I’ve had an alright summer thus far. One or two big things happened. Last week, I met the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). I traveled to Idaho for the first time to perform the wedding of a college friend. I just learned that a different close friend will soon move to MN to pastor a UCC church in Moorehead. Oh, and I got married. But I haven’t yet spent any time at a lake. So I’m taking the good with the bad, you know?
At the church, we had fun things happen too. We welcomed five different preachers to bring us messages while I was off traveling. Thank you, again, for your support this summer. Our joint picnic with Thy Word for Music in Plymouth was a resounding success from all reports. And I was blown away with the thoughtful execution of this summer’s VBS. We may not have the numbers other churches have, but when it comes to good hospitality to youth and children, numbers matter far less than open hearts and courageous adults willing to enter into meaningful relationships. So thanks to those who helped with that work. And let me encourage you all to continue building meaningful inter-generational relationships with each other. Very few places in American society provide space for such important relationships to occur. Church can, and should, do it well.
Which brings me to something else that happened this summer that I personally find very encouraging. We’ve done some new and cool stuff with St. Edward’s the Confessor Episcopal Church and Plymouth Presbyterian. For those who weren’t aware, you should know that our churches have gotten together this summer on a few occasions. It all began with a conversation I had with their pastors/priest last Spring. We each recognized that none of our churches had the size or budget to offer the kind of programming we’d like. But rather than do nothing, we decided to risk a partnership.
It’s been great. Twice a month, during June, July and August, we’ve held Wednesday night Adult Ed “Summer School” sessions. Give Laurie Leonhart a gold star for perfect attendance. Each time, we watched a twenty-minute video, from a series called NOOMA, followed by a short discussion. These DVDs have made huge waves around American churches for the past few years, especially amongst Young Adults. But we learned that age didn’t matter; their superior production quality and meaningful messages sparked wonderful conversations. Also, twice this summer we tried to get our churches’ youth together for some fun and relationship building. The first event was a Frisbee Golf outing, but no one from our partner churches were able to show up. So PCCC cooked some dawgs and tossed the ‘bee, and otherwise had a good time. Just a few days ago, we got together again at Plymouth Presbyterian for a Youth Service Project, and it was awesome. About 15 folk showed up for about two hours of painting logos on reusable bags for the city of Plymouth, who will hand them out with information about the city’s environmental programs and activities. So we were good Christians, citizens, partners and stewards of God’s Earth- at the same time!
All of this exemplifies one of our key missions at Plymouth Creek- Partnership. And we do this very well, from our established partnerships with Yellow Brick Road and Thy Word, to our emerging partnerships with Plymouth Pres and St. Ed’s, to our occasional partnering with Plymouth Creek Elementary. This church understands the value of working together, which I believe derives from our coming together every week at the Lord’s Table. We constantly remind ourselves that hospitality is something that, first and foremost, we receive from God. Thus, it’s only natural we share it with and receive it from others too. Thanks for your ongoing commitment to the many partnerships we’re forging. And please, keep looking for other partnerships we could begin, and let me know. I’d be glad to help you help our church enter into deeper, more life-giving partnerships with our neighbors. I seem to remember Jesus saying something positive once about something like that…
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Fresh Air from the Past…
The other day, I ate with a kind, thoughtful man who eclipsed me in age, and he made a claim similar to others I’ve heard before. “Young man, I grew up in a very different world than you.” We were talking about broccoli and grocery stores, but this observation applies to much more. My mother did not learn computers until receiving a college degree in computer programming in her thirties. Because of that knowledge, I grew up thinking digitally. My grandmother remembered “Whites Only” signs at local stores. I don’t. She also remembered nights of culinary ingenuity during the Great Depression, when a tasty dinner appeared- somehow, someway. I was ‘privileged’ to grow up believing that eating ‘only’ McDonald’s was a downgrade. McDonald’s was still a dream in Grandma’s youth..
The point is my generation grew up in a different world than my father’s, and he his father’s, and…well, I wonder how far back that goes. I suspect every generation has something unfamiliar to comment on in subsequent generations. Sometimes it’s a lament, “Oh, how I miss the old days.” Sometimes it’s a celebration, “I’m glad that doesn’t happen anymore.” Sometimes it’s just an observation, “Life sure is different now.”
Our denomination is now dealing with a unique kind of old/new dynamic: We’ve just resurrected an idea from the past as a ‘fresh solution’ to a changing world. At General Assembly a few weeks back, our church voted to endorse ordination for some folk who have not gone to seminary. Like I said, it’s an old idea, but to many, it sounds strange and new.
