District News

Dorian

Posted on by Bode

There is a tempest off the coast of Florida, by the name of Dorian.  What was once a Category 5 hurricane, has now been downgraded to a Category 2 with sustained winds of 105 mph. The storm system stalled over the Bahamas, for a day, wreaking havoc in an area unprepared for the length of time residents had to endure the storm.  Stories of caring, rescue and hope are already being reported, as much of the East Coast braces for Dorian over the next few days.  Even as people and agencies begin to arrive in the Bahamas, let us remember that this will be a long process of restoration and rebuilding of homes, and lives.

I hope that each of you knows that our own United Methodist Committee on Relief is already preparing to travel to the Bahamas and other nations as part of the support they offer to those who are entering the time of recovery.  Below is a link to provide your churches with information about how we can support their efforts through our giving.  More information will follow as the immediate and long-term needs are identified; including possible Volunteer in Mission trips, in the future.  Also, please check with Sager Brown and the Midwest Mission Distribution Center.  Both places accept a variety of kits which will be needed for the next several months.  Please take advantage of their websites in order to create the kits by their specifications, so that all materials collected may go where they are most needed.  I ask that you continue to lift the people impacted by Dorian and other natural disasters up in prayer.  May God be with us.  And Amen.

Give to UMCOR: International to assist the Bahamas  (Advance #982450). Click HERE for more info. Give to UMCOR: Domestic to assist communities that will be impacted in the US (Advance #901670). Click HERE for more info. 

Make a Joyful Noise

Posted on by Bode

This morning on the way into work, I turned on the Symphony channel of the satellite radio station. Peter and the Wolf, by Prokofiev was playing. Hearing the performance took me back to elementary school, when I first heard the composition. I believe it was every music teacher’s way of introducing the different parts of an orchestra: the woodwinds, the strings and even the percussion instruments. Of course, there was the narrative that accompanied the music, helping first time listeners interpret the melodies, harmonies and phrasing of the music. Each time I hear this piece, I imagine the actions of each character which was given life by the music.

Maybe that’s when my appreciation of music started. Like many children, I learned to play the piano, but didn’t stick with it long enough for me to play with any proficiency as an adult. My mother was a student of opera, and often played some of her favorite arias whenever she was near a piano. One of my sisters caught Beatlemania and never recovered. Then she joined the Columbia Record Club and our music library expanded immensely.

Growing up, my favorite music was church music. Sunday morning, before services began, people would gather just to sing. No books, just call and response of someone’s favorite hymn. My aunt was a minister and she and her husband led the Wednesday night prayer services. Even though my sister and I were no more than 7 or 8, we were able to lead the songs for prayer time. I can’t say we were always in tune, or we remembered the right words for each verse, but we were encouraged to make a joyful noise. It was through that Wednesday night experience that I first heard God calling me to ministry.

There are songs that bring joy to my soul or cause the tears to flow. Some of them aren’t in any Hymnal that I have. They are songs I learned from my parents, who learned them from theirs. Each one tells the story of Jesus’ love, grace and mercy. There are songs which help me find peace, courage and strength. Others heal my woundedness and let me know that I have value, not because of who I am, but because of whose I am. Music is one of the many ways we can express how we are feeling and deepen our relationship with our Lord. I close with the words of Psalm 100 (NRSV):

1. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

2. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

3. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.

5. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

And Amen!

The First Step

Posted on by Bode

As nations around the world begin to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics, various sports are utilizing preliminary qualifications.  Among them are the categories of indoor diving, which include 1 meter and 3 meter springboard, and 10 meter platform.  Individuals or synchronized pairs compete to execute complicated gymnastic moves before slicing into the water, hands first, with as little splash as possible. There is another venue, which has also been featured this year.  I’m not sure if it’s also an Olympic sport.  It is high diving.  The women jump from a platform which is 20 meters above a 6 meter tank.  The men jump off a 27 meter platform.  The gymnastics moves are just as complicated, but the goal is to enter the water feet first.  There are assistants in the water, to ensure that each diver is safe after a plummet of 60 feet or more.  Each diver, in high diving, gives a thumbs up signal before they jump, and an “okay” signal after they resurface from the dive. 

From time to time, the camera angle for the high divers showed exactly how far away the pool was.  It was far.  Even on camera.  It looked like all of 60 or 80 feet.  And yet, each diver jumped off the platform as if it was no further than the 1 meter springboard.  Most of the high divers perform in acrobatic shows around the world, like Cirque du Soleil. 

I have jumped off a diving board a couple times in my life.  I was much younger when I went off a 10 meter board, and my only goal was not to land on my stomach.  It took a few minutes for me to get the nerve to take the step into the air.  I watched as other people ran off the platform, and even one person did a handstand.  The first time I did it, I was just relieved to be able to jump.  I’d like to say that the second time there was less fear, but that wasn’t the case.  Each time I climbed the ladder to head to the edge of the platform, the butterflies would be there.  I had to prepare myself to take that leap over and over.  But I did it.  I was able to be part of the campers who achieved the high dive that summer.

