a community that is capable of caring for others as Christ has cared for them. When conflict arises they must see the person who has wronged them and speak truthfully to them with grace so that they don’t become a stumbling block that leads others into sin.

According to Jesus forgiveness and reconciliation define the life of his disciples because he is the forgiving center that makes community possible. Jesus recognizes that we, broken people in need of grace, will wrong one another given time. The issue isn’t whether the church should deal with conflict, but how. Jesus doesn’t tell the disciples that they should think about going to the person who has wronged them; instead they must. Any other action avoids Jesus’ call to find and restore the one lost sheep to the ninety-nine.

Hey, I get it. It ’s easier to brood angrily about someone who has wronged us and smile to their face than to seek that person out and confront them. It’s easier to love someone when they’re being who we want them to be than loving them for who God has made them to be. It’s easier to control someone than set them free so that the Holy Spirit can encounter them with forgiveness. Yet, Jesus commands us to tell the truth to one another and press through the conflicts we need to have in order to prevent doing harm to the littlest and least.

Truly loving a neighbor happens as our thoughts, words, and actions are conditioned by the word and grace of Jesus Christ. I can’t relate to another person without first recognizing that Jesus stands between us. You and I cannot truly know friend, enemy, spouse, sibling, or stranger until we stop holding them captive to our expectations of who they should be. We will never find peace without first seeing the other person as someone for whom Christ has also died and whom Christ will set free without needing me to control them. That changes how we approach others with whom we have conflict.

We are to gather as family in the name of Jesus and agree toward reconciliation, laying down gossip, vitriol, and the truth at the feet of the One who promises to be with us. And too, know this: in seeking out someone who has wronged me carries with it great risk. In going to that person, I may in fact discover that the person who committed the wrong was me, and that I am the one in need of forgiveness and restoration to the community. It’s never easy to hear the truth about yourself, but journeying to the cross together may reveal that in fact neither person has been wronged at all. And when this is the case, we can rejoice that we have lost an enemy! We can thank God for a journey that crucifies self-centered love and violence and resurrects the God-centered love of neighbor.

Whenever at least two or three are gathered in Jesus’s name for the sake of reconciliation and restoration, we are guaranteed Jesus’s presence in the act itself. Therefore, we can be brave, as Paul tells the Ephesians, to speak the truth in love.

Patrick Murphy

Sabbatical

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:19:00 GMT

Dear Front Street Family,

By now some of you are aware that I will be taking a short Sabbatical/Study leave this summer following Annual Conference. I want to take this opportunity to explain what this means and why this is important to me.

Ministry is very challenging and very time consuming, and often stressful. It does not allow a minister much time to study outside the given parameters of preparing for weekly sermons and funerals. Like most teaching professions there comes a point when you feel spiritually and intellectually thirsty, and you have a need to return to the well of prayer and learning. For this reason the Book of Discipline affords clergy the opportunity to take a sabbatical every seven years. In my thirty six years as a United Methodist minister this will be my very first sabbatical.

After consulting with our Bishop, our District Superintendent, and our Staff Parish Relations Team, I was given permission to step aside and use this time for study, prayer and personal reflection. I will be away for six weeks, from June 19 through July 31, 2016. This time was chosen because it is a quiet time in the life of the church with many of our families enjoying summer vacations.

During my time away, the Rev. Patrick Murphy will be the minister in charge. He will be assisted by our staff and lay leaders, as well as some of our retired clergy. The pulpit will be filled by visiting ministers as well as our clergy staff, and the work of the church will continue in my absence.

As the word ‘Sabbatical’ implies this will be a time for me to rest from my pastoral duties as your senior minister for six uninterrupted weeks. I will not be available to the church community for any reason including funerals. It will be as if I don’t exist. I will not be checking my email or answering my phone. I have even promised myself not to look at Facebook. In a way I will be disconnecting so that I can reconnect with God in deeper ways so that when I do return as your minister I will have sharpened my spiritual life (Proverbs 27:17). By the way this is something I recommend we all do now and again. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to practice Sabbath and be transformed through the renewal of my mind.

Blessings,

Pastor Ray Wittman

Easter Panic!!!