Now, by “endorse,” I don’t mean that seminary has become unimportant or superfluous. Far from it. Seminary education is still the default path for ministerial preparation. However, the world has changed since the 50’s, when seminary education first became mandatory for Disciples of Christ pastors. These days more and more ministers are second-career students, with families they can’t uproot for three years to go to school. The debt load many seminarians must now assume is difficult, and for many impossible. Our denomination has seen wonderful growth in Latino and Asian congregations, but seminary training in the US occurs, of course, in English. What all this means is still up for debate, but it seems we were due for an update. And so we went with the oldest of solutions- Mentors.
I say ‘old’ because that’s what Jesus did. He spent a great deal of time training leaders, those whom we now call “the 12 Apostles.” In fact, I believe that Jesus’ work of mentoring his inner circle was more effective for the future of his movement than any other act outside the resurrection. Seriously. So by endorsing a path to ordination that substitutes seminary with mentorship, we’re emulating an effective model.
Such ministers will still, of course, require training and education, just like the first disciples. But their learning focus will occur in practical settings- with congregations or college groups or other places for ministry- rather than primarily with books and professors. There will be those too, but they will be secondary. Every Region has freedom to design their own programs, but there are “competency areas” every candidate must address. And, of course, the Spirit will continue to call and lead.
I have intelligent friends in ministry who like this change much less than I. Fair enough. As a Disciples of Christ member, I accept that my interpretation is just that, mine, and therefore it is limited. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this important topic. Indeed, this vote may be the most important our church has taken in the past three decades. But whether you think this is a good idea or not, we can agree on one thing: the old has become new again.
Oh, and we can agree on this too- Whether or not these changes help our church step more boldly and faithfully into the future, the God of all who loves all will be with us when that future comes. And if I know God, what God’s going to do in that future will be…amazing. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
The point is my generation grew up in a different world than my father’s, and he his father’s, and…well, I wonder how far back that goes. I suspect every generation has something unfamiliar to comment on in subsequent generations. Sometimes it’s a lament, “Oh, how I miss the old days.” Sometimes it’s a celebration, “I’m glad that doesn’t happen anymore.” Sometimes it’s just an observation, “Life sure is different now.”
Our denomination is now dealing with a unique kind of old/new dynamic: We’ve just resurrected an idea from the past as a ‘fresh solution’ to a changing world. At General Assembly a few weeks back, our church voted to endorse ordination for some folk who have not gone to seminary. Like I said, it’s an old idea, but to many, it sounds strange and new.
Now, by “endorse,” I don’t mean that seminary has become unimportant or superfluous. Far from it. Seminary education is still the default path for ministerial preparation. However, the world has changed since the 50’s, when seminary education first became mandatory for Disciples of Christ pastors. These days more and more ministers are second-career students, with families they can’t uproot for three years to go to school. The debt load many seminarians must now assume is difficult, and for many impossible. Our denomination has seen wonderful growth in Latino and Asian congregations, but seminary training in the US occurs, of course, in English. What all this means is still up for debate, but it seems we were due for an update. And so we went with the oldest of solutions- Mentors.
I say ‘old’ because that’s what Jesus did. He spent a great deal of time training leaders, those whom we now call “the 12 Apostles.” In fact, I believe that Jesus’ work of mentoring his inner circle was more effective for the future of his movement than any other act outside the resurrection. Seriously. So by endorsing a path to ordination that substitutes seminary with mentorship, we’re emulating an effective model.
Such ministers will still, of course, require training and education, just like the first disciples. But their learning focus will occur in practical settings- with congregations or college groups or other places for ministry- rather than primarily with books and professors. There will be those too, but they will be secondary. Every Region has freedom to design their own programs, but there are “competency areas” every candidate must address. And, of course, the Spirit will continue to call and lead.
I have intelligent friends in ministry who like this change much less than I. Fair enough. As a Disciples of Christ member, I accept that my interpretation is just that, mine, and therefore it is limited. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this important topic. Indeed, this vote may be the most important our church has taken in the past three decades. But whether you think this is a good idea or not, we can agree on one thing: the old has become new again.
Oh, and we can agree on this too- Whether or not these changes help our church step more boldly and faithfully into the future, the God of all who loves all will be with us when that future comes. And if I know God, what God’s going to do in that future will be…amazing. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Changing Scenery…
Things look a bit different, eh? We’ve talked about shifting furniture in the Narthex…excuse me, the Welcome Center, for a long time now, and it’s finally happened. Consider this your brief orientation.