Each of us, as we’ve answered the call the Lord has placed upon our lives, are like the person learning how to dive. There is a time of preparation for what we do.  Whether it is the Sunday message we will deliver, the time we spend in pastoral care or the new idea we want to share with the congregation; in a way we are also preparing for what may happen next.  We know that what we do is not easy.  We want to bring Scripture to life for those who need to understand how God is present for each of us.  We want to be the embodiment of comfort, compassion, support and grace for those who are hurting.  We want to create new paths to those who have known God their entire lives and for others who are just discovering how wonderful are the works of the Lord.  God asks all of us to take a leap of faith.  The waters God asks us to dive into are spirit filled.   We will be sustained, upheld and transformed by taking that first step which leads us to a new place and a deeper relationship with the one who has sent us into the world.  May we be blessed as we dive into ministry for those we are called to serve.  And Amen.    

6 Degrees

Posted on by Bode

I’m going to date myself as I begin this Puzzler’s Corner.  Sometime in the last century, when Kevin Bacon and the films he was in were very popular, someone introduced a game, in which you could connect other stars to him within 6 films.  That’s how I first learned about the 6 Degrees of Separation Concept.  An ABC news show once featured a story on how the concept worked.  They chose two random people in New York City, to find a common person who knew them both.  The show chronicled who they spoke with in order to connect with one another.  The young woman in the story was a ballet dancer, who happened to know several people in the restaurant industry.  The young man was a sous chef.  In less than the 6 degrees of separation, the two young people were able to find a friend who knew them both and introduced them to each other. 

Over the years I have thought about people I know and who they might know as well.  My son, Terrance, frequently attends Comic Book Conventions.  His goal is to obtain as many actor autographs as possible.  Through him I am two degrees away from meeting Paul Rudd, Nichole Nichols, Robert Hayes, and Frank Langella.  I also know a couple of directors.  Through their films, I have a much longer list of Hollywood celebrities that are separated by two degrees. 

Some of the connections we make are stronger than others.  My sister, who has remained in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, her entire life, knows second and now even third generations of families, extending her local connections.  Growing up, my mom often shared with us it wasn’t so much about what you know, as it was about who you know. 

The people we know can help us reach out and connect with others.  Create a list of people you know with business skills, fund raising knowledge, artistic talent, and craftsmanship.  How can they help you connect with others to realize your vision? Are there teachers, cooks, landscapers, computer specialists or others who can help you achieve your mission for those who are in need?  Within 6 people, can you meet someone new and learn how your lives are similar as well as different?  What new roads will these connections open for each of us as we continue to seek to answer the Lord’s call upon our lives?  May we begin to establish new relationships to help us fulfill the Lord’s mission for all of His children.  And Amen.

The Good Book

Posted on by Bode

The Wesleyan Means of Grace have become an integral part of my life. I pray without ceasing, fast at least one day in ten, meditate, attend worship in churches throughout the District, and share witness and testimony about how you, who are my sisters and brothers in Christ, are bringing the Lord into peoples’ lives, hearts and souls. One of the first sermons I shared with a congregation was called “Getting Out of the Routine.” I spoke about how easily what we do can become a habit, a comfortable way of the same practices in the same way for weeks, months or years. Intentionally or not, we put our faith on automatic pilot.

One example I used, was how we recite the Lord’s Prayer. The words are so familiar to us, that we may not hear the beauty of this very awesome prayer Jesus taught to the disciples and us. So every once in a while, I try to do something completely different, get out of my routine, so that I may see what is before me with new eyes, and hear God’s Word with fresh ears. I say the Lord’s Prayer in another language, look for new interpretations or reflect on each phrase as I utter the words our Lord and Savior taught us. The same is true for the Bible.

For several years I have committed to reading the entire Bible between January 1 and December 31. I have never read the Bible the same way twice. These are some of the ways I have read it in the last 10 years: chronological order, reverse chronological order, alphabetical order, longest to shortest Book, Wisdom Books first, prophets first, and New Testament, then Hebrew Testament. Last Summer, I received the CEB Storytellers Bible. Through narrative and commentary, a few scholars offer their perceptions about the cultural, political and social climate of our ancestors in faith.

This version of the Bible adds another layer to our understanding of the relationship between our Lord and creation. Like The Message, the Storytellers Bible will enrich how I read, meditate and reflect on Scripture as part of my spiritual devotion. Of course there are numerous versions of the Bible available to us. Biblegateway and Biblehub are two of the websites I frequently visit to read several versions of the Bible, as I prepare for my time of meditation and reflection.