Fri, 15 Apr 2016 12:20:09 GMT

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had

been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter

and the other disciples, the one whom Jesus loved and said to them,

‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know

Where they have laid him’”

– John:1-2

Dear Front Street Church,

It never ceases to amaze me at how candid the scriptures are when it comes to the telling of the resurrection story. Whereas the Christmas story seems rehearsed and fine tuned for its theological purpose, the resurrection narratives are what you come to expect when something just happens out of the blue. They remind me of something that happened to me when our youngest daughter, Katie was only a toddler. We were in a large department store shopping for clothes and Katie decided to play hide and seek among the crowded clothes racks. One minute she was there and the next she was gone. Fear seized me and I began darting around the store like a scared rabbit. I was in a panic! Of course I eventually found Miss Kate but only after exhausting most of my energy. So when you picture Easter morning be sure to keep in mind this image of someone running panic stricken through a cemetery, dogging tombstones in an attempt to find someone who can explain what has happened. Remember, the early church was just as surprised about Easter as was the rest of the world.

Something utterly unexpected and world shifting occurred out in that garden cemetery, and the first people to experience this event reacted by running all over the place in panic. As an old saying of the French Foreign Legion goes, “When in doubt, gallop.” And that’s what the early church did. The very least you can say about the Easter event is that it increased the church’s velocity. Now mind you, that does not mean it gave the church a sense of direction, only velocity. The church’s velocity had yet to be tempered by the Holy Spirit’s guidance. That would not happen until the day of Pentecost. Maybe there is a lesson here for all of us.

Resurrection moments will cause panic for all of us, but if they are truly resurrection moments God’s Spirit will give us understanding and guidance. May God truly surprise you this Easter season.

Still In One Peace,

Pastor Ray Wittman

What Advent Is and What It Means To Me

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:59:45 GMT

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

- Isaiah 40:3

Advent is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting. The practice of readings and teachings during Advent is often seen as the preparation for the Second Coming, while at the same time celebrating the First Coming of Christ. Tradition varies among different churches as to the relative importance of penitence and expectation during the Advent season.

The usual Advent color in Western Christianity is either purple or blue. Purple is often used for “hangings” around the church and the vestments of the clergy. Blue, representing hope, is an alternative color. In the Methodist church, the four candles represent, by Sunday, (1) hope, (2) faith, (3) joy, and (4) peace.

Advent is far more than simply marking an event which occurred 2,000 years ago. It celebrates a truth about God: the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. In this double focus of past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does not know when that time will be; only our Heavenly Father knows. When that time does come, Jesus will be ready and so should professing Christians.

We can do this by remembering the Advent season not just at Christmas but all year long, by letting others see Christ in us: by how we live our lives, how we express ourselves, and by always taking the opportunity to share Christ with others and celebrate with gladness the great promise of Advent. Know that when Christ returns, He will come to rule, save, and judge the world.

Prayer

Father, we need your daily guidance as we prepare for your coming in our lives. Amen.

- Bob Patrick

Advent at Front Street

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:58:58 GMT

“It is good to be in the House of the Lord”

- Psalm 122:1

The Advent Season at Front Street UMC has always been a special time for our family. When the children were young, we enjoyed Advent workshops, making chrismon ornaments and candy churches. We loved the special music, live nativity, and the candlelight service. Dave Brubeck performing his Christmas choral pageant at Front Street with the choirs and instrumentalists was an exciting and memorable event during those years.

Our children are now grown. When our first grandchildren were born, Rev. Old was happy to baptize our twin granddaughters in the busy month of December. Caroline and Chris brought the babies a thousand miles to visit and be baptized at Front Street. The church was aglow with candles, poinsettias and smiling faces. It was a joyous time that our family will always treasure.

In retirement, we travel and often visit other churches. These visits have increased our appreciation of Front Street. We have found no other church like ours. Entering the sanctuary in December with its decorations and magnificent music is like coming home. There is always a beauty, dignity, and warmth at Front Street, but especially during the Advent season.

Prayer

Lord God, bless our church and its congregation and ministries during this season of Advent and throughout the year. Amen

- Jane & Tom Bazemore

Thanks Be to God

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:58:12 GMT

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

- John 14:27

In some of my darkest, most hopeless days I have felt the divine touch of God through the presence of earthly angels. An especially unlikely angel here on earth was the maintenance worker in the critical care unit of the hospital where my daughter lay dying. Every time I turned around, it seemed, she was with me, pouring out her support and concern for me. She was close as the doctors gave their grim reports of my daughter’s declining condition. She protected me from the intrusion of people who I did not need to see. She prayed for me and for my family. I never even asked her name.

After my daughter died, my angel disappeared. I was surrounded by the familiar faces of family and friends who helped me begin the never-ending journey of grief whose rocky trail I will always travel. My angel had completed her assignment. Had she even known she was divine?

How does this tale of sorrow relate to the good news at Christmas of the coming of Christ? The great and awesome love that God has for us transcends our understanding. God freely gave his Son to us, all the while knowing the suffering that would end his time here with us. He loves us that much.