We did this for one basic reason- Mission. In revitalizing our spaces for the Adopt-A-Room Program, we wanted to equip our church for mission as best we can. So we’ve freshened up the office, education and choir spaces to make them better organized, more attractive and functional. And the same is true for what we are now calling “The Welcome Center”- we equipped it for mission, which is especially important since no room in the church gets used for mission more. This is where Child Care parents drop off and pick up children; where both churches gather to greet guests and one another; where we prepare for and respond to worship. It’s also where ALL our kids and grandkids spread their wings and are joyful together. Given this high volume, it is the best space we have to communicate our mission and values. This is a blessing, demanding good stewardship, so we took months to plan. Here are some thoughts.
The word “Narthex” means something to churchfolk, but sounds like a code word to guests. If we’re serious about hospitality to neighbors, we must think about church from an outsider’s perspective. ‘Code’ can be intimidating. So let’s use hospitable sounding words, and ones that describe the space- “Welcome Center.” Bonus- this reminds us of our mission when we talk to each other!
A focused space (church) is an effective space (church). So we focused the Welcome Center into different regions, which we all must help to maintain and utilize. These regions are:
Hospitality Center- On the right, as you enter, we have a new Hospitality Desk. This Hospitality Center is large enough for guests to pause and have good conversations with Greeters. We will craft updated literature to give out, and are updating our Hospitality Strategy too. So, on August 30th, after service, we are hosting a Greeters Training. Please come, if you have been a Greeter, OR IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS IMPORTANT MINISTRY!
Mission Center- On the left, as you enter, we will highlight each month’s mission focus, as well as keep receptacles for food or other donations. Further, we are beginning a fair-trade coffee ‘store,’ whose proceeds will support Week of Compassion. I’ll talk more about that later, but for now, know that soon you will be able to purchase fair-trade, high quality coffee at the church- for less than at Cub!
Church Life Center -Where the coat rack once was, we will have a Fellowship Desk with info about current programs, sign-up sheets, etc. This Church Life Center will also serve as reception space for members and guests to fellowship. Please, as you use the space, be deferential to those whose bodies and joints may require rest more than yours!
Partnership Center- Where the coat rack is now will be used for coats (of course!), and as an information center for Thy Word. One of the difficulties in sharing space is a mixing of messaging and identities. So we’re providing Thy Word a dedicated place in the Welcome Center to inform members and guests of church activities and mission. Also, we’re putting back the Lost and Found!
There’s more, certainly, like repainting in coming days. And as a work in progress, I encourage you to bring me suggestions for improvement. Again, let’s thank Laurie, Donna, and Al, among others, for their brilliant ideas and hard work! Finally, please remember that the Welcome Center also serves to move folk into and out of our Sanctuary. So as you use this space in new ways, be mindful of our mission of hospitality. There are folk moving around, especially guests and visitors. Things are now well placed for you to welcome and get to know guests, introduce yourself and why you love your church, and show them a seat next to yours in the Sanctuary. Of course, not everyone can do this every week, but imagine a weekly competition for providing hospitality…Welcome Center, indeed!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
We did this for one basic reason- Mission. In revitalizing our spaces for the Adopt-A-Room Program, we wanted to equip our church for mission as best we can. So we’ve freshened up the office, education and choir spaces to make them better organized, more attractive and functional. And the same is true for what we are now calling “The Welcome Center”- we equipped it for mission, which is especially important since no room in the church gets used for mission more. This is where Child Care parents drop off and pick up children; where both churches gather to greet guests and one another; where we prepare for and respond to worship. It’s also where ALL our kids and grandkids spread their wings and are joyful together. Given this high volume, it is the best space we have to communicate our mission and values. This is a blessing, demanding good stewardship, so we took months to plan. Here are some thoughts.
The word “Narthex” means something to churchfolk, but sounds like a code word to guests. If we’re serious about hospitality to neighbors, we must think about church from an outsider’s perspective. ‘Code’ can be intimidating. So let’s use hospitable sounding words, and ones that describe the space- “Welcome Center.” Bonus- this reminds us of our mission when we talk to each other!
A focused space (church) is an effective space (church). So we focused the Welcome Center into different regions, which we all must help to maintain and utilize. These regions are:
Hospitality Center- On the right, as you enter, we have a new Hospitality Desk. This Hospitality Center is large enough for guests to pause and have good conversations with Greeters. We will craft updated literature to give out, and are updating our Hospitality Strategy too. So, on August 30th, after service, we are hosting a Greeters Training. Please come, if you have been a Greeter, OR IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS IMPORTANT MINISTRY!
Mission Center- On the left, as you enter, we will highlight each month’s mission focus, as well as keep receptacles for food or other donations. Further, we are beginning a fair-trade coffee ‘store,’ whose proceeds will support Week of Compassion. I’ll talk more about that later, but for now, know that soon you will be able to purchase fair-trade, high quality coffee at the church- for less than at Cub!
