Susquehanna LINK - January 2021

 

View and download the PDF at www.susumc.org/link

Remembering Our Heritage

Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist

January – 100 years ago

The January 1921 issue of The Evangel, magazine of the Women’s Missionary Association of the United Brethren Church, featured the pictures and stories of Mr. and Mrs. William N. Martin as they began a six-year ministry at Albert Academy in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Martins met while students at Lebanon Valley College and publicly dedicated themselves to mission work at a YPCE summer conference at Eagles Mere.

Born in Rouzerville, Franklin County, William was a 1918 graduate of LVC and served two years as principal of the college’s academy division while pursuing the MA degree. Daughter of United Brethren preacher Josiah F. Snyder of Boiling Springs, Grace E. Snyder Martin was a 1919 graduate of LVC and prepared for her mission work by teaching for one year in the hills of West Virginia. When they returned to the United States in 1926, William became a high school teacher and was given LVC’s 1985 alumni of the year award. 

February – 50 years ago

Page 1 of THE LINK for February 1971 featured a picture of four persons from St. Paul’s UMC in State College preparing for the Christian ministry. At the denominational union in 1968, that congregation had established a goal of producing five persons for the ministry within the next ten years. Those four were some of the fruits of that effort.

 • John Shaffer, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Lester Shaffer, a sophomore at West Virginia Wesleyan. John graduated with a major in philosophy and minor in theater, served Episcopal congregations in West Virginia and New York, and worked in the arts and theater at various institutions in New York state.

 • Charles Fitzgerald, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Howard Fitzgerald, a junior at Penn State. Charles retired in 2005 after 34 years of service in the Central Pennsylvania and Susquehanna Conferences. 

 • Kenneth E. Young, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Young Sr., a sophomore at North Carolina Wesleyan. Kenneth apparently eventually chose another career path.

 • Ralph E. Young Jr., brother of Kenneth Young, a second year student at the United Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Ralph transferred to the Florida Conference in 1981 and is now a retired member of that body.

Discovery Place: Lenten Studies

As we approach Lent, one of the most meaningful seasons of the church year, consider one of these studies for small group or personal use. 

  

  

 

The Case for Easter: Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus: In this video Bible study, author Lee Strobel reveals what he discovered as he went piece-by-piece through the evidence of the empty tomb. (4 sessions. It is packaged with The Case for Christmas, which may be previewed for use in Advent 2021. Includes 2 DVDs and 2 study guides.)

The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life: How do we walk with Christ—daily follow Him, grow in Him, and faithfully serve Him? Join Adam Hamilton to discover five essential spiritual practices rooted in Jesus’ own walk with God. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book. Children and youth books also available.)

Why Easter Matters: Packaged with Who Needs Christmas, Andy Stanley looks at the lives of several key people in the familiar story of Jesus’ crucifixion. The circumstances they faced are different than ours, but their actions and mistakes are, unfortunately, not different at all. (4 sessions. Includes 2 DVDs and 2 study guides. The Christmas study may be previewed for use in Advent 2021.)

24 Hours that Changed the World: Travel to the Holy Land with Adam Hamilton, to visit the sites where the earth-shaking events of the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life took place. (7 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, book, and 40 Days of Reflection booklet. Children and youth books also available.)

He Chose the Nails: Max Lucado examines the gifts that Christ gave at His crucifixion. These include the gift of the cross, the thorns, the nails, and the empty tomb. (5 sessions. Packaged with Because of Bethlehem, which may be previewed for use in Advent 2021. Includes 2 DVDs and 2 study guides.)

What Makes a Hero? The Death-Defying Ministry of Jesus: Looking at pop culture heroes through the lens of faith, author Matt Rawle shows how Jesus turned the concept of hero on its head. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book. Children and youth books also available.)

Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess: Author Tom Berlin encourages us to reflect and meditate on our own brokenness, showing us that it is only when we focus on the cross as a place to surrender control that we can leave our mess and find true redemption. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book. Youth book also available.)

Final Words from the Cross: Adam Hamilton examines Christ’s dying hours and His final words as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of those who stood near the cross. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book.)

The God We Can Know: Exploring the “I Am” Sayings of Jesus: Author Rob Fuquay explores the “I am” statements of Jesus found in the gospel of John, to help us answer the most essential question in the Christian faith: “Who do you say I am?” (7 sessions. Includes DVD and book.)

Renegade Gospel: The Rebel Jesus: Jesus did not come to start a religion. The rebel Jesus came with a renegade gospel to start a revolution. Author Mike Slaughter presents Jesus and His challenging message. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book.)

John: Gospel of Light and Life: This study by Adam Hamilton follows the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus through the Gospel of John, and helps us understand the context of some of the best-known verses in the New Testament. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide and book. Children and youth books also available.)

Complete descriptions of these and all our other resources can be found in the online catalog on our website: www.discovery-place.org. You may place an order directly through our online catalog, e-mail discovery@susumc.org , or call 717-766-7968. (Leaving a voicemail will send me an email.) 

We are currently open on a limited basis with no regular office hours, but Discovery Place email is checked daily. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are closed to walk-in visitors until further notice. 

Serving Christ with you,

Joni Robison

Discovery Place Resource Center
Susquehanna Conference
303 Mulberry Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
717-766-7968
e-mail  discovery@susumc.org
web  www.discovery-place.org

The Center for Spiritual Formation

By Rev. Kathy Harvey Nelson, 
Director Center for Spiritual Formation, Inc.

The Center for Spiritual Formation, a ministry affiliated with Susquehanna Conference, with an Office within the Carlisle UM Church and a 10-bed retreat center in Millerstown, has been taking its role of providing safe, God-filled space for people to grow deeper in their relationship with God seriously in this time of uncertainty and confusion in the midst of the pandemic.

We have reached out in creative new ways to support folk in their journey:

• Our Ministry of Spiritual Direction (MSD) program (serving 28 participants) has moved to a fully on-line presentation every month. As part of the program participants examine their own spirituality and historic traditions of the church while exploring God’s call to walk a journey of Spiritual Direction/Companioning with others. As part of this two-year program participants take a deep-dive into their personal relationship with God.
  
  
• We have produced several “Small Space Meditations” that appear on our YouTube channel. These meditations are designed for folk to use in their everyday, wherever they find themselves. We’ve had several persons from Central PA to multiple states and even globally tell us that these meditations have been invaluable to them during this time.
  