What resources do you use for sermon preparation?
Do you consult the same commentaries and versions of the Bible each week?
Does your message follow a clear pattern — possibly a 3 point sermon, a so what moment, a challenge or a time of reflection for those in the service?
Have you ever gotten out of your routine?
What new insights and discoveries will occur as you read a different version of the Bible, or consult a new commentary?
How will the living Word speak to you as it did the first time?

May each of us, as we practice Wesley’s Means of Grace, do so in new ways . May the means we do bring us to a greater and deeper understanding of who we are and whose we are. And Amen.

Rejoice and Be Glad

Posted on by Bode

This is the season of One on One interviews for the pastors serving the Midwest District.  I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome those who are serving in their first appointment.  Kimberly Bos, Ferris State Wesley Foundation, Elizabeth Hurd, Caledonia, Dr. Joan VanDessel, Grand Rapids First, Luanne Stanley Hook, Deacon at Holland First, Zach McNees, Local Pastor serving Northlawn and Allendale: Valley and Bill Davis, DSA at Big Rapids 3rd Avenue, Paris and Rodney.  Other pastors in new appointments this year are Tim Wright, Lakeview New Life, Carman Minarik, Mecosta New Hope, Devon Herrell, Big Rapids First and Greg Buchner at Rockford.

I am inspired and excited about what I have learned as pastors and faith communities continue to create ways for people to be in a relationship with our Lord and with one another.  Together, we are transforming lives, making a difference and helping people discover that they matter and have worth.  Whether this is the first year of your appointment or the next year, I pray that you continue to seek new ways to share what it means to have the Lord in our work and in our lives.  Take the time to celebrate what has been accomplished, as you plan for the next mission and ministry for those you serve.  May God bless all that you do in His name’s sake.  And Amen.

Open My Eyes

Posted on by Bode

Double Retrospect is the name of the jigsaw puzzle that I am currently working.  It is 32,000 pieces and contains 32 pictures created by Keith Haring.  I first learned of the artist when I purchased Imaging the Word, a three volume arts and lectionary resource.  The books provide worship leaders with paintings, photos, poetry, liturgy, music and quotes that can add to any worship experience. 

The puzzle has helped me learn more about this very unique modern artist.  But it wasn’t until I saw one of the pictures on Keith’s website: www.haring.com, that I learned something new.  Below are two versions of the same picture. 

The one on the left is the original painting, from the www.haring.com website.  The image on the right is from the puzzle produced by Ravensburger.  It wasn’t until I saw the color differentiation that I began to investigate why the puzzle company changed the picture.

This is what I learned.  In order for the Ravensburger company to make the puzzle more challenging, they changed the color scheme for each picture.  In addition to black and white, the other colors are blue, green, yellow, red, orange and pink.  As a result, very few of the pictures in the puzzle match the artist’s original paintings.  And yet, each picture is distinctively a Keith Haring work.  And because there are only eight colors, the puzzle company prepackaged the pieces into 8 bags, containing approximately 4000 pieces each.

Maybe that’s where the title “Double Retrospect” came from.  We are able to view images as they were first produced by the artist, and again by the creators of the puzzle.  In a way, I am glad that there are only eight colors.  But part of me wishes that I could’ve worked the puzzle with the colors chosen by Keith Haring.

I believe the authors of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John offered the early Christians, and us as well, their perspectives on the significance of Jesus’ life, mission, ministry, death and resurrection.  Each telling of how Jesus touched the lives of so many, enriches our faith.  Whether or not you dedicate a portion of each day to reading the Bible, I encourage you to read all 4 Gospels on a regular basis.  What a rich tapestry the Gospels weave to help us see how amazing Jesus was and is.  Two offerings of the Beatitudes, three ways to reflect upon the Parable of the Sower, and four accounts of the Last Supper, Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, death and Resurrection are only a few ways we discover God’s amazing Son and our Savior.  I celebrate that the early church leaders made the decision to include each perspective in the Bible to help lay the foundation of our faith.  Ay we be blessed in the reading, the hearing and the living out of the Gospel message.  And Amen.

For everything there is a season…(Ecc 3:1)

Posted on by Bode

Over the next few months, the Midwest District will be hosting 3 Holy Conferencing sessions, so that we may have a place to voice our reflections, concerns, and hopes about the future of what it means to be United Methodist. Please click HERE to read about the guidelines for Holy Conferencing. Below are the 3 Holy Conferencing Sessions date/times/venues with RSVP info.

I understand that many of us still have questions. We are still wondering about so many things. A time of Holy Conferencing may help us understand where we are, even if we aren’t yet ready to envision where we can be. Please prayerfully consider attending one of these gatherings. And Amen.

