http://www.messiahumc.netA column of reflection, insight, and hope IFAILURE If there is anything that strikes terror into our souls it is the fear of failure. To be a success in something marks the measure of our worth. It gives honor on the street corners of our worlds. It gives us stature among our friends and family. It gives us a sense of invincibility. But one of the central questions of life may well be how to tell success from failure. My friend Don Mendenhall writes in his book, Visual Centering: “When life transitions are being experienced, it can feel like falling. But when one falls with grace, courage, and authenticity an image of a new reality is formed out of this transformational motion. Falling is not always failure.” There are two faces of failure, one of them life-giving and the other deadly. The fi rst face of failure I saw in the life of an internationally recognized writer who, fi rst intent on being an English professor, studied at Oxford but failed. Later she said, “Best thing that ever happened to me; otherwise I’d be in a small college someplace teaching writing. As is it I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.” The second face of failure I saw in a college friend. He was an organ major but became discouraged and dropped out of school and never studied another thing in his life. He died trapped within the boundaries of himself. Failure may, in the long run, be the only real key to success. The fi rst step to becoming what we most seek may well be the indifference to dashed hope and perpetual disappointment and depression that comes with reaching for the gold and grasping only dust. We need to develop a capacity for failure and even come to see its value in honing and teaching us. “Falling is not always failure.” From my window — STL 4/26/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=128 What are we doing Last Tuesday the Program Staff – the pastors and full time music staff spent the day together asking some big picture questions. What are we doing? Where are we going? What is program and what is Spiritual Formation? Dozens of groups ended up on the white board under Spiritual Formation. We realized we are much more driven or motivated by what people need – like recovering from grief, wanting to help feed people, investing in growing through study, and music. We are committed to help children emerge into a community of faith that is open, welcoming, and teaches from the heart of Jesus. Messiah has moved from encouraging everyone to participate in a set list to programs to developing opportunities that connect with where we are and where God is calling us to be. Jesus empowered disciples, followers, and even people he did not know to follow after him by using their own gifts, opportunities, even questions and misgivings to help create the Kingdom. One of the fastest growing churches in the United States over the last ten years is Saddleback led by Rick Warren. He recently responded to an extensive study of the congregation by saying, “We have failed to help people grow because we have just expected people to sign up and move from one class or event to another. That is not how the Kingdom comes. We need to take a much different approach, one that will not be as lock step or as nice and neat. It is much more about meeting one another in relationship.” I believe Rick Warren is pointing in a direction that is closer to where Messiah is right now. At Messiah our Vision is clear:      A loving and caring community sharing new life in Christ. Our     Mission is focused: Transforming our faith into God’s action Here is a list of Formational opportunities that have emerged in just the last few months: ■ Portuguese Worship at Minerva Park ■ Akitsukai Karate ■ Grief Recovery ■ Haitian Worship at Minerva Park ■ The Essence worship at the Old Bag of Nails ■ Saturday Sabbath School at Minerva Park ■ Rush on Thursdays for Youth (this is amazing –           (it takes two hours just to unload the trailer each time)     ■ Baptism Seminar ■ Pre-marriage Retreat ■ First Place study/exercise/diet ■ Jesus and the Gospels Study ■ Messiah and Community Singles ■ Companions in Christ Study ■ Miriam Circle ■ New UMW Circle ■ God and Family ■ Band of Brothers – Saturday Men’s study and Fellowship WHAT ARE WE DOING? I think we are creating a loving and caring community and transforming our faith into action! From my window — STL         4/18/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=127 Looking Ahead At the Westerville city limits on Cleveland Avenue is a distinctive sign that claims a signifi cant statement: Money Magazine Top 50 American Town As I look out across the years I can imagine Westerville continuing to grow, develop and emerge as an even more dynamic community. The Uptown business area continues to grow, change and improve. Just to the north off of Africa Road Ohio Health is building a new facility to serve our wider community. St. Paul’s Catholic Church just up State Street is making major improvement to their campus with the addition of new facilities. Over the last several months the Building Committee has been meeting to plan for Messiah’s future role in our community. This Building Committee is not really a committee in the sense that they have focused only on the business of bricks, mortar, and space. This team has imagined a future in which Messiah is part of a Gateway into the community and out of the uptown area. A gateway defi nes a community, opens doors into the community, and expresses architecturally something unique about the community. We prayed often, we studied scripture, we listened to stories of faith, we shared openly our personal and community needs, and we worked really hard at discerning God’s vision for our congregation. This Building Committee is one example of how Messiah is growing spiritually, and how God is directing our ministry. The Building Committee listened well to one another, put aside personal agendas, coached each other, became willing to listen to new ways to create solutions to our needs; we became willing to take risks, were open to insight from the pros, and always stayed committed to supporting one another. Looking ahead involved looking back at all the other work that others had invested in over the years. All that work was not dismissed but honored, appreciated and used to build the plan that is now before us. We also looked back to those early faithful communities like the one at Ephesus to which Paul wrote about being “One in Christ”, and that “Christ is the cornerstone of every building”, that we are “unifi ed in one body”. What a great privilege to Look Ahead with so much promise and possibility.   