Vol 4 No 10 - Another Season Comes...

Seeing the coverage of a number of Mardi Gras parades over the past few days has gotten me thinking about what it is that gets the human spirit so festive - people line the streets for hours to watch a parade that involves a lot of music, some costumes, immaculately decorated floats; it seems that a truly good time is had by so many during this time.  I hope and pray that if you are participating in the Mardi Gras activities that you have a wonderful time and are truly an example of Christ's love in the midst of all the frivolity.

I remember as a child participating in the Mardi Gras parades in Lake Charles, and how much fun it was to get dressed up, hang out with so many different people, and throw the various beads, doubloons, and candy to my friends in the crowd (and occasionally try to peg someone that I wasn't so fond of - yes, confession is good for the soul)...it is truly amazing to see such a diverse group of people gather together for this purpose.

Imagine, if you will, the sheer joy that accompanies pretty much any Mardi Gras parade out there, and think of this:  Wednesday, we will start the observance of Lent with the Imposition of Ashes at 6:00PM.  This season that we are starting will lead us down roads of introspection and commitment, and will culminate with celebrations (on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday) that make any Mardi Gras celebration seem tame, for what can you possibly get more excited about than the life, death, and resurrection of Christ?

Near the end of this week you will get via snail-mail our monthly church newsletter with a special insert concerning our Lenten activities.  Please make sure to note the various things going on in the life of our congregation and make them a central part of your Lenten observance.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 9 - Super Restraint

Well, as I believe you all know by now, my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl champs again.  All is right with the world.  However, I know that many of you really don't care about this, and would just as soon the pastor not write a column about one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history, so, rest assured, I won't.

I will resist the urge to draw parallels between the greatest play of the game, James Harrison's 100-yd interception return just before the half, about how he had to put everything he had to make it the 100 yds (to the point of needing oxygen) as well as the help of teammates to keep at bay those forces that were trying to drag him down.  There's no reason to draw a parallel between this play and the life of the Christian within the church - the whole 'we all have a goal in life (life lived to the glory of God), know it will take us emptying ourselves completely to make it happen, and how, though life in the body of Christ, we can have the help of friends to keep at bay those things that are going to do their dead-level best to keep us from doing what needs to be done.

Further, I will resist the urge to draw another parallel about how it was simply by paying attention and being in the right position to make a play that can completely turn around a truly historic contest (like Mr. Harrison) to the good.  To sit here and talk about how he took a chance to do something different and how taking chances can lead to great things occurring...I will resist the urge to talk about how when we allow ourselves to fully pay attention to God's will for our lives and are willing to take a chance on doing something different we have no idea how God might use it for the furthering of the Kingdom.

So, since I know many of you are glad the Super Bowl is gone and don't want to hear about football in a pastor's article, just allow me to wish you a most blessed and holy week, and that the From the Pastor column for the Mid-Week Message will return next week.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 8 - "I Know I Need to be in Church..."

As I started to 'work the room' at the funeral home this past Sunday before my friend's service in Lake Charles, I was reminded of a recurring conversation that I have with more than a few people on a regular basis.  The conversation that goes along the lines of, "Hey preacher, I know that I haven't been in church in a while, and that I really need to get back to it, and I'm sorry I haven't been there like I should, and I'll do better."  What's amusing about this is that I RARELY initiate this discussion; usually it's people's default reaction when they see the preacher out and about.

This came to mind last Sunday because as Erin and I settled into our seats, the people sitting on the other side of Erin asked who she was, and upon finding out her name, knew that I was the Oliver boy whose family had sat in the balcony with them when I was a child.  We got to catching up, and I was struck by how much we learn about each other just through the rhythm of attending worship together each week.  Bonds are formed when we worship as a community week after week, month after month, year after year.  Bonds that last for a lifetime.

When people engage me in the conversation that starts with, "I know I need to be in church...", I cringe.  Not because of anything relating to me, but out of sadness.  Sadness because the point is not to be in worship to make the preacher happy.  Sadness because the point of worship is not to make numbers look good.  Rather, its sadness because of what all is being missed when we "just don't make it to worship this week."  

It's hard to see in the short-term, but over the long haul a community of faith is formed, the body of Christ nurtured, and life-transforming relationship build.  We we deny ourselves the regular worship of the community of faith, it is primarily detrimental to the spiritual formation of the one who is taking a pass.

I'm so glad I was in worship every week as a child, and that it was important in the life of my family.  Even if I had no idea at the time that relationships that were being build there would be so important 20+ years down the road.  My hope and prayer for each of you is that you are developing similar relationships that you can draw upon much later. 

