The Widow's Mite (Luke 21:1-4)
An Occasional E-mail by
Rev. Larry Shores

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June 30, 2007

Hello Frends, 

My vacation involved visits to Kathy's family in Missouri and Kansas, my sibling reunion in Omaha, Nebraska, a 25th anniversary trip to Washington, DC and a brief visit to see long time friends at the Lake of the Ozarks, a resort area in south central Missouri.  All went well, trips were uneventful, visits with friends and family were meaningful and fun.  Our DC trip proved informative and enjoyable.  I will visit a few days this week with grandchildren and children over the fourth of July and then it is back to my church work.

My vacation provided some rest and stimulation as well as great visits with lots of laughter.  It always amazes me how getting away always refreshes and recharges me.  Perhaps I should do it a bit more often.  Kathy suggests we should.

 During the summer I will work to provide leadership for the following ministries:

  • Complete the process to finalize a new mission statement for our church and the development of a logo or brand for our community of faith.

  • Recruit leaders and begin the Capital Funds Campaign to generate funds over a two year period to liquidate all debt on church property.

  • Continue our efforts to develop a new website focused on seekers and those looking for a church home.

  • Work to make our church more visitor friendly and welcoming for visitors, especially those with young children.

As we move through summer with all of its travels, reunions and activities, let the slower pace nurture you and prepare you for the fall and winter when our church will be moving forward with several new missions and ministries.

Peace!

Larry

 

April 2, 2007

Hello Frends, 

During Holy Week, St. Matt's Church will hold four, unique and special  worship experiences.  Each will be different and moving.

 Wednesday we hold a "Service of Healing and Reconciliation" in our sanctuary at 6:30 PM.  This will include an opportunity to receive an anointing with myrrh oil.  We will also share in Holy Communion to close this service. 

 Thursday's service will remember the Passover meal and Jesus' arrest.  We begin in the Fellowship Hall at 7:00 PM.  We begin with singing and refreshments to remember the Passover feast.  Then we move into the Sanctuary to remember the Last Supper as Jesus' transformed it with his changing of the final toast.  We will end on the church lawn remembering Jesus' arrest.

 Friday we share in a Good Friday Drama Service.  Four of Jesus' followers will remember events from the Palm Sunday entry into the city to the death on Golgotha Friday afternoon and following burial.  Kristen Hood (Joanna), Cindy Pearcy (Mary Magdalene), Greg Klaener (Peter) and David Mack (Joseph of Arimathea) will serve as our presenters for this drama service.

 Sunday morning we follow the tradition of a Youth led Sunrise Service at 7:30 AM.  This will held on our front lawn weather permitting.  Breakfast follows at 8 in the gym.  Easter Sunday Services occur in our Sanctuary at 8:30 AM and 11 AM. 

 I invite all of you to plan on attending one or more of these special services.  Child care will be available at all services and our "Kid's Corner" is always well supplied and ready to help break up all the sitting children must do in worship services.

 See you in church this week. 

Peace!

Larry

 

March 17, 2007

Worship

This Sunday we return to the story of the Prodigal Son (s) in Luke 15.  I want to look at the rest of the story, not often examined by preachers and Bible scholars.  We will sing, “I Love to Tell the Stories, What Wondrous Love is This and Cuando el Pobre.”   

Note we will hold special worship events on:

  • Palm Sunday, April 1,

  • Wednesday eve, April 4,

  • Maundy Thursday, April 5

  • Good Friday, April 6. 

  • Easter Sunrise service on the front lawn begins at 7:30 AM on April 8 followed by breakfast in the gym and services at 8:30 AM and 11 AM in our sanctuary. 

 
Lenten Study begins Sunday, March 18

Activities for families begin at 4 PM the next three Sundays followed by a light meal at 5 PM and studies for adults and youth as well as activities for children from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.  Ms. Judy Langford will lead the adult study, “He Chose the Nails” written by Max Lacado.  I am looking forward to sharing in this study each of the next three Sunday evenings.

 
Care Notes
 Bill Scruggs and Bob Beaudro recovering with rehab at Regency Place.
Joyce Barnes battling cancer and recovering from pulmonary difficulties.
Max Partlow recovering from surgery on his knee.
Ben Hood, battling strep infections in his sinuses.
 