Church Life Center -Where the coat rack once was, we will have a Fellowship Desk with info about current programs, sign-up sheets, etc. This Church Life Center will also serve as reception space for members and guests to fellowship. Please, as you use the space, be deferential to those whose bodies and joints may require rest more than yours!
Partnership Center- Where the coat rack is now will be used for coats (of course!), and as an information center for Thy Word. One of the difficulties in sharing space is a mixing of messaging and identities. So we’re providing Thy Word a dedicated place in the Welcome Center to inform members and guests of church activities and mission. Also, we’re putting back the Lost and Found!
There’s more, certainly, like repainting in coming days. And as a work in progress, I encourage you to bring me suggestions for improvement. Again, let’s thank Laurie, Donna, and Al, among others, for their brilliant ideas and hard work! Finally, please remember that the Welcome Center also serves to move folk into and out of our Sanctuary. So as you use this space in new ways, be mindful of our mission of hospitality. There are folk moving around, especially guests and visitors. Things are now well placed for you to welcome and get to know guests, introduce yourself and why you love your church, and show them a seat next to yours in the Sanctuary. Of course, not everyone can do this every week, but imagine a weekly competition for providing hospitality…Welcome Center, indeed!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Sunday, August 9, 2009
This is our ministry…
Last week, I shared that Indianapolis’ nickname is “Nap Town.” Turns out, that’s quite misleading. I was in Indy for four days, and didn’t take one nap. I didn’t sleep much, period. Thanks to Donna Jarvi for this observation. We were having lunch, and she asked about General Assembly. I said, “Great, and tiring.” She quipped, “Not really ‘Nap Town,’ is it?” I smiled. We then talked about rearranging furniture in the Narthex, and what further work needs doing in the Adopt-a-Room process. Please help out, if you can, donating time, effort, cash, or skills to assist Donna. She’s been a fabulous leader in this, and we’re oh so close. As well, please thank Laurie Leonhart for working hard with me to craft vision for the Narthex rearranging. Like for instance, we are now calling that space the Welcome Center- a name that better describes our mission for that room. Thanks Laurie and Donna!
Getting back to General Assembly, know that those tiring activities bore fruit. I reconnected with friends, mentors, and former congregants. I attended a workshop on the denomination’s new standards for ordaining ministers. We took a monumental vote on that topic, by the way, and it’s quite a change. An improvement, if you ask me, though I have friends who disagree vehemently. More on that in another letter, though, because I want to share the most important thing about last weekend- I understood in a deeper way than ever before what a great church we attend!
Maybe it’s because I’m now a solo pastor. But in the five years I’ve been a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I never felt so awed and appreciative of our tradition and its people. We’re part of a wonderful church. The people we serve and worship with are talented, creative servants of Jesus. And while I knew that was true here in Plymouth, I’m still just learning how true that is for the rest of our church.
I’m reminded of a sermon I heard in seminary. Santiago Piñon, a Disciples minister and our Director of Field Education, looked at us ministers-in-training and repeated one crucial phrase: This…is…our…ministry. He went on to describe every word in that sentence, and why each was important. This week, I’m focused on the word our. Because what we do every week shares in something beyond individual efforts, and contributes to a glorious whole- The Reign of God. And as members of the Disciples of Christ denomination, there’s a wonderful flavor to those efforts that deserves celebrating, and knowing more about.
For instance, did you know that some of the nation’s best preachers are Disciples? I heard one, Frank Thomas, preach last Saturday. He urged us to be open to revival, as were our ancestors in faith, and to acknowledge that God does God’s best work…suddenly! Like when God’s Spirit arrived on Pentecost…suddenly! Great sermon. Or have you heard about the Blue Jesus? It’s from a Disciples church in CA who preaches that “going green” isn’t just about trees. It’s also about keeping the oceans and rivers safe for wildlife and drinking water. So they host Mission Trips about Jesus-going-blue. I saw Disciples from Hawaii in beautiful floral wraps and shirts, Disciples from South Carolina in traditional African Garb, Disciples from Oklahoma in magnificent cowboy hats. I spoke with a South Korean friend who was just hired by a predominantly Anglo church in KY (one of the fastest growing in the denomination). He’ll be their Minister of Connect, which I don’t understand, but he’s excited! It’s awesome that all these unique people are our sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. And all their unique ministries aren’t just their ministries. This is our ministry.
If you can’t tell, I’m inspired. The witness of our family of faith, a family that loves unity and liberty, covenant and Scripture, has much to teach and benefit our world. I pray we share that witness boldly. That we love our neighbors as passionately possible. That our story- every day- contributes something beautiful to the glorious Reign of God. For this is our ministry. What a good ministry it is.