Not only does God love us collectively, He loves us individually. He loves me and watches over me, and He gave me an earth angel when I needed it the most. His most marvelous works of love are found in the most humble and ordinary of places- a maid’s care, a manger in a stable… thanks be to God.

Prayer

Holy Father, we thank you that you hold us close in our darkest days. You send your angels to comfort us and to bring us peace. We give our unending thanks to You for sending us Your Son to be the Light of the World. Amen

- Tina Manning

God Leads Me

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:57:19 GMT

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.”

- Psalm 23: 1-2

I well remember when God came to me nudging me not to leave Mercy Hospital even after the night visiting bell had rung for the second time for all visitors to leave; but I didn’t want to go. It had been a blustering cold and windy bus ride from Richmond to Baltimore after receiving a phone call saying my mother was in the hospital gravely ill with another severe gall-stone attack. I just wanted to stay near her for she had been the center of my life. I had hardly had time to kiss my mother and find out what I could about her situation. She looked tired and weak from pain but tried to answer my questions when another announcement came, “All visitors at Mercy Hospital, please leave immediately.” How I hated to leave, and why wouldn’t they set up a cot there in the room for me to be near her?

The head nurse ushered me out of my mother’s hospital room assuring me I could visit her after the operation the next morning. As I stepped from the elevator, my eyes caught sight of a tiny room off of the lobby. The plague above the door read “Chapel”. Beneath the darkened wooden mantel piece, was a flickering fire, a low lighted lamp and a book lying on a table beside a comfortable looking polished leather wing-backed chair. Without hesitation, I decided to sit for awhile, gather myself together and contemplate my mother’s situation. I was terrified that I would lose her and overwhelmed by a feeling of helplessness as I cried and prayed. I reached for the Bible on the table and turned to Psalm 23. Reading it made my tears subside and slowed down my breathing as I drifted away into a deep sleep only stirring when a figure entering the room. I opened my eyes and recognized my mother’s doctor so I called him by name. I tried to explain to him my fears of losing my mother for he had once told me that an operation could possibly take her life.

A tender smile spread over the doctor’s face as he told me of a new piece of medical equipment that had recently arrived at the hospital that would eliminate the painful stones and not endanger my mother’s life. He assured me that this new procedure would give her a second chance without exposing my mother to a loss of blood and possible death. A swelling of thankfulness and gratitude filled my heart as I realized that God had heard my prayers, quieted my fears and would provide for her healing.

Prayer

Dear God, you know our fears and the tumult within our souls. Thank you for your comforting Word and hearing our prayers and leading us beside quiet waters.

-Norma Davis

Through the Eyes of Children

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:56:28 GMT

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,”

- Mark 10:14 (NIV)

One of the most enjoyable highlights of the Advent season for several in my family is attending the children’s program at Front Street UMC on Christmas Eve that depicts the birth of Jesus. Mothers and fathers help their little ones decide which parts they want to play and then watch nervously as the children act out their roles.

As for the children, there is eagerness and sometimes anxiety and reluctance about performing in front of an audience. Overall, however, the atmosphere of happiness and excitement throughout the entire evening is contagious for all who attend.

Perhaps part of the excitement for the children is the fact that it is Christmas Eve, and they are anticipating the gifts they expect to receive on Christmas morning. For me, though, this Christmas Eve program is a reminder that we all should be as excited and joyous as the children because we have already received God’s perfect gift of Jesus, our savior. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, help us all to have the hearts and minds of children at Christmas so that we are reminded of the joy of your glorious gift to us.

- Linda Weavil

Silver Linings

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:55:37 GMT

“Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

As a child growing up I very often heard, although didn’t really believe it at the time, that there was a silver lining in every cloud. Maybe at that point I just didn’t understand.

Sometimes as human beings, life can just seem to be very complicated and life events can take one to the darkest of dark if we allow it.

After experiencing times (events/moments) such as these myself, God’s love, grace and mercy have shown me that nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Those things which I have thought to be the absolute worst actually have turned out to be the best things that have ever happened to me, while drawing me closer to Him.

Entering the Advent Season reminds me once again that I should constantly remain in an attitude of gratitude for all of life’s happenings no matter how I perceive them, whether good or bad. At this specific time in our lives, how can we not be grateful; for all of us have received the most precious of precious gifts in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is our choice to open, embrace, and enjoy our gift. For His gift, even when things start to grow dark and I don’t understand, I hope I can always remember my gift and say “Thank you”.

