Tomorrow night is our first Destination Unknown for the high school youth group. Justin and Sadie have planned something awesome for us to do but you'll have to come to find out what it is!
Here is the one clue Sadie gave us: Are you ready to get lost?!?
If you plan to come please note a few things:
1. Be at the church no later than 6pm (eat dinner at home)
2. Wear weather appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes
3. Bring a canned food item and a flashlight
4. We will be back at the church no later than 8pm
Sounds like we are ready to go on an adventure right?! Whether you have come every week or we've never seen you before we would love to see you on Wednesday night!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
When is the last time you...
...prayed?
And by that, I mean outside of worship or church activities. When is the last time you tried to have an intentional conversation with God?
My relationship with prayer has changed a lot over the years and as I moved into full-time ministry.
When I was little, prayers were often initiated by my parents. We prayed before every dinner together, and we prayed at night when they tucked me in for bed. I don't really remember ever praying on my own until I got older.
A significant change occurred in my prayer life when I started driving. This was a time in my life when I started to notice things more. As I drove around town to various activities, I would see things that made me sad: the animals dead on the side of the road, the people living under a bridge or sitting at the entrance to the interstate trying to hitchhike a ride to someplace else. I began praying when I saw anything that made my heart twinge. I knew that I couldn't pick up a hitchhiker or take a homeless person home with me, but I could pray that God would find a way to help that person. This is something I still continue to do.
As I discovered my call to ministry and began to journey in that direction, my prayer life grew. I prayed often for guidance from God, both in the daily and in thinking about a plan for my future. Prayer truly helped direct me on the path I have taken in life, and continues to do so. I also grew in my propensity to pray for others, to think beyond myself. I began to pray for both people I knew and people I didn't know. I discovered that prayer has a way of bringing me peace and clarity.
In seminary we prayed a lot. We prayed before every class started, before every meeting started, and in a lot of worship services. Prayer began to feel like something I "had" to do, one more thing on the agenda for the day. One more thing I could cross off my to-do list. When I was at family events or other gatherings where someone would ask me to pray I began to joke that people would have to pay me for that now as it was my "job" and I was a "professional". My personal prayer life and my relationship to God suffered because of this.
This lack of vigor in my prayer life was a big problem and I knew it. So for this reason (among many others) I spent the summer of 2009 at a monastery in Wisconsin. Living the monastic lifestyle helped me to renew my prayer life. I returned to school refreshed and invigorated.
These days my prayer life consists of many things. I am still opening and closing meetings with prayer, praying in worship, praying before meals, and praying in many other ways with other people. But I don't view it as a chore or something I "have to do". Instead I see it as a wonderful way to bring a fellowship of people together in connection to both God and each other. It is a holy experience. Every time.
My personal prayer life is not a routine because I find that spontaneity helps me feel more genuine. Prayer is not something on my daily list, but rather something that happens when I feel the spirit move, or when I am given a specific prayer request. I have in my bedroom, a "God Box". I take prayers that are on my mind or that other people have asked of me and write them down on a small piece of paper. I take some time to pray about what is on that paper and to really talk about it with God. Then I put it in the box, and to me that symbolizes that it is now in God's hands. Many of my prayers to the Lord are lifted up in this way.
Prayer. It can mean so many things to so many different people. I could write more on the subject but I may have bored you already :) My point is this - to encourage you to engage in a prayer life of your own, outside of church. It doesn't have to be everyday, it doesn't have to look anything like the way I do it. All it requires is the intention to be in personal communication with God. It requires no flowery language or grasp of difficult theological concepts, rather it is about relationship with God.
I pray that all of you will find a way to incorporate prayer into your lives beyond the walls of the church.
And by that, I mean outside of worship or church activities. When is the last time you tried to have an intentional conversation with God?
My relationship with prayer has changed a lot over the years and as I moved into full-time ministry.
When I was little, prayers were often initiated by my parents. We prayed before every dinner together, and we prayed at night when they tucked me in for bed. I don't really remember ever praying on my own until I got older.
A significant change occurred in my prayer life when I started driving. This was a time in my life when I started to notice things more. As I drove around town to various activities, I would see things that made me sad: the animals dead on the side of the road, the people living under a bridge or sitting at the entrance to the interstate trying to hitchhike a ride to someplace else. I began praying when I saw anything that made my heart twinge. I knew that I couldn't pick up a hitchhiker or take a homeless person home with me, but I could pray that God would find a way to help that person. This is something I still continue to do.
As I discovered my call to ministry and began to journey in that direction, my prayer life grew. I prayed often for guidance from God, both in the daily and in thinking about a plan for my future. Prayer truly helped direct me on the path I have taken in life, and continues to do so. I also grew in my propensity to pray for others, to think beyond myself. I began to pray for both people I knew and people I didn't know. I discovered that prayer has a way of bringing me peace and clarity.
