November 2022 issue of Susquehanna LINK

 

A PDF of the November, 2022, issue of Susquehanna LINK
can be viewed or downloaded at www.susumc.org/link

Remembering Our Heritage

November – 100 years ago

The November 1922 “Forward Campaign” of the Binghamton District of the Wyoming proved to be one of the most successful endeavors ever.  Two of the top three congregations involved in the Storehouse/Tithing stewardship program that was the climax of the campaign were Athens and Sayre, with 700 and 600 congregants participating respectively. 

During the month-long campaign, congregations had one intensive week of events which included guest speakers and two special programs that traveled around the district and attracted large audiences: the pageant “The Pariah” from India, and the play “Unshackling the Church” written and produced by two pastors of the Conference.  Speakers during the intensive week came from denominational ministries across the U.S. and various mission fields.

December – 50 years ago

A new two-story Christian Education building, 64x36 feet, was dedicated at First UMC in Marion, Franklin County, on December 10, 1972.  This congregation was originally United Brethren and has been a regular appointment since 1835.  The first building was erected by the cemetery in 1843 and replaced by a larger structure in 1886.  The sanctuary at the present location was dedicated in 1925, using much of the material from the structure at the old site.  

The congregation has continued to grow, and a large 2017 addition to the building included a covered drop-off entry, a spacious foyer, a new nursery, 100% handicap-friendly main-level bathrooms, a large multi-purpose room, and a commercial-grade kitchen.  Marion First UMC now has over 250 members.

Spiritual Gifts Resources

This is the last in a series of articles, shared from www.wvumc.org/spiritual-gifts/, that will help you learn more about spiritual gifts, how to discover yours, and how they might be used to benefit the church and community. 

Discipleship Ministries: Spiritual Gifts are qualities given to Christian believers for the building up of the whole body of Christ. They are not given for personal gain, but for ministry in the world. Learning about the spiritual gifts we have, as well as helping members of our congregation learn about their gifts, can be useful when we pair this learning with opportunities to engage our community.

An Introduction to Your Spiritual Gifts: Spiritual gifts are attributes given to Christian believers for the building up of the whole body of Christ.

Spiritual Gifts Definitions: Would you like to know more about all the spiritual gifts, not just the ones identified in you? Download and read this list of 20 spiritual gifts so you might be ready to see the spiritual gifts in others. 

Are Spiritual Gifts Supernatural? There is much discussion and speculation about whether the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament are supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit or whether they are the strengths and talents one has inherited.

Living into Your Spiritual Gifts: Learning about the spiritual gifts that we have as well as helping our congregation to learn their spiritual gifts can be useful when we pair what we’ve learned with opportunities to use those gifts to engage our communities in relationship building in care and love.

Former Discipleship Ministries staff person Rev. Dan Dick has provided a translation of where the 20 spiritual gifts can be found in scripture. 

Dan and Barbara Dick’s blog about Spiritual Gifts contains helpful articles and a downloadable brochure about “Equipped for Every Good Work,” their project that employs four tools to help individuals and groups discover and understand the spiritual gifts, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that influence their ability to live as Christian disciples and to lead within a community of faith. 

While most United Methodists can articulate what they believe about Jesus and are reasonably comfortable talking about God, our confidence might waver when talking about the Holy Spirit. This article and the links within it provide a Wesleyan perspective on the Holy Spirit.

Share about how God has used your Spiritual Gift/s in the life of the church to bless and minister to others and share His love. Send your testimony (600 words) to link@susumc.org to be featured in the “Hearts Strangely Warmed” feature of Susquehanna LINK. Please include your name and church.

Commentary: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

By Douglas Hoy, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator

A few weeks ago, I was struggling. Facing health- related issues and problems at work, I was looking forward to a weekend camping trip. It was going to be a great opportunity to put those troubles and concerns behind me, if only for a few days. I packed the camper Friday morning and started my weekend, intending to meet my wife when she finished working that evening. I was 30 minutes into my trip when I felt the camper bounce and sway. And, before I knew it, I was sitting along the side of the road. 

The camper had sustained a flat tire. As I got out of my truck to inspect it, I saw rubber from the tire lying on the road, accompanied by torn air conditioning duct work and plywood. My heart sank. Approaching the back of the camper, I found the tire had shredded and had ripped away portions of the weather barrier and subflooring. The wire that reinforced the duct work was tightly wrapped around the axle of the camper. At that point, it became obvious that my relaxing weekend was over. I left the camper on the side of the road, called my wife to inform her that our plans had changed, and returned home to figure out my next steps.