Meditation:

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures…….Thornton Wilder

Am I truly alive or just living?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me each day, in any situation, to be grateful. Even when I don’t feel like praying give me the courage to say “Thank You”. Amen

- Sam Huffstetler

Gratitude

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:54:40 GMT

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

- Psalm 32:1-2

What should give us more reason for an attitude of gratitude than to know that we are forgiven? And that it is not by anything that we have done, but by the work of Christ on the cross. As 1 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

His Robes for Mine.

His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

Chorus:
I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.

His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!

Lyrics by Chris Anderson

Prayer

Dear Sovereign Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy. Help us to be reminded that our gratitude should be directed toward you who freely gave and freely forgives those who will trust in you. Thank you for taking my place and paying for my sin debt. Truly blessed and happy are those who can claim this promise! Thank you.

- Gloria Hendry

All I Want for Christmas is a Savior

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:53:28 GMT

“A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

- Isaiah 9:6

Long before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah told the Israelites about God’s promise to send a messiah or Savior. The Israelites who had been oppressed for centuries found hope in the promise of a Savior. As Christians we believe that this promise has been fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.

The word the Bible uses to describe God’s gift to the world is Savior. The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife for “she will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) A Savior might not be the gift we want, but it is the gift we need. The good news of Christmas that the Savior has been born, and that his name is Jesus.

What do we really want for Christmas? The 4 weeks of Advent provide us the opportunity to prepare for the coming of Christ. These weeks of anticipation and waiting challenge us to examine our lives and separate the things we want from the things we most deeply need. Isaiah ties all the things we most deeply desire when he describes this child as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

I don’t know of any other way we can find hope, or peace, or joy, or experience the love of the Almighty God, than in the gift of this child. “Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) The gift he brings is the gift we most deeply need. This child comes to save us from all of those things that would destroy us and by his love enables us to be the person God wants us to be. Thanks be to God.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, in your tender mercy, you have sent us a Savior, and His name is Jesus. Help us to open our eyes so we may see, open our ears, that we may hear, and open our hearts to receive the gift of the Christ child. AMEN

- Cynthia Powell

In the Lord’s House

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:52:24 GMT

“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’”

- Psalm 122:1

My older siblings have told me that my first days in the Lord’s house were in the arms of my father as he carried out his duties as Sunday School Superintendent, while my mother taught the ladies Bible class.

I well remember my first Sunday School teacher. She played a small pump organ and taught us to sing “Jesus Loves Me” and “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus.” Throughout my youth, I was blessed with many church activities such as participation in Bible studies, mission projects, and pageants led by devoted Christian leaders.

In adult life, I have worshiped and served in my local church, worked hard to earn a living, and, with God’s constant loving care, raised two children who bear Christ’s name. The years have led me on paths of great joy and happiness and on times of deep sadness; through life-threatening illness, and periods of amazing good health. God has been with me all the way and I have learned more of His love with each experience.

Prayer:

Thank you, dear Lord, for your house of worship, for inspired teachers, wise counselors, caring pastors, fellow Christian friends, and a loving family. I am very grateful for your presence in my life for these 90 years.

- Lydia Burroughs

Alpha and Omega

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:51:29 GMT

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

- Revelation 1:8

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he
of the things that are, that have been
and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.

UMH No. 184

From the opening sounds of O Come, O Come Emmanuel to thunderous choruses of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, the Advent/Christmas Season focuses on the wonders of the baby Jesus and exclaims the miraculous birth. Year after year we sing these glorious carols. Many times we get caught up in the melodies and harmonies. We sing the familiar words, but do we catch the full meaning of the text? Is there a deeper meaning in these works beyond the manger? Can it help us mature in our faith, or is it easier to swaddle the baby Jesus and keep singing these age old melodies we have grown to love? What does it mean for us as Christians when we look at Advent in the realm of the Resurrection, Pentecost and Christ’s Second Coming? Could this idea be the real Advent? When you have some time, explore the Greek word, Parousia, as it relates to church theology.

I like the 4 ^th Century carol, Of the Father’s Love Begotten. The nine stanzas of Prudentius’s poem center on the story of redemption. The United Methodist Hymnal includes three of the stanzas. I share a stanza of the text (above) with you. The Greek words, Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, remind us that “Christ existed for all eternity. The phrase Alpha and Omega may signify that God is eternal.” See how many places you can find these symbols in our sanctuary.

The carols and hymns of the church provide a wealth of material for us to deepen our faith in Christ. As we progress through the Advent and Christmas seasons, I challenge you to “sing, sing, sing!” As you enjoy the wonderful melodies, see how many of the carols take us from the manger to the cross and on to God’s plan for our salvation.

