Pastor's Notes for April11, 2010

OPPORTUNITIES for MINISTRY & GROWTH

Working Lunch, Sunday noon, April 18, in our fellowship hall. I personally invite all members who are longing to grow, especially committees and their chairs. RSVP to the office by Wednesday April 14.

Ozark Lakes Area Leadership Conference, Saturday, April 24 in Harrisonville for church leaders, elders, deacons, committee chairs… Area Minister Mike Weinman will lead the conversation. 10 am-2pm RSVP by April 20.

Beth Moore simulcast event, Saturday, April 24, live via satellite on CCN @ First Baptist Church in Nevada, MO. Tickets are $15 and include lunch. 8:30am-3:00pm. Presentation: SO LONG, INSECURITY by Beth Moore

Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference in Springfield on May 20-21 at JQH Arena. It's free! More information later.

PASTORAL RELATIONS met today, April 11th, after worship. Committee: Mike Frier, Bill Johnston, Quinton Walsh, Lucille Tschanz, Rosemary Lusk, Maxine Carty. Good encouraging meeting. Report will be in the May newsletter.

Reflecting on the Scriptures BLESSED ANTICIPATION
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John 20:19-31. Disciples huddled in fearful anticipation. Death hung in the air but Life walked through the locked door declaring “Peace!” Fear turned to joy and doubt turned to faith. Jesus blessed us, those who believe without seeing. Jesus' anticipation for the generations to come.

Acts 5:27-32. In the weeks following the resurrection the disciples continued to tell the resurrection story in spite of the council’s strict orders to cease, choosing to obey God rather than human officials. Was their anticipation blessed?

Revelation 1:4-8. Decades later peace continues to be spoken, “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come….” Blessed anticipation!

Psalm 150. The ancient psalmist calls God’s people to live with an attitude of praise—whether gathering in the sanctuary with a variety of instruments, dancing, singing or walking under the heavens with songs of praise on our lips. Simply praise the Lord, anticipating his blessings!

Easter Sunday 2010

Last Sunday Christians around the world gathered to celebrate the resurrection. Some spent Saturday in a prayer vigil and celebrated the resurrection shortly after midnight. Others gathered at sunrise to remember the discovery of the empty tomb. The Ministerial Association hosted a sunrise service at First Baptist Church. Several denominations gathered to worship together. Retired Pastor Jim Smith from the United Methodist Church brought the message: He is Risen! He is risen, indeed!

Disciples Men from First Christian Church hosted a community breakfast after the sunrise service. Several trekked down from the Baptist Church for pancakes in the Christian church fellowship hall.

Later as the congregation gathered, special music helped us raise our praise to the Risen Lord. Darlene Walsh led worship. Elders Kyle Vickers and Jim Pope presided at the Lord’s Table. Pastor Barbara emphasized the implications of the resurrection for life today, concluding that the resurrection is much more than a doctrine to be learned and affirmed. Resurrection is a spiritual reality to be integrated into the very core of our being and manifest in the fabric of our daily life. “…if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies….” Romans 8:11

John Leonard provided the Children’s Moment. After the service Mary Horn and Berta Anderson distributed homemade baskets to the children. Each basket contained special goodies and a book telling the resurrection story.

Holy Week, 2010

March 28th ~ April 4.
Activities in our Community

Palm Sunday, today, worship in our sanctuary, 10:30 a.m.

Maundy Thursday, April 1, worship in the United Methodist Church sanctuary, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday, April 2, worship in our sanctuary, a service of scripture and hymns, remembering Christ’s death, 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 4
~ 7:00 a.m.Community Sunrise Service at 1st Baptist,
~After the service, Disciples Men offer breakfast in our fellowship hall for the community.
~ At 10:30 a.m. a Celebration of Resurection in our santuary.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 2, 3, and 4,
the annual Easter Drama at Church of God (Holiness).
Friday & Saturday, 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 6:00 p.m.