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Getting back to General Assembly, know that those tiring activities bore fruit. I reconnected with friends, mentors, and former congregants. I attended a workshop on the denomination’s new standards for ordaining ministers. We took a monumental vote on that topic, by the way, and it’s quite a change. An improvement, if you ask me, though I have friends who disagree vehemently. More on that in another letter, though, because I want to share the most important thing about last weekend- I understood in a deeper way than ever before what a great church we attend!
Maybe it’s because I’m now a solo pastor. But in the five years I’ve been a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I never felt so awed and appreciative of our tradition and its people. We’re part of a wonderful church. The people we serve and worship with are talented, creative servants of Jesus. And while I knew that was true here in Plymouth, I’m still just learning how true that is for the rest of our church.
I’m reminded of a sermon I heard in seminary. Santiago Piñon, a Disciples minister and our Director of Field Education, looked at us ministers-in-training and repeated one crucial phrase: This…is…our…ministry. He went on to describe every word in that sentence, and why each was important. This week, I’m focused on the word our. Because what we do every week shares in something beyond individual efforts, and contributes to a glorious whole- The Reign of God. And as members of the Disciples of Christ denomination, there’s a wonderful flavor to those efforts that deserves celebrating, and knowing more about.
For instance, did you know that some of the nation’s best preachers are Disciples? I heard one, Frank Thomas, preach last Saturday. He urged us to be open to revival, as were our ancestors in faith, and to acknowledge that God does God’s best work…suddenly! Like when God’s Spirit arrived on Pentecost…suddenly! Great sermon. Or have you heard about the Blue Jesus? It’s from a Disciples church in CA who preaches that “going green” isn’t just about trees. It’s also about keeping the oceans and rivers safe for wildlife and drinking water. So they host Mission Trips about Jesus-going-blue. I saw Disciples from Hawaii in beautiful floral wraps and shirts, Disciples from South Carolina in traditional African Garb, Disciples from Oklahoma in magnificent cowboy hats. I spoke with a South Korean friend who was just hired by a predominantly Anglo church in KY (one of the fastest growing in the denomination). He’ll be their Minister of Connect, which I don’t understand, but he’s excited! It’s awesome that all these unique people are our sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. And all their unique ministries aren’t just their ministries. This is our ministry.
If you can’t tell, I’m inspired. The witness of our family of faith, a family that loves unity and liberty, covenant and Scripture, has much to teach and benefit our world. I pray we share that witness boldly. That we love our neighbors as passionately possible. That our story- every day- contributes something beautiful to the glorious Reign of God. For this is our ministry. What a good ministry it is.
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Nap-Town…
As city nicknames go, Nap-Town (Indianapolis, IN) isn’t my choice for ‘most ideal.’ Apparently, it arose in early 1900’s, when the city would shut down come nightfall. So people said, “There’s nothing to do in Indianapolis other than nap.” It didn’t hurt that ‘n-a-p’ is in the city name. Oh well, at least they didn’t get “The Big Tomato” (Sacramento) or “The Mistake by the Lake” (Cleveland). I’ve also learned there’s a town in MN named “Downer,” just outside Moorhead. Considering the options, then, Nap-Town is alright. Or perhaps” Circle City,” as it’s also known, or just plain ole “Indy”.
Indianapolis has other things, of course, besides nicknames and sleeping people. There’s the Motor Speedway, home of the Brickyard 400 (that was for you, Ken Feld), and the NCAA Sports Hall of Fame. There are more monuments in Indy than any other American city, outside Washington D.C. And of course, in downtown Indy, you can find the Disciples Center, an office building that many of our denomination’s General ministries call ‘home.’
This weekend, Disciples of Christ from all over descended on Indianapolis, not just to see open-wheel racing or the headquarters of Week of Compassion or even the high school where my wife graduated. As you may know already, our denomination is holding our biannual General Assembly in that city. Nap-Town beware! This should be exciting- a convention center-sized family reunion. Friends from summer camp long ago, classmates from seminary or the School for Congregational Learning, folk you served on a regional committee with, these people and more gather every two years to celebrate our Disciples heritage and make a few decisions.
Many American denominations have gatherings like this one. The Episcopal Church just finished their tri-annual General Convention. Our sister denomination, the United Church of Christ, held their biannual General Synod the weekend of my wedding, causing one close friend to miss the nuptials. Bummer. Those events are opportunities for fellowship and work, like ours. But unlike some other denominations, work at our General Assembly has rather strict limits. Church policy views GA delegates as congregational representatives. But the Assembly is NOT considered representative of the entire denomination. So while we discuss and vote on matters of concern to our church and society- questions about war and peace, the environment, etc.- whatever the General Assembly says about such matters does not equal “what Disciples of Christ believe.” It is simply recording “The Sense of the Assembly.” Indeed, no one person or group of people could ever say definitively “Disciples of Christ believe…” because that’s not how we work. We value differences of opinion, the free exchange of various ideas. What you say may upset me; what I say may seem utterly wrong to you. But we gather at the table together, not because we’re the same, but because we know there’s much to learn from one another.