  
• We’ve produced several videos to provide spiritual encouragement and engagement. The first was a video that invited people to participate in a virtual pilgrimage to the Orchard Hill Retreat Center during a time when we could not gather for our Annual Picnic and Vesper Service. The second, a Labyrinth with Rev. Dr. Russell Hart, allows people to engage in a virtual labyrinth walk at any time and in any space.
  
  
• We have an article written by an MSD graduate and co-authored by Rev. Dr. Debbie Heisley-Cato (Board Chair) and Rev. Dr. Kathy Harvey Nelson (Center Director) that will be submitted to Spiritual Director’s International, concerning faith leadership in a time of pandemic. The focus is on the importance of Spiritual Direction/Companioning for faith leaders and looks at the challenges faced by those on the front lines of leadership. This was developed as several faith leaders were interviewed and shared their insights and hopes. In addition, a series of events will be held during October and November for all faith leaders to come together with a host and Spiritual Companion to explore and discuss the three areas of focus that have arisen: “Staying Strong and Centered: Enduring Energy Required,” “Staying Strong and Centered: Leading in the Unknown,” “Staying Strong and Centered: Grieving with the Grieving.”

The pandemic has offered challenges to all of us, but people of God have faced many challenges throughout the years. As we rise to the challenge, we remember that we are called always to “just such a time as this” and we respond with deep faith and action that flows from it. The Center is here to support you on that journey. You can find out more about us by looking on our website: www.centerformation.org, or joining our Facebook group by searching for Center for Spiritual Formation where you’ll find daily encouragement as well as information about up-coming events.

Though our retreat center is currently closed to the public, the grounds – including the labyrinth – are available for day use by contacting the Center office at centerformation1@gmail.com. And through it all we remain “Centered on Jesus, Focused on Grace and Spiritual Growth.” 

History Repeats Itself: The Church and Pandemics

By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

As everyone knows, we are going through difficult times as a faith community. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the way we meet and worship. 

In March, Bishop Park strongly encouraged every church in the Conference to refrain from meeting in person. This was done out of an abundance of caution and, at a time when we knew very little about the coronavirus. It seemed as though our sense of community and belonging had been taken from us. The joy of worship and the spiritual enrichment we received was interrupted. And, while this was difficult to accept, we as believers found new ways to worship and do ministry. 

Pandemic History

This isn’t the first time the church has faced a pandemic. This certainly isn’t the first time the church has found itself resorting to different methods of doing ministry.

We know of plague and disease afflicting believers in Biblical times….pestilence in Egypt (Amos 4:10) and plagues during the exodus (Exodus 11:1), just to mention a few. And, we have experienced pandemic in more recent times, including the Spanish Flu in 1918, the Asian Flu in 1957, an avian influenza in 1968, and H1N1 in 2009.

 In 1918, the Spanish Flu spread throughout the world, eventually making its way to the United States lasting from February until April 1920. In the state of Indiana, health officials mandated a statewide quarantine beginning in October 1918. While this occurred over 100 years ago, there are some similarities and differences that should encourage us as we move forward.

Similarities and Differences

In 1918, a much less technologically capable society found ways to maintain individual faith and build community spirituality. Religious leaders worked together with local leaders and businesses to console and unite congregations and communities. In particular, they worked with the press and local newspapers to encourage individuals and families to read and study Scriptures or complete Sunday school lessons. Some churches promoted the time in quarantine as an opportunity to pray for the church and the nation. Pastors suggested their congregations spend the time usually spent attending church on Sunday, praying and meditating on God’s word.

As the pandemic continued, newspapers began to print worship resources in full-page ads, including hymns, scripture lessons, and sermons. And, historians note that one particular pastor collaborated with the telephone company to “facilitate dial in services” for his congregation to ensure that faith remained the focus of people’s lives. Some churches even hosted open air services. Sound familiar?

In November 1918, some faith communities slowly re-opened but, they reduced the length or number of services they held. They mandated the wearing of masks, and a portion of services were dedicated to providing congregations with instructions about dealing with the pandemic, addressing good personal hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, and the limitations of public gatherings.

Unlike in 1918, there was no vaccine or antibiotics to treat the associated symptoms. Today, we have a well-developed health care system. Today, we attend virtual, live streamed worship services. We connect through apps and use a multitude of social media platforms to communicate. And, we spend countless hours on ZOOM meetings. 

Remembering our Past, Moving Forward

So, as you can see, the church has faced pandemics before. Has it been challenging to maintain our spiritual enrichment, while continuing to experience community worship? Of course! But, as in the past, churches continue to be creative as they address those challenges and bridge the gap.

In his letter to the Conference in November, Bishop Park re-emphasized that we, as a Conference, should continue to continue these practices. And, like their predecessors, our pastors, church staffs, and ministries will persevere, do their best to meet congregational and community needs, and make every attempt to keep them safe and healthy. 

As we look to a future that includes effective treatments and a vaccine, it is important to remember our past. It is also important to do our part and collectively unite with our leaders as they seek to do what is best for our spiritual and physical health and safety. Wear your face coverings…maintain social distances…be creative as you worship and fellowship…and, most importantly, pray for God to intervene and inspire those tasked with moving us forward to a time when we can return to in-person worship with the community of believers who are called Christians and United Methodists.

***

Bibliography

History of 1918 Flu Pandemic. (2018, March 21). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-pandemic-history.htm

Past Pandemics. (2018, August). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/past-pandemics.html

Rogers, K. (2020, December 3). For churchgoers during the Covid-19 pandemic, a deadly lesson from the 1918 flu. Retrieved from CNN Health: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/health/churches-covid-1918-lesson-wellness/index.html

Contact Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator, at drc@susumc.org

VIM Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

From www.umvim.org*

Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” to our volunteers or the ones they serve. Our goal as UMVIM is to minimize infections spread by UM activity. 

The UMVIM leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. Each individual situation will be different. One of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that we bring other things with us when we bring the Gospel. We must be careful.

The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states restricting large gatherings and promoting social distancing guidelines. These guidelines are designed to assist teams and hosts in determining when and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners. 

All missioners are strongly advised to get a COVID vaccine when it is available. Project sites or annual conferences may require each missioner to get a vaccine.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, please visit https://www.cdc.gov. Pay particular attention to the CDC’s travel guidelines.