May we not only hear the angels sing but join in singing…Hark! the Herald Angels Sing…

Stanza 3

Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,

Born to raise us from the earth; born to give us second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.” – Charles Wesley

UMH No. 240

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we prepare during the Advent Season, may we sing of your plan for our lives. May the Holy Spirit guide us not only to the manger but to the cross and beyond. May we feel the redemptive power of your love and find a path for growth in faith. Through this journey, may we share the love you have so graciously given us. In your name we pray. Amen.

- David Ratchford

God Works in Mysterious Ways

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:50:13 GMT

“For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

- Philippians 4:11

At first I was sure that I did not want to write an article for the advent devotional, but something made me reconsider just what an “Attitude of Gratitude” might mean in my life.

Yes, I realize that I have been richly blessed with great friends, great teaching and travel experiences, and a wonderful family. But I admit with my diagnosis of ALS, my world and my faith have been badly shaken. Why me? Why now? Why take away all hope for the future? And then, over the last few months and weeks, and many new helpers, I have begun to realize that my circumstances have opened up my life to exceptional new friends, many of which share my ideas and ideals, even though we come from very diverse backgrounds. And through these many new helpers and friends, I have rediscovered an avenue for teaching and sharing my love of music and exciting travel possibilities with folks who have never experienced the world as I have.

“God works in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform.

He plants His footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,

The clouds ye so much dread,

Are big with mercy and will break

In blessings on your head.”

(William Cowper)

Prayer

Thank you Lord for helping me re-examine what my life is really about.

- Mary Ann Johnston

My Friend’s Gentle Witness

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:49:07 GMT

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.“

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As I prayed for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in writing this Advent devotion, both this verse and my friend, Bobby, came to mind. Also, I realized that recent experiences with health issues and the lavish generosity of others would help me express an “attitude of gratitude”.

I miss my friend. He was a living example of an “attitude of gratitude” in many ways. Those of you who knew Bobby will remember that he expected Christmas cards in October, reminders each Sunday of how many days until Christmas, that he would “play Santa” at the Friendship Center and would wear his Santa hat to our yearly Genesis Christmas party. Bobby’s life was very different from ours. He had difficulty expressing himself verbally but you never doubted that he loved Jesus, Front Street, and people. Bobby expressed his gratitude in a number of ways: he always gave something to our Christmas Cheer fund for families, brought his offering to church as often as he was able to attend, and made sure, if he was absent, that his money was sent to church. Bobby did not read, but he always kept his Bible close. It was obvious that he knew Jesus in a personal way. Visitors to the nursing home where he lived his last days were greeted with a smile, sometimes a little gift which he had won at the weekly Bingo games, and a request for prayer at the end of a visit. My grandson often accompanied me on my visits. Bobby would light up with a big smile and pull a personal item out to give Graham. Gratitude was how Bobby lived his life and Jesus was truly the reason.

What a lesson Bobby Hinson taught me. How blessed I am because of his friendship! My heart overflows with deep thanksgiving to God for placing precious people in my life that bless, teach, and remind me that in ALL circumstances give thanks. Living out an “attitude of gratitude” shares God’s joy with others.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, may our daily lives reflect the unconditional love, mercy and joy that was given to us when our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born. Amen.

- Betty Huneycutt

In Remembrance of You

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:47:25 GMT

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 1:3-6

If you are a believer in Christ, someone in your life had something to do with that. Someone had an influence on you, for we have all been influenced by those who have gone before us. I am so very grateful to those who have taught me, who have led me in the way. I am thankful for their faith and their friendship.

Many of the people I visit were former Sunday school teachers, sang in the choir, Scout leaders, children and youth volunteers, Women of the Church leaders, played the piano at various functions, were members when the old church burned down. These dear saints truly sacrificed to rebuild our sanctuary, to purchase a new organ, to select the stain glass in the chancel, and to carry on the ministries to this community. I have been touched by numerous Christians throughout my life, but none more than those I have been privileged to serve at Front Street.

I am so very grateful for those who taught me to take my time when in a nursing home. Instead of being so focused in visiting our people, they demonstrated by their actions kindness in looking and speaking to each person in the hallways whether they knew them or not. They recognized that all are God’s children and have value. Also, I want to thank my precious ones who prayed for me and this ministry. Thank you, my generous ones who gave me delicious pies, cookies, cakes, sausage, tomatoes, okra, gifts, supported our missions to Costa Rica and Siberia, and shared a drink of water. You have no idea how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity.

Our people have shown courage in the most difficult illnesses and in the loss of loved ones. I have observed you as you clung to our Lord when overcome by grief and loneliness. You have displayed strength of character when ignored and even mistreated in a nursing home. You have touched my life with your sense of humor and acceptance of your aging body. You have shared wisdom and insight in how to live with a spouse who has dementia or one who is completely bedridden.