Thoughts

Last Sunday I preached a topical sermon around the theme of how we live in community with persons with whom we significantly disagree.  As a result of that sermon some folks have made erroneous assumptions.  Some folks think we have a big argument going on in the church.  Otherwise why would I have chosen that subject?  That is not at all accurate.  Right now our church is moving forward in unison and working together well to attempt to focus our mission and goals for the next five years.  This Strategic Planning Process will continue with a retreat of our governing Council on April 21.  At that day long retreat the leadership team of our church will choose five or six goals to be priorities to focus our mission and ministries for the next quadrenium.

Other persons have assumed someone is giving me a hard time or angry with me for something.  That is not true as far as I know.  There are some who disagree with the use of Spanish in the Sunday services, and some who have minor disagreements with things I do in worship.  However right now we still seem to be doing well living and working together with a minimum of disagreement.  So, the purpose of the sermon was to lay a foundation that we can work on when and if disagreements do arise.   

At its last meeting the Church Council agreed to begin a two year capital funds campaign this fall to abolish our debt by the fall of 2009, our 50th anniversary.  You will hear more about this and how you can make one time sacrificial gifts or sacrificial gifts over a two year period.  Begin to pray and think about how God might use your resources to help in this campaign to allow our congregation to enter our second half century debt free.    

Our Worship Committee has authorized the Chair and me to recruit a Task Force on Contemporary Worship to research how other churches are addressing worship that appeals to younger members and youth.  The group of adults and youth will visit other churches who do contemporary worship each week to get a flavor for the possibilities for our next weekly worship event.  After visits, discussions and deciding on our target audience, the TF will make recommendations to the Worship Committee about times, places, style and leadership of a Contemporary or Emerging Worship Experience offered weekly by our church.  Watch for more on this as the summer unfolds. 

Last week I spent three days with my youngest grand children.  Kaylon is 10 and Kierstyn is 8.  We played tourist, ate, laughed, traveled and shared family time together, the first time since Christmas.  The time made me remember that I am missing my grandchildren’s lives.  They are growing fast and time does not slow down or stop because I am busy in San Antonio.  I learned that it is important to stay connected with family in all ways we can.  Use mail, email, pictures, movies, anything that you can to share in the lives of family far away.  And the best of these is nose to nose time together that is so much fun, so intense and so full that we are tired when we part yet glad to be back to our own routine lives.  I hope you had a  good spring break. 

See you in church on Sunday. 

Invite a friend, relative or neighbor, co-worker, or even an enemy to worship with you this weekend, or next weekend. 

Peace!

Larry 

 

February 20, 2007

Worship Ash Wednesday

This Wednesday I will work with our music leaders and liturgists to lead an Ash Wednesday Service in our sanctuary beginning at 6:30 PM.  Our Contemporary Music Team, Choir and accompanist/director will work to move us through an “Imposition of Ashes” and “Service of Holy Communion”.  Everyone is invited to come bring your family, friends and neighbors to this service that launches the season of Lent. 
Lent means spring and this season prepares us for Easter by moving us through Jesus’ ministry, life, teachings, suffering, death and burial.
 
Other Lenten Worship Events
Palm and Passion Sunday – April 1 – Includes “Procession of Palms” with the children
 Maundy Thursday Service – April 5 – 7 PM in our Fellowship Hall
 Good Friday Drama Service – “April 6 – 7PM in our sanctuary
Easter Sunday Sunrise Service – April 8 - 7AM on the church lawn.
Easter Sunday Breakfast – April 8 – 8AM in our gym
Easter Sunday Worship Celebrations – April 8 - 8:30 AM and 11AM in our sanctuary
 
The Lent and Easter Seasons are prime times for people to visit a church to make a connection with a community of faith.  Keep your eyes open and look for and welcome new people.  Show hospitality to the stranger and visitor in our midst.
 
Future Sermon Requests
During a couple of Sundays in February I placed an insert in the Sunday bulletin asking for your ideas for future sermons.  My sermon planning next summer will include several of these ideas for fall sermons.  Watch our bi-monthly newsletter and this email for more information.
          Jesus on the Cross asking God why he had forsaken him.
          The unpardonable sin
Biblical and Theological Issues
          Faith and Reason
          Science and Religion
          Judge Not
          Condemn Not
          The Judgment
          People who are prejudiced at our church
          Devil disguised as one of us and among us
 
Social Issues
          War in Iraq
          George Bush
          Democrats verses Republicans
          Following any group that labels themselves Christian
          Keeping Religion out of Politics
          Be Careful what you wish for
          Christian politicians who use the cloak of Christianity to promote their own agendas
          How long do we support the refugees?
          Biblical infallibility
          Death Penalty
          Church and State relationship
          Abortion
          Creation verses Evolution
          To what extent should we support those who are unwilling to work to support themselves?
          Discussing with those with whom we disagree without bitterness
 
This broad range of ideas will go with me to my next Sermon Planning Retreat.   I will hope to include at least half of them in my series of sermons for the end of summer and beginning of fall.
 
