Vol 3 No 38 - Stronger than a Hurricane

Earlier this week, I was working with a local graphics design firm to make some temporary signage for our building since brother Gustav destroyed the sign out front.  Reflecting upon this process since I placed an order with them yesterday, and anticipating a discussion with our trustees at some point in the future about our next fixed sign, I have been thinking about what is the proper sign to let people know we are the church.  While, yes, it is important for us to have a sign out front with our name, worship time, etc., in our front yard, I wonder if that sometimes is all that we rely on to let people know we are the church.

In this time of cleanup and recovery in the Louisiana-Texas Gulf Coast area, there are several ways in which we can provide immediate help to those in need.  The first is TOMORROW MORNING (Thursday, September 18) as we meet outside my office at 7:45 AM for our bi-weekly UMCOR mission.  As you can imagine, things are hopping right now at our Sager-Brown relief depot, and they can use all the help we can provide.  I just spoke with their executive director, and she tells me that there are plenty of health kits and flood buckets that need to be put together.  Also, tomorrow, they will be preparing shipments to the Republic of Georgia and to our friends in Texas, as well as the needs in our area.  PLEASE make every effort to meet us tomorrow morning for this important relief mission.  We will have the option of coming home around lunch, or staying for the day if you can.  Let me know if you need more details.

Additionally, I am sad to say that several of our churches in the Acadiana and Lake Charles districts have suffered major damage and will be needing assistance to get back on their feet.  To that end, I will be discussing with our church council and our finance committee next week ways in which we can assist financially these our brothers and sisters in the connection.  In addition to the assistance that I hope and pray the leadership of our church has the vision and faith to provide, if you are interested in making a personal contribution to these efforts, please let me know.

Finally, as the initial assessments and cleanup are wrapped up in the coming days and weeks, I have been assured by our conference staff and leaders that we will be made aware of how we can be involved in hands-on work in the affected areas.  As this information comes along, I will be sure to pass it on to you.

While we may face the task of replacing our congregation's signage out front, and face some temporary signage as soon as it comes from the printer, I think it is obvious to see from these ministry opportunities above that, through the faith shown through our actions, the true sign of being the body of Christ cannot ever be destroyed or blown away by a hurricane, for the sign of the church is found in the people and their lifestyles.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

P.S.  One of our sister churches in Berwick, Mason United Methodist Church, has sustained some damage to their steeple and are in need of a lift so they can get up there to do repair work.  If you know of someone who would be willing to donate the use of a lift for this purpose, please let me know ASAP.  

Vol 3 No 37 - Cleaning Up

Something I have noticed since Hurricane Gustav visited us last week is just how much a distraction from the routine can throw everything off-balance not only in our personal lives, but in the lives of our friends, families, places of employment, and our community at large.  I have been fascinated to see how quickly the people of this area went about cleaning up their debris, helping one another with basic needs, and doing their best to get back to normal as soon as possible.

The thing is, do things truly ever return to the way they were?  As part of visiting with a number of you, and others around town, I heard again stories of Andrew, Betsy, and other hurricanes that have visited our area.  And, inevitably, along with the stories of previous hurricanes are stories of how something changed during or in the aftermath of a particular storm, and although it eventually became part of the new routine, it was a lasting change.

Change is hard.  Change is not something we do very well.  Change is something we resist with everything we have on many occasions.  However, the reality is that after much initial grumbling and unease in transition, we adapt, adjust, and move on with life in new ways (more often than we think, to be honest).  The great thing about the Christian faith, being a disciple of Christ and a member of the community of faith, is that while there is no more violent or radical change that we will face than the change from a life focused on self to a life focused on Christ and his will, there is nothing that will seem more normal when we get through the initial adjustment period and have allowed God to clean up the resulting debris from the transformation of our lives.

Just something to think about as we continue to clean up and move forward.  My prayer is that for each of us, we realize that the most massive cleanup effort is not done by the work of humanity, but by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 3 No 36 - Post-Gustav Update

Well, friends, I know that it has been a long week for so many of us.  I hope and pray that as you and yours return to our area and go about cleaning up the debris from our recent visitor that you are doing well.  A little tired, a little worn, but grateful that even in the midst of our messes that it wasn't worse.

The main point of today's message is to let you know that we are resuming our normal Sunday activities this week - Sunday School @ 9:00 and Morning Worship @ 10:00.  This Sunday we will be celebrating the sacrament of holy communion, and I can think of no better way for us to come back together again in worship than to gather around the table of the one who brought us together originally.

For those of you who may not be aware, the church facilities weathered the storm just fine.  A few little pieces of siding were displaced, as was our church sign, and the huge oak tree in the back lot is no longer with us, but other than that, nothing major to write home about.  Speaking of home, my home, your parsonage, fared very well during the storm - losing only the aluminum covering over the patio and a bush out front.  Erin and I want to thank you all again for providing us such a nice place to live.

Finally, I want to thank all of you that were diligent in keep in touch during the evacuation - cell phone calls, text messages, and e-mails did a lot to pass the time.  It also helped to disseminate the news from back home and to keep people in touch.  Once again, this proved that the body of Christ does not need a facility to truly be the community of faith.

See You Sunday!
Lamar