Monday, February 6, 2017

Scripture lessons for February 12

The scripture lessons for this Sunday are I Corinthians 3:1-9 & Deuteronomy 30:15-20.

This week @ Stevi UMC

Monday:
7:00 pm, Living Clean

Tuesday:

7:00 pm, Choir

Wednesday:

8:00 am, WIC
10:00 am, Methodism study: TBA

1;30 pm, Stewardship/Finance

6:00 pm, Worship on Wednesday/youth
7:00 pm, Outreach Committee

Thursday:

7:00 pm, Ad Council

Friday:
10:00 am, Drop-in Bible Study (lesson 11)
Noon, UMW Board
1:00 pm, UMW meeting

Saturday:
8:00 am, UMM
6:00 pm, Valentines Dinner

Sunday:
9:00 am, Church school

9:00 am, Methodism study: Basic beliefs

10:15 am, Praise singing
10:30 am, Worship
11:30 am, Fellowship
11:45 am, Chimes

February 6:

In December 2015, a call went out to stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters due to the increased violence experienced by the community as then-candidate Donald Trump called for a ban on all Muslims entering the country. All Americans were asked to stand in solidarity by posting a picture with the sign “We Are All Muslim”.

I believe that Jesus calls us to stand with those who are oppressed and on the margins. And so I posted on social media a picture of myself with that hashtag. I was unprepared for the response this statement of love would generate. I received hundreds of tweets and posts with the vilest of messages, from “I hope you are raped” to “go be beheaded”. By standing in solidarity, I learned about the viciousness of islamophobia and racism.

(Side note: this picture was posted out of context by someone as a way to use islamophobia and racism to rile those discontent with my election as bishop. Because of the distribution of this picture, people have left their local United Methodist churches).

Today, as islamophobia and racism continues to assault our Muslim brothers and sisters, The United Methodist Church Immigration Task force has asked us all to stand together on solidarity once more. May we all reach out to members of our human family who are Muslim. They are under incredible stress as they seek to live in peace in the US--the hatred, violence and incivility they face each day is overwhelming. If there are no Muslims in your community, teach your neighbors about this faith, speak out against racism and islamophobia, and model what welcoming the stranger looks like. As followers of Jesus, we can do no less.

Stay loving, friends!
Bishop Karen

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Today in history

On this day in history: The Revs. John and Charles Wesley

arrive in Savannah, Georgia in 1736.

Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.

A wet, but wonderful, morning!

With the roads wet with morning rain and the streets around the church slick with ice, the stalwart faithful made their way to worship at Stevi UMC today!

The chimes offered "Fairest Lord Jesus" as the anthem. Pastor Charles' sermon came from Matthew 5:13-16.

Thanks to:
Marcia Prather, Lisa Menery, and Cammie Edgar, parking lot angels; Mitch Edgar, acolyte wrangler; Marilyn Murphy, chimes; Lisa Menery, liturgist; Lisa Nicholls and Belinda Alkula, children's teachers; Diane Bailey, Carole Koval, & Shirley McKelvey, fellowship; Cammie Edgar, power point; Tom Bishop, video; Mary Costello and Vickie Vernon, greeter/usher; and Sara Malo, communion steward.

The General Rules of the Methodist Church

The adult class on Sunday morning and Wednesday morning has been learning about our denominational history with the study, "Methodism and you: from our roots to our future."

This week we are learning about our theological roots with the Articles of Religion and the General Rules which are a reminder of what we are to be as people called United Methodists:

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The General Rules of the Methodist Church

There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies: "a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins." But wherever this is really fixed in the soul it will be shown by its fruits.

It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as:

The taking of the name of God in vain.
The profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein or by buying or selling.
Drunkenness: buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity.
Slaveholding; buying or selling slaves.
Fighting, quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with brother; returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using many words in buying or selling.
The buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty.
The giving or taking things on usury—i.e., unlawful interest.
Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation; particularly speaking evil of magistrates or of ministers.
Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us.
Doing what we know is not for the glory of God, as:
The putting on of gold and costly apparel.
The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God.
Softness and needless self-indulgence.
Laying up treasure upon earth.
Borrowing without a probability of paying; or taking up goods without a probability of paying for them.

It is expected of all who continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:

To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison.
To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine that "we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it."
By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of faith or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others; buying one of another, helping each other in business, and so much the more because the world will love its own and them only.
By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed.
By running with patience the race which is set before them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the world; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely, for the Lord's sake.

It is expected of all who desire to continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such are:

The public worship of God.
The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.
The Supper of the Lord.
Family and private prayer.
Searching the Scriptures.
Fasting or abstinence.

These are the General Rules of our societies; all of which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written Word, which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on truly awakened hearts. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be known unto them who watch over that soul as they who must give an account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways. We will bear with him for a season. But then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church — 2016. Copyright 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

“Alternative Facts” and Christian Truth

From the United Methodist News Service:

Christians are necessarily committed to the idea of truth, writes the Rev. David Watson, academic dean of United Methodist United Theological Seminary “As Christians, we seek truth because we believe that truth is inherently good. All truth is ultimately the product of God’s creative divine Word, who was made flesh in Jesus Christ,” Watson writes.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the matter of “alternative facts.” While it hasn’t been named in exactly this way before, the phenomenon of “alternative facts” is nothing new. People have always attempted to shape the interpretation of the world around them to their own advantage.

The rise of postmodernity and deconstructionism has gone a long way toward legitimizing alternative facts. The very concept of “truth” has become suspect. (Witness Stephen Colbert’s wonderful term, “truthiness”). What is true for one person may not be so for another. Years ago, when I was teaching in a community college, I was shocked at how readily my students simply accepted this understanding of truth. Since that time, the idea that truth is culturally determined has become ever more atomistic. Put differently, truth is not now simply determined by one’s culture; it is determined on an individual level. The truth about my life and the way I see the world are first and foremost located within myself. From this perspective, it is more accurate to speak of “truths,” in the plural.

Various theologians and philosophers have attempted over the years to discern the ways in which postmodernity relates to Christian theology. I’m not a philosopher, but I can’t see a productive way in which the deconstruction of the concept of truth can be particularly helpful to Christian theologians. I am reminded of Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Truth was standing right in front of him, and he did not know it.

The Gospel of John (1:1-3) shows us a picture of Jesus not just as teacher, Messiah, and Son of God, but as the divine logos—the word, wisdom, reason, and creative order of God. Jesus is literally the enfleshment of truth, so to know Jesus is to know truth. When Jesus left, he gave us the Holy Spirit, who would continue his teaching. Jesus in fact calls the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of truth” (John 15:26).

Christians are necessarily committed to the idea of truth. Yes, the way in which we interpret our experiences can be to some extent culturally determined, but this is quite different from saying that there is no truth. If you and I are standing on opposite sides of a valley, looking down at a cabin below us, we will perceive different aspects of the cabin, but we are undeniably looking at the same building. Perhaps in conversation with one another we will develop a fuller account of what it is we saw.

As Christians, we seek truth because we believe that truth is inherently good. All truth is ultimately the product of God’s creative divine Word, who was made flesh in Jesus Christ. Whether we are talking about the crowd size at the presidential inauguration, a mathematical equation, the inherent value of human lives, or the saving work of Jesus Christ, truth matters.

View from the Valley