I am so grateful for the faith lessons learned by your examples in grievous circumstances. You have taught me to celebrate life, encouraged me when I was ready to cry, helped me to draw closer to our God and you have walked beside me in visiting, sharing flowers and magazines, meals, and have helped carry the burdens of our people. Thank you!!!

Prayer

Father, I ask that you bless our Christian family and particularly those who have gone before us, taught us, led us and who have built the ministry of this church. May we never forget what they have done for us. Amen.

- Frankie Zumbro

“Be Prepared” for Christmas

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:46:28 GMT

“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’"

- Isaiah 40:3-5

In my work with Scouting through the years, one aspect that is always emphasized is the Boy Scout Motto: “Be Prepared”. For Scouts, their adolescence is a time of preparation for growth into responsible manhood. It is a time of learning and development, physically, mentally and morally.

For the Christian, Advent is also a time of preparation and growth. As Christians, we should strive to “Be Prepared” for the birth of the Christ child. Advent helps us with this preparation for Christmas. We are reminded of Israel’s hope for the coming of the Messiah, who would save and forgive. Advent is an opportunity for us to grow as Christians and to share with others our joy and peace that can only come through knowing Christ.

To be truly prepared, we must remember the call to repentance in the words of Isaiah, later recalled by John the Baptist, “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God”. These words call us to turn away from the commercial and consumer-focused interpretations of Christmas to reach out to those in need.

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting Lord, we praise you for your loving mercy. We thank you for the gift of the Christ child, who came to bring us love and salvation. Help us to share the love of Christ with those in need this Advent season. These things we ask in the name of Christ. Amen

- John Pratt

Ageing Isn’t So Bad

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:45:25 GMT

Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christ—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

- 1 Peter 4:11

“Live every day like it is your last. Make every moment count.” We have all heard this hundreds of times.

I think more and more about how I can still be a contributor to society and not just a taker. I am comparatively healthy and have few aches and pains. Why am I so fortunate when many friends have life-threatening illnesses and are struggling day by day? God must have a plan for me even as I age. I know I need to be more open to opportunities, and God does promise to supply the strength and energy I need.

Jean Anderson, a teacher in the Upper Class Sunday School Class, handed out this saying:

You can’t do EVERYthing

so do SOMEthing

ANYthing is possible

That really rang a bell. So prayer was next. And KAZAM!

I saw in the Times News that Family Abuse Services was looking for volunteer court navigators to accompany women or men to Civil Court for domestic violence protective orders or to Criminal Court for various charges. After some excellent training, all one is required to do is to just be there for a person, provide support, listen, and help the client have the courage to tell her/his story. There are many positive results and anyone can be trained to do it.

Prayer:

Thank you God for giving us the strength and energy to serve—even as we age.

- Jenna Johnson

An Attitude of Gratitude

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:44:15 GMT

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16

“Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.”

- Maya Angelou

I’ve come across this concept repeatedly, and each time I try to internalize the message: God has filled our lives with blessings, both big and small. Some seem nearly invisible; others are momentous events reminding us that the hand of God truly rests on our heads as we try to navigate this sometimes terrifying world.

I know I cannot live and breathe without Him…so why is it so easy to slip back into my old ways of faith and prayer? Why do I find myself focusing solely on what’s going wrong in my life, with my friends, in the world? Why do my prayers lean toward a lament instead of a song lifted in praise? In my heart I know which kind of prayer will bring me greater peace, but my head keeps stubbornly blocking the way with pleas for aid and comfort.

Life is hard. There simply is no other way to put it, but each of us is far from alone. God always stands with us as long as we allow Him in. He will come when you call, perhaps not with the response you seek but always with love and guidance as you travel your path. Maybe the key to changing our perspective is not in crying out our troubles but in lifting up our blessings and giving thanks for each of them.

Maya Angelou also said, “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” I’m going to tuck this away in my heart for Advent. Every night I’m going to lift up my blessings, big and small, to the Lord and give thanks for His kindness and mercy. It is only though these that I have come this far, and it’s by His grace alone that I will continue to grow in love and peace.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to focus on my many blessings so that I can give you thanks for your abundant kindness and mercy.

- Laura Hargrove

Honoring the Spirit of Advent

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:43:09 GMT

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

- John 3:16

As we enter into the season of Advent, I am again reminded that this is a time for love, joy, and hope, along with the celebration that comes through the double focus on God’s gift to us: (A) the birth of Jesus; (B) the promise of eternal life.