I am attaching to this email (in Word format) a copy of the plans I have made for sermons for Lent and Easter.
 
Future Studies
At the end of  the three part study on United Methodism I asked persons present ideas they had about future studies led by me they would be interested in attending.  The following suggestions were made.
          An in depth study of The Revelation of John
          Series of Lessons on the Old Testament
          History, doctrine and beliefs of other religions
          Disciple Bible Study number 4 in a morning session
          Repeat classes annually on United Methodism for new members and visitors
          Discussion and dialogue on social principles, social issues and which ones our local church does and does not support
          The book of Romans
 
Thoughts
Last Sunday evening I attended worship after the Youth Appreciation Banquet.  The entire experience from the band that led the music, half the songs I knew, through the centers for prayer, reflection, artistic creation and writing/journaling, into communion and the final benediction filled me with amazement.  The youth in attendance entered the sanctuary and left the sanctuary filled with enthusiasm and love for one another, and for the service.  My heart soared to see so many youth enthusiastic about worshiping.  I also marveled that what happened in this service includes some of the experiences that I was using to reach youth in the early 70’s.  As I reflect on Sunday night’s worship event the following thoughts jump out of my mind.
          This is not my favorite way to worship, yet I did worship in that style when I opened myself to God’s spirit.
          We need to be offering that kind of worship event every week at a time that will allow the youth to bring their friends and neighbors with them to this worship experience.
          We have missed two generations of youth by not listening to them and offering worship experiences that spoke to their lives.  It is time we changed that pattern.
          I am deeply thankful to Theresa Booth for sharing her many gifts with our Church, especially our youth and their families.  She offers incredibly fresh and creative worship ideas.
 
I look forward to seeing you in church on Wednesday and or Sunday.
Peace!
Larry

 

February 1, 2007

Worship

We move into the last two weeks of the Epiphany Season visiting Isaiah this week as he receives his call to be a Prophet of God at the age of 18.  The sermon title, “Don’t Mess with My Worship” focuses on Isaiah 6:1-11.  The gospel reading comes from Luke 5:1-11.  We will sing, “Stand Up and Bless the Lord, Lord I Come to the Lakeshore and Here I Am Lord!”   Next Sunday we visit the Beatitudes from Jesus’ sermon on the plain, Luke 6:176-26

Please mark the following dates and times for Special Lent and Easter worship experiences.

          Ash Wednesday Services of Ashes and Holy Communion, February 21, 6:30 PM in our sanctuary
          Palm Sunday worship with children’s processional, April 5, 8:30 AM and 11 AM
           Maundy Thursday Service of Remembering, April 6, 7 PM beginning in the Fellowship Hall
           Good Friday Service of Remember (Creative Drama Service), April 7, 7 PM in the Sanctuary
           Easter Sunrise Service on our church lawn, April 8, 7 AM (led by our youth)
           Easter Sunrise Breakfast, April 8, 8 AM to 10 AM in our gym
           Easter Sunday Worship Celebration, 8:30 AM and 11 AM in our sanctuary

Thoughts

          As I traveled in Israel earlier this month, visiting sights where Jesus taught, preached, healed, suffered, died and was resurrected, I quickly grew weary because nearly every place had been marked by a church or chapel.  Most included art work depicting the scene of Jesus’ life the place remembered.  Many of them were surrounded by city buildings and houses making it more difficult to visualize the original scene.  I found it often impossible to imagine what it was actually like when Jesus lived there.  As I bemoaned this reality a fellow traveler and I were commenting on so many churches marking the spot.  He said to me, “In the time those churches were built, to them, it was like us taking a digital picture.  It is how they remembered the event.”  This insight allowed me to make an attitude adjustment and more fully enjoy the remainder of the trip. 

          I had fallen into that old trap of wishing the world conformed to what I wanted.  Instead of spiritually complaining of what was not like I wanted it to be, I moved into a posture of seeking to see the intended message and how folks historically remembered it.  Needless to say this impacted my trip in many positive ways. 

          Sometimes I think this is how many folks come to a church and to worship experiences.  If it is not like they expect it to be done they spend their time bemoaning what is not.  In doing so they miss what is happening.  They often miss the power of God to move through lives via a different worship style or different mission or ministry.   This Sunday I plan to share some thoughts about this in my sermon. 

See you in church on Sunday.

Paz!

Larry