Midwest District Holy Conferencing Sessions
July 31 at Pierson: Heritage UMC at 7pm
September 19 at Marne UMC at 6:30pm
October or November at Holland First UMC (date/time TBD)
The Midwest District is holding a Holy Conferencing session (the first of three) on Wednesday, July 31 at 7pm led by Naomi Garcia at Pierson: Heritage UMC (19931 W Kendaville Rd., Pierson). Wondering what “Holy Conferencing” is? Click HERE to read DS Margie’s blog post, “Can We Talk?” to learn more. The second Holy Conferencing Session, led by Nichea VerVeer Guy, is planned for Thursday, September 19 at Marne UMC from 6:30-8pm and the third is planned for later this fall at Holland First UMC. Would you like to attend a session? Please RSVP to Liz at [email protected].

 

To Dream the Impossible Dream

Posted on by Bode

I am not a big fan of reality television. Most of what arrives in our homes is contrived or edited, so that the viewer sees the best or worst in the Bachelor or Bachelorette. Gordon Ramsey (Master Chef) and Jon Taffer (Bar Rescue) constantly yell at people in order to encourage them to produce the best meal or drink possible. Survivor, The Amazing Race and Big Brother exaggerate the amount of competition or cooperation that develops over a season. And I am so impressed by the singers on American Idol and The Voice, that I feel they are all winners.

With all that said, I watched the last audition episode of So You Think You Can Dance, one of the three reality shows I like. Those auditioning this year are fantastic. But there was one very special contestant. Her name is Phoebe Kochis. She is 19, and her specialty is jazz. Her flexibility was awesome, and some of the moves she did were breathtaking. She told the story of how she began dancing, almost at the same time she learned how to walk. This is what Phoebe said about her chance to be on So You Think You Can Dance: “I feel really happy when I dance, and I love to inspire people,” she said. “I worked really hard, and now I am here. It’s my dream come true.”

Did I mention that Phoebe has Down’s Syndrome? After her parents were informed about all the things Phoebe would be unable to do, they watched her audition with tears of joy flowing down their faces. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it to the next level, but Nigel Lithgow, the show’s founder and lead judge, invited Phoebe to take part in the next phase of the competition as his guest.

Wow. What an awesome way to celebrate Phoebe’s journey. Even though the competition hasn’t really begun, I think this will be my favorite moment for this season.

In my office, there are three pictures that help me stay centered each day. The words are: Believe, Faith and Pray. Each word is created from photographs of fence posts, building arches, windows and doorways. The pictures were a gift from a parishioner at Court Street United Methodist Church in Flint, where I had my first appointment.

Each day, those words inspire me to view the world, not with a cup that’s half empty or even half full. I am reminded of the words of the 23rd Psalm: Verse 5b “My cup runneth over”. I now know a person, named Phoebe, who embodies what it means to pray for what can happen, believe in what is possible, have faith in who you are. Let it be the same for all of us. And Amen.

New Beginnings

Posted on by Bode

Greetings to Provisional Elders, Full Elders, Provisional Deacons, Full Deacons, Local Pastors who are preparing for their first Course of Study class, Local Pastors who have completed Course of Study, Associate Members, those who are serving in retirement, and those who are serving while working in another career.  July 1 marks the beginning of a new appointment year.  It doesn’t matter if this is a continuing appointment or a new one, or the last year before you consider retiring and seeking other ways to answer God’s call.  This year is full of possibilities for planting seeds, cultivating the soil and possibly reaping the harvest of mission and ministry goals set by you or your predecessor. 

I invite you to pray over Hymn #383 in our United Methodist Hymnal: This Is a Day of New Beginnings.  The song celebrates the promise and hopes that each day may bring. The song also calls each of us, as servant leaders to have faith in our Lord and Savior who is with us on our journey. 

When I was on vacation, I spent some time in Disney Springs, where all the souvenir shops are located.  As I walked through the plaza, I noticed that far too many people were glued to their phones, watching whatever was unfolding on the screen in their hands.  They were so focused on looking down that they missed all the people around them.  Dozens of little girls dressed as their favorite princess, wide eyed children who were fascinated by the Lego dragons, and a group of people who got splashed by a giant Lilo statue, because they didn’t realize he was spraying water on anyone who walked by the World of Disney Store. 

I believe one of the tasks before us is to engage with people directly.  I’m not discouraging us from taking advantage of what our phones can offer through email, texts, tweets and photos.  That is only the beginning of how we can interact with one another.  But once we meet, whether it’s in a coffee shop, restaurant or fellowship time at church, let’s set our devices aside and just talk about what’s going on in our lives, what we are wrestling with, worrying about, accomplishing and planning.  Let’s create new ways of connecting with each other, even if we do it the old fashioned way, by just striking up a conversation.  May God bless you as this appointment year begins.  And Amen.

Midwest District