Jack Carter Wilson Looked Me In The Eye

Hello Emmanuel,

Jack Carter Wilson looked me in the eye.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-millennials-scared-talking-phone-100000499.html

The above link is an article making the argument why talking is better than texting or emailing.  It suggests that people are nervous about talking on the phone and--with the onset of email and texting and all that other techno stuff—people are developing higher anxieties about talking on the phone. 

My first response was ‘huh?’

My second response was, ‘oh.. that makes perfect sense’. 

My third response was, ‘uh-oh’.

I wonder if the art of verbal communication is on a decline… not just slow decline, but very fast decline…. as in, crashing and burning.  Consider that a whole generation is growing up as texters.  Kids and young adults (and some parents) are making thousands of texts every month, typing more words out than come out of their mouths.  Forget email.  Email is old school.  Texting is how you get to know someone today.  Kids will text each other while in the same room (called ‘nexting’). 

But Jack Carter Wilson looked me in the eye.

Now before you peg me as the old, grumpy guy who complains about kids now days, we adults are not without a part in all of this.  I am of the email generation.  I saw the transition from envelopes and stamps to email addresses.  I liked it.  It was faster and more efficient.  This is the same argument that texters today will make.

My concern is the art of verbal communication.  There is more to communication than the words we use.  There is voice fluctuations that sometimes say more than the words.  Texting, for example, ruins my use of sarcasm.  You can’t tell from my text if I’m serious or if I’m joking entirely (and I’ve got myself into trouble more than once in such a manner). 

Why is this bothering me?  It has to do with why and how God wants us to establish relationships with one another.  I baptized Jack Wilson yesterday with Holy water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The whole time he looked me in the eye.  Understand, please, that Jack is a toddler.  He likely had no idea why I put water on his head.  But he looked me in the eye those whole 8 seconds.  He was communicating something to me and I, him.  It was a moment that I rarely have with baptisms.  The eye contact was a holy moment for me.

You can’t text those kind of holy moments.  Which leads me to wonder what other interactions we have with each other that are not ‘textable’.  And how does that help or hinder us from making Disciples of Jesus Christ.

I’m all for technology.  Texting is a great tool.  However, I invite you to think about when it may be better to use a more personable communication tool (like talking or looking) to get a point across.  If you do, you might capture a holy moment that you’d otherwise miss.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Agents of God's Holy Call

Hello Emmanuel,

Our space is getting used.  And when I say ‘used’, I mean more than just on Sundays.  Every so often I will get a regular attender who just happens to drive by the church during the week and tells me, ‘I drove by the church on [pick your day] and the parking lot was near full!!  Did I miss something?’

The quick answer is ‘yes’.  When the merge between 1^st UMC and Olive Branch UMC happened, I’m not sure what discussions took place regarding the use of the new and renovated space.  However, I am confident that the visionaries that pictured who and what Emmanuel would be used for would be pleased.  The open-door policy for non-profit organizations has developed a very positive picture of the church in the community’s eyes.  People are coming and people are experiencing God’s presence in many different ways.  Add the 9 community groups that use the space with the many events that Emmanuel organizes and it is safe to say that the space is not going to waste.  It’s a good thing.  I think it is a God thing.  The result is that we do make disciples of Christ. 

We continue to allow non-profits to use the space, although now the challenge is scheduling….. something that we have managed well so far (though the pastor has recurring nightmares about unforeseen scheduling conflicts).  But please understand.  There is a price to be paid.  There are risks to be taken with such a policy.

The upkeep of the space is ultimately the role of the Trustees.  There is cost to overseeing the sacred space of which God has put us in charge.  I bring this up because the end of May marks a significant point in time regarding the sacred space.

Since the new building was put up, there has been a drive to help pay for the cost of the building.  There has been pledge periods grouped in 3 years each.  Every 3 years members have been asked to pledge an amount of giving over the next 3 years to reach a certain goal.  The past 3-year pledge period has raised about $90,000.  It has helped us stay true to our responsibility as stewards of God’s space.

Staring June 1^st, another pledge period begins and will run through May of 2018.  Our goal is to raise $100,000 over the next 3 years.  If everyone who is currently giving pledges the same amount for the next 3 years, we will already have over $80,000 of our goal (keep in mind that this is separate than the regular tithe).

So you are going to hear me talk about money at some point in May.  But you are also going to hear from people who are thankful that Emmanuel is an outreaching and inviting church to the community.  You are also going to hear about how opening our doors started the process of opening people’s hearts to God.  You are also going to hear, once again, the story of the church who went from being hopeful, to being excited, to being agents of God’s holy Call.

I invite you to consider making a pledge to our Building Hope campaign.  If you would like to or if you have any quesitons, email me at pastorjoe@emmanuel-umc.com or call me at 833-5219. 

God is Good,

Pastor Joe