In addition, the Advent season is a time for special expression of our gratitude for ‘all” of God’s gifts to us. During the Christmas season it is important for us not to lose our focus on our greatest gift from God and also, to not permit our attitudes and our behavior to drift from whom we are meant to honor! Romans 8:35 asks “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” And I would add, what about my attitude and my behavior? What am I doing to honor these gifts bestowed from God during this special season of Advent? This is a great time to display our attitude and our gratitude for God’s magnificent gifts which is indicative of our commitment to Him.

Romans 8:28 says “For we know that all things work together for good to all those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” To me this purpose includes love for our fellow man and rendering service (our behavior) in commitment to promoting and enhancing our discipleship. What better time to follow God’s stated purpose for us than during this Advent period?

Prayer:

Lord, help us honor the spirit of Advent by our continued commitment to you. Amen

- Alan White

Pointing Towards Others Points To God

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:42:13 GMT

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Growing up my parents always told me not to point, it is rude, they would say. Well without disrespecting that rule, I am going to do some pointing in this message. One way we develop our spiritual awareness of God's redemptive and present work among us is to celebrate it with a grateful heart. What we see and what we have are already Gods', so why not point them out.

My finger is pointing and my heart is overflowing with gratitude. Here is my Christmas list of 2013:

First, I am thankful for the congregation's open response to hosting 12 Baskets and celebrating our neighbors by creating community.

I am thankful for you, the congregation, and the response of support for our growing international mission experiences.

I am thankful for you, the congregation, and your hearts for wanting to feed and serve our local neighbors who go hungry each day.

I am thankful for you, the congregation, and your hearts for passionate worship.

I am thankful for the life and ministry of Front Street UMC and for the love we share with one another in times of need and in times of joy.

I'm pointing to you the congregation. I am pointing to you so that you might be aware of the kingdom work and kingdom work you are a part of. I pray that you are aware and will stay aware of God moving in your lives and will respond in the like. Point out the moments of God when you see them take place. Celebrate with a joyful heart when you feel God. Shout praises to God whenever you can. Everyday is a gift. Everyday is another opportunity to share the love and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Don't let a day pass you without pointing to those God moments!

Prayer

Giver of everything good, Gracious God, we stand in awe of the bounty you have bestowed upon us. We marvel at the glimpses of the Kingdom of heaven we see on earth. Help us we pray to not overlook or pass by an opportunity to give you praise. Help us to be steadfast disciples eagerly awaiting a time to point towards the kingdom for all to see. Alleluia, Alleluia Emmanuel. Amen.

- Nathan Arledge

Great Joy... to All People

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:41:19 GMT

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

- Luke 2: 8-10

Into a world of darkness and danger God sent his angel to very ordinary men to make the greatest announcement in the history of mankind. They were guarding their means of livelihood, protecting the innocent and helpless lambs... watching and waiting for the morning light. I find it so amazing that God sent His messenger to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, who would himself fulfill the role of the Good Shepherd. And then at the same time become the Lamb of God who was the sacrifice for our sins. What an amazing analogy that helps man relate to the birth of our Savior... this long awaited good news.

Most of us go about our daily lives not expecting miraculous events to happen to us, but at this time of year we are increasingly made aware by the changes in the weather, the color of the leaves, the preparations being made for the holidays... that God is again going to bring "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

The shepherds "came with haste" to find Jesus and " they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." Let us remind ourselves to keep watch, to prepare our hearts and minds, and to share that joy with all people.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fill us again with the awesome wonder of this Christmas season. Thank you for loving us, Teach us how to love one another, to be good shepherds in this world, and to share the message of the heavenly host: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

- Sarah Folckomer

How to Wait

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:40:23 GMT

“Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;.

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way....
But only the redeemed will walk there.”

- Isaiah 35, 3-4, 8-9

Few people enjoy waiting whether it’s for a joyous event - a birthday, a vacation, a birth, or something more mundane – waiting in a doctor’s office, in line at the check out or stopped at a red light. At Advent, Christians anticipate the coming of Christ from two perspectives: coming as a baby 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem; and His coming again in the future. As we prepare for the coming of the Christ child, how should we wait for the return of Christ? In frustration? In anger? In disbelief? In denial? In rejection?

So how should we wait? Isaiah chapter 35 provides two answers. Firstly, we should wait with patience. “Be strong, do not fear” (v4). Though sometimes it can seem like the world is falling apart around us, as we face struggles and heartaches of our own, we need to remember that this world is not our permanent home. That home will come with waiting.

