Bigger Than You

Hello Emmanuel,

Why do people go to church?  There are lots of different answers for this:  obligation, worship, social activity, hopefulness, faithfulness, social standing…. Oh… and to see the pastor…  or.. to be seen by the pastor.

While some reasons are good and others a bit shallow, I believe that many have a deep-seeded desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves.  For myself, I constantly struggle with the tension of working with people and avoiding people.  While I know working with people is preferable to being a healthy church, my selfish side, at times, wants to avoid people because working with people is… well… so MUCH MORE WORK!

And yet I work with people because it is almost always the right way to go.  It creates a healthier church; is more rewarding; is truer to my Call; and at the end of the day, I simply feel more fulfilled in how I’ve spent my time and energy.

I believe God puts in me a deep-seeded desire to be a part of something bigger than just me.  I believe this, to various degrees, is true of most everyone.  As I have visited various churches of various sizes, the same question came back to me.  Why do people come to this church?

The answer?  One particular Sunday I sat in an auditorium that could seat over 2,000 people and listened to the pastor talk about monster ministries that impacts entire communities, even on the other side of the world.  The worship service brought alive the new church that was being built in South Africa and how you could be a part of it.  The message was direct.  ‘You can be a part of this blessing’.  ‘You can be a part of something so much bigger than yourself’.  And it was big and it was important.  And people flocked to the church… thousands even.

Not just missions, but in everything the church did, it made sure people understood how important it was.  Children’s ministry, hospitality, small groups, youth programs, on and on.  The leadership believed it was important and important to communicate how important it was to get you, an important person, involved.  Get it?

While it may sound like a sneaky marketing tool, it delves into people’s deep-seeded desires to be a part of something really big and important.  And guess what?  God is all about big and important stuff.  God doesn’t have an inferiority complex.  Every act of love and hope and faith is important…. And it is big.  It is big because too much of the world has too little love and hope and faith.  And God wants you to be an important part of putting more love, hope and faith into the world.

Starting September 8^th, I will be preaching a series called ‘Bigger Than You’.  Each Sunday will describe from different perspectives how your life and the life of the community can crisscross and create something that you could never do by yourself.  There is a synergy about church life.  Don’t know what synergy is?  (hint:  2+2=8).  Come find out.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Good AND Scary

Hello Emmanuel,

I was welcomed back with open arms yesterday.  I was relieved that I didn’t forget how to preach and genuinely glad to see the people of Emmanuel again.  As I think about the weeks ahead, however, I feel I need to give fair warning.  A pastor coming back from sabbatical can be both really good and really scary for the church.

First, the really good……

I am reinforced by the fact that Emmanuel is a well-organized, vision-driven church.  What this means is that when the pastor disappears for 6 weeks, the leaders of Emmanuel are not suddenly lost with what to do next.  Emmanuel can continue to go about the business of being the church because they have a focus on what God wants them to do, and not necessarily relying on the every word and action of one person… mainly the pastor.  This, in fact, was the case at Emmanuel.  It’s a good thing.

However, I must also be honest and recognize there still needs to be a person at the helm.  Over time, a church can go astray from the vision.  This is human nature in any church and, for that matter, any organization.  I was told it is sort of like a person guiding the rudder of a big ship, helping make small adjustments here and there to help keep the ship going in the right direction.

Second, the scary……

I went on sabbatical mostly to rest, but also to learn.  And I did learn.  Emmanuel is a healthy church, but not without its challenges.  For better or worse, the pastor is also one to put forth those challenges and encourage the church to make changes for the better.  These challenges can be easy or difficult or sometimes even painful.  And it is the role of the pastor to take first steps to help make them happen.  This means that sometimes difficult decisions need to be made. 

God isn’t done with us.  Being content with how we are doing simply isn’t a good idea.  I intend to keep pushing Emmanuel.  While many people feel great about what we are doing for God, I spend just as much time thinking about what we can do for God but haven’t yet. 

For example, we helped 210 children with school supplies yesterday at our Back To School Bash.  This is awesome!  We also gave away 59 backpacks!  This is also awesome.  We should celebrate this and give thanks to God.  The other half of my mind (and spirit) is wondering what we are going to do next year when 280 children show up.  Much like the issues around worship services, Small Groups, the Easter Egg hunt, Breakfast with Santa and so on…….  As we are able to bless more and more people, more and more people will want to be blessed.  The potential is essentially endless.  That is the nature of Grace.