I spent that evening removing the wire from the axle, with the help of my oldest son and some of his friends. I towed the camper to the garage and made arrangements to get an estimate for repairs. We made the best of the remainder of that Saturday. I was carrying the burdens of my health and work issues, along with my concerns about the camper as we walked in to the sanctuary Sunday morning. The service began and the praise team started singing.

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.”

The band played. The voices of the congregation filled the room. And try as I may to prepare my heart and mind for worship, I could not stop thinking about the problems I was facing. Then, as the chorus rang out, I heard a voice. It was soft but distinct. I listened closely and the words of the chorus became extremely clear.

“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

I turned around to see a blonde-headed boy, not more than six or seven years old, with a big smile and singing with conviction. The words I heard were reassuring. Everything I needed would be provided, including solutions to all my problems. Just be faithful. As everyone continued to sing, I felt the burdens I had been carrying being lifted. I took a deep breath and joined in the last verse. 

“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!”

Thomas O. Chisholm wrote the words of this poem based on Lamentations 3:22-23, which eventually became the well-known hymn: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

While it may seem strange to find comfort in a book of the Bible filled with expressions of grief or sorrow, we can be assured by these verses that God will be faithful, no matter what. He knows what we are going through. His presence provides all the hope, joy and strength we need to successfully confront our challenges. And, eventually we can take pleasure in the blessings He provides as we move through them.

When the world around us seems noisy and stress-filled and our lives look as messy as a shredded camper tire, take time to reflect on God’s faithfulness and the enduring peace and blessings He has provided.

Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

Email: drc@susumc.org
Phone: 717-766-7441, ext. 3402
Website: www.susmb.org
Facebook: @SUSDisasterResponse
Twitter: @UMCDisasterResp
Disaster Response Ministry Blog:  susdisasterresponse.blogspot.com/

Hug Day Outreach to Homebound

On “Hug Day” September 11, 40 members of Countryside Community Church, a United Methodist fellowship in Clarks Summit, PA, brightened the day for 12 of their homebound and nursing home members.  

With the mission to “...share God’s love and grace...,” church members sang hymns, prayed, served Communion, and presented gifts and Bible verses from their Sunday school and youth group, and gave shawls from their Warm Hugs ministry.

It was an enjoyable afternoon for both the homebound and visiting members.  

Find out more about Countryside Church at www.countryside-church.org

U.M. ARMY - GOD @ WORK: CONNECTED

By Darlene Thomas

GOD @ WORK: CONNECTED was the theme for this year’s U.M. ARMY (United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth) mission weeks this past summer. U.M. ARMY is a national youth mission organization that offers youth mission opportunities across the United States each summer. U.M. ARMY is also a Volunteers in Mission vetted organization and can be found on the VIM website http://www.susmb.org/vim/

Several Susquehanna Conference churches were involved in this mission organization this past summer. The mission week was hosted by Trucksville UMC church. Four churches from our conference participated in the week: Trucksville UMC, Christ UMC (Mt. Top), New Creation UMC (Dover), and Shiremanstown UMC. In addition, two churches from Connecticut traveled to Northern Pennsylvania to join us.

Armed with hammers, paint brushes, yard rakes and other tools, this group of 44 youth and adults served the greater Trucksville area, helping both individual families as well as local social service organizations. We truly felt GOD @ WORK through everything we did – CONNECTING us with the community, new friends and our faith. In addition to the work we undertook, we also worshiped together each morning and evening, enjoyed wonderful food prepared by our awesome kitchen team, and had lots of fun with games, an end of week picnic, a visit to a local dairy farm including yummy ice cream and strengthened our walk with God through lunch devotions and a prayer journey. The highlight of the week was our Community Celebration Dinner, when we invited the neighbors we served to a dinner and program to celebrate the projects we completed and the lives we touched.

GREAT NEWS!! U.M. ARMY is coming back to Trucksville in 2023. We will be there the week of July 9 and we would love to have more churches from the Susquehanna Conference join us. Registration will be opening up on November 1, so please check out the U.M. ARMY Northeast website for more information. You can also contact Gina Grubbs at ginagrubbs@umarmy.org or Darlene Thomas at gabrielt0303@gmail.com to discuss the possibility of your group joining us.

Our theme for 2023 is GOD @ WORK: TRANSFORMING. Won’t you join us and help us continue to transform the Trucksville community and the lives we touch?