Responsibility for adhering to these guidelines is shared by the Team Leader and the Project Site. This requires frequent communication and cooperation between both parties. 

General Guidance for International Service

The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries. Travelers may be required to quarantine before or after travel to countries with advisories at Level 3 and below.

General Guidance for US Project Service

Suspending teams 

• Make this decision based on the guidance of your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Pay attention to directions about school closure, stay-at-home orders, and the size of gatherings that are allowed.
• Make this decision with the guidance of your board of directors or other governing body.

Hosting teams

• Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance. 
• Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. 
• Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
• Improve air circulation in all common areas. 
• Provide prevention supplies:
• hand sanitizer
• disposable facemasks
• eye protection
• cleaners and disinfectants
• Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
• Other considerations
• Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
• If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
• All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners. 
• Work should be done on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so teams do not have to enter a home.
• Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work sight, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
• If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
• Screening protocol on arrival
• Take temperature 
• Ask about general health
• Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
• Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
• Childrens’ ministry (VBS, etc) should be suspended until more guidance from CDC and the local officials is available.
• Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
• Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
• The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact their health care provider as soon as possible.

Leading Teams

• Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
• Follow your local guidelines from your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Also make sure you know the local guidelines in the place where you intend to serve. Where guidance from different authorities conflict, follow the more restrictive protocols.
• If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to plan for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces/equipment wherever you go. 
• Each team member will sign the Medical and Emergency Form. 
• Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital. 
• Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
• Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.

Even though vaccines may be available to the public soon, going “back to normal” may be a few months away. We expect to continue taking measures to interrupt transmission of the virus for the protection of our volunteers and those we serve, even if (1) antibodies are proven to protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) vaccines are widely available, and all team members have been vaccinated.

*Revised November 2020. 

www.umvim.org/blog/guidelines-for-us-project-sites-during-covid-19-revised-1120

Questions? Michelle Schwartzman, VIM Coordinator 
vim@susumc.org     
717-766-7441 ext. 3105

Hearts Strangely Warmed - Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge

“While the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” — John Wesley, May 24, 1738 

God calls us to tell our story so that others may come to know Jesus Christ. “Hearts Strangely Warmed” was created to share these stories about transformational encounters with the Living God.

Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge

A Journey of Calling 

I took my first steps in the back of Harrisville United Methodist Church. I was baptized and confirmed in this church, and sometimes I spent more time at church than the preacher’s kids! However, I loved going to church. I loved the people, and I loved the sanctuary that always seemed to usher me into God’s presence. 

At a very young age, I decided to follow Jesus, and by the time I was sixteen years old, that decision was deepening. Like many teenagers, I was pondering the frequently asked question of what I wanted to do when I grew up. I considered many different paths, but I wasn’t quite sure what to select. Then, one summer, when my family and I were on vacation in South Carolina, we visited a random church we had located through the yellow pages in our hotel room. We were warmly greeted when we entered, and we found seats as worship began. 

I wish words could capture the worship experience that enraptured me that day, but as in most thin spaces when heaven and earth intersect, words so often fall short. I remember standing and singing in harmony with the people of this church whom I had never met and whom I may never know their names. We sang deep praises of worship, and still to this day, this was the clearest picture of heaven I have ever witnessed. 

After the service, a kind lady came up to my family and said she had a word for us. She asked the pastor to come over, and he anointed us and prayed over us. The word she gave us was “transverse.” She believed my family would cross geographical boundaries for the sake of the gospel. It was an incredibly powerful moment of prayer and anointing.

I remember walking out of the church back to our car reflecting on all that had just happened. In that moment, I came to a very important decision. I knew that nothing else mattered in life except following Jesus with all that I am and all that I have. This moment was the beginning of my call to ministry and led me on a journey that is still unfolding.

That moment of calling led me to attend Messiah College, now University, where I majored in Christian Ministries and minored in music. Upon graduating from Messiah, I attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. where I spent 3 years working at a large suburban church and building a partnership between this suburban church and a non-profit homeless ministry in Baltimore. The same summer I graduated with my MDIV from Wesley, I married [Pastor] Kris Sledge and moved to near Chambersburg, Pa. I served St. John’s UMC for two years and then moved to Harrisburg to begin The Journey with Kris. I now serve at Aldersgate UMC in Mechanicsburg and am so thankful for the journey of calling that continues to unfold. 

I look back on that moment of calling in South Carolina and am amazed at all that God has done! I could have never guessed where the journey would lead, but I am filled with gratefulness for the churches, family members, pastors, and mentors who have made this journey possible. Most of all, I am thankful for God’s faithful presence with each and every step. 

Hannah was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2020. 

Thank You for Your Support at Mission Central!

Thank You for Your Support!

As a monumental year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank all the Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Church churches for your support throughout 2020! We recognize that 2020 brought many challenges and we are incredibly grateful for the support that has been shown to Mission Central. 

Every item, every prayer, every dollar and every shared gift has assisted us in fulfilling our mission of ‘connecting God’s resources with human need.’  We are thankful for each of you and appreciate you sharing your gifts with us. 

As we look ahead, we want to make sure you “Save the Dates” for a few Mission Central events of 2021:

• Mission Central online auction: March 4-7
• Mission Central (Virtual) Monster Mash and Dash: October 24-31
• Mission Central Gala: November 13

If you have the opportunity, please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our MissionLink (a weekly eNewsletter). 

We wish you a happy new year filled with many blessings. Thank you for everything you do for Mission Central! 

Baskets for Mission Central Fundraising in 2021! 

In 2021, Mission Central will be hosting two events - an online auction and our annual Gala. These events raise a significant percentage of our operating revenue each year, and we have always been grateful for UMC support! 

This year, we will be hosting a silent auction for themed baskets at both events and would love your support! Baskets can be put together completely or you can send materials for a basket to be made here at Mission Central. You can even send some basket materials (to go with others to make a basket.) 

Here are a few basket ideas but please feel free to create your own! 

• Family Game Night - games, movie gift cards, popcorn
• Coffee and Tea - mugs, coffee, tea, spoons
• Chocolate Basket - all things chocolate
• Kid’s Favorite Library (great for adults too!) 
• Hot Off the Grill - marinades, skewers, grill supplies 

This is a great activity to be put together by your business, work group, kids of all ages, church youth, confirmation classes, UMW or any group of family/friends AND a great way to support Mission Central! These baskets will be auctioned off at either our online auction or our Gala. The baskets/basket materials are due February 1, 2021. Please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040f49afa82ca1fc1-baskets. 