What God is able to help us do is so much more than what we’ve already done.  So be ready to be challenged.  I will be here to help you through it.  In the end, it will be a lot of fun.  And our spirits will burst with joy and fulfillment.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

I'm Baaaaaack...

Hello Emmanuel,

I’m baaaaaack…   I have returned from my 6 week sabbatical and it was wonderful.  I have rested, reconnected with my Call and learned much.  Before I delve into the juicy details, I want to thank everyone who has supported (and encouraged) me through this process.  I’m glad I did it. 

During my time I visited 6 churches that were very different from one another.  I saw some great, good, bad and ugly.  I visited a church that averages 100 per week and a church that averages 10,000 per week.  I listened to sermons and I listened to really good sermons.  I was warmly welcomed in some places and some places not so much.  I heard about mission work that went beyond what I thought was possible.  I saw excellent strategies for making the Christian Faith relevant.  I also saw how churches can unintentionally (or intentionally?) exclude people from life-transforming experiences.  I realized how blessed I am to be in a church that has a clear Vision and purpose.  I also have learned how we may be able to get even more effective in ‘making disciples of Christ’ as we move forward.

I also learned how to check the time during a sermon to see if it was time to leave yet (without my wife noticing).  I was able to sing to good music without thinking ahead to what I had to do next.  I learned that there are 1,689 ways to organize a church, more than one of them effective.  I learned that warehouses are popular places for new churches.  I learned that suit and ties are still in style and I could still wear shorts and get away with it.  I re-learned that effective ministry is 80% good communication (and it may be higher).

One constant lesson that was affirmed within me—and the one that I am most glad about:  church is about relationships with God and each other.  That is the one reality I will not let go of.

My journeys took me across the country…. Literally… as I visited Delaware and California and Georgia.  I could say that it was all for study, but I can’t lie (I’m a pastor after all).  I got to see the Reds lose 5 games in a row on the West Coast and only got mildly sunburnt on the beach in Delaware (that’s a win for me). 

I look forward to sharing my learnings with anyone willing to listen--- and some who may not be willing.  Most of all, I look forward to re-connecting with Emmanuel quickly and listening to all that went on while I was gone.

While sabbaticals can be tough on the short-term, the long-term benefits can greatly outweigh any bumps.  I intend to make this be so. 

Now I’m on to sorting through the 350 emails.  I have work to do.

I’m ready to roll.

One More Week

Hello Emmanuel,

As mentioned in recent MMP’s, I will be going on sabbatical (July 1^st-August 11^th) to rest and be renewed.  I will also be visiting other churches to see what I can learn from them and apply to us as we continue to grow at Emmanuel.

Many have asked me where I’ll be going.  For those interested in my itinerary, keep reading.  If not, skip to the end:

Delaware – 1 week – I will be visiting with 2 different churches and pastors.  One is called The Connection, a United Methodist Church that started from 0 and grew to over 700.  The 2 lead pastors are a married couple.  Sound intriguing to me.  I will also be visiting with a pastor who led a church from 50 to 600 worshippers.  I went to seminary with him many years ago.  It will be good to catch up with him.  The rest of the time I’ll likely be on sand or in water.  Sounds horrible, I know.

L.A./San Diego – 1 week – There is nothing churchy about this week.  I am going West with my brother to watch the Reds.  A religious experience?  Yes… but only if you think baseball was created by God.

Columbus, Georgia – 4 days – My kids get to see their cousins twice a year.  This is one of those times.  I may go golfing.  There is nothing religious about golfing.  If anything, it will test my perseverance and my temper.  I may stop in to see St. Luke United Methodist Church for confessional.

Home – 2.5 weeks – Yes, I will be home at times.  Kim and I will have 2 Sundays to visit other churches to renew our minds about ministry.  We don’t know which we will visit, but it will likely include a Saturday worship experience.  I also hope to talk with Rev. Doug Johns (who will be preaching July 7^th) about his experience at Church of the Savior in Montgomery.

Other possibilities include a bicycle trip with Joey to Columbus, Ohio and/or a drive to Chicago.  Given the established itinerary, we may just not have time.  I will also be reading a book called Start This, Stop That by Jim and Jennifer Cowart.  It looks like an easy read about what to do and what not to do in a growing church.

