We have signed up for a work day with Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County!
We're going on April 24th and we need two teams: one to work and one to feed the workers! Can you go? Sign up by commenting on the blog, answering an e-mail, or telling Pastor Sara.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lay Speaking School
ONEONTA DISTRICT
LAY SPEAKING SCHOOL
“Leading, Caring &
Communicating”
at
Greene United Methodist Church
Greene, NY
April 10 & 17, 2010
Please Share this form with any who might be interested
Questions?
Call/e-mail
George Gallandorm (607) 674-2552 revgeorge@frontiernet.net
or
Richard Hanson (315) 858-3731
Basic Lay Speaking
Led by
Rev. Sara Baron and Tom Blake
Looking for inspired and inspiring leadership skills and personal growth? Laity attending lay speaker school for the first time (or after a long absence from the school) need to enroll in “Lay Speakers Ministry: Basic” This course helps students develop personal faith and life styles that proclaim the gospel. The course helps students grow in their abilities to witness, teach, lead, serve, and preach (revised course will not require you to prepare and present a devotional). Increase your skills, enjoy meeting and sharing with others, reinforce your faith journey.
Lay Speakers Tell Stories
Led by
Rev. Joyce Allen
Lay speakers will learn what makes a good story, discover their own style as a storyteller, learn and practice creating stories from their own experiences during their faith journey.
Sharing Your Faith - One-on-One
Led by
Rev. Benjamin Shaw
The purpose of this course is to provide some tools for sharing your faith with other individuals in a one-on-one basis. This course has been up-dated to reflect the new word “witness” in our membership vows. Also, there will be a segment on boundary and misconduct issues. All are invited to audit the course. Those who have completed the Basic Lay Speaker course will receive Advanced Lay Speaker Certificates.
Hymnody
Led by
Rev. George Gallandorm
This course is not only for the musically gifted, but the musically interested. The course will spend sometime on the history of music in the church. The major emphasis will however be the use of hymns and music in worship. Also developing worship services that integrate music as a vital and lively spiritual component. Time will be spent on use of the United Methodist hymnal and other resources available.
Daily Schedule
April 10
8:15-8:45 - Registration
8:45-9:00 - Worship
9-12 – Class time (w/break)
12-12:45 Lunch available
1-4 – Class time (w/break)
April 17
8:30-12 – Class Time (w/break)
12-1 – Lunch available
1-3 Class Time (w/break)
3-4 – Closing Worship
Registrar:
E.Elaine Gates
48 Pleasant Valley Road
Port Crane, NY 13833
Phone:607-226-7219 (day)
607-648-9790 (after 6 p.m.)
Send completed form and registration fee ($30 made out to Wyoming Annual Conference) to the registrar.
Cost of school is $30 – Lunch extra
Words about the School
All churches in the United Methodist connection require inspired, capable and trained leadership of both clergy and laity. It is our goal to assist and empower laity to lead, care and communicate with confidence and ability. Courses are provided for laity who are interested in expanding their faith journey and/or developing their skills as leaders.
THIS SCHOOL IS NOT ONLY FOR LAITY WHO DESIRE TO PREACH OR LEAD PUBLIC WORSHIP. Lay speakers throughout the Wyoming Annual Conference, and entire United Methodist connection have historically filled this role in obedience to God’s call on their lives. But God’s call is different to each of His created, and God has given each of us our own special gifts and graces, as the Apostle Paul so often mentioned. Lay Speaking Classes are developed to help individuals pursue their call, whatever it may be –teaching, caring, mission, evangelism, worship or preaching.
Deadline – March 10, 2010
Registration Form
(Deadline – March 10, 2010)
Name: __________________________
Address: ________________________
______________________________
Phone #: _________________
e-mail: _________________________
Local Church/District: _____________
COURSE SELECTION – Choose 1
Basic Lay Speaking* ____
Sharing Your Faith ___
Hymnody ___
Story Telling ___
Lunch will be available at the church each day for $ TBD
Lunch 4/10 ___ Lunch 4/17___
Reservation only for lunch. Money will be collected the days of classes.