UM Appalachian Ministry Network Building the Beloved Community

By Michelle Schwartzman, VIM Coordinator

Building the Beloved Community, what does that mean? What is the Beloved Community? Why do I keep hearing this in the Susquehanna Conference? The Beloved Community is the idea that all people are cared for and are free from hunger, poverty and racism. It became popularized through Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The idea isn’t new, but it’s circulating because people are still suffering from hunger, poverty and racism and many believe we can build this community! 

I’m the Volunteers in Mission Coordinator (VIM) for the conference and I was able to attend the United Methodist Appalachian Ministry Network Assembly (UMAMN) on behalf of the Conference Board of Global Ministries (CBGM). Wow, we do love our acronyms! UMAMN’s mission is to advocate for Appalachia within the structure of The United Methodist Church, working to identify and implement solutions that address the systemic causes of community and environmental issues in Appalachia through leadership development and collaboration with ministries and organizations that serve the region. UMAMN celebrated 50 years in ministry and their assembly theme was “Building the Beloved Community.”

UMAMN offers the Hunger & Poverty Grant Program, which awards several grants up to $2,500 per year. The goals of the program are to assist with and encourage the development of new ministries or the expansion of current ministries that are working to eradicate hunger and poverty in Appalachia and to help meet the emergency needs of ongoing ministries dealing with mounting client populations and decreasing or diminishing resources. The grant is funded through the Appalachia Hunger and Poverty General Advance Special. To donate, visit https://advance.umcmission.org/p-630-appalachian-ministry-network.aspx Like all ministries and organizations the Global Pandemic took it’s toll on UMAMN. However, they were able to offer emergency grants for direct food purchases for the ministries they’ve partnered with in the past during this time. 

At the assembly, I attended workshops and heard presenters talk about their efforts to Build the Beloved Community. The House of the Carpenter in Wheeling, WV, hosted us for a day of workshops. We heard from their executive director, Rev. Dr. Michael Linger. He presented on the Impact of poverty and his experiences of leading the House of the Carpenter. He gifted us with the book, “The Mission-Minded Guide to Church and School Partnerships” by Jake McGlothin. You can borrow it from our conference resource library, Discovery Place.

We heard from Rev. Joy Wigal, Chair of Zanesville Thinktank on Poverty, about addiction services. Together with her congregation, she partnered with another church to begin an overnight shelter. We heard her passion and care for others and were trained on the use of naloxone. We learned what a Harm Reduction Advocate is and talked about different misconceptions of those addicted to substances and those who are unhoused. We also heard from Rev. Mike Feely, executive director of Mountain T.O.P., Rev. Dawn Martin, director of Program Ministries at Hinton Rural Life Center and Cynthia Lytle, director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement and Rev. Ashley Steele, executive director, both of Urban Mission Ministries, Inc. Closing out our presentations was William Isom II, director of Black in Appalachia. 

Our very own bishop (well, one of them), Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, was the guest speaker Thursday evening. Bishop Moore Koikoi encouraged UMAMN and the people of Appalachia, saying they have just what they need to Build the Beloved Community. Being from Appalachia herself, Bishop Moore Koikoi pointed out the strong sense of community and caring for neighbor as well as a drive to confront the hypocrisy of systems. 

Appalachia is made up of 423 counties across 13 states and spans 206,000 square miles, from southern New York to northern Mississippi. The region’s 26.1 million residents live in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all of West Virginia. (arc.gov) All or a portion of 20 United Methodist conferences fall within Appalachia, and the region contains over 9,500 United Methodist churches. 52 out of 67 counties in Pennsylvania are Appalachian counties.

Angela Bates, UMAMN executive director and board chair, Rev. John Baney (from the Susquehanna Conference, serving an Appalachian community at the Renovo Area United Methodist Charge and my hometown) ask that you, your congregation or your Sunday school become a part of the 85 Builders for UMAMN. These 85 (or more!) will help UMAMN lay the foundation for future ministries and support existing ministries that serve the people of Appalachia. Please consider becoming a Builder by pledging to give $25 a month for 1 year. You can donate to the Appalachian Ministry Network Advance #982041 or send your donation to Angela Kirtdoll, Executive Coordinator, UMAMN Office, 301 North 5th Street, Steubenville, OH 43952.