From my window — STL 4/13/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=126Race/Relay I am touched by stories of people who have experienced significant loss and figured out what to do. When David Fajgenbaum was a freshman at Georgetown University, his mother was diagnosed with brain cancer. Before she died, he decided to honor her by forming a support group, Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers. He discovered that his peers found the group useful in dealing with their feelings of helplessness. The group organized fund-raisers for medical research and reached out to students in high schools. The group now has more than 20 chapters. Fajgenbaum is finishing a mater’s degree in public health at Oxford, and he plans to go on to study oncology in hopes of finding a cure for cancer. (Psychology Today, March/April) At Messiah a number of those who have experienced loss, death, or grief for any reason are coming together for support, understanding, and helping each other to figure out what is next. Grief Recovery meets on Thursday evenings at 7:00. A few years ago, just after the death of my mother, our daughter Micah invited me to join her in a Relay For Life     event. I drove to Greencastle, Indiana walked to the stadium and discovered hundreds of tents that formed a tent city around the track. We began to walk and jog. There were moments of quiet, times of talking, laughing, and getting to know others going around the track. What an amazing experience to hear so many stories of survival and responses to loss and grief. Race for the Cure is May 17 and Relay for Life right here in Westerville is June 27-28. I invite you to “get touched” – walk, race, support, talk, help. For more information contact: www.messiahumc.net From my window — STL   4/6/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=125 Teach Us To Pray “Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8) As far as we know, the disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to fish, preach, teach, communicate, or multiply loaves of bread. They did ask him to teach them how to pray. Was it because they didn’t need to make a living, teach, catch fish, or communicate? Probably not! Perhaps the disciples saw the remarkable relationship that Jesus enjoyed with his Abba and wanted something like it in their own lives. They too wanted to know the confidence, peace, security, and love that Jesus found in this relationship with God. Perhaps the disciples also noted that prayer was a priority for Jesus; in fact, his whole life seemed to be built around this priority. In crisis, in need, and when perplexed and weary, Jesus could be found praying. Prayer was not an additive to life; it was a way of life for Jesus. Perhaps too the disciples saw dramatic results as the consequence of the life of prayer that Jesus lived. Whatever the reason the disciples believed that praying was one of their most important lessons to be learned. If we can begin with this desire I believe Jesus still has something to teach us as we explore together “Becoming Jesus’ Prayer” – the Lord’s Prayer over the next several weeks in worship and study. Come each week to explore and ask our own questions. From My Window — STL 4/1/2008 3:21:00 PMhttp://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=124Maple Syrup Some people are connoisseurs of fine wine, food or ice cream. Ice Cream for these people is more than food and so it deserves its own category – Ice Cream. I love ice cream and don’t know a thing about wine, but what I really enjoy is fine Maple Syrup – the color, the fragrance, and the taste are all truly amazing to me. I’ve always loved Maple Syrup. From my youngest days I can remember the exuberant feeling when someone gave our family a special tin or bottle for Christmas or just after the first day of spring. Waffles, pancakes and even Ice Cream are wonderful with Maple Syrup. The people who make Maple Syrup have always been heroes to me – to get out doors, to tap the trees, and to fire the cooker to make the syrup is work that no one really sees. For years Ned and Janice Mosher have made the most delicious Maple Syrup. Every year people around Westerville just have a sense of when it is ready and many wait to put in a call to see if it is ready. Ned and Janice were at the farm up near Mount Vernon working with the Maple trees, collecting the sap and getting ready to make the syrup. It was a long hard day of work. It was Ned’s last day. He died in his sleep that night. What a shock to his family and to our community. But what a wonderful way to go from this life into the next – in Holy week when we are giving witness to our faith, when we sing about the sting of death that turns into a joy and thanksgiving for life and for life after life. Maple Syrup provides such a good feeling and such a wonderful taste of life. Maple Syrup requires hard work, patience, and an understanding of what it takes to create the precious results from the sap. Maple Syrup requires knowing about the trees, understanding the weather, and being willing to work with God’s creation. I am so thankful for Ned Mosher who not only understood how to make Maple Syrup but also understood even more how to live, how to give, how to teach, how to serve, how to love. Thanks for the Maple Syrup Ned. From my window — STL 3/23/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=123 The Seventh Word “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) It was a play that became a movie with Richard Dreyfuss, Whose Life Is It Anyway? You know the answer to the play’s question: “By God, my life is mine!” The irony is that the dying doctor, who so raged against others taking charge of his life, did exactly that throughout his whole life. Suddenly and dramatically he is confronted with the truth that our lives are defi nitely not and never have been our own. Death comes and we have no way to control when and how. In one of his parables, Jesus compared God to a thief who comes in the night, while we are asleep and think we are secure, and steals everything we have. Not the nicest image of God, to be sure, but a truthful one. In the end, God is going to rip off everything that we thought we had. In the end, the One who so graciously gave life is also the one who so unexpectedly takes it. Nobody has a right to take anything from anyone else without permission unless the person owns what is taken in the fi rst place. With this fi nal word on Friday, Christ commits his life – and his death – to God. We’re at the end. And at the end, as he breathed his last, Jesus resumes the conversation he began with – “Father, forgive them.” Now he ends with the crucial words, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus does in his death what he did thoughout his life, committed himself into the Father’s keeping. Jesus’ death means as much as his life. This last word has me wondering what my last word will be.       