Why Did We Do That?

Hello Emmanuel,

Today’s topic:  culturally relevant ministry

I’m not into scrapbooking.  To be honest, I don’t get it at all.  Lots of glue and pictures and cutouts are just going to make a big mess.  Scrapbooking isn’t the only thing I don’t get.  I don’t get karaoke (I can’t even spell it right… thank you, spellcheck).  I don’t get passion for music or investing much time in cooking fancy stuff or woodworking or landscaping or working on cars.  One might say I am rather a boring person…. Except that I do have a few passions.  One of them:

Culturally Relevant Ministry

I might be boring, but I really like allowing a church to not be boring.  If Emmanuel took after my personality, I truly think few people would attend.  However, as I spoke about on Sunday, self-awareness is an important quality in which to take advantage.  Therefore, I put forth energy to stay out of the way and let others create a non-boring church.

If the community is ever going to realize that Emmanuel has something to say to them that matters, they need to see and experience that Emmanuel is going to offer activities that directly impact their interests.  Ministry needs to be culturally relevant.  There are many people who like to scrapbook.  And since, to my knowledge, Scripture does not suggest that scrapbooking is a sin, then let people scrapbook.  People came and hopefully recognized that Emmanuel wants to matter to them.  Emmanuel wants to be relevant to the community…. Not just the church members.

There are those who like to do crafts or dress up for Halloween or karaoke or square dance or see puppet plays or eat or play cards……. Just because I may not get it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t happen.  On the contrary, we leaders of the church should be looking for ways to be relevant to the community even if we don’t understand the community’s interests.  As long as we don’t compromise our very basic (and simple) understanding of God’s expectations of us, then why not go to great lengths to help the community see that we matter.

Culturally Relevant Ministry

Being relevant gets us closer to our purpose for the community.  If we matter to the community, the community will more likely take to heart what we have to say:  God loves you.  God wants you to be his disciple.  Are you willing to love like God wants you to love? 

When a church is irrelevant, people don’t care what you have to say.  But when people spend time in the building doing what matters to them, they just might start listening to what matters to us.  Why?  Because who isn’t willing to listen to someone who cares about them? 

It’s a basic concept that Jesus used.  He went to the people and spoke on their turf about what mattered to them first, whether it was healing or religion or family or money.  Then after he showed them that they mattered to him, he spoke up.  And for many, he started mattering to them.

Culturally Relevant Ministry

I hope we all understand why we reach out; why we invite; why we welcome.  It is because we want God to matter to everyone possible.  So scrapbook away! 

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Our Annual Opportunity

Hello Emmanuel,

Introduce yourself.  Make an acquaintance.  Maybe make a friend.

I’ve identified unique themes for the month of January in regards to our worship services at Emmanuel.  I suspect they are similar in other churches as well.  This is my 5^th January at Emmanuel and I have begun to look for these themes every year.  So far, it hasn’t failed me.

I’ve mentioned before how attendance spikes in the first few months of the calendar year, especially in January.  Not to bore you with numbers, but Emmanuel is about 10-20% higher in January than the yearly average attendance for the year.  If you aren’t interested in numbers, keep reading.  If you are, keep reading. 

It isn’t just about the numbers, but who makes up the numbers.  Every year there are a handful of people whom you have never met or even seen who start out with the intentions of committing themselves to worship on a regular basis.  We are seeing that at Emmanuel already.  This will last, sometimes, as long as the year.  Most probably it will last only a few months.  In some cases, it will only be a few weeks.

Introduce yourself.  Make an acquaintance.  Maybe make a friend.

In addition, I watch irregular attenders sometimes become regular attenders.  Sometimes it becomes a permanent change in worshipping habits.  Most of the time, however, it lasts for a few months…. Maybe until just after Easter.  People want to make a bigger commitment to worship God.  The attempt is made.  January is a popular time for attempts, successful or not.

Introduce yourself.  Make an acquaintance.  Maybe make a friend.

There are congregations out there that would love to have the opportunity to make new connections with new people---to show them that God cares they are coming to be a part of the faith community.  The first difficult step is to provide the kind of church community that is attractive enough to the unchurched that they are willing to visit, even if only out of curiosity.  Sadly, there are churches that struggle to just get past step one.  I believe Emmanuel has got past step one. 

Step two is to offer authentic and relevant faith that understands the basics of grace and unconditional love.  Again, while Emmanuel is not perfect, it is able to communicate this for the most part.  It isn’t necessarily so easy when the church is full of sinners, however.  But we keep trying and, in my most humble opinion, do adequately.

The third step:  to introduce yourself; make an acquaintance; maybe make a friend.