Of course, that reality has lead some to question whether it makes sense for General Assembly to vote on anything, since a) it doesn’t speak for all Disciples, and b) it gives the false impression that it does speak for all Disciples. In fact, I’m one of those people, and hope this Assembly makes progress toward finding something better, more honest to our heritage, and more creative. But until that happens, the typical answer is that Disciples at GA vote and pass resolutions to encourage churches and church members to educate themselves about issues that are relevant for Christians today. So to that end, let me invite you to visit disciples.org and click on the 2009 General Assembly tab (our theme- “For the Healing of the Nations). Once there, you can read the resolutions we discussed and voted on, as well as the other activities we did. If y’all want, I’ll be glad to lead a forum this fall for our church to discuss the GA resolutions and what we think. In the absence of a better system, that would help make GA’s activities worthwhile. And it would let me share with you some of what I learned.
Assuming, of course, I pull myself away from the NCAA Hall of Fame. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Indianapolis has other things, of course, besides nicknames and sleeping people. There’s the Motor Speedway, home of the Brickyard 400 (that was for you, Ken Feld), and the NCAA Sports Hall of Fame. There are more monuments in Indy than any other American city, outside Washington D.C. And of course, in downtown Indy, you can find the Disciples Center, an office building that many of our denomination’s General ministries call ‘home.’
This weekend, Disciples of Christ from all over descended on Indianapolis, not just to see open-wheel racing or the headquarters of Week of Compassion or even the high school where my wife graduated. As you may know already, our denomination is holding our biannual General Assembly in that city. Nap-Town beware! This should be exciting- a convention center-sized family reunion. Friends from summer camp long ago, classmates from seminary or the School for Congregational Learning, folk you served on a regional committee with, these people and more gather every two years to celebrate our Disciples heritage and make a few decisions.
Many American denominations have gatherings like this one. The Episcopal Church just finished their tri-annual General Convention. Our sister denomination, the United Church of Christ, held their biannual General Synod the weekend of my wedding, causing one close friend to miss the nuptials. Bummer. Those events are opportunities for fellowship and work, like ours. But unlike some other denominations, work at our General Assembly has rather strict limits. Church policy views GA delegates as congregational representatives. But the Assembly is NOT considered representative of the entire denomination. So while we discuss and vote on matters of concern to our church and society- questions about war and peace, the environment, etc.- whatever the General Assembly says about such matters does not equal “what Disciples of Christ believe.” It is simply recording “The Sense of the Assembly.” Indeed, no one person or group of people could ever say definitively “Disciples of Christ believe…” because that’s not how we work. We value differences of opinion, the free exchange of various ideas. What you say may upset me; what I say may seem utterly wrong to you. But we gather at the table together, not because we’re the same, but because we know there’s much to learn from one another.
Of course, that reality has lead some to question whether it makes sense for General Assembly to vote on anything, since a) it doesn’t speak for all Disciples, and b) it gives the false impression that it does speak for all Disciples. In fact, I’m one of those people, and hope this Assembly makes progress toward finding something better, more honest to our heritage, and more creative. But until that happens, the typical answer is that Disciples at GA vote and pass resolutions to encourage churches and church members to educate themselves about issues that are relevant for Christians today. So to that end, let me invite you to visit disciples.org and click on the 2009 General Assembly tab (our theme- “For the Healing of the Nations). Once there, you can read the resolutions we discussed and voted on, as well as the other activities we did. If y’all want, I’ll be glad to lead a forum this fall for our church to discuss the GA resolutions and what we think. In the absence of a better system, that would help make GA’s activities worthwhile. And it would let me share with you some of what I learned.
Assuming, of course, I pull myself away from the NCAA Hall of Fame. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
What have you learned lately…
Last month, I told you the general idea of my plans for this month’s Creeksider letter. Being my first anniversary as Plymouth Creek’s minister, I thought it nice to look the year back over, and describe some of what I’ve learned. But before I get going, I want you to hear the back-story on this idea.
It begins with a job interview in Lexington, KY. As you may know, my first church out of seminary was in Lexington, and their interview process was familiar. They reviewed my application, and after a good phone conversation, they brought me down for an interview. I arrived late, because bad weather forced a long delay in our flight. But eventually I’d landed, been picked up, taken to eat my first Kentucky meal (Hot Brown, aka Heart Attack Special), and dropped off at a local hotel that was used as Army HQ in the Civil War, by both the North and the South. At separate times. The next morning, I interviewed with the church staff. Their Senior Minister, my eventual boss, asked the first question, “So Shane, what have you learned since your arrival last night?” Apparently I answered okay, because they extended me a call to serve that church. And rarely a week went by over the next two years that my boss didn’t ask, in one way or another, “What have you learned recently about your church?” I think that was a good habit to pick up, and would encourage you to form your own answers. Then, share them with me and your neighbors. But until that happens, here’s what, over the last year, I’ve learned:
So that’s some of what I learned this year. How about you? Let me know! Until then, in all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
It begins with a job interview in Lexington, KY. As you may know, my first church out of seminary was in Lexington, and their interview process was familiar. They reviewed my application, and after a good phone conversation, they brought me down for an interview. I arrived late, because bad weather forced a long delay in our flight. But eventually I’d landed, been picked up, taken to eat my first Kentucky meal (Hot Brown, aka Heart Attack Special), and dropped off at a local hotel that was used as Army HQ in the Civil War, by both the North and the South. At separate times. The next morning, I interviewed with the church staff. Their Senior Minister, my eventual boss, asked the first question, “So Shane, what have you learned since your arrival last night?” Apparently I answered okay, because they extended me a call to serve that church. And rarely a week went by over the next two years that my boss didn’t ask, in one way or another, “What have you learned recently about your church?” I think that was a good habit to pick up, and would encourage you to form your own answers. Then, share them with me and your neighbors. But until that happens, here’s what, over the last year, I’ve learned:
- Plymouth, Minnesota has a beautiful public garden and walking path- The Millennium Garden. In August, roses and perennials will bloom, so if you’re around, and want a partner for a nice walk, let me know. It’s beautiful. By the way, the Millennium Garden has great flowers, but no vegetables for Plymouth’s hungry residents. Which is why I think you should join me and others in discussing how we can offer our undeveloped land as a community garden for our neighbors. More on that later in the Creeksider (and please forgive this shameless plug!).
- Saying “Hockey’s like soccer on ice” to a native Minnesotan does not endear you to that person.
- Resiliency is an undervalued spiritual gift, and an important way many ‘feel the Spirit’ work. You see, Christians often talk of ‘the Spirit’ as something you feel, sense, or ‘just know’ is guiding you at any given moment. That’s accurate in certain contexts; some worship services place high value on powerful, immediate experiences of God’s Spirit. But as Paul writes in Galatians, the fruits of the Spirit include patience and gentleness, attributes that manifest over time, and things you don’t notice best ‘in the moment,’ but after it, in hindsight. Looking back over difficult days, months, years, as you discover how you or others navigated tricky waters (i.e. the resiliency shown), it’s possible to discern God’s help in those extended periods of time. Make no mistake about it- such resiliency, such stick-to-itiveness is hard to achieve and maintain. But Plymouth Creekers have it, and have taught me to access it in my own life. I thank God for that.
- Hospitality to neighbors, guests, friends and families, before anything else, requires listening. In other words, hospitality demands not only clean carpets and nice treats, but more importantly, curiosity. At least Christian hospitality demands that, because it’s about love, and to love a neighbor you don’t yet know yet means you need to be curious about who they are. That’s risky. And rewarding. And for many shy introverts (like myself), it takes practice. But that can be overcome, which some of us shy introverts are learning as well.
- Our church has fun, caring neighbors, who play bocce ball on our lawn and look out for our best interests. I hope we will, over the next year, establish closer relationships with these neighbors.
So that’s some of what I learned this year. How about you? Let me know! Until then, in all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
When I was hungry…
Back in January, we made a decision about the Mission Activities Plymouth Creek would pursue in 2009. Following our year’s theme (A Table Before Me: God’s Open-Armed Adventure), our Mission Gathering decided the 2009 would include a Mission Adventure- Table Hospitality. As I hope you’ve noticed since, we’ve focused our mission activities and conversations in different ways- Adopt-a-Room, SouperBowl of Caring, MN Foodshare, etc- though each has had something to do with opening our Table in service to our neighbors. We’ve shared money, time, effort, and food with folk who need it, and I pray lives have improved by what we’ve done. Now it is mid-July, and this 2009 Mission Adventure continues. Table Hospitality remains our focus, and it’s exciting to anticipate what Fall will bring. I’m writing today, though, not just to recap what has happened, or predict what might happen. I’m writing because I want us to think more about the children.