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 7 - 800+

Congratulations on hitting 800+.  You should be very humbled and moved that God helped you hit that plateau.  After all, sometimes we can't imagine hitting a number that high.  800+; are you kidding me?  How in the world can something like this happen to US?  800+; some people don't realize that kind of number in their entire lives (at least that they are aware).  800+; what an achievement.  And to think there is the possibility of more tomorrow...

Yes, indeed, my friends, you did hit 800+ the past two weeks.  200+ lives touched by the mission team you sent out to Mexico and 600+ lives touched by the kits we helped assemble at UMCOR during our bi-weekly mission last Thursday.

Hats, gloves, socks, school kits -- it's quite amazing to see how in what seem to us to be small contributions lives can be impacted for the Kingdom of God.  One thing we must never forget, though, is that we can do all the good works in the world that we want, all the good works that give us the warm, fuzzy, "I made a difference" feelings, but if we fail to make it known that we do it in the name of Christ, we have missed an opportunity.

Don't forget - we as United Methodists do good works for humanity out of our desire to make a difference, and this is not a bad thing.  However, we must always keep at the forefront why we do these things.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 6 - Overstuffed

It was an amazing sight in our sanctuary Monday night, a sight that deeply moved me, a sight that had me bursting with pride.  As a group of ten people of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds gathered to prepare themselves to come together as one in service to God from this congregation to the people of Mexico, we were greeted by the sight of so many knit hats, knit gloves, and white socks where the Chrismon tree stood that we had to provide another duffel bag to get them all packed.  What a statement for this congregation to make in the midst of our Advent and Christmas celebrations.  

Looking at that stash of goods to be taken to people in need, looking at planning for our Lenten observation (yes, it's time for those of us in the church to start looking at that), and talking with our friends at UMCOR, I am pleased to announce that we will be engaging in a similar collection activity for Sundays during Lent.  Look for more information to come as Lent draws closer next month.

The most amazing thing about this collection for the Reynosa mission was the number of you who mentioned to me that it was so easy to pick up a bundle of hats, socks, and gloves; that's precisely the point.  Engaging in mission work involves so many different aspects that even with what is to us a most minimal effort or investment can make a huge difference in the lives of others.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 5 - Back to 'Normal'

Thank you all for making our Christmas Eve worship such a joyful time of anticipation and celebration.  It was a true joy to see and meet those who are so important to you.  I know that the days around Christmas are so busy and distracting; to take a little more than an hour to worship with the people of God is a wonderful statement of faith.  Both of our services (6:00 & 11:00) had a great mix of people and were a true blessing.

As you prepare for the new calendar year this week, I want to remind you that our church life is returning to its regular routine after the craziness that is Advent.  You will note in this e-mail as well as in the church newsletter which will be in your mailboxes later this week a number of opportunities to be involved in the kingdom of God, and I encourage you to resolve in 2009 to involve yourself in a ministry that you might not have in the past.  Mission opportunities, Bible studies, Sunday school, worship, joining or working with our youth ministry...these are but a few of the ways we can truly live out the calling that God has placed on our lives to work for the Kingdom.

I hope and pray that each of you has a wonderful New Year's celebration and that you truly live out all that God has in store for you in 2009.

See You Soon!

Lamar

P.S.  Please note that our New Year's Eve Come & Go Communion has been canceled for this year.  Erin had some complications from her sinus surgery and will be having another procedure in the morning.  My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Vol 4 No 4 - Dim Bulbs and Perspective

Some of you may have noticed just before worship on December 14 that the bulb in the projector in the sanctuary died.  It was a very frustrating thing not only because of the inconvenience but also due to the fact that the bulb did not last as long as we might have expected.  Thinking about all this earlier today while I was on the scaffolding replacing the bulb, my thoughts turned to our worship service tomorrow night as we kick off the Christmas season.  Two things that came to me (besides that fact it would have been a heckuva worker's comp claim if I'd slipped):

1) In re: the bulb blowing sooner than expected:  Yes, it is highly annoying when things don't happen on the schedule we expect - but then again, isn't that the story we proclaim at Christmas?  We worship a God who tells us over and over and over again that things do not happen on our schedule, but yet we insist on things happening as we want...and...

2) In re: being 15' off the ground:  Our beautiful house of worship is inspiring from our usual perspective, but as I looked around from high above I saw it from a whole new vantage, and gained an appreciation for it that I never had before.  The arrival of Christ demands that we look at life from a whole new perspective, a perspective we don't always get in our daily routines.

I hope and pray that you and yours will be with us tomorrow night at 6:00 or 11:00 as we celebrate again the arrival of the Christ child, gaining new perspective on this familiar narrative and being reminded that while our schedule can get frustratingly out of kilter, the Divine schedule is exactly perfect.

See You Soon!

Lamar

P.S.  Please note that our New Year's Eve Come & Go Communion has been canceled for this year.  Erin had some complications from her sinus surgery and will be having another procedure that morning.  My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.