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Titzel by phone at 717-766-1533 or email stitzel@missioncentral.org. 

Thank you in advance for any consideration that you can give these requests. We are looking forward to lots of fun in 2021!

George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, Osaze Osagie... Wait? Who?

By Rev. Dr. Renee Ford, Gray’s UMC, Port Matilda

Osaze Osagie was born on Aug. 2, 1989. He was the son of Iyunolu Osagie, an English Professor at Penn State University and Sylvester Osagie, Director of Water, Energy, and Food Nexus (West Africa) and the University Faculty Fulbright Adviser in Global Programs at Penn State. Both of Osaze’s parents have Ph.D.’s from Cornell University. As a teenager, Osaze was in the youth ministry at State College Assembly of God where he attended meetings weekly. “Just after 2 p.m. on March 20, 2019, a white State College police officer shot and killed Osaze at his apartment on Old Boalsburg Road. It was the first fatal police shooting in the department’s 103-year history. Three officers were there to serve a 302 warrant, which would’ve allowed them to take Osaze to the emergency room for a doctor to evaluate his mental state and determine if he should be involuntarily hospitalized” (Source: https://www.statecollegemagazine.com/articles/remembering-osaze/). 

We keep hearing about how we are living in unprecedented times. Unfortunately, that also rings true for racial and ethnic injustice as well. And sadly, it IS an issue that has directly affected the State College community. As United Methodists, particularly as we’ve been wrestling with the challenges of this pandemic, we are all struggling to be true to our membership vows of resisting evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves while having to practice physical distancing. Nevertheless, we can’t remain silent about things that matter. Indeed, all lives matter which is not possible unless black lives matter, and people of faith in State College are desperately seeking a path toward healing informed by our faith.

The State College Cluster and State College Interfaith Leaders Group learned about the Local Initiatives Grant offered by the Council of Bishops, applied, and were granted the $1000 grant in September 2019 for our project: Diversity, Inclusion and Faith in Dialogue: Online Discussions and Collaboration to Promote Peace with Justice and Tolerance in the Face of Systemic Racism and Rising Concerns About our Criminal Justice System. The goal of the project is to engage in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, support one another in our common vocations, and identify opportunities to partner and collaborate to respond to common needs within our community. to guide our faith communities to practice peace with justice and tolerance in the face of systemic racism. The group is comprised of clergy and spiritual leaders from the following denominations and faiths: African Methodist Episcopal, American Baptist, Baha’i, Church of the Brethren, Episcopalian, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Jewish, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ, and United Methodist. The grant covers the cost of participant study guides and a portion of the speaker’s fee.

Project activities will include bi-monthly Zoom meetings to study “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander and provide opportunities for discussion about race, diversity and inclusion. The group will invite community leaders, as available, from law enforcement, education, healthcare, social service agencies, and community groups to help raise our awareness and response to concerns in our community. This project will provide opportunities to reflect and dialogue about how our faith informs our response to community concerns and needs, to share resources and discuss ways we can work together to make a positive impact on promoting positive community relations and reducing racial tensions. In order to extend the dialogue between our live meetings, participants will be able to participate in activities in the Teachable learning management system platform, provided by The General Commission on Religion & Race. Additionally, we will host a webinar this spring (details are being finalized at the printing of this article) and will open registration for this event to members of our conference. 

We look forward to learning together and, most importantly, identifying ways that our faith communities can work collaboratively to do all that we can to prevent future tragedies like that of Osaze, identifying and responding to our local needs while striving to build a beloved community right here in Happy Valley.

Jesus is THE Good Shepherd

On Sunday, October 4, 2020, the second of four services celebrating the appointment of our four new district superintendents was streamed from Faith UMC in Montoursville. (View here: tinyurl.com/DSinstallPA) This service celebrated the appointment of Rev. Dr. Paul C. Amara as the new Williamsport District Superintendent. Following is an edited version of his installation address. 

Scripture reference: John 10:11-16

By Rev. Dr. Paul C. Amara

Oh, how we wish these were normal times. This [church] would have been filled with people; people who would have come from New York and New Jersey, from Washington DC, from Virginia, from Texas, and from Maryland—where we have family members who were not able to be here today—to celebrate this special historic moment in our lives, in the lives of Kadie and our family and me. This is the new way of life. 

God does everything for a reason. God’s presence is wherever we are. We don’t have to be in the church building. The church is not the steeple, the church is not a building, the church is us, the church is you and me. Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered, in my name, my presence is there.” I believe that there are more than three of us here, so Christ is here, Jesus Christ is here amongst us. He is the Good Shepherd. We may have shepherds all around, but Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd.

Let us pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight. Oh God our redeemer and rock, save and guide us when we go astray. Bless us and pour your grace upon our lives. Even in the midst where we are gathered here, worshipping and glorifying your name, and as we serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

In our scripture lesson, John 10:11-16, we heard Jesus declaring himself to be the Good Shepherd. But there is a story before that. Jesus Christ had started his ministry. He was performing miracles. He was feeding the hungry. He was providing hope for those who were in despair. He provided the strength for those who were weak. 

In John chapter 6:45 Jesus said, ‘I am the Bread of Life.’ Oh my goodness, if Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, I will eat a bunch of him! I will cut a big piece—and I do every day, because I believe that Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, not the bread that we eat, physically. He fills our souls. 

Jesus Christ had just fed [5,000] people, and they were looking for him again to be fed. He hid from them and went to Capernaum, and they followed him, looking for the guy who worked this miracle, who filled their souls. They found him and they wanted more. Do you feel that you want more of Jesus? Do you feel a hunger for Jesus? Do you feel that he has everything that you need in your life? He can feed you, and when he feeds you, you’ll be satisfied. Jesus told them whoever comes to Him and believes in Him will never be hungry again or thirsty. Did they believe him? 

Do we believe? When things happen to us that we don’t expect, when our loved ones die, when we can’t provide for our families, we start to ask the questions, Why? What have I done wrong? God, why did you take my loved one? God does not take our loved ones, God receives our loved ones. 

God created us in God’s image and God saw that it was all good. How do we see it today? Is it good? All humanity and even the angels complain (Rom 8:22). Where are these humans, these mortals that God cares about?