Calvary UMC Volunteers Serve Onondaga Nation, 15th Year

By John Shepler

On July 25, 2022, five Volunteers in Mission from Calvary UMC in Harrisburg arrived at the Onondaga Nation UMC just in time to unload the groceries to make lunch in their Fellowship/Kitchen room. Regis Doyle, Dale Miller, Mike Stephens, Steve Keller and I were part of this team. 

We were greeted by Dickie Crouse, of the Onondaga Nation, who directed us to several projects. Since the church needed a lot of work, we went right to it. Some of our members spent several days replacing the toilet “up-pump,” stove and back door, and repairing and painting the deck/ramp.

That evening we were welcomed to a dinner at Immanuel UMC in Camillus, NY. This was our night-time home. We cannot thank the people at Immanuel enough for their hospitality.

The next few days we patched and painted siding, sealed a deck, and repaired a couple of outside faucets.

On Thursday, we hosted 10 members of the Onondaga Nation at our dinner where friendships are made and renewed over the 15 years we have been visiting there.

Friday morning we visited all the homes we worked on and gifts were given and photos taken. Then, these five tired Volunteers in Mission loaded their tools and personals and headed home feeling good about our week serving the Onondaga Nation.

2022 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference Summary

 

The Susquehanna Conference delegation to the 2022 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference and our episcopal leaders, Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball (center left), and Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi (center right). Photo by Liz Lennox

By Liz Lennox, Director of Communications

The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church met November 1-4 to worship, elect and consecrate a new bishop, celebrate retirees, hear reports, and vote on various legislation. While there were many moments worth celebrating, such as the election of the jurisdiction’s first Hispanic bishop and the retirement of four bishops, the delegation grappled with dead-locked voting during the election of a second bishop and a vital but difficult discussion about racism. The specter of COVID lingered as evidenced by masked participants and legislation regarding the future of online conferencing. Full inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community was at the forefront of discussion and featured heavily in the questions asked of the endorsed candidates. A resolution entitled, “Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment for the LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC” passed with 75% support.

The Susquehanna Conference actively participated in the various happenings, with numerous delegates speaking to a number of motions during the plenary sessions. The Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Salsgiver provided guidance and organization throughout the entire conference as the NEJ secretary. He was subsequently elected to continue in this role.

Alongside other Directors of Connectional Ministries from the Northeastern Jurisdiction, Rev. Dr. Kathleen E. Kind delivered a report on progress made on the Call to Action (CTA) adopted by the NEJ in 2016, which charges the conferences of the NEJ to “engage in the important work of creating an anti-racist, diverse, equitable and inclusive United Methodist church.” Progress throughout the jurisdiction was celebrated throughout this report and demonstrated the work being done to dismantle racism. A plan was laid out for the NEJ as it seeks to live into anti-racism work, including progress reports, learning opportunities, and a platform for discussions.

A discussion on racism emerged from this presentation and many BIPOC people shared the hurt and trauma they have experienced as part of the church and society and the racism they still see every day. Systems of oppression were examined, and white people were called upon to examine these systems and their own privilege.

Bishop John Schol delivered the State of the NEJ Address. “As the Northeastern Jurisdiction, we gather together to be in ministry with the world. Yet there are those who are troubled among us,” he began.

“There are United Methodists among us today and in our congregations who feel harmed, unheard and unseen. They feel the United Methodist system oppresses and devalues their gifts, their calling and their service. There are United Methodists among us today and in our congregations who are seen and yet feel their income, race, sexual orientation, gender, ableness, theology, nation of origin, have relegated them to second class status or even no status. There are United Methodists among us today and in our congregations who are pandemic exhausted, anxious, burned out, fearful of whether or not their congregations will come back. There are United Methodists among us who are tired of the fight, of the continual push and pull, of rulemaking, rule bending and rule breaking, who would rather disaffiliate or feel the church is trying to push them out. We are turning on each other, rather than turning to each other and turning together toward God in ministry to all the world. Let us be honest: the state of the church, of ministry, of our people is beaten down. We are weary, anxious, frustrated and some are angry.”

His address held some optimism for the present and future of the church, however. He highlighted a number of ministries throughout the jurisdiction, including the recent Civil Rights Journey embarked on by the Susquehanna Conference Cabinet, along with clergy and laity.

Bishop Schol closed by saying, “Emerging from a pandemic, ending the sin of racism, living with differences and raising up and developing leaders is hard work, deep work. Deep work, hard work can lead to making judgements, or it can lead us to be more curious and seek to discover the signs all around us that God is ready to do a new thing. It will take the mind of Christ Jesus and humble hearts to see others as better than ourselves and to move into our communities together…to truly be in ministry with all the world together. Yes, together. Let it begin with us?”

