Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, Indeed!
Grace and Peace in our Risen Savior.
People of Peace United Church, remember to go over to the South Building to check out the remaining items. If there is anything that you would like to keep, either as a memory keepsake or because you can use it, please feel free to claim and take it. There are several items that will still come over to the North Building such as the tables and some office things, but everything else is available.
Also, if anyone has a need for a good used (but not used much over the last four years) copier/printer/scanner for your office or home office, let me know. It may need a little refurbishing due to disuse but it should still be good. A contribution to Peace United Church for the value you think it has would be appreciated.
One last item. I notice in my calendar that today is Yom HaShoah, a day to remember the victims of the Holocaust. The vast majority of victims of the Nazi Regime were the Jews living in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, France, etc. Many others were also victims including Gypsies, Gays and Lesbians, and people who opposed the Nazis. Please take a moment to remember those victims of the darkest decade of the 20th century. Pray that our world will wake up from the horror of war, violence, and exterminations of other peoples.
We continue our readings in Acts, Revelation, and the Gospel of John this week.
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) – The first six verses tells the story of Saul’s (later Paul) encounter with Jesus while travelling to Damascus. The optional verses are about a man named Ananias whom God sends to minister Saul. The overall result of Saul’s and Ananias’ encounter with Jesus/God is that Saul begins preaching the Good News. Have you had an encounter with Jesus? What was the result? How were you changed? (Often in the Bible an encounter with God brings change to a person signified by a change in name: Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Simon/Peter, Saul/Paul.)
Psalm 30 – The Psalmist gives thanks to God for the restoration, renewal of his life. There is an early hint of resurrection in verse 3. One Old Testament theme is reflected in verse 5: God’s anger is brief but God’s favor is forever. The end of the Psalm celebrates new life: mourning changed to dancing and sackcloth replaced with joy.
Revelation 5:11-14 – The lectionary skips a key interpretive passage for Revelation, so I encourage you to read verses 1-10. A scroll needs to be opened but none is worthy to open it. An angel declares that the Lion of Judah (the Old Testament King Saul, a military reference) can do it. John looks and doesn’t see the Lion but he sees the “Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered”. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is the “Lamb who takes away the sin of the world” and Jesus is crucified on the day the lambs are sacrificed for Passover. This Lamb is worthy and that is why the heavenly creatures sing in our assigned verses. The slaughtered Lamb is victorious.
John 21:1-19 – After the appearance of Jesus to the disciples that we read last week, John records one more appearance. Many, though not all, the disciples go back to Galilee and go fishing with Peter but the fishing is not good. Jesus appears on the beach and yells to them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat. They then haul in 153 large fish. Peter, who was fishing naked, recognized Jesus, puts on his robe, jumps in the lake and swims to shore. The others bring the boat to shore. There, Jesus cooks breakfast. Then, starting in verse 15, Jesus has a one on one with Peter and asks him three times if he loves him. Three times Peter says he does. After each response Jesus says: feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. Many believe that this encounter was to counteract the three time Peter denied Jesus. Peter will become a faithful apostle. How many times are we forgiven?
Have a great week serving the Risen Savior!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Becoming a Pastor at 43
Today, the United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is emphasizing “Exploration 2013” and has asked all UMC bloggers to write about the person or people that influenced us in our decision to enter ministry.
For me it was a number of people over a 25 year period. God is patient and kept moving me into ministry over that quarter century. My first call to ministry came as I was about to graduate high school in Mountain Home, ID. My father was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base and I was active in the Protestant Youth Group sponsored by the Chapel on the base. The youth pastor was an Episcopalian Chaplain whose name I no longer remember. About a month before graduation, in 1975, he stopped me after the youth group meeting and told me that he thought I had the gifts and graces to be a parish minister. He asked me to consider going to seminary after I completed college. I thanked him but said that I was going into music and would probably be a music teacher after college. That is how my college education and early career turned out. (The college I graduated from was St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.)
My first job after college was teaching all levels of music in a small (pop. 300) rural town in central Minnesota. When I moved to Deer Creek I wanted to attend a local church. Deer Creek had two, a United Methodist and a Missouri Synod Lutheran. I started attending the Methodist church and became close friends with the pastor, Rev. Dick Jackson, and his wife, Nancy. Dick Jackson encouraged me to be a local lay speaker and I was occasionally allowed to preach at the three churches he served.