In seminary we prayed a lot. We prayed before every class started, before every meeting started, and in a lot of worship services. Prayer began to feel like something I "had" to do, one more thing on the agenda for the day. One more thing I could cross off my to-do list. When I was at family events or other gatherings where someone would ask me to pray I began to joke that people would have to pay me for that now as it was my "job" and I was a "professional". My personal prayer life and my relationship to God suffered because of this.
This lack of vigor in my prayer life was a big problem and I knew it. So for this reason (among many others) I spent the summer of 2009 at a monastery in Wisconsin. Living the monastic lifestyle helped me to renew my prayer life. I returned to school refreshed and invigorated.
These days my prayer life consists of many things. I am still opening and closing meetings with prayer, praying in worship, praying before meals, and praying in many other ways with other people. But I don't view it as a chore or something I "have to do". Instead I see it as a wonderful way to bring a fellowship of people together in connection to both God and each other. It is a holy experience. Every time.
My personal prayer life is not a routine because I find that spontaneity helps me feel more genuine. Prayer is not something on my daily list, but rather something that happens when I feel the spirit move, or when I am given a specific prayer request. I have in my bedroom, a "God Box". I take prayers that are on my mind or that other people have asked of me and write them down on a small piece of paper. I take some time to pray about what is on that paper and to really talk about it with God. Then I put it in the box, and to me that symbolizes that it is now in God's hands. Many of my prayers to the Lord are lifted up in this way.
Prayer. It can mean so many things to so many different people. I could write more on the subject but I may have bored you already :) My point is this - to encourage you to engage in a prayer life of your own, outside of church. It doesn't have to be everyday, it doesn't have to look anything like the way I do it. All it requires is the intention to be in personal communication with God. It requires no flowery language or grasp of difficult theological concepts, rather it is about relationship with God.
I pray that all of you will find a way to incorporate prayer into your lives beyond the walls of the church.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Wednesday Night Activities
Don't forget about our super fun Wednesday activities! We kicked-off last week with a progressive dinner around the church and an introduction to each other and this year's plan of activities.
Tomorrow's schedule is the usual:
6:00 Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
6:30 Youth Group
MS in Room 103
HS in Room 102
I hope to see you all there!
Tomorrow's schedule is the usual:
6:00 Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
6:30 Youth Group
MS in Room 103
HS in Room 102
I hope to see you all there!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Theological Thought for the Day
The Sabbath is more than a day, more than a name for the seventh part of the week, It is eternity in time--the spiritual underground of history.
Keeping the fourth command is rather specific. Just stop-tarry here a while and learn that you are more than your work or what you do.Sabbath is a reminder of every persons royalty. it is to affirm work without being a slave. Sabbath is holiness in time.
~ Abraham Heschel
Thursday, August 25, 2011
When is the last time you...
...counted your blessings?
Yesterday I presided over a communion service at Green Hills retirement community. To start the service, I let the residents choose a few hymns to sing from their hymn book. Almost immediately someone suggested the hymn "Count Your Blessings". This hymn is over a hundred years old - it was written in 1897. So it contains some more "old-fashioned" language. It's message however, is timeless. As we sang the song, I noticed that many of the people singing were not even looking at the hymn book - they had the words memorized.
The chorus of the song goes like this:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done,
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
See what I mean by "old-fashioned"? No, that wasn't a typo - it really is the word "hath". It is a beautiful song and I found that it has really stayed with me. I woke up this morning with the music stuck in my head! At first I was a little annoyed, I don't really like having songs stuck in my head. But then I thought - maybe it's there for a reason. Maybe God is trying to tell me something.
And I realized, I need to take those words to heart. I couldn't remember the last time I counted my blessings. I can remember the last time I thought about things I didn't have, or something I really wanted but couldn't afford. But I couldn't remember the last time I sat down and really looked for and appreciated the blessings in my life. So I took some time this morning to do just that. And as the song says, I was surprised by what the Lord "hath" done.
I am incredibly blessed to be the Associate Pastor at First UMC. I have a wonderfully loving and supportive congregation and I am having so much fun learning and trying to follow God's call on my life. I am blessed beyond belief to live in the beautiful parsonage that the church owns. I am blessed with a family I am close with, and friends both near and far that are always there for me. And these are just the big things! There are lots of little every day blessings as well - like the sun shining, the weather starting to cool, and the road construction finally being finished by the church :)
Sometimes, I might say I'm "lucky" to have these things. I'm "lucky" to have a job I enjoy, I'm "lucky" to have a beautiful house to live in, I'm "lucky" that I get along with my family. But truly, I think it is beyond luck. These things are truly blessings - and blessing come from God. I want to take a moment each day to remember that, and to thank God for the blessings in my life.
And I want to challenge you to do the same! Because really, when is the last time you counted your blessings? I hope after reading this you can answer with " today".