Read his full remarks in the November 3 edition of the Daily Christian Advocate.

Election of Bishops

Endorsed candidates interviewed with delegates all day Tuesday, November 1. After the conclusion of interviews, the delegations convened to discuss their impressions. The Susquehanna delegation met for some time to gather their thoughts and express their hopes for the future bishops in the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

Initially, the body reaffirmed the October 15 decision to elect two bishops after a motion to increase that number to three failed.

In only a few rounds of voting, the delegates elected Rev. Hector Burgos to be consecrated as a bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. As the room erupted in cheers around him, he sat quietly with his eyes closed before standing and celebrating with his colleagues and family.

When later asked about this moment, he shared that he heard the voices of his mother and grandmother and the encouragement they had given him in the past during hard times. The atmosphere in the room was joyous as people clapped and danced in celebration.

“Dios es bueno,” Burgos spoke to the crowd. “Todo el tiempo. God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.”

The election of Bishop Burgos was historic, as he is the first Hispanic bishop to be elected in the NEJ and the first Puerto Rican in the entire denomination. He was the endorsed candidate of MARCHA, the Hispanic/Latino Caucus of The United Methodist Church.

The election of the second bishop was less fruitful. Rev. Dr. Jay Williams from the New England Conference, while not an endorsed candidate, had enough votes to allow him to circulate his biography. In subsequent votes, he and Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn from Western Pennsylvania alternated for the most votes but neither achieved the necessary majority. Multiple endorsed candidates removed themselves from the ballot over the course of voting. Other candidates vied to be elected, including a write-in, but it became apparent after 18 rounds of voting that the body was dead-locked.

Various motions explored to address this issue were explored but not passed. Ultimately, delegate Rev. Matthew E. Lake from Susquehanna put forth a motion to suspend the rules in order to postpone the election of a second bishop until 2024. This motion ultimately passed, and a second bishop was not elected.

Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn, Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, and Rev. Cristian De La Rosa gave heartfelt speeches from the floor after this decision.

A consecration service was held early Friday afternoon for Bishop Burgos.

 Episcopal Coverage

On Friday, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling announced the assignments for episcopal leadership. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball will continue to provide shared coverage for the Susquehanna Conference. Bishop Moore-Koikoi will also continue to serve the Western Pennsylvania Conference and Bishop Steiner Ball will continue to serve the West Virginia conference. See the full list of episcopal assignments:

Baltimore-Washington: Bishop Latrelle Easterling

Eastern Pennsylvania: Bishop John Schol

Greater New Jersey: Bishop John Schol

New England: (servant leader to be announced very soon)

New York: Bishop Thomas Bickerton

Peninsula-Delaware: Bishop Latrelle Easterling

Susquehanna: Bishops Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Sandra Steiner Ball

Upper New York: Bishop Hector Burgos

Western Pennsylvania: Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi

West Virginia: Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

Newly elected Bishop Burgos will serve the Upper New York Annual Conference. The New England Conference has not been assigned a bishop yet, but discernment is under way to find coverage for that conference.

Approved Resolutions

The body voted on and approved legislation during the plenary sessions over two days. The resolutions can be read in their entirety in the Daily Christian Advocate. Summary of passed legislation:

APPROVED: Resolution #1: Relating to Child Care during Jurisdictional Conference Sessions The resolution was brought by Bethany Amey of the Greater New Jersey Conference, who said that safe, affordable, accessible childcare during the session is needed in order not to disenfranchise delegates who are parents of young children, particularly women and younger people

APPROVED: Budget Delegates approved the jurisdiction’s budget after hearing from Treasurer, the Rev. David W. Simpson, who offered an update to the balance sheet printed in the ADCA to $1,141,016.26.

APPROVED: Boundaries Committee budget request for proposed Task Force.

APPROVED: Apportionment structure (outlined in the ADCA).

APPROVED: Resolution # 2: Endorse Christmas Covenant (with amendments). This resolution calls for the Northeastern Jurisdiction to endorse the Christmas Covenant legislation, including the creation of a U.S. Regional Conference, and urges all Northeastern Jurisdiction delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference, including alternates, to support the Christmas Covenant and to make such legislation a priority for the delegation; and

APPROVED: Resolution #3: Leading with Integrity. This resolution reads, in part, “The Northeastern Jurisdiction expresses both respect and gratitude to those who have voluntarily stepped away from positions of leadership as they journey away from membership in The United Methodist Church … as we continue this period of transition the Northeastern Jurisdiction calls upon every United Methodist, as a disciple of Jesus the Christ, to move forward in fairness and with integrity.”