Devotional Reading for the Days Leading to the Crucifixion
Sunday—Mark 11:1-11 Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
Monday—Mark 11:12-19 Jesus clears the Temple
Tuesday—Mark 11:20-33 Jesus encourages faith
Wednesday—Mark 12:1—13:37;14:1-11 teaching; anointing
Thursday—Mark 14:12-52 passover & arrest
Friday—Mark 14:53—15:47 trials, crucifixion & burial
Saturday—Matthew 27:62-66 sealing the tomb

Join the worshipping community during this week to reflect on the life and death of Jesus.

Join us next Sunday morning to celebrate his resurrection and crown him the Lord of Life!

Pastor's Notes for March 21, 2010

HOLY WEEK is March 28th ~ April 4.

Next Sunday, March 28, Palm Sunday
worship in our sanctuary @ 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 1, Maundy Thursday
worship with the United Methodist Church @ 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 2, Good Friday
worship in our sanctuary @ 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 4, Community Sunrise Service
Easter worship at 1st Baptist @ 7:00 a.m.

After the Sunrise Service,
Disciples Men provide breakfast in our fellowship hall
for the community.

At 10:30 a.m. in our sanctuary
we will Celebrate Resurrection.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 2, 3, and 4,
the Church of God (Holiness) presents their annual Easter drama.

Please take advantage of these opportunities to worship with your brothers and sisters in this community.

PASTORAL RELATIONS did not meet on Sunday, March 21st because services were canceled due to the weather. The meeting will be rescheduled. Committee: Mike Frier, Bill Johnston, Quinton Walsh, Lucille Tschanz, Rosemary Lusk, Maxine Carty.

Reflecting on the Scriptures WHEN GOD KEEPS A PROMISE!
Psalm 126. The poetry of the psalm causes us to remember how it was in the ‘good old days,’ giving us faith to look into the future with hope. In cooperation with the Lord our weeping becomes rejoicing as we faithfully sow and reap.

Isaiah 43:16-21. Harking back to the ‘good old days’ may depress us, the prophet says. Instead of rejoicing we begin lamentations. Acknowledge what God has done in the past but have eyes to see what God is doing now. Such vision and faith takes us into the future.

Philippians 3:4b-14. The Apostle Paul gladly gives up the ‘good old days’ when he was trying to earn God’s favor. Now he joyfully looks to Christ to receive God’s favor.

John 12:1-8. Who is looking forward in this mini-drama? Unbeknownst to others, Jesus is moving toward his death in Jerusalem. As is their custom Lazarus and his sisters extend hospitality, Judas cares for the disciples’ common purse, and Mary boldly and lavishly anoints Jesus’ feet with burial perfume, expressing her love before Jesus died. Who holds to the status quo and who is looking to the future?

Pastor's Notes for March 14, 2110

WE ARE DEVELOPING A NEW HABIT! Newsletters are available in a box at the rear of the sanctuary filed in alphabetical order. Please find your name and take it home with you. During the week the monthly newsletters are available in the office.

PASTORAL RELATIONS was postponed to Sunday, March 21st. Speak joys & concerns to either Mike Frier, Bill Johnston, Quinton Walsh, Lucille Tschanz, Rosemary Lusk, or Maxine Carty.

AN OPPORTUNITY to equip us for ministry: Elders ~ Deacons Retreat on March 20th at the Clinton Christian Church. Check with the office for more information. ($15 fee; RSVP necessary).


Reflecting on the Scriptures :
FORGIVENESS DEMONSTRATED

Psalm 32. Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven. Self-deception says, “I have no sin,” but the psalmist says that recognizing sin and confessing it is good for the soul. He then goes on to describe God’s forgiveness demonstrated.

Joshua 5:9-12. Israel transitions from wilderness wandering to a settled life in Canaan, from miraculous manna to harvested crops. Passover celebration marks redemption from slavery in Egypt to fulfillment of promises in Canaan—God’s forgiveness demonstrated in a meal full of symbols.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32. Jesus tells the Parable of the Loving Father sometimes called the Parable of the Prodigal Son! The Father longingly waits for the one who has wandered while showering love on the one who stayed. Forgiveness is demonstrated to each of them but only one realizes it.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Jesus left the Father and traveled to a far country to share a table with sinners! If he hadn’t, where would we be? Gracious forgiveness demonstrated by God urges us to demonstrate forgiveness to others. The message has been entrusted to us—we are reconciled to be reconcilers—to declare and to demonstrate forgiveness.