Basic students need signature of your pastor and Church Council
Chairperson.
Pastor: _____________________
Chair: _____________________
Pancake Breakfast
Somehow or another, I'm told it started with an intention to "feed the hungry," we've ended up with a tradition of having Pancake Breakfasts during Lent. Each week a person or couple signs up to be the "coordinators" and they make sure that there are enough volunteers, plenty of food, and the coffee gets started really early! Others sign up to bring food or volunteers. As a team, pancakes and french toast, eggs, bacon, and sausage, are made, apple sause and drinks are served, and dishes get washed. The kitchen is always full of fun, and many people come to enjoy the good food and atmosphere.
This runs from the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Palm Sunday because, really, we don't want the Sanctuary to smell like pancakes on Easter. At least we're honest!
This runs from the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Palm Sunday because, really, we don't want the Sanctuary to smell like pancakes on Easter. At least we're honest!
Sermon (February 14, 2010)
"Shining" based on Transfiguration – Exodus 34: 29-35, Luke 9:28-36
Moses comes off the mountain with his face shining. By the narratives in the Bible, Moses is the ONLY one who gets to speak face to face with God (whatever that means). However, the experience of being close to the Divine Presence changed him – physically even. The rest of the people, in fact, couldn't handle it. Being close to Moses when he'd been transformed by being close to God was too much for them. They made him cover his face so he wouldn't freak them out. My guess is that they didn't want to be reminded that profoundly of the mystery and power of God.
The key here is to remember that we aren't all the same, and that connecting to God takes on MANY forms. BUT – you are responsible for finding the ways that work for you and using them! And for finding the time to do so!
Moses comes off the mountain with his face shining. By the narratives in the Bible, Moses is the ONLY one who gets to speak face to face with God (whatever that means). However, the experience of being close to the Divine Presence changed him – physically even. The rest of the people, in fact, couldn't handle it. Being close to Moses when he'd been transformed by being close to God was too much for them. They made him cover his face so he wouldn't freak them out. My guess is that they didn't want to be reminded that profoundly of the mystery and power of God.
Peter, James and John had a similar experience. They were SLEEPING when it started, but were woken to a vision of Jesus shining with God's light, standing between Moses and Elijah. What a way to wake up! And, in addition to seeing the glory of God they also heard God's voice. Which, as the scripture says, terrified them. Peter had been on his understandable kick about “let's memorialize this moment” when the voice spoke with “This is my child, the beloved, listen to him!” Even Peter was stunned into silence.
Its intentional, in the Gospel, to mention that the disciples were sleeping. It is meant both as “sleeping” AND as “failing to be attentive to what God is doing.” The Gospels are often contrasting FULL LIFE with God to spiritual sleep-walking through life without seeing what God is doing. The disciples were, as it all started, not noticing what God was doing, but they woke up to it. And, yes, good job if you noticed it – this stands in contrast to the sleep FILLED night for them in the Garden of Gethsemane. This time they notice. That night they lose the battle.
The battle to stay awake to God's Presence and work in the world is one of the primary challenges of faith life. Just like its easy to forget how nice it is to move around freely until you twist and ankle, or how great it is to have opposable thumbs until one is hurt, or how much you really do love a family member until that person goes away for a week, or how much you have in life until you see a homeless person beg for pennies; its possible to tune out the extraordinary Presence of God.
Bruce Epperly, in the Process and Faith Lectionary for this week says that “the church is called to be a laboratory for spiritual experiences, a place where persons expect God to “show up” in their lives in life-changing ways.”1 That is, we're not meant to take the experiences of Moses and Jesus as cool moments that show how faithful they are – we're supposed to follow in their footsteps, walk up to the mountaintop and open ourselves to God's presence like they did. And then watch and see what God does with us.
This leads us to some very important questions: where is your mountaintop? I've asked a lot of you that question, and many of you have great answers. I've even gotten to see some of the places. However, some are a bit less accessible at this time of year ;) Let me ask again, for those of you who haven't answered, and for those who know but may need to consider: Where is your mountaintop? That is, where is your holy place? That is, where can you go to let God change you from the inside out? I know of: a fishing pond. A fallen tree by a steam. The garden. Hilltops with views. A quiet place under the hickory trees. But it isn't always about place.