Jesus did not stop there. In John, chapter 8:12 Jesus again declares, “I am the light of the world.” I love light. It makes me happy, it makes me see well. We cannot continue to live in darkness. That is the purpose of Christ coming; to give us the light of the world, the light that even the devil cannot extinguish. When you take up that light and carry it with you anywhere you go, my brothers and sisters, you are assured of His saving power. There is nothing that can break you when you are bound with the Lord; there is nothing that can bring you down when you believe in Jesus Christ. Trust in Him always, put all your hopes in Him for He is our Savior. And Jesus said in John 10:9, “I am the gate.” Oh wow. When we have Jesus as the gate we are secure. That’s what I feel. I don’t know about you, but when I have Jesus as my gate I can sleep well. I know that no thieves will come into my yard, that there is nobody that is coming to steal because Jesus Christ is watching. 

Do you trust in the Lord with all of your heart and your mind and your soul? Do you believe Jesus Christ is your Savior? Say amen! Hallelujah! 

In John 10, Jesus says that he is THE Good Shepherd. Not just a good shepherd. Definite article—THE Good Shepherd. We may have several shepherds. I am a shepherd and I have my flock. Most of you here are shepherds, you have your flock. You know their names, and they know your name. But only a Good Shepherd will really care about the sheep. 

Sheep are normally not too smart. Brothers and sisters, we may feel that we are really smart all the time, by doing it our way, forgetting that God has God’s ways. But thanks be to God that God has the power of forgiveness for each and every one of us. Even as shepherds, we fall short of expectations. When we receive the encouragement to take good care of our parishioners some of us start to complain, ‘Oh, it’s too much. I’m told to wear masks all the time.’ ‘We want to worship and they say we should spread [out]. How [can] we…? We’re going to lose members.’ 

In many cases, sheep go astray. When you have Christ, you don’t lose members. They may go for a while, but they will come back because Christ has a hold of their lives. So, my brothers and sisters in pastoral positions, have no fear. Christ is with you. He is the Good Shepherd. He knows your names. He knew you even before you were born. He encourages us, he sets the example for us, to shepherd diligently. But Christ is not just caring for those in the fold. He also said, ‘There are some of mine who are not in the sheepfold right now, but I will bring them in.’ Oh my goodness, do we go and get those who are out there who don’t look like us, who don’t think like us? Do we bring them into our sheepfold? Those who don’t have our beliefs, our social identities, do we bring them into the sheepfold? Jesus says, ‘I have work to do, I will get them in,’ for we will be one flock with one shepherd. How could Jesus hold the sheep together?

In the Middle East shepherding is taken very seriously and sheep are very improtant. It is a source of living; raising the animals and selling them for the meat. They also use the wool and the skin for clothing, for bedding, and to pray on—they would dry it and use it as a mat to pray. The shepherds would have rope tied around their waist, and they could use this rope if a sheep was stubborn—tie it down for a while. The shepherds would also carry a wooden staff. They would use it in the rough, rocky terrain to stabilize themselves so they didn’t fall. They would also use it for defense or attack against predators, to block or stab at wolves praying upon the sheep. And the shepherds would use their staff when the sheep become so stubborn and wanted to follow their own will. The shepherd would hook them with his staff and pull them in. 

What kind of shepherd are we? Who are we in today’s life? Christ has encouraged us to be good shepherds and He set the example for us in John 10. In Ezekiel chapter 34 we see the opposite. God spoke to the shepherds, the leaders who had become ruthless and started doing wrong things—they did not care about the sheep but cared about themselves, about their own pockets, tending to themselves. God spoke to them and said, ‘You cannot do this. I will take charge. I am going to take away this responsibility from you and I will do it myself. The people will be secured. I don’t trust you anymore. My people are scattered all around, they need to be again together.’ There were bad shepherds then, so Jesus came to transform peoples lives, to become the Good Shepherd. Are we taking an example from the Lord? 

In John chapter 9, Jesus and his disciples were going from the temple and they saw a man who was blind from birth. The disciples, as always, asked questions. ‘Who sinned, he or his parents?’ Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Neither him nor his parents—he is blind so that the work of God may be revealed to you.’ After rubbing his eyes with mud, Jesus asked the blind man to go to the Pool of Siloam (which means sent) and wash his eyes and when he came back he could see! Have you found the Lord washing your eyes off, when you are in darkness, when there is some patch that is covering your eyes that you don’t see the truth? Have you felt that in your life? What did you do about it? Did you ask for the Lord to come and cleanse you? Did you ask for the Lord to come and open your eyes to see the truth? When the man came back, everybody was astonished. ‘How can you see? We thought you were the blind man.’ He said, ‘I don’t know. I was blind but now I see. What issue do you have with me?’ And they call upon his parents to come and testify. ‘Is this your son?’ The parents, fearing for their own lives or fearing that they would lose their space in the temple, said, ‘He’s our son. We bore him blind, but now he sees. We don’t know who healed him. Ask him, he is an adult.’ The pharisees were furious. He had mentioned the name of Jesus. He told them, ‘Why should I tell you again? Do you also want to be his followers?’ They answered, ‘What are you talking about? We have only Moses to follow.’ So, the man once blind was rejoicing; his parents were very afraid, very scared, terrified of would happen if they testified; and the pharisees were angry. 

We have situations in our lives when we feel scared. We don’t want to touch an issue if it doesn’t affect us directly: They shot someone in the street today. No, I have nothing to do with that, it did not happen in my community; Children have been separated from their parents. What do I have to do with that? My kids are here. We don’t want them in this country. But this is God’s land. Oh. Jesus Christ is our leader. Oh. We say we worship God and we do these things? Have no fear in Christ. Have no fear when you know that Jesus Christ is for you. In Romans chapter 8, Paul told those who had fallen, who had doubts, and those who were performing miracles and having things happen, “If God is for us, who will be against us?”

If Christ is your shepherd, what do you have to worry about? Are you saying things that need to be said to make life better for other people who can’t speak for themselves? Are you standing up for those for whom justice is a stranger? What role are you playing in your church? Pastors, what are you giving to your parishioners to make them believe that Jesus Christ is their only Savior? We ask our pastors to help us believe in Jesus Christ and let us know that with Him everything is possible, with Him there is no failure. There are shepherds that will run away—the hired hands will run away when the wolf comes to attack the sheep. But the real shepherd stays with his sheep, in fact they smell like sheep too. Do you smell like the sheep in the ministry you are doing or do you stay away? Don’t feel that you are being paid, or that you have been hired, feel that you have been sent for ministry.