Or maybe I should say, “The Kid’s Table.” Remember that? When I was young, and my family went to visit Grandma Ray, my sister and I joined rarely sat at the dining room table for dinner. We ate in the living room with our cousins, who were of similar ages, because that’s where Grandma set up the Kid’s Table. To be honest, we preferred sitting there, and not with the adults. After all, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Uncle Dan, everything they talked about was soooo boorrrriiiing when I was eight. The Kid’s Table was much more fun. For we had more important things to discuss. Also, because the rooms had two doors and a hallway separating them, we would even eat the chicken and green beans with our fingers! Sometimes…. In other words, I have fond memories of the Kid’s Table. Perhaps you do too.
This August, we will speak about food with children, though it will seem slightly different than the Kid’s Table at Grandma’s House. In fact, it will be much different. Our Vacation Bible School curriculum this year is combining with 2009’s Mission Adventure, and together, from August 7-9, we will learn more about hunger and abundance. The title of the curriculum is “Hunger No More,” a resource produced by Bread for the World that Kimberly Wilburn located. Thanks Kimberly! Basically, over these three days, through fun activities, crafts and conversations, we hope to teach one another about one of God’s greatest blessings- Food. And we’ll talk about the many children of God throughout the world whose tables are empty more often than not. That may not sound like typical VBS stuff, but that’s why I’m glad we’re doing it. Hunger and the well-being of all God’s children are important topics to keep in mind. And to teach our children. Because if there was one thing that always happened at Grandma’s Kid’s Table, it was that we left the table stuffed and satisfied. I believe that is what God hopes for all.
The thing is we can’t do this learning without one another. We need your help, your laughter, your insight, your creativity. If we’re going to offer these activities to more than just the children in our sanctuary, you’ll need to invite your friends and neighbors, or help do some advertising. And, most especially, we will need adult volunteers to lead activities, cut out paper, read Bible verses, and to love the children who attend VBS. Again, those dates are Friday night, August 7th, through Sunday afternoon, August 9th. On Saturday evening, August 8th VBS participants (and ANYONE who can make it) will travel to Feed My Starving Children for some good and fun work that feeds people around the globe. I did it earlier this year and had a blast. I hope you join in. I also hope you sign-up to help make VBS a success this August. Contact Kimberly at the church office, or call me (763-458-1578), and we’ll plug you in!
So how about it? Will you join me and others at the Kid’s Table this August? Learn hunger and abundance, and loving our neighbors? I hope so, and I very much look forward to it. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Or maybe I should say, “The Kid’s Table.” Remember that? When I was young, and my family went to visit Grandma Ray, my sister and I joined rarely sat at the dining room table for dinner. We ate in the living room with our cousins, who were of similar ages, because that’s where Grandma set up the Kid’s Table. To be honest, we preferred sitting there, and not with the adults. After all, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Uncle Dan, everything they talked about was soooo boorrrriiiing when I was eight. The Kid’s Table was much more fun. For we had more important things to discuss. Also, because the rooms had two doors and a hallway separating them, we would even eat the chicken and green beans with our fingers! Sometimes…. In other words, I have fond memories of the Kid’s Table. Perhaps you do too.
This August, we will speak about food with children, though it will seem slightly different than the Kid’s Table at Grandma’s House. In fact, it will be much different. Our Vacation Bible School curriculum this year is combining with 2009’s Mission Adventure, and together, from August 7-9, we will learn more about hunger and abundance. The title of the curriculum is “Hunger No More,” a resource produced by Bread for the World that Kimberly Wilburn located. Thanks Kimberly! Basically, over these three days, through fun activities, crafts and conversations, we hope to teach one another about one of God’s greatest blessings- Food. And we’ll talk about the many children of God throughout the world whose tables are empty more often than not. That may not sound like typical VBS stuff, but that’s why I’m glad we’re doing it. Hunger and the well-being of all God’s children are important topics to keep in mind. And to teach our children. Because if there was one thing that always happened at Grandma’s Kid’s Table, it was that we left the table stuffed and satisfied. I believe that is what God hopes for all.
The thing is we can’t do this learning without one another. We need your help, your laughter, your insight, your creativity. If we’re going to offer these activities to more than just the children in our sanctuary, you’ll need to invite your friends and neighbors, or help do some advertising. And, most especially, we will need adult volunteers to lead activities, cut out paper, read Bible verses, and to love the children who attend VBS. Again, those dates are Friday night, August 7th, through Sunday afternoon, August 9th. On Saturday evening, August 8th VBS participants (and ANYONE who can make it) will travel to Feed My Starving Children for some good and fun work that feeds people around the globe. I did it earlier this year and had a blast. I hope you join in. I also hope you sign-up to help make VBS a success this August. Contact Kimberly at the church office, or call me (763-458-1578), and we’ll plug you in!
So how about it? Will you join me and others at the Kid’s Table this August? Learn hunger and abundance, and loving our neighbors? I hope so, and I very much look forward to it. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
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