APPROVED: Resolution #5: Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment fo LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC. This resolution supports and amplifies the queer delegates’ call to justice and empowerment for the LGBTQIA+ community in the jurisdiction, within and beyond our churches and agencies, amongst other resolves.

This article summarizes the major events of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. However, please note that this summary is not all-inclusive and detailed information about the events of each day can be viewed in the Daily Christian Advocate, which was published each day of the conference. View here.

You can view the photo gallery from Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference here.

Discovery Place Resource Center: Get Your Advent Bible Study Resources Now!

By Joni Robison, Director of Discovery Place Resource Center

Discovery Place is ready to meet your needs for resources for small groups or Sunday School classes.  The first Sunday of Advent is Thanksgiving weekend, so start thinking now about a study for Advent! Order early to avoid disappointment, as quantities are limited.

New to Discovery Place since last year:

 

Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience, by Magrey R DeVega, Ingrid McIntyre, April Casperson, Matt Rawle. These four authors connect our Wesleyan heritage with the traditional Advent themes of Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy. 4 sessions. 

The Wonder of Christmas, by Ed Robb, Rob Renfroe, Bert Snyder, Susan Kent. The true wonder of Christmas is explored through four elements of the Christmas story: a star, a name, a manger, and a promise. 4 sessions.

Resources that include an Advent Study and a Lent Study: 

(Borrow now and return after Easter.)

  

The Case for Christmas/The Case for Easter, by Lee Strobel.  Strobel reveals what he discovered as he sought to separate the holiday from the holy day, the facts from the fantasy, and the truth from the tradition. 4 sessions in each study.

Who Needs Christmas/Why Easter Matters, by Andy Stanley. Dig into the details of the familiar stories of Christmas and Easter. 4 sessions in each study.

Because of Bethlehem/He Chose the Nails, by Max Lucado. In the Advent study Lucado explores how the One who made everything chose to make Himself nothing and come into our world. The Lenten study examines the gifts that Christ gave at his crucifixion: the cross, the thorns, the nails, and the empty tomb. 4 sessions for Advent, 5 sessions for Lent.

General Advent Resources:

  

 

Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas, by Adam Hamilton. Jesus was known by many other names throughout his life. Learn the meaning behind the names of Christ and the difference He makes in our lives this Christmas. 4 sessions.  (Also available – study books for children and youth.)

Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph, by Adam Hamilton. As the earthly father of Jesus, Joseph’s place in the Nativity story is sometimes overlooked, but contains valuable lessons for all of us.  4 sessions.  (Also available – study books for children and youth.)

All I Want for Christmas: Opening the Gifts of God's Grace, by James Moore. In the spirit of Christmas, we give and receive gifts, remembering the greatest Christmas gift of all: God's gift of the Christ Child, our Savior. 5 sessions.

The Redemption of Scrooge, by Matt Rawle. Based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this study explores the world of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Cratchits, with an eye to Christian faith. 4 sessions. (Also available – study book for youth.)

Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam, by James Moore. This study explores how God comes to us amid chaos and how we can be the light that the world seeks, especially during the Christmas Season. Bethlehem or bedlam…which will you choose this year?  5 sessions.

Many other options for Advent can be found on our website,  www.discovery-place.org. Click on ONLINE CATALOG and do an advanced search by topic Christmas/Advent.  Place an order directly from the catalog, call us at 717-766-7968, or e-mail discovery@susumc.org.

God’s blessings to you as we celebrate the upcoming seasons of thankfulness, joy, and hope!

Serving Christ with you,

Joni Robison

 

 

 

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders: What Do the Ninety-Nine Have to Say?

Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

Sometimes during a meal, my husband, Gary, and I will have a lively conversation about Jesus’ stories and parables and what they may mean for us today. Recently, we were caught up in Luke 15: 1-7 where Jesus tells the first of the “lost” parables. 

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:1-7 NIV)

Granted, there are lots of sermon-making thoughts in this short parable, but considering that the sheep who was lost was originally part of the flock, causes me to reflect on what I’m often hearing from our congregation’s leaders now. The topic most often heard around the leadership table these days seems to be about how we get folks back into our worship services on Sunday morning. So, I thought it would be fun to unpack what the ninety-nine are talking about in regard to those who are considered lost.

