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

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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!

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!

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:

• 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!

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!

Right Relationship…

I don’t know if y’all heard about the controversy last week in America’s Major League Soccer. But it was huge. Two of its biggest stars, Landon Donovan and David Beckham, sniped at one another in the press. Or should I say, one sniped, the other responded. In a recently published book, Donovan is quoted as saying, “Beckham is stingy and unprofessional...” Beckham (who is one of the planer’s most famous soccer players) responded, “No I’m not,” basically. What makes it all dramatic and explosive is these players aren’t just oversized egos going at one another for the sake of publicity. “Becks” and Donovan are teammates; captains, in fact, of their team, the L.A. Galaxy, and a new season begins this week. Not exactly getting things going on a good foot. Pun intended.

Which leads me state the obvious: Working well with people requires maintaining a good, or at least an adequate relationship. Or as my mother once told me, “Play nice, Shane. Or you won’t get to play at all.” You’ll notice this is both a moral statement and a practical statement. Moral because it talks about what we should do- Treat others with respect. Practical because it describes actions and consequences- Play mean and others will just stop playing. As any team-sport athlete will tell you, “playing nice” doesn’t always mean being best buddies. I wasn’t particularly fond of my teammates or coach junior year of high school. But we played nice together and won the Soccer State Championship.

In Christian theology, there’s a concept many use to describe Jesus’ importance. That concept is “Right Relationship.” Simply put, the idea is that Jesus is able, through his teaching or crucifixion or resurrection or…(different folk have different answers), to provide humans with a good, whole and ‘right’ relationship with our Creator God. This, of course, presumes that humans a) have, somehow, some way, lost that right relationship, and b) are incapable of restoring it by themselves. Praise be to God, therefore, that Jesus offers us a chance to live, once again, in right and close communion with the Lord. The benefits package is quite good.

The obvious follow-up is, “What does ‘right relationship with God’ involve?” Again, the answers are multitudinous. Jesus offers eternal salvation. Jesus allows us to live creatively, overcoming life’s many anxieties. Jesus liberates all people to act in solidarity with the poor, for whom God has a special concern. Jesus advocates for us to receive greater ‘blessings’ in direct proportion to the increase of our faith. “Right Relationship” with God has many purported effects.

Which brings me to the point of this letter- What do you believe about “Right Relationship” with God? What impact does Jesus Christ have on that relationship? I ask this because July’s Mission-of-the-Month is “Faith Sharing,” and you can’t get any more basic about Christian faith than those two questions. I’ll tip my hand; I don’t think there is one correct answer. Nevertheless, I think your answer will be incomplete if all you say is “I receive eternal life,” and faith has no impact on your daily living. Or rather, I feel that relationship with God through Jesus Christ holds so much promise for the here and now- insight, guidance and challenge- regardless of age or life circumstances, that it would be unfortunate to not perceive and receive all the Spirit has to offer. And that has as much to do with your relationship with everything that God loves (fellow church members, family, enemies, the ocean) as it does with your ‘playing nice’ with God.

So how about it? Will you take a moment this week to describe to yourself and someone else (a loved one, neighbor, me) the impact your relationship with God through Jesus Christ has on your life and your community? Where that relationship is leading? Maybe, like Becks and Donovan, you need to restart things. Maybe you’re just playing nice for now, and desire greater intimacy. Maybe you’re full-board, gung-ho on a spectacular, Holy Adventure. Who knows?!? Hopefully, you do. I pray that relationship grows righter and righter, and that you find courage to share it with others. In all things,


Grace and Peace,

Shane Read more!

Taking a load off…

Growing up in Colorado, I slightly resented that “Paradise,” to the mind of many, required sun and beaches. You see, for this mountain dweller, I could never believe that the best place in the world (i.e. Paradise) had no skiing. It just made no sense. When asked to picture Heaven, I imagined greeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, saying, “Thanks for your hospitality,” and then immediately proceeding to the Heavenly Rental Shop to get some good ski boots. In other words, Paradise for me was an active place, with two feet of fresh snow, burning leg muscles and short lines at the chair lift. I know that many others would conceive of something very different, but that’s alright. It means fewer crowds in our respective Paradises!

So what do you picture when you picture Paradise? Or to ask that question a little differently, what, better than anything else, would help you achieve Rest? I’m sure you’ve guessed where this question comes from- my having just returned from a honeymoon in Panama. To provide basic answers; Yes, we had a wonderful time; Yes, we went to the beach, twice, and although it wasn’t sunny the entire week (it’s currently ‘winter’ in Panama, if you can call it that…), it was lovely nevertheless; alas, No, I didn’t go skiing. But it was a great vacation all the same. And I am rested, rejuvenated and ready to rejoin Minnesota life. With a new wife and new last name. Awesome.

And all that travel and newness suggested something about ‘Rest’ that I hadn’t considered during my ski rabbit childhood- It may be as much about who you’re with than where you’re at or what you’re doing. I won’t push that too far, since again we all find ‘Rest’ differently. Still, it’s worth pondering the thought that lounging at the beach may feel lonely to some, while skydiving with your best friend from childhood may be the epitome of calm for others (not me, but hey, it’s possible). Rest is a funny thing that way. You can’t predict it for everyone you meet, but you know it when you see it.

It’s also something many people find elusive, myself among them. I did something these past two weeks that I haven’t done in years: for that entire time, I did not send one email. Some of you may think, “Eh, not a big deal,” but for me, that’s quite an accomplishment. Sure, it had something to do with my not being in the country for seven of those days, but it was more than that. This behavior was intentional. I wanted to not do things associated with planning, or with work, or with…, and just sit back with my new wife and rest! I knew that email and computers would pull my attention away, so we left that stuff at home. It wasn’t easy. It took some external prompting and support. But it was nice. I feel rested. For others, it’s not computers or email that keeps them from resting, it’s their planner, or the phone, or letters they still need to write, or housework left undone, or… you name it. Like I said, many of us have a tough time letting go and taking a load off. I get it.

Remember that odd passage at the end of Matthew 11, where Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary…and I will give you rest…for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”? That passage always confused me; burden and light just don’t seem to go together. But this honeymoon insight about ‘rest and the company you keep’ makes me reconsider Jesus’ words. Perhaps it’s not what we do as Jesus’ disciples that makes for Rest and light burdens; it’s the people we do it with. Or the nearness of God as we do it. Hence, we cultivate an active prayer life, and stay connected to church community.

So let me ask the question again, but change it ever so slightly: Who, better than anyone else, helps you achieve Rest? May you reconnect with that person soon. In all things,

Grace and Peace,

Shane

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