Years later I was living in Eagle Bend, MN and working as a bookkeeper/accountant for a meat packing company in Long Prairie. You can see how well being a music teacher worked out for me. During those years I had married, my wife gave birth to three beautiful children, and I had gone to Tech School to learn my new trade. We were now members of the Eagle Bend United Methodist Church. EBUMC was one church in a three point parish which joined, in 1997, with four other churches to form Communities of Faith Larger Parish. The pastors serving the larger parish, Rev. Rory Swenson and Rev. Fayetta Clark, convinced me to take a larger role as lay speaker for the parish. Each Sunday they would lead worship at three churches each and a lay speaker would lead at the seventh. I lead services one to two times a month.
In 1999 my work took me to South St. Paul during the week but I continued to live in Eagle Bend and lead worship on the weekends. Another change led to the breakup of the parish and I was ready to leave my work. I sent District Superintendent David Bard a message that I he needed someone I would be willing to work as a part time pastor in a four point parish. He sent me an email asking if I would consider being a full time pastor and after discussing it with my wife I agreed. That was in May of 2000 and at the end of June I was the pastor of the new four point Communities of Faith.
Notice that I did not go through seminary becoming a provisional elder which then would have led to being fully ordained in the United Methodist Church. The UMC allows an alternate route to being a pastor for people over 35 who cannot go to seminary. This alternate path to ministry is called “Local Licensed Pastor”. There are several steps in the process of becoming a LLP including attending licensing school, receiving an appointment, and then attending Course of Study in the summer at a UMC seminary.
This alternate route is ideal for 2nd or 3rd career people who feel a call to serve in the United Methodist Church. The UMC is actively seeking young people who feel the call but there is still a place in the church for older, sometimes retired, people. Young or old, if you are feeling called to serve in the UMC, or are perhaps curious about serving, contact your local pastor and let her or him know of your interest. You should also check out ExploreCalling.org. There is a lot of information that will be useful in your discernment.
For me it was a number of people over a 25 year period. God is patient and kept moving me into ministry over that quarter century. My first call to ministry came as I was about to graduate high school in Mountain Home, ID. My father was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base and I was active in the Protestant Youth Group sponsored by the Chapel on the base. The youth pastor was an Episcopalian Chaplain whose name I no longer remember. About a month before graduation, in 1975, he stopped me after the youth group meeting and told me that he thought I had the gifts and graces to be a parish minister. He asked me to consider going to seminary after I completed college. I thanked him but said that I was going into music and would probably be a music teacher after college. That is how my college education and early career turned out. (The college I graduated from was St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.)
My first job after college was teaching all levels of music in a small (pop. 300) rural town in central Minnesota. When I moved to Deer Creek I wanted to attend a local church. Deer Creek had two, a United Methodist and a Missouri Synod Lutheran. I started attending the Methodist church and became close friends with the pastor, Rev. Dick Jackson, and his wife, Nancy. Dick Jackson encouraged me to be a local lay speaker and I was occasionally allowed to preach at the three churches he served.
Years later I was living in Eagle Bend, MN and working as a bookkeeper/accountant for a meat packing company in Long Prairie. You can see how well being a music teacher worked out for me. During those years I had married, my wife gave birth to three beautiful children, and I had gone to Tech School to learn my new trade. We were now members of the Eagle Bend United Methodist Church. EBUMC was one church in a three point parish which joined, in 1997, with four other churches to form Communities of Faith Larger Parish. The pastors serving the larger parish, Rev. Rory Swenson and Rev. Fayetta Clark, convinced me to take a larger role as lay speaker for the parish. Each Sunday they would lead worship at three churches each and a lay speaker would lead at the seventh. I lead services one to two times a month.
In 1999 my work took me to South St. Paul during the week but I continued to live in Eagle Bend and lead worship on the weekends. Another change led to the breakup of the parish and I was ready to leave my work. I sent District Superintendent David Bard a message that I he needed someone I would be willing to work as a part time pastor in a four point parish. He sent me an email asking if I would consider being a full time pastor and after discussing it with my wife I agreed. That was in May of 2000 and at the end of June I was the pastor of the new four point Communities of Faith.
Notice that I did not go through seminary becoming a provisional elder which then would have led to being fully ordained in the United Methodist Church. The UMC allows an alternate route to being a pastor for people over 35 who cannot go to seminary. This alternate path to ministry is called “Local Licensed Pastor”. There are several steps in the process of becoming a LLP including attending licensing school, receiving an appointment, and then attending Course of Study in the summer at a UMC seminary.
This alternate route is ideal for 2nd or 3rd career people who feel a call to serve in the United Methodist Church. The UMC is actively seeking young people who feel the call but there is still a place in the church for older, sometimes retired, people. Young or old, if you are feeling called to serve in the UMC, or are perhaps curious about serving, contact your local pastor and let her or him know of your interest. You should also check out ExploreCalling.org. There is a lot of information that will be useful in your discernment.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Readings for April 7, 2013
Hello Everyone,
Thank you, Everyone, for the wonderful Easter Celebrations we had at Grey Eagle UMC and Peace United Church. Attendance at each church was 83 and 138 respectively. We must also acknowledge that it was a bittersweet day for Peace United Church as we worshiped for the last time at the South Church (AKA “The Golf Course Church”).