In the book “The Five Love Languages, “ Gary Chapman2 suggests that each human being “speaks” one of 5 love languages. That language is the primary way that the person experiences love, and because of it, is the primary way that person tries to express love. His point is that each person in a partnered relationship needs to speak to their loved one in the language of the loved one – not the language they wish to receive in.
The 5 are: Being Present; Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation; Physical Touch; and Giving Gifts. It occurs to me that these are also a key to our Holy Places. For some, it will be place – probably those (like me) who respond most to BEING PRESENT. We just wanna hang out with God. Many of you tell me that you feel most connected to God when you are in service to the church – cleaning the pews or polishing the brass or teaching Sunday School. That should be an ah-ha about what you need to do when you need closeness to God. I suspect that people for whom love is best known in words of affirmation, worship is KEY to connecting to God. Perhaps writing poems to God, or a valentine, or just singing praise songs throughout the week helps. I'm not QUITE sure how those who speak physical touch best seek God, but I have a few guesses – perhaps there is something more positional for you in how you pray – like the vision I used to have lying in a church pew and thinking of myself as lying on God's lap for prayer. Also, perhaps, physical connection with others – a partner or a family member or a friend – or just holding a baby – is the best way to feel God's closeness. Finally, for those who know love through Gifts, perhaps giving your offering, or buying the flowers for the church, or donating to the trustees project, leaving some pens downstairs for the rest of us, or giving to the graduates each year, is important to your connection to God.
The key here is to remember that we aren't all the same, and that connecting to God takes on MANY forms. BUT – you are responsible for finding the ways that work for you and using them! And for finding the time to do so!
Now, my dear brother is the best skier in the family – sorry Mom and Dad. He operates under the theory that if you aren't falling while skiing, you aren't trying hard enough. And, because of that theory I'm convinced, he has pushed himself further and gotten better than I really even dream of. But we actually all keep his rule in mind on the mountains.
This week I stood in a glade at Jay Peak, on top of a mound of snow which was on top of a small tree trunk and looked down the mountain. To get off of that mound of snow was going to require a super tight turn that I was pretty sure I couldn't make that would land me going too fast for the next turn. And, to be honest, there wasn't any better way out of my situation. So, I took a breath (which is ALWAYS a form of prayer), and told myself, “OK. You are going to try this turn. And you are going to fall. And that's OK. You won't get hurt, you'll just fall.”
Now, before you think I'm being arrogant, I'll let you know that I had plenty of falls this week, and I have a bruise on the INSIDE of my upper arm from one of them to prove it. But, after that little pep talk to myself, I planted my pole, and took the turn. And I got it around without a problem and continued down the rest of the trail without a fall.
The fear of falling had stopped me in my tracks, but once I remembered that it wasn't such a bad thing if I did, I could continue on. And once I wasn't afraid of the fall, I didn't even have to do it – I was more able than I knew! Seek God with a willingness to risk – a willingness to fall! Because you never know when you'll be surprised at how close God is and how willing God is to shine through you!
It is scary to be face to face with God. And its hard to even seek God because closeness to God also brings you face to face with yourself. Those are the risks.
Knowing them, are you willing to risk to get closer to God?
That is, are you willing to really see yourself, and the world, and deep truth? Are you willing to take a class (Death and Resurrection) and see where it takes you? Are you willing to give up some time in service? Are you willing to come talk to me about forms of prayer that may get you out of a rut? Or to ask someone to be your prayer partner? Or to give more to Haiti because God's heart is broken with the people's pain? It won't hurt, at least not in the long run, but it will change you!! Are you willing to try new ways, seek old ways that worked, look for God in all you do?
And then, if you go to a holy place and find the time to tune in to God, are you open to the changes that may come? How might prayer move you to act in the world? How might more God in your being make you more loving, and thus worried for others? How does your spirituality impact your living?
Here we end– with the questions to answer, with the knowledge that God DOES change people into Shining out with love, and with the affirmation that you have to be willing to fall to move forward sometimes – ESPECIALLY in spiritual life. May you find space, time, and willingness to risk.
Amen
1Bruce G. Epperly, "February 14, 2010
6th Sunday after Epiphany
Transfiguration Sunday" http://www.processandfaith.org/lectionary/YearC/2009-2010/2010-02-14.shtml, accessed on 2/13/210
2Gary Chapman, Five Languages of Love. (Northfield Publishing, 1995).
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Announcements, February 7, 2010
Sign ups: cleaning the church, Hour with Sara, Fellowship, and the Lent Booklets!
Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us. Talk to Sara for more information!
Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23rd.
Mark your calendars for the Ash Wednesday service this year at 7 PM on Feb. 17th. Start the season of Lent with a time to remember and let go!
Tuesdays in Lent: A Lent Communion Worship Service.
On March 21st we'll have Turkey and Biscuit for lunch, a talent show, and a chinese auction! (All after worship) Its time to get talents ready and auction items considered!
Pastor Sara is going skiing! If you need a pastor, please call Rev. Allyson Ellis of the New Berlin UMC at 847-6350. Sara will be back for Sunday worship.
We are still looking for people to be coordinators for the Pancake Breakfasts - sign-up sheets are in the Narthex. If you have questions or need more information, please talk with Elaine M. or Elaine F. after Church. (Saturday mornings in Lent)
We are looking for a group of people to work on creating a Community Meal at our church. Talk to Pastor Sara or Mike Virgil if you have interest.
Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us. Talk to Sara for more information!
Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23rd.
Mark your calendars for the Ash Wednesday service this year at 7 PM on Feb. 17th. Start the season of Lent with a time to remember and let go!
Tuesdays in Lent: A Lent Communion Worship Service.
On March 21st we'll have Turkey and Biscuit for lunch, a talent show, and a chinese auction! (All after worship) Its time to get talents ready and auction items considered!
Pastor Sara is going skiing! If you need a pastor, please call Rev. Allyson Ellis of the New Berlin UMC at 847-6350. Sara will be back for Sunday worship.
We are still looking for people to be coordinators for the Pancake Breakfasts - sign-up sheets are in the Narthex. If you have questions or need more information, please talk with Elaine M. or Elaine F. after Church. (Saturday mornings in Lent)
We are looking for a group of people to work on creating a Community Meal at our church. Talk to Pastor Sara or Mike Virgil if you have interest.
Sermon (February 7, 2010)
“Here We Are – For Better or Worse”
Isaiah 6:1-8 and Luke 5:1-11
Our readings this week are both call stories. Which is church language for “a story in which God calls on someone, and that person's life is changed by responding.” These stories are particularly important, because they speak to us about how God has been heard in the past – which is meant to inform us about how God may be heard in the present.
God uses a lot of means of communication, and with all the ones in the Bible -and some of them are WEIRD – they're still just a small set of examples of God's work. We still learn a lot from them though.
Isaiah's call, by our best guess, happened when he was in worship at the Temple. He has a vision of God sitting on a throne, and the hem of the robe of the Lord is so big that it fills the whole Temple. A fabulous point here: God sometimes speaks during worship! Further, God speaks sometimes to just one of the people who are present, and in a unique way, and not always from the worship itself. This vision was Isaiah's alone. God spoke while Isaiah was present and seeking God, but others who were doing the same were not called that day.
A second point: it appears that experiences of God are awe-striking. Pretty much everyone in the Bible, when they get close to the Divine One, responds “AHHHHHHHH!!!! I'm not Good Enough!” Isaiah is no different. He responds that he is unclean. EVEN THOUGH he would have cleaned himself in order to enter the Temple. God's response, however, is to symbolically remove objections. The uncleanness is made clean. Isaiah doesn't get out of the work. And, once God has acted to both call and remove the barriers, THEN Isaiah speaks the words “Here I am, send me.” I rather like it that God does all the acting! We often sing the hymn, but its good to notice that Isaiah speaks his faith and his willingness – AFTER God has prepared him. We don't have to be ready for what hasn't happened yet, and we will be prepared for what we are asked to do. God isn't calling everyone to the same work, or at the same time, or even at the same rate. BUT, God is faithful to prepare us. Phew – that's some pressure off!