The set up to this parable, verse 2, gives us some hints as to what the ninety-nine were talking about – the Pharisees and teachers of the law were grumbling – putting Jesus’ actions in a bad light, stirring up trouble, and generally sabotaging what Jesus was all about. Today, we hear statements like – “where is the pastor going, they haven’t visited me?” “Why aren’t these people back to worship? They spend too much time on their cell phones, and sports, and the convenience of online worship!” “Why can’t it be like it used to be?” While reminiscing, blame, and anger toward things we can’t control are all part of the grieving process, if we stay there, we will miss what God is doing around us! When the grumbling becomes the regular talk of the ninety-nine, then I wonder who needs to repent?

I’m thinking about another Old Testament story that is similar – when Moses went up the mountain to talk with God – he was gone for enough time for those “ninety-nine” to rebel and convince Aaron that a new god needed to be born. When Moses returned with God’s desires – those ten commandments – the people had formed a golden idol and completely sabotaged what God was doing. Instead of rejoicing over what had been found, Moses smashed the tablets and had to start over again!

So, what if we turned our thoughts and potential to action toward rejoicing! How can our ninety-nine begin to see that God is doing a new thing, and figure out how God wants to use us now? A big part of this shift will have to be what we talk about when we gather. First, who should be out looking for the lost? It is just the shepherd’s job now? Remember, we all have gifts that God wants to use to build up God’s Kingdom – is God calling you to action as a “sheep finder”? This would be rejoicing!

What if we understood that an on-line experience of worship is the right answer for some of our folks, and even other community people? What are the other opportunities for people to engage in the work of your congregation? What if a person is passionate about service, or small group study, or a prayer ministry – can we consider those things as valid expressions of Christian life and work, and an expression of their gifts! This would be rejoicing! 

What if our conversation took us out to our community to discover our own reputation? What might we discover about the quality of our relationships within our community? If we are brave enough to ask, would we find out that we are known for grumbling or rejoicing? Are we known for the way we love and care for others or ourselves? Could we be brave enough to change our reputation by focusing on abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever we go? This would be rejoicing!

Communications Ministry: Using Social Media as Christians

By Liz Lennox, Director of Communications SUSUMC & WPAUMC

In 2019, I had the opportunity to speak at the Lay Academy in Zimbabwe held at Africa University about how to use social media as Christians. I recently dug out my notes to remind myself of what I presented and I was pleasantly surprised (and in some ways disheartened) to find much of my discussion still relevant today. This article has been adapted from that talk from 2019. I will cover the positive and negative aspects of social media, how churches can use social media to reach people, how you can individually be a positive role model on social media, and what you can do if it gets to be too much.

What are some dangers of social media?

It is important to talk about how to use social media as Christians in a time when our online words and actions have a serious impact on the lives of others. Social media is a very useful tool, but there are definite negative aspects that we must contend with. 

1. People can become addicted to social media and spend large amounts of time scrolling through content. When they aren’t on social media, they feel like they should be. This can affect their work productivity, their relationships, and their overall health and wellbeing. Often people will isolate themselves from their loved ones, favoring the feeling they get from being online instead. 

2. People often become jealous of their friends and family and envy the lives they see others leading. If a person who doesn’t have the opportunity to travel often sees others posting about all the fun and interesting things they do, or someone who doesn’t haven’t have a family sees endless photos of their friends' children, it may make them feel down about their own life and feel resentful towards others.

3. It’s very easy to forget that what people post on social media isn’t representative of what everyday life is actually like. Yes, a mother may post the smiling photos of her peaceful and happy children, but odds are she isn’t sharing photos of the very real struggles of motherhood, of sick children and tantrums and exhaustion. Social media does not equal real life.

4. On the flip side, people often post on social media to brag about their own life and to seek validation and praise. This too can lead to dissatisfaction in one's life, especially if they are not receiving the validation they feel they deserve.

5. Social media is a convenient platform for bullying. It allows people to hide behind a screen and say things that they would never say in real life to a person's face. This can be very damaging to a person’s mental health and self-esteem. Refrain from talking about people, but instead talk to them.