This week we will begin reading Acts (7 weeks), Revelation (6 weeks), and the Gospel of John (8 weeks). Acts will serve as our Old Testament lesson even though it is a New Testament book.
This week we begin reading through those books with:
Acts 5:27-32 – Peter and other apostle were healing and teaching the people of Jerusalem. They are thrown into jail. During the night an angel brings them out and tells them to keep preaching the good news. At daylight, they go to the Temple and do just that. When the jail cell is found empty and reports come in that Peter and the others are in the Temple, the police haul them before the Chief Priest and the Sadducees. Peter testifies to the risen Jesus who was crucified by those very same authorities. How will we testify when threatened?
Psalm 118:14-29 – There are three verses that are well known and oft repeated. Verse 22 is quoted often in the New Testament. Verse 24 is a common refrain that I am currently singing in my head. Verse 26 is quoted by the congregation in the Communion liturgy. You will recognize them all.
OR Psalm 150 – I often read this Psalm for families before the start of a funeral. It reminds us that we always need to praise God even in the depths of our grief.
Revelation 1:4-8 – First off the book is one Revelation and several Revelations. I often slip and say “Revelations”. One Revelation of Jesus Christ. This Revelation was given to Jesus by God according to verse one. Jesus then shares this Revelation with his servant John. John in turn shares this Revelation to seven churches in Asia (now modern day Turkey). These opening words praises Jesus and God.
John 20:19-31 – This is the report of Jesus’ first two appearances to the male disciples. Jesus has already appeared to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. The first appearance to the men occurs in the evening of Easter. They are hiding from the authorities fearing reprisals against them as followers of Jesus and the doors are locked. Jesus appears speaking peace and he shares the Holy Spirit with them. Unfortunately, Thomas is not with them and when they tell him he demands actual proof. On the next Sunday evening Jesus again appears to the disciples including Thomas. When Jesus shows his wounds Thomas believes. Do we need “proof” to believe?
Remember:
Christ is Risen!
Pass it on.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Thank you, Everyone, for the wonderful Easter Celebrations we had at Grey Eagle UMC and Peace United Church. Attendance at each church was 83 and 138 respectively. We must also acknowledge that it was a bittersweet day for Peace United Church as we worshiped for the last time at the South Church (AKA “The Golf Course Church”).
This week we will begin reading Acts (7 weeks), Revelation (6 weeks), and the Gospel of John (8 weeks). Acts will serve as our Old Testament lesson even though it is a New Testament book.
This week we begin reading through those books with:
Acts 5:27-32 – Peter and other apostle were healing and teaching the people of Jerusalem. They are thrown into jail. During the night an angel brings them out and tells them to keep preaching the good news. At daylight, they go to the Temple and do just that. When the jail cell is found empty and reports come in that Peter and the others are in the Temple, the police haul them before the Chief Priest and the Sadducees. Peter testifies to the risen Jesus who was crucified by those very same authorities. How will we testify when threatened?
Psalm 118:14-29 – There are three verses that are well known and oft repeated. Verse 22 is quoted often in the New Testament. Verse 24 is a common refrain that I am currently singing in my head. Verse 26 is quoted by the congregation in the Communion liturgy. You will recognize them all.
OR Psalm 150 – I often read this Psalm for families before the start of a funeral. It reminds us that we always need to praise God even in the depths of our grief.
Revelation 1:4-8 – First off the book is one Revelation and several Revelations. I often slip and say “Revelations”. One Revelation of Jesus Christ. This Revelation was given to Jesus by God according to verse one. Jesus then shares this Revelation with his servant John. John in turn shares this Revelation to seven churches in Asia (now modern day Turkey). These opening words praises Jesus and God.
John 20:19-31 – This is the report of Jesus’ first two appearances to the male disciples. Jesus has already appeared to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. The first appearance to the men occurs in the evening of Easter. They are hiding from the authorities fearing reprisals against them as followers of Jesus and the doors are locked. Jesus appears speaking peace and he shares the Holy Spirit with them. Unfortunately, Thomas is not with them and when they tell him he demands actual proof. On the next Sunday evening Jesus again appears to the disciples including Thomas. When Jesus shows his wounds Thomas believes. Do we need “proof” to believe?
Remember:
Christ is Risen!
Pass it on.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
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