The tipping point for many who want to renew their commitment to the church is whether or not they feel they are connected to the community in real, practical ways.  Even as Emmanuel as grown, please realize that many have also left the church, sometimes to go elsewhere and sometimes to go nowhere.  I have not done any kind of scientific study, but many of the comments that I lock away in my mental file is that, right before someone leaves the church, if they have any concern, it is that they don’t feel a connection.

Introduce yourself.  Make an acquaintance.  Maybe make a friend.  Be a connection.  Be that person that the newly committed attender looks forward to talking with.  Be that person who missed them when they weren’t there.  Don’t just care, but show that you care.  Don’t be afraid.  Jesus cares.  You should too.  I have yet to have a person tell me that they are going elsewhere because they felt someone cared that they were there or not.

Ultimately, this isn’t about trends or number.  This is about seizing the opportunity to encourage someone else to connect with God on a spiritual level.  People are most likely to do that if they have friends who are doing that.  God created us to be in community together.  When we are, then we are most likely to see God’s purpose for our lives….. and purpose is what drives us to act and speak and do.  Mix purpose with divine intent and you have a church who goes about connecting people with God.

No church will ever be everything for everyone, including Emmanuel.  But when you help people understand that you care, that is a first step to helping them see that God cares.  When people believe that God cares, they tend to stick around…… and make friends with others who will show up next January.

Such is the life at Emmanuel.  Keep the circle going.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Holy Freezing Nose Hairs, Batman!!!

Hello Emmanuel,

You know it is cold when your nose hairs freeze.

Okay…. Probably not the way to start your Monday, but you’ll agree that it is nasty cold outside!  This only magnifies the ongoing issue that goes on in our house.  We have a teenage boy who doesn’t define cold as Mom defines cold.  As a result, the choice of apparel as he leaves the house constantly ends up in a conversation similar to the following:

Mom:  where is your coat??!?!

Teenage Boy:  I don’t need a coat.

Mom:  It is COLD outside.  Get a coat on!

Teenage Boy:  But it’s not cold!

Mom:  I don’t care.  Get a coat on… and a hat while you’re at it…. And where are your gloves???

Teenage Boy:  (suppresses eye roll and decides that silent obedience is the better part of valor)

Consistent with my attempt at wisdom, I avoid getting involved (mostly because my definition of ‘cold’ varies also).  I also have memories of running across the street to school in jeans and a t-shirt regardless of the weather.  My justification involved the fact that I could get from my front door to the school’s front door in about 8 seconds if I ran.  Why would I waste time with a coat?  Exactly.

So what about you?  What about your definition of ‘cold’.  Our definitions vary, not just from a physical aspect, but also from a spiritual aspect.  For some, getting a taste of ‘church’ and hearing a message twice a year is good enough, thank you very much.  On the other hand, there are those who are ridden with self-inflicted guilt if they miss a Sunday for any reason.  Most of us are somewhere in between.  How do you measure your needs when you discern the temperature of your spiritual self?  Ah!  Maybe that is the wrong question.

God wants you to be engaged with Him.  Maybe it isn’t a question of how much you need.  Maybe it’s a question of how much God wants from you.  2014 can be a year when you stop looking at yourself and start looking to God.  If you believe that God won’t ask any more than you can give, then why fear pursuing the desires of God for your life?  The reality is that God will likely bless you more than you could ever bless yourself.

Now to be clear, this isn’t really about church either.  To be intimately engaged with God can be made possible by being involved with a healthy church.  However, your relationship with God goes beyond church.  It speaks to a personal relationship that the church can help foster.  How much does God want from you?

I challenge you to use 2014 as a year to gauge the difference between what you think you need and what God desires for you.  It may not be easy.  It may even be painful.  In my experience, there is an angst involved with listening to God’s voice.  You don’t know where He may lead you.  In my experience, there are also blessings involved.  I am glad to be His follower.  I hope you are too.

May your spirit stay warm in 2014

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

A Giving Church

Hello Emmanuel,

Be a giving church.

I once heard it said (and I’ve relayed the message on several occasions), that if you want to know what is important to someone, don’t listen to what they say.  Look at their checkbook and calendar.  This may seem a bit overly simplistic, but not much so.  The bottom line is that, given the choice, we will spend our time and our money in whatever ways are most important to us.  

This is my 5th Christmas at Emmanuel and I am blessed every year to see such a giving church.  The time and resources spent to share Good News at Christmas shows the commitment that people have with their walk with God.  This year is going to be no different.  Examples have already been made known and I feel it is important that we recognize the impact that such giving has.  So let me share a couple of examples.

First, the United Methodist Women’s effort in organizing another Breakfast With Santa event went as well as ever.  So many people put forth the effort to spend their time and energy so that the community continues to hear the message that Emmanuel has something great to share.  It’s good to know that the hard work that the UMW puts forth in raising funds for missions and outreach is able to be shown in how the UMW also gives back.  

Be a giving church.