6. People and groups with less than noble intentions often use Facebook to deliberately spread disinformation to cause division. They will post lies in order to deceive or to cause people to react in certain ways. We often think of this tactic being used in politics, but unfortunately we in the United Methodist Church see this happening regularly as talks about disaffiliation ramp up. Misinformation damages not just the perception outsiders may have of our denomination, but also harms the relationships between people within the church. Social media is a great way to spread untruths and many believe everything they read on social media, especially if it confirms a bias they may already hold. Social media is also a great way to correct untruths. 

7. Finally, social media is a breeding ground for fighting and conflict. It is very easy to say something hurtful to a person when you are not face to face. Especially contentious topics, like politics or disaffiliation, can lead to anger and indignation and people will often find themselves reacting without thinking. This can happen not just between strangers, but between friends and family and church members. In my opinion, this is the worst and most prevalent aspect of social media use. The instantness of social media gives people the opportunity to immediately react, rather than taking a moment to rationally think. Proverbs 17: 27 reads, “whoever restrains their words has knowledge, and they who have a cool spirit is one of understanding.”

Why Use Social Media at All?

Now that I’ve properly alarmed you about the dangers of social media, I now must answer, “why use it at all?” Social media, when used in positive ways, can truly advance ministry and bring love and joy to the world.

Social media allows people to build connections and encourage each other in their faith. By sharing favorite verses from the Bible, or posting about a particularly godly moment you experienced, you are showing others that it’s okay to outwardly profess your faith and your love for Jesus Christ.

Social media also allows you to stay connected to friends and family who may be far away. Young adults who have left their communities for college can still be a part of the family, even if they are not physically there. The same goes for staying connected to their church. If a young adult is able to see what is going on at their church while they are away, they are likely to feel a deeper connection.

When I gave this talk in 2019, I never could have imagined how critical online ministry would become in the next year. I highlighted how churches can use social media to highlight important events and activities in their church to reach their members and nonmembers. I talked about how social media allows Christians to collaborate in mission, service, and prayer. I mentioned that social media can be used not only to share information about big events or global happenings in the church, but also for joys and prayer concerns of people in the church. I emphasized that Facebook is also a great way to lift up those who are doing good in the community and show the world who we are as United Methodists.

I even mentioned that social media allows churches to reach people unable to attend a service by live streaming their worship, with the caveat that not all churches are capable of doing so and many don’t. If the COVID pandemic taught us anything, it was that amazing things can happen in online communities. 

Finally, social media allows churches to connect globally. The United Methodist Church is a global denomination and we strive to build lasting and meaningful partnerships with people from other countries. We have the ability to learn so much about other cultures and the lives of people we are in ministry with.

How Can Christians Use Social Media in a Loving and Respectful Way?

Individuals can personally live into being good Christian witnesses while using social media. What might this look like?

1. Strive for connection and not attention. Your social media should be just that- social. Don’t throw content into the abyss without receiving feedback or conversation. Be transparent and honest on social media, but don’t feel the need to share every aspect of your life.

2. When interacting with people online, remember that there is actually a person on the other side. Treat people like they are actually people, and not just a screen. With every interaction, ask yourself, “would I say this to somebody in person?” Treat them how you would want to be treated.

3. Avoid causing conflict and division. This doesn’t mean you should avoid critical conversations or not speak up against injustice. Rather, take the time to reach out and actually listen to the other person. You may be surprised at what you find out and the kind of connection that can be built

4. Don’t be tempted to only engage with people who think and believe like you. To loosely quote Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi who said, “I wouldn’t want to be part of a church with people that only believe exactly the same things I do”. Social media is rife with disagreeing viewpoints and arguments and on occasion, the posts and comments became hurtful. It is my hope that conversations between those with opposing viewpoints are respectful and open and if possible, taken offline. Don’t bully others or try to strong arm them into feeling what you want them to feel. It will never work out the way you want it to.

What Can You Do When Social Media Becomes Too Much?

Over the Lenten season, it became popular to abstain from social media. A coworker of mine stayed off Facebook for the entire duration of Lent. When she felt tempted to scroll, she read her Bible instead. At the end of her time, she felt like the social media break gave her some distance to reflect on how she used it and how to fix the unhealthy behaviors she didn’t realize she had. I would recommend fasting from social media periodically to anybody. When you feel that negativity is overwhelming, turn off Facebook for a day and spend that extra time in prayer, or reading your Bible, or walking in nature. It will strengthen your relationship with God in unexpected ways. 

When used in a positive way, social media can be a wonderful way to connect. Be aware of the pitfalls and actively do what you can do becoming ensnared in all the noise.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)