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, and with that love, I share myself, and I am ready to share myself with Williamsport District pastors and parishioners and everyone who is in mission and ministry with us. I am ready to come to you. I am ready to offer my resources to you. I am ready to share my talents and my gifts with you because I love you, Williamsport. I want to be in ministry with you. But I want to encourage you as well to be good shepherds. When you tend your sheep, you have to set an example, for charity begins at home. Though it doesn’t stay here—we go, we be in ministry. Let us do this together, brothers and sisters.

 Let us believe in Jesus Christ and let us take the fold that is outside and bring them in. Let us not say, ‘They don’t look like us. They don’t think like us.’ Let us use all that we have [in Christ] to heal ourselves and to make our ministries and missions fruitful. Let’s make our beloved community know and feel our presence with them. We are blessed to have wonderful leadership, our bishop, to shepherd us. But we can also be sheep, even in our churches. Pastors in Williamsport District and throughout the Susquehanna Annual Conference, do you take that time to be a sheep and allow the shepherd to lead you and not to do it your own way only? We are in this together. That’s what makes us great! We are connected as United Methodists. We cannot be lone rangers, we have to work together. We have a wonderful shepherd who is tending us, protecting us, and feeding us. Our shepherd doesn’t run away, our shepherd stays with us. Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. 

May this God that has created us and given us this opportunity, continue to be in us, with us, and to surround us so that the wolves will stay away and allow us to function like children of God. Have no fear, speak the truth, fight for justice, create peace, share your love, and forgive one another. Christ wants us to do that, and when we do these things our world will be a better place to live in, where we will see and share with one another. 

In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Why vs. What?

By Su Rider

For quite some time, Halifax UMC has dreamed of having a robust adult small group ministry, but for various reasons the timing just hasn’t seemed right. God has worked in unique and wonderful ways in this pandemic season to bring this dream to life.

As the reality of COVID set in, forcing us to move to exclusively online worship and to suspend all church activities, we wrestled with the dilemma of how to create opportunities for people to stay connected. We also experienced a major uptick in the need for pastoral care and counseling specifically related to how the pandemic affected peoples’ jobs, relationships, security, and general mental wellbeing. God made it clear to us that this was our season to launch an adult small group ministry, as these groups had so much potential to address the pressing need in our church family for connection, support, and discipleship even in this valley season of pandemic. Our prayer was that small groups would equip our people not just to go through the valley, but to grow through the valley. On a practical note, the small groups also made a way for people to continue meeting safely and responsibly during periods of “shutdown” due to COVID.

Our attention turned toward the small group curriculum. What would we study? We wanted the common thread of a single study to unite all the various small groups that were forming. God made a way here as well. Ron Reitz, one of our church members, had been working for a few years to write a book about his spiritual journey through tragedy and challenge. The book, Why vs What, challenges readers not to ask “why” they’re facing challenges, as these answers will often never be revealed. Rather, readers are challenged to ask “what” God wants to accomplish through that challenge – in their life, in the lives of others, in the world. What an amazing connection to our prayer that people would not only go through the valley, but to grow through the valley!

Ron, the author, had been encountering many obstacles in the process of getting his book written and published. However, we were reminded that God’s timing is so perfect – Ron’s book was finally published in spring 2020, just as COVID took hold in our country. We realized the subject matter was extremely relevant to our church in its new pandemic context. And just like that, God had provided us with the perfect time to launch a small group ministry, and gave us the perfect study curriculum for it. A team of laypeople collaborated to develop a reading plan and discussion guide for the book, and the pastors recorded video introductions for each study module.

After recruiting and training small group leaders, it came time to recruit participants. We weren’t sure what to expect because of all the COVID related disruption and uncertainty our people were experiencing. But praise God – we now have eight groups with nearly 50 people engaged and growing in the Lord through small groups!

To supplement the small group study, and to draw in people who weren’t able to join a group, we’re also doing a sermon series called “Great Questions”. For many, this pandemic season has raised some deep and serious questions about God and how He relates to us. So many of these questions have come up in pastoral counseling in the past months. For example; why does God sometimes seem distant, or uncooperative? What do we do when God’s timing seems off? What about unanswered prayer? How do I experience God’s presence?

Without a doubt, this season of pandemic has been difficult, even tragic, for all of us. However, even in this valley God has shown Himself to be good and faithful at Halifax UMC. He has brought together people, resources, and dreams in a way only He could, and He is indeed helping us not just go through this valley, but to grow in the valley.

Sharing Sweetness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

By Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge

Chelsea and Jack Hoover (youth from Aldersgate UMC, Mechanicsburg) responded to the COVID crisis by developing a “Cookie Challenge” outreach project. Chelsea spent most of spring 2020 baking because “there was nothing else to do”, but eventually her baking exceeded the bellies of her family and friends and was in danger of contributing to their “quarantine 15”! With the help of Pastor Jan Hughes and Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge, Chelsea and Jack created the Cookie Challenge! 

Once a month, Jack films a video to be posted to social media, challenging their friends and family to join them in baking cookies for those in need. Individually bagged cookies are then collected and donated to Community Cares in Carlisle, the Blessing Box program in Mechanicsburg, and an essential food distribution site in Allison Hill.

Aldersgate Church and their Revolution Youth have been partners in collecting cookies along with Jack and Chelsea’s friends from school and other activities. Over the summer, Jack and Chelsea enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the distribution of the cookies in Allison Hill with friends from the Journey Church in Harrisburg. 

For their Christmas Cookie challenge, Jack and Chelsea had a goal of giving all the families at the Allison Hill distribution site a dozen Christmas cookies while continuing to share with the programs in Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. This time, the youth at Calvary UMC in Harrisburg joined in to help and together we were able to give 150 families a beautiful assortment of Christmas cookies.  

 

The total number of cookies donated since the beginning of the cookie challenge in May is 7,015!

Jack and Chelsea have heard amazing stories from bakers as they’ve creatively responded to the challenge. Cookies have been prayed over. Inspirational and kind messages have been written on the bags for the cookie recipients. They have been blown away by dedicated bakers who contribute every month. Their most significant experience has been the opportunity to connect with so many people through this project. The community’s response and enthusiasm to the challenge has been inspiring and the outcome exceptionally sweet. 