From my window — STL 3/16/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=122Language Brian McLaren writes in his book, The Secret Message of Jesus, “In Jesus’ day, kingdom language was contemporary and relevant; today, it is outdated and distant. We must discover fresh ways of translating his message into the thought forms and cultures of our contemporary world.” Many across the Messiah congregation – children, youth and adults have written about the Kingdom of God. Your insight is creative, helpful and inspiring. Here are just a few of the many Kingdom Cards we have received –   The Kingdom of God is like: A Smile on the face of every third grader’s family when they receive their Bible   Teeter Totter – it takes more than one person to make it work    A Womb – it surrounds us like the new borns we are in his world; always growing and learning in his world    A Bowl of Cherries – cherries start small and hard, then grow larger, fuller riper, sweeter just as our relationship with God. Even at time of ripeness, cherries still contain pits inside the sweetness, reminding us that God is always there for us, regardless of any lows in our lives   Subversive Love healing the hunger of the world and the hunger of the soul    Chocolate Chip Cookies – once you try it you will long for more and there’s nothing that compares to the satisfaction you receive    Fog – it spreads everywhere, is all-encompassing and surrounds us    A Family Reunion – we are together with all our brothers and sisters, and God’s family   A Diamond – as we become aware of each facet it is more precious and more wondrous   A Good Meal – it is satisfying and fulfi lling but we need more. Once is not enough   A Small Acorn – with care and water it can become a beautiful tree   A TV Ad (Liberty Mutual) – un-requested acts of kindness, witnessed by a bystander leads to another act of kindness, also witnessed and on and on… Yes, the Kingdom is here and goes on and on – May you receive the blessings of the Kingdom each day and may you share the blessings of the Kingdom each day.    From my window — STL 3/14/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=121Last Supper These words have become common for us – Last Supper. We think of the Last Supper as an event along with many other scenes in this drama that take place in Jerusalem. Jesus has a Last Supper with his disciples. And then there is the betrayal by Judas, the denial by Peter, and the confusion for everyone else. The Last Supper is the beginning of the end. What if today’s Holy Communion was really your last meal. Somehow the impact of the words changes our thinking and feeling. The Last Supper; my last meal. What if you knew you had just three days to live. What would you do? How would you live? Or what if you died today and woke up in three days. How would you live the rest of your “life” – let’s say you’d live to be 99 – what is your attitude? Do you live any differently – considering your time, resources, or relationships? I invite your refl ections and insights as together we make our way through the rest of this Lenten Season: March 9 next week’s “Seven Last Words” at 8:15 and 11:00 in the Sanctuary with orchestra and choir     March 16 Palm and Passion Sunday. We will receive the palm branches and bring our food for WARM and our Hunger Tithe Envelopes. We will depart in quiet as we prepare for the rest of the week.     March 20 Holy Thursday. We will meet in the Sanctuary fi lled with candlelight, and the music of guitar, fl ute and piano. We will gather around tables in the front for a Last Supper.     March 21 Good Friday. The Westerville Community will gather at 12 Noon to welcome the parade of Jesus carrying the cross. At 7:00 P.M. a Tennebrae Service will be held in the Sanctuary.         March 23 Easter Day. We will gather for 8:15 Traditional; 9:30 will be non-traditional with drama, jazz and message; 11:00 Traditional in the Sanctuary and CELEBRATION! in McVay Hall. From the Seven Last Words, the Last Supper to Easter – may God fi nd you and fi ll you with insight and blessing.     From my window — STL 3/2/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=120 SPARK! Here in Ohio the skies have been gray. Gray goes along with the season of Lent in which we are called to reflect around images of sand, ashes, nails, and crosses. Besides gray, black, and brown, purple is about as exciting as it gets during the Lenten Season. But when young Rutusha, age 9 from India was asked to create an image of God for Lent and Easter there was a little gray/black/brown but mostly yellow, orange, blue, with a hint of red. Rutusha would not be bound to the tradition – he was already breaking out, anticipating the good news of Easter with the sunrise light shining making his wonderful picture he calls SPARK! I wonder what would happen if we remembered that the purpose and hope of Lent is not to imprison us to eternal gloom but to free us through repentance to turn with joy toward God’s ways of health and holiness, God’s desire of renewed and renewing abundance, God’s vision of shalom. At this time of year, in this season we begin to anticipate the colors getting ready to burst forth as Easter sunrise. A 9 year old in India already has. I invite you to receive this blessing as you prepare for SPARK! May you fi nd a hiding place in God where deep silence will birth words of grace, nagging discomfort will birth deeds of justice, startling questions will birth journeys of discovery, wrenching grief will birth reconciliation, and trembling stillness will birth joy.     From My Window — STL 3/1/2008http://www.messiahumc.net/comments.asp?id=119