Secondly, we should be holy. Being holy means to be set apart, dedicated to God. When people look at us, do they see something different? Our behavior, our actions, our beliefs and our commitment to our beliefs should be radically different from those of the world. It is more than just coming to Church on Sundays. Our actions throughout the week should reflect God’s light – “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

As we journey though this season of Advent, let us be grateful to God for sending his son to this earth. And let us look forward to Christ’s return with patience and holiness.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your precious son to earth to be our Savior. Help us to be a light in this dark world, as we practice patience and holiness. May people see You in us. Amen.

- Joanna Strelow

Only One Said Thank You

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:39:16 GMT

“Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

- Luke 17:19

This verse is the last in the story of Jesus cleansing ten lepers. Found in Luke 17:11-19, it is a story very much about having an Attitude for Gratitude. In this story, Jesus heals ten lepers as he enters a particular village, and sends them on their way, yet only one man returns to Jesus to praise him for his gift of healing. The other nine did not. What can we say is the reason that this one man returned? Quite simply, his heart changed. Sure, Jesus cured the leprosy, the physical ill that affected this man. But more importantly, he changed this man’s spirit. He cured the spiritual ill affecting this man, and being so changed, this man gave thanks to Jesus. Christ does the same for us. A devout, steadfast belief in Jesus as our Savior changes the very essence of our being. We are made anew in Christ, and this process begins in our heart; in our soul. Once it takes root, it is life changing! We then begin to live our lives for Christ, being in His service, using our time and talents to lead Christian lives. Having undergone this change, shouldn’t we give thanks to Christ? All good gifts come from God: life, love, the dawning of a new day. Knowing this, it seems almost elementary that we should say “thank you”, and display an Attitude for Gratitude in our lives.

Prayer

Gracious Father, you bless us in so many wonderful ways. Your love for us is beyond measure. The strength you give us is unlimited. The comfort you bring us is endless. For these and the many other ways you enrich our lives, help us to slow down and recognize all that you are, and all that you do for us. Help us to develop an attitude for gratitude for your works of grace and mercy. And in so doing, help us to pass on this attitude to others we come in contact with, through our words and deeds. In your name we pray, amen.

- Marc O’Neal

Saying Thank You

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:38:12 GMT

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

- 2 Corinthians 9:12-15 (NIV)

We are about to enter a season of gift-giving, an exciting time for young and old, but it can also be a stressful time. We struggle with giving the perfect gift to everyone on our list. We want to see on the face of each recipient a look of true pleasure which tells us they appreciate the gift we have chosen. On the other hand, when we ourselves receive gifts we want to be sure that the giver knows how much we appreciate their gift to us. How can we best say “Thank you?”

In her “Reflections on Working Toward Peace,” noted child advocate Marian Wright Edelman asks this question: “How will we say thanks for the life, earth, nations, and children God has entrusted to our care?” It’s a thought-provoking question. To answer it, we must first acknowledge that our entire existence, our very selves; our bodies, our families, the whole earth and all the peoples on it are indeed gifts from God. Secondly, we must accept that God has given us responsibility to care for all of these gifts. We show our gratitude to Him through the ways in which we carry out that responsibility. Our service and kindness to others, how we use our bodies, our care of the environment, our concern for those in lands other than our own, our efforts on behalf of the weak, are all ways we say “Thank you” to God.

Prayer

Dear God, we thank You for all you have given us. Help us to live lives overflowing in expressions of our thanks to You. Amen

- Barbara Long

You’re Asking Me?

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:36:55 GMT

“After me comes he who is mightier than I,

the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”

- Mark 1:7

Ever been asked to do something you felt you were unqualified for? Assemble a bike on Christmas Eve? Coach Little League? Serve in the church nursery? If we’re honest with ourselves, there are always things we’re afraid to tackle.

That was John’s challenge as he preached near the Jordan. Jesus requests that the Baptizer wade into the river and perform the sacrament for Jesus himself. Matthew records John saying: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

The funny thing about this story is that it’s not about John, his inadequacies, or his fears. The story is about doing what God wants just at the time He wants it. Jesus responds to John in this way: “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”

As we step into Advent, there will be times when we are out of our element. We hear that Emanuel is coming and wonder what it means to live in God’s presence. How will life be different? What if our best efforts fail?

It would be easy to hesitate and even refuse to try, but change is in the air. Each of us needs to place our trust in God. Our commitment is never about us. It’s always about putting the Kingdom first.

John stepped into the water with Jesus. He agreed to go beyond his fears. He accepted the possibility that God was doing a new thing. He stood with God’s very own son. This Advent may we be open to the Spirit’s leading and willing to take on new challenges. Let us consider what new things God might be calling us to.

Prayer

Father, let us place our trust in you, believing that your gracious love will lead us wherever you have called us to be. Amen.

~ Marshall Old