Often it is easier to celebrate "forgiven" that it is to demonstrate forgiveness. The celebation of "forgiven" is a personal matter. Forgiveness demonstrated requires relationship and community. Without forgiveness demonstrated there is no relationshp and there is no community.






COMMUNION MEDITATION 2 Corinthians 5:18 & Romans 5:8

God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Jesus did everything in his power to help his followers remember this. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Remember: While we were still sinners Christ died for us. God reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Shared Leadership

In February I had the privilege of meeting Linda Lindberg from the Cedar County Republican newspaper in Stockton. Working on a feature that will appear in the paper the end of March, she requested an interview with me. The article, entitled WOMEN TAKE THE LEAD, will include interviews with several women who are leaders in Cedar County.

The title of the feature used language I would not use to describe leadership in the church, but I agreed to the interview hoping to define leadership from a different perspective. The first distinction in my mind is that a pastor, whether male or female, called to serve a congregation, does not TAKE the leadership of the church but, instead, is called to SHARE the leadership within the congregation.

Leadership in the church, as I understand it, is always plural. No one person is in control, but together we share in establishing priorities and forward movement, each of us bringing a contribution to the life of the church. Relationships within the church demonstrate mutual respect for differences and we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (as the scripture says in Ephesians 5:21). Mutual submission and mutual respect allows us to celebrate differences as we grow together in Christ.

Back in the 20th century many congregations organized on a business model with spiritual aspects intertwined in a structure borrowed from the corporate world. Our congregation uses this model with operational committees and functioning committees led by chairpersons. The trustees watch over the physical properties and our elders, facilitated by a chair person, see to our spiritual well-being. I work within these structures as a peer. Our church board made up of elders, deacons, and committee chairs sees to the business of the church. Presently four committees are attempting to function without chairs, those being: Worship, Transportation, Outreach, and Finance.

My leadership style would be called quiet participation, mindful of pastoral responsibilities while helping to encourage and equip others to use their spiritual gifts in ministry.


The committees and the board provide direction and oversight to the congregation. I function as a facilitator and an encourager, working with others to bring to life a vision for the church that comes from the board and the committees. The elders and I provide spiritual direction and pastoral care. By the terms of my call I also have the responsibility to preach from the scriptures each Sunday and to be involved in the life of our community.

I am grateful for the nudge of the interview which made me think through in some detail my understanding of leadership and what is happening in our congregation.

Sermon in a Nutshell : Faith Demonstrated

Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, Luke 13:1-9, and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

From the prophet Isaiah we hear God’s gracious invitation:
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters….

The psalmist responds, confessing faith in God and admitting a spiritual longing as strong as the thirst of a person wandering in the desert.
O God, you are my God, I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you….

In this instance faith is demonstrated with a confession of weakness! A hard message for us to hear because we want to see ourselves as self-sufficient, independent, needing no one! But the psalmist recognizes his own insufficiency and quickly admits it.

The psalmist responds to his spiritual longings by seeking the Lord, gathering with other worshippers in the sanctuary. Their worship together reminds him of the Lord’s steadfast love and he responds to God’s unfailing love with praise and prayer, contentment and joy, acknowledging the Lord’s help and provision--faith demonstrated and strengthened in worship--faith that is lived out in day to day living.

Jesus tells a tale about a fig tree that bears no fruit. The owner of the unfruitful tree has his axe at the root of the tree, ready to cut it down, when the gardener steps in and asks for one more year to nurture it. The gardner hopes to save the tree. Is this a parable for us? Is Jesus interceding for the church today because we are not bearing the fruit of righteousness and faithfulness?

The Apostle Paul encourages us to learn from God’s interaction with Israel in ages past.