I know that some of you will wonder what to expect from me when I get back.  I wish I could tell you.  I expect to have new ideas, but whether they will be ground-breaking or earth-shattering will remain to be seen.  I will say that, in terms of disciple-making, Emmanuel has a big hump in front of it.  We need to figure out how to get over it while we still have the momentum.  It won’t be easy for us.  It will be easy for God if we can just listen and do.

I want to thank Emmanuel’s leadership for allowing me this opportunity for a sabbatical.  It has the potential to be an enlightening time.  My wife does not know me apart from being ‘Pastor Joe’ and I have always had to balance ‘Pastor’ with ‘Dad’.  To have 6 weeks to do otherwise will be interesting. 

I will be ‘off the grid’ during the 6 weeks.  If any emergencies come up, please contact:

Vicki Hensley (Lay Leader) – sewblessed@fuse.net – 732-6641

Bill Maskiell – (SPRC Leader) – wmaskiell@cinci.rr.com – 752-7838

Shawn Young – (Director of Connectivity) – shawn.young@emmanuel-umc.com – 937-725-3339

Or you can call the church at 732-1400.  Lori, the administrator assistant, will be in the office to return your call.  Or you can email lori at lori.upham@emmanuel-umc.com. 

See you this Sunday as we spend one more time considering renewal….  If I don’t see you then, I’ll see you in August.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Cold Fingers and Free Food

Hello Emmanuel,

When was the last time you had a taste of home-made ice cream?  You know… the kind that is made by cranking the handle until your arm is sore.  I have memories of such.  My grandpa would make ice cream a couple of times every summer and invite me down to help him.  My job in the process was very important (or so he said).  My task was to keep my finger in the hole of the bucket so that the ice water didn’t run out while grandpa cranked the handle.  The feeling of being needed gave me a sense of importance.  So I stuck my finger in the hole of the bucket and waited….

…..and waited…..

….. and waited….

I tried hard not to complain about my finger getting cold and then numb.  I wanted to do my task well and without grumbling about it.  But boy was that ice water cold!!!  And it took grandpa forever to crank. 

In the end it was all worth it.  I got ice cream and my finger never fell off.  Good for me!!!

This Sunday, June 23^rd, from 2:00 until 4:00, you will have a chance to share ice cream with us.  Everyone is invited to the Young at Heart event, sponsored by the Small Groups Ministry Team.  You are also invited to make a home-made pie if you so desire, and share that as well.  We are going to play bingo too!  (and rumor has it, maybe a little euchre).

But wait!!!!   There is even more!!!!   We will be talking about the launch of an exciting new ministry.  We are calling it ‘Family and Elder Care Ministry’.  Tiffany McGuire and other healthcare workers are feeling the Call to use their gifts to help families of the church.  We feel it is important to find ways to care for people of all ages within the church. This new ministry expands how we can care for our Senior Blessings and for the caregivers as well.

We will be speaking more on this new ministry this coming Sunday on June 23^rd during the Young at Heart event.  Please come!!  It will be a good time of fellowship (and cold fingers).

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Sabbatical, part 3

Hello Emmanuel,

If you pay too much attention to the road, you might forget where you are going.

A couple of weeks ago I shared what I would like to learn while on my 6-week sabbatical (July 1^st-August 11^th).  This week I want to share with you that I want to be reminded what I already learned.  The busyness of church has its ebbs and flows for everyone, but especially for pastors.  I have seasons of the year when I know my calendar will be packed with meetings and conversations which brings with it a certain degree of stress and pressure.  I also have seasons when I know my calendar gets a bit lighter…. Giving me a chance to prepare myself for more meetings and conversations… which bring with it a degree of stress and pressure.

Sabbaticals are often times used for rest and refocus.  This will be my major goal for those 6 weeks.  I don’t want to pay so much attention to the road that I forget where I am going.  My journey in ministry has been interesting and, at times, rather intense.  The road has seen many different terrains:  smooth and fast; bumpy and slow; twisty and curvy; straight and narrow.  But in the midst of the journey, I don’t want to forget that God is Calling me…. And why He is Calling me.

Another analogy many of you may be familiar with is ‘not seeing the forest for all the trees’.  In other words, sometimes being up close and personal keeps one from seeing the big picture.  My 6 weeks away will be a time for me to stand further back and look at the big picture.  My intentions are to disconnect from my job and reconnect with my Call.  You might see this as a conflict because my job and my Call are seen as one in the same.  However, my point is that I don’t want to see it as a job (a tree).  I want to see it as a Call (a forest).  A job gets me a paycheck.  A Call gives me purpose and connection to the Divine.  The fact that they run parallel with each other is neither here nor there.  I want to keep hearing God say ‘serve Me’.  Sometimes it’s difficult to hear when my job gets in the way.  I hope I’m making sense.  If I don’t, then it isn’t the first time.