Second, if the church is able to make a significant impact on an individual---and if that individual has the means---that individual will, in turn, impact the church even after he or she goes home to the Lord.  Such is the case with Ethel Jett.  Ethel is an example of how the wonderful cycle of disciple-making can continue when the church makes intentional efforts to show the love of God.  Two years after her passing, Ethel provided a significant gift to the church much like many did before her.  The cycle continues.

Be a giving church.

Once again this Christmas Eve, we will be taking up a special offering to help support Inter Parish Ministry and the Free Food Bank in their traveling food pantry.  The pantry includes stops at Emmanuel where well over 100 families are given food at each stop (next year it will be about once a month).  In addition, a cooking class has been offered to help educate others on how to prepare the food that is handed out.  Finally, agencies across the county have used Emmanuel to network with one another in order to improve the efficiency by which food and other help is handed out.

Be a giving church.

These are only a couple of immediate examples.  There are many others.  The questions is, ‘How do you give?’.  My guess is that you give in ways that are important to you.  I hope your walk with Christ includes a church home that both nurtures you and encourages you to be more like Christ…… a Christ who gave all to those he cared about most, including you.

If you are involved at Emmanuel, but don’t feel the impact of a God who loves you, please come talk to me.  I can help get that changed.  If you do not have a church home, come try us out.  We aren’t perfect, but we do like to give the kind of effort that pleases God.

Merry Christmas…..

….because God is good all the time,

Pastor Joe

Come To The Barn

Hello Emmanuel,

Now I am finally starting to get revved up for Christmas.  Yes, I know, it’s still a whole 10 days away, but I am now needing to focus on the Christmas messages as I prepare for, not 1, not 2, but 3 Christmas services.

Blue Christmas – this Saturday at 6:30

This will be the 3^rd year that we’ve provided a Blue Christmas service.  I admit that I’ve had moments in my life when I walked away from a cheery Christmas event only to feel sad (and sometimes not even knowing why).  And then there were times that I was confused and even irritated that I felt sad.  And then there were times that I was irritated that others were so happy.  What a mess!

So this Saturday will be a time to celebrate Christmas on the longest night of the year without the pressure of being all cheerful.   Cheer should come natural and, when it doesn’t, you shouldn’t have to feel the need to look cheerful just because it’s expected this time of year.  And yet Jesus is still born in the barn and all will be ok with the world.  Come and be at peace with us, even if you don’t feel like smiling.

Children’s Program – Sunday, 9:00 and 10:30

As usual, the 4^th Sunday of Advent allows the kids of the church to tell the Christmas story in their own unique way.  This year is going to look rather different, but will also bring a fresh look at the birth story (and you don’t have to… er.. get to hear Pastor Joe preach so long).  I’m looking forward to seeing how this goes. 

Christmas Eve – 7:00

Bring on the kids.  I take the early service as a personal challenge.  Can I lead a congregation full of people in a meaningful worship service while including the unpredictable nature of children?  Yes!!!  Yes, I can!!!  Last year the children illustrated the importance of candles at Christmas and it was a fun time of joy.  Emmanuel has attempted to make the 7:00 service a true family time of worship.  There is no childcare available because we want the children present (after all, Jesus was a baby.. possibly crying and being a distraction to everything in that barn).  So expect 7:00 to be fun and watch the kids as they learn, listen and interact amidst the miracle of Christmas.

Christmas Eve – 10:00

Traditional candlelight services present opportunity to reflect.  This later service will be quieter.  You will be invited to think and ponder and meditate on why God has invited you to a barn.  If you listen closely, you might hear a message that can send you into 2014 with a different perspective… and more encouragement to listen more often.

I invite you to participate in worship over the next 10 days.  As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity.  God has invited you to the barn.  We’ve done you a favor and heated the barn and called it the sanctuary.  As you’ll find out, Christ will still be present.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

The Word is 'Sensationalism'

Hello Emmanuel,

The word for the day is:  sensationalism.

I hope you made it through the ‘white death’ this past weekend.  I did.  And while my wife and I huddled at home in fear of those dreaded white flakes, we took time to giggle at the tv.  We understand that the weather people have a job to do.  They are to warn us when conditions outside worsen.  They are to allow us the opportunity to prepare to stay safer than we would otherwise be. 

The word for the day is:  sensationalism.

I wonder if the weather people intend for Kroger to run out of milk and bread in 37 minutes.  At the same time, I wonder if the weather people intend for us to be laughed at by our neighbors up north (or by those who live as close as Cleveland… having lived in Cleveland, I can attest to the fact that lake-effect snow is much more ‘sensational’)

Now before you send me an email about how people get hurt and even killed in weather like we had this weekend, let me assure you that I understand the seriousness by which each of us should decide to be on the roads or not.  I also agree that many should NOT be on the roads in worse-than-normal conditions (and, yes, some should not be on the roads in normal conditions).  My point in this MMP is not to debate how we treat inclement weather.  My point?