Yesterday I presided over a communion service at Green Hills retirement community. To start the service, I let the residents choose a few hymns to sing from their hymn book. Almost immediately someone suggested the hymn "Count Your Blessings". This hymn is over a hundred years old - it was written in 1897. So it contains some more "old-fashioned" language. It's message however, is timeless. As we sang the song, I noticed that many of the people singing were not even looking at the hymn book - they had the words memorized.
The chorus of the song goes like this:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done,
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
See what I mean by "old-fashioned"? No, that wasn't a typo - it really is the word "hath". It is a beautiful song and I found that it has really stayed with me. I woke up this morning with the music stuck in my head! At first I was a little annoyed, I don't really like having songs stuck in my head. But then I thought - maybe it's there for a reason. Maybe God is trying to tell me something.
And I realized, I need to take those words to heart. I couldn't remember the last time I counted my blessings. I can remember the last time I thought about things I didn't have, or something I really wanted but couldn't afford. But I couldn't remember the last time I sat down and really looked for and appreciated the blessings in my life. So I took some time this morning to do just that. And as the song says, I was surprised by what the Lord "hath" done.
I am incredibly blessed to be the Associate Pastor at First UMC. I have a wonderfully loving and supportive congregation and I am having so much fun learning and trying to follow God's call on my life. I am blessed beyond belief to live in the beautiful parsonage that the church owns. I am blessed with a family I am close with, and friends both near and far that are always there for me. And these are just the big things! There are lots of little every day blessings as well - like the sun shining, the weather starting to cool, and the road construction finally being finished by the church :)
Sometimes, I might say I'm "lucky" to have these things. I'm "lucky" to have a job I enjoy, I'm "lucky" to have a beautiful house to live in, I'm "lucky" that I get along with my family. But truly, I think it is beyond luck. These things are truly blessings - and blessing come from God. I want to take a moment each day to remember that, and to thank God for the blessings in my life.
And I want to challenge you to do the same! Because really, when is the last time you counted your blessings? I hope after reading this you can answer with " today".
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
ASP - Mission Accomplished!
Oh my goodness that was one whirlwind week! I had SO much fun getting to know all of the youth and helping out some Appalachian families. Below are my reflections on the trip. I hope to be back later this week to share some reflections from the youth!
My Reflections on my first ASP Experience:
Throughout the week my crew worked on three different sites painting, installing trim, building a tin roof for a porch, and installing a window, among other things. We worked hard and accomplished a lot. .
Throughout it all (even the times when I was hot, tired, and wanted to go home!), I really felt God's presence. There were amazing things accomplished - things that I could never have imagined doing before this week. I learned how to use a miter saw (no hands were cut off!), a drill (only one drill bit destroyed), and how to put up drywall (that mud is messy!). I came away with an exhausted body but a renewed spirit.
I loved seeing the way the youth from Ames and Nevada bonded and formed quick friendships. We had a blast each evening playing cards and making ice cream runs. The opportunities for fellowship were everywhere and we definitely took advantage of them.
I've come away from the trip with a renewed respect for how blessed I am in this life. I was grateful to come home to running water and air conditioning in my own private home. I pray I never forget that having a safe, warm, dry place to live is a privilege that unfortunately not everyone in our country has. I want to continue to do what I can to make it a reality for all people - through working with ASP and other forms of ministry.
With God's grace we will continue to serve.
Blessings,
Bethany
My Reflections on my first ASP Experience:
Throughout the week my crew worked on three different sites painting, installing trim, building a tin roof for a porch, and installing a window, among other things. We worked hard and accomplished a lot. .
Throughout it all (even the times when I was hot, tired, and wanted to go home!), I really felt God's presence. There were amazing things accomplished - things that I could never have imagined doing before this week. I learned how to use a miter saw (no hands were cut off!), a drill (only one drill bit destroyed), and how to put up drywall (that mud is messy!). I came away with an exhausted body but a renewed spirit.
I loved seeing the way the youth from Ames and Nevada bonded and formed quick friendships. We had a blast each evening playing cards and making ice cream runs. The opportunities for fellowship were everywhere and we definitely took advantage of them.
I've come away from the trip with a renewed respect for how blessed I am in this life. I was grateful to come home to running water and air conditioning in my own private home. I pray I never forget that having a safe, warm, dry place to live is a privilege that unfortunately not everyone in our country has. I want to continue to do what I can to make it a reality for all people - through working with ASP and other forms of ministry.
With God's grace we will continue to serve.
Blessings,
Bethany
Friday, July 29, 2011
ASP Packing!
Tonight at 6:30 PM we will be meeting in the church parking lot to pack for ASP. Please bring with you your luggage for the week that can be packed away.
Wait and bring with you tomorrow an overnight bag and other things that you will need to access during our overnight stay in Columbus, IN. I am looking forward to the trip!
Peace,
Bethany
Wait and bring with you tomorrow an overnight bag and other things that you will need to access during our overnight stay in Columbus, IN. I am looking forward to the trip!
Peace,
Bethany
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