Saturday, February 11- Missions

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,  if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

--Isaiah 58:6-12

          It's easy to look around at our world and wonder how in the world it is that we got to where we are and is it possible at this point to make any significant long-term difference? How do we heal ourselves? How do we heal our world?
          Isaiah offers an amazingly simple formula. It begins at home and in our communities. We are to be a people who are fair, who don't point our fingers at each other every time something doesn't go just right. We are to be a people who don't gossip about each other and who take care of family. We are to love God and behave as people who are loved by God. Then comes the fun part!
          We are called to take this same non-judgemental love out into the world.We are called to feed the hungry, and help to provide clothing, housing and all the basic essentials for those in need. At the same time we are called to be a people who will never be satisfied until the unjust practices in our world, whether those practiced by government or by each other, are brought out into the light and forever removed.
           When we begin to live life in this fashion, it will be as if a light switch has been turned on in our world. God's light will begin to glow in the world and in and through each of us and all of us. God's light will begin to shine on all those dark and shadowy places in our lives and in our world and it will become easier and easier to see and remove injustice from our world.
          I love the image of God's love shining in and through us. As we reach out to others, not only is the world healed, we too are healed--one prayer at a time, one hand at a time.
          What are you doing to reach out and change the world? How are you using the blessings God has entrusted into your care to feed, clothe, house and care for our world? As you fill out your commitment card this week, don't forget to prayerfully consider where God wants to use you, your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness to heal our world.
          If you are looking for a suggestion to help you get started. We are cooking and serving lunch at Open Table (New Hope Commons Service Road) this coming Wednesday, February 15. Come and join us!

Blessings.

Rich Greenway

Thursday, February 9 - The Call to Spiritual Formation

   

^"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved."

--Acts 2:42-47

          I love this image of the early Church. They were a ragtag group of people who were united in their belief that Jesus had been raised from the dead and would come again to turn this world into God’s peaceful and perfect kingdom. They spoke different languages, came from different towns, and practiced different cultural traditions – and yet God unified them into a community that generously demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone and invited others to follow Jesus.

          In these verses from Scripture we are given a picture of the sorts of things Christians are called to do together. From the beginning of the Church, Christians have “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” These practices are what we often describe as Spiritual Formation practices. In Acts 2, these practices helped to form the early church into a mission-oriented community who gave generously to people in need and who demonstrated God’s goodness through their words and actions.
          This week as you reflect on how you can express your love for God through your generous commitments of time, energy, service, and money, I encourage you to consider committing to a Spiritual Formation group. Join a Bible Study, attend Sunday School, participate in Youth Group or Children’s Christian Fellowship. The practices that we engage in together during these group meetings reflect the practices that the early Church celebrated – the study of Scripture and theology, prayer, and fellowship. As we engage in these practices, God makes us into people that are more loving, more generous, more mission-oriented, and more like Jesus. May God bless you as you devote yourself to these things, and may God work through us to demonstrate God’s goodness to everyone we meet.

Peace,
Laura

Wednesday, February 8 - Worship

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

--Psalm 100, NRSV

          Worship is who we are, it is what we do. We are called to be a people who worship the Lord. If you think about it, it is the focus that separates us from all of the other organizations in the world. Lots of organizations and community groups do good things. Lots of groups seek to make positive differences in their communities. Only the Church gathers to worship. Worship changes who we are. Worship recenters and changes how we do what we do. Worship gives us an interpretive lens through which to view the world.
          "God uses worship to transform lives, heal wounded souls, renew hope, shape decisions, provoke change, inspire compassion, and bind people to one another. God through Christ actively seeks relationship to us through worship. ...Through worship, God pardons sin, restores relationships, and changes lives. In a mindset of expectancy worshipers discover that God wants a relationship with them and seeks to say something through the time together." *
           Several years ago circumstances required that we take a good look at our worship services here at Union Grove. At that time we had two services on Sunday mornings, 9:00 and 11:00 am. Without a musician to play at the 11:00 am service, we decided to combine the services at 10:00 a.m. through the summer months. We made an amazing discovery, ...each other!
           "It's so nice to worship together." "I hope we don't have to go back to worshipping apart when the summer's over." Your voices were loud and clear sharing a deep and wide theological insight: to truly be a congregation, we have to worship together.
          As you consider your Extravagant Generosity commitments this week, I pray that worship will be first on your priority list. I pray that you will commit to being present in worship every week that you are in town. And I pray that you will work to reprioritize the other commitments in your life such that sabbath and worship might be the center out of which the rest of life finds life and meaning. Whenever any one of us is absent, the community is less than it could be.

Blessings.

Rich Greenway

*Worship quotes are taken from Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Schnase, Abingdon, 2007
    

Sunday, February 5 - Delight

"Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being

so full of themselves and so obsessed with money,

which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to

go after God . . . to be rich in helping others, to be

extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build

a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life."

 — 1 Timothy 6:17- 19, The Message

          People who practice Extravagant Generosity give with unexpected liberality, they make giving a first priority, and they plan their giving with great energy and passion. They go the second mile. They do not give from a "what remains" mentality, but from a "what comes first" priority. Giving seriously becomes a a personal spiritual discipline, a way of serving God, and a means of helping the church fulfill its God-appointed mission. Focused conviction and intention causes them to give in a more pronounced way, without fear and with greater trust. Giving changes their lives.

          Extravagant describes giving that is extraordinary, over-the-top, and propelled by great passion. Extravagant is the generosity seen in those who appreciate the beauty of giving, the awe and joy of making a difference for the purposes of Christ. Extravagant Generosity is giving to God as God has given to us.

          People who practice Extravagant Generosity shift things around so that they can do more. Their generosity opens them to projects they never dreamed God would involve them in. They are conscientious and intentional. Generosity is their calling. They want to make a difference for Christ. They care.

          They grow in the grace of giving. They learn. They take small steps until generosity becomes natural. They deepen their understanding of giving through prayer and Scripture, and they foster generosity in others. They give more now than in the past, and will give more in the future than they do today.

          They push their congregations to become more generous. They advocate outward-focused ministry. They do not give in order to control the church but to support it. They excel in giving. They love to give. They are motivated by a desire to make a difference rather than by guilt, fear, desire for recognition, or to manipulate others. They give with humility. Yet, they draw others toward generosity and toward God through their example.

          People who practice Extravagant Generosity teach their children and grandchildren to give, mentoring them on how to earn honestly, save carefully, spend prudently, and give lavishly.

          They live with a sense of gratitude. They like receiving money, find pleasure in its responsible use, and experience joy in giving it to God's purposes. They do not become too attached, and are not stopped, deceived, slowed, misled, or detoured in their following of Christ by the possession of money. They delight in Jesus' way, the way of true life.

                    - How do you delight in the good you do through your giving?

                    - Do you give more now than in the past, and do you expect to

                      give in the future than you do today? How are you learning to give?

Schnase, Bishop Robert (2011-05-01). Practicing Extravagant Generosity. Abingdon Press.

Saturday, February 4 - Generous Congregations

"What matters most to me is to finish what God

started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting

everyone I meet know all abut this incredibly

extravagant generosity of God."

--Acts 20:24, The Message

          Churches that cultivate Extravagant Generosity hold high quality annual pledge opportunities with wide participation, excellent preparation, and active lay involvement. While pastors provide leadership through preaching, teaching, and example, congregations rely heavily on the witness of extravagantly generous lay persons through testimonies, sermons, leadership talks, newsletter meditations, and website devotionals. They invite people into leadership who speak with integrity because of their own personal growth in the practice of giving, including people of diverse ages, incomes, and backgrounds.

          Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations focus on giving during the season of annual pledging, but they also emphasize generosity throughout the year in preaching, Bible studies, and classes. They speak about how our relationship with God affects our views of money and how our relationship with money shapes our relationship to God. They teach about the place of wealth, affluence, acquisitiveness, materialism, selfishness, generosity, and giving. They do not avoid capital funds campaigns when they serve the mission of the church, and they enter into major projects with excellence, professional preparation, and outstanding communication. They regularly offer members the opportunity to support special appeals and new projects, knowing that giving stimulates giving; and they've learned that when special giving is aligned with the purposes of Christ, it enhances support for the general budget rather than diminishes it. They readily encourage charitable contributions and philanthropic giving by their members to service agencies and to medical, advocacy, and cultural causes that make a difference in the lives of people.  

          Such churches do more than encourage, teach, and support personal generosity, they practice Extraordinary Generosity as a congregation, demonstrating exemplary support for special projects, missions in the community and around the world, and denominational connectional ministries. They take the lead in responding to disasters and unexpected emergencies. Pastors and lay  leaders view "giving beyond the walls" as indispensable to Christian discipleship and to congregational mission and vitality. They look for more and better opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of people. They develop partnerships; support agencies that help the poor; and fund mission teams, scholarships, service projects, new church starts, and other ministries that transform lives. They make the mission of the church real, tangible, and meaningful. Their reputation for generosity bears witness to Christ.
          Churches that grow in giving know that generosity increases with participation in ministry and community, and so they work to deepen the core ministries of worship, small-group learning, and mission. Many churches do not have enough money because they don't provide sufficient ministry and mission. Rather than becoming obsessed with income, survival, and maintenance, generous congregations continually return their focus to changing lives, reaching new people, and offering significant mission. By growing in ministry, giving increases.
          Congregations that practice Extravagant Generosity teach, model, and cultivate generosity among children and youth, Sunday school classes, after-school children's ministries, Vacation Bible School, and youth ministries all offer opportunities to give individually and to work together in groups to achieve a ministry goal that is significant, tangible, and compelling. Rather than collecting offerings in a perfunctory way, children's and youth leaders explain, teach and connect the action of giving to the work of God. Generous congregations equip parents with ideas, suggestions, and practices that foster generosity for children and youth of all ages.

                    - Would you describe your congregation as generous? Why or Why not?

                   - Would you describe yourself as generous? Extravagantly so?

Schnase, Bishop Robert (2011-05-01). Practicing Extravagant Generosity. Abingdon Press.

Friday, February 3 - One of my Own

"The most generous God who gives seed to the

farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more

than extravagant with you. He gives you something

you can then give away, which grows into full-formed

lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you

can be generous in every way..."

--2 Corinthians 9:11, The Message

          A long-time member and proud grandfather stood a the baptismal font with his family for the baptism of his baby granddaughter. Another infant from another family that was new to the congregation was baptized at the same service. Following the service, the two families intermingled at the front of the church as they took turns having their pictures taken. At one point, the mother from the new family needed to get some things out of her bag, and the grandfather from the other family offered to hold her baby. Other church members commented on the grandfather with the baby; he found himself saying several times, "Oh, this one isn't mine; I'm just holding him for a minute."

          Monday morning the grandfather visited the pastor at the church office and said, "I want to change my will to include the church, and I want to talk to you about how to do that." The pastor was stunned and couldn't help asking about what brought the grandfather to that decision. The older man's eyes grew moist as he said, "Yesterday I realized something while I was holding that other baby. I kept telling people that he wasn't my child, but then it dawned on me that he was part of my family, part of my church family. I've been a member of this church for more than forty years, and in God's eyes I'm a grandfather to more than just my own. I've taken care of my own children with my will, but I realized I also need to provide for the children of the church. So I want to divide my estate to leave a part to the church as if the church were one of my children."

          Those who practice Extravagant Generosity have a God-given vision and faith to plant seeds for trees whose shade they will never see.

                     -  How have those who have come before you in your family, community,

                        and church paved an easier road for you through their generosity?  

                     - How have you paved the road for those who will follow in the

                       faith through your generosity?  

Schnase, Bishop Robert (2011-05-01). Practicing Extravagant Generosity. Abingdon Press.

Thursday, February 2 - The Old Life and The New Life

You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of

ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the

fire. ...So, chosen by God for this new life of love,

dress in a wardrobe God picked out for you:

compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline...

And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.

It's your basic all-purpose garment, Never be without it."

--Colossians 3:9, 12, 14, The Message 

          Vines, branches, seedtime, harvest, soils, vineyards, trees, fruits--the Bible  is replete with stories that lift high the notion that God expects us to use what we have received to make a positive difference in the world around us. Fruitfulness points us toward the result, the impact, and the outcome of our work for God's purposes and saves us from merely congratulating ourselves on our efforts, our hard work, or our input.

         But as any gardener knows, the biblical stories of plants and seeds and growth and vines and branches are incomplete without the idea of pruning. Some things must go. Some ministries are no longer fruitful and some programs have served their time and are no longer relevant or effective. Fruitfulness reminds us to ask ourselves, "Do our ministries really change lives and transform the world?"

          Peter Drucker, the organizational expert who focused much of his professional energy on churches and non-profits in the later years of his career, offers this as one of his top lessons for church leaders: Practice planned abandonment. Planned abandonment involves intentionally closing down work that no longer contributes to the mission.

          According to Drucker, the purpose of any non-profit organization is the changed life. If we are doing work and offering ministries that are no longer shaping lives in significant ways, perhaps we should stop doing them. As we initiate new ministries, create more effective mission projects, and plan how to better reach people, are there also services, activities, and outreach ministries that we need to reduce? How do we redirect our time, energy, and financial resources toward the ministries that most help us fulfill our mission? These are tough questions, but they are questions of stewardship. Jesus says, "Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Luke 3:9) If it's no longer bearing kingdom fruit, stop doing it.

          Notions of fruitfulness and pruning also apply as we reflect on attitudes and behaviors in ourselves. In order for us to nurture the interior fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control--we must leave behind enmity, anger, dissensions, and things like these (Galatians 5:19-23).

          If we desire to become more generous, as I believe God would want for us, we will have to make some practical decisions that cause us to leave some behaviors behind. To give more to God may mean reprioritizing and spending less on other things that do not lend life and build us up. We may have to prune some expenses and change some spending habits to nurture greater generosity.

          No one tithes accidentally. No one happens to have enough money left over at the end of the month to be truly generous. Extravagant Generosity requires intentionality. Tithing results from deep commitment, but also from carefully planning. We do it willingly, and willfully, or we never do it at all. We have to think about it, pray about it, talk it over, and plan for it. It's a major decision involving everyone in the household. It requires us to change, and to begin to seek God's priorities instead of merely our own.

          The Apostle Paul uses another image instead of fruitfulness and pruning to describe the change that God workds within us by the Holy Spirit when we follow Chrsit. He says that new life in Christ is like getting rid of old ill-fitting clothing and putting on new clothes that God has picked out for us. Elsewhere Paul writes, "Everything ...connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life--a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you" (Ephesians 4:23-24, The Message).

                    - What attitudes, behaviors and values might you need to

                      prune in order to live more fruitfully in Christ?

                   - How much planning, praying and intentionality do you put

                     into your decisions about giving? How sould giving more

                     generously rerquire changes inside you and in your behaviors?

Schnase, Bishop Robert (2011-05-01). Practicing Extravagant Generosity. Abingdon Press.