EQUIP: Wait! God is Doing WHAT?

By Rev. Gary Alan Shockley, Director of Equipping Vital Congregations

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NRSV) 

I believe God guided me to this passage in February when I led devotions for our EVC Team retreat. Little did I know then that Covid-19 was already lurking in the shadows. We opened our hearts and minds to scripture and sensed the Spirit’s leading as we expressed our mutual desire to become even more effective in our work together. We formed our plans. We had direction! It was very good. And then Covid. (I can’t wait for the time when I can end a thought or a sentence without adding those three words! How about you?) 

This scripture from Isaiah 43 has followed me around this past year like a voice of hope echoing through the chaos and the fear that has threatened all of us on planet earth. 

This morning, I went back to this passage but felt guided this time to the chapter before it. God says something astounding! I never saw it before or maybe I never paid any mind. “For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor. I will gasp and pant.” (Isaiah 42:14) 

Now, couple this with my opening scripture: “Now I will cry out like a woman in labor. I will gasp and pant. I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” 

God is giving birth! Wait…what? What on earth does this mean? God giving birth? 

I have never given birth but I was right there when it happened-twice. The life inside was hidden from view. I knew it was there. I made preparations to receive it. I waited with excitement, and honestly, a little trepidation. And then there it was. Bam! Right before me. In my arms. In the world for all to see! I was never the same again. The whole wide world was never the same again! I had NO idea how much this new life would change EVERYTHING! 

These days I carry around within me a strange sense of expectation. It was very small in the beginning of this mess but it has been growing. I’m finding myself asking, ‘What IS this? What’s going on?’ And I find myself leaning forward on tip toe and with eyes wide open straining to see. See what? And I’ve been speaking with others, pastors and lay folk alike, who have also been carrying around this strange sense of pregnant pause. They too have been leaning forward asking questions—of God. ‘What’s happening? What are you up to? What do you need from us?’ 

All along God has been crying out, “I’m pregnant! I’m about to birth new life, new possibilities, new hopes and dreams, new chances to be whom I created you to be. And I want YOU to be the mid-wives.” Silence. What can one say to this? I mean the promise is so spectacular. The implications so earth shattering. The invitation so startling! Silence. Reflection. Longing is all I’ve been able to offer back. Until now.

Yes God! Do it! Continue the fulfillment of your promises and purposes for us. Keep us from shrinking back into our familiar lives. Free us from the indifference that has rendered us bland in a world that longs for the vibrant flavor palette that only you can give. Help us leave behind the familiar things that have held us in place. Free us from the fear of change because there can be no new life when we allow fear to blind us and bind us to a past that was no longer working anyway. Help us ‘forget the former things’ to free up the space we need in our heads and hearts to ‘perceive the new things’ and then help to birth them. 

When these words from Isaiah 43 blew into my heart like a mighty rush of wind this thought appeared in prayer: ‘Who am I, now that I am no longer who I used to be? And I would expand that to include you and your community of faith and invite you to pray in preparation for the birth of whatever God is doing among us: Who are WE becoming, now that we are no longer who we used to be?’

Through all the “gasping and panting” our laboring God is calling us to be the midwives of what is about to be born- in you, in your church, and in this waiting world. What will be our response? Let’s choose faith over fear and commitment over complacency! 

This is not the time to throw up our hands and walk away. Don your mask, cleanse your hands, lean forward—God is about to give birth. Are you ready? 

GROW: Let’s Have a Courageous Conversation!

By Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

We all know that we are living in unprecedented times that are characterized by our diversity of opinion, interpretation of information, and melatonin. Because of the COVID pandemic we have been staying at home and much of our interaction with others, especially face to face conversation, has been minimized to the point where at best we can tolerate opposing views, and at worst, demonize each other. And the issues that fuel our conversations are becoming more diverse and difficult from day to day! How will we function when we can be together again?

The Grow, Equip, and Connect ministry areas of the Susquehanna Conference have realized that we have a great opportunity to create better ways of communicating with one another, and there is a tool available to us for this purpose at no cost to you or your congregation. Coming this winter, we are partnering with Discipleship Ministries to present Courageous Conversations, a four-session online course that will help us to gain confidence in how we have hard conversations. Our partnership with Discipleship Ministries will allow participants to use the course – a special edition that will be only available to the Susquehanna Conference – and offer CEU credits for taking it. Registration for the course will open in January – watch QuikLINK for more information. 

The ultimate hope in providing this course is that clergy and lay people throughout the conference will have the skills and confidence to hold Courageous Conversations in their local areas. These types of conversations are a witness to our local communities that we can experience harmony of purpose even when we have different ways of understanding issues. 

The instructor (and creator) of Courageous Conversations is Rev. Scott Hughes. Scott is the Director of Adult Discipleship and Executive Director of Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship for Discipleship Ministries, an agency of the United Methodist Church. Scott and I created an informational video that you can watch here: tinyurl.com/ybbqfy6z

The course is organized in four sessions which include a video teaching from Scott, additional articles to read, and an opportunity to answer questions in a format that will allow you to interact with Scott and others taking the course. There is a downloadable booklet that accompanies the course. I found the course to be extremely helpful to me as I seek to understand before I expect to be understood. This material embodies the Fruit of the Spirit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control” in order to have Courageous Conversations! “Against such things there is no law!” (Gal 5:22-23)

Connecting Ministries: Going Home by Another Way

 

By Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Director of Connecting Ministries

“Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. . . . And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” [Matthew 2:7-9, 12]

Some years ago I was a regular volunteer at Elm Creek Park Reserve, a 4,900-acre county park in Minnesota. From January through April, I would hike off-path and record signs of birds of prey nesting. One afternoon during my first year in the program, I wandered into an area I had never visited before. I crossed an old beaver dam over a wetland and climbed the hill on the other side. Once I got to the top of the hill, I saw that there was a little bit of a valley in the middle, so I trudged down to explore it. 

After a bit I decided it was time to head back. I looked around and realized that I had no idea how to retrace my steps. My boots had not left tracks on the frozen ground. The land inclined all around me; on which part of the hill did I enter? I had not thought to watch my compass as I hiked. A bit of panic came over me. It was late afternoon, and the sun was on the horizon. What was I to do?

As I thought about it, I remembered that though the park was large, it was bounded by roads. Regardless of which direction I headed, I would arrive at a road. From there, I would know how to return to the nature center. There were obstacles along the way—redosier dogwood stands, more wetlands, a creek—but this time I watched my compass, got around the obstacles, resumed my direction, and came to a road. I was really not as far off as I feared, and I returned before dark.

I got home by another way. In a sense, I have often gone home by another way. I’ve lived in four different states as I accepted new job opportunities. These new places eventually became home—even though I had arrived there by leaving home. As they say, change is the one constant in life.

If we look back at the trajectory of our lives, we will see that expectations and reality did not always match up. And if we look at the past 12 months, we will see just how little we knew about the coming days. Most of our plans would have to be set aside. Once we were not able to safely meet in our church buildings or visit the sick or attend funerals or take our families to joyous Christmas celebrations, we had to start from scratch. Was it still possible to be “church” without worshiping together in a sanctuary? The meaning of the word “church” has become so tied to physical structure that some couldn’t imagine they could practice their faith outside of a church building.

The familiar brings comfort; I know this well from having to leave home so many times. One of the wonderful blessings of church buildings is that they become a second home to us. I was once appointed to a small church that after a couple of years merged with a larger one. It was a good and healthy choice that is still bearing fruit. But the last time I left that building, I felt sad. I would miss it for all the ways I met God through God’s people there. And I had been there only a short time.

However, not every Christian has regularly worshiped in a church building. For example, the earliest Christians often met in people’s homes, usually over a meal (as Acts 2:46 suggests).

It has been the extra-hard work of our clergy this past year, who often felt lost in unfamiliar woods, that shows us that church exists even when not confined to a building. God is not trapped between four walls. As long as we’ve been willing to seek God by another road, God has been with us.

Those who have been experimenting with new and safer ways to lead church use the church’s mission as their compass. They know that the purpose of the church is not to stay ever the same. It exists to continue Jesus’s mission of compassion, justice, and love of God and neighbor; to invite new people into the body of Christ. Indeed, we sometimes need sanctuary and comfort. This rest is intended to strengthen us for our everyday calling of representing Christ in the world. 

Yes, we are going home by another way. We find it, as did the wise men, by listening to God.

Our clergy are tired, approaching exhaustion. Clergy, I encourage you to use our coaches. Your conversations with them are completely confidential. They will listen to you and help you think through strategies for leading without burning out. (Contact Kim Shockley at kshockley@susumc.org to connect to a coach.) Church folks, I urge you to give your clergy more time for spiritual renewal. And if an important ministry needs to happen, pray over whether God is calling you to lead it. 

In the coming months, the Susquehanna Conference will make available some prerecorded complete worship services. These can give clergy a break from planning and leading worship and preparing and preaching a sermon. Your church can use these for the Sundays of your choosing. Find the January worship service listed as “Rev. Gary Shockley Worship Video” at susumc.org/worship-resources. A February option will be available at the beginning of that month. 

Listen for God’s voice. It may be leading us down another road. God will be there for us.

A Letter from Bishop Park

 

January 8, 2021

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it…The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:5 & 9)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness, and Hope of the World!

On Wednesday, January 6, the Christian church around the world observed Epiphany. On this day we celebrate the manifestation of Jesus to the gentiles, as represented by the three magi who followed the light of a star to find the infant Jesus lying in a manger. Christ is the light that we follow as well. Indeed, Jesus Christ came as the light of the world.

Tragically, this Wednesday, instead of light, a darkness fell across our nation. An unimaginable threat and attack to the very foundation of our country was displayed at the US Capitol in the eyes of the world. The incited mob violent and deadly invasion into the protected space of Congress was a direct assault on the very core of our national identity as a democratic country. To say we were concerned and troubled would be an understatement. The whole world, not only our nation, was in shock and horror by what unfolded. The Capitol Building has not been breached since the British did so in 1814. This day will be remembered as one of the darkest moments in US history.

In times of darkness such as this, we must urgently seek the light of Christ and reflect it into the world.

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, where this unbelievable and deplorable mob-raid took place, wrote an honest and inspiring letter. She calls us to courageous discipleship: “Followers of Jesus Christ must prophetically embody, in word and deed, the precepts, practices and promises of the Gospel message. It is a message of love, but a love that speaks truth and stands against immorality.” Further, she says that Christ’s disciples must “truly claim what Abraham Lincoln called ‘the better angels of our nature,’ seeking to discern how to rebuild our nation and nurture the restoration that God demands. In this light, we continue to pray for and support the peaceful transfer of power that is a hallmark of the democratic process.”

Our democracy is a gift to which other nations aspire. We all must do our part to protect and preserve the core values, principles and practices of democracy so that our nation will continue to be a beacon of hope for the free world.

As our nation is going through this dark time of national and Constitutional crisis, I call all the people and churches in our Susquehanna Conference to join in prayer for a peaceful transition and the healing of our deeply divided nation. Bishop Easterling reminds us, “As a church, we are called to profound and fervent prayer—prayer that will shake foundations and usher in a new age; prayer that will transform hearts and a nation; prayer that reminds us of what Christ has called us to be beyond partisan divides.”

Pray that we, as a nation, will bridge the divide and live together in peace. Jesus said that a kingdom or house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:24-25). We may have differences in our understandings, opinions, ideas, and even in our political convictions. But as citizens of one nation, we may be opponents, but ought not be enemies against one another. Pray that we cast the light of truth, trust, compassion, humility, and repentance that chases out the darkness of fear, hatred, violence, untruth, and arrogance. Pray that we heal, not harm. Pray that throughout our communities and land we will seek to build up and not tear down.

“God of all ages, in your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through times of peril. Now when our land is troubled, be near to judge and save. May leaders be led by your wisdom; may they search your will and see it clearly. If we have turned from your way, reverse our ways and help us to repent. Give us your light and your truth, let them guide us; through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen” (“A Prayer in a Time of National Crisis,” United Methodist Book of Worship, 517).

“Look graciously, O Lord, upon this land. Where it is in pride, subdue it. Where it is in need, supply it. Where it is in error, rectify it. Where it is in default, restore it. And where it holds to that which is just and compassionate, support it.” (United Methodist Book of Worship, 516).

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Prayerfully,

Bishop Jeremiah Park