The word for the day is:  sensationalism.

Maybe it is because winter throws in a break-up of our normal every day routine.  Maybe that is why we get excited.  But it does seem to me that we over-sensationalize the white stuff.  As soon as someone mentions ‘3 to 5 inches’, places start closing (by the way, if Emmanuel ever cancels events, it will be on channel 12 and on facebook).  But what happens when we don’t get what is talked about?  What happens when the roads are not so dangerously slick?  Do we feel silly?    

I wonder if Christmas is also the victim of ‘sensationalism’.  I get the feeling that some expect something more in December than in July---that there is some sort of higher expectation in what we experience or feel from God.  Maybe it becomes true for some, but let me just speak for myself here.  As a person in the faith, I believe Jesus is proof that God wants me redeemed and to have hope in a better future.  My belief in a savior who loves me is just as true in July as in December.  The only difference is that in December we focus on his birth.  In July we focus on his teachings.

I believe Christmas is sensational!  Indeed, it is just as sensational as any season when I sit and meditate on how much God tries to reach out to me.  I just wonder if we over-sensationalize the season to the detriment of our faith….. that when our experience doesn’t meet our heightened expectation, we can’t help but wonder if we are missing something.

The fact is, God makes Christmas as sensational as it needs to be.  Christmas doesn’t need our help.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go develop a normal Christmas Eve service.  It will be sensational.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Inevitably It's Okay

Hello Emmanuel,

What an interesting time of year.

There are about 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The Church calls the time ‘Advent’.  It is supposed to be a time of preparation for the coming of Christ.  I say that there is much more preparation that happens.  It’s a time of year that keeps me busy, some for not all the good reasons.  Consider the following:

First, you have four weeks to prepare for the 2^nd family gathering in … well… 4 weeks.  Depending on how your family Thanksgiving went, you get the chance to prepare for the next family gathering.  I, personally, had a really good Thanksgiving with the family.  A positive Thanksgiving experience lends itself to looking forward to family at Christmas.  However, I know that there are negative family experiences out there on any given Thanksgiving.  Indeed, the dysfunction of family relationships (of which we all have to some degree at some point in time) can create the need to vent to the pastor (it’s why I’m here… so feel free).  In addition, it creates angst as one awaits the follow-up to meeting with the same family in 4 weeks for Christmas.  Ideally, it should be anticipation, not angst.  However, we are human beings.  Ideals aren’t always the reality.

Second, these 4 weeks almost always see an increase in hospital visits and stay-at-home illnesses.  The scientist would say this is a result in climate and bacteria and viruses that get passed from one to another.  I am also in good company when I suggest that these 4 weeks create more stress and stress lends itself to illness.  Lots of reasons for an increase in stress:  Thanksgiving family debacles; pressures of buying the perfect gifts; irritating drivers in heavier-than-usual traffic; remembering happy memories of loved ones who are no longer with us; and my personal favorite, feeling the need to look joyful even when you are not because we are taught that if we don’t, then there must be something wrong.

Third, I believe that we have more sadness to cope with during these 4 weeks.  Thanksgivings/Christmases are triggers for many of our hearts.  We participate in repeated traditions that bring memories of those who we loved dearly.  We remember spending time with relatives and friends during a time when we didn’t realize how good we had it.  This time of year can truly become a month-long memorial service.  (but don’t forget to look joyful… because if you don’t, then there must be something wrong).

So what do we do?  I wish I had a magical answer to solve this polemic problem in December.  I don’t have a magical answer.  I do believe I have a biblical one.  At the risk of sounding too curt:  do you have Jesus in your heart?

Advent is a time to look forward to Jesus.  This doesn’t always solve our immediate problems/stresses during these 4 weeks.  However let me throw out my personal perspective that allows me to keep an even keel to at least to some degree.  I’ve learned over the years that Christmas, for me, is more about peace than about joy.  I can live through these 4 weeks knowing that Jesus is coming.  And Jesus trumps any ups and downs that this month can bring me.  At the end of the 4 weeks, I get to hear and tell the story of the Christ-child.  That particular ending of this season has helped defuse any kind of December we might have.

Anticipating the coming of Christ helps minimize any angst regarding family dysfunction; helps put in perspective what kinds of stress is really worth dealing with; and is a reminder that resurrection is a real part of my faith.  Advent helps me get ready…. Not for a month-long memorial service… but for a birth story.  Celebrating Advent as it is truly intended gives me some peace to balance out the chaos.  I might not feel like it on December 2^nd or 12^th or 19^th…. But on the evening of December 24^th when I escape to worship service, I feel like it… I feel like God found a way to make things ok… if not great.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe