Jukebox Hero

When one is growing up, one dreams of all manners of futures. There were moments in my young life when I thought of becoming a doctor, a missionary, a teacher, a writer, a history professor, a hermit, even a traveling hobo. Some of those dreams seem laughable to me now; others make me occasionally wonder about roads not taken.

Perhaps no dream interested me as greatly, however, as being a rock & roll musician. Sure, stardom carries its own allures which many people have desired. I never desired the stardom as much as I dreamt of the possibility of making music for a living. Yes, that future inevitably included hanging out with Paul McCartney, Bono, and probably a supermodel or two. But I can honestly say that the most important part of that dream for me was making the music, recording it, hearing it on the radio, and playing it before crowds of at least mildly interested fans.

I wasn't very old when God looked at that dream and said, "No, Keith. That's not what I want for you." Part of that was simply because I wasn't very good; part of that was that the Lord had another calling on my life. I am now in my 16th year of pastoral ministry, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have received to share the good news of Jesus with many people. It is a humbling yet exciting life.

Jefferson church has recently begun a ministry to and with a personal care home in urban Clairton. It is a place which serves people of lower economic stations, many of whom have mental health issues or drug-related issues. I am hopeful that this ministry continues to bear wonderful fruit, as I think it's been a true blessing both for the care home and for our congregation. I hope it grows into a true "symbiosis", and we rely on one another as family.

Part of our ministry includes worship on the first Thursday of each month. During that time, we sing, pray, hear the word read & proclaimed, and share the Bread & Cup together. It has become a wondrous time of confession and renewal in the Spirit.

As I have at other ministry events and worshipful times, I play guitar and lead singing. I confess that my skills are rusty and I'm always tempted to jump into a song by the Beatles or Creedence Clearwater Revival or Tom Petty, but God has enabled me to adequately accompany our praises and joyful noises. Recently, something wonderful has happened. The Spirit has worked through me...not to help me play as well as George Harrison or Scotty Moore or Eric Clapton...but to bring a particular tiny group of the Body of Christ into moments of true worship, not only with a real experience of the presence of God but far more importantly a sense that our praise is real, authentic, sincere and welcomed.

These are difficult emotions to describe. While I have felt similar feelings in my preaching ministry, the sense while playing guitar and singing at the personal care home rings "you've come full circle" to me, as if my weak gifts are being used in the most appropriate way. I am grateful for the journey.

This isn't to say that I'll never sing or play rock & roll again; it remains somewhat of a dream. I remain absolutely convinced that rock & roll is the greatest form of music ever devised by humankind, and that most of what passes today for "pop" music or even contemporary Christian music pales in comparison to the best of rock & roll. But I am thankful that a passion of mine has found a way to be of service to Christ's Kingdom, even in a limited fashion. God is truly good.

Doxology for Advent & Christmas

To the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
on every hill and coast!

"Praise God above, all angels who
comprise the heavenly host!

"Praise to the Father and the Son
and to the Holy Ghost!

"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!
O tidings of comfort and joy!"

The Missional Church...simple

This is a good brief summary of 21st century missional reality.

Most United Methodists & United Methodist congregations are (in my humble opinion) "trapped" in the model that begins around 0:07.

Annual Conference & denominational leadership tend to be (in my humble opinion) somewhere around 0:40.

Those models have both been effective, but both are dated (they're SO 20th century).

21st century "missional ministry", which actually refers back to an earlier time, begins around 1:15.

Definitely worth some prayerful reflection...

My Favorite U2 song...

...and also the subject of today's sermon on John 20:24-29.

Thanksgiving Letter to JUMC

I am a firm believer that God is very active in today’s world, still moving in exciting ways and often doing the unexpected. Because I believe this to be true, I can say that it is no accident that Thanksgiving Day is celebrated during the same month as All Saints Day.

"I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack…
The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

- from Psalm 34 (ESV, adapt.)

We have many things for which we should be thankful to God: family, friends, food, shelter, and, above all, Jesus himself, through whom we can share life eternal and abundant.

But as the smells of potatoes and gravy mix with the cool autumn air, do not forget that we celebrate our national day of Thanksgiving in the shadow of All Saints Day. This is a reminder to us that in addition to the familiar experiences of the holiday, we are to be exceedingly thankful for our loved ones in the faith who have already been received into the arms of our Heavenly Father. This is a reminder to us that in Jesus Christ, by the prodigious, unexplainable power of the Holy Spirit, we are united with these saints in a way we cannot yet fully comprehend, and in a way this broken world in which we live can never understand. In a very real way, these saints – with Jesus – are present at our tables of celebration.

Look around you as you share the holiday meal….see the turkey, the dressing, the pumpkin pie…hear the sounds of football, clanging silverware, and pleasant conversation…smell the bounty of excellence before you…and know that you are not alone in your joy. Sitting with you, enjoying the day more than you ever could, reveling in the delight of family laughter, delighting in the gathering of love, smiling energetically at the wondrous festivities, is Jesus, the one who loves you most of all. And, as is often his way, he is not alone; he has brought guests with him to the table, who are also filled with gladness and the kind of peace that defines eternity.

Know that the love you experience at this banquet is but a foretaste of glory, and that the One who makes it all possible is filled with joy as you give him richly deserved thanks. So, light a holy candle this Thanksgiving in honor of the guest of honor, that crazy, loving preacher from Nazareth. And light another to honor those who in the past have shared the meal with you…and continue to do so because of the life, death, and resurrection of that preacher. And may this holiday find you to be truly, abundantly thankful.

In Jesus,
Pastor Keith

Excerpts from Church Conference report

Church Conference for JUMC
held at First Bethel UMC, 7 PM,
11/4/08

“…holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.”
– Psalm 93:5

It is a joy to be a part of the family of Jefferson United Methodist Church as we celebrate our 165th year of ministry. The congregation has a wonderful legacy of love and mission, and I feel blessed to be a part of her story. Our area is growing, and our circle of influence grows with it.

Some exciting things have been happening in our congregational family:

* While numbers are rarely a primary indicator of missional faithfulness, our average participation in Sunday worship has increased significantly in the past 2 ½ years; our baptisms and our new members are vastly outpacing funerals and transfers, which is a positive “turnaround trend”;
* We continue to get more visitors each week, and are retaining most of them;
* We have completed a bold building plan to improve and modernize our physical facilities, connecting our worship center with our education building and making some much needed repairs;
* Our new folks have been getting very active in the life of our congregation, in study groups, leadership opportunities and mission;
* We utilize our technological capabilities more efficiently, making use of power point and video in worship and in study;
* In the community, I have been meeting with area clergy in the hopes of gaining greater cooperation in ministry, and our West Jefferson Hills Ministerium continues to do wonderful things, from worship gatherings to collaborative missional efforts.

It has been a busy and positive year! And yet, there are even greater things in our future...

2009 will be my third full year in ministry at Jefferson church, unless our Bishop and his Cabinet determine that a change is in order (which is always a possibility in our connectional system). As I prepare for my third year, the number “3” has been running through my mind. With my love of music and respect for the great hymnody of the Church, the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy!” has been a frequent refrain. This beautiful classic, with an 1826 text by Reginald Heber, extols the glory of the Triune God:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

I have been reflecting on this hymn for the past several months, praying it several times a week as part of my devotional life. I believe we are being challenged by the Spirit to focus in 2009 on “holiness”…the holiness of God and our own calling to be holy for Jesus’ sake in the midst of a broken world. Holiness, after all, was a crucial aspect of John Wesley’s ministry and the early Methodist message, and is an important part of our faith heritage.

Holiness is more than just living simple, healthy lives (though that’s important); it is being fully devoted to Jesus. The Kingdom of God is described as ‘the Way of Holiness’…

“…a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness.”
– Isaiah 35:8

How might we be more holy? Spend more time in prayer with our Heavenly Father? Read and study Scripture more effectively? Be more intent about our marriage and family commitments? Serve the poor, the lonely, and the lost with greater passion? Be more obedient regarding our attendance and participation in congregational worship? Stand against societal sins such as racism and sexism with more vigor? Love one another and our neighbors with less compromise?

Rather than listing goals for the next ministry year, I will be urging us to reflect on the theme of holiness in 2009 - what it means to serve a holy God and what it means to be a holy people. My expectation is that as we reflect upon this theme, the Spirit will open to us new possibilities for growth and effective disciple-making. We serve a God who honors faithful, honest reflection!

My only goal, then, for 2009, as a pastor and a leader of this wonderful congregation, is that we “take time to be holy”, and seek Jesus’ holy character in our own lives. I believe that we will be transformed in significant ways, as will our community.

May God continue to bless the people of Jefferson United Methodist Church and all that we do to build Christ’s Kingdom.

Pastor Keith H. McIlwain
November 4, 2008

Gridiron Wisdom, Part 1: Tom Brady

(BEGINNING OF A NEW SERMON SERIES...
a "back-to-basics" series which uses football -
a prominent part of life in Jefferson Hills & Pleasant Hills,
the two communities I consider to be
the JUMC "parish" - as a "hook";
it will be "fleshed out" later in the week)

"...they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

- Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

Many of us have been amazed in the past decade or so while watching the football career of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. This California native was an excellent athlete who grew up idolizing Joe Montana, and was actually drafted out of high school to play professional baseball for the Montreal Expos. Preferring football - and who wouldn't? - Brady went to the University of Michigan where he was seventh on the depth chart, and worked his way up slowly. By 1998, he led the Wolverines to a Big Ten title; the following year, he led his team to an Orange Bowl victory over Alabama.

Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots, pick #199, which some consider to be the biggest "steal" in the history of the NFL Draft. He was the team's fourth string quarterback when he started; eventually, he had worked his way up to become the lead back-up for then-starter Drew Bledsoe. In September 2001, Bledsoe was severely injured in a game against the New York Jets, and Brady took over, winning 11 of 14 games. He was named to the Pro Bowl and, more importantly, led the Patriots into the playoffs.

You may recall the Super Bowl that year, when the Patriots played against the heavily favored St. Louis Rams, who had won it all the previous year. Just a few months removed from the horrors of 9/11, it seemed appropriate, somehow, that the "Patriots" would be involved in the biggest sporting event on the planet, led by a young upstart who had virtually stumbled into his leadership role. I remember watching the extremely emotional halftime show that year, in which U2 - the best and certainly the most important band since the breakup of the Beatles - rocked the stadium with a powerful musical tribute to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy; it remains the best halftime performance in Super Bowl history...by far.

Then, Tom Brady led the Patriots to victory against the mighty Rams, whose offense had been dubbed "the Greatest Show on Turf". Brady was named the MVP of the game and a football superstar was born. Since that time, Brady has appeared in three more Super Bowls, winning two of them - only his hero Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw have won more. He has won another Super Bowl MVP and last year had the greatest statistical season ever for an NFL quarterback, being named the MVP of the entire league.

Most impressively, for the past two years he has been dating supermodel Gisele...proof that God indeed loves Tom Brady.

What has made Tom Brady the most successful NFL quarterback of the 21st century? He may, in the end, be considered the best ever to play the game. How did this happen?

Certainly, a monstrous competitive streak has helped. He is as intense a player as any on the field.

But it can't be denied that he lacks the unearthly leadership gifts of Peyton Manning, the superheroic toughness of Brett Favre, and the explosive cannon arm of Terry Bradshaw. How did Tom Brady get to be perhaps the best ever?!

I believe that Brady is the leader of the pack because he is an expert at "working the system". Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has been justifiably condemned for cheating, has nevertheless devised a system that requires complete devotion for success. The offense utilizes multiple confusing formations which, in the end, run only a few relatively simple plays. Bill Cowher ran a similar offensive system in his early years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defense is designed to maximize the freedom of aggressive linebackers...also a pretty "Steelers-friendly" idea.

Tom Brady is a master at the system put in place in New England. When he has been hurt and the team has relied on back-up leadership, they have faltered. The system needs Tom Brady in order to succeed, and no one "works the system" as well as this future Hall of Famer.

How does this relate to our faith journey in Christ?

We have in the Scriptures a "system" for success. Being United Methodist, perhaps it would be better to say that we have a "method" for success given to us in Acts 2. When we prayerfully and faithfully adhere to the system, we experience personal growth in the Spirit and are better equipped to help build the Kingdom of God. When we lose focus on the system, things don't go nearly as well.

Our system - the Acts 2 system - consists of devotion to the apostles' teaching (reading, studying, living out the Scriptures; doctrinal faithfulness), fellowship (intentionally spending time with sisters and brothers in Christ), the breaking of the bread (faithfully and regularly celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion), prayer (as individuals, couples, families, small groups, and a congregation), doing signs and wonders (performing any number of acts which point to Jesus Christ and the transforming truth of his gospel...it could be something supernatural, as many of our charismatic and Pentecostal sisters and brothers believe, or it could be something as simple as sharing a hug with someone in pain or a sandwich with someone who is hungry), and sharing (being obedient in our tithes and offerings).

This is our system. Simple? Perhaps. But it can be difficult to master with the distractions of life continually knocking at our door. We need to be intentional about our system. Tom Brady, knowing that he lacked many of the gifts of Manning, Favre, or Bradshaw, chose to master the Patriots system, and has become the best quarterback in the NFL.

Isn't our devotion to Jesus and our journey of faith more important than how many Lombardi trophies the Patriots or Steelers win? Isn't Jesus worth our best efforts? I think so, and I'm sure you do as well.

The end result of faithfully mastering our system is even better than winning a hundred Super Bowls: "The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." But we as individuals, as a congregation, as a Conference, as a denomination, as the Church of Jesus Christ around the world, need first to work the system provided for us, to be devoted to it, to work hard at it, to do our best to be the people that God has called us to be on the journey toward holiness and perfection. Jesus is worth it, and the stakes are high.

VBS 2008

Tonight, Vacation Bible School begins at Jefferson church. Lots of preparation and prayer have resulted in a lot of excitement at JUMC. Our theme is "Water Works Park: Where Kids Ride the Wave of God's Love". (That's just cheesy enough to serve as a contender for an Annual Conference theme, but I digress...)

We've made some changes this year that have boosted the excitement level. Several of our newer members have gotten involved, bringing new ideas and joy to the ministry. We're also, for the first time, holding VBS in the evening rather than in the morning, so, while we're not sure what to expect in terms of numbers, we've gotten a lot more adult and teen helpers who have a greater availability post-dinner.

I really enjoy VBS and look forward to it each year, largely because my own faith journey was "jump started" by a VBS ministry. Though I was baptized as a baby in early 1971 (in a Presbyterian church), that event was the extent of my church involvement for many years. I befriended the Elston family in Johnstown, PA, and they invited my brother and I to the VBS held at their church, Westmont UMC. We loved it. The Elstons told us that if we enjoyed VBS, we might like Sunday School and worship each week as well. They picked us up every Sunday (along with their own 5 children) and took us to church. The Elstons and Westmont UMC found a way to love two obnoxious, goofy-looking, loud twin boys, and we experienced the love of God in a very real, tangible way.

Church camp followed (at both Camp Allegheny and Jumonville), extensive involvement in children and youth ministries and, eventually, a puppet ministry, and in 1983 I was confirmed (in April) and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus (in June). While my faith and my understanding of Christianity has grown a great deal since those days, my roots are way back in Westmont's VBS and the faithfulness of the Elston family.

So, VBS is a special time for me. I can't help but get excited about the idea that we may touch at least one child with the grace of God, and that because of our faithfulness this week, the touch may have a lasting impact on this life.

Building Project Dedication

We had a great day at Jefferson church yesterday. Our building project has finally been completed and we dedicated the new facilities as part of our Lord's Day worship. My predecessor at JUMC, the Rev. Dr. Douglas Heagy, who had originally cast the vision for the project, joined us (on loan from First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg, PA) with his family as part of a wonderful homecoming. Doug brought the word to a full house and did an excellent job. He talked about "taking the long view", noting that we may not often see the fruit that is produced by our faithfulness, but it is important nevertheless to labor for the Kingdom and trust that God has something special in store. Timely words.

We then ventured out of the sanctuary to our new facilities to consecrate and dedicate them for Kingdom use. Joining Doug and I were Trustee chairperson Bud Turner, architect John Kudravy, and fundraising leader Ron Lewis, all three of whom served on our Vision Committee for the project. A time of fellowship followed, with refreshments provided by the Boy Scout troop we sponsor.

In the above pic, you can see on the left some of the improvements to our education building...new roof, new windows, new doors, new siding. You can also see our new corridor which now connects our education building and our worship building for the first time in the 165 year history of JUMC. Some members of our church family are standing in our beautiful new courtyard, which is a lovely setting for fellowship as well as for prayer.

In this pic, you can see one of the blocks in our new corridor. One side is bordered with blocks purchased to help defray the costs of our project; those blocks are dedicated in memory or honor of loved ones. The other side of the corridor is bordered with blocks listing the names of every pastor who has served JUMC since its founding in 1843, along with their dates of service. It is quite an honor to be included in this blessed roll call.

All in all, a terrific day. Our new improvements better equip us to reach out to our community, providing a more efficient, safe, and attractive headquarters for mission to Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills (the two communities I consider to be my "primary parish"). It is a true blessing to serve alongside such a neat team of saints, and I thank God that I'm along for this ride.

Wesley's Standard Sermons #29

In my preparation for Sunday's sermon on Matthew 6:24-34 (the Gospel selection in this week's lectionary), I have returned again and again to John Wesley's sermon on the passage. Good, good stuff.

While I regularly read, study, and meditate upon Wesley's sermons, I confess that for reasons which elude me I often "skip" the 13 standard sermons based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I'm not sure why this has been my practice; I am not proud of my neglect. Wesley's sermon on this passage is so spot on, so much what I have wanted to say, that I am tempted to simply read his text. I won't do that, of course, but I'm not going to make light of the fact that much of my sermon will be drawn from Wesley's fine work.

If pastors who read this blog are preaching on this passage, I'd urge you to look again at Wesley's words if you have not already done so. You can find his sermon here. If you're not preaching on this passage this Sunday, I've no doubt that you will still be challenged and uplifted by this excellent sermon.

Pentecost 2008

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability..."

- Acts 2:1-4 (NRSV)

What a day! Yesterday turned out to be a terrific Pentecost for Jefferson United Methodist Church!

The Rev. Dr. Donald Scandrol, Pittsburgh District Superintendent, joined us with his wife Barbara, and it was a real treat to worship with them. Don preached an inspiring message about allowing God's Spirit to inspire us and work through us as we try to speak the other languages of our culture and reach a lost and hurting world. Good stuff.

We then moved on to our United Methodist rite of Confirmation, which was a joy. We had a tremendous group of young people this year, all of whom are committed to Jesus and to their faith journeys. They are, in fact, each among the more active folks in our congregation. I have learned far more from them during this process than I will likely ever teach them as their pastor. It has been a fine experience.

As each confirmand knelt at the altar, Don and I lay hands on them, joined by the Rev. Robert Slack (a retired pastor whom we're glad to have with us at JUMC) and the Rev. Dawn Lynn Check (of Janes UMC in Creighton, PA), whose twin nephews were among our confirmands.

Don prayed for each young person by name, calling upon the power of the Holy Spirit, the blessing of the Father, and the presence of Jesus. This was a great moment for me as a pastor who loves these young people, but also as a father, as my daughter Kate was among those confirmed. What a blessing it has been (and continues to be) to watch her grow in her faith and in her service to the Kingdom of God. Most recently, she has become our new Children's Choir Director.

After the confirmation rite was concluded, I invited anyone who wished to join with JUMC to come forward and join the church. To my delight, we had fifteen people respond to the call. Only one of these, it turns out, is a "transfer" - the rest all joined JUMC by profession of faith. God is moving in and through JUMC, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it!

Don then led the liturgy for the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and our confirmands offered the bread and the cup to those present (we had multiple stations to accomodate the full house). Dawn then closed our worship with a blessing.

It was a day filled with joy and a real experience of the Holy Spirit. God is so very, very good. I pray that the Spirit continues to move in and through JUMC, with our newest members, but especially in the lives of the young people who took a bold step yesterday. May they always walk "near to the heart of God".

Church sign

TJ State Champions!

Congratulations to the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars football team!

Class AAA PA State Champions 2007!
(Story here.)

First Sunday in Advent Review

What a day!

This morning was a special worship service at JUMC. We introduced some technology into our worship service, with power point-type visuals and a film clip (from It's A Wonderful Life), and celebrated the Eucharist with a liturgy which we sang to the tune of Christmas carols. The sanctuary was packed...standing room only. It was a blessing! The techno stuff really matched up well with my preaching style, which was both a surprise and a relief. The feedback was extremely positive. Yes...it is possible to mix traditional style worship - robes, Wesley hymns, candles, etc. - with 21st century technology. It was really neat.

After the service, we adjourned to our fellowship hall for a Christmas party. The hall was filled to capacity (and a bit beyond) and we had a wonderful time. The people of JUMC are simply the best, and God is blessing us in abundance! It's a great time to be a part of this fellowship. We are getting more and more visitors, and I'm having a heck of a time scheduling all the baptisms. Hallelujah!

Tonight, Robyn and I are heading for Heinz Field. Some kind friends from JUMC gave us their tickets for tonight's game against the Cincy Bungles, and we are hyped up to go! Look for me on TV; I'll be the shirtless guy with the Cross & Flame painted on his chest. God is so, so good!

Chicken for Missions

"I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!"..."We are fools for Christ's sake..."

- 2 Cor 11:1; 1 Cor 4:10 (ESV)

JUMC has developed a good relationship with our local Chick-fil-a restaurant. Once a month, it's "Jefferson UMC Night" at Chick-fil-a in Pleasant Hills, and, roughly put, 15% of their profit from 4 PM - 8 PM goes to our church. We use it to help pay our Mission Share. Last night, I was permitted to don the cow outfit, work the room, and even stand on PA Rt. 51, waving at cars and encouraging them to stop by; my picture is on the right.

This has been a good way for us to make some extra money for missions and, just as important, it's been a great fellowship night for our church family, as we gather to break bread and enjoy one another's good company. Finding creative ways to make mission fundraising fun can be a great way to make the Connection mean more to people than a simple "tax from the Conference".

Sunday review

What a great day!

Sunday began with some awesome worship at JUMC. We had an excellent turnout, especially considering that a good many of our folks were out of town for various events; we also had a good many visitors. The Spirit was present and doing what he does, and it was wonderful to be a part of it! We focused on Psalm 137 before celebrating the Eucharist, and the power was evident! Hard to leave without being on fire!

Then, some JUMC folks gathered with other disciples from the area at South Park for the resurrected South Hills CROP Walk. Thanks to the faithful leadership of servants like Kathy Clark and John Shaver, the event was tremendous! I'm not sure yet of the final numbers, but there were a lot of walkers of all ages, a good amount of money was raised for those living in poverty in our region and throughout the world, and a great tradition was, I believe, reborn in southern Allegheny County. Robyn and I brought the kids, which meant that we lagged near the rear of the walk...Elliot had to take two steps for every one of ours...but we all made it and we were very proud of the kids. While we walked, the Steelers trounced the Seahawks a few miles away at Heinz Field. God is good!

We ended the day at my mother's home in Swissvale with family members visiting and watching Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers (tough loss). Today, I'm driving north with my Uncle Chuck, visiting from Tijuana, to see autumn glory in Pennsylvania; he hasn't been here at this time of year in 20 years, so he's pretty excited to see the transformation.

We had a beautiful Sunday, which leaves me thanking my Heavenly Father and looking forward to more great days ahead!

Feasting at His Heavenly Banquet

On Sunday, we were blessed to celebrate the Lord's Supper at JUMC. Following morning worship, I drove to our local hospital to share the sacrament with a patient and his wife who are part of our congregational family. It was a blessed time.

As I shared with these precious souls, I was reminded of the power of liturgy. Typically, I use a "Great Thanksgiving" from our Book of Worship, or one I've written or adapted, and the laity follow along with the printed liturgy found on pages 15-16 in our Hymnal. When sharing the sacrament in a hospital or nursing home, as an extension of our congregational celebration, I usually use the service found on pages 7-10 of the "pocket edition" of our Book of Worship.

As I led the man and his wife in the liturgy, the power of the ritual took on a significance far greater than my own eloquence (or lack thereof) could provide. Early in my ministry, I often simply uttered informal words of institution as I shared in "out of sanctuary" settings, but I've learned that disciples who are sick, suffering, or feeling isolated are reassured and comforted through the familiar words of a more formal liturgy. Liturgy, in great measure, forms our discipleship. In times of need, we will likely not remember what the pastor preached about six months earlier, but we may well remember such oft repeated phrases as...

"Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again" or

"Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen."

Certainly, the two souls I shared with in the hospital on Sunday could relate to and draw strength from these words, which, because of liturgical repetition, they know so well.

I sometimes fear that in our efforts to be "current" or "contemporary", we too quickly reject the important liturgical practices which have formed God's people for centuries. As Pope Paul VI wrote, "Liturgy is like a strong tree whose beauty is derived from the continuous renewal of its leaves, but whose strength comes from the old trunk, with solid roots in the ground." A balance is needed between the depth of traditional liturgy and 21st century notions of worship and practice.

At any rate, Sunday's excursion was a good reminder for me, for which I thank God.

What are your practices regarding Eucharistic celebration? When you celebrate the sacrament with dear folks in hospitals or personal care homes, how do you do it? How can I be more faithful in my own pastoral journey?

Gospel truth

A paraphrase of Jesus' words in Luke 12:54-56 by St. Bob

Sunday review

What a tremendous day we had on Sunday at JUMC!

The day began for us with worship at Round Hill Park (in nearby Elizabeth, PA). This was the first time we held our Sunday morning worship service outside of our church facilities, and it was great! Attendance exceeded our expectations...a full house in our rather large outdoor pavilion! It was a somewhat "contemporary" service in comparison to our usual traditional/blended service (actually, more of a "folk" thing than a "rock and roll" thing). I played guitar and we sang a variety of hymns and non-hymnal selections, preached, and focused on a very informal, conversational, celebratory tone. One young man said it was the first time he'd seen a pastor preach in a t-shirt and shorts!

After that great worship experience, we enjoyed our annual church picnic and had a phenomenal time. The weather was perfect, and the food was delicious. Volleyball...football...bingo...a friendly auction...lots of games for the kids, who also played in the nearby forest and playground...and great fellowship. What an afternoon we had!

Had the day ended there, it would have been a blessing. But, at 6 PM, we took part in a very special service that I believe will bear much fruit in our area.

One of the first things I did after arriving at JUMC is contact other area clergy in the hopes of forming a ministerium or some sort of cooperative ministry. It took a while, but last evening, 12 of 13 congregations in West Jefferson Hills School District gathered in the Thomas Jefferson High School auditorium for a "back to school" service of prayer and blessing. There we stood...Baptists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, United Methodists, and independents...praying with and for one another and for the upcoming school year. It was a moment filled with hope and "pregnant with possibility". Several in attendance shed tears of joy, not merely for the school prayers, but for the fact that the Christians were united. It was a true blessing.

If my sisters and brothers in ministry haven't made ecumenical activity a priority, I would urge them to do so. Surely, Jesus' prayer in John 17 is reason enough to actively work toward Christian unity, but the fruit can be among the sweetest we taste as clergy. I have been blessed by these activities in each of my parish appointments.

Finally, we returned home, got the kids ready for their first day of school (Hallelujah!), and watched the Steelers play...a fine end to a lovely day.

How blessed I am to be a part of JUMC. Such wonderful people. Such great opportunity for ministry. God is so very, very good.

Today, the kids went to school (see the "Hallelujah" above), and Robyn is experiencing her first day of work at Bravo at The Waterfront. We've been happy to sacrifice over time so that Robyn could be at home with the kids...and that's been 15 years. I've been blessed to have such a wonderful wife who is so committed as a mom. She's excited and anxious about re-entering the work force outside the home. I told her that if it doesn't work out, that's just fine. I ask for prayers for Robyn as she makes this transition.

Meanwhile, work continues on our education building. The framework for the new roof should be completed this week, with the rest to follow relatively quickly. The new windows and doors are about two weeks away, and the new corridor which will connect our education building to our church building will be the final piece of the puzzle. I'll try and post some pictures of the work in progress. What a mighty God we serve!

Camp, etc.

Toady, we're taking Elliot to camp for the first time. He'll be spending the rest of the week at Jumonville with John Shaver, pastor of "emerging ministries" at Christ UMC in Bethel Park. Elliot is very excited, having watched his big brother and sisters go to camp each year, and not being old enough until now. Robyn is a little uneasy, letting go of her "baby" for the next few days. I'm sure it will be great for both of them.

Next week, Claire goes to pony camp at Camp Allegheny with Eric Raygor, pastor of Grace UMC in Somerset. The following week, Christian will start band camp at TJ High School, and Kate will be off to drama camp at Camp Allegheny, where she'll perform in Godspell.

Summer will officially conclude for our family on August 26. On that day, JUMC will be worshipping at Round Hill Park in nearby Elizabeth, PA rather than in our sanctuary facilities, then to enjoy our annual church picnic. That evening, our recently formed ministerium will hold its first event together...a community "back-to-school" prayer service at TJ High School.

All in all, quite a busy finale for the summer.