So I will be disconnecting for 6 weeks starting July 1^st.  This may seem an impossible task because my personal AND professional life is so intertwined with church.  However, my intentions are to turn off my google mail, refuse to log-on to facebook (though that might prove challenging) and unglue my phone from my hand.  I want to reconnect with Joe Royer without the word ‘Pastor’ in front of his name.  I want to be reminded that God doesn’t call me ‘Pastor Joe’.  (He sometimes just says ‘Hey you!’).

So there will be a strong spiritual component to my sabbatical.  I appreciate all the support that I have already been given by Emmanuel.  Not every congregation would understand the concept of a sabbatical.  But as usual, Emmanuel isn’t a typical congregation. 

In totally different news, the new website is up and running, though it has many bumps to smooth over yet.  You can go to www.emmanuel-umc.com to register and see something new.  Many are registering without incident.  However, if you have issues, you can email Shawn Young (shawn.young@emmanuel-umc.com) and he will help you out.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

From a Frustrated Pastor

Hello Emmanuel,

No need to beat around the bush:  I’m frustrated.  I wish I could point to just one thing, but that would be too easy.  If it was just one thing, then I can either fix the problem or focus on something different that is good and right.  A half a dozen things hit me even before I left the house this morning and none of them good.  Ever feel like a day is simply going to be a no-win proposition?

As I type this, I don’t even know if you are going to get it (unless you read this via the facebook link to blogspot.com).  The google email is down for anyone that has Emmanuel-umc email.  I evidently cannot send or receive emails.  For anyone that knows me, that is a huge issue in how I make contacts and keep church stuff moving.  Now I feel like I’m in a boat in the middle of the ocean with no motor, let alone an oar.

So how do you cope when you have such days?  Here are some ways I cope, in no particular order.  Warning:  these methods are not necessarily constructive.  Don’t copy what the Pastor does:

1.  When I get these kinds of days, my mind regresses to a place of survival.  In other words, I think about the stuff I have to get done and figure out a way to cope the best I can.  For example, I think about going old-school and actually using a phone.  It slows down how many contacts I can make, but again it’s about survival.  I can’t imagine how long it would take for me to read my Monday Morning Pulpit to all of you, one at a time (though maybe a conference call is in order?).

2.  What I also do is get things in perspective.  I try to see my work as just work and not the life and death of the existence of Creation.  I look at the big picture and try to be thankful that my ups and downs don’t really have a major impact on functioning of the Universe.  If I can minimize my importance, I won’t get so stressed out about my failings.  But this coping mechanism isn’t really constructive.  It leads to low self-esteem….. something I don’t like to revisit. 

3.   I get dangerously sarcastic (as opposed to my normal irritating-but-perhaps-a-bit-humorous sarcasm).  Some would define it as grumpiness.  My wife has another word for it, but this is a ‘church document’.  However, if you have some time, look up Numbers 22:24-31.  Sometimes people can be worse than a talking.. uh.. donkey (NIV version is nicer).  I’ve preached it before.  I may again.

I think I’ll stop my own personal list there.  The rest is reserved for my counselor.  Now let me share with you what actually works for me without dragging people down with me. 

4.   You can only control what you can control.  The reality is that you can control very little.  You can control what you say and what you do.  You can control how you react to the uncontrollable things around you, including the many things you don’t know or understand (like Google email).  The rest is either up to other people or up to God. 

Now you might say, ‘that’s it?  That’s all you got, Pastor Joe?’  But what it reminds me is what God calls us to be and do.  God calls us to love when and where we can.  That’s all.  There isn’t anything more in life that God wants us to do.  It’s really simple.  To think that we have the responsibility or Calling to do more is to make life more complicated than God intended.  Making life more complicated is what many of us are really good at.

So hopefully you receive this document someday.  If not, maybe I will have the opportunity to love you at a different place and time.  If not, I will do what I can for whenever I cross paths with someone else.  I invite you to do the same.  Why?  Because it’s really so simple.

God is Good (but Google isn’t)

Pastor Joe