Peter's experience is VERY similar to Isaiah's. At first there is just frustration, then Jesus comes and there is a sign of God's power and goodness. Then, when Peter is overwhelmed by God's closeness, Peter also responds with his unworthiness, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" And the response is still the same as well. “Do not be afraid.” We humans apparently need to hear that a lot! But then, as well, the sinfulness is not a barrier. Jesus changes Peter's life by calling on him to leave the fish and seek out people. Its rather amusing really: The fisherman can't get any fish, so Jesus has him pull in a HUGE catch as a way to tell him that his fishing days are over. God's sense of humor, as per usual.
These call stories are profound, the men who experienced them had radically different lives afterward. Isaiah became a prophet – going around sharing God's desire for justice with the people as a full time “job.” Peter left all that he knew and followed Jesus. His house, his friends, his family, his profession, his possessions – they all stayed behind.
I suspect, although the Gospels don't mention it, that as hard as that seems, it was really a blessing for Peter. He was totally free! A fisherman who fished all night without a catch would be worrying about having enough for the family and for the market – worried about well being for that day and that week. But those worries were left behind. The care for the nets (which occupied a lot of the land time of fisherman) and the stability of the boat, and …. all the work that has to be done to maintain possessions got left behind as well.
I think about it sometimes. My car, which serves me so well to get me from one place to another, also has its own hold on me. I pay its insurance bill, and for gas, and maintenance. I always have thoughts in the back of my head about when I'll need to get gas, when it next needs an oil change, “was that a weird noise?”, and a mild fear that I'll get a flat. I've gotten a lot of inconvenient flats. That is, m car occupies a bit of worry and organizational space in my mind as well as taking some of my income to maintain. To be honest, all my possessions do! This may be more relevant to some people than others, but, for example, a new shirt can be pretty fun. But has it ever happened that a new shirt doesn't quite match any of your pants? And then you buy new pants? And then the pants are too long and you need other shoes? And then the shoes are perfect, but you need.....
Each possession comes with its own demands. I'm done harping on it, but I notice that Peter in leaving it all behind and following Jesus might well have been very blessed to walk away from having possessions. He isn't the only one who followed God that way, and he isn't the only one to be blessed by it. I will note that we we might all be happier if we had less things tying us down, but most of us are probably still not called to give it all away – at least not yet! Apparently, if God is going to ask that, God will at least prepare us and respond to our objections first!
In any case, God is calling people. The calls are to different things and in different ways, but they're around. I hope you'll be open to noticing when they happen in your life. Moreso, I hope you'll let go of any fear you have of what God might ask. It is true that God isn't afraid to ask beyond what we deem reasonable or easy, but its also true that God will prepare us for what we're asked to do. So there is no need to be afraid, and probably the only barrier to your call is your fear that keeps God away.
Like Peter was blessed to walk away from all he knew, and like that's really a very strange form of blessing, may God ask of you what is best for you – and may you be open to respond.
Amen
Isaiah 6:1-8 and Luke 5:1-11
Our readings this week are both call stories. Which is church language for “a story in which God calls on someone, and that person's life is changed by responding.” These stories are particularly important, because they speak to us about how God has been heard in the past – which is meant to inform us about how God may be heard in the present.
God uses a lot of means of communication, and with all the ones in the Bible -and some of them are WEIRD – they're still just a small set of examples of God's work. We still learn a lot from them though.
Isaiah's call, by our best guess, happened when he was in worship at the Temple. He has a vision of God sitting on a throne, and the hem of the robe of the Lord is so big that it fills the whole Temple. A fabulous point here: God sometimes speaks during worship! Further, God speaks sometimes to just one of the people who are present, and in a unique way, and not always from the worship itself. This vision was Isaiah's alone. God spoke while Isaiah was present and seeking God, but others who were doing the same were not called that day.
A second point: it appears that experiences of God are awe-striking. Pretty much everyone in the Bible, when they get close to the Divine One, responds “AHHHHHHHH!!!! I'm not Good Enough!” Isaiah is no different. He responds that he is unclean. EVEN THOUGH he would have cleaned himself in order to enter the Temple. God's response, however, is to symbolically remove objections. The uncleanness is made clean. Isaiah doesn't get out of the work. And, once God has acted to both call and remove the barriers, THEN Isaiah speaks the words “Here I am, send me.” I rather like it that God does all the acting! We often sing the hymn, but its good to notice that Isaiah speaks his faith and his willingness – AFTER God has prepared him. We don't have to be ready for what hasn't happened yet, and we will be prepared for what we are asked to do. God isn't calling everyone to the same work, or at the same time, or even at the same rate. BUT, God is faithful to prepare us. Phew – that's some pressure off!
Peter's experience is VERY similar to Isaiah's. At first there is just frustration, then Jesus comes and there is a sign of God's power and goodness. Then, when Peter is overwhelmed by God's closeness, Peter also responds with his unworthiness, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" And the response is still the same as well. “Do not be afraid.” We humans apparently need to hear that a lot! But then, as well, the sinfulness is not a barrier. Jesus changes Peter's life by calling on him to leave the fish and seek out people. Its rather amusing really: The fisherman can't get any fish, so Jesus has him pull in a HUGE catch as a way to tell him that his fishing days are over. God's sense of humor, as per usual.
These call stories are profound, the men who experienced them had radically different lives afterward. Isaiah became a prophet – going around sharing God's desire for justice with the people as a full time “job.” Peter left all that he knew and followed Jesus. His house, his friends, his family, his profession, his possessions – they all stayed behind.
I suspect, although the Gospels don't mention it, that as hard as that seems, it was really a blessing for Peter. He was totally free! A fisherman who fished all night without a catch would be worrying about having enough for the family and for the market – worried about well being for that day and that week. But those worries were left behind. The care for the nets (which occupied a lot of the land time of fisherman) and the stability of the boat, and …. all the work that has to be done to maintain possessions got left behind as well.
I think about it sometimes. My car, which serves me so well to get me from one place to another, also has its own hold on me. I pay its insurance bill, and for gas, and maintenance. I always have thoughts in the back of my head about when I'll need to get gas, when it next needs an oil change, “was that a weird noise?”, and a mild fear that I'll get a flat. I've gotten a lot of inconvenient flats. That is, m car occupies a bit of worry and organizational space in my mind as well as taking some of my income to maintain. To be honest, all my possessions do! This may be more relevant to some people than others, but, for example, a new shirt can be pretty fun. But has it ever happened that a new shirt doesn't quite match any of your pants? And then you buy new pants? And then the pants are too long and you need other shoes? And then the shoes are perfect, but you need.....
Each possession comes with its own demands. I'm done harping on it, but I notice that Peter in leaving it all behind and following Jesus might well have been very blessed to walk away from having possessions. He isn't the only one who followed God that way, and he isn't the only one to be blessed by it. I will note that we we might all be happier if we had less things tying us down, but most of us are probably still not called to give it all away – at least not yet! Apparently, if God is going to ask that, God will at least prepare us and respond to our objections first!
In any case, God is calling people. The calls are to different things and in different ways, but they're around. I hope you'll be open to noticing when they happen in your life. Moreso, I hope you'll let go of any fear you have of what God might ask. It is true that God isn't afraid to ask beyond what we deem reasonable or easy, but its also true that God will prepare us for what we're asked to do. So there is no need to be afraid, and probably the only barrier to your call is your fear that keeps God away.
Like Peter was blessed to walk away from all he knew, and like that's really a very strange form of blessing, may God ask of you what is best for you – and may you be open to respond.
Amen
Haiti Relief
Given the news about what other churches are doing, or trying to do in Haiti, it seems to be time to inform ourselves about what the United Methodist Church is doing. A whole lot of information can be found here: http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.5719935/k.E27B/Earthquake_in_Haiti_The_Church_Responds.htm
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